Tesla Model 3 fast-charging at Superchargers will not be free

Tesla Supercharger for city centersBefore production of the Tesla Model 3 began, company CEO Elon Musk promised Tesla would offer owners some sort of free Supercharger use. Specifically, Musk said, "free long-distance charging is [included]," which led many reservation holders to believe they would receive free Supercharger credits, just as owners outside of the Model S and Model X...

Toyota Fine-Comfort Ride fuel-cell concept targets 600 miles of range

Toyota Fine-Comfort Ride concept, 2017 Tokyo Motor ShowToyota continues to experiment with and develop various types of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles despite not yet offering a single production battery-electric car. The Japanese automaker now sells the Mirai, has announced it will begin studies of the Project Portal fuel-cell semi truck, and reportedly plans a fuel-cell luxury sedan for its Lexus brand...

Nissan IMx Concept electric SUV debuts at Tokyo Motor Show

Nissan IMx concept, 2017 Tokyo Motor ShowThe long-awaited all-electric crossover utility concept from Nissan finally made its public debut Wednesday morning on the first press day at the Tokyo auto show. Dubbed the Nissan IMx, the compact crossover concept includes both fully autonomous driving and an electric range given as more than 370 miles (600 km). That range is likely on a...

Who sold 10,000 plug-in vehicles last month? (Not Tesla, Nissan, or Chevy)

2018 BMW i3, 2017 Frankfurt Motor ShowWhen consumers think of battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, most likely conjure thoughts of Tesla, or perhaps Nissan with its Leaf and Chevrolet with its Volt and Bolt EV. However, none of those three brands managed to sell 10,000 plug-in cars during the month of September. That sales honor belongs to BMW, which announced sales of its i3...

“Death of the internal combustion engine” is now a thing

ClunkersThe very first working four-cycle internal-combustion engine was invented by Niklaus Otto in 1876, and in due course it changed the world. A quarter of a century later, gasoline engines, steam-powered vehicles, and electric drive competed on an equal basis, but by 1915, it was clear the gasoline engine would triumph. The next 100 years brought...

How will Tesla Model 3 do over the next year? Poll results

2017 Tesla Model 3 If ever a car were in "production hell"—to use Tesla CEO Elon Musk's memorable phrase—the Tesla Model 3 is, right around now. From the first hand-built Model 3s delivered in late July through the end of September, fewer than 300 cars have gone to buyers—far short of the 1,500 predicted by Musk in early July. That now makes it...

Regulators approve updates to some Audi, VW, Porsche 3.0-liter diesel SUVs

2015 Audi Q7 TDIState and federal environmental regulators announced Monday they had approved modifications to illegally polluting Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche SUVs fitted with VW Group's 3.0-liter V-6 TDI turbodiesel engine The EPA and California Air Resources Board sent a letter Friday to VW announcing the approved modifications for the 3.0-liter TDI models...

EU announces launch of battery alliance to boost cells for electric cars

European Union battery alliance announcementAs it stands today, Asia dominates the production of electric-car battery cells globally, with Japanese and Korean companies representing the bulk of the industry outside of booming Chinese makers. Europe, however, lacks a single major player in the fabrication and assembly of lithium-ion battery cells for cars that plug in. Now European leaders...

Seven years of Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy winners

2012 Toyota Prius V station wagon, Half Moon Bay, CA, May 2011As we head into final deliberations for the Best Car To Buy 2018 award, it's worth looking back over our first seven years of winners. The list of seven different models or lineups gives a sense of just how far green cars have come—and how fast they've evolved since 2011. Our first award that year came on the heels of the December 2010...

Tesla to build electric-car factory in Chinese free-trade zone: report

2014 Tesla Model S in ChinaChina is the world's largest car market, and the country plans to phase out sales of new vehicles with combustion engines in the future. Tesla makes and sells only electric cars, and it aspires to become a volume automaker, meaning China is key to its future. The Chinese government effectively requires carmakers to manufacture in the country to...