Electric Cars - Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicles - PHEVs - PEVs - BEVs - EVs - News & Reviews

2013 Nissan LEAF Dials Down EV Torque

By Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield ·
May 22, 2013

When Nissan launched the 2013 all-electric LEAF, the company boasted the new car's improvements over the previous model year—faster charging, a larger cargo space, and increased range. But while Nissan executives were keen to talk about how much better the home-grown U.S. LEAF was compared with its predecessor, one little fact went unnoticed: the 2013 LEAF has less torque than Japanese-built 2011 and 2012 models.

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The Basics

Everything you need to know about charging, range, batteries, incentives and more - explained in plain English. Our reference section is like an online users guide for electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

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The Nissan LEAF is a well-equipped, all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and commonly travels about 80 miles on a single charge. It's the world's best-selling pure electric car of all time. As of summer 2012, the LEAF is available to test-drive and purchase at Nissan dealerships throughout the United States.

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The Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid’s 4.4 kilowatt-hour battery pack provides 11 or more all-electric miles after a full charge. As a result, drivers with short commutes commonly get more than 100 miles per gallon. But EV purists might be disappointed with how often the gas engine comes on.

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The Chevy Volt's technology has leapfrogged standard hybrids like the Toyota Prius. This five-door, four-seat hatchback operates as an electric car for its first 35 miles after a full charge, and then uses gas to extend its range.

Visit site · 308 discussions · 35 photos · 24 fans

See all 25 Plug-in Cars

Coda Electric Sedan, Fisker Karma, Ford C-Max Energi, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi i (formerly i-MiEV), Tesla Model S, Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Toyota RAV4EV, ...

By Zach McDonald ·
May 22, 2013

Toyota Video Campaign Puts "Normal" Prius Plug-in Into Hands of Newbies

In a new series of web videos released last week, Toyota highlighted the "normal"-ness of the Prius Plug-in by dropping it into the hands of four everyday people who hadn't owned a plug-in before.

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By Laurent J. Masson ·
May 22, 2013

Dreaming of EV Instrumentation Built with the Driver in MInd

Electric vehicle sales are on the rise, but it's still a long road before they are mainstream. The batteries have to improve. Everybody knows that. But there's another part of the electric car that could, and should, get better: the instrumentation. The world is still waiting for an electric car with a dashboard that appeals to a car enthusiast.

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By Brad Berman ·
May 22, 2013

Announcement: Plugshare and Recargo Merge

Recargo, Inc. and Xatori, Inc., the companies behind the two leading EV charging locater apps, today announced they are merging. The merger will expand the companies’ ability to offer guidance to electric car drivers. The merger will also bring Xatori’s plug-in charging manager GreenCharge and fleet manager ChargeManager under the same roof as EV research panel PlugInsights—and EV news and information portal PluginCars.com.

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By Jim Motavalli ·
May 21, 2013

Five Must-Have Features for Tesla's Affordable Mass-Market Car

The next Tesla is targeted as a $30,000 plug-in for everybody, and it's the one that can establish the company as a major player. It has to be great, and here's how it can be.

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By Alysha Webb ·
May 21, 2013

Used Market for Plug-in Cars in Nascent Stage

Pity the person shopping for a used plug-in vehicle. Aside from a few previously owned Nissan LEAFs and Volts, there just aren’t very many used electric cars and plug-in hybrids on the market. That’s why Edmunds.com hasn’t bothered to compile any tips for buying a used plug-in electric vehicle, said John O’Dell, the website’s fuel efficiency senior editor, in an interview with PluginCars.com.

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By Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield ·
May 21, 2013

How to Maximize Your Electric Car's Range

Just like gasoline cars, the real-world range of electric cars depends on a lot of different factors—from the climate and road conditions to car speed and the number of passengers on board. Does your EV get less range than the E.P.A. estimates? Follow these tips.

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By Brad Berman ·
May 20, 2013

BMW Videos Emphasize Carbon Fiber in Electric Car Strategy

The use of lightweight carbon fiber car bodies in BMW’s upcoming electric cars is the focus of a new series of videos produced by the company. The set of 10 videos released on YouTube last week, promote the i3 all-electric compact car and i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.

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By Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield ·
May 20, 2013

Have Kids? Three Family-Friendly Electric Cars To Consider

Despite what friends and family might tell you, however, you don’t need a big gas-guzzling car to raise a family. Check out three electric vehicles that can work well for family life.

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By Brad Berman ·
May 17, 2013

Survey: To Be Satisfied, Electric Car Drivers Want 150 Miles of Range

As we’ve seen from past surveys, EV owners drive their cars an average of nearly 29 miles per day—well below the range capabilities of their vehicles. While most respondents expressed overall satisfaction with their vehicles, 40 percent were dissatisfied with their electric range. Fifty-seven percent indicated that it would take a range of 150 miles or more to be extremely satisfied.

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