Green Car News

Toyota has teamed up with French utility company EDF to test feasibility of PHEV Prius and the vehicles ability to recharge using only the power of the sun. Toyota has received funding from the government of Strasbourg that will be used to convert 100 current generation Toyota Priuses to plug-in...

This Might Have Other Competitors Quaking In Their Boots

Today, Honda confirmed that the CR-Z and Fit Hybrids will be a 2010 models according to our partner site, GreenCarReports.com. These cars weren’t exactly secrets since automotive journalists have been writing and speculating about them since the first part of this year. In fact, I even reported...

In a press release issued earlier today, American lithium-ion battery maker, Ener1, announced that their products would be tested in two Volvo V70 plug-in hybrid wagons this fall in Europe. The tests are in preparation for Volvo's plans to launch a production plug-in vehicle in 2012. Volvo is...

General Motors missed the start of the hybrid revolution, and admits it by their own accounts. When the first generation Toyota Prius was first launched GM decided not to pursue a similar course at that time. In 2007, after Toyota had sold nearly 1,000,000 Priuses, GM entered the fray by unveiling...

The new CEO of Honda, Takanobu Ito has confirmed a rumor we have heard for a while in an announcement last Friday.  He said the company would be launching a CR-Z sports hybrid in February of 2010. Though the vehicle will continue to use the same 1.3 L VTEC engine found in Honda's Insight, it will...

In a report issued last week by the New York City electric grid manager, statements concerning the grids ability to handle widespread use of EVs are not accurate.  The system is fully capable of handling the demands of EVs. According to the grid manager, the city could easily handle widespread...

Renault is currently trying to develop and test a new propulsion method for EVs.  The focus of the new system is to provide additional luggage and interior space in EVs.  They have partnered with Michelin to cooperatively achieve the goal of freeing up additional storage space on board electric...

While the 2010 Honda Insight has gotten a lot of attention lately, it's far from Honda's only hybrid. Now the company has announced that it will put two more hybrid-electric vehicles on sale in Japan next year: the 2011 Honda CR-Z and the 2011 Honda Fit Hybrid. Honda had previously announced both...

The people of Japan love their hybrids and the Lexus HS 250h is no exception. The Nikkei reports that Toyota has already taken 1,500 pre-orders in Japan for its upcoming luxury hybrid. This exceeds the automaker's expectations three times over. Not to be outdone, the overwhelmingly popular third...

Market Pressures Could Kill the Japanese Automaker's US Electric Car Plans

korean automaker enters the hybrid market

China clearly sees EVs as a major player in the future auto industry.  To achieve widespread adoption within their country, the government has kicked off several new incentive programs and has begun to increase manufacturing capacity and build new R&D facilities. In December the cities of...

Will GM Really Reinvent Itself?

A Dutch website that is dedicated to hybrid and electric vehicles has been conducting an online poll asking visitors to rank their top choices in the EV and hybrid categories.  The list of entrants include among other the Tesla Roadster, the Chevy Volt, the Pininfarina Blue Car, and the Think...

The 2010 Honda Insight was eagerly awaited before its launch, but reviews have been mixed. Some laud it for overachieving on the fuel economy front, while others (most notably the influential Consumer Reports) have slammed it. Our half-hour drive in a new Insight left us with mixed impressions. But...

A company not well known for its lithium-ion battery production may soon become one of the world's largest battery producers.  Hitachi is not a front runner in production of lithium-ion automotive batteries, but their intentions over the course of the next several years could certainly change...

According to research conducted by Pike Research, there will be a huge expansion in worldwide sales of plug-in hybrids over the next 6 years.  The research indicates that as many as 1.7 million PHEVs will be on roadways worldwide by 2015. The research suggests that government incentives and tax...

Renault-Nissan have signed on with yet another memorandum of understanding in a seemingly endless list of such agreements.  This time, they have chosen to sign with Italy's A2A energy company.  The agreement was signed just days ago, but the plan won't go into effect until next year.  The goal...

It looks like something out of the new Transformers movie and it gets 117 miles per gallon. Interested? It's the Peugeot HYmotion 3 Motorcycle, but this is no ordinary bike. It's a three-wheeled (two in front, one in back) scooter, powered by a 125cc gas engine and two electric motors - one for...