October 2009
Ford Names Azure Dynamics to Collaborate on Transit Connect Electric Van
By John O'Dell October 30, 2009Plans Change after Smith Electric Vehicles, Ford Mutually Dissolve Prior Agreement Ford Motor Co. says it has selected Azure Dynamics to build the upcoming Ford Transit Connect electric delivery van after the automaker and Britain's Smith Electric Vehicles mutually decided to sever their longstanding ties. Smith, which has been using Ford truck chassis in Europe for its electric trucks, had been named last year as builder of the Transit Connect battery-electric vehicle. The word we hear is that Smith, which has a North American offshoot, Smith Electric Vehicles U.S., decided the small-EV market is getting too competitive and is more
Fiat Engine Tech Impressive - But Would U.S. Buyers Accept the Cost?
By Bill Visnic October 30, 2009In exchange for becoming the operating partner and 20-percent owner of Chrysler Group LLC, Fiat S.p.A. said it would work to incorporate its new efficiency-enhancing powertrain technologies into Chrysler-badged vehicles and other models the two companies may introduce into the U.S. market. Fiat recently launched one such technology, showing the media the first car powered by an engine using the company's innovative "Multiair" variable-valve timing system. The technology seems genuinely impressive - it cuts fuel consumption by a solid 10 percent while increasing power and torque by a similar amount - but the car in which the first Multiair more
Energy Budget is Now Law, Includes $814 Million Funding for Green Vehicles, Fuels
By John O'Dell October 30, 2009In the biggest federal boost for green car development in decades, the 2010 energy budget bill just signed into law by President Obama includes $814 million in funding for various alternative fuel and vehicle programs. One provision, $283 million for fuel cells and hydrogen fuel, restored more than $100 million that in funds for automotive-specific programs that Energy Secretary Steven Chu initially proposed cutting from the budget. Chu said at the time he didn't see fuel-cell electric cars as commercially viable in the next 15-20 years. Automakers and fuel cell developers quickly rallied to persuade Congress that Chu hadn't more
Italian Design Students Get Real-World Assignment Combining Chrysler, Fiat
By Michelle Krebs October 30, 2009While Chrysler and Fiat designers were working quietly behind the scenes to jointly develop new models, transportation design students in Italy were doing the same. The two final vehicles selected by the students to develop into models have been revealed. Perhaps Chrysler will hint at its work with Fiat next week when the American automaker rolls out its five-year plan. The 37 students in their second year of the three-year car design course at IED Turin in Italy were given the assignment to design vehicles that combined the best technical know-how, the platforms and the values of the Fiat more
Future Vehicle Technologies to Debut 'eVARO' Plug-In at SEMA Performance Show
By John O'Dell October 30, 2009SEMA, the paean to power, where exhaust fumes are perfume and green is a paint color, not a philosophy, is changing just a bit. ----------Extended-range plug-in hybrid eVARO three-wheeler prototype will debut at SEMA show in Las Vegas next week.---------- They've got environmentally friendly tires on display at the annual SEMA show now, along with cars that run on ethanol and automakers that brag about low emissions right along with their horsepower hype. And this year, as last, there will be a display at the Las Vegas venue dedicated to the pursuit of fuel economy - the Progressive Automotive more
Aptera Resubmits Application for Federal Manufacturing Loan For 3-Wheeled EV
By John O'Dell October 30, 2009President Obama has, as expected, signed a bill extending eligibility for federal Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program loans to certain fuel-efficient, three-wheeled vehicles, and Aptera, for one, isn't wasting any time. ----------Aptera 2e prototype being tested early this year.---------- The Southern California-based vehicle developer and would-be manufacturer of the three-wheel, wingless-aircraft shaped Aptera 2e, said it is updating its previously rejected application for a $75 million loan from the program that would help finance its anticipated 2010 manufacturing launch. more
Smith Electric Vehicles Expanding Offerings To Small Heavy-Duty Truck Market
By John O'Dell October 29, 2009We've long believed that the world of inter-city delivery trucks is an ideal place to really push for vehicle electrification - the trucks don't usually need to travel all that far and a quiet electric motor sure beats a noisy diesel, idling by the curb and spewing noxious exhaust while the driver trundles a pallet of chips or sodas into the neighborhood convenience store. Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. thinks so, too. and says that it's hefty Newton delivery tuck is doing so well that it is migrating the battery-electric drive system into the smaller Class 3 and Class 4 more
Is Nissan's Leaf Falling on Mexico in 2011? Country Promises EV Incentives
By John O'Dell October 29, 2009Nissan may be going global with the Leaf electric car sooner than planned. The initial launch of the worlds first modern mass-produce EV was to be held on a limited basis in Japan and the U.S. next year, with global sales to follow in 2012, when the Leaf would be joined by several other new EVs Nissan is developing. But now it looks as though Mexico might get its first Leafs in 2011. Dow Jones International News, citing Nissan Executive Vice President - and head of the Americas operations - Carlos Tavares as its source, said Nissan has won more
Biden Tongue-Slip Reveals Fisker 'Nina' Model Lineup Plans
By John O'Dell October 29, 2009Veep Discloses that New Plug-In Hybrid Will Come in More Than One Flavor It wasn't much of a secret to leak - Henrik Fisker has always talked about offering multiple models of the "project Nina" plug-in hybrids his company plans to build. But Vice President Joe Biden, somewhat notorious for his talkativeness, let slip during remarks at a recent Fisker event that those models would include an SUV-styled crossover and a coupe, in addition to the sedan that's always been talked abut. Fisker later conformed that the Veep was correct, and went on to tell reporters that after he'd more
Textron Reportedly Plans Chinese Factory for Low-Speed EV Production
By John O'Dell October 30, 2009Textron Corp., the global industrial giant that already makes low-speed electric utility vehicles and electric vehicle components, reportedly is eying a full-fledged EV manufacturing operation in China. ----------Four-wheel drive low-speed EV from Textron's E-Z-Go subsidiary.---------- IHS Global Insight, citing a Chinese business news service, reported this morning that an unidentified Textron executive told the news service that the factory would specialize in low-speed limited-range neighborhood electric vehicles that use conventional lead-acid batteries. It would be operated in collaboration with an existing Chinese automaker, the report said, and would be capable of producing 10,000 NEVs a year. more