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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hyundai, Kia, Green Daily

Hyundai i10 electric - Click above for high-res image
With all of the talk about the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt, it's easy to overlook some of the other happenings in the world of battery-powered cars. Fear not, cause we've got it all covered. Turning our attention to Hyundai-Kia for just a moment, South Korea-based SK Energy Co. announced that it will provide lithium-ion batteries for upcoming electric vehicles from both Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors.

SK Energy's lithium-ion batteries will first appear in Hyundai's i10 EV, scheduled for release sometime in 2011. Sporting SK cells with a claimed energy density of 140 Wh/kg, the i10 boasts a 99-mile range and a top speed of 81 miles per hour. SK Energy's advanced lithium-ion batteries utilize a unique lithium manganese oxide cathode material; a surface-modified graphite on the anode; a gel polymer electrolyte; and a ceramic-coated separator. Of course, SK Energy would like us to believe that this high-tech talk amounts to a better battery, but it just reads like your typical li-ion lingo to us. Hat tip to Dan!

[Source: SK Energy via Green Car Congress]

SK Energy to provide lithium-ion batteries for upcoming Hyundai, Kia electric vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

Boeing's prediction that one percent of the commercial aviation industry will be powered by renewable fuels by 2015 may sound trivial, but converting any meaningful portion of the industry over to the plant-derived biofuels could lay the foundation for future exponential growth. Boeing is currently testing biofuels with British Airways Plc and Continental Airlines, but has worked with airlines across the globe as it tries to find suitable, plant-derived aviation fuels. Testing has demonstrated that the plant-derived fuels offer reduced emissions and could help airlines slash their greenhouse gases.

Remarking on the significance of one percent market penetration, Billy Glover, managing director of environmental strategy at Boeing's commercial airplanes unit, told Bloomberg in an interview: We need to get to 1 percent to get that foundation and then the trajectory will be significantly steeper. We're aiming for a 1 percent penetration around the middle of this decade, and we think that's quite achievable. Though no commercial airliners currently use biofuels for regular flights, testing of the plant-derived fuels has been going on for years. If Boeing's predictions hold true, our chances of boarding a plane powered by plants are about to get slightly - ever so slightly - better.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: abdallahh - C.C License 2.0]

Boeing predicts renewable fuel to supply 1% of commercial aviation industry by 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: UK

According to a new report from the UK trade group Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the average CO2 emissions of new cars sold there have continued a steady downward trend in the first half of this year. Thanks to increasing sales of cars specifically developed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, the average for the new vehicle fleet was down to just 145.2 grams / kilometer by June.

These low-emissions specials include the likes of Volkswagen's Bluemotion lineup, the ecoNetic models from Ford and EcoFlex from Vauxhall. Part of the increase in sales of these cars is due to the now-concluded scrappage scheme which helped offset the higher initial purchase price of most of these. The rate of improvement in the second half of the year is expected to decline as car sales in general in the UK and Europe have slowed.

Gallery: UK First half 2010 CO2 emissions

[Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders]

UK new car CO2 average down by 4.7 in first half of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Tesla Motors

Elon Musk on The Colbert Report - Click above to watch the video after the break

Imagine that, Elon Musk has a sense of humor. Proof of this can be seen in the video pasted after the break, where you'll see the co-founder of Paypal, Tesla Motors and Space X have a sit-down interview with Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report.

As always, Colbert goes into the interview with a lighthearted slant, making a few comic-relief jabs along the way. For instance, after detailing Musk's seemingly heroic take on the automotive and space exploration industries, Colbert point-blank asks Musk whether he's a super hero or a super villain. We'll let you figure that one out...

Our favorite quote, though, is this:
You have these electric cars that uses no fossil fuels, but then you've also got this rocket, this Space X that puts the rocket into space, using about as much fuel as 2,000,000 Hummers. So... are you just trying to break even as spectacularly as possible? Ha! There are plenty more gems in the video, and we don't want to spoil the whole thing for you. So just go check out the video after the break, won't you?

[Source: The Colbert Report]

Continue reading Video: Elon Musk chats it up on Colbert Report

Video: Elon Musk chats it up on Colbert Report originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coulomb Technologies announced that its CT500 Level II (208-240 volts at 30 amps) residential charging station is now available for purchase. The CT500 is a single-output, 7.2-kilowatt charging station featuring the J1772 plug-in connection and networking capabilities.

With the addition of the CT500, Coulomb's charging options now run the gamut from the basic home charging unit on up to Level III fast charging stations. While Coulomb specifically targets the home user with its CT500, the unit's advanced networking features will likely make it ideal for light commercial applications. With a slew of high-tech features, the CT500 costs more than your typical home charging unit. According to Coulomb spokeswoman Anne Smith, who spoke with Green Car Advisor, the CT500 will start at $2,500, excluding installation.

The CT500 may not place high on the list of available charging options for home users, but if networking capabilities matter to you, then the CT500 is one of but a few reasonably-priced chargers available for residential and light commercial applications. People looking for a charger without networking capability can find several cheaper options out there. Follow the jump to learn more about the CT500 charging unit.

[Source: Coulomb Technologies]

Continue reading Coulomb CT500 Level II home charging station now available

Coulomb CT500 Level II home charging station now available originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, Green Daily

BMW ActiveE concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
BMW's latest advertisement for the its ActiveE electric concept vehicle appears to have crossed the fine line between acceptable and misleading. Why? The ad states, "The BMW Concept ActiveE is the first BMW to be powered purely by electricity." The tagline of the ad reads "100% joy, 0% emissions." As soon the ad made its way to print, an astute reader pointed out some problems and filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of the UK.

According to Marketing magazine, the complaint focused on BMW's use of the unsubstantiated claim of "zero CO2 when driving." As the offended reader notes, BMW's claim can not be substantiated because charging the vehicle, which allows it to be driven, would undoubtedbly produce a significant amount of emissions. While BMW argues that the words "when driving" limit the zero-emissions claim solely to the act of driving, the ASA ruled to ban the ad instead. An ASA spokesman issued this statement:
We considered that [BMW's] inclusion of the phrase 'when driving' was contradictory to the overall zero emission claim, and the impression that the car's use would not result in the production of emissions. With the ad pulled, the ASA warned BMW to avoid repeating any claims implying that electric vehicles generate zero-emissions while in use. Other manufacturers, take notice.

Gallery: BMW Concept ActiveE

[Source: Marketing Magazine]

BMW reportedly banned from claiming zero-emissions in ads originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid

Ann Arbor hydraulic hybrid recycling truck - Click above for high-res image gallery
This week, the city of Ann Arbor, MI began deploying four of the first 25 trucks equipped with an Eaton Corporation hydraulic launch assist system. Ann Arbor mayor John Hieftje and Clean Energy Coalition executive director Sean Reed presented one of the new recycling trucks at the city's Wheeler service center.

The hydraulic launch assist (HLA) system operates on a principal similar to other hydraulic hybrid systems we've seen. A pair of accumulators store energy captured during braking and release it during acceleration. The HLA is a parallel hybrid with a hydraulic pump motor connected to the drive-shaft through an electronically controlled transfer case clutch.

The system was actually originally developed at the EPA national laboratory in Ann Arbor. Engineers employed there are encouraged to come up with new ideas and patent them. The technology is then shared with privately owned companies for commercialization. Eaton is one of several companies developing hydraulic hybrid technology variants, including series hybrids. The Eaton HLA was first seen on the 2002 Ford F350 Tonka concept and Ford has been evaluating it for use in big pickups and vans, although no production variants have been announced yet.

HLA cuts fuel consumption of the trucks by about 15-20 percent in this type of application that includes frequent starts and stops. The four trucks are expected to save $73,000 in fuel costs over their 10 year useful life, along with $26,500 in reduced maintenance costs. These trucks make an average of about 1,000 stops a day and conventional versions require new brakes every three months or so. The HLA-equipped versions recapture about 75 percent of the kinetic energy of braking and only require brake maintenance once a year. The payback time for the extra initial cost is estimated at two to three years. Future versions could reduce operating and acquisition costs further through the use downsized engines and transmissions.

Gallery: Ann Arbor hydraulic hybrid recycling truck

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Ann Arbor, MI gets first four hydraulic hybrid recycling trucks

Ann Arbor, MI gets first four hydraulic hybrid recycling trucks originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, Volkswagen, USA

Smyth Performance G3F concept - Click above to watch video after the jump
Reduce-Reuse-Recycle is the tri-directive that could help us become more sustainable as a society. Soon, a kit for the G3F from Smyth Performance - a new venture by Factory Five Racing co-founder Mark Smith - will follow those guidelines, enabling you to convert a previously-enjoyed Volkswagen Jetta into something you can really look forward to driving. The finished product will be lighter, faster and burn less biodiesel than the original vehicle, offering up to 60 miles per gallon and boasting a very naughty top speed of 140 miles per hour. All for about $10,000 and under 100 hours of labor.

It's a simple recipe. You start by procuring a diesel-burning Jetta TDI four-door sedan. Cut away about 800 lbs. of metal, reusing a large chunk of the chassis, including the entire safety structure. The engine gets chipped, modded and moved from in front of the driver to behind. Add the body, seats, wheels and all the other included bits from the kit and voila! You now own a recycled VW that increases your joy of driving while reducing the amount of petroleum product you'll need to pump.

Ok, maybe we're making it sound a little easier than it actually is, but Smith is confident there is enough interest to make a go of it with a line of depositors already being formed. Despite deliveries (optimistically) planned for September, the original prototype is still under construction. The operation doesn't have an official website either - that's coming this Fall - but you can follow the progress of both car and company on Facebook and the unofficial Factory Five forum. Hit the jump for video of Mr.Smith explaining his concept and tell us what you think.

[Source: Boston.com]

Continue reading Recycling gone wild: turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F

Recycling gone wild: turn your VW Jetta TDI into a Smyth Performance G3F originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, On Two Wheels, Plug In Conference

Arcimoto Pulse - Click above for high-res image gallery
One of the few passenger vehicles on the floor of the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, CA - actually, the only one - that we hadn't yet seen in the metal was the Arcimoto Pulse, which we first met digitally last fall. The Pulse is a battery-powered three-wheeler that uses ten 12V lead acid batteries to go up to 40 miles per charge. Pulse's Eric Fritz told AutoblogGreen that longer-range versions with lithium-ion batteries and can go either 80 or 160 miles will be available in the future, but he's busy getting the base model ready for now. Prices for those premium models hasn't been set, but you'll be able to get the lead acid version for $17,500 when it goes on sale either late this year or early next year. Fritz said Arcimoto has gotten 25 pre-order deposits (for $500 each) and has a list with another hundred-plus interested people.

The vehicle we saw was the third-generation prototype; the fourth was being tested on the streets last weekend. Fritz said he expects there to be one more prototype built before production begins. Overall, the Pulse has been in development for two-and-a-half years, and it's been a self-funded affair thus far. One reason to be at the conference, Fritz said, was that Arcimoto is actively looking for funding.

The Pulse was part of the Drive Oregon booth, which also featured the Barefoot Motors ATV and vehicle chargers from Shorepower and OP Connect. With some strong local support for plug-in vehicles, there's a lot of home-grown plug-in work going on in Oregon.

Gallery: Plug-In 2010: Arcimoto Pulse and Barefoot Motors ATV

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Plug-In 2010: Drive Oregon chills with Arcimoto Pulse, Barefoot Motors ATV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily

The first decade of the Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
As of 2010, the Toyota Prius has been available in North America for a decade, and it remains by far the best-selling hybrid both here and around the world. Since its Japanese market introduction 1997, drivers have bought more than 1.8 million of the gas-electric dynamos, with about half of those ending up in the United States (and apparently half of those landing on driveways in the San Francisco Bay area!).

The original Prius was a gawky-looking four-door sedan that was slow and often didn't meet up with customer's fuel economy expectations. It wasn't until the second-generation model arrived in 2004 with a new teardop hatchback body style that the Prius really took off. By 2007, cumulative sales topped half a million, with the third-generation model arriving two years later offering improved efficiency and better dynamic performance than ever. This year, Toyota has begun to deploy a test fleet of plug-in Priuses with lithium ion batteries with full series production of those versions coming in 2012.

While we wait for our future corded Prius models to give us even more pull with our eco-minded friends, we'll join Toyota in celebrating the now-iconic green machine by checking out the historic gallery below.



[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota celebrates a decade of Prius

Toyota celebrates a decade of Prius originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Plug In Conference

Bill Nye, "The Science Guy," Jessie Deeter, the producer of Who Killed The Electric Car? and Revenge of the Electric Car, and our own Chelsea Sexton took to the stage at the close of public night at the Plug-in 2010 Conference. With this line-up, it was more than 66 percent the same as last year, when Nye, Sexton and Electric Car director Chris Paine answered audience questions. Given the "preaching to the choir," audience-led nature of the event, we thought there would probably be a lot of readers who would want to "attend," digitally, so we're posting an audio recording of the entire two-hour event after the jump. What does it contain?

How about a short preview (verbal, not video) of Revenge of the Electric Car? Deeter said that the film will focus on three main stories: General Motors and the Chevrolet Volt, Tesla Motors, Nissan and the Leaf and electric car mechanic Gadget. How about the panelists' predictions of the percentage of new cars that are plug-ins by 2020? Nye said he doesn't think it'll be 10 percent, Sexton said it'll totally be determined by how many the OEMs are willing to build. How about lots of disparaging comments about adding sound to silent electric cars? How about Nye calling lithium supply worries the "reddest of herrings"? How about one member of the audience proudly saying he's been driving an EV1 since 1998, and Nye replying, "You must be exhausted"? Zing! All these classics and more await you after the jump.

Continue reading Plug-In 2010: Bill Nye, Chelsea Sexton return for public night panel

Plug-In 2010: Bill Nye, Chelsea Sexton return for public night panel originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily

2011 Nissan Leaf -- Click above for high-res image gallery
With a slew of announcements streaming in from Nissan and Chevrolet, we've been hard-pressed to find time to slot in an equally important bit of info announced by Enterprise Rent-A-Car. According to the announcement, Enterprise and Nissan have agreed to terms that will bring the Leaf electric vehicle (EV) to Enterprise rental lots starting next year. Beginning this November, Enterprise will install charging stations at 100 different rental locations scattered throughout these eight cities: Seattle, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Diego,Tucson, Knoxville, Nashville, and Portland, OR. By January 2011, 500 Nissan Leafs will begin to appear on the Enterprise lots that have the chargers.

Rental costs have not been announced, but Enterprise spokeswoman Lisa Martini suggested that the Leaf will likely demand a premium price, much like the hybrid vehicles that the company currently rents to customers. Regardless of price, the opportunity to rent a Leaf will give potential buyers a taste of the zero-emissions driving experience and, as we've noted before, once you drive an EV, there's almost no chance of going back to something powered by gas. Follow the jump for more info on the Enterprise Rent-A-Car/Nissan Leaf agreement. Hat tip to Bill!



Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Enterprise Holdings]

Continue reading Enterprise Rent-A-Car to offer Nissan Leaf rentals early next year

Enterprise Rent-A-Car to offer Nissan Leaf rentals early next year originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, Green Daily, Pacific Region

While Mitsubishi has been busy boasting about Australia's atmospheric demand for the i-MiEV, a lesser-known electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has been blasting the Australian government with claims of favoritism. In June, Australia's Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, announced plans to purchase 40 imported i-MiEVs from Japanese automaker Mitsubishi. Once delivered, the i-MiEVs will become the heart and soul of Australia's first electric fleet of vehicles.

Now, you'd probably think that there are a lot of Australians who are thrilled to become a part of the EV movement and truth is, they probably are. But the government's decision to import EVs rather than selecting from a homegrown producer has made the director of Australia's Blade Electric Vehicles (BEV) company more than a just a little upset. BEV produces the Blade Electron, an EV that the company believes is far superior to the i-MiEV and much less expensive as well. Ross Blade, director of BEV, took a shot at Albanese's choice to exclude the Electron by offering this remark: We cannot understand why Mr. Albanese has chosen to exclude the Electron. The federal government has spent over $100,000 of taxpayers' money on the development of the Blade Electron through the COMET (Commercialising Emerging Technologies) program. Despite the Electron meeting Australia's design standards, the federal government has chosen instead to lease a foreign product at nearly double the cost. According to Blade, the Australian government's lease agreement with Mitsubishi calls for a monthly payment of $1,740 per i-MiEV, whereas each Blade Electron would cost the government only $900 per month. The Australian government responded to Blade's outrage by stating that Australia did not select the Blade Electron because it's not a mass-produced vehicle and failed to meet the country's predetermined guidelines for inclusion in the EV program, but a spokesman for Mr. Albanese would not comment on the specifics surrounding the Electron's failure. Hat tip to Toby!

[Source: TheAge]

Australia's Blade EV maker reportedly upset over government opting for Mitsubishi i-MiEV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily

Nissan Leaf battery pack - Click above for high-res image gallery
As the release date of the Nissan Leaf gets closer and closer, we eagerly await word on each and every production update. This latest bit of news rolling in relates to battery production. NEC, one of the joint venture partners of Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), officially announced that mass production of the Leaf's battery pack kicked off late last week. The announcement comes as no surprise, but it's comforting to know that the Leaf is one step closer to introduction. With battery production underway, it shouldn't be long before Leafs begin to roll off the line.

For now, NEC's Sagamihara plant in Japan is solely responsible for the production of the Nissan Leaf battery pack. By 2013, Nissan's battery manufacturing facilities in Smyrna, TN and Sunderland, UK will be operational and provide a significant, and hopefully much needed, boost in production capacity. With a nationwide rollout of the Leaf in the U.S. scheduled for 2011 and Canada inked in for 2012, the Sagamihara plant will likely have to function at full bore to keep up with demand.

Gallery: Nissan Leaf Battery Plant Groundbreaking

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: NEC via Google Translate, Nissan-Leaf]

Production of Nissan Leaf battery pack now underway in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: MPG, Audi

2011 Audi A7 Sportback - Click above for high-res image gallery
On Monday, Audi unveiled the newest addition to its lineup, the A7 Sportback. The A7 is virtually identical to the Sportback concept that we saw at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, and it comes to market with a choice of four different V6 engines, two each of the gasoline and diesel flavors. At the top of the lineup is the 300-horsepower 3.0-liter supercharged V6 found in the A6 sedan while a new 204-hp, 3.0-liter TDI diesel is expected to yield a combined 44.4 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the EU test cycle. Yes, please.

Front-wheel-drive A7s will be equipped with Audi's Multitronic continuously variable transmission while the Quattro all-wheel-drive flavors get the seven-speed S-Tronic dual clutch gearbox. All A7s will be equipped with a thermal management system, automatic-start-stop and brake energy regeneration as standard equipment.



[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi A7 Sportback to launch with V6 engines and auto-start-stop

Audi A7 Sportback to launch with V6 engines and auto-start-stop originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

According to the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Monthly Statistical Report, U.S. gasoline deliveries for the first half of 2010 averaged 8.88 million barrels per day, 0.6 percent lower than the corresponding period a year ago. Though the drop in demand is minuscule, it does provide us with an indication that despite low gas prices and a rebounding economy, U.S. demand for gas continues to wane.

The numbers for the month of June paint a more vivid picture of our declining need for gas. June gasoline deliveries of 9.18 million barrel per day were the lowest level for any June on record since 2004 and were 0.5 percent lower than June 2009 deliveries. To gain a better understanding of the numbers, gasoline prices in 2004 barely cracked $2, whereas prices now sit at a nationwide average just north of $2.70.

API chief economist John Felmy offered additional insight into the declining demand for gas: The listless economic recovery continues to take a bite out of gasoline demand. It's clear from the gasoline deliveries data that consumer confidence in the economy remains shaky. This certainly supports API's position that increased taxes or other anti-jobs policies by Congress or the administration could increase unemployment and harm our economic recovery. While economists like to attribute decreased demand for gasoline to our shaky economical situation, we like to believe that advancements in fuel-saving technologies lead to a dwindling need for gas. Follow the jump for more info from the API.

[Source: American Petroleum Institute]

Continue reading API: First-half demand for gasoline 0.6% lower than last year

API: First-half demand for gasoline 0.6% lower than last year originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM

As we're sure you've noticed by now, General Motors has been making lots and lots of waves over the past few days announcing the pricing information (finally!) of its 2011 Chevrolet Volt. And, you also likely know that the car is capable of traveling at least 40 miles per charge without using a single drop of gasoline. But hat happens when the time comes that you need to pump some good ol' crude into the tank? You'll be using premium.

Yes, you read that right. It's premium unleaded only in GM's mostly gasoline-free automobile. It seems a bit odd that The General would force its customers into using higher-priced gasoline if there wasn't a good reason for it, especially since it doesn't seem that the engine is highly stressed - 80 horsepower from 1.4 liters isn't exactly bleeding edge.

There is a possibility, however, that the car's engineers were able to wrestle a bit more efficiency from its constant-load engine/generator setup by using higher octane fuel. In any case, the automaker has not offered up any specific explanations on why premium is required... or, for that matter, what kind of fuel mileage the Volt will attain when the gasoline-powered engine is in operation.

We do feel compelled to point out that it probably doesn't really matter all that much that the Volt requires premium fuel considering how little gasoline the average user is likely to go through any given month, but still...

Your mileage may vary, indeed.

[Source: GM, The Truth About Cars]

2011 Chevrolet Volt requires... premium gas? Yup. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Plug In Conference

Following yesterday's big announcement, readers got a chance to ask Tony DiSalle, product marketing director for the Chevy Volt, some questions about the car's brand new $41,000 price tag ($33,500 after tax rebates). Since DiSalle was here at the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, CA, we thought we'd pose a few of our own.

We started with what, exactly, Chevy dealers will be able to do with this price. After all, the $41,000 is just the manufacturer's suggested retail price. DiSalle said:
We have messaged to the dealers to do the right thing relative to the price, to not mark it up. At the end of the day, they are independent businesses. That's why you call it manufacturer's suggested retail price. A good dealer will do the right thing for the customer because they want to ensure long-term business and, quite frankly, a lot of these customers haven't been into Chevrolet showrooms. We're also noting that, especially the early adopters will be very vocal about what price the dealer was asking them to pay and that word will spread instantly. Dealers need to know word will get out if they try to gross it up. General Motors know this about Volt enthusiasts because it has 70,000 of them registered on a list. GM polled them in late spring and discovered 75 percent don't have a single GM product in their household. More recently, GM asked other questions and discovered that around 70 percent intend to buy a Volt and that they're not just along for the ride and to get information.

Back in March 2009, GM's executive director of global engineering, Bob Kruse, said that the Volt's price would be based, in part, on the price of gas in November 2010. DiSalle would not reveal when the Volt's price was actually decided but did say they considered the price of oil played a role. "We comprehended every value we could think of. Was that a determining factor? No, it wasn't," he said.

(this post continues after the jump)

Continue reading Plug-in 2010: GM talks details about the Volt's $41,000 price tag

Plug-in 2010: GM talks details about the Volt's $41,000 price tag originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Plug In Conference

It shouldn't be a surprise that, at a conference called Plug-In 2010, we can find a bunch of plug-in vehicle charger companies. Schneider Electric is here in San Jose, CA and wants to be known not for wireless charging or having a stylish home unit but for being your one-stop shop for "electric vehicle charging solutions." Rich Korthauer, Schneider's business director of final distribution, said the company has a presence in most American homes (go ahead, check the name on your circuit breaker. There's a better-than-70 percent chance it's a Schneider box) and is a global company with a lot of potential to bring electric-vehicle chargers to a lot of people.

Korthauer showed off a bunch of its Square D smart charging stations to the media, including Level 1 and 2 standard home chargers, a cheaper, economically-priced home charger and a number of Level 2 chargers designed for use in commercial parking lots. Level 3 fast chargers are also part of the portfolio. Schneider is a big electronics company, but has only recently gotten into the EV space: it announced a partnership with Parkeon last month, "to provide local authority clients with a unique solution to manage urban parking facilities integrated with an electrical vehicle charging infrastructure" and has 135 chargers in use as part of a trial in Strasbourg, France with EDF and Toyota. One thing the company has learned: as Coulomb explained last year, charger companies can't actually sell electricity in the U.S. Instead, Schneider plans to get people to pay to park in the space near the charger and will then charge up for "free."

Gallery: Schneider Electric

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Schneider]

Continue reading Plug-in 2010: Schneider Electric wants to be your full-service charger provider

Plug-in 2010: Schneider Electric wants to be your full-service charger provider originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Th!nk (Think)

The crew at Green Car Advisor recently got an opportunity to try out one of the latest-generation Think City electric vehicles shortly after it landed in the United States. This latest version is equipped with a new Enerdel lithium ion battery in place of the old Zebra battery. The American-made battery has a capacity of 25 kilowatt-hours, which gives the Think a nominal 100-mile range on a charge.

Think is apparently using 95 percent of the battery's capacity, which could have some negative consequences on the lifespan of the battery pack. The new battery does provide higher power and a faster charging rate than the zebra battery. The performance of the Think is still pretty limited - a top speed of just 68 miles per hour - but the GCA crew did manage to get 43.5 miles of fairly aggressive driving with 38 percent of the battery charge left. That works out to a range of 75 miles in similar conditions. No U.S. pricing or launch date has been announced yet, but Think obviously wants to get here as quickly as its little wheels can roll.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

First Drive: Think City EV's New Lithium-Ion Batteries Give Much-Needed Range, Power originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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