Electric Car Blogging

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Pontiac, USA

The amazing Daryl Hannah is set to reprise her role from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill as the woman behind the wheel of that superbad 1980 Trans Am. Well, except for the deranged assassin and gas guzzling part. This time it’s not a movie but real life and her ride is going to be eerily quiet as it gets its punching power from batteries instead of gasoline. Yes, this talented spokesperson for environmental transportation who recently auctioned off her bio-diesel El Camino is now promoting the benefits of electric driving. We aren’t sure where the vintage Pontiac has been hiding out since its film role but Daryl has it and is getting ready to give it one extreme makeover. We don’t have any of the technical details yet but we can say that she plans to supply her car with power from her own solar panels. We also suspect that she’s going to have to invest in quite a few Kwh worth of energy storage to move almost two tons of epic bad attitude down the road at a pace worthy of it’s decaled-hood heritage. We wish her good luck with her project and look forward to seeing “Elle Driver” and her beast back on the boulevards.

[Source: Denver Post via Ecorazzi]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Toyota

Toyota is the undisputed leader in the hybrid space, and the Japanese automaker is looking to expand its kingdom by adding an all-electric vehicle to the mix. While there are few details available, Toyota has said the EV would likely be an urban city-type vehicle that will be available in the “early 2010s”. Hopefully it will be more accommodating than Toyota’s last attempt at an EV: the eCom (above), which used the innards of the RAV4 EV to achieve a top speed of 62 mph and a range of just 60 miles. Toyota’s new EV, however, will be preceded in 2009 by the arrival of the brand’s first plug-in Prius hybrid.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Chrysler, LLC.

Click above for more hi-res images of the Dodge Zeo concept

While everyone is aware of what GM, Honda and Toyota have been up to when it comes to fuel-saving technology, Chrysler has been playing it close to the chest. The Auburn Hills-based automaker, however, will show its dealers three new all-electric cars at the end of this month that are said to be production capable. Jim Press, the Chrysler exec who came from rival and current hybrid-leader Toyota, added that Chrysler’s future platforms were being designed with electrification in mind and that is still has access to technology from its previous owner, Daimler.

Like General Motors, Chrysler seems convinced that its EVs need to have plug-in capability. The goal, says Press, is 300 miles of range. To make that a reality, a very good set of batteries will be necessary - likely lithium-ions - and Press assures us that his company is working with multiple suppliers. Will any of the production-ready models be anything like the concepts shown off last year in Detroit? We’ll see.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

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Filed under: Coupes, Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Crossovers/CUVs, Hatchbacks, Hyundai

Hyundai swung with the Genesis and connected big time. But even though the Korean automaker wants to take its public perception upward, that doesn’t mean it plans to keep releasing big, luxury sedans. For the six new and redesigned models that will appear by 2011, Hyundai America’s product development chief says “We’re looking at small, fuel-efficient cars.” The company will also be giving buyers the option of putting smaller engines in some of their vehicles.

The i10, only on sale in India right now, is being considered for America (or not). And if the fortwo does well, Hyundai could invest in giving the i10 the safety and engine changes it would need to make it Stateside. A four-pot Genesis Coupe will available for the low twenties. Hyundai’s first hybrid will be installed on the redesigned Sonata, which gets redesigned in 2011, and the reworked Tucson will get four-cylinder engines only, along with the Santa Fe. And when the Tiburon goes bye-bye in 2011, it could be replaced by a small, FWD coupe based on the Veloster concept.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

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Filed under: Economy, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Toyota

Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Toyota iQ.

While we’re clamoring for small, efficient transportation, Europe is already awash with micro cars, diesels, and hatchbacks. When Toyota designed and engineered the tiny iQ, it had to go smaller and greener than the competition, so the little four-seater is only about 1.5 feet longer than a Smart fortwo. AutoExpress is reporting that Toyota is prepared to take iQ to the next level of green, with a plug-in hybrid version of the micro mini. Plug-in technology would reportedly be shared with the next generation Prius, save for an engine that goes from 1.0L to a displacement of only 500 cc. Chargeable batteries will enable the iQ to travel 15 miles or more without a drop of CO2-spewing combustion, and the smaller engine would stay stingy when it does come to life. While the iQ is probably still a little too small for large scale US consumption, we’re sure the vehicle would have quite the cult following if it could pull off fuel economy in the 100 mpg range. If gas decides to travel back north of the mark, though, even a clown car would be acceptable Stateside.

[Source: AutoExpress]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green

click to visit AutoblogGreen

Are the Chevy Volt’s batteries like diamonds? According to GM’s Bob Lutz, the answer seems to be yes. For Zipcar, all the people saying “yes” to car sharing doesn’t necessarily mean profits are rolling in. But what about that huge Hummer? Well, it’s quite the bummer.

• Lutz says Volt’s batteries are “flawless”
• Smart ED test is in full swing in Islington, UK
• Free hybrid alert: win a Lexus RX 400h SUV for a year
• Holden emboldened by lack of Chrysler success, offers cheap gas
• Bummer Hummer burns at Burning Man 2008
• Dubai public transportation to be all hybrid by 2012
• Toyota to start leasing fuel cell vehicle in Japan
• Profits absent as Zipcar grows
• European parliament scales back CO₂ emissions limits
• Honda to debut Prius-fighter concept this Thursday
• Ener1 CEO paints rosy future for li-ion battery technology
• Toyota reportedly prepping hybrid version of new iQ mini
• Darryl Hannah converting “Kill Bill” Trans Am to EV
• BMW slashing production of big engines, shifting to four cylinders
• Bosch-Samsung JV, SB LiMotive Co. Ltd officially starts operations

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