Sam Abuelsamid - Autoblog

Looks The Same Yet Is Anything But

Industry Giant Still Working Hard to Stay Ahead

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

After nine months of meetings, the Electric Vehicles Infrastructure Council created by Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell has issued its final report on how to promote the use of plug-in vehicles in the state. The list of proposed incentives covers all of the usual bases but doesn't get too specific about anything.

Lexus CT 200h aerodynamics – Click above for high-res image gallery

In the realm of vehicle electrification, EEStor and its super-duper ultra-capacitors are roughly the equivalent of Duke Nukem Forever for video game players. The creators of both products have made impressive claims and repeatedly promised public demonstrations and introductions for many years. In both cases, the creators have missed every single promised date with nothing to show for it.

Ford Transit Connect Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery

Prospective Nissan Leaf buyers will be glad to hear that Aerovironment has just received approval from Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for its

Audi A1 e-tron concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai has unveiled the BlueOn, which it claims is South Korea's first full-speed battery electric vehicle (EV). The tiny BlueOn is based on the Hyundai's i10 minicar and was first shown as a prototype at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show when it was called the i10 Electric. The little EV is equipped with a 16.4 kWh lithium-polymer

Nissan Townpod concept teaser – Click above to enlarge

Since Ford is replacing the entire engine lineup for the 2011 F-150 pickup trucks, it has apparently decided not to reinstall at least one component that is usually bolted to those engines: the hydraulic power steering pump. According to Sam Abuelsamid

Until now, one of the big downsides of battery electric vehicles (EVs) was the risk of running out of energy before getting back to a charging station. When an internal combustion vehicle runs dry, a driver can always call roadside assistance to bring some fuel or just hike to a station and bring back a can of gas or diesel. Under the same circumstances, an EV would require a tow to an outlet somewhere.

Opel GTC Paris – Click above for high-res image gallery

2012 Chevrolet Aveo – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW EfficientDynamics mule – Click above for high-res image gallery

Long-time environmental activist Dr. David Suzuki is unconvinced that a huge shift to electric vehicles will do enough to address the impact of our transportation culture. It's clear that simply replacing internal combustion engines with electric drive powertrains will definitely reduce the direct pollution of operating vehicles, but Suzuki argues (correctly) that the total impact of the way our transportation system has evolved over the past century goes way beyond what comes out of the tailpip

Ferrari California – Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 Bentley Continental GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

One of the biggest concerns about widespread deployment of plug-in vehicles is the effect it will have on electricity generation and distribution capacity. Here in the United States, most officials from utilities have been pretty upbeat and emphasize that there is plenty of capacity for charging vehicles as long as it is mostly done during off-peak hours.