2020 Volvo XC40 PHEV arrives in the UK, still no concrete US plans

2020 Volvo XC40 PHEVVolvo's plug-in hybrid variant of its XC40 compact crossover is hitting showrooms in the UK, offering a glimpse of what we can likely expect within the next model year. The XC40 PHEV is based on its T5 trim, which is the range-topper for the small Volvo crossover. Unlike the regular T5, which gets power from a turbocharged 4-cylinder, the PHEV...

Volkswagen ID wall chargers revealed for Europe; US plans yet to come

VW ID ChargerAs a companion to the launch of its new ID 3 electric car, Volkswagen is offering a series of at-home AC charging stations. In three flavors, the new ID Charger series ranges in three levels from basic charging to a high-precision, connected suite. All of the versions will have the same 11 kw output, the upgraded models offer additional...

Tesla Model S laps Laguna Seca, Musk promises “Plaid” edition

Tesla Model S Laguna Seca recordTesla announced Wednesday that its Model S "Plaid" development car lapped WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, in 1 minute, 36.55 seconds this week. That set a track record for four-door sedans and proved that its flagship model can complete a hot lap at the famous circuit. *~ Some personal news ~* We lapped Laguna Seca...

Audi AI:Trail concept splices trail-ready with autonomous-ready

Audi AI: Trail quattro conceptEarlier this week at the Frankfurt auto show, Audi revealed a strikingly different adventure-vehicle concept car that’s designed to show, according to the brand, “a comprehensive concept for sustainable mobility off the beaten track.” The AI:Trail completes a quartet of concepts with similarly colon-punctuated names—the...

Green Car Reports’ top 10 greenest cars for 2019

2019 Hyundai Ioniq ElectricEfficiency went further and farther for 2019 model-year vehicles in almost every sense of the two words. Green Car Reports’ top 10 fuel-efficient vehicles all have one thing in common: plugs. But where they go from there is anything but common among the vehicles. The most efficient vehicles on our list did more with their energy than the...

Are states overtaxing EV drivers to make up for lost gas taxes?

BMW i3 charging at EVgo fast chargers at Chevron station in Menlo Park, CaliforniaSome states are assessing additional fees on electric vehicle owners that end up being in excess of what the average car owner pays in gas taxes, consumer advocates said Wednesday. Consumer Reports found that 26 states (up from 17 a little more than a year ago) have implemented policies mandating additional registration fees for owners of electric...