Off-Shore Drilling and Plug-In Hybrids Legislation
September 22, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
As Congress scrambles to pass an energy bill before its term expires at the end of the year, some parts of the House version of the legislation should be of note to green car enthusiasts. Often referred to as “the offshore drilling bill,” H.R. 6899 is a complex piece of legislation that was either constructed to have just enough appeal with each of the various interests in Congress to pass, or littered with so-called “poison pills” to ensure its failure. Read more
VW Golf Bluemotion 2009
September 19, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
This is Volkswagen’s Bluemotion concept car that will be it’s cleanest Mk6 Golf. They claim it will achieve 74mpg while puffing out a paltry 99g/km. Those are figures on a par with today’s Polo Bluemotion, but this concept will become production reality in mid-2009. Read more
Vettel on pole at Monza
September 13, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Vettel has secured pole position in oly his 22nd GP start at Monza today.
He has pulled on out of the hat today in torrential conditions. After driving brilliantly in the really atrocious conditions he has claimed an extraordinary pole position on merit.
via F1 Videos and News F1 Video.tv
Honda’s New Hybrid is the Insight
September 8, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Honda is returning to an old name for it’s Global Hybrid that goes on sale next spring by calling it the Insight. The new five-door hatchback Honda will use to compete head-to-head with the Prius will be the most direct competitor yet for the iconic hybrid. Learning from the lesson that hybrid buyers apparently prefer their cars to be recognizable as such rather than being derivatives of existing models, Honda has modeled the new Insight after its low volume FCX Clarity fuel cell car and will be debuting it as a concept at the Paris Motor Show next month before it goes on sale as the least expensive hybrid in the world in 2009. Read more
Lewis Hamilton wins Belgian Grand Prix 2008
September 7, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Lewis Hamilton won a thrilling Belgian GP on the second from last lap! As rain poured down in the last two and a half laps of the race both Kimi Raikkinen and Lewis Hamilton had to slow dramatically, but as usual this season as the track became wet Lewis had a clear advantage in car control and rapidly cut into the race long dominance of Raikkonen.
Lewis first tried to pass at the Bus Stop but he could not go around the outside and instead of allowing himself the be squeezed out of the corner, he cut it and got ahead. However he realised he could not take the position that way so he allowed Raikkonen back past and then dove inside at La Source.
Source F1 Video Blog and Grand Prix News and Information
Honda Fit Hybrid Will not be sold in United States
August 26, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
No Honda Fit Hybrid Fit for USA
Honda spokesperson Sage Marie has said that the Honda Fit hybrid wouldn’t be sold in the US, at least not for a while.
Honda probably has a good business case for that. They have found that North-Americans seem to prefer dedicated hybrid models like the Toyota Prius, and because of they are selling all the Fits they can make, it makes more sense to sell Fit hybrids in Japan where they are better received, and slightly more profitable. American drivers will still get Honda’s upcoming dedicated hybrid (2010, about $19,000) which is based on the FCX Clarity, and a sporty hybrid coupe based on the CR-Z concept, but those who want more choices of affordable high-mileage vehicles in North-America will be disappointed.
Chrysler Begins Hybrid Electric Vehicle Production
August 26, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Chrysler has started production of hybrid electric vehicles at its Newark assembly plant in Delaware, US.
The company said that it is offering a two-mode hybrid powertrain on both the vehicles being built at the plant, the Dodge Durango and the Chrysler Aspen.
There are some other components associated with hybrid electric vehicles production that are installed at the plant including 300V battery, two-mode transmission, torque power inverter module, electric air conditioning, auxiliary power module, high-voltage cables, and hydro-electric power steering pump.
The company claims that that its advanced two-mode full hybrid system, developed in partnership with General Motors, Daimler and BMW, integrates automatic transmission technology with a hybrid-electric drive system to deliver the world’s first two-mode full hybrid.
Joe Ozdowy, plant manager of Chrysler’s Newark assembly facility, said: “The implementation of this new manufacturing process was done intelligently, with both quality and cost in mind. I would like to congratulate and thank the team for their dedication while bringing these important new products to market to help satisfy the changing needs of our Dodge and Chrysler customers.”
Peugeot to Unveil RC Hybrid Concept at Paris Show
August 20, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Peugeot will unveil a new performance hybrid concept known initially as the RC at October’s Paris Motor Show. It will be a GT, which the French car maker says will be a four-door, four-seat coupe with ‘highly innovative hybrid architecture’. Read more
Franz von Holzhausen to Tesla Motors as Design Director!
August 4, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Darryl Siry and Mike Bumbeck at Tesla Motors have confirmed that Franz von Holzhausen, the designer who since February of 2005 oversaw the design and development of all concept and production vehicles for Mazda North America, has moved on to the EV startup, where he will be the Design Director. He was reportedly ‘hand-picked’ by Elon Musk for the job. Considering just how dramatic the Furai concept from the last Detroit Auto Show was with its E100 fueled three rotor Wankel engine, it looks like Tesla’s got a good one on their hands here.
Von Holzhausen will need to hit the ground running and assemble a team of designers who will then likely get right to work on Tesla Motor’s next batch of electric cars. This hiring also means that Tesla’s future designs will all be created in-house, ending the need to bring in outsiders like the company had to do with Henrik Fisker.
GM Volt Ready by 2010?
August 4, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
In the last week GM has announced that the next generation of Chevy Volt test vehicles would soon hit the road, meaning many Volt components and subsystems will be assembled together for the first time. “More chassis, brakes, batteries and other components that affect ride and handling,” will finally hit the road AutoWeek reported. Read more
