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Ford recalls 50,000 hybrid and EV wall-charging cords
A few months after Ford announced that it's ending production on all cars but the Mustang, it's got other bitter news for owners of some of its older hybrids and EVs -- but don't worry, it's not for any of the vehicles themselves. The automaker is recalling approximately 50,000 120-volt charge cords that were bundled with its 2012-15 Ford Focus Electric, 2013-15 Ford Fusion Energi and 2013-15 Ford C-MAX Energi autos.
Honda Insight: Stylish, efficient and ready to take on the Prius
The original Honda Insight landed in the United States in December 1999. The tiny aerodynamic hatchback didn't light the electrified vehicle world on fire like the far more popular Toyota Prius. But it did show that the automaker was serious about hybrids even while the technology was still in its infancy. Nearly 20 years later and Insight is bigger, more powerful and while it's latest MPG falls short of the original's 70 miles-per-gallon, you can actually haul groceries and the family in it.
Even automakers don’t want Trump’s emissions rollback
The Trump administration unveiled its proposal to weaken Obama-era fuel efficiency standards, and it's as bad as you would expect.
Porsche’s Panamera hybrid brings sports car fun to a station wagon
The Porsche brand has never really been synonymous with family. The legendary 911 just doesn't lend itself to playdates, Target runs and road trips with the kids. Then the German automaker introduced its SUV line in 2003 and suddenly the offspring had a place to sit. But an SUV is not a sports car. The Panamera line, on the other hand, has the potential to be a bit of both.
Terrafugia's first flying car should finally go on sale in 2019
Terrafugia's Transition flying car has been in development purgatory for years, but it's finally here... almost. The company has announced that the first production models of the Transition will go on sale sometime in 2019. While that does sound like a long way off, it does provide a more concrete release window than you've had in the past. And if it's any consolation, the finished machine will have some useful improvements in return for the extra months of waiting.
Rolls-Royce is the latest to develop a flying taxi
The flying taxis from Airbus and Uber may have some fresh competition, albeit not quite in the way they might have expected. Rolls-Royce has unveiled an EVTOL (Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing) concept that could carry four to five passengers to virtually any large-enough landing spot thanks to wings that can rotate 90 degrees. It wouldn't be purely electric, despite the name (gas turbines would produce the 500kW of power needed for six propellers), but it would be quiet while ferrying people up to 500 miles at a peak speed of 250MPH. Its wing propellers would fold away once at cruise height to avoid irking either passengers or people below.
Ford is saying goodbye to cars and hello to batteries
Ford made waves recently when it announced it would stop producing cars (except for the iconic Mustang) -- in favor of SUVs, trucks and other large vehicles -- for the United States. It wasn't a big surprise and if anything it was expected since SUV and truck sales are growing while car sales plummet. But there's another big change going on at Ford: the move to electrification.
Volvo's subscription-only performance hybrid launches today
The almost-everything-included Care by Volvo subscription service is about to debut its most desirable vehicle, as the S60 T8 Polestar Engineered sedan will be available exclusively via the (iOS-only) app starting at noon ET today. The "Polestar" brand is supposed to indicate the extra performance touch applied to Volvo's electric powertrains, similar to the M or AMG brand seen on high-powered BMWs and Mercedes. It will also pop up on versions of the V60 wagon and XC60 SUV next year.
Mercedes pulls its plug-in hybrids to prepare for new models
We hope you weren't dead set on buying one of Mercedes' existing plug-in hybrids, as they won't be long for this world. Autocar has learned that Mercedes has stopped producing PHEV versions of the C-Class, E-Class, S-Class and GLE. This doesn't mean that the automaker is dropping plug-ins entirely, as you might have guessed. Rather, it's replacing the whole lot with "third-generation" hybrids that will sell under the company's electric-focused EQ branding.
Volvo’s new US-made S60 sedan will be available via subscription
Volvo's new S60 sedan marks a bit of a sea change for the automaker: It's its first of its vehicles not to have a diesel variant, the first manufactured in the United States and the third to be included in the company's car subscription service. Given its commitment to release any new models after 2019 only in EV or hybrid, and half its sales electric by 2025, the S60 may be how Volvo vehicles are released going forward.
Fiat Chrysler will launch over 30 EVs and hybrids by 2022
Fiat Chrysler isn't exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think of electric cars. Where Ford, Volkswagen and other brands are basing their long-term roadmaps around EVs, Fiat Chrysler has been hesitant to make more than the occasional hybrid. Now, though, it's ready to make up for lost time... if only just. As part of a five-year plan, the company has announced that it will launch over 30 vehicles with some kind of electrification by 2022, whether it's a full EV, a plug-in hybrid or a conventional hybrid. To that end, it's investing €9 billion ($10.5 billion) into the development of these greener machines.
BMW's wireless car charging pad arrives this summer
The notion of wirelessly charging your car is no longer a distant prospect... if you have the right ride. Car has heard that BMW will start producing an inductive charging pad for the 530e plug-in hybrid in July, with a release by the end of the summer. Autoblog has confirmed that the pad will be available in the US in addition to the expected European release. It's not certain how much the pad will cost, but one thing's for sure: you can't just walk into the dealership and buy one.
Subaru's first PHEV is the 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid
You're probably more likely to associate Subaru with high-powered rally cars than any kind of eco-friendly transportation, but the automaker is determined to change that perception: it just unveiled plans for its first-ever plug-in hybrid. The 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid (not yet pictured) will combine Subaru's familiar four-cylinder boxer engine and all-wheel drive with a hybrid system from long-time collaborator Toyota to bring efficiency to its familiar crossover SUV. While details of its performance are mostly under wraps, Subaru is promising a pure electric mode for those times when you're more likely to be commuting around town than off-roading (which, let's face it, is most of the time).
European EVs must be fitted with sound emitters by 2021
Electric vehicles come with a raft of features that make them a great benefit in our noisy, polluted world, but now one previously-lauded quality is under fire. Campaigners say that EVs' lack of noise -- particularly when traveling at low speeds -- poses a significant safety risk to cyclists and pedestrians. The EU agrees, and so from July 2019 all new electric and hybrid vehicles sold in Europe must emit a noise when travelling slowly. Existing EVs will have to be retrofitted with a device by 2021.
Volvo aims for half of its sales to be fully electric by 2025
Last year, Volvo announced that starting in 2019, all models it unveils will have an electric motor, whether it by a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid or a fully electric EV. Today, Electrek reports, the automaker has added to its electric goals. At the Beijing Auto Show today, CEO Håkan Samuelsson said that by 2025, the company would like half of all sales to be for fully electric vehicles. "Last year we made a commitment to electrification in preparation for an era beyond the internal combustion engine," said Samuelsson. "Today we reinforce and expand that commitment in the world's leading market for electrified cars."
Volvo's Polestar 1 luxury hybrid will cost $155,000
At the Geneva Motor Show last month, Volvo flaunted its long-range plug-in hybrid Polestar 1, which can pull with 600 horsepower thanks to its two electric motors and a 2.0 liter turbo engine. The final price on such a beast has just been revealed at Auto China 2018 in Beijing: $155,000 in the US, €155,000 in Europe and 1.45 million RMB in China.
Cadillac goes green with the CT6 Plug-In hybrid
More and more luxury automobile owners want to go green. Sure, there's a chance they're looking to save a few bucks on gas, but you rarely find people who buy feature-filled powerful sedans and then worry about the prices at the pump. For the automakers, some of that desire to be more eco-conscious is government-mandated. As in the growing Chinese market, where hybrids and EVs will soon be the norm as the country tackles its pollution problem.The CT6 Plug-In is built in that country to capture that market. But it's also here in the US and it's a worth a look.
Lincoln's Aviator SUV matches style with hybrid tech
When you think of Lincoln you can't be blamed for imagining those Navigators and Continentals that pick up very important folks at the airport. But the automaker wants to make sure more than professional drivers get behind the wheel of their cars. The new Aviator looks like it might just do that.
Lincoln attempts to reinvent itself again with the Aviator SUV
Lincoln has unveiled its newest vehicle, and with it, a glimpse into the company's future. The three-row Aviator is a clear improvement on the company's last attempt to reinvent its line-up, with the MKT. The model boasts lean, tapered lines, for a start, and a roomy interior with Perfect Position seats and elegant furnishings.
Honda unveils the 2019 Insight, its new upscale hybrid sedan
Honda has debuted the 2019 Insight, an all-new hybrid sedan positioned in price between the Civic and Accord hybrids. Unlike the Clarity EV and plug-in hybrid, it's a so-called "series hybrid," with the 1.5 liter Atkinson-cycle gas motor acting as a generator to produce power for the propulsion motor and 60-cell lithium-ion battery pack. At higher speeds, a lock-up clutch engages the gas engine for more efficient highway and freeway driving.
