Archive for February, 2010

  • ALTe to Receive an $8.4 Million Tax Credit for Electric Powertrain Development
    Michigan-based electric powertrain company ALTe LLC was approved to receive a tax credit valued at $8.4 million over seven years from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board. ALTe also secured a 185,000-square-foot Development and Manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. At full production, the facility...
    by at February 27th, 2010 at 03:02 pm
  • Avis Partners with Renault to Offer Electric Cars for Hire
    Avis Europe has partnered with the Renault-Nissan Alliance to offer electric cars to its customers from 2011. The partnership will add to Avis’ already well-established environmental program, which has seen the company maintain a CarbonNeutral status since 1999. Each car in the Avis Europe fleet is typically only six months old, to ensure maximum fuel efficiency and...
    by at February 26th, 2010 at 01:02 pm
  • UK to Spark Electric Car Sales
    Car buyers in UK can receive up to £5000 ($7657) from the government to electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles car from next year. The announcement from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) means that from January 2011, motorists will be entitled to a ‘Plug-In Car Grant’ of up to £5,000when buying an electric, plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel...
    by at February 25th, 2010 at 09:02 am
  • Geneva Preview: Lotus Evora 414E Plug-In Hybrid Concept
    Lotus will unveil the The Evora 414E Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid concept version of its Evora model, at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The Evora 414E Hybrid is so named because it offers 414PS (306kW, 408hp) of power. Lotus Engineering developed a drivetrain system consisting of two electric motors — one delivering 204 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to each...
    by at February 25th, 2010 at 08:02 am
  • Mercedes Unveils Vito Electric Van
    Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the prototype of a Vito electric van at a recent EU Competitiveness Council meeting held in Spain. During the event, European ministers of economic affairs met to discuss issues relating to the economic viability of future technologies. Assembly of the electric Vito is being integrated directly into standard production and marks the start of...
    by at February 24th, 2010 at 11:02 am
  • Honda Reveals 3R-C Electric Three-Wheeler
    Honda has revealed the 3R-C three-wheel electric concept car, which will make its debut at Geneva Motor Show next week. The 3-RC electric three-wheeler shows what a future minimal urban transport vehicle for one person might look like, Honda said. The battery electric drivetrain is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis, therefore keeping the centre of gravity low and...
    by at February 24th, 2010 at 07:02 am
  • Hybrids Leading the Way Toward Global Embrace of Electric Vehicles
    For years the marketing and advertising from government and car companies alike have boldly stated that it was only a matter of time before electric vehicles took over the car industry. Now, electric vehicles, in the form of hybrids that combine both gas and electric motors, are finally beginning to do just that. As a result, the world populace is accepting hybrid electric...
    by at February 23rd, 2010 at 09:02 am
  • Proton Concept will Get Lotus Series Hybrid System
    The PROTON Concept car, to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, showcases an advanced series hybrid drivetrain, designed and developed by Lotus Engineering. Lotus Engineering, the world-renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus Cars Limited today announces its latest series hybrid vehicle technology application in the PROTON Concept, which will be unveiled at...
    by at February 23rd, 2010 at 12:02 am
  • BMW Will Make Electric Cars in Leipzig
    BMW Group will make its electric cars at its plant in Leipzig, Germany, the automaker announced on Monday. BMW said it will make making additional investments in a number of facilities in Bavaria to produce parts for the so-called electric Megacity Vehicle. In a joint venture with SGL Carbon, SGL Automotive Fibers GmbH & Co KG, carbon fibre fabrics will be produced...
    by at February 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 am
  • GETRAG Develops Boosted Range Extender
    The GETRAG Corporate Group has developed a cost-effective electric drive train architecture that combines and even outperforms the advantages of conventional drive trains, hybrid drives and state of the art electric drives. GETRAG will present its newly developed Boosted Range Extender at this year’s international trade fair for manufacturing technology and automation,...
    by at February 21st, 2010 at 02:02 pm