Image credit: Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership
I've argued before that going solar is about way more than just money, but nevertheless news that solar price parity with coal is close in parts of EuropeRead the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Fully Charged
While it created initial excitement, the VW Golf diesel hybrid proved too expensive for production back in 2008. Nevertheless, many greener car advocates have been watching eagerly for the possibility of a car that would combine the efficiencies of a diesel engine with a hybrid drive. Late last year, Mike reported on news that Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo: Flickr, CC
Now You're Just Teasing Us...
While the all-electric Nissan LEAF has apparently been selling thousands of units in the US and Japan, it looks like the July 2011 launch in Canada was mostly a paper launch. In a press release, Nissan revealed that their inventory of 2011 LEAFs for the country was all of 40 cars (4 per province?). Unless that's a typo or a misunderstanding, it seems pretty ridiculous. Hopeful...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Goal: slashing the cost and time it takes to create electric cars
The transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors means that carmakers will need to find new types of partners and suppliers. Toyota and Daimler are partnering with Tesla Mo...Read the full story on TreeHugger
The Model S electric sedan, schedule for a late 2012 release. Photo: Tesla Motors
It'll be there in late 2012, I swear!
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX and the chairman of SolarCity, has made a $1 million bet with auto journalist Dan Neil (well, Neil is only betting $1,000, so it's an asymmetric bet). The dispute is about the timing of the Model S electric seda...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo Courtesy of Chevrolet Volt
Although the idea of NASCAR going green isn't much more than a fantasy, individual drivers can still join the ranks of the sustainability movement. And that's what racing legends Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon have done. The two are the hybrid Volt's new spokesmen, and can be found driving around town in the eco-friendly rides. But...Read the full story on TreeHugger
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $170 million to fund the development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. The cash will aid 40 projects in 15 states and will work to enhance fuel efficiency in next gen vehicles. Projects include better fuels and lubricants, longer-lasting and cheaper EV batteries and components, more efficient engine technologies, lighter weight materials, and more. President Obama announced fuel efficiency standards boost for light cars and trucks, as well as a new standard for work trucks, buses and other heavy duty vehicles. The administration promises that the new standards will save American businesses who own 
and operate these commercial vehicles roughly $50 billion in fuel costs over the lifetime of the program. “The Department of Energy is investing in new advanced technologies that will significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, save consumers money, and create skilled jobs for Americans,” said Secretary Chu. “Investments in the next generation of autos will strengthen our economy and lead to a more fuel-efficient, clean energy future.”
Images: Team Schluckspecht
Range anxiety. If you ever find yourself talking electric cars with an EV hater, it's inevitable you'll hear the term. And yes, it's kinda true -- at this juncture in time, you will not be able to drive an electric car in exactly the same way you drove your gas guzzler -- in most places round the U.S., you'll have to plan on getting home in order to charge it up. So yes, this requires a minor change in the way that you ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Ecotricity
Dale Vince is not your ordinary business man. He built a wind energy empire that got him on Britain's rich list. He has just launched one of Britain''s biggest solar farms (that nurtures bees too). And he is creating a nationwide network of free electric car charging stations. He's...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo: Toyota
An Electrifying Joint-Venture
As I've previously mentioned, Toyota will make an electric version of its RAV4 small SUV using some Tesla technology. Production of the RAV4 EV is scheduled for 2012, and it has now been announced that the partners will build it in Canada....Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Fully Charged
Earlier today I posted about The Guardian's response to the Top Gear Nissan LEAF road test. While the BBC's running-out-of-juice stunt had Nissan upset, The Guardian felt like Top Gear was actually, on balance, pretty positive about the Nissan LEAF as a real, well designed car. Now Robert Llewellyn has waded into the debate—and while he tries to stay clear of another trashing (he was previously pretty angry about Read the full story on TreeHugger
When the BBC's Top Gear pretended to run out of juice in the Tesla Roadster, many electric car advocates were outraged. Now the program has done it again, road-testing a Nissan LEAF, and contriving to run out of juice and wait for 13 hours for a full recharge. (See Fully Charged's Nissan LEAF road test for a friendlier review.) In an editorial at The Guardian in pr...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Fully Charged
There's been a lot of interest in the Renault Fluence ZE, and Brian even got to take a test drive when he visited a Better Place battery swap station in Denmark. There are good reasons for all the buzz. From its design origins as a regular, run-of-the-mill car, to its readiness for battery swap technology, it is certainly...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Ecotricity
While initial sales of electric cars may have been slower than expected, andwith a Government u-turn on public charging points, electric car advocates will be delighted to see some good news emerging from the UK this week. Yesterday Ecotricity—pioneers of wind, solar and biogas in the UK—are launching a truly nationwide network of electric car charging stations t...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Nissan, in a joint venture with China's Dongfeng, will build an EV for the Chinese market by 2015. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said:
"We see a clear need for cars that are affordable, practical, spacious and zero emission. Nissan is clearly the global leader in zero emission mobility, now with more than 10,100 electric Nissan Leaf vehicles already sold worldwide."
"We are fully prepared to follow the Chinese government direction to promote the adoption of zero emisssion vehicles. We are ready to produce electric cars locally in China under the Venucia brand." Via Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo: Tom Raftery, Flickr, CC
Competition for the Chevy Volt
While Toyota is getting ready to go 100% electric with the Scion iQ EV and the Toyota RAV4 EV with a Tesla powertrain, it is also betting a lot on the intermediary step that is the plug-in hybrid technology (...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Peter Burgess, used under Creative Commons license.
Oh dear. No sooner do we hear that UK solar sales are rising due to plummeting costs, than take up of another mainstay of green techno-fix hopes appears to be stalling before it ever really started. UK sales of electric vehicles fell 50% in the second quarter of 2011, despite a huge Government grant. What's more depressing is that they fel...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo: Chargepoint
I Wonder What Santa Drives...
Coulomb Technologies, the electric vehicle infrastructure company, has announced that it will install 150 'ChargePoint' EV charging stations around the Boston metropolitan area. The money for this comes from a $37 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, and Boston will be just one of many areas that will see ChargePoints pop up like urban mushrooms. When all is said and done, Coulomb plans to have built 4,600 EV charging stations around the U.S.
...Read the full story on TreeHugger
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