Ford has announced that it will voluntarily reduce the fuel economy rating on its 2013 C-MAX Hybrid from 47 to 43 mpg, and will send refund checks to about 32,000 customers – $550 for buyers, and $325 for lessees – a move that will cost the company some $10-16 million. In the interests of customer… Read more »
Islands make perfect EV habitats. Driving distances are generally short, and the need to ship supplies from the mainland keeps gas prices high. Also, islands around the world face a lot of environmental challenges, and many island economies depend on tourism, so the level of green consciousness tends to be high. Island governments around the… Read more »
Pike Research has issued a white paper entitled Electric Vehicles: 10 Predictions for 2013, that should make (mostly) cheerful reading for EV enthusiasts. Saying that “doubts about the long-term viability of the plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) market were put to rest” in 2012, Pike predicts “the industry will be racing ahead in second gear in 2013.”… Read more »
Two Ford execs have addressed the recent revelations that its 2013 C-Max Hybrid and Fusion Hybrid fell short of their EPA mileage ratings in real-world tests done by Consumer Reports and others.
Consumer Reports reported that they achieved only 39 mpg overall for the Fusion Hybrid, and 37 mpg for the C-Max Hybrid, about 20 percent lower than the EPA figures.
Kia has released no details, but the British magazine Autocar reported that test versions of the new model have been spotted near the company’s research facility in Germany.
At this year’s New York International Auto Show, the central story was that even mainstream cars and SUVs are getting stellar fuel economy.