USA / Global

Sebastian Blanco

sebastian.blanco@motor1.com

Articles by Sebastian Blanco

General Ceres: Electric Challenge Is Good For US Automakers

Ceres: Electric Challenge Is Good For US Automakers

If American car companies are going to succeed in a global environment, then they need to figure out how to make greener, electric cars.
By Sebastian Blanco 10 August 2017
General Chrysler Announces Pacifica Hybrid Family Rideshare Partnership

Chrysler Announces Pacifica Hybrid Family Rideshare Partnership

Until our robot cars can take the kids to piano practice all by themselves, someone is going to have to buckle up in the driver's seat. If you're the kind of parent who's too busy – or just not that interested today, thank you very much – to drive the little ones to practice, then you might like a new announcement from Chrysler and Kango. Kango is a ridesharing service based in California, ...
By Sebastian Blanco 08 August 2017
Battery Tech Toyota Hints At Electric Or Hybrid SUV In New Patent

Toyota Hints At Electric Or Hybrid SUV In New Patent

We're not sure if tea leaves, a crystal ball, or patent applications are the best way to predict the future. We'll sick to the latter.
By Sebastian Blanco 08 August 2017
General Nikola Shows New Renderings Of Hydrogen Truck Interior

Nikola Shows New Renderings Of Hydrogen Truck Interior

The Twitter feed from Nikola Motors gives out a lot of information. This time, we've got two new visions of what the semi's cabin will look like.
By Sebastian Blanco 07 August 2017
General Faraday Future Still Alive, Leases Factory In California

Faraday Future Still Alive, Leases Factory In California

We haven't heard the last from the ambitious electric vehicle maker, apparently. Whether this move gets the FF 91 to market in a year is another issue.
By Sebastian Blanco 07 August 2017
Battery Tech Your Future EV: Ford's In-Car Bike Charger, Disco's Solar Sheet

Your Future EV: Ford's In-Car Bike Charger, Disco's Solar Sheet

Lots of new ideas in our latest EV patent round-up, from a Ford electric vehicle that charges your bike to a roll-up solar panel for your trunk.
By Sebastian Blanco 04 August 2017
General Toyota Wants Your Solar Prius To Follow The Sun

Toyota Wants Your Solar Prius To Follow The Sun

What if your navigation system knew where the sun was, and where the tall trees were, to maximize the amount of solar energy your roof could get?
By Sebastian Blanco 03 August 2017
General Jaguar I-Pace Named 'Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2017'

Jaguar I-Pace Named 'Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2017'

The coming-soon EV joins the Buick Avista and Ford GT as recent winners of concepts that are, "most likely to shape the future of the automobile industry."
By Sebastian Blanco 03 August 2017
General Bollinger B1's Weight Puts Electric Truck In A Higher Category

Bollinger B1's Weight Puts Electric Truck In A Higher Category

The GVWR of 10,001 pounds means the small company won't have to add airbags or do any crash testing. Bollinger could still do that, but probably not yet.
By Sebastian Blanco 02 August 2017
General It's Getting Harder To Make The Long Tailpipe Argument In Europe

It's Getting Harder To Make The Long Tailpipe Argument In Europe

It's been a favorite criticism of plug-in vehicles for a long, long time: who cares if there are no tailpipe emissions if you're just using dirty coal to power your car. Well, thanks to new rules for coal-fired power stations in Europe, that argument is about to get much, much weaker. The EU adopted new standards that will put stricter limits on the emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx), sulphur dioxi...
By Sebastian Blanco 01 August 2017
General Honda Clarity Electric Now Arriving In Two States

Honda Clarity Electric Now Arriving In Two States

The all-electric version of the Honda Clarity is now available, but only in two west coast states. The plug-in hybrid will arrive nationwide later in 2017.
By Sebastian Blanco 01 August 2017
Our Best Look Yet At The New Nissan Leaf: No Camo, Floating Roof

Our Best Look Yet At The New Nissan Leaf: No Camo, Floating Roof

Thanks to an observant photographer in Barcelona, we finally have a few images of the new Nissan Leaf without any camouflage.
By Sebastian Blanco 31 July 2017
General Bollinger B1 Electric Truck Ready For Work, CHAdeMO Fast Charging - Watch Livestream Debut

Bollinger B1 Electric Truck Ready For Work, CHAdeMO Fast Charging - Watch Livestream Debut

If you're looking for an EV that can carry hunks of wood and power your tools at the work site, consider the Bollinger B1. If it ever becomes real.
By Sebastian Blanco 27 July 2017
General Upcoming BMW Electric Crossover Will Have Level 3 Autonomy

Upcoming BMW Electric Crossover Will Have Level 3 Autonomy

One of the more exciting EVs in BMW's future, the car currently known as the iNext or i5, is going to debut a lot of self-driving tech, but remain Level 3.
By Sebastian Blanco 27 July 2017
Battery Tech How To Debunk Every Anti-EV Argument

How To Debunk Every Anti-EV Argument

Too many people like to throw half-baked thought bombs at the very idea of electric vehicles. Here's your guide to defusing those arguments, one at a time.
By Sebastian Blanco 27 July 2017
General Nissan ProPilot Assist Eases You Into Autonomous Cars

Nissan ProPilot Assist Eases You Into Autonomous Cars

Nissan's first big step into autonomous drive is a baby step, to be sure, but ProPilot Assist lays the groundwork for the company's self-driving future.
By Sebastian Blanco 21 July 2017
General Audi AI Will Bring Level 3 Autonomous Driving To Whoever's Ready

Audi AI Will Bring Level 3 Autonomous Driving To Whoever's Ready

Audi's new self-driving tech will get a grand premier in the new A8, but what autonomous functions are available where depends on local laws, not engineers.
By Sebastian Blanco 20 July 2017
General Jaguar: I-Pace Electric CUV Will Be 'Worth Any Price'

Jaguar: I-Pace Electric CUV Will Be 'Worth Any Price'

No numbers are forthcoming just yet - the car isn't due for a while - but JLR representatives seem to think buyers will want this EV at any price.
By Sebastian Blanco 15 July 2017
General Gorillaz App Has Identified 2,000 Possible, Clever Workers For JLR

Gorillaz App Has Identified 2,000 Possible, Clever Workers For JLR

If you're good at the virtual game on your phone, you might have what it takes to work as a software engineer for Jaguar Land Rover.
By Sebastian Blanco 14 July 2017
General Audi A8 L Plug-In Hybrid Could Come To U.S. In 2019

Audi A8 L Plug-In Hybrid Could Come To U.S. In 2019

E-Tron tech bouncing from A3, Q7 PHEVs to new A8 – and maybe back again. To be clear, an official decision to bring the new Audi A8 L Plug-In Hybrid to the U.S. has not yet been made. But it's pretty clear that the new PHEV – Audi's third – will come to America at some point. At the Audi Summit in Barcelona, Spain today to debut the new A8, an Audi spokesperson told InsideEVs that the E-Tr...
By Sebastian Blanco 11 July 2017
General I Found The Last VW XL1 For Sale In All Of Spain

I Found The Last VW XL1 For Sale In All Of Spain

If you're interested in this iconic PHEV, come to Barcelona with 86,000 euros and not a lot of luggage. Tell 'em Sebastian sent ya.
By Sebastian Blanco 11 July 2017
Battery Tech VW: The World Will Need 40 More Gigafactories By 2025

VW: The World Will Need 40 More Gigafactories By 2025

Some assumptions were made in VW's prediction, but the general trend is clear to anyone: if we're going to drive more EVs, we'll need more batteries.
By Sebastian Blanco 10 July 2017
Battery Tech Your Future EV: Faraday's Quicker EV, IBM's Charging Squad

Your Future EV: Faraday's Quicker EV, IBM's Charging Squad

A new visit to the Patent Kingdom (i.e., the USPTO) reveals a new way to make a quicker EV, better bus charging, and Big Blue's roadside assistance for EVs.
By Sebastian Blanco 06 July 2017
Tesla Model S Misses Top Safety Pick+ In Latest Crash Test (w/video)

Tesla Model S Misses Top Safety Pick+ In Latest Crash Test (w/video)

The award-winning EV has already scored quite well in other tests, but failed to get top marks in IIHS front small overlap crash two times in a row.
By Sebastian Blanco 06 July 2017
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