Month: April 2019

2019 GMC Sierra

General Motors CEO Mary Barra confirmed Tuesday in a call with investors what rumors had long predicted: The automaker will build an electric pickup. Barra didn’t specify when the pickup would appear, or whether it would be branded as a GMC or Chevrolet.

Rumors swirled earlier this year that GM may invest in EV startup Rivian, but that never materialized. Instead, Amazon invested up to $700 million in Rivian earlier this year. Then, last week Ford announced that it will Continue reading “GM CEO confirms plans to build Chevy or GMC electric pickup truck”

Chevrolet Bolt EV being charged outside Go Forth electric-car showroom, Portland [photo: Forth]

In the last few months, it has become clear how much of an effect the federal plug-in vehicle tax credit has on sales of electric cars. 

The tax credit on Teslas was cut in half in January, from $7,500 to $3,750, and its sales dropped from more than 90,000 cars to 63,000 after the tax credit was cut.

Dec. 31, 2018 was the last day the full credit was available for all electric cars. Continue reading “If you bought an EV last year, how did it affect your tax bill? Take our Twitter poll”

EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler

The EPA published a report last week advising local governments to start planning for climate change, despite references by the agency’s administrator that the worst effects of global warming won’t be felt for another 50 to 75 years.

The new report, “Guidance about Planning for Natural Disaster Debris,” comes as the Trump administration is working to pare back efforts to combat climate change and to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 Paris Climate Continue reading “EPA report attributes extreme weather to climate change, despite recent position”

Faraday Future completes first pre-production FF91 on August 28, 2018

On-again, off-again electric-car startup Faraday may have a future after all.

The company announced two new rounds of financing Monday, a $1.25 billion stock sale expected to be completed by the end of the year, and a $225 million bridge loan to make it to the end of the year.

In a statement, Faraday Future said the money will pay for the production of the long-awaited FF91, and pay for continued on its second model, Continue reading “Faraday Future revealed: Company gets funding to produce FF91”

2018 Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio

Daimler’s Smart brand has announced that it’s pulled the plug on the U.S. sales of its only model, the Fortwo, which went all-electric just one model year ago. 

The decision, according to Mercedes-Benz USA, holds for both U.S. and Canadian markets and has to do, the company says, with “high homologation costs for a low volume model.” It also doesn’t affect the arrival of the Mercedes-Benz EQC in 2020, or the availability of service and replacement Continue reading “Smart no more: Why the end of the Fortwo has been a long time coming”

Many riders take to roads without realising they are putting themselves in danger by wearing the incorrect clothing. This week’s tips offers advice on clothing to all riders from IAM RoadSmart’s head of driving and riding standards, Richard Gladman.

• Make sure your crash helmet fits correctly, have your head measured and try a number of makes to ensure a correct fit. It should not move around and must be secured with the chin strap when you are riding. A full face helmet will offer Continue reading “Get Ready For Spring Motorcycling…”

The government offers a free MoT, tax and insurance checker to make sure a vehicle is legally allowed on UK roads. Here’s how to use it…

You don’t need to own the vehicle to check whether it’s MoT’d, taxed or insured, all you need is a reg number. Checking the MoT history of a car has never been easier too – especially handy when you’re looking at buying a used car. And if you don’t know when your car’s MoT or tax is due, the following is also essential reading.

So, if you Continue reading “How to check if a car is taxed, MoT’d and insured”