Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/green.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Electric cars a challenge for Japanese parts suppliers]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/electric-cars-a-challenge-for-japanese-parts-suppliers/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/electric-cars-a-challenge-for-japanese-parts-suppliers/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/electric-cars-a-challenge-for-japanese-parts-suppliers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery

One thing David Cole said when we talked to him at the Business of Plugging In expo was that parts suppliers need to change in order to keep up with the demand for new parts in electric vehicles. In Japan, the Nissan Leaf has become a sort of wake up call for Japanese parts companies, who can see firsthand that, when you scrap the ICE, thousands of parts that suppliers have been providing OEMs for decades are all of a sudden not needed. Bloomberg says that up to 40 percent of the parts in a typical car are engine components. In Japan, the domestic suppliers are in a "crisis-like situation" as they try to adapt to the new reality.

Japanese suppliers Tsubakimoto Chain Co. and NTN two suppliers profiled in the Bloomberg piece, but it's clear that this is going to be a tough road for almost everyone involved. Tsubakimoto's Toru Fujiwara told Bloomberg that, "With electric cars, there's no way we can apply our current technology. We have to come up with completely new technology." The company is spending 3.5 billion yen on battery-powered vehicle research this fiscal year. Of course, this is exactly the kind of challenge that is required to get off gas.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Electric cars a challenge for Japanese parts suppliers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Electric carelectric carselectric vehicleElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleevevsparts supplierPartsSuppliersuppliersSat, 21 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[STUDY: Air cars not worth it]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/study-air-cars-not-worth-it/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/study-air-cars-not-worth-it/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/study-air-cars-not-worth-it/#commentsFiled under:


Compressed air-powered cars like the AirPod pictured above are conceptually cool. But the real-world efficiency of using compressed air to move a vehicle just isn't worth is, says a new study published in the latest issue of Environmental Research Letters.

The main problem, one of the study's authors told AutoblogGreen, is that compressed air holds less than one percent of the energy of gasoline and, given the amount of electricity it takes to compress the air, "the air car's carbon footprint is more than twice as large as that of a gasoline car." Battery-powered cars are also more efficient than compressed air cars, the researchers found. Two possible ways to use compressed air technology in vehicles would be to combine it with a gasoline engine in a either a pneumatic-combustion hybrid or an air engine hybrid set-up, the authors say.

You can read the entire article, called "Economic and Environmental Evaluation of Compressed-Air Cars," in the October-December 2009 issue of Environmental Research Letters. Thanks to Andrew P. for the tip!

Potentially related: the company behind the AirPod has missed several deadlines to bring the car to market, as you can see in the comments to this post.

[Source: Environmental Research Letters, NYTimes]

STUDY: Air cars not worth it originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air carair powered carAirCarAirPoweredCarSat, 21 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Give a little, get a little: free biodiesel for test fleets in Yorkshire, UK]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/give-a-little-get-a-little-free-biodiesel-for-test-fleets-in-y/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/give-a-little-get-a-little-free-biodiesel-for-test-fleets-in-y/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/give-a-little-get-a-little-free-biodiesel-for-test-fleets-in-y/#commentsFiled under: ,

Can you use biodiesel in commercial truck applications? Sure you can. Thousands of trucks burn it everyday. Still, not everyone is fully convinced, and some want to operate their own fleet test to prove that turning waste vegetable oil into fuel is a viable plan. This is what CO2Sense Yorkshire, a UK-based group that helps businesses and organisations "prosper and grow in the new Low Carbon Economy," is planning with a new demonstration project. Basically, businesses in the area say, "hey, put that fuel in my vehicle and we'll see what happens," and CO2Sense Yorkshire says, "OK, here's 3,000 liters of 100% waste vegetable oil biodiesel fuel for free. Tell us how it works." Sounds like a deal to us.

The biofuel trial runs from December through February. Interested companies who want to volunteer a vehicle have until the end of the month to submit an application. Details here. Thanks to Damon S. for the tip!

[Source: Fleetnews]

Give a little, get a little: free biodiesel for test fleets in Yorkshire, UK originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>co2senseSat, 21 Nov 2009 12:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Long-Term Thinking: "Cost to Own" mindset grabs hold]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/long-term-thinking-cost-to-own-mindset-grabs-hold-and-green/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/long-term-thinking-cost-to-own-mindset-grabs-hold-and-green/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/21/long-term-thinking-cost-to-own-mindset-grabs-hold-and-green/#commentsFiled under: , ,

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

So many things are changing in the new automotive reality, it's hard to know where to start. Everything from the kind of hose we connect to our cars (liquid filled? electric?) to the sounds the vehicles make is different now than it used to be. What else needs to change? How about how we think about how much it costs to own and operate a car.

Naturally, it's always been possible to estimate this cost, but NADAguides.com has just released a "Cost To Own" calculator for new cars, so you can factor in fuel prices in your region into the cost of the car. It's entirely useful. For example, to own a 2010 Prius in Michigan for five years will cost an estimated $33,232. On top of the cost of the car, NADA tells us that the car will depreciation will make up 39 percent of the ownership costs, while fuel equals just 12 percent. A pie chart of the cost breakdown is pictured at right.

On a similar thread, Edmunds is recommending a shift away from MPG and towards a cost-of-energy window sticker on a new car. With all of those electric plugs being added to cars, MPG is becoming less and less valuable to understand how much it costs to get around. Two quick examples: per month, Edmunds estimates it'll cost $53.55 to drive the forthcoming Chevrolet Volt, but $66.78 to operate a Prius. Check out their chart here, and remember that according to a recent study, more efficient vehicles can (and often do) cost less.

[Source: NADAguides.com, Edmunds]

Continue reading Long-Term Thinking: "Cost to Own" mindset grabs hold

Long-Term Thinking: "Cost to Own" mindset grabs hold originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cost of ownershipcost to ownCostOfOwnershipCostToOwnedmundshybridsnadaownershipownership costsOwnershipCostsSat, 21 Nov 2009 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Journo experiences Volt's electric-to-hybrid transition, says it needs improvement]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/journo-experiences-volts-electric-to-hybrid-transition-needs-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/journo-experiences-volts-electric-to-hybrid-transition-needs-i/http://green.autoblog.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://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/elk-horn-iowa-installs-first-electric-car-charging-stations-in/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/elk-horn-iowa-installs-first-electric-car-charging-stations-in/http://green.autoblog.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[Opel introduces updated Corsa ecoFlex with 98 g/km CO<sub>2</sub>]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/opel-introduces-updated-corsa-ecoflex-with-98-g-km-co2-sub/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/opel-introduces-updated-corsa-ecoflex-with-98-g-km-co2-sub/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/opel-introduces-updated-corsa-ecoflex-with-98-g-km-co2-sub/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Opel Corsa ecoFlex - click above for high-res image gallery

Opel is about to launch a heavily revamped version of the B-segment Corsa, although observers probably won't notice much difference on the outside. That actually isn't such a bad thing, since the Corsa is a pretty handsome little car. Under the skin, the car gets new powertrains and revised suspension setups for improved handling and ride.

Under the hood, the Corsa offers diesels in 1.3-liter and 1.7-liter sizes with the latter rated at 130 hp. The smaller engine is available in three power levels with the most powerful 95 hp version powering the new ecoFlex model. The ecoFlex gets an EU combined rating of 63.6 mpg (U.S.) with CO2 emissions of 98 g/km. That's a 10 percent improvement over the previous Corsa ecoFlex with significantly better performance thanks to 27 percent more power. Even the 1.7-liter still hits the sub 120 g level with a 119 g/km and 52.3 mpg (U.S.).

Gallery: 2010.5 Opel Corsa


[Source: Opel]

Continue reading Opel introduces updated Corsa ecoFlex with 98 g/km CO2

Opel introduces updated Corsa ecoFlex with 98 g/km CO2 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>opelopel corsaopel corsa ecoflexOpelCorsaOpelCorsaEcoflexFri, 20 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/all-grown-up-audi-celebrates-the-20th-birthday-of-tdi/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/all-grown-up-audi-celebrates-the-20th-birthday-of-tdi/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/all-grown-up-audi-celebrates-the-20th-birthday-of-tdi/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

As Audi begins to roll out the A3 TDI to its U.S. dealers in the coming weeks and the diesel version of the Q7 takes an ever larger share of sales, it's time to celebrate. This fall marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the first ever TDI engine. TDI, for the uninitiated, stands for turbocharged-direct-injection, and refers to modern diesel engines from the Volkswagen group. Today's TDI technology has evolved from that 20 year-old 2.5-liter five cylinder in the Audi 100.

Back then, the first TDI engines retained distributor type injector pumps, although the fuel was sprayed directly into the combustion chambers rather than a pre-chamber. Later, the company used something called Pumpe Düse - pump-injectors - for fuel delivery. This design integrated the high pressure pump and injector for each cylinder. These days, TDI uses common rail injection where a single pump pressurizes a single fuel rail that feeds all of the injectors. Regardless of the injector type, TDI has gone a long way towards improving the power output and reducing emissions of diesel engines. Audi and Volkswagen have built over five million TDI powerplants and remain committed to the technology. Congratulations on the double-decade milestone, guys.

Gallery: Review: Audi A3 TDI


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI

All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audi dieselaudi dieselsaudi tdiAudiDieselAudiDieselsAudiTdidieseltditdi 20th anniversaryTdi20thAnniversaryturbo direct injectionTurboDirectInjectionvolkswagenvolkswagen tdivolkswagen tdi engineVolkswagenTdiVolkswagenTdiEngineFri, 20 Nov 2009 17:06:00 EST<![CDATA[REPORT: Tesla Motors planning IPO "soon"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-tesla-motors-planning-ipo/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-tesla-motors-planning-ipo/http://green.autoblog.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://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/aptera-update-backstory-uglier-than-we-knew/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/aptera-update-backstory-uglier-than-we-knew/http://green.autoblog.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[REPORT: New Lexus small car headed for U.S. by 2012 - perhaps sooner]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-new-lexus-small-car-headed-for-u-s-by-2012-perhaps-so/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-new-lexus-small-car-headed-for-u-s-by-2012-perhaps-so/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/report-new-lexus-small-car-headed-for-u-s-by-2012-perhaps-so/#commentsFiled under: ,

Lexus LF-Ch concept - click above for high res image gallery

Lexus introduced its LF-Ch concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and it's believed to be a shoo-in for production for the European market. However, The Detroit Bureau is reporting that Lexus is considering bringing the compact hybrid to the U.S. market as well. If it does come here, it will be the smallest Lexus and would compete against the likes of the Audi A3 and BMW 1-series. The Lexus concept will be shown at the Los Angeles and Detroit auto shows, where Lexus officials will be evaluating reactions to a premium priced small car.

Such cars are already well accepted in Europe and the idea of smaller premium cars may hold some appeal in the U.S., especially if fuel prices rise. Lexus has no intention of decontenting the LF-Ch to keep the price down if it does come to the U.S. A car with the Lexus badge does, after all, need to provide the amenities and luxury feel expected of the brand. While the LF is likely to have a conventional powertrain as standard fitment, a hybrid will probably be needed to compete with the A3 TDI and a possible 1-series hybrid or diesel.



[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

REPORT: New Lexus small car headed for U.S. by 2012 - perhaps sooner originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lexuslexus lf chLexus LF-Chlexus lf-ch conceptlexus lf-ch hybridLexusLf-chLexusLf-chConceptLexusLf-chHybridLexusLfChFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[GoGo Electric thinks short-term EV renting can change minds]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/gogo-electric-thinks-short-term-ev-renting-can-change-minds/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/gogo-electric-thinks-short-term-ev-renting-can-change-minds/http://green.autoblog.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://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/toyota-starts-discussions-on-who-will-get-phev-priuses/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/toyota-starts-discussions-on-who-will-get-phev-priuses/http://green.autoblog.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://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/rc-tesla-roadster-arrives-just-in-time-for-christmas/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/rc-tesla-roadster-arrives-just-in-time-for-christmas/http://green.autoblog.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://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/uk-to-spend-30-million-on-ev-charging-poins/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/uk-to-spend-30-million-on-ev-charging-poins/http://green.autoblog.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://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-all-electric-1975-zele-rides-like-an-suv/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-all-electric-1975-zele-rides-like-an-suv/http://green.autoblog.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[Small piece of history: 1936 Mercedes 260D, the first successful diesel passenger car]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/small-piece-of-history-1936-mercedes-260d-the-first-successful/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/small-piece-of-history-1936-mercedes-260d-the-first-successful/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/20/small-piece-of-history-1936-mercedes-260d-the-first-successful/#commentsFiled under: , ,


1936 Mercedes 260D - Click on image for full high-resolution gallery

Rudolf Diesel filed the patent for his signature engine in 1893. However, its installation in a passenger car didn't occur until 1933, when Citroën installed a diesel engine into a Rosalie bay, although this car was never authorized to run on roads. Not until 1936, when Mercedes showed off the 260D, can we talk about the first successful diesel car on the road. Based on the 200 model, the 260 used a 2.4-liter I-4 engine named OM 138 mated to a Bosch mechanical injection pump. The ensemble allowed the car to produce 45hp of power at 3,200 rpm. Almost 2,000 units were built through 1940. The car initially has a 3-speed gearbox; and was upgraded with electric coil ignitors in 1938.

One of the diesel powerplant's main benefits - then as now - was reduced fuel consumption. The 260D burned 9 l/100 km (26 mpg U.S.) compared to 13 l/ 100 km (18 mpg U.S.) in the gasoline counterpart. Another bonus: at the time, diesel was half the price of gasoline, so the motorists saved a lot of cash at the pump.


Gallery: 1936 Mercedes 260 D


[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Diariomotor]

Small piece of history: 1936 Mercedes 260D, the first successful diesel passenger car originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>first diesel carfirst diesel passenger carFirstDieselCarFirstDieselPassengerCarhistorysecond diesel carSecondDieselCarFri, 20 Nov 2009 08:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Greenlings: What's the difference between kW and kWh?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/greenlings-whats-the-difference-between-kw-and-kwh/http://green.autoblog.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[Liquid propane injection for GM V8s now available from CleanFuel USA]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/liquid-propane-injection-for-gm-v8s-now-available-from-cleanfuel/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/liquid-propane-injection-for-gm-v8s-now-available-from-cleanfuel/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/liquid-propane-injection-for-gm-v8s-now-available-from-cleanfuel/#commentsFiled under:

CleanFuel USA has introduced a new propane injection system for General Motor's 6.0-liter V8s. The GM small-block V8s are widely used in a vast array of both light and medium duty trucks, vans and buses.

The new injection system is designed to be retro-fitted to existing engines for fleet customers. CleanFuel USA expects to benefit from stimulus funding for cleaner commercial fleets. The Department of Energy will start awarding $33.5 million in grants in December of this year.

Like natural gas, propane is a popular option for commercial fleets, thanks to its low cost, clean emissions and efficiency. Because of the relative lack of propane filling stations, it is a viable option for fleets that operate out of a central depot where a propane tank can be located.

[Source: CleanFuel USA]

Continue reading Liquid propane injection for GM V8s now available from CleanFuel USA

Liquid propane injection for GM V8s now available from CleanFuel USA originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cleanfuelCleanFUEL USACleanfuelUsapropane injectionPropaneInjectionThu, 19 Nov 2009 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Alfa Romeo introduces LPG-powered MiTo]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/alfa-romeo-introduces-lpg-powered-mito/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/alfa-romeo-introduces-lpg-powered-mito/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/19/alfa-romeo-introduces-lpg-powered-mito/#commentsFiled under: , ,


2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo Imola - Click for complete gallery

Alongside the recently-launched MultiAir MiTos, Alfa Romeo has launched a dual-fueled LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) version of the Turbo 1.4-liter engine in the sexy hatchback. This model benefits from tax exemptions in many European countries, since it reduces CO2 emissions down to 131 g/km. The engine retains the standard 120 hp and still makes 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 8.8 seconds. The 39-liter LPG reservoir is placed in the spare tire well and, together with the standard gasoline tank, allows the dual-fuel MiTo to run for 1,200 km (745 miles) non-stop. Prices start at €13,900 in Italy, thanks to €4,500 from the state.



[Source: Diario del Motor]

Alfa Romeo introduces LPG-powered MiTo originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alfa rome mitoAlfaRomeMitodual fuelDualFuelgplItalyliquiefied petroleum gasLiquiefiedPetroleumGaslpgmitoThu, 19 Nov 2009 18:06:00 EST