Improvements in lithium ion (Li-ion) battery technology are helping to accelerate the worldwide market for electric vehicles (EVs). In the last few years, most automakers have shifted from nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries to Li-ion batteries. This shift represents a major endorsement of Li-ion chemistry and its ability to perform consistently in an automotive environment. According
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The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi has earned the highest possible “five-star” Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The five-star rating is the U.S. Government’s highest-possible safety rating and is determined only after severe testing procedures as part of NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which combines vehicle performance in frontal
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Volvo’s V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, is proving successful sales-wise. Volvo Car Group (Volvo) is now ramping up production by 90 percent. It is doing so earlier than anticipated to keep up with the demand. The increased demand, especially in Holland, Belgium and Italy, means that the Plug-in Hybrid production at
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Volvo Car Group started production of the first engine variants in its new, high-efficiency four-cylinder engine family. The development and production take place in-house at Volvo Car Group and form a vital part of the company’s strategy for independence. The strategy of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and driveline electrification is the path that Volvo
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Dana Holding Corporation announced that it has recently received two grants totaling $3 million from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to develop technology to improve thermal management systems for battery systems in electric, plug-in hybrid-electric, and hybrid-electric vehicles. “Through the ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative, our government is investing in innovative clean energy technologies that create jobs, generate
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Interested in winning a Ford C-Max Energi as well as an eco-efficient house retrofit? Ford and the MyEnergi Lifestyle initiative have kicked off the MyEnergi Lifestyle retrofit contest with Katie Couric on her syndicated talk show “Katie.” Homeowners can enter this national contest for a chance to win a package that includes a Ford C-Max
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AeroVironment, Inc. has been selected by Ford Motor Company as the preferred installation partner and authorized charging station supplier for the Ford Focus Electric, C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid vehicles. Ford plug-in customers can now purchase a Ford-approved 240-volt charger and schedule a turnkey professional installation with a telephone call to AeroVironment. AeroVironment
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Yesterday Bosch Automotive Service Solutions introduced Power Max, the automotive industry’s first Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station with a price point of less than $450. According to Bosch, the Power Max will retail for roughly half the cost of current EV charging stations, offering 240-volt charging, and reducing charging time by half while helping customers
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CAA-Quebec published its 2013 Study of New-Vehicle Warranties, providing consumers with a practical, at-a-glance tool for comparing the warranties offered by the major automakers. Among other highlights, the study reveals that increasingly widely available plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) are sold with extra protection, which will likely be reassuring to
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The first Sustainability Hackathon was held at the BMW Technology Office in Mountain View, Calif. The purpose of the event was to share ideas and develop new apps in the areas of electro-mobility and sustainability. The winning app is designed to help electric-car users communicate quickly and simply with one another on an anonymous basis
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