Electric Vehicle News and Reviews (Page 278)

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.

When will battery electric vehicles sell at one percent rate of vehicles?

Battery Electric Vehicles Make Up 0.3% of Current U.S. Auto Sales

By John Goreham on March 2, 2016 - 3:48PM

Battery electric vehicles are running at less than a third of one percent of U.S. auto sales year to date.

workers leave Tesla gigafactory jobsite in protest

Why did the workers at the Tesla gigafactory just walk off the job?

By John Goreham on March 1, 2016 - 10:00AM

Construction workers at Tesla new manufacturing plant claim the company is using out of state workers in violation of an agreement.

2016 Toyota Prius Eco costs 20% less per mile than Nissan Leaf

2016 Toyota Prius Eco beating EVs by about 20% in cost per mile - EPA

By John Goreham on February 29, 2016 - 9:51AM

The EPA rates every car’s cost per mile for operation. Prius pulls ahead.

Feds Approve Rear View Video Camera Mirror for Cadillac CT6, Chevy Bolt

By Patrick Rall on February 24, 2016 - 3:25PM

General Motors has a high tech rear view camera mirror system for the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevy Bolt, and according to the folks at Autoblog, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has approved this system – opening up a whole new area of interior technology that is sure to quickly spread across the industry.

Will Lexus 2017 LC 500h hybrid meet expectations?

By John Goreham on February 19, 2016 - 2:52PM

The new flagship coupe from Lexus loses two cylinders but gains a gearbox.

The Ford Mustang Outsold All Electric Vehicles Combined in 2015

By Patrick Rall on February 16, 2016 - 12:50PM

The Ford Mustang had its best sales year in many moons in 2015, literally outselling the entire electric vehicle segment and reminding us that while there are people around the country who care about not using gasoline – high performance still reigns supreme in the good ol’ USA.

Lexus Will Display Two New Green Flagships At Geneva Show

By John Goreham on February 15, 2016 - 8:14PM

Lexus isn’t playing the same game other automakers are.

Carlos Ghosn (left) being driven in an autonomous car

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn Has a Driver.. and it's the car

By Aaron Turpen on February 6, 2016 - 11:07AM

It's not unusual for high-powered executives like Carlos Ghosn to have a driver chauffeur them around town. This time, however, Ghosn was driven to Nissan's new Silicon Valley facility by the car itself.

The Cadillac ELR is Headed for Extinction and I’m Bummin'

By Patrick Rall on February 2, 2016 - 6:06PM

The folks at Automotive News announced yesterday that the extended range Cadillac ELR – essentially the luxury coupe version of the Chevrolet Volt – will not continue on into a next generation and with the ELR being one of my favorite vehicles on the market today – I am sad to hear that the beautiful electric Caddy coupe is headed for the automotive graveyard.

2016 Toyota Mirai launch goes awry due to lack of fueling stations

By John Goreham on January 18, 2016 - 11:53AM

Another electric vehicle launch stalls at the gates.

See it at your local auto show - 2016 Toyota Prius

By John Goreham on January 15, 2016 - 2:44PM

The all-new Prius is coming to an auto show near you.

Chevrolet Bolt EV Packs 200hp, 266tq and 200 Miles of Electric Range

By Patrick Rall on January 13, 2016 - 3:10PM

The new Chevrolet Bolt EV made its formal production debut earlier this week at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, bringing us the full details on the industry’s most capable, affordable electric vehicle.

Why Toyota just dropped $20 million on a 2016 Prius commercial

By John Goreham on January 12, 2016 - 7:24AM

The Superbowl is the top TV sports event of the year, and Prius is the top selling green car.

Following GM's Bolt Reveal Tesla says "Model 3 On Track"

Following Chevy's Bolt Reveal Tesla says "Model 3 On Track"

By John Goreham on January 7, 2016 - 6:17PM

Tesla wants you to remember this was their idea.

2015 Prius Sales Surprise Bucks Green Car Trend

By John Goreham on January 5, 2016 - 4:47PM

The Prius always outsells EVs, but its December sales were almost shocking.

Buyer Interest In EVs Down in 2015 As Electrics Continue Decline

By John Goreham on January 5, 2016 - 1:34PM

Why don’t Americans want electric vehicles? For the same reason they didn’t want them in 1884.

Tesla Only Delivers 208 Model X Vehicles In Q4

By John Goreham on January 4, 2016 - 9:35AM

The automaker’s soft launch is nothing new.

Don't Hold Your Breath for an Electric Corvette Stingray

By Patrick Rall on December 28, 2015 - 12:58PM

It was discovered recently that General Motors has moved to protect the names Corvette E-Ray and E-Ray for use on an automobile, but I still don’t believe that we will be able to buy an electric-powered Corvette anytime in the near future – so all of those enraged Corvette loyalists can take a nice deep breath.

Nissan, BMW Partner Up on Fast Chargers Across the U.S.

By Aaron Turpen on December 24, 2015 - 12:50PM

Nissan and BMW have come together to mutually deploy dual-duty fast chargers in 120 locations nationally as a way of promoting electric vehicles. Nissan, which builds the best-selling EV of all time, the LEAF, and BMW, whose i3 is the second-best seller in recent months, are adding fast chargers in 19 states.

The 2 Charging Concepts for EVs: How To Vanish Charging Anxiety

By Armen Hareyan on December 21, 2015 - 5:16PM

You may have heard of range anxiety from Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S and other electric car owners, but now what about charging anxiety?

Simple Ideas To Improve EV Charging Efficiency: Show Level of Charge and Completion Time

By Armen Hareyan on December 18, 2015 - 1:02PM

Few days ago I reported on how multi charge setups can speedup and improve electric car charging efficiency. Here is how EV owners responded sharing some useful insights.

A Brilliant and Simple Idea To Improve Charging Station Efficiency for Electric Car Drivers

By Armen Hareyan on December 17, 2015 - 9:03AM

Here is a case. Electric car is parked at a charging station and fully charged. It has been two hours and the owner has not returned yet. Other EVs are not able to charge. What do you do? Here is, what I think a brilliant and a very simple idea charging stations can implement to improve EV charging efficient and avoid issues like this.

3 Things We Will See Happen, If People Show Demand For Electric Cars

By Armen Hareyan on December 17, 2015 - 8:30AM

EPA estimate shows the cost of electric cars exceeds the social cost of carbon. If we want to reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050 governments need to almost completely remove carbon from transportation, this means from electric cars like Nissan LEAF, Tesla Model S, Chevy Volt, BMW i3 or Prius Plug In. How do we reconcile this?

The Reason Why Tesla May Curtail Model S Autopilot Capabilities in The Upcoming Update

By Armen Hareyan on December 15, 2015 - 2:48PM

A bit of bad news for Tesla Model S owners with autopilot. Looks like Tesla is planning to severely curtail the capabilities of autopilot in the next software upgrade (7.1). Reason is given as 'crazy behavior' of some of the Model S owners abusing the version 7.0 of the autopilot which was released in October, writes one EV owner at Electric Vehicle Assn. of Alberta (EVAA).

Nissan LEAF Double Batter Increases Range

This Company Offers To Install Double Batteries on Nissan LEAF Increasing Range to 160 Miles

By Armen Hareyan on December 14, 2015 - 3:39PM

A company, named Hybrid Industries, has posted a message on Los Angeles Craigs List offering to install double batteries on any Nissan LEAF increasing range to 160 miles on a single charge. The announcement says they can prove it works. The price is 6,500 dollars and this announcement has promoted an active debate in SF Bay Area Nissan LEAF Owners' group on Facebook.

Little Known Way To Increase Toyota Prius EV Efficiency During Winter

By Armen Hareyan on December 14, 2015 - 2:54PM

One guy installs "Prius lips" to his Toyota Prius and see how it increases efficiency during winter when shifting to Pure EV Mode.

2016 Camaro V6, 2016 Chevy Volt Make Ward's 10 Best

By Patrick Rall on December 11, 2015 - 12:45PM

While the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro and the 2016 Chevrolet Volt didn’t make it into the final balloting for the North American Car of the Year, both of these next gen Chevys have made it onto Ward’s 10 Best Engines list for 2016 – although it isn’t the Camaro that you might expect.

How Much Nissan LEAF Owners Pay for Charging at Employer Owned Stations

By Armen Hareyan on December 11, 2015 - 11:43AM

If you are an electric car owner, do you charge for free or pay a fee at your employer owned charging station? Here is what Nissan Leaf owners say, sharing their experiences at a public group on Facebook called SF Bay Area Nissan LEAF Owners.

In the market for a used, early model Tesla? You might want to read this before you buy

By Armen Hareyan on December 11, 2015 - 7:17AM

Owner data, compiled by Plug In America, suggests that 2/3 of earliest Tesla Model S drivetrains need replacement at 60,000 miles. Now you know why Consumer Reports ejected this car from its coveted "recommended buy" list in October of 2015. However, can Tesla Motors correct the Model S drivetrain reliability issue with a design change?

This 2016 Fiat 500e Lease Offer Has 3 Options and One is $69 a Month

By Armen Hareyan on December 9, 2015 - 11:31AM

Holiday car deals and discounts always amaze with their low lease prices, but I had never seen one can lease a 2016 Fiat 500e in California for only 69 dollars per month. However, there is a catch.

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