The Truth About Cars

JULY 12, 2023

We’ve been hearing about the rise of electric vehicles for years, but while they are growing rapidly in number, there’s still a disconnect between an auto industry hell-bent on electrification and the desires of the people they rely on to buy new cars. Though EV sales seem to be dragging, hybrids and plug-in hybrids are hot commodities.

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Dealers Tax Credit Gas-Electric Auto Industry 96

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 18, 2009

Cumulative sales of hybrid vehicles in the fleet sector will total nearly 4 million worldwide between 2009 and 2015, according to a recent report from Pike Research. Manufacturers are beginning to turn their attention beyond light duty vehicles to the efficiency opportunities for hybrid drive in heavy trucks. Clint Wheelock.

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2015 Fleet Hybrid Plug-in 225

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 19, 2009

The US Department of Energy (DOE), through its Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity ( AVTA ) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), has completed 1 million miles of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) testing. Hybrids Plus Escape Hybrids Plus. Hybrids Plus Escape K2 Energy Solutions. Hybrids Plus Prius Hybrids Plus.

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Green Car Congress

AUGUST 1, 2009

Jim Spellman has assumed the leadership of Raser Technologies’ Plug-in Hybrid team as of today. Spellman was the Vice President of the Transportation and Industrial segment, and also joined Raser in 2006. He has more than 20 years of engineering experience with motors in the automotive industry. Tags: Brief.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 26, 2009

Toyota Industries’ solar charging station. Toyota Industries Corp (TIC) has developed a solar charging station for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Full operation of the stations will begin in April, with 20 Prius Plug-In Hybrids. Toyota Industries recharger on a stand.

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Solar Toyota Industrial Industry 316

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 18, 2009

Ford Motor Company has developed an intelligent vehicle-to-grid communications and control system for its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that communicates directly with the electric grid. All 21 of Ford’s fleet of plug-in hybrid Escapes eventually will be equipped with the vehicle-to-grid communications technology.

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Grid Plug-in Plug Ford 284

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.

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Green Car Congress

JUNE 1, 2009

A V70 plug-in hybrid demonstrator. Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation are launching an industrial joint venture partnership to introduce plug-in hybrids on the market by 2012. The Volvo V70 Plug-in hybrid demonstration car fuelling up at a public charging station.

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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. SAIC Expo 2010 Gallery.

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 23, 2009

As one of the speakers put it to the attendees, the bulk of which came from Southeast Michigan, plug-in vehicles will a major career path for most of the people in the room. “I’m very encouraged that carmakers now see as allies the utilities, plug-in advocates, community and regional efforts like ProjectGetReady.”

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Green Car Congress

AUGUST 13, 2009

million grant to develop a fully integrated, production plug-in hybrid system for Class 2 – 5 vehicles (8,501 – 19,500 lbs gross vehicle weight), and the accompanying demonstration of a fleet of 378 plug-in hybrid trucks and shuttle buses. Eaton Corporation’s truck and electrical businesses will support a $45.4

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Eaton PHEV Plug-in EPRI 150

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 21, 2009

Iran’s largest car and truck-manufacturing company, Iran-Khodro, will unveil what it calls the Middle-East’s first hybrid bus. “The hybrid system designed in this project was installed on one of Iran-Khodro Diesel Co. The hybrid bus reportedly reduces fuel consumption and emissions for 30-40%. IKD) city buses.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 22, 2010

Plug-in electric vehicles—plug-in hybrids and full battery-powered—will represent nearly 20% of the global market for light vehicles in 2030, according to findings in a study on the business case for Plugged-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) by automotive industry analysts at IHS Global Insight.

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 26, 2009

the developer of the purpose-built, plug-in hybrid IDEA ( earlier post ) launched of Bright eSolutions to support automotive customers worldwide to accelerate vehicle electrification, lightweighting, and overall platform efficiency. The IDEA is a multi-purpose, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle aimed at commercial and government fleets.

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Plugs and Cars

MAY 19, 2007

Simply put, as the first sentence of the article states, [W]hen consumers understand what plug-in hybrids are, they want them. Tags: ethanol plug-in hybrid flex-fuel. All that's needed, the survey discovered, is a dollop of education. Wonder why? The answer is contained in another part of the survey.

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Plug-in Plug Hybrid Industrial 100

Green Car Congress

MAY 24, 2010

Ford Motor Company, moving to create a center of excellence in Michigan for vehicle electrification, is investing $135 million to design, engineer and produce key components for the company’s next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles. Ford’s Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., Ford’s Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, Mich.,

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Michigan Ford North America Hybrid 186

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 27, 2009

The series hybrid system in a cutaway chassis. Currently all of the world’s car makers are looking at electric or hybrid propulsion vehicles. The original gasoline engine and transmission system were removed and replaced with a hybrid propulsion system developed by Delta. Photo: Business Wire. Click to enlarge.

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Hybrid Market Taiwan Vehicles 258

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 6, 2010

According to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), as of 2008, Japan had about 600,000 “next-generation” vehicles—including hybrids and electric vehicles—in service, representing 0.8% Industry, government and academic sectors are working together for the development of next-generation batteries in Japan. Source: JAMA.

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 6, 2010

Based on technology from the European rail industry, and leveraging the rapid charge capability of nanotechnology Lithium Titanate (nLTO) technology batteries such as those from Altair Nano, the Bůsbaar is a high power (~250 kW) opportunity charging station that rapidly charges a bus at one or both ends of its route.

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Lithium Titanate Charging Hybrid Batteries 247

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 5, 2010

Intersil Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of high-performance analog, mixed signal and power management semiconductors, introduced a system solution for hybrid and electric vehicle (HEV/EV) battery management control, featuring an automotive-grade Li-Ion battery management system and safety monitor. ISL78600 Management System.

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Electric Vehicles Hybrid Batteries Battery 218

Green Car Congress

JUNE 25, 2009

Seeking to interact with government, stakeholders and industry both in the UK and internationally, the Electric Vehicle Group will promote a collaborative industry-wide approach to the development of ultra-low carbon technologies. Tags: Brief.

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Industrial Industry Electric Vehicles Vehicles 150

Green Car Congress

JUNE 29, 2010

and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the joint development of renewable energy and electric vehicles. Raser first unveiled its Extended Range Series Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) drive system, developed with FEV, at the 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit. Earlier post.).

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Extended Range Renewable Electric Vehicles Hyundai 240

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 2, 2009

With today’s announcement, we are transforming the LA region into the capital of the electric car and we will prime our region to be plug-in ready by the fall of 2010. If we are to be at the forefront of tackling climate change, reducing emissions from the automobile must be front and center. Off-peak electrical charging rate of 8.5

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Revenge of the Electric Car

APRIL 16, 2010

If they don’t, then the car industry warns it’ll be hard to hit President Obama’s goal of one million electric and/or plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015. Read more in the WSJ article by Josh Mitchell: Auto Industry Plugs Electric-Car Subsidies. Tags: EV Economics Obama Energy.

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Industrial Industry Obama Tax Credit 124

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 2, 2009

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. will present a gull-wing Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. The Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept. The Subaru hybrid drive uses a 10 kW motor/generator in the front, and a 20 kW motor in the rear. Tags: Brief. Click to enlarge.

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Concept Hybrid Li-ion Motors 199

Green Car Congress

JUNE 23, 2010

Ford Motor Company has awarded Toshiba a major contract to supply electric drive motors for hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Toshiba International Corporation (TIC), a Houston-based Toshiba Group company, manufactures and markets motors and industrial equipment, and is the base for this expansion program.

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2012 Houston Motor Motors 231

Green Car Congress

JUNE 21, 2010

to develop, manufacture and market rechargeable lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles and other applications. In January, HVE introduced new cells targeted at plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, a first for the Hitachi Group. Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd. Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd. Earlier post.).

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Li-ion Lithium Ion Industrial Industry 199

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 22, 2012

Wireless Charging enables the customer the ability to have “transparent” recharging of plug-in electric vehicle—EV, combustion engine (IC) PHEV, fuel cell (FC) PHEV—through a seamless connection to the EVSE charger and automated charging process. —Jesse Schneider, Chair SAE J2954.

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Industrial Industry Standards Charging 240

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 17, 2010

recently entered into a five-year agreement with Western Michigan University (WMU) to invest in and jointly staff a 1,000-square-foot testing lab to focus on hybrid drive systems for commercial and military vehicles. That hybrid hydraulic drive work also involves collaboration with WMU’s CAViDS. Eaton Corp.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 22, 2010

Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation will begin offering retrofit versions of its Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) hybrid power system ( earlier post ) for refuse trucks later this year. The HLA system. Click to enlarge. The Refuse Retrofit Program will be offered through select qualified partners and installers.

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Green Car Congress

JUNE 13, 2009

described a prototype lithium-ion battery system targeted at a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) application. This certification is key for our focus on the transportation industry. and Marshall Miller (2009) Performance Characteristics of Lithium-ion Batteries of Various Chemistries for Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles.

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Plug In Partners

JUNE 11, 2008

Here's the story from the LA Times: Toyota promises plug-in hybrid vehicle in U.S., Japan and Europe by 2010 By Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press June 11, 2008 TOKYO -- Toyota is introducing a plug-in hybrid with next-generation lithium-ion batteries in the U.S., Representative John Dingell (D-Mich.); If so, how?

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Plug-in Toyota Plug Nickel Metal Hydride 100

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2009

The signatories to the Declaration confirm their determination to cooperate with the various stakeholders towards the development and application of industry pre-standards until standards have been set by the official standards bodies ISO/IEC and call upon policymakers to support the drive towards a climate-friendly transport sector.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 20, 2010

Additional efforts are anticipated for Quantum to complete the development, testing, and validation of the integrated Q-Drive system to meet all automotive industry, safety, and emissions standards to be able to put the Fisker high-performance luxury sedan into the hands of consumers. Tags: Brief.

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Fisker Karma Supplies Hybrid 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2010

million in private equity funding to develop plug-in hybrid cars. million US Department of Energy conditional loan that will, in part, help speed completion of the Fisker Karma, the company’s first plug-in hybrid. Tags: Brief. Fisker Automotive last week secured access to an additional $115.3 Earlier post.).

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Green Car Congress

AUGUST 19, 2009

Plug-in electric vehicles (i.e., plug-in hybrids, extended range electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles) are smart loads, and so fall into the third element. Click to enlarge. A network of smart loads with communications to report their current state and act on smart grid commands.

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Revenge of the Electric Car

JANUARY 27, 2009

This new company, Bright Automotive , is founded by ex-GM EV1 people, and the super efficient Rocky Mountain Institute to make plug-in hybrids in Indiana. Andy Frank makes the observation that parallel hybrids (Toyota Prius) are cheaper than series hybrids (Chevy Volt). At the end of this article, Prof. January 21, 2009.

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