Texas restores $2,500 electric-car purchase rebate, except for Teslas

Tesla owners & supporters gather in Statehouse in Austin to support company [photo: John Griswell]Ah, Texas, the state that was formerly a nation and continues to do things slightly differently. Its politics is bare-knuckle, its hats are big, and so are its ranches. It also generates more renewable wind energy than any other state in the union. Its auto-dealer lobbyists, however, are equally large and powerful. DON'T MISS: Tesla Loses Legal...

Ohio bill would grant permanent subsidies to coal-fired power plants

Coal, by Flicker user oatsy40 (Used Under CC License)It's now widely acknowledged that the energy and electricity-generation landscape is changing rapidly. The U.S. has vastly increased its oil and gas production, driving down prices of fossil fuels globally. At the same time, ever-cheaper renewable energy—not only solar, but surprisingly fast-growing wind generation—is now...

Self-driving Chevy Bolt EV electric test cars to be deployed

One of 130 second-generaiton self-driving Chevrolet Bolt EV electric cars, with GM CEO Mary BarraIt's widely acknowledged that most, if not all, of the autonomous vehicles expected to reach our roads in volume will be electric cars. Without the complexity of a combustion engine and transmission that must be electromechanically controlled, the task of automating the driving of a vehicle is considerably simpler. It largely comes down to a...

Hyundai Kona small SUV revealed, with electric version to come

2018 Hyundai KonaHyundai has finally shown the world its subcompact crossover utility vehicle, the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The 2018 Kona marks the brand's first foray into the subcompact SUV segment and will likely arrive in the United States next year or for 2019. The Kona name comes from the tourist spot in Hawaii and is meant to signify the vehicle's adventurous...

BMW venture arm invests in U.S. electric-bus maker Proterra

Proterra Catalyst electric busYou can't buy one at your local car dealer, but electric transit buses have a significant role to play in reducing vehicular emissions and expanding the spread of electric-vehicle technology. Two companies have a majority of the U.S. market for electric buses, which is growing quickly if perhaps more quietly than that for electric cars. The U.S...

Mercedes to make electric cars at its China factory with BAIC

Mercedes-Benz EQ electric car concept  [photo: Axel Harries]It's not only electric cars: China is also now the world's largest market for luxury cars. Audi got an early foothold among party officials and high-ranking government officials, but the allure of global brands has ensured that Mercedes-Benz and BMW sell lots of cars there as well. Now, Mercedes parent company Daimler is combining its local...