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Sebastian Blanco

sebastian.blanco@motor1.com

Articles by Sebastian Blanco

2018 Nissan LEAF Test Drive Review

2018 Nissan LEAF Test Drive Review

We drive the all-new 2018 Nissan LEAF. There's a good case to be made that Nissan does know what it’s doing. Driving the new LEAF simply confirms that.
By Sebastian Blanco 12 December 2017
2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV First Drive

2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV First Drive

Now that it’s finally here, it's high time to see if Americans will be as enthusiastic about this affordable plug-in CUV as our friends across the oceans.
By Sebastian Blanco 04 October 2017
Battery Tech New Tesla Patent Shows A Trailer-based Battery Swap Station

New Tesla Patent Shows A Trailer-based Battery Swap Station

If you thought Tesla's battery swap station was a dead idea, this new patent filing we found for a trailer-based system might change your mind.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 September 2017
Battery Tech ME2 L-Loop Self-Charges Your EV. No, Really

ME2 L-Loop Self-Charges Your EV. No, Really

When Ford engineers designed the Focus Electric, they never expected a guy in Iowa would fill the trunk with batteries. But James Dierickx did just that.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 September 2017
Battery Tech TankTwo Still Wants To Stuff Your String Battery Full Of Nuggets

TankTwo Still Wants To Stuff Your String Battery Full Of Nuggets

TankTwo CEO Bert Holtappels still believes in his idea of cell eggs that be refilled (not recharged) in minutes, and also vary an EVs energy capacity.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 September 2017
Charging Tritium's First 350-kW DC Fast Chargers Coming To U.S. In April

Tritium's First 350-kW DC Fast Chargers Coming To U.S. In April

The time has come, the walrus said, to speak of many things, of fast charging and 350-kW availability, and whether EVs have wings.
By Sebastian Blanco 13 September 2017
General Arcimoto Signature Series Are The 'Sweetest'

Arcimoto Signature Series Are The 'Sweetest'

The 3-wheeled EV has been in development for ages. Now, people who ordered the Signature Series are picking their colors, according to a company update.
By Sebastian Blanco 11 September 2017
General Nissan Says 2018 Leaf Offers Up To $6,800 In Bonus Value

Nissan Says 2018 Leaf Offers Up To $6,800 In Bonus Value

On top of the lower price for each trim level of the new 2018 Nissan Leaf, the Japanese automaker is making the case that the electric car is simply a way better value in its new incarnation – and that's not counting pre-order bonuses. Details on the three different trim levels are now available at the EV's consumer site, but we thought the way that Nissan introduced the trims at the launch even...
By Sebastian Blanco 08 September 2017
Mahindra M4Electro Formula E Racer Needs A New Look

Mahindra M4Electro Formula E Racer Needs A New Look

Mahindra had good luck with its fan contest for last year's race car, so it's doing the #DrivenByDesign thing again, this time for the M4Electro.
By Sebastian Blanco 07 September 2017
General Driving The 2018 Nissan Leaf: ProPilot And E-Pedal FTW

Driving The 2018 Nissan Leaf: ProPilot And E-Pedal FTW

You can learn a lot in 15 minutes, but we wanted many, many more to really learn what the highly anticipated electric vehicle offers.
By Sebastian Blanco 06 September 2017
General Honda Clarity PHEV Getting EV Range Boost To 47 Miles, 110 MPGe

Honda Clarity PHEV Getting EV Range Boost To 47 Miles, 110 MPGe

The last official word was that the plug-in hybrid would be able to go 42 miles on a charge, but it looks like that estimate was too conservative.
By Sebastian Blanco 06 September 2017
General 2018 Nissan Leaf Packs More Range, Lower Cost Into Sleeker Shape

2018 Nissan Leaf Packs More Range, Lower Cost Into Sleeker Shape

The 2018 Nissan Leaf has a host of improvements over the outgoing model, but it's just the start of the changes to come. The logic here is most interesting.
By Sebastian Blanco 05 September 2017
General 2018 BMW i3s Debuts: Higher Output In A Familiar, But Sportier Package

2018 BMW i3s Debuts: Higher Output In A Familiar, But Sportier Package

After 4 years on the market, a sportier version of the popular BMW i3 makes its debut, along with larger 20-inch wheels and a new charging option
By Sebastian Blanco 28 August 2017
General Porsche Patents New Way To Power Network Of DC Fast Chargers

Porsche Patents New Way To Power Network Of DC Fast Chargers

The Mission E is going to need a network of high-speed DC fast chargers. Good thing Porsche is filing patents to build just that sort of thing.
By Sebastian Blanco 24 August 2017
General Electric Vehicles Are Changing How Audi Names Its Cars

Electric Vehicles Are Changing How Audi Names Its Cars

You won't have to do horsepower-to-kilowatt math to see if the plug-in or gas-powered A8 offers you more power, thanks to Audi's new naming convention.
By Sebastian Blanco 23 August 2017
General Nissan Leaf Taillight Is Latest Aspect To Get Teaser Treatment

Nissan Leaf Taillight Is Latest Aspect To Get Teaser Treatment

We'll see the whole thing in just a few weeks, but Nissan still has another close-up angle to share about the new Nissan Leaf. Will there be another?
By Sebastian Blanco 22 August 2017
Karma Shoots 'Magical, Rare, Sublime' Eclipse Video

Karma Shoots 'Magical, Rare, Sublime' Eclipse Video

To capture the total solar eclipse with the Revero front and center, Karma Automotive sent out three video teams with one mission: get the shots.
By Sebastian Blanco 22 August 2017
General 2017 Smart ED Loses 10 Miles Range Compared To Older Model: 58 Miles

2017 Smart ED Loses 10 Miles Range Compared To Older Model: 58 Miles

If you thought every new electric vehicle would be an improvement over previous versions, Smart would like you to take a look at the 2017 Fortwo ED.
By Sebastian Blanco 15 August 2017
General Honda Patent Reveals Design For New, Bubbly City EV

Honda Patent Reveals Design For New, Bubbly City EV

Take a Renault Twizy and give it some of Honda's Micro Commuter prototype DNA, and you might end up with the quirky little EV we discovered.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 August 2017
General Toyota Wants To Build Electrified Vehicles In Thailand

Toyota Wants To Build Electrified Vehicles In Thailand

For now, the company only wants to make hybrids in the Southeast Asian country, but this might be step one of a bigger project.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 August 2017
General In Electric Shift, Smart Will Lose 2/3rds Of Its U.S. Dealers

In Electric Shift, Smart Will Lose 2/3rds Of Its U.S. Dealers

If you're not in a ZEV mandate state, or a green-minded city, then your local Smart dealer may soon become service-only. At least until sales jump up.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 August 2017
General BMW Canada Has A Plan To Capitalize On Quebec's Big EV Program

BMW Canada Has A Plan To Capitalize On Quebec's Big EV Program

New government incentives, a desire for larger vehicles, and high sales targets means that OEMs in Canada may need to rethink their electric vehicle plan.
By Sebastian Blanco 11 August 2017
Bollinger B1 Electric Truck Gets 6,000 Hand-Raisers In Two Weeks

Bollinger B1 Electric Truck Gets 6,000 Hand-Raisers In Two Weeks

Whether through the livestream of the debut, social media, or news reports, a LOT of people heard about the B1 in the last few weeks. Many want one.
By Sebastian Blanco 10 August 2017
Battery Tech Tesla Patents 'Pyrotechnic' Battery Safety Device

Tesla Patents 'Pyrotechnic' Battery Safety Device

Putting a small explosive device in your lithium battery might seem like a dangerous idea, but not when it's part of your safety system.
By Sebastian Blanco 10 August 2017
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