Green Car Congress

AUGUST 3, 2010

Bright Automotive, the developer of the purpose-built, plug-in hybrid IDEA ( earlier post ), and General Motors Co. GM has provided funding to the Indiana automaker, the first funding action by the newly formed General Motors Ventures LLC ( earlier post ). have agreed to pursue a strategic relationship.

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Bright Automotive GM PHEV General Motors 207

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 28, 2010

Hybrids don’t have to be luxury vehicles. —Don Anair, the senior vehicles analyst with UCS’ Clean Vehicles Program who oversaw the guide. —Don Anair, the senior vehicles analyst with UCS’ Clean Vehicles Program who oversaw the guide.

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LS 600H Hybrid Civic Hybrid Fusion 236

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 3, 2010

SAIC Motor Corp., SAIC) and General Motors Co. (GM) The signing of the MoU builds on the automakers’ efforts to explore cooperation in Asia’s emerging markets, led by India ( earlier post ), and to co-develop two efficient next-generation powertrain families. It has already reached this mark in 2010.

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GM Energy Vehicles 2010 218

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 27, 2009

At the China International Industry Fair held earlier in November in Shanghai, SAIC Group displayed six models of new energy vehicles, which will serve the Expo 2010. The Roewe 550, a plug-in strong hybrid car offering a 50% boost in fuel economy, will enter the market in quantities in 2012. The car is equipped with a 2.4L

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2010 2012 Hybrid PHEV 272

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 20, 2010

Magna E-Car Systems, a newly formed joint venture between Magna International and the Stronach Trust, announced the grand opening of a new hybrid- and electric-vehicle system development center and state-of-the-art battery/materials testing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Tags: Brief. The grant was part of the $2.4

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Hybrid North America 2009 Cars 210

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 4, 2009

Toyota’s targeted cost reductions in fuel cell vehicles. In a news conference at the Japan National Press Club on Friday, Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda said that the company plans to begin mass production of electric vehicles in the US in 2012, followed by US production of fuel cell vehicles in 2015.

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2015 Toyota Commercial Fuel 315

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 11, 2010

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award more than $187 million to nine projects to improve fuel efficiency for heavy-duty trucks and passenger vehicles. The remaining six projects totaling more than $71 million will support efforts to increase the fuel economy for passenger vehicle engines and powertrain systems. 39,559,868.

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Fuel Economy Downsizing Vehicles Waste 199

Green Car Congress

APRIL 21, 2009

The Buick Business Concept Vehicle. The Buick Business Concept, a new mild hybrid concept vehicle designed to showcase Buick’s future vision of “business class on the road,” made its global debut at Auto Shanghai 2009. Using a more powerful electric motor to enhance engine efficiency. Tags: China Hybrids.

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Buick Concept Hybrid Vehicles 150

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 31, 2009

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has awarded Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation (eTec), a subsidiary of ECOtality, an estimated $8 million to support the deployment of charge infrastructure and electric vehicles (EVs) in the San Diego region that is part of eTec’s project awarded $99.8 Earlier post.).

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Plug-in San Diego Plug California 218

Green Car Congress

APRIL 10, 2009

President Barack Obama announced that the US General Services Administration (GSA) will spend $285 million provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to buy about 17,600 new, fuel-efficient vehicles produced by US auto companies by 1 June. Tags: Brief. These orders will be placed by 30 September 2009.

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Purchase Hybrid Obama Fuel 150

Green Cars News

MAY 10, 2009

At the SAE 2009 World Congress, General Motors took the opportunity to present the first front-wheel-drive version of their two-mode hybrid transaxle which has been dubbed the 2MT70. Tags: Green cars Latest news general motors 2MT70 two-mode hybrid transaxle.

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General Motors Motor Motors Motoring 32

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 19, 2009

GM has cancelled its recently announced compact Buick crossover, which would have offered the plug-in hybrid system originally targeted for the Saturn VUE. And we decided that the important plug-in hybrid technology would be applied to another vehicle, at no delay, that we’ll discuss in the very near future. Earlier post.).

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Buick Plug-in Plug GM 186

Green Car Congress

APRIL 6, 2010

General Motors will expand use of “enhanced smart pedal” technology globally to all passenger cars with automatic transmissions and electronic throttle control, including hybrids and the Volt. For electrics/hybrids, brake override operates on the same principle as an internal combustion engine. Tags: Brief.

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Volt GM 2012 Global 210

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 5, 2009

Reported hybrid sales by month. In the aftermath of the summer sales boom fueled by the US Cash for Clunkers program, September 2009 light duty vehicles sales dropped back to pre-incentive lows. Reported sales of hybrids in September dropped 4.1% Compared to August results (38,701 units), however, hybrid sales dropped 48.4%.

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Cash For Clunkers Sale LS 600H Hybrid 225

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

Ioxus will incorporate AEC products into its current offerings to deliver energy-efficient systems solutions for hybrid electric vehicles, wind pitch control and other energy storage applications. Tags: Brief. Ultracapacitor company Ioxus, Inc.

Conversion 210

Conversion Energy New York General Motors 210

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 6, 2009

The 8 kWh battery pack for the new 2011 Buick PHEV crossover vehicle is prepared for testing at the General Motors Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. In early testing, the plug-in hybrid is capable of electric-only propulsion for more than 10 miles at low speeds. Photo by Jeffrey Sauger for GM) Click to enlarge.

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Buick Li-ion Plug-in GM 210

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 26, 2010

General Motors will invest approximately $246 million in the Baltimore Transmission plant to construct a high volume electric drive manufacturing facility that will in 2013 produce US designed and manufactured global rear-drive electric motors, a core technology for hybrids and electric vehicles. Earlier post.)

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Baltimore GM Motor Motors 186

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 24, 2009

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC)—an organization whose members are Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company—is seeking requests for proposal information (RFPIs) for four projects related to advanced battery development for hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric and electric vehicles.

Energy Storage 225

Energy Storage Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles 225

Green Car Congress

JULY 3, 2009

Hybrid new vehicle market share by month. Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased 5.2% by volume in June 2009 year-on-year to 26,205 units, representing 3% of new vehicles sold—marking the highest monthly new vehicle share since April 2008, and the fourth straight month of increasing share. US LDV SAAR.

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LS 600H Camry Hybrid GS 450h Sale 150

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

an Ann Arbor-based developer of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, announced the combined investment of $4.2M by General Motors Ventures ($3.2 These investments by General Motors Ventures and Itochu Technology Ventures bring us not only capital, but partnerships that will speed our commercialization efforts.

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GM Companies Batteries Battery 218

Green Car Congress

MAY 30, 2009

Canada-based international auto supplier and contract assembler Magna International, now with a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of Opel from General Motors ( earlier post ), sees vehicle electrification as one of its key strategic initiatives. We have come a long way in a year’s time. Siegfried Wolf.

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Lithium Ion Vehicles Energy Storage Hybrid 170

Green Car Congress

JUNE 11, 2009

General Motors has announced that there will be no retail production of the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid for model year (MY) 2010 due to “elevated inventory levels of the 2009 model.” A limited amount of 2010 Malibu hybrids may be produced to fulfill fleet sales requests. 2008 Malibu hybrid. Tags: Brief.

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Malibu Hybrid 2010 VUE Saturn 150

Green Cars News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

The beleaguered automotive industry in the United States has taken its fair share of knocks over the last 12 months but none were more shocking than when one of the oldest and most well-respected brands in motoring – General Motors (GM) – slipped into bankruptcy earlier this year. Starting from 2010 its 2.4l

General Motors 40

General Motors Green Motor Motors 40

Green Car Congress

JULY 16, 2009

The third phase of a SDG&E multi-year in-use study on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles showed that plug-in hybrids offer significant improvements in gas mileage and reductions in emissions when compared with standard hybrid-electric and gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Earlier post.)

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Gasoline-Electric San Diego Gasoline PHEV 186

Green Car Congress

JULY 20, 2010

Organizations representing auto manufacturers, electric utilities and the electric drive industry are calling on President Obama to establish a new National Electric Fuel Task Force to help accelerate the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles and the necessary infrastructure. Tags: Electric (Battery) Plug-ins Policy.

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Obama Plug-in Auto Industry Plug 231

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 26, 2010

Martin for General Motors) Click to enlarge. The first GM-designed and built electric motors are scheduled to debut in 2013 in next-generation, rear-wheel-drive two-mode hybrid technology. In the future, electric motors might become as important to GM as engines are now.

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GM Motor Motors Motoring 246

Green Car Congress

MARCH 27, 2009

Opel, the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Combustion Engines and Motor Vehicles, Bosch and the Research Institute for Motor Vehicles and Vehicle Engines Stuttgart (FKFS) have developed a mild-hybrid CNG-electric version of the Opel Astra Caravan. The CNG Turbo Hybrid. Tags: Brief.

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Universal Hybrid NiMH General Motors 150

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 20, 2009

For the fifth consecutive year, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reporting an increase in new vehicle fuel efficiency with a corresponding decrease in average carbon dioxide emissions for new US cars and light duty trucks. Characteristics of light-duty vehicles for four select model years. Source: EPA. Click to enlarge.

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Fuel Economy 2004 Economy EPA 268

Green Car Congress

JULY 2, 2009

will spend an estimated ¥20-30 billion (US$207-310 million) to boost production capacity for lithium-ion batteries for hybrid light-duty vehicles, targeting a 70-fold increase by 2015. Hitachi has already received orders for enough lithium ion batteries for 100,000 hybrid autos that General Motors Corp.

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Li-ion Nickel Metal Hydride 2015 Lithium Ion 150

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 6, 2010

Purcell, best known for his leadership at the General Motors Corporation with the GM EV-1, moves into this role after serving as a board director and strategic advisor to the company. Protean Electric designs, develops and manufactures the Protean Drive, a fully integrated, in-wheel motor, direct-drive solution.

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Industrial Industry Companies GM 225

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 1, 2009

Jim Spellman has assumed the leadership of Raser Technologies’ Plug-in Hybrid team as of today. He has more than 20 years of engineering experience with motors in the automotive industry. Spellman came to Raser after working for Delco Remy, a former division of General Motors, for more than 27 years.

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Plug-in Plug Hybrid 2006 150

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2009

Fisker Automotive has selected the GM Wilmington Assembly plant in Wilmington, Delaware for production for Project NINA, the development and build of a family-oriented plug-in hybrid sedan costing about $39,900 after federal tax credits. Fisker Automotive has signed a letter of intent with Motors Liquidation Co. Tags: Brief.

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Fisker GM Tax Credit Production 186

Green Car Congress

APRIL 23, 2010

million loan with Fisker Automotive for the development and production of two lines of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Fisker, a startup based in southern California, expects to manufacture the Karma and Project NINA lines at a recently shuttered General Motors factory in Wilmington, Delaware. Earlier post.)

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Fisker Karma PHEV Delaware 186

Green Car Congress

MAY 13, 2010

One of GM’s innovations involves the creation of a shape memory alloy (SMA) heat engine for power generation from waste engine heat. More than half of the 1,300 patents filed by General Motors Co. There’s almost no component on the vehicle that is not being reinvented. Source: GM. Click to enlarge.

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2009 GM Green General Motors 218

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 17, 2010

Boston-Power is targeting Swing battery systems at Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Utility Energy Storage applications. Johnson Space Center, located in Houston, Texas, for possible integration into an advanced space vehicle as part of the Lunar Lander project.

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Boston Lithium Ion Batteries Battery 230

Green Car Congress

JUNE 17, 2009

General Motors and Politecnico di Torino formed the GM-Politecnico Institute of Automotive Research and Education. One new initiative is the planned Diesel Hybridization Center of Excellence in Torino (DECET) which will focus on developing cost-effective hybrid technology for diesel passenger cars. Tags: Brief.

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GM General Motors United States Italy 150

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 21, 2010

The two companies are collaborating to determine how the Volt’s 16-kWh lithium-ion batteries can be used to provide stationary electric grid storage systems once the batteries have fulfilled their usefulness in customers’ vehicles. Earlier this month, Nissan Motor Co., Tags: Batteries Plug-ins Smart Grid. Earlier post.).

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Volt GM Batteries Battery 240