Any new plug-in vehicle from a maker that hasn’t previously offered one is cause for excitement, even if volumes are low at first. So I approached my six-day test of the new plug-in Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid with anticipation. Sure, its rated 17-mile electric range is below the curve, but at least it’s a start –… Read more »
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PlugStar aims to break the EV dealership deadlock
As anyone who follows the EV scene has surely noticed, auto dealerships are widely considered to be a major bottleneck on the road to EV adoption. Sales staff tend to be poorly informed about plug-in vehicles, and many dealerships make little effort to present them to buyers as an option. In the worst cases, salespeople… Read more »
California considers an additional $2,000 EV purchase incentive
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a hearing this week to consider increasing the state’s plug-in vehicle purchase incentive from the current $2,500 to $4,500, in order to compensate for the phase-out of federal subsidies on Tesla and GM vehicles. The $7,500 federal EV tax credit is designed to sunset for each individual… Read more »
Honda Clarity PHEV drives like a dream
The Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is a quiet star. While the Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Volt have been hogging the headlines, the Clarity PHEV has sold 8,109 units in the US since its late 2017 launch. It’s the third best-selling PHEV on the market, after the Prius Prime and the Chevy Volt. In the… Read more »
The Kia Niro PHEV is a fine vehicle, but…
Kia plans to pursue a “pick your powertrain” policy with the Niro. The hybrid version is now available in the US, and the PHEV version is available in select markets (a Florida dealer told us that it could be special-ordered). The EV version recently went on sale in Korea, and is to arrive in Europe… Read more »
Prius Prime Advanced: the prince of PHEVs
Looking for an objective review of the Toyota Prius Prime Advanced? Sorry, you’ll have to look elsewhere. I’m one of “the pious” – annoying Prius drivers who sing the praises of our favorite hybrid vehicle to anyone who will listen. I’ve owned three Prii (and yes, replaced batteries on two), and this is a completely… Read more »
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV delivers the goods
As a tree-hugging greenie, I tend to be prejudiced against SUVs, but after a week with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, I couldn’t really find anything not to like. This medium-size crossover drives great, it’s comfortable, and it has all the high-tech goodies we’ve come to expect. The electric range of 22 miles is enough to… Read more »
Honda and GM partner to develop next-gen battery
GM and Honda have agreed to develop new battery chemistry components in order to hasten their plans for future all-electric vehicles. They seek to improve power density, packaging size, and charging capabilities for their up-and-coming EVs. Honda intends to source the new modules from GM in the future. This is not their first partnership; they… Read more »
Tesla could maximize federal tax credits for its customers, but at what cost?
Some of Tesla’s customers could soon be victims of the company’s success. The $7,500 federal tax credit for EV purchases is designed to sunset when a particular automaker sells over 200,000 EVs, and Tesla is nearing that bittersweet milestone. Ironically, thousands of affluent buyers of Models S and X received the credit, while most future… Read more »
Clean Energy Credit Union directs investment to green projects including EV loans
The Clean Energy Credit Union (CECU) is now taking savings account deposits and making clean energy loans. CECU received its federal charter from the National Credit Union Administration in September 2017, and completed a soft launch in May, during which it beta-tested its online banking services. CECU is an online-only financial institution that focuses exclusively… Read more »