Electric Cars
Infiniti LE Concept is French for Luxury Electric: 2012 NY Auto Show
It may have been rumored as a rebadged Nissan Leaf, but Infiniti’s new electric car concept is unique, luxurious and innovative. Unveiled today at the New York International Auto Show the Infiniti LE Concept is referred to as a “production intent” vehicle says Infiniti of the Americas Vice President Ben Poore, with plans to have…
Fisker Atlantic Video, First Look: 2012 NY Auto Show
Originally code named Project Nina, Fisker Automotive unveiled its newest model on the eve of the 2012 NY Auto Show. Now called the Atlantic, it may be a concept car, but according to company co-founder Henrik Fisker it’s 90 of what the production car will be. Fisker didn’t provide a timeline on when it hopes…
Fisker Atlantic Targets BMW 3 Series with Green Power: 2012 NY Auto Show
With plenty of recent bad press, upstart environmental automaker Fisker focused on the positives and began a new chapter in the company’s history with the launch of a new concept car on the eve of the New York Auto Show. Called the Atlantic, it’s a significantly smaller vehicle than the Karma, and targeted as…
Coast to Coast Interstate EV Charging Stations Underway
Based out of Arizona, GoE3 has announced its plans to create the first network of coast-to-coast Level two and three charging stations to make interstate travel a reality for EV owners. GoE3 hopes to place charging stations at 50 to 75 mile intervals across the I-10, I-20, I-40, and I-70 freeways with the first stations…
BMW i8 Spyder Concept Revealed Ahead of NY Auto Show Debut
The i8 plug-in hybrid is the product of BMW‘s best engineering and innovation in an effort to create the most advanced automobile to ever come from the Bavarian automaker. Motivated by a 170-hp electric motor driving the front wheels and a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine producing 223-hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque at the rear, the…
Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Powers Japanese House For Six Days
While many new plug-ins boast the convenience and simplicity of recharging the car battery from a household wall socket, how many vehicles can claim to provide the opposite? Honda has installed an inverter in the trunk of one special FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, providing output power that could supply up to 8 kilowatts of…
Fisker Battery Supplier A123 Systems Face Financial Obstacles
Start-ups are inherently risky and while many bright-eyed visionaries initially display great potential, up to fifty percent of new enterprises run out of money. Unfortunately, Waltham-based A123 Systems Inc. are at risk of becoming a statistic. Earlier this month, Consumer Reports reported that a brand-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle with less than 200…
Poop-Fueled Car Invented at Denver Zoo
It’s no secret that Colorado is a fan of alternative energy. The state government offers additional subsidies for people interested in vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt, offering thousands in incentives. Still, it seems far into the future that the state — or anyone, will start fueling cars with feces. Despite that, there is such a…
Toyota, BMW Sign Lithium-Ion Battery Research Agreement
After announcing an initial green car partnership at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, BMW and Toyota have now signed a collaborative research agreement to develop the next-generation of lithium-ion battery cells. The plan by both automakers is to focus on improving the performance and capacity of lithium-ion battery cells, using new materials for cathodes, anodes…
Opel Ampera Wins 2012 Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally
When Opel/Vauxhall first announced that its Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicle would participate in the 13th International Monte Carlo Rally for alternative energy vehicles, it made a point to challenge the Tesla Roadster, which won the previous two years. Completing the racing stages from Annecy-le-Vieux to Monte Carlo from March 22 through 25, the Opel Ampera of Bernard…
Infiniti Zero-Emission Luxury Concept Teased: NY Auto Show Preview
Using one of its signature brush-stroke teasers, Infiniti has provided a glimpse of what its upcoming Nissan Leaf-based electric car will look like. Set to debut at the New York Auto Show next week, the unnamed car is referred to simply as the “Infiniti Zero Emission Luxury Concept”. A part of a larger presentation given…
Infiniti Battery-Electric Vehicle Announced for New York Auto Show
Questions and uncertainty are swirling around the Infiniti battery-electric vehicle (BEV) which Nissan will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The BEV, which isn’t named yet, will share underpinnings with the Nissan Leaf, but with more emphasis on power and aggressive styling. “It was designed to be a luxury vehicle first and an…
Lithium-ion Batteries to Cost 30% Less By 2017
Despite the fuel efficiency benefits of a hybrid vehicle, the average cost premium of purchasing a hybrid over a conventional internal combustion vehicle is still approximately $2,000. In order to begin seeing the cost benefits of fuel frugality, an ownership period may be as long as 6 years before money saved at the tank can…
West Coast Freeway Earns Electric Highway Nickname
Back in 2009, California, Oregon, and Washington made a decision to start turning a portion of the I-5 freeway into an Electric Highway. Hoping to address the limited range of an electric vehicle, the states lined a 160-mile stretch on the West Coast freeway with eight charging stations. Each station is spaced out 25 miles…
Opel Ampera To Participate In 2012 Rally Monte Carlo
Six Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the identical twin to the American Chevrolet Volt, will make an inaugural appearance at this year’s International Rally Monte Carlo. Entering the Monte Carlo Rally for Alternative Energy Vehicles, the six Amperas will race against 150 other green cars in a series of stages starting March 22 from…
Mitsubishi i-MiEV Power Box Lets You Use Your EV as a Power Source
Japanese automaker Mitsubishi will be releasing its i-MiEV Power Box on April 27th in their home country for around $1,785 (149,800¥). The i-MiEV Power Box is basically a vehicle-to-grid system that will allow the owners of an i-MiEV and the MINICAB MiEV to use their EV to power an outside device like a phone charger…
Pininfarina Cambiano Concept May Become Reality
Along the same vein as the Fisker Karma, the plug-in hybrid Pininfarina Cambiano concept may receive the “go-ahead” for low-volume production. According to Pininfarina CEO Sergio Angori, “We are evaluating the potential for companies and private buyers interested in a high-performance, low-emission luxury model such as the Cambiano.” The Pininfarina Cambiano concept was first unveiled at…
Fisker Karma Returns To Consumer Reports Fleet
The Consumer Reports Fisker Karma test vehicle which broke down on them last week has now been returned to the fleet after spending 48 hours at a Fisker dealerhsip. During a routine speedometer test the Karma began to flash a warning light and a chime to alert the driver that something was amiss. Once the…
Tata Megapixel Hints at a Better Small Car From India: 2012 Geneva Motor Show
The electric motors not only help deliver 369 lb-ft of torque, they also help the Megapixel achieve a very tight turning radius (nine feet), a valuable asset for a city car aimed at buyers in large urban centers.
Infiniti Emerg-E Video – First Look: 2012 Geneva Motor Show
Infiniti is preparing to build a flagship performance car – or at least they’re thinking about it. Unveiled today at the Geneva Motor Show, the Infiniti Emerg-E is our first look at just what that halo model might be. Powered by twin-electric motors with a 3-cylinder range extender gasoline engine, Infiniti is promising some impressive…
Ford Focus Electric is More Efficient Than Nissan Leaf
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is giving Ford something to brag about: The new Focus Electric is more efficient than the Nissan Leaf. “Ford is giving customers the power of choice for leading fuel economy regardless of what type of vehicle or powertrain technology they choose,” said Eric Kuehn, chief nameplate engineer for the Focus…
Mitsubishi Works On All-Electric i-MiEV Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Prototype
One special Mitsubishi i-MiEV city electric car gets pumped up with performance enhancers as the Japanese automaker prepares to enter an all-electric race car into the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Details are limited for now, but Mitsubishi says the new i-MiEV hill climb prototype will be based upon many of the same production…
Justin Bieber Gets a Fisker Karma for His 18th Birthday
When teen heartthrob Justin Bieber (aka the Biebs) is spotted around town, its usually behind the wheel of a Bentley or Ferrari. But from now on, he’ll likely be piloting his newest toy; a responsible means of transportation given to him on the occasion of his 18th birthday. Celebrating on the Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday, Bieber’s…
Hyundai i-Oniq Concept Previews Brand’s Future Design, Green Technology
Hyundai has released a lone photo of its new i-Oniq concept car, a vehicle that showcases the next generation of the Korean automaker’s styling and fuel-efficient technology. With a big commitment to 40 mpg gasoline engines and a modest push with conventional hybrids, the i-Oniq is a range-extended electric car, along the lines of the…
