Jalopnik: I Feel Gassy

Civic Hybrid Owner Wins $9,867 In Small Claims Case Against Honda

Matt Hardigree — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:18:00 EST

Heather Peters was successful in her small claims case against Honda, in which she alleged that the car wasn't getting anywhere near the 50 MPG she says the company advertised her car would get. Although Honda only has to pay her $9,687 for this particular ruling, Peters has essentially laid the groundwork for other owners to make similar claims that could ultimately cost the company an enormous amount of money. More »

This Electric Car Was Invented In 1932 And Looked Like A Giant Hamster Wheel

Lauren Davis — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

If this electric car had caught on in 1932, our roadways would have looked very different. Instead of little boxes sitting on four wheels, the roads might have been filled with giant hamster wheels that rolled over us as we drove. More »

How A New York Taxi Company Killed The Electric Car In 1900

Raphael Orlove — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

New York City is proud of its six upcoming Nissan Leaf cabs, but more than a hundred years ago an all-electric fleet of taxis served the city using technology that even today would still be considered cutting edge. More »

GM Dealers Say No To More Chevy Volts

Ray Wert — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:15:00 EST

With NHTSA's closure of the investigation into the Chevy Volt, General Motors is now trying to rebuild the plug-in hybrid's image. But a new stumbling block has appeared on the road to higher sales — dealers turning down Volts from GM. More »

This 875-Horsepower Ferrari FF Runs On Corn Gas

Raphael Orlove — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST

For less than $2K you can convert your Ferrari FF to run on E85, raising the pathetic 650 stock horsepower to a more respectable 875 hp. On top of that, you'll apparently cut emissions by 80%. It's the "green" grand touring supercar. More »

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid: A Greener Shade Of Beige

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:01:50 EST

Here in Detroit, Volkswagen is setting up to reveal its long-awaited entry in the gasoline-electric space. That's the Jetta Hybrid. Indeed, later this year, the company will introduce a hybrid version of its Jetta sedan. More »

You Are Not Alone. America Hates Electric Cars [Updated]

Joel Johnson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST

Electric cars are terrible. They just are. They're a solution for a problem we don't have. Or rather, they're a solution for a problem we aren't about to change: our sprawling, big-ass cities filled with things we can't afford to buy yet must haul around. (Like kids.) More »

GM Fixing Chevy Volt To Stop Possible Fiery Death After Three-Week-Old Crashes

Ray Wert — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 11:15:00 EST

After a Chevy Volt caught fire after being left outside in a parking lot in Minnesota three weeks after it was crash tested by NHTSA, GM has announced some changes to make sure this won't happen again. More »

Diesels make more sense than hybrids, says ex-Transportation Secretary

Wes Siler — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST

"Clean diesel" cars are cheaper, more readily available and more accepted in the market than hybrids or electric cars, according to a white piper published by former Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta. Holy crap, car enthusiasts have been trying to tell the world that for a decade. More »

Watch Aptera employees smash prototype electric cars as company goes under

Patrick Frawley — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:30:00 EST

Aptera, the California electric vehicle startup that once hoped for ten thousand sales of its futuristic three-wheeled 2e per year, ceased operations on Friday after failing to secure needed funding. As you can sadly see in these videos, in the wake of the collapse, the company's now-unemployed staff went on a rampage, destroying every prototype car they could get their hands on. More »

Did feds delay public disclosure of Chevy Volt fire risk to protect GM sales?

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crashed a Chevrolet Volt back in May, the car's lithium-ion battery burst into flames in June, and the agency acknowledged the fire to the public and launched a safety investigation in late November. Why the six-month time-lapse? More »

Yes, GM will loan you a Corvette if you're scared your Chevy Volt will catch fire

Ray Wert — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

With news of more Chevy Volt battery packs catching fire after NHTSA crash testing, General Motors yesterday made an unprecedented damage-controlling offer: Any Volt owner concerned about safety can request a free GM vehicle loan until the issue's resolved. Yes, any car. Even a Corvette. More »

Fuel efficiency never looked so good

Wes Siler — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

"Horsepower is old news. Big MPGs are what it's all about," reads the promotional blurb for the Pump Rebels 2012 Calendar. More »

See the 1,088 hp electric "Concept One" on the move

Tom Joslin — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST

When a 23 year old introduces an electric super car to the world with a claimed 1,088 hp, 2,802 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 189 MPH, people are going to listen—very suspiciously. That is exactly what Croatian designer Mate Rimac did at the Frankfurt Auto Show when he introduced the "Concept One". More »

How college kids built the world's fastest veggie oil-powered vehicle

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST

Last week, a group of Boise State University students set a new land-speed record for a vehicle powered by vegetable oil: 155.331mph. How'd they get a diesel-swapped, 1998 Chevy S-10 to unleash such fury from mere vegetables? Read on. More »

Two massive oil tankers miss each other by inches

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Sphincters in the Port of Singapore have yet to un-clinch following the near-collision pictured above. You just know the driver in the bright red tanker doesn't even have insurance. More »

Watch this ridiculously smug Prius driver yell at a pickup truck owner

Mike Spinelli — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 12:30:00 EST

Making assumptions about a person by the car they drive or whom they vote for is, no doubt, mostly bullshit. And yet, stereotypes exist for a reason. While it would be funnier if the people in this video swapped places, it is what it is. More »

The Ford Focus Electric will cost almost $40,000

Justin Berkowitz — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EDT

GreenCarReports points out that Ford has posted pricing information for its new all-electric Focus, and the $39,995 price tag isn't just bad — it's ludicrous. The similarly all-electric Nissan Leaf stickers at $36,050, while the Chevy Volt — which you can actually, you know, drive between cities — runs $39,995. All three vehicles are eligible for a $7500 credit. More »

How Fisker got $500 million in government loans for a fuel economy flop

Justin Hyde — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EDT

When Fisker Automotive won heaps of praise from Vice President Joe Biden and a $529 million loan from the U.S. government, officials touted the Karma luxury sedan as getting up to 100 miles a gallon, going 50 miles on a full battery charge and offering "supercar" performance. None of those targets were met — but Fisker's moving ahead, your tax dollars in hand. More »

There's still time to win tickets to see Revenge of the Electric Car in New York

Ray Wert — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EDT

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Just a reminder — if you want a chance to be one of ten lucky Jalopnik readers who'll win two tickets to the matinee showing of Revenge of the Electric Car Sunday at Sunshine Landmark Cinemas here in New York City, just leave a comment on this post on our Facebook page. More »

Fisker finally gets EPA approval, sells first Karma

Justin Hyde — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:45:00 EDT

After years of delay, Fisker Auto has cleared one final hurdle with the achievement of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions approval, and the first cash for a Fisker Karma has traded hands. How much gas those wealthy Karma buyers will save is still a mystery, but not for much longer. UPDATE Mystery over. More »

Hear an electric Camaro quietly make 2,000 lb-ft of torque

Justin Hyde — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EDT

Electric drag racing has advanced far enough for battery-powered vehicles to put serious times on the boards, but it's been much rarer to hear what one sounds like on a dyno. This one, being built for a record run, is twisting 2,000 ft-lb of torque at its wheels. More »

An electric racer that goes like the devil

Chelsea Sexton, Wired Autopia — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Many people equate electric vehicles with glorified golf carts, and I've long considered it a professional duty to prove them wrong. It's rather addicting, especially when it means driving something like the Yokohama HER-02 EV Sports Concept. Holy hell, this little rocket goes like the devil. More »

Why Tesla's Model S has jump seats from a '60s wagon

Justin Hyde — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EDT

Elon Musk's Tesla Motors threw a swanky party this weekend to show off the upcoming Model S electric sedan, promising to build a version that could beat a Porsche 911 to 60 mph. But the Model S also brings this — the return of rear-facing jump seats. More »

Tesla Motors secretly asks for more government money

Justin Hyde — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EDT

With federal aid for green-tech startups under assault in Washington, Tesla Motors took to the webs last week touting how its $465 million federal loan had helped create hundreds of jobs — but it didn't reveal that it's now asking for more government money. They also won't reveal why they want it or how much they're asking for. More »

Bob Lutz joins electric car company Via Motors

Ray Wert — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EDT

Bob Lutz, former GM vice-chairman, may be back at GM as a "senior advisor", but it's not stopping him from working on other projects. We've just learned, via Jeff Gilbert, auto reporter for WWJ AM and CBS Radio, that "Maximum" Bob has joined Via Motors, an electric car company. More »

How to make a green car sexy

Wes Siler, Wired Autopia — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EDT

Solutions to modern problems sometimes can be found in a distinctly classical place. The Magnolia Special was built to recapture the grace and romance of 1930s European roadsters — internal combustion and all — yet it emits 40% less CO2 than an equally powerful gas-burning automobile. And it does this using technology as old as internal combustion itself. More »

Why we’re building a post-apocalyptic electric car

Michael and Kenny Ham — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EDT

Michael and Kenny Ham want to protect the world from zombies, expensive electric cars, and a reliance on oil. Their solution? The ApocalypsEV, a solar-powered dune buggy that's also the cheapest car in America. Here's their plan — Ed. More »

The super-fast electric sports car designed by a 23-year-old

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EDT

The Concept One: it's good looking and technically promising, but three feet thick with hyperbole. Its builders say the electric supercar will have 1,088 hp, 2,802 lb-ft of torque and a theoretical top speed of eleventy trizillion (give or take). Count Von Koenigsegg, call the front desk. More »

Fisker Surf: Because the still-not-for-sale Karma needed a wagon

Justin Hyde — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EDT

To hear Fisker tell it at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the world is clamoring for not just its Karma range-extended electric vehicle but this new variant: a four-door wagon dubbed Surf that it plans to sell in 2013. But why hasn't it actually delivered a car yet? More »

How to kill an electric car

Joe Wiesenfelder, Cars.com — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EDT

Who killed the electric car? Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog killed one this past week. Here's what happens when you drain the battery of an all-electric Nissan Leaf all the way to dead. — Ed. More »

Nissan Leaf outselling Chevy Volt 2 to 1, can GM catch up?

Justin Hyde — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:45:00 EDT

In the sales slap fight between the all-electric Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, the Leaf has the Volt by the wrists and asking why it keeps hitting itself. Chevy's response: Wait 'til next month. More »

Watch an electric Toyota race car break a Nürburgring record

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EDT

A Radical race car powered by a Toyota all-electric powertrain just broke the Nürburgring electric-car lap record of 59 hours (kidding, 9 minutes 1.338 secs), lapping the Nordschleife in 7 minutes 47.794 seconds. That's about the same as the BMW M3 GTS. More »

Dan Neil bets Elon Musk over Model S, size of ego

Justin Hyde — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EDT

Auto reviewer and "The Car Show" host Dan Neil has made a $1 million wager with Tesla founder Elon Musk over Tesla's plans for the Model S sedan, with Neil betting Tesla can't put a seven-seat, battery-swappable vehicle on road by 2012. More »

GM to build electric cars with LG

Ray Wert — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:45:00 EDT

Toyota and Ford may be working on hybrids, but now General Motors and LG Group will jointly design and engineer future electric vehicles, expanding a relationship built on LG's work as the battery cell supplier for the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera extended-range EVs. More »

Electric Morgan will be an e-roadster with a manual transmission

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EDT

Morgan Motor Company may be steeped in the dusky liquors of the old world, but it's been making moves toward next-level thinking. Take the company's hydrogen fuel cell LifeCar project, and now its all-electric +E program. Part Caterham, part Nissan Leaf? More »

Audi's two-seat, Messerschmitt-like electric car caught testing in Berlin

Justin Hyde — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EDT

Because European automakers see a world where their cars may be regulated to extinction by the European Union, they're trying everything to find suitable alternatives. Audi's next answer: this two-seat Messerschmitt-like revival due for a Frankfurt unveil in September. More »

Why aren't black people driving electric cars?

Charing Ball — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EDT

Here is something you will not hear come out of a black person's mouth: "That 2012 Toyota Prius? I need that." I hate to generalize but think about it, when was the last time you heard any one of your black friends hype up a Prius, a Nissan Leaf or any other environmentally-safe automobile? You haven't. More »

Top Gear's Andy Wilman responds to Nissan's electric car attack

Ray Wert — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EDT

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Nissan took a swipe at the hit BBC motoring show Top Gear over Jeremy Clarkson and James May having the same problem with electric cars we have — where do you charge? Now Top Gear's hitting back. More »

Obama orders auto industry to build slow, boy-proof car for his daughter

Justin Hyde — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EDT

President Obama says before his daughter gets her driver's permit he hoped for a car "that gets a top speed of 15 mph" or has "the ejector seat any time boys are in the car." One Smart ForTwo coming up... More »