Study: Demand for hybrids and EVs is soaring in rural America

2020 Nissan LeafOverall United States hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV sales have increased steadily in recent years, but the strongest growth of electrified vehicles has been in rural America, according to new analysis from iSeeCars. The analysis looked at used-vehicle market share for hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric cars between 2014 and 2022, and...

More than three out of four Volvos sold in California have a charge port

2022 Volvo XC90Of all Volvos sold in California last month, 77% were plug-in hybrids or EVs, the automaker said Thursday in a press release announcing its May 2022 North American sales. That's an increase of 6% over the previous month, demonstrating the continued appetite for plug-in cars in California. Nationally, plug-in hybrids and EVs—which...

Review: 2022 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid lacks Lightning allure

Ford Escape Plug-In HybridFord knows plug-in hybrids well. Nearly a decade ago it offered a smart set of Energi models proving that drivers were eager to plug in. With a Fusion sedan and C-Max hatchback, those Energi products were the perfect on-ramp for the electric vehicles we assumed would follow in greater numbers. They’re here. But in the age of the Mustang...

Entire US Volvo lineup for 2023 is mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or EV

2023 Volvo XC40 B4The entire 2023 Volvo lineup in the United States will be mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or all-electric, the automaker confirmed Wednesday in a press release. Volvo sees it as a step toward offering only pure electric vehicles by 2030 and being carbon-neutral by 2040. With the XC40 and XC90 crossover SUVs and V60 Cross Country station wagon getting...

Kia reveals redesigned 2023 Niro EV, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid

2023 Kia Niro lineupKia on Wednesday, at the New York auto show, revealed a completely redesigned lineup of 2023 Niro models—including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and EV versions. Niro Hybrid models have a 1.6-liter inline-4 engine paired to a 32-kw electric motor that’s packaged with a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. That combination makes 139 hp...

Plug-in hybrid sales surprise: Jeep Wrangler 4xe outsells RAV4 Prime

2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xeThe Jeep Wrangler 4xe outsold all other plug-in hybrids in the United States in the first quarter of 2022. Jeep sold 8,346 Wrangler plug-in hybrids in Q1 2022, accounting for 18% of Wrangler sales, parent Stellantis said in a press release announcing its sales results. Also of note, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid from Jeep's sibling brand accounted...