en Latest news, reviews, and more from around the High Gear Media network of sites http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/logo-hgm.gif http://www.thecarconnection.com Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 High Gear Media http://www.thecarconnection.com The long-promised announcement from Tesla Motors on expansion of its Supercharger network has been delayed by the company's billion-dollar fundraising, and this week's payoff of its entire Department of Energy loan. But Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] still plans a rapid expansion of the network of fast-charging stations for its Model S electric cars...]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084388_tesla-supercharger-coming-to-midwest-too-not-just-coasts http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084388_tesla-supercharger-coming-to-midwest-too-not-just-coasts feedback@highgearmedia.com (John Voelcker) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084388_tesla-supercharger-coming-to-midwest-too-not-just-coasts#comments John Voelcker The long-promised announcement from Tesla Motors on expansion of its Supercharger network has been delayed by the company's billion-dollar fundraising, and this week's payoff of its entire Department of Energy loan. But Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] still plans a rapid expansion of the network of fast-charging stations for its Model S electric cars...]]> 6 In spy movies, information is used as a form of currency; it's traded for hostages, treasure, and occasionally, more information. But the practice isn't just limited to films. It takes place in the business world, too, and the auto industry is no exception. According to AutoNews, Ford and Daimler have struck just such an arrangement. As per the...]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084385_sharing-savvy-smart-ford-discuss-fuel-efficient-three-cylinder-engines http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084385_sharing-savvy-smart-ford-discuss-fuel-efficient-three-cylinder-engines feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084385_sharing-savvy-smart-ford-discuss-fuel-efficient-three-cylinder-engines#comments Richard Read In spy movies, information is used as a form of currency; it's traded for hostages, treasure, and occasionally, more information. But the practice isn't just limited to films. It takes place in the business world, too, and the auto industry is no exception. According to AutoNews, Ford and Daimler have struck just such an arrangement. As per the...]]> 3 The Nissan Leaf is no stranger to videogames. Last year, we had a little race between a Leaf and the Toyota Prius--albeit in the realistic but completely virtual world of Gran Turismo 5. But what you can't do in Gran Turismo is virtually charge your virtual Leaf with virtual solar panels--something recently introduced to the popular SimCity series...]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084383_nissan-leaf-solar-canopy-charging-station-in-new-sims-game http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084383_nissan-leaf-solar-canopy-charging-station-in-new-sims-game feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084383_nissan-leaf-solar-canopy-charging-station-in-new-sims-game#comments Antony Ingram The Nissan Leaf is no stranger to videogames. Last year, we had a little race between a Leaf and the Toyota Prius--albeit in the realistic but completely virtual world of Gran Turismo 5. But what you can't do in Gran Turismo is virtually charge your virtual Leaf with virtual solar panels--something recently introduced to the popular SimCity series...]]> 2 Many things can signify summer--the weather finally being warm enough to ditch those outer layers of clothing; TV ads taking a distinctly more cheery tone; maybe simply hunting around for your sunshades for the first time in six months. It's now possible to have fun in the sun and get good gas mileage, with convertibles getting ever more frugal...]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084381_summer-sensibly-four-2013-convertibles-with-good-gas-mileage http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084381_summer-sensibly-four-2013-convertibles-with-good-gas-mileage feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084381_summer-sensibly-four-2013-convertibles-with-good-gas-mileage#comments Antony Ingram Many things can signify summer--the weather finally being warm enough to ditch those outer layers of clothing; TV ads taking a distinctly more cheery tone; maybe simply hunting around for your sunshades for the first time in six months. It's now possible to have fun in the sun and get good gas mileage, with convertibles getting ever more frugal...]]> 2 Hydrogen is often lauded as a fuel of the future--a way to offer the combined benefits of electric vehicles and combustion cars in one, simple package. The reality is a little more complicated, as you might imagine. But one of hydrogen's long-standing issues, the cleanliness of its production, could change with a new technique. As Science Daily...]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084379_hydrogen-production-gets-cleaner-now-with-lower-carbon-monoxide http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084379_hydrogen-production-gets-cleaner-now-with-lower-carbon-monoxide feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084379_hydrogen-production-gets-cleaner-now-with-lower-carbon-monoxide#comments Antony Ingram Hydrogen is often lauded as a fuel of the future--a way to offer the combined benefits of electric vehicles and combustion cars in one, simple package. The reality is a little more complicated, as you might imagine. But one of hydrogen's long-standing issues, the cleanliness of its production, could change with a new technique. As Science Daily...]]> 6 The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel went on sale this week at a handful of top Chevy dealers, and company executives said two of its first three buyers were new to diesel cars. The new diesel Cruze, fitted with a 151-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine built in Germany, is GM's first diesel passenger car sold in the U.S. since 1986...]]> Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084377_2014-chevrolet-cruze-diesel-goes-on-sale-to-pull-new-buyers-to-brand http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084377_2014-chevrolet-cruze-diesel-goes-on-sale-to-pull-new-buyers-to-brand feedback@highgearmedia.com (John Voelcker) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084377_2014-chevrolet-cruze-diesel-goes-on-sale-to-pull-new-buyers-to-brand#comments John Voelcker The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel went on sale this week at a handful of top Chevy dealers, and company executives said two of its first three buyers were new to diesel cars. The new diesel Cruze, fitted with a 151-horsepower 2.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine built in Germany, is GM's first diesel passenger car sold in the U.S. since 1986...]]> 5 It might not be going on sale to U.S. consumers, but the BYD e6 will eventually appear in the U.S. in commercial fleets--perhaps to a taxi stand near you. Taxi duties seem to be the e6's true calling, and it's already operating in China in just such a role. Now it's going on duty in Hong Kong too, where pollution dogs the city's streets and the...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084356_byd-e6-electric-taxi-fleet-launched-in-hong-kong-to-cut-pollution http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084356_byd-e6-electric-taxi-fleet-launched-in-hong-kong-to-cut-pollution feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084356_byd-e6-electric-taxi-fleet-launched-in-hong-kong-to-cut-pollution#comments Antony Ingram It might not be going on sale to U.S. consumers, but the BYD e6 will eventually appear in the U.S. in commercial fleets--perhaps to a taxi stand near you. Taxi duties seem to be the e6's true calling, and it's already operating in China in just such a role. Now it's going on duty in Hong Kong too, where pollution dogs the city's streets and the...]]> 2 Owners of electric cars and plug-in hybrids enjoy plenty of benefits: tax breaks, lower fuel costs, and the satisfaction that comes from driving a low- or zero-emission vehicle, to name a few. In California, owners also enjoy easier commutes: they can apply for special stickers that allow them to travel in carpool lanes, even when a driver is...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084353_ca-electric-cars-get-carpool-lane-access-til-2020-plug-in-hybrids-til-2018 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084353_ca-electric-cars-get-carpool-lane-access-til-2020-plug-in-hybrids-til-2018 feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084353_ca-electric-cars-get-carpool-lane-access-til-2020-plug-in-hybrids-til-2018#comments Richard Read Owners of electric cars and plug-in hybrids enjoy plenty of benefits: tax breaks, lower fuel costs, and the satisfaction that comes from driving a low- or zero-emission vehicle, to name a few. In California, owners also enjoy easier commutes: they can apply for special stickers that allow them to travel in carpool lanes, even when a driver is...]]> 7 Yesterday we reported that two companies, VL Automotive and China's Wanxiang Group, had put in a bid for struggling automaker Fisker Automotive. It's now become clear just how little the ailing plug-in carmaker is worth to investors and buyers, with Reuters revealing the VL and Wanxiang bid totalled just $20 million. Sources close to the company...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084354_wanxiang-vl-offer-for-fisker-reported-to-be-just-20-million http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084354_wanxiang-vl-offer-for-fisker-reported-to-be-just-20-million feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084354_wanxiang-vl-offer-for-fisker-reported-to-be-just-20-million#comments Antony Ingram Yesterday we reported that two companies, VL Automotive and China's Wanxiang Group, had put in a bid for struggling automaker Fisker Automotive. It's now become clear just how little the ailing plug-in carmaker is worth to investors and buyers, with Reuters revealing the VL and Wanxiang bid totalled just $20 million. Sources close to the company...]]> 5 You learn something new every day: Cholesterol, a little like bacteria, comes in body "good" and "bad" forms. All those low-cholesterol spread adverts have been lying to us! What's more worrying is that good cholesterol can change into bad cholesterol, and it could be car exhaust fumes that make it happen. Researchers at UCLA have discovered that...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084351_auto-exhaust-contributes-to-clogged-arteries-study-finds http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084351_auto-exhaust-contributes-to-clogged-arteries-study-finds feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084351_auto-exhaust-contributes-to-clogged-arteries-study-finds#comments Antony Ingram You learn something new every day: Cholesterol, a little like bacteria, comes in body "good" and "bad" forms. All those low-cholesterol spread adverts have been lying to us! What's more worrying is that good cholesterol can change into bad cholesterol, and it could be car exhaust fumes that make it happen. Researchers at UCLA have discovered that...]]> 5 Ah, politics. Yesterday, Tesla paid off the balance of its U.S. government loan, using proceeds from its $1 billion-plus offering of stock and warrants last week, as CEO Elon Musk had said Monday it would in a tweet. The amount settled yesterday was $451.8 million, following installments paid by Tesla last year and in the first quarter of this...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084340_tesla-repays-465-million-doe-loan-chrysler-bites-back-at-claim http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084340_tesla-repays-465-million-doe-loan-chrysler-bites-back-at-claim feedback@highgearmedia.com (John Voelcker) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084340_tesla-repays-465-million-doe-loan-chrysler-bites-back-at-claim#comments John Voelcker Ah, politics. Yesterday, Tesla paid off the balance of its U.S. government loan, using proceeds from its $1 billion-plus offering of stock and warrants last week, as CEO Elon Musk had said Monday it would in a tweet. The amount settled yesterday was $451.8 million, following installments paid by Tesla last year and in the first quarter of this...]]> 16 It's official: Cars really are getting more efficient. Not that there isn't a long way still to go, but virtually every month statistics emerge to suggest the average fuel efficiency of vehicles in the U.S. has gone up another few fractions of a percent. There are still winners and losers though, so we decided to think positive and look at the...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084349_gasoline-diesel-hybrids-and-plug-ins-the-efficiency-leaders http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084349_gasoline-diesel-hybrids-and-plug-ins-the-efficiency-leaders feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084349_gasoline-diesel-hybrids-and-plug-ins-the-efficiency-leaders#comments Antony Ingram It's official: Cars really are getting more efficient. Not that there isn't a long way still to go, but virtually every month statistics emerge to suggest the average fuel efficiency of vehicles in the U.S. has gone up another few fractions of a percent. There are still winners and losers though, so we decided to think positive and look at the...]]> 7 One of the biggest hurdles for the proliferation of electric cars has been their high relative cost. While that is to be expected with any new technology, electric cars have received a lot of flak for being just too pricey for the market. That’s starting to change, however, especially now that Chevrolet has priced its new 2014 Spark EV from...]]> Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084341_2014-chevrolet-spark-ev-electric-car-priced-at-27495 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084341_2014-chevrolet-spark-ev-electric-car-priced-at-27495 feedback@highgearmedia.com (Viknesh Vijayenthiran) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084341_2014-chevrolet-spark-ev-electric-car-priced-at-27495#comments Viknesh Vijayenthiran One of the biggest hurdles for the proliferation of electric cars has been their high relative cost. While that is to be expected with any new technology, electric cars have received a lot of flak for being just too pricey for the market. That’s starting to change, however, especially now that Chevrolet has priced its new 2014 Spark EV from...]]> 26 It's ironic that one of the best characteristics of modern diesels is also their downfall, for many owners. New diesels are so refined, and some owners so unused to filling with diesel, that they accidentally fill their cars with gasoline--resulting in a breakdown. To help prevent this, Volkswagen is set to retrofit more than a quarter million...]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 13:30:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084338_vw-to-help-prevent-diesel-misfueling-with-dealer-retrofit http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084338_vw-to-help-prevent-diesel-misfueling-with-dealer-retrofit feedback@highgearmedia.com (Antony Ingram) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084338_vw-to-help-prevent-diesel-misfueling-with-dealer-retrofit#comments Antony Ingram It's ironic that one of the best characteristics of modern diesels is also their downfall, for many owners. New diesels are so refined, and some owners so unused to filling with diesel, that they accidentally fill their cars with gasoline--resulting in a breakdown. To help prevent this, Volkswagen is set to retrofit more than a quarter million...]]> 6 We've been thinking a lot about natural-gas fueled vehicles, for reasons that will become clear in due course. Writing about green cars can occasionally be awkward, because there are different audiences for diesels versus hybrids, for plug-in electric cars, and for other types of alternative fuels. The purchase motivations that drive buyers of...]]> Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084327_do-electric-and-natural-gas-cars-compete-against-each-other http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084327_do-electric-and-natural-gas-cars-compete-against-each-other feedback@highgearmedia.com (John Voelcker) http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1084327_do-electric-and-natural-gas-cars-compete-against-each-other#comments John Voelcker We've been thinking a lot about natural-gas fueled vehicles, for reasons that will become clear in due course. Writing about green cars can occasionally be awkward, because there are different audiences for diesels versus hybrids, for plug-in electric cars, and for other types of alternative fuels. The purchase motivations that drive buyers of...]]> 17