Green Car News
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How could loans from the federal government possibly be a bad thing for automakers? According to special adviser for Coda Automotive Darryl Siry, whose words appeared in an article he wrote for Wired.com, loans from the US Department of Energy could be stifling innovation by reducing the amount of private capital investors. The private capital investors have difficulty investing into a venture or company that has not received DOE support. Darryl Siry previously held the position of chief marketing officer for Tesla Motors from 2006-2008. According to Siry, a potential problem...
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Mazda Miata To Get 50 MPG With New SKY-G Engine?Mazda Is Trying To Live Up To Their 30% Increase In Fuel Efficiency Plan
Jonathan McGrew -
Program To Track Charging Habits Of Nissan LEAF Early Adopters
Nissan hasn't hesitated to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to electric vehicles.
Bengt Halvorson -
Video: 2011 Scion iQ Thrashed, Slalomed, and Drifted While Shopping
We're eagerly waiting for the 2011 Scion iQ to be launched in production form. That may be at next month's Detroit Auto Show or April's New York Auto Show, where the concept version landed from the sky last year. Sold in the rest of the world as the Toyota iQ, the 2011 iQ will go on sale in the...
John Voelcker -
All-Electric Roadtrip From LA to Detroit? No Problem, Says Tesla
As we've noted elsewhere, we write a lot about Tesla. We certainly give them more ink...errr, electrons?...than their share of the sports car market, since they're just delivered their 900th Roadster. Not that they're not wildly fun to drive, mind you. But despite early engineering difficulties...
John Voelcker -
Tesla Roadster Heads Out on 2,700 Mile Road Trip to NAIAS
Starting on December 17th, the Tesla Roadster Sport will make an epic, cross country journey on its way to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The journey will begin in Los Angeles and cover 2,700 miles arriving in Detroit at the end of the trip on January 8th. The...
Eric Loveday -
As part of the ongoing debate over leasing and purchasing batteries for EVs continues, a new option is now on the horizon. Most consumers buy vehicles in the U.S. rather than leasing them. This changeover is relatively recent as the economic downturn put an end to many attractive leasing programs. Typically, high end vehicles or those with strong demand cannot be leased through the automaker as lease support is non-existent on many high demand models. This will likely be the case for many upcoming EVs. Buyers will have to dish out money to purchase many upcoming EVs and EREVs in...
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Nissan Addresses Complaints About Their CVT Technology
Cost of Repair Versus Customer Satisfaction
Jonathan McGrew -
Rumormill: Next Gen Nissan GT-R Going Hybrid (Godzilla Goes Green)
According to a report in Best Car magazine out of Japan, the next generation Nissan GT-R will come with a hybrid powertrain. A 160 hp electric motor and a 440 hp gas engine will team up for a combined 600 hp. That's a number truly deserving of the car's nickname: Godzilla. The current generation...
Robert Scardino -
Th!nk Resumes Production at Valmet Automotive Facility in Finland
Think has finally resumed production of their Think City EV at a new manufacturing facility in Finland. Recently, both Ener1 and Valmet Automotive recapitalized Think to bring their vehicles back to the market. Ener1 supplies Think's battery packs, while Valmet Automotive assembles them at their...
Jason Hendler -
Tesla Drops Out Of X-prize Competition; Will Have Car In Demo Division Instead
Tesla has announced that its Model S saloon is being withdrawn from the Automotive X-Prize competiton. In an interview with Stuff, Ricardo Reyes, Tesla Motors' vice president for communication, said, “We have discussed it with the X Prize guys and agreed to put a car in the demonstration...
Jon Vandervelde -
Green Tires From Orange Peels Use Less Oil, Bring Better MPGs
Sadly, they're not actually orange. Nor do they smell like citrus when they get hot. But by infusing orange oil into natural rubber, a new line of tires from Yokohama cuts four-fifths of the petroleum needed to manufacture a tire. They lower rolling resistance too, meaning better fuel efficiency...
John Voelcker -
The huge SEMA show, mecca of car modifications from awful to awesome, now attracts even manufacturers, who commission custom versions of production cars in hopes that hotness will rub off on them. Even Toyota showed the Prius Aerius and Aemulus this year. But the real action is in the aftermarket accessories. And HybridCars.com has rounded up its seven favorite aftermarket accessories for hybrid cars, many of which apply to the Toyota Prius. All of them, coincidentally, are available through the site's online store. Number One: EV Button Kit, $69 The Number One choice is the $69 EV Button...
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Spy Shots Show Possible BMW 1 Series Fuel Cell Hybrid
Bimmerpost.com recently released a series of spy shots of what they believe to be a hydrogen fuel powered hybrid BMW 1 Series hatchback. The shots were apparently taken at a hydrogen fueling station and the pictures clearly show hoses leading out of the fuel filler door and into what appears to be...
Eric Loveday -
Peugeot To Display ER-EV 307CC Fuel Cell Vehicle At Hydrogen Technology Conference This Week
French automaker Peugeot will make its way to a hydrogen technology conference in France this week to display its latest fuel cell powered vehicle. The vehicle, called the ER-EV 307CC combines several types of emerging technology into a single package, but the company is ahead of its time as it...
Eric Loveday -
Does U.S. Policy Stand In the Way of Small Car Success?
Recent Research Shows Government Mark For Small Cars Hard To Make
Jonathan McGrew -
Want To Drive a 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport? Enter Our Writing Contest!
We tested a 2009 Tesla Roadster last spring. Without a doubt, it's one of the most fun and breathtaking performance cars around. And the new-for-2010 Roadster Sport model is even quicker. Zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, anyone? Now you too can have your very own chance to drive a 2010 Tesla Roadster...
John Voelcker -
Ford Considers $500 Million Investment in Michigan For Production of Hybrids, EVs, and Batteries
Ford Motor Company is currently considering an investment between $300 and $500 million into Michigan assembly plants as the company expands its development and production of hybrids and EVs. The company's decision to invest more money into the state of Michigan depends upon the state granting...
Eric Loveday -
As we reported yesterday, Volkswagen may be considering adding a hybrid variant to their upcoming "New Midsize Sedan". Apparently this is not the only electric adventure that VW is considering for future models. According to a report from Autocar, the company is also considering a BEV and hybrid version of the seventh generation VW Golf. The next generation Golf is scheduled to come to market in a few years. According to Autocar, the powertrain options for this next golf will likely expand beyond the gasoline and diesel choices currently available. They suggest that the Golf is...
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Audi E-Tron Sportscar Production Limited to 1000 Units
Although Audi will not publicly label itself a "green" automaker, it has reported that it will be going forward with its R-8 based e-tron electric supercar, now slated to be on show-room floors in 2012. The company is also saying that production will be limited to a 1000 vehicles total. It's...
Jon Vandervelde -
Production Honda CR-Z Pictures and Specs Leaked
Honda fan-boys have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the upcoming CR-Z Hybrid for months. The Japanese automaker calls the CR-Z "that place in the universe where sport and efficiency meet." According to a Japanese brochure leaked to the Temple of VTEC, what many had hoped would be the heir...
Robert Scardino -
Can the 2011 Chevrolet Volt Win With Consumers?
As We Gather More Information, More Questions Come To Mind
Jonathan McGrew -
EV maker Tazzari has finally revealed its long-awaited US$30,000 ZERO electric vehicle
Unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show Saturday, the Tazzari Zero electric vehicle is a tiny little thing, weighing just 1,195 pounds (882 lbs without the Li-Ion battery!) and top-speed limited to 56 mph. The sporty two-seater is capable of accelerating to 31mph in less than five seconds, and 88...
Jon Vandervelde -
Why Can't We Buy Small European Diesels in the U.S.?
It may be the one question we hear most often here at GreenCarReports.com: Why can't I buy one of those great little fuel-efficient diesels, like they have in Europe? Take, for example, the ultra-high-mileage Econetic version of the Ford Fiesta, sold in Europe with a 1.6-liter turbodiesel that...
John Voelcker
