2008 November Electric and Hybrid Car News -- Electric & Hybrid Cars

Chrysler EV Vehicles
Sportster, Jeep, & Mini-Van

Preview: Mini E all-electric car(November 30) - The ambitious part is that Mini is claiming a fairly incredible 240 kilometres of driving range from the Mini E, placing it at the forefront of mobility offered by current electric vehicles. Complete Story

REVA strives to fine-tune fully electric vehicle(November 30) - Since its launch in 2001, REVA Electric Car Co. - a joint India-U.S. venture based in Bangalore in partnership with AEV LLC of California - has placed about 2,500 fully electric cars on Indian and European roads. Complete Story

Business up for electric car conversions(November 30) - Kansas — Times are tough for big automakers trying to stay afloat in a cantankerous economy, but Wayne Alexander has his hands full keeping up with demand for his cars. Alexander converts gas-powered vehicles to all-electric systems. Complete Story

Local authorities get in on push for electric cars(November 28) - USAToday - As automakers amp up plans for electric vehicles, more local and state governments are trying to plug themselves into the movement. Complete Story

Portugal, Renault-Nissan Set Electric-Car Plan(November 28) - GreenTech - Four months after signing an electric car deal with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Portugal has come up with a more concrete plan for charging these cars when they arrive. Under the plan, 320 charging stations will be in place and ready to serve by the end of 2010, and 980 additional stations will be added by the end of 2011.   Complete Story

L. A. Auto Show positively electric(November 28) - From electric cars to electronic trees on dashboards that sprout leaves when you drive in a more economical way, nothing was off limits for auto manufacturers seeking to show their green credentials. Complete Story

2010 Honda Insight to Teach Drivers to Save Fuel(November 26) - US News - A Honda press release states, "The Multi-Information Display also allows drivers to view fuel economy figures for the past three trips, as well as instantaneous and average fuel economy statistics. The scoring function encourages drivers to take an interest in developing fuel-efficient driving habits over the long term." Complete Story

Futuristic Aptera looks great, sips fuel(November 25) - A new car has been built that is dramatically beautiful and, more important in these troubled times, unbelievably efficient. Complete Story

Tesla 1.5 test drive(November 25) - CarTech - Every automotive journalist who drives a Tesla comes away impressed with the car's power, and I can say the same after taking the car out on a quick drive near the company's Menlo Park, Calif., Tesla store (they don't call it a showroom or dealership). Complete Story

The Suspense Builds in the Automotive X Prize "Green Prix"(November 24) - The greenest race on earth, the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, is heating up, like Salma Hayek dancing on a waffle iron. The competition will award $10 million dollars to the teams that win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 MPG or the energy equivalent (MPGe). Complete Story

Electric Car Industry Agrees To Install Battery Exchange Stations(November 24) - California is planning to install battery exchange stations to service drivers of new electric cars. The cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland plan to increase the availability of electric vehicle recharging services. Complete Story

Aptera Focuses On Final Enhancements(November 23) - As you know, up to this point we have referred to our vehicle as the Aptera Typ-1 - a name that has become very near and dear to all of us. However, as we move ever closer to production, we are giving more and more thought to brand development and what it takes to make 'Aptera' a household name.   Complete Story

Bob Lutz’s Latest Volt Test Drive(November 23) - NY Times - No one would call Bob Lutz a lifelong environmentalist. The General Motors vice chairman does not believe in global warming, and he derided the Prius as a P.R. move as recently as four years ago. But Mr. Lutz has become an enthusiastic convert to one cause: the Chevrolet Volt. Complete Story

Porsche Buying a Tesla Roadster to Study It(November 23) - Edmunds - It is an understood truth that important R&D departments and their engineers remain important by learning all they can from the successes and mistakes of their competitors. The latest proof of that is the purchase of a Tesla Roadster by Porsche's scientists in Weissach, Germany. Complete Story

Tesla Motors applies for $400 million government aid(November 23) - Motor Authority - Fledgling electric car company Tesla Motors has encountered financing problems recently, prompting the firm to apply for a $400 million aid package from the Department of Energy. Complete Story

The iMiEV Is a Sweet EV With a Lousy Name(November 22) - Wired - Mitsubishi holds no illusions that the iMiEV is the end-all, be-all of eco-friendlier motoring. With its diminutive size, limited range and love-it-or-hate-it looks, the iMiEV isn't for everyone. Complete Story

Gas Guzzling Cars Take Back Seat to Electric Bikes and Scooters for Holiday Giving(November 19) - EarthTimes - Environmentally conscious people are thinking green this Christmas. Instead of expensive cars or gas scooters and motorcycles that pollute more than cars, many high school and college students are asking their parents for planet friendly electric bicycles and scooters. Complete Story

AFS Trinity Reports Its Battery/Ultracap Plug in Hybrid System Is 6 Times More Durable Than Lithium Batteries Alone(November 19) - MarketWatch - AFS Trinity Power Corporation today reported independent test results demonstrating that the company's "Extreme Hybrid" technology that utilizes batteries in combination with ultracapacitors will enable a plug in hybrid vehicle using the system to have a useful life that is 6 times greater than plug ins that use lithium batteries alone -- 150,000 miles for an AFS Trinity Extreme Hybrid versus 25,000 miles for a conventional plug in hybrid that uses lithium ion batteries alone. Complete Story

2008 LA Auto Show: Top 7 Hybrids(November 18) - Hybrids will take center stage at 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, which opens to the public on Nov. 21. Thirty hybrid models will be on display—revealing the diversity of options coming to the market, including small affordable hybrid cars, luxury hybrids, sporty hybrids, hybrid crossover SUVs, hybrid pickups, and even a Toyota Camry Hybrid concept that runs on a combination of electric power and compressed natural gas. Complete Story

Toyota to spinoff Prius into separate brand(November 18) - Toyota has confirmed it will spinoff Prius into a separate brand. The main goal it appears would be to bring down the price of hybrid gas/electric vehicles. Complete Story

Honda Insight concept hybrid revealed(November 18) - Still technically a concept, although we all know a production version looking a lot like this will go on sale in spring 2009. For anyone who’s just come out of a coma, the Insight is Honda’s answer to the ubiquitous Toyota Prius hybrid car. Complete Story

6 Cool European Electric Cars Never Coming to the US(November 18) - Hybrid Cars - Like nearly every automaker in the world, coachbuilders are going green, by designing and building all-electric vehicles. Their electric cars are well suited to the congested streets of Rome or Paris, but don’t hold your breath for these cool electricity-powered rides to make it across the pond. Complete Story

Cranking the Volt to 100 M.P.G.(November 18) - NY Times - Around Detroit, the certainty of a Volt mileage rating above 100 m.p.g. is today’s worst-kept secret. The only unknown is how much more than 100 the window sticker will read, because the sticky process of deciding exactly how to rate a new generation of hybrid-powered cars is still being worked out.   Complete Story

Toyota contemplates delay of Prius production in Mississippi(November 18) - Just a few months ago Toyota was struggling to keep up with demand for its Prius hybrid in North America due to skyrocketing fuel prices. Waiting lists at some dealerships were stretching as long as eight months. Complete Story

Ford, PML Flightlink Debut All-Electric F-150 at SEMA(November 18) - EVWorld - Built by U.K.-based PML Flightlink in collaboration with Ford, the F-150 concept is powered by four in-wheel motors that can deliver 600 combined horsepower. Complete Story

Future rests with longer-range electric car(November 17)According to Car Magazine, Tom Purves, CEO of the storied English marque, thinks an electric Phantom would make sense. "Many of our customers do small mileages exclusively in the city," Purves said. "For these customers, an electric Rolls-Royce would be ideal." Complete Story

Fiat unveils a plug-in beach buggy(November 16) Some might view an environmentally friendly off-road vehicle as a contradiction in terms, but as far as the Brazilian team that designed the Fiat Bugster is concerned, it's all about guilt-free fun. Complete Story

Vectrix Electric Scooter Road Test Review(November 15) Turn on the ignition, hold on the back brake and dab on the front. Despite the complete absence of noise or vibration, the flashing ‘GO’ indicator on the LCD instrument display says you’re ready to roll. Welcome to the Vectrix electric scooter – and welcome to the future. Complete Story

Nissan May Lease Batteries For New Electric Cars(November 15) Nissan announced that buyers of its upcoming all-electric cars might have the opportunity to lease the high-voltage lithium-ion batteries separate from the cost of the car. This is a step intended to mitigate both their high price and widespread consumer concerns about the lifespan of hybrid and electric-car batteries. Complete Story

Sounds Like EEStor Has Delayed Again (November 14) Although ultracapacitor manufacturer EEStor is highly secretive and few people outside the company can fully explain what it is up to, there are two things you can almost always count on the company to do. One, to delay its product. Two, to be highly entertaining. Complete Story

Marcelo da Luz On His Solar Car World Record(November 14) - Canada - Toronto native Marcelo da Luz had the distinction of setting the world record for the longest distance traveled in a solar car when he rolled into Victoria, British Columbia this week. However he doesn’t intend to stop at surpassing the previous record by a mere 80km, he plans to keep on driving. Complete Story

Solar Powers more Vehicles as Gasoline use Drops (November 13) - CleanTech - The U.S. Marine Corp at Camp Pendleton, during my last visit, showed me an 8-station solar car port that they use to charge their 320 light-electric vehicles. Complete Story

Toyota launches microsite for 2010 Prius(November 12) - MotorAuthority -   Toyota has launched a new microsite for its 2010 Prius hybrid, along with the requisite debut countdown clock for the exact second when the car will finally be revealed to its expectant audience. The car is currently a little over two months away from its world debut at the Detroit Motor Show in January, however previously leaked images have already revealed its final design. Currently, the website only has the countdown clock and a place to recieve updates. Website

Toyota Prius tops German Eco rankings(November 12) - EarthTimes -   The Toyota Prius hybrid continues to lead the Eco-Test rankings conducted annually by Germany's automobile association (ADAC) which measured fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in a special test. Complete Story

Ford Fusion Hybrid to be the first-ever hybrid pace car in NASCAR Sprint Cup(November 12) - MotorAuthority -   At the end of October, Ford revealed a preview of the 2010 Ford Fusion, and with it came details on the next-generation hybrid system that would be available in the car. Complete Story

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. Unleashes the World's Ultimate Electric Super Car Exclusively at Sam's Club(November 12) - MarketWatch - Designed to provide maximum excitement and performance, the eye-catching super car features high speeds capable of reaching over 150 miles per hour and 0-60 in less than 5 seconds. An expanded drive range of 200 miles on a single 110v or 220v charge. Complete Story

Dean Kamen Making the 'Segway' into Hybrid Cars(November 12) - FoxNews - "I'm a car manufacturer! It's so exciting," he said last week, showing off his state registration for his new car, listed as a 2008 DEKA Revolt. Complete Story

Texas Teen Builds All-Electric Car(November 11) - Texas - Luke Laborde, 17, estimates he put 150 hours into the project, which converted a gas-powered Bradley kit car to run on an electric motor driven by eight lead-acid batteries. Complete Story

Rolls-Royce Electric Car?(November 11) - Wired - If the word out of Goodwood is true, Rolls-Royce owners won't have shut off their engines so you can hear them ask for Grey Poupon because they won't have engines, just blissfully silent electric motors. Complete Story

Electric KillaCycle sets motorcycle speed record(November 10) - Colorado - The KillaCycle, ridden by Scotty Pollacheck, made drag racing history at Bandimere Speedway setting a new official NEDRA record of 7.89 seconds at 168 MPH making the motorcycle the world’s quickest electric vehicle of any kind in the quarter mile. Complete Story

Quietly, Mini seeks 500 drivers to lease electric car for a year(November 9) - California - Mini is recruiting 500 drivers in California, New York, and New Jersey to lease its electric car for a year. In the two weeks that MiniUSA.com has been offering a peek at the Mini E, 9,500 people have signed up for more information, says Trudy Hardy, Mini USA's manager of marketing communications. Complete Story

AFS Trinity Pulls 150 MPG SUV out of Show(November 8) - California - The company's decision followed actions by the LA Auto Show to muzzle AFS Trinity from highlighting the 150 miles per gallon fuel economy of its XH150 prototype vehicles. "The suppression by the automakers of information about technologies such as this raises serious questions about the judgment, vision, intentions and capabilities of the leadership of these companies." Complete Story

ZAP Redesigns 2009 Electric City Car With Hatchback(November 7) - MarketWatch - The new 2009 Xebra Hatchback is a 5-door hatchback with folding rear seats, more than doubling the size of the rear cargo area with 34 cubic feet of space. More head and leg room was added and the styling upgraded inside and out to improve aesthetics. Complete Story

Think Again: Norwegian Electric Car Makes A Comeback(November 7) - Norway -The car, which has been crash tested in Europe, is basically a two-seater, though 2+2 children’s seats are available. It can reach 68 miles an hour and has a cruising range of 100 to 110 miles, roughly double the earlier vehicle. Complete Story

Panasonic eyes Sanyo; bets on solar power, hybrid cars(November 6) - Reuters - Panasonic Corp, the world's top plasma TV maker, is betting on a green future of solar power and hybrid cars as it negotiates a price for rival Sanyo Electric Co that analysts say could be up to $8.7 billion. Complete Story

The $5,000 Prius: Too Good to Be True?(November 6) - The Daily Green - Lt Col Steven R. Huss has a bridge, er I mean a hybrid car to sell you. A Toyota Prius to be precise, a fully equipped 2007 model for $4,990. Complete Story

H2 Hybrid - Central Texas Innovators Building New Generation of Hydrogen Cars(November 5) - Auto Channel - The new car now in pre-production is called the "Scorpion" and the Company plans for it to be available to consumers this fall. The hydrogen delivery system with dual computer processor controls produces hydrogen on demand and in real time which will be inducted through the air intake manifold and blended with gasoline at a ratio of 30-40 percent hydrogen. Complete Story

A specialty garage makes hybrid cars even greener(November 6) - NY Times - The only hybrid specialty garage run by a woman has opened in the Bay Area, which has more Priuses - 70,000 as of 2006 - than most U.S. states. And while its owner, Carolyn Coquillette, has a preoccupation with cleanliness that may not be unique in a mechanic's shop, her ubiquitous recycling containers (for paper, plastic, rubber, metal and oil) and the solar panels on her roof set Luscious apart. Complete Story

Tesla secures $40 mln debt funds for electric-car operations(November 3) - MarketWatch - Tesla Motors Inc., the San Carlos, Calif., producer of an electric-powered high-performance sports car, said it received $40 million in convertible-debt financing from almost all current major investors. Complete Story

Tax Breaks Coming For Electric Cars(November 3) - The Auto Channel - The AP reported that Plug-in electric vehicles from General Motors and Toyota are not expected to hit showrooms for more than a year, but when they arrive, the first buyers will be eligible for a tax credit that could reach $7,500. Complete Story

2008 Monthly Electric Car News
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