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John O'DellJohn O'Dell

I’m John O’Dell – the green car guy – and for more than two decades I’ve been an automotive writer, editor and analyst specializing in alternative vehicles and fuels.

Plug-In Car Shopping Made Easy, Part 2

Six Things You’ll Need to Know About PEVs

[Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes]

(Updated 11/22/17)

Information can make a world of difference when you are car shopping, and when you’re shopping for a plug-in vehicle it’s not just nice to have a bit of knowledge about the cars and the things that are unique to cars with rechargeable batteries, it is critical. Getting a car is difficult enough anyway, even just getting the right sort of insurance can be a confusing time. There are loads of different sorts of insurance though that people can get. It’s not just car insurance, but also van insurance and scooter insurance. If you are interested in getting insurance for your scooter though, then you can check out something like this motor scooter insurance here.

Once you’ve settled on a model or two to test drive, your dealership visit will be smoother if you take time beforehand to read these tips:

Read more »Plug-In Car Shopping Made Easy, Part 2

What’s a hybrid?

[Estimated Reading Time: Less than 2 minutes]

It’s hard to believe now, but hybrid cars – vehicles such as the Toyota Prius – once were considered exotics with mysteriously complicated powertrains.

True, the hybrid powertrain is a bit complex. But the cars, which debuted in the U.S. in 1999 with the first generation Honda Insight, followed rapidly by rival Toyota’s Prius, are now commonplace. with dozens of models on the market.

Still, it’s nice to know what’s under the hood, and elsewhere.

Read more »What’s a hybrid?

Plug-In Car Shopping Made Easy, Part 1.

The horror stories abound. People out shopping for a plug-in vehicle, whether a plug-in hybrid or a battery-electric car, or EV, often find themselves in dealerships with sales people who don’t know much about the cars, can’t answer basic questions and would rather sell gas-burners.

[Estimated Reading Time: 2.5 minutes]

(Updated 11/25/17 to include Ipsos RDA’s secret EV shopper research)

Read more »Plug-In Car Shopping Made Easy, Part 1.