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CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric ready to steal the EV spotlight

Filed under: CES, Hatchback, Ford, Electric

Ford Focus Electric

Ford Focus Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf may have stolen the show for electric vehicles in 2010, but Ford is hoping to make big waves in 2011 with its first EV passenger car, the Focus Electric. The zero-emissions Focus hatchback makes its official debut at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show and Ford says the car will officially launch at the end of 2011 here in North America, with European customers expected to take delivery sometime before 2013.

Visually, the Focus Electric has an improved aerodynamics package to improve drag, incorporating a new front fascia that looks like something right out of the Aston Martin school of design. (Too bad this isn’t the Cygnet, huh?) The only other major design changes are the addition of a charging port with an LED ring to the left of the driver’s door and a new set of 15-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in low-rolling resistance tires. And speaking of LEDs, while the gasoline-powered Focus’ LED eyebrow above the headlamp is only available in Europe, Ford tells us that the North American-spec Focus Electric will wear this bit of accent lighting when it hits production.

Gallery: CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric

Ford Focus Electric

Gallery: Ford Focus Electric

Ford Focus Electric

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric ready to steal the EV spotlight

CES 2011: Ford Focus Electric ready to steal the EV spotlight originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford teases Focus electric ahead of CES

Filed under: Hatchback, Ford, Electric

2012 Ford Focus Electric

It’s been nearly a full year since Ford made it clear that the automaker is planning to roll out an all-electric version of its Focus, and now we have our first glimpse at what to expect from the car. The Blue Oval has dusted off its first teaser of the New Year with a shot of the charging port on the EV Focus. Interestingly enough, Ford has decided to skip the Detroit Auto Show as a venue for the vehicle’s unveil, opting instead for the electrified Focus to take a bow at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, which runs from January 6 to 9.

Ford has previously announced that when the Focus Electric hits the market, it will initially only be available in Washington, D.C. and just 14 states. Buyers can expect to find a range of around 100 miles thanks to an array of lithium-polymer batteries supplied by LG Chem. The attentive of you will recognize that supplier as the same company that serves up the cells for the Chevrolet Volt.

We’ll have the full details about Ford’s Focus Electric in the coming days, so stay tuned.

[Source: Facebook]

Ford teases Focus electric ahead of CES originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Nissan Leaf: Pros and Cons of living with an electric car

Filed under: Hatchback, Nissan, Autoline on Autoblog, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf

Test driving an electric car at an automaker’s media event is one thing. Taking one home and living with it is a completely different experience. Nissan just loaned me a Leaf for several days and I came away with a new appreciation for the potential pitfalls and rewards of owning an EV.

First off, I really liked the Leaf. It’s a nice, comfortable car with more than adequate power, it’s unbelievably quiet and offers a decent driving range. In fact, it’s been a long time since I was this excited to bring a test car home. But it wasn’t always a shiny, smiley, happy experience.

Let me state unequivocally: if you can only recharge from a 110-volt outlet, the Leaf is not for you. Not if you have a hefty commute and only own one car, that is.

John McElroy is host of the TV program “Autoline Detroit” and daily web video “Autoline Daily”. Every week he brings his unique insights as a Detroit insider to Autoblog readers.

Continue reading 2011 Nissan Leaf: Pros and Cons of living with an electric car

2011 Nissan Leaf: Pros and Cons of living with an electric car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan, Mitsubishi will work together on small, possibly electric, cars

Filed under: Mitsubishi, Nissan, Electric

Following reports that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will open a new, efficient global small car plant in Thailand, rumors that MMC and Nissan are talking about a 50-50 joint company in 2011 are a lot more interesting. Automotive News is reporting that the two Japanese automakers could bring a small car to market together in 2012 and – here’s where it gets good – they might also work together on electric vehicles. Mitsubishi has been making the Mitsubishi iMiEV for years and Nissan just delivered its first Leaf. The two automakers also participate in a joint car-sharing program in Kyoto, Japan.

According to a statement from Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, no details have been decided, but an analyst at a consulting company in Tokyo told AN, “The alliance of the two automakers seems to be a good one as we can expect more cooperation in electric vehicles going forward.” Ghosn’s statement said the partnership, “is important for Nissan as it supports our expansion in emerging markets, meets immediate capacity needs overseas and enables us to grow our minicar business in Japan.”

Mitsubishi and Nissan already work together on some vehicles, like the Mitsubishi Lancer Cargo (made by Nissan) and the Minicab, Town Box, eKWagon and Pajero Mini models (built by Mitsubishi for Nissan).

[Sources: Automotive News – sub. req., Green Car Reports]

Report: Nissan, Mitsubishi will work together on small, possibly electric, cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Senate unanimously rules in favor of noisy hybrids, electric cars

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Safety, Electric

Regardless of whether or not there’s an actual need for pedestrian warning systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, the U.S. Senate has voted unanimously to approve a measure that would make the noise-adding setup standard on all vehicles that can operate – even if just momentarily – without the burble of an engine.

The measure, called the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 and backed by Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, aims to establish standards for alerting pedestrians of the possible danger of an approaching vehicle that moves in near silence. With the Senate voting in favor of the bill, it will now head off to the House of Representatives, where it’s expected to pass with ease.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Senate unanimously rules in favor of noisy hybrids, electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dismal hybrid, electric vehicle sales in China concern automakers

To say that sales of alt-energy vehicles in China have been dismal would be an understatement. Despite investing million into advanced alternative fuel powertrains, the Global Times reports that many Chinese automakers are facing the tough decision to either ditch their green car plans or continue on with sales that are far below expectations.

Due to poor sales volume, Changan Auto has pulled the plug on its hybrid Jiexun. According to the company, not a single Jiexun was sold during the last year. BYD faces similar struggles, reporting that it has sold only 54 E6 electric vehicles and just 290 F3DM plug-in hybrids between January and October of this year. Even Toyota admits that Prius sales volume, which has been at less than 4,000 for each of the past three years, is below the company’s expectations.

Many Chinese automakers have voiced concerns and are calling upon the government to help boost sales of advanced-technology vehicles. So far, however, buyers have shown little interest in purchasing the high-tech rides that often come with steep price tags.

Source: Global Times]

Dismal hybrid, electric vehicle sales in China concern automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Revenge of the Electric Car trailer arrives

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Electric

revenger of the electric car trailer

Revenge of the Electric Car movie trailer – Click above to watch video after the jump

It looks like at least 10,000 people want to see the preview for the new Revenge of the Electric Car movie. That was the number of “likes” the film’s producers set for the RotEC Facebook page, and now that the number has been hit, we have our first preview of what movie-going audiences will learn about when the flick hits the screen in the spring of 2011. The production team sent AutoblogGreen the following message just before the 10,000th fan clicked “like.”

Everyone on the “Revenge” team is incredibly thankful for all our wonderful fans who have spread the word to help us reach our 10,000 fan goal so quickly – we’re almost there! It also reminds us of how important people feel the electric car is to them. The fact that so many people want to see this film and spread the word proves how important it is for everyone to learn about electric vehicles as an alternative to gasoline-powered cars and to be informed about new developments in EV production and what kind of options there are out there for consumers ready to shift into an electric gear.

Enough talk, check out the clip after the jump.

[Source: Revenge of the Electric Car via YouTube]

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Video: Revenge of the Electric Car trailer arrives originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pope Benedict wants… solar-powered electric Popemobile?

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Technology, Specialty, Electric

Pope Benedict XVI is quickly becoming known as the “Green Pope.” During his time at the top of the Catholic Church, His Holiness has made a point to preach sustainable energy, and he’s backed up his words with actions. In 2008, photovoltaic cells were installed on the roof of a Vatican auditorium, and in 2009, a solar cooling unit was added to the Vatican cafeteria.

The Washington Post is now reporting that Pope Benedict wants to take another step towards a greener footprint with a solar-powered Popemobile. The Vatican says that a solar Pope transporter would be a rolling tribute to the Pontiff’s message to promote sustainable energy. But while the Pope’s idea is a good one, so far there apparently are no automakers willing to take on the task.

The German firm SolarWorld, which installed the cells atop the Vatican auditorium, says it can build the Pope an electric solar car, but marketing boss Milan Nitzschke claims that a major hurdle is getting the Vatican security to sign off on such an endeavor. There are apparently concerns about a solar Popemobile having enough speed to take off if there are any security incidents. Nitzschke says that power won’t be an issue, but with a huge bulletproof dome atop a vehicle that’s bound to weigh several thousand pounds, we’re thinking range could be a problem as well.

Is a solar Popemobile possible? Of course, but it may not sport large areas of solar cells atop the Pope’s bulbous sled. It may be more practical to have an electric Popemobile with large yet portable solar cell arrays that can plug in and charge the vehicle when it isn’t on the Papal parade route.

[Source: The Washington Post | Image: Josep Lago/AFP/Getty]

Pope Benedict wants… solar-powered electric Popemobile? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: All-electric Mitsubishi i (don’t call it i-MiEV) debuts for U.S.

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hatchback, Mitsubishi, Electric

Mitsubishi i i-MiEV

U.S.-market Mitsubishi i – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mitsubishi has been working on electric vehicles for a long time. So much so that the car the company is now calling the “100% battery-powered Mitsubishi i for the U.S. market” was emblazoned with the words “40 years of EV development” on its back bumper when it as unveiled at the LA Auto Show today. As the sketches we saw of the widebody i hinted at, the new vehicle is indeed longer and wider than the original i-MiEV in order to meet U.S. safety regulations. Oh, and the inside is “a little bit larger for larger frame people,” said Maurice Durand, manager of product communications for Mitsubishi Motors North America. Yes, America, Mitsubishi has heard your pleas for more butt space.

The electric i will go on sale in the U.S. next fall and be priced “around $30,000.” The company expects to sell just 20,000 units by fiscal 2015 – a modest goal, indeed. This is due, in part, to Mitsubishi positioning the i as an electric vehicle best suited for commuting, not one intended to replace the SUV or car you take on long road trips. “Frankly, the main purpose of this car for us is to get us in as a stakeholder in the electric vehicle game and to help pave the way for our future products,” Durand told AutoblogGreen. What future Mitsubishi vehicle might that be? The PX-MiEV. Details are yet to come.

As this vehicle shows, the MiEV name survives as something to brand Mitsubishi’s eco drivetrains that are based on the battery system used in the i and the i-MiEV. The hardware in the American, European and Japanese vehicles are the same, but the software that runs it is going to be upgraded for the U.S so that the car hits a range target of 85 miles on the LA4 test cycle and performs as American drivers expect.

Once available, buyers will be able to buy a preferred 220V charging station, designed and manufactured by Eaton that can fully charge an empty battery in eight hours, at Best Buy. Mitsubishi had a partnership with Best Buy in the past and had some Geek Squad groups use Japanese-spec i-MiEVs for service calls. Having Best Buy get familiar with the vehicle – learn how it charges and how it reacts in a real world environment – helped convince the retail giant to sell the charger, Durand said. Check out the full press release after the break.

Gallery: LA 2010: 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV

LA 2010: 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV

[Source: Mitsubishi]

Continue reading LA 2010: All-electric Mitsubishi i (don’t call it i-MiEV) debuts for U.S.

LA 2010: All-electric Mitsubishi i (don’t call it i-MiEV) debuts for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: Fiat 500 Abarth coming to U.S., all-electric 500 BEV to launch first

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Chrysler, Fiat, Electric

Fiat 500 Abarth

The Fiat 500 Abarth prefers to run on two wheels – Click above to watch video after the jump

The other day we told you to bone up on your Italian because the Fiat 500 configurator came online. Now you should seriously start saving your Lira because the high-performance 500 Abarth model has been confirmed for the U.S. market. No date has been confirmed, but we’ve been told that the launch of all 500 models will be staggered and the Abarth is last in the queue.

Those other variations include the standard 500 that you can start ordering now, the 500C drop-top and a 500 that runs on all-electric battery power. Still, the one we’re breaking out the driving gloves for is the Fiat 500 Abarth… and rumor has it that we might see the tiny terror running Stateside within the next three years because the 500 BEV hits the market in 2012.

Check out the video after the jump to see why i nostri cuori battono così velocemente.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Abarth Opening Edition

Continue reading Confirmed: Fiat 500 Abarth coming to U.S., all-electric 500 BEV to launch first

Confirmed: Fiat 500 Abarth coming to U.S., all-electric 500 BEV to launch first originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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