Jalopnik
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alternative energy
Tazzari Zero Electric Car Recharges In 45 Minutes, Offers 93-Mile Range
New Italian company Tazzari aims to address one of the key shortcomings of electric cars — recharge time — by offering a vehicle capable of taking a full charge in just 45 minutes. Tazzari hasn’t clarified what kind of outlet is required for this compressed recharge time, but as it’s an Italian company, we’ll assume at least a 220v is needed, but likely not a commercial-grade three-phase unit like the one required by the Lightning GT supercar. More »
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By Wes SilerComment by nightsky: Why is it so dark in here? Someone hit the lights. 4 Responses | Other threads
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Toyota Plug In Hybrids
Toyota Launches UK Trials Of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Toyota, teaming up with EDF Energy, begins road trials today of the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the UK. The trials will give Toyota real-world driving test data on its PHEV, while EDF will get to test its public charging stations, 40 of which have already been installed throughout the country — as well as provide yet another marketing win for the automaker by making them the first major manufacturer to test plug-ins in the UK. Plug-in test cars will be given to EDF employees to drive in the company fleet, ensuring the vehicles will get the crap beaten out of them and that any major problems can be discreetly rectified by the partner organizations. Full release after the jump. More »
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By Andrew StoyComment by SeanKHotay: The way the title formats on the home page, I read this as "Toyota Punches UK Trial..." Thought we had another... 1 Responses | Other threads
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chevy volt
Chevy Volt Interior Photo Lifted From Internal GM Presentation, Looks Like an iPod
These shots of a production Chevy Volt interior have leaked from a GM internal presentation. Immediately apparent is the glossy white iPod-esque IP with flip-up nav/charge status display. There’s also a prominent center-mounted computer-like on/off button, but we don’t know if this will start the car or just the computer system. The 2011 Chevy Volt will be GM's first plug-in hybrid and a huge risk for the company; so does this interior make the grade? More »
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By Wes SilerComment by Ben Wojdyla: As a died in the wool Volt fanboy, I find this to be pretty terrible. However, keep in mind this... 10 Responses | Other threads
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alternative energy
Study: Only One-Third Of US Car Buyer Households Have Infrastructure, Desire For Plug-In Cars
A new study by the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC-Davis reveals only one-third of US car buying households have both the necessary charging infrastructure and the desire to purchase a plug-in electric hybrid. The comprehensive study, designed to determine more about the early plug-in market, found that most consumers know very little about plug-in hybrids or think that existing hybrids on the market are already plug-in capable. But, it's not all bad news for lovers of the slide toward electrics. More »
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By Andrew StoyComment by MountainDrew: @FЯeeMan: Not all of Canada is a frozen wasteland you know. Sure, all the parking lots in Winterpeg have... more » | Other threads
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ford f-150 plug-in hybrid
HEV Technology Builds 41 MPG Plug-In Hybrid Ford F-150 Pickup Truck
Rather than make yet another Mustang derivative, Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies has done something relevant and managed to install a plug-in hybrid system in a Ford F-150 pickup truck. The resulting vehicle achieves a combined fuel economy of up to 41 MPG, up from a combined 16 MPG on the 2WD version of the truck. HEVT will now offer the technology as a retrofit on a limited basis as they conduct further testing in an effort to put it into mass production. See, how hard was that? More » -
saturn vue plug-in hybrid
Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid On The Way
Larry Nitz, General Motors' executive director for hybrid powertrains, speaking yesterday at the Plug-In 2008 Conference in San Jose, confirmed that the company is developing a plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue. The announcement comes as GM looks for ways to disseminate Chevy Volt-like technology through its other products. They're not telling when the plug-in Vue will be ready, but in the meantime, Saturn will launch a FWD two-mode hybrid Vue next year, and GM is also thought to be developing a plug-in hybrid based on the Saturn Flextreme concept. More » -
ssc ultimate aero ev
Shelby SuperCars Makes Ultimate Aero EV Official, Plans 1000 HP Version
News of Shelby SuperCars' intention to build an electric version of its record breaking SSC Ultimate Aero TT leaked out yesterday prompting the company to make the news official. The company expects the SSC Ultimate Aero EV to be ready by late next year, saying that it will initially feature a 500 HP electric motor and revolutionary batteries capable of holding their charge for "years." Additionally, the vehicle will use a 6-speed transmission and once the first model is out, they'll be exploring ways to fit two of the motors into the engine bay, resulting in a 1000 HP model. It's tempting to call shenanigans on this, but when you've made the world's fastest car, beating huge German companies in the process, you suddenly gain a lot of credibility. SSC are keeping additional details hush hush, but click through to read their full performance claims. More » -
alternative energy
Tesla Makes The Wealthy Feel More Responsible
We knew the Tesla was a popular car among the famous, like Matt Damon, but it seems the 225-mile range $109,000 ride is becoming the feel-good car among the rich too. Greenwich, Conn., a city known for old money, is apparently the new hotspot for Tesla wannabes. Tesla recently brought a vehicle to a Greenwich hotel to allow potential owners the opportunity to take a quick test drive, yielding predictable results. More »
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Comment by piththeelder: Actually, it is very green to purchase a vehicle that will never exist. more » | Other threads
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i feel gassy
Ex-Intel Chief Andy Grove Using Electric Cars To Achieve Relevance
Andy Grove, retired CEO of chipmaker Intel, apparently has grown bored of sailing the South Pacific and decided to insert himself into the debate over the future of transportation. A proponent of electric vehicles, Grove wrote, "The beauty of electric power is its ability to be produced through multiple sources...and its 'stickiness' — it can be transported only over land." This statement, showing Grove thinks AA batteries arrive from China over a distant land-bridge, tell us Andy may not have all the facts he needs. More »
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By Andrew StoyComment by SeanKHotay: I really like the idea of turbine-electric hybrids, especially in trucks and vans... more » | Other threads
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vw golf twin drive concept
VW Golf Twin Drive Plug-In Hybrid Diesel Makes Prius Look Thirsty
The combination of a fuel-sipping diesel engine with plug-in hybrid technology is something that hasn't really been utilized — until now. This is the Volkswagen Golf Twin Drive Concept, and it looks even more promising than VW's late Golf TDI Hybrid from Geneva. Evidently, the Twin Drive can be run in electric-only mode for a range of up to 30 miles using an 82 HP electric motor. But, there's also a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel that makes 122 HP which can take over once the batteries have been drained. When the two powerplants combine, youbecome Captain Planethave a parallel hybrid with about 174 HP. The range is aided even further by regenerative braking to charge the batteries, and start-stop technology that shuts the engine off when idling in traffic. But is all of this just a techno' showcase? Or will it actually be made available for normal people to save fuel with? More »
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By Mark ArnoldComment by Kimbeegrin: What?!?! An automatic?!?! Where's the manual transmisson? I have a 2000 Red VW Jetta Manual and I LOOOVE IT. My... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
Aftermarket Plug-In Prius Explodes In Fiery Mess
The Cooperative Research Network has reported that a Toyota Prius retrofitted with a plug-in hybrid kit has exploded in a big bada-boom. Hybrids-Plus produces a PHEV15 kit to convert the Prius into a plug-in model using a lithium-ion battery pack from A123 System; while the Prius in question was reportedly experiencing charger-related problems, it was still allowed on the road. While driving, the occupant noticed balls of fire coming from the backseat and subsequently fled the vehicle, which then exploded. More »
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Comment by Dollarbill4: Perhaps, you would just prefer a Pinto with a full tank of gas? more » | Other threads
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industry news
Toyota Tries To Lower Expectations On Plug-In Hybrids, Mark Fields Asks For Handout To Build Them
Toyota appears to be starting the expectations-management game for its upcoming plug-in hybrid vehicles after being stung in the past by complaints from Prius owners of lower-than-advertised mileage. Bill Reinert, national manager of Toyota U.S.A's advanced technology group, yesterday told a Brookings Institution/Google conference panel, "when we see the (claims of) 100 mile-per-gallon stuff, not everybody's going to get 100 miles per gallon." Mark "The Mullet" Fields, Ford Motor Co. president for the Americas, made what we think was the most important point to be made at the conference — that plug-ins need to be a "national priority." However, that message was lost when he next asked for a government handout, saying "significant government funding is needed for development of domestic production of advanced batteries and for retooling of plants." Sorry Mark, John McCain doesn't have any money to hand out yet — even if your battery can go 100 miles per charge. More »
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By Andrew StoyComment by petersterncan: @skierpage: Hence my point that research money needs to go to battery developers/manufacturers (Like Valence for example) and not any auto company. The... more » | Other threads
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news
Scientific Types Working On The Plug-In Hybrid Heater Dilemma, Really
One of the advantages of the internal-combustion engine (or the external-combustion engine, for that matter) is that you get vast amounts of waste heat for use in making the vehicle's passenger area nice and toasty when it's cold out. However, an increasingly large group thinks that an engine technology that squanders two-thirds of its energy on waste heat leaves something to be desired, so legions of engineers are now working on plug-in hybrids and full electric cars. Thing is, without all that hot water coming out of the engine all the time, how do you keep the vehicle's occupants from freezing their tuchuses off while at the same time refraining from sucker-punching the batteries by making heat in the same manner as your toaster? Antarctic-grade parkas will do the job, but the engineers seem to think that the next generation of thermoelectric semiconductors are the way to go. [MIT]
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Comment by fawgcutter: Is it really a dilemma? There's nothing I see here with a plug-in that can't be solved with a little... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
Ford Testing 120mpg Plug-In Hybrid SUV
The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid that is currently being evaluated in Southern California is capable of up to 120mpg. 20 vehicles have been delivered to Southern California Edison, who will run them as part of their fleet for two years. For the first 30 miles after a full charge, the Plug-In Escape delivers 4.5 times the mpg of the regular non-hybrid Escape. It takes six to eight hours to fully charge the Lithium Ion batteries from a standard 120-volt outlet; once that charge is depleted, the vehicle operates like a normal Escape Hybrid. Some of the vehicles will soon be handed over to selected residential SCE customers for further evaluation. If the results of this test are favorable, we hope gives Ford the ammo to push a similar vehicle into production. [Via Gizmag] More »
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By Wes SilerComment by liveoilfree: ethanol can never replace gasoline in cars. The product of one year's sunlight (i.e., ethanol from organic waste and crops)... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
V2Green Partners With Texas Utility To Solve Car-Charging Problem That Doesn't Exist
Leave it to a company looking to make a name for itself in Green Land to attempt to solve a problem that doesn't exist. We all know that plug-in hybrids are coming. And hell, some options are already here. But V2Green is tackling problem of too many charging hybrids, which is a concern that won't exist for quite a few years, at earliest. You know how the 10 o'clock news is freaking out all summer about the energy crisis from too many the air conditioners running simultaneously and stressing the power grid? Plug-in hybrids are only going to add to the drain, and that's what this hubbub is all about. More »
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Comment by eb110americana: I think, at first people will charge them at home overnight starting in the evenings around 6pm when they get... more » | Other threads
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detroit auto show
Detroit Auto Show: Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid
In a mere two years Saturn will make its Vue Plug-In Hybrid available for masses. Wait for it, wait for it, yes, this hybrid will plug into the standard 110V household electrical outlet and connect to the car at the front fender, utilizing an adapted two-mode hybrid system from GM. The battery will fully recharge in four to five hours. In addition to the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the Plug-In Hybrid will also feature GM's 3.6-liter V6 VVT engine. Even though it does contain a V6 engine, the Plug-In Hybrid will be capable of electric-only propulsion of 10 miles or so at low speeds according to the early testing. I would hate to see what this would do to household electronics. I have problems running the toaster and the dryer at the same time and who knows what would happen if a car was plugged into the mix. More » -
alternative energy
Electric Cars to Share Batteries with Power Plants, Reduce Pollution
A system under development by University of Delaware scientists could turn parked electric and plug-in hybrid cars into energy storage devices for the electricity grid. By using their batteries to release stored energy back into the grid during demand spikes, electric cars could help power plants operate more efficiently, reducing pollution. This currently unused storage capacity could be even more helpful in bringing more renewable energy sources online, as their electricity generation naturally varies. More »
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By Wes SilerComment by pttrillium: When we're done, dump all the used batteries in Delaware. Next to the water supply for the University of... more » | Other threads
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la auto show
LA Auto Show Preview: Volkswagen Space Up! Blue Plug-in Hybrid
For the Los Angeles show, Volkswagen's ubiquitous new minicar concept, dubbed Up!, alights the hybrid bandwagon (bandwagen?). It's a version of the more spacious Space Up! from the Tokyo auto show, powered by a novel fuel-cell hybrid drive system with solar support. The system's an outgrowth of VW's research in gas cells that operate at a higher temperature than traditional ones. VW engineers say the cells, which can reach temperatures of 248 degrees Fahrenheit, stand to be lighter, more compact, more stable and cheaper than lower-temperature ones. The cell can also charge a bank of lithium-ion batteries, which alone power the electric motor to a range of 65 miles. A roof-mounted solar panel provides additional wattage. Style wise, the hybridized Space Up! Blue gets some traditional VW cues, like windows reminiscent of the old 11-window Type 2s. Performance figures befit a car created more for inner-city use than open-road cruising: zero-to-62 mph in 13.7 seconds and a top speed of 75mph. Look for it in your grocer's freezer. More »
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Comment by smokyburnout: @rgseidl: i'm aware of that, im just pointing out that each concept in the series has a longer, sillier name... more » | Other threads
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detroit auto show
Fisker Coachbuild and Quantum Technologies Team up on Luxury Plug-In Hybrid
What happens when you pair up a design and coachbuilding firm with an alternative-energy startup? We're not sure yet, but a joint venture is on between Quantum Technologies and Fisker Coachbuild, a company founded by former Aston Martin and BMW designer Henrik Fisker. Fisker is most recently known for the Tramanto and Latigo — rebodied examples of the Mercedes SL and BMW 6-Series, respectively. Quantum says its progress in plug-in hybrid technology means the company's ready to team up on a limited-production vehicle to debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. We're not sure exactly what the have in store, only that it'll be luxurious and expensive in a manner befitting a car whose major technology is in the early-adopter stage. Maybe they'll even beat Porsche to the punch. More »
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Comment by skierpage: @LuciferV8: Yes. If you own multiple vehicles and only live 10 miles from the Hollywood clubs, a 50 mile... more » | Other threads
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rocking down to electric avenue?
Toyota Seeking Government Approval For Japanese Testing Of Plug-In Prius, May Reveal At Tokyo Auto Show
According to Asahi, a daily Japanese trade rag which we don't know how to read, Toyota will officially be asking for permission from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport "for the testing of a prototype plug-in Prius on public roads." After completing the road tests, Toyota will then be able to begin the process of bringing them to market by leasing them to public municipalities and governmental offices. Asahi is also saying Toyota is testing a lithium-ion battery pack in the plug-in. No word on if the official intro will be the Tokyo Show, but the rumor is out there. Maybe it'll even look something like the Hybrid X concept car we've already seen from ToMoCo back in Geneva. [Asahi.com via Green Car Congress] More »
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By Ray WertComment by lascauxcaveman: @Aaron Stein: No, sounds like you would go *forever* without a trip to the gas station. So be sure... more » | Other threads
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googleplexity
Google Org to Fund Plug-in Hybrids
Plug-in hybrids are the "killer app" of alternative automotive energy says Google. That's a fancy way of saying they've got some Googlebux, and they're not afraid to use them. The company's funding a new program called RechargeIT, a Google.org initiative aiming to reduce CO2 emissions and petroleum use, but also to feed power back to the electrical grid. That's correct — the once pie-in-the-sky concept of vehicle-to-grid (VTG) tech is getting a major supporter with the R&D pockets to get something mainstream to happen. How can you stop these people? Poor Yahoo! More »
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Comment by lascauxcaveman: Yeah, global warming is a crock, but I still like the slot car idea Tuboner has. (Is it just me, or... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
Electric Vanliness: Sprinter to Be DaimlerChrysler's First Plug-in Hybrid
The term "plug-in hybrid" will one day hang beneath "1/3 less calories" and "dolphin-free tuna" in the advertising and public relations halls of fame. For now, we'd imagine all hybrid-building carmakers will either add the capability to their hybrids, or say they're looking into it. That's not to diminish the latest plug-in announcement, this time from everyone's favorite German-American hybrid. DaimlerChrysler says its first plug-in hybrid will be in the form of a Dodge Sprinter van. It'll test market viability among a control group of fleet buyers. The project will mark the first fleet test of a diesel hybrid plug-in system, though the company's also testing a gasoline-combustion variety. What's more, some of the test vehicles will use lithium-ion batteries instead of nickel-metal hydride batteries. However the test goes, it's obvious plug-ins will likely excel in the stop-and-go world of local delivery, the likely domain of the Sprinter PHEV. More »
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Comment by f_demon: Why don't they just sell it as a Mercedes Sprinter (the version I know)? It looks ugly with that dodge... more » | Other threads
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news
Washington Wakes Up A Little: Senate, House Pissed At Bush Regime for Meddling With Climate Scientists
You ever stop and think how funny Republicans are? Their favorite president is an actor, their favorite scientist is a fiction writer and Rush Limbaugh is a big, fat, dope-addicted, impotent idiot. I mean hypocrite. Anyhow, turns out that Bush and his gang have been (gasp) pressuring federal scientists to "downplay" the threat of global warming. Well informed folks everywhere have known about this muzzling of science for a while, but now the Congress is actually fact finding. Aside from 43% of the scientists surveyed reporting that Administration goons had edited their work so as to change the meaning of their findings, check out this nugget from Rep. Waxman; More »
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Comment by Naturally Exasperated: Now with even more chrome.: i don't believe global warming is anywhere near as bad as popular opinion would have us all believe. just because... more » | Other threads
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concept cars
Energy Policy: Ford Reveals HySeries Hybrid Edge Concept
Ford's showing off its HySeries fuel-cell hybrid in the nation's capital today, hoping to carve out a new direction in the ongoing battle of the research hybrids. As we mentioned yesterday, the Edge HySeries uses a hydrogen fuel-cell to top off the EV-car's batteries, which can also be charged via plug-in. Ford says the powertrain delivers a combined city/highway gasoline equivalent fuel economy rating of 41 mpg if the full range is used, and 85 mpg at a range of 50 miles per day (the first 25 are drawn from fully charged batteries). The generator can also be paired with an internal-combustion engine, like gasoline or diesel, in place of the fuel cell. Your tax dollars at work. More »
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Comment by RayRay: That edge looks a lot better than the regular one. I think its the rims. more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
Plug It In, Plug It In: Plug-in Hybrids No Problem for Power Grid, Says DOE
According to the US Department ofEx—Oil Company ExecutivesEnergy in a new report yet to be published, the tangle of Christmas-tree lights known as the power grid can handle an upsurge in plug-in hybrids lickety split. The report, via The Car Connection, points out that by employing off-peak energy production via existing capacity, the grid could support 84 percent of the US's 220 million vehicles for their daily commute if such vehicles were plug-in hybrids — though Eastern and Midwest states have enough surplus capacity to power 100 percent plug-in hybrids in those areas. The bad news is that emissions from coal-fired powerplants would increase in the near term, though the report suggests increased demand would spur the building of more, cleaner-coal plants. We're starting to really feel for those poor grandma-molesting Enron utility traders, gone before the party even started. More »
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Comment by superbad: I read somewhere (on the internet, therefore true) that many coal powered plants literally pump electricity into the ground at... more » | Other threads
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news
With Money From The US Government, Toyota Hopes Someday To Build a Plug-In Hybrid Of Its Very Own
The same day as "Slick" Rick Wagoner was up on stage in LA announcing a plug-in hybrid for the General, ToMoCo's senior samurai in North America, Jim Press, was asked about his company's strategy for plug-in hybrids at the Electric Drive Transportation Association conference in Washington. Press didn't commit Toyota to building a plug-in-play hybrid vehicle, saying only:"We still have a lot of basic research to do."
But Toyota's head man in NorAm did make it clear he wouldn't mind the ducats from Washington to continue to flow to help him get it done:"By encouraging consumer support for a promising new technology, our government is supporting innovation and investing in our nation's future...we'd like to see those tax incentives continue."
Wow, who would have thunk the General could really leap Toyota in PR buzz? Way to go, Rick! More »
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By Ray WertComment by lascauxcaveman: Yeah Toyota, just let the hackers get the plug-in job done, you keep working on lighter batteries, please. more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
BREAKING: GM to Produce Plug-in Hybrid Vue
The General made good on the press leak indicating it'd build a hybrid with an extension cord. The electro-geek community — from the halls of Petaluma to the shores of MIT — are probably already figuring out their hacks, while the enviro-nerds of same will likely open the fists they once raised in GM's direction. The plug-in hybrid Vue Green Line will use a version of the company's two-mode hybrid-drive system (developed with DaimlerChrysler and BMW), featuring Lithium Ion battery technology, two interior permanent magnet motors and GM's 3.6L V6 gasoline engine with direct injection. No word on release date or price, but damned if GM didn't just win the PR coup of the month. (Note: 2008 Saturn Vue, pictured) More »
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Comment by lascauxcaveman: Yeah, the heck with this 3.6 L mill. Make mine with a .8 ltr turbodiesel making about 40... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
It's Alive! GM's Next Electric Car to Be Unveiled in Detroit
A few months ago, CNN reported General Motors was working on a plug-in hybrid vehicle. At the time, that news tidbit (possibly a PR leak), was lost beneath the anti-GM tide swelled by the film "Who Killed the Electric Car," and thus couldn't shield the company from media-flush environmentalists' jerked knees. But now, it's the General who could wind up laughing all the way to the green room. News reports indicate GM is planning to unveil a prototype hybrid-EV that employs a internal-combustion engine as a generator to extend the range of its rechargeable batteries. Sure, It sounds like a typical hybrid, but most believe the prototype will have plug-in capability — which could allow for net mileage in the triple digits. Such a release would give GM a PR win against Toyota, which is planning a plug-in of its own, according to reports. Not much else is known about the system, but it'll likely be a headliner at the Detroit auto show in January. It might even get its own ad campaign, possibly featuring a chastened Ed Bagley Jr. dumping a cooler of wheatgrass juice over the head of Rick Wagoner. Or something. More »
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Comment by felixkramer: Detroit News story says they'll unveil a prototype, still maintaining batteries are 3-4 years away. more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
Warranty Voiding for Fun and Profit: 76.1 MPG in a Plug-in Prius
One of our geezeeky friends sent us this Flickr-posted mileage documentation from a Toyota Prius converted to plug-in operation. Looks like someone's kids won't be getting their Mobil Upromise points this month. More »
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Comment by lascauxcaveman: Yeah FishingCrue, let the EV folks have their fun, its just a different kind of performance they are yardsticking. ... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
GM Planning Plug-In Hybrid?
If it's an intentional leak, it's a brilliant PR strategy. In the wake of the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car," which accuses GM and Big Oil of colluding to keep electric vehicles from the market, CNN reports the General may be looking at building plug-in hybrids. A plug-in system would allow a full hybrid's batteries to be charged by the engine or, while parked, by the power grid, which would offer greater operating range in electric-only mode. The source for the story is "someone familiar with the company's plans," which may or may not signal a strategic leak. Making a commitment to plug-ins would let GM to an end-run around criticism about being late to the hybrid game, by appearing proactive on addressing a noted deficiency in rival Toyota's system. Are they that clever? More » -
alternative energy
Get the Extension Cord: Toyota to Consider Plug-in Hybrids
If you're quiet, you can almost hear the corks popping from bottles of organic champagne throughout the Bay Area. According to CNET, a statement on Toyota's Web site indicates the company may be reversing its strategy not to build their hybrid cars with a plug-in option, stating the company will "advance its research and development of plug-in hybrid vehicles." Sure, it's more wiggle room than Charo had on "The Love Boat," but plug-in fans, who say charging the battery by an outside source can double hybrid cars' mileage, will likely take the statement as a kind of vindication. More »
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Comment by TPSreports: Auto writers don't care about this. They'd rather see the Prius go from 0-60 in 4 seconds. Because... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
Hybrid Partnership Shows Pics of Plug-in Prototype
Automotive powertrain technology provider Ricardo and kinetic energy storage company (that's flywheel batteries to you, Johnny) AFS Trinity revealed pictures of a plug-in hybrid-car prototype — the AFS Trinity Concept Car — that will house a hybrid-drive system the companies are developing in a joint venture. Dubbed the Extreme Hybrid (XH), the drivetrain could one day wring 250 mpg from a five-passenger sedan, according to AFS, using lithium batteries that can be recharged by the power grid and specialized software to manage the various functions. Prius hackers and activists (hacktivists?) have long argued hybrids' real benefit to consumers is hamstrung by an inability to recharge the cars' batteries from a wall outlet, which could quadruple the range of a typical hybrid according to AFS, and have created plug-in versions of the Prius that get higher mileage but top out at 33 mph. The companies plan to license the system to automakers, though despite a test of plug-in delivery trucks by Daimler-Chrysler, it's not clear whether they'll bite. [UPDATE: Rear shot with 50% less Oldsmobile Aurora after the jump.] More »
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Comment by skierpage: Jalopnik editors say "kinetic energy storage company (that's flywheel batteries to you" , but the tech page says it's actually... more » | Other threads
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alternative energy
How to Void Your Toyota Warranty, 101: Hacking the Prius
We can't help but be in the CalCars guys' corner on their quest to give the Toyota Prius hybrid full-electric capability. After all, as someone once said (Mark Twain? Henry Ford?) "tinkering is the best revenge over those who'd just as soon spit in your eye as say hello." (Hmm, that doesn't sound quite right). CalCars is a non-profit group of "entrepreneurs, engineers, environmentalists and consumers" who take on projects that promote its interest in national security, jobs and global warming. At an upcoming MAKE magazine event, CalCars engineers plan to hack a new Prius to make it plug-in capable, installing a battery pack and tweaking hardware and software so it can go all-electric. We won't tell if you don't. Oh, wait... More »
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Comment by Speed: ... and then they're then going to put it through the whole series of crash tests followed by durability, hot... more » | Other threads
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