Project Better Place Feature Video
March 20, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
In the opening seconds of a recently uploaded CBS video, you can see the dashboard screen read “AC Propulsion.” so we now know that Better Place are at least testing that particular drivetrain. There are two test cars in the video, the Renault Mégane and a Nissan EV as befits the the only car partnership that is working with the electric car charging network company.
Better Place’s partnership with Nissan and Renault, may be about to grow with the reporter saying “other car companies are on the way.” Vehicle testing on a larger scale will start next year, and Denmark and Hawaii will have cars and charging spots in operation in 2011.
One pretty startling facts is that if you sign up for the maximum mileage plans (taxis driver territory), Better Place will subsidize the cost of your car up to 100 percent. Shai Agassi wants to offer you cell phone price model car ownership. Video after the jump. Read more
Pilot EV Recharging Network Starts in Seville, Spain
March 14, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Spain’s ambitious program of introducing EVs, hybrid and plug-in cars (a million units for 2012) is promoting the new network under the Movele program.
Sevilla, Spain’s fourth largest city, will be getting 75 public electric vehicle recharging stations dotted around the city this year. Seville is getting recharging stations in the most used parking lots in the city, as well as at the airport, city hall offices and other official buildings Read more
Canada’s Advanced Lithium Power signs Battery Deal with Fisker
March 13, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The LA Times is reporting that Fisker Automotive has signed a deal with Vancouver-based Advanced Lithium Power Inc. On top of ordering (hopefully) thousands of 22.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion batteries for the Karma from ALP, Fisker will also make a “sizable” cash investment in the company. Fisker spokesman Russel Datz told the LA Times that two seats on the ALP board will go to Fisker. The exact number and cost of the batteries was not disclosed. Read more
Mindset Electric Cars Running on the Road
February 2, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
After all the electric car concepts we’ve seen lately, it’s really nice to see one actually out on the road and meeting it’s deadlines. The Mindset electric car was revealed to the press just under a year ago, and at that time, company founder Murat Günak, who previously worked for Volkswagen, suggested that he’d like to see full-scale models by the end of 2008 and running proof-of-concept vehicles in 2009.
He has succeeded in that first goal, and he has also managed to hit the second deadline as well. With a Mindset now being driven on public roads by a member of the press, namely Hauke Schrieber from Germany’s Auto Bild. He is reportedly quite impressed with the performance of the little coupe. Read more
Tesla Calls Town Hall Meetings to Calm Angry Buyers
January 23, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
It seems that even an email from CEO Elon Musk has had little calming effect on the anger felt by locked-in Tesla Roadster buyers at being told they will have to pay more for their cars. The company is turning to a previously-successful approach and has announced a set of town hall meetings to quell buyer fury.
Scheduled for the 26th and 27th at the Los Angeles and Menlo, CA stores respectively and hosted by Elon and other staff, the events can be attended in person or by phone. Read more
Henrik Fisker discusses his new plug-in hybrid Karma
January 18, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
After the unveiling of the production version of the Fisker Karma and the Karma Sunset concept at the Detroit Auto Show, Henrik Fisker talked about the company he has founded.
He talked about some of the technical details and we now know that the battery supplier will be Advanced Lithium Power. Fisker has exclusive access to batteries from ALP after recently taking an equity stake in the company. Video after the jump. Read more
Azure Dynamics Reduces Workforce by a Quarter
January 18, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Curt Huston, Azure Dynamics chief operating officer.
Azure Dynamics Corporation has announced a 25% cut in its current workforce along with cuts in all discretionary expenses and a focus on actions to offset recent component cost increases. Azure is a developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial vehicles.
The Company also plans to focus on existing products and is actively working with its customers on potential new programs that involve sharing development costs. Read more
Worlds First Electric Car to Grid Announced in Newark, DE
January 15, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
One of the first two-way Vehicle to Grid infrastructures has been given the go-ahead in Newark, DE. the The U.S. Department of Energy has sponsored the project with a grant of $730,000.
The project helps the state and the University of Delaware to buy specially-equipped cars (retrofitted versions of the Scion xB, AC Propulsion eBoxes) which would get electricity from the local utility and give some of it back when the car is parked and plugged in. It does this with software that communicates with regional energy grid PJM Interconnection. Read more
Dodge Circuit EV on the Stand: Detroit 2009
January 12, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Technical details and press pics of the new Dodge Circuit are in an earlier post, but now we’ve had a chance to see the car in the flesh.
Whereas Tesla took the Lotus Elise and mad it fugly, the Circuit EV does actually look a lot better than the Lotus Europa which it’s based on. And the only thing that Dodge added to the exterior is the crosshair grille and the Tangoreen color (WTF?). Take note Lotus designers.
The all-electric guts - with A123 battery pack and 200 kW motor - are cool, and if Chrysler wasn’t in so much financial trouble, we’d be optimistic about driving on of these. Sure it may be a quick’n'easy way to get to an electric sportscar, but we’re happy that electric drive is the way that companies are chosing to go.
Another pic of the live reveal and video of the Circuit being driven around after the jump. Read more
Chrysler Unveils Beautiful Electric Car Concept 200C EV
January 11, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The 200C EV is a plug-in hybrid sedan that uses ENVI’s Range-extended Electric Vehicle technology, and is a rolling test bed for Chrysler’s future uconnect in-car computer and communication device. It also connects directly to an iPhone, allowing you to pre-program the temperature, lock the doors, view an in-car camera remotely and track the car’s location live via GPS – all straight from the iPhone.
It uses Chrysler’s ENVI’s Range-extended Electric Vehicle technology. It has a 40-mile all-electric range, a 400-mile range with a full charge of the lithium-ion battery and a full tank, and a top speed of over 120 miles-per-hour. Read more
