Chinese carmaker Roewe testing electric car in Australia?
Is yet another Chinese automaker throwing their hat into the electric car ring? Well, maybe. While walking about in Alice Springs, Australia , China Car Times reader, Dylan, noticed a car dressed up in decals that screamed, “Hey you! I’m a top secret prototype and you should take my picture.” He obliged and now that his photos have reached civilization the rest of the world and have been analyzed by others, the conclusion is that this is a Roewe 550. Now, this particular car is already in production so it seems a little odd that it’s been covered in decals and driven around the Outback. Odd, that is, until you examine the photos more closely and realize their appears to be no gas cap or tail pipe where they are typically located. Add to that a previous declaration by Roewe parent company, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), that they are investing almost $300 million in a hybrid and electric car program and you have the makings of rampant speculation. [Source: China Car Times ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , China Chinese carmaker Roewe testing electric car in Australia? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Leave a commentGeneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG
Kia is showing off two new and fuel-efficient variants of its compact c’eed here in Geneva this week. The first, which is going on sale immediately, is the c’eed ISG, or Idle Stop and Go. The ISG, as the name implies, features an auto start-stop system that is claimed to improve urban fuel efficiency by up to 15 percent. As with other such systems, it simply shuts down and restarts the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and resumes. The ISG setup is available on 1.4L and 1.6L engines in all three c’eed body styles. The second variant is a hybrid model of the c’eed using a system similar to that shown at the LA Auto Show for the next generation Sonata. The main difference is the use of a 15 kW motor rather than the 30 kW unit used for the Sonata, along with a CVT in place of the conventional automatic transmission. Otherwise, the lithium polymer battery remains for the test fleet that will run in Europe with estimated fuel efficiency of 48.9 mpg (U.S.). [Source: Kia] Continue reading Geneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG Auto Blog: Hybrid , Kia , Geneva Motor Show Geneva 2009: Kia c’eed hybrid and ISG originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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New Chinese electric bus boasts 186-mile range
While we have a pretty impressive electric bus here in America, an announcement that a Chinese joint venture will begin building buses with a 300 km (186 miles) range certainly got our attention. The FAW Bus and Coach Company has teamed up with battery maker Tongkun New Energy Technologies Co., Ltd and plan to have their people-carriers on the roads around two different cities in Jilin province by June. They already have 70 on the order book and if they can deliver the range performance promised, we expect they’ll sell more. The 24 passenger bus can not only go far on its lithium iron phosphate ( LiFePO 4 ) batteries but it can also re-charge them in as little as 20 minutes. With a useful life of 2,000 cycles, they could last 300,000 miles. Not bad for a bus with a 500,000 yuan ($73,145) price tag and low running costs. Hopefully the new design will also be a little easier on the eyes than the current baby bus built by FAW, pictured above. [Source: Xinhua ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Transportation Alternatives , China New Chinese electric bus boasts 186-mile range originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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New Chinese electric bus boasts 186-mile range
Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, a-little-easier, america, Biodiesel, china, electric bus, electricity, energy, entry, holland, italy, jilin, lifepo4, pictured-above | Leave a commentHybrid motorcycles come to America
If you happen to be in Indianapolis for the Dealer Expo 2009 powersports show you should be able to check out a trio of hybrid motorcycles on display there. The bikes, said to be developed jointly by Advanced Battery Technologies (ABAT) and Wuxi Angell Autocycle Co., Ltd are outfitted with lithium ion batteries that supply the power for electric-only operation at low speeds. A computer control switches on the gas engine at higher speeds to run the bike and charge the battery back up. The companies say the new design reduces pollution by 35 percent and increases fuel economy by 20 percent. Wuxi Angell Autocycle Co. has been producing hybrid scooters (above) that look remarkably similar to those offered in the U.S. by Veken and recently sold a majority 55 percent stake of itself to ABAT. The bikes are scheduled to begin production in April of this year and will be sold in the U.S. under the “co-brand” of Angell and ABAT USA. It’s not yet known where the bikes will be sold but we hope they decide to supply some pictures of their product when they make that announcement. Full press release after the break. [Source: Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. ] Continue reading Hybrid motorcycles come to America Auto Blog: Hybrid , On Two Wheels , China , USA Hybrid motorcycles come to America originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Valence Technology may build new battery plant
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Manufacturing/Plants , Ford , Europe/EU , USA As soon as we heard the announcement about Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp and Ford’s Smith-built Transit Connect coming to America , our minds soon turned to the battery supplier of that company, Valence Technology . The Austin, Texas-based firm keeps a lower profile than some of its competitors like A123 and Enerdel preferring, it seems, to quietly go about the business of being putting its batteries into vehicles as diverse as the Segway and the PV1 truck . Our curiosity was quickly rewarded by an article in the Austin American Statesman that says that Valence is considering building a new battery plant either in America or Europe. It has been making its batteries at two facilities in China but with Tanfield (Smith Electric’s parent company) and other customers asking about a U.S. factory and the possibility of government funding becoming available via the stimulus package, it is considering bringing production closer to home. They are hedging a little, mentioning Europe as a possible location as well, but it does seem they will thoroughly investigate the American option first. It is widely thought that increased domestic production of lithium ion batteries would be strategically prudent and, besides that, we could use the jobs. [Source: Austin American Statesman ] Valence Technology may build new battery plant originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green | a-2007-model-, a-high-res, a-lower-profile, china, garage, gs450h, jobs, mercedes-benz, prius, smith-electric, usa, valence technology, valencetechnology | Leave a commentComing: Cheap Chinese Cars at Costco?
Chinese cars have been displayed at the Detroit Auto Show for the past several years. Many industry critics ridiculed them for design or quality flaws. But others see these first Chinese vehicles and remember how Japanese and Korean cars were once laughed off—only to become mainstream products in America. Kathleen Ligocki, CEO of GS Motors and formerly president of Ford of Mexico, expects Chinese-designed cars to begin production in Mexico in 2010—and make their way to the US about five years after first testing the waters in Latin America and Canada. GS Motors, a Mexican company, already imports three models from China’s First Auto Works (FAW) and sold 4,000 of them in Mexico last year. Here’s the zinger: Ligocki believes Chinese cars will be sold in the US through big-box stores like Costco or Wal-Mart, which is how GS Motors is retailing them in Mexico. GS is building an assembly plant in Michoacan, Mexico with FAW. The plan is for vehicles to roll off the line beginning in 2010. GS Motors will launch the FAW brand in Mexico this year with the F1 Hatchback, an entry-level car sold for under $5,500. FAW, one of the largest Chinese automakers, is allied in China with Volkswagen. FAW also produces the Miles ZX40, a small van-style neighborhood electric vehicle, developed by Miles Electric Vehicles , based on Santa Monica, Calif. GS Motors is racing to bring the first Chinese cars to America via Mexico—but they are not alone. BYD (Build Your Dreams) showed plug-in hybrid and electric model in Detroit last month and promised to bring them to the US as early as next year. In fact, many of China’s 80 or so auto companies have made similar gestures, with varying degrees of seriousness. read more
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Posted in Hybrids | bring-the-first, china, environment, green, japanese, latin-america, mexico, most-consumers, online, primary-analyst, smart, year | Leave a commentBMW Clean Diesels Earn Tax Credit
Two BMW diesel vehicles, the 335d sedan and the X5 xDrive35d crossover , are now qualified for the federal “Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle Tax Credit.” Buyers of the 335d will be eligible for up to $900 in tax credits, while those purchasing the X5 can qualify for as much as $1,800 from the IRS. Federal tax credits were previously granted to clean diesel vehicles from Mercedes and Volkswagen. The credits will offset some of the premium associated with purchasing the pricey BMW clean diesels, and will alter the economic calculation for buying the diesel rather than the conventional gasoline versions of the vehicles. BMW 335d The 335d costs $44,750 and has fuel economy ratings of 23 city/36 highway. Compare that to the gasoline-powered 335i’s $41,125 sticker, and 17 city/26 highway rating. The $3,625 difference is somewhat offset by a $900 tax credit. BMW X5 xDrive35d The X5 xDrive35d starts at $52,950 and gives 19 city/26 highway, while the base gas-powered X5 costs $48,325 and has fuel economy ratings of 15 city/21 highway. The $4,625 difference is reduced by a $1,800 tax credit. read more
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Posted in Hybrids | bring-the-first, china, diesel-vehicles, environment, motor-vehicle, news, purchasing-the, ratings | Leave a commentGot lithium? Lots
Auto Blog: Emerging Technologies , Etc. , EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Manufacturing/Plants , Mitsubishi , South/Latin America , USA Click on chart for PDF When companies need to know about future market conditions for various commodities, they hire a firm with the expertise to evaluate the situation and report back. For instance, as Mitsubishi was mulling the possible future of electric cars equipped with lithium ion batteries, they hired TRU Group to do an analysis on future battery options. Usually, ordinary folks don’t get to see the results of this kind of work, but in the case here, we can. In a rare move, Mitsubishi has allowed their consultants to release some of the findings about the global markets for lithium through to 2020 and that’s just what they did at the IM Lithium Supply & Markets Conference Santiago 2009. The results are comforting to those worried about a sudden upsurge in the production of electric cars using lithium ion batteries, especially over the next few years. Because of the sudden recession, there is actually an oversupply of the mineral right now and this should continue until about 2013. It doesn’t seem as though there will be a “peak lithium” after that either. Although brine deposits, like those in Bolivia and China, may offer the easiest and cheapest supplies to extract, a moderate price rise would support mining here in America , where we appear to have quite a bit. [Source: TRU Group via Green Car Congress ] Got lithium? Lots originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, china, entry, for-interested, hybrid slk, italian, lithium, lithium-supply, lithiummining, mercedes-benz, pdf, tazzari-group, tru group, trugroup | Leave a commentChevrolet Mini (aka Spark) to launch production in India this year
Auto Blog: Chevrolet , Asia The tiny subcompact that GM first showed as the 2007 Beat concept could start production by the end of this year in India. A report in Indian Autos Blog indicates that for the Indian market the car will be called the Mini – rather than the Spark moniker it will have when it comes to the U.S. in two years. GM’s initial plan had been to the build the Mini at it’s factory in Maharashtra from complete knock down kits brought in from another country (likely China or Korea). Instead, GM is tooling up for full Indian production. The Mini is expected to compete in the premium small car segment against the likes of the Hyundai i20 and Škoda Fabia. Power is expected to come from a 1.2L gas or 1.4L diesel engine. We still don’t know where the U.S. market Spark will be sourced from. Gallery: New York Auto Show: Chevy Beat Concept Live [Source: Indian Autos Blog ] Chevrolet Mini (aka Spark) to launch production in India this year originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Chevrolet Mini (aka Spark) to launch production in India this year
Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, a-from-complete, autos, build-the-mini, chevy spark, chevy-beat, chevybeat, china, china-or-korea, concept-live, country, year | Leave a commentDetroit 2009: BYD’s plug-in hybrids, the F3DM and F6DM
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Detroit Auto Show , China , BYD Click above for high-res gallery of the BYD F3DM Apparently, ” unveiled ” was the wrong word. BYD’s F3DM plug-in hybrid has been on sale in China for a few weeks and here in Detroit it was just sitting quietly on the stand on the main floor . No press conference, no attractive ladies standing around ; just the car. In this case, a car might be all it takes. The F3DM Dual Mode is a PHEV that uses a 1.0-liter gasoline engine with an electric motor to offer 168-horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Using a Fe battery pack that gets a quick charge of half the battery pack in ten minutes, BYD says that the F3DM will go over 60 miles on battery power alone. That’s astonishing, especially for about $20,000 (US). The company thinks it’ll be astonishing enough to create sales of about 10,000 units next year. That number should increase dramatically when the car goes on sale in the U.S. and Europe in 2011 . The F6DM was on the stand nearby, and you can Car Blog Greenmore about that after the jump. Gallery: Detroit 2009: BYD F6DM and F3DM Continue reading Detroit 2009: BYD’s plug-in hybrids, the F3DM and F6DM Detroit 2009: BYD’s plug-in hybrids, the F3DM and F6DM originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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