Shell Starship semi posts record fuel-economy in cross-country run

Shell Airflow Starship truck in Gila Bend, AZ,  on cross-country fuel economy run The streamlined Shell Starship Airflow semi truck has made it to Florida on its cross-country fuel-economy record run, and the results have been tabulated: The truck posted 28.4 percent better fuel economy than the average truck on the road, while carrying significantly more weight. The Starship averaged 8.94 mpg, compared with 6.4 mpg for the...

Plug-in Electric Car Sales in Canada, May 2018: Rewriting records

2018 Nissan LeafLast month, the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid set a new single-month sales record for plug-in electric vehicles in Canada and sold 589 units. One month later, that sales pace—plus one car—is only good enough for fourth place. Nissan shattered Mitsubishi’s record in May with 906 sales of its Leaf electric car, astounding by...

Panasonic works to develop cobalt-free electric-car batteries

Tesla gigafactory, March 2016, shown in drone footage posted to YouTube by Above RenoOne of the most widespread concerns about electric cars centers around the availability and cost of cobalt. Cobalt is an element used in lithium-ion batteries to build stability and increase safety. While the signature element in modern electric-car batteries, lithium, is mined in only a few countries, it is relatively easily accessible, and so...

After Tesla’s federal tax credits expire, which electric car would you buy?

2018 Tesla Model 3Last week, we reported that Tesla is close to reaching the end of its allocation of federal tax credits for those who buy its cars. The credits amount to a $7,500 discount for most buyers. The credits were passed after the 2007 federal Energy Independence and Security Act to promote the sale of electric cars. They offered buyers a way to offset...

Study shows 23 percent cancelations on Tesla Model 3 deposits

2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range electric car, road test in greater Atlanta area, Feb 2018Tesla has staked a lot on the number of reservation deposits it has received for the Model 3. When the company first opened reservations for the car two years ago, it said that more than 400,000 people had put down a $1,000 deposit for what Tesla billed as a $35,000 car. That number eventually rose to 450,000. The deposits are fully refundable...