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Ohio State University Takes Top Spot at 2009 EcoCAR Competition with EREV Design

Green Car Congress

The competition challenges university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a 2009 Saturn VUE to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal. The next-generation design predicts a 300% increase in fuel economy over the production 4-cylinder vehicle.

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GM Releases New Viability Plan, Launches Bond Exchange; Phasing Out Pontiac

Green Car Congress

As part of the new plan, GM will accelerate the wind-down or sale of HUMMER, Saturn and Saab to the end of 2009, and phase out Pontiac by the end of 2010. The revised plan moves up the resolution of Saab, Saturn, and Hummer to the end of 2009, at the latest. The Pontiac brand will be phased out by the end of 2010.

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Perspective: A View Into the New GM

Green Car Congress

The Saturn version of the two-mode plug-in hybrid at the Milford Proving Grounds. GM also gave a tour of the pre-production area where we could see production-intent Chevy Volts being assembled. Build better products. by Bill Cooke. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge.

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How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

In late 2008, BYD started selling the first production PHEV in China. Partnering with Alcoa, Duke Energy, Google.org, Johnson Controls Indiana startup plans to unveil vehicle May 2009 at EVS-24 in Norway; mass production in 2012. 1,000 pre-orders for small production runs in 2009 and 2010starting 4th quarter 2009.

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GM Says Chevrolet Volt Won't 'Pay the Rent' | Autopia from Wired.com

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

"On some products, the costs, particularly in advanced technologies, are high," he said in a lengthy interview with Automotive News (free subscription required). They only have that many models because they use the same chassis and drivetrain to build 3 different cars, one branded as a Chevy, the next a Pontiac, then a Saturn, etc.

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