The Crank: Did GM “lie” about its Chevy Volt being an “electric” car?

By John LeBlanc Its General Motors’ so-called Jesus (as in savior) Car. And it’s being rolled out in its home U.S. market right now, before it makes its way to Canada next year. Yet, in what should be a shining moment in the sun for one of the most talked about new cars in some […]

Paris 2010: Is it the end of the car, as we know it?

Story and photos by John LeBlanc PARIS — Woe be the modern automaker. With a lingering economic recession, ever-tightening fuel economy and emissions regulations and a younger population that is more interested in their next cell phone than their next set of four wheels, the global auto industry is seemingly under attack from all sides.

The Crank: Nissan EV only selling to the oldies

By John LeBlanc Here’s a good one: Instead of the young, hip buyers that you would think an electric-vehicle would attract—you know, the types of customers who are busy spending time updating their Facebook account and plotting ways to get Mom and Dad to pay for their next iPhone app—Nissan is saying that the average […]

The Crank: New Nissan EV’s Canadian availability dependent on government incentives

By John LeBlanc If you haven’t heard, Nissan’s new Leaf electric vehicle is becoming a big deal. The five-passenger car will be the first fully electric car launched by a major automaker and could become a future collectible. It is designed to provide a 160 km range on a full charge. And it looks like […]

Will going electric ever make automotive sense?

By John LeBlanc We’re hearing — and seeing — a lot this year about the electrification of the car. And not just from boutique, low volume companies like California’s Tesla, which has only sold about 1,000 copies of its $125,000 Roadster since going on sale two years ago. Huge, mainstream global automakers like Toyota, Mitsubishi, […]

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