Electric cars gain momentum
Will the electric car finally go mainstream? Palo Alto-based Tesla Motors finally turned a profit, in the first quarter of 2013, on its luxury electric sport sedans. Meanwhile, major automakers are launching a slew of more affordable electric cars in the California market – at cheaper-than-ever lease prices. California pollution regulators are driving both trends, with generous subsidies to buyers and rules that essentially require automakers to produce zero-emissions cars.
Tesla workers cheer on the first Tesla Model S cars sold during a rally at the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif. (Paul Sakuma / Associated Press)
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People who drive electric cars pay the equivalent of $1.51 per gallon of gas in fueling expense in California but only 83 cents in North Dakota, according to new federal government figures.
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Chevrolet has again jumped into the fight to make alternative fueled vehicles more competitive, offering cash-back incentives for buyers of its Volt plug-in of $5,000 for 2012 models and $4,000 for 2013 models.
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The Times test drives the Nissan Leaf, Fiat 500e and Honda Fit EV to see how they stack up in the race to go green.
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A lease-price war is causing a run on battery-powered cars, and some models have even sold out in Southern California.
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Just three days after Tesla Motors Inc.
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Tesla Motors Inc.
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Whether an electric car works for you depends heavily on your driving needs.
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Gasoline prices are only slightly below levels set in 2011 and 2012, according to Energy Department statistics.
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General Motors is joining the electric-car price war with a lease deal on the Chevrolet Spark EV at $199 a month.
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A bill to extend carpool-lane access for electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles passed the California Assembly by a wide margin Monday.
