Electric Cars
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California, a state widely known for its stringent emission laws and guidelines that restrict greenhouse gas emissions may see a step backwards if the leading GOP candidate for governor of the state is elected.The Republican candidate leading the race to replace Gov. Schwarzenegger is Meg Whitman, former eBay CEO. Whitman intends to suspend the state's new global warming law by one year if elected governor and this does not sit well with many environmentally conscious voters. The law in question is referred to as California Assembly Bill 32. The bill specifically lays out guidelines for...
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Chevrolet Partnering with Detroit-based Utility DTE EnergyIn addition to General Motor's recent announcement that Michigan will join California and Washington, D.C., as the first markets in which Chevrolet dealerships will receive Volt's, Chevrolet is revealing more details about their rollout of demonstration program vehicles to government / utility...
Jason Hendler -
Radical SRZero Electric Supercar To Endure 16,000 Mile RoadtripIf you think driving an electric sports car across the country is ambitious, wait till you hear what Radical Sportscars is planning. The UK-based company announced the creation of the Imperial College London’s Racing Green Endurance team today and concurrently unveiled their SRZero supercar...
Robert Scardino -
A123 Systems In Battery Supply Pact With Fisker AutomotiveAfter talks with EnerDel fell through, A123 has reached a multi-year supply agreement with Fisker Automotive. In addition, A123 intends to invest $23 million in Fisker Automotive - $13 million of that in cash. This is a huge coup for A123, who missed their first big opportunity to supply...
Jason Hendler -
Hybrid Sales For 2009 Show Promising Outlook For FutureAutomotive sales totals for 2009 are trickling in and one aspect of sales remains obvious, hybrids are a hit. Some sources may site an overall decrease in volume for hybrid sales and suggest that buyers are not interested in hybrid vehicles, however this one sided point of view is wrong. A closer...
Eric Loveday -
BMW Secretly Working on Twin Engine HybridBMW, well known for delivering the ultimate driving machine, has ventured into hybrid vehicles with some impressive offerings including the ActiveHybrid X6 which was reviewed recently on this site. Rather than follow other hybrid powertrain variants, BMW is no focusing on developing a new hybrid...
Eric Loveday -
666 Road Racing Ltd., designers / producers of high tech material and laminate components for high performance motorcycles, has now signed up for TTXGP series electric motorcycle racing. In 2009, they were contracted by Mavizen, the designers / racers of the winning electric motorcycle at the TTXGP race at the Isle of Mann, to produce a carbon fiber electronics enclosure for Mavizen's RC8 racing bike. The unique design of the enclosure also serves as a structural component of the motorcycle frame. Triple 6 was so impressed with the product Mavizen was producing, that they decided to join...
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2011 Revenge Verde: Hybrid Vaporware On SteroidsAuto shows have always been the forum for unveiling the wildest, wackiest, most over-the-top drool-worthy vehicles. The shows have been more subdued over the past two years of economic turmoil, but this year, the folks at Revenge delivered something to smile about. The Revenge Verde takes its...
Robert Scardino -
Green Vehicles' Triac(TM) All-Electric Vehicle Now in ProductionGreen Vehicles Inc. of San Jose, CA, is set to unveil the 2010 Triac, a highway-capable, 3-wheeled electric vehicle at the North American International Auto Show, in the Electric Avenue area. Based on feedback from their 2008 prototype and 2009 "early adopter" customer sales, the 2010 Triac boasts...
Jason Hendler -
Peugeot SR1 Hybrid Concept Revealed, Future Design Direction of Company UnveiledPeugeot has been quietly working on a hybrid concept vehicle that it will officially unveil at the Geneva Motor Show this year. Images as well as specs for this vehicle have been released well ahead of the unveiling and the vehicle appears promises both on paper and in the looks department. Many...
Eric Loveday -
Prius Tops 2009 Sales Chart in Japan, But Only Reaches 16th in U.S.The automotive market in Japan has very few similarities to the automotive market here in the States. Japanese buyers tend to select compact, fuel efficient vehicles whereas here in the states we still like gas guzzling, large vehicles. The difference between the buying habits of both nations...
Eric Loveday -
Raging Grannies Protest Tesla's Possible Use of Toxic Dump Site For Future Model S PlantA group of concerned activists is raising questions about one potential location for Tesla's future Model S assembly plant. The Raging Grannies spent last Saturday in front of the Tesla dealership in Menlo Park, California, asking why the electric vehicle company might build their future plant...
Robert Scardino -
Only four electric vehicles really matter at the Detroit Auto Show: the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the 2012 Nissan Leaf, and the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, plus the current 2010 Tesla Roadster. They're on sale, or destined for volume production. The rest fall into two categories: low-volume prototypes from makers like BMW and Volvo, and a horrifying mix of low-speed and neighborhood electric vehicles and outright science projects. But there's little to help showgoers understand the differences among these categories in the 2010 Detroit Auto Show's main-floor "Electric Avenue" area. That's...
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Tesla Motors to Showcase Roadster VIN 1000 and Model S Concept at NAIAS.Tesla Motors will be showcasing a major milestone in their production history at the North American International Auto Show. Tesla Roadster VIN 1,000 will be making it's debut at Cobo Hall, signifying Tesla Motors' impressive feat of producing / selling 1,000 highway capable electric vehicles...
Jason Hendler -
Conventional Hybrids To Lead The Way For Alternative Propulsion For Years to ComeAn auditing and advisory firm called KMPG conducted research via survey and found that auto industry leaders believe that conventional hybrid vehicles will be the most important alternative fuel technology for at least the next five years. KMPG conducted their 11th annual survey regarding...
Eric Loveday -
Diesel Powered Hybrid Powertrain in the Works For GMWhat is arguably the best powertrain combination in terms of efficiency for a standard hybrid vehicle? Many would suggest that the diesel engine paired with the hybrid components would make for the most efficient hybrid setup. Few argue that a diesel would be capable of returning better mileage...
Eric Loveday -
Interview with Nancy Gioia about the 2010 Ford Fusion HybridToday was the first press-only day at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and while it was blustery and miserable outside, inside the Cobo Center, it was divine, chrome and carbon fiber as far as the eye could see. I started at the gigantic Ford display, and as I approached...
Jennifer Knightstep -
GM confirms plans to build Volt-based CadillacOn Sunday, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said that the Cadillac Converj would go on sale after 2012. For the uninitiated, the Cadillac Converj is the 2 door luxury version of the Chevy Volt extended-range electric vehicle. There was no indication if the Voltec propulsion system would be upgraded for...
Jason Hendler -
The Nikkei Newspaper is reporting that worldwide vehicle regulations and safety rules pertaining to hybrid and electric vehicles will be determined by Japanese automakers and politicians. According to the report, the United Nations UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations will adopt many standards set forth by Japanese automakers. The UNECE currently has no additional standards set for safety of hybrid and electric vehicles. Japan as a country leads the worlds in production of hybrid vehicles and have pushed for their domestic regulations to be adopted worldwide. The...
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EVs and Hybrids Take Center Stage at 2010 NAIAS, Plug-In Supporter President Obama a No Show?This year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan is about to get underway and EVs and hybrids will play a key role at the show. Aside from the returning event called EcoXperience which gives showgoers a chance to drive select EVs in a controlled environment, the show is...
Eric Loveday -
BMW ActiveHybrid X6 ReviewBMW's ActiveHybrid X6 is one of the most powerful hybrid vehicles ever produced. Outputting a combined 480 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, this a hybrid to be reckoned with. Its 0-60 mph time of 5.2 seconds from a vehicle weighing in at 5,700 lb is definitely astonishing, but does this vehicle live...
Eric Loveday -
Entry Level Mercedes C Class Coupe Hybrid a PossibilityMercedes entered the entry level luxury vehicle category years ago with it C230 Kompressor coupe. The vehicle was a capable model with strong performance, solid handling and a refined driving experience. Mercedes buyers showed little interest and sales were unexpectedly low. Then BMW entered...
Eric Loveday -
Hyundai Blue-Will PHEV To Make North American Debut at 2010 NAIASLast April Hyundai unveiled their first ever plug-in hybrid at the Seoul Motor Show. Known as the Hyundai Blue-Will, the concept is scheduled to make its debut here in the states at the 2010 NAIAS just weeks away. Though only a concept, the company has stated that it may be a preview for...
Eric Loveday -
S-Class PHEV to Launch in 2012According to Mercedes, the next generation S-Class will launch with a plug-in hybrid model available immediately. As Thomas Weber of Mercedes research and development said in an interview with Autocar, "It makes a lot of sense to bundle the high-price tech option to the sort of customers willing to...
Eric Loveday