California local governments share how to prepare for electric cars

Record-breaking electric-car parade in Cupertino, California. Photo courtesy of Plug In America.California leads the way when it comes to electric-car adoption in the U.S. That's due in large part to a zero-emission vehicle mandate that requires the largest-volume automakers to sell cars without tailpipes, combined with a generous state purchase incentive that encourages residents to buy them. But local governments have also played an...

VW exec pleads not guilty on diesel cheating charges

2010 Volkswagen Golf TDIA Volkswagen executive appeared in a federal courtroom in Detroit on Thursday to be arraigned on charges related to the automaker's diesel-emissions cheating. Oliver Schmidt previously headed the VW Group's U.S. regulatory compliance group. He was arrested by the FBI in Florida last month, while attempting to return home to Germany from a...

Musk responds to Tesla line workers on wages, injuries, confidentiality

Tesla factory, Fremont, CaliforniaTesla CEO Elon Musk has responded vigorously to an employee's claims of low wages and commonplace on-the-job injuries. In an email to employees and statements to media outlets, Musk denied the claims and accused the employee who made them of being a paid union agitator. Earlier this month, Jose Moran said Tesla employees, "routinely work well over...

Sierra Club to sue EPA over failure to report on ethanol

FlexFuel badge on E85-capable 2009 Chevrolet HHRThe confirmation of Scott Pruitt as Environmental Protection Agency administrator was expected to rankle environmental groups. Pruitt is a climate-science denier who, in his previous position as Oklahoma attorney general, sued the agency he is now charged with many multiple times over its efforts to enforce environmental regulations. But what may...

Honda Clarity EV electric car to have only 80 miles of range: report

2017 Honda Clarity Fuel CellOne of the more eagerly awaited all-electric cars coming to market this year has been the 2018 Honda Clarity EV. It's a battery-electric version of the 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell already on sale in some regions of California, powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. But unlike most of the pure electric cars on the U.S. market, the Clarity is a mid-size sedan...

‘Thousands’ of self-driving Bolt EVs to be deployed next year: report

Chevrolet Bolt EV self-driving prototypeThe 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV is a crucial car for General Motors in more ways than one. With an EPA-rated 238-mile range and $37,495 base price (before federal, state, and local incentives), the Bolt EV considered a groundbreaking electric-car game changer. But the Chevy hatchback is also GM's main platform for self-driving car development. DON'T...

2018 BMW i3 preview (including battery rumors)

Section of 2018 BMW i3 spy shot  [image via S. Baldauf/SB-Medien, as used on Motor Authority]This year's updated BMW i3 electric car is only just arriving at U.S. dealerships after a battery-capacity boost that gives it longer range. But already some details of the 2018 BMW i3 have leaked out, in the form of spy photos and further rumors about more battery capacity yet. Unlike our usual previews based on manufacturer releases, then...

Why liquid hydrogen may make sense for airplanes, replacing jet fuel

KLM biofuel-powered airliner (KLM)If you want to find a major source of transportation-related emissions, just look up. Aviation currently accounts for around 2 percent of global carbon emissions, and many analysts believe its share could triple by the middle of the century if projected growth in air travel occurs. But finding alternatives to fossil fuels has proven much more...

Which type of car will go all-electric the fastest? Poll results

Chevrolet Spark EV at CCS fast charging station in San Diego.One reason cited for the slow, if growing, penetration of plug-in electric cars in the U.S. is that they're not available in all segments and body styles. With the exception of the pricey Tesla Model X and the discontinued Toyota RAV4 EV, for example, there are no battery-electric SUVs or crossovers with all-wheel drive on the market. To date...

Honda WR-V: how to make a crossover from a small hatchback

Honda WR-V (Indian-market version)Crossovers are so popular right now that several automakers are even trying to pass off conventional hatchbacks as high-riding utility vehicles. The latest example of this trend is the Honda WR-V, a new pseudo-crossover for the Indian market. Despite the extra plastic body cladding and slightly-different front and rear fascias, the WR-V looks very...

Will GM or Tesla buyers lose electric-car tax credits first?

Tesla Model 3A major contributor to electric-car sales is the program under which buyers of new electric cars qualify for a federal income-tax credit of up to $7,500. But these tax credits are not unlimited. Once a manufacturer reaches sales of 200,000 plug-in electric cars (after December 31, 2009), the credits start to phase out for that company's cars...

London to charge pre-2006 diesel cars $27 to enter on weekdays

Mark Webber driving a 2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid in LondonFor more than 13 years, London has collected a stiff charge from motor vehicles entering the congested core of the city during weekday business hours. Known as the congestion charge, the fee of £11.50 a day, or $14.50 (£10 with automatic payment, or $12.50) is levied from 6 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday except holidays. First...

Tesla to sell 200 electric cars to Dubai taxi service

2017 Tesla Model SIf you wanted to start a green taxi service—and had ample funds to do so—Tesla electric cars would seem to be a good choice. The Model S and Model X offer plenty of interior space and range, and their popularity would like raise the profile of any taxi service using them. So perhaps it's not surprising that the Dubai Taxi Corporation...

Shell hedges bets, adds hydrogen fuel to 1st U.K. station

Shell logoAnticipating a possible decrease in fossil-fuel consumption from the mass deployment of zero-emission vehicles, one of the world's largest oil companies is hedging its bets. Royal Dutch Shell is becoming increasingly involved in hydrogen fueling infrastructure, which will be needed if fuel-cell vehicles are ever to grow beyond their current...