Category Archives: electric vehicles

Honda and JMC Nickel-Metal Hydride Recycling Yields 99% Pure Rare Earth Metals in World’s First Mass Production Process

Honda Motor and the Japan Metals & Chemicals Company last spring began extracting an oxide containing rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries from Honda hybrid vehicles. The operation, the first in the world, is now extracting
rare earth metals with a mass-production process at a JMC recycling plant. Continue reading

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Lithium Ion Battery Sales Up as New Electric Vehicles Debut

The latest research shows that the lithium ion battery market had revenues of $2.13 billion in 2012. Moreover, there are projections that this could reach as much as reach $12.84 billion in 2019. The advanced battery market has significant government support in the form of rebates, which varies according to the country, state and city. Continue reading

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Toyota Racing Shows 2013 Le Mans Hybrid Racer

Toyota Racing unveiled a revised TS030 Hybrid car that will lead the team’s quest for victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship this season. The first full test of the 2013 car will begin at Paul Ricard in southern France tomorrow. In a hard fought Le Mans race in 2012 marred by accidents, two Audi diesel hybrid P1 cars took first and second at the 24 hours of Le Mans, with another Audi in third. Toyota, though it did not finish in its first le Mans race with a hybrid, provided a strong challenge to Audi with its two hybrids and posted some of the fastest racing laps. Continue reading

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Honda Expands Fit EV Leasing to East Coast Markets

The all-electric 2013 Honda Fit EV will be available for leasing later this month in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. The three-year term costs $389 per month, which computes to a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $36,625. Collision coverage, maintenance costs and roadside assistance service are included in lease-only vehicle. Gasoline fueled versions of the Fit sell in the $16,200 to $21,000 range. Continue reading

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BMW and Toyota Sign Deal for Joint Fuel Cell and Battery Programs

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation today in Japan signed a contract for the joint development of a fuel cell system, a new architecture and components for a sports vehicle, and research in lightweight technologies. Continue reading

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Cadillac ELR Hybrid Faces Same Tough Market as Chevy Volt

The 2014 Cadillac ELR makes its world public début at the North American International Auto Show this week. Based on the Chevrolet Volt, the hybrid faces the same challenges that have made the $40,000 Volt a mere footnote in U.S. Sales charts since only 24,000 were sold in 2012 or, for one example, only ~10 % of the sales total of the larger, gasoline powered $22,000 Chevrolet Cruze. Continue reading

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Smart Jumps on the Tiny SUV Bandwagon, Maybe…

With tongue firmly in cheek, Smart showed a tiny SUV-like electric vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show dubbed ForStars, a reference to its all glass roof. With a 60-kilowatt electric motor, the two-door concept car has 100 lb.-ft. of torque and a top speed of, well, 80 mph. With its lithium-ion battery, the ForStars has a capacity of 17.6 kilowatt-hours of electric power. Continue reading

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Nissan Cuts Leaf EV Price by $6400 on U.S.-Assembled Model

Nissan announced that pricing for the 2013 Leaf electric vehicle starts at $28,800 for the newly-added S grade – think SALE – making it the lowest priced five-passenger electric vehicle sold in the United States. The least expensive 2012 Leaf had a starting price of $35,200 without taxpayer subsidies. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn’s 20,000-unit sales target for the Leaf in 2012 was missed by 50%, and fewer than 10,000 were also sold in 2011. He previously said electric vehicles would account for 10% or more of global auto sales by 2020, a prediction that is viewed as fantasy by other automaker CEOs. Continue reading

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European Bid for 48-Volt Cars Finally to be Noted in U.S. at NAIAS

Johnson Controls will show a 48-volt Micro Hybrid battery system using a traditional 12-volt lead-acid battery and a 48-volt Lithium-ion battery at NAIAS next week. As AutoInformed has reported, the technology is well underway in Europe with cars expected to be on the road this year. Continue reading

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Honda to Build 2014 Accord Hybrid in U.S. at Marysville, Ohio

Honda of America Manufacturing said today that it would invest $23 million and hire 50 new workers at its Marysville, Ohio auto plant to add assembly of the new Accord Hybrid Sedan scheduled to go on sale this fall. Continue reading

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Milestones – Nissan Begins Assembly of 2013 LEAF EV in Tennessee

Nissan is starting U.S. assembly of the 2013 LEAF electric car at its manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, where it will be made along with the far more popular Altima and Maxima models. Since 2010 Leaf has been imported from Oppama, Japan. Continue reading

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Non-Spy Shot – Cadillac ELR Photographed in Southern California

General Motors has released this photograph of a Cadillac ELR hybrid electric vehicle, which will be revealed with nicer paint at the 2013 North American International Auto Show next week. Continue reading

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2012 Record Year for U.S. Hybrid Sales, But EVs Remain Insignificant

The U.S. auto industry posted a record year for hybrid sales during 2012 as almost 500,000 hybrids were sold, or 3.4% of the overall new vehicle market. Continue reading

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Nissan to Add 15 Hybrid Models by 2016

Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said today in Yokohama that the Japanese automaker plans to add 15 hybrid models by 2016. Long decried by Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, who is betting billions through the Renault Nissan Alliance to develop and sell electric vehicles after he dismissed Toyota’s early hybrid efforts, the Number Two Japanese maker is finally bowing to the reality that hybrids are a short-term solution to increasing fuel economy that buyers will consider. Continue reading

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Exhaust Gas Regen and 48-Volt Cars – Next Efficiency Breakthrough?

European automakers are rethinking the need for 12-volt cars. This move toward 48 volts, little noted in the U.S. media, has significant implications for a new generation of potentially cost-effective mild or semi-mild hybrid vehicles. A 48-volt standard could be a major factor for enabling the required motor-generator efficiency and power levels to make a practical hybrid at a lower cost. Continue reading

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