China will lead U.S. in electric cars for this one reason

BYD e6 electric taxi in service in Shenzhen, ChinaPeople buy what they're familiar with. For a lot of consumers in China, that means electric cars. Buyers in China buy nearly four times as many cars as buyers in the U.S. That means more carbuyers in China have experienced them and understand their silent acceleration, their range capabilities, and easy charging. That's the clear message about...

300-mile Ford Mach 1 electric SUV may be based on Escape

Ford's future hybrid and PHEV lineupFord has revealed precious few details about its new 300-mile range electric SUV, tentatively slated to be called the Mach 1. Now Autocar magazine in Britain has reported one more important detail: The Mustang-like crossover vehicle will be based on Ford's new C2 platform that it will share with the upcoming redesigned Escape, which is called the...

Why are so many electric cars (still) only sold in California?

CARB ZEV vehicle game board 2018Car buyers don't have to live under California's golden sunshine to want electric cars. Yet, in some months, buyers in California purchase more than half of all the electric cars sold in the U.S. According to reader Mike Kamm (H/T Mike), even several of the electric cars that used to be sold in the Northeast are now nearly impossible to find on...

2019 Chevy Silverado will offer new turbo-4 that can run on 2 cylinders

2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Chevrolet announced last week that its upcoming 2019 Silverado full-size pickup will offer a new turbo-4 in place of the base V-6 in some models. Like the V-8s in some of GM's large pickups, the new engine will have active cylinder management that cuts two of the four cylinders during light loads. Earlier this year, GM announced that two of its...

Electrify America expands fast-charging network to Simon malls

Electrify America 350 kw chargers at Home Depot in Chicopee, Mass.Shop and charge. That's the plan behind Electrify America's new network of fast chargers being installed around the country. Electrify America, a division of Volkswagen set up to spend diesel settlement money on installing electric-car charging infrastructure around America, announced that its latest new charging stations will go into Simon...

Consumer Reports won’t recommend Tesla Model 3 (Updated)

2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range electric car, road test in greater Atlanta area, Feb 2018Consumer Reports, the consumer product testing magazine famed for its independence, got its deposit in early for a Tesla Model 3 so it could pass judgment before too many non-Tesla diehards could plunk down month's salary to buy one. Now the magazine has released its final test results for the Model 3, and they have found it wanting. When the...