Electric Vehicle News and Reviews (Page 228)

Electric Vehicle News and Reviews

Electric vehicles (EVs) have come a long way in a short time. Barely a decade has passed since the ambitious Silicon Valley startup Tesla Motors introduced the world to an electric car capable of traveling more than 300 miles on a single charge. Since then, Elon Musk and Tesla have convinced many dubious onlookers that electric vehicles are not only here to stay, but that they can become the future of transportation.

Other automakers have joined the EV movement at very different rates. The Nissan Leaf, for example, debuted in 2010 and went on to become the best-selling all-electric vehicle in the world for a time. Competition from the BMW i3 followed, as well as the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt and its all-electric successor the Chevy Bolt EV, but only the Tesla Model 3 has been able to steal the Leaf's crown. Heading into a new decade, electric vehicles are set to go from strength-to-strength, with new models like the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV competing in the entry-level category and the Audi e-Tron, Porsche Taycan, or Jaguar I-PACE vying with Tesla at the top end of the market.

With entire classes of vehicle still lacking an electric version, such as pick-up trucks and affordable SUVs, there's huge potential for expansion and growth in the EV marketplace. For now, Tesla is still blazing the trail, but legacy manufacturers are lining up to electrify their fleets and promising startups like Rivian and Byton are waiting in the wings with exciting new electric vehicles.

The future is bright for EVs and you can keep up to date with all the latest stories right here on Torque News.

Would a $35K Tesla Model 3 Be a REAL Tesla?

By John Goreham on January 9, 2019 - 11:31AM

As Tesla enters its third calendar year of sales for the Model 3 without the promised base model "starting at $35K," we ponder whether a model that cheap from this luxury automaker would be a "real" Tesla.

Tesla's 2018 Model 3 Sales Were On Par With Civic and Corolla In December

By John Goreham on January 7, 2019 - 5:53PM

The Tesla Model 3 was the second-leading sedan its size in sales for December 2018 in the American market.

About Two Thirds Of Electric Vehicle Tax Credits In 2018 Went to Luxury Car Buyers - Over Half Went To Tesla Buyers

By John Goreham on January 7, 2019 - 2:30PM

Almost two-thirds of electric vehicle tax credits were used by luxury car shoppers. A little over half went to Tesla buyers. 39% of all EV tax credits in 2018 went to one Tesla model.

The Great Wall Motor’s ORA R1 Mini BEV via Great Wall Motor Media

The Developing World’s Answer to Tesla: China’s Great Wall Motor’s ORA R1 $8,680 BEV

By Al Castro on January 7, 2019 - 6:09AM

For those who think that the Indias, Brazils, Southeast Asias, Western Chinas, Central and South Americas, and Western and Southern Africas will go decades still buzzing around in coal rakers while we 30 second mega supercharge with our brand new 2035 Teslas, I have news for you: the Electric Car Revolution is already coming to those parts, and the ORA R1 mini electric car is the kind of vehicle that’ll proliferate like hotcakes there NOW, like the Model 3 is already doing here.

”Coal Rolling” and “ICE-ing” Caught vía Reddit, Twitter, YouTube and others under Fair use.

The “Coal Rolling” and “ICE-ing” Menace and What You Can do to Prevent It and Abate It

By Al Castro on January 5, 2019 - 8:02AM

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: There have been incidents across the country lately that have become more noticeable and reportable to both news agencies and the police. “Coal Rolling” and “ICE-ing” are suppose to be acts of protest against emissions policies but they are really nothing more than acts of cowardliness by ignoramuses. Empower rather than arm yourself by doing these ten things to stop these shameful people.

All these vehicles are made in China branded American Courtesy GM Media

The GM Chinese Electric is Coming! GM’s All-Electric Future will be Imported from China and Not Detroit.

By Al Castro on January 4, 2019 - 6:09AM

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: As GM’s ten year plan for electrification and autonomy turns into a five year plan, that actually now is really an “ASAP plan,” GM is facing a reality that except for the Bolt factory, none of its North American facilities are fully ready for an all out massive BEV production schedule. As GM kills everything off about itself that burns gas, it has no choice but to turn to the Chinese for help. Please welcome the GM Chinese electric car at a dealer near you!

Prius Prime's affordable EV sales dominance not impacted by the Tesla Model 3.

Toyota Prius Prime Finishes 2018 As Top-Selling Affordable EV In America, Despite Tesla Model 3 Pressure

By John Goreham on January 3, 2019 - 10:42AM

The Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid electric vehicle significantly outpaced GM's two affordable EV models in 2018. Even more impressive is Prime's sales in light of the Tesla Model 3.

VW Group’s new mobile power bank for BEVs Courtesy VW Media

VW's Gigantic Cell Phone Power Bank for BEVs: A Mobile Quick Charging Station is a Juice Pack for Your EV

By Al Castro on January 3, 2019 - 2:29AM

VW is about to unleash into the BEV wild a really cool mobile charger station that will top the cherry on the ice cream of negating the excuses for range anxiety and city BEV ownership: a mobile power bank that can top off as many as 15 BEVs in as little as 17 minutes. It can be rolled around in a parking lot during events, your boss can have one in the office garage, and it makes a great power source during rolling brown and black outs.

Prediction For Future: At Least 9 Electric SUVs By 2025

By Marc Stern on December 30, 2018 - 8:33AM

With the old year rapidly running out the clock and the new year waiting in the wings for its turn on the calendar, it's time to make predictions. Here's one that is pretty clear, by 2025 there will be at least nine electric SUVs on the market. They come from across the automotive spectrum from established companies to startups.

Front Page from Engineering and Technology

The Hybrid Revolt Begins: Supercharging Installation, VW/GM Gas Riddance Acceleration, and GM Massive Hybrid Cancellation Dooms the PHEV

By Al Castro on December 28, 2018 - 3:16AM

While Tesla and Electrify America sweep themselves across America’s interstates upgrading the supercharger networks, other networks with their superchargers elsewhere, incompatibilities between PHEVs and BEVs that may have been initially overlooked, are starting to become clear: PHEVs are incompatible with superchargers, and while the UK looks to ban them from superchargers, US car makers may already be taking care of the PHEV problem by just outright getting rid of them.

How Can An Electric Sport A Turbocharger? Think About It!

By Marc Stern on December 27, 2018 - 11:01PM

After publishing a story this week about the Porsche Taycan lineup and its pricing, folks began to do a bit of thinking about the top-of-the-line model, the Taycan Turbo! Do you notice there could be a bit of an issue with its name? If so, you pass our very basic English test, if not, it's to detention for you until you find out what is wrong with the sentence.

Aviar R67: Even the Russians Want to Make an ALL Electric Mustang that Ford Doesn’t Want to Make or Still Can’t!

By Al Castro on December 27, 2018 - 6:45AM

OPINION AND ANALYSIS: Nobody is taking these Russians seriously about the specs and their one year warranty to their recently proposed Russian Mustang BEV, but I tell you one thing: at least they got a spec sheet. They got renders. They got ideas. They even got a warranty for a car they haven’t built yet. They’re eager for publicity and/or to build. I say, where’s the people who invented the damn car to begin with? Do they even know what electricity is beyond a cigarette plug in the dash?

Hackers Can Complicate Electric Vehicle Use By Taking Over Your Charger

By Marc Stern on December 26, 2018 - 1:54PM

With electric car use increasing and with the introduction of intelligent chargers that sit on the internet as part of the iOT (internet of things), comes the word that there are devices that hackers can take over and exploit. Kaspersky Labs, internet security experts, discusses the information.

2019 Subaru Forester, Forester STI, Forester e-Boxer Hybrid

Subaru Reveals First Forester STI e-Boxer Hybrid

By Denis Flierl on December 26, 2018 - 6:38AM

Subaru and STI have produced the first-ever STI-enhanced hybrid. It’s coming January 11 to the Tokyo Auto Salon in a new 2019 Forester STI e-Boxer hybrid Concept.

Volkswagen Investment On Electrics, Autonomy, Tech, Mobility Will Be Yuuuuuuge!!!!

By Marc Stern on December 24, 2018 - 1:09PM

Imagine what $50 billion looks like. It's a number so big that if you were to take all the money that makes up the figure and lay it end to end, you still wouldn't know how far it would stretch. With that said, though, $50 billion is the amount VW will be investing in electric cars, autonomy, mobility, and such between now and 2023. It's a lot of money.

The 2020 Qiantu K50 BEV Sports Car by Qiantu Motors Media

The Qiantu K50 BEV Sports Car: The First Chinese Branded Car May Finally Penetrate the US Market, Backhandedly—and it’s All Electric

By Al Castro on December 20, 2018 - 2:59AM

For decades Chinese car companies have all tried to enter the US car market to meet some kind of failure. Learning from the lessons of Chinese car companies past, one car maker known as Qiantu Motors (Dragonfly logo, means “freedom”), is teaming up with a California based electric car and energy startup to make its first foray into the US market with a battery electric sports car to take on Tesla’s portfolio. Qiantu starts the competition against the Roadster II, with the 2020 Qiantu K50.

VW To Go Retro With Its I.D. Electric Family; Classic Dune Buggy May Appear

By Marc Stern on December 20, 2018 - 12:18AM

As Volkswagen rapidly turns its line from primarily internal combustion to electric, the automaker has turned at times to the past for its new models. That trend will likely continue as the carmaker is reportedly going to build a version of the classic dune buggy as an I.D. electric car offering.

2019 Tesla Model 3 Earns Good Score In New IIHS Headlight Testing – May Later Qualify For Top Safety Rating

By John Goreham on December 19, 2018 - 10:02AM

Tesla made changes to its Model 3 headlights. Here’s why it matters to both drivers of the Model 3 and those in traffic around the car.

Tesla Model 3 is not on the IIHS Top Picks List for Safety.

2019 Tesla Model 3 Won't Be on the Upcoming IIHS Top Safety Pick List - Here's Why

By John Goreham on December 19, 2018 - 9:48AM

Here's why Tesla is not included in IIHS' 2019 Top Safety Picks.

Driving the 2019 Toyota Prius with AWD-e.

Here’s What the Experts Say About Driving the 2019 Toyota Prius With All-Wheel Drive

By John Goreham on December 18, 2018 - 11:25AM

The media launch of the new 2019 Toyota Prius AWD-e has been completed. Here is what the folks who drove the car say about it.

Toyota Prius sales drop by half - where did they go?

Toyota's Prius Sales Are Now Half of What They Were In 2015 - Here's Where Those Sales Went

By John Goreham on December 17, 2018 - 1:26PM

The Prius is now selling at exactly half the rate it was in 2015. Here's a quick rundown of where those Prius customers have gone.

Woman tries to put gas in Tesla - Video.

Tesla Video Of Woman Trying to Gas Up A Model S - Real or Fake? Vote Here

By John Goreham on December 17, 2018 - 12:16PM

A newly posted vidoe shows a woman trying to fuel up a Model S. Real or fake - vote here.

Tesla Model S similar to the 12/31/14 caught fire courtesy Tesla media. A frunk Courtesy tesa forums. A lith ion combustion courtesy YouTube.

Firearms Onboard a Tesla Should be Holstered or in a Locked Case, Not Discharged through a Battery Pack

By Al Castro on December 17, 2018 - 9:15AM

ANALYSIS AND OPINION: Attention military, law enforcement, security, and/or hunters who validly possess a firearm, or anyone else with the gall to carry a firearm illegally: the chances of your battery electric vehicle catching fire from a purposeful or accidental firearms discharge through the battery pack are much greater than if pierced through a gas tank. Read this story now coming to light about a 2014 Tesla S to find out why.

MEB Platform exampleIf you have been following the new vehicles coming from Volkswagen, you may have noticed the recurring reference to the MEB platform. It is the platform underlying the new generation of electric cars using the same fundamental underpinnings. Indeed, it is interesting to note the ways that Volkswagen has already used the platform. Among the many uses already seen for the platform, it is the basis for a new family for vehicles – the I.D. series. To illustrate the versatility of the MEB, VW

Volkswagen MEB Platform Wins 2019 AVT ACES Awards

By Marc Stern on December 13, 2018 - 12:17AM

Volkswagen has been honored with an AVT ACES Award for its flexible MEB electric vehicle platform. The MEB platform can be used for vehicles ranging from hatchbacks to SUVs, like the VW I.D. family of vehicles.

Camaro Chief Engineer Moved to EV Program

By Patrick Rall on December 11, 2018 - 11:28AM

Perhaps the most shocking move by General Motors last week was reassigning Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser to the company’s electric vehicle program, taking him away from the muscle car program that he has led since the Camaro returned for 2010.

The Date of 60kWh Nissan Leaf's Debut Is Known, but Without Liquid-Cooling

By Armen Hareyan on December 11, 2018 - 8:48AM

Some German automotive reporters have gathered information about the date when the new 60kWh Nissan Leaf will debut and we already know why the 2019 Leaf didn't debut at the LA Auto Show. However, there seems to be a little disappointment that it will be without liquid-cooling. Many EV drivers were waiting for this feature that the Bolt has.

Would The U.S. Government Have Let Tesla Fail?

By John Goreham on December 10, 2018 - 12:33PM

Tesla was single weeks from "death" earlier this year according to Elon Musk. If Tesla had failed, would The U.S. government have offered a lifeline?

2019 Toyota Prius AWD-e vs. Subaru Impreza- Space, Safety, Performance, Ground Clearance, Price Comparison

By John Goreham on December 10, 2018 - 10:30AM

We compare the all-wheel drive 2019 Toyota Prius AWD-e to the Subaru Impreza and focus on space, safety, and price. You may be surprised at this tale of the tape.

2019 Subaru Crosstrek, new Crosstrek, PHEV, plug-in-hybrid, details, specs

New Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid May Not Be a Good Fit For You

By Denis Flierl on December 10, 2018 - 7:56AM

Subaru launches their first-ever all-new 2019 Crosstrek plug-in hybrid. See why it may not be a good fit for you.

1970 Aston Martin DB6 MkII Volante Drophead Roadster Courtesy Aston Media

By Offering BEV Conversions to Older Aston and Other Classic Cars, Aston Martin Ensures its Legacy Forever

By Al Castro on December 10, 2018 - 7:31AM

OPINION AND ANALYSIS: Inasmuch as we are fooling ourselves into believing that gasoline new car purchases will be a viable option even in some parts of the world past 2030, we are also fooling ourselves into believing that we’ll be able to drive our present and near future classic cars around twenty plus years from now. This is a tail pipe dream. Well, like Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin has also found a solution to anticipate this issue.

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