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Toyota dealers in Japan race hybrids in Prius Cup

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:02:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Hybrid , Toyota , Japan , Racing There is almost always a benefit to conserving fuel while racing, whether it means saving on pit stops or being able to stay on the gas longer in the last lap, but the ongoing Prius Cup series in Japan takes the practice of conservation in racing to a whole new level. The event was first organized back in 2007 and is designed to help train dealership staff how to work on the car. Now that there’s a new model on the way for 2010 , the event is once again pickup up some steam. Unlike most racing series, the goal of the Prius Cup isn’t to turn in fast lap times. Instead, the cars circle the track in agonizing fashion as they try and use as little fuel as possible. Once in the pits, though, the action picks up considerably as the teams compete to get their hybrids back on the track in as little time as possible. Sounds exciting! Well, not really, but we don’t know of many other racing events where the winner scores nearly 70 mpg over the 20-lap event. [Source: AutoWeek via Auto Fiends | Photo: Hans Greimel] Toyota dealers in Japan race hybrids in Prius Cup originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:02:00 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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Toyota dealers in Japan race hybrids in Prius Cup

First Chevy Volt engines will come from Aspern, Austria

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Chevrolet , Green Daily It’s no longer a surprise that the engine for the first Chevy Volts will come from Europe instead of Flint, Michigan . Specifically, the 1.4L four cylinder engines, part of the “Family 0″ line, will be made at the GM plant in Aspern, Austria . Similar engines will go into Chevrolet Cruze models to be assembled in Lordstown, Ohio. Volt assembly will still happen in Hamtramck, Michigan. Since GM says it has always intended to get the first engines from Europe, the sale price projection for the plug-in hybrid remain the same. Of course, no one outside of GM knows what that number actually is, but apparently it won’t be higher because all the engines need to spend some time on a boat. Related : Tech analysis of GM’s new 1.4L four cylinder engine GM officially announces Flint MI production for Volt/Cruze engines Gallery: GM Flint Powertrain 1.4L engine [Source: Ward's Auto via GM-Volt ] First Chevy Volt engines will come from Aspern, Austria originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:16:00 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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First Chevy Volt engines will come from Aspern, Austria

General Motors launches ChallengeX followup: EcoCar, the NeXt Challenge

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:33:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Hydrogen , GM Last spring, General Motors wrapped up the fou- year Challenge X program where 17 university teams from the United States and Canada competed to design and build a hybrid drive Chevrolet Equinox . At the conclusion of Challenge X, GM announced that the follow-up competition would be called EcoCar . This time around the teams will be working with Saturn Vues and they will have the option of four different directions they can go with propulsion. Teams can build a plug-in hybrid electric with internal combustion, a fuel cell plug-in hybrid, an extended range EV or a full-function EV with a minimum 100-mile electric range. All the vehicles have to have plug-in capability and retain the performance and safety expected in a modern vehicle. The competition will run for three years and, inspired by the all the inventors that have worked out of garages over the years, the official site for the competition has been name the Green Garage . Gallery: Washington 2009: Saturn Vue PHEV project [Source: General Motors ] Continue reading General Motors launches ChallengeX followup: EcoCar, the NeXt Challenge General Motors launches ChallengeX followup: EcoCar, the NeXt Challenge originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:33:00 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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General Motors launches ChallengeX followup: EcoCar, the NeXt Challenge

Video: Interview with Cyril Lacroix about the Heuliez Friendly

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:49:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Europe/EU Introduced last fall during the Paris Motor Show, the Heuliez Friendly is a French electric car with promising and realistic intentions. Heuliez is known for making short series of cars (such as the Opel Tigra TwinTop ) and the retractable tops of Peugeots, so it’s not a total newcomer to the auto market. Le Blog Auto interviewed Cyril Lacroix, chief developer at Heuliez, and got all the details on where the Friendly is today. We already knew that it’s going to use nickel metal hydride batteries and that three different motors will be offered (offering 7, 18 or 25 kW). The battery pack will offer an expected range of 100 km (60 miles) but two additional packages will be offered as options, so autonomy can be extended to 250 km (160 miles). It’s also interesting to know that the Friendly is not an NEV, as it can reach highway speeds of 120 km/h (75mph). It can seat 3+1 like the Toyota iQ and Heuliez will offer three body styles and probably a van version. The best part, however, was getting confirmation that the car will go on sale April next year, with prices starting at €10,000. It shouldn’t cost a fortune to maintain, although batteries are expected to last just four years or about 2,000 charge/recharge cycles. Watch the complete video in French after the jump. [Source: Le Blog Auto] Continue reading Video: Interview with Cyril Lacroix about the Heuliez Friendly Video: Interview with Cyril Lacroix about the Heuliez Friendly originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:49:00 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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Video: Interview with Cyril Lacroix about the Heuliez Friendly

Mission One EV sport bike explodes out of stealth at 150 MPH!

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , On Two Wheels , USA Click above for high-res image gallery of the Mission One EV sport bike Mission Motors has just revealed its all-electric sport bike and the family-friendly version of our initial reaction goes something like, “Holy Mother of God and all that is good and decent!”, followed immediately by the sound of our jaws hitting the floor. After a couple of years of staying almost perfectly in stealth mode, the Mission One is being unveiled today at the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference. The Yves Béhar -designed bike sets a new performance standard for electric two-wheelers with a top speed of 150 mph and an estimated range of 150 miles. Of course, the strength of an electric drivetrain is torque and the Mission One has 100 lb-ft of the stuff on offer from the first twist of the throttle up until 60 mph. When it makes its race debut at the TTXGP on June 12th, we suspect the other entries will be scrappin’ it out for second place. To bring this amazing machine to market, Forrest North and his two co-founders, Edward West and Mason Cabot, have assembled a real dream team with incredible depth and experience and whose resumés list companies like Tesla Motors , Ducati and Google. The first 50 bikes produced will be a special Limited Edition model delivered in 2010 bearing a $68,995 price tag, while a standard, more affordable Mission One will be announced this summer. If the goal of this company was to create a paradigm-busting object of desire, then we say, “Mission accomplished.” Mouth watering specs below and official press release after the break. Gallery: Mission One EV sport bike [Source: Mission Motors ] Continue reading Mission One EV sport bike explodes out of stealth at 150 MPH! Mission One EV sport bike explodes out of stealth at 150 MPH! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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Mission One EV sport bike explodes out of stealth at 150 MPH!