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Category Archives: electric vehicles
A123 Files Bankruptcy. Johnson Controls to Purchase its Auto Assets
A123 Systems (Nasdaq: AONE), a developer and manufacturer of nanophosphate lithium iron batteries and systems, today filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. A123 ran out cash as demand for EVs and its batteries remains weak to almost non-existent. As part of a proposed reorganization Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) will supply $72.5 million in “debtor in possession” financing to support A123’s continued operations as JCI purchases parts of A123. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, financial results, news analysis, results
Tagged a123, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, doe loans, EVs, fisker, Ken Zino, taxpayer subsidies
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Ford Fusion Hybrid Sedan Said to Top EPA Fuel Economy Ratings
Many brands now have a claim of some sort to use in fuel economy marketing, which likely means all of them will advertise fuel efficiency this fall, making the issue so confusing that it might no longer be effective for selling cars. Buyers will assume that fuel economy is a given in the entire class of vehicles and forgo the nuances. A similar situation has occurred in the marketing of auto safety during the past decade, with it increasingly difficult for companies to draw a competitive advantage in a continually improving field of what is now demonstrably the safest fleet of new vehicles ever sold in the U.S. Continue reading
Toyota Hybrid in First Win Beats Audi in Six Hours of Sao Paulo
A Toyota hybrid turned in a dominant performance at the Six Hours of Sao Paulo this weekend going from the pole to first place during the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. It was the first overall win this year for the new hybrid racing team, which challenged Audi’s clear dominance in endurance racing by showing up at Le Mans last June, a year ahead of announced plans. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, performance, racing, results
Tagged audi, auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, fia, Ken Zino, le mans, Toyota racing
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More than 75,000 Electric Buses Will Be on Roads by 2018
While the slow sales of electric cars are in the headlines, there is one segment of vehicles – e-buses – that are adopting electric drivetrains at a rate that makes for a healthy business. In North America, hybrid models have captured 40% of new transit bus purchases in recent years. Continue reading
First Look – 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid Sedan
Since electric driving depends on a tiny 6.7 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery, this means the Accord plug-in will be hard pressed to stay on electricity for more than 10 or 15 miles, although it will look good on the window sticker with a projected EPA rating of greater than 100 MPG-e. The electric motors are rated at 124-kilowatt (kW). Thank goodness there is also power dense gasoline on board, so the projected range of the plug-in is almost 500 miles. Continue reading
NEVS Completes Saab Asset Buy including the Brand Name
National Electric Vehicle Sweden or NEVS announced today that it completed the purchase of the main assets of bankrupt Saab Automobile, Saab Automobile Powertrain and Saab Automobile Tools. This includes the Phoenix platform, tools and the manufacturing plant in Trollhättan as well as test and laboratory facilities. NEVS has also signed a licensing agreement to use the Saab name on its future vehicles. Continue reading
CODA Recalls 2012 EVs for Defective Airbags
CODA Automotive is recalling 78 of its 2012 model year EVs because a manufacturing error incorrectly installed the side curtain airbags. Because of the defect, the airbag may not deploy properly in its four-door sedan, which only recently went on sale. In a statement the small, privately-held California company said it knows of no injuries. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, manufacturing, quality, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, coda, coda recalls, Ken Zino, nhtsa
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Fisker Recalls 2012 Model Karma Cars because of Fires
Fisker Automotive is recalling 1,377 Finnish-built Karma passenger cars because of a defect in a low temperature cooling fan may result in a short circuit. The short can ignite the fan housing, shroud and surrounding components, causing a vehicle fire. At least one Karma fire has been reported and one cooling fan has burnt, according to Fisker in the required defect filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, recalls, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, fisker, fisker recalls, karma recalls, Ken Zino, valmet
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Messing with Texas – Trees for Electric Vehicle Testing
Electric utility Reliant (NYSE: NRG) and its EV recharging subsidiary eVgo will donate $25 to the Texas Trees Foundation or Trees for Houston each time a customer take an electric vehicle test drive of the Mitsubishi “i” or Nissan Leaf in North Texas or Houston between now and December 1st at participating EVs for Trees dealerships. Participating dealers will also donate $25. If a NRG customer test drives both the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi I, a total of $75 will be donated to the local tree planting organization. Continue reading
GM China Begins Building and Testing Advanced Batteries
General Motors China is now making and testing prototype battery cells and complete systems at its Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai, potentially creating a huge offshore industry that will build more affordable batteries for customers globally. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, news analysis
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, china, electric vehicles, EVs, Ken Zino, volt
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Bosch Moves into eScooter Business with Ningbo Polaris
The Bosch Group is forming a joint venture with Ningbo Polaris Technology, a Chinese provider of motors for electrically driven scooters or eScooters, with Bosch holding the majority. Ningbo makes and sells eScooter motors in China under the POLTM brand, more than one million in 2011 the output of 450 workers. The global output of eScooters in 2011 was about 27 million units with China making 98% of the production volume. “With a growth rate of 6% annually the market will reach up to 46 million units in 2020”, said Udo Wolz, president of the Bosch Electrical Drives division. Continue reading
Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, motorcycles, news analysis, transportation
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, bosch, escooters, EVs, Ken Zino, ningbo polaris, pedelecs
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Fisker Appoints New CEO – Tony Posawatz from GM’s Volt Program
Fisker Automotive today named Tony Posawatz, the former head of the Volt program at General Motors as its new Chief Executive Officer, its third CEO this year. The current CEO Tom LaSorda will stay with the company in an “advisory” role. LaSorda was only appointed CEO in February 2012 after joining Fisker two months previously. Continue reading
Ford C-Max Hybrid EPA Rated at 47 MPG in all Categories
The all-new Ford C-Max Hybrid that goes on sale this fall is now EPA-certified at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined. This makes it the first hybrid without a window sticker decline in highway fuel economy ratings. Whether this is real or the product of carefully calibrating the C-Max to the test cycle awaits independent verification. Continue reading
BYD Electric Cab Fire and Three Fatalities not Battery’s Fault
An investigation by the Shenzhen government into an accident and fire between a BYD EV and a Nissan sports car that killed three people in May concludes that the battery pack was not at fault, according to a BYD filing with the Shenzhen stock exchange.
A Nissan GT-R traveling at 242km/h – 150 mph – hit a BYD e6 taxi traveling in the same direction at 81km/h. The first impact sent the cab careening out of control, which then resulted in a second impact into a roadside tree, whereupon the e6 completely burned. The cab driver and two passengers perished. Continue reading
Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, news analysis, safety
Tagged auto informed, autoinformed.com, automotive news, byd, china, Ken Zino, Nissan gt-r
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Spyker Sues GM For $3 Billion Over Blocking Saab Sale to Chinese
In what could be viewed as the legal equivalent of a Hail Mary pass, Dutch automaker Spyker filed suit against GM in Detroit yesterday, alleging that GM forced the Swedish brand Saab into bankruptcy and then blocked a sale of the company to Chinese investors, which would have ensured its survival. Continue reading
