2014 was another year of steady growth for EV sales. Some 12,874 plug-ins were sold in the US in December, a healthy gain compared to December 2013. For the full year, sales are up 23%. The Tesla Model S passed the LEAF and Volt to slide into the lead (doubtless thanks to the new P85D’s… Read more »
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Volvo’s new plug-in hybrid SUV
The XC90 T8 is the first Volvo designed from the ground up for plug-in compatibility, according to the company. Built on the Scalable Product Architecture platform, the 7-seat SUV features a 4-cylinder Drive-E gas engine with supercharger and turbocharger, an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The high-voltage (270–400 V) lithium-ion battery has a 9.2 kWh capacity, capable of… Read more »
November plug-in sales: LEAF (still) leads, Ford falters, Toyota tanks, smart surges
The US auto industry had another banner month, and plug-ins were present at the party, though perhaps not first in line at the punchbowl. PEV sales were down a tick from October, but eked out a gain compared to November 2013. Year-to-date sales have now surpassed 2013’s total, and it appears that annual sales will… Read more »
Air Force rolls out plug-in vehicle fleet with V2G
Los Angeles Air Force Base has replaced its entire general-purpose vehicle fleet with plug-in vehicles. The 42-vehicle fleet includes 13 Nissan LEAFs, five Ford pick-up trucks with EVAOS PHEV kits, 9 VIA Motors VTRUX vans, four Electric Vehicle International medium-duty trucks and one Phoenix Motorcars 12-passenger bus. Most are equipped with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, allowing… Read more »
October plug-in sales: LEAF, Volt still lead, BMW coming up strong
The US auto industry had a good month, as automakers reported their strongest October sales in a decade. Most of the action was in gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs – alas, plug-in sales were down compared to last October, for the first time in 46 months of EV sales. Annual sales are still on track to handily… Read more »
Ford may bring its plug-in hybrid models to Europe
Ford may start selling PHEVs in Europe, following the lead of rival Volkswagen Group. Ford’s Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi PHEVs have been pretty popular in the US market, but the company hasn’t launched plug-ins in Europe because of what it sees as low demand. However, this week, Uli Koesters, Ford’s Vehicle Line Director for… Read more »
VW plans to launch more than 20 plug-ins in China
The plug-in party is in full swing in China, as the government pushes “new energy vehicles” as a solution to choking air pollution. The Volkswagen Group plans to be a major player, launching more than 20 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids in China by the end of 2018. By 2020 there could be “some hundred… Read more »
UC Davis study: Plug-in buyers less satisfied with the dealer purchase experience
The nation’s network of auto dealers has not exactly embraced electromobility, as we explained in a recent feature article. The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis has released a detailed study of the issue, which finds that buyers of plug-in vehicles (PEVs) tend to be far less satisfied with the dealer purchase experience than… Read more »
GM’s next generation of plug-ins includes a 2017 Sonic and a Cadillac EV
Although Volt sales haven’t been all they should be lately, GM is not discouraged – it is planning a range of new plug-in models, and some enticing details are beginning to trickle out. Cadillac’s new CEO, Johan de Nysschen, speaking with Reuters last week, confirmed that there will be a plug-in hybrid version of the… Read more »
Chrysler announces plug-in hybrid minivan
Chrysler will launch a plug-in hybrid version of the next-generation Town & Country minivan late next year, about a year earlier than the company had previously indicated. Other hybrids, including a full-size crossover, are also in the product pipeline. The plug-in minivan, which would be a first for the industry, will get 75 MPGe, according… Read more »