Nissan Leaf U.S. orders pass 8,000

Nissan Motor Co said on Thursday it is on track to book 25,000 U.S. orders for its Leaf electric vehicle by the end of the year and the automaker will be making money on the green car.

Nissan has taken 8,000 U.S. reservations for the hatchback, set to go on sale in the United States in December, since it started taking orders nine days ago, Mark Perry, Nissan's North America director of product planning and strategy.

"We are on a double time march (for launch)," Perry said. "We are on our way to have 25,000 firm orders by December."

Nissan's U.S. launch of the car will start in California, Arizona, Washington, Tennessee and Oregon. The automaker also is launching the car in Japan and Europe in late 2010.

Production of the Leaf will start in Japan and later at plants in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Leaf sales will be capacity restrained in the first two years until the U.S. plant comes on line, Perry said.

The five-passenger car will be the first fully electric car launched by a major automaker. It is designed to provide a 100 mile (160 kilometer) range on a full charge and is priced at $32,780 not including federal tax credits or other incentives.

"We are making money at the price that we announced," Perry said. "We priced the car to be affordable. We priced it for mass adoption."

Nissan is counting on electric cars to help it close the gap on rivals led by Toyota Motor Corp and its gasoline-electric Prius, the world's most popular hybrid.

Federal tax credits of $7,500 will cut the Leaf's retail price to about 10 percent over the $23,000 starting price for a Prius. Federal tax credits have been phased out for the Prius.

State incentives could cut the cost further. In California, the top U.S. alternative car market, credits could reduce the Leaf price to $20,280.

Delta Motorsports forced to withdraw from Automotive X PRIZE

Delta Motorsports, the only British/European company that has submitted an entry for the Automotive X PRIZE have been forced to withdraw their entry after their workshop suffered a substantial fire resulting in the destruction of their first E-4 Coupe chassis.

The photo above, the car on the ground and almost complete bar some low voltage wiring, was taken just before the fire. As it was the only chassis in existence the X-prize is now out of the question but all the composite moulds survived in tact as they were not in the building at the time of the fire and CAD design data was triple backed up so they should be able to build another chassis and try again, hopefully with minimal delay.

Delta Motorsports

Williams F1 favours early KERS return

Williams technical director Sam Michael says his team is now in favour of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems returning to Formula 1 as early as 2011 having been convinced that the devices are now cost-effective.

Amid continuing discussions on the future of KERS - which remains available in the regulations, but which the teams have agreed not to use in 2010 on cost grounds - Michael admitted that Williams had previously preferred to wait until the major rules overall due in 2013.

But he said Ferrari and Renault had made a presentation to the rest of the teams that had convinced Williams that an early reintroduction of KERS would be financially viable.

"[Waiting until 2013] was our position up to when Ferrari and Renault submitted a proposal to FOTA that they could do it for less than a million euros," Michael said.

"So our position now is we're doing KERS for 2011, and so is theirs."

Michael is confident that the Ferrari/Renault proposal makes KERS much more realistic than it was last season, when all the major teams spent large sums on developing the technology, but few actually raced it.

"I wouldn't say that's incompatible with cost saving, because it's got to be less than a million euros, so that's quite different to spending money on a new engine development programme, for example," said Michael

"It's not like the KERS of old, when you were spending 10 to 20 million, or even more. It's [now] a million euros for the running costs."

He said Williams had always been in favour of the KERS concept, and was only concerned about the financial implications.

"We're supportive of KERS at Williams, but our [original] position was that we would rather it was integrated properly in the 2013 engine," said Michael.

"It's something F1 can contribute to. A lot of road cars are going with KERS now, so it makes sense for F1 to have it. We thought '13 was a better introduction point, but we've got to go with the agreement that everyone signed, and that was if someone proved by the end of March that they could do it for a million euros, then they can.

"The attraction from my point of view is it makes the car go faster. If someone's got KERS then you can't afford not to have it. You're talking three or four tenths [per lap].

"It was quicker [to have KERS] by the end of last year. If you look at McLaren, in Ahu Dhabi they were very competitive until they had the brake failure, and that was with the old front tyre as well. Now with the narrow front tyre it will be even easier to make KERS work."

Michael is happy that the rules are sufficiently restrictive to prevent KERS turning into a costly development race.

"If you didn't have power and energy limits it would be a different question, but you do," he said.

Williams F1 Acquires Majority Share in Williams Hybrid Power

Williams F1 has acquired a majority shareholding in Williams Hybrid Power (WHP), increasing its existing 40% stake in the company to 78%.

Williams F1’s original investment dates back to March 2008 when the company bought the minority share in Automotive Hybrid Power (subsequently re-named to WHP), a Norfolk-based provider of composite flywheels, when kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) were being introduced into Formula One. Although the WHP flywheel system has not been raced by the team, WHP’s magnetically loaded composite flywheel (MLC) technology continues to garner interest outside of the sport.

In 2009 WHP re-focused its development efforts to road vehicle applications of the technology and has recently partnered with Porsche AG to run the system in the manufacturer’s new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

In the 911 GT3 Hybrid, two electric motors at the front axle developing 60 kW (82 hp) each supplement the 353 kW (480 hp) four-liter flat-six at the rear. Instead of the batteries used in hybrid road cars, an electrical flywheel power generator fitted in the cockpit beside the driver delivers energy to the electric motors.

WHP technology has enjoyed a successful racing debut in the Porsche hybrid, finishing first in its class and third place overall in only the second race of the season at the Nürburgring earlier this month.

In addition to use in racing and road car programs, WHP’s technology is also under development at Williams F1’s new research facility at Qatar’s Science and Technology Park for inclusion in larger infrastructure applications outside of the automotive industry.

Daimler to develop carbon fibre car parts

Japanese textile maker Toray Industries said on Wednesday that it and German carmaker Daimler AG will jointly develop carbon fibre car parts, which will be used in Daimler's Mercedes-Benz cars starting in 2012.

The first cars to use the new carbon fibre composite materials will be the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Toray spokesman Yoshitaka Yamagata said.

Toray and Daimler will develop reinforced plastic materials by using the carbon fibre produced at Toray's plant in France, he said.

This is the first time that Toray, the world's biggest maker of carbon fibre with a global market share of 34 percent, is developing carbon fibre car parts. The company has supplied carbon yarn for Ferrari's sports cars, Yamagata said.

Carbon fibre for use in cars accounted for an estimated 7 billion to 8 billion yen ($86 million) of Toray's revenue which is estimated at 1.35 trillion yen for the year ended March 31.

Toyota Launches 3-Year Plug-in Hybrid Demonstration Project in Strasbourg

Toyota, French energy provider EDF, and the City and the Urban Community of Strasbourg launched a large-scale, 3-year Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle demonstration in Strasbourg. The project involves about 100 Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHVs) as well as a dedicated charging infrastructure for the use of public and private partners in Strasbourg and its region. It has received support via the Research Fund managed by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency ADEME.

Based on the third-generation Prius, the new Prius Plug-in Hybrid is equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack. The plug-in has an electric range of up to 20 km (12 miles) at speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mph). CO2 emissions in the European homologation combined cycle are 59 g/km.

This project is part of a global Toyota project involving 600 Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles that will also be deployed in Japan, the US, Canada and Australia. Toyota’s main objective is to further investigate the technology and performance of PHVs.

In the context of the EDF-Toyota partnership, European road trials of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles started in France in the autumn of 2007 and were expanded to the UK in 2008.

EDF’s objective is to evaluate different operational options for the charging infrastructure. The demonstration will allow receiving feedback on the consumers’ acceptance of this new driving concept, in preparation for broad commercialization in the future.

For this demonstration, EDF, with the operational support of its subsidiary Electricité de Strasbourg (ES), will ensure, within the context of a technical and financial partnership with all stakeholders, the set-up of more than 150 charging points at users’ homes, at the private parking of partner companies, in public parking lots and on public roads.

Some vehicles use an innovative charging system developed by EDF, able to control the communication between the plug and the vehicle, while ensuring safe charging. The objective is to facilitate the identification of the vehicle and invoicing of the consumed energy. In addition, German energy provider EnBW (Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, EDF Group), will extend the program to Baden-Württemberg, Germany, by demonstrating ten PHVs and their dedicated charging infrastructure.

As partner of the demonstration project, the City and the Urban Community of Strasbourg will lease five PHVs. They have ensured the set-up of public charging points and charging points along public roads and provide a subsidy to the local car sharing company to lease three PHVs. The remaining vehicles will be leased to various public institutions and private companies.

For ADEME, this project is part of its research demonstrators program, the purpose of which is to test future technologies allowing the reduction of greenhouse gases. This programme is one of eleven projects selected in a call for interest in the Demonstrators Fund on low-emission vehicles launched by ADEME in 2008.

Opel Ampera Passes Production Milestone

The Opel Ampera passed an important milestone Friday, April 23, when the first pre-production Model Year 2012 Ampera rolled off the line at GM’s Pre-Production Operations assembly line in Warren, Michigan.

Assembly workers will build more pre-production Amperas in the coming months. These pre-production vehicles will not be sold at dealerships, but used instead for testing and validating the production intent design as well as developing the final vehicle software and controls. Engineers in Europe and the United States also use them to tune the vehicle’s overall driving experience. Some of these Amperas will have very short lives as they will be used in safety and structural integrity testing.

“We’re right on target for producing the Ampera for European markets later next year,” said Andrew Farah, Vehicle Chief Engineer for the Ampera “There’s still work to be done, but being able to drive an Opel Ampera off our pre-production line is a great accomplishment for the teams here and in Europe.”

The Opel Ampera extended-range electric vehicle delivers up to 60 kilometers of pure electric driving before an engine-generator kicks in to sustain the battery charge and seamlessly extend the range to more than 500 kilometers. The battery can be charged by plugging the vehicle's on-board charge system into a standard household outlet. It is scheduled to go on sale end 2011.

Nico Hülkenberg laps the Nurburgring In Porsche's GT3 Hybrid

Another day and yet an-other video surfaces of a supercar setting a time around the 'ring. We could all be forgiven for thinking the 12 miles of graffiti covered tarmac in Germany was the only race track on the planet.

We recently featured a lightly modified (roll cage ) BMW e-Mini lapping the Nurburgring. While the e Mini was the first fully electric vehicle to tackle the Nurburgring, Porsche is already well advanced with its hybrid-powered 911 GT3 R race car, recently completing two races at the track.

Designed to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hour race in June the 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses two electric motors powered by a flywheel generator, which captures energy normally lost in heat through the brakes. Unlike a battery, which stores electricity, the flywheel generator stores mechanical energy, later converting it to electricity for use in the motors.

Williams F1 driver Nico Hülkenberg put the 911 GT3 R Hybrid through its paces at ye-old road circuit in preparation for the 24 hour race. No word on what kind of time was posted, but he said in the slow corners, the 911 is not far off a Formula 1 car.

The link between Williams and the hybrid Porsche? The Flywheel technology used in the 911 GT3 R is supplied to Porsche by Williams Hybrid Power.

LG Chem to supply Volvo with electric vehicle batteries

South Korea's LG Chem Ltd. said Monday it has been picked as a provider of lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles by Volvo Cars Corp., the Swedish automobile manufacturer.

The largest local maker of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, however, did not disclose when it will start providing the packs to Volvo Cars, citing a request by the Swedish carmaker. A battery pack is a set of individual battery cells.

LG Chem has signed a deal to provide electric vehicle batteries to five companies so far -- South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor; CT&T Corp., a South Korean maker of electric cars; China's third-largest carmaker Chang'an Automobile Group; Eaton Corp., a U.S. commercial vehicle components maker; and U.S. automaker General Motors Corp.

"LG Chem predicts that it will sign four additional deals to supply the EV batteries at the end of this year," Peter Bahnsuk Kim, a vice chairman of the company, said in a statement.

LG Chem will start the construction of a US$303 million EV battery plant in the U.S. state of Michigan in July with the aim of starting mass production of EV batteries by 2012.

In June 2009, the company broke ground for an EV plant in Ochang, 95 kilometers south of Seoul, which is expected to cost 1 trillion won ($906 million). LG Chem plans to complete the plant by 2013.

LG Chem will start providing its EV batteries to GM and Eaton in the second half of this year.

BMW confirms electric 5-series at Beijing motor show

A BMW 5-series electric car concept has been unveiled on the eve of the Beijing motor show.

Based on the long-wheelbase version of the 5-series, the car, called the Echo, has been developed in a joint project between BMW and Tongji University.

Technical details are scarce, beyond the fact that it has an all-electric range of 100km.

The car is described as being "built in China, by China, and for China" by BMW, and sources suggest there are no plans to put it into production. Instead, an insider said BMW had entered into the co-operation with the government-backed university as a one-off test bed to gauge how advanced Chinese electric car technology is.

"The Chinese government is investing billions of dollars in electric car technology, and that is pushing development at an incredible pace," said the source. "Electric cars make so much sense for China; at present it has to import crude oil and it has a pollution problem, yet it has access to hundreds of years' worth of coal, and therefore easy electricity."

The Echo was built at BMW's Shanyang facility in China, using Chinese-sourced technology. "Chinese car makers will come up with interesting electric cars, but at present they are making bold claims without showing what they can actually do," added the source. "This is our way of finding out."

Panasonic Presents First Electric Vehicle Battery to Tesla

Tesla officials today visited Panasonic's new Lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facility in Suminoe, Japan. Panasonic Energy Company President Naoto Noguchi presented Tesla Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel with the first production Lithium-ion cells manufactured at the new facility.

The Suminoe factory will start producing 3.1Ah battery cells, the highest energy density cells available in the market. The facility will produce more than 300 million cells per year.

"These cutting-edge Panasonic batteries will combine with Tesla's battery pack technology to produce the highest-energy density EV battery packs in the world," said Straubel.

Yesterday, Tesla announced that for the first time Tesla Roadsters will be delivered to select customers in Japan.

Tesla has already delivered more than 1000 Roadsters to customers in North America and Europe. Tesla battery packs power the Roadster, the only highway-capable EV currently in mass production. Tesla is also in production of battery packs for the Daimler Smart EV's and in battery development programs with other vehicle and stationary customers. For next generation battery packs, Tesla and Panasonic continue to deepen their relationship to optimize EV cells initially announced in January.

Nissan Leaf Shows Pent Up Demand for Electric Vehicles

Nissan says it collected 6,635 reservations for its upcoming LEAF electric sedan in just ONE DAY, including as many as 2,700 in the first three hours that the automaker started accepting refundable deposits for the vehicle.

That figure represents more than 10 percent of the Leafs Nissan will build in its first year of production. Given that more than 3,700 people in Japan have reserved Leafs, about 20 percent of the 50,000 first year’s production is already spoken for.

By comparison, 520 people put down a deposit in the first week for the Tesla Model S back in April 2009. Nissan will no doubt announce the first weeks figure when it becomes available.

GM reveals Volt MPV concept

(click for larger image)

General Motors has revealed this new Volt-based MPV concept at the Beijing show. The five-seat Volt MPV5 is designed to demonstrate the potential of the Volt sedan's self-charging electric drivetrain and platform for use under other types of vehicle.

Chevrolet says the MPV5 will carry five occupants up to 32 miles on pure electric propulsion, "double what the average urban commuter in China travels each day," the company says.

When the battery is de-charged, the 1.4-liter gasoline engine/generator sustains the battery and provides up to 300 miles of electric propulsion.

The Volt's wheelbase has been stretched by half an inch to 108.5in., and the MPV5's body is 7in. longer (180.5in.), 3in. wider and 7in. taller than the Volt. The exterior uses the same blanked-off, aero-friendly grille and full-length under tray as the Volt sedan. The MPV5's interior carries over the Volt's center stack and instruments.

Chevy says the MPV5 concept has 30.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats and 62 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded.

Although Chevrolet sources are not commenting on whether the MPV5 will see production, there's no doubt that more body styles will be rolled on the Volt platform.

BMW to launch Megacity Vehicle in 2013

With the launch of its Megacity Vehicle in 2013, the BMW Group will be bringing its first series-production electric-drive model to market. “With this innovative vehicle, designed from the ground up, we will be creating new benchmarks for electric mobility from 2013 on. Our Megacity Vehicle will be significantly lighter than conventional cars and, in terms of sustainability, will set a new standard across the entire value-added chain,” said Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, on Thursday ahead of the Auto China 2010 show in Beijing.

The Megacity Vehicle will be a zero-emission urban car for the world’s metropolitan regions. It is currently being developed as part of project i and will be available from 2013 under a sub-brand of BMW. When it comes to the choice of materials, the company is broaching entirely new territory. This is because weight plays a pivotal role in the range achievable by electrically driven vehicles. The ultra-light yet high-strength composite CFRP (carbon fibre-reinforced plastic), for example, plays a significant part in the materials mix.

“This vehicle will radically alter the motor industry as we know it. The BMW Group is currently the only company that will be launching a volume-production vehicle on the market that features carbon fibre-reinforced material,” explained Reithofer. “We were among the first manufacturers to pick up on the trend towards electric mobility and to act accordingly. More and more people around the globe are very keen on electric driving. Research shows, moreover, that more than half of the population around the world already live in conurbations,” Reithofer added.

The BMW Group has been gleaning insights into the day-to-day use of electric vehicles since mid-2009, when it launched a global field test involving more than 600 MINI E models. During the test phase some 50 MINI E cars are also being delivered to customers in China in 2010.
“I am convinced that our Chinese clients will show the same enthusiasm for the vehicle as MINI E drivers in Germany, the USA and Britain,” emphasised Reithofer. 2011 will see the handover to Chinese customers of a further fleet based on the BMW Concept ActiveE. The renowned China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and the state-owned energy supply company State Grid are involved as partners in the preparation, implementation and assessment of the practical use of these vehicles. The project has the backing of both the Chinese and the German governments.

The results will filter into the development of electrically powered vehicles for the Chinese market. “In the future we will also be offering a New Energy Vehicle in China. This will be developed and produced locally together with our joint venture partner Brilliance,” stated Reithofer.

BMW gathered its first experiences with electric-drive vehicles some 40 years ago courtesy of a modified BMW 1602 that led the long-distance walking and marathon running events in the 1972 Summer Olympics. In subsequent decades this alternative drive technology was further pursued using many mobile test beds, including the revolutionary BMW E1.

Orders for Nissan Leaf Approach 4,000 in Japan

Nissan Motor Co. on Thursday revealed that it had received preorders for its new Leaf electric car totaling 3,750 since April 1.

The company began accepting orders for its new electric-only model on April 1, and had set a target of selling 6,000 units by the end of fiscal 2010 on March 31, 2011.

The car will be released in the United States, Europe and Japan in December this year, and marks a second phase in more environmentally friendly automaking.

The car will be the first one to run only on electricity since General Motors cancelled the production of its EV1 in 2003, and is likely to go into direct competition with hybrid cars, such as Toyota's Prius, which are powered on gas and electricity.

The car is set to cost around 3.76 million yen in Japan and 32, 000 dollars in the United States, and Nissan has said that it expects the model to be cheaper to buy and to run than the best- selling Toyota Prius.

Automakers have in recent years seen a boom in demand for autos that are less damaging to the environment, which has led to an increase in mergers between major companies in an attempt to lower the high costs associated with the research and development process for fuel-efficient and "clean" vehicles.

GM Repaid Government Loan In Full Ahead of Schedule

GM has made its final payment of $5.8 billion to the U.S. Treasury and Export Development Canada, paying back its government loans in full, ahead of schedule.

The announcement came at a ceremony here to highlight an investment of $257 million at GM’s Fairfax, Kansas, and Detroit Hamtramck assembly centers. The investment will prepare Fairfax to build the next generation of Chevrolet’s award-winning Malibu, and make Detroit Hamtramck a second source for Malibu, ensuring that Chevrolet can meet market demand for this popular mid-size sedan.

“GM is able to repay the taxpayers in full, with interest, ahead of schedule, because more customers are buying vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu and Buick LaCrosse we build here in Fairfax,” said Whitacre. “We are now building some of the best cars, trucks, and crossovers we have ever built, and customers are taking note. Our dealers are increasing their sales, we are investing in our plants, and we are restoring and creating jobs.”

The U.S., Canadian, and Ontario governments, as part of the launch of the new GM, provided loans of $8.4 billion and took equity stakes in the new company. Today’s payment of $5.8 billion ($4.7 billion to the U.S. Treasury and $C1.1 billion to Export Development Canada) completes the payback of these loans.

“GM’s ability to pay back the loans ahead of schedule is a sign that our plan is working, and that we are on the right track. It is also an important first step toward allowing our stockholders to reduce their equity investments in GM,” said Whitacre. “We still have much hard work ahead of us, but we are making progress toward our vision of designing, building, and selling the world’s best vehicles.

“We appreciate the support the taxpayers have given GM, and our great new products are tangible results of that support.”

Strong sales support manufacturing, jobs

Strong sales of new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac products are fueling a steady increase in production as GM works to meet growing customer demand.

Sales for GM’s four brands are up 36 percent through March versus the same period in 2009, and many newly introduced cars and crossovers – including Chevy Equinox, Camaro and Traverse; GMC Terrain and Acadia; Buick LaCrosse; and Cadillac SRX – remain in short supply at GM dealers.

The Fairfax plant currently builds two of GM’s strongest selling cars, the Chevy Malibu and Buick LaCrosse. For the first three months of this year, GM’s U.S. dealers delivered more than 49,000 Malibus and 14,000 LaCrosses, representing a 58 percent increase over the same period last year. In response to this strong demand, Fairfax in February added a third shift of approximately 1,050 jobs, bringing total employment at the plant to more than 3,800.

Fairfax will become the primary source for the next generation of the Malibu. Detroit Hamtramck, which builds the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac DTS, will be equipped to build the Malibu as well, ensuring that Chevrolet can meet market demand.

Detroit Hamtramck will also build the Chevy Volt electric vehicle with extended range, which launches this year. On March 31, the plant celebrated a major milestone, the building of the first pre-production Volt on the regular assembly line.

The Malibu-related investments of $136 million in Fairfax and $121 million in Detroit Hamtramck will include facilities, machinery and equipment, and tools.

Since the launch of the new GM last July, the company has announced investments of more than $1.5 billion at 20 facilities in the U.S. and Canada. These investments restored or created more than 7,500 jobs, and they demonstrate a strong commitment to GM’s future and to the United States and Canada.

Mitsubishi Motors’ Battery Venture Plans European Plant

Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s battery- making venture with GS Yuasa Corp. is considering producing lithium-ion cells in Europe as demand in the region for electric cars grows.

Lithium Energy Japan aims to reduce transportation costs by adding a new plant overseas, President Katsuyuki Ono said in an interview yesterday in Kyoto, where the company is based.

“While it’s not easy to shift our production operation for core parts, we plan to make other parts overseas and we’ve completed our research,” Ono said without elaborating.

The company, which makes batteries for Mitsubishi’s i-MIEV electric car, aims to win more orders from European carmakers by adding production nearby amid intensifying competition. The market for lithium-ion batteries used in electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars will grow to 1.7 trillion yen ($18 billion) in 2020 from almost zero in 2009, Daiwa Securities Capital Markets Co. said in a March 23 report.

“It’s likely they will reach full domestic capacity earlier than expected,” said Jun Yamaguchi, a Tokyo-based analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG. Adding production in Europe will enable Lithium Energy Japan to produce batteries more efficiently, he said. “By producing overseas they can cut costs.”

Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius, the world’s best-selling hybrid car, uses nickel-metal hydride cells. Mitsubishi Motors holds a 15 percent stake in Lithium Energy Japan.

U.S., Europe Sales

Mitsubishi Motors said on March 30 it would start selling the i-MiEV to individuals in Japan this month and cut the price by 13 percent to 3,980,000 yen. The Tokyo-based carmaker plans to start selling the vehicles in Europe in the fall and in the U.S. in 2011.

PSA Peugeot Citroen, France’s biggest carmaker, and Mitsubishi Motors last month agreed on electric-car development and supply.

The Paris-based carmaker will sell electric vehicles under the Peugeot and Citroen brands, Mitsubishi said March 8. Production will begin in October and European sales will start by the end of the year. The agreement covers 100,000 vehicles, the companies said.

Lithium-ion battery packs for cars cost slightly more than 2 million yen, Ono said. The price will probably drop to about 1 million yen when annual production is lifted to 42,000 i-MiEV cars, he said. Lithium Energy Japan, which started producing cells for the Mitsubishi car in June, plans to make batteries for 2,300 i-MiEV cars in the year to May 31.

Guinness World Distance Record for an Electric Vehicle set at 555.6 km

SANYO is pleased announce that the travel distance of 555.6 km (345 miles)by a Mira EV powered by SANYO lithium-ion battery systems has been officially recognized as the longest journey by electric vehicle without recharging by the Guinness World Records.

This trial run was provided by Japan Electric Vehicle Club (Japan EV Club) and implemented by driving the Mira EV from Tokyo to Osaka, Japan on November 17, 2009.

The SANYO lithium-ion battery systems housed in the Mira EV were designed by assembling 8320 cylindrical lithium-ion batteries (18650-type) which are normally used in laptops etc. Total pack capacity is 74 kWh and with battery management limitations taken into consideration approx 50 kWH of that was used on the trip.

Record-setting vehicle

Mira EV (constructed by the Japan Electric Vehicle Club)
Basic vehicle: Mira Van (Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.)
Powerplant: Brushless DC synchronized motor
Rated output: 14 kW
Max. output: 35 kW
Batteries: Lithium-ion (Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.)
Total electric voltage: 240.5 V
Total electric power: 74 kWh
Tires: Eco Walker (Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.)@
Passenger capacity: 2

The unofficial World Record is still held by a Solectria Sunrise which covered 604 km (375 miles) on a single charge, during the 1996 American Tour de Sol.

Hitachi Doubles The Life of Lithium-ion batteries with manganese-based cathode

Hitachi today announced they have developed a new cathode material for industrial lithium-ion batteries using manganese-based cathode materials that roughly doubles the life of similar batteries using the cathode material which was developed by Hitachi in the past.

The newly developed cathode material, made from manganese, a resource in abundant supply, stabilizes the crystal structure by replacing some of the manganese in the cathode material with other elements, and at the same time includes composite oxides*1 with outstanding resistance to acids, to minimize the elution of manganese into the liquid electrolyte*2. Hitachi has already developed and evaluated*3 prototype cells using the new cathode material, and has confirmed that reductions in battery capacity can be roughly cut in half compared to existing units. Using the new material, Hitachi thus expects to be able to achieve battery life of ten years or more, which is about twice the life of current lithium-ion batteries with manganese-based cathode materials.

Lithium-ion batteries using the newly developed cathode material are expected to be used for electrical power storage in wind power generation and other new energy fields, and as industrial power sources for electric-powered construction machinery designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

These results were achieved as part of an ongoing project contracted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to Hitachi under the title "Development of elemental technologies for power storage systems to achieve smooth utility interactions." The prototype cell was developed in collaboration with Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co., Ltd.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in a wide range of applications, including mobile phones, laptop PCs, and other consumer products, as well as hybrid automobiles and other vehicle applications. In the future, they are expected to be used as compact storage devices in connection with wind power generation and other power facilities designed to reduce environmental impact. Cobalt is the main cathode material used in lithium-ion batteries for consumer applications, which is currently the largest market for these batteries.

The growing popularity of lithium-ion batteries, however, has given rise to concerns regarding the ability to a secure stable supply of cobalt, which is a scarce resource. Hitachi turned its attention to manganese, which is available in abundant supply, as a candidate metal that could replace cobalt as the main cathode material, and has been conducting research and development targeting lithium manganese spinel*4 materials, which have a "spinel structure"*5. The high operating voltage of spinel makes this material suitable for power storage applications, but a number of challenges remained, including the deterioration of battery capacity over numerous charge and discharge cycles. The focus of attention thus turned to improving battery life characteristics.

Hitachi minimized changes in the volume of spinel crystals during charge and discharge by replacing some of the manganese in the lithium manganese spinel with other elements, thereby successfully controlling reductions in battery capacity. Furthermore, the inclusion of layered composite oxides with outstanding acidity resistance reduces the elution of manganese into the liquid electrolyte. It is therefore possible to prevent reductions in battery capacity, which had been a problem in the past, and to increase battery life. Following are the main features of the newly developed technology.

In the case of existing lithium manganese spinel cathode materials, lithium ions are released from the cathode during battery charging, causing shrinkage in the volume of the spinel manganese crystals. During battery discharge, however, the crystal volume tends to swell. This repeated change in volume during charge and discharge cycle results in a deterioration of the crystal structure, which is one cause of reduced battery capacity. By replacing some of the manganese in the crystal with other elements, the crystal structure has been stabilized, and reductions in the battery's capacity have been dramatically improved.

When using existing lithium manganese spinel cathode materials, the effects of acids generated by water in the liquid electrolyte cause the manganese to dissolve (a process called "elution"), which results in reduced battery capacity. Now, along with the lithium manganese spinel material in which some manganese has been replaced with other elements, Hitachi has added a new layered composite oxide with outstanding acidity resistance, thereby reducing manganese elution and minimizing reductions in battery capacity.

This newly developed cathode material for lithium-ion batteries uses manganese, a resource available in abundant supply, as its main material, so a stable supply can be achieved at low cost. In the future, Hitachi will continue to increase battery performance through further improvements to cathode materials and electrolyte composition, in order to actively expand its rechargeable battery product business, and to contribute to reducing environmental impact.

*1Composite oxide: An oxide containing two or more types of metal elements*2Liquid Electrolyte: A solution that demonstrates electrical conductivity, formed by dissolving an lithium salt in a polar solvent*3This evaluation was based on tests conducted under standard test conditions for NEDO contracted research*4Lithium manganese spinel: An oxide compound with a spinel structure, containing lithium (Li) and manganese (Mn) (chemical formula: LiMn2O4)*5Spinel structure: A crystal structure that is common to inorganic compounds with the molecular form (A)(B)2O4, as in the case of spinel (MgAl2O4), which is a naturally occurring mineral

Nearly 80 % Believe Electric and Hybrid Cars are here to stay.

A recent survey conducted by Capital One finds that the overwhelming majority of those surveyed believe Electric Cars and Hybrids are here to stay.

Despite the fact that 96% do not currently own an alternative motor vehicle and 76% have never even driven or test-driven one of these types of cars, nearly 80 percent (78%) believe they are here to stay and are not just a passing fad while over half (54%) think they will own an alternative motor vehicle in their lifetimes.

These results show a definite growth in consumer interest in hybrid and electric cars. Forty-two percent of survey respondents predict that in ten years, 25-50 percent of cars on the road will be gas-alternative models, while nearly a quarter (23%) believe that over 50 percent of cars on the road will be alternative cars by the year 2020. In the near term, however, consumers say that pricing is the primary factor holding them back from purchasing an alternative motor vehicle.

Capital One Auto Finance Survey

VW reveals electric taxi concept

A new electric taxi has been unveiled at the Hannover Trade Show today.
On its first day, the show played host to the new electric taxi concept, produced by German native Volkswagen.

The concept, finished in the traditional green and black of Milan taxis, is presented as a study into the viability of a mass-market, emission-free taxi powered by an electric motor.

The motor, which is capable of generating a peak of 115 PS, is fed through a lithium-ion battery integrated into the underside of the vehicle with a storage capacity of 45 Kilowatt-hours. This, combined with a kerb weight of 1,500 kg, allows the Milano Taxi concept to travel at speeds of up to 74 mph and up to 186 miles between charges.

In addition, the charging time of the lithium-ion batteries has been substantially reduced with over 80 per cent of its total capacity being reached in just over an hour.

Along with an innovative drivetrain, the Milano Taxi concept features clever packaging to make the vehicle as practical and friendly as possible for its occupants.

Despite measuring just 3.73 metres in length, 1.66 metres in width and 1.60 metres in height, making it shorter and narrower than the Fox, the Milano Taxi concept is capable of carrying two passengers in comfort with a glass panel roof creating a bright and, with 944 mm of headroom, spacious environment. Measuring 120 mm, the rear legroom rivals that of good sized saloons. Substantial space is also assigned at the front of the car to carry luggage while entry to the vehicle is made easier and more practical through the integration of a large door that both swivels and slides forward.

Once aboard, the passengers can access an LCD display mounted on the reverse of the driver’s seat to see an overview of the route being taken, pay the fare or change the climate functions in the back of the vehicle.

The driver is faced by a similar screen that can be personalised to show any combination of information relating to the vehicle systems, passenger fare or navigation functions.

The Milano Taxi concept draws inspiration from the classic Samba Bus from the 1950’s and forms part of Volkswagen’s aim to launch its first electric vehicle by 2013.

The Hannover show opened today and runs until Friday, April 23. Under the new motto ‘Efficiency – Innovation – Sustainability’, this year’s Hannover Messe showcases innovations, new developments and technologies, alongside new materials from the world of industry with a particular focus on greener technologies. Plenty exhibitors come from within the motor industry, Volkswagen is joined by e-moove, Peugeot, ParkPod, Tesla and Twike to name a few.

Reservations for the all-electric Nissan Leaf start Tuesday

Americans who have been waiting for an affordable, all-electric car won't have to wait much longer.

The four-door Nissan Leaf will go on sale later this year at a cost of about $20,000 after a federal tax credit and state rebate, a price low enough that auto industry analysts say it will attract consumers who have never considered driving electric vehicles before.

Interest in the Leaf is so high that Nissan will begin accepting reservations Tuesday. While it will be the first affordable all-electric car to hit the market, several other models are expected to roll out within the next two years.
Electric vehicles are powered by batteries instead of internal combustion engines. There are no tailpipe emissions, and the cost of the electricity to charge them is much cheaper than a tank of gasoline.

"By the end of the year there will be thousands of these cars in Americans' hands, and once people have them, it's game over," said Paul Scott of the advocacy group Plug In America. "The Leaf's low price means the adoption rate of this technology is going to be dramatically faster than we had ever hoped."

Some automakers rolled out limited editions of electric vehicles in the 1990s, only to scrap the models a few years later, in part because of a shortage of public charging stations.

But many feel the electric car's time has arrived. Charging stations are being built, consumer interest has grown, the technology has advanced and Nissan is putting marketing oomph behind the Leaf's rollout. The vehicle's national tour included a stop at San Jose's Santana Row in December, and slick television ads featuring the car ran throughout the Winter Olympics.

Kirsten Flynn of Palo Alto drives a 1991 Volvo station wagon and is determined to make her next car an electric one. She has three teenagers and is thrilled the Leaf seats five.

"For a long time, electric vehicles have been like vaporware," said Flynn, an interior designer. "But this is like a normal car that I can fit my family in. It's hard to believe it's actually happening."

Alex Tang, who plans to reserve a Leaf Tuesday, said he's motivated partly by guilt. "Every time I drive a gasoline-powered car I feel guilty about the environmental impact," said Tang, 38. "I want the Leaf to succeed. During the Olympics I was like 'Wow! An actual advertisement for an EV on television!' "

The Leaf is just the first of several all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles about to come on the market. Others include the Fisker Karma, the Aptera 2e, the Coda sedan, Chevy's Volt and Tesla's Model S. The only all-electric "highway-capable" vehicle available today is the $109,000 Tesla Roadster.

In the United States, more than 115,000 people have formalized their interest in driving a Nissan LEAF by signing up for more information on NissanUSA.com. These registrants will be given priority in the reservation process. Consumers must be registered on NissanUSA.com by the end of today in order to be eligible for the early reservation process. Reservations will open to the general public on May 15.

RESERVATIONS

• Priority reservation instructions will be sent to early registrants by email between 1-6 pm EDT onApril 20. The email will include an exclusive link enabling each person to start the reservation process.
• Through the link, the customer will create an account, configure his or her vehicle, and answer questions to complete a driving profile.
• Consumers will be asked to pay by credit card a $99 reservation fee, which is fully refundable.
• After placing a reservation, a customer will be able to indicate a preferred dealer.
• Consumers who reserve a Nissan LEAF will receive confirmation numbers. Nissan will provide individual updates for their reservations by June 30.
• Reservations are limited to one per household.
• Consumer inquiries about the reservation process can be answered at the Nissan LEAF call center, 1-877-664-2738.

April 20 also marks the date for the debut of a new website on NissanUSA.com to support the launch of the Nissan LEAF. The website will continue to serve as a resource about the most up-to-date information for the Nissan LEAF, including upcoming special events.

Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer's after-tax net value of the vehicle will be $25,280. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs, and increase the benefits, for owning and charging a Nissan LEAF. For example, a $5,000 statewide tax rebate is offered in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California. The lease price for the Nissan LEAF begins at $349 per month.

Volkswagen to lead electric car range with Golf

Europe’s largest carmaker Volkswagen is to launch its range in electric cars with an e-version of the Golf in 2013, company sources told German Press Agency DPA on Saturday.

Previously, the carmaker had planned to begin its electric range with the city car Up, followed by the E-Golf and the E-Jetta.

Volkswagen has decided instead to start with the E-Golf, in order to set an “important signal,” company sources said. They also hoped this would help corner the electric market ahead of rival carmakers.

The Golf is by far the most important model for the Wolfsburg-based carmaker.

“We want to build the electric car that everyone can afford,” Volkswagen’s Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn announced in March, after critics had complained that the carmaker had not focused enough on electric vehicles.

Key to the success of electric cars is the development of powerful and affordable lithium-ion batteries.

Volkswagen is cooperating on this research with companies such as Japanese electronics giants Toshiba and Sanyo, as well as Chinese battery and car producer BYD.

Toyota to launch lithium battery Prius minivan in 2011

Toyota Motor Corp will launch competitively priced Prius hybrid minivans using lithium ion batteries early next year, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Toyota plans to keep the price of the new Prius model at a level similar to those of current models as it aims to strengthen its lead in the hybrid market, the daily said.

The new Prius minivan will offer a spacious interior and improved fuel economy, and will likely feature three rows of seats for carrying five to seven people, the paper said.

The company will initially manufacture lithium ion batteries at its Teiho factory in Aichi Prefecture, and later plans to produce them at Panasonic EV Energy Co, a battery joint venture with Panasonic Corp, the Nikkei said.

A lithium-ion battery can pack more electricity than a nickel-metal hydride counterpart, enabling a hybrid car to run longer on a single charge.

Chevy eSpark to be launched in India This Year

General Motors plans to launch the electric version of its Chevy Spark in selected cities in India by the end of the year.

GM India President Karl Slym said that the company will review the response of customers for the zero-emissions, battery-electric model and that its future strategy regarding electric versions of its models in India will be based on this.

The success of electric cars both in India and globally will depend on their affordability and eventual utility for the end consumer.

Slym added, "Our aim is to bring something that would break the mold which is as affordable as possible and has a utility value as well."Various city and state governments in India are offering tax incentives to EV buyer to make the vehicles more competitive with non-EVs.

PV Cell Generates Electricity From UV, Visible & Infrared Light

A Japanese research group prototyped a photovoltaic (PV) cell that can generate electricity from a wide wavelength band of light including ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared light.

The group, which is led by Saki Sonoda, associate professor at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, made the announcement March 19, 2010, at the 57th Spring Meeting of the Japan Society of Applied Physics.

The PV cell was realized by adding "3d transition metals" including manganese (Mn) to transparent composite semiconductors with a wide bandgap such as gallium nitride (GaN). It could enable to develop a highly-efficient PV cell by using a simply-joined cell without making a multi-junction cell.

Currently, the conversion efficiency of the new PV cell is low, but its open voltage (Voc) is as high as 2V.

The research group delivered a 90-minute lecture on the cell under the title "Nitride Semiconductor Added With Transition Metals as a Photoelectric Conversion Material for Ultraviolet, Visible and Infrared Lights ~ In the Aim of Realizing the Next-generation Super-efficient PV Cell With a Simple Element Structure."

Sonoda found that when Mn is added to GaN, which is transparent because its bandgap is as large as 3.4eV, until its component ratio reaches several to 20%, the absorbing coefficient of the GaN becomes continuously high for a wide wavelength band of light including ultraviolet, visible and infrared lights. In fact, a PV cell made by adding Mn to p-type GaN is black and transparent unlike an element that does not contain Mn.

Sonoda explained the "impurity band" model, which is mainly composed of Mn's energy levels in the 3d orbit. There has been a technology to set a ladder to a forbidden band, to which electrons with small energy levels cannot climb, by adding impurities to a semiconductor material with a large bandgap so that light with a longer wavelength can be absorbed. And such a band-gap structure is commonly called "intermediate band." However, it is not clear whether the new mechanism is the same as that of the intermediate band, Sonoda said.

The research group added a variety of 3d transition metals other than Mn and obtained similar results in many cases. A 3d transition metal is an element whose number of electrons increases in the 3d orbit, which is inside the outermost orbit, as its atomic number (the number of protons in the atomic nucleus) increases. Specifically, scandium (Sc), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chrome (Cr), Mn, iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are 3d transition metals.

By appropriately choosing those additive elements, even aluminum nitride (AlN), which has a very large bandgap, can possibly have an absorbing region in the visible light range, Sonoda said.

This time, the PV cell was prototyped by adding cobalt to p-type GaN. Its Voc is 2V or more at 1 sun. In general, when a unijunction cell has a Voc of 2V or more, its bandgap is large, and only the short-wavelength part of visible light (blue, green, etc) can be converted into electricity. However, it does not apply to the new PV cell.

On the other hand, the short-circuit current density of the PV cell is about 10μA/cm2, which is about 1/1,000 that of a normal crystalline silicon PV cell. Because the cell and electrodes are separated, the electric resistance of the p-type GaN connecting them is very large, Sonoda said.

This time, it was not possible to accurately measure the output current because photolithography machines could not be used for designing the cell. As a result, the current cell conversion efficiency is only slightly higher than 0.01%.

Recently, many researchers are adding indium (In) to GaN-based PV cells in the aim of narrowing the bandgap and enabling to absorb visible lights. However, in such cases, multi-junction cells using materials with, for example, different ratios of indium are necessary for converting a wide wavelength band of light into electricity. The findings of the research group are expected to pave the way to a GaN-based PV cell with a totally different mechanism.

Honda to Lease Electric Motorcycles in Japan

Honda Motor Co Ltd announced April 13, 2010, that it will start leasing a business-use electric two-wheeled vehicle , "EV-neo," in December 2010 in Japan and unveiled a prototype.

In 1994, the company released the "CUV ES" electric scooter in a limited number of 200. But it is equipped with a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) rechargeable battery, and it takes as long as eight hours to fully charge the scooter, which runs 61km per charge.

The EV-neo comes with Toshiba Corp's lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable battery and can be quickly charged. It runs more than 30km per charge on a flat paved road at a speed of 30km/h.

In the development of the EV-neo, Honda decreased the mass of the vehicle by reducing the battery capacity and compensated the low capacity by adding a quick charging function.

The company established Blue Energy Co Ltd with GS Yuasa Corp, a Japan-based firm that is engaged in manufacturing, sales and development of Li-ion rechargeable batteries for hybrid vehicles. But Honda employed Toshiba's battery in consideration of the concept of the electric two-wheeled vehicle and the mass production capability.

The battery employed for the EV-neo is the "SCiB," whose negative electrode material is lithium titanate and whose voltage is lower than those of commonly-used Li-ion rechargeable batteries. Honda probably decided to use it because of its rapid charging capability and high durability.

The EV-neo is classified as a motor-assisted bicycle in Japan, and the rated output of its motor is 600W or less. Honda made efforts to ensure that the vehicle has enough power to run uphill with a load of 30kg.

In fact, the company visited several firms that provide delivery services to know how they use vehicles for delivery. As a result, the EV-neo has a hill-climbing performance of 12°.

The motor was designed based on the permanent-magnet DC brushless motor used for Honda's Monpal four-wheeled welfare vehicle. And it is manufactured at the same plant where the Monpal is produced.

The voltage and rated output of the Monpal's motor are 24V and 430W, respectively. But the motor of the EV-neo probably has a higher output because it is a motor-assisted bicycle. The motor is located in the box located left to the rear wheel and driven through reduction gears.

The Li-ion battery is located under the footrest, but the EV-neo is not mounted with a battery charger. The battery capacity of the vehicle has not been disclosed.

Honda developed both a rapid charger and a normal charger for the vehicle. With the rapid charger, it takes 20 minutes to charge the battery 80% with a power supply of AC200V. And the normal charger can fully charge the battery in four hours with a power supply of AC100V.

The company said that the power consumption of the normal charger is lower than that of a microwave oven. Judging from the charging time, we estimated that its capacity is little more than 1kWh.

Honda is planning to announce the price of the EV-neo in the fall of 2010. It assumes that the sum of the lease fee and the electricity charge for use of the vehicle for three years will be equivalent to that of a gasoline-powered two-wheeled vehicle.

On the day Honda announced the EV-neo, it offered test rides of the two-wheeled vehicle and gasoline-fueled motor-assisted bicycles. When I compared the EV-neo with the Dio, which has a maximum output of 3kW and and a displacement of 49cc, I found that the EV-neo makes less noise and vibration and that its acceleration to about 30km/h is much faster because of its high torque at a low speed.

Mitsubishi to build New Li-ion Battery Plant 50,000 Electric Vehicles Per Year by 2012

Lithium Energy Japan (LEJ) has decided to build a new Plant in Ritto City, Shiga Pref., Japan. The new Ritto plant will start production in early 2012. The new plant will produce 4.4 million cells a year, enough to power 50,000 of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's new-generation i-MiEV electric vehicles (EV). The total investment in plant and equipment will amount to 37.5 billion yen.

LEJ commenced mass production at its Kusatsu Plant 1st Line last June, and has since been operating at full capacity, producing 200,000 cells (enough for 2,300 EVs) a year. The 2nd Line will begin operations this June, enabling LEJ to ship an additional 400,000 cells (enough for 4,500 EVs), bringing LEJ's annual production from Kusatsu up to 600,000 cells (enough for 6,800 EVs). Furthermore, LEJ has started investing in a production line at its Kyoto works (GS Yuasa's Kyoto Office), and from December 2010, will produce 1 million cells a year (enough for 11,000 EVs). LEJ has succeeded in developing technologies to produce the large capacity lithium-ion cells in the specially designed mass production line, and is now prepared to launch full-scale operations capable of meeting the needs of more than 10,000 EVs per year.

By the second half of fiscal year 2012, when the Ritto Plant begins operations, LEJ will be capable of producing 6 million cells (enough for 67,800 EVs) through these three production bases of Kusatsu, Kyoto, and Ritto. LEJ aims to expand its Japanese operations to accommodate 100,000 EVs per year in the future.

For its construction of the Ritto plant, LEJ will receive the maximum subsidy of 5 billion yen under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's "Regional Development Subsidy Program for "Green" Companies Towards Employment Creation" for the fiscal year 2009.

[Description of LEJ's capital investments]

	1st Line of Kusatsu Plant	2nd Line of Kusatsu Plant	Kyoto Plant	Ritto Plant
Location	Kusatsu City, Shiga		Minami-ku, Kyoto	Ritto City, Shiga
Lot space	20,000m2		200,000m2	56,000m2
Building space	7,900m2	1,900m2	13,000m2	45,000m2
Annual production capacity	0.2 million cells	0.4 million cells	1.0 million cells	4.4 million cells
Equivalent amount ofi-MiEV battery units	2,300	4,500	11,000	50,000
Start of shipping	June 2009	June 2010	December 2010	Early 2012
Amount of capital investment	3.3 billion yen	4.2 billion yen	6.7 billion yen	37.5 billion yen

150 Cars Set for Toyota Prius PHV Demonstration Program

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. said its Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV) demonstration program will place 150 vehicles in the U.S. with universities, corporations, city, state and federal governments, car sharing programs and other groups.

Toyota on April 13 announced that demonstration vehicles will be placed with Qualcomm, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Southern California Air Quality Management District, University of California at Berkeley, University of Colorado, and Portland State University. Additional program partners are being finalized.

The PHV demonstration program will allow Toyota to gather real-world vehicle-use feedback to "better understand customer expectations for plug-in technology," the company said. "It will confirm, in a wide variety of in-use applications, the overall performance of first-generation lithium-ion battery technology and, hopefully, spur the development of public-access charging station infrastructure."

More importantly, the company added, the program is aimed at market preparedness for plug-in hybrids, which will arrive at Toyota dealerships in 2012, along with an all-new battery electric commuter vehicle.

"It is imperative that consumers fully understand both the potential and the challenges involved in the electrification of the automobile," said John Hanson, national manger of environmental, safety and quality communications. "Through this demonstration program, and a similar program for our hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, consumers will be informed on how these new mobility alternatives will fit with their transportation needs, their lifestyles and their budget."

Coda Automotive Eyeing Cleantech Site

Coda Automotive, a Santa Monica-based electric car company, is in advanced talks with the Community Redevelopment Agency to develop a battery assembly factory on a 20-acre plot on the edge of Downtown.

The CRA has been angling to bring an environmentally friendly technology company to its so-called Cleantech Manufacturing Center site since September 2008. AnsaldoBreda, an Italian rail car manufacturer, had been slated to develop the plot south of Downtown before it pulled out of a deal at the last minute last year.

This Thursday, the CRA board is scheduled to consider entering into an exclusive negotiating agreement with Coda. The proposed agreement, which CRA officials would not comment on, would concern plans to develop a plant for the assembly of lithium-ion battery packs used in Coda vehicles.

“We haven’t signed any type of formal agreement yet but it’s definitely an area of interest, as are several other areas of interest in greater Southern California,” Coda spokesman Forrest Beanum said last week, before the CRA meeting had been publicly announced.

The facility would be part of the cars’ final assembly process, with most of the manufacturing taking place in China. Coda partners with various Chinese firms to build their all-electric cars, which are expected to be available for sale to the public later this year, according to the company’s website.

The city purchased the site from the state for $14 million in April 2008. Adjacent to the Los Angeles River, it has a long history of industrial users, which led to heavy contamination. The city spent $2.2 million to clean it up.

AnsaldoBreda, in a deal pushed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, had been slated to develop a 240,000-square-foot, $70 million light rail manufacturing facility on a 14.3-acre portion of the property. The deal fell apart before last October when the company refused to sign a contract it had negotiated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. AnsaldoBreda would have produced 100 new rail cars at the plant.

Chevy Volt Batteries and Vehicle Testing Hitting Milestones

Recent calibration drives of pre-production Chevrolet Volt electric vehicles have achieved up to 39.9 miles of emission-free, electric-only driving range, chief engineer Andrew Farah said Monday during a program update for news media.

The Volt, which can travel up to 300 miles beyond its pure electric range because of a small on board gasoline engine, recently completed a round of cold weather testing in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada, and will undergo additional hot weather testing in Yuma, AZ, in June and July.

The Volt remains on schedule for start of regular production in the fourth quarter. Farah, chief engineer for the Volt and the Opel Ampera, said more than 500,000 test miles have already been put on the pre-production Volt vehicles.

Farah said engineers at GM’s Warren, Mich., Technical Center will begin building pre-production versions of the Ampera later this month in preparation for its launch in Europe for the 2012 model year.

Monday’s update followed the announcement that GM plans to invest an additional $8 million to double the size of its automotive battery lab in Warren.

Micky Bly, GM’s executive director of global electrical systems, hybrids, electric vehicles & batteries said more than 300 pre-production packs were slated to be built at GM’s Brownstown, Mich., battery plant.

So far, more than 850,000 miles of customer use lab testing have been completed on the battery pack design for the Volt and Ampera. Bly said the team continues to study additional applications of the Voltec battery-based propulsion system in future vehicles, although no details were provided.