Formula 1’s 2026 technical regulations offer a useful lesson for electric vehicle owners: electrification does not make the rest of the vehicle less important. It makes every efficiency decision more important.
The new Formula 1 power units still use a 1.6-liter turbocharged V-6 engine, so Formula 1 has not become a fully electric series. However, the electrical contribution has increased from roughly 20 percent to about 50 percent of total power. The MGU-K electric motor now delivers up to 350 kW, compared with 120 kW under the previous regulations.
At the same time, the minimum weight of the cars has been reduced by 30 kg. Pirelli’s 2026 tires are 25 mm narrower at the front and 30 mm narrower at the rear, while the four tires together weigh approximately 1.6 kg less than the previous specification.
Formula 1 is adding electrical performance while reducing mass and drag throughout the vehicle. That is the real lesson for road-going EVs: the powertrain, wheels, tires, aerodynamics, suspension, and software must work as one complete system.
Formula E is a separate all-electric championship, not an electric division of Formula 1. Pirelli supplies Formula 1, but it is not the Formula E tire supplier. Hankook supplied Formula E through the 2025/26 GEN3 Evo season, while Bridgestone becomes the championship’s tire supplier with the introduction of GEN4 in the 2026/27 season.
The outgoing Formula E GEN3 Evo car had a minimum weight of 859 kg with the driver, compared with the 2026 Formula 1 minimum of 768 kg. The cars are designed around different regulations and performance objectives, but Formula E shows how quickly electric performance has evolved.
The GEN3 Evo could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 1.82 seconds, quicker than a contemporary Formula 1 car during initial acceleration, although its 200 mph top speed remained lower than Formula 1. Formula E cars also produce approximately 80 decibels, making them considerably quieter than combustion-powered race cars. With less engine noise, tire, drivetrain, and aerodynamic noise become more noticeable.
A wheel contributes both rotational mass and unsprung mass. Rotational mass must be accelerated every time the vehicle gains speed. Unsprung mass sits below the suspension and influences how effectively the tire remains in contact with the road.
A heavier wheel can affect energy consumption, steering response, braking, and ride quality at the same time. Larger-diameter wheels often add weight and require lower-profile tires. This may sharpen steering response and improve appearance, but it can also reduce ride comfort and efficiency. A wider wheel and tire package may also increase aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance, depending on its design.
Lighter is not automatically better. EV wheels still need sufficient structural strength, load capacity, brake clearance, and durability for vehicles that are often heavier than comparable gasoline models.
Across USAWheels and CanadaWheels, we have sold more than one million wheels and tires. In our experience, one of the most common mistakes EV owners make is selecting wheels primarily by appearance. Moving to a larger or heavier wheel can change more than the vehicle’s styling. It may influence driving range, acceleration, ride comfort, road noise, and tire replacement costs.
The most successful upgrade is not necessarily the largest or lightest option. It is the package that preserves the vehicle’s intended balance while meeting the owner’s priorities.
Lower rolling resistance can help preserve driving range, but it cannot come at the expense of wet braking, cornering stability, or load capacity. EV tires must manage battery weight, immediate torque, and regenerative braking forces. Because the electric powertrain is quieter, tread and road noise become more prominent inside the cabin.
The correct tire is not simply the tire with the lowest rolling resistance. It is the tire that appropriately balances efficiency, braking, grip, wear, noise, climate, and the driver’s actual use of the vehicle. Proper fitment is equally important. Across USAWheels and CanadaWheels, our proprietary fitment technology covers more than 50 million vehicle applications. A wheel that physically bolts onto a vehicle is not necessarily a properly fitted wheel.
Correct fitment requires the right wheel width, diameter, bolt pattern, offset, center bore, brake clearance, and load rating. The tire must also have the correct size, overall diameter, load index, speed rating, and tire pressure monitoring system compatibility. Even a small change in offset can affect suspension clearance and steering geometry, while a meaningful change in overall tire diameter can influence speedometer accuracy and the information used by traction and stability systems.
Before replacing an EV’s wheels or tires, owners should confirm load ratings, preserve an appropriate overall tire diameter, verify offset and brake clearance, select a tire suited to their climate and driving priorities, and maintain correct tire pressure and vehicle alignment.
Formula 1’s broader lesson is not to chase one specification in isolation. The lightest wheel is not automatically the safest choice, and the tire with the lowest rolling resistance is not automatically the best tire. The strongest EV setup balances fitment, weight, efficiency, grip, braking, comfort, durability, and safety as a complete system.
Saleh Taebi is Founder and CEO of USAWheels and CanadaWheels, automotive e-commerce platforms serving drivers across North America. Their proprietary fitment technology covers more than 50 million vehicle applications, and the platforms have sold more than one million wheels and tires.
We have an enduring connection with Italy that transcends our love of pastas, the compelling voice of Andrea Bocelli, or timeless art like Botticelli’s Primavera. Of course, there’s the visceral thrill of a Ferrari exhaust note at speed, the artistically sculpted bodylines of a Lamborghini or Maserati, and the Italian attraction of an Alfa Romeo or smile-inducing Fiat 500e.
All this beckons us back to Italy, where we have appreciated first-hand the art, the food, the cars, and the culture. We have experienced the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, witnessed artisans hand-stitching Ferrari seats in Maranello, and visited Lamborghini’s production facility in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Many times we have also marveled at the legions of tiny city cars parked nose-to-tail – and at times wedged in tail-to-curb – alongside the impossibly crowded streets of Rome. Then there was the unforgettable Rome 500 Experience, a self-drive guided tour that found us exploring the eternal city at night in a vintage Fiat Cinquecento (500) city car.
Here we were, yearning for yet another visit to Italy and immersion in its many wonders…but the timing wasn’t right. Still, the desire for an Italian experience was strong enough to get us thinking of ways to make it happen, in spirit if not in presence.
Hmmm…how about a road trip, not in Italy, but in California where we live? Italian culture is ingrained through much of the U.S. In fact, our decades of life experiences here in the Golden State have shown our environs to be replete with everyday Italian.
Even our geography draws comparisons. Santa Barbara is often referred to as the “American Riviera” with its Mediterranean climate and architecture, creating a spiritual connection to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. To the south, San Diego’s expansive Little Italy lends a distinct feeling of Italian immersion with its many Italian restaurants, shops, hotels, and popular Piazza della Famiglia. Just across the bay on Coronado Island, you can even indulge in the romance of an authentic Italian gondola experience, complete with a traditional singing gondolier and a bottle of Chianti as you leisurely glide through the Coronado Cays.
Farther north are Italian-reminiscent routes plied by the annual Haggarty California Mille road rally. Meandering from San Francisco along California’s northern coast, the Sierra Nevadas, and the environs of Napa and Sonoma, the California Mille honors the historic 1,000 mile Mille Miglia race that ran from Rome to Brescia and back over three decades, through 1957. The California Mille finds 1957 and earlier model sports cars traversing roads and landscapes reminiscent of the original route. We had the opportunity to run the California Mille during the rally’s third year in 1993.
Segue to present day. Our latest adventure here at home began behind the wheel of an Alfa Romeo Tonale, a beautifully designed SUV that would serve as our Italian wheels for our road trip. Alfa Romeo introduced the Tonale plug-in hybrid to our shores three years ago and was distinguished as Green Car Journal’s 2024 Green SUV of the Year. It would serve as an ideal underpinning for our Italian- American adventure.
The Alfa Romeo Tonale not only exudes sensuous Italian style, but also speaks to the environmental needs of today. As a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), this SUV can travel 33 miles exclusively on battery power – sufficient for most folks’ daily driving needs – before reverting to gas-electric hybrid power to deliver a total 360 miles of driving. We appreciated that range during our travels.
Heading out from our San Luis Obispo digs, we decided to first take uncrowded backroads and meandering canyon highways to gain a sense of the Tonale’s capabilities. We were impressed with this PHEV’s confident driving dynamics and responsiveness, the result of its dual mode active suspension and all-wheel drive. Handling was tight and acceleration crisp, with the Tonale eagerly negotiating twisty canyon roads and making quick work of straightaways with its turbocharged four cylinder’s best-in-class 285 horsepower. The ride was comfortable and compliant as one would expect from an Alfa Romeo.
Returning to our primary route and northbound on US-101, we set our sights on the Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles wine country. Although located just a short distance from this major interstate off CA-46, arriving here lends the feeling of being a world away, literally. We take it in while casually motoring our Alfa Romeo along the property’s long driveway, a view of Allegretto’s welcoming fountain and distinctive old world architecture coming into view. We are still in California, yet instantly transported to Italy.
We arrived well before check-in time for a 10:00 am vineyard tour and tasting experience. With luggage stowed, a personable guide welcomed our tour group at the resort’s lobby-adjacent grand portico, then led us to the first of many fascinating points of interest within the property’s expansive 20 acre grounds.
There’s plenty to take in. Along with its eight acres of vineyards, the Allegretto features orchards, manicured gardens, and extensive walking paths that beckon visitors to wander, explore, and reflect. Vantage points along the way provide impressive views of the Allegretto that truly impart the feeling of being in another place and time, especially when taking in the entirety of the hotel and its bell tower, framed with the vineyard, olive trees, and impossibly tall Italian Cypress reaching to the sky.
On our tour, we learned that all this is the vision of Douglas Ayres, a fourth-generation hotelier driven to share the insights and discoveries borne of his worldwide travels. Ayres’ aim is to encourage appreciation of the peace and tranquility that immersion in the property’s meticulously presented themes, elements, and architecture can bring to its guests and visitors, and thus a deeper connection to life and our environment.
There are distinct European elements to be discovered throughout the property’s grounds and on its walls, where one finds museum quality sculptures and art discovered during Ayers’ journeys. One of the more compelling sights you’ll run across is a French-inspired stone abbey with its stained glass windows, art, sculptures, and rustic wooden benches that invite moments of reflection. A stroll across Allegretto’s 12,000 square foot Piazza Magica courtyard and through the resort’s hallways again reinforces the feeling of another place with an array of curated objects and paintings that encourage a closer look.
Off the main lobby and accessible through Piazza Magica, the Allegretto’s Sequoia Room features the resort’s private label wine and an opportunity to enjoy tasting and charcuterie amid an old-world atmosphere. A not-to-miss feature here is a massive cross section of a giant sequoia tree that had fallen in Sequoia National Park. Dating back to 214 B.C., its rings present a marked history timeline indicating both World Wars, the birth of Christ, and the building of the Great Wall of China.
The Allegretto’s tastefully decorated rooms, of course, are wonderful and the amenities offered guests – from the Cello Ristorante and Bar, the full-service Spa Allegretto, and inviting pool with cabanas – tempt the senses. That should come as no surprise considering this resort has earned national recognition from USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, including being named the #2 Best Wine Country Hotel in the United States.
A day spent relaxing poolside within a welcoming cabana, replete with convenient meal service and of course a refreshing Aperol spritz or two, presented a perfect end point for our last afternoon during our Italian getaway. On our final morning we roamed the grounds again to absorb the Italian vibe that had captivated us throughout our stay. We noted the European architecture, the line of bright yellow tandem bikes racked next to a sculpture of a reclining girl absorbed in a book, and took one last opportunity to appreciate the calming atmosphere of the small abbey. A leisurely stroll along the Star Garden Trail, with its intriguing labyrinths that encourage one to clear the mind and step beyond the hustle of everyday life, definitely called to us.
We stayed long enough for a goodbye breakfast at Cello. Embracing the property’s overall Tuscan theme so skillfully blended with mixed European features, it seemed appropriate for us to enjoy an artfully crafted Italian omelet and elegant French toast with fruit, which of course did not disappoint. Casting a wistful eye at Allegretto’s welcoming portico, we loaded up our gear and headed out the long driveway, our rear view mirror reflecting Allegretto’s imposing main building and portico as we made our way toward one last Italian-themed adventure.
We headed southbound on US 101 toward Tin City, a cluster of makers market experiences just a 10 minute drive south. Time spent here allows exploring an array of wineries specializing in Italian varietals. We stopped at Ella’s Vineyards tasting room, which features Italian wines with a California approach. A visit to Olivas de Oro is also a must for olive oil tasting or shopping their wide selection of cold pressed and flavored olive oils or balsamic vinegars.
Those desiring a meal can enjoy a wide selection of Italian wines at Etto Pasta Bar, which we highly recommend for its hearty Italian sandwiches, desserts, innovative pasta dishes, and sharing specialties like Cioppino and Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Those seeking a refined dining experience can also choose the Six Test Kitchen with its exclusive multiple-course tasting menu that features three small bites, eight courses, and five desserts. Since this is an intimate 12 seat Michelin Star restaurant open only Wednesdays through Saturdays, reservations are a must and there is often a long waitlist, so planning ahead is essential.
After time spent at the Allegretto, one could surmise that this property – this concept – creates an illusion that one is in Italy. Really, that’s not quite right. It’s as if you have been transported there, to the Tuscan countryside amid all its grandeur and architectural spectacle, experiencing life at an expansive villa with an eye toward European art, design, and culinary delights.
What’s missing is the lyrical sound of Italian being spoken all around you, but we can live with that. We’ve experienced the opposite in Monza at the Italian Gran Prix, where the cars, the race, and the pageantry appeared very familiar to us as American race fans, but the Italian banners and the sounds – save for the Ferraris at speed – were not. At Allegretto, we could just embrace the notion that the friendly English-speaking folks around us were dual-language Florentines striving to make us feel at home.
You can replicate our Italian experience as easily behind the wheel of your everyday vehicle as in an Italian exotic. But if you want to go all-in with the theme, you can rent Italian cars like an Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Fiat 500, and even a Lamborghini or Ferrari from the car sharing platform Turo if one is available and you’re so inclined.
Regardless of your approach, do head out on your own California exploration of Italian hospitality, style, and culture. It’s good for the soul and as fulfilling as a hearty meal of spaghetti carbonara finished off with a cappuccino and tiramisu. Along the Central Coast, you can spend days filled with gastronomic visits at such Italian institutions as Buona Tavola, Giuseppe’s, Café Roma, Pasta House, Il Cortile, Trattoria Grappolo, and so many others.
And wine? Yes please. With hundreds of wineries dotting the Central Coast landscape, there’s no shortage of ones filling your need for a taste of Italian delights like Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Aglianico, Teroldego, and Montepulciano. There is every opportunity for Italian immersion along the way.
As our Italian road trip wound down and time with our Alfa Romeo Tonale coming to an end, we smiled at our sweet Italian ride, thinking “ciao bella”…you’ve been good company on our Italian adventure. We felt an overwhelming sense that our mission was complete.
Arrivederci, Allegretto, we will miss you. But you can count on us returning as Italy pulls at our heartstrings and we’re once again drawn to an Italian experience as authentic as they come here on California’s Central Coast.
There was a time when environmental leadership in the auto industry was a scarce commodity. Seventeen years ago, when Green Car Journal announced its first Green Car of the Year® in Los Angeles, it was difficult to identify more than a few dozen truly worthy vehicles to be considered for the honor. Today it is a formidable challenge in a different way. Now, analyzing the expansive field of green cars that champion greater environmental performance can be downright mind numbing, along with the process of honing the list down to a manageable number of candidates for each of our Green Car Awards™.
Still, this is a great problem to have and we’re up to the challenge. In fact, we celebrate the difficult and time-consuming process. This sheer number of greener models means that all of us benefit from the ability to buy and drive an increasing number of vehicles that champion a lighter impact on the environment.
As finalists are evaluated during the judging process, Green Car Journal weighs an array of important criteria such as environmental achievement, cost, value, safety, performance, functionality, and availability. These may vary from one award category to another. For instance, cost is less of a factor in Luxury Green Car of the Year™; greater driving range may not be as critical in Urban Green Car of the Year™; and immediate availability is less of an issue for Commercial Green Car of the Year™, since commercial fleets tend to plan well ahead and are used to scheduled batch builds of specialized vehicles. Some criteria take on more importance, such as electric driving range in most categories where EVs are considered; family friendliness in awards where passenger needs or capacity are important; and tow ratings and realistic long-distance towing and hauling capabilities in the case of Green Truck of the Year™.
There are more complex issues at play today. We’ve seen order banks for some new or popular pickups like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Ford Maverick suddenly close for the model year, which means consumers are no longer able to order one, at least at this time. Since price is an important consideration for most award categories, when we see sudden price hikes in the thousands of dollars, we also take notice. Then there’s the issue of supply chain disruptions and materials shortages that can delay a model’s expected availability. We take all of this into account and dive deep to ensure we’re as up to speed as possible to avoid potential surprises.
Green Car Journal’s Green Car Awards™ program has evolved over the years, most notably with the addition of more award categories to reflect the ever changing and expanding world of environmentally positive vehicles. Plus, along with the ‘greenest’ vehicles honored by the 2023 Green Car Awards™ program, Green Car Journal now recognizes the crucial roles that infrastructure and technology play in enabling a more sustainable driving future.
Let's get to it. Here are the winners of Green Car Journal’s prestigious 2023 Green Car Awards™:
TOYOTA CROWN – The Crown is Toyota's sophisticated new flagship that champions high fuel economy, lower carbon emissions, and appealing style. The five-passenger sedan features a stylish and high tech cabin designed to offer a premium feel. It’s powered by a 2.5-liter THS hybrid estimated to deliver 38 combined mpg, or a more powerful 2.4-liter turbocharged HYBRID MAX powerplant with 340 horsepower. On-demand all-wheel drive is standard.
Finalists for Green Car Journal’s legacy award included the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Nissan Ariya, Toyota bZ4X, Toyota Crown, and Volkswagen ID.4.
CADILLAC LYRIQ – Featuring upscale styling and a premium theme, the Lyriq is Cadillac’s first all-electric vehicle that’s offered in single or dual motor versions with rear- or all-wheel drive. At a base price of $62,990, the Lyriq features an impressive 312 mile driving range. Satisfying performance is delivered by 340 horsepower in the single motor variant and 500 horsepower in the dual motor version.
Among this award’s finalists were the Cadillac Lyriq, Genesis GV60, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz EQB, and Polestar 2.
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV – Last year’s introduction of the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander made waves with its more dynamic styling and upscale features. Now the next-generation Outlander PHEV has joined the lineup. Featuring standard all-wheel drive, the twin motor plug-in hybrid SUV now features significantly greater battery electric range of 38 miles and 420 miles overall, plus the addition of three-row seating that was unavailable in the previous generation Outlander PHEV.
Finalists included the Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, Toyota Sienna, and Volvo XC40.
RAM 1500 –The RAM 1500 is a model of versatility and functionality that provides pickup buyers loads of choices. It’s available in Quad Cab and Crew Cab configurations, offers two pickup box lengths, two- or four-wheel drive, and diverse power options. These include two hybrids – a 3.6-liter eTorque V-6 and 5.7-liter eTorque HEMI V-8 – plus a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel and 6.2-liter supercharged V-8. RAM can carry payloads up to 2300 pounds tow trailers up to 12,750 pounds.
Finalists considered for this award were the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford Maverick, Hyundai Santa Cruz, RAM 1500, and Toyota Tundra.
FISKER OCEAN – The all-electric Fisker Ocean SUV features an appealing and sporty design enhanced by an attractive and uncluttered high-tech interior. It’s available in three versions with a driving range of 250 to 350 miles. Beyond its zero-emission electric drive, Fisker is committed to making the Ocean a model of sustainability with over 110 pounds of recycled materials used in its construction, including crushed carbon fiber and plastics from bottles and fishing nets.
Finalists for this award were the Audi Q4 e-tron, Fisker Ocean, Honda CR-V, Kia EV6, and Subaru Solterra.
FORD F-150 LIGHTNING PRO – The F-150 Lightning PRO available to fleets offers 240 to 320 miles of all electric range, depending on battery pack, with a payload capacity up to 2235 pounds. Towing capability up to 10,000 pounds is ideal for urban and regional applications where long-distance towing is not required, since towing can significantly reduce electric range. It’s available with Pro Power Onboard outlets for power at job sites. A Special Services Vehicle variant is made for non-pursuit police department applications.
Finalists for the award were the Brightdrop EV600, Ford E-Transit, Ford F-150 Lightning PRO, Rivian Delivery Van, and Via Motors Chassis Cab.
MINI COOPER SE ELECTRIC – The fully electric MINI Cooper SE carries on the tradition of the MINI as a diminutive two-door hardtop with a fun-to-drive nature and go-kart handling, adding the important distinction of zero-emission operation. The Cooper SE Electric is an ideal vehicle for urban environments, offering a small physical footprint, easy maneuverability, and an electric driving range of 114 miles between charges.
Finalists included the BMW X1, Chevrolet Bolt, Kia Niro, MINI Cooper SE Electric, and Nissan Versa.
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 4XE – The Grand Cherokee 4xe offers all the outstanding features of Jeep’s conventional SUV with the addition of plug-in hybrid capability. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder engine and two electric motors delivering a total of 375 horsepower. This Trail Rated Jeep features 25 miles of zero-emission on- and off-road driving and a combined 470 miles of range, can tow up to 6,000 pounds, and ford up to 24 inches of water since all high-volt electronics are sealed and waterproof.
Vying for this award were the RAM 1500 eTorque, Ford F-150 Lightning, Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, Jeep Wrangler 4xe, and Rivian R1T.
FREEWIRE TECHNOLOGIES BOOST CHARGER – Freewire Technologies’ Boost Charger integrates lithium-ion battery storage to eliminate the need for expensive electrical service upgrades at gas stations adding EV fast charging. Phillips 66 has installed a Boost Charger at a station near its Houston headquarters and plans to leverage its network of 7,000 Phillips 66, Conoco, and 76 branded sites with additional Boost Chargers.
Finalists included Clean Energy Fuels RNG Stations, EVgo Autocharge+, Electrify America Megawatt Energy Storage, Freewire Boost Charger, and SparkCharge Roadie.
LI-CYCLE SPOKE & HUB TECHNOLOGIES – Li-Cycle’s Spoke & Hub system recycles end-of-life lithium-ion battery packs without requiring dismantling. Batteries undergo a submerged shredding process at regional Spoke facilities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe that produces no wastewater, with the output a black mass consisting of critical metals including lithium, cobalt, and nickel. A centralized Hub facility then processes the black mass and creates battery grade materials for reuse.
Finalists considered for this award were BMW eDrive Zones, ConnectDER, Ford Home Integration System, GM Hydrotec Fuel Cell Power Cubes, and Li-Cycle Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling.
Rising above a substantial field of ‘green’ competitors to become a Green Car Awards™ candidate is a noteworthy achievement in itself. To honor these vehicles, all finalists considered in a Green Car Awards™ category are recognized for their commendable environmental achievement with Green Car Journal’s 2023 Green Car Product of Excellence™.