Green
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When GM Ventures announced it would invest an unspecified amount of money into startup hybrid truck-maker Bright Automotive, several of us noted that the prototype Bright Idea delivery van used an 2.0-liter engine and transmission from a Dodge Caliber. The announcement two weeks ago from General Motors' venture investing arm immediately prompted the question: Would Bright switch over to using GM powertrains as it developed the prototype into a production model? Not surprisingly, the answer is yes. Bright Automotive executive vice-president of corporate strategy Michael Brylawski confirmed...
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A123 Spin-Off 24M Lands $16M To Explore Next Frontier Of Batteries
Last week, advanced battery company A123Systems announced that it was spinning off a new venture called 24M Technologies, which would focus on more unorthodox energy storage innovations, including grid-scale flow batteries. One of the reasons it decided to release the new entity into the wild was...
John Voelcker -
Charging the 2011 Chevrolet Volt: What You Need To Know
We've covered the 2011 Chevy Volt a lot here at AllCarsElectric.com, and for good reason. It'll be one of the first affordable and usable EVs to hit the market. Of course, it isn't just a simple electric vehicle. The Volt uses a small gasoline engine as a range extender to allow the Volt to travel...
Antony Ingram -
Report: No Plans For MINI Diesel Hybrid
MINI’s parent company BMW is working on diesel-electric hybrid vehicles, as is its engine partner PSA Peugeot Citroen, but don’t hold your breath for such a model from the iconic British brand. That’s the word from MINI’s engine chief, Wolfgang Kuttler, who said the technology is just too...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
So What Exactly DO You Have to Service On a 2011 Nissan Leaf?
Despite initial purchase prices higher than those for gasoline cars of equivalent performance (before incentives, anyway), electric cars undisputably cost less to run. Not only does the grid electricity to drive a mile cost just half to one-fifth the cost of the gasoline to go the same distance...
John Voelcker -
2012 Infiniti M35h, Its First Hybrid, Previews at Pebble Beach
Almost a year ago, Infiniti confirmed a hybrid version of its new M sedan, to be launched at the end of 2010. Now, the company has unveiled that car, in the tony surroundings of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the premier U.S. showcase for classic cars. Infiniti has adopted the Lexus...
John Voelcker -
We already knew that the quintessential hybrid car, the Toyota Prius, costs a little more to repair than non-hybrid cars. Now, the news gets worse: Insurance rates for hybrids are going to rise, probably at a faster rate than auto insurance premiums overall, according to Mitchell International's Industry Trends Report. The culprit is an evolution in the types of buyers for hybrid vehicles, which now represent about 3 percent of U.S. passenger vehicle sales. Ten years ago, only early adopters were willing to make the leap to this radical new kind of car. Whether motivated by the latest cool...
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Recharging Electric Cars Away From Home: What To Expect
If there's one thing any advocate of the electric car gets asked more than anything else, it's about range: "How far will it go? How long does it take to recharge? 8 hours!? I'd take me weeks to travel across the country!..." Help is at hand though, as there are several organizations here in the...
Antony Ingram -
Charging Your Electric Car At Home: What You Need To Know
One of the most important aspects of electric-car ownership might not be how they drive, or how far you'll go on a charge, but how you'll actually charge it in the first place. That's why we asked "What comes first, the car or the charger?", with many potential EV owners waiting for a public...
Antony Ingram -
Innovative Cambered Tire Helps Saves Fuel, Boost Handling
We already know that it’s possible to curb your fuel consumption just by having your tires properly inflated, or better yet, installing a set of low rolling-resistance tires, however, soon there may be an additional avenue to look at when picking the most fuel efficient rubber for your ride. The...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Solar Array, Lithium Cells To Power Part of Ford Focus Plant
Many houses, stores, and factories across the U.S. now have arrays of photovoltaic solar cells mounted on their roofs. These days, that's hardly news. But Ford's announcement that it will install half a megawatt of power-generating solar panels at its Wayne, Michigan, assembly plant has a new...
John Voelcker -
Honda Civic Hybrid: Software Upgrade Fixes Battery Issue
Honda is asking Civic Hybrid owners to bring their cars back to the dealership for a software upgrade, as the hybrid system's original power management tactics might result in a battery life that's shorter than intended.
Bengt Halvorson -
America loves to complain about gas mileage and the cost of gasoline. As it turns out, part of the problem is us. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found a 1.1 percent increase in self-reported obesity, which translates into extra weight that your vehicle has to haul around. How much does it really matter? The study estimates that 1 billion extra gallons of fuel was needed to compensate for passenger weight gained between 1960 and 2002. In other words, 0.7 percent of the fuel used annually by passenger vehicles over that period would not have been burned if Americans...
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A123 Spins Out Energy Storage Startup, Loses Chrysler Deal
Advanced battery maker A123 announced more than its quarterly earnings yesterday. In addition to posting a lackluster $22.6 million in revenue, the company spun off a new energy storage startup called 24M Technologies to work on more unorthodox lithium-ion architectures. The company also tempered...
John Voelcker -
SF Bay Area Soon To Be Home To 5,050 More EV Charging Stations
Infrastructure for electric transportation is heating up. Companies like Coulomb Technologies and Ecotality are already deploying electric vehicle charging stations region by region. And just today, general Motors said it was gearing up to announce a charging partner for its forthcoming Chevrolet...
John Voelcker -
What Do Nissan Dealers Really Know About The 2011 Leaf?
It's hardly a secret that the 2011 Nissan Leaf is one of the most anticipated electric cars this year. Nissan now has over 20,000 customers who have paid $99 to be placed on the waiting list, securing a place in electric car history. But as with any new car roll-out, those who eagerly sign up for a...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Who's Buying Green Cars? Not Only Consumers, But Big Fleets Too
Most of the focus on new green cars--like the 2011 Nissan Leaf, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, and a slew of new and existing hybrids--has been on how consumers will adapt to them. But in fact, a portion of early years' production of any of those cars is likely to go into car fleets maintained by state...
John Voelcker -
Active Shutters Helping 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco Reach 40 MPG
GM has one of the largest wind tunnel testing facilities in the world, in fact it is the largest used for automotive applications, so itâs only fitting that the company is applying knowledge learned in its wind tunnel to a much more diverse range of vehicles than its competitors...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
If you're lucky enough to be traveling to the Swiss Alps this Summer for a bit of skiing and sightseeing, you might consider hiring a car to enjoy the picturesque villages and winding mountain roads at your own pace. Swiss eco-tourism specialist Alpmobil now has the perfect option for the EV lover: Hire one of 60 2012 Think City EVs available through as many as 30 hotels, resorts and tourist attractions in the Goms and Haslital region of the Swiss Alps. Your driving will be truly zero-emissions, as all the electricity used to change the cars is generated through natural, renewable sources...
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Chinese Government Pledges $15 Billion For Support Of ‘Green’ Cars
China’s rapidly expanding vehicle fleet, increasing manufacturing industry and rising energy demand has made the country one of the world’s biggest polluters, perhaps even the biggest polluter. But sadly, there’s not much chance of China making any radical changes to its environmental...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
U.S. Most Likely To Lead Electric Car Growth, Report Says
International research consultancy firm McKinsey has just released the latest of its reports on electric cars, placing the U.S. ahead of other countries when it comes to electric car adoption. Taking into account nine variables likely to influence investment in the electric car sector such as...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
2012 Honda Fit Hybrid Priced Under $20K for Japanese Buyers
With the 2011 Honda CR-Z headed for dealerships this summer, and the 2010 Honda Insight struggling to make a sales impression, the third of Honda's three new hybrid models is being cued up in Japan. The 2012 Honda Fit Hybrid (which will go on sale in Japan this October as a 2011 model) has now been...
John Voelcker -
Only One Hybrid Car Pays Back Its Owners; Know Which One?
One of the criticisms of hybrid cars has historically been that there's no payback, especially given the cheap gasoline prices in the U.S. The extra money you spend on a hybrid isn't returned in gas savings, say critics. Well, that may be true, especially when regular gasoline is averaging $2.77 a...
John Voelcker -
Tomorrow's Hot-Rodders Will Take to Electric Cars, Just Watch
Headers. Cams. Pistons. Liners. Ports. Carbs. Crankshafts. Filters. Mufflers. Are these all words we'll start to see disappearing from the tuning magazines of the future? Mankind has always wanted to go faster, whether that's in a car, an aircraft, a boat or even on a horse. Tuning is an essential...
Antony Ingram