2012 Chevrolet Volt Review & Test Drive

The all-new 2012 Chevrolet Volt has entered into its second year of production remaining mostly unchanged with the exception of a few tweaks. Having been on American roads for a year now, the new Volt continues to be among the most fuel efficient cars on the market.

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Video: Is The World Ready For BMW’s Electric Cars?

BMW has gotten a fair amount of exposure over its i-Series electric cars since originally debuting the Concept Vision Efficient Dynamics prototype in 2009. Unlike brands that show a concept and then abandon the idea as too complex or too expensive, BMW will put both the i3 and the i8 into production, with expected availability in late 2013. The i3 is designed to be an urban commuter car, with a limited range and modest performance. The i8 exists at the opposite end of the spectrum, as a no-holes-barred performance coupe that happens to be be fuel-efficient and green, too. Read more…

Could Honda’s EV-STER Concept Become A Tesla For The Masses?

One of the highlights of this week’s Tokyo Motor Show is the debut of the Honda EV-STER electric roadster concept. Bold styling sets the EV-STER apart from the rest of the Honda lineup, and it may be an indication that Honda is listening to critics who find its current product line boring and uninspired. Read more…

GM Counters Chevy Volt Fire Fears By Offering Loaner Cars

There’s been a significant amount of coverage in the news lately about post-crash fires in Chevy Volt extended-range EV’s, likely as a result of an NHTSA investigation into the car. While there have been no documented cases of an undamaged Chevy Volt causing a fire, GM is erring on the side of caution and offering free loaner vehicles to any Volt owner who has concerns about the fire risk posed by the car. Read more…

Confirmed: Cadillac Will Build Converj, Call It ELR

Just last week we told you that, like zombies and politicians, the Cadillac Converj electric car concept had risen from the grave. Now GM is confirming those rumors, admitting that development work is underway for a car it’s calling the Cadillac ELR. The name ELR (“Electric Long Range” is our guess) befits the car’s electric propulsion system, and ties in with the brand’s three-letter naming convention. Read more…

It’s The Economy Stupid: Reseach Shows Chevy Volt Interest Waning

CNW Marketing Research recently conducted a study into consumer interest towards the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Their findings? Interest among both “early adopters” of technology and the general car-buying public is dropping. In March, some 21 percent of the early-adopter group expressed interest in the Chevy Volt, but by July that figure had dropped to just 14.6 percent. Worse, interest from those who consider themselves “EV enthusiasts” dropped from 25 percent in March to 17 percent in July. Across the board, less people are considering a Volt today than earlier in the year, and GM needs to figure out why, quickly. Read more…

Report: Cadillac Converj Electric Car Rises From The Dead

When Cadillac showed their Converj extended-range electric concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, it was a huge hit with both the public and critics alike. The futuristic coupe was unlike anything Cadillac had styled to date, and the car’s lines foreshadowed the CTS Coupe, released in 2010. The Converj project got the green light, and by January 2010 the Converj had even been approved by GM’s management. Read more…

Can An EV Be As Fast As A Bugatti Veyron?

According to Henrik Fisker, the man behind the Fisker Karma, the answer to that question is “yes.” Fisker Automotive is working on a multi-speed gearbox, which (according to Fisker at least) should deliver “Veyron like levels of performance.” Fisker isn’t the first EV manufacturer to come up with the idea; early Tesla Roadster prototypes used a two-speed gearbox, but abandoned the design when it proved to be less than reliable. Read more…