Remember the Fisker Karma? The plug-in hybrid luxury saloon from an upstart California automaker was touted as beating the Volt to market when it debuted over two years ago, a testament to the ability of small companies to get things done when giant automakers flopped their bloated carcasses into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. But the Volt...
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Volkswagen is now swimming in extra money, and has decided to put it into their electric car program—despite their initial reluctance to enter the EV market. VW’s plan originally was to focus on hybrids, and they’re still sticking with it: they will introduce five new hybrid versions of the Touareg, Golf, Jetta, and the Audi...
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For electric car owners, finding a place to plug-in when you’re on the road can be a challenge. Sure you can just ‘borrow’ some energy by unplugging the Coke machine at your local gas station, but those standard output outlets can take eight hours to get your car fully juiced. Being the forward-thinking company that...
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Days after Renault fired three men and pressed criminal charges on them for allegedly attempting to sell electric car secrets overseas, CEO Carlos Ghosn is facing a disturbing lack of evidence, embarrassing Renault into reconsidering its accusations. The entire dramatic episode is becoming a farce—like BP during the Gulf oil spill, Renault may be faced...
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And they don’t know much more about hybrids, either. A study by London-based market research firm Synovate found that new vehicle buyers hardly knew that hybrids contained batteries, used gasoline, or couldn’t be plugged in. Only two-thirds of people surveyed knew that hybrids used both battery and gasoline power (hence the “hybrid” name), and only...
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There might not be a larger void between two automakers than the British brands Lotus and Rolls-Royce. One focuses on bare-bones sports cars, while the other epitomizes excessive luxury. But when Rolls-Royce decided to push ahead with plans to create an electric car concept, it went straight to the engineering minds at Lotus. On display...
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Rolls-Royce used to sell its cars with a tagline that bragged about the lack of cabin noise, with only the ticking of the in-cabin clock to be heard during your ride. Now, that tagline is somewhat moot, as the all-electric 102EX, unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, is for all intents and purposes silent thanks...
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Rolls-Royce will take a big step towards bringing to market an electric vehicle, debuting an electric version of its flagship Phantom model at the Geneva Auto Show in just over a weeks time. Rolls has announced it will debut the car, known as either the 102 EX or Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), and then take...
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As we anticipate the launch of the Scion iQ here in North America, parent company Toyota is preparing to introduction an all electric version of the mini-car in Europe. Set to debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, the car uses a lithium-ion battery located under the floor. As a result it doesn’t take...
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The Obama Administration has made a significant effort to increase the number of electric cars being produced, but according to a new report by Indiana University it won’t meet its goal of getting 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015. The report indicates that the current ‘production intentions’ of automakers won’t result in...
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With the Fiat 500 already on sale in North America (if you can find a dealer), the Italian automaker will expand its lineup with the addition of a convertible model this Spring. At the recent launch of the 500, Fiat North America CEO Laura Soave revealed that the 500C will be coming in Q2 of...
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The Chevy Volt works as a car and as a green transportation solution, but as a business case it’s less sound. Helped by massive tax incentives to make the $41,000 entry price a more attractive number to consumers, GM insists demand for the car is strong, repeatedly announcing new plans to up production numbers. That,...
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Mazda has just announced that starting next year it will begin leasing an all electric versions of its new Mazda2 sub-compact. Few details are available, but the EV will have a driving range of 200 km (124 miles) and the lease program will be offered to government agencies and fleet customers in Japan. This expansion...
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If you drive an electric car, you may be a little hesitant to take it out for an extended drive. That means taking the scenic route is out. Or does it? If you’re planning to do some sight seeing along the coastal ranges of Washington and Oregon in your electric car, you’ll get a boost...
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With the Nissan Leaf now finally on sale here in North America, the Japanese automaker is already exploring electric car concepts for the future. Unveiled at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon, the Nissan Leaf Aero Concept looks at future EV styling with a low-slung aero kit and some custom wheels that keep air moving around...
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Speaking just a day after Toyota officially announced the expansion of the Prius hybrid into a whole lineup of vehicles at the Detroit Auto Show, General Motors CEO Daniel Akerson has confirmed the Chevy Volt will follow a similar path. Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress, Akerson said both a hatchback and MPV version...
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To the surprise of absolutely no one, the Chevrolet Volt was awarded the 2011 North American Car of the Year. “It’s a great honor to be recognized as the North American Car of the Year,” said GM CEO Dan Akerson after being handed the award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “Since...
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Ford has just revealed two more examples of what kind of future the automaker is planning. Debuting at the Detroit Auto Show, the C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi (plug-in hybrid) clearly show the Blue Oval’s plan to expand the electrification of the vehicle, while also enforcing its position that the compact car is the way...
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However the official line from Renault, is that the three employees accused of leaking the information, are still regarded only as suspects, with no formal charges yet announced against them.
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Amidst a sea of smart phones and 3D TVs, Ford has unveiled its new Focus Electric model at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Set to take on both the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, the Focus Electric is the first zero-emissions passenger car from the Blue Oval and follows the launch of the...
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Ahead of the debut of the Ford Focus Electric at the Consumer Electronic Show today, Ford has announced a new smartphone App designed to connect owners with the company’s new zero-emissions car. Similar in many ways to GM’s Chevy Volt OnStar App, the MyFord Mobile app will let owners of the Focus Electric keep tabs...
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If you’re the competitive type and you own a Nissan Leaf, there’s a new way to come out a winner. Nissan Leaf drivers can now be wirelessly connected to a ranking system that scores your driving efficiency. Nissan’s Carwings system started out in Japan but is now available here in North American. It connects all...
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With perhaps more in common with a smart phone than with the gasoline engine in your common car, it’s appropriate that Ford will debut its new Focus EV at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Just over a year ago, Ford first confirmed it would begin production of an electric Focus model, based...
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Thanks to a forum member on TeamSpeed, we have some video, not to mention some rather impressive photos, of BMW‘s EfficientDynamics Concept hitting the track in Abu Dhabi. Painted mostly in silver, it’s likely the same car as the while model that first debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009 and has been touring...
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