Five EVs, one hydrogen car, one PHEV named as finalists for 2010 Green Car Vision Award

The Audi A3 TDI was named Green Car Journal's 2010 Green Car of the Year yesterday, and the magazine is already looking ahead to next month, when the Green Car Vision Award will be announced at the Washington Auto Show at the end of January. The five finalists for this award, given to cars that aren't available yet but show a lot of eco-promise, include the Nissan Leaf, Coda Automotive's electric sedan, the Ford Focus BEV, the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell and Toyota's plug-in Prius.

That's a pretty good selection, considering that some other suitable candidates were named as finalists last year, when the winner was the Chevy Volt (the others were: Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Honda FCX Clarity, Fisker Karma and MINI E). Looking over the list this year, what's is your pick for top dog? I'll go for the Leaf, but the Focus is an awful close second.

[Source: Green Car Journal]

PRESS RELEASES:

Green Car Journal Announces Finalists for 2010 Green Car Vision Award(TM)
Winner to be Announced at the 2010 Washington Auto Show

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The auto enthusiast magazine Green Car Journal has announced five finalists for its 2010 Green Car Vision Award(TM), which will be presented at The Washington Auto Show®, "Change Happens Here" on January 26. The 2010 finalists include the Nissan Leaf, Coda Sedan, Ford Focus BEV, Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, and Toyota Prius PHV. They represent the most promising and forward-looking approaches today including battery electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

"It's clear that the industry's long-term vision is now focused beyond internal combustion and even 'conventional' hybrids, with increasing emphasis on electric drive and the diverse energy sources to power it," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "In the early years of commercialization, that requires innovative thinking and often some risk taking to achieve the goal, whether it's high efficiency, petroleum displacement, emissions reduction, or a combination of the three. These five vehicles epitomize the can-do spirit that will bring a new and more environmentally positive generation of vehicles to our highways."

The 2010 Washington Auto Show Public Policy Days are January 25-26, and the public days are Jan. 27-31 at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

FIVE DISTINCT APPROACHES
-- The Leaf battery electric car represents a significant commitment and investment on the part of Nissan. Destined for showrooms in 2010, Nissan says this all-new lithium-ion powered car will be offered at a cost comparable to competitive models powered by conventional internal combustion power plants.
-- Coda Automotive, an all-new car company, has embraced an international effort and quite a bit of ingenuity to bring its electric Coda sedan to consumers. Due out in 2010, the Coda is powered by a UQM PowerPhase motor energized with Lishen-Coda lithium-ion batteries. It will carry an MSRP of $45,000.
-- Ford's Focus BEV, a joint development with Canadian-based Magna, uses demonstration prototypes based on the current European Ford Focus. Production versions in 2011 will come in the form of the next-generation Focus model based on Ford's global C-car platform. A price has not yet been announced.
-- The Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, the latest in this automaker's series of F-Cell vehicles, is a hydrogen fuel cell car based on the compact B-Class, a four-door hatchback. It will enter small-scale series production and initially be leased at an undisclosed cost to consumers in select U.S. markets beginning in 2010.
-- Toyota's Prius PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) combines the usual functionality of a Prius with the ability to drive up to 12 miles on electric power only. This Toyota plug-in uses lithium-ion batteries in the completely redesigned 2010 Prius. Toyota will begin fielding 500 Prius PHVs in demonstration programs in late 2009.

"While 'green' models available today are crucial to reducing emissions and a growing dependence on petroleum, so too are environmentally positive vehicles offering leapfrog technologies that are not quite here yet," says Cogan. "Taking the long view and acknowledging vehicles that will lead to a better transportation future is an important part of Green Car Journal's mission. The Washington Auto Show, with its strategic location and inherent ability to draw the attention of the nation's leadership, is the ideal venue to announce the winner of this important award."

About WANADA and The Washington Auto Show®
The Washington Auto Show® is one of the top tier events of its kind in the world and is known as The Public Policy Show on the industry's global circuit. For more information, contact www.washingtonautoshow.com and www.wanada.org.

About Green Car Journal
Since 1992, Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment. The Green Car Vision Award(TM) is a trademark of Green Car Journal and RJ Cogan Specialty Publications Group, Inc.


CODA Automotive's Electric Car Named 2010 Green Car Vision Award Finalist
Winner to be announced at Washington Auto Show

Santa Monica , Calif. , December 3, 2009 – California-based electric car and battery company, CODA Automotive, announced today that it is among five finalists for the 2010 Green Car Vision Award. Finalists were selected by the auto enthusiast magazine Green Car Journal and represent the most promising and forward-looking clean automotive approaches today.

"CODA Automotive is taking a modern approach to the automobile business and affording drivers freedom from oil by delivering an affordable, 100-plus mile range, all-electric sedan in 2010," said Kevin Czinger, President and CEO, CODA Automotive. "From our business model to our technology, we're taking the best practices from heritage OEM companies and combining and adapting them with innovative solutions. To be recognized for this is truly an honor."
The nominees are comprised of automotive giants Ford, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota, with CODA being the only newcomer representing tomorrow's generation of car companies focused exclusively on zero emissions, oil-free motoring. CODA's globally inter-dependent model is also distinctive. The company leverages partnerships with highly-proficient companies from around the world to efficiently design, build and quickly bring to market an affordable, safe, all-electric car.

"It's clear that the industry's long-term vision is now focused beyond internal combustion and even 'conventional' hybrids, with increasing emphasis on electric drive and the diverse energy sources to power it," says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. "In the early years of commercialization, that requires innovative thinking and often some risk taking to achieve the goal, whether it's high efficiency, petroleum displacement, emissions reduction, or a combination of the three. These five vehicles epitomize the can-do spirit that will bring a new and more environmentally positive generation of vehicles to our highways."

Scheduled for California delivery in the fall of 2010, CODA's four‐door, four‐passenger, fully‐equipped mid‐size sedan is powered by a 333V lithium‐ion battery and a UQM® PowerPhase® propulsion system providing a real‐world range of 90 to 120 miles (based on EPA aggressive driving cycle and city driving cycle tests respectively). This range should satisfy 94% of Americans' daily driving routines. The CODA can recharge by plugging into any 110 or 220V standard outlet and completes a full charge in less than six hours at a 220V service. Charging the battery for a 40‐mile commute can be completed in about two hours.

Winners will be announced at The Washington Auto Show "Change Happens Here" on January 26, 2010.s

For more information, please visit www.codaautomotive.com.

About CODA Automotive: Headquartered in Santa Monica , Calif. , CODA is working to reduce dependence on foreign oil and leading the way to a cleaner future by building 100% electric cars and battery transportation systems. CODA works in a smart, inter-dependent way with highly proficient companies from around the world to quickly and efficiently bring electric drive technology to market, jump start the electric car movement and turn the car industry into a cause industry. Through its exclusive transportation battery joint venture with Lishen Power Battery, CODA is also a leading designer and large-scale manufacturer of power battery systems. The American invented, globally built CODA electric car will be available to consumers in 2010.