Electric Cars
Nissan Leaf Gaining Conquest Sales From Toyota Prius; Surprised?
2
Is the Nissan Leaf set to overtake the Toyota Prius as the green-status-symbol of choice? According to market research sponsored by Nissan, a fair number of consumers who have put down deposits on the new Nissan Leaf electric car are current owners of the Toyota Prius hybrid, and are looking to take their outward love…
Chevy Volt to Wear Buick Badge in China
Thanks to a patent filing process in China, it has been revealed that the Chevy Volt will be badged as a Buick model in what is now the world’s largest auto market. To be more specific, the Opel Ampera (the European version of the Volt) will actually be badged as a Buick. You see, in…
Report: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Is Broke
At 38 years old, Elon Musk has already lived a life filled with more adventures and pitfalls than most of us can fathom. The founder of PayPal, Tesla Motors and SpaceX was also a one time owner of a McLaren F1, the holy grail of car collecting, and served as the inspiration for Tony Stark,…
BYD And Daimler To Collaborate On EVs In China
Daimler, parent company of Mercedes-Benz and BYD, China’s fastest growing car company, established a joint venture to develop electric cars in China. Based in the industrial city of Shenzen, the two companies respective experience with electric cars complements one another. BYD is experienced with battery and drivetrain systems, while Daimler will bring their knowledge of…
“Hot” Version Of Opel Ampera Spotted, Could Volt Version Be Far Behind
The Vauxhall/Opel Ampera, sister car to the Chevrolet Volt, is set to launch in Europe in 2012, but GM is already preparing a more powerful version in time for the car’s launch, according to AutoExpress. Nothing concrete has been announced, but sources indicate that a larger gasoline engine and a bigger battery will help make…
More Details Emerge Surrounding Gordon Murray’s T27 City Car
Not long after Gordon Murray’s McLaren F1 was feted at the company’s headquarters, new details have emerged about Murray’s all-new T27 city car, being developed by the South African-born engineer independently of McLaren. Essentially an electric version of the T25 city car, the T27 uses a lithium-ion battery and a small electric motor to hit…
Renault Zoe To Be Re-Named Due To Complaint From Someone Named Zoe Renault
There have been some big blunders in the history of automotive naming. The Chevrolet Nova flopped in Spanish speaking countries because its name literally means “it doesn’t go”. The Ford Pinto’s name in Brazilian Portuguese has similarly negative connotations, literally meaning “a man with small genitals.” The latest casualty in the history of cars being…
Toyota and Tesla to Partner on Electric Cars; Tesla Buys NUMMI to Build Model S in California
Japanese giant Toyota Motor Corp and American electric car start-up Tesla Motors have announced a partnership that will see both automakers work towards future electric cars. In the short term, however, the deal has a more immediate result, namely that Toyota is spending $50 million to buy a significant stake in Tesla, which will then…
Nissan Leaf Won’t Turn A Profit Until Year Three Of Production
There’s no such thing as a get rich quick scheme, and Nissan knows this, even as demand for their new Leaf electric car outstrips supply. Any new technology takes a significant amount of time to turn a profit, as development costs must be amortized. One can imagine how expensive a car with an $18,000 battery must…
Volkswagen Golf Blue-e-Motion Detailed in New Photos
Volkswagen has just released a selection of new images of the Golf Blue-e-motion concept, with diagrams and even under-the-hood photos of the brand’s upcoming electric car. Set to debut in 2013 along with the Up blue-e-motion and Jetta blue-e-motion, VW will first test a fleet of 500 cars next year. The concept is powered by…
Google and GM Team Up on Google Maps App for the Chevy Volt
After much speculation, General Motors has now confirmed its first project with Google. An updated Chevrolet Volt Mobile App will include a Navigation tab that allows Google Maps to work with OnStar. Using their Google Android smart phone, Volt customers will be able to see the location of their Volt on Google Maps, as well…
Half of MINI E Lessees Sign on for a Second Year
Roughly half of those who took part in the MINI E’s lease program in North American have opted to sign on for a second year. As the first electric MINI, the MINI E was built as a test platform for future electric car models from MINI and parent company BMW. MINI’s pilot project included leases…
Land Rover Plans Front-Drive Vehicles For Its Future
Land Rover is apparently working on a front drive SUV, as part of a push for smaller vehicles that produce fewer emissions. Autocar is reporting that the vehicle will be known as the Compact Range Rover, a smaller addition to the lineup that should emit significantly less CO2 than the current Range, without having to…
Hawaii To Be Among First Market For Nissan Leaf
Hawaii is set to be one of the first markets during the Nissan Leaf’s initial rollout, and the aloha state is a great candidate for Nissan‘s new Leaf EV. All the gasoline and petroleum products have to be imported, which leads to some of the nations highest gas prices. On the other hand, the warm…
Daimler CEO: China Must Adopt EVs, Gas And Diesel Cars Not Feasible For Their Market
In a shockingly forthright appraisal of the Chinese auto market, Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche laid out the harsh reality for the Chinese auto market, stating that petroleum-powered vehicles are not sustainable due to the massive demand, and that electric vehicles are imperative. Speaking at an event in Beijing, Zetsche remarked “If you look at the…
Driving Green Can Improve Your Love Life Ladies, Says Survey
If you’re a woman and you’re looking to get lucky, you may want to think about driving a cleaner car to get some more dating action. Who knew that driving green was good for your love life? In the 2010 Timberland Eco-Love Survey, results showed that American men had a better opinion about women who…
California Journalist Discovers Electric Car Inconvenience in Mitsubishi iMiEV
Mitsubishi is testing a fleet of iMiEV electric cars in California and one of the chosen drivers is Southern California Public Radio KPCC’s Shirley Jahad – who’s diary entries do not paint a glowing portrait of the tiny EV. Jahad’s latest entry in her “EV Diaries,” series includes a day spent behind the wheel on…
Aptera Suffers Handling Issues at X-Prize Test Track
For many, the Aptera 2e is a glimpse into the future of cars, and a frontrunner for the Automotive X-Prize. For those who don’t know, Progressive Insurance sponsors the $10 Million X-Prize, which will be awarded to the first company to produce a near-production vehicle that can achieve 100 miles per gallon. At Michigan International…
All-Electric Fiat 500 EV by Atomik Cars
What’s faster, greener, has more traction, and cheaper to run than a “normal” Fiat 500 Abarth? Well, the title of this post and photo have given away the answer. What does Atomik Cars do for you that Fiat doesn’t? First, they install some lithium ion batteries into the cuter-than-Hello Kitty Fiat 500. Then they install…
Volkswagen Unveils Battery Powered Golfs
Volkswagen unveiled an electric Golf prototype that will preview the initial run of 500 Golfs slated for consumer testing starting next year. The e-Golf is powered by a 114 horsepower electric motor producing 199 lb-ft of torque. Together with a one-speed transmission, the car should hit 60 mph in just under 12 seconds and get…
Chinese Automaker BYD To Set Up Shop In Los Angeles
Chinese electric car maker BYD announced plans to establish a headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles, in a joint statement released with the Mayor of Los Angeles, and the Governor of California. “By the end of next year, the plan is to offer several models,” BYD Senior Vice President Stella Li told reporters in Los Angeles….
Volkswagen Golf Blue-E-Motion Concept Debuts, With 2013 Launch Date
Volkswagen has now officially announced the Golf blue-e-motion electric car will launch in 2013, preceded by the Up blue-e-motion city car and followed by an electric Jetta. All three cars are set to debut in 2013. The concept car is powered by a lithium-ion battery and electric motor, making 113-hp and 199 ft-lbs of torque,…
Volkswagen Golf, Jetta and Passat Hybrid Models Coming, Starting in 2012
Volkswagen will produce hybrid versions of the Golf, Jetta and Passat, starting in 2012. In a press release dedicated to the launch of the new Golf blue-e-motion electric car, Volkswagen aims to put the focus on electric cars, which it sees as the future of transportation. However, while German automakers like VW are focused on…
Report: Tesla To Expand Lineup With Sedan, Crossover
Tesla Motors is set to expand its lineup with the previously announced Model S sedan, as well as an all-new crossover. First up is the Model S sedan, due in 2012. It is expected to retail for $50,000, about half the cost of the Tesla Roadster sports car. By 2014, Tesla will introduce a replacement…
