A new rule in the United States will require all hybrid and electric vehicles to emit a noise when operating below 18.6mph. The purpose of the noise is to warn pedestrians (and animals) of the otherwise-quiet vehicle’s approach. The rule was initially proposed in 2010, but has faced delays for the last eight years. Automakers must have fifty percent of…
BMW is embracing electrification, including hybrids and pure electric vehicles. The company’s head of product development says that is the only way it can meet stringent emissions regulations in the future. European customers are likely to see most of the new electric-drive technology first, BMW says, because Europe has more strict regulations than other parts of the world. Read the entire…
The Chicago Tribune reports that federal and state incentives make plug-in vehicles one of the best values on the market. Federal tax credits worth up to $7,500 are available for pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, plus a varying amount of state incentives. The exact amount of the credit depends on issues such as battery size and how much battery power is…
Eight states, including California and New York, have pledged to work together to dramatically multiply the number of zero-emission cars on the nation’s roads by speeding the construction of charging stations and other infrastructure. The AP reports that the goal is to put 3.3 million battery-powered cars, plug-in hybrids and other clean-burning vehicles on the roads in those states by…