Fuel-efficient Vehicles

Prius leads 2013 California car sales; domestic brands make gains

2013-05-24 07:40:00

The Toyota Prius hybrid was the bestselling vehicle in California during the first quarter of this year, narrowly outpacing Honda’s redesigned Accord sedan. Toyota posted sales of 15,661 of the hybrids, leading the Accord’s sales of 15,369...

Chevy Spark EV lease highlights electric-car price cuts

2013-05-23 09:00:00

General Motors is joining the electric-car price war with a lease deal on the Chevrolet Spark EV at $199 a month. The deal, announced this morning, follows the recent offerings of $199 leases on Nissan’s Leaf – a big price drop after two...

U.S. drivers will spend $1.4 billion on gasoline over Memorial Day

2013-05-23 11:45:00

Get ready for an expensive three-day weekend behind the wheel. The Union of Concerned Scientists says that Americans will spend about $1.4 billion on gasoline over the course of the Memorial Day holiday. Among those paying the most will be...

Tesla Motors pays off Department of Energy advanced technology loan

2013-05-22 13:46:00

Upstart electric car maker Tesla Motors on Wednesday paid off a Department Energy loan that had become a political hot potato. Tesla owed the federal government $451.8 million on a loan that was part of a special program to develop alternative fuel...

Assembly OKs clean vehicle carpool-lane access to 2020; Senate next

2013-05-21 08:36:00

A bill to extend carpool-lane access for electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles passed the California Assembly by a wide margin Monday. The legislation, AB 266 written by Robert Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills), also gives such vehicles access...

Fiat moving to the U.S.? Chief has hinted at why it might make sense

2013-05-16 09:45:00

Reports out of Europe suggest that Fiat SpA, the 114-year-old Turin, Italy-based automaker, has a headquarters move to the U.S. under consideration. If it happens, the move would likely occur after Fiat's planned merger with Chrysler Group. It would...

Mercedes-Benz unveils all-new 2014 S-Class

2013-05-15 12:46:00

This is the Mercedes-Benz you’re familiar with. After spending the early part of 2013 introducing new small cars like the CLA and the all-electric B-Class to the U.S. consumer, the German automaker returned its attention on Wednesday to a car...

Tesla to raise $830 million from investors, repay U.S. debt

2013-05-15 18:55:00

Fresh off its first profitable quarter, Tesla Motors Inc. plans to raise about $830 million in a stock and debt offering that will enable the electric car maker to pay off its $465-million federal loan. Founder Elon Musk, who owns 33 million shares,...

As Tesla taps capital markets for cash, share price could top $100

2013-05-17 10:25:00

Tesla Motors shares are trading at about $90 and could easily top $100, buoyed by its ability to tap capital markets for about $1 billion through its announced sale of stock and convertible notes. It is an impressive performance that will help the...

Two tech executives quit Mark Zuckerberg's Fwd.us political group

2013-05-10 19:08:00

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have quit Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg's political advocacy group Fwd.us after protests from environmentalists and liberal groups, a person familiar with the situation said late...

First Times drive: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 diesel

2013-05-10 05:00:00

In the tense days of this nation’s twin gas crises in the 1970s, one automaker dominated U.S. roads with diesel cars: Mercedes-Benz. The automaker says that between 1975 and 1985, a majority of its cars sold here were diesels, hitting a peak of 80%....

Letters: No free money for Tesla

2013-05-10 00:00:00

Re "Tesla drives state credits to the bank," May 6 Tesla Motors is an example of an innovative, homegrown California industry. It is building ultra-clean cars and providing employment for 2,800 people in a formerly abandoned car factory. This...

Bridgeport Pasty Co. runs an emission-free electric-powered food truck. The Global Electric Motor car is made by Polaris in Fargo, N.D.

2013-05-23 00:00:00

1967 Karmann Ghia converted to an all-electric car by high school students. Social media mentions add watts to the Ghia's run to Washington, D.C. #minddrive

2013-05-22 11:01:00

Solar charging station for Chevy Volts and other plug-in electric cars is free at Phillips Chevrolet in southwest suburban Frankfort. Volt sales tripled in 2012, and are up 3.2% in 2013.

2013-05-20 08:57:00