Eric Loveday, Author
Articles
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With our site focusing primarily on electric and hybrid cars and other forms of transportation, we are well versed in the ongoing discussion of afterlife for automotive lithium-ion batteries. Many...
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National Research Council Report on PHEVs and EVs May Be Biased
Following up on a piece we ran on December 18th titled " PHEVs and EVs To Cost Tens of Thousands More Than Gasoline Counterparts for Next 20 to 30 Years", we would like to offer some additional information that has been pointed out to us. Many who commented note that the National Research...
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Price of Prius Going Up
The Honda Insight, a vehicle that claimed to undercut the Prius in price while offering comparable performance in an almost as efficient package is not selling well in the U.S. Recent reports show that sales of the Insight are incredibly low. Prior to the launch of the new Prius, Toyota lowered...
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New York City's First Solar Charging Station Built From Recycled Cargo Containers
New York City now has its first solar powered electric vehicle charging station courtesy of Beautiful Earth Group. The Brooklyn based company focuses on recycled, green solutions. The solar charging station is made from two cargo containers stacked atop each other. The top container houses the...
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Amsterdam's Push For More EVs Meets Resistance from Bicyclists
Though electric vehicles are arguably a cleaner form of transportation than gasoline powered cars, neither can touch the environmentally friendly nature of bicycles. As the city of Amsterdam is eagerly promoting the use of EVs they have met a tough proponent, the cyclist. Amsterdam is one of the...
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Audi E-tron Torque Numbers Recalculated, New Output 501.5 lb.-ft
Previous reports of the highly anticipated Audi E-tron electric vehicle have definitely raised some questions about the claimed torque rating of 3,319 lb-ft. Though the number is a true calculation, it does not follow industry standards for torque ratings. Adjusted to industry standards, the...
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The state of Michigan is continuing their efforts to become the worldwide leaders in automotive battery production. State legislators recently approved another plan that will award $220 million in...
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Our Christmas Wish List, 10 Stellar EVs and PHEVs Under Our Tree
Ownership of an electrically driven vehicle is certainly on the top of our Christmas Wish List this holiday season, but few production available examples exist. However, come Christmas time next year, several models are promised to be available in some capacity. We have compiled a list of...
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Mazda Teams with Toyota for Future Hybrid Products
What does an automaker do when they want to offer hybrid vehicles to buyers without having to deal with development and production costs of hybrid components? How does an automaker bring hybrids to market quickly in order to catch up with competitors? The answer is simple, enlist the help of...
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Subaru To Sell EVs Overseas By 2013, U.S. Included
According to a report from the Nikkei newspaper in Japan, Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, recently announced that it will begin selling electric vehicles overseas by 2013. The report cites an interview with FHI president Ikuo Mori. In the interview, Mori notes that by working...
Eric Loveday -
Smart ForTwo Electric Drive to Undergo Trials in China
According to the Wall Street Journal, Daimler will launch a pilot program of the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive in China beginning next year. The report indicates that Daimler is considering several cities for testing of the Smart ED. As Ulrich Walker, chairman of Daimler Northeast Asia said, "We...
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Nissan Hints at 4th EV in the Works
Sometimes automakers try to sneak news on by us. Why? We don't exactly know. Perhaps they test us to see if we can catch the info. Perhaps they don't want the news to become widespread yet. Or perhaps they just don't have much info to release yet. In any case, an announcement from an...
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The Mercedes SLS AMG is a supercar capable of delivering an exciting driving experience, breathtaking top speeds, and track worthy handling. In gasoline engine trim, the car is one of a handful of...
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Fisher Coachworks Close to Production of Breakthrough GTB-40 PHEV Transit Bus
For anyone familiar with GM products of the past, the name Fisher Body Company and the Body by Fisher trademark should sound familiar. The company, founded over 100 years ago, made bodies exclusively for GM for decades before becoming fully integrated into GM. Over the years, GM let the...
Eric Loveday -
List of Vehicles at NAIAS Electric Avenue Exhibit Released
This years NAIAS in Detroit, Michigan will feature a return of the EcoXperience driving exhibit which allows show goers the chance to drive "green" vehicles of the future. In addition, the show will feature a new exhibit called "Electric Avenue." This exhibit will feature "green" cars of today...
Eric Loveday -
BMW Halts 7 Series Hydrogen Vehicle Real World Testing Program
Is hydrogen dead? According to BMW, real world testing of the 7 Series Hydrogen vehicle is at least dead for now. The company has decided to halt real-world testing of the 7 Series Hydrogen vehicles citing a lack of infrastructure and high conversion costs of the newly introduced 7 Series as...
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Civic Hybrid Owners Sue Company Over Gas Mileage Concerns, Owners Awarded $500-$1000 Off Next Honda Purchase
What happens if you purchase a vehicle based on the stated mileage claims listed on the window sticker only to later discover that your vehicle does not achieve the lofty numbers listed? In the case of the 2003-2008 Honda Civic Hybrid, the automaker has decided to award those who purchased the...
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EV Owners to Receive Gasoline Vehicle Rental Coupons For Long Trips, Interesting Solution to Range Anxiety
Range anxiety is often discussed at great length in regard to electric vehicles. Range anxiety is the fear of running out of juice in an EV during an extended trip with no place to plug-in in sight. This anxiety, if not quickly overcome, could hamper the entire EV segment. Automakers have...
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One-off vehicles by specialty automakers are essential to the automotive marketplace. Many of these vehicles are displayed annually at the SEMA show. The vehicles highlight future products and...
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PHEVs and EVs to Cost Tens of Thousands More Than Gasoline Counterparts For Next 20 to 30 Years
We are all well aware that EVs, PHEVs, and hybrids cost automakers more to produce than comparable gasoline powered cars. Barring incentives and automakers selling vehicles at a loss, they will also costs consumers significantly more to purchase for a long time to come. But just how much more...
Eric Loveday -
BYD To Display e6 and F3DM at NAIAS in Detroit Next Month, U.S. Release Slated for May 2010
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } China's BYD Auto has received a lot of recognition for vehicles they have been working on. Many are eagerly awaiting the companies offerings expected to arrive in the U.S. next year. The company has promised low prices, long ranges, and other innovative...
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Toyota To Finish Construction of Mississippi Plant, First U.S. Made Prius Hybrid to Run Off the Line by 2011
Toyota has decided to go forward and finish off the small details at its newly built plant in Tupelo, Mississippi. Work on the plant began back in 2006, but the company halted completion last December due to a dwindling economy and potential financial issues. The outside of the manufacturing...
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Nissan Signs Agreement With San Francisco, Bay Area EV Corridor Expands
In anticipation of the Nissan Leaf EV reaching the U.S. in limited markets by next fall, Nissan has worked diligently towards providing the necessary infrastructure for recharging electric vehicles. San Francisco, California is an area of this country likely to see the Leaf prior to its global...
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Your Dream of Driving a Tesla Roadster Sport Could Become a Reality
To many, the chance to drive a Tesla Roadster Sport may only be a dream. Its high price and lack of usefulness as your primary, only car may put it out of reach to us ordinary folk. Dreaming about driving a Tesla Roadster and having the unique chance to actually pilot one are two entirely...
Eric Loveday