Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Debate rages over whether to extend HOV-lane exemptions for hybrids in CA]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/debate-rages-over-whether-to-extend-hov-lane-exemptions-for-hybr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/debate-rages-over-whether-to-extend-hov-lane-exemptions-for-hybr/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/debate-rages-over-whether-to-extend-hov-lane-exemptions-for-hybr/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Besides the potential feeling of environmental superiority, one of the great benefits to having a hybrid in California has been the availability of a magic little sticker set for a vehicle's rear bumper and fender. The "Access OK" tags have allowed its possessors to cruise in the carpool lanes even while driving solo. The special lanes - alternatively known as HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicle) or diamond lanes - have proven to be a great time saver on California's clogged freeway system, but not everyone can find a ride-share partner to grant them access. Thus, getting a hybrid with one of the highly prized yellow (or white) decals is like getting yourself a free passenger - without the annoying banter.

As a result of their rarity and ultility, used cars with those decals usually command a premium. Heck, we've even reported on sticker thefts. The problem is that the benefits of those stickers were originally set to run out by 2009. The government intervened and extended those limits through January 1, 2011, but some would like to see them extended further - like through 2016.

Naturally, as more people move towards more efficient vehicles, some think the program should be halted altogether, while others (especially those with stickers themselves) continue to think that hybrids and other "clean" vehicles deserve the added benefit of solo access.You can be sure that this debate will continue right up until the deadline - unless California's legislature steps in to extend the program before then.

[Sources: The Los Angeles Times; California DMV | Image: David McNew/Getty]

Debate rages over whether to extend HOV-lane exemptions for hybrids in CA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacarpoolcarpool lane accesscarpool lane stickerscarpool lanesCarpoolLaneAccessCarpoolLanesCarpoolLaneStickersdiamond lanediamond lanesDiamondLaneDiamondLaneselectric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleElectricVehicleshov lanesHovLaneshybridhybrid carhybrid carsHybridCarHybridCarshybridsMon, 28 Sep 2009 17:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Officially Official: Reva to help GM India develop EVs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/officially-official-reva-to-help-gm-india-develop-evs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/officially-official-reva-to-help-gm-india-develop-evs/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/25/officially-official-reva-to-help-gm-india-develop-evs/#commentsFiled under: ,

2011 Chevy Spark - Click above for a high res image gallery

General Motors officially announced a deal with India's Reva that had been rumored for several weeks. The maker of Jeremy Clarkson's "favorite" car -- the G-Wiz -- will be partnering with GM India to co-develop electric vehicles for the Indian market. The plan is to evaluate GM's small car platforms with the intent of applying Reva's electric powertrains to create a low cost electric vehicle.

The plan will target these small, low cost EVs at emerging markets as an alternative to more expensive technologies like the extended range EV Voltec system. GM hasn't announced any time frame for when the first products of this new collaboration will appear, but it seems likely that the new Spark will form the basis of whatever is produced.

Gallery: 2010 Chevy Spark


[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Officially Official: Reva to help GM India develop EVs

Officially Official: Reva to help GM India develop EVs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesfalsegeneral motorsgeneral motors revaGeneralMotorsGeneralMotorsRevagm revagm reva partnershipGmRevaGmRevaPartnershiprevaFri, 25 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan wants LEAF EV to sound like <em>Blade Runner</em> car for safety]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/nissan-wants-leaf-ev-to-sound-like-em-blade-runner-em-car-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/nissan-wants-leaf-ev-to-sound-like-em-blade-runner-em-car-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/nissan-wants-leaf-ev-to-sound-like-em-blade-runner-em-car-for/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

While advocates have long heralded a reduction in noise pollution in addition to air pollution as advantages of electric vehicles, not everyone is convinced that silent cars are a good thing.

We use our senses to navigate through life and when one or more of them are diminished, we rely on the others. Such is the case for blind people who must use their hearing to make up for some visual deficit. Every automaker working on electrified vehicles is aware of this and researching what sorts of sounds those vehicles should make for safety reasons.

For instance, Nissan engineer Toshiyuki Tabata has spent his career making cars quieter, but is now working on the LEAF to have it create sound. No final decision has been made, but reports tell us that Nissan is currently leaning toward making the LEAF sound like the whining flying cars in the film Blade Runner.


Gallery: 2010 Nissan Leaf EV


[Source: Bloomberg]

Nissan wants LEAF EV to sound like Blade Runner car for safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for hi-res image gallery

Nissan is wasting little time planning for the release of its Leaf electric car. Perhaps the details of the car's U.S. launch were so slim at launch is because Nissan was waiting for the official announcement of the Obama administration's $2.4 billion investment into electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them, $99.8 million of which has been awarded to eTec, a division of ECOtality that specializes in electric vehicle charging systems.

That sum of money (to be matched by "regional project participants") will allow eTec to install 2,500 EV charging stations in the states of Tennessee and Oregon, along with San Diego, CA; Seattle, WA; and the Phoenix/Tucson region in Arizona. Of course, chargers aren't any good without any vehicles to use them, so Nissan has pledged to support the project with up to 1,000 new Leaf EVs in each of these selected markets.

This announcement puts retail sales of the upcoming Leaf two years ahead of the previously planned schedule. Nissan hopes to gather information on the charging patterns of these initial 5,000 Leaf owners, so buyers will need to agree to carry an on-board data logger that will be monitored by the automaker and the U.S. Department of Energy. Click past the break for the official press release.


Gallery: 2010 Nissan Leaf EV


Continue reading Nissan to begin retail sales of Leaf EV next year in five major U.S. markets

Nissan to begin retail sales of Leaf EV next year in five major U.S. markets originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobloggreendoeelectric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesnissannissan electricnissan electric carnissan evnissan leafnissan leaf evNissanElectricNissanElectricCarNissanEvNissanLeafNissanLeafEvThu, 06 Aug 2009 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota NA President Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/toyota-na-pres-inaba-hopes-for-profit-in-2011-nummi-could-be-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/toyota-na-pres-inaba-hopes-for-profit-in-2011-nummi-could-be-d/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/toyota-na-pres-inaba-hopes-for-profit-in-2011-nummi-could-be-d/#commentsFiled under:

Three weeks into his new assignment as president and chief operating officer of Toyota North America, Yoshimi Inaba came to Detroit to talk about the state of the business. This is Inaba-san's third stint working for Toyota in North America after returning to Japan in 2003. This spring the senior management in Japan asked Inaba-san to return to North America and help turn the suddenly ailing giant around.

Those who have been watching Toyota in the past decade have observed the company grow at a tremendous and seemingly inexorable rate. When the big crash hit in 2007-8, Toyota proved to be no more immune than any other automaker and recently recorded the first full-year loss in 71 years. As one of the biggest markets for the company, the North American operations clearly played up part in that loss and will play a part in returning the company to profitability. Read more after the jump.

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota NA President Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved

Toyota NA President Inaba: Hopes for profit in 2011, NUMMI could be dissolved originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed the rumors that have been floating around in recent days - it will build an electrically powered version of its upcoming SLS gullwing coupe. The EV version of the SLS will drive all four wheels by means of an individual motor for each corner. It will not however use wheel hub motors, since those add too much unsprung mass. The motors will be mounted just inboard of the suspension components.

Energy will be stored in a 48 kWh liquid cooled lithium ion battery pack running down the central tunnel. The combined output of the electric drive system is 392 kW (526 hp) and 880 Nm (649 lb-ft), which compares to 420 kW (563 hp) and 649 Nm (479 lb-ft) for the 6.3-liter V8 in the conventional SLS. Mercedes claims it will accelerate to 62 mph in four seconds. No range is being quoted at this time, but given that the battery capacity is lower than the Tesla Roadster and the car is larger, it will likely be well under 200 miles. No timeline for the electric version is being quoted, although earlier rumors placed it at 2015.

One of the reasons that Daimler said it was investing $50 million in Tesla Motors was the upstart's ability to move quickly and develop systems faster than could be done at Daimler. Given that, we may well see the electric SLS sooner rather than later. Check out our high-res gallery of (internal combustion) Mercedes SLS prototypes below and the official press release after the jump.


Gallery: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG


[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Officially Official: Mercedes to produce electric SLS gullwing

Officially Official: Mercedes to produce electric SLS gullwing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMGBenzedrive slsEdriveSlselectric carelectric carselectric slselectric sports carelectric sportscarelectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricSlsElectricSportsCarElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesGullwingmercedesmercedes benzmercedes benz slsmercedes benz sls edriveMercedes SLSmercedes-benzmercedesbenzMercedesBenzSlsMercedesBenzSlsEdriveMercedesSlsteslatesla motorsTeslaMotorsThu, 16 Jul 2009 10:57:00 EST<![CDATA[UK government unveils £5,000 electric car incentive program]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/uk-government-unveils-5-000-electric-car-incentive-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/uk-government-unveils-5-000-electric-car-incentive-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/16/uk-government-unveils-5-000-electric-car-incentive-program/#commentsFiled under: ,



The UK government has announced a £250 million ($372M USD) incentive program designed to get more plug-in and electric vehicles on British roads. The heart of the program is rebates of up to £5,000 (nearly $7,500) for purchases of full electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. This could be good news for companies like Mitsubishi, Nissan and General Motors. The Japanese automakers are planning to introduce battery electric cars over the next two years and General Motors plans to launch the Vauxhall Ampera (a rebadged Chevy Volt) in 2011. The program is aimed primarily at next generation full function electric vehicles like the Ampera and Mitsubishi iMiEV rather than the existing crop of low speed vehicles like the Indian-made G-Wiz.

In addition to subsidizing car purchases, the government wants to make life a little easier for EV drivers by putting in more public charging outlets. £20 million (about $30M) of the project is set aside for building out the country's infrastructure of charge points. Thanks to Brother_Will for the Tip!

[Source: BBC, Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty]

UK government unveils £5,000 electric car incentive program originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AutoblogGreenelectric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric vehicle incentiveselectric vehicleselectric-carElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleElectricVehicleIncentivesElectricVehiclesrebatestax breaksTaxBreaksukThu, 16 Apr 2009 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Plug it in, plug it in: Nissan to sell electric car in 3 years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/plug-it-in-plug-it-in-nissan-to-sell-electric-car-in-3-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/plug-it-in-plug-it-in-nissan-to-sell-electric-car-in-3-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/27/plug-it-in-plug-it-in-nissan-to-sell-electric-car-in-3-years/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun is reporting that Nissan is developing an all-electric subcompact car that it plans to sell by 2010. The electric car is being developed completely in-house and will use lithium-ion batteries to store its charge, which should last long enough for about 120 miles of travel. AutoblogGreen tells us that the car will have twice the range of the Nissan Hypermini EV (shown above), a small fleet of which were leased to the city of Pasadena, California back in 2000 but have since been "killed" by the company.

Nissan will also end its short alliance with Toyota, the only fruit of which was the use of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive in the recently unveiled Altima Hybrid. In the future, Nissan will use a hybrid system of its own, developed in-house. The new hybrid-system should be ready by 2010 also and be used in compact cars, as well as likely replacing the Hybrid Synergy Drive in the Altima Hybrid.

[Source: AutoblogGreen and GreenCarCongress]

Plug it in, plug it in: Nissan to sell electric car in 3 years originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altimaaltima hybridAltimaHybridelectricelectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesEVEVshybridhybridshyperminiMon, 27 Nov 2006 15:04:00 EST<![CDATA[DaimlerChrysler sending EVs to France]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/daimlerchrysler-sending-evs-to-france/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/daimlerchrysler-sending-evs-to-france/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/28/daimlerchrysler-sending-evs-to-france/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler that has produced over 30,000 electric vehicles that are silently traversing the roadways of America as we speak, has inked a deal with Matra Manufacturing and Services to market its EV wares in France. GEM produces two-, four- and six-seater partly enclosed EV vehicles in both consumer and light utility versions that are in use by universities, parks, military bases and other facilities that require ridiculously outfitted security guards like the one pictured above. The vehicles will be outfitted to meet European Union regulations for light and heavy quadricycles and be sold in the Light Electric Vehicle market in France. Mantra MS will be the exclusive distributor and plans to establish a platform in Romorantin, France from which it will service these decidedly on-the-grid go-karts for the French.

[Source: DaimlerChrysler]

DaimlerChrysler sending EVs to France originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclesElectricVehiclesEV carsEvCarsfrancefrenchon the gridOnTheGridTue, 28 Mar 2006 14:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Bolloré BlueCar almost ready to roll]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/08/bollor-bluecar-almost-ready-to-roll/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/08/bollor-bluecar-almost-ready-to-roll/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/08/bollor-bluecar-almost-ready-to-roll/#commentsFiled under: ,



We're still not done with our Geneva Motor Show coverage, as obscure vehicles keep flowing up through the cracks even over a week since the show concluded. We learned about the BlueCar over at GreenCarCongress, which has followed the progress of this electric vehicle since it debuted as a concept at last year's Geneva show.

This year a running prototype was on display and the company had specs on hand. The BlueCar has a range of 155 miles, a top speed of 78 mph, accelerates to 60 kmh (37 mph) in 6.3 seconds and takes six hours to recharge fully.

Described as a "concept-car designed around a battery", the Bolloré Group plans to build six more prototypes and construct a production site capable of producing 10,000 battery systems a year. The BlueCar, if produced, would cost around (gulp) $23,800.

Bolloré BlueCar almost ready to roll originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclesElectricVehiclesEV carsEvCarsWed, 08 Mar 2006 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva Motor Show: Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/28/geneva-motor-show-mitsubishi-concept-ez-miev/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/28/geneva-motor-show-mitsubishi-concept-ez-miev/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/28/geneva-motor-show-mitsubishi-concept-ez-miev/#commentsFiled under: ,



Mitsubishi is following up the Detroit debut of its sporty yet enviro-conscious Concept-CT with this, the Concept-EZ MIEV. The EZ features the same in-wheel motors and high-density Li-ion batteries to drive all four wheels. Each motor produces almost 27 hp, which adds up to a grand total of 108 electrical equine. By ditching the traditional powertrain with its center tunnel, the EZ has a voluminous interior that can be configured in Lounge mode (seats arranged in a circle), Transport mode (seats folded under floor for max cargo space) and Driving mode (conventional seating for five adults).

With all the time, money and effort Mitsu has sunk into its in-wheel motor technology, we're hoping the technology sees the light of a production day soon so the company can see a return on its investment.

Check out the official press release after the jump. We'll have Alberto swing by and get live shots later.

Continue reading Geneva Motor Show: Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV

Geneva Motor Show: Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Feb 2006 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclesElectricVehiclesEVTue, 28 Feb 2006 17:17:00 EST