Time for a quick quiz: which carmaker sold more plug-in electric vehicles last year—both battery electrics and plug-in hybrids—than any other? China sales Plug-In Hybrids BYD New car sales plug-in cars Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV If you're a reader in North America or Europe who managed to miss our headline, odds are you may answer "Tesla" or "Nissan," based on media coverage of those two companies' achievements. MORE

The challenge of reducing the energy used by traditional heating systems in battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars is one automakers still grapple with today. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in carsReduced battery range in cold temperatures, combined with batteries working overtime to heat the cabin, can produce drastic declines in EPA-estimated range figures. The Toyota Prius Prime. MORE

The top 2018 Porsche Panamera that money can buy now comes with a plug. New York Auto Show Plug-In Hybrids plug-in carsThat’s according to Porsche Cars North America’s Chief Operating Officer Joe Lawrence, who said as much to Green Car Reports last week during the 2017 New York auto show. “I think what we have with the (2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid) is a. MORE

BMW is off to a strong start in meeting its ambitious plug-in car sales goals for 2017. In the first two months of 2017, it doubled combined sales of electric cars and plug-in hybrids over the same period in 2016. DON'T MISS: BMW 740e, X5 xDrive 40e: where do low-range plug-in hybrids fit in? Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars BMW iBut the automaker will need to keep that momentum up. MORE

They're two high-volume plug-in hybrids, but they take different approaches to energy efficiency. The Toyota Prius Prime, new for 2017, is the plug-in version of the world's best-known, and best-selling, hybrid car. Videos Plug-In Hybrids Chevy Volt plug-in cars MORE

The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid again took the crown among plug-in electric cars whose makers report monthly sales. A total of 2,132 Volts were sold in March, bringing its three-month sales to 5,563 units, higher than any other car with a plug over the same period. sales Plug-In Hybrids New car sales plug-in cars Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV MORE

This morning, Mercedes-Benz announced that its upcoming GLC F-Cell hydrogen fuel-cell crossover SUV would also include a battery pack that plugs in to recharge. Plug-In Hybrids hydrogen plug-in cars F-CellJust like an electric car. It will be the first production vehicle in the world, in fact, to combine those two zero-emission powertrains. DON'T MISS: Mercedes-Benz GLC to offer world's. MORE

Plug-In Hybrids plug-in carsIt's a well-reviewed new minivan design from the company that invented the modern minivan three decades ago. Unlike any other minivan, however, its large battery pack gives it 33 miles of EPA-rated electric range, and it can drive largely on battery alone despite its size, its seven seats, and its gaping cargo capacity. It's the 2017 Chrysler. MORE

The German automaker says it has delivered 100,000 plug-in cars over the past three years. That figure encompasses both battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids. sales Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars BMW iAlmost exactly three years after the European launch of the i3 electric car in November 2013, BMW has reached a notable milestone in its electrification efforts. DON'T MISS: New 2017. MORE

Trucks Plug-In Hybrids California electric utilities plug-in cars Commercial vehicleCalifornia electric utility Pacific Gas & Electric recently took delivery of a pair of new trucks that it hopes will help solve two problems. The first is power outages, whether they are caused by weather or necessary planned maintenance work conducted by utilities. The other is every utility's huge bill for diesel fuel. The large trucks. MORE

Modern plug-in electric cars first became available in the U.S. sales New car sales plug-in carsin December 2010, when the Nissan Leaf and the first-generation Chevrolet Volt went on sale. Shortly after that, in his 2011 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama set the goal of putting 1 million such cars on U.S. roads by 2015. Regrettably, that goal was not reached. MORE

car market that's coming off record numbers over the last couple of years, plug-in electric car sales continued strong last month. sales Plug-In Hybrids New car sales plug-in cars Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV In a U.S. The Chevrolet Bolt EV, GM's 238-mile battery electric hatchback, set a new monthly sales record of 1,937 deliveries in its eighth month on sale—the highest number for any electric car in July. It was. MORE

But what do today's electric and plug-in cars actually cost? We've gathered together each plug-in car on sale today in one place. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars new carsIt's a hot topic whenever anyone mentions electric cars: pricing. Many electric cars are more expensive than their regular counterparts, though naturally they cost less to run too. Every vehicle here shows the. MORE

Traditionally, the North American winter months have seen a slowdown in sales of plug-in electric cars—but the rule didn't seem to apply last month. Last month, sales of the Nissan Leaf electric car actually increased over last year's comparable number, while those of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid soared. sales Plug-In Hybrids New car sales plug-in cars Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV MORE

California has always been a bellwether for automotive trends, and it leads every other state by far in the volumes of plug-in electric cars sold. sales California New car sales plug-in carsIt also led in national sales of hybrid cars for many years. In fact, for several years running, the Toyota Prius was the single most popular passenger car sold in the state—setting it well apart. MORE

The newest utility vehicle features the EDI PowerDrive 6000 plug-in electric drivetrain, delivering more than 25 miles of all-electric, zero-emissions driving, 300 more miles of range in hybrid modes, and reduces emissions by up to 80% when compared to conventional utility vehicles. MORE

Danish car designer Henrik Fisker appears to have moved on from his eponymous company and the Karma plug-in luxury sedan. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars Henrik FiskerFisker Automotive is now Karma Automotive, and is working its way back from bankruptcy under the wing of Chinese automotive supplier Wanxiang. Fisker meanwhile, is working on a supercar called the VLF Force 1, and backing a. MORE

Unlike rival Rolls-Royce, which may go directly to an all-electric model in future, Bentley has set its sights on plug-in hybrids first—and the Bentayga luxury SUV will be the first one from the brand. The plug-in versions of the Bentley Bentayga is expected to arrive next year, and will be capable of running solely on battery power and. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars MORE

Some manufacturers only offer their plug-in hybrid models in certain markets, even as hybrid models are now generally offered nationwide. Like electric cars, plug-in hybrid sales are sometimes limited to markets deemed suitably friendly to these types of vehicles by their makers. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in carsBut Hyundai has a more ambitious strategy. DON'T MISS: 2017 Hyundai. MORE

The 2017 Toyota Prius Prime is a new plug-in version of the fourth-generation Prius hybrid launched last year. It succeeds the previous Prius Plug-In Hybrid, but it's a much better—and considerably more electric—vehicle than that discontinued model. MORE

Until quite recently, luxury SUVs and plugging in didn’t really go together. Yet with the introduction of the 2015 Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, the upcoming 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e, and soon the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE550e Plug-In Hybrid, this corner of the market has entirely changed. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars luxury suvs MORE

It's the sole plug-in hybrid minivan for sale anywhere in North America, and its combination of seven seats and 33 miles of EPA-rated electric range have attracted huge interest. Plug-In Hybrids plug-in carsThe 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is, for the moment, a unique vehicle. Production of the partially electric minivan began early in April, but over the last several. MORE

It launched the "i" sub-brand dedicated to plug-in cars in 2013, and continues to sell the i3 electric city car and i8 plug-in hybrid sport coupe. BMW has also rapidly expanded the number of plug-in hybrids based on existing models in its. sales Plug-In Hybrids New car sales plug-in cars BMW iAmong the established German luxury automakers, BMW has so far shown the greatest commitment to electric cars. MORE

Porsche is moving forward with plans to produce and sells its first electric car, but the German automaker is already seeing success with plug-in hybrids. Over the past few years, Porsche has launched three plug-in models, including the Panamera S E-Hybrid sedan, Cayenne S E-Hybrid SUV, and the now-defunct 918 Spyder supercar. Plug-In Hybrids California plug-in cars MORE

As Mercedes-Benz launches a barrage of plug-in electric cars, parent company Daimler is getting executives to practice what they preach. In the near future, executives at Daimler's headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, will be required to choose either electric cars or plug-in hybrids as their company cars. Plug-In Hybrids Daimler plug-in cars MORE

The established German luxury carmakers are showing considerable enthusiasm for plug-in hybrids. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all have at least one plug-in hybrid in production or nearly there--with many more on the way. In a few years, at least some members of this group will likely offer plug-in hybrid options for virtually every model. Green Germany Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars MORE

sales of plug-in electric cars: the 100,000th Chevrolet Volt was delivered. It's the first car with a plug in any segment to reach 100,000 units, and Chevy's justified in celebrating the occasion with a press release and a bit of fanfare. sales Plug-In Hybrids New car sales plug-in cars Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV Last month marked a major milestone for U.S. MORE

Of the four prestige German auto brands, BMW is clearly the most aggressive in its plans for plug-in electric cars in various segments. Last year it launched the BMW i3 battery-electric small hatchback and the sexy BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sport coupe. Plug-In Hybrids Future Cars plug-in cars Power eDrive According to reports out of Germany, the next vehicle in the "i" family will be called the BMW. MORE

The Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid won't go on sale in the U.S. Through March, the Mitsubishi had sold 101,900 Outlander Plug-In Hybrid crossovers globally. sales Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybriduntil later this year, but it's been available in Europe and Japan for some time now. In those markets, it's actually been quite successful since launching in Japan back in January 2013. MORE

Five years after the first mass-market electric car hit the market, cars with plugs haven't lived up to the most optimistic projections for their adoption. Plug-In Hybrids Future Cars Trends plug-in cars Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV They are at least pacing the rate of hybrid cars over their first five years, but numerous factors have challenged what advocates see as an obvious evolution. Many of those challenges reside in. MORE

Nissan, General Motors, and Tesla have all 100,000 to 300,000 plug-in vehicles globally, but this year, BMW and its Mini brand are on track to deliver its own 200,000th plug-in vehicle later this. sales Plug-In Hybrids plug-in carsTesla may garner much of the buzz surrounding electric cars, but BMW has quietly become a significant challenger in the electric-vehicle sales race. MORE

The second-generation Chevrolet Volt is important not only as a high-volume plug-in hybrid, but also because components from its Voltec powertrain are designed to be used in other GM models. Plug-In Hybrids Voltec Chevy Volt plug-in cars Chevrolet Malibu HybridLast year, General Motors unveiled the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, with a powertrain very similar to the Volt's. Around the same time, it also unveiled the. MORE

Volvo currently offers plug-in hybrid powertrains in its top models—the XC90 SUV, S90 sedan, and V90. As the Swedish automaker redesigns its lower-level models, it will add plug-in hybrid options to them as well. Plug-In Hybrids Future Cars plug-in cars 3-cylinder enginesBut whereas the current T8 "Twin Engine" powertrain uses a 4-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive, other models will use a. MORE

So wouldn't it be a coup for electric cars if Chevy added a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the Corvette? Plug-In Hybrids Bob Lutz Mid-engine plug-in carsIn almost six decades on sale, the Chevrolet Corvette has become a pop culture icon as well as a mainstay of American performance. GM is now developing the eighth-generation Corvette, and no less of a personage than former GM product czar Bob. MORE

Supercars Auto Show Green Koenigsegg Koenigsegg Regera Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars Hybrid powertrains used to always tag vehicles as optimized for fuel efficiency. But that’s changed in very pronounced ways the past several years, as the fastest supercars in the world--from McLaren, Ferrari, and Porsche--have all adopted some form of hybrid technology that helps with acceleration and performance. ALSO SEE: Kids React To. MORE

The Italian supercar maker Lamborghini has abandoned any plans to use a plug-in hybrid powertrain in its sports cars in the near future. Plug-In HybridsBut instead it’s doubling down on the technology, and looking to use it where it might be best appreciated by the market: in its upcoming Urus sport-utility vehicle. The Urus, a mid-size luxury SUV. MORE

While BMW leads the Germans with five different plug-in electric vehicles announced, Mercedes-Benz is close behind with three. A few months ago, we had the chance to drive the 2016 Mercedes-Benz C 350e, the upcoming plug-in hybrid version of the new generation of C-Class luxury sedan. Plug-In Hybrids Driven plug-in cars MORE

GKN Driveline, which works as a development partner on all-wheel drive and plug-in hybrid systems for Volvo Cars, is producing an eAxle system for the new Volvo S90 plug-in hybrid. The technology first launched on the new Volvo XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid SUV. MORE

Advanced powertrain technology features in two other new Kia models on show for the first time—Niro Plug-in Hybrid crossover and Optima Sportswagon Plug-in Hybrid. Electric (Battery) Hybrids Plug-ins MORE

Despite a slower-than-expected start, plug-in electric cars are gaining momentum on the North American market. Not only are sales rising, so is consumer interest: according to a survey by AAA, shoppers’ interest in electric and plug-in hybrid cars is now neck to neck with that of pickup trucks. sales New car sales plug-in cars AAA Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV MORE

Two years ago, the launch of the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid produced the first ostensible large luxury plug-in sedan competitor to the Tesla Model S electric car. The Porsche is a plug-in hybrid, with an electric range of 15 or 16 miles; the Tesla is all-electric, with ranges of 208 to 275 miles. Green Mercedes Plug-In Hybrids Tesla Motors plug-in cars MORE

We know very little about the plug-in hybrid version that Fiat Chrysler will launch sometime after the new 2017 Chrysler Town & Country minivan is unveiled next year. But while a spate of plug-in hybrid SUVs and crossover utility vehicles is just about to enter the U.S. market, only Chrysler will offer a minivan that plugs in and can run. Green Future Cars Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars MORE

Japan Plug-In Hybrids plug-in cars hydrogen fuel cell Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV In March, we spent most of a day with the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, the first of three variants of the Clarity mid-size sedan to go on sale in the U.S. Leases of the hydrogen-powered Clarity will be limited for the foreseeable future to residents of those areas of California near to hydrogen fueling stations, but two more versions are on their way. MORE