Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi plans to debut plug-in hybrid concept
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Concept-cX Back in 2007, Mitsubishi showed off a new vehicle called the Concept cX at the Frankfurt Motor Show . At the time, the small crossover was powered by Mitsu’s latest clean diesel technology. A small 1.8-liter diesel engine featuring a variable geometry turbocharger was mated to a dual clutch SST transmission and the all-wheel-drive system lifted from the latest Lancer Evolution. Sounds pretty cool, right? Perhaps the Japanese automaker has something even better up its sleeve. According to Autocar , Mitsubishi will introduce a new concept vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show in October that will be based on the Concept cX design but feature plug-in hybrid technology. Called the Concept zC, the new PHEV will reportedly have styling inspired by the firm’s Racing Lancer with a hatchback bodystyle and raised ground clearance and will use the GS platform from the Lancer and Outlander. Should this new concept make it to production, it’ll take at least three years to get here. [Source: Autocar ] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Mitsubishi , Tokyo Motor Show Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi plans to debut plug-in hybrid concept originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
Continued here:
Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi plans to debut plug-in hybrid concept
Posted in Auto Green | 
entry, from-the-latest, japanese, Mitsubishi, mitsubishi concept-cx, mitsubishiphev, racing, racing-lancer, time, tokyo, tokyo2009 | 
Leave a comment2010 Toyota Prius: the steering wheel wants your Touch (Tracer Display)
There is one aspect of the 2010 Prius that we didn’t highlight in our info overload post from yesterday: the Touch Tracer Display. Most of the time, there is nothing in front of the speedometer; we want a clear view of how fast we’re going, right? But, there are also a lot of buttons on the steering wheel and constantly shifting our view from the road to the volume or temperature control isn’t exactly a good way to drive. To combat furtive downward glances, Toyota has come up with the TTD, which causes little orange lights appear on an overlay screen that looks like it’s hovering above the speedometer when you put your finger on the circular buttons on the steering wheel . It’s neat and kind of surprising the first time it happens. Once you learn to expect it, it’s a great visual cue to go along with the wheel-mounted controls. Toyota says this is the “the first display system in the world to allow steering wheel controls to Car Blog Greenout on the instrument panel.” We doubt it’ll be the last. Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius [Source: Toyota] Auto Blog: Emerging Technologies , Hybrid , Toyota 2010 Toyota Prius: the steering wheel wants your Touch (Tracer Display) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
Here is the original post:
2010 Toyota Prius: the steering wheel wants your Touch (Tracer Display)
Posted in Auto Green | a-clear-view, about-the-auto, after-the-jump, daily, ghg, h2gen, hydrogen, time, toyota-prius | Leave a commentEric Bana offsets carbon emissions of new film, "Love the Beast"
Regardless of your view on global climate change, you must admit that the issue of carbon emissions has become a hot topic over these last few years, and automobiles have taken the brunt of the criticism. Celebrities often seem to be leading the low-emissions charge, or they at least like to appear that way by driving fuel sippers like the Toyota Prius or sometimes the fully electric Tesla Roadster . Not this time. Eric Bana, star of box office productions like Hulk and Troy , is apparently quite the gearhead, and he’s also concerned enough with the environment to offset all the carbon emissions of his upcoming new flick, Love The Beast . The title character of the new movie is an Australian Ford Falcon coupe from 1973 – hardly a bastion of clean motoring – that was modified to take part in the Targa Tasmanian Rally. Bana’s production company hired a team of specialists to calculate the carbon emissions spent by the crew in the making of the film, and the appropriate number of trees will be planted to equal it all out. [Source: Reuters ] Auto Blog: Green Culture , Ford , Carbon Offset , Green Daily , Pacific Region , Racing Eric Bana offsets carbon emissions of new film, “Love the Beast” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
View post:
Eric Bana offsets carbon emissions of new film, "Love the Beast"
Posted in Auto Green | a-hot-topic, beast, carbon, carbon-offset, entry, environment, eric bana, eric bana love the beast, ericbana, tesla roadster, time | Leave a commentVIDEO: New charging post juices old electric GMC van
Click above and scroll down to watch the video While perhaps not as spectacular as San Francisco getting a fancy Smartlet charging station in front of City Hall , the addition of two charging posts at Truckee Meadows Community College in Northern Nevada are a welcome addition to the nations slowly-growing charging infrastructure. The posts, which use a traditional parking meter interface and ask for only 10 cents an hour, are getting put to good use, as we learned from a bit of video by the local NBC affiliate, KRNV. As interesting as the posts were, the station found one of the vehicles regularly using them was just as interesting: a 1991 GMC Van. Around the time GM was refining the Impact prototype that would go on to become the EV1 , some GMC vans were built with an electric drivetrain for the Department of Defense, according to the vehicle’s owner (Southern California Edison got some too). Able to go 70 miles on a charge, the vehicle requires little maintenance and its driver seems very happy with his old EV ride. If you are thinking that you’d like a van like this yourself, you may be in luck. A nice looking 1989 copy is listed on the EV Album by someone who says, “I’m considering selling this, contact me with offer.” If that doesn’t pan out and you’re good with a wrench, there’s another in need of extreme TLC on eBay for the next few days. Video after the jump. [Source: YouTube / eBay / EV Album ] Continue reading VIDEO: New charging post juices old electric GMC van Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , GMC , Green Daily , USA VIDEO: New charging post juices old electric GMC van originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
See original here:
VIDEO: New charging post juices old electric GMC van
Posted in Auto Green | charging, chargingstation, daily, department, diesel, electricgmcvan, local, nitrogen-oxides, the-average, time, united, vehicle, video | Leave a commentFTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC
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
See original here:
FTC loses case against Dutchman Enterprises LLC
Chicago 2009: Hyundai CEO says Green is Good, Greed is Bad
Hyundai Motor America CEO and President John Krafcik gave the keynote speech at the Midwest Automotive Media Association’s kickoff breakfast yesterday morning at the Chicago Auto Show . He called his talk “Preparing for a Revolution,” and made a few admissions worth noting. Krafcik declared the “greed is good” era no longer welcome. The excesses that defined the time between the ’80s and 2008ish, “may finally be at a close. The current global economic crisis has paved the way for significant change,” he said. Then there was this: For the most part, our industry has a history of opposing environmental and safety legislation – sometimes with the force of science and good sense behind us, such as the early California EV mandate, but other times with a much weaker platform of defense. Many Americans believe that our fighting these issues is done strictly for own best interests, which run contrary to those of our country’s, and our society’s. As a result, we are painted with a broad brush as bad guys who care little about our own customers and the world we live in. Krafcik believes that the auto industry has earned its “horrible” reputation but they can still turn things around. How will this happen? By owning up to past mistakes and making great, safe vehicles and being more disciplined financially. The other potential savior? Fuel efficiency. Here’s the pertinent quote: Another revolutionary step we can take is to embrace improved fuel economy as an indisputable social good. There’s really no point in arguing about the veracity of climate change when you stop to consider the finite supply of oil, and the turmoil that our present consumption habit is fueling in the Middle East. It’s abundantly clear that improved fuel economy makes sense for our industry and for our country. As an industry, we need to take a longer term view of our environmental strategies. That means stepping up and getting ahead of the regulators where that makes sense. We think that time is now. You can Car Blog Greenthe prepared text of Krafcik’s speech after the jump. [Source: Hyundai] Continue reading Chicago 2009: Hyundai CEO says Green is Good, Greed is Bad Auto Blog: Etc. , Hyundai , Chicago Auto Show Chicago 2009: Hyundai CEO says Green is Good, Greed is Bad originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
Car Blog Greenmore from the original source:
Chicago 2009: Hyundai CEO says Green is Good, Greed is Bad
Peapod now out on its own. Will it find love?
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Chrysler , GEM , NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) , USA Click above for a high res gallery of the Peapod Remember back in September when we told you that Chrysler’s GEM division was going to change up its name (but keep the acronym) and be called GreenEcoMobility as it moved forward with the addition of the Peapod to its lineup. Well, scratch all that. Sometime between now and then there was a script rewrite. The new plan keeps GEM the same and creates a new wholly-owned-by- Chrysler company that will market the Peapod and its upcoming offspring under the name Peapod Mobility. We know they’re serious this time because they sprung for a shiny new website . So now that the smiley-faced neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) is out on its own in the big world, will it find the love it needs to survive or will it shuffle off this mortal coil before having the chance to fulfill its aspirations. It has dreams of proliferating and adding a two seater , called the Twinpod, as well as a mini-pickup and van to the range in a little over a year. One day, it even wants its own “real cars.” To make that happen, it’s going to have to find a place in the heart of those in need of a cute (or evil, depending on your point of view) iPod-centered car that can only travel 30 miles, tops out at 25 mph and costs $12,500. The sales period between the official Earth Day launch and the Labor Day delivery target will be telling. Gallery: GEMs Peapod [Source: ADWEEK ] Peapod now out on its own. Will it find love? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
The rest is here:
Peapod now out on its own. Will it find love?
Posted in Auto Green | a-friend-via, a-high-res, a-little-over, a-two-seater, chrysler, gem, labor, nev, peapod, survive-or-will, time, twinpod, under-the-name, will-it-find | Leave a commentAxion Power gets $800,000 grant for lead carbon electric vehicle batteries
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid Most of the attention in the world of batteries these days focuses on the wide spectrum of lithium ion chemistries. However, in the research labs there are still plenty of scientists, engineers and chemists trying to wring more performance out of our old friend the lead acid battery. Axion Power International is one of those companies. They hope to create advanced lead acid batteries with improved performance at a much lower cost than lithium equivalents. The state of Pennsylvannia has given Axion Power $800,000 to fund testing and demonstration of its lead carbon batteries. Axion claims its batteries, which have negative electrodes containing activated carbon, provide deeper cycling capability, longer life and faster charging. The lead carbon batteries should also be lighter. Axion claims its batteries are suitable for use in hybrids, PHEV and BEV conversions. [Source: Axion Power International] Continue reading Axion Power gets $800,000 grant for lead carbon electric vehicle batteries Axion Power gets $800,000 grant for lead carbon electric vehicle batteries originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
Original post:
Axion Power gets $800,000 grant for lead carbon electric vehicle batteries
Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | a-friend-via, a-has-given, a-two-seater, chrysler, friend-the-lead, gem, Hybrids, peapod, power, survive-or-will, time, twinpod | Leave a commentU.S. ethanol production down by 21 percent
Auto Blog: Ethanol Bad news for ethanol lovers. One of the most important ethanol producers in the U.S., ADM, has announced that U.S. production of ethanol was down by 21 percent, from some 12.9 million gallons in mid-late 2008 to 10.2 million right now. The market was up when oil prices were high, plants were built (or planned for) about everywhere and ethanol producers received big subsidies. Then came the lower price of oil, a higher price for corn and the credit crunch – all obvious reasons why producers now face problems with continued expansion. Despite this bad news, ADM also announced that they were set on finishing their new ethanol distilleries, unlike VeraSun . If the country’s ethanol producing capacity continues to fall short, it could mean getting more imported ethanol from countries such as Brazil or as a revision of America’s ethanol mandate. [Source: CNN ] U.S. ethanol production down by 21 percent originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
Original post:
U.S. ethanol production down by 21 percent
Honda starts taking orders for new Insight in Japan
Auto Blog: Hybrid , Honda Click above for high-res gallery of the 2010 Honda Insight The new 2009 Honda Insight is going on sale in Japan this week, starting at a base price of about $21,000. In Japan the rival Toyota Prius starts at about $25,700, so the Honda has a significant price advantage. Honda won’t be announcing U.S. pricing until closer to its April 22 on-sale date but it is expected to start under $20,000 here, perhaps as low as $19,000. Because of volatility in commodity pricing right now, Honda is waiting to set a price. The sales target for the Insight is 200,000 annually with half of those in North America and the rest split between Europe and Japan. Honda EVP Koichi Kondo acknowledged at the Japanese launch that the 100,000 sales figure in North America may not be met in the first year if the current sales slump doesn’t end soon. Related: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight, 63.4 mpg! Gallery: ABG First Drive: 2010 Honda Insight Gallery: 2010 Honda Insight [Source: Detroit News ] Live photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Honda starts taking orders for new Insight in Japan originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
Here is the original post:
Honda starts taking orders for new Insight in Japan
Posted in Auto Green | europe, first-drive, honda, honda insight hybrid, honda-insight, hondainsight, japan, japanese, north, time | Leave a commentGet Approved!
Recent Comments