Electric Cars
BMW EfficientDynamics Concept i8 Spied at YAS Circuit in Abu Dhabi [Video]
![BMW EfficientDynamics Concept i8 Spied at YAS Circuit in Abu Dhabi [Video]](/img/spacer.gif)
Thanks to a forum member on TeamSpeed, we have some video, not to mention some rather impressive photos, of BMW‘s EfficientDynamics Concept hitting the track in Abu Dhabi. Painted mostly in silver, it’s likely the same car as the while model that first debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2009 and has been touring…
Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf EVs Sell in Small Numbers in December
Sales of both the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf electric cars were insignificant in the month of December. Due to the slow ramp-up of production volumes, it’s still unclear how much long-term demand for EVs there is. In December GM sold less than 350 Chevy Volts, while Nissan moved just 10 Leaf models in the…
Charge Your Electric Car at West Virginia McDonald’s
Chances are, if you own an electric car are or thinking of buying one, you’d pass on a fat-filled, processed McCardiac Arrest in favor of a ‘tasty’ granola bar. But would you stop at a McDonald’s to charge up your EV? (They do offer salads, after all). That’s what a Micky D’s in West Virginia…
General Motors Targeting 150,000 EVs by 2015 Says CEO
General Motors is working on a plan to more than triple sales of electric cars in the near future says company CEO Dan Akerson. According to a report by Automotive News, Akerson wants to reach this goal by the middle of the decade. Arguably, tripling sales of GM’s current EVs (ie. the Chevy Volt) wouldn’t…
Electric Open Wheel Racing Series to Hit the Track in 2013
At the recent U.N. Climate Change Conference, the announcement to launch an all-electric racing series was made. The new series will be called Formulec EF01. This new series will be performed on tracks around the world and in terms of performance will rival the current FIA Formula-3 series, which uses 2.0-liter gas engines. The new…
Jay Leno Takes Delivery of His Chevrolet Volt [Video]
Jay Leno might be best known as a late night talk show host, but to automotive enthusiasts he’s regarded as a genuine car guy – and one that just happens to have millions of dollars to spend on his hobby. But instead of packing his garage full of rare Ferraris or the latest Bugatti (even…
Cadillac SRX Plug-In Hybrid in the Works; Plus More Voltec Models from Chevy
With General Motors recently announcing plans to increase production of the Volt, it now appears poised to bring that revolutionary technology to even more consumers through varied packages. Recently GM applied for trademarks on the Amp and Strobe – with the Amp rumored to be a production version of the Volt MPV5 concept, itself based…
First Chevrolet Volt Auctioned Off for $225,000
The auction for the first Chevrolet Volt has come to an end, with the winning bidder putting up $225,000 for what might be a very lucrative investment. And while its future value might be unknown, what is certain is that the $225,000 isn’t going to be wasted with the proceeds going to the Detroit Public…
Nissan Launches Zero-Emission Educational Site For Kids
Kids can now learn about the benefits of electric cars on a website that’s built just for them. “An Electric Vehicle in our Home” is Nissan‘s web program for kids, and is full of fun and educational information about zero-emission, electric vehicles. Designed to educate elementary school children about the reality of global warming and…
GM to Expand Volt Range to Three Models by 2015
General Motors will look to expand its lineup of extended range electric cars to three models by the time the current Chevrolet Volt’s production cycle has run its course. At least that is GM’s plan for the European market under the Opel/Vauxhall brands where GM has just launched the sister car to the Volt, the…
Mazda May Offer Plug-In Hybrids, Electric Cars
Mazda will look to grow its offering of ‘green’ cars with the announcement that it is considering offering both plug-in hybrid models and electric cars in the future. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi said both types of vehicles are currently being studied by the Japanese automaker. It’s not yet clear…
Vatican Looking To Buy a Solar-Powered Popemobile
Pope Benedict XVI is going to be known as the “Green Pope” due to his eco-friendly initiatives since donning the fancy hat. He has spoken about the importance of sustainable energy. In 2008, photovoltaic cells were installed on the roof of a Vatican auditorium, and in 2009, a solar cooling unit was added to the…
Watch the Chevrolet Volt Get Assembled [Video]
Earlier this week General Motors announced the official start of production of its revolutionary Chevrolet Volt. With an official kick-off of at the Hamtramck assembly plant where the car is built, GM has now released a video of the full assembly process to feed your inner car-geek. In case you haven’t been paying attention, the…
Survey: Car Shoppers Unlikely To Consider an Electric Vehicle
If you’re looking to buy a new car, chances aren’t you’re not going with an electric, says a survey by Kelley Blue Book. The recent results from the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence study looked at consumer attitudes regarding electric vehicles. It shows that only seven percent of car shoppers say they are likely to…
Chevy Volt Online Auction Hits $180,000 in First 24 Hours
With the official production announcement of the Chevy Volt yesterday, came news that GM would auction-off the very first car to roll off the assembly line. Bidding will take place online for the next 13 days at http://volt.charitybuzz.com and in just the first 24 hours the price has skyrocketed to $180,000. All proceeds from the…
GM to Auction-Off First Chevy Volt, Donate Proceeds to Detroit Public Schools Foundation
Touted as the most advanced car ever made, Chevrolet announced the official start of production of the Volt electric car today during a press conference at the Hamtramck assembly plant where the car will be built. General Motors has also announced it will auction off the very first production Volt, with all proceeds going to…
Chevy Volt Production Begins Today: Watch it Live [Video]
Almost four years after General Motors showed the first Chevy Volt design concept, the car will head into serial production today. Following a long tradition of Chevy Volt press conferences, GM will hold yet another one today to launch the Volt production at the Hamtramck assembly plant where the cars will be built. GM is…
Electric Cars Profitable Within 3 Years: Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn
Carlos Ghosn, head of Renault-Nissan, offered a series of very optimistic forecasts regarding electric vehicles during a recent interview with Bloomberg TV, while stating bluntly “There are customers who want really zero emission cars.” Ghosn predicted that 10 percent of auto sales in the year 2020 will be comprised of zero emissions vehicles, and Nissan…
Survey: Interest in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles Growing, While Actual Sales Decline
A surprising new survey has just revealed that consumer interest in hybrid and electric vehicles is on the rise, despite recent reports that sales of such vehicles has been on a steady decline for the past three years. According to a new Consumer Reports poll, 39 percent of new car buyers are looking at either…
Nissan Leaf Wins Car of the Year Award in Europe
The Nissan Leaf has just received the Car of the Year award in Europe and is the first electric car to have ever been given the prestigious title. This award will certainly help build anticipation for the World Car of the Year awards, held each year at the New York Auto Show. Up until now…
Chevy Volt Gets 37/93-MPG Rating, 60-MPG Average
With Nissan’s recent announcement of the Leaf EV’s official EPA fuel economy rating of 99-mpg average, the folks at Chevy were just receiving their EPA data for the Volt. Because of it’s unique drive system, the Volt’s numbers are far more complicated, however, and we’re probably just getting this release by Chevy now because it…
Audi Plug-In Hybrid Due in 2014 as Automaker Sets Target to be Luxury EV Leader
Audi has set a goal to be the electric leader in the premium segment by 2020, with a plan that will include pure battery electric vehicles, hybrids and now plug-in hybrids. At a recent technical seminar Audi’s electric mobility manager Franciscus van Meel commented that Audi expects to bring to market its first EV by…
Nissan Leaf Gets Official 99 MPG EPA Rating
The EPA has just released its fuel economy figures for the first mass-production electric car and the Nissan Leaf gets a very impressive 99-mpg. Better yet, that’s 99-mpg on average, with a 106-mpg city rating and 92-mpg listing for highway cruising. That number is well ahead of the former industry leader, the Toyota Prius, with…
LA 2010: Toyota RAV4 EV; 35 Test Models Being Built With 2012 Target for Retail Sales [Video]
Toyota‘s collaboration with American electric car maker Tesla Motors has been described by many as a publicity stunt, but Toyota’s announcement to build 35 test models with plans for a full production model in 2012 is silencing doubters. Debuting at the LA Auto Show, the RAV4 EV Demonstration Vehicle looks like an Acura RDX thanks…
