Volkswagen’s coming ID Buzz electric microbus is generating loads of interest. The idea of an electrified reincarnation of the iconic VW bus isn’t new, though, as Volkswagen showed its intentions back in 2007 with its Space Up! Blue microbus concept.
Rocker Eddie Money’s 1978 hit song, ‘Two Tickets to Paradise,” was playing in my head as I worked on logistics for our almost-post-pandemic travels. Hawaii was on our mind, as it has been during many trips there over the years.
Every year, there are new vehicle models that stand out with their exceptional efficiency and attention to environmental performance. You need to know about them. Green Car Journal’s Green Car Awards honor the best-of-the-best to keep you up to speed.
A growing array of driver assist systems are offered by automakers to help make driving a safer experience. Many provide audible and visual warnings, while some do this and also take control to avoid a collision. Here’s a closer look.
The need for zero-emission delivery vans is epic considering the sheer number of last-mile deliveries taking place these days. GM’s BrightDrop EV600 electric delivery van – Green Car Journal’s 2022 Commercial Green Car of the Year – aims to fill that need.
After decades of high hopes and false starts, there’s positive electric vehicle news to share as the age of the EV is materializing before our eyes. But the transition to electric vehicles faces an array of challenges large and small.
Electrification is picking up speed, but it isn’t just electric cars and pickups that matter. Delivery vans represent an important part of the evolving electric vehicle space, offering an outsized environmental return for the investment since they’re constantly in motion.
The RAV4 compact SUV is one of Toyota's all-time best sellers and continues to evolve and improve with every generation. Since its debut in 1994, over 10 million RAV4 examples have been sold worldwide, a tribute to this enduring model.
Interest in ‘green’ cars of all types is growing. Automakers recognize this and now offer an increasing number of models that speak to greater efficiency, lower tailpipe and carbon emissions, and electrification. The Green Car Awards celebrate these laudable efforts.
Automakers have long embraced hybrid technology to improve driving efficiency, with many also offering plug-in hybrid capability that delivers zero-emission driving solely on batteries. Lincoln is joining in with its second luxury plug-in SUV model, the 2021 Corsair Grand Touring.
Ford introduced the Mustang brand to an eager and enthusiastic market over 55 years ago, offering something truly distinctive with enduring appeal. Now a new and uniquely different Mustang model has joined the lineup that promises to stir things up.
Audi’s e-tron electric car broke new ground when it was introduced two years ago. There’s something to be said for branching out, though, and that’s what the 2021 e-tron Sportback model does with its sleeker fastback styling and compelling persona.
Toyota’s new 2021 Sienna hybrid minivan targets sales leaders Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Kia Sedona with a fresh and dynamic design, much improved drive characteristics and cabin environment, an array of important technology innovations, and arguably best-in-segment convenience features.
Electrification is spreading rapidly across the automotive spectrum in ways that are, if not surprising, pleasantly quicker than expected. One example is Jeep’s Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid, a model that enables zero-emission on- and off-roading as part of everyday life.
‘Right-sized’ crossover SUVs are clearly a hot trend these days, as evidenced by the many downsized models that proliferate on our highways. Happily, gone are the days when legions of massive SUVs with single drivers jammed roadways and parking lots.
BMW’s second-generation 330e plug-in hybrid sport sedan is better, faster, and goes farther on battery power than its predecessor of just a few years back, delivering the benefits of electrification while remaining true to the racing heritage of the brand.
Hyundai’s Elantra sedan has been an important model for the automaker since its introduction. Now, an all-new generation is poised to hit the streets featuring Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ Parametric Design directive, which comes screaming through with a compelling coupe-like profile.
Polestar 2 features an excellent combination of high-performance horsepower and torque without carbon emissions. This electric hatchback brings mainstream good looks, Swedish engineering sensibilities, and Volvo style to a segment crying for quality, choice, and a broadened vehicle service network.
Ford has redesigned its F-150 pickup for the 2021 model year and it will be easy to spot thanks to a tougher, bolder look. Among its new design features are a power dome hood, higher front fenders, and wrap-around bumpers.
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.
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!
Today, we take the advanced batteries that power electric vehicles for granted. Lithium-ion batteries, which followed advanced lead-acid and nickel-metal hydride, is mainstream. Many exotic EV battery technologies were tried over the years, including the sodium-sulfur battery in Ford’s Ecostar.
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.
Public charging has been provided for free at many retail locations and parking garages as a way to encourage buying an EV, or to enhance an establishment’s environmental image. Now, pay-per-use chargers are increasingly the norm. But at what cost?
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.