Chevrolet to Increase Volt Production Capacity by 50 Percent

General Motors today said that thanks to strong public interest in the Chevrolet Volt, the 340-mile extended range electric vehicle, it will increase U.S. production capacity of the groundbreaking new car by 50 percent, from 30,000 units to 45,000 units, in 2012.

The announcement came as U.S. President Barack Obama toured the Detroit-Hamtramck facility, where the Volt is being produced now for sale later this year.

“The Chevrolet Volt provides drivers with the latest technology, outstanding innovation, and something no other electric vehicle can provide – peace of mind,” said Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., GM Chairman and CEO. “We are very proud to host the President of the United States at this plant, where the future of the American automobile industry is being built today by the men and women of General Motors.”

The expanded U.S. production capacity is the latest in a series of positive developments for the Chevrolet Volt. This week, participating Chevrolet dealers in launch markets began taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, following the release of retail and lease pricing. The brand also recently announced unprecedented battery and vehicle limited warranties to bring value and peace of mind to Volt customers. And the number of U.S. launch markets for the vehicle recently was raised from three to seven.

GM has said it expects demand for the Volt to exceed the 10,000 units it will build between its launch and the end of 2011. In the past few weeks, more than 25,000 people have joined the Chevrolet Volt enthusiast list. More than 73,000 people have registered to receive product information from GM's Chevrolet Volt site, spokesman David Darovitz said.

On Tuesday, the day GM released the Volt's pricing, the site saw a 700 percent increase in visits and a 1,200 percent increase in registrations compared with the site's daily average, Darovitz said.

The Volt offers a total driving range of about 340 miles and is powered by electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the vehicle drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered, engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank.

The Detroit-Hamtramck plant received $336 million in new investment to prepare for production of the Volt, part of more than $700 million GM has invested in eight Michigan facilities to support Volt production since 2008. This includes a 33,000 square-foot battery systems lab in Warren; a battery assembly facility in Brownstown Township; and supporting engine and stamping operations in Grand Blanc, Bay City, and three plants in Flint.

Besides direct GM jobs, the Volt has helped spur additional supplier employment and investment. Earlier this month, battery cell supplier LG Chem/Compact Power Inc. broke ground on a $300 million, 650,000 square-foot plant in Holland, Mich., to support Volt production, creating 400 jobs. In addition, the Volt helped start an electrification trend. Since its debut in January 2007, other automakers have announced 30 plug-in hybrid or electric vehicles.

Small Roof Top PV Solar System Nets 2,600 EV Miles per month

A family in Aurora Colorado have installed a 5.59 kW photovoltaic solar system on the roof of their residential garage and are reporting that in it's first month the system has generated 650 kWh worth of electricity, equivalent to 2,600 miles (@ 250 wh/mi) of driving in a plug-in electric car.

Calculating PV costs against utility power savings results in fair long pay-back periods. This particular system cost $8,500 and generates 650 kWh per month. At a standard utility rate of $0.10 kWh the pay back is approx 10 years.

However, when using a roof top PV system to recharge an EV it's a different order of magnitude. The Colorado family estimate $390 worth of gas cost savings (assuming $3 per gallon and 20 m.p.g) per month. The pay-back on the purchase price of the same PV system becomes less than 2 years or 1/5th the time compared to standard utility rates. If you live in a country with higher petrol prices than the US, or a feed-in tariff, the pay-back time is even shorter.

Fundamentally the purchase of a PV system is equal to paying up front for several decades worth of free motoring. A photovoltaic solar system will last 30 years + providing free energy that literally falls out of the sky. Tesla Motors estimate 20% of customers who buy a Roadster also have a roof-top PV system.

BP oil spill will boost electric car sales

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster will hasten the adoption of electric vehicles, a leading car executive says.

Nissan’s senior vice-president of product planning, Andy Palmer, says the spill highlights the potential pitfalls of oil dependency.

“Any kind of crisis can move the needle, whether it’s price hikes or regrettably, terrorism,” he says.

“Every time you see a degree of instability it tends to help us on EV, no doubt,” he says.

“I think no one thing is going to change consumer behaviour overnight but it draws attention to the difficulties of carbon-based fuel,” he says.

He says the interest in Nissan’s upcoming Leaf electric car has been “astonishing”, with the vehicle essentially sold out until well into the second half of next year.

“We have 23,500 orders in the bank and we haven’t announced the pricing in Europe, so that’s just the US, Japan and some blind orders from Europe,” he says.

And he says that the Australian government, which has shown little interest in EVs to date, is beginning to come around.

Mr Palmer visited Australia earlier this year to speak with the federal and state governments and was encouraged by the reception he received. “We are getting a response from the federal government… we do have a level of interest and I do see some signs that Australia will be one of the next serious countries that we are looking at,” he says.

“From a demographic point of view, Australia’s perfect [for EVs]. Most of the houses have got garages, most of you have got two cars and most of the second car’s range is relatively low mileage – you’ve just written the spec for an EV, frankly,” he says.

He says that while the main advantage to Australia from EVs would be CO2 reduction, they would also play a major role in improving air quality in big cities such as Sydney and Melbourne.

“The car doesn’t emit CO2, which means you’re not emitting CO2 in a city, where most people live; moreover you’re not emitting any other noxious gases either. You’re cleaning up the environments where people live,” he says.

Your Oil Dollars at Work

In April the Qatari royal family spent $2.3 Billion to buy Harrods, the high end UK department store. Now they'll have to fork over $800 in fines to remove wheel clamps from supercars worth $2.3 Million that two family members parked illegally out front of the store.

The story about these two cars alerted us to the fact that central London has become a weekly supercar show during the summer months with literally hundreds of exotics ranging from the pictured Koenigsegg CCXR “Special One” to a half dozen Bugatti Veyron, including the ultra exclusive '15-of' Sang Noir through to a dozen or so garden variety Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce, all wearing Qatar number plates.

Not bad for a country that was a former pearl-fishing center, was one of the poorest Gulf states and has less than half the population of New Zealand. They are now one of the richest Gulf countries, in a region full of rich countries, thanks to the exportation of oil.

The London supercar parade is a graphic illustration of what the Washington Post calls “The biggest transfer of wealth in history”.

Because we are all limited to using an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) for propulsion, we are forced to consume 6x more energy than is needed to move a car down the road. Good if you're in the business of selling oil, not so good if you just want to drive to work.

Each time you fill your car's fuel tank remind yourself that every ICE powered car consuming all this Arab oil is only 15% energy efficient. The direct result is that $0.85 cents out of every dollar you spend at the fuel bowser gets converted into waste heat as an unavoidable side effect of the extremely inefficient internal combustion process.

On first appearances it 'looks' like Volkswagen (owners of Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi etc) are doing fairly well out of this transfer of wealth too, until you learn that Qatar Holdings, the same company that bought Harrods, also own 12.3% of the VW group.

The Qatari royal family members seem to be keeping it in-house, mostly buying and promoting their family owned brands. We can be fairly certain none of them would be caught dead parading around London in something like a Tesla Roadster, especially one with 'LOL OIL' number plates.

Lamborghini Supercar EV Concept

Designer Flavio Adriani has created the Lamborghini Concept EV as a tribute to the man who changed everything about sportcars, Ferrucio Lamborghini.

The design, the lines, the impact of the car derive from a combination of the Diablo and Gallardo. The concept is not just about passion for Lamborghini, it also is equipped with the latest technology regarding the drive train, pollution, energy saving and passenger safety.

The car has an electric drive train with high powered in-wheel motors in each of the 4 wheels that allow active vehicle dynamics control and maximum regenerative braking.

The battery pack is mounted low within the rear diffuser and recharging is available via plug-in and/or solar panels mounted over the engine compartment. These panels are V shaped, giving the car a more aggressive look.

The designer also fitted a panel protecting passengers against low frequency radiation. This radiation comes from mobile phones, antennas and other wireless devices. These radiations have proven to be dangerous to human health bringing headaches, cancer and more.

For Flavio Adriani, the greatest challenge designing this electric Lamborghini was, how to bring the amazing sound of the engine that has been removed. The solution he found are wind turbines. The air enters the tubes through the front bumper and makes its way to the central turbine which gives it a jet engine sound.

The Nissan LEAF On the Road!

In this week’s episode of Green Overdrive Katie Fehrenbacher takes the Nissan Leaf for a quick test drive.

Nissan’s Mark Perry demonstrates a few more software functions on the dash display. We have seen the battery range graphic overlay on the GPS map previously but something new is the calculator that estimates range with or without energy intensive accessories like the A/C on.

Scientists say global warming is continuing

Scientists from around the world are providing even more evidence of global warming, one day after President Barack Obama renewed his call for climate legislation.

"A comprehensive review of key climate indicators confirms the world is warming and the past decade was the warmest on record," the annual State of the Climate report declares.

Compiled by more than 300 scientists from 48 countries, the report said its analysis of 10 indicators that are "clearly and directly related to surface temperatures, all tell the same story: Global warming is undeniable."

Concern about rising temperatures has been growing in recent years as atmospheric scientists report rising temperatures associated with greenhouse gases released into the air by industrial and other human processes. At the same time, some skeptics have questioned the conclusions.

The new report, the 20th in a series, focuses only on global warming and does not specify a cause.

"The evidence in this report would say unequivocally yes, there is no doubt," that the Earth is warming, said Tom Karl, the transitional director of the planned NOAA Climate Service.

Deke Arndt, chief of the Climate Monitoring Branch at the National Climatic Data Center, noted that the 1980s was the warmest decade up to that point, but each year in the 1990s was warmer than the '80s average.

That makes the '90s the warmest decade, he said.

But each year in the 2000s has been warmer than the '90s average, so the first 10 years of the 2000s is now the warmest decade on record.

The new report noted that continuing warming will threaten coastal cities, infrastructure, water supply, health and agriculture.

"At first glance, the amount of increase each decade — about a fifth of a degree Fahrenheit — may seem small," the report said.

"But," it adds, "the temperature increase of about 1 degree Fahrenheit experienced during the past 50 years has already altered the planet. Glaciers and sea ice are melting, heavy rainfall is intensifying and heat waves are becoming more common and more intense."

Last month was the warmest June on record and this year has had the warmest average temperature for January-June since record keeping began, NOAA reported last week.

And a study by Princeton University researchers released Monday suggested that continued warming could cause as many as 6.7 million more Mexicans to move to the United States because of drought affecting crops in their country.

The new climate report, released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, focused on 10 indicators of a warming world, seven which are increasing and three declining.

Rising over decades are average air temperature, the ratio of water vapor to air, ocean heat content, sea surface temperature, sea level, air temperature over the ocean and air temperature over land.

Indicators that are declining are snow cover, glaciers and sea ice.

The 10 were selected "because they were the most obviously related indicators of global temperature," explained Peter Thorne of the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites, who helped develop the list when at the British weather service, known as the Met Office.

"What this data is doing is, it is screaming that the world is warming," Thorne concluded.

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Nissan LEAF will carry an 8 years or 100,000 mile warranty

Nissan LEAF first will be available to consumers in December, in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. These areas are home to The EV Project – the largest electric vehicle and infrastructure deployment ever undertaken.

The EV Project is a result of a partnership with charging infrastructure provider ECOtality and partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy. Customers in these first five launch states, who represent more than 55 percent of total Nissan LEAF reservations, will be able to place firm orders for the Nissan LEAF starting in August.

Nissan LEAF will be introduced to Texas and Hawaii shortly thereafter, in January 2011; North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama follow in April 2011; and be rolled-out to the balance of the nation beginning in Fall 2011 with availability in all markets nationwide by the end of that year.

"We are pleased to see so many people making a choice for a zero-emission future by placing reservations for the Nissan LEAF," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. "Consumer feedback and market readiness have been key drivers in developing our phased rollout. Nissan is able to target areas of customer demand for early launch, while continuing to work in future markets to ensure the continued success of electric vehicles."

Nissan North America also is informing its consumers that the lithium-ion battery pack that powers the Nissan LEAF will carry a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles – matching U.S. market competitive conditions.

Consumers who have reserved the Nissan LEAF online will be invited to place orders through their dealer for the vehicle in advance of market roll-out timing, allowing time for consumers to select a dealer and assess home charging needs. Nissan is continuing to take reservations for the Nissan LEAF through its website, www.NissanUSA.com. Interested consumers are encouraged to place a reservation, which entails a $99 fully refundable fee to secure a spot on the list to place an order.

The reservations process has educated Nissan about more than just geographic distribution. Some information we've learned about future Nissan LEAF drivers includes:


* Favorite color: The favorite color of Nissan LEAF owners is blue. More than 30 percent of reservations are for blue Nissan LEAF electric cars. Silver is a close second, at about 26 percent. The remaining reservations are close to evenly split among red, black and white.

* Trim level: About 75 percent of Nissan LEAF orders are for the SL trim level, which adds a rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.

* Home and Parking: About 75 percent of people who placed reservations own a single-family home. About 68 percent have attached garages, while an additional 18 percent have detached garages or carports. Home ownership and dedicated parking are important factors for Nissan LEAF drivers who plan to charge their vehicles at home.

* Purchase time: About 67 percent of Nissan LEAF reservations holders have indicated that they'd be ready to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF within one year of placing the reservation. An additional 24 percent indicated they would be ready in one to two years.

* Interests: Several primary interests are inspiring people to order a Nissan LEAF. Cited interests include energy independence (35 percent); environmental consciousness (34 percent); and cost/fuel economy (20 percent).

Chevrolet Begins Taking Volt Orders Priced from $33,500

Starting today, participating Chevrolet dealers in launch markets will begin taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the industry’s first electric vehicle with extended-range capability.

Chevrolet is so confident in the overall value of the Volt that the brand will offer a lease program on the Volt with a monthly payment as low as $350 for 36 months at Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price with $2,500 due at lease signing, including security deposit based on current conditions, which could vary at time of delivery. The benefit of the $7,500 tax credit is included in the reduced lease payment, with the tax credit going to the lessor. The Volt’s MSRP will start at $41,000 ($33,500 net of the full federal tax credit, which ranges from $0-$7,500) including a destination freight charge of $720. Customer deliveries of the Chevrolet Volt are scheduled to begin in launch markets late this year with initial production limited.

“The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class…because it’s in a class by itself,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. marketing for General Motors, who made the announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference. “No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard.”

The Volt will be initially available to Chevrolet customers in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. To be among the first to purchase a Volt, customers can visit their nearest participating Chevrolet Volt dealer. A Volt dealer locator will be available later today at http://www.getmyvolt.com. The dealer will begin the order process, which will be followed up by contact from a dedicated Volt advisor who will be available to answer any questions and keep the customer apprised of the progress of their order.

The Chevrolet Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a range of weather climates and driving conditions with little concern of being stranded by a depleted battery. Volt has a total driving range of about 340 miles and is powered by electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas powered range-extending engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank.

Depending on their tax situation, Volt owners can qualify for up to $7,500 in U.S. Federal income tax credit, as well as other potential state and local tax credits, depending on location. Owners in certain states may qualify for the added convenience of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane access.

While the Chevrolet Volt will come standard with a 120-volt charge cord that will provide owners with the ability to charge their Volt directly from a standard home electrical outlet, a total of 4,400 Volt buyers in launch markets could be eligible for a free 240-volt charging station, including home installation. The installations are part of a program developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to install approximately 15,000 240-volt home charging stations across the U.S.

Tesla Motors sells first Roadster in Australia

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc. said Monday it delivered its first vehicle in Australia, marking its entry into that market.

The company, which sold stock to the public for the first time earlier this month, said it sold its Roadster electric sports car to Australian technology entrepreneur Simon Hackett.

The Roadster, which starts at more than $100,000 and is Tesla's only vehicle for sale, is now approved for Australian roadways and available to customers there, the company said. The car goes from zero to 100km in less than four seconds, Tesla says, and can travel more than 380 kilometers on a single charge. The Roadster plugs into any conventional socket and can be charged with solar, hydro or wind energy.

Tesla says it has sold more than 1,200 Roadsters to customers in at least 28 countries.

Company shares were selling for $20.90 in afternoon trading.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car to buy 500 Nissan Leafs

Enterprise Rent-A-Car said Tuesday it plans to buy 500 electric cars from Nissan starting in January.

With a retail price of more than $30,000 for each Nissan LEAF, Enterprise plans to spend an estimated $15 million on its new electric vehicle fleet.

The St. Louis-based car rental giant said it will initially roll out the Nissan LEAFs, which use no gasoline and do not produce greenhouse gas emissions, in eight markets: Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn.; San Diego; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle.

Enterprise is a major rental car company in the Sacramento region. The state leases cars from Enterprise for workers.

Enterprise said it is introducing the Japanese electric vehicles to a limited number of branches so it can properly train its employees to show customers how to use and charge the vehicles.

The cars can be charged using a standard 110-volt home outlet, or a 220-volt or 480-volt commercial charging station. Most electric vehicles can travel about 100 miles on a single charge, accommodating the travel habits of a daily commuter who drives an average of about 40 miles a day.

Beginning in November, Enterprise said it will install charging stations at some of its locations, including several of the Enterprise “hybrid branches,” or almost 100 designated locations that offer hybrids and other environmentally friendly rental options in 30 markets.

Enterprise said it plans to offer customers electric vehicles from other manufacturers as they become available.

“As a company that owns and operates the world's largest fleet of passenger vehicles, we have a vested interest and a history of working with manufacturers to integrate alternative-powered vehicles into our fleet,” said Lee Broughton, director of sustainability for Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car as well as the Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental brands. “With airport and neighborhood locations within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, our Enterprise Rent-A-Car offices are uniquely positioned to test the market viability of new alternative fuel technologies like the electric vehicle with daily commuters nationwide.”

Through its regional subsidiaries, Enterprise Holdings operates the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles, including almost 7,000 gas/electric hybrid vehicles.

Over the past several years, the Taylor family and their companies have contributed or pledged more than $120 million to environmental initiatives.

All New Cars Sold In China to be Mild Hybrid by 2012

General Manager of Chery New Energy Company, Yuan Tao, said Thursday that relevant authorities are now planning to issue a policy on hybrid vehicle technology, requiring all new cars to be equipped with the BSG hybrid system for fuel efficiency.

An industry insider from Dongfeng motor confirmed the statement, and said implementation should happen by 2012.

The BSG is a mild hybrid technology that can save about five percent on fuel. Unlike the electric vehicle technology, the BSG is just an innovation of traditional gas-diesel engine and can boost fuel efficiency. Its cost is also relatively low. According to Dongfeng Motor, under mass production, it only costs 1,000 yuan ($147.5) per car to be equipped with the BSG system.

Chinese domestic fuel consumption in 2008 was 540 million tons of gasoline and 520 million tons of diesel. If all the vehicles had been equipped with the BSG system, the annual fuel consumption would have decreased by five million tons.

The Mr. Yuan also said, "Both plug-in and fuel battery technologies belong to electricallization. The traditional engine technology should not be ignored for it will continue to play a leading role in a long time."


Global Times

Solar powered UAV goes down in history as first "eternal plane"

The solar-powered craft completed two weeks of non-stop flight above a US Army range in Arizona before being commanded to make a landing.

The Qinetiq company which developed Zephyr said the UAV had nothing to prove by staying in the air any longer.

It had already smashed all endurance records for an unpiloted vehicle before it touched down on Friday.

"We are just really delighted with the performance," said project manager Jon Saltmarsh.

"It's the culmination of a lot of years of effort from a huge number of really talented scientists and engineers," he told BBC News.

Zephyr took off from the Yuma Proving Ground on Friday, 9 July.

After only 31 hours in the air, it had bettered the official world record for a long-duration flight by a drone; but then it kept on going, unencumbered by the need to take on the liquid fuel that sustains traditional aircraft.

Clear skies at 60,000ft delivered copious amounts of sunshine to its amorphous silicon solar arrays, charging its lithium-sulphur batteries and keeping its two propellers turning.

At night, Zephyr lost some altitude but the energy stored in the batteries was more than sufficient to maintain the plane in the air.

Zephyr is set to be credited with a new world endurance record (336 hours, 24 minutes) for an unmanned, un-refuelled aircraft - provided a representative of the world air sports federation, who was present at Yuma, is satisfied its rules have been followed properly.

Its fortnight in the sky easily beats the 30 hours, 24 minutes, set by Northrop Grumman's RQ-4A Global Hawk in 2001.

Zephyr has also exceeded the mark set for a manned, non-stop, un-refuelled flight, set in 1986 by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, who stayed aloft for nine days (216 hours), three minutes. Their flight in the Voyager craft went around the world.

Profile raising

Jon Saltmarsh said the UAV, which has a 22.5m wingspan, was no longer an experimental plane and was now ready to begin its operational life.

The fact that Zephyr completed its demonstration during the Farnborough International Airshow - which takes place on the doorstep of the Qinetiq company - will have done wonders for the craft's profile.

Solar-powered high-altitude long-endurance (Hale) UAVs are expected to have a wide range of applications.

The military will want to use them as reconnaissance and communications platforms. Civilian and scientific programmes will equip them with small payloads for Earth observation duties.

Their unique selling point is their persistence over a location. Low-Earth orbiting satellites come and go in a swift pass overhead, and the bigger drones now operated by the military still need to return to base at regular intervals for refuelling.

"Qinetiq is now looking to the Ministry of Defence and the DoD (US Department of Defense) to put a system into service," said Mr Saltmarsh.

"We have proved the concept; we have proved we can provide persistence; we have proved we can put useful payloads on to it that will actually do things the MoD has a requirement to do."

The Zephyr flight is the second event of note this year in solar-powered aviation. Earlier this month, Andre Borschberg became the first person to pilot a manned solar plane through the night.

Testing the Volt's braking system at the Milford Proving Grounds (w/Video)

Valerie Boatman, a Performance Integration Engineer for GM has been putting the Volt's braking system through it's paces at the test at the Milford Proving Grounds. The Volt uses an electrohydraulic brake system developed by TRW that is based on the same technology used for the two-mode hybrid trucks. The system uses a high-pressure hydraulic accumulator to provide brake boost because vacuum is not available when the range extender is not running.

The engineers spend 8 - 10 hour days on end at facilities like the Milford proving ground, as well at hot and cold weather facilities, evaluating the performance on all kinds of different surfaces and during various dynamic maneuvers.

Ford’s new Focus RS could be hybrid powered

The RS version of Ford’s new-generation Focus could be powered by both a turbocharged petrol engine and a torquey electric motor mounted on the rear axle, according to senior company sources.

The Focus RS will use ford’s 2.0-liter Ecoboost petrol engine that produces 250hp of power to drive the front set of wheels. The engine will be coupled with an electric motor setup mounted on the rear axle.

The advantages of the layout for a high-performance car are that it enables the use of a relatively small-capacity engine, but the strong torque from an electric motor gives the car a considerable performance boost.

It also makes it all-wheel drive without the complexity of a conventional set-up using a power take-off and propshaft. A hybrid Focus RS would most likely be able to match the performance of today’s RS500, but with much-improved economy and lower CO2 emissions.


Autocar

Couple charged with GM hybrid tech theft

Federal authorities in Detroit charged a Michigan couple Thursday with stealing information about hybrid vehicle technology from General Motors and attempting to put it to use for a Chinese car company.

Yu Chin and his wife Sanshan Du of Troy, Mich., have been charged with, among other things, unauthorized possession of trade secrets and wire fraud.

According to the charges, from December 2003 to May 2006 Du conspired to obtain trade secrets about the automaker's hybrid vehicle technologies and passed that information to her husband who used it for the couple's own company, Millennium Technology International (MTI).

In January, 2005 GM offered Du, then a GM employee, a severance package. About five days later, she copied thousands of GM documents to a computer hard drive used for MTI business, authorities allege.

MTI later entered into a business venture to provide hybrid technology to the Chinese automaker Chery Automobile, a company that is a competitor of GM's in China.

In May 2006, the couple drove to a dumpster behind a grocery store where they discarded bags of shredded documents related to the case, authorities charge.

GM estimates the stolen information to be worth about $40 million, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

"We cooperated with the U.S. attorney's office in developing the case and will continue to cooperate with them as appropriate," GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson said.

A Chery Automobile spokesperson was not immediately available for comment

Ford will offer hybrid at same price as gas model

For the first time, an American automaker plans to sell a hybrid car for the same, lower price as its gas-powered counterpart, removing at least one obstacle for drivers who want a greener ride.

At a little more than $35,000, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ sedan won't be cheap, but the decision by Ford to match the prices of the two styles could lead competitors to follow suit with future models.

The hybrid MKZ, debuting this fall and running on both gas and electric power, will be a bargain after factoring in savings at the pump. It gets more than double the mileage of the traditional version in city driving.
While automakers won't reveal what they spend to install a hybrid system in a car, the final product usually costs several thousand dollars more than a gas-powered version of the same car.

The Lexus HS 250h, the MKZ's closest competitor, costs about $2,500 more than the Lexus IS, a similar, small, gas-powered sedan. Ford charges $8,840 more for the hybrid version of its Ford Escape SUV.

The MKZ can still make money even if Lincoln doesn't charge more for the hybrid, said Erich Merkle, president of the consulting company Autoconomy.com. Luxury cars are sold at a significant premium, he said, ensuring a profit for Ford.
Lincoln can also borrow the hybrid system from the Ford Fusion, its corporate twin, and save on development costs.

"Conventional wisdom is that the hybrid should be priced higher, but there's not really anything to say that a hybrid has to command a higher price," Merkle said.
Besides, Ford had to keep the price down, said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst for Edmunds.com. If it had sold for more than $40,000, it would have faced tougher competition from luxury cars like the Mercedes E-Class or the Audi A6, she said.

"It's going to take moves like this one to break into the luxury market," she said.
Other automakers may not try to match Lincoln's move if it is limited to the MKZ, but they will have to take notice if Lincoln uses the same strategy with future hybrid models, said Aaron Bragman, an analyst with IHS Automotive.

John Felice, Lincoln's marketing manager, said pricing strategy is an opportunity to get buyers interested in the Lincoln brand. Even after a complete revamp of its cars in the past few years, Lincoln still lags behind other luxury brands. Lincoln sales were up 7.5 percent in the first six months of this year, compared with 17 percent industrywide.

Lincoln is also trying to make up for the sales it is losing by phasing out its Mercury brand, which includes two hybrids.

The MKZ is one of most popular Lincoln models, but its sales have fallen 5 percent so far this year.

The MKZ will get 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. That beats the Lexus HS 250h, which gets 35 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. The gasoline version of the Lincoln MKZ gets 18 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.

The new hybrid system isn't the Lincoln MKZ's only nod to the environment. Its wood trim comes from well-managed forests, while the leather seats use a chromium-free tanning process that makes them easier to recycle, Ford said.

Lincoln MKZ buyers are not eligible for federal tax credits for alternative-fuel vehicles. Federal law limits the credits to the first 60,000 buyers of a company's hybrids, and Ford hit that number on March 31.

Ford is the first U.S. automaker to offer a hybrid and conventional version of a car at the same price. Industry analysts say they are unaware of a foreign automaker doing it, either.

Even if Ford were to lose money on the MKZ hybrid, it would probably be willing to make the trade in exchange for marketing value for the Lincoln brand, said Bruze Belzowski, assistant research scientist at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

"Lincoln might say, 'We're going to take a hit on this,'" Belzowski said. "They may say something like 'We're willing to take a hit on this because the marketing value is going to outweigh the cost.'"

Mercedes-Benz to offer 2 hybrids in 2011

Mercedes-Benz has showcased two new hybrid vehicles for the year 2011, which includes the S400 Hybrid premium luxury sedan and the ML450 Hybrid SUV. The S400 includes a 20hp electric motor working in tandem with a 275hp V6 gasoline engine. The electric motor is fueled by the world’s first lithium-ion battery designed especially for automotive use.

The ML450 Hybrid SUV comes with two electric motors that are coupled with 275hp V6 gasoline engine. The integration of electric motors in both the hybrids provides impressive power and fuel economy that is estimated to be about 21mpg around town and 24mpg on the highway for the ML450 SUV.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine included in both the vehicles takes advantage of the Atkinson principle – compromising torque for fuel efficiency and emission reduction. The decrease in torque is corrected by the electric motors that generate up to 118lb-ft of torque. A powerful computer, capable of 50 million calculations per second, calculates the best operating mode 160 times a second to maintain an ideal balance between fuel economy and performance.

The hybrid system further includes a fuel-saving start-stop feature that turns off the gasoline engine at low speeds when braking to stop. Moreover, during braking, the electric motors also act as a generator recovering kinetic energy and storing in the lithium-ion battery on board.

LA to get four wind farms that generate 3 GW of electricity

It seems that the clean energy wave is sweeping across the US like never before. In a step that promises to give a huge boost to the renewable energy sector on the American West coast, Terra-Gen Power LLC has arranged finances worth $1.2 billion to establish four wind farms northwest of Los Angeles. The turbines for the project will be made by a Danish company in Colorado.

The entire project guarantees energy generation of as much as 3,000 megawatts of electricity apart from creating 5,000 new jobs in a country which only yesterday announced the extension of unemployment insurance benefits. The turbines will be made by a Danish company but built in Colorado.

Half of U.S. vehicles would be electrified by 2030 under proposed House bill

Millions of electric-powered vehicles that would slash America's dependence on foreign oil and cut carbon emissions would be put on the road under legislation approved by a Senate committee on Wednesday.

The legislation, passed 19-4 in favor, was one of several bills cleared by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that might be folded into a broader energy and climate bill Democrats are struggling to bring to the Senate floor.

The bill approved by the committee would pour nearly $3.9 billion over 10 years into selected communities to build infrastructure to charge electric cars, conduct research and provide incentives for consumers to buy plug-in vehicles.

The goal is to put the United States on a path to electrify half the country's cars and trucks by 2030, which would cut U.S. demand for oil by about one-third.

"Passing this legislation will strengthen our national security and improve the air we breathe, while relying on our abundant and diverse electricity supply to fuel our cars," said Senator Byron Dorgan, the bill's chief sponsor.

A new bill that addresses climate change and renewable energy is a key priority for the Obama administration but time is running short on the congressional calendar with a scheduled August recess and congressional elections looming in November.

Senator Jeff Bingaman, who chairs the energy panel, said he was not sure if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid would unveil his encompassing energy and climate legislation next week. The bill would be in trouble if the Senate does not pass it before the August break, according to Bingaman.

"It will be difficult to get a final bill to the president for signature," Bingaman told reporters. "The earlier that the full Senate would act the better position we'll be to actually get a bill to the president."

Congress is scheduled to work through the first or second of week of August, and then recess until after Labor Day in early September.

Reid said on Tuesday he was still grappling for consensus among Democrats to forge a new climate and energy bill.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid to Make North American Race Debut at Petit Le Mans

Porsche’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car will race for the first time in North America at The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón’s signature event—the Petit Le Mans on 2 October at Road Atlanta. The hybrid is equipped with a flywheel energy recovery system (KERS).

After its debut in April at Germany’s Nürburgring race circuit in a six-hour event, the Porsche Hybrid challenged the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May. It led many hours of the race until the closing two hours when a combustion engine issue forced the car to retire.

Because the ACO (sanctioning body for Le Mans racing) has not yet created rules for hybrid technology in production-based cars, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will race unclassified at Petit Le Mans.

At Petit Le Mans, five different types of alternative energy sources will be raced: clean diesel, E10, cellulosic E85, isobutanol and electric hybrid.

Volkswagen Turns Attention from Diesel to Electric

Germany's Volkswagen AG has long been a pioneer in fuel efficient vehicles – some of its European variant diesel vehicles get well over 60 mpg. However, it has trailed in hybrid and electric vehicle efforts. In fact, will just get around to offering its first hybrid vehicle in the U.S. later this year.

At its Electronics Research Laboratory in Palo Alto, California, amid the backdrop of the launch of its sixth-generation VW Jetta compact, the company talked about its transition from being focused on diesel to going for the gold in the electric arena. Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn comments, "I am deeply convinced Volkswagen will play a key role in electrifying the automotive world."

The company's efforts will be spread across its base consumer brand and its luxury brands -- Audi and the recently acquired Porsche brand.

VW plans to release a Touareg (SUV) this year and Jetta (sedan) hybrid in 2012. It will then follow up with hybrid Golf and Passat models in 2013. In 2011, it plans to start testing a fleet of electric VW Golf vehicles. VW will also introduce a new electric called the E-Up! .

On the luxury front, Audi will release its first EV, the e-tron. Meanwhile, Porsche is cooking up hybrid variants of its Cayenne (SUV) and 918 Spyder (roadster).

VW reports that by the time these vehicles hit the market, its electric efforts will be as refined as its diesel ones. It says that its E-Up! batteries are already capable of running for 93 miles on a charge -- more than the 2011 Chevy Volt's, which can only muster 40 miles on a charge.

Winkerton states, "Our customers are not willing to compromise. They expect the same high standards from an electric Golf as from a conventional one."

Volkswagen has seen a long slide in sales in America. Once the top foreign brand -- selling 570,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 1970 -- the company has been gradually displaced by Japanese and Korean automakers who have a better reputation for quality. Diesel enthusiast still love VW, though, and Volkswagen Group of America increased deliveries by 29 percent to 175,000 vehicles in H1 2010.

The German automaker will soon open a $1B USD plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will produce the popular Jetta and its upcoming hybrid variant. The plant will mark VW's first auto-production facility in the U.S. since it shut the doors on its Pennsylvania assembly plant in 1988.

Volkswagen has set a relatively lofty goal of selling 800,000 VW-brand vehicles and 200,000 Audis annually in the United States by 2018 -- over twice current sales levels. Winkerton states, "We want to take Volkswagen to the top of the industry by 2018. ... We know that the United States is one of our main destinations on our way to the top."

The company realizes that diesel will not necessarily win many new customers, so its hoping its shift to electric will win new business.

Automakers, utilities call for federal task force on electric vehicles

Automakers and the nation's utility companies urged the Obama administration to do more to boost the growth of electric vehicles.

In a letter today to President Barack Obama, the heads of trade associations representing automakers, utility companies and battery companies urged the administration to establish a task force to help smooth the road for thousands of electric vehicles that will hit the streets starting later this year.

"We believe that the critical, immediate next step for the Administration is to provide the necessary coordination of the growing federal, regional and private efforts," said the letter signed by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the trade group representing General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., Chrysler Group LLC, Toyota Motor Corp. and seven others.

Also backing the effort were the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, the Electric Drive Transportation Association and the Edison Electric Institute -- a group representing public electric companies.

"By taking these steps, the administration can ensure that federal agencies set long-term, consistent policies that encourage electric drive vehicle and infrastructure deployment," said alliance CEO Dave McCurdy.

The groups called for a "National Electric Fuel Task Force, to provide a necessary forum for public and private sector information exchange, and to collaboratively address challenges to large scale deployment of plug-in electric drive vehicles and the necessary infrastructure."

The groups called for the task force to be led by the Energy Department, and include federal and state regulators; utilities; environmental groups; vehicle, fueling and grid officials; and consumers groups.

The groups also called for an interagency working group to coordinate federal efforts. It would "provide greater coordination of federal expenditures related to electric drive technologies and of regulatory efforts across the federal government."

Obama has called for 1 million plug-in electric vehicles on the roads by 2015. Congress approved giving electric vehicle and battery efforts $2.4 billion in grants last year -- money that doesn't have to be paid back. Obama spoke at a ground-breaking event in Holland, Mich., last week for a battery plant.

"Aligning efforts between the public and private sector is the logical next step to bringing our nation closer to achieving widespread acceptance of electric drive technologies," said Mike Stanton, AIAM's CEO.

Congress is considering proposals to add another $6 billion or more to electric vehicle efforts.

Sign of the Times, "LOL OIL" license plated Tesla

(click to enlarge image)

What costs just $0.02 per mile to drive, never needs an engine oil change, is faster 0-60 than a Porsche 911 GT3 yet is cheaper to buy and can be powered 100% with renewable energy?

The as yet unmatched - Tesla Roadster, of course. Can hardly wait to see how a Toyota RAV4 or Corolla with a Tesla electric powertrain performs.

(reddit)

Honda to roll out plug-in Hybrid and Electric Car in 2013

Honda Motor Co. is working on a hybrid car that can be recharged at home and an all-electric vehicle, both for release in about three years, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Honda President Takanobu Ito will announce the company's hybrid and alternative vehicle plans at a news conference on Tuesday, the paper reported in its Tuesday editions.

Honda is also considering building hybrids in the United States, the paper said.

Conventional hybrids are cars that can charge their own batteries, which turn a motor that assists a gasoline-powered engine providing most of the power. Plug-in hybrids, on the other hand, can make short trips using the motor alone.

Honda expects its plug-in hybrid to go 60 kilometers (37 miles) or more on a single liter of gas, making it more fuel-efficient than rival Toyota Motor Corp.'s best-selling hybrid, the Prius, the Nikkei said.

Honda will release its electric car in the United States first, the daily reported.

The company is considering manufacturing the Honda Insight and two other hybrids in the U.S. markets and plans to expand its lineup of hybrids to five or so by 2013, the Nikkei said.

(Reuters)

Toyota Settles Longstanding Patent Dispute Over Hybrid Vehicle Tech

Toyota settled a longstanding patent dispute today with Paice LLC, a firm that first sued the Japanese automakers back in 2004.

The technology disputed had to do with supplying torque from both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine to a car’s wheels, according to earlier reports by Bloomberg BusinessWeek and confirmed by a Paice spokesperson today.

Paice had gone as far as asking the U.S. International Trade Comission to force Toyota to halt export of its hybrid vehicles to the U.S., where its Prius is the top-selling hybrid.

Now, Toyota will pay Paice under a licensing agreement (for which terms have not been disclosed) for patented technology which is included in the following current models and others: Prius 3, the hybrid Camry, RX-450 and the HS-250h.

Paice calls itself a “startup technology development” firm. Because it doesn’t manufacture the technology it tests, patents and promotes, many have accused Paice of being “patent trolls.”

Toyota’s settlement with Paice followed another settlement by American automakers, Ford whose Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrid vehicles, Paice alleged, had infringed on its patents.

Toyota Prius Sales Reach 200,000 in Europe

The Toyota Prius has reached 200,000 units in sales in Europe after 10 years on the market there. Toyota expects global sales of the Prius to exceed two million by the autumn of 2010.

The Prius was launched in 2000 to the European market. Sales there reached 100,000 in 2008 and doubled to 200,000 in two more years.

The UK has remained one of the leading European markets for Prius, accounting for more than one in five Prius sold in Europe. This year’s sales to date are 6,579 units, almost equaling the 2009 figure in six months.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. (TMUK) recently held a line-off ceremony today to mark the start of production of the Auris Hybrid. TMUK will produce 30,000 Auris Hybrids annually, with sales of the vehicle beginning on 1 July. Plans call for the vehicle to be sold in 32 European countries.

Nissan Leaf Test Drive (w/Video)

Phil LeBeau from CNBC takes the Nissan Leaf for a test drive in California and came away impressed.

As usual, typical media types obsess about range and make comments like "the lack of vibration in a zero emission car is one of those things you have to adjust to" like it's a negative point of the car.

The video does give viewers a quick preview of some of the dash board function e.g. estimated vehicle range illustrated graphically on the GPS map and icons showing all local charging stations.

The Nissan Leaf goes on sale in December.

Unmanned solar plane smashes records

A unmanned solar aircraft has smashed the world record for continuous flight.
The "Zephyr" plane, developed by UK defense technology company, QinetiQ, took off from the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona on Friday July 9. Seven days on, it is still flying high.

Zephyr program director, Jon Saltmarsh said "It's extremely exciting. What we now have is an eternal plane. It has the same amount of fuel at the start of one day as it does at the start of another."

The aircraft has already doubled its own unofficial record of over 82 hours and smashed the previous world record for unmanned flight of 30 hours and 24 minutes, set in 2001 by U.S. aerospace company, Northrop Grumman's RQ-4A Global I.

The Zephyr project was conceived in 2001 and secured funding from the UK's Ministry of Defense (MOD) three years later. After several prototypes, Saltmarsh believes QinetiQ has now created an aircraft that demonstrates genuine military utility.

"It has the persistence to stay up there for long periods of time and it carries payloads that are doing things that the military will find useful." Saltmarsh says its key role will be in aiding communications.

"Sitting at 60,000 feet it's ideal for getting a line of sight between two people in different valleys," Saltmarsh said. "But it could also carry surveillance payloads." QinetiQ also says it will save the military money, performing many of the tasks currently carried out by manned aircraft.

Weighing in at just 53 kilograms the plane has a wingspan of 22.5 meters and a wing area of around 30 square meters, the top side of which are covered in solar panels thinner than a sheet of paper.

The panels are rigged up to lithium-sulphur batteries which power the plane at night.
QinetiQ began building the latest Zephyr model 18 months ago and hope to start full scale military trials a year from now.

The company says that Zephyr will also find a civilian use helping communications in disaster relief situations, as well as forest fire monitoring.

"You can sit above a fire, with heat sensor technology and identify hotspots very quickly," Saltmarsh said.

Zephyr shows no sign of running out of power anytime soon, and Saltmarsh is hopeful it will stay in the air for another seven days, when the plane will finally return to Earth.

Wheel Motor Powered Electric Range Rover to go into production

What is billed as the world's first pure electric 4x4 has made its debut, before going on sale in the UK before any other country.

Oxford-based Liberty Electric Cars has completed extensive testing on its E-Range, which it claims will fill a significant gap in the family-size and luxury vehicle market.

Liberty says that the Electric E-Range has a top speed of 85mph and accelerates from 0-60mph in about seven seconds, with a range of up to 200 miles.

Another world first is the possibility of wireless charging. Instead of using conventional leads and plugs, the car is parked over an induction plate and charges automatically.

The battery can be charged in one to three hours from a fast charger or using the optional induction system. At 75kw, the LEC battery pack is the largest ever installed in an electric car yet, due to the technology employed, weighs less than many lower capacity packs according to Liberty.

Also ground-breaking are the claimed lifespan for the battery of more than 13 years and 300,000 miles – way in advance of anything offered in the EV (electric vehicle) industry thus far.

The Range Rover's existing internal combustion engine is replaced by Liberty's patented high-density Lithium Polymer batteries – two under the bonnet, with a further four under the car – powering electric motors in each wheel, each re-supplying current to the batteries via regenerative braking.

"We are incredibly proud to have proven our critics wrong and demonstrated the performance ability of our proprietary and patented, class-leading technology," said Liberty Electric Cars' founder and CEO Barry Shrier.

"The Liberty Electric E-Range accelerates from zero to 60 in about seven seconds, reaches a top speed of 85mph, and has a distance capacity of 200 miles on one charge – this is the upper end of the drive range that any current EV is able to achieve. In short, the vehicle enables the consumer to enjoy the power, prestige and luxury of the iconic Range Rover without the cost to the environment."

Liberty says that production versions of its electric Range Rover will go on sale at the end of this year priced at £150,000. The company has also commenced development on other large, luxury 4x4s, SUVs, and MPVs.

More details at www.liberty-ecars.com

Tesla and Toyota Formalize Agreement to Develop New RAV 4 EV

TOYOTA and Tesla Motors today announced that the two companies have signed an agreement to initiate the development of an electric version of the RAV4 as announced in May of this year by Elon Musk and Akio Toyoda. With an aim to market the EV in the United States in 2012, prototypes will be made combining the Toyota RAV4 model with a Tesla electric powertrain. Tesla plans to produce and deliver a fleet of prototypes to Toyota for evaluation within this year. The first prototype has already been built and is now undergoing testing.

In May, Tesla and TMC announced their intent to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support. Tesla seeks to learn and benefit from Toyota’s engineering, manufacturing, and production expertise, while Toyota aims to learn from Tesla’s EV technology, daring spirit, quick decision-making, and flexibility.

TMC has, since its foundation in 1937, operated under the philosophy of “contributing to society through the manufacture of automobiles,” and made cars that satisfy its many customers around the world. TMC introduced the first-generation Prius hybrid vehicle in 1997. The company also plans to introduce EVs into the market by 2012.

Tesla’s goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars for mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. California-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components, and is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production.

Toyota working on 500 hp Wheel Motor powered Electric Sports Car

Motortrend says an insider close to Toyota tells us that plans have been put in motion to develop a supercar that would rival the E-Cell and e-tron, and even the Citroen Survolt concept first seen at this year's Geneva show.

The car is expected to produce more than 500 horsepower and would sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 4 seconds. Like the E-Cell, the Toyota is expected to route power through four electric motors, one at each wheel. It will also incorporate a switch that allows drivers to select between driving programs such as comfort, sport and super sport, thus permitting drivers to regulate battery use.

It's expected to debut around 2015, and we are first to reveal how one artist in Japan sees the as-yet-unnamed vehicle as it might look attacking the Nurburgring in Germany. The vehicle would reportedly borrow undisclosed know-how from Tesla and utilize aerodynamic expertise gained from the Lexus LFA project.

The fact that company CEO Akio Toyoda just signed a deal to invest some $50 million in electric sports car maker Tesla adds significant weight to the story. Toyoda is said to have dined recently with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and he reportedly took the Tesla Roadster for a spin during the evening.

We were told he left suitably impressed, so much so that he's said to have given the green light to the feasibility study into the production of the all-electric sports car. In addition, Tesla has announced that it will deliver two as yet unidentified EV prototypes to Toyota by the end of July, which are believed to be EV versions of the RAV4 and Lexus RX.

Citroën Survolt as driven by Vanina Ickx (w/Video)

Finally a colour video of the Citroën Survolt EV Proto-type as driven around the Le-Mans circuit by Vanina Ickx.

The Survolt features a tubular chassis and carbon bodywork; it uses two electric motors with a combined power output of 300bhp, with full torque available between 0-5000rpm. Powering the motors is a 31kw lithium-ion batteries that allow for a 124-mile range and can be recharged in two hours.

Citroen claims the Survolt is capable of getting from 0-62mph in less than 5.0sec and reaching a top speed of more than 160mph. Curb weight is no specified.

Brammo announce 100 MPH EV motorcycles with 100 mile range

Brammo, Inc. announced today it will begin production of an electric sportbike, calling it the "Empulse." It demonstrated a pre-production prototype today and all three production models of the Empulse will be capable of sustaining 100 mph. The three models will have different battery capacities, all utilizing an innovative proprietary array, the Brammo Power™ battery and vehicle management system. The Empulse is available for immediate order and deliveries will commence in 2011.

Craig Bramscher, Founder and CEO of Brammo said "motorcycle riders have been requesting increased speed and range and I am proud and delighted to reveal these game changing Brammo electric motorcycles. Our customers expect Brammo to design and produce the world's most exciting (and affordable) electric motorcycles and that's exactly what we have done." Bramscher continued, "today's announcement promises no more range anxiety for Brammo customers."


The Empulse Trio
All three models of the Empulse will be freeway capable and will enjoy a top speed in excess of 100mph. Each of the three models will offer customers a different average range from a single charge. The Empulse 6.0 is capable of 60 miles average range , the Empulse 8.0 is capable of 80 miles average range and the top of the line Empulse 10.0 is capable of a travelling 100 miles on a single charge. Range of all three models can be extended by travelling at lower speeds.

Estimated MSRP for the Empulse trio when deliveries start next year are; Empulse 6.0 $9,995, Empulse 8.0 $11,995 and Empluse One Hundred $13995. All three models will be eligible for Federal and State tax incentives. For example, the Empulse 10.0 may cost as little as $7000 in certain states after Federal and State incentives.


Empulse Technology
Todays announcement sees the first application of Brammo's innovative electric powertrain system including the Brammo Power™ battery pack and Brammo Power™ vehicle management system. Brammo's breakthrough in price/energy density is at the heart of today's announcement and is unequalled in the electric vehicle industry. The Empulse is also the world's first production electric motorcycle to have a water cooled motor.

Brian Wismann, Director of Product Development at Brammo and designer of the Empulse said,

"The Empulse reveals the significant price performance that we can deliver using Brammo Power™ technology. Just like it did with the Enertia Powercycle, Brammo has again raised the bar in terms of electrical drivetrain innovation and time to market."


Empulse Availability
Customers can place their order for an Empulse by visiting the Brammo website www.brammo.com . Deliveries are expected to commence in mid-2011 and orders will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Customers placing an order will receive a production number and will be expected to pay a fully refundable $99 deposit once their motorcycle is within 90 days of delivery. The Brammo range of motorcycles will be available globally through select motorcycle dealerships and participating Best Buy stores.


Brammo Distribution

Brammo is expanding its dealership network both within the USA and in Europe and Asia. Organizations interested in selling and servicing the Brammo range of motorcycles, which includes the award winning Enertia, can register their interest by visiting www.brammo.com/dealerapplication

Adrian Stewart, director of Sales and Marketing at Brammo said "We are always looking for individuals and organizations that want to enter into a long term business partnership with Brammo to sell and service our range of electric vehicles. JCAM ,our distributor/dealer in Hong Kong and Singapore is an excellent example of such an organization. "


Forged in the Heat of Competition

Brammo Power™ technology employed in the Empulse is race proven in the Brammo Empulse RR race bike. You can see the Empulse RR in action at the 2010 Red Bull Grand Prix Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca. Brammo will race the Empulse RR in the FIM e-Power series which will see 15 electric motorcycle teams from around the world compete on this demanding circuit.


Meet the Empulse

Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher will be unveiling the Empulse at the 2010 Red Bull Grand Prix at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on Saturday July 24th 2010.

Later this year the Empulse will be on display at EICMA in Milan, Italy and at the Macau Grand Prix in China.

Obama says electric car battery prices to tumble 70%

The cost of the high-powered batteries needed for a coming wave of electric cars is projected to drop by as much as 70 percent over the next five years, according to a U.S. government forecast.

The forecast was released as President Barack Obama attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a battery plant being built here by a U.S. unit of South Korea's LG Chem and funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Obama administration has provided more than $5 billion in grants and low-cost loans to battery manufacturers and auto companies to support projects intended to spur the development and sale of rechargeable electric cars and plug-in hybrids.

But the high cost of the lithium-ion batteries to power those vehicles has been seen as one of the biggest barriers to their widespread adoption.

The U.S. government had never set a target for the kinds of cost reductions it expected to see in the fast-developing industry it is attempting to jump-start with taxpayer funding.

"Because of advances in the manufacture of these batteries, their costs are expected to come down by nearly 70 percent in the next few years. That's going to make electric and hybrid cars and trucks more affordable for more Americans," Obama told an audience of politicians, business leaders and representatives of the 300 workers building the new plant.

Optimistic forecast?

The battery price declines projected by the Obama administration, which has set a target of putting 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015, run deeper and faster than most forecasts by outside analysts.

LG Chem CEO Bahnsuk Kim told Reuters his company sees a 50 percent drop in battery prices by 2015, and he expected that would be enough to drive increased demand.

"In the next five years we see the prices in half. Our target is half," Kim said on the sidelines of the event today.

In the terms tracked by the emerging electric vehicle industry, the Department of Energy said it expected battery costs per kilowatt hour to drop from about $1,000 in 2009 to $300 in 2015 and $100 in 2030.

Major U.S. automakers have set a long-term target of reducing costs on that basis to near $250, a price that would be in line with the cost to produce batteries for laptops and cell phones.

The lithium-ion battery that powers Tesla Motors Inc.'s $109,000 Roadster cost more than $33,000, according to the Department of Energy report.

The smaller battery LG Chem is supplying for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt from General Motors Co. cost $13,000 last year but will drop to $4,000 by 2015, the report said.

More deals won

Both GM and Tesla have received Energy Department funding.

LG Chem's Compact Power unit has won deals to supply batteries for the Chevy Volt and the upcoming all-electric version of the Ford Motor Co. Focus.

It said that it had also been selected to supply batteries for hybrid systems which Eaton Corp. is developing for commercial trucks and buses.

Compact Power's Holland plant will have the capacity to supply batteries for up to 250,000 electric vehicles once completed and will employ 400 workers, the company said.

LG Chem and the U.S. Department of Energy split the costs of building the $303 million plant. The Korean chemical and battery maker invested $151.5 million and $151.4 million came from a U.S. government grant.

White House economists estimate that the United States accounted for 2 percent of global production of batteries for electric cars and hybrids in 2009. That share is expected to rise to 40 percent of global production by 2015.