Nissan Green Car Advisor Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line

July 2, 2009

While Most of Car Market Tanks, Hybrid Sales Gain for Sixth Consecutive Month

The Ford Fusion (above) and Toyota Prius help propel hybrid sales gains despite weak economy and credit woes.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Led by strong showings from both third-generation Prius and the gas-electric version of Ford's Fusion, hybrid car sales in June were up 9 percent from a year earlier and rose 2 percent form May's tally to mark the sixth consecutive monthly increase in sales volume for the segment.

Hybrids, which gained traction from the June introduction of the new 2010 Prius and continued consumer interest in the well-reviewed Fusion hybrid that was introduced in March, outperformed the new-car market as a whole - which was down 28 percent from June of 2008 and off 7 percent from May.

It's too early to declare a recovery in the segment, but rising gasoline prices and renewed public awareness of the importance of improved fuel economy in addressing climate change issues seem to be underlying a gradual strengthening of market performance.

"The most important thing is that there have been a couple of new models that are putting some excitement into the segment, said Edmunds.com industry analyst Jessica Caldwell.

"Then there's all the news of government fuel efficiency and emissions initiatives, and some pretty generous incentives in a segment that really hasn't seen many incentives in the past."

Caldwell doesn't think gas prices were a significant factor in June's hybrid market, but says "they certainly are on people's radar, with a broad expectation that they'll keep going up."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell July 2, 2009, 1:24 PM
Categories:: Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Cadillac Escalade

Renault-Nissan Alliance Signs MOU with Utility to Install EV Rechargers in Lombardy

The Renault-Nissan Alliance, which has plans to offer electric vehicles in the U.S. beginning next year, announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italy's A2A energy company to promote EV sales in the Lombardy region next year.

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Right, N-R's zero-emissions concept car.

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The significance of this news is that despite the financial turmoil in the automotive industry these days, one of the first automakers likely to bring a plug-in electric vehicle to market is forging ahead with efforts to create the infrastructure needed to support the vehicles.

In this case, A2A has agreed to install recharging stations in Milan and Brescia and join Renault-Nissan in testing an electronic payment service.

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the Alliance is leading a collaborative approach with business and governments to advance the EV industry worldwide. To date, it has signed nearly 30 agreements with partners to launch its first electric vehicle starting in 2010 and to mass market a full range of EVs in 2012.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 2, 2009, 11:05 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Economy, Nissan
Technorati Tags:: A2A

June 23, 2009

It's Official: Ford, Nissan and Tesla To Receive First Advanced-Technology Loans

Yesterday we reported that Nissan, Ford and Tesla will be the first auto companies to receive factory retooling loans under the $25 billion federal program to speed production of fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S.

Today, President Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu confirmed that the administration has granted $8 billion in conditional loan commitments to the three automakers for the development of vehicle technologies that, as the president put it, "will create thousands of green jobs while helping reduce the nation's dangerous dependence on foreign oil."

The loan commitments include $5.9 billion for Ford to transform factories across Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio to produce 13 more fuel-efficient models; $1.6 billion to Nissan to retool its Smyrna, Tennessee, factory to build electric automobiles and an advanced-battery manufacturing facility; and $465 million to Tesla to manufacture electric drivetrains and EVs in California.

The loans represent the first in a series of conditional loan commitments reached as part of the Energy Department's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program. Chu said the department plans to make additional loans under this program over the next several months to large and small automakers as well as parts suppliers.

In a statement, Ford said it plans to invest nearly $14 billion in advanced-technology vehicles over the next seven years. "Our partnership with the Department of Energy also will help retool our U.S. plants more quickly to produce fuel-efficient vehicles and help meet the new, rigorous fuel-economy requirements," it said.

In its statement, Nissan said construction at Smyrna was scheduled to begin by the end of this year, with production slated to start in late 2012. It said modifications at the plant include a new battery-production facility and changes in the existing structure for electric-vehicle assembly.

"When fully operational, the vehicle assembly plant will have the capacity to build 150,000 zero-emissions vehicles a year and the new plant will have an annual capacity of 200,000 batteries," it said, adding that Nissan's EV "will comfortably seat five people, drive on any American road or highway, and have an initial range of 100 miles before recharging."

Model S News

And Tesla said it will use $365 million of the $465 million it received for production engineering and assembly of the Model S, an all-electric family sedan that will supposedly carry seven people and travel up to 300 miles per charge.

The Model S has an anticipated base price of $49,900 after a $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit. According to Tesla, it will have lifetime ownership costs equivalent to a conventional car with a sticker price of $35,000, thanks to the lower cost of electricity versus gasoline and a relative lack of service and maintenance.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett June 23, 2009, 10:29 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, Legislation, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Tax Incentives, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing

Feds Reported Ready to Grant Advanced Technology Loans to Ford, Nissan, Tesla

Ford, Nissan and upstart electric car maker Tesla Motors will be the first auto companies to receive factory retooling loans under the $25 billion federal program to speed production of fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reported late Monday.

The awards from the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program are to be announced this morning in Dearborn, Mich., Ford's hometown, by Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

Ford, which had applied for $11 billion in loans under the program, is likely to receive the largest loan. The company wants to retool an SUV factory to use for a new electric vehicle it plans to launch in 2011.

Nissan has asked for $1.1 billion to help retool its Smyrna, Tenn. plant to build electric vehicles that it has said will go on sale in selected areas of the U.S. next year.

Tesla has asked for $350 million to refurbish a Southern California factory, believed to be a recently emptied aerospace plant, for production of its upcoming Model S electric sedan.

General Motors corp. and Chrysler are not eligible for loans from the program until they emerge from their Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The loan program is only open to companies that can show they are "financially viable."

In all, 75 companies have asked for $38 billion in loans from the program, exceeding the available funds by 52 percent. A proposal to double the loan pool to $50 billion is pending in Congress.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 23, 2009, 1:04 AM
Categories:: Chrysler, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Progra

June 19, 2009

Plug Me In: Mitsubishi Wants EV Chargers in Parking Lots All Over Japan

Taking a page from fellow EV-maker Nissan's playbook, Mitsubishi Motors says it will collaborate with local governments and businesses in Japan to install a network of battery chargers that can be used by drivers of its rechargeable electric minicar.

The Mitsubishi i-MIEV rolls out next month in limited production for leasing by fleet customers, followed by retail sales in 2010 - first in Japan and then globally.

Nissan, which plans to launch its own EV in the U.S. next year, has been criss-crossing the country seeking government and private partners to facilitate installation of EV chargers in municipal and private parking lots.

Both companies realize that, despite the oft-voiced claim of plug-in electric vehicle backers that there are hundreds of millions of plugs already in existence, most aren't in locations that make them convenient for EV users.

A national network of public chargers is a key ingredient in making EVs realistic transportation of more than a handful of people.

Mitsubishi and Nissan believe that people will be more open to electric vehicles if they see street-side chargers all over major cities such as Tokyo and San Francisco before they ever begin thinking about how an EV might fit into their lives.

Makes sense to us.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell June 19, 2009, 8:49 AM
Categories:: Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: EV Chargers

June 4, 2009

Mitsubishi Reportedly Begins Production of I-MIEV Electric Car As July Lauch Date Nears

Mitsubishi has begun manufacturing the i-MIEV battery-electric city car it plan to begin leasing to fleet customers in Japan next month, according to a report in Japan's Kyodo News.

The automaker hasn't said anything officially, but the news report cites unidentified Mitsubishi executives as the source of its information.

The report also says that sales of the Mitsubishi EV to consumers in Japan will begin early next year and that the price of the small four-seat EV will be about 4 million yen, the equivalent today of $41,750, with Japanese government subsidies reducing it to about 3 million yen, or $31,300.

Mitsubishi reportedly will begin selling the i-MIEV in global markets in mid-2010.

There's been no official word on U.S. sales, but the company has been testing the car here and the market is too big to ignore.

With Nissan planning to launch an electric car of its own in the U.S. next year, Mitsubishi needs to get its foot in the door as early as possible.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell June 4, 2009, 11:39 AM
Categories:: Japan, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: EVs

June 3, 2009

Toyota Faces $1 Billion Cost to Comply With California ZEV Mandate Says Report

It's still 18 months before California's revised zero emissions vehicle requirements kick in, but the lobbying, has quietly begun.

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Cars such as this plugin Toyota Prius are needed to meet California ZEV mandate, but increase automakers' operating costs.

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Toyota Motor Co. will be most impacted by the rules requiring major antomakers to provide electric and plug-in vehicles for at least 3 percent of their sales in the state from 2012 through 2014, and in an interview with Bloomberg reporter Alan Ohnsman last week a Toyota insider said the company faces $1 billion in new costs to comply.

There's no overt complaining in the article, published today on Bloomberg.com, but Toyota's meassage is clear: $1 billion is a lot of money anytime, and is a particularly sizeable pile of cash to come up with in the midst of a recession that is hurting the entire auto industry including the world's biggest car company.

In addition Toyota, which has the biggest share of the California new-car makert, the mandate would apply to Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and pre-bankruptcy General Motors Corp, and Chrysler LLC.

The two domestics have said that major production cuts are part of their recovery plans and if their sales in California drop below 60,000 a year as a result, they would no longer be bound by the mandate

Toyota, according to Bloomgerg's calculations, would have to produce 16,000 plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles to by 2014 to comply with the rules, which require major automakers to make non-polluting vehicles equal at least 3 percent of their sales for the 3-year period.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell June 3, 2009, 6:01 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: California Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate

Incentives, Concern Over Rising Fuel Prices Help Hybrids Outpace Market in May

Sales of hybrid cars and trucks outperformed the market in May, giving lie to the belief, popular among mainstream industry analysts and pundits, that Americans are only interested in the gas-electric vehicles when fuel prices are stratospheric.

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2009 Prius was top hybrid with best sales in 7 months.
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In a month when sales of non-hybrid vehicles rose 12.9 percent from the prior month, hybrid sales were up 18.2 percent. Incentives were applied liberally to hybrids and conventional vehicles alike during May, reducing the likelihood that cash-back offers or cheap interest rates unfairly boosted hybrid sales.

And while sales of both hybrids and conventional vehicles fell far short of matching year-earlier tallies, hybrid sales were off only 26.7 percent from May, 20008, compared to a 33.5 percent decline for non-hybrids.

At the same time, conventional small car sales fell short of overall market performance, indicating that shoppers had more than just fuel economy on their minds. The hybrid market may be benefiting from increased concern that fuel prices, which have been below $3 a gallon for nearly a year after approaching the $4-per-gallon mark last summer, are on the rise again and may be heading for new highs.

In all, dealers sold 25,693 hybrids last month, up from 21,735 in April but down from 35,042 in May 2008.

With the exception of Toyota's Camry hybrid, the top-selling Prius - which continues to dominate the U.S. hybrid market - and Honda's Civic hybrid, sales of individual models are low enough that it doesn't take much to cause a large jump in percent of increase or decline.

That said, Ford's new Fusion sedan hybrid scored an impressive 75 percent gain from April while sales of the Ford Escape SUV hybrid were up 62.2 percent for the same period.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell June 3, 2009, 5:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales

May 27, 2009

Schwarzenegger: Calif. Committed to H2 Future Regardless of Washington Politics

AS-May-27,-2009.jpg By Scott Doggett, Contributor

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined the 2009 Hydrogen Road Tour today at Stop 6 of a 9-day, 28-stop, 1,700-mile road trip, telling a group of reporters at the site of the state's first integrated (H2 and gasoline) station that California remains committed to a future where hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles replace gassy rides regardless of what Washington does.

Speaking at a Shell station in West Los Angeles, Schwarzenegger reminded reporters that the California Air Resources Board, which sets vehicle-emissions standards for the state, recently passed a low-carbon fuel standard - the world's first such standard.

It will, he said, ensure that the cleanest fuels, including hydrogen, will always have a strong market in California.

"And the reason why this is so important is that on the federal level, they [politicians] make decisions based on where the oil price is. That means that sometimes the federal government, when the oil price goes up, they go in the direction of renewable energy and alternate fuels. And when the oil price goes down, they abandon those policies," the "Governator" said, his back to a row of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles made by Daimler, Honda, Toyota, KIA, Volkswagen and Nissan.

"Well we don't do that here in California. We only march in one direction and that is forward. And we're not going to slow down. In 2010, we will have seven new hydrogen refueling stations in California and we will invest another $40 million over the next two years in hydrogen stations."

The governor reminded the automotive press that 20 percent of the new vehicles sold in the United States are sold in California, which is home to 25 million cars and trucks. (Those vehicles, not incidentally, consume 50 million gallons of gasoline and diesel a day and produce 40 percent of the state's greenhouse gases.)

As a result of California's vehicle market share, and that fact that Washington often follows the state's lead regarding tailpipe-emissions regulations, automakers can count on there being a large market for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles and companies considering investments in an H2-refueling infrastructure can rest assured there will be vehicles requiring the fuel, he said.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett May 27, 2009, 2:13 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Biofuels, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Kia, Legislation, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Biofuels

May 26, 2009

Nissan to Get $1.1 Billion in Low-Interest Loan From U.S. to Develop Green Cars

Nissan is likely to receive a low-interest loan topping $1.1 billion from the U.S. government to encourage the manufacture of alternate-fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles in the country, Kyodo News reported Friday.

Citing "unidentified sources close to the matter," the newspaper said access to the loan will likely hasten Nissan's global production plan for electric vehicles.

If true, Nissan would be the first foreign automaker to get such a loan from the U.S. government, which has set aside $25 billion in loans to automakers to support fuel-economy advances and the building of manufacturing facilities in the U.S. to produce low-emission vehicles.

The money is separate from emergency loans provided to General Motors and Chrysler.

Nissan reportedly plans to introduce its gas-electric hybrid vehicles in Japan and the United States in 2010, and Japan's No. 3 automaker (behind Toyota and Honda) has already decided to manufacture the model at its plant in Yokosuka, Japan.

Nissan had reportedly sought a $1.1 billion loan from the state-backed Development Bank of Japan, in addition to already having borrowed half that amount from the Japanese government.

Nissan has been suffering from the global economic slowdown and recently posted its first annual net loss for a decade.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett May 26, 2009, 9:13 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler

May 18, 2009

Are Automakers Finally Seeing the Light? Will Government and Greens See it Too?

Auto Industry Lines Up To Praise National Program Idea, Now the Hard Work Begins

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

The auto industry, tired of being seen as the bad guy whenever fuel economy and emissions regulation is on the table, is wasting no time lining up in support of tomorrow's White House announcement on development of a national carbon emissions and fuel efficiency program.

A cynic might think this doesn't bode well for the ultimate result of the rulemaking process that President Obama will outline at a press conference in Washington Tuesday morning: That the auto industry figures it has enough clout left to wring the life out of any effort to significantly improve fuel economy.

But we think it simply shows that an industry on life support and dependent on government largess here and overseas has finally read the writing on the wall and realizes that this is as good as it is ever going to get and that if it doesn't play ball it will have no say in the rules it eventually will have to live by.

Automakers also have been caught in a trap of their own making. They've been fighting California, the national leader in establishing greenhouse gas controls on motor vehicles, insisting that individual states shouldn't be able to set carbon emissions rules and that a national standard is needed.

Now the Obama administration has stepped to the table and said, as the president is wont to: "Okay, let's develop a national rule."

To oppose that would be political suicide.

In that vein, the two lobbying groups representing almost every car maker that does business in the U.S. have jumped on board and are voicing support for the so-called National Program for Autos.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 18, 2009, 6:00 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: National CAFE Plan

May 13, 2009

Better Place Battery Exchange Demo In Japan Goes Off Without A Hitch

Now the Silicon Valley Start-Up Has To Do It a Couple Hundred Thousand Times More

Model of Better Place battery exchange station shows cars on top level waiting for service while new battery (blue) is being installed in bottom car. Underground storage facility (center) is where charged batteries are kept and depleted batteries are recharged after being removed from cars.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Better Place strutted its stuff here Wednesday and it was a production well worth watching.

The would-be leader of the nascent electric-vehicle charging industry trotted out its battery switching technology at a demonstration project in downtown Yokohama and showed that, with a national network of battery exchange stations and vehicles designed to properly interface, EV ownership wouldn't have to be subjected to any significant limitations.

The battery exchange station - the first in the world to be shown to the public - ought to come with a knife and fork so those who've said that battery-electric vehicles' usefulness always will be constrained by lengthy recharging times can eat their words.

An End to Range Anxiety

In Better Place's better world, a depleted battery could be swapped for a freshly charged one in less time than it takes to pump 10 gallons of gasoline into the family sedan.

At the demonstration station, which will be open for the next six weeks in this bustling port city just south of Tokyo, a battery exchange was deliberately slowed down so those in the audience could follow it step-by-step. Even so, the exchange took just under 90 seconds.

If this kind of station were readily available, a cross-country trip in a battery-electric car wouldn't have to be interrupted every 200 miles or so to complete 4- to 6-hour battery charging sessions.

Better Place's founder and chief executive, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Shai Agassi, boasted that the engineering mule at the company's R&D center in Israel can do the job in as little as 40 seconds. That would get most of us into the station and back out with a fresh load of electrons in about a tenth of the time it takes to gas up a car with an internal combustion engine.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell May 13, 2009, 6:47 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Japan, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Battery Exchange System

May 12, 2009

Nissan Says Tough Economy Won't Stall Plans for Electric Vehicles

There was a bit of green news along with the river of red ink that Nissan Motor Co. reported earlier today in Tokyo.

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The Denki Cube, a concept Nissan EV.
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Nissan reported a $2.85 billion net loss for its fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31. The Japanese automobile company reported a full-year loss of $2.4 billion, down from a $4.9 billion profit for fiscal 2007.

Last week, Toyota Motor Co. reported a $4.5 billion loss, while Honda Motor Co. Ltd. posted a $1.4 billion profit.

"The global economic recession and financial crisis continue, but we are beginning to see some signs of improved access to credit, the impact of government stimulus packages and a gradual return in consumer confidence," Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn said in a statement. "We remain cautious about the economic environment and fully focused on our company's recovery efforts."

Now for the green.

Nissan said that the tough times in the automobile world won't slow its plan to start building electric vehicles at its Oppama plant outside of Tokyo in the fall of 2010. The plant's initial production capacity will be 50,000 units, but that volume will "continuously increase for the start of EV mass-marketing in 2012," according to Nissan.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson May 12, 2009, 8:06 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Honda, Japan, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Electric Car Batteries

May 7, 2009

Energy Department Slashes Hydrogen Transportation Funding in Proposed Budget

(Note: Updated 5 p.m. 5/7/09 to include link to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell groups' joint statement.)

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In a huge blow to backers of fuel-cell electric vehicles, the nation's top energy official said today he sees little promise of the technology becoming a significant player in the nation's transportation system within the next two decades.

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Honda's FCX Clarity, now being tested in Southern California, uses a hydrogen fuel cell to provide electric power.
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As a result, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu is proposing that more than $100 million be cut from the Energy Department hydrogen program in the 2010 budget the administration is submitting to Congress.

The proposed budget slashes hydrogen fuel cell spending by 59 percent to just $68 million and focuses on programs for stationary power generation rather than for transportation.

"We asked ourselves, 'Is it likely in the next 10 or 15, 20 years that we will covert to a hydrogen car economy?' The answer, we felt, was 'no,'" Chu said in a briefing today.

The National Hydrogen Association and the U.S. Fuel Cell Coalition quickly issued a joint statement criticizing the program cuts.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell May 7, 2009, 3:49 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Energy Department Budget

May 4, 2009

Honda, Ford Lead Hybrid Sales to Slight April Gain in Otherwise Dreary Market

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Hybrid sales in the U.S. rose in April for the fourth consecutive month and posted the highest monthly volume since October 2008.

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Honda's 2010 Insight was one of the bright spots in the U.S. hybrid market in April.
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The bump illustrates the influence that novelty and price still have on the market: Honda's new Insight, Ford's new Fusion and a heavily incentivized Honda Civic hybrid overcame slumping sales of many other gas-electric models to account for the gain.

But in a month when car and light truck sales overall still fell well below the one-million mark, the performance of the hybrid segment wasn't much to get excited about.

The month-over-month increase wasn't strong enough, for example, to put April's hybrid sales in contention with April 2008, when gasoline prices averaged above $3.50 a gallon, car buyers were scouring the market for fuel-efficient models and recession hadn't begun wreaking havoc with the economy.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell May 4, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2010 Honda Insight

May 1, 2009

Nissan Signs Raleigh, N.C., to its Growing EV Charging Partnership Network

Like a stream of electrons, they just keep coming.

Nissan, which plans to launch a battery-electric vehicle in the U.S. next year and is urging government agencies and utility companies to help it develop an EV charging infrastructure, said this morning that it is adding Raleigh, N.C., to its list of partners.

It's not the city government this time, but a regional utility - Progress Energy - and a non-profit agency called Advanced Energy, that have signed an agreement with the Renault-Nissan Alliance to promote and help develop, deploy, operate and maintain a network of electric vehicle charging stations in the city.

The Raleigh coalition is the eight locale in the U.S. to sign up with the alliance (which works through Nissan here as its French partner, Renault doesn't operate in the states).

Others are the states of Tennessee and Oregon; the cities of San Diego, Calif., and Seattle, Wash.; California's Sonoma County, and the metropolitan government associations representing the Phoenix and Tucson regions in Arizona.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell May 1, 2009, 10:17 AM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: EV Charging

April 28, 2009

Mitsubishi Reportedly Will Double i-MiEV Production Schedule by 2013

Here's a report that offers evidence that government-provided incentives can help to grow the market for cleaner, more-efficient vehicles.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. hopes to increase production of its i-MiEV to 30,000 vehicles annually during its 2012/2013 fiscal year, according to a report in the Kyodo News. The Japanese automaker previously said that it would produce 15,000 i-MiEV electric cars during its 2010/2011 fiscal year, according to the newspaper.

Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko told the newspaper that the anticipated production increase is being driven by consumer response to government-funded incentive programs around the world that encourage consumers to purchase low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson April 28, 2009, 3:56 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Japan, Legislation, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Tax Incentives
Technorati Tags:: Electric Car

Nissan-Seattle Pact Secures Both Ends of a West Coast 'Electric Highway'

Seattle has joined to the growing list of U.S. localities partnering with the Renault-Nissan Alliance to promote development of an electric vehicle charging network in advance of Nissan's introduction next year of a 5-passenger electric sedan.

The automakers and Seattle city officials announced their deal about a minute ago, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickles saying his city will develop plans to help streamline installation of an EV charging network. Among other things, that means making sure zoning codes and safety and construction permit policies are adapted to facilitate public charging stations.

Nissan and the city also will cooperate on deployment, operation and maintenance of the chargers, and Nissan has committed to make a number of its EVs available in and around the Seattle metropolitan area (there won't be a blanket nationwide launch, as is usual with conventional internal combustion engine vehicles: the Nissan electric vehicles will be allotted to dealerships in areas where charging systems exist).

"Nissan and the city of Seattle share in the belief that electric vehicles offer one of the best solutions to reducing CO2 emissions," said Dominique Thormann, senior vice president of administration and finance for Nissan North America.

Nissan, through the Renault-Nissan alliance, has entered into similar EV infrastructure development pacts on the West Coast with the state of Oregon and, in California, the county of Sonoma and city of San Diego.

The areas are too far apart to create an "electric highway" that would enable EV drivers to traverse the length of the U.S. West Coast without worrying about finding public charging stations, but with San Diego and Seattle on board, both ends are covered and Nissan is working on filling in the gaps with new charging system development pacts excpeted to be announced periodically in coming months.

The alliance (it's actually all Nissan in the U.S., but the deals are doen in the name of both companies) also has signed agreements with the state of Tennessee and the regional government associations representing the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas in Arizona.

In Seattle, where hydroelectric power makes the city's electric utility carbon-neutral - the first public utility in the world to be able to make that claim - Nickels has set a goal of using clean, green electricity to help power city's transportation system.

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Diablo Dam on the Skagit River is part of Seattle's hydroelectric system.

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Outside of the U.S., the Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun initiatives in Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama in Japan, and in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, the UK, France, Switzerland, Ireland, China and Hong Kong.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 28, 2009, 2:46 PM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Electric Highway

April 27, 2009

Honda Still Strong on Hydrogen Fuel Cells, But Eyeing Plug-In Hybrids as Well

As the once-favored hydrogen highway becomes a mere side road on the route to oil independence with the Obama administration's push for rechargeable hybrid powertrains as the new favored alternative to the conventional gasoline engine, hydrogen pioneer Honda Motor Co. says it, too, will begin to pursue the way of the plug.

In an interview with Bloomberg news last week, Honda Motor Co. President Takeo Fukui said his company still sees hydrogen as the best long-term replacement for gasoline in the effort to slash automotive emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases tied to global arming.

Fukui, who is stepping down in June as part of Honda's regular executive shuffle, has in the past has been outspoken in his disdain for plug-in technology, calling it an unnecessary intermediate step form gasoline to pure electric power.

Honda has developed a hydrogen fuel-cell sedan, the FCX Clarity, that it leases to select customers in a Los Angeles-area test program, and isn't planning to abandon the effort.

But, Fukui said in a Bloomberg news wire article published this morning, the automaker also will accommodate the perceived preference of the U.S. government for plug-in hybrid-electric cars and trucks.

Unlike a conventional gas-electric hybrid that charges its batteries from on-board power sources such as regenerative braking, a plug-in hybrid gets its initial charge from the commercial grid, by "plugging in" to a wall socket or a special rapid-charging station

Plug-ins use larger battery pack than a conventional hybrids. They store enough power to permit the vehicle to be driven for an extended amount of time on all-electric drive before the grid charge is depleted and the gas engine kicks in.

Although others, including General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai and Volkswagen are developing fuel-cell vehicles, Honda has been the only major automaker championing hydrogen above other technologies and so far has stayed out of the rapidly developing race to bring plug-ins to market.

While federal support of hydrogen development has all-but evaporated in the U.S., the government is providing billions of dollars for battery development programs and for federal tax credits of up to $7,500 for purchasers of plug-ins.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell April 27, 2009, 2:01 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Batteries, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Cell, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volvo
Technorati Tags:: FCX Clarity

April 23, 2009

Automakers Raise Questions About Better Place's Battery Swap Model

We've been trying for months now to get some face time with entrepreneur Shai Agassi, founder of EV charging infrastructure pioneer Better Place, so far to no avail.

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Exchanging large hybrid and EV battery packs such as this form a Ford electric vehicle test model, won't be easy, automakers say.

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We want to ask him about his business model and how he intends to get the world's contentious and competitive automakers to sign on to a plan that would make it possible for an independent such as Better Place to set up shops to easily and economically swap depleted battery packs for fresh ones in various brands of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

It seems to us this would take a degree of cooperation and commonality (where to put the packs so they could be pulled and exchanged quickly would require some common design features, battery attachment points and even size and weight ranges) that automakers so far have been loath to agree to.

Our paths almost crossed this week as Agassi attended a forum on battery development near out home base in Southern California - unfortunately, though, we were on the other side of the country in Florida at an alternative fuels and vehicles conference.

But several major automakers were there, as part of a panel, and according to E&E News' coverage of the Fortune magazine-sponsored event, were pretty united in their opposition to the idea of swappable batteries.

While patting Agassi on the back for his vision - a network of roadside "service stations" where the fuel is electric and the main service the swapping of depleted batteries for fully charged ones - executives from Toyota Motor Co., BMW and Ford Motor Co. all were doubtful it would work.

E&E News reports that Bill Reinart, national manager of Toyota's advanced technology group, said lithium-ion batteries and the highly charged plugs that power are not designed for constant switching and that a number of safety hazards could be created

Tom Baloga, vice president of U.S. engineering at BMW, agreed, according o the report , explaining that constant damage to batteries is likely during switching.

"Anytime you have a rapid connect and disconnect, you have to think about stability," Baloga said. "We have to be concerned about that."

Baloga added that Better Place's battery swap model is worth studying, but raised the same concern we have with battery pack uniformity and whether a battery exchange station could afford to stock a variety of packs to meet the needs of motorists who, some day, might be driving a dozen or more makes and styles of electric vehicles.

We're talking about the need to stock lots of various designs of 400- to 1,000-pound assemblages that cost $5,000 to $25,000 each, not a bunch of 50-pound, $120 lead-acid batteries.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell April 23, 2009, 3:15 AM
Categories:: BMW, Batteries, Ford, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Battery Exchanges

April 22, 2009

Nissan Sees Extended-Range Plug-Ins, Unique Charging Systems in Future

As Nissan Motor Co. expands its pilot program for prototype electric vehicles and EV charging stations in several U.S. cities, a high-ranking executive said this week that the company also sees a need for extended-range electrics such as General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet Volt.

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The Denki Cube, a concept Nissan EV shown at last year's New york Auto Show.
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Minoru Shinohara, a top Nissan engineer and corporate senior vice president, said that because they don't need an extensive public charging infrastructure, range-extending plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles will be an important transition solution to the fully electric vehicles the company sees as the future of private transportation.

Nissan plans to begin selling a full-electric vehicle to fleet customers in the U.S. in 2010, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance has started pilot programs to demonstrate the technology and develop infrastructure.

The company also has programs in Kanagawa Prefecture and Yokohama in Japan and in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland and Ireland.

In the U.S., Nissan says it is "exploring ways to promote zero-emission mobility and the development of an EV infrastructure" with the states of Tennessee and Oregon; California's Sonoma County and the City of San Diego, and the Tucson and Phoenix metropolitan regions, in Arizona.

In a presentation at the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week, Shinohara also showed two novel charging concepts for the future.

In addition to conventional plug-in electric vehicle charging, Nissan is experimenting with plugless - inductive - charging while the vehicle is parked on a special pad, and with a wild charge-while-driving scheme in which inductive charging technology would be embedded in roadways, permitting battery charging while the vehicle is moving.

Innovative charging technologies outside the home environment would "help EVs to be less dependent on the initial amount of energy storage," Shinohara said. Less requirement for initial energy storage means the vehicle might get by with a smaller, less expensive battery, lowering retail costs and making them more affordable.

Bill Visnic, Senior Editor, Edmunds AutoObserver.

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(Editor's note: We like both of Shinohara's ideas, but shudder thinking of the cost and disruption of ripping up a few hundred thousand miles of highway to install charging cables. Perhaps that's one best left to smaller, more compact countries.)

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 22, 2009, 9:12 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: EV Charging

April 15, 2009

Renault-Nissan Alliance Adds Phoenix Region To Growing EV Charger Program

There are those who maintain that electric vehicles need a public charging infrastructure like fish need bicycles - that wall plugs already available in homes, apartments, stores and office buildings will suffice.

Nissan and its French partner, Renault, aren't part of that minimalist crowd, though, and see the value of public chargers for travelers and those who don't have easy access to a wall plug for their cars.

So the Renault-Nissan Alliance is aggressively pursuing compacts with various government and private entities to get public charging systems underway in advance of Nissan Motor Co.'s planned launch next year of a rechargeable electric car.

The latest to sign on to the program, and the sixth in the U.S., is the private-public partnership of the Maricopa Association of Governments, which represents communities in the Phoenix, Ariz., area, and Ecotality, a Phoenix-area electric transportation and power storage company.

The alliance is scheduled to announce the deal in Phoenix Thursday morning.

As have previous arrangements - and this is the second in Arizona following the announcement last month of a pack with the regional government group representing the Tucson area - the deal calls for the region's governmental agencies to promote and assist in "the development, operation and maintenance " of a public electric vehicle charging network.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 15, 2009, 9:00 PM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicle Chargers

Nissan's EV to Have a 100-Mile Range but no Advanced-Tech Price Premium

Nissan's Mark Perry poses beside a test car using the electric drivetrain that will be in the company's upcoming EV.

Nissan has unveiled a few more details this week about the electric vehicle it will launch in only 18 months.

Mark Perry, director of Product Planning and Strategy for Nissan Americas, said the EV will be a "real car" offering real-world practicality. It will be a five-door hatchback with a 100-mile range on a single charge and will be "aggressively priced."

That means, he said, no EV technology premium, unlike current hybrids that sometimes sell for 20 percent more than comparably priced cars.

Furthermore, the Nissan EV will be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, he said, and there may be other state and local incentives to reduce the cost even more.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Philip Reed April 15, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: California

April 9, 2009

Nissan Reportedly Will Create Electric-Vehicle Program in Large Chinese City

Add Nissan to the list of automakers (including Chongqing Changan Auto, BYD, Brilliance, Chery, Dongfeng and SAIC) that are intent upon plugging into the rough-and-tumble Chinese market for hybrid-electric and battery-electric cars.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Nissan is negotiating with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to create a pilot electric-vehicle program in Wuhan, a city in central China with nine million residents.

The deal is unusual, the Journal reports, because Beijing typically doesn't forge such partnerships with foreign companies. The newspaper reported that the deal, which calls for Nissan to contribute cars and help create a recharging network, could be completed as soon as Friday.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson April 9, 2009, 11:49 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BYD, Chery, China, China, Dongfeng, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Chinese Hybrids

If Stars Align, Annual EV Sales Could Hit 3-Million Mark by 2015, Says Analyst

Cheaper Batteries, Lots of Chargers, Government Incentives are Necessary Ingredients

By Danny King, Contributor

The jury's still out on whether battery-electric vehicles will be a luxury or relatively commonplace within the next six years, according to a recent report that finds a lot of uncertainty still exists regarding battery performance characteristics.

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Electric cars such as the proposed Tesla Model S could proliferate, but would only trickle into the market without infrastructure development and government support, report says.
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Annual global battery-electric vehicle sales will range from as few as 500,000 to as many as 3 million units by 2015, depending on factors such as how long the cars can run on a single charge and how quickly they recharge, high-tech consultant Strategy Analytics said in its report.

Battery-electric car manufacturers will build about 10,000 units this year, up from 4,000 in 2008, according to the report's author, Kevin Mak, industry analyst of Strategy Analytics' Automotive Electronics Service.

It will take cheaper battery costs that drive electric-car prices closer to their gas-powered counterparts, a comprehensive recharging infrastructure, cars with features such as batteries that may be swapped out, and hefty government incentives for battery-electric vehicle sales to hit that 3 million mark by 2015; without such advances, annual sales will be closer to 500,000 units, Mak said.

"More advances are needed to make recharging faster - battery swap is an alternative approach - and to make more accessible recharging infrastructures, to increase range through greater energy density in batteries, to enhance reliability, and to lower costs to make electric vehicles more affordable to consumers," Mak said.

One thing is certain, though. The number of electric vehicles will grow, even if very slowly.
Companies ranging from larger automakers like Nissan to relative start-ups like Tesla Motors are planning to start selling all-electric vehicles to the U.S. public within the next two years.

Nissan Motor Co. plans to start selling its EV to U.S. fleet customers late next year and has reached an agreement with Japanese electronics giant NEC that will allow production of enough lithium-ion batteries to supply as many as 200,000 hybrid vehicles and electric cars per year.

Meanwhile, Tesla, which last week unveiled the $57,400 (base-price) Model S sedan that it plans to start selling in late 2011, said it has received more than 500 advance orders for the car, which can be equipped with a variety of battery packs good for 160, 220 or 300 miles between charges.

Others with EVs on tap include Miles Electric Vehicles, which is planning to launch its own highway-legal sedan late next year; Mitsubishi Motors, which will start selling a battery-electric city car, the i-MIEV, later this year in Japan; and Subaru, which has said it will sell a limited production EV in Japan in 2010. Several Chinese auto makers also have announced plans for EVs of their own.

Strategy Analytics cited EV battery-charging network developer Better Place as a potential factor in advancing the product enough for mass adoption.

The Silicon Valley-based company is working with Nissan and its partner, Renault, to develop electric cars and a recharging infrastructure for Israel and Denmark, though the car makers may not adopt Better Place's strategy of designing electric cars with swappable battery packs.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 9, 2009, 7:20 AM
Categories:: Miles, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Tesla
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

April 6, 2009

Eco-Driving Systems: Now Your Car Can Gently Nag You Into Being More Fuel-Wise

Ford's SmartGauge features a multitude of displays to help people become more fuel-efficient drivers.

By Robert E. Calem, Contributor

Regardless of the kind of car you drive, one of the keys to improving fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is to drive smarter - don't hammer the accelerator pedal, don't brake harshly and do steadily maintain just enough speed to keep up with the flow of traffic without passing everyone in sight.

These often are not easy tasks.

To help, automakers have begun rolling out new features and technologies that call attention to uneconomical driving behavior and offer "rewards" for fuel-efficient driving.

Some of these features are passive, like instrument panels that change color as fuel economy improves.

Others more actively engage with the driver, such as an accelerator pedal that pushes back when pressed too aggressively.

Some automakers are even working on technologies that will be able to take the driver out of the fuel economy equation by allowing the car to practically drive itself with best mileage in mind.

Read on to learn more about the driver training features and technologies in cars you can buy today, and be able to buy tomorrow.

Smart Gauges Make Smarter Drivers

"The whole idea is coaching the driver, but as a good coach you don't want to preach," says Sonya Nematollahi, driver information engineering supervisor at Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn, Mich., while describing the "SmartGauge with EcoGuide" instrument cluster in the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids.

Conceived by Ford in collaboration with IDEO, the design and innovation consultancy that also devised the Swivel 'n Go seating in Chrysler minivans, SmartGauge consists of two 4.3-inch, high-resolution color LCD screens - one on either side of the analog speedometer - that display a collection of digitally rendered gauges accessed through multi-layered menus.

SmartGauge with EcoGuide, fashioned by Ford Design Studio with features input from the industrial design firm Smart Design, uses the menus and gauges to offer increasingly detailed information in four modes: Inform, Enlighten, Engage and Empower.

"Like a good coach, we designed modes into SmartGauge to engage drivers at their experience levels and then guide them to new energy-efficient behavior," says Steve Bishop, global lead for sustainability at IDEO in Palo Alto, Calif.

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Green leaves 'grow' on fusion instrument panel as visual reward when fuel economy improves.

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"Video games engage their users in a similar fashion with levels. In fact, when we observed hybrid drivers, we found they were going for high scores, a gaming behavior that has never existed in cars before. We designed to accommodate it."

Steering-wheel mounted directional buttons are used to navigate through the modes, and the driver can customize the displays in each mode by adding or removing gauges.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell April 6, 2009, 4:10 AM
Categories:: Audi, Chevrolet, Emissions, Fiat, Ford, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Mercury, Nissan, Tesla, Volvo
Technorati Tags:: Eco Driving

April 2, 2009

Hybrid Sales Sputtered in 1st Quarter, But Segment's Not Out of Gas

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

It's no secret, hybrids haven't been doing well lately, on dealers' lots, in the media, or in a lot of political arguments. Sales data that comes in on a monthly basis shows hybrid sales sinking faster than auto sales as a whole. And there's nothing pretty about auto sales as a whole.

Indeed, looking at March's tally shows that the 21,433 hybrid cars and trucks sold in the U.S. last month represents a 43.9 percent drop from hybrid sales in March of 2008, while sales of all other types of new passenger vehicles, on a March-vs-March basis, were off "just" 36.5 percent.

So, the argument goes, hybrids can't hold their own, they cost too much and people don't really want them.

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Nissan Altima hybrid was one of only two models posting a first quarter gain.
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But we've never been big on the idea that a trend can be made, or broken, in a single month.

One could also argue, for instance, that March hybrid sales were up substantially from February and recovered more than did all other segments combined.

On a sales-per-day basis, to account for the shorter February selling period, March hybrid sales were up 20.9 percent, versus an 11.6 percent increase from February in sales of other types of new cars and trucks.

Does that mean that March sales show that people have changed their minds and are flocking to hybrids in droves?

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell April 2, 2009, 4:35 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Hybrid Sales

March 26, 2009

Nissan Tells Plug-In Advocate It Wants Its Own U..S. Battery Factory

Electric vehicle activist Paul Scott, a founding member and director of Plug In America, reports that Nissan wants to build its own advanced battery manufacturing plant in the U.S. as part of its electric car initiative.

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Nissan EV concept at last year's New York auto show.

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The automaker already has announced its intent to launch a Nissan EV in the U.S. late next year, with global sales to follow by 2012.

Scott said he was invited to a breakfast meeting this week with several of the automaker's representatives, including Nissan North America product planning chief Mark Perry, to discuss various aspects of the Nissan electric vehicle plan.

Nissan previously said that the car would be a unique addition to its lineup rather than an electric version of an existing model.

While specifics about the proposed new car's performance and battery capacity weren't divulged, Scott says he was told that Nissan is shooting for a five-passenger vehicle with a range of 100 miles at highway speeds.

While Nissan plans to sell or lease the car to fleet customers at first, Scott said he "made a pitch to offer some to private buyers to generate interest" and that his proposal "seemed to be well received, so maybe they'll offer a couple thousand cars for sale to the early adopter set."

Nissan is partnering with NEC in Japan to build the lithium ion batteries for the new car, but told Scott that Nissan developed the battery chemistry and the control system in-house. The batteries already are in production, Scott reports.

The automaker intends to use the universal standard for Level 2 battery charging at 240 volts but will ensure that the car can charge at standard 120-volt household current (now called Level 1 charging) and at Level 3 fast-charging as well, if and when fast charging stations become available.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 26, 2009, 10:40 AM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Nissan Electric Car

March 23, 2009

Renault-Nissan Alliance Signs EV Charging Deal With San Diego's Power Utility

Huge Region Becomes 5th in U.S. To Help as Nissan Preps for 2010 EV Launch

Add California's southernmost big city, San Diego, to the growing list of places plugging into the Renault-Nissan Alliance's effort to promote an electric vehicle battery-charging infrastructure to coincide with the launch of the EV it has promised for next year.

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Nissan will use this electric vehicle "mule" to show off its technology in a U.S. tour that begins in San Diego.
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Just weeks after announcing that it signed an EV promotional pact with the Tuscon, Arizona, metropolitan area's regional government association, the Renault-Nissan Alliance this morning is unveiling a similar deal with San Diego Gas & Electric. The public utility that supplies power to a 4,100 square-mile region with a population of 3.4 million.

The joint agreements the auto-making partners are executing with utility and government groups around the country (and in a number of foreign countries as well) call for Nissan and Renault to aid the entities in the acquisition of electric vehicles and to work with them to promote installation of an EV charging infrastructure as well as use and understanding of the vehicles.

The government and utility groups in turn agree to take the necessary actions -- including changes in zoning laws and building permit policies when necessary -- to make it easier for privately or publicly owned EV charging stations to be installed in convenient locations.

The San Diego deal specifically calls for the automaker and the utility to work together to "implement and maintain" a battery charging network. Officials from San Diego's city government and several other area entities including San Diego County's association of governments, were on hand for the announcement, an indication of regional support for the plan.

The San Diego announcement also kicks off what Nissan Motor Co. is calling a coast-to-coast tour of its electric vehicle prototype: A late-model Nissan Cube converted to electric drive.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 23, 2009, 11:30 AM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Battery Charging Infrastructure

Nissan Readying a Rear-Wheel-Drive Infiniti M Sport Sedan Hybrid for 2010

Hybrid isn't a word that generally gets used in the same sentence as Nissan. The company has been slow to enter the gas-electric vehicle market -- though it is pushing hard on development of an all-electric car.

But Edmunds' Inside Line is reporting that Nissan hopes to make up for lost time with a rear-wheel drive hybrid version of the Infiniti M Sport Sedan (a standard version is pictured, left).

The new 2010 Infiniti M hybrid, which will reportedly will use the same chassis that underpins the next Japanese-market Fuga sedan, is expected to take aim at the Lexus GS 450h. Its Nissan-designed parallel hybrid system apparently will match a 3.5-liter gasoline V6 with an electric motor of undisclosed power. A high-efficiency lithium-ion battery pack is the reported choice for energy storage.

Nissan's hybrid system is best suited to a rear-wheel-drive application, according to the company. Nissan also believes that improving fuel economy for the larger cars will have a greater impact on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum consumption.

The company hasn't said when the new model would reach the U.S. market. And a spokesman on Monday said that Nissan isn't commenting on possible pricing or anticipated fuel economy numbers.

Inside Line also reports that Nissan is believed to have plans to make hybrid versions of all Infiniti models within 10 years.

Greg Johnson, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Greg Johnson March 23, 2009, 10:31 AM
Categories:: Hybrid, Japan, Nissan
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid

March 20, 2009

Some New Cars Cheaper Than Used Now, Hybrids Included, Edmunds Study Finds

Car prices are falling, we all know that, but did you realize that for some makes the declines, combined with the industry's ubiquitous cut-rate financing offers, has made it cheaper to buy new than used?

A just-released study by Edmunds.com's analysts shows that shoppers who may think the budget will only stretch to cover payments on late model used vehicles could, with a little research, find themselves in a new model for lower overall costs if they are financing rather than paying cash.

Mostly, the findings apply to conventional models, although many of those are fuel-efficient compacts. But there are even two hybrids in the mix.

Yup, the price on the window of that brand new, 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid (above, left) may be a lot higher than what's being asked for a year-old "previously owned" model (below, right), but the new Civic Hybrid comes with a national interest rate deal that means a savings of nearly $2,000 over the year-old model in the course of a 60-month loan.

To compute potential savings, our analysts used the Edmunds True Market ValueÃ‚Â® - what people are really paying - rather than the sticker prices and figured a 10.5 percent annual percentage rate on the used car loans. New car loans were figured at a national average of 5.9 percent, and where a national interest rate discount is being offered - as with the Honda Civic Hybrid - it was applied instead of the higher, 5.9 percent rate.

(Incentives can change from region to region. For the most up-to-date information abut deals and discounts in your area, check Edmunds' incentive finder.)

In the case of the Civic Hybrid, the new '09 model has a True Market ValueÃ‚Â® of $21,788, the use '08 model a TMV of $20,167.

Because of the higher interest on a used car loan, the new hybrid would be $795 less expensive than the used model over a 60-month loan even if Honda weren't offering a discount interest rate on new-car financing. With that rate the savings jumps to $1,991.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 20, 2009, 2:47 PM
Categories:: Honda, Hybrid, Nissan
Technorati Tags:: Car Loan Interest Rates

March 6, 2009

Tucson Regional Government Group Signs Onto Nissan-Renault EV Promotion Plan

Adding another name to its list of target communities for sales of its upcoming electric vehicle, the Renault-Nissan Alliance today said it has signed an agreement with an Arizona regional government association to promote development of an EV charging network in the Tucson metro area.

Nissan has said it will introduce an electric vehicle in the U.S. next year and plans a global rollout of Nissan branded EVs in 2012.

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Nissan was testing this EV, a version of the Cube, in Japan last year but says its retail model will be a new design.

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The agreement with the Pima Association of Governments, which represents the Tucson metro area, calls for the region's governmental agencies to promote and assist in "the development, operation and maintenance " of a public EV charging network.

That typically is done by encouraging zoning and permit policies that allow installation of chargers on public and private properties

A private electric transportation and power storage company, Ecotality Inc., of Scottsdale, Ariz., is part of the partnership and will assist in installation of the EV chargers and coordination of various government policies affecting EV charging systems, Nissan said.

The automaker has agreed to "assist" the government association and its member agencies in acquiring electric vehicles - language that likely means the company will sell or lease them its EVs at discounted rates.

Nissan works with its French partner, Renault, though the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which has begun zero emission vehicle initiatives alone and with other partners in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Monaco, Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture and the City of Yokohama, French electric utility company EDF, and two private British firms, the car-rental company Greentomatocars, and zero-emission transport system company Elektromotive.

In the U.S., the Alliance is participating in electric car partnerships with the states of Tennessee and Oregon, the County of Sonoma in California, and now the Tucson regional government group, to explore ways to promote zero-emission vehicles and development of an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 6, 2009, 11:13 AM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicle Charging

March 5, 2009

Incentives Helped Hybrids in February; Sales Down Less than Industry Overall

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Sales of hybrid cars and SUVs continued falling in February but their plunge was slowed somewhat by a strong updraft of incentives.

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Camry hybrid sales were down 50 percent from February '08 but with incentive spending rose 82 percent from January
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While new car sales overall were down 41 percent from a year earlier, hybrid sales were off just 28.5 percent with 16,020 vehicles sold, down from 22,411 in February 2008.

The gas-electric cars cost more than their conventional counterparts and haven't been doing well as the economy tanks and gas prices remain relatively low.

Sales also have been slowed as interested consumers hold off in anticipation of the new Honda insight compact 5-passenger hybrid and the redesigned 2010 Toyota Prius, both due to hit showroom floors soon.

One Gainer

February saw only one gain - the Lexus RX400 hybrid crossover SUV was up 31 percent from a year earlier - but several models posted smaller declines than the segment as a whole.

The Lexus RX400 hybrid was helped by significant incentive spending, as Toyota's luxury division poured an average of $6,338 into each vehicle, according to Edmunds.com's True Cost of Incentives data. That was up from just $503 per vehicle incentive spending on the RX400 hybrid a year earlier and was $1,300 more than Lexus was spending on RX400 incentives in January.

Both the Ford Escape hybrid and the Toyota Camry posted big gains for the month. The Escape, with 1,172 sales, climbed 55.6 percent from January and the Camry, with 2,080 sales, was up 82.3 percent.

Camry sales really show the power of incentives: the car was among the worst performers in comparing February '08 and '09 sales, down almost 50 percent.To get the big January to February improvement, Toyota pumped up incentive spending on the model to $1,495 per vehicle from "virtually nothing in January," said Edmunds.com industry analyst Jessica Caldwell.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell March 5, 2009, 12:46 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales

February 5, 2009

Hybrid Sales Swirled Down Same Drain as Conventional Cars and Trucks in January

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

No surprise, hybrid sales in January went down the drain along with the rest of the industry.

The gas-electric cars, pricier than their conventional counterparts, typically don't do well when gas prices are cheapish, as they are these days.

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Lexus RX 400h was one of only two hybrids to post a gain over January '08 sales.
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Add in a recession teetering on the edge of depression and the picture is grimmer.

Piling on, Toyota and Honda -- the industry's hybrid sales leaders -- have new models coming out in a few months, a situation that doesn't do much to promote sales of models that are soon to be outdated.

The only good news is that, as a percentage of an overall abysmal market, hybrids gained in January, rising to a 2.33 percent market share from 1.97 percent in December and 2.14 percent a year earlier.

In terms of market share, January was the seventh-best month for hybrids since the first model went on sale in the U.S. in 1999.

Good market share in a bad market isn't much to cheer about, though. In terms of sales volume, January was the worst month for hybrids in almost three years.

Total sales of 15,393 hybrid cars and SUVs were down 12.8 percent from December and plunged 31.2 percent from a year earlier.

The last time sales were lower was February 2006, when only 14,957 hybrids were sold.

Gains

As usual, Toyota's Prius was the month's volume leader with 8,121 sales -- almost 53 percent of the total.

The Prius also was one of only five hybrid models of the 16 tracked by Edmunds.com to post a gain from December, up 3.3 percent. Prius sales were down 28.6 percent from a year earlier, though.

The other January gainers were:

The Lexus 400h crossover hybrid, up 6.3 percent with 1,556 sales;
Toyota's Highlander hybrid SUV, up 10.6 percent with 984 sales;
Honda's Civic Hybrid, up 3.8 percent with 1,076 sales; and
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid SUV from Ford Motor Co., up 19.8 percent with 127 sales.

Despite the one-month gains, the Civic Hybrid was down 38.3 percent from January '07, the Mariner was off 28.7 percent from a year earlier, and the Highlander was down 54.1 percent.

Potential buyers holding back in anticipation of the improved 2010 Prius and Honda's new 2010 Insight Hybrid, both due later this year, didn't help any of the January-over-January sales comparisons, said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com's manager of industry analysis.

"Hefty price tags combined with the promise of newer, more-efficient models to come within the next few months have really hindered hybrid sales in January," she said.

Two hybrid models did post gains from their year-ago, marks, though.

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Nissan Altima Hybrid joined Lexus in winner's circle with an increase from January '08 sales.
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The Lexus 400h was up 28.3 percent from 1,211 sales a year earlier -- the only model to gain for the month and the year -- while Nissan's Altima Hybrid, with 644 sales last month, was up 36.1 percent from 473 sales in January '07.

Big Losses

The rest of the pack lost ground, although most are such low-volume sellers that the losses didn't make much impression on January's total sales picture.

General Motors Corp.'s hybrid cars and crossovers were the biggest losers, percentagewise, all but one falling more than 50 percent from December (none were in the market a year ago, so there are no January '07 numbers to compare to).

The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid SUV was hit hardest, down 69.5 percent with 299 sold versus 981 in December.

The Chevy Malibu Hybrid sedan was a close second in the loser column, its 145 sales a 68.1 percent decline from 454 sales a month earlier.

The GMC Yukon Hybrid SUV (a twin to the Tahoe) was down 62 percent to 168 sales from 442 in December; Cadillac Escalade Hybrid SUV sales fell 56.8 percent to 132 from 306; the Saturn Vue Greenline Hybrid crossover was off 54.7 percent with 153 sales, down from 338; and the Saturn Aura Hybrid sedan was down 44.1 percent to 19 sales from 34 in December.

Sales of Ford's Escape Hybrid SUV fell 27.9 percent from December, to 753, and were off 41.9 percent from January '07, and Toyota's Camry Hybrid sedan dropped 39.6 percent from December, to 1,141 sales, and was down 49.7 percent from a year earlier.

In Toyota's luxury stable, the Lexus LS 600h L hybrid sedan posted 33 sales, down 34 percent from December and 68.6 percent below January '07 sales, and the Lexus GS 450h crossover hybrid dropped 19.6 percent from December, to 41 sales, and was off 35.9 percent from a year earlier.

Although the new models from Toyota and Honda could pump a little excitement into the hybrid market later this year, Caldwell and other analysts don't expect much improvement before the latter part of the year.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell February 5, 2009, 10:34 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: January Hybrid Sales

February 3, 2009

ACEEE Dubs Honda Civic GX Greenest Car For 6th Year; Prius In Second Place

GM Gets Three Models on 'Greenest' List and Tops 'Meanest' Ranking With Hummer H2

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

In an anticlimactic repeat, Honda's natural-gas burning Civic GX topped the annual "greenest vehicles" of the year listing being published this morning by the non-profit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

It is the 12th year the Washington-based environmental and economic lobbying group has published its Green Book Online, which ranks passenger cars and light trucks for overall environmental impact.

Although the list for the 2009 model year contained no big surprises, it was marked by the reappearance of General Motors Corp., with trio of small cars among the dozen "greenest" vehicles in the market - the Chevrolet Cobalt compact and its Pontiac G5 twin placed eighth overall and the Chevrolet Aveo subcompact finished10th.

The GM cars, which were rated highly for their fuel economy, knocked Ford's Focus off the "greenest" list after its appearance there last year as the only domestic car in the top twelve.

The Ford didn't get a lower score - but the average scores in the top 12 were higher this year than last.

Evolution, Not Revolution

Generally, the 2009 list was marked by continued improvements in the fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions of scores of vehicles rather than by stellar performances from just one or two models.

Manufacturers are fine-tuning their engines and transmissions, improving materials, and adding emission control technologies, said ACEEE transportation program director Therese Langer.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell February 3, 2009, 5:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Daimler, Diesel, Emissions, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hummer, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Natural Gas, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Pontiac, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: ACEEE Green Book Online

January 27, 2009

Better Place Secures $133.8-Million Infusion for Danish EV Charging Network

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor
Better Place, the California-based electric vehicle battery charging infrastructure pioneer, said this morning that it has secured a 103-million euro ($133.8 million) equity and debt financing in conjunction with Denmark's DONG Energy to fund initial deployment of its previously announced Danish charging infrastructure.

DONG will be the preferred supplier of renewable energy to the charger network and will assist Better Place in rolling out the nationwide system of EV battery chargers and battery exchange stations.

The charging infrastructure is part of a plan by Better Place, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and the Danish government to begin marketing electric cars in Denmark in 2011.

Renault-Nissan is designing and building the vehicles, which will have a battery pack system that can be quickly removed when depleted and replaced with a fully recharged pack.

The rapid exchange system is part of Better Place's plan to extend the effective range of electric vehicles so they can be lengthy trips without the without the inconvenience of otherwise lengthy battery charging sessions.

Better Place charging stations, to be located in parking lots and other public areas, will be available for short "top-ups" of the battery packs while a car is parked for short periods, perhaps while the driver is shopping or attending a theater performance.

The company, founded by high-tech entrepreneur Shai Agassi, believes that installing an electrical "fueling" infrastructure is the necessary first step in making electric vehicles a marketable alternative to gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 27, 2009, 1:50 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Better Place

January 15, 2009

Better Place Announces EV Charger Program With Canada's Car-Building Capital

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

While we're well aware of how faddish this world can be, we're heartened by all the attention the electrification of the passenger vehicle is getting these days - and we hope it lasts.

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Wind-generated electricity for EV charging is part of Better Place vision.
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One company trying its best to make a permanent part of life going forward is Better Place.

The Silicon Valley developer of an electric-vehicle battery charging and exchange system is signing deals right and left to help develop an EV "fueling" infrastructure that will be there to help provide juice to the electric cars and trucks almost every automaker now says it will be making soon.

The latest pact, announced this morning, is a research and planning agreement with Canada's Ontario Province, which wraps around the top of the Great Lakes and contains the cities of Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor and Timmins - home of country singer Shania Twain and the Toyota Motor Co.'s North American cold weather test facility.

The province also contains many of Canada's auto plants (Windsor is directly across the Detroit River from General Motors Corp's headquarters in downtown Detroit) and its autoworkers have produced more cars and trucks in each of the past two years than have Michigan's.

Shai Agassi, the high-tech entrepreneur who founded and heads Better Place, said the deal calls for the company to set up a Canadian headquarters in Toronto and spend the next four months doing a thorough analysis of what it would take to install a network of EV battery chargers and battery exchange stations in the sprawling province.

At the same time, Ontario's state government would run a analysis of what it could do to encourage electrification, including rules to make it easier for a charging infrastructure to be installed; establishing government subsidies for electric vehicles, including a policy for government use of EVs in its own fleets; and development of a public education and promotion campaign.

"This is one step to getting us a little bit closer" to a future of clean, oil-free transportation, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said in announcing the pact at a press conference in Toronto.

The terms of the deal echo those of exploratory agreements Better Place struck late last year with a group of cities in the San Francisco Bay area and with the state of Hawaii and the Australian state of Victoria.

"We'll both (Better Place and Ontario's government) announce our findings in reports issued in April and then we'll proceed from there," Sean Harrington, Better Place global development director told Green Car Advisor.

The deal also calls for Better Place to build an EV demonstration and information center in Toronto should things move beyond the study stage (Better Place is developing a similar center in Japan for the city of Yokohama, and a smaller one in Hawaii as part of its deal there).

It also introduces Canadian renewable energy company Bullfrog Power into the mix with an agreement for all of the power to be used by EVs operating in Ontario to come from Bullfrog, with uses wind and hydroelectric generation.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 15, 2009, 7:45 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Transportation Alternatives
Technorati Tags:: Better Place

January 9, 2009

Ford Says New Fusion S Bests Camry, Accord 4-Bangers in EPA Mileage Ratings

It may be a case of piling on, but Ford Motor Co. gleefully issued a press release today touting yet another fuel economy win over Japanese rivals - this time it's the conventionally powered Ford Fusion S beating the 4-cylinder Toyota Camry and Honda accord models.

The base model in the 2010 Fusion lineup has been rated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency at 23 miles per gallon in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway, Ford said.

The company has proudly been touting the EPA fuel efficiency rating for the 2010 Fusion hybrid - 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway - as best-in-class in the mid-size car segment, easily overshadowing Toyota's Camry hybrid and Nissan's Altima hybrid.

Toyota took umbrage at that claim, however, maintaining, as we reported earlier today, that despite being much smaller that the Fusion and the Camry, the Prius qualifies as a mid-size under federal rules and thus beats the Fusion hybrid with its 48 mpg city-45 mpg highway rating.

In today's announcement, Ford tried to fix that by proclaiming the Fusion, which goes on sale in the spring, as "American's most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan for both hybrid and conventional gasoline models."

The key word there is "sedan." Toyota's Prius is a hatchback and thus no longer part of the comparison set.

The Fusion S uses Ford's new 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine linked to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

Its 23/34 mpg rating tops the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder Camry's by 2 miles a gallon in the city cycle and 3 mpg on the highway. It bests the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder Accord by just 1 mile per gallon in the city, but by 3 mpg in highway driving, according to the EPA.

We don't really care who is mileage champ, it's just good to see the automakers battling it out over fuel economy claims as well as doing the standard horsepower and 0-60 acceleration match-ups.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell January 9, 2009, 4:49 PM
Categories:: Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Ford Fusion

January 6, 2009

Hybrids Finish 2008 in the Dumps, With Prices Weakened and Sales Down

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

December's gas-electric car and SUV sales plunged almost 43 percent from the final month of 2007 as the year wound up on a discouraging note for the only alternative technology vehicles to so far make a dent in the auto market.

It was a near repeat of a stupendously disastrous November, when sales of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles fell 50 percent from a year earlier.

For all of 2008, hybrid sales tumbled 10.3 percent with 310,724 models sold. While nothing to boast about, the hybrid segment bested the overall market's performance of an 18.2 percent drop for the year, according to Edmunds.com statistics.

The only bright spots were that hybrid sales in December actually rose a bit from November, and that 2008 hybrid sales were the second-best on record in the decade since 1999, when Honda introduced the first model, the now-discontinued two-seat Insight. The year's sales trailed only 2007, when 346,431 hybrids were sold.

Incentives Made the Difference

The 6.8 percent rise in sales volume from November to December was due to hefty incentives and discounting by most automakers and to an especially effective financing program that General Motors' financing arm provided for almost all of the company's lineup.

Industrywide, the same pricing and financing incentives led to a one-month sales gain of 20 percent.

In the hybrid segment, December's total of 17,652 sales was the second lowest of the year, trailing only November's dismal 16,536.

After that, you'd have to go back to January 2007, when only 17,591 gas-electric cars and sport-utes were sold, to find a worse month for hybrids.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell January 6, 2009, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2008 Hybrid Sales

January 5, 2009

Daimler Says It Intends To Take on Bosch, Other Suppliers on Batteries for EVs

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

It would appear that Daimler not only views electrification of the automobile as the key to sustainable mobility, but it also views the shift from gasoline- and diesel-powered cars and trucks to electric vehicles as an opportunity for the Stuttgart automaker to compete head on with major automotive parts suppliers.

In an interview today with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, Chief Executive Thomas Weber (pictured) said Daimler -- parent company of Mercedes-Benz and Smart -- intends to compete directly with German automotive parts supplier Robert Bosch and other companies in selling high-performance lithium-ion batteries to third parties.

Weber's comments follow the joint announcement last month by Daimler and German chemical, energy and real estate company Evonik Industries that the two companies had partnered to develop lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids, with the first publicized target for the new batteries being the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid due out this year.

Daimler and Evonik made that announcement less than a week after Mercedes-Benz disclosed plans to unveil a trio of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, which starts next Monday, and Daimler's announcement to expand its test program of electric-drive Smart Fortwos from London and Berlin to the Italian cities of Rome, Milan and Pisa.

According to industry forecasts, the market size for high-performance lithium-ion batteries will exceed $13 billion within the next decade. Clearly, Daimler and Evonik Industries want a chunk of that market, as do Toyota, Volkswagen and Renault-Nissan, all of which have recently partnered with battery-makers.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett January 5, 2009, 3:28 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: BlueZero

December 29, 2008

Nissan, NEC to Put $1.1 Billion Into Battery Manufacturing Business

We're talking about EV battery manufacturing and development in the U.S., but they're doing it in Japan.

Nissan Motor and NEC Corp. reportedly have agreed to pump almost $1.1 billion, into Automotive Energy Supply Corp., their previously announced joint venture for manufacturing lithium-ion battery packs (right) for electric and hybrid cars.

If the Nikkei business daily report is accurate, this will be the fourth major battery venture in Japan: Toyota has teamed with Matsushita Electric, Honda with Sanyo and Mitsubishi with GS Yuasa.

Nissan has an agreement with its French partner, Renault, to begin producing electric vehicles by 2010, and needs an assured battery supplier. The Japanese model calls for important components for a Japanese-built vehicle to be developed and produced at home when possible.

The deal, according to the Nikkei report as reviewed by analysts at Global Insight, calls for the Nissan-NEC partnership to ultimately produce sufficient batteries to supply 200,000 hybrids and EVs a year, with initial production of 13,000 battery packs a year to begin in 2009.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell December 29, 2008, 1:06 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Honda, Hybrid, Japan, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: EV Batteries

December 16, 2008

Renault-Nissan, Utility Agree to Develop Charging Network for EVs in Switzerland

The Renault-Nissan Alliance team tasked with partnering with utilities and governments to develop battery-charging networks for electric vehicles has done it again.

Swiss electric utility company Energie Ouest Suisse and Renault-Nissan announced today that they have signed a memorandum of understanding under which the automaker will supply electric-drive vehicles to the utility and both parties will study ways of implementing and maintaining the battery-charging network throughout the land-locked, lake-filled, clock-cuckoo country.

The utility produces 85 percent of its electricity from hydropower, which means that not only will the EVs zip around without spewing greenhouse gases, but the electricity they use will, for the most part, come from sources that don't produce climate-changing emissions.

Renault-Nissan has reached similar agreements with Israel, Denmark, Portugal, the Principality of Monaco and the French utility company EDF, as well as the U.S. states of Tennessee and Oregon, Sonoma County in Northern California, and in Japan, the Prefecture of Kanagawa and the City of Yokohama.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 16, 2008, 4:24 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

Daimler, Evonik Industries Team to Produce Lithium-Ion Batteries for EVs, Hybrids

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

German automotive giant Daimler of Stuttgart and chemical, energy and real estate company Evonik Industries of Essen have partnered to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids, with the first publicized target for the new batteries being the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid due out next year.

The German companies made the announcement Monday -- less than a week after Mercedes-Benz, a division of Daimler, disclosed plans to unveil a trio of BlueZero electric-drive concept vehicles at next month's 2009 Detroit Auto Show. Presumably the new batteries will make their way into whatever production models arise from the concepts.

Daimler officials have often stated that electrification of the automobile is the key to sustainable mobility. To that end, Daimler engineers have registered more than 600 patents associated with battery-powered vehicles over the past three decades, of which 230 were in the field of lithium-ion technology.

For its part, Evonik Industries has invested $110 million in battery technology in recent years. The outcome, according to Evonik Industries and Daimler: "Production-ready high-technology battery cells that are superior to competitor products in several key areas."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett December 16, 2008, 11:34 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Daimler, Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Battery

December 9, 2008

Oregon Turns to China, Japan and Buffett in Bid to Be Primary U.S. EV Launch State

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski's recent sweep through China and Japan appears to have paid dividends for his bold bid to make his state America's primary launching pad for electric cars, according to an article published today by Climate Wire (subscription required).

Kulongoski (pictured), a two-term Democrat, went to Asia last month with the express purpose of attracting Asian carmakers to Oregon. He returned with a deal in hand from Nissan Motor Co. to provide electric vehicles to the state fleet starting in 2010 and a tentative commitment from a fledgling Chinese company to start a pilot program in Oregon.

And while the deal with Nissan and related talks with Toyota Motor Co. may have won the governor the most press, the meetings with BYD Auto Co., a Chinese battery manufacturer turned electric-car outfit, may ultimately do more to position Oregon as a leader in the low-emission vehicle market.

"We want Oregon to be the launch site for electric cars," Jillian Schoene, a Kulongoski aide who traveled with the governor through Asia and took part in meetings with BYD, told Climate Wire. "These car companies knew that about us before we walked into their door."

BYD, which stands for "Build Your Dreams," is shopping for a U.S. pilot site to roll out its hybrid plug-in sedan, the F3DM, which goes on the market in China in less than two weeks. Oregon could emerge as the ideal test market, given Kulongoski's vision of charging stations every 60 miles on the highway, not to mention Pacific Power's direct connection to the Chinese battery maker.

The utility, based in Redmond, Oregon, is owned by a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, MidAmerican Energy Holdings, which bought a 10 percent stake in BYD this fall for $230 million. That relationship could propel the Portland area past Los Angeles, the other U.S. city in the running for the project.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett December 9, 2008, 6:37 PM
Categories:: BYD, Batteries, Chevrolet, China, Courts, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Legislation, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: BYD Auto

Better Place Dedicates First of 500,000 EV Charging Stations Planned For Israel

A company founded by California EV entrepreneur Shai Agassi has dedicated the first of what it says will be as many as 500,000 electric vehicle recharging stations in Israel, the first country to sign on to Agassi's vision of electric cars for everyone.

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Better Place Israel's Moshe Kaplinsky demonstrates EV charging station.

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The company, Better Place (formerly Project Better Place), has agreed to install 500 of the charging points in a number of Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in a pilot project now, and says its expects to have half a million installed by the time electric vehicles made by Renault and Nissan are ready for market in 2011.

More to Come

The Israeli EV charging network would be the planet's first nationwide commercial system, but Better Place has similar agreements with Denmark, the Australian state of Victoria, the state of Hawaii and a consortium of major San Francisco Bay Area cities.

The company also announced Monday that it has been invited by the Japanese government to build a battery exchange station in Yokohama early next year as part of a electric vehicle demonstration project involving a number of Japanese auto makers.

Israel's First

In a report in today's edition, Britain's Guardian newspaper said the first charging spot in Israel has been installed in a parking lot atop a shopping center in the coastal city of Ramat Hasharon, a suburb of Tel Aviv.

The paper quotes Moshe Kaplinsky, head of Better Place Israel, saying that the firm believes electric cars are a fundamental challenge to the ubiquitous gasoline and diesel vehicles.

"The vision is to stop this addition to oil," he told the paper.

In addition to charging stations, the Better Place network will include quick-exchange stations where depleted EV battery packs can be replaced with fully charged packs - the same sort of station the company will build in Japan.

Participants in the Israeli system would purchase an electric vehicle but the local arm of Better Place would own the batteries and lease them to vehicle owners - an electrified version of buying the car and then purchasing fuel on an as-needed basis.

Like Cell Phone Contracts?

EV customers would pay for fixed or unlimited mileage on their batteries - much as cell phone users sign up for plans based on minutes of use - and when they didn't want to wait for a recharge from the grid would go to one of the battery exchange stations for a battery pack switch.

Better Place has teamed with the Renault-Nissan Alliance for a program in which the California-based company will provide the charging infrastructure and the automakers will design and build the vehicles to use them.

So far, the automakers have only shown a concept for a Better Place car based on a Renault Megane sedan (left).

Various government partners can provide financial assistance and ease the way for installation of the charging infrastructure.

Such a system works in small, self-contained territories such as Israel and Hawaii, or in urban areas such as San Francisco, because the average automobile trip is relatively short.

Israel, for example, is 260 miles long and only 85 miles across at its widest point. It is about 75 miles from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, well within the 100-mile range of the lithium-ion battery packs Better Place says the Renault-Nissan EVs will use.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell December 9, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Energy Companies, Fuels & Technologies, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Better Place Israel

December 3, 2008

November Hybrid Sales Plunge As Gas Prices Fall, Credit Tightens

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Sales of hybrid cars and SUVs took a worse beating than the industry as a whole in November, plummeting 50 percent from a year earlier and off 24.8 percent from October.

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Industry leading Prius hybrid sales in November were off 50 percent from a year earlier.
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Industrywide sales of all new cars and light trucks were down 37 percent from a year ago.

The hbrid segment was hit with the triple whammy of falling gasoline prices, high sticker prices in a recessionary economy and tight credit that cut many potential buyers out of the market.

"The environment is taking a back seat to the macroeconomic situation," said Edmunds.com market analyst Jessica Caldwell.

With gasoline falling below $2 a gallon, many hybrid models just didn't pencil out for consumers when their premium prices were compared with prices for other fuel efficient vehicles with conventional powertrains, she said.

Altogether, automakers sold 16,536 gas-electric hybrids last month, down from 21,979 in October.

To make matter worse, consumers purchased twice as many hybrids - 33,063 of them - in November 2007, when there were several fewer models available.

Hybrids' market share dropped to 2.21 percent in November, down from 2.62 percent in October and 2.82 percent in November 2007.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell December 3, 2008, 3:30 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Lexus, Mercury, Nissan, Saturn, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid Sales Fall

December 1, 2008

Electric Vehicle Charger Company Says Sales Arm Now Reaches 28 States

EV charger manufacturer Coulomb Technologies, which recently announced that it has orders for 40 of its networked charging stations to be installed along major traffic corridors in California, says it now has established distributorships that cover 28 states with plans to expand into all 50.

Coulomb, headquartered in Northern California, is displaying its wirelessly linked charging stations at the Electric Drive Transportation Assn.'s annual conference in Washington, D.C. this week.

The company's "Smartlet" stations supply current at a variety of voltages for battery-electric and pug-in hybrid vehicles. Station users' would use prepaid accounts that would be debited via a wireless transaction when they access one of the charging stations - unless the station owner has opted, as several have, to deliver the power at no charge.

Coulomb said it will market the stations exclusively through its regional distributors, who now cover the major states in all regions except Texas and the Midwest.

Richard Lowenthal, Coulomb's chief executive, has said that he wants to position the company to have a commercial recharging infrastructure in place when vehicles with rechargeable batteries beginning appearing in the marketplace.

In addition to independents such as Tesla Motors, Miles Electric Vehicles, GEM and Zap that already market electric vehicles, several major and independent automakers, including General Motors, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Chrysler, BMW, Fisker Automotive and Aptera Motors have announced plans for plug-in hybrids or battery-electric cars that will begin to hit the market -- some for testing, others for retail sales or leasing -- by late next year.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); John O'Dell December 1, 2008, 1:55 PM
Categories:: BMW, Chrysler, Fisker, Ford, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Mercedes-Benz, Miles, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Coulomb Technologies

November 25, 2008

Renault-Nissan Alliance Enters ZEV Partnership With California's Sonoma County

Nissan North America and California's Sonoma County have partnered to develop electric-vehicle charging stations and standards.

The announcement late last week was the second partnership unveiled by the Renault-Nissan Alliance within days and was the seventh that the company had established in an effort to prepare the market and consumers for a transition to plug-in electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrids.

Nissan believes it is critical to develop standards and to build a recharging infrastructure to support electric vehicles as Japan's No. 3 automaker introduces the vehicles to consumers.

Nissan has announced plans to introduce zero-emission vehicles in the United States and Japan in 2010 and intends to make them available to the mass market two years later.

The partnership with Sonoma, a Northern California county famous for its wines located 30 miles north of San Franciso, also includes agreements with eight cities within the county. Nissan said it plans to supply electric vehicles to the county as it works with the communities to develop plans for the creation of an EV battery-charging network.

Earlier last week, Nissan announced a similar partnership with the state of Oregon and Portland General Electric, a utility company.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 25, 2008, 3:11 PM
Categories:: Emissions, Energy Companies, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: California

November 19, 2008

2008 LA Auto Show: Oregon Joins Nissan to Advance Zero-Emission Mobility

The Renault-Nissan Alliance announced today that Nissan and Oregon are forming a partnership to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle charging network.Â

Portland General Electric also is a participant in the partnership and is working toward the development of an easily accessible and reliable network of charging stations throughout the state.

The Alliance has committed to being a global leader in zero-emission vehicles. Nissan will introduce ZEVs in the United States in 2010 and will mass market ZEVs globally two years later.

Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA, announced the Oregon agreement during an address at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

"This partnership represents a major step toward reliable zero-emission mobility in the state of Oregon," Ghosn said. "Together, we are creating conditions that will encourage consumers to consider an electric vehicle as an attractive choice that is also good for the environment."

The partnership supports Oregon Gov. Theodore Kulongoski's commitment to sustainability, which includes the effort to lead the nation in establishing the infrastructure necessary for a greener transportation system.

As part of the agreement, Nissan has committed to make available a supply of ZEVs to Oregon and work with the state to develop plans to promote the EV Charging Network.

The state, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation, has committed to promote the deployment, operation and maintenance of the EV Charging Network by developing specifications for charging stations and seeking agreements with suppliers that may be used by entities such as local governments and utility companies, Ghosn said.

Over the past several months, PGE has installed six charging stations--with the capability to charge several dozen vehicles--across the Portland and Salem areas, with more on the way.

The Alliance has begun ZEV initiatives in Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Japan and with French electric utility company EDF.

Because the United States is so large, the Alliance is entering partnerships there on a state-by-state basis. Prior to today's announcement, the Alliance had partnered with Tennessee.Â

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 19, 2008, 10:04 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Legislation, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Carlos Ghosn

November 7, 2008

Tax Credits for Leanest Hybrids Axed Despite Recognized Importance of the Cars

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

In Washington's infinite wisdom, the tax incentives that have bolstered U.S. sales of the most fuel-efficient hybrids are gone or soon will be at a time when experts agree the vehicles could play an important role in reducing America's addiction to foreign oil and in stopping global warming.

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Honda's 42-mpg 2008 Civic Hybrid; its tax break ends next month.
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Tax incentives tied to Toyota's 2005-2008 model-year Prius, which gets a phenomenal EPA-rated 48 miles per gallon in the city, 45 mpg on the highway and 46 combined, expired in October 2007.

That same month saw the tax credit for the 2007-2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid vanish, despite the fact that model gets an EPA-rated 34 mpg combined.

And soon we'll witness another mystery: In the final minutes of next month, as people around the world usher out the old year and celebrate the new, the U.S. tax incentive for the 2006-2008 Honda Civic Hybrid (42 mpg combined!) will dissolve at the stroke of midnight.

But the strangeness won't end there.

Beginning next spring, Honda will offer a hybrid achieving a claimed 60 mpg. What tax break will Uncle Sam provide buyers of this gas-sipper, the 2010 Honda Insight? None whatsoever.

None, as in the 2,200 fewer taxpayer dollars than he's offering buyers of the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid right now, despite the fact that big ol' honkin' SUV achieves only 21 mpg combined.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); Scott Doggett November 7, 2008, 3:01 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Chevrolet, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Legislation, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mercury, Nissan, Opinion, Saturn, Tax Incentives, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2007-08 Nissan Altima Hybrid

November 5, 2008

Renault Nissan Alliance To Launch Electric Vehicle in Yokohama in 2010

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Pushing forward with its plan to electrify the personal transportation world, the Renault Nissan Alliance said today that it had signed a deal with the city of Yokohama to begin preparing for introduction of a Nissan electric car there in 2010.

That is the same year the alliance plans to introduce an electric vehicle in the U.S.

Nissan has shown a concept EV called the Mixim (right) but is expected to offer different models for retail use. The vehicles to be used here and in Japan are still under development, said Fred Standish, a Nissan spokesman in the U.S.

Standish also said that sales or leases of the Nissan EVs initially would be limited in scope, with a global rollout planned for 2012.

The U.S. program is likely to concentrate on California, where an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure exists because of the state's early flirtation with EVs in the late 1990s under its since-amended Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.

There is no mutual development agreement with the U.S. government, but the Renault Nissan Alliance has signed electric vehicle introduction deals similar to the Yokohama pact with the nations of Portugal and France, the Australian state of Victoria and the state of Tennessee, site of Nissan's North American headquarters.

Additionally, the alliance has teamed with a California-based venture, Better Place, to supply electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark. Better Place would provide the charging infrastructure in those countries.

Except for the U.S. and Yokohama EV launches in 2010 and the Australian launch in 2012, all of the programs are scheduled for 2011.

The Yokohama agreement calls for feasibility studies of customer incentives and citywide electric vehicle recharging infrastructure development as well as use of navigation system networks to alleviate traffic congestion and introduction of programs to promote what the car-maker calls eco-driving -- the use of fuel-saving driving techniques.

Nissan has been working with Yokohama city officials since 2006 on a pilot program combining telematics and in-car navigation systems to offer real-time traffic information to drivers.

Yokohama is participating in a Japanese program called the Environment Model City pilot project. Under the program, Yokohama aims to achieve significant CO2 reductions by experimenting with a range of methodologies in various key areas including transportation, housing and renewable energy development.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 5, 2008, 12:34 PM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Nissan Electric Car

November 4, 2008

Hybrids Losing Ground in Shopper Consideration as Gas Falls, Credit Tightens

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

About the only thing sinking faster than new car sales these days is consumer interest in hybrids.

As the economy continues to tank and gas prices continue to fall, the number of consumers using the various Edmunds.com information channels to gather data on hybrid models has plummeted.

Hybrid consideration -- tallied by tracking the number of visitors to Edmunds' sites who spend time looking at model specifications and pricing data and cross-shopping hybrids with other hybrids and with conventional models -- is off 86 percent from its peak in mid-June.

By comparison, considerations of all new car and truck models are down 35 percent from the peak in May, according to data compiled for Green Car Advisor by Dr. David Tompkins, Edmunds.com's executive director of business solutions.

Consideration doesn't necessarily predict sales -- it could be that we're seeing the casual shoppers being knocked out of the box with only hard-core, determined buyers left looking.

Indeed, hybrid sales in October, while down 45 percent from their peak in April, were off only 9.4 percent from a year earlier. If seven models that weren't sold a year ago are omitted, the drop is sharper, at 16 percent. By comparison, total sales for the month were off 39 percent from the year's high in May and were down 32 percent from October 2007. Subtracting the 1,551 extra hybrids sold this year makes almost no difference in drop in total sales.

The sales figures show that hybrids continue to be popular among a significant slice of the public that's still buying cars -- they accounted for 2.6 percent of total October sales, their highest market share since July.

But Edmunds' hybrid consideration numbers may portend a bigger drop as the year progresses.

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Hydrid consideration (green) grew as gas prices rose but since summer has fallen faster than has consideration of all vehicles (red), according to Edmunds.com data. (Click on chart for expanded view.)
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With the nation in a recession that's been building since summer, you'd expect the numbers of people shopping for new cars, on-line and in dealerships, to decline, said Daniel Hall, vice president and data analyst at global auto industry consulting firm AutoPacific.

That the rate of decline for hybrid consideration is so much sharper, said Edmunds analyst Tompkins, shows that shoppers are being far more cautious about expenses than when gas prices were at their peak this summer and the line for hybrids at any price stretched around the block.

Back then, shoppers were enamored of the fuel economy a hybrid model could deliver in comparison to a conventionally powered model of the same vehicle.

Now, shoppers are looking not only at fuel economy -- which is less important to many as gas prices fall -- but at the so-called hybrid premium automakers charge to cover the extra cost of the battery packs and advanced powertrain components a hybrid requires.

Additionally, the nation's economic woes have made it more difficult for people to obtain loans, especially for big-ticket items such as homes and cars. When credit is already tight, a hybrid's premium price thins the herd, said Edmunds.com pricing and sales analyst Jessica Caldwell.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell November 4, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Consumer Interest In Hybrids

November 3, 2008

Nissan To Offer Least-Expensive New Car in U.S. Market Starting Later This Month

Nissan North America today announced that a 2009 Nissan Versa sedan fitted with a new fuel-efficient 1.6-liter engine (pictured) will go on sale in the U.S. on November 18 for $9,999, which will make it the least expensive new car available in the country.

The low price excludes destination and handling charges of $695, but it will still significantly undercut those of top contenders in the economy-car segment, which include the Toyota Yaris (starting at $12,205 for the three-door liftback model) and the Nissan Versa hatchback and sedan fitted with a 1.8-liter engine (starting at $12,990).

The Versa sedan's DOHC 16-valve 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine achieves 107 horsepower and fuel-economy ratings of 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway with the five-speed manual transmission.

The fuel economy drops a tad, to 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, with the four-speed automatic transmission.

Brian Carolin, a senior vice president for Nissan North America, said the new model "combines the low price of a used car with the dependability, high quality and full factory warranty of every new Nissan."

The current 1.8-liter Versa hatchback and sedan models produce 122 horsepower, which offers one of the highest standard horsepower/torque ratings in North America and the largest interior in the entry-level segment. Their fuel economy is rated at 26/31 mpg city/highway with a manual transmission and 24/32 with an automatic.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett November 3, 2008, 8:54 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Nissan, Oil, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Nissan Versa 1.6

October 15, 2008

Smart ForTwo, VW Diesels Join EPA's Top-10 List of Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today issued its 2009 fuel economy guide, with Smart cars and Volkswagen diesels now appearing on the government's top-10 list of most fuel-efficient vehicles available in America.

The Toyota Prius once again retains its position atop the list, with fuel-economy ratings of 48 miles per gallon in the city and 45 on the highway.

The additions to the top 10 list this year are the Smart ForTwo convertible and coupe and the Volkswagen Jetta diesels.

The Smarts, which arrived in the U.S. in January, were too late to make the 2008 guide. This year the Smart models hold down the No. 5 spot with ratings of 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway.

The Jetta diesels were too heavy on emissions to enter the U.S. market last year, but they are in this year with improved emissions controls.

The Jetta diesel sedan and wagon with manual transmissions are in seventh place with ratings of 30 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The sedan and wagon with automatic transmissions are in eighth place with ratings of 29 city and 40 highway.

Without further ado, here is the top 10 list for 2009:

1. Toyota Prius (hybrid) -- 48/45

2. Honda Civic Hybrid -- 40/45

3. Nissan Altima Hybrid -- 35/33

4. Ford Escape Hybrid FWD; Mazda Tribute Hybrid 2WD; Mercury Mariner Hybrid FWD -- 34/31

5. Smart ForTwo convertible; Smart ForTwo coupe -- 33/41

6. Toyota Camry Hybrid -- 33/34

7. Volkswagen Jetta (manual, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (manual, diesel) -- 30/41

8. Volkswagen Jetta (automatic, diesel); Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (automatic, diesel) -- 29/40

9. Toyota Yaris (manual) -- 29/36

10. Toyota Yaris (automatic) -- 29/35

And the least fuel-efficient of all 2009 models? That would be the Lamborghini Murcielago, rated at 8 mpg city and 13 mpg highway.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 15, 2008, 5:53 PM
Categories:: Diesel, Emissions, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Economy, Honda, Hybrid, Lamborghini, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Smart, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD

October 9, 2008

Electric Cars: From the Paris Motor Show to a Driveway Near You.

Electric cars are the hot topic at this year's Paris auto show, with General Motors, Renault, Nissan, Smart and many lesser-known car manufacturers showing off a huge variety of EVs.

They range from wildly exotic supercars to tiny commuter cars that look ready to park in your driveway. Some are strictly concepts. Others could go on sale - even here in the U.S. -- much sooner than you think.

Green Car Advisor's man in Paris, contributor Nick Kurczewski, was at the show last week and offers some thoughts on the biggest electric-car newsmakers there.

Chevrolet Volt - Yes, we've written a ton about it and you've read even more, but we still can't ignore it. There it was, sitting on the GM stand in Paris, bowtie gleaming in the spotlights.

Chevy's Volt is often called a plug-in hybrid, and it is a hybrid by definition. But it also is an electric car, using only an electric motor for propulsion.

Its small 1.4-liter gasoline engine cranks over only to recharge the batteries and never sends its power directly to the Volt's wheels.

Whether you consider it an EV or a hybrid, chances are the bigger factor in consumer acceptance of the four-door sedan will be its escalating price tag.

A new bill just signed by the White House makes the Volt eligible for a $7,500 federal income tax credit, but before applying that, the sticker price - which determines the size of down payments and monthly lease or purchase costs - is likely to be at or above $40,000 when it goes on sale in late 2010 in the U.S.

That's awfully steep sticker-price, especially considering that new Honda Insight hybrid will cost less than $20,000 when it arrives next year.

Renault Z.E. Concept - Renault and its sister company, Nissan, are busy co-developing electric vehicles that will go on sale as early as 2010. The Z.E. Concept is the first indication as to where Renault is taking its version.

The design of the Z.E. - for Zero Emissions -- looks like a shortened version of the humble Renault Kangoo, a tall and boxy utility van currently sold throughout Europe. The green glass in the concept model adds a bizarre touch of show-car drama.

Other details include the use of rear-view cameras instead of side mirrors - to smooth out the aerodynamics and improve range - along with solar panels built into the roof, to aid battery recharging.

The Z.E. concept car uses double-walled insulating bodywork, which keeps the cabin cozy whether it is hot or cold outside and requires less energy from the ventilation system.

Its lithium-ion batteries provide a driving range between 60 to 90 miles.

Renault does not currently sell cars in America, which makes it unlikely the French manufacturer will ever bring its EV stateside.

But it's Japanese partner has other plans.

Nissan Nuvu - Don't worry if you love the idea of an electric-powered Nissan but hate the blobby looks of the Nuvu concept car.

The 2+1 seat Nuvu is important chiefly because it offers a glimpse of the lithium-ion powered drivetrain of the electric vehicle Nissan says it will start selling in the U.S. in 2010.

The Japanese company reassures us that the quirky Nuvu is not a totally faithful indication of what this production car will eventually look like.

Under its skin, the Nuvu's battery pack provides a range of 75 miles and a top-speed of 78 miles per hour. Range will likely be improved, and the wacky looks toned down a bit when Nissan unveils a more accurate glimpse of its upcoming EV during next year's Tokyo motor show.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 9, 2008, 3:00 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Solar
Technorati Tags:: Electric Cars

October 8, 2008

Renault Highlights Its Green-Technology Efforts With All-Electric Z.E. Concept

Looks like someone who's really into highlighters got to this Renault.

Called the Z.E. Concept -- as in Zero Emissions Concept -- this gem is the French automaker's vision of the electric vehicle as an efficient, user-friendly car.

It features lithium-ion batteries and a 70-kilowatt electric motor producing 166 foot-pounds of torque.

The electric vehicle is one of handful we can expect from the Renault-Nissan Alliance that aims to bring a string of EVs to market beginning in 2011.

The windows aren't simply intended to get attention, although they are doing plenty of that at the Paris Auto Show right now. Rather, they are intended help control the climate inside the vehicle without the use of electricity.

Just how the greenish yellow or yellowish green glass windows manage that is anyone's guess, as Renault doesn't offer an explanation, but they are undeniably fun.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett October 8, 2008, 3:54 PM
Categories:: Auto Shows, Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault

October 3, 2008

Bail-Out Passes, Includes Plug-In hybrid Tax Credits. Now Bring On the Cars!

In case you've been in a deep, dank cave with no wireless connection for the past few hours, the news du jour is that the House has approved the Wall Street rescue measure that includes the original $700-billion in bail-out bucks plus wads of cash for renewable energy, biofuels and energy-efficiency programs.

The $17 billion energy package also includes a plug-in hybrids tax credit plan with an estimated price tag of $1 billion. It won't expire until the auto industry has, collectively, sold 250,000 plug-in cars and trucks that run at least part of the time on all-electric drive from energy stored in rechargeable, on-board batteries.

While none of the major automakers has yet to offer a plug-in, just about all (Honda Motor Co. is a notable exception) are working on them, with General Motor Corp.'s Chevrolet Volt perhaps the best known of the bunch.

Reporters walking the floor of the Paris Auto Show this week, however, are seeing a lot more as European car makers seem to have embraced the idea of electric cars and gas- and diesel-electric hybrids with a fervor usually associated with revival meeting preachers.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 3, 2008, 12:47 PM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Legislation, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opinion, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Subaru, Tata, Toyota

October 2, 2008

Hybrids Outpace Dismal September Market By Scant Margin

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

It's been pretty well established that there wasn't much of an auto market in the U.S. last month.

"Catastrophe" and "disaster" are applicable adjectives; "It sucked" is how some wags have described it.

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Sales of new GM hybrid SUVs like this Chevrolet Tahoe helped hybrid market.
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We've had Edmunds' crack number crunchers parsing the data for us, looking for any glimmer of hope that might be found in the "green" and fuel-efficiency parts of the market and, so, far, have to say that they haven't come up with much.

The first pass through Wednesday's raw sales data provides at look at how hybrids did in comparison to the market as a whole.

And depending on how you do the comparison - to the previous month or to the same month a year ago - we found a mixed message for September hybrid sales.

Hybrid Segment Outpaces Market

The market as a whole was down 26.5 percent from September 2007 and was off 22.5 percent from August '08. It was the first month since the late 1990s that sales dropped below the 1-million mark.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell October 2, 2008, 4:41 PM
Categories:: Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Mercury, Nissan, Toyota

September 19, 2008

U.S. Fuel Economy Up Sightly In 2008 As Consumers Shift To Smaller Cars

Thanks largely to the rapid and sudden shift to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the U.S. - a shift driven by soaring fuel prices - industrywide fuel economy for new cars and trucks sold this year is expected to top 20.8 miles per gallon, the federal Environmental Protection Agency said today.

The new "real-word" figure from the EPA marks the fourth consecutive year fuel economy has risen since a gradual 16-year decline that began with the rise of the full-size truck and SUV markets in 1988 and ended in 2004 as Asian automakers began rapidly increasing their share of the U.S. market with vehicles that were markedly more efficient than domestic models.

In a preliminary report released today, the EPA said it is estimating the average adjusted fuel economy for the light vehicle - or passenger - fleet this year will be at least 20.8 mpg, up 0.7% or two-tenths of a gallon, from last year.

That's still 1.2 miles per gallon, or 5.4 percent, below the all-time high of 22 mpg set in 1987.

For cars alone, the preliminary average is 24.1 miles per gallon, while the truck average is 18.1 mpg.

The agency said, though, that it expects final figures, to be released late this year, to show even higher averages for cars, trucks and the combined total.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (3); John O'Dell September 19, 2008, 4:27 PM
Categories:: Audi, Chrysler, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2008 EPA Fuel Economy Ratings

September 15, 2008

Honda's R&D Chief Says Automaker Prefers Fuel Cells to Batteries for EVs

We opined last week that Honda was skipping at least the initial heat of the battery electric vehicle race to concentrate on its hybrid and fuel-cell electric programs.

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Honda believes fuel-cell electric cars such as its FCX Clarity will be marketable before battery-electric vehicles can make the grade.

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Now comes word, via Bloomberg News, that the automaker also is bowing out of the plug-in hybrid contest.

Batteries just aren't advanced enough to make rechargeable gasoline-electric vehicles sensible replacements for gasoline-only cars, Honda research chief Masaaki Kato said in a recent interview with the business news service.

"For battery-powered vehicles to become more widespread, more popular in the market, we feel battery technology needs to advance further,'' Kato said. "We just don't see it providing the type of driving performance you get with a gasoline-powered vehicle.''

Honda's reticence flys in the face of aggressive moves by General Motors Corp, with its promised Volt plug-in sedan, due in fleets in small numbers toward the end of next year and scheduled for mass production at the end of 2010, and Toyota Motor Corp., which is developing a plug-in Prius hybrid for fleet use and has scheduled a late 2009 introduction (no word on when or if the car will be made available in the retail market).

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 15, 2008, 2:40 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: FCX Clarity

Preview: Green Is the Fashion at Paris Auto Show This Year

By Nick Kurczewski, Contributor

Paris, fashion capital of the world, usually has more influence on what hangs in your closet than what's parked in your driveway.

But from October 4th through the 19th, when the doors to the Paris auto show are open to the public, the automobile takes center stage in the City of Lights, and big fuel economy numbers will be as essential to automakers as little red dresses or neatly tailored black suits are to the fashion world.

Car manufacturers will be displaying everything from hybrids, such as the new Honda Insight, to electric cars and fuel-sipping diesel and gas-powered models like the new Ford Ka and Toyota iQ (above) city cars.

To help whet your appetites, Green Car Advisor offers a look at the cars that are set to make the biggest impression in this distinctively enviro-chic auto show:

Honda Insight

The newest hybrid from Honda represents the Japanese company's most determined effort at cracking Toyota's stranglehold on this increasingly important market.

The five-passenger, four-door hatchback uses an improved version of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist system. Better fuel economy, a lower center of gravity and reduced cost are said to be the main benefits.

The Insight is expected to be cheaper than its rival, the next-generation Toyota Prius, when both cars go on sale early next year. Our one complaint: Why did Honda feel the need to copy the potatolike profile of the Prius?

Toyota iQ

If the Insight is Honda's take on a Prius fighter, the iQ is Toyota's attempt at outsmarting the Smart Fortwo.

The iQ is slightly longer than the Smart, and the Japanese city car offers two tiny rear seats, whereas the Fortwo -- as the name makes clear -- is strictly a two-seater.

The iQ goes on sale in Japan in October and in Europe later this year.

Will Toyota bring the iQ Stateside? The company's not saying, but with the sales success of the Smart Fortwo in America, it would be pretty dumb not to consider the idea. And Toyota's not noted for dumb.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 15, 2008, 3:31 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Auto Shows, Chevrolet, Diesel, Ford, General Motors, Green Vehicles, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Smart, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: New Green Cars

September 8, 2008

Honda Still Saying 'No' To EVs

While rivals in Japan are increasingly experimenting with small electric vehicles, Honda Motor Co. apparently is sticking to its guns and arguing that battery-electric cars still don't make sense.

The automaker, which already boasts the industry's most fuel-efficient fleet, doesn't believe that battery technology is sufficiently advanced to make a case for electric vehicles, Honda's research and development chief told industry trade journal Automotive News.

R&D chief Masaaki Kato said he sees EVs limited for now to short-range commuter and inter-city delivery vehicles.

Rival Toyota Motor Co. apparently figures that's a good-enough market and is joining Mitsubishi and Subaru in developing a minicar EV of its own.

And Nissan, Renault and several other carmakers apparently don't buy Honda's argument at all and have invested in battery-making enterprises and are designing full-service electric cars for the global market.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell September 8, 2008, 1:55 PM
Categories:: Honda, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Honda Electric Vehicles

Subaru Mini-EV to Launch In Japan Next Year

Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries has decided to join the growing cadre of carmakers hustling to launch battery-electric vehicles for the retail market.

A report in Automotive News, a subscription-only auto industry journal, says the company intends to build a limited run of four-seat minicar EVs with a range of 50 miles per charge. The cars will be based on the gasoline-fueled Subaru Stella model and intended for Japan's intra-city commuter market.

Actually, Subaru pretty much confirmed production plans for the car during the New York Auto Show in March, and introduced a few concept models of its EV at the recent G8 economic summit in Japan earlier this summer. But it's nice to see additional info hitting the media.

Subaru plans to launch the cars next year and is aiming to sell about 200 to fleet customers in Japan.

Like Mitsubishi's minicar-based i-MiEV electric car, the Subaru EV isn't intended for the U.S. market, Automotive News reports - although Fuji put a couple test cars into service in New York following the auto show there earlier this year and is about to wrap up a six-month test to gauge the cars' chances in this market.

(We also suspect that Mitsubish, which has tested its i-MiEV in the States, is rethinking its plans and considering the possibility that these tiny cars just might have a future here if marketed to the proper audience.)

Power for the Suby EV will be storied in and delivered by a lithium-ion battery pack from Automotive Energy Supply Corp. - a joint venture of Nissan Motor Co. and NEC.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell September 8, 2008, 1:45 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault, Subaru, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

September 3, 2008

Nissan Executive Says Automaker Developing Plug-In Gasoline-Electric Hybrid

A top executive at Nissan Motor Co. says the automaker is developing a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, according to a Website that covers Japanese corporate news.

The report, posted by JCNnetwork Tuesday, quotes Nissan Vice President Mitsuhiko Yamashita. No further details were provided.

Yamashita effectively reiterated the ambitious electric-vehicle plans of Japan's No. 3 automaker. Green Car Advisor reported on those plans in detail less than a month ago.

Yamashita's remarks underscore how suddenly the automaker has embraced electric vehicles. Only three years ago, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn called battery-powered vehicles "niche products."

Today, Nissan, Toyota and other automakers are in a race to be first to bring affordable electric cars to U.S. showrooms.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett September 3, 2008, 2:07 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: EV

August 20, 2008

Bosch and Samsung Cleared to Launch Lithium-Ion Battery Joint Venture

The race to develop advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles took an expected turn today, with German parts supplier Bosch and Korean electronics giant Samsung announcing they have received all regulatory approvals to launch a joint venture to develop the batteries.

The joint venture will be headquartered in Korea and bear the name SB LiMotive Co. Bosch and Samsung each own 50 percent of the new company.

The company's objective, Bosch and Samsung said in a statement, is to "series-manufacture highly efficient lithium-ion batteries customized to automotive requirements and to market them worldwide from 2011."

Samsung has extensive experience developing lithium-ion batteries for a broad range of non-automotive applications, including notebook computers, power tools and mobile handsets.

Bosch will contribute the experience it has gained in recent few years with its "Project House Hybrid," which focused on power electronics, battery management, electrical engines and transmission systems.

The development of new, advanced lithium-ion batteries is widely regarded as the last big obstacle separating a world in which the vast majority of vehicles are gasoline powered and a world predominated by gas-electric hybrids and pure electric vehicles.

SB LiMotive enters an increasingly competitive market. Among the companies that are working on advanced lithium-ion batteries are Mitsubishi, Honda, Sanyo, LG Chem, Compact Power, A123 Systems, Continental, General Motors, and Johnson Controls-Saft.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett August 20, 2008, 5:07 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric

Ford Escape Hybrid Among Small SUVs to Earn Top Safety Rating

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Many people if not most who buy a small or midsize sport utility vehicle do so because they believe it offers greater personal protection than a car. And for that extra measure of protection, they are willing to sacrifice fuel economy.

Today, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced that the 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid earned top ratings in recent crash-test evaluations, bringing to three the number of hybrid SUVs getting superior mileage without compromising safety.

The other hybrid SUVs earning top-safety-pick honors from the respected institute are the midsize 2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid and the 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which the institute had previously evaluated.

But the big winner announced today by the institute was the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, which outperformed the competition in recent front, side and rear crash test evaluations of eight small SUV models.

The 2009 Escape, including the hybrid version, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and 2008 Nissan Rogue joined the Tiguan in earning top ratings in all three of the institute's evaluations. All four models come equipped with electronic stability control and side airbags, which the institute considered very important.

The institute ratings of good, acceptable, marginal or poor are based on results of front and side crash tests, plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against whiplash injury in rear crashes.

The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox, 2008 Jeep Patriot, 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2-door 2008 Jeep Wrangler all earned the second-lowest rating of marginal.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 20, 2008, 8:02 AM
Categories:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saturn, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen

August 15, 2008

Feds, Automakers Renew Vow To Make Hydrogen the Fuel of the Future

In case you've been wondering, major automakers and the lame-duck Bush Administration have reaffirmed their joint commitment to hydrogen fuel and to getting fuel-cell electric and other hydrogen-using vehicles into the retail market by 2018.

The happy group renewed its vows during a hydrogen technology showcase Thursday in Washington.

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A pair of Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric Vehicles are shown in rendering of a hydrogen fuel station being installed near los Angeles International Airport.

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"With continued investment, hydrogen holds the potential to help fundamentally change the way we power our vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Bud Albright, an Energy Department undersecretary, said in remarks delivered during the public showcase.

The Energy Department, Transportation Department, nine automakers with prototype hydrogen-using vehicles and a number of fuel companies and other hydrogen advocates are in the midst of a cross-country tour to promote hydrogen as the logical successor to oil for fueling cars and trucks.

The manufacturers in "Hydrogen Road Tour '08" are BMW, Daimler, Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co., Hyundai-Kia, Nissan Motor Co., Toyota Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); John O'Dell August 15, 2008, 4:49 PM
Categories:: BMW, Daimler, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

August 14, 2008

Revamped Chrysler Plant Will Produce Fuel-Efficient Car-Based SUVs

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

Chrysler will spend $1.8 billion to convert a Detroit automotive plant tooled to produce the full-size Jeep Grand Cherokee into a factory rolling out more fuel-efficient, car-based crossovers.

Chrysler Vice Chairman and President Tom LaSorda, speaking Wednesday at a conference in Traverse City, Michigan, said the Auburn Hills-based automaker intends to make a "new generation of world-class vehicles" at the factory.

While skimping on specifics, LaSorda said the new vehicles would be "of various sizes and dimensions" and represent an "evolution" of the older, gas-guzzling Jeeps.

The 2.7 million-square-foot Jefferson North assembly plant was built in 1991 and expanded in 1999. Its main product has been the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The current Grand Cherokee (above) began production in August 2004 and the Jeep Commander was added in July 2005.

No vehicle illustrates Chrysler's financial woes more than the Grand Cherokee. Unlike its competition, the SUV had a so-called unibody construction rather than a body mounted on a truck frame.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 14, 2008, 5:03 PM
Categories:: Chrysler, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Jeep, Nissan
Technorati Tags:: Chrysler

Take a Ride -- A Short One -- With Us in Prototype Nissan Hybrid

We brought you news of Nissan's new rear-wheel drive hybrid system earlier this month, now we're reviewing the prototype we drove in Japan.

Short version is that we liked it and think that when it gets here in late 2010 it will be a gret addition to the lineup of hybrids carmakers are offering. But there's still a lot of development work and fine-tuning to be done.

For the long version, click here to read our review of the prototype -- First Drive: 2008 Infiniti GT35 Hybrid -- on Edmunds Inside Line.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell August 14, 2008, 9:59 AM
Categories:: Nissan
Technorati Tags:: Hybrid

August 11, 2008

Mitsubishi Plans Lithium-Ion Battery Factory to Meet Demand From EV Segment

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. announced Monday that it will build a factory to meet an expected fivefold increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries for use in electric vehicles.

The plant will open after April 2009 and have initial output of 200,000 battery cells per year -- enough for 2,000 cars.

Mitsubishi will ramp up capacity to equip 10,000 vehicles "shortly afterward," amid higher hopes for its i MiEV plug-in electric vehicle (below), the company said in a statement. The four-passenger i MiEV, which runs on LEV50 lithium-ion batteries (above right), goes on sale in Japan next summer.

Mitsubishi's new factory will be operated by Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture with GS Yuasa Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp. It will be located in the western prefecture of Shiga.

Earlier plans had called for GS Yuasa to make the batteries at an existing plant in Kyoto, with annual output for 1,000 vehicles. But the partners decided that a bigger plant was needed to meet growing demand for fuel-efficient cars.

As Green Car Advisor reported last week, the all-electric, zero-emissions i MiEV will be tested in California this year to evaluate a U.S. launch.

The i MiEV is the centerpiece of Mitsubishi's effort to leapfrog Japanese rivals in the green-car race. Lithium-ion batteries are seen as critical to that effort because they are lighter and more powerful than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in most hybrid and all-electric vehicles today.

Rivals such Nissan Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. also are developing lithium-ion batteries. Nissan has a joint venture with NEC Corp. and plans to start production next year. Toyota is teaming with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. on its own battery technology.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 4:15 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Hybrid, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

Business Is Brisk at Nation's First Rental Car Company That Loans Only Hybrids

With established rent-a-car companies reporting that they are having trouble meeting customer demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, a Southern California company has begun renting nothing but hybrid vehicles.

Business has been brisk at Eqocar in Burbank since it opened its doors three months ago, General Manager Nick Hamed told Green Car Advisor today. Hamed said Eqocar, which rents only hybrid vehicles, is in talks to open four more rental-car centers, all in California.

Eventually, the company would like to expand nationwide, Hamed said.

Eqocar has a fleet of 45 hybrids, which include the Toyota Prius, Camry and Highlander hybrids, Ford Escape Hybrid, Lexus LS600h L, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe hybrids, and the Nissan Altima hybrid. Daily rates range from $59 for the Prius to $650 for the LS600h L.

There are plans to add the extended-range plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt, hybrid versions of the Smart Fortwo, Chrysler Aspen, Cadillac Escalade, and Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, as well as the Tesla and Fisker plug-in sports cars and the bubbled-faced three-wheel Aptera to the rental fleet, Hamed said.

The Aptera is reminiscent of vehicles appearing in The Jetsons, a futuristic cartoon series produced during 1962 and '63.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett August 11, 2008, 2:42 PM
Categories:: Aptera, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Fisker, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Lexus, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Porsche, Smart, Tesla, Toyota
Technorati Tags:: Camry Hybrid

Hydrogen Road Tour Begins Today: Good Luck Finding Fuel

Honda's FCX Clarity fuel-cell electric car (right) is one of 10 vehicles traveling 'cross country in Hydrogen Road Tour '08.

Ever wonder what a hydrogen fuel cell really looks like, or how a fuel-cell electric vehicle handles? Itching to try that hydrogen-burning BMW 7-Series that so far has been piloted publicly only by high profile business, entertainment and political people?

(Article modified at 6:45 a.m, Pacific Daylight Time)

Your chance of laying eyes, or hands, on a vehicle using what many still believe will be the fuel of the future increases beginning today as a coalition of hydrogen backers launch a 13-day, 18-state, 31-city, cross-country tour to boost interest in hydrogen vehicles.

We wish them well. And we hope everyone who has a chance stops by, takes a look - or a drive - and becomes a hydrogen missionary.

But there's a sad note to what is being billed as the "Hydrogen Road Tour '08."

At times, ~~Mostly,~~ the vehicles will be trucked rather than driven to locations very near their various destinations on diesel or gasoline-burning commercial carriers. After being off-loaded, they'll be driven under their own power just a few short miles to the venues.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (9); John O'Dell August 11, 2008, 2:45 AM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, BMW, Daimler, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hydrogen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: California Fuel Cell Partnershp

August 8, 2008

Nissan Cancels Israeli Dealership Fuel Economy Ad That Rankled Saudis

Ah, the perils of free speech.

We told you earlier this week about an ad on Israeli television touting the fuel efficiency of the Nissan Tiida (sold here as the Versa) that had offended Saudi Arabian sensibilities for the way it portrayed a few Arab oil moguls cursing the car for its negative impact on oil sales.

"Hawks should peck at you night and day!" one traditionally garbed oil magnate shouts at the car.

The initial story, as broadcast on Saudi Arabia's state-owned MBC TV, made it sound as though the ad had been developed by Nissan.

But the carmaker says that's not the case.

It was an ad developed, produced and paid for by an independent Nissan distributor group in Israel, said Nissan spokesman Simon Sproule.

Indeed, Nissan "didn't know about, didn't review it and had nothing to do with it," he said, adding that Nissan dealers and distributors are free to spend their own money on their own advertising without asking Nissan to first okay the material.

After learning that the ad was viewed by at least some in Saudi Arabia as offensive, Nissan did, however, ask the distributor to stop airing it -- a request, Sproule said, that has been agreed to and complied with.

As for the suggestion by a Saudi representative interviewed in the MBC broadcast that Nissan apologize for the ad or face a boycott, well, that doesn't seem to have much traction.

Nissan hasn't received any such request from the Saudi government, insiders said.

John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell August 8, 2008, 2:59 PM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Nissan, Oil
Technorati Tags:: Advertising

August 6, 2008

Nissan Ad in Israel Depicting Arab Oil Lords Assailing Fuel-Stingy Car Incites Saudis

With violence in the Gaza escalating last week and chances of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal crumbling, who'da thunk the lead story on an prominent Arab newscast Sunday night would revolve around a Nissan commercial promoting the fuel efficiency of one of its cars?

But Saudi Arabia's MBC TV began its Sunday night news broadcast with an outraged report about a Nissan commercial for its Tiida (pronounced Tee-da), a somewhat-sporty economy car that goes easy on the gas.

The advertisement, which has been airing in Israel, depicts wealthy Arab oil barons cursing and otherwise assailing the Tiida, enraged that the car is so fuel stingy.

"You destroyed my home! May God destroy your home!" one shouts at the little white car with a tan interior. "Hawks should peck at you day and night," says another.

It's entirely possible that some Israelis have found the commercial amusing and that possibility angered some Saudis, but that's only a hunch.

After showing snippets of the commercial, MBC proceeded to interview a Saudi representative, who was asked why he thought Israel would broadcast the commercial.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett August 6, 2008, 6:27 PM
Categories:: Fuel Economy, Nissan, Oil, Opinion
Technorati Tags:: Commercial

Nissan Shows New Hybrid, EV Systems and More at Advanced Tech Fest

Nissan packaged its new electric vehicle ssytem in a Cube compact van for testing, but is planning a more conventional sedan for production.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

OPPAMA, Japan -- Much of the rest of the auto industry seems to be slowing down, but Nissan Motor Co., hoping to ride the green wave to growth in the U.S. and globally, is pumping billions into environmental initiatives that executives say could propel the company to the top tier of automakers in a just a few years.

In pursuit of that goal, Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's charismatic chief, already has committed the company to zero-emissions leadership by 2012.

Nissan this year has announced plans for a rear-wheel-drive hybrid and a battery-powered electric car by 2010; has formed a partnership with electronics giant NEC to develop a new generation of powerful lithium-ion batteries for hybrids and EVs; is helping develop a rapid charging system for electric cars that could recharge battery packs in as little as 10 minutes; and continues development work to commercialize hydrogen fuel cells for automotive use.

It showed off many of those technologies for the first time in a seminar this week at its research and development facilities in this port city southwest of Toyko.

The company isn't alone. As fuel prices have soared globally and international concerns about energy independence grows, most automakers have begun or stepped up efforts to bring alternative fuel and alternative power plant cars and trucks to market.

But Nissan is a standout for its push for battery EVs and its determination to make the technology -- promising in the late 1990s but long-since abandoned by most -- viable once again.

On Wednesday (Tuesday night in the U.S.) Nissan let a group of journalists try out prototypes of its 2010 EV and hybrid powertrains and showed us the technology behind the advanced lithium-ion batteries that will make them go.

Minoru Shinohara (right), Nissan's senior vice president of technology development, told Green Car Advisor that the company sees a business advantage in EVs and intends to be the industry leader in affordable, mass market zero emission cars that use batteries to power electric motors.

Nissan also wants to be a leader in providing the batteries and the battery-charging infrastructure that will make EVs work, he said.

While others champion the gas-electric hybrid and the plug-in hybrid with limited all-electric range, Nissan's faith in the all-electric vehicle is based on its belief that people all over the world are moving out of suburbia and back into cities as they try to minimize commutes and economize on fuel.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell August 6, 2008, 11:27 AM
Categories:: Batteries, Fuel Cell, Fuels & Technologies, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles

August 4, 2008

Latest From Nissan: An 'Eco Pedal' Designed to Improve Vehicle's Fuel Efficiency

Nissan's Eco Pedal, unveiled in Tokyo today, calculates the rate of fuel consumption and transmission efficiency during acceleration and cruising and then calculates the optimum acceleration rate, Edmunds.com's Inside Line reports.

"When the driver exerts excess pressure on the accelerator, the system counteracts with the pedal push-back control mechanism," the automaker said, adding that the system can be turned on or off based on the driver's preference.

A gauge on the instrument panel shows the "optimal level for fuel-efficient driving." A green light shows that you're exerting the proper pressure on the pedal to achieve the best fuel economy; it flashes when it detects increased acceleration and turns to amber as a final warning.

Nissan said drivers can expect to improve fuel efficiency by 5-10 percent, depending on driving conditions. The automaker plans to commercialize the Eco Pedal during 2009, but it did not say whether it will be offered on all of its vehicles.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (2); Scott Doggett August 4, 2008, 9:57 AM
Categories:: Emissions, Fuel Economy, Nissan
Technorati Tags:: Eco Pedal

July 30, 2008

Honeywell to Provide Turbochargers for Ford's Initial EcoBoost Engines

Honeywell International has been selected by Ford Motor Co. to develop turbochargers for the first of its EcoBoost engines, which will initially appear in next year's 2010 Lincoln MKS.

The new turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine will perform like a large V-8, but will deliver the fuel economy of a V-6, Honeywell announced today.

To help bring the new engine to market, Honeywell says it leveraged the latest advances in turbine design and materials to optimise the performance and ensure the reliability of its gasoline turbo technology.

The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 will deliver upwards of 340-plus pound-feet of torque across a wide engine range - 2,000-5,000 rpm - versus 270 to 310 pound-feet of torque for a conventional naturally aspirated 4.6-liter V-8 over the same speed range.

Honeywell expects the global turbocharger segment to grow from 30 percent of the overall automotive market to more than 38 percent by 2013 as automakers look to boost engines to help increase fuel-efficiency and reduce exhaust emissions without sacrificing performance.

Honeywell provides turbochargers to many automakers, including BMW, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volkswagen.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 30, 2008, 2:21 PM
Categories:: BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Emissions, Ford, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: BMW

July 29, 2008

Could Diesel Fuel Prices Stymie U.S. Diesel Car Sales?

The future of diesel passenger vehicles in the U.S. market is coming under question by some in the auto industry as diesel fuel continues to run about 20 percent higher than gasoline, nearly erasing the diesel vehicle's fuel efficiency advantage.

But European automakers with a strong diesel product line - including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and BMW - all say they will stick with their plans to launch a number of 50-state legal diesels in the U.S. in coming months and years.

The doubters are no slouches, though.

We've written about Nissan Motor Co.'s diesel concerns (which exist even though the company intends to being a diesel car to the U.S.) and on Monday the Wall Street Journal quoted a board member from tier-one auto industry supplier Continental saying he's become more skeptical about the economics of diesel in the U.S.

Fuel-Sipper Savings

Our own number crunching, however, shows that even at a 20 percent fuel price disadvantage, diesels can still save money at the pump because they can deliver 30 percent or better fuel economy over gasoline-fueled versions of the same models.

The new diesels also are qualifying for federal green car tax credits that help offfset the diesel premium carmakers charge to cover the higher cost of diesel engines and emissions equipment.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 29, 2008, 9:04 AM
Categories:: BMW, Diesel, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen
Technorati Tags:: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

July 24, 2008

Nissan CEO Says Gas-Electric Hybrids 'Unsustainable,' Pure EV Smarter Way To Go

Right, Nissan's Denki Cube concept, the battery-electric version of the popular Cube compact van.

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

Never one to pussyfoot around an issue, Carlos Ghosn turns up his nose at the idea of a plug-in hybrid, insisting that any electric cars sold in the U.S. by Nissan - one of the two automakers Ghosn heads - will be "pure" EVs.

In remarks Ghosn made to reporters Tuesday following the dedication of Nissan North America's new headquarters in a suburb of Nashville, Tenn., Ghosn said that building range-extended electric hybrids with on-board gasoline or diesel generators is an "unsustainable" plan because they still will depend on the world's diminishing supply of oil.

Same for conventional and plug-in hybrids, he said, reports Michelle Krebs, editor of Edmunds Auto Observer and a member of the press corps Ghosn was addressing.

Interesting, because Nissan still has hybrid plans of its own.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (1); Scott Doggett July 24, 2008, 12:27 PM
Categories:: Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota

July 22, 2008

Public Invited to Test Drive Newest Green Machines at Inaugural Event

Right, BMW 7 Hydrogen on Nürburgring racetrack. The car or one like it will be available for test drives.

The Detroit area is famous for the Woodward Dream Cruise, a summertime showcase of thousands of hotrods, muscle cars and other exotics.

Now in an effort to improve Motown's gas-guzzling image, a new group has organized what they call Nextcruise, which will actually give the public an opportunity to drive what many see as the next generation of vehicles - hybrids, fuel cell, clean-diesel, plug-in electric and other green machines.

The low-emissions, fuel-efficient vehicles will be available for free 15-minute drives on a first-come, first-served basis in Pleasant Ridge, just outside Detroit, in mid-August.

The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at Memorial Park, 23925 Woodward Avenue, Pleasant Ridge 48069-1199.

Nine automakers have agreed to provide green vehicles and green-car-technology demonstrations for event to date. They are: General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); Scott Doggett July 22, 2008, 3:44 PM
Categories:: Alternative Fuels, Audi, Auto Shows, BMW, Biofuels, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Daimler, Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Fuel Cell, Fuel Economy, Fuels & Technologies, General Motors, Honda, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Toyota, Volkswagen

Nissan Teams With Tennessee for Electric Vehicle Promotion

By John O'Dell, Senior Editor

It just had to happen.

After all, Nissan is there, in a master-planned business park next door to Nashville; Nissan wants to promote electric vehicles; and the Tennessee Valley Authority, which oversees a vast hydroelectric empire, has juice to spare.

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Nissan's Mixim EV Concept, right

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So Nissan and the state of Tennessee announced today that they are forming a partnership (actually, Tennessee and the Renault-Nissan Alliance) to promote zero emission vehicles - a category that right now includes only electric vehicles.

Nissan, which has said it will begin marketing electric vehicles in the U.S. in 2010, apparently will provide the ZEVs, while the state, working with the TVA and other corporate and non-profit participants, will work on ways to keep those electric cars running. That would include installation of publicly available recharging stations.

Efforts initially will be focused on the mid-Tennessee region along the Interstate 24 and Interstate 65 corridors.

The Tennessee Valley Authority - the nation's largest public power supplier - "is looking forward to being part of this project to explore the potential of electric vehicles," said TVA Chairman William B. Sansom.

"Electric vehicles could put electricity to work overnight, or off-peak, when other power needs are lower," he added, "and that has the potential to be an economic and environmental plus for all of us."

Posted by: Permalink | Comments (0); John O'Dell July 22, 2008, 1:43 PM
Categories:: Nissan, Plug-ins and Electric, Renault
Technorati Tags:: Electric Vehicles