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Officially official: Peugeot to offer re-badged Mitsubishi i MiEVs

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:21:00 +0000

While the partnership between Mitsubishi and Peugeot to bring electric vehicles to market has been officially official for some time, the deal we told you about that would see the Peugeot lion logo perched proudly on the nose of the Japanese automaker’s i MiEV hasn’t. Until now. On the eve of the unveiling of its ” Prototype iMiEV concept ” in Geneva comes word that the two have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would see them collaborating on vehicles based upon the iMiEV. We are guessing that the timing of this announcement and the imminent reveal of the slightly-upsized right-hand-drive prototype of the iMiEV is not coincidental. It is said that MiMoCo will be doing the manufacturing in Japan while the extra showroom floor space that Peugeot can offer in Europe should help boost sales volumes and keep costs down. While it is unknown what sort of sales targets the companies have for the car, we do know that GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi plan on making enough batteries for 10,000 i MiEVs once sales start with a doubling of that capacity within a year or two. As to what a Peugeot iMiEV will look like, until pictures are taken we can only lean on the magic of photoshop and present you the slightly altered image above. Press release after the break. [Source: Mitsubishi ] Continue reading Officially official: Peugeot to offer re-badged Mitsubishi i MiEVs Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Mitsubishi , Peugeot , Geneva Motor Show , Europe/EU Officially official: Peugeot to offer re-badged Mitsubishi i MiEVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Officially official: Peugeot to offer re-badged Mitsubishi i MiEVs

Geneva Preview: BMW X3 xDrive20d rescue vehicle, 36.2 mpg (U.S.)

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:38:00 +0000

Click for high-res images One of the many vehicles that will be debuting at the Geneva Motor Show this week is an emergency rescue version of the BMW X3. The rescue version is based on the X3 xDrive 20d which is powered by a 177 hp version of BMW’s 2.0L four cylinder diesel engine. Drive goes to the wheels through BMW’s torque vectoring xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Even in this SUV body, the diesel returns 36.2 mpg (U.S.). As expected of a rescue vehicle, it’s equipped with the usual array of equipment including lights, sirens and mountings for rescue equipment. Gallery: BMW X3 xDrive20d emergency rescue vehicle [Source: BMW] Continue reading Geneva Preview: BMW X3 xDrive20d rescue vehicle, 36.2 mpg (U.S.) Auto Blog: Diesel , BMW , Geneva Motor Show Geneva Preview: BMW X3 xDrive20d rescue vehicle, 36.2 mpg (U.S.) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva Preview: BMW X3 xDrive20d rescue vehicle, 36.2 mpg (U.S.)

Renault kicks hybrids and hydrogen to the curb

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:49:00 +0000

While it’s sister company, Nissan , may still be chasing after hybrids and dreaming of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles ( HFCV) , reports say that Renault has had enough. It’s dropped the duo and has decided it wants to go steady with electric vehicles. Company COO Patrick Pelata has let it be known that all its research and development resources will be be strictly focused on battery-powered locomotion and that they hope to have a third of the Renault line-up electric in 10 years. In the near term, the French automaker will focus on three particular models equipped with batteries from NEC to give them all over 100 miles of range. They include an electric version of the Kangoo, a sedan to fulfill its Better Place commitment in Israel but also with European availability as well as a smaller 5-seat hatchback. Renault is also said to still be flirting with a battery lease and swap model. [Source: Autocar ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Hydrogen , Renault , Europe/EU Renault kicks hybrids and hydrogen to the curb originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Renault kicks hybrids and hydrogen to the curb

Geneva Preview: Pininfarina will bring B0 (B Zero) concept to Geneva

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:56:00 +0000

If you couldn’t get enough of the gorgeous B0 (B Zero) electric car concept that the Italian design house of Pininfarina unveiled at the Paris Motor Show early last October than you might construe this as good news, it’s coming to the 2009 Geneva Motor Show as well. Unfortunately, that means they won’t be bringing a working prototype of the concept as had been expected. According to a report by Reuters, the Pininfarina family is selling off a majority stake in the company in an attempt to deal with its debt which, thanks to an 80 percent drop in its stock price over the past year, is many times its market capitalization.The effects of the global economic slowdown on its customers has not helped the situation and so production has been slowed at its three factories in an attempt to reduce costs. Not only are we a little disappointed about this development but we aren’t sure that leaving the prototype at home was the wisest of decisions. Since the B0 is seen as an important part of the company’s future viability and the search for a buyer is about to begin in earnest, wouldn’t it be prudent to trot out a marketable prototype for the world’s automotive press to fawn over? We say, “Swing per la recinzione!” (Swing for the fence!) What say you? Gallery: Pininfarina B0 [Source: Reuters ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Geneva Motor Show , Europe/EU Geneva Preview: Pininfarina will bring B0 (B Zero) concept to Geneva originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva Preview: Pininfarina will bring B0 (B Zero) concept to Geneva

U.S.-EU biodiesel "splash and dash" tariff fight escalating

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:05:00 +0000

While biodiesel advocates go about setting up sustainability principles , the EU and the U.S. are in a growing dispute over the biofuel. The problem is that the Europeans see the $1-a-gallon tax credit that the U.S. provides for B99 (made up of 99 percent biodiesel and one percent petro-diesel) as an unfair subsidy that is harming the European biodiesel market. The EU’s response: slap new (but temporary) tariffs on biodiesel imports from the U.S., maybe. The European Commission is looking into applying the tariffs, and should make a decision by March 13. One of the big problems, according to an article in the Seattle TImes , is a practice called “splash and dash.” This is when American producers import pure (that is, B100) biodiesel made somewhere else, add a bit of petro-diesel to the fuel and collect the tax credit and then ship the biodiesel to Europe. This has been going on for years . The Financial Times says that the American companies’ practices are pushing biodiesel prices in Europe down by between 89 and 99 U.S. cents per gallon. The U.S.’s National Biodiesel Board says European comanies are “not being hurt by US competition,” and wants the U.S. to take action against the EU through the World Trade Organization. Sigh. [Source: Seattle TImes , Financial Times ] Photo by ? Redvers . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Auto Blog: Biodiesel , Legislation and Policy , Europe/EU , USA U.S.-EU biodiesel “splash and dash” tariff fight escalating originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:05:00 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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Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Click above and scroll down to watch the video As we informed you last week, Mitsubishi and Meridian Energy have brought the iMiEV to New Zealand to introduce Middle Earth to the electric car concept. To help with that outreach, they have an expanded web presence that includes a microsite, a YouTube vid and an impressive social networking effort. If you’re a Twittering fool, you can follow them there and learn about its various reviews and appearances, including this cool one from iMotormag . Their Facebook account already has a few dozen fans and features photo galleries and a way to connect with other Kiwis excited about the car. Interested in having an i MiEV of your own? Just like the UK site , the microsite has a place to tell Mitsubishi you want a battery-powered vehicle and allows you to check out the tour schedule. We suspect this iMiEV motherlode should be enough to tide most readers over until the upcoming reveal of the updated left-hand-drive version is made. If not, hit the jump to view video of the car in New Zealand. [Source: YouTube ] Continue reading Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Mitsubishi , Pacific Region Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Mitsubishi iMiEV New Zealand tour ‘Tubed and Twittered

Giugiaro teases with the fastest hybrid in the world

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:14:00 +0000

Italian king of auto design Giugiaro has just released a very tiny teaser of its new concept. We have no name or specifications yet, but Giugiaro’s webpage shows us just a little bit of what this new car, dubbed “the fasted hybrid in the world,” looks like. We also know that it’ll be introduced in a few weeks at the Geneva Auto Show. The little we can see on the site indicates a look not unlike last year’s Quaranta (see gallery below), which had a 200 kW motor good for 270hp. They do promise, however, that we will get more images and information before the Swiss show. We’ll be sure to snag our own when we’re in town. [Source: Giugiaro via LeBlogAuto ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Geneva Motor Show , Europe/EU Giugiaro teases with the fastest hybrid in the world originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:14:00 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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BP starts up celullosic ethanol joint venture with $45m, pays $161m fine for Clean Air Act violations

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:28:00 +0000

BP goes on the offensive and plays defense in two news stories yesterday. First, we learn that BP Products North America Inc. has agreed to pay $161 million for “pollution controls, enhanced maintenance and monitoring, and improved internal management practices” because of Clean Air Act violations committed at a Texas refinery. The EPA’s Catherine McCabe said that, “BP failed to fulfill its obligations under the law, putting air quality and public health at risk.” Maybe the $45 million that BP (along with another $45 million from partner Verenium Corp.) is putting into a new cellulosic ethanol commercializaion project will result in better headlines. The new joint venture company will seek to create the biofuel from non-food feedstocks at a commercial-scale plant coming to HIighlands County, Florida . Construction there should start in 2010 and cost somewhere between $250 million and $300 million. If all goes well, the ethanol should start flowing in 2012. These dates are slightly later than previously indicated . [Source: EPA , Boston Globe ] Auto Blog: Etc. , Ethanol BP starts up celullosic ethanol joint venture with $45m, pays $161m fine for Clean Air Act violations originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:28:00 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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Barcelona tests the Tempus, its first hybrid bus

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:12:00 +0000

Believe it or not, European cities are a little behind in incorporating hybrid powertrains to their fleets. Not long ago we mentioned a Spanish-made bus by Castrosua . This bus began tests on the streets of Barcelona this week. The Tempus , as it’s called, mates an electric powertrain to Iveco’s smallest diesel engine. It measures 9.5 meters long and 2.55 meters wide, perfect for old city centers. According to TMB, Barcelona’s public transport operator, the bus is saving at least 20 percent of the diesel fuel it would use if it were a regular mid-size bus. The bus will be tested on three different routes: One that avoids high slopes, a neighborhood route with more frequent stops and a “standard” one. Barcelona also did some hydrogen-powered bus tests back in 2003, with a generator that used solar energy. [Source: TMB ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Transportation Alternatives , Europe/EU Barcelona tests the Tempus, its first hybrid bus originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:12:00 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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Barcelona tests the Tempus, its first hybrid bus

Geneva Preview: Hyundai ix-onic concept SUV

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 09:25:00 +0000

Click above for a two high-res pictures of the ix-onic Hyundai doesn’t miss a detail in their lengthy announcement of the new ix-onic concept compact SUV that the company is bringing to Geneva. At first glance, figuring out how to pronounce the name was unclear – is it icks-onic? Eye-x-onic? – but then eight letters and a dash come to the rescue: “ik-sonnik.” With a body that comes in at 173 inches long, 73 inches wide and 65 inches tall, the ix-onic isn’t that much bigger than C-segment hatchbacks like the VW Golf. Still, Hyundai says the ix-onic has “an imposing stance and road presence.” What’s might be more impressive to the green-minded is that the ix-onic features stop-start ( known as ISG , or Idle Stop & Go, in Hyundai’s language) and has the first installation of Hyundai’s new 1.6-litre GDi turbo four-cylinder petrol engine that emits 149 g/km of CO 2 . We’ll see more when we get to Geneva in a few weeks. Gallery: HYUNDAI ix-onic Concept [Source: Hyundai] Continue reading Geneva Preview: Hyundai ix-onic concept SUV Auto Blog: Hyundai , Geneva Motor Show Geneva Preview: Hyundai ix-onic concept SUV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Geneva Preview: Hyundai ix-onic concept SUV