Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Announcement of the i sub-brand in Germany. The final look of the i3 and i8 has yet to be shown. Click to enlarge. BMW introduced its new sub-brand, BMW i, along with announcement of production of the first two i models: the i3 (the battery-electric Megacity Vehicle, earlier post ) and the i8 (the production version of the plug-in hybrid Vision Efficient Dynamics concept, earlier post ).

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Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 19, 2011

Last fall, GM executive Tom Stephens said the company would offer a passenger car with a clean-diesel engine in the U.S. market, its first since 1985. Now we know what that vehicle will be: a model of the 2013 Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan. Workers at the Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant where the Cruze is built were told about the model last week.

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All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

In a little over a week, Volvo will be unveiling its latest plug-in electric vehicle to the world at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show. But just like last week when we were given an exclusive pre-Geneva peek at Nissan’s ESFlow electric sportscar concept in Frankfurt, Volvo invited us a few weeks ago to its headquarters in a wintery Gothenburg.

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Volvo 2011 Plug-in Auto 98

Electric Cars are for Girls

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Everyone seems to be keeping the transmission in their electric car conversions. I don't get it.

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Conversion Motor Motors Motoring 102

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 20, 2011

Fuel-based particulate matter emission factors (A: PM 2.5 mass, B: organic carbon fraction (OC/PM), C: elemental carbon fraction (EC/PM)), global warming commitment (D: GWC-Kyoto, E: GWC-All), and F: fuel consumption. Credit: ACS, Reynolds et al. Click to enlarge. Chassis dynamometer emission testing conducted on 30 in-use Indian auto-rickshaws—two-stroke and four-stroke CNG-fueled (CNG-2S and CNG-4S) and four-stroke gasoline-fueled (PET-4S)—found that global warming commitment (GWC)

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Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

It all started with Leonardo DiCaprio, who showed up at the foot of the red carpet in his very own Toyota Prius. Within a couple of years, alighting from a Prius hybrid--or any other hybrid, including the hulking Cadillac Escalade Hybrid luxury full-size sport-utility vehicle--was de rigeur for any celeb who hoped to burnish his or her green.

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National Green Transportation

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

David Herron A vote in Congress last Friday on an ammendment demonstrated a widely recognized truism. Support for corn ethanol subsidies is strong in states that grow a lot of corn, and is weak elsewhere. This support crosses party lines and includes people. February 21, 2011.

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Congress 2011 79

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Scanning electron microscope image of polyethylene microcapsules spin coated onto Li-ion battery anode. These microcapsules are thermally triggered during thermal runaway conditions and infuse the anode shutting down ion transport and preventing lithium fires. Photo credit: Marta Baginska. Click to enlarge. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are applying new materials and concepts integrated within the battery cell to enable a variety of critical features including fail-s

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Li-ion Illinois Concept Batteries 240

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

The name Porsche has traditionally been associated with fast, rear-engine sports cars, and more recently with fast heavy SUVs and fast heavy four-door luxury sedans. But it all goes back to pioneering engineer Ferdinand Porsche. He also designed the prototype for what became the Volkswagen Beetle, and would found Porsche AG after World War II.

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Porsche Cars Hybrid SUV 111

All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Fabulous creations that electric cars are, they're still machines designed by mere mortals and as a result, they may occasionally go wrong. As they're operated by mere mortals too, you may find one time that you're unable to reach your destination on a charge thanks to a miscalculation, or you've parked somewhere you probably shouldn't have. In.

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Electric Cars Cars Electric Electrical 75

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National Green Transportation

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

A month ago rumors were circulating that maybe, possibly, Rolls Royce was developing an all-electric limo. At the time their CEO, Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, suggested it might be a good idea and that "all options were on the table" but did. David Herron February 21, 2011.

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Electric Cars IDEA 2011 Electric 72

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 20, 2011

The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. will start selling home battery chargers for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012. Group firms Toyota Home and Toyota Industries Corp. will jointly develop the charger and will market it under the Toyota Home brand, through the sales channels of Toyota Home and its affiliate, Misawa Homes Co., according to the report.

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2012 Toyota Market PHEV 240

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Gas prices got you all nervous? Figuring the days of cheap gas are over? Thinking about a new car with much better gas mileage? Well, just because the EPA rates a specific car at the magic 40-mpg mark doesn't mean you'll actually get 40 mpg. But the ratings are a good indicator of where cars stand relative to one another. New: 2012 Ford Focus SFE.

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All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Charge Anxiety, the fear that your electric car won’t charge up as quickly as you need it to may be one step further away if you’re a 2011 Nissan Leaf owner willing to throw caution to the wind and hack your $25,000 bundle of joy. At least that’s the message coming from a select group of 2011 Nissan Leaf owners who feel that the.

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2011 Nissan Re-Charge Charging 70

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Green Cars News

FEBRUARY 19, 2011

It’s been a long time coming, but China’s BYD Auto will finally stage the European premiere of two of its electric vehicles at the 2011 Geneva International Motor Show. The updated 2012 e6-Eco and the independent 4WD dual mode electric SUV S6DM will be introduced at the event as BYD also presents its Three Green [.].

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BYD E6 Electric Vehicles Europe 54

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

The new Ford Focus ( earlier post ) with the SFE (Super Fuel Economy) package is EPA-certified at 40 mpg on the highway and 28 mpg city. Focus becomes the fourth vehicle in the Ford Motor Company vehicle lineup with an EPA-certified rating of 40 mpg (on either city or highway cycles) or more. The Focus is fitted with a completely new 2.0-liter gasoline direct-injection DOHC four-cylinder engine that combines high-pressure direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) fo

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Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

The latest episode in the long-running drama over whether U.S. drivers will be offered gasoline with more ethanol in it came very early Saturday morning. The House of Representatives adopted an amendment to a continuing resolution on Federal spending through September 30 that would bar the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from acting on.

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Gas EPA Gasoline 103

All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Oh dear, Nissan. You’re struggling to fulfil worldwide demand for your first ever production electric vehicle, and then you go and put the price of your revolutionary car up. At least, that’s what buyers in Europe are faced with from March 1. Even before the first Nissan Leaf has been delivered to a U.K. customer, sources within Nissan.

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Green Cars News

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Tuesday 22 February 2011. The Green Piece Column. Just how green are electric cars? It’s a debate that has raged since battery powered vehicles were looked at as a serious alternative to the internal combustion engine – and also a debate that seems to prompt some questionable statistics and ‘evidence’ from critics. However, few vehicles [.].

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Electric Cars Cars 2011 Battery Powered 53

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Leading companies in the Australian automotive manufacturing industry are collaborating on the design and engineering of electric vehicles with the launch of EV Engineering Ltd. EV Engineering will design and engineer seven proof-of-concept fully-electric versions of. Australia’s number-one selling passenger vehicle, the Holden Commodore. This project will take. place over a 15-month period.

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Industrial Industry Manufacturer Electric Vehicles 236

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

You may have seen it on a t-shirt: "40 is the new 30." But you may not have realized it applies to miles-per-gallon just as much as age. While cars with EPA ratings of 30 mpg or more used to be considered in the highest ranks of fuel efficiency, now 40 mpg seems to be the new benchmark for non-hybrid compact car lines. And Honda, long known for.

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MPG Honda Hybrid 2012 90

All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

This morning we brought you the first exclusive live images and official details on the production version of the 2012 Volvo V60, and now we have the official gallery and animation demonstrating how the car's hybrid system works. Promising 124 mpg in hybrid mode and all-electric range of 30 miles, the V60 PHEV rivals or beats the Chevrolet.

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Volvo 2012 Hybrid Plug-in 68

Green Cars News

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

The California Energy Commission has prepared a draft version of its 2011-2012 Investment Plan for the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. During the third year of funding, around $100million is expected to be committed to the program with $22million to go towards medium and heavy duty trucks which make up a total [.].

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California Energy Renewable 2011 52

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Illustration of the V60 PHEV powertrain. Click to enlarge. Volvo Cars has provided more information on its V60 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), to be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show. ( Earlier post.) The diesel PHEV will go on sale in 2012. The front wheels of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid will be driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-liter D5 turbodiesel, which produces 215 hp (160 kW) and maximum torque of 440 N·m (325 lb-ft).

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Plug-in Volvo Diesel Plug 236

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

Hyundai is no friend to cheating spouses, that's for sure. Of course, neither is Congress (despite the recent Craigslist antics of former Representative Chris Lee). But perhaps we should start at the beginning. 'Vast defect' ?!?!? We've gotten several notes over the past few weeks from Colorado reader Bob A, saying: Hyundai Sonata HYBRID again.

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Hyundai Hybrid Colorado Congress 89

All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

It’s the end of February, which means that winter is almost over for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, and Geneva’s prestigious autoshow is just days away. This year we’ve been given unprecedented access to many of the cars due to debut at this year’s show, but in case you’ve missed them here is our roundup of.

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2011 Auto Electric Cars Cars 67

Green Cars News

FEBRUARY 23, 2011

The all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV has scored an impressive four stars in the latest round of tests from leading crash safety authority, Euro NCAP. It is the first time the organisation has tested a fully-electric and publicly available electric car and the results bode well for the electric car industry. What’s even better is that the [.].

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i-MiEV Mitsubishi Fully Electric Electric Cars 52

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2011

Sustainable-mobility.org. Zen Car and the Société Régionale d’Investissement de Bruxelles will partner to set up an electric car sharing scheme in Brussels as of March. The project may be supported by the state. 29 cars will be put into circulation; charging will be possible at around fifteen parking spaces in the centre, the east and the south of the city.Drivers interested in the Zen Car will have to pay certain fees: €40 joining fees, a €6 monthly subscription and an hourly rate of €7 r

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Electric Cars Cars Electric Electrical 231

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Auto marketers and PR people have a love-hate relationship with the Internet. It lets them connect directly with users and fans, but it also transmits facts, leaks, and rumors at lightning speed. That meant that this morning's BMW press conference, telecast live from BMW Welt in a snowy Munich, contained very little new to anyone who had been.

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All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 19, 2011

When people think of Texas, there’s always certain stereotypes associated with it: cowboys, twangs, conservative politics, boots, guns and big, gas-guzzling trucks. While some stereotypes are rooted in truth, Texas can surprise you. Like when people actually visit a major city and realize that most Texans are neither cowboys nor all heavily.

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Green Cars News

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

A report in Japanese business daily The Nikkei has revealed that Toyota will start selling home battery chargers for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles from 2012. Toyota Home and Toyota Industries will team up to develop the charger and will market it under the Toyota Home brand. The report suggests that two charger types will [.].

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2012 Toyota Plug-in Plug 51

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed what it says is the world’s smallest and lightest motor controller unit for electric power steering in automobiles. This next generation motor controller unit integrates the motor and controller into one unit and aligns them on the same axis by improving the internal structure of the controller. This results in the unit being 50% smaller and 30% lighter than the company’s current products with equal output.

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Mitsubishi Motor Motors Motoring 231

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 21, 2011

Silent cruising in a seemingly impregnable fortress of fine leather, sensuous wood, and hand-built steel and glass is the ultimate goal of hyper-luxury brands like Rolls-Royce. Which means it's not too surprising that the automaker has confirmed the development of an all-electric version of its Phantom flagship sedan. While the combination of.

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Electric Electrical All-Electric 86

All Cars Electric

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

Ever since Apple announced it would allow third party developers to build and sell applications for its iPhone smart phone, we’ve seen a whole range of applications from the silly to the useful. There’s even some fantastic iPhone apps to help you find the nearest charge station, control your electric car’s charging or even pay.

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Electric Cars Cars Electric Electrical 62