Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Journo experiences Volt's electric-to-hybrid transition, says it needs improvement]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/journo-experiences-volts-electric-to-hybrid-transition-needs-i/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/journo-experiences-volts-electric-to-hybrid-transition-needs-i/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/journo-experiences-volts-electric-to-hybrid-transition-needs-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Chevrolet Volt pre-production IVER prototype - click above for high-res image gallery

We long ago had a chance to drive the Chevy Volt mule in all-electric mode, and more recently took a ride in the IVER (integration vehicle engineering release) version. We found the Volt's performance was rather impressive for a vehicle still under development. It was clear at that time that there was still room for improvement, though, and the question of how it would perform after the gas-powered generator kicked in remained unanswered since GM was not allowing anyone from outside the company to experience it. Would there be a sudden jolt of power during the transition or would it perhaps produce a howl reminiscent of the flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz? Now it seems those questions are being addressed as GM has just started to allow media to drive the IVER and experience that change.

So how was it? According to Lindsay Brooke over at the New York Times, the initial moments, as the engine comes to life, are "inaudible and seamless." Very nice. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter the sound suddenly surged as the car became cognizant that its battery was lower than desired and attempted to quickly return to its preferred level by revving itself up. Clearly, there is still some refining to be done. The overall impression was extremely positive though, the regenerative braking in particular garnering some amount of praise. We look forward to soon gripping the wheel for ourselves and giving you our in-depth reaction. Thanks to wincros for the tip!


Gallery: Quck Ride: Pre-production Chevy Volt


[Source: New York Times]

Journo experiences Volt's electric-to-hybrid transition, says it needs improvement originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>charge-sustaining modeCharge-sustainingModeChevy Voltchevy volt iver prototypeChevyVoltChevyVoltIverPrototypetest driveTestDriveVoltVolt IVERVoltIverFri, 20 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Elk Horn, Iowa installs first electric car charging stations in new "Pony Express" lane]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/elk-horn-iowa-installs-first-electric-car-charging-stations-in/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/elk-horn-iowa-installs-first-electric-car-charging-stations-in/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/elk-horn-iowa-installs-first-electric-car-charging-stations-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Elk Horn, Iowa's website says it is located, "In the heart of Southwest Iowa's picturesque countryside." Google Maps shows just how remote the town is, so it is clear that to make this place a forward-thinking electric vehicle destination takes a bit of chutzpah. While most EV advocates and manufacturers see electric cars as urban runabouts for the near future, Elk Horn businessman Mike Howard thinks that it makes sense to build eight EV charging stations in town. Four - one is solar, the others are connected to the grid - are already installed and four more are coming soon. Howard told the AP that the stations are like some famous horse exchange locations from Western U.S. history, "This is a modern-day Pony Express," he said. Expanding out from Elk Horn, Howard wants to build more of the $6,000 stations along Highway 80 - all the way from Chicago to Denver. That's what we call ambition.

Currently, there are 96 EVs registered in Iowa, out of over 4 million total. At the very least, the one EV registered in Elk Horn - a converted Chevy S-10 - will never need to wait for an open outlet.

[Source: AP via Autopia]

Elk Horn, Iowa installs first electric car charging stations in new "Pony Express" lane originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>iowaiowa electric carsIowaElectricCarsmike howardMikeHowardFri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon"]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/report-tesla-motors-planning-ipo/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/report-tesla-motors-planning-ipo/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/report-tesla-motors-planning-ipo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumors about Tesla's plan to go public have been circulating since 2008, but a down stock market seemed to put a damper on the start-up's IPO. Now, the word on the street from Reuters is that Tesla is planning to go public "soon." When might that be, exactly? Who knows. A source told Reuters it could happen "any day," but Stephan Dolezalek, managing director of VantagePoint Venture Partners and a Tesla investor, said in September that it's unlikely to happen in 2009.

For its part, Tesla continues to offer little guidance on the report other than to dismiss it as "rumor or speculation." We shall see...



[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingipoteslatesla ipotesla motorstesla motors ipoTeslaIpoTeslaMotorsTeslaMotorsIpoFri, 20 Nov 2009 15:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Aptera Update: Backstory uglier than we knew?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/aptera-update-backstory-uglier-than-we-knew/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/aptera-update-backstory-uglier-than-we-knew/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/aptera-update-backstory-uglier-than-we-knew/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Aptera 2e final design rendering - Click above to enlarge

Electric automaker Aptera has had a very tough week, starting with news of a boardroom showdown last weekend over money troubles - which were then walked back a bit. During the week, we've been hearing that the problems run deeper than we expected, and Karen Pease from Gas 2.0 believes she has put more pieces of the tale together.

First, it's important to know about Laura Marion, who is CFO at Aptera, but she also worked at Delphi, where she was cited by the SEC (PDF) for massive accounting fraud and ended up paying a $40,000 fine. Marion came to Aptera with Paul Wilbur, now Aptera's CEO, who had previously worked at ASC and Saleen (pretty much as those companies were going bankrupt). Wilbur was behind the firings last week, and the Gas 2.0 writeup (a must read) cites an anonymous employee who was liveblogging the recent firings saying that, "Paul Wilbur has just sacrificed the company to line his own pockets. Crap, I'm crying. [...] Seems to think suspending operations til govt$$ come in will make him a rich man. So sad for [Aptera founder] Steve Fambro, he's a great guy being ruined."

We asked Wilbur for a statement, and he sent AutoblogGreen a replying saying:

We have assembled a world-class team that has the full support of our board. We and our board are confident that we have the people and resources needed to bring the most innovative electric vehicle to market as soon as possible.

This story is not over, not by a long shot.

Gallery: Aptera 2e final design renderings


[Source: Gas 2.0]

Aptera Update: Backstory uglier than we knew? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apteraaptera 2eaptera motorsAptera2eApteraMotorsbreakingfambrolaura marionLauraMarionpaul wilburPaulWilburstebe fambroStebeFambrosteve fambroSteveFambroFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[GoGo Electric thinks short-term EV renting can change minds]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/gogo-electric-thinks-short-term-ev-renting-can-change-minds/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/gogo-electric-thinks-short-term-ev-renting-can-change-minds/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/gogo-electric-thinks-short-term-ev-renting-can-change-minds/#commentsFiled under: ,

With some free recharging and free parking available around town, there's more reason than ever to drive an electric car in London (that is, if the public transportation system doesn't work for you). To prove that EVs can work in the city, GoGo Electric is offering short-term rentals of the MegaCity electric cars. One difference between this rental scheme and others, like Zipcar, is that there are no membership fees. But we can't tell if this is a good deal or not. GoGo doesn't tell us what the rental fees are, just that the cost "will be determined according to the price list applicable at the time of rental."

GoGo Electric founder Natalie Franklin, pictured, said in a statement that a lot of customers are renting the car just to see if plug-in technology works for them. It seems like response has been positive, but the main complaint from customers is that they want more public charging stations throughout London.

[Source: GoGo Electric Car Rentals]

Continue reading GoGo Electric thinks short-term EV renting can change minds

GoGo Electric thinks short-term EV renting can change minds originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car rentalsCarRentalsgogogogo electric car rentalsGogoElectricCarRentalsnatalie franklinNatalieFranklinFri, 20 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota starts discussions on who will get PHEV Priuses]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/toyota-starts-discussions-on-who-will-get-phev-priuses/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/toyota-starts-discussions-on-who-will-get-phev-priuses/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/toyota-starts-discussions-on-who-will-get-phev-priuses/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Concept -- Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota is getting ready to start deploying a fleet of 200 plug-in Prius hybrids in the coming months and the company needs to figure out what to do with them. The cars will all be leased for purposes of field testing. Toyota is now in discussions with federal and local governments and energy companies about who will get how many of the lithium ion battery Priuses. The company is looking for towns and cities that are, "actively promoting environmentally considerate vehicles."

The PHEV Prius will be able to go up to 62 mph on electricity alone for about 5 miles. Another 150 examples of the PHEV will be leased here in the U.S., with a similar number going to Europe. The first cars will be delivered in mid-December and Toyota has previously announced plans to start retail sales in about 2012.


[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota starts discussions on who will get PHEV Priuses

Toyota starts discussions on who will get PHEV Priuses originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>plug-inplug-in hybridplug-in hybridsplug-in priusplug-in-hybridplug-in-hybridsPlug-inHybridPlug-inHybridsPlug-inPriusplug-instoyotatoyota priustoyota prius plug inToyota Prius plug-inToyotaPriusToyotaPriusPlug-inToyotaPriusPlugInFri, 20 Nov 2009 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[RC Tesla Roadster arrives just in time for Christmas]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/rc-tesla-roadster-arrives-just-in-time-for-christmas/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/rc-tesla-roadster-arrives-just-in-time-for-christmas/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/rc-tesla-roadster-arrives-just-in-time-for-christmas/#commentsFiled under: , ,


How much would you pay for a battery-powered Tesla Roadster, one that you can steer from the comfort of your La-Z-Boy? For about three Andrew Jacksons, Trendtimes will ship you a 15-inch RC version of the electric hotness that drives "forwards, backwards, left, and right." The toy comes with battery pack, charger and wireless remotes. Excellent. Tesla spokesperson Rachel Konrad told AutoblogGreen that this is an officially licensed item, in that, "They asked for permission and we thought it was a great idea. It's going to be a hot holiday item for kids of all ages!"

If RC isn't your thing but you want a Tesla car for holiday gifts, try to track down the Tesla Hot Wheels or the ride-along kids version. At least this RC model has the same design as the original, unlike these.

[Source: Trendtimes via Chelsea Sexton]

RC Tesla Roadster arrives just in time for Christmas originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>rc roadsterrc teslaRcRoadsterRcTeslatesla RCtesla roadstertesla roadster rcTeslaRcTeslaRoadsterTeslaRoadsterRcFri, 20 Nov 2009 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[UK to spend £30 million on EV Charging points]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/uk-to-spend-30-million-on-ev-charging-poins/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/uk-to-spend-30-million-on-ev-charging-poins/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/uk-to-spend-30-million-on-ev-charging-poins/#commentsFiled under: , ,



British Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis has announced that the UK will spend £30 million to install plug-in vehicle charging stations. The charge points will be built in at least three and as many as six "electric car cities and regions" across the UK, the forerunners of a national EV recharging grid. The plan is called Plugged-In Places and is accompanied by creation of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). The OLEV is a new goverment office in charge of coordinating policy and funding for low-carbon projects throughout the country. Full press release after the jump.

[Source: Department of Transport]

Continue reading UK to spend £30 million on EV Charging points

UK to spend £30 million on EV Charging points originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>british charging gridBritishChargingGriddepartment of transportDepartmentOfTransportolevplugged-in placesPlugged-inPlacesuk charging griduk electric gridUkChargingGridUkElectricGridFri, 20 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[eBay find of the day: all electric 1975 Zele rides like an SUV, looks like a breadbox]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-all-electric-1975-zele-rides-like-an-suv/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-all-electric-1975-zele-rides-like-an-suv/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-all-electric-1975-zele-rides-like-an-suv/#commentsFiled under:



Need a electric car with a famous name and the looks to match? May we suggest the Zagato shown above? This strange little fridge on wheels isn't exactly what Zagato is known for (sexy sports cars), but it's also quite affordable. Wired found this boxy EV on eBay, where it's currently sitting at the $3,200 bid level (reserve not met).

The car is a 1975 Zele (known in the U.S. as the Elcar) and it's led a quiet life recently. The seller had it in his garage for eight years. The good news: even after all that sitting still, the Zele fired up as soon as the batteries were connected. The Zele is not the most impressive of vehicles - a 30 mph top speed and a range of 30 miles will do that - but it apparently "rides up high, almost like an SUV." So, that's, um, cool?

[Source: Wired]

eBay find of the day: all electric 1975 Zele rides like an SUV, looks like a breadbox originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>vintagezagatozagato electric carZagatoElectricCarFri, 20 Nov 2009 08:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Understanding electric and plug-in vehicles requires a slightly different knowledge set than what mechanics and drivers have needed to know for decades. One of the most obvious new concepts is the large battery pack and electric motor added to the car. The capacity values of these devices are be written using kW (kilowatt) and kWh (kilowatt hours), but don't think that a 90 kW motor is anything like a 90 kWh battery pack. That little h makes a big difference. Exactly what is the difference? Well, that's what we investigate in this week's Greenlings. Follow us after the jump to learn more.


[Sources: Idaho National Lab]
Photo by Vince Alongi. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh?

Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>greenlingskilowattkilowatt hourskilowatthourKilowattHourskwkwhThu, 19 Nov 2009 19:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan EV Club creams Tesla range record with Tokyo to Osaka run]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/japan-ev-club-creams-tesla-range-record-with-tokyo-to-osaka-run/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/japan-ev-club-creams-tesla-range-record-with-tokyo-to-osaka-run/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/japan-ev-club-creams-tesla-range-record-with-tokyo-to-osaka-run/#commentsFiled under: ,


Well that didn't last long. It's been less than a month since Simon Hackett set something of a electric vehicle distance record in his Tesla Roadster, driving 501 km (311 miles) across the hot and flat Australian outback with the windows up and the air-con off. Now comes news that the dedicated enthusiasts of the Japan EV Club have decidedly bested that mark and are seeking Guinness Book of Records status for their own 555.6 km (345 miles) run. Club founder Tadashi Tateuchi battled terrible traffic and hilly Japanese terrain as he drove a super-sweet electrified Daihatsu Mira Van from Tokyo to Osaka.

The secret to their success, we believe, lay in the quality of their conversion. Starting with an extremely light kei car, the team professionally installed a monster 74 kWh lithium ion battery pack from its Sanyo sponsor under the floor. The power supplied by the 240.5 volt system fed a 14 kW (nominal) brushless DC motor hooked up the the Mira's 5-speed gearbox. Topped off with a snazzy-looking wrap, the package rolled along on low-resistance Eco Walkers from Toyo Tires. The effort got its own (Japanese) website and the event was live-blogged over the 13 and-a-half hours that the trip lasted. We don't know how long the Japan EV Club can hold onto this record, but we imagine they are hoping advancements in energy storage force it to fall sooner rather than later. Thanks to Motoko for the tip!

[Source: Japan EV Club via Car Watch]
Photo: Courtesy of Japan EV Club

Japan EV Club creams Tesla range record with Tokyo to Osaka run originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BEV range recordBevRangeRecordelectric Daihatsu MiraElectric MirabanElectricDaihatsuMiraElectricMirabanJapan EV ClubJapanEvClubrange recordRangeRecordTadashi TateuchiTadashiTateuchiworld recordWorldRecordThu, 19 Nov 2009 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Mercedes-Benz to get €9M from German government for electric vans]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/mercedes-benz-to-get-9m-from-german-government-for-electric-van/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/mercedes-benz-to-get-9m-from-german-government-for-electric-van/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/mercedes-benz-to-get-9m-from-german-government-for-electric-van/#commentsFiled under: ,



The German environment ministry has awarded Mercedes-Benz a grant of up to €9 million a field test of battery electric Sprinter vans. The money will be used to fund the research and development of the vans as well as the construction and deployment. Mercedes will produce up to 50 plug-in Sprinters that have no internal combustion powertrain at all. The vans will use lithium ion batteries and, among other things, Mercedes will be studying the performance of the batteries under varying temperature conditions.

The vans will be going into service with fleet customers starting in 2010. Vans are proving to be a particularly popular application for electric drive since absolute range is less of an issue and the frequent stops allow the vehicles to make use of regenerative braking. Mercedes hopes to move this technology to affordable commercial production in the near future.

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz to get €9M from German government for electric vans

Mercedes-Benz to get €9M from German government for electric vans originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vanElectricVanLithium Ionlithium ion batteriesLithium-IonLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesMercedes Benzmercedes benz sprintermercedes benz sprinter evmercedes-benzMercedesBenzMercedesBenzSprinterMercedesBenzSprinterEvThu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ecos Motors Harbinger debuts in Vegas, now taking orders]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/ecos-motors-harbinger-debuts-in-vegas-now-taking-orders/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/ecos-motors-harbinger-debuts-in-vegas-now-taking-orders/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/ecos-motors-harbinger-debuts-in-vegas-now-taking-orders/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Electric Cars of Springfield (ECOS), taking full advantage of an invitation from duPont Registry, brought their recently constructed all-electric supercar to SEMA 2009. The bright orange Harbinger[TM] (photo above), with its Lamborghini-looks drew lots of attention with the likes of Diggity Dave stopping by for an extended chat. Its open scissor-door seemed to lure passing show professionals who used the two-seater as an impromptu posing podium (photo right).

Besides being a head-turner, the car also acted as a platform for a product from another Missouri company. EVInstruments had their customizable MiMod[TM]EV monitoring system with its touchscreen installed in the craft ready to provide potential drivers with GPS, stereo and wireless internet as well as real-time info on things like battery condition and power consumption.

Built on a German‐engineered aluminum frame and suspension system of undetermined origin, the Harbinger uses an 11" Netgain DC motor to get its bad self up to 60 mph in about 5 seconds before heading off to the electronically-imposed limit of 117 mph. Lurking beneath the composite body lies 30 kWh of lithium ion batteries said to be worth up to 150 miles of range. The social media-friendly (Facebook/Twitter) company hopes its beast will bewitch buyers into parting with $89,995 and is now accepting reservations for a limited production scheduled to start in February. ECOS got its start last year doing radical frame-off VW Beetle restoration conversions and sells electric-car components for the do-it-yourselfer. While all that might sound like enough to keep the young company busy, their website also has mention of another vehicle they hope to build next year. The ECOS Fun is a little Jeep-inspired affair that promises highway speeds and hundred-mile range for $24,995. Hit the jump for video of a little Harbinger-in-Vegas action.

[Source: ECOS Motors]

Continue reading Ecos Motors Harbinger debuts in Vegas, now taking orders

Ecos Motors Harbinger debuts in Vegas, now taking orders originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ECOSECOS FunECOS HarbingerECOS MotorsEcosFunEcosHarbingerEcosMotorsHarbingerSEMA 2009Sema2009Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom could arrive within a year]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/electric-rolls-royce-phantom-could-arrive-within-a-year/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/electric-rolls-royce-phantom-could-arrive-within-a-year/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/electric-rolls-royce-phantom-could-arrive-within-a-year/#commentsFiled under: ,

2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB - click above for high-res image gallery

Out of the UK, Autocar is reporting that an electric drive version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom could hit the streets within 12 months. We've been hearing about battery-powered Rollers for some time now, but the rumors seem to be heating up. BMW, Rolls' parent company, has been getting more heavily involved in electrification recently and the Phantom would be an obvious choice for the change. Rolls has always been known for making remarkably quiet automobiles, which is why they have names likes like Phantom, Ghost and Spirit.

Phantom owners also tend to be driven around and the cars are not often used for long road trips (that's what the jet is for). With that in mind, the more limited range of an electric drive system would be less of an issue. Given the size and mass of the Phantom, the bulk of the batteries would also be of less concern - as would the cost. In spite of that, Rolls-Royce may end up only leasing the initial batch of electric Phantoms in small numbers, just as BMW has done with the MINI E.

Gallery: 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom


[Source: Autocar]

Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom could arrive within a year originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric rollselectric rolls royceelectric rolls-royceElectricRollsElectricRolls-royceElectricRollsRoycerollsrolls royceRolls Royce PhantomRolls Royce Phantom Electricrolls-royceRolls-Royce PhantomRolls-roycePhantomRollsRoyceRollsRoycePhantomRollsRoycePhantomElectricThu, 19 Nov 2009 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Still Indiana? Think says decision on U.S. plant forthcoming]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/still-indiana-think-says-decision-on-u-s-plant-forthcoming/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/still-indiana-think-says-decision-on-u-s-plant-forthcoming/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/still-indiana-think-says-decision-on-u-s-plant-forthcoming/#commentsFiled under: ,


Th!nk City - Click above for high-res image gallery

Turns out that yesterday's report saying Think will build its all-electric City car in Indiana was premature. The company just tweeted that, "We're moving toward completing our US site selection -- but it will take another week or two to finalize the location. Stay tuned..." Of course, that tweet doesn't say that Indiana won't be the where the highway-speed EV will be built, but we're just slightly less certain than we were before reading it. Earth2Tech says that three states - Indiana, Michigan and Oregon - are still on Think's short list.

It still makes total sense for Think Global to build the plant in Indiana, home to Think investor and battery supplier Ener1. At the very least, we know that a U.S. plant is still happening, just not where.

Gallery: Th!nk City


[Source: Earth2Tech, Think]

Still Indiana? Think says decision on U.S. plant forthcoming originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>thinkthink electric carthink electric carsthink evthink evsThinkElectricCarThinkElectricCarsThinkEvThinkEvsThu, 19 Nov 2009 11:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Smart ED production kicks off at Hambach plant]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/smart-ed-production-kicks-off-at-hambach-plant/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/smart-ed-production-kicks-off-at-hambach-plant/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/smart-ed-production-kicks-off-at-hambach-plant/#commentsFiled under: ,

Smart ED production - click above for high-res image gallery

Earlier this week, Daimler launched production of the new generation Smart electric drive at the Hambach, France plant where all Smarts are built. The first stage of production will see the plant build a run of 1,000 of the battery-powered two seaters. The cars will be used in a variety of field test programs around the world beginning in the next few months.

Unlike the previous-generation electric Smart of which about 100 examples were built, the new model uses a lithium ion battery pack. The pack and charging system were developed and supplied by Tesla Motors. The Smart development program led Daimler to buy a nine percent stake in the California startup.

From 2012 onward, Smart is planning to produce an electric model as a part of the standard powertrain offerings for the ForTwo. The electric drive should finally resolve the biggest driveability issue of the Smart - the rough shifts of the automated manual transmission - and may make the ForTwo a far more viable option for drivers.

Gallery: Smart ED production


[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Smart ED production kicks off at Hambach plant

Smart ED production kicks off at Hambach plant originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>smart edsmart electric carsmart electric drivesmart electric vehiclesmart evsmart for twosmart fortwosmart fortwo edsmart fortwo evSmart FourTwoSmartEdSmartElectricCarSmartElectricDriveSmartElectricVehicleSmartEvSmartFortwoSmartFortwoEdSmartFortwoEvSmartFourtwoThu, 19 Nov 2009 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Government bailout does not mean EV mandates for GM, Chrysler]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/government-bailout-does-not-mean-ev-mandates-for-gm-chrysler/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/government-bailout-does-not-mean-ev-mandates-for-gm-chrysler/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/19/government-bailout-does-not-mean-ev-mandates-for-gm-chrysler/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dodge Circuit - Click above for high-res image gallery

GM and Chrysler may have gotten government help totaling almost $40 billion, but that money does not come with strings attached demanding that the two companies build electric or high-mpg cars. Government task force head Ron Bloom told Reuters that, "We obviously would be very happy if Chrysler and GM were making lots and lots of high mileage cars. It's not a prerequisite. It's not an obligation."

While the U.S. as a whole would benefit if the cars on the road were more efficient, the government's stance is understandably self-serving. The market for EVs isn't that big, and if the U.S. wants the loan money returned, they need GM and Chrysler to build vehicles they can sell. Another reason is that the government doesn't want to get involved in making specific business decisions, and is deferring to the management teams at both companies on these issues. Chrysler's team has decided to disband its ENVI group while GM keeps moving forward with the Volt program. One way the government can get cleaner cars to the market is to raise CAFE standards, which they did earlier this year.

[Source: Reuters]

Government bailout does not mean EV mandates for GM, Chrysler originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailoutchryslergmobamaThu, 19 Nov 2009 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: DIY Tesla Model S ad shows you don't need a real car to build hype]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/diy-tesla-model-s-ad-shows-you-dont-need-a-real-car-to-build-hy/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/diy-tesla-model-s-ad-shows-you-dont-need-a-real-car-to-build-hy/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/diy-tesla-model-s-ad-shows-you-dont-need-a-real-car-to-build-hy/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Digital Model S ad - click above to watch the video after the jump

How much do you like the Tesla Model S? Probably not as much as Kirk Perry (or someone who goes by that name on Vimeo), who just uploaded a homemade video advertisement for the all-electric sedan using a digital model and plenty of slick effects. He claims he, "Just wanted to test some new techniques out in 3ds max and After Effects and made this quick animation." If it were only that easy for us, we'd be cranking out cool vids week after week. Not much else to say except check it out after the jump. Thanks to TohE for the tip!

[Source: Vimeo]

Continue reading VIDEO: DIY Tesla Model S ad shows you don't need a real car to build hype

VIDEO: DIY Tesla Model S ad shows you don't need a real car to build hype originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>model sModelSteslatesla model sTeslaModelSWed, 18 Nov 2009 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[U.S., China announce new Electric Vehicles Initiative]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/u-s-china-announce-new-electric-vehicles-initiative/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/u-s-china-announce-new-electric-vehicles-initiative/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/u-s-china-announce-new-electric-vehicles-initiative/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2009 BYD F3DM - Click above for high-res image gallery

You'll be forgiven if all you know about President Obama's recent trip to Asia was that he bowed (ZOMG!) to the Japanese Emperor, but we have to ask you to stop watching so much cable TV news. Things of substance happened during the trip, too, and one of them (hopefully) is a new Electric Vehicles Initiative that the U.S. and China will work together on.

The Initiative is made up of four main parts: joint standards for plugs, battery test protocols and the like; joint demonstrations to compare how plug-ins will be used in the two countries; a joint technical roadmap to plan out what research needs to be done and how it can be used to bring EVs to market; and working together to promote plug-ins. This last point means that the US-China Electric Vehicles Forum that took place in September will become an annual event, moving from the U.S. to China every other year. Read the official announcement after the jump or download the PDF here.

[Source: U.S. Department of Energy, Green Car Congress via Treehugger]

Continue reading U.S., China announce new Electric Vehicles Initiative

U.S., China announce new Electric Vehicles Initiative originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>china electric carchina evChinaElectricCarChinaEvobama chinaObamaChinaWed, 18 Nov 2009 17:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla Roadster donates tire squeal sounds to two new video games]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/tesla-roadster-donates-tire-squeal-sounds-to-two-new-video-games/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/tesla-roadster-donates-tire-squeal-sounds-to-two-new-video-games/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/11/18/tesla-roadster-donates-tire-squeal-sounds-to-two-new-video-games/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tesla Roadster audio recording - Click above for image gallery

What does it take to make a video game these days? A lot of time and effort, that's what. For the upcoming Forza and Project Gotham Racing racing titles, the attention to detail going into these games includes getting the sound of the all-electric sports car - electric motor, tires, etc. - just right. To that end, audio engineers from Microsoft Game Studios spent some time with Tom Burt and his Roadster #203, recently, with mics sticking off the car at all angles. The engineers were excited because the all-electric drivetrain allowed them the opportunity to record tire skids and squeals without an ICE right there adding extra sounds. Burt had a good time:

The Roadster was a lot of fun to push hard and to deliberately get out of shape and recover. Handling was fun and predictable. As expected, given the stock suspension settings and tire sizes, the car moderately understeers or "pushes." I kept adjusting tire pressures, lowering the front pressures and letting the rears stay high as they heated, but could not eliminate the "push." So, I used the e-brake to initiate "oversteer"spins and give the team the more aggressive tire squeals they were looking for. Like most mid-weight cars, once you get the car to over-rotate, it spins quickly. What a ton of fun.

The car almost reached its limits, with the motor overheating twice. You can read more about it - and hear the audio - over at Tesla's blog. A Tesla Motors vehicle will also be available in Gran Turismo 5 and the Roadster's electric motor provided sound for the Batpod in The Dark Knight.


Gallery: Tesla Roadster audio recording for video games


[Source: Tesla Motors]

Tesla Roadster donates tire squeal sounds to two new video games originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>forzaproject gotham racingproject gotham racing 4ProjectGothamRacingProjectGothamRacing4tesla forzatesla motorstesla project gothamTeslaForzaTeslaMotorsTeslaProjectGothamtom burtTomBurtWed, 18 Nov 2009 16:04:00 EST