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Peugeot iOn to lease for ?499 / month in France
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Paris Motor Show 
2011 Peugeot iOn - Click above for high-res image gallery
Peugeot has announced pricing for the iOn electric commuter car ahead of its debut in production form at the Paris Motor Show later this month. When the iOn becomes available, Peugeot will be offering a five year lease deal that will cost €499 per month (including value-added tax) in France. The lease is all-inclusive and covers the battery warranty and all servicing and roadside assistance for five years or 50,000 kilometers. Pricing in various European countries will likely depend on the local tax incentives that are available.
Since the iOn is basically just a re-badged version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, little has changed except for moving the steering wheel to the left side of the car and adding a new pearlescent white version of the Peugeot lion to the nose. The iOn retains the same technical specifications as its Japanese sibling with a rated range of 93 miles on the EU combined drive cycle.
The 16 kilowatt-hour lithium manganese-oxide battery pack contains 88 cells which are air cooled while the power electronics, charger and motor are all liquid cooled. The battery can be charged in six hours from a typical European single-phase 220 volt household circuit. If a 380 volt / 50 kW / three-phase, direct current charger is available, the iOn can be charged to 50 percent in 15 minutes or 80 percent in 30 minutes. If left plugged in to the fast charger, the battery will continue charging to 100 percent at a slower rate to prevent over-charging and damaging the battery.
[Source: Peugeot]Continue reading Peugeot iOn to lease for ?499 / month in France Peugeot iOn to lease for ?499 / month in France originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Why compete? U.S. and China will work together on clean cars
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily, China, USA 
The United States and China are the world's top two energy consumers, energy producers and greenhouse gas emitters. Though it's unlikely that either nation will brag about holding those top honors, maybe the creation of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) will help both clean up their acts.
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that two consortia - one led by the University of Michigan and the other by West Virginia University - will receive $25 million from the U.S. government over the next five years under the CERC program. Additional funding from grantees and China's government will bring total program contributions to $100 million. The two universities will be assisted by Chinese partners, which will be selected by its government at a later date. Numerous companies, including General Motors, Ford and Toyota, will also partake in the efforts. Chu gave a broad overview of the benefits of the CERC program, stating:The U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center will help accelerate the development and deployment of clean vehicle and clean coal technologies here at home. This new partnership will also create new export opportunities for American companies, ensure the United States remains at the forefront of technology innovation, and help to reduce global carbon pollution.
We're not sure what, exactly, those clean vehicle technologies are, but the CERC program will allow the U.S. and China to work together. Hopefully, when these two megapowers combine, accomplishing the shared goal of increasing energy efficiency will be that much easier.
[Source: EERE Network News]Why compete? U.S. and China will work together on clean cars originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Toronto hydro chief: Electric car upswing would crash grid
Filed under: EV/Plug-in 
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.
The chief executive of Toronto Hydro, Anthony Haines, however, said recently that the grid can easily fail. Specifically, he told the Toronto Star, "If you connect about 10 percent of the homes on any given street with an electric car, the electricity system fails."
To combat this possibility, Toronto Hydro, Hydro One and the Ontario Power Authority have kicked in $7 million for the new Centre for Urban Energy at Ryerson University in Toronto. The new center will look at what it will take to bolster the grid and produce more power locally in urban areas where most of the plug-in vehicles will be used. Most of the current capacity is outside of the urban areas and there are bottlenecks in the grid to get it to where it is needed.
Current estimates are that around five percent of the vehicles in the province of Ontario will be electrified by the end of the decade. This gives the utilities time to make changes - but not that much.
[Source: Toronto Star]Toronto hydro chief: Electric car upswing would crash grid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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UPS kicks off 90-day demo program using EVI's electric walk-in delivery van
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Green Daily 
United Parcel Service (UPS), along with Electric Vehicles International (EVI), have begun conducting a 90-day trial program which will test the capabilities of EVI's battery-powered walk-in delivery van, the EVI-WI. During the past year, UPS and EVI collaborated on the development of an electric vehicle (EV) that will meet the demands of the parcel delivery industry and came up with the EVI-WI. Built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation glider and equipped with a Utilimaster body, the EVI-WI bears a striking exterior resemblance to UPS's standard brown delivery vans, minus the Pullman-inspired hue.
But this is not your typical delivery van. The EVI-WI features a 99 kWh lithium-ion battery pack produced by Valence and wedges a 150 kW (continuous), 200 kW (peak) electric motor into the spacious chassis. Average range is expected to be 90 miles per charge and the van tops out at a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour.
The 90-day demonstration program will be split into three distinct 30-day phases. The EVI-WI will begin testing in Sacramento, followed by a stint in San Francisco and will conclude its demonstration program in Reno.
[Source: United Parcel Service]Continue reading UPS kicks off 90-day demo program using EVI's electric walk-in delivery van UPS kicks off 90-day demo program using EVI's electric walk-in delivery van originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Report: Aston Martin Cygnet coming to America in 2012, electric version in 2013
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, MPG, Aston Martin, Toyota  Aston Martin Cygnet - Click above for high-res image gallery
According to Automotive News, the smallest Aston Martin ever made will be coming to the U.S. market in 2012. Initially, Aston Martin had only planned to offer the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet in Europe as an option for customers that need to drive into city centers with congestion charges. Since Toyota will begin selling the iQ in North America in 2011 (badged as a Scion), it should now be straightforward for Aston Martin to certify the Cygnet as well.
Having the Cygnet in its lineup will also help Aston Martin balance its corporate average fuel economy numbers although, as a low volume manufacturer, it is exempt from meeting the new CO2 limits until 2016. A year after the Cygnet debuts with a 1.3-liter inline-four, a zero-emission, battery-electric version is also expected to arrive. The battery-powered Cygnet should provide Aston with enough ZEV credits to offset a chunk of the emissions from its luxury sports cars and sedans.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]Report: Aston Martin Cygnet coming to America in 2012, electric version in 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Report: U.S.-bound i-MiEV to be roomier, more feature packed than Japan- or Euro-spec models
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, Green Daily  Mitsubishi i-MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV should hit U.S. shores in late 2011, but if a report from Automotive News pans out to be true, then we shouldn't expect the U.S.-bound i-MiEV to look like either the Japan- (pictured above) or Euro-spec versions that we've laid eyes on before. Gregory Adams, head of marketing and product planning for Mitsubishi Motors North America, recently told Automotive News that the U.S.-bound i-MiEVs will be wider than versions offered elsewhere. Adams suggests that the added width will suit the American market while also helping the vehicle meet U.S. safety standards.
In addition to catering to our super-sized tastes, U.S.-bound i-MiEVs will have an improved interior and come loaded with features that are not available on Japan- or Euro-spec models. The Japan-spec model comes equipped with the basics - air conditioning, power windows and door locks and an audio system - but lacks features such as cruise control, wireless connectivity, satellite radio and navigation. All this for (we expect) less than $30,000, not counting the deduction of $7,500 for the electric vehicle federal tax credit.
And whether you love it or hate it, that distinctive egg shape is here to stay. According to Adams, the U.S. bound i-MiEV, though bigger in size than its cousins, will retain the peculiar design elements that make it stand out amongst the crowd. The European-spec i-MiEV will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show later this month.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]Report: U.S.-bound i-MiEV to be roomier, more feature packed than Japan- or Euro-spec models originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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David Vespremi: A lot is hanging on the Leaf
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily  Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery
When Nissan announced that it would be the first major auto manufacturer to sell (not lease, EV1 fans) a mass-market electric vehicle (EV) in the U.S., executives there knew that potential rewards were high - and so was the pressure to get it right. Speculation has been running high for years about who would be first to market: Mitsubishi with the i-MiEV, General Motors with the Chevrolet Volt (Okay, it's a serial hybrid, but close enough), or perhaps a product from a dark horse like BYD or Coda.
As Leaf reservation holders began placing their final purchase orders with dealers last week, a number of big questions loom for Nissan and its chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, who has seemingly bet the farm on its success.
Let's begin with the premise that, as a mass-market car, the Leaf has to offend no one even as it proceeds down the road less traveled. It must embrace future technology but feel as familiar as an old pair of blue jeans. It must capture the hearts and minds of early adopters who are either fanatically pro-EV and/or have the financial means to buy cars several classes above the Leaf, while having the staying power to be a viable mainstream car for years to come at a modest price point. If the ordering process has shades of Tesla and Smart associated with it, the car itself is in many ways the anti-Tesla or the anti-Smart. To succeed as a mass market car, it can't be all novelty and no follow through like Smart's diminutive Fortwo, and it can't comfortably languish in the rarified air of a halo car like Tesla's Roadster, a placeholder for some mainstream offering still years away. In short, it has to be all things, to all people, right from the get-go. But is that even possible? (this post continues after the jump) Continue reading David Vespremi: A lot is hanging on the Leaf David Vespremi: A lot is hanging on the Leaf originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Video: Denver dealership hosts Fisker Karma "launch" party
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily, Fisker  Fisker Karma preview party - Click above to watch video after the jump
Back in early August, Fisker of Orange County unveiled the Karma in spectacular fashion. Well, at least that's what the dealership wanted us to believe. The event that actually took place in early August is what we'd call a public appearance, but Fisker of Orange County treated the situation as though we had never laid eyes on the oft-delayed, yet-to-be-driven, much-hyped plug-in hybrid.
Now, we've been tipped about another Fisker bash and this time, Rickenbaugh Cadillac-Volvo of Denver, CO, is calling it a Karma launch party. Launch? To the best of our knowledge, Fisker is months away (well, maybe) from launching anything, but we don't want to spoil Rickenbaugh's party with that bit of info. Or do we?
Hit the jump to watch the Rickenbaugh clan as they attempt, but fail, to accurately describe the attributes that make the Fisker Karma a sparkling addition to their lineup of vehicles. In Rickenbaugh's defense, they may have mistaken the Karma hybrid for that pure electric roadster that does compete with the likes of Ferrari and Aston Martin. Hat tip to Roy!
[Source: You Tube]Continue reading Video: Denver dealership hosts Fisker Karma "launch" party Video: Denver dealership hosts Fisker Karma "launch" party originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Nissan sticks with Lance Armstrong as Leaf's spokesperson despite escalated doping concerns [w/video]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily Nissan Leaf ad featuring Lance Armstrong - Click above to watch video after the jump
Amid escalating concerns over Lance Armstrong's possible violation of cycling's anti-doping policy, Nissan is saying it will stick with the seven-time Tour De France champion as the Leaf's official spokesperson. Speaking with Ad Age, Nissan's new marketing boss, Jon Brancheau, admitted that although Armstrong has received a significant amount of negative press, Nissan will support the cyclist while continuing to keep an eye on things. Ad Age prodded Brancheau with this question:Nissan has made a pretty big bet on Lance Armstrong -- he was featured in the first Leaf commercial, is displayed prominently on your website and you even sponsor one of his cycling teams. Now, there's a ton of scrutiny around him with regards to doping claims. Does that worry you?
To which Brancheau responded: This is something we'll continue to monitor, but the claims are all unsubstantiated up to this point. He's iconic, and he's almost the epitome of innovation when you think about athleticism. We're well connected with [Lance] and we continue to support him and the team. He's backing down to some degree from cycling in future years but we expect him to be actively engaged in a lot of different athletic events, especially marathons and things of that nature. So we're staying the course and continue to support him.
Let's hope that Lance survives this sticky situation, but if he's dropped by Nissan, we'll gladly step in for him and take delivery of the first Leaf. Hit the jump to watch Nissan's Leaf commercial featuring Lance Armstrong.
[Source: Nissan-Leaf, Ad Age]Continue reading Nissan sticks with Lance Armstrong as Leaf's spokesperson despite escalated doping concerns [w/video] Nissan sticks with Lance Armstrong as Leaf's spokesperson despite escalated doping concerns [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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China's Chery Automotive, Taiwan's BenQ team up to produce li-ion separator films
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily Chery Riich M1 EV
In recent years, China's Chery Automotive has displayed a growing fondness for electric vehicles (EVs). From the company's Riich M1, to the S18, its Tiggo 3 and even the QQ, Chery's focus on delivering EVs to its customer base is really unmatched by any of its Chinese competitors. The company's lineup of EVs, none of which are particularly strong sellers, continues to grow on a regular basis. With Chery's battery-powered focus in mind, it's not at all surprising to learn that the company has formed a joint venture (JV) with BenQ to develop lithium-ion battery technology.
Under terms of the 50:50 JV, Chery and Taiwan-based BenQ Corporation will construct a production plant in Wuhu in east China's Anhui province. Construction will begin in 2011 and, once complete, the facility will produce lithium-ion battery separator films. Before going full-scale, Chery and BenQ plan to construct a laboratory and experimental lines to test the properties of its thermal insulation separators. Monetary terms of the JV have not been released, but we'll update this story if any additional info comes our way.
[Source: Green Car Congress]China's Chery Automotive, Taiwan's BenQ team up to produce li-ion separator films originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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