Electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius Plug-In began 2013 with a sales slump. In the months ahead, automakers hope to boost sales with increased production and cheaper prices.
Chevy Volt
What Would Make an All-Electric Car Appeal to the Masses?
It’s widely assumed that the car of the future will be powered by gasoline. At least partly powered by gas, that is, and at least for the near future. When, if ever, will the pure-electric car — one powered solely by battery, …
At Under $19K for a Nissan Leaf, Does the Math on Electric Cars Finally Add Up?
Nissan’s Leaf has a long way to go to expand beyond its status as a niche commuter car. Sales have been underwhelming, even with cheap lease offers, leading some to declare the Leaf an overpriced, impractical flop. Will this …
Why the Car of the Future Will Be Powered by … Gasoline
The consensus among auto insiders is that hybrid cars that run on battery and gas have a much brighter future than vehicles powered by electricity alone. And hotter still in the decade or so ahead? Cars that just use plain old gas.
Electric Cars: More Models, Cheaper Prices Coming in 2013
The electric car has already gone through so much—from being pumped up as a game changer to all but being declared a flop—that it’s easy to forget the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf have only been widely available to the public …
Free Fuel! Ultra-Cheap Leases! Automakers Sweeten Deals on Alternative-Energy Cars
What with gasoline prices rising unexpectedly lately, drivers are more likely than usual to consider a vehicle powered by cheaper energy sources. Sensing an opportunity, Honda is now offering the equivalent of three years’ free …
Meh, No Thanks: 3 Hyped Tech Products Consumers Are Passing On
Can consumers be relied upon to jump onto the latest tech, regardless of price, practicality, and whether the product at hand actually represents worthwhile innovation? Well, if we’re talking Apple products, to some extent the …
Is It Time to Declare the Nissan Leaf a Flop?
The headline for a recent Detroit News story has it that the “20,000 sales target [is] unlikely” for the Nissan Leaf. But “unlikely” is probably understating things. It appears as if Nissan won’t get halfway to its 20,000-Leaf …
Where a Nissan Leaf Costs Over $50K
Even when the national average for gas neared $4 per gallon, very few American drivers were opting for electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf, largely because of the limited mileage range (100 miles max before requiring a …
It Costs a Lot of Money to ‘Save’ on Gas with a 118-MPG Car
The electric version of the Honda Fit has been one of the most heavily anticipated little cars to hit the market. Considering that the regular Fit is a perennial “best value” award winner, the hope is that the Fit EV would help …
Once-Struggling Cars That Are Suddenly Hot Sellers
Fiat and Toyota, both of which had a rough sales year in 2011, can’t seem to produce cars fast enough for buyers lately. One much-hyped plug-in vehicle is also faring better in the marketplace in 2012. After struggling to attract …
What’s Car Sharing Really Like?
Last year, the average U.S. household paid $4,155 gassing up their cars, and when gas, insurance, depreciation, vehicle payments, and other expenses are tallied up, the average car costs $8,776 annually. These costs will only …