Autoblog Green

BAIC launches green subsidiary with all-electric model

Domenick Yoney — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, China

China's fifth-largest automotive group, Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co (BAIC), has launched a subsidiary called the Beijing New Energy Automotive Company with which it plans to produce as many as 40,000 electric and hybrid cars by 2011. The new company celebrated its birth by showing off an electric sedan dubbed the BE701 that it hopes to sell under its very own "Beijing" brand. The lithium iron phosphate-powered car is said to have a range of 124 miles and is able to reach 100 mph. Using a permanent magnet synchronous motor bolted to a 4-speed automatic transmission, the BE701 can saunter on up to 60 mph in under 15 seconds. The model that attended the ceremony was no mock-up, and Science and Technology Minister Wan Gang got to take the wheel for his own personal test drive (photo here).

The new company, which will also be responsible for green R&D and charging systems, got its own new digs on the outskirts of Beijing. The $334 million facility should have the capacity to crank out up to 100,000 vehicles a year and BAIC is hoping the venture will be add $2.197 billion to their order book by 2015. Pretty ambitious stuff, but the money already invested shows this company is serious. No word yet on whether they will try to sell any models outside of China but with that country now the largest auto market in the world, it may not have too.

[Source: Reuters UK / Science and Technology Daily]

BAIC launches green subsidiary with all-electric model originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

SEAT starts installing solar panels on Martorell factory roof

Xavier Navarro — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:52:00 EST

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, Solar, Europe/EU, SEAT

As we announced, SEAT is trying to maximize the possibilities of the sunny Mediterranean climate for its factory in Martorell, near Barcelona, Spain. SEAT's plan is ambitious, and could allow the plant to be able to function almost off the grid. The factory will use 320,000 m² of solar panels on the roof, the equivalent of 10 MW of electric power. Annually, the plant could generate 13 million kWh. That's enough to power 3,000 homes and will save up to 6,200 metric tons of CO₂. The first project will start working next year, and will be Spain's second largest photovoltaic installation. Now let's see if solar power can be used for the Brisa and Duna models

[Source: SEAT]

SEAT starts installing solar panels on Martorell factory roof originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Sagging SUV sales, weak dollar could bring Mercedes C-class production to U.S.

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, Mercedes Benz

Mercedes-Benz C-Class - Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the past two years, sales of SUVs from virtually all automakers have sagged deeply as fuel prices have risen and the economy has gone into the dumper. Mercedes-Benz is no exception, as sales of its ML, GL and R-class have dropped from a combined 152,500 in 2008 to just over 83,000 so far this year. At the same time, the U.S. dollar has lost significant value against most world currencies, including the Euro. The declining dollar makes it increasingly difficult for companies importing cars to the U.S. to make a profit, especially on low end models.

For Mercedes, this may be the perfect time to shift some production of its smallest model currently offered in the U.S. to its American plant, the sole global source of the aforementioned SUVs. The plant in Vance, Alabama could soon add production of the C-Class which is also the company's top seller in this market. At a media briefing in New York Thursday, CEO Dieter Zetsche acknowledged that a decision on U.S. production of the C-Class would be made soon. If it happens, it will give Mercedes a significant cost advantage on those cars. That cost advantage could allow Mercedes to reintroduce smaller, four-cylinder engines in the C, which is currently only offered with a V6 in the U.S.

[Source: Automotive News]

REPORT: Sagging SUV sales, weak dollar could bring Mercedes C-class production to U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Renault Fluence EV to be assembled in Turkey

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Renault, Better Place

Renault Fluence ZE concept - click above for high res image gallery

Renault this morning made the production announcement for the fourth and final of its upcoming electric vehicles the Fluence sedan (see also: Twizy EV, Zoe Z.E., and Kangoo Z.E.). The battery-powered version of the compact sedan will be rolling off the same line as the gas and diesel versions at Renault's factory in Bursa, Turkey. The Fluence will be the model that Renault offers in Israel and Denmark in conjunction with Better Place. Along with charging from 220 V or 400 V outlets, the Fluence will feature the so-called QuickDrop capability for fast battery swaps. The Fluence will also be offered in other markets, although its not clear if any of those other locations will offer any kind of battery swapping capability.

Production of the Fluence ZE will kick off in the first half of 2011.

Gallery: Renault Fluence ZE concept

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Renault Fluence EV to be assembled in Turkey

Renault Fluence EV to be assembled in Turkey originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Electric Vehicle International opens California headquarters, launches new lineup

Domenick Yoney — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:24:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, USA

When we last heard from Electric Vehicles International (EVI) they were displaying a trio of trucks at the Work Truck Show in Chicago that they had electrified at their facility in Mexico. Fast forward 7 months and we find none other than Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on hand for the grand opening of the company's relocated international headquarters in Stockton, California and a whole new slate of product in the works. EVI has partnered with a handful of companies, most significantly battery-maker Valence Technology, and will be offering entire vehicles, powertrains and plug-in conversions.

The vehicles on offer range from the tiny to the mighty. Not only will they be assembling the e-Zone from CT&T, but they will also produce commercial trucks from Classes 4 to 6, including a walk-in configuration based on chassis from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. The heavy duty haulers are said to have a top speed of 60 mph and will be available in a 60, 80 or 115 mile packages. Prices are between $120,000 and $180,000, depending on battery configuration. While sales deals haven't yet officially been announced, it's reported that UPS will taking delivery of a WI EVI (the walk-in version) for testing and the city of Stockton itself will be putting at least one appropriately-painted e-Zone on parking enforcement duty. Click here (link) for a brief newsclip about the plant and find press releases covering both the opening and the truck deal after the break.

[Source: EVI / Recordnet.com]

Continue reading Electric Vehicle International opens California headquarters, launches new lineup

Electric Vehicle International opens California headquarters, launches new lineup originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Toyota plans to trim trucks, focus on hybrids, improve quality

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:53:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Toyota, USA

Stick with what you know. That seems to be Toyota's new mantra going forward, as the Japanese automaker has reportedly diverted its attention away from large trucks like the largely unsuccessful and slow-selling Tundra pickup and back to hybrid vehicles - possibly all wearing the Prius badge, including a minivan and something smaller than the current Prius - and returning to its previous levels of unquestionable quality.

Atsushi Niimi, executive vice president for North America and global manufacturing, tells Automotive News that Toyota will try to build more longevity into its current lineup, addressing issues such as excessive rust and corrosion and introducing new "fail-safe functions" designed to minimize the possibility of "tragic accidents." We suspect that means push-button ignitions that can more easily shut down the car and floor mats that can't bunch up under the accelerator pedal.

In addition, Toyota will focus on the North American market, giving U.S. engineers a larger say when it comes to new vehicle design and the choices of which models make the overseas trek. To speed up the new model renaissance, Toyota will hold back on midcycle refreshes, instead working to get more substantial updates ready in less time.

On the manufacturing side, Toyota believes that it expanded too rapidly over the last decade and will attempt to slow down and restore the trust that customers had in the brand. Apparently, that slowdown will indeed affect the recently-built and still-idle plant in Blue Springs, Mississippi.

[Source: Automotive News (products, manufacturing) (quality) - Sub. Req'd]

REPORT: Toyota plans to trim trucks, focus on hybrids, improve quality originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toshiba to build second plant for automotive lithium batteries

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:04:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Japan

Toshiba, like most other battery manufacturers, has decided that the market for automotive grade lithium ion cells is going to be huge in the next decade. As a result it has decided to build a second factory dedicated to automotive battery production in Kashiwazaki, Japan. The new 355,000-square foot plant will cost about $274 million and construction is expected to start in April of next year with production scheduled to start about one year after that.

The plant will build Toshiba's SCiB cells which are claimed to have better thermal stability than traditional lithium cells while also having a much higher charge cycle life. The SCiB are rated for 6,000 charge cycles and can support rapid charging in 30 minutes. No automakers have publicly announced plans to use the cells, but Toshiba likely has someone lined up if it is committing to a second plant already.

[Source: Toshiba]

Continue reading Toshiba to build second plant for automotive lithium batteries

Toshiba to build second plant for automotive lithium batteries originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Toyota develops its own flower species for cleaner air at Prius plant

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Toyota, Carbon Offset, Green Daily, Japan

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Automakers make cars and trucks, no surprises there. Some even make other interesting things, like Honda, which also builds motorcycles, jets, robots and solar cells. But up until now, we haven't been able to think of any car companies that develop their own species of flowers. Thankfully, Toyota has reportedly stepped in to correct that oversight by creating two derivatives of the cherry sage and gardenia at its factory in Toyota City, Japan.

This is the plant where the Japanese automaker assembles the Prius hybrid, which seems fitting since the flowers were specifically chosen due to their ability to absorb nitrogen oxides and create water vapor. These attributes clean the surrounding air and lower temperatures at the factory.

Other environmentally-friendly efforts at the plant include roof-mounted solar panels, photocatalytic paint on exterior walls, reflective solar tubes that provide interior light and even slow-growing grass that only needs to be mowed twice per year (we've got dibs). According to Toyota, these initiatives help lower the carbon footprint at the plant, which is a good thing since production of the Prius hybrid is a carbon-intensive operation.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: drive.com.au]

REPORT: Toyota develops its own flower species for cleaner air at Prius plant originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:50:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Fisker

Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery

In Wilmington, Delaware this morning, Governor Jack Markell was joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Henrik Fisker for the official announcement about the purchase of General Motors' closed plant there. Fisker will re-tool the plant to build a new, more affordable plug-in hybrid sedan to slot in below its more luxurious Karma. The goal is to have the model sell for under $40,000 after federal tax credits.

The current schedule is to have the car in production by the end of 2012 with volumes getting up to 75,000-100,000 units annually by 2014. Fisker has moved up its development schedule for what they are calling Project Nina thanks to the $528 million low cost loan it recently received courtesy of the Department of Energy. During the announcement, Fisker stated that he wants to export half of the production from the plant while creating 5,000 jobs in the U.S. (2,000 at the plant and 3,000 at suppliers). The local UAW president was also on hand, so it looks like the plant will remain unionized, which is very unusual for a startup auto plant.

Fisker is paying $18 million for the factory from Motors Liquidation which is the remainder of "Old GM" which is selling off assets from bankruptcy court. The plant most recently produced the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, both of which ended production last spring.

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Fisker Automotive]

Continue reading Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant

Officially Official: Fisker buys GM's Wilmington Delaware plant originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Daimler launches €600 million small car investment, A-Class BEV in 2010

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:46:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Mercedes Benz

After at least two years of trying to determine what it was going to do about its next-generation Mercedes-Benz A and B-class compacts, Daimler has announced that it will commit €600 million to update and expand the factory that builds them. We still don't know what platform Mercedes will use for the new small cars, but they will start production at the Rastatt factory in late 2011. Part of the updates to the factory will include a 710,000 square foot body shop to produces the shells of the new models. Mercedes has already started construction of a stamping facility in nearby Kuppenheim to produce the panels that will be welded at the Rastatt body shop.

The next-generation compacts will also add two new body configurations in addition to the current hatchback body styles. No information has been provided but the most likely candidates are some sort of taller wagon/MPV to compete against the likes of the VW Touran or Ford C-Max or a sedan which could mean the introduction of the small cars to the U.S. market.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche also announced that low-volume production of a battery electric A-Class E-Cell will start in late 2010. We contacted Tesla spokeswoman Rachel Konrad to see if they will be supplying batteries or other components for the A-Class BEV as they are for the smaller Smart ED but she declined to comment on the matter. Given Daimler's investment in Tesla, it would certainly make sense to the have the California company provide those systems. If so, that could help Tesla keep revenues flowing (Roadster sales have apparently slowed) until the Model S comes on stream.

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Daimler launches €600 million small car investment, A-Class BEV in 2010

Daimler launches €600 million small car investment, A-Class BEV in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Reva's New York factory plans firming up

Domenick Yoney — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, USA

Reva NXR - Click above for high res image gallery

Seems like that plan to build Reva electric cars in New York State is gaining some traction. Apparently, there is now an exclusive licensing deal for North America between the Indian company and Bannon Automotive. If you've never heard of Bannon you're certainly not alone. Although they've reportedly been in talks with Reva Electric Car Company for almost a year, the company, along with ~~its CEO Steve Bargen~~ (Bannon's CEO is now Paul "Otto" Wimer) , are certainly lacking in web presence. Despite the would-be manufacturer's unfinished website, though, they absolutely have ambition.

They are trying to bring over $85 million together from various sources to get the project up and running and, according to one source, are eying a 150,000 sq ft building in Clay, NY. Although the final outcome is still entirely speculative at this point, it is interesting to note that they have some political heavy-hitters in their corner (Senator Chuck Schumer, anyone?) and so we certainly wouldn't bet against them.

Gallery: Reva NXR

[Source: Syracuse.com]

Reva's New York factory plans firming up originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fisker reportedly chooses U.S. location to build lower-cost plug-in hybrid, will announce soon

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:56:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, USA, Fisker

Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery

Henrik Fisker, co-founder and chief executive of the automaker that bears his name, has said that the company has chosen a location for the U.S. plant to build its next eco-friendly automobile, but he's not yet ready to announce the location. According to the LA Times, Fisker seemed to rule out the recently-idled NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, saying:

[NUMMI] is obviously way too big for us when you're talking about 100,000 to 150,000 cars. So there are some plants out there that are simply too big... We found one that was very modern and has produced cars until recently and all that, so there is definitely a good choice of factories and all the Big Three are selling factories at this point in time. We're probably somewhat lucky... that there are so many empty factories available.

Some analysts suggest the former General Motors' facility in Wilmington, Delaware, is an obvious choice as it was previously used to assemble the low-volume Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters. Whatever the location, this new plant will be used to build Project Nina, a plug-in vehicle that's expected to cost $48,000 before a federal rebate of $7,500. That car is expected by 2012, two years after the firm's Karma PHEV sedan goes on sale.

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: LA Times]

Fisker reportedly chooses U.S. location to build lower-cost plug-in hybrid, will announce soon originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

BMW opens emissions-free alloy foundry in Germany

Sam Abuelsamid — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, BMW

When you look at the total life-cycle of "zero-emissions" vehicles like battery or fuel cell vehicles, the environment is not left untouched. The process of making all the parts of a car requires energy and chemicals are released into the atmosphere. The casting process used to make metal parts like engine blocks and cylinder heads is one step in the process that usually has nothing to do with a vehicle being "emission free."

BMW will soon introduce a new process at its Landshut, Germany foundry for producing sand cores. The cores are used to create the internal cavities in cast components like water jackets and oil passages. Fine sand is mixed with binders and pressed into a mold. The core is then inserted into the casting die. After the molten metal is poured in, the binders evaporate and the sand is shaken out of the casting after it cools.

The cores are traditionally made with organic materials for the binders. The new process uses inorganic materials based on water-soluble alkali silicates. The casting tools no longer require dry ice blasting after use and the overall process runs faster and is less energy intensive.

Gallery: BMW emissions free foundry

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW opens emissions-free alloy foundry in Germany

BMW opens emissions-free alloy foundry in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:22:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Manufacturing/Plants, GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily

Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant - Click above for high-res image gallery

Coskata's newly-opened semi-commercial flex ethanol facility in Madison, Pennsylvania is as small as it can possibly be. Co-located at a Westinghouse facility that also in some fashion uses nuclear energy, the Lighthouse project, as it's called, is running 24/7 to turn wood chips into ethanol. It's also intended to show off just how far Coskata has come since emerging from stealth mode almost two years ago. Oh, and the plant can also be scaled up to fit the needs of cellulosic ethanol producers from coast to coast.

The Lighthouse plant follows the Horizon integrated processing plant that started in 2008 in Warrenville, Illinois and precedes the Flagship plant that is due for 2012 at a location somewhere in the Southeast U.S. that will be announced later. The location for the Flagship plant has been selected, but Coskata will not specify where it is exactly until it can talk more specifically about the financing arrangements involved for the 55-million-gallon-per-year plant that will use forest residue and other woody biomass. Coskata says the Flagship will be "the first commercially-viable, feedstock-flexible ethanol facility." Coskata has not taken any government money to date, but they may apply for DOE loan guarantees for the Flagship plant. Coskata will not expand the Madison Lighthouse facility. In fact, they're only located there as a guest and will leave when the contract is up. The facility is modular and will actually be dismantled and trucked to the Flagship location in the future.

What might this plant offer, both for partner GM and for the U.S.'s biofuel needs? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: Coskata Lighthouse Cellulosic Ethanol Plant

Continue reading Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth

Coskata's new Lighthouse cellulosic ethanol plant, in depth originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Opel planning a new minicar for Europe, looking for development partner

Xavier Navarro — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Opel, Europe/EU, Germany

According to Alain Visser, Opel's head of sales and marketing, Opel needs a minicar to compete. However, developing a new minicar is a huge expense, and even though Opel has set aside €250 million for this car, the company would like a partner. It's not unusual: Ford and Fiat share the Fiat Panda/Fiat 500/Ford Ka platform; Toyota and PSA share the Toyota Aygo/Citroën C1/Peugeot 107 structure. Opel has already a similar model, the Agila (shown above), which is jointly made with the Suzuki Splash but it's a little big for the minicar segment. As for possible powertrain hints, Magna/Opel has confirmed that it would have an electric powertrain available as soon as in 2012.

[Source: Automotive news (subs. req'd)]

Opel planning a new minicar for Europe, looking for development partner originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Vauxhall unsure whether Ampera will be built in UK

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, GM, Opel, UK

Vauxhall Ampera - Click above for high-res image gallery

Just the other day, reports from the British motoring press indicated that the Vauxhall Ampera wouldn't be built in the UK as initially planned. Instead, the extended-range electric vehicle would reportedly be shipped over from America where the Ampera would presumably be built alongside the Chevy Volt at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant in Michigan.

Further, those same reports suggested that GM's European arm would wait until 2015 or so to begin UK production when the second-gen model was ready. Not so fast, reports Autocar. According to an unnamed source (aren't they all?) at Vauxhall:

There has categorically been no decision on where European production of the Ampera will take place... But in order to justify production at any European plant there will need to be sufficient demand and this, rather than the launch of the second-gen model, will drive the decision on timing.

Apparently, no decision has yet been made on where or when the Ampera will be built overseas and there's still plenty of time before the car is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in early 2011.

Gallery: Vauxhall Ampera

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Vauxhall unsure whether Ampera will be built in UK originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

REPORT: Tata increases Nano production to keep up with strong demand

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Manufacturing/Plants, India, Tata

Tata Nano - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Autocar in the UK, Tata has a success story on its hands in the form of the diminutive Nano microcar, which is currently for sale in India and is the least expensive new automobile in the world. Says Rajiv Dube, head of Tata's passenger car business:

In the last three months, we have been averaging about 2,500 Nano [sales] per month. We are gearing up for a higher number and we are ramping up our production capacity by 20 percent from this month.

For those keeping track of such things, the production increase should allow Tata to build 3,000 Nanos per month. You may recall that demand was so high when the little car first went on sale that only half of the 2,000 customers that applied for a Nano were awarded a car with the help of a lottery system.

Previous reports indicate that the Indian automaker has its sights set on the European and American markets, possibly by 2011. Company head Ratan Tata has said that hybrids, diesels and all-electric models may be in the offing.

Gallery: Tata Nano

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Tata increases Nano production to keep up with strong demand originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Last pre-production Volt comes off the assembly line

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:54:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

The saga of the Chevrolet Volt's run from concept to production reality has taken yet another step as the 80th and final pre-production car has just rolled down GM's assembly line in Warren, Michigan. Just like all the other Volt engineering mules built up to this point, this car is headed for a hard life at the Milford Proving Grounds, where it will be put through its paces time and time again in an effort to ensure the final result is as good and durable as possible.

Up next for these 80 pre-production Volts is a series of stages that includes crash testing and extreme-weather climate testing. Sometime during the first quarter of 2010, The General will begin building validation versions of the Volt that will allow the automaker to finalize production details and the process that will be used to assemble the cars on the lines at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. If all goes according to plan, the first 2011 Chevy Volts will be rolling into dealer lots just about one year from now.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: Detroit Free Press, GM-Volt.com]

Last pre-production Volt comes off the assembly line originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

GM investing $230M in Flint area facilities to support Chevrolet Cruze, Volt

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevy Volt - click above for high-res image gallery

General Motors announced today that it will spend $230 million on four facilities in the Flint, Michigan area that will support the production of the new Chevy Cruze compact and the Volt extended-range EV. The biggest chunk of the money ($202 million) is being spent on the Flint South Engine plant. The line that currently builds the inline five- and six-cylinder engines used in the Chevrolet Colorado and Hummer H3 is being revamped. That line will now build the 1.4-liter Family 0 engines that will be used in the Cruze and Volt. Originally, GM had planned to construct a new factory adjacent to Flint South, but that plan was canceled last fall as the financial crisis hit the already embattled automaker.

The Flint Metal Center a few miles away is getting updates that will allow it to stamp the sheet steel body panels for the Volt. The other two facilities are designing and building the stamping dies and welding robots that will be used to produce the panels and put them together at the Detroit-Hamtramck (Volt) and Lordstown,Ohio (Cruze) factories. GM's official press release is after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt

[Source: GM]

Continue reading GM investing $230M in Flint area facilities to support Chevrolet Cruze, Volt

GM investing $230M in Flint area facilities to support Chevrolet Cruze, Volt originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Smith Electric Vehicles starts U.S. production in Kansas City

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants

Smith electric vehicles Newton - click above for high-res image gallery

Smith Electric Vehicles has just launched low volume assembly of its Newton plug-in delivery truck in Kansas City. However, it's not clear how long Smith will keep building trucks there. Smith currently has 14 people working in a former aircraft maintenance hanger at Kansas City International airport, but only has a one year lease on the facility. Smith has yet to make a decision on a larger permanent factory.

A number of other locations are actively courting Smith to build that permanent facility somewhere else. Part of Smith's ultimate decision on where to build its electric trucks will come down to where a battery plant is located. Because batteries are so bulky, manufacturers prefer to put EV plants in proximity to the batteries to minimize shipping costs. Besides the Newton, Smith is also working with Ford on the battery EV version of the Transit Connect that will be launched in mid-2010. The Transit Connect BEV will only be offered on lease to commercial fleet customers at first; volumes still haven't been announced.

Gallery: EVS23: Smith Electric Truck

Smith Electric Vehicles starts U.S. production in Kansas City originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments