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FROM THE ARCHIVES

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Chevy Volt Put GM Way Ahead, Again

The 2011 Chevy Volt earned 2011 Green Car of the Year at its debut. It emerged as a new generation in 2016 and won again. Here’s how it began.

Most Recent

Prius Prime: Cool, Collected, Confident

Our long-term Prius Prime XSE is not only delivering a fun and efficient driving experience, but also confidence during marginal weather drives.

Schwarzenegger and the Hydrogen Highway

Long before the advent of hydrogen hubs, California’s 38th governor was an outspoken champion of hydrogen. Here are his thoughts from back in the day.

GM EV1: The OG of Electric Cars

Green Car Journal editors had the unique experience of living with a GM EV1 electric car for a year in the late 1990s. We were driving the future.

Why We Want to Plug In

We knew 17 years ago that plug-in hybrids could provide most of the environmental and fossil fuel-savings
benefits long promised by battery electric vehicles.

Is the Maverick Pickup Your Best First Car?

Small pickups once ruled high school parking lots across this land. Could Ford’s Maverick pickup bring back this trend while serving as an ideal “first car?”

Ron Cogan behind the wheel

EVs are Not the Answer. They are a Choice.

The development of modern EVs has been accelerating for decades. They are important to our future but not to the exclusion of other fuels and technologies.

Don't Miss

Toyota's All-New Venza Hybrid

The crossover SUV market is hot, to the point where these highly-functional vehicles have become one of the most desired of all models on the highway. Joining the ranks is Toyota’s stylish and new Venza Hybrid that definitely rates consideration.

Czinger's 3D Printed Hypercar

Can you build cars with advanced 3D printing? A demonstration 3D printed car was created at the SEMA Show, then students at NTU in Singapore created a race car. Now a California company is building a production hybrid supercar. Wow!

Electric Ford Ecostar

Many exotic electric vehicle battery technologies were tried over the years, including the ’hot’ sodium-sulfur battery in the Ford Ecostar.

A New Day for Electric Pickups

Pickups and electric vehicles are top of mind these days. So why not put the two together? That’s exactly what Ford, GM, and a growing list of startup companies are focusing on today, promising great choices for pickup buyers ahead.

The Cost of Public Charging

Free charging has been offered at retail locations and parking garages for some time. Now, pay-per-use chargers are increasingly the norm. But at what cost?

How Mitsubishi’s PHEV Works

Featuring an innovative series-parallel hybrid system, the plug-in Mitsubishi PHEV brings a host of advanced technologies to bear that distinguish the model amid its peers. It’s all-wheel drive, features Level 1, 2, and 3 charging, and offers seamless electric operation.

The Real Cost of Charging EVs

Driving electric is cheaper than driving on gas, but how much cheaper? Calculating the cost of charging up is not a simple thing. Let's crunch the numbers.

What About Alternative Fuels?

Alternative fuels like biodiesel, ethanol, methanol, compressed natural gas, and propane autogas once shared equal billing with electric vehicles. What changed?

The Hydrogen Highway

Many feel that a ‘hydrogen economy’ is likely in our future. Whether it will include cars, SUVs, and light trucks remains an open question, since most automakers are focusing future efforts on EVs with longer driving range, rather than hydrogen.

Fisker’s Electric Ocean SUV

Noted designer and entrepreneur Henrik Fisker’s first effort at being an automaker focused on a stunning electric car. That didn’t pan out as planned, but provided important insights into how to successfully bring a new brand and vehicle to market.

Electric Pickup Disconnect

Electric pickups are coming…but are we ready for them? A new generation of high-tech trucks promises to deliver all the functionality expected of modern pickups along with highly efficient and zero-emission electric drive. The challenge: Where to charge them all.

Outlander PHEV Test Update

Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV is a hidden gem in a sea of crossovers and SUVs. It offers advanced features and capabilities found on plug-in hybrid competitors costing tens of thousands of dollars more, while offering a fun and family-friendly SUV experience.

All-Electric MINI Cooper SE

MINI has been easing into electrification for some time now. It’s been years since the MINI E electric vehicle plied the roads as a lease-only, limited test fleet in L.A. and New York. Now the MINI Cooper SE is here.

Karma Revero GT Impresses

The Karma Revero GT, 2020 Luxury Green Car of the Year, represents the evolution of the Revero series hybrid. Karma Automotive devoted significant resources in reworking every part of this grand touring sedan, with enormous success.

Porsche's Electric Taycan

Porsche fans have waited patiently for this storied marque to rise to the Tesla challenge. That’s no easy thing, and it had to be done right or risk both reputation and future market share. The result is as expected. Spectacular!

Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring

SUV and crossover buyers are a pretty diverse bunch, especially these days as those accustomed to sedans are increasingly making their way to these more functional vehicles. Now, upscale buyers have a great new choice in the Lincoln Aviator PHEV.

Toyota Corolla: Shiny and New, Hybrid Too!

You might not expect an entry-level sedan to offer surprising style, extremely high fuel efficiency, and an unexpected level of advanced electronics and driver assist systems. Yet, that’s what the new-generation Toyota Corolla brings to car buyers on a budget.

BMW Updates 745e xDrive Plug-In

Looking for luxury, performance, and sufficient battery electric range for short commutes or around-town driving? The BMW 745e xDrive iPerformance may pique your interest. This plug-in hybrid gets an updated look for 2020 along with a more powerful hybrid drivetrain.