Volkswagen teases electric crossover for Shanghai auto show

Teaser for Volkswagen ID SUV Concept debuting at 2017 Shanghai auto showVolkswagen appears to be quite clearly committed to an ambitious program of electric cars following its diesel emission scandal. But aside from two adapted models launched a few years ago—the VW e-Golf and e-Up hatchbacks—and a few low-range plug-in hybrids, it doesn't yet have much to put in showrooms. Instead, it's launching a series...

Genesis GV80 fuel-cell concept SUV at NY auto show

Genesis GV80 concept, 2017 New York auto showThese days, it's all but de rigeur that concept cars from major global automakers be shown with some form of alternative propulsion. They may preview future production vehicles powered by plain old conventional gasoline engines, but a plug-in hybrid or other greener powertrain shows the automaker is forward-looking. Is that the case for the...

Q: Why is Tesla worth more than GM? A: The sins of Detroit

Tesla Motors, Palo Alto, CaliforniaIt remains unclear whether Tesla will survive as an independent company, given that it's had exactly two profitable quarters in its 12-plus years of existence. And yet, last week, Tesla briefly passed General Motors to become the most valuable U.S. automaker by market capitalization. It had passed Ford last week, and long ago surpassed the value...

Honda Clarity Electric, Plug-In Hybrid sedans revealed at NY auto show

2017 Honda Clarity ElectricAt the New York auto show this morning, Honda revealed the second and third powertrains for its Clarity mid-size sedan, now offered only in California with a hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain. The 2017 Honda Clarity Electric and 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid are powered by a battery pack and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, respectively. The plug-in...

After Tesla, which automaker is best in electric cars? Poll results

2012 Tesla Model S beta vehicle, Fremont, CA, October 2011Regardless of the number of cars they've sold—fewer than the Renault-Nissan alliance—Tesla is undoubtedly the best-known electric-car maker in the world. It delivered 76,000 cars last year, against roughly 10 million each for Volkswagen Group, Toyota, and General Motors. But its sleek, fast, electric Model S and the associated...

First impressions of Chevy Bolt EV by Nissan Leaf driver

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EVIf you're serious about driving a green car, but not happy with your local choices, you need to move to California. The Golden State has roughly two dozen battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on sale, not to mention three hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Electric-car advocate Kelly Olsen previous described the choice he faced: wait for the...

Tesla Model S at 36,000 miles: Car and Driver’s long-term Midwest test

2015 Tesla Model S 70D in new Ocean Blue colorWe're long past the days when car enthusiast publications sneered at electric cars as underpowered golf carts. Much of the credit for that goes to Tesla, the first all-electric carmaker, whose Model S won the hearts of 'buff-book' writers everywhere for its speed and shape. Now electric cars, including Teslas, have become enough of a part of the...