Lithium-Ion Batteries Work Earns Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 3 Scientists
John B. Goodenough, M. Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino were recognized for research that has “laid the foundation of a wireless, fossil fuel-free society.”
Free fast charging, Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid drive, gas and diesel bans: Today’s Car News
The number of nations looking to phase out internal combustion engines continues to grow. A U.S. company is moving ahead with a plan to provide fast charging for free. Tesla is signaling another stage of intent for developing its own battery tech. And we drive an important supporting model in Audi’s transition to electric. This and more... First drive review: 2020 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid casts market superstar as supporting character
Audi sells more Q5 crossovers in the U.S. than any of its other models. And so it follows that Audi expects the upcoming Q5 2.0 TFSI 55 e quattro, as it’s badged for Europe—or just the Q5 plug-in hybrid to the rest of us, will be its best-selling vehicle that has a charge port and a fuel filler. And there are soon going to be many... Payment not accepted: Volta’s free DC fast charging network starts soon
A California-based company is taking the ad-supported model popularized by smartphone apps and applying it to the next generation of vehicle infrastructure with a nationwide network of free DC fast charging stations. Volta announced last week that it will build 150 stations over the course of the next year, it said in its announcement. This first... Denmark proposes banning gas and diesel cars, UK might ratchet up timeline
The banning of diesel (and potentially gasoline) cars in mainland Europe and the UK appears to be accelerating as a Denmark-led coalition of 11 countries proposed an EU-wide ban on the sale of diesel- and gasoline-powered cars by 2040. This is not the first time Denmark has called for a ban on internal combustion engine sales. A year ago, it... Will Tesla’s purchase of battery maker lead to proprietary cells?
Tesla's quiet acquisition of a Canadian battery manufacturer may be the first significant indicator yet that the Silicon Valley EV builder plans to develop its own future battery tech. Some time over the summer, Tesla discretely purchased Ontario-based Hibar Systems Ltd., Electric Autonomy Canada reported on Friday. The acquisition only came to... Audi A8 plug-in hybrid drive review, Honda Fit Hybrid, most important EVs of 2020: Today’s Car News
The Honda Fit is getting a hybrid version, but not in the U.S. Several big companies are electrifying their heavy trucks in California. Going driverless might not mean cutting pollution or congestion. And We run through the most important electric cars of 2020. This and more here at Green Car Reports. A study has found that driverless cars could... The most important electric cars for 2020
Electric-car debuts continue apace for 2020, and not one on our list feels like a rush job from any of their respective automakers. That’s because mainstream electric cars have become deliberate automobiles themselves. No longer relegated to low-volume “compliance cars” or hurried powertrain swaps, the electric cars on our list... 2020 Honda Fit Hybrid with two-motor system likely for Japan and Europe, not the U.S.
Honda has revealed that it’s planning to install its two-motor hybrid system in the upcoming fourth-generation version of its Fit small hatchback, which will be first shown at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show later this month. Also called i-MMD, the hybrid system combines two electric motors with an Atkinson-cycle engine. In the Honda Accord... 2020 Honda Fit Hybrid with two-motor system likely for Japan and Europe, not the US
Honda has revealed that it’s planning to install its two-motor hybrid system in the upcoming fourth-generation version of its Fit small hatchback, which will be first shown at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show later this month. Also called i-MMD, the hybrid system combines two electric motors with an Atkinson-cycle engine. In the Honda Accord... Driverless cars could dramatically increase traffic in Europe
An increase in driverless cars that some in Europe anticipate will occur between now and the year 2050 could result in what one research group likens to "rush hour that lasts all day." The report, released last month from Europe's Transport & Environment, calls the potential "Wild West" unregulated increase in driverless cars a threat to... Anheuser-Busch and Frito-Lay expand electric truck plans
Your beer and chips just got greener—and no, it's not St. Patrick's Day. That's the case in California, at least, where Anheuser-Busch and Frito-Lay both announced plans this week to replace diesel-powered logistics vehicles with electric trucks. A-B will introduce 21 new battery-powered trucks to its California fleet from its partner, BYD... Electric Roads Could Be a Path to a Driverless Future
Israel and Sweden experiment with a new way to increase the uses of electric cars.
Tesla already topped half a million Smart Summons
Tesla's new Smart Summon remote valet feature has already been used more than half a million times, Tesla CEO Elon Musk says, and while the company is celebrating the widespread adoption of its new tech, the roll-out has not been seamless. Smart Summon allows owners to remotely summon their car so long as it is in line-of-sight and a relatively... Tokyo concept previews, Tesla V10 software, Byton and Rivian rejigger: The Week in Reverse
What state upped the fees for driving a hybrid? What automaker enabled many of its vehicles to drive themselves in parking lots? And why aren’t U.S. vehicles, as a whole, all that much more efficient than they were in 2008? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending October 4... Audi EV preview, Volvo frunk, Mitsubishi PHEV future, Washington Prius tax: Today’s Car News
Volvo has previewed more of its upcoming XC40 EV’s sleek design and sustainable materials—and it will have a frunk. Audi has confirmed some more details about its third electric vehicle, the compact Q4 E-tron electric crossover, and teased two other future EVs. Mitsubishi mulls four motors for its next plug-in hybrid. And Washington... Mitsubishi Mi-Tech PHEV concept teases 4-motor layout, downsized powertrain
Mitsubishi will show a 4-motor PHEV concept at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month, highlighting new electrification tech and unconventional gasoline power in a new downsized SUV package. The automaker describes the Mi-Tech as "An electric SUV that delivers unparalleled driving pleasure and confidence over all terrain in light and wind." We... Washington state is charging hybrid owners $75 to incentivize electric cars
Washington state is shifting some of the financial burden of EV subsidies onto hybrid owners, a local report says, effectively punishing shoppers for purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles. Starting in October, hybrid drivers will be on the hook for an additional $75 in annual vehicle registration fees to help pay for improving Washington's electric... Electric Volvo XC40 will have a frunk, new driver interface
The new XC40 EV will be more than just an electric powertrain dropped into the company's small crossover, Volvo announced Wednesday, backing up that claim with design sketches and some fresh insights into its approach to electrification. Volvo's design team is leaning into the stylistic advantages of electric powertrains, which don't have the same... Audi details Q4 E-tron electric crossover, teases future sedan, performance models
Audi this week has officially confirmed that its Q4 E-tron electric crossover, in production form, will be built on Volkswagen’s modular mass-market electric vehicle platform, termed MEB, reaching the market in early 2021. While that had been all but confirmed before, Audi wrapped into it a better picture of how Volkswagen's compact- to...