AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Hyundai's 50-acre rooftop solar-panel system will be South Korea's largest]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/hyundai-50-acre-rooftop-solar-panel-system-south-korea-largest/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/hyundai-50-acre-rooftop-solar-panel-system-south-korea-largest/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/11/hyundai-50-acre-rooftop-solar-panel-system-south-korea-largest/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hyundai's rooftop solar-panel system at its Asan factory

Hyundai's green-cred future's so bright, its factory roof's gotta wear shades. The South Korean automaker will install that country's largest solar-panel system when it deploys about 40,000 solar voltaic panels on the roof of its Asan plant later this year.

The system will cover about 2.2 million square feet, or about 50 acres, of rooftop and will supply 11.5 million kilowatt hours, or the equivalent the power consumed by about 3,200 households. Hyundai makes the Sonata Hybrid at the plant, further bolstering the car's treehugging credentials.

Hyundai says the solar system will eliminate about 5,600 tons worth of CO2 emissions. Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) will purchase the electricity and redistribute it throughout the factory. Check out Hyundai's press release below.

Continue reading Hyundai's 50-acre rooftop solar-panel system will be South Korea's largest

Hyundai's 50-acre rooftop solar-panel system will be South Korea's largest originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 11 May 2013 09:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asanfactoryhyundaihyundai sonata hybridsolarSat, 11 May 2013 09:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20564994/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20564994/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/11/hyundai-50-acre-rooftop-solar-panel-system-south-korea-largest/20564994/article-detail.xml 20564994 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/hyundairoof_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/hyundairoof.jpg <![CDATA[Space-age electric tuk-tuk ready for taxi passengers in Philippines]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Tuk-tuks are the three-wheeled passenger vehicles commonly used in Asia, and they're often noisy and most-certainly-not-emissions-free. To counter the current state, Japanese start-up company Terra Motors has launched an electric tuk-tuk and thinks its electric tricycle will be a cost competitive taxi in Asia.

The company plans to build the car in the Philippines and start selling it later this year for about $6,300. It can go about 31 miles on a two-hour charge, which could propose a bit of a limitation for all-day taxi use. This three-wheeler ties into a national program in the Philippines to replace 100,000 gas-powered tuk-tuks with more efficient, cost-effective EVs by 2016.

Drivers can acquire the Terra tuk-tuk on a lease-to-own basis. The idea is to save drivers money by offering lower fuel costs while reducing air pollution in densely populated urban areas. The challenge is that drivers can buy a gas-powered tuk-tuk for somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500, and those don't have a 31-mile range limitation. Still, plans call for the company to expand the business to the broader Asian market while continuing to work on hitting the right price point, according to Terra Motors director of business development Tetsuya Ohashi.

Terra Motors is counting on consumers enjoying the space-age design and ample interior seating. Investors such as former top executives at Apple Japan, Google Japan, Sony and Compaq have been impressed by Terra's plans, despite a small number of Chinese companies also marketing electric tuk-tuks. Of all the e-tuk-tuk builders, Terra is considered the most ambitious and you can see a TV news report on the company's six-seat taxi video below.

Continue reading Space-age electric tuk-tuk ready for taxi passengers in Philippines

Space-age electric tuk-tuk ready for taxi passengers in Philippines originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclejapanphillipinestaxiterra motorsthree wheelertuktukTue, 23 Apr 2013 17:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545486/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545486/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/23/electric-tuk-tuk-terra-motors-philippines/20545486/article-detail.xml 20545486 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/terra-motors-three-wheeler_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/terra-motors-three-wheeler.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan expands NV200 electric van tests in Singapore]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/nissan-expands-nv200-electric-van-tests-in-singapore/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/nissan-expands-nv200-electric-van-tests-in-singapore/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/18/nissan-expands-nv200-electric-van-tests-in-singapore/#commentsFiled under: , ,

fedex ev nissan

Nissan is conducting field tests with FedEx in Singapore for its all-electric NV200 commercial van. The road test for what Nissan now calls the "e-NV200" is part of a comprehensive field test program that was started up by Nissan and FedEx at the Hannover Motor Show in Germany last September.

Once the Singapore project is completed, the program will be taken to other countries, including the US and Brazil. Field tests have already been conducted in the UK and Japan.

Singapore was chosen by Nissan and FedEx because of the nation's stance on environmental policies including efforts to reduce air pollution. It ties together commitments from the automaker and delivery company to improve the environmental impact of their operations.

The field test will not be elaborate, as only one e-NV200 will be monitored as it makes delivery trips for a month. After that, both companies will evaluate whether the vehicle is ready for local delivery of international air cargo. Nissan will also utilize the data for future development of the e-NV200. The company press release is available below.

The Nissan e-NV200 will be launched in 2014, and will be the second electric vehicle in Nissan's lineup. There may be an opportunity for Nissan to provide the electric cargo van in other markets, especially now that that the Ford Transit Connect Electric has gone away.

Continue reading Nissan expands NV200 electric van tests in Singapore

Nissan expands NV200 electric van tests in Singapore originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-nv200electric cargo vanelectric vehiclefedexnissannissan nv200singaporetransit connectThu, 18 Apr 2013 07:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543479/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543479/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/nissan-expands-nv200-electric-van-tests-in-singapore/20543479/article-detail.xml 20543479 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/fedexvan_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/fedexvan.jpg <![CDATA[GM will make next electric car in Korea; expected to be bigger than Spark EV]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/gm-build-electric-car-korea/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/gm-build-electric-car-korea/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/29/gm-build-electric-car-korea/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2014 chevy spark ev

GM reportedly will produce next-generation electric vehicles in South Korea, alongside the Chevrolet Spark EV (pictured), due to arrive in American showrooms by summer, and later this year in Europe. The Spark EV also will be available for fleets in Canada.

GM Korea honcho Sergio Rocha told journalists at the Seoul Auto Show, now underway, that the new electric will be an entirely new design and will be a bit larger than the current Spark. Also, it will be an EV-specific design, not a gas-to-electric model, and GM's first dedicated EV since the bullet-shaped EV1, whose demise was well-documented in the 2006 film Who Killed the Electric Car? GM has vaguely mentioned plans for two other new EVs, one with a 100-mile range, another with 200. Stay tuned to find out which one will be produced first. Whichever it is, the lithium-ion batteries will be from LG Chem, according to Reuters.

GM Korea makes more than 40 percent of Chevrolet's smaller models at its Bupyeong plant, including Aveo, which is no longer sold in the US, and Malibu, which is.

GM will make next electric car in Korea; expected to be bigger than Spark EV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevy spark evelectric vehicleevgmkoreaFri, 29 Mar 2013 16:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20522368/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20522368/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/29/gm-build-electric-car-korea/20522368/article-detail.xml 20522368 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/chevy-spark-ev-action-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/chevy-spark-ev-action-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Turkey wants bigger role in EV world]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/28/turkey-wants-bigger-role-in-ev-world/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/28/turkey-wants-bigger-role-in-ev-world/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/28/turkey-wants-bigger-role-in-ev-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Istanbul in the dusk

In the "You Gotta Start Somewhere" Department, Turkish government officials are vowing to fund the development of Turkish-made electric vehicles in order to increase regional competitiveness within the alt-fuel world, Hurriyet Daily News says.

Turkey's Science Ministry will buy 200 electric cars within the next five years and will "grant 100 percent in research and development support" for domestic EV makers. The Turkish government says the focus will be on urban EVs that may be used for public transportation, though didn't divulge estimated investment figures or other details.

Either way, the government is pushing for advanced-powertrain development in a Turkish auto industry dominated by four players: Toyota and partnerships that include Ford, Renault and Fiat. About 900,000 vehicles were produced in Turkey in 2009, and the country had a car-to-person ratio of about 1-to-10, according to a 2010 Deloitte report on the Turkish auto industry. That ratio compares to 1-to-2 in Germany and almost 1-to-1 in the US.

Turkey wants bigger role in EV world originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleevscience ministryturkeyturkishThu, 28 Feb 2013 07:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20481374/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20481374/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/28/turkey-wants-bigger-role-in-ev-world/20481374/article-detail.xml 20481374 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/istanbul_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/istanbul.jpg <![CDATA[Cambodia unveils domestic EV, the Angkor]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/14/cambodia-angkor-electric-vehicle-ev/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/14/cambodia-angkor-electric-vehicle-ev/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/14/cambodia-angkor-electric-vehicle-ev/#commentsFiled under: , ,

angkor ev

Add Cambodia to the list of countries hoping to boost its domestic economy by making electric vehicles. The Southeast Asia country of about 14 million people will be home to the Angkor EV 2013, which will be produced by Heng Development Co., according to the Phnom Penh Post.

We've heard lots of promises about new and untested electric cars, and the Angkor follows in those tire tracks, starting with an impressive range of 186 miles on a full charge. This is somewhat tempered by the top speed of about 37 miles per hour, according to the Post. While few other details have been released about the EV, the model is expected to retail for less than $10,000. No volume numbers were disclosed.

As for the car's looks, the Angkor EV will be a two-seater (we think) with scissor doors that open vertically, according to a three-minute video (below) that features groovy electro hip-hop music but no specifics on the car. While it's hard to tell whether the car is a two-seater or a very small four seater, its grill does look like something akin to that of a Nissan Quest minivan.

Check out the video below.

Continue reading Cambodia unveils domestic EV, the Angkor

Cambodia unveils domestic EV, the Angkor originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>angkorcambodiaelectric vehicleevhengMon, 14 Jan 2013 08:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20425653/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20425653/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/14/cambodia-angkor-electric-vehicle-ev/20425653/article-detail.xml 20425653 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/angkor-ev-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/angkor-ev-628.jpg <![CDATA[Tesla Model S vs. the world]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/tesla-model-s-vs-the-world/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/tesla-model-s-vs-the-world/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/tesla-model-s-vs-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Since the Detroit Auto Show almost 12 months ago, Tesla began calling 2012 the Year of the Model S. Following the US launch earlier this year, the all-electric sedan is about to go on sale in Europe. Tesla's latest email newsletter reveals a bit about how the company is preparing audiences around the world - namely Canada and Hong Kong - for the Model S.

For Canada, the Model S needed "new labels, language modifications and a vehicle immobilizer" before Transport Canada would certify the car. Deliveries will be starting very soon. Tesla's first Canadian store is in Toronto. The immobilizer is a device that would be good to have in other regions, too, since it automatically prevents the car from starting if the keys are not present - an anti-theft device, in other words.

Meanwhile, over in Hong Kong, Tesla has already received around 300 reservations for the Model S (and Model X). Last week, at the official launch at the Cyberport Arcade, these reservation holders were able to meet each other and test drive the EV on the streets of Hong Kong.

Tesla Model S vs. the world originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadaelectric vehiclehong kongmodel steslaFri, 21 Dec 2012 11:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20409454/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20409454/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/21/tesla-model-s-vs-the-world/20409454/article-detail.xml 20409454 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/tesla-model-s-hong-kong-628_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/tesla-model-s-hong-kong-628.png <![CDATA[GM will sell all-electric Chevy Spark in South Korea in 2013; US gets it later]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/26/gm-will-sell-all-electric-chevy-spark-in-south-korea-in-2013-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/26/gm-will-sell-all-electric-chevy-spark-in-south-korea-in-2013-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/26/gm-will-sell-all-electric-chevy-spark-in-south-korea-in-2013-us/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Chevrolet Spark

How about a little of that over here?

That's what some electric-vehicle proponents may say after General Motors announced the upcoming public debut of an all-electric Chevrolet Spark. In South Korea.

GM Korea, which is 77 percent owned by the US automaker (the rest is owned by Korea Development Bank and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.), will start making and selling the all-electric Spark in 2013, according to the Wall Street Journal.

GM, which says it's investing more than $900 million annually to further development of electric-drive vehicles, will also eventually "export" the Spark EV here to the US, though fewer details were disclosed about that process. Most likely, the Spark EV will be a California "compliance car." In March, GM started testing Spark EVs in California, and estimated that the car had a single-charge range of about 100 miles.

South Korea accounts for about 25 percent of all Chevrolets sold globally. Pictured above is a gas-powered Spark.

GM will sell all-electric Chevy Spark in South Korea in 2013; US gets it later originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletelectric vehicleevgm koreasouth koreasparkspark evFri, 26 Oct 2012 19:36:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20362420/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20362420/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/26/gm-will-sell-all-electric-chevy-spark-in-south-korea-in-2013-us/20362420/article-detail.xml 20362420 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/spark_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/spark.jpg <![CDATA[Fisker will start selling Karma in China in November]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/16/fisker-will-start-selling-karma-in-china-in-november/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/16/fisker-will-start-selling-karma-in-china-in-november/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/16/fisker-will-start-selling-karma-in-china-in-november/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The time difference between California and Beijing is quite a bit less than 11 months, but we doubt plug-in enthusiasts in China will quibble with that.

Fisker Automotive, which in late 2010 reached an agreement with China Grand Automotive Group to have its Karma extended-range plug-in sports sedans sold in China, will start doing so in November, according to Inautonews. California-based Fisker also said it will base its Asia operations in Shanghai.

The company initially set a deadline with China Grand Automotive to start Fisker sales in China by the end of 2011. China Grand Automotive has more than 200 dealerships across China that sell more than 40 auto brands.

In April, Fisker reached an agreement to have its cars sold in the Middle East and North Africa by Al-Futtaim Group. That company, which also sells Jeep, Toyota and Volvo vehicles, was supposed to open a Fisker dealership in Dubai this year. Fisker, which started producing the Karma last year, has made around 2,000 vehicles thus far.

Fisker will start selling Karma in China in November originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachina grand automotiveelectric vehicleextended rangefiskerkarmaplug-in hybridshanghaiSun, 16 Sep 2012 08:16:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20323079/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20323079/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/16/fisker-will-start-selling-karma-in-china-in-november/20323079/article-detail.xml 20323079 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/fisker_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/fisker.jpg <![CDATA[BYD sells its first electric cars, three E6 EVs, in Thailand]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/12/byd-sells-its-first-electric-cars-three-e6-evs-in-thailand/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/12/byd-sells-its-first-electric-cars-three-e6-evs-in-thailand/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/12/byd-sells-its-first-electric-cars-three-e6-evs-in-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Hey, it's a start.

BYD, the China-based vehicle maker that's repeatedly delayed the debut of its battery-electric vehicles for the U.S. market, has sold three of its EVs to the Thai utility company that supplies power to Bangkok as part of an effort to promote EV vehicle use in the country. Power company MEA cited BYD's leadership role in EV production and Thailand's need to adopt more green transportation as the reason behind the purchases.

A year ago, Thailand flooding killed more than 800 people and devastated its automobile production industry, including companies like Toyota and Honda. Before the floods, Thailand was the world's 12th-largest automotive producer, with about 1.6 million vehicles built in the country in 2010. Because of the flood, any efforts promote the production of more fuel efficient cars and, in some cases, vehicles with advanced powertrains, were held back.

BYD has been testing its all-electric e6 with Shenzhen, China taxi operators for more than two years. The company has also sold about 200 battery-electric buses worldwide. BYD, whose investors include Warren Buffett, was testing its EVs in Los Angeles as early as 2010 and had previously set U.S. launch dates for 2010, 2011 and 2012. BYD opened its North American headquarters in Los Angeles late last year.

Continue reading BYD sells its first electric cars, three E6 EVs, in Thailand

BYD sells its first electric cars, three E6 EVs, in Thailand originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokbydelectric vehicleevmeashenzhenthailandutilityWed, 12 Sep 2012 12:42:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20318949/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20318949/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/12/byd-sells-its-first-electric-cars-three-e6-evs-in-thailand/20318949/article-detail.xml 20318949 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/byd-e6-electric_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/byd-e6-electric.jpg <![CDATA[Lada introduces new all-electric vehicle in Russia]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/07/lada-introduces-all-electric-vehicle-russia/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/07/lada-introduces-all-electric-vehicle-russia/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/07/lada-introduces-all-electric-vehicle-russia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

lada electric car

In 1976, Renault famously (or some would say infamously) introduced Le Car. Now, the French automaker is playing a major role in the unveiling of El Lada.

In this case, Renault and sister company Nissan are 50 percent owners of Lada, which is pitching what will be the first Russian-produced battery-electric vehicle, according to Technologic Vehicles.

El Lada, shown below in a five-plus-minute video released by Lada part-owner Avtovaz, is said to have a 60-kilowatt (80-horsepower) electric motor that delivers a top speed of about 80 miles per hour and a single-charge range of about 100 miles. The five-door compact hatchback EV will get its first day-to-day road experience when it's tested by taxis in the city of Stavropol, which is about 100 miles north of the Georgia border in southern Russia.

Lada recently stepped up its profile when it recently hired former Mercedes-Benz senior designer and ex-Volvo chief designer Steve Mattin to run the Russian automaker's design operations. It just showed off its Xray concept car at the Moscow Auto Show.

The automaker has apparently jumped ahead of Yo Auto, which is owned in part by Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. That company, which said in late 2010 that it would start producing Russia's first hybrid vehicle by the end of this year, recently backed off that claim and said the car, the Yo Mobile, will not be available until 2015, according to Agence France-Presse.

Continue reading Lada introduces new all-electric vehicle in Russia

Lada introduces new all-electric vehicle in Russia originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>el ladaelectric vehicleEVladalada electric carnissanrenaultrussiavideoFri, 07 Sep 2012 14:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20316316/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20316316/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/07/lada-introduces-all-electric-vehicle-russia/20316316/article-detail.xml 20316316 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/ellada_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/ellada.jpg <![CDATA[Ultimate fast charging tech could refill li-ion battery in a minute]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/23/ultimate-fast-charging-tech-could-refill-li-ion-battery-in-a-min/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/23/ultimate-fast-charging-tech-could-refill-li-ion-battery-in-a-min/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/23/ultimate-fast-charging-tech-could-refill-li-ion-battery-in-a-min/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If you're planning on investing in a DC fast charger to get your electric vehicle battery 80 percent juiced up in 30 minutes, you might want to stick with your Level 2 charger for a while longer. Korean scientists at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have developed a lithium ion battery that can be recharged 30 to 120 times (!) faster than li-ion batteries on the market today. What's your guestimate on how long a li-ion battery using that technology would take to recharge? How about this one: less than a minute!

Li-ion battery packs have been getting smaller and lighter all the time, gaining more capacity and faster charging rates than previous versions. Breaking larger batteries into smaller individual cells has been making EV batteries better, but that technique only gets you so far. The new Korean method takes the cathode material - standard lithium manganese oxide (LMO) in this battery - and soaks it in a solution containing graphite. Then, by carbonizing the graphite-soaked LMO, the graphite turns into a dense network of conductive traces that run throughout the cathode. These networks of carbonized graphite effectively act like blood vessels, allowing every part of the battery to recharge at the same time - speeding up recharge rates to an unheard-of pace.

These ultra-fast charging batteries aren't expected to be cheap, which is a problem since the li-ion battery packs currently used in EVs are already too expensive for most car shoppers. The research paper that describes the technology, "Carbon-Coated Single-Crystal LiMn2O4 Nanoparticle Clusters as Cathode Material for High-Energy and High-Power Lithium-Ion Batteries," sounds much too PhD-level and dry for anyone to read, but they show the technology moving forward. As cool as it is, if this innovation takes hold, many consumers will continue to look for EVs that carry this type of battery and have competitive market pricing. Don't expect to see that anytime soon.

Ultimate fast charging tech could refill li-ion battery in a minute originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dc fast chargeelectric vehicleevli-ionlithium ion batteriesulsan national institute of science and technologyunistThu, 23 Aug 2012 16:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20306257/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20306257/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/23/ultimate-fast-charging-tech-could-refill-li-ion-battery-in-a-min/20306257/article-detail.xml 20306257 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/lithium-ion-battery-1345614787_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/lithium-ion-battery-1345614787.jpg <![CDATA[Flexible batteries may be tiny now, but end effect could be big]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/flexible-batteries-are-tiny-now-but-promise-big-things/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/flexible-batteries-are-tiny-now-but-promise-big-things/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/flexible-batteries-are-tiny-now-but-promise-big-things/#commentsFiled under: , ,

kaist flexible battery

Thus far, KAIST, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, has mostly been in these pages for its work with in-road charging technology (see here and here). The latest out of KAIST is just as future-minded as roads full of charging devices: flexible batteries.

They won't be available to move cars for a long, long time - if ever - but the tiny batteries that KAIST researchers are working on are getting ever-higher energy density levels. Right now, as you can see in the video below, they can't do much more than light up an LED, but the list of potential uses for these batteries is high. Treehugger writes they, "could be used in things like e-paper, wearable electronics and improved piezoelectric devices for harvesting energy from movement. Imagine flexible gadgets that could be powered by bending them." It's that line about "harvesting energy from movement" that lets us imagine them being used in plug-in vehicles in interesting ways, perhaps powering infotainment systems by getting just enough energy from the car's movement down the road. They might not offer all that much assistance, but every little bit helps. Especially this early in the EV era, and KAIST researchers say they could be commercialized within a year.

Continue reading Flexible batteries may be tiny now, but end effect could be big

Flexible batteries may be tiny now, but end effect could be big originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flexible batterykaistkorea advanced institute of science and technologyThu, 16 Aug 2012 10:05:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20302046/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20302046/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/16/flexible-batteries-are-tiny-now-but-promise-big-things/20302046/article-detail.xml 20302046 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/kaist-flexible-battery_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/kaist-flexible-battery.png <![CDATA[Honda launches Jazz (Fit) Hybrid in Thailand]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/31/honda-launches-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-thailand/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/31/honda-launches-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-thailand/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/31/honda-launches-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-thailand/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Honda announced the official debut of its Jazz Hybrid in Thailand, marking the Japanese automaker's continued efforts to broaden its hybrid-vehicle production outside of Japan.

The hybrid version of the Jazz, known as the Fit in the U.S., is gaining popularity in Asian markets outside of Japan, hence the new production markets. Honda said the Jazz Hybrid, which pairs an 88-horsepower gas engine with a 14-horsepower electric motor, uses 4.7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, which equals about 50 miles per gallon. In the U.S., the EPA rates the most-efficient 2012 Fit, the 1.5-liter 5-speed automatic, at 31 combined mpg, 28 in the city and 35 on the highway.

Earlier this month, Honda broke ground on a Malaysian factory line that will include Jazz Hybrid production. Honda's looking to more than double annual Jazz Hybrid sales in Malaysia to more than 10,000 units.

The Nikkei reported in May that Honda would take Jazz Hybrid production to Thailand. The Thai auto industry, the world's 12th largest, took a massive hit with last year's flood that killed more than 800 people. Plants owned by both Honda and Toyota suffered damage, though both have since reopened.

Continue reading Honda launches Jazz (Fit) Hybrid in Thailand

Honda launches Jazz (Fit) Hybrid in Thailand originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fitfit hybridhondahybridjazzjazz hybridmalaysiathailandTue, 31 Jul 2012 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20289366/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20289366/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/31/honda-launches-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-thailand/20289366/article-detail.xml 20289366 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/jazzhybrid0730_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/jazzhybrid0730.jpg <![CDATA[Electric Odyssey Citroen C-Zero happily cruising through Asia]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/electric-odyssey-citroen-c-zero-happily-cruising-through-asia/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/electric-odyssey-citroen-c-zero-happily-cruising-through-asia/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/electric-odyssey-citroen-c-zero-happily-cruising-through-asia/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

electric odyssey china

It's the little EV that could.

The car in question here is an all-electric Citroen C-Zero (a rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV) that two French engineers, Xavier Degon and Antonin Guy, are driving around the world, making it to China earlier this month. When we looked in on the Electric Odyssey in April, the drivers were in the Rockies. They started in Strasbourg, France last February and spent June in Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

Even though the trip has been all-electric (well, not counting the fossil fuel required to get the car over the oceans), Citroen used the Odyssey's arrival in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, as "an opportunity to draw attention to its environmental strategy and the various solutions implemented by the Marque worldwide. For example: continuous improvements to combustion engines, the development of new hybrid-linked technologies, and all-electric vehicles." Using an EV adventure - one where the message is "If we can drive round the world in an electric car, you can use it for most of your day-to-day journeys" - to promote combustion engines? That's kind of ironic, no?

The Electric Odyssey is scheduled to arrive in Kazakhstan on August 10th and is in an electric race around the world against Rafael de Mestre and his Tesla Roadster. You can learn more about the Electric Odyssey on the website and see a video of the car in Japan below.

Continue reading Electric Odyssey Citroen C-Zero happily cruising through Asia

Electric Odyssey Citroen C-Zero happily cruising through Asia originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antonin guyaround the worldcitroen c-zeroelectric odysseyelectric vehicleimitsubishixavier degonWed, 25 Jul 2012 14:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20285685/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20285685/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/25/electric-odyssey-citroen-c-zero-happily-cruising-through-asia/20285685/article-detail.xml 20285685 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/electric-odyssey-china-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/electric-odyssey-china-628.jpg <![CDATA[Plug-in Renault Samsung SM3 compact coming to Korea in 2013]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/plug-in-renault-samsung-sm3-compact-coming-to-korea-in-2013/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/plug-in-renault-samsung-sm3-compact-coming-to-korea-in-2013/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/plug-in-renault-samsung-sm3-compact-coming-to-korea-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Renault Samsung Motors will debut a plug-in compact vehicle in Korea next year as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's efforts to expand electric-drive sales to more geographic areas.

The plug-in will be a battery-electric version of Renault Samsung's SM3 compact and ... that's about all we know, since precious few details about the plug-in have been revealed thus far.

The plans were announced as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's plans to expand overall production in Korea. The Alliance will spend $160 million expanding production at its Busan, Korea factory to accommodate 80,000 more vehicles per year. The Nissan Rogue crossover is among the other vehicles that will be made on the new factory line. Renault and sister company Nissan are investing about $5 billion in expanding plug-in vehicle technology worldwide.

Continue reading Plug-in Renault Samsung SM3 compact coming to Korea in 2013

Plug-in Renault Samsung SM3 compact coming to Korea in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclekoreanissanrenaultroguesamsungsmasung sm3Wed, 25 Jul 2012 08:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20285305/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20285305/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/25/plug-in-renault-samsung-sm3-compact-coming-to-korea-in-2013/20285305/article-detail.xml 20285305 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/renaultze_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/renaultze.jpg <![CDATA[Honda will start making Jazz (Fit) hybrid in Malaysia]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/24/honda-will-start-making-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-malaysia/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/24/honda-will-start-making-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-malaysia/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/24/honda-will-start-making-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-malaysia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Honda broke ground on a production line at its Malaysian factory that will make hybrid versions of the Jazz (as the Fit is known in markets outside the U.S.) - as well as other vehicles - in an effort to more than double hybrid sales in the country.

The second line, which will start production by the end of 2013, will make 50,000 vehicles a year. Honda is investing 350 million Malaysian ringgit ($110 million U.S. at current exchange rates) in the line.

Last year, Honda, which currently imports its Jazz Hybrids to Malaysia from Japan, sold 4,600 hybrids in Malaysia. This year, the automaker plans to sell 10,000 hybrids there. Malaysia is Honda's largest Southeast Asia market for hybrids.

Continue reading Honda will start making Jazz (Fit) hybrid in Malaysia

Honda will start making Jazz (Fit) hybrid in Malaysia originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fitfit hybridhondahybridjapanjazzjazz hybridmalaysiaTue, 24 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20284865/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20284865/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/24/honda-will-start-making-jazz-fit-hybrid-in-malaysia/20284865/article-detail.xml 20284865 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/hondamalaysia_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/hondamalaysia.jpg <![CDATA[China's FAW Group's new plug-in hybrid is a bit Volt-like]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/20/chinas-faw-groups-new-plug-in-hybrid-is-a-bit-volt-like/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/20/chinas-faw-groups-new-plug-in-hybrid-is-a-bit-volt-like/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/20/chinas-faw-groups-new-plug-in-hybrid-is-a-bit-volt-like/#commentsFiled under: , ,



If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the Chevrolet Volt can start to blush.

China's FAW Group is looking to develop a car similar to General Motors' Volt extended-range plug-in, Ward's Auto reports.

The vehicle, which has been under development for about a decade, can go a Volt-like 37 miles in all-electric mode and has a full-tank-plus-full-charge range of about 250 miles, Ward's said, citing a presentation from China FAW research and development president Li Jun at the Advanced Vehicle Technologies and Integration conference in Changchun, China.

The car uses a 0.7 liter, 56-horsepower, two-cylinder turbocharged engine as an on-board generator, and has a nine-kWh LG Chem battery (to compare, the Volt has a 16-kWh battery, but only uses around 9-10 kWh). The vehicle is about 1,300 pounds lighter than the Volt's nearly 3,800-pound curb weight, according to Ward's. The company estimated that the extended-range plug-in set-up boosts vehicle costs, compared to a conventional car, by about $8,600, though didn't give any details on possible production.

FAW, which has had a joint-venture vehicle-making entity in China with Volkswagen for more than 20 years, unveiled its first alt-fuel vehicles in August 2011 with a plug-in hybrid vehicle that could go 44 miles in all-electric mode on a full charge and an all-electric car that had a single-charge range of 111 miles. Early last year, FAW said it had registered 65 advanced-powertrain technology patents, though just a fraction of its nearly $2 billion in research and development spending between 2006 and 2010 was related to advanced powertrains.

China's FAW Group's new plug-in hybrid is a bit Volt-like originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletchinaextended rangefawfaw evfaw groupplug-in hybridvoltFri, 20 Jul 2012 09:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20281964/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20281964/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/20/chinas-faw-groups-new-plug-in-hybrid-is-a-bit-volt-like/20281964/article-detail.xml 20281964 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/faw_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/faw.jpg <![CDATA[FedEx expands Nissan e-van testing to Yokohama]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/fedex-expands-nissan-e-van-testing-to-yokohama/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/fedex-expands-nissan-e-van-testing-to-yokohama/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/fedex-expands-nissan-e-van-testing-to-yokohama/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

FedEx Nissan e-NV200

FedEx will expand testing of the all-electric Nissan e-NV200 utility van to Japan's Yokohama region this month.

The delivery company will test the Nissan for about a month. Nissan's already tested the EV in Japan with AEON Retail Co.

The agreement marks a continuation of the road-testing partnership between FedEx and Nissan. FedEx started testing the electric concept version of Nissan's NV200 in Europe last fall, and expanded that effort to the U.K. in December.

Nissan said in May that it's spending about $125 million upgrading its NV200 factory in Barcelona to accommodate production of the electric van, which is expected to start by spring 2014. The concept version uses the same powertrain as the Nissan Leaf.

FedEx says it has about 43 permanent electric vehicles in the U.S. and Europe, in addition to more than 300 hybrid-electric delivery trucks. Scroll down to read more in the official press release.

Continue reading FedEx expands Nissan e-van testing to Yokohama

FedEx expands Nissan e-van testing to Yokohama originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deliverye-nv200electric vehiclefedexjapanleafnissannv200trialutilityvanyokohamaThu, 12 Jul 2012 15:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20276197/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20276197/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/12/fedex-expands-nissan-e-van-testing-to-yokohama/20276197/article-detail.xml 20276197 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/nissan-nv200-ev-fedex-1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/nissan-nv200-ev-fedex-1.jpg <![CDATA[Renault eyes Eastern Europe, South America for Twizy EV]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/renault-eyes-eastern-europe-south-america-for-twizy-ev/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/renault-eyes-eastern-europe-south-america-for-twizy-ev/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/renault-eyes-eastern-europe-south-america-for-twizy-ev/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Renault Twizy EV

Little car, big plans.

Renault is looking to expand distribution of its Twizy electric vehicle to countries such as Turkey, Israel, Japan and Singapore as well as South America after selling about 6,500 vehicles throughout Europe. This news comes courtesy of Technologic Vehicles, which cited an interview with Thierry Koskas, who oversees the French automaker's electric-vehicle program.

The company, which is in the process of developing another urban electric vehicle with Daimler's Smart division, said the car will have a price tag of about 10,000 euros (about $12,400) and may be available as soon as 2014, according to the publication.

Renault started selling the Twizy EV in France in March and expanded into the U.K. in April. The Twizy, which has moved about 1,000 units in Germany already, has 17 horsepower and is about a foot shorter than the Smart ForTwo.

Already, Twizy EVs have been added to car-sharing programs in both France and the U.K.

Renault eyes Eastern Europe, South America for Twizy EV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleisraeljapanrenaultsingaporesouth americaturkeytwizyWed, 11 Jul 2012 07:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20272466/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20272466/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/11/renault-eyes-eastern-europe-south-america-for-twizy-ev/20272466/article-detail.xml 20272466 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/twizy0705_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/twizy0705.jpg -1 2