The electric car company Tesla has always been an easy target. There’s the CEO, messianic Silicon Valley entrepreneur Elon Musk, who sometimes actually seems to be convinced that he’s the real-life Tony Stark. There’s the sheer chutzpah of a startup company from outside the auto industry trying to successfully build and market a new car …
electric cars
Buy an Electric Car, Get a Gas-Powered Car Free
A buy-one-get-one-free special on cars? Not exactly. To ease consumer concerns about the limited driving range of electric vehicles, two automakers are giving buyers free access to traditional gas-powered rental cars and loaners throughout the year.
Plug-In Price War: $6,000+ Price Cuts on Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius EV
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.
Are Electric-Car Enthusiasts a Little Too Enthusiastic?
Some electric vehicle owners have over-the-top praise for their cars’ performance and practicality. Does that mean the vast majority of drivers on the road are stupid for not being EV early adopters?
6 Weird New Taxes You Might Have to Pay (If You’re Not Already)
Why is it that government officials seem inspired to reach the heights of creativity coming up with new taxes? Who knows. But their efforts could mean you’ll be paying new taxes on everything from bicycles to bowling, 2-by-4s to marijuana.
Hybrid-Car Competition Heats Up: Does the Toyota Prius Finally Have a Worthy Challenger?
In January, Ford sold five times as many hybrid vehicles as it did the year before. New hybrids from Volkswagen, Honda and pretty much every other automaker also mean that Toyota, which has dominated the market for years with its …
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, …
Auto Navigation Systems: Too Complicated, Too Pricey, Just Plain Unnecessary?
A factory-installed navigation system adds more than $1,000 to the sticker price of a car. Maybe that’d be worth it if the systems worked better—and if there weren’t cheap or free, arguably superior alternatives readily …
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 …
Virginia Is Worried Cars Are Becoming Too Fuel-Efficient
The average fuel economy of new vehicles rose 6% in 2012, and cars are expected to use less and less gas going forward. Isn’t that a good thing?
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 …
