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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><itunes:author>Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan Roth</itunes:author><itunes:image href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/autoblog-podcast-itunes.jpg" /><itunes:summary>The podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.</itunes:summary><itunes:category text="Games and Hobbies"><itunes:category text="Automotive" /></itunes:category><item><title><![CDATA[SCI hyMod can switch rear end of car from electric to hybrid [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-culture/" rel="tag">Green Culture</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/videos/" rel="tag">Videos</a></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/sci-hymod-modular-hybrid/"><img alt="SCI hyMod Modular Hybrid" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/sci-hymod-concept.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 399px;" /></a><br />
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For those perplexed by making the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/26/ev-project-finds-plug-in-hybrid-owners-more-likely-to-use/">right powertrain choice</a> - pure battery electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid - there may be a solution. For SCI, a Romanian concept design team, the solution would be <a href="http://www.scihymod.com/">modular units</a> that offer the driver a choice - to transform the car from an all-electric car for clean daily operation, say, or into a hybrid for interurban travel when recharging possibilities aren't exactly available.<br />
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Called "hyMod - The modular hybrid," the system is all computer generated for now (see the gallery or the video <a href="/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/#continued">below</a>). The concept car was proposed by the Romanian team, which is composed of an automotive journalist, Dan Scarlat, a designer, Marian Cilibeanu, and an engineer, Cristian Ionescu. Most of the video shows a small crossover-style car, similar to a more rounded version of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/fit/">Honda Fit</a> hatchback. It does have distinct wheels that look something like a blossoming flower.<br />
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Then the video reveals the modular concept by asking a question: "Full electric or Hybrid? Your choice!" The SCI hyMod station allows for installation of one of two components - battery pack or engine pack. The modular unit, whether battery or engine (hybrid), is nothing like what you'd expect - it's the whole back end of the car. So, it's only a little bit like <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/better-place/">Better Place's</a> battery switching. The Romanian team would not call the place where you swap out the back end a switching station. Their name for it is a "dedicated logistics center."<br />
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It is purely a concept at this point. Still, it's an interesting concept, and the team figures it could offer speeds up to 130 kilometers an hour (80 miles per hour) and an all-electric range of 180 km (112 miles). You can learn more at the hyMod <a href="http://www.scihymod.com/information">website</a>.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>SCI hyMod can switch rear end of car from electric to hybrid [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/">SCI hyMod can switch rear end of car from electric to hybrid [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:03:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20397025/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/07/sci-hymod-switch-back-end-from-electric-to-hybrid-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>automotive design</category><category>battery switch</category><category>concept car</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>hybrid</category><category>modular</category><category>plug in</category><category>romania</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon LeSage]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:03:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Cor-Vegge puts veggie oil to the Corvette test at LeMons]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/cor-vegge-puts-veggie-oil-to-the-corvette-test-at-lemons/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/cor-vegge-puts-veggie-oil-to-the-corvette-test-at-lemons/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/cor-vegge-puts-veggie-oil-to-the-corvette-test-at-lemons/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/biodiesel/" rel="tag">Biodiesel</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-culture/" rel="tag">Green Culture</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/vegetable-oil/" rel="tag">Vegetable Oil</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/cor-vegge-corvette-racecar-at-lemons-1/"><img alt="Cor-Vegge Corvette Racecar at LeMons" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/cor-vegge-corvette-lemons-racer-628.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 376px;" /></a><br />
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There might be only one veggie-powered <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/corvette/">Chevrolet Corvette</a> in the world, and it's part of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/the-list-0024-race-in-the-24-hours-of-lemons/">24 Hours of LeMons</a> endurance racing series that showcases $500 beater cars. "<a href="http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1079979_yes-there-is-a-veggie-oil-fueled-diesel-corvette--for-sale">Spank</a>," the owner and builder, has pieced together the Cor-Vegge on a a C4 Corvette body, powered by a 1980s Oldsmobile diesel engine and fueled by waste vegetable oil.<br />
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The 350-cubic-inch diesel V8 engine puts out 77 horsepower, and the Cor-Vegge's 20 gallon gas tank keeps its running up to five hours on the track. The fuel is stored in a large single tank, where Spank makes the vegetable fuel by draining oil from the tank, adding some diesel fuel to warm up the engine, and then adding back the vegetable oil. A pair of heat exchangers have been installed to keep the veggie oil flowing smoothly.<br />
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The Cor-Vegge has raced twice so far in its C4 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/corvette/">Corvette</a> body, built sometime between 1984 and 1996. Spank is protected by a professional roll cage and new front disk brakes.<br />
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For those interested in buying the unique Cor-Vegge, Spank is offering it for $3,500 with a $550 deposit for the upcoming <a href="http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/viewtopic.php?id=18831">Chuckwalla</a> season-ending race, the third one that his veggie racer will be entering. See pictures of the car in action at the previous events in the gallery, thanks to <a href="http://murileemartin.com/">Murilee Martin</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/cor-vegge-puts-veggie-oil-to-the-corvette-test-at-lemons/">Cor-Vegge puts veggie oil to the Corvette test at LeMons</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Sat, 03 Nov 2012 09:44:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/cor-vegge-puts-veggie-oil-to-the-corvette-test-at-lemons/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20360411/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/03/cor-vegge-puts-veggie-oil-to-the-corvette-test-at-lemons/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>24 hours of lemons</category><category>biodiesel</category><category>racer</category><category>vegetable oil</category><category>veggie oil</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jon LeSage]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 03 Nov 2012 09:44:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Toyota RAV4 EV [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Tesla-Hearted Toyota Offers Real Sport And Utility</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive/"><img alt="2012 RAV4 EV" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/03-2013-toyota-rav4-ev-fd-opt.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px;" /></a><br />
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The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/rav4+ev/">2012 Toyota RAV4 EV</a> is the most advanced Alpha prototype electric vehicle we've ever driven. Or maybe it's a poster child for the 21st Century automotive industry where all sorts of new things are being tried, like when old-school automakers and ambitious start-ups find common purpose in rushing an all-electric crossover to market in two years. Or maybe it's the end result of a decade-long process of getting the Japanese automaker to bring back its popular - by EV standards, anyway - first-gen RAV4 EV for the new era of electric cars? It is, of course, all of these things, and that's what makes the RAV4 EV such an interesting vehicle: It not only offers surprisingly good performance on the road, it can also tell you some compelling stories as you jump from 0-60 in seven seconds. In a CUV. With an easy-to-achieve 100-mile range.<br />
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Most compelling, perhaps, is that the RAV4 EV is a real electric crossover with a real on-sale date. Namely, $49,800 (before any tax credits) and late summer 2012. Of course, the problem, aside from the hefty price, is that this CUV will only be available - initially, anyway - in four major California markets: Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego and Los Angeles/Orange County. Since the RAV4 EV will go on sale in The OC (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Making_a_Stand">don't call it that</a>), it made sense that <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> brought journalists to Newport Beach for some time behind the wheel. If you're not interested in the technical details or the three story lines we saw represented, here's all you need to know. When we first put the RAV4 EV into Sport driving mode, our honest reaction was to say out loud: "Holy crap!"<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Toyota RAV4 EV [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/">2012 Toyota RAV4 EV [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:21:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20294335/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/06/2013-toyota-rav4-ev-first-drive-review-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013 toyota rav4 ev</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>model s</category><category>model x</category><category>rav4</category><category>rav4 ev</category><category>tesla</category><category>toyota</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 06 Aug 2012 12:21:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Prelude To A Beetle Speedster?</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin/"><img alt="Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-qs.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px;" /></a><br />
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Driving $2 million prototypes on public roads is risky, so rather than increase the count of gray hair on their heads, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/">Volkswagen's</a> public relations team invited us up to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to spend some time in its all-electric E-Bugster Concept. But don't think the German automaker handed us the keys and set us free on the famed racing circuit - our drive was on the near-empty perimeter roads and our top speed was limited to less than 20 mph.<br />
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Tooling along at an insect's pace (pun intended) was hardly electrifying. But as it turned out, driving impressions weren't our primary objective. Not only did Volkswagen want to showcase its electric technology, but they also wanted to give us a sneak peek of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/volkswagen-to-launch-new-beetle-convertible-with-three-decade-ed/">next-generation Beetle Convertible</a> and gauge consumer interest in a potential <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/beetle/">Beetle</a> Speedster model. With more than a sedate drive on our agenda, our leisurely cruise through the hills of Monterey became much more interesting.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/">Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20287361/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/volkswagen-e-bugster-concept-quick-spin-review-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>beetle</category><category>beetle speedster</category><category>e-bugster</category><category>e-bugster concept</category><category>featured</category><category>quick spin</category><category>quickspin</category><category>volkswagen</category><category>volkswagen e-bugster</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jul 2012 19:57:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Chevrolet Cruze Wagon]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/diesel/" rel="tag">Diesel</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Sampling Chevy's New Overseas-Only Diesel-Powered Wonder Wagon</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive/"><img height="419" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/2012-chevy-cruze-station-wagon-628.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
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Since it came on the scene in 2009, General Motors' first truly global modern-day product, the <a href="http://autoblog.com/chevrolet/cruze">Chevrolet Cruze</a>, has become the company's best seller. Over 1.5 million deliveries - admittedly 46 percent to rental fleets, 12 percent to company car fleets and 42 percent as private purchases - have helped firmly establish the Cruze in people's minds worldwide.<br />
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And we've really liked our Cruze experiences so far. It won't necessarily win all the comparison battles going head-to-head with competitors (<em>it did <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/06/honda-civic-hybrid-takes-on-chevrolet-cruze-eco-and-volkswagen/">win one of ours</a> - Ed</em>), but it could well win the whole sales war, which is ultimately the best sign of a well-done mass-produced small car when it carries a Chevrolet Bowtie.<br />
<br />
We've had drives aplenty in the original four-door sedan, and in 2011 we tooled around in the five-door hatch. Now it's the station wagon's chance to impress us. Besides the Cruze wagon's above-average load lugging credentials for everyday practicality, this li'l Chevy is important enough to warrant the simultaneous launch of a new range of turbo-diesel engines as well as the Euro-launch of the 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline four-cylinder we've had from the start. The packages we tested definitely take the Cruze's game up a notch or two.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Chevrolet Cruze Wagon</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/">2012 Chevrolet Cruze Wagon</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20276061/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/11/2012-chevrolet-cruze-wagon-first-drive-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 chevrolet cruze</category><category>2012 chevrolet cruze wagon</category><category>chevrolet</category><category>chevy</category><category>cruze</category><category>cruze station wagon</category><category>cruze wagon</category><category>diesel</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Audi A8 Hybrid]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/audi/" rel="tag">Audi</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Diesel Versus Electrons Debate Continues</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive/"><img alt="2012 Audi A8 Hybrid" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-fd.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px;" /></a><br />
<br />
When it comes to the hybrid market, we assume - as most of you probably do as well - that the United States is at the top of the list to get whatever hybrid models an automaker builds. That vision is apparently altering for the Germans, though, as <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/audi/">Audi</a> is not bringing this A8 Hybrid to the States, instead favoring Western Europe and particularly Asia.<br />
<br />
The start of deliveries in Europe already commenced in May, and Asian deliveries will start by 2013 as Audi mulls bringing the long-wheelbase version there, as well as a right-hand-drive model. The choice to not invite North American consumers to the party might not be a forever sort of thing, but at least for the next few years, the plan appears to be set in stone.<br />
<br />
To be honest, Audi's full parallel hybrid strategy, along with that of parent Volkswagen Group's larger cars and SUVs in general, isn't terribly amazing - there's no thinking going on outside of the box here. Across the entire VW corporate family, the better choice for these bigger cruisers is always the range of outstanding diesels that generally weigh less and can cost less than their hybrid brethren. Nonetheless, Audi's high-tech image demands that the brand show it can play in every alternative propulsion sector. With China being Audi's best market by far, this A8 Hybrid has that nation writ all over its business plan.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Audi A8 Hybrid</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/">2012 Audi A8 Hybrid</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20274227/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/09/2012-audi-a8-hybrid-first-drive-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 audi a8 hybrid</category><category>a8</category><category>a8 hybrid</category><category>audi</category><category>audi a8</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>hybrid</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:59:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2013 Honda Fit EV [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Reminding Us That EVs Are Becoming Less Of A Compromise</big></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive/"><img alt="2013 Honda Fit EV - front three-quarter view, static" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/2013-honda-fit-ev-fd.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; width: 628px; height: 417px; " /></a><br />
<br />
The 2013 Honda Fit EV, the Japanese automaker's highly anticipated answer to the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/leaf/">Nissan Leaf</a>, is quick, agile and actually quite fun to drive. Its cabin is roomy, outward visibility good and its styling is anything but odd. The platform is impressively safe, it has decent range and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/">Honda</a> says it is the most efficient vehicle the EPA has ever tested.<br />
<br />
So, what's the problem? Let's call it a lack of volume.<br />
<br />
Honda is only releasing 1,100 of these little blue hatchbacks over the next two model years in the States, and all of them will be delivered on contracted three-year leases. Making matters more frustrating for those who want to forget about internal combustion, only California and Oregon are in the launch plans with five other preselected East Coast markets opening shortly thereafter.<br />
<br />
Statistically speaking, the Honda Fit EV will initially be scarcer than a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/lamborghini/aventador/">Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4</a> (the Italians are estimating a production run of approximately 4,000 worldwide). But thankfully, Honda brought a handful of pre-production Fit EVs to Southern California and offered us a drive. We ran acceleration tests, dodged cones on a slalom course and then did some real-world driving. Dwelling on its pending shortage, it was almost frustrating that we enjoyed ourselves so much.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2013 Honda Fit EV [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/">2013 Honda Fit EV [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20269138/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2013 honda fit</category><category>2013 honda fit ev</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>ev</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>fit</category><category>fit electric vehicle</category><category>fit ev</category><category>fit ev first drive</category><category>fit ev review</category><category>honda</category><category>honda fit</category><category>honda fit ev</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Fisker Karma [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/fisker/" rel="tag">Fisker</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>A Genuinely Good Idea That's Compromised By Design</big></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive/"><img height="426" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/fisker-karma-9945-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://autoblog.com/fisker">Fisker</a> is a company driven by design. I can't tell you how often I heard that line from the company's namesake, its PR people and engineers during my brief trip to Los Angeles to drive the production version of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/fisker/karma/">2012 Fisker Karma</a>. And it's something that bears repeating.<br />
<br />
So is "production version," because <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/21/2012-fisker-karma-first-drive-review-road-test/">the Karma we drove this time last year</a> was - at best - a prototype.<br />
<br />
Fisker's people are willing to admit that the initial launch event was an effort to assuage fears - from customers, investors and the Department of Energy - that the Karma isn't vaporware. They wanted to get butts in seats to prove they'd built a functional vehicle. And our man Matt Davis' initial impressions bore out the Karma's pre-production status.<br />
<br />
The racket from the General Motors-sourced turbocharged 2.0-liter Ecotec four-cylinder incessantly droned through the cabin when even mildly pushed, and the interior materials, while plush, came across as a mishmash of textures and fitment, neither of which would be acceptable in a luxury sedan costing upwards of $100,000 that was meant to replace the <a href="http://autoblog.com/mercedes-benz/s-class">Mercedes-Benz S-Class</a> and <a href="http://autoblog.com/bmw/7-series">BMW 7 Series</a> parked in the garages of eco-concious one-percenters.<br />
<br />
I'm here to report a clich&eacute;: What a difference a year makes.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Fisker Karma [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/">2012 Fisker Karma [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20181775/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/2012-fisker-karma-second-drive-review-2/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 fisker karma</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>fisker</category><category>fisker karma</category><category>karma</category><category>plug-in hybrid</category><category>video</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Damon Lavrinc]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 11:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Toyota Prius C [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Baby Of The Family Will Play A Big Role</big></em><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive/"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/13-2012-toyota-prius-c-fd-opt-opt1.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
Toyota's new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/prius+c/">2012 Prius C</a> doesn't look like a math problem, but that's what it is.<br />
<br />
Hidden behind its attractive hatchback body and Toyota Synergy Drive hybrid powertrain, the Prius C is just a bunch of numbers. Numbers like the car's miles per gallon rating, its MSRP, how many can be produced and how many Toyota hopes to sell. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/">Toyota</a> ran these numbers through its "Do we build it?" formula, which is what caused the Prius C to come into being, but the good news is that this smallest of Prii adds up to more than what was put into it, and even introduces a bit of fun to the appliance-like Prius driving experience. Not much, mind you, but enough that its target audience - young people who want to buy the most efficient gas-powered vehicle on the market today - should take notice.<br />
<br />
Here are some of the calculations that Toyota is making for its new Prius family. Instead of selling 136,463 "normal" <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/prius/">Prius Liftbacks</a> as it did last year (down from 140,928 in 2010), the Japanese automaker believes that three new models - the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/prius+v/">bigger V</a>, the smaller C and the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2011/09/28/2012-toyota-prius-plug-in-first-drive-review/">Plug-In version</a> - will push cumulative Prius sales up to 220,000 in 2012 and then go up from there.<br />
<br />
Last year, Toyota's group vice president for U.S. sales, Bob Carter, said he expects the Prius to be the automaker's number one nameplate by 2020. Sure, the Prius continues to sell well in green car circles and has been the best selling car in Japan for a year and a half, but for Carter's statement to come true, the Prius family would have to outsell the almighty <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/toyota/camry/">Camry</a>. Think about that. Think about the ambition - and challenge - behind those words. This is the equation that the Prius C needs to solve.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Toyota Prius C [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/">2012 Toyota Prius C [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:49:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20169564/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/2012-toyota-prius-c-first-drive-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 toyota prius c</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>prius</category><category>prius c</category><category>prius c first drive</category><category>prius c review</category><category>toyota</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:49:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[2012 Volkswagen Up! [w/video]]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/volkswagen/" rel="tag">Volkswagen</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>VW Finally Rediscovers Its (Very) Small Car Roots</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive/"><img height="417" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/03-2012-volkswagen-up-opt.jpg" vspace="4" width="628" /></a><br />
<br />
Big old <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/volkswagen/">Volkswagen</a> is back to thinking small, and it's finally doing it right. After two frankly awful attempts at supplying the rest of the world with cheap tin boxes called Fox and Lupo, company bosses have done some soul searching and this is the result: a tiny road warrior that's absolutely worthy of the 6.3-inch wide emblem on its grill.<br />
<br />
It might seem like only yesterday, but the Up! was <a href="http://www.green.autoblog.com/2007/09/11/frankfurt-2007-volkswagen-up-mini-car-debuts/">first shown as a concept</a> back in the pre-crisis days of 2007 at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/frankfurt-auto-show/">Frankfurt Motor Show</a>. Talk about fortuitous timing, because this 2+2 three-door minicar is exactly the sort of car that much of economically stunned Europe is craving nowadays. We all, Euro or Yank, want as much premium feel in our cars as cheaply as possible, and this is exactly why the little Up! is destined to clobber The Continent's vast field of city cars.<br />
<br />
We've just spent 12 days in a top-trim Up! White Edition driving around in what certainly will be one of the car's major markets: the piratical, everyone-for-themselves streets of Milan, Italy. With our American brainset, at first we thought, "Yeah, it's really cute and useful, well built and all, but..." That qualifying "but" was just because the Up! is so small in every dimension save front seat room. As we would come to learn over our dozen days, with an all-new 1.0-liter, 74-horsepower three-cylinder and a serviceable five-speed manual, this little bugger can be a little roll-y in tight curves taken with any spirit, but she sure is fun.<p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>2012 Volkswagen Up! [w/video]</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/">2012 Volkswagen Up! [w/video]</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:02:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20133788/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/22/2012-volkswagen-up-first-drive-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 volkswagen up</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>up</category><category>up review</category><category>volkswagen</category><category>vw</category><category>vw up</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:02:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Ontario resident buys Chevy Volt sight unseen]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/ontario-resident-buys-chevy-volt-sight-unseen/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/ontario-resident-buys-chevy-volt-sight-unseen/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/ontario-resident-buys-chevy-volt-sight-unseen/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/chevrolet/" rel="tag">Chevrolet</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><img alt="chevy volt" class="post_top_img" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/chevy-volt-blur-background.png" style="width: 628px; height: 319px;" /><br />
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Would you buy a vehicle without driving, touching or even seeing it? We know we wouldn't, but that's exactly what Lisa Osborne of Ontario, Canada did in late September.<br />
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The Windsor-area resident became one of the first <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/volt/">Chevrolet Volt</a> buyers in Canada after she drove all the way to a Toronto-area <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/gm">General Motors</a> dealership last month to purchase the plug-in sedan. Osborne got the plug-in itch and, rather than wait until spring of 2012 for the Volt's arrival in Windsor, she hit the road and bought one of Chevy's plug-ins in Toronto, sight unseen. Osborne stated:
<blockquote>
	<div>
		<em>For me, I wanted a plug-in vehicle, period. I did not want to buy gasoline for two primary reasons - dependence on oil and the whole issue of peak oil - the idea we're outstripping supply rapidly. So, I thought the technology exists, I want to own a vehicle that doesn't have to operate on gas.</em></div>
</blockquote>
Why not the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/nissan/leaf/">Nissan Leaf</a>? Well, for Osborne, the Leaf's limited range was the deal breaker:<br />
<blockquote>
	<div>
		<em>I didn't like the idea of an electric vehicle with no other backup energy sources. For me that's the Leaf. That means I can't drive my car to my cottage.</em></div>
</blockquote>
Courtesy of <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/06/23/ontario-launches-plug-in-vehicle-rebate-program-first-10-000-ap/">Ontario's government incentive scheme</a>, Osborne will receive a rebate of $8,230 toward her Chevy Volt purchase, which totaled $49,578. Prior to purchasing the Volt, Osborne owned fuel-efficient compacts, including a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/chevrolet/cobalt/">Chevy Cobalt</a> and a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/honda/civic/">Honda Civic</a>.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/ontario-resident-buys-chevy-volt-sight-unseen/">Ontario resident buys Chevy Volt sight unseen</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:53:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/ontario-resident-buys-chevy-volt-sight-unseen/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20082692/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/18/ontario-resident-buys-chevy-volt-sight-unseen/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>canada</category><category>chevrolet</category><category>chevrolet volt</category><category>chevy</category><category>chevy volt</category><category>general motors</category><category>gm</category><category>volt</category><category>windsor</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Loveday]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:53:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/renault/" rel="tag">Renault</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/middle-east/" rel="tag">Middle East</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/better-place/" rel="tag">Better Place</a></p><em><big>A quick spin in the Laguna EV at the epicenter of the Better Place project</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/#4319115"><img alt="Renault Laguna EV" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/web62016-betterplace-israel.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px; height: 422px; width: 630px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Ask any addict why they don't quit, and they'll probably tell you it comes down to one sticking point. The addiction could be to caffeine or cocaine, but whatever the excuse - from work stress and social factors to depression or a general lack of willpower - addicts always have something to blame for their continued use.<br />
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The same could be argued for oil addiction. Because when it comes down to it, there really is only one sticking point that prevents a world dependent on petroleum from switching to electric vehicles. It's not about availability, because as any economics student (or drug dealer) will tell you, supply always catches up to demand. It's not about the source of the electricity, or the production and disposal of batteries. More than any other reason, oil addicts blame range anxiety.<br />
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For drivers used to getting into their cars and hitting the open road, range is a commodity we're just not willing to give up. While battery technology is constantly improving, it's still a long way from matching the range you can get on a full tank of gas and an endless chain of pump stations. But there's one company that says they've found the solution... or at least a stop-gap. One that could get the world's drivers off of gasoline and on the road to electric propulsion. We headed out to Tel Aviv to see what they were up to. (<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/#continued">Continue reading</a>...)<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/low/">Renault Laguna EV - Better Place Visitor Center - Tel Aviv</a></strong></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/02-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/01-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/03-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/04-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/better-place-visitor-center-tel-aviv-israel/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/05-betterplace-israel_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos Copyright 2011 Noah Joseph / AOL </small></strong></em><p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/">Touring the Better Place Visitor Center in Tel Aviv</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:53:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/20000041/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/27/touring-the-better-place-visitor-center-in-tel-aviv/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>better place</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>israel</category><category>laguna</category><category>laguna ev</category><category>quick spin</category><category>renault</category><category>renault laguna</category><category>renault laguna ev</category><category>tel aviv</category><category>visitor center</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Noah Joseph]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:53:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Quick Spin: 2012 Infiniti M35h]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/infiniti/" rel="tag">Infiniti</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>Appealing To Both The Fast And Frugal</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin/"><img alt="2012 Infiniti M35h" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/03-2012-infiniti-m35h-qs-opt.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin: 4px 0px;" /></a>
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	<em><strong><small>2012 Infiniti M35h - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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It is time for enthusiasts to embrace hybrid powertrain technology. A few short years ago, the mention of "hybrid power" conjured up images of low displacement engines, tiny electric boost motors and lethargic performance. Sure, the vehicles were environmentally-friendly (on a local level, at least) and they spanked their pure-combustion counterparts when it came to fueling stops, but they were also absolutely boring to drive. No, make that numbing.<br />
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Of course, there are always a few exceptions to the rule. Vehicles including the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/18/frankfurt-2009-lexus-600h-revealed/">Lexus LS 600h L</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/26/lexus-gs450h-review/">Lexus GS 450h</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/16/frankfurt-2009-bmw-7-series-active-hybrid-runs-almost-silent/">BMW ActiveHybrid 750i</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/05/inside-line-straps-disappointing-2010-bmw-activehybrid-x6-on-the/">BMW ActiveHybrid X6</a> deliver spirited performance, but only mediocre improvements over their gas-only siblings when it comes to efficiency. And, we don't need to remind you that these vehicles are always very complex, excessively heavy and hardly inexpensive - there were simply few compelling reasons to put one in the garage.<br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/infiniti/">Infiniti</a>, a brand in itself almost embarrassing late to the hybrid game, seems to be in a position to change all that.<br />
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<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/#continued">Continue reading <em>Quick Spin: 2012 Infiniti M35h</em>...</a><br />
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<em style="font-style: italic;"><strong style="font-weight: bold;"><small>Photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Shunk / AOL</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Quick Spin: 2012 Infiniti M35h</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/">Quick Spin: 2012 Infiniti M35h</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19924005/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/26/2012-infiniti-m35h-quick-spin-review-road-test/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 infiniti m35h</category><category>featured</category><category>infiniti</category><category>infiniti hybrid</category><category>infiniti hybrid review</category><category>m</category><category>m35h</category><category>quick spin</category><category>quickspin</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Autoblog Staff]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Peugeot-Citroen will get commercial electric van batteries from GS Yuasa]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/peugeot-citroen-will-get-commercial-electric-van-batteries-from/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/peugeot-citroen-will-get-commercial-electric-van-batteries-from/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/peugeot-citroen-will-get-commercial-electric-van-batteries-from/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mitsubishi/" rel="tag">Mitsubishi</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/citroen/" rel="tag">Citroen</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/peugeot/" rel="tag">Peugeot</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/european-union/" rel="tag">Europe/EU</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><a href="http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/gsyuasa-20110410.html#more"><img alt="Citroen Berlingo" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/newberlingo-civ.jpg" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/peugeot/">PSA Peugeot-Citroen</a> has turned to <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/search/?q=gs+yuasa&amp;invocationType=wl-auto">GS Yuasa</a> for lithium-ion battery packs for the automakers' upcoming commercial electric vans. The batteries will be manufactured at a Ritto, Shiga Prefecture plant owned by <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2007/12/13/mitsubishi-and-gs-yuasa-establish-lithium-energy-japan/">Lithium Energy Japan</a>, a joint venture between GS Yuasa and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mitsubishi/">Mitsubishi Motors</a>. This plant, according to a report published in the Japanese <em>Nikkei </em>newspaper, can crank out enough li-ion batteries for up to 50,000 electric vehicles a year.<br />
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We're assuming that the commercial electric vans, which are slated to hit the market in late 2012, will be mass-produced <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/12/09/peugeot-citroen-starts-delivering-partner-berlingo-electric-vans/">battery-powered versions of the existing Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo</a>. Why the assumption? Well, the <em>Nikkei</em> report reads like this:<br />
<blockquote>
	<div>
		<em>The batteries are expected to be supplied via Mitsubishi Motors to a Spanish production site of PSA Peugeot Citroen for use in commercial electric vehicles the French automaker will start making in 2012. These vehicles are being developed with Mitsubishi Motors based on PSA Peugeot Citroen's existing gasoline-powered commercial vehicles.</em></div>
</blockquote>
In addition, Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen have a cooperative agreement on electric vehicles ranging from the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/peugeot-ion-to-lease-for-499-month-in-france/">Peugeot iOn</a> and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/search/?q=c-zero&amp;invocationType=wl-auto">Citroen C-Zero</a> to the development of electrified versions of the Peugeot Partner and Citroen Berlingo light-duty commercial vans built at the PSA Vigo plant in Spain. See the connection?<br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/gsyuasa-20110410.html#more">Green Car Congress</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/peugeot-citroen-will-get-commercial-electric-van-batteries-from/">Peugeot-Citroen will get commercial electric van batteries from GS Yuasa</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:03:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/04/gsyuasa-20110410.html#more>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/peugeot-citroen-will-get-commercial-electric-van-batteries-from/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19908293/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/20/peugeot-citroen-will-get-commercial-electric-van-batteries-from/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>citroen</category><category>commercial electric van</category><category>commercial electric vehicles</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>gs yuasa</category><category>lithium-ion batteries</category><category>peugeot</category><category>psa</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Loveday]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:03:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><em><big>A Solid Electric CUV, For A Prototype</big></em><br />
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<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/"><img alt="Toyota RAV4 EV" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/toyota-rav4-ev.jpg" style="border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; margin: 4px 0px;" /></a>
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	Toyota RAV4 EV - Click above for high-res image gallery</div>
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Ahh, the joys of driving a prototype vehicle. During the annual <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/tag/toyota+sustainable+mobility+seminar/">Toyota Sustainable Mobility Seminar</a> in San Diego, California this week, Toyota brought in a handful of all-electric RAV4 EVs for us to tool around in, but there were some caveats: The route was decidedly highway-free; when it rained one afternoon, we were told it would be better to wait to drive the cars; and one journalist had <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/04/05/electric-toyota-rav4-feels-fast-but-unfinished/">a problem with his vehicle</a> that made it sluggish. The biggest asterisk in the whole program, though, was that the RAV4 EVs we were testing are only a pale shadow of what the real RAV4 EVs will be like when Toyota releases them in the first quarter of 2012.<br />
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Why's that? Because the current fleet of new RAV4 EVs was an intentional rush job by Toyota's partner <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/tesla+motors">Tesla Motors</a> to get vehicles into auto shows and on the road. A completely separate batch is being built to really get this model ready for production, and it will operate differently than the ones we got to drive this week. Still, we learned a lot about what's coming by checking out what's here today.<br />
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<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/#continued">Continue reading <em>Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV</em>...</a><br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/low/">Toyota RAV4 EV: Quick Spin</a></strong></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/01-toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Toyota RAV4 EV" title="Toyota RAV4 EV" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/02-toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Toyota RAV4 EV rear 3/4 view" title="Toyota RAV4 EV rear 3/4 view" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/03-toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Toyota RAV4 EV" title="Toyota RAV4 EV" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/04-toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Toyota RAV4 EV" title="Toyota RAV4 EV" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/04/05-toyota-rav4-ev_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Toyota RAV4 EV" title="Toyota RAV4 EV" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos copyright (C)2011 Sebastian Blanco / AOL</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/">Quick Spin: Toyota RAV4 EV</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19907350/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/04/11/toyota-rav4-ev-quick-spin-review/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>electric vehicle</category><category>rav4</category><category>rav4 ev</category><category>review</category><category>reviews</category><category>tesla toyota</category><category>toyota</category><category>toyota rav4 ev</category><category>toyota sustainable mobility seminar</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:57:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Fisker Karma production finally gets underway]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/fisker-karma-production-finally-gets-underway/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/fisker-karma-production-finally-gets-underway/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/fisker-karma-production-finally-gets-underway/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/fisker/" rel="tag">Fisker</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/paris-2010-first-factory-built-fisker-karma/"><img alt="First Factory-Built Fisker Karma" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/leadfiskerkarmaparis2010.jpg" style="margin: 4px 0px;" /></a><br />
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	First Factory-Built Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery</div>
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Stop the presses! <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/fisker/">Fisker Automotive</a> has confirmed <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/fisker-karma-production-date-march-2011/">Job One</a> of its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/karma">Karma</a> plug-in hybrid. According to <em><a href="http://wardsauto.com/home/fisker_karma_production_110321/">Ward's Auto</a></em>, the lines at Valmet Automotive in Finland are a rollin' and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/10/01/paris-2010-first-factory-built-fisker-karma-hits-the-stage/">production-spec Karmas</a> are "coming down," says Roger Ormisher, a spokesman for the automaker.<br />
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Ormisher told <em>Ward's Auto</em> that production is "very limited in quantity," but the plan is to slowly ramp up output to avoid any issues and "ensure full quality." <em>Ward's</em> says that Ormisher provided scant details, but he did indicate that the initial batch of Karmas will ship out to some of Fisker's retail locations in the U.S. and Europe, where the vehicles will serve as demonstrator models. And, as for those who have plunked down deposits for the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/12/23/fisker-raising-price-karma-plug-in-hybrid-95900/">$95,900 Karma</a>, <em>Ward's Auto</em> says that those vehicles may arrive by <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/19/fisker-karma-production-date-march-2011/"><strike>April</strike></a> June or July.<br />
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<strong><em><font size="1">Photos copyright (C)2010 <a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com/">Drew Phillips</a> / AOL</font></em></strong><br />
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[Source: <a href="http://wardsauto.com/home/fisker_karma_production_110321/">Ward's Auto</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/fisker-karma-production-finally-gets-underway/">Fisker Karma production finally gets underway</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:56:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://wardsauto.com/home/fisker_karma_production_110321/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/fisker-karma-production-finally-gets-underway/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19888202/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/22/fisker-karma-production-finally-gets-underway/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2012 fisker karma</category><category>breaking</category><category>fisker</category><category>fisker automotive</category><category>fisker karma</category><category>fisker karma production</category><category>karma</category><category>karma production</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Loveday]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:56:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Zombie meme alert: electric cars cause cancer]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/zombie-meme-alert-electric-cars-cause-cancer/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/zombie-meme-alert-electric-cars-cause-cancer/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/zombie-meme-alert-electric-cars-cause-cancer/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><img hspace=" " vspace="4" border=" " alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/12/zz59a6b7c5-say-what.png" /><br />
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Apparently, the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/17/limited-whats-the-value-of-talking-about-range-anxiety-all-t/">range anxiety meme</a> isn't enough. The latest anti-electric vehicle (EV) topic to make a comeback is that EVs might give you cancer (<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2008/04/28/will-your-green-car-give-you-cancer/">previous post</a>). Writing in <a href="http://www.thebigmoney.com/blogs/shifting-gears/2009/12/15/do-electric-cars-cause-cancer">Slate</a>, Matthew DeBord calls back the potential threat posed by electromagnetic fields (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_field">EMF</a>) in electric cars. The title of his post? "Do Electric Cars Cause Cancer?"<br />
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There is a lot of hedging in DeBord's article, and he never flat-out states that the EMFs in EVs <em>do</em> cause cancer, just that they might. This is a fair subject for scientific research, but no one has had enough time to determine if EVs are any worse than hair dryers or cell phones in this regard. DeBord admits that "automakers have tested their vehicles for EMFs (conventional cars as well as hybrids and EVs), and found them to be within accepted limits." Of course, there are some things we know for sure: that gasoline fumes are tremendous health hazards and the geopolitical reality of gasoline dependency isn't that great either, but that headline isn't as hot.<br />
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Also, way back in 1999, the National Institutes of Health issued a statement saying that one researcher who claimed that EMFs and cancer were related <a href="http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not99-111.html">had falsified data</a> (<em>thanks to Paul Allen's comment from 18 months ago for that link</em>). <br />
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[Source: <a href="http://www.thebigmoney.com/blogs/shifting-gears/2009/12/15/do-electric-cars-cause-cancer">Slate</a>]<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/zombie-meme-alert-electric-cars-cause-cancer/">Zombie meme alert: electric cars cause cancer</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:04:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.thebigmoney.com/blogs/shifting-gears/2009/12/15/do-electric-cars-cause-cancer>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/zombie-meme-alert-electric-cars-cause-cancer/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19286939/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/18/zombie-meme-alert-electric-cars-cause-cancer/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>cancer</category><category>cancer electric car</category><category>cancer electric cars</category><category>CancerElectricCar</category><category>CancerElectricCars</category><category>electromagnetic</category><category>electromagnetic field</category><category>ElectromagneticField</category><category>emf</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:04:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_01_opt.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/nissan/">Nissan</a> has gone into a back room, pulled out its Ouija board and decided that the time is right to make a huge bet. The Japanese automaker, along with its partner Renault, wants to be the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/report-nissans-ghosn-rules-out-hybrid-only-models-like-toyota/">world leader in pure electric vehicles</a>. Even though you can go buy an Altima hybrid right now, the company didn't develop its own gas-electric technology (the sedan uses Toyota tech). This time around, Nissan believes the future belongs to vehicles without an internal combustion engine (ICE) and is preparing to put its own foot forward. It's way too early to know for sure, but Nissan's gamble could pay off handsomely. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> leads the hybrid race, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/gm/">General Motors</a> and others are adding plugs to vehicles with liquid-fueled engines, but no major automaker has claimed the pure EV pole position. If everything goes right, Nissan will be that automaker.<br />
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The flagship vehicle for the automaker is, of course, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/search/?q=leaf&amp;invocationType=wl-auto&amp;searchsubmit=">the Leaf EV hatchback</a>, which was unveiled in August and recently made its North American debut in Los Angeles. We were on hand to take a Leaf mule out for a short (very short) spin and heard directly from Nissan how this unique-looking EV will secure Nissan's place in the auto industry as tremendous changes take place in the coming years. Follow us after the jump to learn about Nissan's wager and find out if the Leaf has got the potential to (silently) propel the company to the top.<br />
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<em><strong><small>Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.</small></strong></em><p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/">Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf the tip of mass market EV spear</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19252887/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/24/quick-spin-nissan-leaf-the-tip-of-mass-market-ev-spear/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>battery electric vehicle</category><category>BatteryElectricVehicle</category><category>bev</category><category>electric vehicle</category><category>ElectricVehicle</category><category>ev</category><category>featured</category><category>leaf</category><category>nissan</category><category>nissan leaf</category><category>NissanLeaf</category><category>quick spin</category><category>QuickSpin</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end?]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2010-bmw-activehybrid-x6-first-drive/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bmwx6hybridfd_01_opt.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><small>2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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BMW's pitch on how great the X6 ActiveHybrid is goes like this: it's the world's most powerful hybrid vehicle, fuel consumption is reduced about 20 percent compared to a similar vehicle without a hybrid drivetrain, and no matter what speed you're going, the incredibly complicated powertrain is performing at the most efficient level possible. All of this power means that the X6 hybrid is no sluggish Toyota Prius, offering frugal but unexciting performance. On the other hand, the size and weight of BMW's luxury hybrid crossover means that, well, the X6 hybrid is no Prius in the mileage department, either.<br />
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Let's start by congratulating BMW for bringing its first batch of hybrids to market (the 7 Series ActiveHybrid is launching alongside the X6). In everyday traffic, the hybrid system helps keep fuel consumption down - to a still-lame 18 mpg combined (estimated) - and, since the engine can shut down at stops, the ultra-quiet interior made sitting in Miami traffic during our preview drive almost a pleasure. Nevertheless, there's still a lot of vehicle here that hampers any attempt at real fuel efficiency gains. The X6 ActiveHybrid weighs 5,688 pounds for crying out loud - 400 pounds more than the non-hybrid. This vehicle simply doesn't makes a lot of sense for anyone actually interested in fuel efficiency. Who does it make sense for? Follow us past the break as we try to find out.<br />
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<strong><em><font size="1">Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco</font></em></strong><strong><em><font size="1"> / Weblogs, Inc.</font></em></strong><p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end?</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/">First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is technologically impressive... but to what end?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19233018/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/11/first-drive-2010-bmw-x6-activehybrid-is-technologically-impress/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>2010 bmw x6 active hybrid</category><category>2010BmwX6ActiveHybrid</category><category>bmw</category><category>bmw x6</category><category>bmw x6 activehybrid</category><category>BmwX6</category><category>BmwX6Activehybrid</category><category>featured</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>x6</category><category>x6 activehybrid</category><category>X6Activehybrid</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sebastian Blanco]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:00 EST</pubDate>
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</item><item><title><![CDATA[Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices]]></title><link>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/</guid><comments>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/transportation-alternatives/" rel="tag">Transportation Alternatives</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/tokyo-motor-show/" rel="tag">Tokyo Motor Show</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/first-drive/" rel="tag">First Drive</a></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/#36"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/kenzie-u3x.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><small>Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star tries out the U3-X - click above for high res-image gallery</small></em></strong></div>
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If there is one thing people love, it's personal mobility. After all, what other species regularly harness other creatures for the sole purpose of getting around. The auto industry is all about personal mobility. Since the dawn of the car in the late 19th century, it has been adopted world-wide as one of the preferred means of getting around. <br />
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Mobility, of course, is about a lot more than just driving. Just moving around is important and when people find themselves unable to move or having difficulty, It plays havoc with the psyche. As populations in many countries get older, reduced mobility is an increasing problem. A number of automakers are researching ways to expand mobility beyond the automobile and the result is projects like <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/gm-and-segways-puma-live-reveal/">GM's Puma</a> and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2008/08/01/video-look-out-segway-toyota-introduces-the-winglet/">Toyota's Winglet</a>. Honda, too, is studying the problem and while we were in Japan for the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/Tokyo-Motor-Show/">Tokyo Motor Show</a>, Honda took us to their R&amp;D center to check out a few of their recent projects. Read on for a first hand account of what we saw. <br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/low/">Honda mobility devices</a></strong></p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/honda-mobility-1280-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/honda-mobility-1280-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/honda-mobility-1280-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/honda-mobility-1280-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/honda-mobility-devices/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/honda-mobility-1280-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
<em><strong><small>Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.</small><br />
</strong></em><p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/">Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">AutoblogGreen</a> on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19205073/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/22/quick-spin-hondas-quirky-u3-x-stride-management-assist-and-bo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>BodyWeight</category><category>Bodyweight Support Assist</category><category>BodyweightSupportAssist</category><category>first drive</category><category>FirstDrive</category><category>honda</category><category>honda rd</category><category>Honda U3-X</category><category>honda u3x</category><category>HondaRd</category><category>HondaU3-x</category><category>HondaU3x</category><category>personal mobility</category><category>personal mobility device</category><category>PersonalMobility</category><category>PersonalMobilityDevice</category><category>stride assist</category><category>StrideAssist</category><category>u3-x</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sam Abuelsamid]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST</pubDate>
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