Green Car News
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Peugeot is still on track to launch the world's first diesel-hybrid vehicle late this year. Its 3008 HYbrid4 Concept is a thinly disguised version of a crossover fitted with a mild-hybrid system that will go into production late this year as a 2011 model. Now other manufacturers are joining the party. Mercedes-Benz plans to launch its first hybrid-electric car with a diesel engine in 2011, and even GM has engineering prototypes on test tracks to help it figure out the best combination of electric-drive components with the fuel-saving engines. The new technology will be launched in Europe...
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Audi Q5 Hybrid Scheduled For North American Release in 2011Audi's stance on alternative energy vehicles has changed quite often in the past few months. The company is persistent that its diesel technology is the way of the future, but has not completely written off hybrids and electrics. Though the E-tron electric vehicle will see limited production in...
Eric Loveday -
Japanese Automakers Lead the World in Hybrid Patents
It's certainly no secret that Toyota has led the way for many years in the hybrid vehicles segment. The company leads in sales with the Prius and numerous other models taking top spots on the sales charts. Toyota also leads the way in hybrid technology development. It should really come as no...
Eric Loveday -
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No Hybrids for Aston Martin
Apparently James Bond won't be going green any time soon. In a report published by Auto Telegraaf today, Aston Martin boss, Dr. Ulrich Bez, said that current hybrid systems aren't a good match for Aston Martin's performance car reputation. Bez did, however, open the door for a hybrid vehicle as...
Robert Scardino -
New Way To Save Gas: An Accelerator Pedal That Talks Back
Next year's all-new 2011 Infiniti M series of luxury sports sedans will spawn a hybrid version, the 2012 M35 Hybrid, a year later. But even standard gasoline-engined models will offer new technology to help drivers save fuel. In this case, it's an accelerator pedal that talks back, courtesy of the...
John Voelcker -
Roehr Motorcycles, who currently produce the 1250sc based on the Harley Davidson Revolution engine, is now looking to produce electric motorcycles and race in the TTXGP. They join CRP Racing of Italy, Mavizen and Zero Motorcycles in this first of its kind racing series. Roehr plans to offer the eSuperbike, which will be the basis for their entry into the TTXGP, and the eSupersport. The eSuperbike comes with 96 hp, 210 ft-lbs of torque and a high power, 10 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack. The eSupersport halves the hp and torque, and provides a 6 kWh battery pack, but still...
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How To Get 85 MPG In a 2010 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid: Go Downhill
You have to give corporate PR guys some credit when they publish an article on the astoundingly high mileage their car got in a road test, and then dismiss the whole thing as "silly and totally unscientific." That's what Lexus magazine auto editor Clark Heideger did. When a coworker got 47.4 miles...
John Voelcker -
Think! To Build Production Plant In Indiana
Norwegian automaker Think, which barely escaped complete dissolution last year thanks to capital injections from new strategic partners Ener1 and Valmet, continues to forge ahead and has apparently chosen a site near Middlebury, Indiana to construct a major EV assembly plant inside the U.S.. In...
Jon Vandervelde -
Aptera Production To Reach 10,000 Units in First 3 Years, Search For New Production Facility Underway
If you have followed this site for awhile, you are probably aware that we have covered the company Aptera on countless occasions. Recently, it was reported that the company was facing both financial struggles and widespread firings (or a leave of absence as the company has stated). At this point...
Eric Loveday -
Former Honda Engineer Says Li-Ion Is Perfect For Hybrids But Not the Answer For EVs
Are lithium ion batteries the key to the future of EVs? According to John German, author of "Hybrid Powered Vehicles" published by the SAE and former Honda engineer, the answer is no. But li-ion will have a place in the field of advanced vehicles. As German told HybridCars.com in an...
Eric Loveday -
Taiwanese Company Luxgen Displays EVs in Dubai
While some automakers downsized and reorganized in response to the "Great Recession" one Taiwanese brand made its worldwide debut at the Dubai International Motor Show late last month. Luxgen, an electric vehicle start-up, put four vehicles on display at the show, one of which, they called the...
Robert Scardino -
Our mission here at GreenCarReports.com is to cover the greener end of automobiles, for both new-car buyers and enthusiasts. But unlike other sites, we rarely cover conversions to add plug-in capability to existing cars or hybrids. Why? First, they're not available to mainstream car buyers and are very rarely crash-tested or warrantied. (Hymotion's kit to convert a Toyota Prius into a plug-in hybrid is a notable exception.) Second, many of them are marginally engineered at best. Today's case in point: Barrett Lyon's $30,000 purchase of a Chrysler PT Cruiser converted to all-electric power by...
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Mercedes-Benz To Launch Pricey Plug-In Hybrid S-Class In 2012
After lagging in development of hybrid and plug-in cars for years, Mercedes-Benz is now attacking the new technology with a vengeance. The latest proof: reports that it will offer a pricey plug-in hybrid version of its next S-Class large luxury sedan in 2012. The British magazine Autocar writes...
John Voelcker -
GM says China vehicle sales up 67 pct in 2009
GM announced today that they achieved a 13.4% marketshare in the world's largest automarket by increasing overall sales a staggering 67%. GM's Buick brand is very strong among China's business elites, which explains GM's choice to keep Buick, while shedding other brands during the bankruptcy...
Jason Hendler -
Better Place to Have Competition from Kandi Technologies
Kandi Technologies, producer of go-carts, ATV's and the COCO mini-car has just announced an alliance with major Chinese energy, IT and battery companies to support a "new business model" for the adoption of electric vehicles. Confusingly, they refer to this new business model as an "open...
Jason Hendler -
Dodge Enlists Help of University of Michigan-Dearborn For Development of PHEV Ram
Chrysler's ENVI program is, as we know it, is gone. But the electrification of vehicles in their lineup is not completely out of the picture. A few months back, Chrysler officially announced that their ENVI program would be rolled into standard development and the ENVI group vanished. ...
Eric Loveday -
Honda CR-Z Hybrid Caught Testing
There is some talk that the upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid could make its U.S. debut in Detroit this month at the NAIAS, but this has not been confirmed by the company. Honda has stated that the vehicle will make its first worldwide appearance in Japan next month. But why wait to see the CR-Z, when...
Eric Loveday -
In an effort to bring all sides of the story here on our site, we are presenting another research study about plug-in vehicles and hydrogen vehicles. If you have followed the previous articles regarding the National Research Council study titled "PHEVs and EVs To Cost Tens of Thousands More Than Gasoline Counterparts for Next 20 to 30 Years", and the follow up article titled, "National Research Council Report on PHEVs and EVs May Be Biased", then you are aware that there is some controversy surrounding the research. As many have pointed out, and our follow up articles points out, the...
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Nemo Motors Announces Quebec Government Takes Delivery of Low Speed Electric Vehicle
Nemo Motors Corp., a Canadian manufacturer of recyclable electric utility vehicles located in the Province of Quebec, has just announced the delivery of its truck to the Government of Quebec. The truck is slated to shuttle documents among buildings on the National Assembly Campus in Quebec City...
Jason Hendler -
Panasonic Working On Advanced Li-Ion Cells for 2012, 30% Additional Capacity
Lithium-ion battery technology will continue to evolve and advancements in technology will lead to increased energy density and lower costs. Over time, advancements in technology at the cell level could also lead to increased range for electric vehicles. The leading Japanese battery...
Eric Loveday -
Smith Electric Doubling Production in 2010, Tax Credits and USPS Orders to Increase EV Truck Demand
Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. has a bright outlook for 2010. The makers of the popular all electric mid-size Newton delivery vehicle sees opportunity ahead for next year and there are numerous reasons why the company has a positive outlook. The company will begin to ramp up production to double...
Eric Loveday -
Happy New Year and More Small Cars In 2010
We Ring In the New Year and Look Forward To Another Year
Jonathan McGrew -
