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Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid 
A Switzerland-based company is testing an extended-range plug-in mini-vehicle that it says gets more than 200 miles per gallon and has a single-tank range of more than 300 miles, according to website TechnologicVehicles.com.
The company, Catecar, tested a prototype of the vehicle at the Geneva Airport this week. The car weighs less than 800 pounds, while its batteries account for about 10 percent of the vehicle's weight, according to the website. Making the car even more energy efficient are the solar panels on the vehicle's roof.
At just under 10 feet long, Catecar is about a foot longer than Daimler's Smart ForTwo two-seater and about two feet shorter than the Mini Cooper. In other words, it's not big - but the company does have big plans, and production could start next year, TechnologicVehicles reports.Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy 
What impact will the "over-compliance" rule - some would say loophole - in the California Air Resources Board's recent changes to the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate have? The short and obvious answer is that only time will tell, but one can make the case both that it's a good thing and that it's a bad thing. Odd, but true.
Before we get too far into this, a primer on the ZEV Mandate changes and what the over-compliance rule actually is is important. The basic idea is that CARB wants to reduce the amount of CO2 and other pollutants in the air that come from transportation. Zero-emission vehicles - whether they be plug-in or hydrogen powered - will do this, so CARB decided that at least 15.4 percent of all the cars sold by a major automaker in California needs to be either an EV, a plug-in hybrid or a hydrogen fuel cell vehcile by 2025. To go along with this new rule, some automakers asked for - and got - an over-compliance rule that will "allow manufacturers who systematically over comply with the proposed LEV III GHG fleet standard to offset a portion of their ZEV requirement in 2018 through 2021 model years only."
Some argue that the over-compliance rule will lead to a smaller environmental benefit from ZEVs because, quite simply, there will be fewer ZEVs on the roads than there would be without the rule. This is true. It's also true, as others will argue, that what matters most is lowering the amount of nasty pollutants and emissions from the air, so who cares if this happens because there is a true ZEV driving around or a much-improved (read: cleaner) gas-powered car that emits fewer greenhouse gases than today's vehicles?
We didn't want to try and answer that question. But we did think it made sense to try and capture the landscape of the recent battle over the rule, and so we asked some of the involved automakers and other concerned parties for their opinions. We put together a list of responses after the jump.Continue reading Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Toyota boosts fuel-economy rating for Prius Plug-in to 95 MPGe
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, MPG, Toyota 
Toyota has boosted the miles-per-gallon-equivalent (MPGe) ratings for the Prius Plug-in hybrid-electric that it plans to debut in the U.S. next month. The Japanese automaker now estimates that the car will get 95 MPGe in its all-electric mode, up from its prior estimate of 87 MPGe, according to Toyota Division Group Vice President Bob Carter and cited by multiple media outlets.
Once the plug-in goes through its 15-mile all-electric range, the car will get 50 miles per gallon from its hybrid-electric powertrain, up from Toyota's prior estimate of 49 MPG.
By comparison, the most fuel-efficient car sold in the U.S. is the Mitsubishi i battery-electric vehicle, which gets an EPA-rated 112 MPGe. The Nissan Leaf battery-electric gets 99 MPGe while the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in is rated at 60 MPGe.
Toyota initially estimated fuel-economy figures north of 100 MPGe when unveiling the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September. AutoblogGreen reviewed the car here.Toyota boosts fuel-economy rating for Prius Plug-in to 95 MPGe originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Italian Environment minister: Hey Fiat, you missed the boat on EVs
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Fiat 
Italian automaker Fiat SpA missed a chance to benefit from growing global interest in electric-drive vehicles by giving up on some of its advanced-powertrain development efforts in favor of trying to develop more fuel-efficient internal combustion engines. That's the feeling of Corrado Clini, a member of Italy's Ministry of the Environment, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Clini said that Fiat's hybrid-electric Multipla, which was developed in the 1990s but has long been shelved, "was more sophisticated than the Toyota Prius," and that Fiat's Magneti Marelli division was not being sufficiently utilized in the development of electric-drive components, the Journal reported.
Fiat's electric-vehicle efforts have been limited to development work on an battery-electric powered Fiat 500. While this car was never released, a specially converted 500 EV was notoriously owned by deceased Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Fiat's sister company Chrysler displayed a battery-powered 500 at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, and has said that a production model may be ready for the 2013 model year.
Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne once estimated that his company will lose $10,000 on each Fiat 500 EV sold. He also conceded in an interview with Automotive News last fall that Chrysler will need to make hybrid vehicles in order to meet progressively more stringent greenhouse-gas emissions standards in the U.S.Italian Environment minister: Hey Fiat, you missed the boat on EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Boulder Electric Vehicle delivers first truck to Precision Plumbing [w/video]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA 
It's been a couple years since we first saw the Boulder Electric Vehicle prototype in action but now comes word that the company has delivered its very first production vehicle. The initial DV-500 (as it is affectionately called) has been sold to Denver-area Precision Plumbing,Heating & Cooling who have made a commitment to buy 20 of the all-electrics at a very reasonable-sounding $70,000 apiece.
In addition to obvious changes in appearance, its performance also differs slightly from the original. The production version boasts an 80-kWh battery pack made up of China-sourced lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cells that weigh in at 1,300 lbs and are said to be good for 120 miles of range. Power comes from an 80-kW AC motor that gives the 7,000-lb truck a 70 mile-per-hour top speed. Charging can take up to eight hours.
Precision Plumbing's Tom Robichaud says that despite the higher up-front costs, he expects to save $6,000 to $8,000 per vehicle per year in lower operating costs and anticipates the trucks to be good for 300,000 miles. Currently, he says, the Sprinter vans he uses now are replaced after 100,000 miles. In anticipation of the electric fleet, the company has also installed a solar array at its facilities.
Boulder Electric Vehicle reportedly has five production lines set up and is busy building the vehicles for Precision and other customers. The company also has plans for a bigger truck that doubles the 500 cubic foot capacity of the DV-500. Hit the jump for a couple clips featuring Mr. Robichaud and his new promotionally wrapped plumbing van.Continue reading Boulder Electric Vehicle delivers first truck to Precision Plumbing [w/video] Boulder Electric Vehicle delivers first truck to Precision Plumbing [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, North America, Fisker 
Time for some good news/bad news (maybe) from Fisker Automotive.
First, the good news. The company announced today that it will soon be selling the luxury plug-in hybrid in Canada, starting with retail locations in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Fisker is working with the big Canadian auto dealer the Dilawri Group as well as Fields Automotive Group to sell the PHEV in Canada. More stores should be coming, since Fisker said in a statement that it will "expand its presence in Canada as it ramps up Karma production."
Speaking of that production, here's the possible bad news. In Auto News is reporting (but doesn't actually source) that Fisker is dropping the number of Karmas it expects to sell in 2012 down to 10,000. Way back when, (i.e., November 2011) the company was still confident it would make 15,000 Karmas in 2012. But then sales were delayed - and we know that production is not the same as sales - so there's reason to be skeptical that lofty sales targets for the $100,000+ Karma will be met. We've contacted Fisker for a comment on this possible decrease, but have not yet heard back. If they respond, we'll let you know.
UPDATE: Roger Ormisher, Fisker's senior director of global corporate communications & PR, wrote to AutoblogGreen:
There has been so much confusion over our sales targets in the media (15,000 was the figure for full global production and sales of all 3 Karma derivatives - sedan, Surf Wagon and Sunset convertible) that we have now moved away from quoting projections.
This is a new car from a new brand in a unique market segment. Therefore, we are not making any predictions on sales figures. We are a new car company, learning as we go and opening up new markets consistently - and one thing that we have learned is that making annual sales projections when you bring a car such as the Karma to the market is unhelpful!
Continue reading Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada Fisker lowering 2012 sales estimate to 10,000 units, expands availability to Canada originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Infiniti EMERG-E announced as name for Geneva-bound electric concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Infiniti, Geneva Motor Show 
Infiniti has named its plug-in hybrid electric concept car headed for the Geneva Motor Show in March the EMERG-E. The company says the vehicle will be a sports car with a range-extending 1.2-liter gasoline internal combustion engine. The powerplant will be mounted mid-ship for superior weight distribution, and the Japanese automaker promises the concept will offer impressive performance. It may or may not also run on rainbows.
Infiniti has released very few details beyond saying pure-electric range will be "respectable." The vehicle also promises zero-emission driving in most urban settings, so there's a good chance the concept will show off some advanced charging tech as well. The automaker is intent on making us wait until the vehicle's full unveil in Geneva before it drops any more clues, though a few more teaser images have surfaced to whet our appetite. Check them out in the gallery below.Infiniti EMERG-E announced as name for Geneva-bound electric concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet 
Just when you thought you'd seen all the Super Bowl ads there were to see, Chevrolet jumps in with a whole new spot for the Chevrolet Volt. The supposed savior of General Motors has been struggling to make sales headway for a number of reasons. GM managed to move a paltry 603 units in January. With some dealers refusing their allocations, the automaker is keen on putting the spurs to Volt sales. The Super Bowl ad features a host of very curious aliens attempting to comprehend the science behind the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Volt.
It would seem GM believes buyers are being scared off from the Volt because they simply don't understand the mechanics behind the plug-in hybrid. Anything is possible and, if that's the case, the new commercial should help clear up any mysteries surrounding the vehicle. Hit the jump to see E.T. in action for yourself.Continue reading Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad Chevy turns to aliens to pitch Volt in Super Bowl ad originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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BMW i3 caught winter testing again
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, BMW 
Spy photographers have picked up yet another batch of photos of the BMW i3. This time, the pint-sized Bimmer was spotted during some winter testing in Norway. When we last saw the awkward-looking hatchback, it was whirring about under the power of 600cc two-cylinder range-extending engine back in November. This looks to be the same i3 REx, complete with its "Hybrid Test Vehicle" stickers slathered on both doors. That means the model you see here likely boasts a range of significantly longer than the 100 miles quoted for the pure EV. How much longer? That's a question BMW isn't likely to answer until the production model debuts.
From what we've heard, the BMW i3 is slated hit the market in 2013 with the i3 REx surfacing sometime shortly thereafter. We'll be interested to see whether the production model rides on the same super-skinny tires as the test ride pictured above. Click through our attached image gallery for a host of snowy i3 photos.BMW i3 caught winter testing again originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Nissan Leaf rear-ends school bus in Oregon; results in minor injuries but no fire
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Nissan 
Maybe this will calm some of the "plug-in cars are scary!" fears that are out there. Recently, a Nissan Leaf driver rear-ended a school bus in Oregon, causing minor injuries but no fire, the Yamhill Valley News-Register reported.
The Leaf's front and side airbags deployed during the accident, which occurred in Gaston, about 30 miles southwest of Portland, the newspaper said, citing Oregon State Police. The bus, which was stopped at the time, contained only the driver, and no children. The Leaf driver suffered minor injuries, was treated at the scene and was cited for careless driving, the newspaper reports.
With sales of electric-drive vehicles such as the Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in expected to surge over the next few years, some have expressed concern over potential safety issues involving the cars. While each case is different, this minor story proves that an EV can be just as safe as a gasoline car - sometimes safer.
Last week, Chevy parent General Motors launched an advertising campaign touting the safety of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in electric vehicle just as its CEO testified to Congress that a recent Volt fire that took place after a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash test would never occur under real-world circumstances. NHTSA said earlier this month that it finished its a two-month investigation into the crash test that resulted in a fire three weeks after the fact last summer, and concluded that neither the Volt nor other electric vehicles pose more of a fire risk than conventional vehicles.Nissan Leaf rear-ends school bus in Oregon; results in minor injuries but no fire originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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