Tag Archives: electric vehicles

GM China Advanced Technical Center Nears Completion

Posted on 19 December 2011 by Ken Zino

GM intends to use Chinese battery suppliers in future electric vehicles – the latest setback for beleaguered U.S. workers who are facing grim employment prospects in the moribund U.S. economy. This is no longer a blue-collar or solely a UAW problem. College level white collar engineering jobs are at stake in advanced technologies touted by politicians as the key to returning the U.S. to global competitiveness. Continue reading →

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BMW and Toyota to Jointly Research Lithium Ion Batteries

Posted on 1 December 2011 by Ken Zino

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today a memorandum of understanding (MOU) where the companies will research together the next-generation lithium-ion battery technologies. It is the latest example of automakers trying to decrease the astronomical cost of developing more efficient vehicles mandated by increasing stringent fuel economy or CO2 regulations. Continue reading →

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Renault Dedicates Enlarged Electric Vehicle Test Center

Posted on 15 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Since missing the hybrid segment completely that Toyota went on to dominate globally, reaping billions upon billions of dollars worth of “Green” image benefits in the process, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both Renault and Nissan, has “bet the farm” by investing almost $5 billion in electric vehicles. Thus far, the Nissan Leaf, with roughly 8,000 sales year-to-date, has not met expectations in the U.S. Nissan, optimistically, wants 20% of its sales to be EVs by 2020. Continue reading →

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Sumitomo to Make 30 Minute Quick Charger for Nissan Leaf

Posted on 10 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Nissan previously announced a joint promotion of a DC Quick charger with Sumitomo. The newly developed DC quick charging unit retains the high performance of current quick chargers but is nearly half the size – making for an easier installation. Continue reading →

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Honda EV Demonstration Testing Begins in Guangzhou, China

Posted on 8 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Guangqi Honda Automobile Company, the government required joint-venture between Honda Motor and Guangzhou Automobile wants to begin local production of EVs in China before the end of 2012. Before then, Honda is importing hybrids and EVs from Japan. Continue reading →

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Ford Taking Orders for 2012 Focus Electric at $39,995

Posted on 3 November 2011 by Ken Zino

No lease is available, so a typical payment to buy – with $4,000 down for 48 months – is almost $800 per month at Ford’s 7% interest rate. The gasoline Focus starts at just over $17,000. This means that the sales volume of the EV will likely be limited to a few enthusiasts. And Focus Electric also faces tough competition from the Nissan Leaf, which can be leased for about $400 a month. Continue reading →

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California Institutes $15,000 EV Subsidy from Taxpayers

Posted on 31 October 2011 by Ken Zino

This light commercial EV subsidy is part of a larger program – or folly, according to critics – which will it’s hoped speed the adaptation of commercial electric vehicles. Heretofore, fleet operators who keep stringent track of costs have not been willing to invest in EVs because of their absurdly high costs and limited range – in the EV Transit’s case, ~$50,000 and 50 miles. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet and Nissan Succeed with Plug-in Hybrids and EVs as the Business of Plugging In Shows First Product Results

Posted on 17 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Success is the verdict about one year after the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and Nissan Leaf EV (electric vehicle) both went on sale, it was revealed last week at the third annual Business of Plugging In Conference in Michigan. And with Cadillac, Ford, Toyota about to introduce the their own plug-in hybrids, and a pure EV version of the tiny Chevrolet Spark coming in 2013, the small niche of electric cars has the chance to grow some more. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet to Produce Spark EV All-Electric Vehicle

Posted on 12 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet today announced it will produce an all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark mini-car – the Spark EV. It will be sold in limited quantities in some U.S. and global markets starting in 2013 in California. The company needs to the CAFE credits from an EV in order to meet impending fuel economy requirements in the U.S. Continue reading →

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GE and Nissan to Work on EV Charging Infrastructure

Posted on 30 September 2011 by Ken Zino

In the U.S. several problems are inhibiting widespread adoption of EVs: the high cost of the EV itself even with lavish taxpayer subsidies, which are unsustainable given current deficits; the generation of 50% of electricity in the U.S. by carbon monoxide producing coal, the dirtiest of carbon based fossil fuels; and the lack of a national grid to move power around during peak demand periods. Continue reading →

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Nissan Taking Leaf EV Orders in New U.S. Markets

Posted on 29 September 2011 by Ken Zino

Year-to-date Nissan has delivered about 7,000 of the pure electric vehicle, which has a range of about 85 miles. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the 2012 Leaf is $35,200 for the SV trim level, and $37,250 for the SL trim level. The monthly lease price begins at $369. Continue reading →

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The Business of Plugging In Adds EV Experts to Panels

Posted on 27 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The Center for Automotive Research is holding a timely conference – The Business of Plugging In, an electric vehicle conference – this October that will discuss the emerging plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) against a background of contentious budget debates in Washington about subsidies for automakers, global warming, emission regulations, and tax policies. Continue reading →

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GM and SAIC to Develop New Electric Vehicle in China with U.S. Taxpayer Supported GM’s EV Knowledge and Technology

Posted on 20 September 2011 by Ken Zino

“The policy is not written, but the pressure is real,” said Mike Dunne in an interview with AutoInformed. “All the western automakers have the same story – GM, Volkswagen, Ford – all have now reluctantly agreed to do so as a condition of further market expansion.” Continue reading →

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IAA Frankfurt Motor Show Emphasizes Concepts and Electric Vehicles as Euro Zone Economic Crisis Threatens Automakers

Posted on 13 September 2011 by Ken Zino

The auto markets in the EC have declined for three straight years now, and 2011 is thus far following the same downward trend. It’s against this backdrop of political crisis and economic uncertainty that automakers are revealing cars at the Frankfurt Motor Show that are being dictated – or heavily influenced – by expensive EU regulations – with an emphasis on electric vehicles that will be required to meet impending EU CO2 standards. Continue reading →

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GM Awards A123 Contract for Batteries for Electric Vehicles

Posted on 11 August 2011 by Ken Zino

Teams from both companies will now work on developing calibrations and software controls for the battery system in preparation for production. Continue reading →

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