Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Editor
Articles
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We already know that it’s possible to curb your fuel consumption just by having your tires properly inflated, or better yet, installing a set of low rolling-resistance tires, however, soon there...
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Volkswagen Predicts 500 Mile Range For EVs By 2020Volkswagen is intent on becoming the world’s leading automaker by 2018 and that means being the top dog in every segment, including hybrid and electric vehicles. In fact, the automaker is so serious about its electric car efforts that it recently announced plans to start building its own electric...
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Clutchless Multi-Speed Gearbox Makes EVs More EfficientCurrently, none of the conventional transmission designs provide an ideal option for electric vehicles. Conventional manual transmissions interrupt the drive to the wheels during gear shifting and require a clutch, adding cost and bulk to the tightly packaged powertrain of an EV. Conventional...
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Even In Motor City, Charging Electric Cars Will Be CheapBuyers of electric vehicles can already benefit from several different tax credits, both from the federal government as well as their own respective state authorities (in some cases), but now they stand to benefit on their power bills as well. Detroit Edison, an electricity utility based in...
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Active Shutters Helping 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco Reach 40 MPGGM has one of the largest wind tunnel testing facilities in the world, in fact it is the largest used for automotive applications, so it’s only fitting that the company is applying knowledge learned in its wind tunnel to a much more diverse range of vehicles than its competitors...
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2011 Lexus CT 200h Shows Hybrids Can Be Sporty TooThe 2011 Honda CR-Z was meant to be the car that showed hybrids could be sporty as well as green, but sadly, its lowly 122 horsepower and dismal 0-60 times meant it was never going to be taken seriously in performance circles. Fortunately, there’s another hybrid vehicle on the horizon that may...
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China’s rapidly expanding vehicle fleet, increasing manufacturing industry and rising energy demand has made the country one of the world’s biggest polluters, perhaps even the biggest polluter....
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BMW Looking To Curb Vehicle Weight With Increased AluminumLightweight materials such as carbon fiber are seen by many in the auto industry as one of the most effective ways of reducing vehicle weight and thus improving fuel economy and emissions levels, but the relative expense of the materials often mean that they are still reserved for only a handful...
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Volkswagen Beetle Runs On Fuel Generated From Human WasteWe’ve seen fuel derived from garbage before, and even a race car that ran on chocolate, but now we have an even wilder concept: a Volkswagen Beetle running on methane gas derived from human waste. Yes, you read that correctly. The modified Volkswagen Beetle, or Bio-Bug, was developed as a...
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Report: BYD Will Borrow Mercedes-Benz B-Class Platform For New EVBack in March we first reported that German auto giant Daimler was partnering with Chinese automaker and battery specialist BYD to further develop electric vehicle technology and help accelerate their production. While few actual details of the partnership were revealed at the signing, we now have...
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Hyundai Boasts 50 MPG By 2025 Fleet-Wide Fuel EconomyHyundai already boasts the title of most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S., with its fleet-wide fuel economy of 30.9 mpg, but the automaker is confident it can do better, much better. Hyundai announced yesterday that its fleet-wide fuel economy in the U.S. will average 50 mpg by 2025, an...
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Bosch Commits To EV Powertrain DevelopmentFollowing the successful launch of Bosch’s parallel full-hybrid technology (in models such as the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne S), the key international automotive supplier is also increasingly investing in the development of powertrain technologies for all-electric vehicles. With the...
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With the demise of Saturn, GM was left with only one model featuring its mild hybrid system, the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid sedan, but sadly even that green vehicle was dropped from the...
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The New Black Market: Buying And Selling EV CreditsIt appears selling cars isn’t the only way for electric vehicle manufactures to earn a buck. Thanks to California’s Zero Emission Vehicle program, some manufacturers, such as Tesla, are earning additional cash by selling their unused pollution credits. The California Air Resources Board (CARB)...
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2011 Chevy Volt Danger: Rapacious Dealer Surcharges Could Turn Off BuyersLast week GM announced pricing for its upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Volt, revealing that its range-extended electric vehicle will have a MSRP of $41,000. This came as quite a shock to many considering that the similarly advanced Nissan Leaf all-electric vehicle will have a starting MSRP of just $32,780...
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Another Day, Another Ambitious Hybrid/EV Start-Up Shows UpIt seems like almost every month or so a new start-up, often with roots tied up with a huge manufacturing conglomerate based in China, announces ambitious plans to launch a new generation of advanced hybrid or electric vehicles. Some of them become somewhat successful, like Coda, while others...
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Bosch Develops Engine Stop-Start System For AutomaticsAutonomous engine stop-start systems, designed to save fuel by turning off a car’s engine when at a standstill, are increasing in popularity, especially in Europe, where fuel prices are often double what they are here. In many cases, the addition of an engine stop-start system can net fuel...
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Video: Elon Musk Talks Cheaper Teslas, Space Trips And Life On The Colbert ReportElon Musk leads a complicated life, from Tesla Motors' recent IPO to an ongoing and nasty divorce battle, not to mention questions about his veracity, but the seemingly subdued Tesla CEO remains firmly in the public eye. He took the time to go on the latest episode of The Colbert Report, where he...
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BMW doesn’t actually have a vehicle with zero emissions in its current lineup but that hasn’t stopped the automaker from touting its cleanliness with advertising promoting its Concept ActiveE...
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Saab To Start EV Trials Of Next-Gen 9-3 in 2011A few years back Saab, together with fellow Swedish automaker Volvo, formed an alliance with a number of utility and technology companies to further the development of new hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. However, since both automakers were subsequently put up for sale by their respective...
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Report: Audi Working On e-tron MinicarMercedes-Benz has the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, BMW has the upcoming Megacity Vehicle, and even Volkswagen is working on a production version of its E-Up concept car, but what about Audi? We know the automaker is establishing its new e-tron division to promote and develop a new generation of...
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Porsche Panamera S Hybrid Coming Next YearIt's no secret that Porsche has a new found love affair with vehicle electrification, having recently unveiled its first hybrid model ever, the 2011 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid, as well as teasing fans with high-performance hybrids such as the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and 918 Spyder. Porsche even confirmed...
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Mercedes-Benz Launches Trial Of Vito E-Cell All-Electric VanElectric vehicles are ideal for hopping around town, making frequent stops and carrying heavy loads, so it’s not surprising to see the major automakers roll out all-electric commercial vans in addition to more mainstream models. The latest is Mercedes-Benz, which has unveiled its new Vito E-Cell...
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Official: Porsche Confirms Electric Sports Car DevelopmentElectricity and high-performance cars may or may not mix, depending on your frame of reference, but whether you're a Tesla fan or a Formula 1 devotee, it's easy to agree that a hybrid or all-electric Porsche would be a welcome creation for sports car and EV fans alike. Though we’ve seen several...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran