Batteries

When you think of startup companies planning to build luxury sedans with advanced electric powertrains, one name springs instantly to mind: Tesla Motors. Among the executive battles, government loans, and launch hoopla around the electric 2012 Tesla Model S sports sedan, the company gets rafts of...

The Nikkei Business Daily has reported that Toyota plans to produce between 20,000 and 30,000 plug-in hybrids in 2012. The Japanese automaker has already committed to leasing 500 plug-ins for government and corporate use by the end of this year. The plan is hardly a surprise. While traditional...

In the world of electric performance cars, there are two names to know: Fisker and Tesla. The man behind the upcoming $87,900 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sports sedan wants you to know the difference. Seasoned auto designer and CEO of Fisker Coachbuild, Henrik Fisker has an enviable résumé for...

On Tuesday, we covered the news that Ford, Nissan, and Tesla had been granted a total of $8 billion in low-interest loans by the US Department of Energy to retool for advanced automotive technologies. With a few days under our belt, we've considered the story and have a few questions for you to...

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the first three loans to be granted under the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program. The lucky winners, totaling $8 billion worth of low-interest loans from the US Department of Energy: Ford, Nissan, and Tesla. FORD Amount...

Last week we reported that Renault planned to unveil three new electric vehicles at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Today, some Wallace and Gromit style images purporting to be one of those new vehicles, surfaced on Auto Plus, a French car website. The clay model depicts the three-seat Twingo ZE, which...

Denmark is one of the more progressive countries in the world where renewable energy is concerned. They've already partnered with Better Place and Nissan to build a charging infrastructure in support of widespread adoption of electric vehicles. They currently meet 20% of their energy needs with...

Electric Vehicles Might Be the Answer for Urban Travelers

As Mark Twain is supposed to have said, "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." (Although, sadly, he actually didn't say it.) In this case, the "my" is the General Motors mild-hybrid powertrain, sometimes known as the Belt-Alternator-Starter or BAS system. And it will return for 2011...

Tesla Motors is collaborating with Daimler AG on two affordable EVs planned for production within the next few years. In an interview with Green Car Advisor Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, confirmed that in addition to the previously publicized Smart EV, the two companies have been working on another...

We've been following Nissan's plans to offer hybrid versions of Infiniti models for awhile now. If this excites you, the latest rumors out of Japan will make you downright giddy. According to 370Z.com Nissan plans to offer the same hybrid system in the 370Z by 2011. The Z will incorporate a...

Ford will invest $550 million in a former truck plant to build its Focus global compact car, including an all-electric model developed with Magna International

Disappointingly, the battery pack in the 2010 Toyota Prius is almost identical to the one in its predecesors--but we don't expect that to be the case forever.

Last November we reported that Sam's Club sold a non-existent sports car called the Liv Inizio by Hybrid Technologies. As it turns out, the start-up EV company (now calling itself EV Innovations) is planning to attend the New York Auto Show with two electric sports cars in tow. The first debut...

It took a long time for Nissan to jump on the hybrid bandwagon. So long, in fact, that their only model currently offered as a hybrid, the Altima, still uses Toyota's technology. That will change in 2010 as Nissan rolls out the Infiniti M Hybrid for their luxury brand. The rear-wheel drive M will...

The name Fabrizio Giugiaro is synonymous with fast, stylish cars. The styling director at Italdesign knows how to make car fans drool. In 2006 there was the Giugiaro Mustang Concept with 500 horsepower, a glass roof and doors hinged at the bottom of the A-pillar that tipped forward when opened. At...

In November of last year, the Renault-Nissan Alliance announced a partnership with Sonoma County to promote the adoption of electric vehicles and encourage the development of charging infrastructure. According to a report in the North Bay Business Journal today, Sonoma County means business. The...

Here's more news falling under the "Korean Automakers Are Taking Over the World" category. Hyundai plans to introduce a hybrid version of their popular midsize Sonata sedan for 2011. The Korean car company expects to meet the 2020 Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards in 2015. The Sonata hybrid...

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, has confirmed the rumors that have been lighting up the blogosphere for months. The start-up electric car company will supply its lithium ion battery packs and charging systems to the Daimler Group for use in the upcoming Smart ED. The agreement was announced at the Society of...

India's popular REVA G-Wiz is getting an upgrade option: a new lithium-ion battery that will extend the vehicle's range from 50 to 75 miles, boast a shorter charge time, and function better in cold climates. The upgrade will be available as a kit in late 2009, or as a newly badged G-Wiz L-ion as...