Category Archives: electric vehicles

Eight States Want 3.3 Million EVs on U.S. Roads by 2025. Here come More Subsidies for the Rich

Posted on 9 November 2013 by Ken Zino

Eight states, representing 27% of the total U.S. new vehicle market, have announced a joint plan to put 3.3 million allegedly zero-emission electric vehicles on America’s roads by 2025. “Alleged” because EVs are elsewhere emissions vehicles when you take into account how the electricity is generated. Continue reading →

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Tesla Signs Battery Deal. Second Model S Fire Reported

Posted on 30 October 2013 by Ken Zino

Panasonic Corporation and Tesla Motors today announced that they have reached an agreement where Panasonic will expand its supply of automotive-grade lithium-ion battery cells to Tesla. The announcement comes just after a second Model S fire this month was reported by the Diario de Yucatan. Continue reading →

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Ford Recalls Keyless C-Max, Focus EVs for Door Chimes

Posted on 28 October 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford is recalling 23,000 C-Max and Focus EV models because of an older Federal Motor Vehicle Safety standard that requires the door chime to operate when the vehicle is running and the door is open. Continue reading →

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Volvo Car Testing Batteries Built Into Body Panels

Posted on 21 October 2013 by Ken Zino

Volvo Car says it has developed a new lightweight battery that is molded and formed to fit around a car’s door panels, trunk lid and wheel housing. Aside from substantially saving on space, the Chinese-owned automaker claims that reduces the heavy weight, large size and high costs associated with the batteries used in hybrids and electric vehicles today, while maintaining power and performance. Continue reading →

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Nissan Le Mans Electric Racer Unveiled in Japan

Posted on 18 October 2013 by Ken Zino

Nissan the latest version of its electric racecar – Zeod RC – debuted today at the headquarters of Nissan’s performance arm, Nismo, in Yokohama. The initial prototype show car of the electric racer was revealed at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race. Today’s version showed changes with revamped styling, new cooling inlets and aerodynamic updates. Continue reading →

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Electric Vehicle Sales to Top 2 Million by 2020?

Posted on 9 October 2013 by Ken Zino

This latest soothsaying from ABI Research flies in the face of the trend actual EV sales thus far, which have been weak because of image, price, performance and recharging problems. Continue reading →

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Fourth Gen Prius Will Increase Mileage by More than 10%

Posted on 4 October 2013 by Ken Zino

Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada said this week that the fourth generation Prius hybrid now under development would increase fuel economy by more than 10% in rated miles per gallon. During the previous two updates of the world’s best-selling … Continue reading →

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Testosterone and Tesla – Men Love Them

Posted on 30 September 2013 by Ken Zino

As with all things associated with Tesla, AutoInformed remains skeptical about a company that has never showed a profit since its inception except in Q1 of 2013. For the first six months of this year, Tesla lost $1,916 per car based on a net loss of $19.254 million from sales of 10,000 Model S and a few Roadster EVs, which was -$0.17 a share. With Tesla stock trading in the $190 range for a book value of $5 a share, buyer beware, seller rejoice. Continue reading →

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Volkswagen Claims 14 Electric and Hybrid models by 2014

Posted on 9 September 2013 by Ken Zino

In the latest round of environmental press releases, the German Volkswagen Group said it will be “electrifying” all its vehicle classes,starting with 14 electric and hybrid models by 2014. Continue reading →

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Toyota to Retail Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrids in U.S. by 2015

Posted on 5 September 2013 by Ken Zino

Carter told AutoInformed that he has seen and driven the Toyota fuel cell hybrid. The ultimate timing for U.S. retail sales is dependent on California’s hydrogen infrastructure program that aims to put in place 35 hydrogen-refueling centers in the Los Angeles area by 2015. Continue reading →

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UMD Researchers Get $1 Million for EV Battery Research

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Lithium-ion batteries are problematic in electric vehicles due to short driving range, high cost, and low safety and reliability. Continue reading →

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Ford Lowers C-Max Hybrid Mileage Claims

Posted on 15 August 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company said today that it is lowering the C-Max hybrid fuel-economy label after being challenged by customers, the EPA and numerous independent automotive testing sites, including AutoInformed. The revised 2013 C-Max label has a combined fuel economy value of 43 mpg, slightly better – in theory – to the combined label of 42 mpg for the Toyota Prius v. Ford’s previous ratings were 47 city/47 highway/47 combined mpg claim for the new 2013 Fusion and C-Max hybrids. Continue reading →

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GM Cuts 2014 Chevrolet Volt Price to $34,995

Posted on 6 August 2013 by Ken Zino

GM has cut the price of the 2014 Chevrolet Volt to $34,995, including an $810 destination fee, representing a $5,000 price decrease for the carry over vehicle. If a buyer includes federal tax credits ranging from $0-$7,500, depending on tax liability, pricing could start at $27,495. Continue reading →

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Electric Cars and Solar Cells are not so Clean

Posted on 1 August 2013 by Ken Zino

“Stating that an electric car is clean is like saying that a light bulb is clean. Light bulbs do not produce exhaust, but it doesn’t mean we can use them with zero emissions. The same holds true for electric cars,” said Zehner in an NPR interview Monday. Continue reading →

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Toyota and Ford Trash Truck Hybrid JV

Posted on 24 July 2013 by Ken Zino

In a separate release earlier in the day, which likely caused the Toyota statement and also likely caught the reticent Japanese by surprise, Ford said “We know what it takes to build world-class hybrids, and we now will build and leverage that expertise in-house. Continue reading →

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