For years we’ve had a little semantic squabble in the plug-in electric car field. General Motors insists on calling the Chevy Volt a range extended electric vehicle, while in truth it is a plug-in hybrid. But, point out that obvious truth in certain crowds is sure to cause outrage because…
Bob Lutz is prognosticating the death of Tesla Motors, saying the company is badly run, its costs are too high, it should be working through dealers, it should add a plug-in hybrid model, and oh-by-the-way he likes Elon Musk. Coincidentally, I see from my calendar that in exactly one…
This week Hyundai is holding a series of press/media events at which they’re unveiling the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid. I’ll be in Los Angeles on Friday to see the car, and a few days after that will be posting my review. In the meantime let’s go over the press releases…
This is Hyundai’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle. The company is most known for developing fuel cell vehicles, making this a breath of fresh air that they’re at least dabbling with cars that plug in to the grid. It’s a plug-in hybrid version of the Sonata Hybrid, with the advantage of more electric…
The BMW X5 xDRIVE 40e is the latest of a series of plug-in hybrid concept vehicles shown by BMW. It’s thought this vehicle will eventually result in a BMW i-brand SUV (or, as BMW describes this one, a Sports Activity Vehicle). The latest iteration (as of March 2015) had a 13…
2013 Ford C-MAX Energi Ford today released some sales figures for the Ford C-MAX Energi and Ford Fusion Energi demonstrating that their plan to win market share from Toyota and Honda, in California, is beginning to work. Taken together, Ford’s two Plug-in Hybrid’s have 34% market-share, beating both the Toyota…
BMW is apparently changing its tune about developing plug-in vehicles in every product category. A month ago that was the story, and that the BMW X5 eDrive, a plug-in hybrid SUV, would be BMW’s next plug-in vehicle. Now, BMW’s i3 project manager, Roland Kowalski, says that SUV’s don’t fit the…
BMW says it is planning to make plug-in hybrid electric versions of every car they build, following the BMW i3 and BMW i8 with a plug-in hybrid version of the newly revamped BMW X5 SUV. Speaking at the Australian launch of the BMW X5 this week, BMW’s head of production…
Hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric trucks for commercial fleets could see greater adoption thanks to an agreement between Meineke and Echo Automotive. Meineke and Echo Automotive have signed an agreement under which Echo’s hybrid truck conversion kit can be installed at Meineke service centers. This will increase the availability of…
