June 18, 2013
- Two months ago, we brought you early reports that indicated Tesla Motors [NSDQ: TSLA] would be bringing battery-swapping technology to the Model S electric sedan. Today, we have confirmation of the plan from Elon Musk. Broadcast to Musk's Twitter followers last night (or early this morning, depending on your perspective), the confirmation states...
- While Jerry Seinfeld was gallivanting around LA with Sarah Silverman in a Jaguar XKE, our favorite car-loving comedian, Jay Leno, was checking out the all-new 2014 Cadillac ELR. Set to go on sale later this year, Cadillac brought its ELR to Jay Leno's Garage to show off some of its styling and technology as well as give Leno some seat time in the range-extended EV. Leno owns both a Volt and a CTS-V, and the ELR is a kind combination of the two (sort of). In this episode, Leno spends some time...
June 17, 2013
- Bosch, through its Automotive Service Solutions division, teamed up with Evatran to launch the Plugless Level 2 EV charging system -- one of the first in the U.S. Installed on a driveway or a garage floor, this wireless charging station costs around $3,000 US and works with electric vehicles such as the Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt. The control panel houses the electrical components of the station and is hard-wired to a dedicated 240V 30A circuit. Sources : www....
- After two-year drought, off-lease cars flowing back to dealerships; Chrysler sweetens 'stair steps'; Honda's electric-car apology..
- Don't you wish more auto enthusiasts were like Jay Leno? Sure, plenty of the stuff he likes isn't overly green, but at least he can't drive his massive collection of cars all at once. And he does like plenty of electric and hybrid vehicles too--among them, the Chevrolet Volt. Leno has his own Volt, so he was bound to like its sportier, more...
- Electric cars aren't cut much slack in the mainstream media, and any issues are usually jumped upon before facts have time to surface. Recent high-profile battery failures have been seized with zeal whether automobile-related or not, but one product safety company is aiming to curtail that with tighter safety standards for lithium-ion batteries...
- The 2014 Cadillac ELR extended-range electric car doesn’t go on sale until early 2014, but one of the cars, one of the first examples to roll off the production line in fact, recently showed up at Jay Leno’s Garage, where the comedian and avid car collector got a chance to take it for a spin. Members of the car’s development...
June 15, 2013
- Pros and Cons* Pros The Mercedes S Class is available with a choice of four different engines, including hybrid and diesel options. Sophisticated components, such as the Mercedes Active Body Control (ABC) suspension, along with an impressive list of standard equipment and unparalleled comfort make it the ultimate luxury sedan. Cons The price, which is quickly inflated by the huge list of options, high maintenance costs, as well as the multitude of driving assist systems and its overly-...
June 14, 2013
- Pros and Cons* Pros The Mercedes S Class is available with a choice of four different engines, including hybrid and diesel options. Sophisticated components, such as the Mercedes Active Body Control (ABC) suspension, along with an impressive list of standard equipment and unparalleled comfort make it the ultimate luxury sedan. Cons The price, which is quickly inflated by the huge list of options, high maintenance costs, as well as the multitude of driving assist systems and its overly-...
- The last time we heard about Dutch supercar upstart Vencer was a little more than a year ago when it announced it would call its one offering Sarthe. Vencer says the Sarthe will be officially unveiled to the UK in early September at London's Salon Privé. The Sarthe sure seems to bring the supercar goods. Vencer says it will be a tube steel and chrome-moly chassis attached to a honeycomb aluminum floor. Top Gear says a "510-bhp Corvette V8" sits behind the driver, to which a six-speed...
June 13, 2013
- General Motors and BMW announced on Tuesday that they had jointly completed testing new quick-charging equipment for plug-in electric cars. The charging stations, cables, and plugs were built to the new Combined Charging Standard (CCS) specification adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers. Each maker will soon roll out a battery-electric...
- Return to investment grade expected 'within the year'; Toyota Supra reborn?; Eaton: No sale; BMW's electric game-changer..
June 12, 2013
- The Chevrolet Volt is an amazing feat of engineering, yet GM is having trouble moving 2013 models off dealer lots. This week we heard reports of Volts carrying incentives of up to $5000, and especially in light of all the eye-popping lease deals offered on fully electric cars, we have to ask: At what price [...]
- Quickly recharging electric vehicles is about to get much easier. BMW and General Motors engineers have finished testing on SAE Combo DC Fast Charge stations developed by different suppliers, making sure each is capable of providing a quick charge for electric vehicles including the BMW i3 and Chevrolet Spark EV. With hardware and software details [...]
- If you bought a plug-in electric car last year—well, how can we put this nicely—you made an absolutely terrible decision, financially speaking. Purchase prices on new EVs have plummeted by thousands of dollars and lease plans now run within shouting distance of similar gas-powered models. Nissan, Ho...