When lauding renewables, look at utilization, not just capacity

Photovoltaic solar power field at Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TennesseeThe news on the renewable energy front continues to be good, with the costs of wind and solar generation falling steadily. By some measures, large-scale renewable energy is now cost-competitive (or close) with the most efficient natural-gas electric plants. Moreover, the amounts of clean generating capacity installed continue to rise, both in...

End of Victory Motorcycles is end of Empulse electric bike too

2016 Victory Empulse TTThe Brammo Empulse electric motorcycle has long been the “other” mainstream electric motorcycle—but its days now appear to be officially numbered. Polaris Industries bought the electric motorcycle business assets of Brammo in January 2015, and added the Empulse to its Victory lineup. This was big news for people who follow...

French target Renault, Brits query Fiat, over diesel emissions

New Renault TwingoThe past week has not been a particularly pleasant one for advocates of diesel cars. Volkswagen agreed to plead guilty to criminal counts related to its diesel-emissions cheating and pay $4.3 billion in fines, while U.S. prosecutors arrested one of the company's executives and indicted five more. Fiat Chrysler was accused by the EPA of using...

ChargePoint launches Express Plus modular fast-charging hardware

ChargePoint Express Plus modular DC fast-charging system for electric cars, launched at 2017 CESIt's an interesting moment to contemplate the future of DC fast charging for electric cars right now. Electric cars with 200 miles or more of range are starting to hit the market, with half a dozen expected to be in showrooms three years hence. And international standards groups are working to boost fast-charging rates from the 50-kilowatt level...

VW settles diesel cheating cases: felony pleas, $4.3 billion fines

2014 Volkswagen Passat TDILast week, Volkswagen settled an array of criminal and civil charges over its 16-month-old diesel scandal with the U.S. Justice Department. The news of the settlement was quickly swamped by a variety of further stories, both on the regulatory and diesel fronts. Those included the arrest of one Volkswagen executive, and the issuance of warrants for...

European electric and plug-in hybrid sales for Jan-Nov 2016

2016 Renault Zoe electric carIn the waning months of 2016, no dramatic changes occurred in European plug-in electric car sales. The established players remained on top of the sales charts, in virtually the same sequence seen in previous months. The Renault Zoe was again the best-selling electric car in Europe between January and November, the most recent month with available...

All 2017 BMW diesels certified by EPA, production now starting

2017 BMW 3-SeriesThis might not seem to be the most convenient moment to restart production of a gaggle of diesel cars. The Volkswagen diesel scandal continues to unfold, and last week the EPA accused Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) of failing to reveal eight separate software routines that altered the behavior of diesel engines in Jeep and Ram vehicles...

When can I buy a Chevy Bolt EV electric car? See state-by-state schedule

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, road test, California coastline, Sep 2016Last month, the first Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars were sold in California's Silicon Valley. Electric-car advocates and buyers across the U.S. now want to know when they too can expect to take delivery of their 238-mile electric hatchbacks. And as numerous comments and e-mails from readers attest, some Chevy dealers don't seem to have a clue...