An electric car is an automobile that is propelled by one or more electric motors, using electrical energy stored in rechargeable batteries or another energy storage device. Electric motors give electric cars instant torque, creating strong and smooth acceleration. They are also around three times as efficient as cars with an internal combustion engine. The first electric cars were produced in the 1880s. Since 2008, a renaissance in electric vehicle manufacturing has occurred due to advances in batteries and energy management, concerns about increasing oil prices, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several national and local governments have established tax credits, subsidies, and other incentives to promote the introduction and adoption in the mass market of new electric vehicles depending on battery size and their all-electric range. Electric cars are significantly quieter than conventional internal combustion engine automobiles. They do not emit tailpipe pollutants, giving a large reduction of local air pollution, and, can give a significant reduction in total greenhouse gas and other emissions (dependent on the method used for electricity generation). As of September 2015, there are over 30 models of highway legal all-electric passenger cars and utility vans available for retail sales, mainly in the United States, China, Japan, Western European countries. By mid-September 2015, about 620,000 light-duty electric vehicles have been sold worldwide out of total global sales of one million plug-in electric cars sold since 2008. The world's top selling highway-capable electric car is the Nissan Leaf, released in December 2010 and sold in 46 countries. Global Leaf sales passed the 200,000 unit milestone in December 2015, and the Tesla Model S, released in June 2012, ranks second with over 107,000 units sold worldwide. In this series, we cover stories covering the development of electric vehicles around the world.
Electric Vehicle Series
Tesla Fired Back At Mobileye, Says Spite And Jealousy Caused Breakup
Sep 16, 2016 13:13 pm UTC|
Technology
When news broke out that the camera and sensor tech company Mobileye broke ties with Tesla Motors, the reason given was supposedly about the latters roughshod approach to customer safety. This development came after the...
Electric Vehicle Series
Uber Has Deployed Self-Driving Cars For Select Passengers, Driverless Future Sooner Than Expected
Sep 16, 2016 13:11 pm UTC|
Technology
Uber has finally deployed its first fleet of driverless vehicles in Pittsburg, Penn., but only so-called loyal customers will be able to give them a whirl. This deployment was only two years after Uber made its intentions...
Electric Vehicle Series
Apple Car Reportedly On Its Last Legs, Employees Terminated Left And Right
Sep 12, 2016 04:44 am UTC|
Technology
Apple has been rumored to be building its own self-driving, electric car technology for some time, and the reports of the tech giant hiring some heavy hitters in the industry have only fueled the flames of hearsay....
Electric Vehicle Series
Range anxiety? Today's electric cars can cover vast majority of daily U.S. driving needs
Aug 16, 2016 16:36 pm UTC|
Insights & Views Technology
Electrifying transportation is one of the most promising ways to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, but so-called range anxiety concern about being stranded with an uncharged car battery remains a...
Electric Vehicle Series
$5B 'Tesla' Gigafactory To Partially Open On July 29
May 30, 2016 11:57 am UTC|
Technology
The Gigafactory that electric car giant Tesla has been building is finally set to open on July 29, 2016. Several VIPs have already been invited for the grand event, with special attention to those who won the car makers...
Electric Vehicle Series
The success of Tesla's Model 3 goes far beyond its affordability
Apr 10, 2016 01:02 am UTC|
Insights & Views Technology
Tesla Motors has already established its electric cars as fast, well-sized and capable of competing with petrol cars in how far they can go without needing a recharge. Now, the US firm run by Elon Musk appears to have...
Electric Vehicle Series
Will the Tesla Model 3 recharge the U.S. electric vehicle market?
Apr 07, 2016 05:57 am UTC|
Technology
Few product launches in recent memory have captured as much attention as last weeks unveiling of the Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV), Teslas first vehicle pitched at the mass market.
Orders were flooding in even...
Politics 
Germany Warns of Daily Hybrid Warfare Threats
Germany is facing foreign hybrid warfare operations on a daily basis, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has warned after authorities discovered an explosive-carrying drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport. Dobrindt said hostile...
Technology 
OpenAI Restricts Astra AI Over Cyberattack Risks
OpenAI has reportedly restricted parts of the development of its next-generation AI model, code-named Astra, after early evaluations indicated the system could potentially carry out sophisticated cyberattacks with limited...
Nintendo Shares Jump as Switch 2 Sales Boost Earnings
Nintendo shares surged nearly 5% on Friday after the Japanese gaming giant reported stronger-than-expected first-quarter earnings and upgraded its full-year financial outlook, supported by robust demand for the new Switch...