Smaller, lighter cars always get the blame when politicians want to lower fuel-economy standards. They lobby that too many Americans will be driving lighter cars and that that will lead to more deaths on America's roadways. That's exactly the argument that the Trump administration made earlier this month in its proposal to weaken fuel economy...
Kids are getting ready to go back to school and many will need wheels. Yet many environmentally conscious youngsters—and parents—may no longer accept a gas-burning machine, or at least not one that has to burn gas everywhere it goes. Last week, we suggested seven plug-in cars that would make great back-to-school rides. CHECK OUT: The 7...
Executives are permitted to disclose market-moving information on social media. But Mr. Musk has provided regulators ample opportunity to re-examine the policy.
The VW TDI settlement nears completion. Elon Musk reveals more details about his privatization plan for Tesla. And Electrify America rolls out the "Jetstones" to promote electric cars. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Owners of 2.0-liter VW TDI models have until Sept. 1 to file for settlements with the company over the diesel emissions...
In a public letter to investors Monday morning, Tesla CEO Elon Musk expanded on details of his plan to take the company private. Musk announced Aug. 4 on Twitter that he was considering a privatization plan and had funding "secured." In the letter Monday, he revealed that he has been in discussions for almost two years with the sovereign wealth...
In a blog post, Mr. Musk, the electric carmaker’s chief executive, offered his fullest explanation yet for what he said were the circumstances behind a message that took Wall Street by surprise.
Time is running out for owners of 2.0-liter VW TDIs to file their claims against the company and receive a settlement that could be worth at least $5,100. All claims in the diesel emissions lawsuit must be filed by Sept. 1. So far, Volkswagen has bought back more than 350,000 TDIs and repaired another 57,000. CHECK OUT: VW TDI owners face deadline...
If regular automakers aren't advertising their electric cars well enough, maybe purveyors of electric-car infrastructure can fill in the gaps. Electrify America, VW's court-mandated effort to build a nationwide DC fast-charge network, is launching its first ad campaign Monday on behalf of all electric cars. Called the "Jetstones," the ad campaign...
Mining operations get a lot of flack for creating environmental problems around the world. Yet they provide much of the basic material that keeps the global economy humming. Some mining companies are drilling down in their efforts to clean up their acts. As the world’s fourth-largest gold mining company Goldcorp has received its share of...
![Tesla Model S Autopilot testing with IIHS [CREDIT: IIHS]](https://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/tesla-model-s-autopilot-testing-with-iihs-credit-iihs_100665436_t.gif)
Which company got a new diesel approved for U.S. sale? What new feature did the IIHS test? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Aug. 10, 2018. Friday, we reported on the IIHS tests of self-driving systems, including two versions of Autopilot in two different Teslas. It found...
The 2019 Toyota Prius C gets a price increase. The IIHS compares Tesla's Autopilot to other "self-driving" systems. We provide a guide to electric-car incentives and tax credits by state. And how Superchargers may defend Tesla against oncoming competition. All of this and more on Green Car Reports. For 2019, the Prius C will cost $900 more and has...
![Tesla Supercharger site in Rocklin, California, before expansion [photo: George Parrott]](https://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/tesla-supercharger-site-in-rocklin-california-before-expansion-photo-george-parrott_100614958_t.gif)
Competitors are coming for Tesla. Just as the young company begins to ramp up production of its bread-and-butter Model 3 to what CEO Elon Musk has called sustainable levels, Tesla's European rivals are beginning to roll out their own electric cars. That has some investors worried about whether the upstart automaker can survive the onslaught from...
The most affordable hybrid on the market just got a little less so. The 2019 Toyota Prius C will cost $900 more, with a sticker of $22,450, including destination, based on a recent official price list released by Toyota and shared by our partners at CarsDirect. Toyota has replaced its traditional Prius trim lines—One, Two, Three, and...
![Chevrolet Bolt EV being charged outside Go Forth electric-car showroom, Portland [photo: Forth]](https://images.hgmsites.net/tmb/chevrolet-bolt-ev-being-charged-outside-go-forth-electric-car-showroom-portland-photo-forth_100606247_t.gif)
The king of all financial incentives for plug-in cars is, of course, the federal tax credit of up to $7,500. It’s not the only one, though. With Tesla’s federal tax credit already on its way to expiring and GM’s close behind, it’s worth knowing where to look for other incentives for those who want an electric car. The...
Self-driving systems aren't ready for prime time, says a new report by IIHS. The Institute tested five cars: two Teslas, a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz, and a Volvo, all with systems that earned top marks in its tests of advanced driver safety aids. In new tests on its track and on public roads, all of the systems made mistakes that could be fatal without...
Federal financial regulators may be investigating Tesla CEO Elon Musk's tweet about taking the electric-car maker private. Land Rover releases pricing and specs for the Range Rover plug-in hybrid SUV. The EPA rolls out official fuel economy ratings for the Mazda CX-5 diesel. The California Air Resources Board threatens to stray from the EPA if...
The Mazda CX-5 diesel took one step closer to production by receiving an EPA rating. Jalopnik made the find and reported the ratings on Wednesday. With front-wheel drive, the CX-5 diesel is rated at 28 mpg city, 31 highway, 29 combined. With all-wheel drive those numbers each drop by 1 mpg for ratings of 27 city, 30 highway, and 28 overall. The...
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Last week the Trump administration unveiled a broad drawdown of fuel-economy regulations that had been aimed at cutting emissions from passenger vehicles. In the 978-page proposal, administration officials argued those rules implemented by the Obama administration would create lighter, potentially more fuel-efficient vehicles that would be less...
In response to an EPA proposal to freeze emissions and fuel economy standards, California said it will not honor federal vehicle certifications if the proposal goes through. "The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has proposed amending the California Low-Emission Vehicle III Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulation to ensure that cars and light-duty...
By 2024, Land Rover will have a whole new lineup of hybrid and electric luxury SUVs. As we learned yesterday, that lineup will include plug-in hybrid and electric versions of its small Evoque crossover SUV. Now the company has released pricing for its largest, most luxurious plug-in hybrid, the Range Rover P400e. Both will join the Range Rover...
