Archive for August 20th, 2008
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid
In a brief press release (which you can find pasted after the jump) Bosch and Samsung have confirmed they have received the green light from German authorities to work on their project to produce lithium-ion batteries. The joint venture, called SB LiMotive Co. Ltd., will start work next month. Their plan is to produce “highly efficient lithium-ion batteries customized to automotive requirements and to market them worldwide from 2011.” As we mentioned before, Samsung SDI has been producing lithium cells for consumer electronics and power tools while Bosch has expertise in the power electronics and battery management systems. Bosch, especially, has big dreams.
[Source: Bosch/Samsung]
Continue reading Green light for Bosch and Samsung’s joint venture for battery development
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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM
Veteran interviewer Charlie Rose has done a two-part look at General Motors in the wake of the company’s recent losses and its pending centennial celebration. In the first part, Rose sits down with Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner to discuss all manner of issues surrounding the ailing automaker, including the Volt. Aside from reiterating that the engineering teams are making excellent progress on the Volt and are on track to meet the late 2010 Job 1 date, Wagoner was asked about price. He replied that they haven’t worked out final pricing yet but expects the initial cars to come out in the mid to upper 30s. That’s clearly more than they would have liked but it is the reality of battery costs. Wagoner said the company hopes that the government will implement tax incentives that make the end price more palatable to consumers. On the subject of incentives he said that GM doesn’t expect the government to pay for the development of vehicles like the Volt, but would like to see the government encourage the demand side to help build volume. That would be a combination of incentives to buy, and also allowing fuel prices not to drop too much. The company is already realigning its production capacity to the reality of high gas prices and they would hate to see a reversal in demand for trucks at this point. You can check out the video after the jump. A second part, featuring an interview with Bob Lutz, hasn’t been posted online yet.
[Source: Charlie Rose]
Continue reading VIDEO: Charlie Rose talks to Wagoner, Volt price in the mid to upper 30s
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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USA
So you’re enjoying a lovely day, driving the twisty Skyline Blvd. in California on your Ducati Multistrada when, through a series of fortunate events, you find yourself trying out the saddle of a different bike that just happens to be a top secret electric prototype using a chassis from the same manufacturer as your personal ride. That’s what happened to a guy we know only as thomasj, who wrote about it on the Motorcycles’ Journal. He had spotted a suspiciously quiet Ducati 900ss with an overly-large back sprocket and struck up a conversation with the apparent owner. The man turned out to be former Tesla employee Forrest Deuth who has started a company currently known as Hum Cycles which is now in stealth mode and whose mission is to “create the greenest and most fun commuter vehicle on the freeway.” Sounds like a great goal to us and if the end product is as good as thomasj thought the prototype is, they just might succeed.
The guest rider found the torque to be mule-strong and unrelenting while the throttle stayed smooth and precise. No shifting was required as he quickly brought it up to the shy side of 100 mph, and then, with the help of some Brembo hardware, back down into legal range again. Like other electrics, it wasn’t really silent though it was, thankfully, free of annoying vibration. Aside from speculation, there is precious little to be known about this project at this time but when they are good and ready we are hopeful there will be some beans spillin’ here.
[Source: Motorcycles' Journal via Doug@TeslaMotorsClub]
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Supercars, UK
Click above for more images of the Trident Iceni
If the name ‘Trident’ has visions of Maseratis and vintage Triumphs dancing through your head, you are in for a big surprise. When we first looked at the Trident Iceni, it was powered by a 375-hp GM turbo diesel V8 mounted up front and producing 520 lb-ft of torque. After a year or two of development, it’s even better according to its makers, with the latest version of the venerable Duramax diesel tweaked to offer 550 horsepower at 3,800 rpm along with an arm-wrenching 950 lb-ft at just 1,800 rpm. Trident claims the Duramax can slingshot the Iceni to 60 mph in well under four seconds and on up to a top speed easily surpassing 200 miles per hour. According to the British company, its modified GM/Isuzu engine is capable of running on any blend of biodiesel without voiding the warranty and returns 68.9 miles per gallon (or 57 mpg in U.S. gallons) at a steady 70 miles per hour. Is this the guilt-free supercar for the eco-conscious speed freak?
With an elaborate chassis folded from stainless steel and a composite body, the Iceni will not rot away. The rear-mounted 8-speed automatic transmission also allows for wide gearing, which is fortunate since the diesel engine isn’t going to be a revver. The company is currently looking for funding and hopes to offer the Iceni for about £75,000 out the door. So far, Trident has mentioned no plans to send its wares across the pond to the U.S. Pity us poor Americans.
[Source: Trident Performance Vehicles]
Continue reading Trident diesel sports car not vaporware, still sounds too good to be true
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Filed under: Coupes, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Hyundai
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Hyundai Genesis sedan.
Hyundai’s first foray into the world of rear-wheel-drive needs to be a success in order to justify the development, manufacturing and launching costs. Hyundai’s vice president for product development, John Krafcik, told reports that the automaker expects to sell 50,000 Genesis models annually in the U.S. - 20,000 sedans and 30,000 coupes.
But the Genesis is only part of Hyundai’s image makeover. The Korean manufacturer intends to launch its first hybrid model by 2010, equipped with a next generation lithium-ion battery pack. According to Krafcik, “Our first U.S. hybrid is going to be the Sonata,” however, Hyundai has no plans to offer the new sedan with a plug-in option. That’s a strategy that’s served Toyota well, and Hyundai is clearly trying to follow in the Japanese juggernaut’s footsteps.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Misc. Auto Shows, FIAT
Click above to view the Fiat 500 Aria concept in hi-res
Having already had to increase production several times over, the Fiat 500 continues to win the hearts and minds of consumers around the world… tree-huggers included. But that isn’t about to stop Fiat from seeking out even more buyers, especially those of environmental conscience. And so reports indicate that the Italian automaker is preparing a hybrid version of the popular retro-mini.
Previewed by the unveiling of the 500 Aria concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the 500 hybrid is tipped to join an electric motor and battery pack to Fiat’s 0.9-liter two-cylinder gasoline engine. The diminutive yet stylish hybrid is also expected to employ start-stop technology and a dual-clutch transmission to further reduce emissions and increase fuel economy, which promises to increase the green factor for the entire Fiat group. Intriguingly, however, Fiat is reportedly planning to unveil the 500 hybrid at Goodwood Festival of Speed next summer.
[Source: Auto Express via AutoblogGreen]
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Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Peugeot
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Peugeot RC…
With the semi-annual auto salon returning to Paris this fall, you can expect France’s major automakers to make a big splash this year. Peugeot is preparing to unveil a new concept car, and has given us a bit of a heads-up in the form of a few images and some teasingly cryptic details.
With the name of the actual car not yet released, Peugeot is referring to the show car as the RC, adopting the same thematic nomenclature as the RC Spade and RC Diamond concepts from 2002 and the 908RC concept sedan from the last Paris Motor Show in 2006. Like those concepts, this one is not meant to directly preview a production car in the pipeline. However, it does foreshadow Peugeot’s new design direction. The four-door concept’s styling melds smooth flowing lines and sharp creases to make for a stunning shape, and moves the huge lion emblem farther south, not unlike the Audi R8’s grille. The echoes of Ingolstadt aren’t new for Peugeot, with many asserting that the 308 RC Z borrowed too heavily from the Audi TT. As for propulsion, Peugeot insists that “respect for the environment and driving pleasure can be compatible”, and so have fitted the RC with an unspecified hybrid powertrain producing a maximum of 313 hp and emitting only 109 g/km of CO2 in gasoline mode and, of course, zero in electric.
Check out the press release after the jump and the gallery below to view the teaser shots of the upcoming Peugeot hybrid concept, and stay tuned as we close in on the Paris show for more details.
[Source: Peugeot]
Continue reading Paris ‘08 Preview: Peugeot teases with RC… hybrid concept
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
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AutoblogGreen got a chance to take the new Honda Fit Sport out for a few miles recents, and we like what we saw and felt. There will be a full-on review of this stylish, high-mileage vehicle coming soon, but for now we understand what all the fuss is about. What we don’t quite understand is what Newt was thinking. Or FOSH, for that matter.
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