Manufacturing
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The revolving door of Tesla Motors leadership keeps turning. Today, executive vice president of vehicle engineering and manufacturing, Mike Donoughe, is calling it quits, just over a year after he started the job. Formerly employed by Chrysler, Donoughe was charged with overseeing engineering while Tesla was ramping up production of their Roadster and developing an improved powertrain. Donoughe will now serve as a senior partner at St. Clair Consortium, a Detroit, Michigan based consulting firm, where he will advise companies on developing lean processes. As the co-founder of the...
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Fisker Joins Tesla In Getting Government Cash For Hybrid Luxury SedanThe U.S. Department of Energy yesterday approved a $529 million low-interest loan to Fisker Automotive, which will start building its 2010 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan later this year. Customer deliveries will start next May. In June, Tesla Motors received a $465 million loan for...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Planning Sub-$30,000 Vehicle For 2016
Tesla Motors wants you to know that they won't be a niche automaker for long. CEO, Elon Musk has repeatedly affirmed that he expects his electric vehicle company to compete in the mainstream market with the big boys. With a lineup consisting of two-seat sports cars costing more than $100,000, and...
Robert Scardino -
Cashing In On Clunkers: Ford Faces Focus Famine
Now that Congress has voted another $2 billion in funding for the Car Allowance Rebate Systems (CARS) program, better known as "Cash for Clunkers," the program's success means carmakers are starting to face shortages of their most popular high-mileage models. The latest manufacturer to face a...
John Voelcker -
2011 Chevrolet Volt: Talk About Limited Production ...
If you're one of the tens of thousands of green car fans excited about the launch of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt electric car, start making nice to your local Chevy dealer. Because the number of Volts built is going to be very, very low for at least its first year of production. Despite excitement over...
John Voelcker -
Why $2.4 Billion of Battery Grants? To Get US Competitive in Electric Cars
It's now clearer than ever: Electric cars are coming to showrooms near you. They will be fully competitive, their makers are deadly serious, and they will be "real cars" rather than the golf carts people seem to worry about. At GreenCarReports.com, we've experienced the 2011 Chevrolet Volt mule...
John Voelcker -
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: $5.9 billion Work Funded: Retooling of manufacturing facilities in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio through 2011, including conversion of two truck plants to assemble automobiles. Vehicles: 13 separate models with electric, hybrid, or improved conventional powertrains, including its...
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GM To License Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive? Nope.
In a live webchat on Friday, our illustrious Editor-In-Chief, Lyle Dennis, posed a question to GM North America President, Troy Clarke, regarding collaboration with Toyota, given the American automaker's failed economic state.Dennis: What are some possible options under consideration for GM’s...
Robert Scardino -
BREAKING: Cash for Clunkers Passes in House
Late this afternoon, the US House of Representatives passed the tax-credit legislation commonly known as the "Cash for Clunkers" bill by a vote of 298 to 119. The House had reached agreement on terms for the legislation more than a month ago, but the vote did not take place until today. The...
John Voelcker -
GM Expands Battery Lab, US Gears Up To Make Lithium Cells
General Motors has enlarged and expanded the battery laboratory at its Warren, Michigan, technical center. The new lab, the company said today, is the largest and most advanced such site in North America. The lab was first shown to the public last summer as the site where packs for the 2011...
John Voelcker -
Cash-For-Clunkers Bill Cuts Greenhouse Gases, But Only After 70,000 Miles
An analysis done at Duke University shows the compromise Clunkers bill saves more energy than is used to make the replacement car, though it may take 70,000 miles
John Voelcker
