Tesla and China: why an obvious match isn’t as simple as it seems

2014 Tesla Model S in ChinaChina is not just the world's largest overall new-car market, it's also now the largest market for plug-in electric cars. With its ambitious plan to build 500,000 electric cars per year beginning in 2018, it would seem to make sense that Tesla Motors would make China a priority. But Tesla has struggled in China since it launched the Model S there...

Smart Electric Drive has a little Renault-Nissan underneath

2017 Smart ForTwo Electric DriveOne of several new electric cars and concepts at last week's Paris Motor Show was the electric version of the second-generation Smart minicar. As Smart pointed out, it's the only maker that offers the option of gasoline or electric powertrains in every model it makes. Those are the ForTwo two-seat coupe, the ForTwo cabriolet with its roll-back...

Plug-in electric car sales in Sept: Volt steady, Leaf higher

2017 Chevrolet VoltSales of plug-in electric cars in September chugged along steadily, with steady sales from both the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid and stronger totals for the Nissan Leaf battery-electric car. Chevrolet logged 2.031 deliveries of its Volt hatchback, likely now almost all the new second-generation model, raising the year-to-date total to 16,326. That's...

Mitsubishi GT-PHEV concept at Paris Motor Show

Mitsubishi GT-PHEV concept, 2016 Paris auto showMitsubishi unveiled the latest in a series of plug-in electric SUV concepts at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. As with other recent concept from the Japanese automaker, though, it is unclear whether this one will translate into a future production model. The Mitsubishi GT-PHEV concept is a large and fairly luxurious plug-in hybrid utility vehicle...

Tesla delivered 24,500 electric cars in Q3, holds firm on 2016 goal

2016 Tesla Model STesla said late yesterday that it delivered roughly 24,500 electric cars during the third quarter, including 15,800 Model S sedans and 8,700 Model X utility vehicles. That total slightly exceeds estimates by at least half of the financial analysts who had projected deliveries from the Silicon Valley maker before their release. The third-quarter...

Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid discontinued for 2017 model year

2016 Subaru XV Crosstrek HybridYou can scratch one model off the list of hybrids available in the U.S. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid will be discontinued for the 2017 model year, marking the end of the line for Subaru's first production hybrid car. The rest of the Crosstrek lineup will continue with minor changes as Subaru prepares redesigned Impreza and Crosstrek models for...

2017 Toyota Prius Prime: first drive of new plug-in hybrid

2017 Toyota Prius Prime test drive, Ojai, California, Sep 2016The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is a considerably better car than a few electric-car fans had feared. In fact, with an EPA-rated range of 25 miles (more than projected) and energy efficiency so high—at 124 MPGe—that it matches the BMW i3 with all its whizzy advanced technology, it’s a very viable plug-in hybrid choice. And it all has...

Nissan emergency truck concept: electric-car battery for rescue power

Nissan Navara EnGuard conceptAt the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany, Nissan demonstrated an alternative use for the lithium-ion battery cells that comprise electric-car battery packs. The Nissan Navara EnGuard concept does not have an electric powertrain, but it does have two onboard battery packs. These packs are charged by the mid-size pickup truck's...

Nissan emergency truck concept: electric-car battery for rescue power

Nissan Navara EnGuard conceptAt the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany, Nissan demonstrated an alternative use for the lithium-ion battery cells that comprise electric-car battery packs. The Nissan Navara EnGuard concept does not have an electric powertrain, but it does have two onboard battery packs. These packs are charged by the mid-size pickup truck's...