Jul 20

Toyota-Tesla: new electric Rav4 and Lexus RX

Posted on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Toyota Prius, Rav4, Lexus RX, and "a supercar"
The age of the electric supercar is fast approaching, with Audi's upcoming e-tron and the recently-revealed Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell leading the way. New reports out of the US this week suggest that the world's number one carmaker, Toyota, is looking to join the fray. Toyota boss Akio Toyoda, inspired by a spin in the Tesla Roadster, has approved advanced research into the idea of an electric supercar. Toyota and Tesla have recently joined forces to develop new electric vehicle technologies, and while Rav4 and Lexus RX prototypes have been hinted at, there has yet to be any official word on expanding the project to include a supercar.
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Jul 19

Nissan’s Infiniti next EV to be a sports car

Posted on Monday, July 19, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES


The Infiniti Essence Coupe concept car revealed at the 79th Geneva Motor Show in 2009 is not an electric car, but it could be according to a recent rumor. (Credit: Nissan)

While its electric compact nears production, Nissan also plans to produce an electric sports car bearing the Infiniti badge.

Sources told Edmunds Inside Line that the carmaker is considering either an all-electric 370Z-E or an electric version of the Essence Coupe, the concept hybrid it revealed at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. All that has been confirmed by Nissan in previous news statements about its future electric vehicle plans is that the car will be a "stylish, compact, high-performance four-seat luxury Infiniti with zero emissions."

Jul 12

Zotye, totally Electric SUV; 250 mi range

Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

a max speed of 70 MPH, a maximum range of up to 250 miles on a single charge.
July 12, 2010 - Green Auto Signs Ten Dealer Agreement

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwire - July 12, 2010) - Green Automotive Company Inc. (PINKSHEETS: GACR) announced today that the company signed a Ten Store Contract with the Rohrman Auto Group (www.rohrman.com) ranked as the number 15th largest Auto Dealer Groups in America, with over 36 dealerships in operation.

The Company's new dealer program requires a minimum monthly quota of 20 new SUV purchases per month. If all ten locations hit their target, this could lead to gross volume of 2,400 SUV's and gross sales of $66,000,000. The Company will also be producing new innovative marketing and Dealer Traffic Programs to drive new sales to each dealer.

The new consumers plan "Build Your SUV" Program -- is being tested and will be uploaded soon through their new modified website; www.usaelectricauto.com and expanding their distribution and sales model to now allow Consumers Options such as Theme Wraps, Custom Wheels, Interior Combinations and Electronics. Once a Consumer completes their design the new SUV should be available for delivery within 180 days. Partial payments of $995.00 start the process.
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Jul 12

BMW Megacity Vehicle, ActiveE, and Project I

Posted on Monday, July 12, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Megacity to become a new sub-brand for BMW, much like BMW’s M badge.
July 2nd 2010 - by Sebastian Blanco - green.autoblog.com

That BMW has been working on something called the Megacity Vehicle is no secret, the company officially announced the car over a year ago and, earlier this year, confirmed that it would release the car in 2013. Still, there was a lot we didn't know about the car and the project. This week, near Munich, with vehicles like the E1 (an early BMW electric vehicle), a carbon-fiber X5 and the Isetta on hand, BMW revealed an overwhelming amount of information about just what we can expect from the MCV and Project I.

The team responsible for the MCV – and BMW's shift to electric drive vehicles in general – is called Project I, which started in 2007 to "develop sustainable mobility concepts for the future." This group is also responsible for the Mini E tests and the upcoming ActiveE field trials that will start in 2011.
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Jul 6

Mercedes new electric sports car

Posted on Tuesday, July 6, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Mercedes offers details of electric sports car
Who said electric cars have to be small and clunky? Mercedes-Benz clearly has other ideas.

Its performance brand, Mercedes-AMG, has provided an update of its electric SLS-AMG. The vehicle, originally announced in July, has a power output of 392 kW and 880 Nm of torque with traction provided by four synchronous electric motors that are capable of achieving a maximum 12,000 rpm.

The electric drive vehicle is part of the company’s AMG Performance 2015 which aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Known as the SLS AMG E-CELL it is expected to enjoy a limited production run.

With the ability to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just four seconds, this electric vehicle is almost at the same level as the regular SLS AMG which can accelerate over the same distance in just 3.8 seconds. However, unlike the combustion engine, the torque build-up with the electric motor is instantaneous with maximum torque available from a virtual standstill.
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Jul 1

Electric Jeepney Makes History at Philippine Presidential Inauguration

Posted on Thursday, July 1, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

July 01, 2010

History made! eJeepneys drive VP to inaugural

The inauguration's spokesperson Manolo Quezon, said the VP was on time, on cue, and displayed courtesy by waiting for President Aquino.
The Vice President could have selected to go in the usual gas-guzzling SUV or limousine, ... but it was history that was more important, one which the simple Philippine-made eJeepney helped to write, a vehicle that the Vice President, when he was still the mayor of Makati City not so long ago, helped champion.
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Apr 28

West Philly HS Kids in “top 10″ to win the X Prize!

Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Wednesday, 28 April 2010 11:05

We Passed!

After two intense days in the shop at the Michigan International Speedway, both the EVX Focus and GT have passed the Technical and Safety inspections and will be participating in on-track dynamic testing this afternoon.


The car will run 60 miles on a charge of electricity, and can be charged overnight. So why are we waiting 2 years for a Chevy Volt that gets 40 miles on a charge? These kids did that in 2004. ... And the 100 mph car they are building now is one "even school teachers can afford," between 20-$25,000. - ScienceFriday.com, by Ira Flatow on Tuesday, February 3. 2009
["These kids" should be put in charge of Detroit!]

Hybrid-Electric H.S. Project Wows Crowd At Philly Auto Show

updated 4-12-2010

"0 to 60 in 4 sec. and over 50 mpg on soy bean oil"

Popular Mechanics magazine ranked the W. Philly HS team #10 in the 64 competing for the X Prize. [see below]
[tell GM, Ford, Chrysler & Obama!]

CBS News Feb. 17, 2006

(CBS) The star at last week's Philadelphia Auto Show wasn't a sports car or an economy car. It was a sports-economy car - one that combines performance and practicality under one hood.

But as CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports in this week's Assignment America, the car that buyers have been waiting decades comes from an unexpected source and runs on soybean bio-diesel fuel to boot.
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Apr 23

The Plug-in Karma, by Fisker gets $500 milion loan

Posted on Friday, April 23, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

travel 50 miles on Lith-Ion batteries alone, and an additional 250 mi while recharging; 0 to 60 in 6 sec.; & top speed over 125 mph; 1500 on order
updated 1-15-2010
The Karma, developed by American automaker Fisker Automotive, can travel 50 miles emission-free on a single charge of its Lithium-ion battery, and an additional 400km (250mi) on a range extending generator turned by an efficient four cylinder gas engine. Economy is 100 mi. / gal. and emissions of just 83g/km CO2 - better than today’s best hybrids. Still, the Karma can reach 100km/h (62mph) in about 6 seconds and exceed 200km/h (125mph).


04-23-2010 Karma.FiskerAutomotive.com
US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Confirms FISKER'S $528.7M LOAN

The Department of Energy announced today the closing of a $528.7 million loan with Fisker Automotive for the development and production of two lines of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). The loan will support the Karma, a full-size, four-door sports sedan, and a line of family oriented models being developed under the company’s Project NINA program. Download entire DOE press release below.

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Apr 16

The Aptera EV – On The Road Next Year

Posted on Friday, April 16, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Aptera 2e Production Version Unveiled

April 16, 2010
This Carlsbad, California, start-up company has unveiled the production version of its 3-wheel, 200+ mpg 2e and recently obtained private funding to move the project closer to dealerships.
The unusual aero form of the Aptera makes it a crowd-stopper. Still, the 2e is quite usable. You enter through butterfly-style doors that were part of the refining process for the production 2e. Not only do they now have conventional up-down windows, but the doors have been reshaped to make entry and exit easier.

The Aptera EV - lighter than steel, 10 times stronger!

November 18, 2009, 5:32 pm

EV Maker Aptera Motors "On the Road to Financial Stability": see April 14th 2010 article below

The company announced Wednesday that it was scaling down operations until more development money could be found. Aptera, which also stands for "wingless flight," had been seeking government help to get its three-wheeled vehicle, the 2e, off the ground. Such funds have been restricted to four-wheeled vehicles.

The Aptera 2e was to have gone on sale by the end of this year. Mr. Wilbur said the first vehicles would not be completed now until sometime in 2010. He said 4,000 fully refundable deposits have been received from eager would-be customers, even though the vehicle`s price still has not been disclosed.

Paul Wilbur, Aptera`s chief executive, said vehicle development "has been outpacing the rate of fund-raising." He added, "Aptera`s production and delivery will be tied directly to funding." Translation: No money, no car.
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Apr 7

Mitsubishi, an Unlikely Electric-Vehicle Pioneer

Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Mitsubishi-i-MiEV
With the i-MiEV minicar, Mitsubishi Motors is the first major automaker to begin mass-producing EVs

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV Electric Vehicle - on Track in Australia
April 7, 2010, The Auto Channel

CLOVELLY PARK, AUSTRALIA – April 7, 2010: Mitsubishi’s innovative electric vehicle, the i-MiEV, has been the centre of attention for the company over the last twelve months, both here in Australia and on the global automotive stage.

The i-MiEV, the world’s first volume production fully plug-in electric vehicle with zero drive-time emissions, has generated unprecedented interest in alternative fuel vehicle technology, appearing at environmental symposiums and launch events right around the world.
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Mar 2

Ferrari: unveils 200mph electric hybrids

Posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Ferrari goes green: Italian car builders unveil eco-friendly 200mph electric hybrid
By Ray Massey In Geneva; Last updated on 02nd March 2010

Supercar maker Ferrari has ditched its famous red livery and gone 'green'.

The legendary Italian car-maker and F1 racing stable has unleashed a 200mph eco-friendly electric hybrid vehicle that aims to cut pollution and fuel consumption - while still giving breathtaking acceleration and performance.
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Jan 29

BMW hybrid-electric Vision to begin production in 2013

Posted on Friday, January 29, 2010 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES, Technical Innovations

62 mpg; recharge in 44 minutes; travel 31 mi. on batteries alone; and, a top speed of 155 mph.
Jan 29, 2010 Inside Line

LISBON, Portugal — As proof that car companies no longer make showcars just for giggles, a senior BMW authority out of Munich has assured Inside Line that the Vision EfficientDynamics plug-in pure hybrid 2+2 concept car rolled out in September at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show is earmarked for production. No ifs, ands or buts.
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Dec 9

Smith Ele. Vehicles Wins Battle on UK Tax Breaks for Electric Vans

Posted on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Dec. 9th 2009
WASHINGTON, Tyne & Wear, UK - Smith Electric Vehicles is celebrating, after leading a successful campaign to win UNITED KINGDOM tax breaks for electric vans.

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, in his Pre-Budget Report, today announced a 100% capital allowance for companies purchasing electric vans. Britain’s car industry welcomed the UK government’s decision to extend the tax breaks for electric vehicles, already promised for private consumers, to commercial and fleet buyers. This means fleet operators can write down the entire cost of buying an electric van in the first year of ownership.
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Dec 2

Toyota Begins Plug-In Prius Production for Test Program

Posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

December 2, 2009
Global Demonstration Program Starts this Month in Japan
Assembly Line Production of 500 Lithium-ion Batteries Begun

Beginning later this month, a total of 350 vehicles will begin delivery in Japan and Europe in support of model programs with business and government partners aimed at raising societal awareness of, and preparedness for, this important new technology. Beginning early next year, 2010, 150 vehicles will start arriving in the U.S., where they will be placed in regional clusters with select partners for market/consumer analysis and technical demonstration. In addition to California, Toyota has already announced that Boulder, CO is going to be the first community to get some of these plug-in hybrids – a surefire way for Toyota to see how cold temps affect battery performance.

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Dec 2

Chevrolet Volt To Sell in California First

Posted on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 in ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Published Dec 2, 2009

California will be the "lead market" for the Chevy Volt when the electrically driven car is available at the end of next year, General Motors said Wednesday.
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