Plugging cars into the grid is quickly moving from concept to reality—and the auto and electric utility industries are frantically trying to make it a success. That’s the main theme of Plug-in 2009, a conference taking place from Aug. 10 - 13 in Long Beach, Calif. Many questions remain, such as the kind of charging equipment that carmakers will offer with their plug-in cars, and how to streamline the installation process.
General Motors announced Tuesday that the Chevy Volt could get a government in-city fuel economy rating of “230 miles per gallon.” While the potential for a three-digit mpg rating is grabbing headlines, figuring out what it means is another matter. What's the significance of MPG in a vehicle which seldom or never uses gallons of liquid fuel?
The Department of Energy showed bias toward large well-capitalized companies when choosing recipients of $2.4 billion in grants to support electric-drive vehicles and batteries, according to critics of the DOE program.
The Obama administration announced today $2.4 billion in grants to car companies and battery-makers, setting the course for US manufacturers to build next-generation auto batteries for hybrid and plug-in cars. The spending is the US government’s bet on battery-powered vehicles—an attempt to overcome the challenges of creating small, lightweight, reliable and affordable rechargeable hybrid and electric car batteries, as well as the infrastructure to allow drivers to bypass gas stations and charge their cars from the electric grid.
No longer an amorphous concept, Nissan’s electric car can now be stacked up against other hybrids and plug-in cars for its look and feel, features, and likely cost. The reviews from the blogosphere—usually an irreverant crowd—were mixed.
After months of anticipation, Nissan today unveiled the Nissan Leaf, a medium-size all-electric hatchback that seats five adults and has a range of 100 miles. Check out first photos and video.
What will fuel-economy numbers look like on the window stickers of electric vehicles coming to the US market next year? Trying to find the answer could short-circuit your brain.
As we reported last month, BMW has encountered several problems with its program to evaluate the all-electric Mini E with real-world drivers. The program continues to stumble, as drivers and activists accuse BMW of establishing the program merely to meet regulations, while delivering a sub-standard product. Meanwhile, BMW is planning to deliver the City—its first production electric car—in 2011.
In recent weeks, the city of Vancouver and the province of Ontario have taken two bold steps toward the electrification of Canadian automobiles. Though neither measure will singlehandedly ensure the success of EVs in Canada, they are symptomatic of a real determination on the part of a coalition of city planners, lawmakers, businesses, and green car activists to lead the world in electric vehicle adoption. So far, at least from a policy standpoint, they're getting results.
Ford Motor Co. unveiled plans today for higher fuel efficiency across its 2010 lineup. The company said the new vehicle lineup will improve fuel economy by about 20 percent compared to 2005 levels. The focus on efficiency is helping Ford earn customers who did not previously own Fords.
