Norway-based electric carmaker Think received more than its share of buzz last week as the company announced plans to produce its small all-electric vehicle in the United States. But what the company wants is a share of the $25 billion in Department of Energy loans set aside to promote advanced technology vehicles. Before the company can build electric cars in the US or anywhere else, it needs funding to stay alive. Think is now in the Norwegian version of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The days of fuel economy only coming in small, slow and stripped-down cars are over. Every major auto show these days brings the unveiling of another green super car using hybrid or electric car technology to conserve fuel while delivering Ferrari-like performance. Do any of these wild concepts have a real shot at becoming cost-effective realities? Not so much. And yet, with each new green racer, the appeal of hybrids and electric cars to mainstream drivers grows a little stronger. Here are our all-time green machine fantasy favorites, like the 1,000-horsepower Shelby Ultimate Aero EV.
In the early 1970s, Mercedes experimented with battery swapping on electric vehicles, but abandoned the idea. Today, Thomas Weber, Mercedes chief of research and development, said that new plans for battery-swapping stations for electric cars may, in fact, be dangerous.
Magna Steyr, the European arm of auto supplier Magna International, unveiled its Mila EV (electric vehicle) concept car this week at the Geneva International Motor Show. The company is not planning to put the Mila EV directly on the market—instead, it hopes that global automakers will use the ground-up design as a head start for brand new electric cars.
While all eyes are on high-profile plug-in announcements from General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and others, Ford appears to be quietly inching into a leading position in the race to get electric vehicles on the market.
The economic stimulus package provides tax credits for 25-mph-max neighborhood electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid cars that won’t be on the market for at least two years—but today’s hybrids get nothing. See our comprehensive analysis of new incentives for green cars.
Plug-in America is asking for help to make sure that plug-in vehicle provisions remain in the economic stimulus package. Please join in.
The next generation of hybrid and electric cars depends on lithium ion batteries—but the world’s biggest supply of lithium is controlled by a socialist country with no great love for America.
There wasn’t a V8 to be heard, full-size SUVs were banished from sight—at least for media days—and the words “electric car” and “hybrid vehicle” were on every carmaker’s video screen. We previewed the show a few days ago; now we'll recap the results, breaking down the top green vehicles into three categories: Expect It, Doubt It, and Forget It.
Media days for the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit kicks off on Sunday, Jan 11. Check out our complete preview of the bountiful hybrids and electric vehicles that will appear.
