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XL1 dive and drive: Volkswagen aggressively optimizes for efficiency in its sleek diesel plug-in hybrid

Green Car Congress

Volkswagen has begun limited production of the XL1; 50 units are being built initially, with 250 slated for build. The XLI can be also be put into a charging mode, which runs the engine at a slightly higher point that required, using the excess power to generate electricity to recharge the battery. Click to enlarge. inches tall.

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Slow start for charge of the electric cars - Times Online

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

Variations of lithium-ion batteries, as used on a smaller scale in laptops andmobile phones, are seen as the next big step. Virtually all the world’s bigmotor manufacturers are building prototypes using lithium-ion batteries butso far they have reached production only in a few low-volume models.