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Auto task force to visit GM, Chrysler today to check out their vision

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:09:00 +0000

Now that President Obama had appointed the task force that will study the future of the auto industry in this country, its time for them to get to work. The team spent last week looking over the latest viability plans from General Motors and Chrysler. Today, Steven Rattner and Ron Bloom, advisers to the task force will come to Michigan where they will sit down with officials at both GM and Chrysler to discuss the plans and learn more about both company’s future product directions. While they are at GM, they will also get a close up look at the Chevy Volt and its powertrain technology. Presumably, Chrysler will also be sharing what it has under the hoods and floors of its EVs and ER-EVs. Both companies will need further cash infusions in the next few weeks in order to keep paying the bills. [Source: Detroit Free Press] Auto Blog: Chrysler , GM Auto task force to visit GM, Chrysler today to check out their vision originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:09:00 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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Auto task force to visit GM, Chrysler today to check out their vision

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid coming to America first quarter 2010

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:56:00 +0000

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 Hybrid Good news for eccentric scooter lovers who live in the States: Piaggio’s MP3 Hybrid is coming to America in the first quarter of 2010. This revelation came out while Piaggio Group USA President and CEO Paolo Timoni was sharing television time with our friend Wes from Hell For Leather on Fox Car Report Live . According to Timoni, the hybrid three-wheeler will be priced around $9,000. Other details that we previously didn’t know is that the hybrid scooter will be able to travel up to 40 miles on electricity alone. Riders can switch the scooter into electric-only mode if they want to use zero gas and there will also be three separate hybrid modes to choose from, including a performance mode that can “boost performance” by an impressive 85 percent. The result of all of this hybrid wizardry? Up to 140 miles per gallon, depending on riding conditions and distance traveled. Gallery: Piaggio MP3 hybrid scooter [Source: Hell For Leather ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , On Two Wheels , Green Daily , USA Piaggio MP3 Hybrid coming to America first quarter 2010 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 08 Mar 2009 08:56:00 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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Piaggio MP3 Hybrid coming to America first quarter 2010

Project Get Ready gets ready to get plug-in cars going

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:28:00 +0000

Want to help the country meet or beat President Obama’s goal of 1 million plug-in cars by 2015? Perhaps, by working with like-minded folks at the community level to knock down barriers and help set up infrastructure, you can. Project Get Ready is a non-profit initiative that has emerged from the Rocky Mountain Institute’s (RMI) Smart Garage Summit to help accomplish just that. They’ve already signed up three cities and are looking for more. To help guide interested individuals, their freshly launched website not only offers a menu of strategic actions that should be taken to speed plug-in adoption but also a database of readiness activities presently underway. Although brand new, there is already a wealth of information that could keep one reading (and thinking) for many hours. But don’t just think about it, get involved and help make a greener tomorrow a reality. Press release after the break. [Source: Project Get Ready ] Continue reading Project Get Ready gets ready to get plug-in cars going Auto Blog: Etc. , EV/Plug-in , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA Project Get Ready gets ready to get plug-in cars going originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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Project Get Ready gets ready to get plug-in cars going

New lithium battery from Axeon nearly doubles Modec range

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:45:00 +0000

How do you make your stock price jump by two-thirds in today’s economic atmosphere? If you are Axeon , Europe’s largest independent supplier of lithium ion battery packs, you announce your new battery nearly doubles the range of your customer’s trucks. After completing a Department of Transport-funded two year program, the Dundee, Scotland-based company says the new power supply it developed allowed a 3.5 ton delivery vehicle to almost double its range, from 123 km (76 miles) to 241 km (150 miles). The vehicle in question should be look familiar to our faithful readers as the purpose-built electric truck by Modec has made many appearances on ABG . The company’s result contrasts with those obtained by an independent test which indicated a 25 per cent improvement over an urban delivery cycle on a single charge. Axeon not only supplies Allied Vehicles and powered that electric Ruf Porsche , but apparently is also working with Daimler to put its lithium in the smart ed . Modec is so pleased with the results it plans to offer the new pack by the second half of the year. If it works that well, then we’re pleased too. Full press release after the break. [Source: The Scotsman / Axeon ] &amp;lt;a href=”http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/jump/thescotsman.scotsman.jp/business;channel=editorial;pos=mpu;sectionid=6982;sz=300×250;mtfIFPath=/template/expandables/;ord=123456789?” target=”_blank”&amp;gt; &amp;lt;img src=”http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/ad/thescotsman.scotsman.jp/business;channel=editorial;pos=mpu;sectionid=6982;sz=300×250;mtfIFPath=/template/expandables/;ord=123456789?” width=”300px” height=”250px” border=”0″ alt=”Click Here” title=”Click Here” /&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; Continue reading New lithium battery from Axeon nearly doubles Modec range Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , UK New lithium battery from Axeon nearly doubles Modec range originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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New lithium battery from Axeon nearly doubles Modec range

FTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:02:00 +0000

In a move that has made hydrogen injection enthusiasts more enthused and left most critics still critical, NJ Federal Judge Michael Shipp has ruled that the FTC failed to make its case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC., the United Community Services of America Inc and Dennis Lee. The FTC had disputed claims that a product distributed by the defendants, the Hydrogen Assist Fuel Cell (HAFC) kit, could actually cause a substantial increase in gas mileage. The HAFC kit, which is comprised of a “computerized emission system optimizer,” an electrolysis unit for on-board hydrogen injection, a vaporizer/ionizer using magnets and additives that include acetone and xylene, is said by its boosters to at least double a vehicle’s mileage. The decision seems to have come after it was revealed that the witness for the FTC, a physicist by the name of Dr. Halperin, had not bought and tested the HAFC and did not even posses a Ph.D in engine technology. For its part, the defense had a witness who “specializes in internal combustion engines” and were able to successfully employ arguments like, “Do you think the President of the United States and his advisors don’t know what they’re talking about when they call for an increase in the mileage of the nation’s vehicles, expecting at least a 10 mpg improvement?” While the seeming ” Chewbacca defense ” worked for the hydrogen injection evangelist Dennis Lee this time, the FTC may still appeal the ruling. We’ve put in a call to the FTC for comment, but have not yet heard back. Thanks to Tim for the tip. [Source: Pure Energy Systems ] FTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green

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FTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC

Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:09:00 +0000

Click above and scroll down to watch the video I heard a phrase on the radio yesterday that described the unappetizing way the stimulus bill was crafted in Congress this past week: emergency sausage. However it was crafted, the deed is now done. The overall impact of the bill is being covered by everyone everywhere, so we’ll focus on the green transportation items that were included in the final bill, which is on its way to the President’s desk. The big winners were trains and plug-in cars. As the Environmental Law & Policy Center and CNN note, high-speed and inner-city rail made out like bandits. The first version of the stimulus bill, written in the House, set aside $300 million for these trains. This ballooned to $8 billion – along with $6.9 billion for public transportation and $1.3 billion for Amtrak – by the time it was done. Plug-in vehicles – as well as hybrids and fuel cell EVs – get a $2 billion investment for advanced battery technologies. The number of vehicles that are eligible for the plug-in electric drive vehicle credit jump up to 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer. The EDTA is happy with that, but is disappointed that the PHEV credit is capped at $7,500 and doesn’t apply to big vehicles (those that weigh over 14,000 lbs). An upgraded smart grid is helped out by $4.5 billion for development and deployment. Traditional cars don’t lose out, either. People who buy a new car in 2009 and who earn less than $125,000 individually or $250,000 jointly can deduct the sales tax. What does it all mean? Well, that’s something which won’t be clear for a while. CalCars , though, is optimistic: “Taken in combination with other external factors, this could be the beginning of the breakthrough we’ve been hoping for,” they write. You can watch a video of the President discussing the stimulus package after the jump. Thanks to Peter G. for sending some of this in. [Source: CNN , EDTA , Environmental Law & Policy Center , CalCars ] Continue reading Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:09:00 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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Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid

Responses to Obama’s move, and looking at the potential of a $10,000 PHEV tax credit

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:01:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA There were good and bad receptions to President Obama’s move earlier this week to push the EPA to rethink the California waiver decision (details here ). GM released a very short statement that said they were “ready to engage the Obama administration and the Congress” on this topic (Car Blog Greenthe whole thing after the jump). The Progressive Auto X Prize praised Obama’s opening the door to California setting its own standards greenhouse-gas emissions. So, with that little chapter all wrapped up (ha!), we move on to what comes next. The Senate is thinking about doubling down on number of plug-in hybrid credits , one think we didn’t mention (I don’t think) is the possibility that the President’s stimulus proposal will increase the current $7,500 PHEV tax credit to $10,000 . Sounds like something GM would be “ready to engage” with, no? [Source: U.S News & World Report , GM, Auto X Prize ] Continue reading Responses to Obama’s move, and looking at the potential of a $10,000 PHEV tax credit Responses to Obama’s move, and looking at the potential of a $10,000 PHEV tax credit originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:01:00 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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Aptera’s pre-production 2e rolls out of the factory

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Aptera Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2e We asked Aptera earlier this week about whether or not they met their self-imposed deadline to have the first production 2e vehicle (formerly known as the Typ-1) out the door by January 16th. To refresh your memory, Aptera committed to delivering “the first production [2e]‘ by that date. We were told we’d get an update soon. Here it is. According to Aptera, the first 2e vehicle did indeed leave the Vista, California factory this week. The press release (pasted after the jump), though, says that this vehicle is a pre-production model that “is equipped with a lithium-based battery and features a number of vehicle enhancements such as front wheel drive, aerodynamic side-mounted mirrors and wider door openings that make getting in and out of the vehicle much easier than with previous designs.” So, the deadline was met, sort of. Aptera President and CEO Paul Wilbur said that “final refinements” are still coming before the actual first deliveries take place in October . Oh, and the price for one of these production models? Somewhere “between $25,000 and $45,000.” Gallery: Aptera 2e [Source: Aptera] Continue reading Aptera’s pre-production 2e rolls out of the factory Aptera’s pre-production 2e rolls out of the factory originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green

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Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 10:38:00 +0000

Auto Blog: Etc. , Legislation and Policy , USA Photo by Bien Stephenson . Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0. Yesterday, we wrote about two “cash for clunkers” ideas being discussed by U.S. and German lawmakers. Over on Gristmill , the president and CEO of the Auto Alliance, Dave McCurdy, has detailed a separate plan that would pay people to get rid of their old cars and buy new ones, new cars that are more efficient and cleaner than older cars. While McCurdy uses at least one slipperly line of thought (where he says that, “In the industry, we often say that the best thing you can due to reduce emissions is to purchase a new car. Why? Because today’s vehicles are 99 percent cleaner than vehicles of the 1970s.” That may be true, but there a not a lot of people driving around in a 1975 Chevy Impala just waiting to trade up), we do understand that, on average, new models are cleaner than older ones. Therefore, the Allliance’s suggestion that vehicles that are ten years old or older would be worth something to the government to take off the road has merit. Especially when coupled with a sliding scale incentive payment that says that the better fuel economy rating your new car has, the more money you receive. Thanks to Bryan P. for the tip! [Source: Gristmill /Auto Alliance] Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 11:38:00 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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Auto Alliance CEO has another cash for clunkers idea

Toyota to sell batteries to other automakers

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:19:00 +0000

Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Toyota Click above for a gallery of the Toyota FT-EV concept Part of Tesla Motors’ ongoing business plan involves selling complete lithium ion battery packs to other auto manufacturers. The most recent example of this strategy was just announced at the Detroit Auto Show , with Tesla supplying packs to Daimler for its smart ed . Daimler, for its part, also wants to sell battery packs to its competitors. Joining these two manufacturers may soon be Toyota, as Executive Vice President Masatami Takimoto has said in an interview that the Japanese giant would like to produce packs for its rivals. Since Toyota has such a large investment into batteries for its current and future range of hybrids, plug-ins and fully electric vehicles, it only makes sense to capotalize on all forms of incoming profit. Toyota owns 60 percent of a joint venture with Panasonic to produce lithium ion batteries specifically for use in electric vehicles, and the JV already sells nickel metal hydride packs to some automakers. Gallery: 2009 Toyota FT-EV Concept [Source: Bloomberg ] Toyota to sell batteries to other automakers originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:19:00 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 to sell batteries to other automakers