Plugin Cars News

By Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield ·
May 16, 2013

LEAF Hits 25,000 Sales, What It Needs To Pass 50,000

While Nissan sales figures are as more than 400 percent higher than last year, the Japanese automaker is facing tough competition in the electric car market for the first time. Much like Toyota and its early dominance in the hybrid marketplace, Nissan is going to have to work hard to ensure it remains the most popular EV in the U.S.

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By Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield ·
May 15, 2013

Neighborhood Electric Vehicles: A Marginal Option

Visit certain cities around the world, and you’ll see tiny electric cars quietly whizzing around the streets, taking residents and holiday makers from place to place, delivering goods, or even doing the daily commute. Called Neighborhood Electric Vehicles—NEVs for short—these small cars don't have the range or performance of bigger, highway-capable cars like the Nissan LEAF. But they can provide some consumers the first real-world experience of electric cars without breaking the bank.

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By Laurent J. Masson ·
May 15, 2013

Tesla Leads Because It Outsmarts the Competition

Consumers expect convenience and ease of use. Lengthy charging times are a no-go. And when it comes to EVs, that makes the Tesla Model S the sole option. With a 265-mile E.P.A.-rated range and 90-kW charging from the supercharger network, this is an electric car as easy to use as a gas car. All that comes from the availability of a 85-kWh battery pack. That's the secret.

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By David Herron ·
May 14, 2013

After-Market Industry Responds with Accessories for Electric Cars

Just because it's an electric car doesn't mean you can't make the car your own, add that feature the manufacturer neglected to put in, or improve what the car company sold you.

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By Jim Motavalli ·
May 14, 2013

An Electric Off-Road Racer: 535 Horsepower and Something to Prove

Range limitations means the SRI EV1 isn't ready to win the Mexican 1000, but it ran flat out for five days and proved its mettle.

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All Discussions

Used Market for Plug-in Cars in Nascent Stage

Article · comments

Alysha Webb says:
Pity the person shopping for a used plug-in vehicle. Aside from a few previously owned Nissan LEAFs and Volts, there...

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

Article · comments

Jim Motavalli says:
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...

Have Kids? Three Family-Friendly Electric Cars To Consider

Article · comments

Nikki Gordon-Bl... says:
Despite what friends and family might tell you, however, you don’t need a big gas-guzzling car to raise a family....

How to Maximize Your Electric Car's Range

Article · comments

Nikki Gordon-Bl... says:
Just like gasoline cars, the real-world range of electric cars depends on a lot of different factors—from the climate...

Real World Leaf Range 27 - 38 miles

Discussion · comments

ex-EV1 driver says:
I've been giving a lot of thought to the fact that Nissan clearly fell short of expectations with...

Ford C-Max Energi Operates As Pure Electric Car for First 20 Miles

Article · comments

Brad Berman says:
Mea Culpa. Last week, I criticized Ford for hyping up the capabilities of its upcoming C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid. I...

Emergency charging thru portable Generator

Discussion · comments

newEVEnthusiast says:
I was wondering if it is first possible & then practical to charge Leaf (in emergency) using a...

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

Article · comments

Brad Berman says:
As we’ve seen from past surveys, EV owners drive their cars an average of nearly 29 miles per day—well below the range...

BMW Videos Emphasize Carbon Fiber in Electric Car Strategy

Article · comments

Brad Berman says:
The use of lightweight carbon fiber car bodies in BMW’s upcoming electric cars is the focus of a new series of videos...

Public EV Charging: Think Before You Plug In

Article · comments

Nikki Gordon-Bl... says:
Upon finding an EV-only parking space with attached charging station, most electric car and plug-in hybrid owners will...

Volvo Demos Second Generation C30 Electric, Keeps Quiet On EV Plans

Volvo C30 Electric Article · comments

Nikki Gordon-Bl... says:
Swedish automaker Volvo wants the world to know it has big plans to produce a zero emissions fleet by 2020. But while...

Automakers Consider Polygons on Map to Show Electric Car Range

Article · comments

Alysha Webb says:
Rather than having to program in your destination, EOLAS-EV displays different colored polygons overlaid on a map. They...

Energy Center Reveals Surprising Plug-in Prius MPG Range

Blog Post · comments

Brad Berman says:
A few weeks ago, I spoke with Mike Ferry, transportation program manager at San Diego’s Center for Sustainable Energy...

Tesla Leads Because It Outsmarts the Competition

Tesla Model S Article · comments

Laurent J. Masson says:
Consumers expect convenience and ease of use. Lengthy charging times are a no-go. And when it comes to EVs, that makes...

Exclusive: Chevrolet Volt Chief Engineer Explains Volt Drivetrain, Says "Volt is an Electric Vehicle"

Blog Post · comments

Nick Chambers says:
What is it about the Chevy Volt that seems to elicit such heated discussion? After the last couple days' worth of...

Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Moves Forward, In Long Beach Buses

Article · comments

Alysha Webb says:
The battle cry to “plug in” your car might need to be adjusted, because wireless charging of electric vehicles is...

Colorado Extends $6,000 Plug-in Vehicle Credit Through 2021

Article · comments

Zach McDonald says:
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper Wednesday signed into law a pair of bills relating to plug-in and other alternative...

LEAF Hits 25,000 Sales, What It Needs To Pass 50,000

Nissan Leaf Article · comments

Nikki Gordon-Bl... says:
While Nissan sales figures are as more than 400 percent higher than last year, the Japanese automaker is facing tough...

Nissan Renews Hope for Dramatic Increase of EV Rapid Chargers

Article · comments

Nikki Gordon-Bl... says:
Nissan wants to see 600 electric car rapid chargers throughout the United States by the end of March 2014. The rapid...

Panamera S E-Hybrid: A True Plug-in and a True Porsche

Article · comments

Laurent J. Masson says:
It's usually easy to tell if a car is a plug-in: there's no exhaust pipe. But the Porsche Panamera S e-hybrid is no...