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Recharge Wrap-up: BMW i3 goes against Mercedes B-Class ED, Tesla good for business

Car and Driver has published a comparison test pitting the 2014 BMW i3 against the 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-class Electric Drive. The test not only measured the quality of the driving experience, but also all the quantitative details that are especially important when looking at electric vehicles. For instance, the Benz's real-world MPGe surpassed its own rating, but it still couldn't match the BMW. The B-Class, though, won in the range department. We won't spoil all the results, or Car and Driver's overall pick, but you can head over to the article to find out for yourself. Tesla's expanding business, including the Gigafactory being built in Reno, NV, is encouraging growth in the locales and associated businesses. Some of Tesla's suppliers are talking of relocation, wanting to be close to the action stirred up by the electric automaker's expansion. It makes good business sense to be in the same neighborhood as Tesla. "We can react quickly, and our engineers are constantly working with Tesla," says Futuris General Manager Sam Coughlin. Brookings Institute fellow Jennifer Vey says, "The land around Tesla is being redeveloped and reimagined. It's a mash-up of an anchor campus, startups, housing and transit, in a physically compact area where companies can cluster and connect." Read more at San Jose Mercury News. EVs are doing even more to reduce energy use clean up the air, according to new analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists. According to findings, 60 percent of Americans now live in areas where EVs do more to reduce emissions than hybrids, up from 45 percent in 2012. Average electricity use is now 0.325 kWh per mile, down five percent from 2011. EV performance - in terms of mileage and emissions - is improving compared to traditional fuel vehicles, based on the sources of electricity in various regions. Read more from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Zipcar's carsharing network has launched in Paris. Zipcar is expanding across Europe, and has already established itself in Austria, Spain and the UK. According to Zipcar France's General Manager Etienne Hermite, "In a highly populated city, Zipcar's model has been proven to remove up to 15 personally owned vehicles from the road for each Zipcar in service, reducing parking demand, congestion and emissions." Zipcar European President Massimo Marsili hopes that most Parisians will eventually be just a short walk from a Zipcar.

Mercedes-Maybach rolls out new S, GLS and EQS SUV Night Series

Mercedes-Maybach is embracing a new look for what it hopes will be a new generation of buyers — one keen to embrace its new electrified luxury models. The new Night Series will be offered on all three models in the current Maybach lineup, with the S-Class and EQS SUV variants arriving later this year and the GLS following in early 2024. While the execution off each Night Series is dependent on the model in question, they share a few common elements. Their headlights, for instance, are all embellished with dark chrome Maybach logos on rose gold trim. You'll find that dark chrome just about anywhere you'd normally spot bling, from the grille and exterior trim to the coating on the rear exhaust finishers. And then there are those wheels. I don't know what to say, quite honestly. Just look at them. And while you're at it, peep at the running boards on the EQS SUV.  While the cars shown here are quite uniform, differentiation will come in the form of finish choices and further individual customization. All three are offered with the Obsidian Black/Mojave Silver two-tone combination shown here. The EQS SUV will also be available in Obsidian Black and Manufaktur Diamond White finishes, the S-Class can be done up in various grey, black and white hues, and the GLS can be had in white or Obsidian Black.  Inside you'll find herringbone-patterned, open-pore wood with aluminum accents along with another smattering of dark chrome. The EQS SUV and GLS can optioned with with Nappa leather in two-tone Crystal White/Black Pearl or just plain Black Pearl. In the S-Class, you can do Nappa leather in either Deep White/Black Pearl or straight Black Pearl.  Look for more on the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class and EQS SUV Night Series soon, with more to come on the GLS variant as its arrival draws closer.  Related video: 2022 Mercedes-Maybach S 580 walkaround

These are the 'Greenest' and 'Meanest' cars in 2015

As has become tradition, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has come up with a ranking of what it refers to as the "greenest" cars of 2015, and, by way of contrast, a list of the so-called "meanest" cars, so those who value eco-friendliness over all else can choose which vehicles they should or should not consider buying. As you may expect, electric cars make up the majority of the greenest cars on the list, but, perhaps surprisingly to many, the Tesla Model S didn't make the cut. It's worth noting, too, that where the electricity an owner uses to charge their electric vehicle has a big impact on its overall environmental impact. "A car that is charged using electricity generated from natural gas or renewables is going to have significantly less impact on the environment than one charged on a coal-heavy grid," says ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. The ACEEE's list for 2015 looks very different than it did in 2014. It's an interesting collection, though – and we're sure this goes without saying, really – we'd recommend doing a bit more research into each vehicle and how it might fit into your daily life before making any purchase decisions. Click here to see the ACEEE's list of the Greenest and Meanest vehicles sold in the United States in 2015. Green Bugatti Chevrolet Fiat GM GMC Mercedes-Benz Nissan RAM smart Toyota greenest greenest cars