Jim Motavalli Blog

A primer on replacing the Prius pack
Much of what you may have heard about new batteries for your aging Toyota hybrid is probably wrong, and there are some new replacement twists, including a new (and lower) dealer price on packs.
Wanted: A sexy electric car
Image rules! If battery vehicles get tagged as expensive, slow or the opposite of fun, we're in trouble. It's time for a makeover in the form of a charismatic plug-in hot rod. The Tesla Model S will do.
Caught on tape! Gas cars parking in electric vehicle spots
EV charging spots are conveniently located near the entrance, but gas cars sometimes hog them. What can be done about that?
The $20,000 electric car
The Tata eMO is incredibly cute, fairly practical, and may become reality now that India's Tata is teaming up with France's Dassault Systems to actually produce the low-cost car.
Now Siri's in everybody's car
The world's favorite iPhone 4 voice is being courted by the auto industry, and will soon be offering friendly advice in BMWs, Cadillacs and Chryslers.
Tesla's Model S: Off and running
The rubber is meeting the road, as the keys to the first Tesla sedans are handed to real, live customers. So far, the reaction is ecstatic, but will the company be able to sell these cars in big numbers?
The walking dead: Saab's revival plan
Saab has been through hell on the road to bankruptcy, and now it's being revived by an unlikely Chinese/Japanese consortium that wants to build electric cars. The odds are still daunting, but there are some intriguing synergies at work here.
Cars that say you've made it
Every decade has its over-the-top supercars that only the rich and famous can afford. I've never owned one (and you probably haven't either) but it's an interesting look at car culture. Here are my personal picks, from the 1920s to now.
From 'Jetsons' to your driveway: A folding car
Modern electronic controls help make science-fiction visions like the Hiriko Fold possible. It's an Explorer-sized electric car pod that folds to fit into a third of a parking space. Here's the ultimate solution to urban charging issues!
Why wildly erratic gas prices are driving everybody crazy
Americans are changing their car-buying habits every month, as gas prices send up and down signals to the marketplace. The solution: A price floor for gasoline, guaranteed by the feds. Politically, it's dead on arrival.

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