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Analysis: What’s the Best Way to Market EVs?

Clean Fleet Report

Ford has just announced that its electric F-150 pickup will be called “Lightning,” bringing back a moniker that was applied to high performance F-150 versions in the past, but keeping the electric version within its best-selling brand. This behemoth will be super powerful and long range–and will be expensive too.

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ISU study finds large potential for biobased materials in auto industry, but with challenges

Green Car Congress

Soy-based polyurethane foams have been placed in the seat cushions and seatbacks of the Ford Mustang, Expedition, F-150, Focus, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Mercury Mariner, Lincoln Navigator, Lincoln MKS, and, most recently, 2010 Taurus. The 2010 Ford Flex’s third-row interior storage bins contained 20% wheat straw biofiller.

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NREL/GM Project Finds Ultracaps Perform as Well or Better Than NiMH Pack for Energy Storage in Mild Hybrid Vehicle

Green Car Congress

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) project, funded by GM, found that an ultracapacitor-based energy storage system (ESS) in a Saturn VUE BAS (belt alternator starter) mild hybrid performed at least as well or better than the NiMH battery system in the production hybrid. Source: Gonder et al. Click to enlarge.

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How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

Several after-market companies have done PHEV conversions of the Ford Escape hybrid and one has done a retrofit of the F-150 pickup -- see Where PHEVs Are and ICE-Conversions.) Plans Saturn Vue PHEV-10. Aims to get Saturn Vue on road in 2010; no production goal. Plans Cadillac Converj, Opel Ampera, other versions.

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

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

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. Posted by: Bob F | Apr 13, 2009 9:42:47 PM Despite factual errors and oversights in this article, you still make an excellent point. 150 miles is fine more.

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