Russia to get lithium battery production courtesy of Thunder Sky

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, China

Looking to fill a gap in its energy technology profile, Russia is to get its first lithium ion battery production facility with a little help from China’s Thunder Sky Energy Group Ltd. The Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (RUSNANO), an entity formed to advance projects with “high commercial potential or social benefit,” has teamed up with the prolific battery maker to build a plant in Novosibirsk that will supply lithium ion-based energy storage for electric transportation, communications and other markets. Thunder Sky has long been a popular choice of battery for electric vehicle (EV) hobbyists because of their relatively low cost and have been steadily improving their quality and performance. These factors have also made them popular in China as well, where their products have been put to use in everything from electric scooters to buses. It is said they have also received interest from large Western automakers such as Daimler Benz, Fiat, BMW and Citroen.

The new facility will have four production lines capable of putting out 400 million Ah of batteries by 2012. While the Russian market may not yet be able to absorb this amount of output, Thunder Sky will bring a lot of the anticipated output back home to fulfill its supply obligations. Check out all the details for yourself in the press release after the break.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

Continue reading Russia to get lithium battery production courtesy of Thunder Sky

Russia to get lithium battery production courtesy of Thunder Sky originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Plug-in cars are cleaner than gas, hydrogen cars could be worse

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Green Daily

Sometimes, it seems like people are out there studying things just to get our little community here up in arms. Case in point, a study published in Science Direct that looks at the well-to-wheels emissions of various “vehicle and fuel platforms,” including plug-in vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells that get their energy from different places (like hydro-power and night-time electricity generation). The goal of the study is to determine what impact the various studies will have on California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, an effort to reduce the carbon impact of transportation.

Looking at the “marginal electricity mix” - defined as “the mix of power plants that is used to supply the incremental electricity demand from vehicles and fuels” - the study’s authors found that even though most of the electricity used to move plug-in vehicles would come from “relatively inefficient steam- and combustion-turbine plants,” those plug-in vehicles will still be loads better, carbon-wise, than traditional gasoline vehicles and hybrids.

So, what’s the problem? Reading through Green Car Congress‘ take on the article, we learn that the study found that “All of the pathways except for [fuel cell vehicles] using hydrogen from electrolysis reduce [greenhouse gas] emissions compared to ICEs and [hybrid electric vehicles].” Hydrogen fans can rest easy, though, since the most greenhouse gas emissions are reduced when using either pure electric vehicles “recharging according to the load-level profile” or fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen made from steam methane reforming.

[Source: Science Direct via Green Car Congress]
Photo by Kenneth Hynek. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Study: Plug-in cars are cleaner than gas, hydrogen cars could be worse originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Largest electric vehicle charging stations in China open doors

It has been abundantly clear for quite some time that China is serious about pushing electric vehicles – and now there is some physical evidence to match the legislation and hype.
The country's largest electric vehicle charging stations were put into service earlier this week as two stations with 134 stands were opened at the Universiade [...]
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REPORT: Vectrix Scooters saved by GP Batteries

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, On Two Wheels, Vectrix

Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter - Click above for high-res image gallery

Vectrix may soon be back in business as Hong Kong-based GP Batteries has purchased the so-called New Vectrix company for $5 million. That sum is comprised of $1.75 million in cash and the assumption of up to $3.3 million in liabilities. The deal has reportedly been approved by a U.S. bankruptcy court, and apparently there were no rival bids for the company’s assets.

Some Vectrix owners may be entitled to warranty coverage from GP Batteries, depending on when the scooters were purchased and claims were filed in relation to the company’s bankruptcy. There’s some chatter that the electric scooter may be reborn with lithium ion batteries, but no announcement on that front has been made. We’ll take a wait-and-see approach and be patient to learn how things proceed under the new ownership.

Gallery: Vectrix Electric Scooter

[Source: Electric Aid via Treehugger]

REPORT: Vectrix Scooters saved by GP Batteries originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW ditches Hydrogen 7-Series testing

BMW is putting its real world road testing of its famous Hydrogen 7-Series on hold, due to a ‘lack of infrastructure and high conversion costs,’ AllCarsElectric.com reports.
However the carmaker is not abandoning the technology and is to continue its development of hydrogen engines and liquid hydrogen fuel systems will continue, a company spokesperson told the [...]
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New law means all car batteries to be recycled from 2010

All waste automotive batteries will have to be recycled in the future at the manufacturer’s expense, as new legislation comes into effect on 1 January 2010.
Producers of automotive batteries and industrial batteries will be required to arrange the collection, treatment and recycling of such batteries, free of charge, if requested by business end-users and final [...]
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The top five predictions of the past decade for what kind of green transportation the U.S. would have by 2010

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen, Transportation Alternatives, Natural Gas

Making predictions is a dangerous business, especially if you are looking out past the immediate time horizon. Looking back at the Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines of the ’50s and ’60s you might think we’d all have airborne autos by now but no such luck. Even predictions about the next 5-10 years are exceedingly difficult to get right, especially when politics and technology mix. The key to successful prophecies, as Nostradamus or any psychic will tell you, is to keep everything vague enough to be open to interpretation.

Over at Earth2Tech, they’ve taken a look at a handful of specific prognostications made during the first half of this decade about green transportation and compared them with where we are today. Needless to say, only one of the five predictions proved to be substantially correct. The “winner” is Toyota’s prediction that hybrids would form a bridge technology to full EVs. Even with the relative success of hybrids, they still make up less than three percent of U.S. sales today. Natural gas has made little headway except in transit buses and a few other fleets. Hydrogen, of course, remains stymied by the lack of a fuel distribution network and, given California’s financial difficulties, a high speed rail line there seems unlikely to be completed soon. Finally, electric vehicles remain at the mercy of high battery prices and masses among other issues. Make your own predictions for the coming decade in the comments.

[Source: Earth2Tech]

The top five predictions of the past decade for what kind of green transportation the U.S. would have by 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009: A year in review for green cars. The Green Piece

From the continued dominance of Japanese manufacturers to the vehicle scrappage scheme; with everything from bankruptcy to exciting new concepts in between – it's been an enthralling year for green cars and here we look back at the key developments….
2009: A YEAR IN REVIEW FOR GREEN CARS.
From the death of Michael Jackson to a [...]
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Audi finally confirms Q5 hybrid for 2011 introduction

Filed under: Hybrid, Audi

Audi Q5 - click above for high-res image gallery

One of the few car companies that has remained profitable through the current economic downturn is the Volkswagen Group. Among the group’s brands, Audi is doing particularly well and plans to spend big bucks on both redesigned and additional models. €7.9 billion will be spent over the next three years for vehicles like the new A8 as well as the new A1, A7, A6 and the R8 spyder.

On the greener side, Audi will finally launch its first full production hybrid. After first planning a Q5 and then an A4, the hybrid hardware has finally landed in the Q5. The Q5 hybrid will debut a year from now, likely at the LA Auto Show and then go in sale in the first part of 2011.

The Q5 will probably use a lithium ion battery, but the rest of the hybrid hardware will likely be based on the VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne that start production early in 2010.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi finally confirms Q5 hybrid for 2011 introduction

Audi finally confirms Q5 hybrid for 2011 introduction originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen's Top Ten most popular stories of 2009

Filed under: Etc., AutoblogGreen Exclusive

Now that 2009 is drawing to a close, it’s time to look back and see what stories spoke the loudest to AutoblogGreen readers. Which topics got the most attention (i.e., clicks) this past year? We took a look at the traffic records and found there’s not a single hydrogen vs. EVs debate post to be found. Oh, and only one that features bikinis. We were surprised as well. Number 10 is pictured above - a quirky and way cool VW bus sidecar - and the rest are available after the jump.

10. It’s Friday: Is this the World’s Most Miserly VW Bus?

Continue reading AutoblogGreen’s Top Ten most popular stories of 2009

AutoblogGreen’s Top Ten most popular stories of 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi reveals green car investment plans

Not to be outdone in the green car race, Audi has revealed plans to invest €7.3billion in fixed assets for 2009 through 2012 with approximately €5.9billion to be devoted to new product development.
The bulk of this cash will go towards optimising conventional drivelines and developing electric and hybrid models. By 2015, the company hopes to [...]
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Electric car firm hits out at UK government

The UK may like to believe it is at the forefront of the electric car revolution, but one electric car company believes its efforts are severely lacking.
The Electric Car Corporation, which currently assembles its Citroen C1 Ev'ie electric car in Flitwick, has decided to set up a production facility in Denmark to cater for the [...]
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Siry: Why electric cars are cool even if global warming isn't

Filed under: EV/Plug-in

Coda EV Sedan - click above for high-res image gallery

During the past several years, this blogger has frequently made the case that regardless of what you might think of the concept of human caused global warming, it still makes sense to move to more efficient technologies. Aside from climate change, there is the issue of national security that results from relying on energy from countries that are politically unstable. There are also perfectly legitimate economic reasons to want to use less energy, especially in a time of financial problems. Finally, independent of whether the emissions from burning fossil fuels cause the atmosphere to warm up, we know pollution causes problems.

Our old friend Darryl Siry thinks the same way, and explains over at Wired why electric vehicles should still be considered a desirable thing in spite of the recent controversy over the possible manipulation of scientific data on climate change. Siry did not come into the EV business as an environmentalist. He was (and is) a car junkie looking for a gig in California when he hooked up with Tesla. It just so happens that the characteristics of electric drive can make them very desirable to enthusiasts as well to the granola types (yours truly happens to fall into both categories). BEVs may not be (OK, probably aren’t) the ultimate solution to all of our transportation problems - other technologies aren’t either - but they certainly have a place in the overall pantheon. Let’s not get distracted by political squabbling and keep moving forward with gasoline alternatives.

[Source: Wired]

Siry: Why electric cars are cool even if global warming isn’t originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wired tells us what to do with leftover Christmas trash

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

Holiday season is upon us, and while most of our readers are likely in the process of checking out all the cool new stuff that was deposited under the big tree in their living room, a few interesting questions arise once it’s all done and over with. For instance, what are you going to do with that tree next week? And what about all those bags of wrapping paper?

Wired is here to come to the rescue with advice from Spencer Quong from Quong & Associates, an expert in alternative fuels. Quong takes a lighthearted look at those bags of garbage and says nearly all of it can be recycled into fuel. That list includes age-old fruit cakes that can be turned into ethanol, evergreen trees and yule logs that can be converted to fuels via gasification and even reindeer droppings that are a dandy source of biomethane. A sustainable Christmas at last?

[Source: Wired | Image: OLIVIER MORIN/AFP/Getty Images]

Wired tells us what to do with leftover Christmas trash originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota develops solar charging centre

Given the fact that it has already been at the epicentre of numerous green car developments, it should come as no surprise that the name Toyota has taken another giant leap forward for green motoring.
Toyota Industries Corp has developed a solar charging station for both electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with the municipal government [...]
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Some 3rd-gen Prius owners complaining about brakes; here's what might be happening

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

2009 has not been a good year for Toyota. After getting its first full year loss in seven decades, it faced its biggest safety recall ever over unintended acceleration caused by floor mats and or throttle control software. Now, as the year draws to a close, a new potential problem has sprung up, although it’s not nearly on the same scale as the recall. The new problem is related to the braking system on the latest Prius, which debuted early this year.

The problem, which has been reported to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by several dozen drivers, relates to a loss of deceleration when transitioning from regenerative braking to friction braking. At this time, NHTSA has not opened a full investigation but it is monitoring the situation.

This is actually quite a complicated issue and it highlights one of the reasons why it takes automakers so long to bring cars to market. Read on after the jump for some discussion on what might be happening.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Continue reading Some 3rd-gen Prius owners complaining about brakes; here’s what might be happening

Some 3rd-gen Prius owners complaining about brakes; here’s what might be happening originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 signs your new car won't be electric, and 5 signs that it will

Filed under: EV/Plug-in

It’s not at all uncommon to the see the phrase “no plug, no sale” in the comments here on ABG. In fact many of you are quite adamant about it whenever we discuss other alternatives that would reduce fuel consumption that don’t include a plug. While we would all love to turn off the fossil fuel tap and move on to something a bit more renewable, it’s not a process that’s going to happen overnight. In fact, for a lot of reasons, that we’ve discussed at some length around here, it’s a process that’s likely to take quite a number of years. That’s why automakers are continuing to pour resources into interim solutions like hybrids, diesel and downsized gas turbo direct injected engines.

Over at Earth2Tech, they have compiled a list of some of the reasons why plug-in vehicles will have a limited impact on the market in the short to medium term. Most of the reasons are well known like the high cost of batteries, lack of a place to plug in for urban apartment dwellers and limited availability unless you live in California. But there are other items like increased interest in car sharing that make the need to own an EV less urgent.

On the positive side, Jim Motavalli list five reasons why your next car will have plug over Mother Nature News. Motavalli is clearly more optimistic about the build-out of public charging networks and a smart grid that can manage when vehicles are charged to prevent overloads. While new EVs certainly don’t have golf-cart performance, it remains to be seen how cars other than the ER-EV Chevy Volt are accepted by the mass market when they get a feel for the range limits.

[Sources: MotherNatureNews, Earth2Tech]

10 signs your new car won’t be electric, and 5 signs that it will originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michigan-based PEP Stations jumps into the charge station market

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Detroit Auto Show

With so many automakers planning to introduce plug-in vehicles in the next several years, lots of other companies are hoping to cash in with related businesses. Among those are companies producing charging stations. We’ve covered Coulomb Technologies on a number of occasions and we’ve just become aware of a company here in Michigan that wants in. PEP (plug-in electric power) Stations is actually a collaboration between design firm James Blain Associates and engineering consultant Ricardo. The company plans to build and sell these charging outlets for use in public places.

Like the Coulomb units, the PEP stations have communication capabilities for billing the driver. When the car is plugged in, the screen on the unit prompts the driver to accept the billing rate and then supports payment by an access car or credit card. The PEP station will be used for charging the vehicles being used for the ECO X display at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

[Source: PEPStations]

Michigan-based PEP Stations jumps into the charge station market originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Merry Christmas from TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk

On behalf of the entire team here at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our readers a wonderful Christmas.
Here at TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk there is no respite and you can expect our news section to continue to be updated several times daily throughout the Christmas and New Year period – so [...]
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'Twas the ABG before Christmas...

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

‘Twas the ABG before Christmas, and all through the green car world,
the sound of EV and H₂ infighting ceased to be heard;
The infrastructure debates were put away for the night,
They’ll return soon enough, in the New Year’s bright light;

The SVO was filtered by the restaurant with care,
In hopes that a new old Mercedes soon would be there;

When out on the highway, there came zero clatter,
Since electric drive means no noise, to better hear the radio clatter;

Away to the future, the new gasoline alternatives flew,
Shiny they were, amazing and new;

Now Volt! now Tesla!, now, Karma and Leaf!
On, Equinox! on Fluence! on, Triac and TDIs all!

We heard them exclaim, as the drove out of sight,
Clean driving to all, and to all a good-night.”

(Hey, we’re bloggers, not poets. Check out Santa posts from previous years here, here and here.)
Photo by kevindooley. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

‘Twas the ABG before Christmas… originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat confirms 2-cylinder SGE powertrain for 2010

Filed under: Fiat

_{Fiat 500 Multiair concept - Click image for gallery}

Fiat’s rumored 2-cylinder engine has finally been confirmed for the Fiat 500 and will start production in Poland next year. The small displacement engine, called SGE, uses all the goodies from Multiair technology and is able squeeze three different power levels from the
out its 900 cc. There is an aspirated version good for 64 hp and two turbo versions able to produce 80 and 105 hp, all in line with the current 4-cylinder engines that are currently used for this model. Fiat could also use these engines to power other cars across the range, such as the Fiat Panda, where this engine was first featured as a concept, or the larger Fiat Punto, where sub-100 g/km CO₂ figures will be available for gasoline models.

Gallery: Fiat 500 Aria concept

[Source: Motor Report]

Fiat confirms 2-cylinder SGE powertrain for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New London Bus coming soon

Efforts to give one of the most iconic symbols of London transport an environmental makeover have taken another step forward after Transport for London (TfL) selected Wrightbus as its preferred manufacturer.
The New Bus for London will be based on the iconic Routemaster after TfL held an open design contest for new buses in London in [...]
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REPORT: Isuzu proposes new HD diesel engine for GM?

Filed under: Diesel, GM, Isuzu

We’re not entirely sure what to make of reports regarding Isuzu’s tie-up with General Motors for diesel engines that seem to conflict with one another, but here we go anyway. According to Bloomberg, Isuzu is considering whether it should end its joint venture with The General for the production of large-displacement Duramax diesel engines.

PickupTrucks.com adds that GM has its own excellent team of diesel engine specialists that are fully capable of designing the automaker’s next heavy duty truck engines. In fact, the 4.5-liter diesel that had been planned for light duty applications was wholly engineered by GM. Okay, got it.

But wait. According to Green Car Advisor (sadly without citing sources), Isuzu has proposed that it develop a new HD diesel engine for GM. Both reports could be true; Isuzu may have decided that it should continue to work with GM, and that could have led to the proposal, but we can’t say for sure.

GCA also indicates (again, without citing a source) that GM and Isuzu are also in talks that would have the Japanese company take the lead in developing new pickup trucks for Southeast Asia and South America. GM’s current Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups share common underpinnings with trucks that Isuzu developed for overseas sales.

[Source: Bloomberg, PickupTrucks.com, Green Car Advisor]

REPORT: Isuzu proposes new HD diesel engine for GM? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Fusion Hybrid awarded 2010 Urban Green Automobile of the Year

Filed under: Hybrid, Ford, USA

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

There’s seemingly no end to the lists and awards that can be dolled out to deserving (sometimes) cars and trucks at the end of the year. Take, for instance, the Urban Automobile of the Year Award by On Wheels Media. This is the 14th year in a row the award has been passed out, and this year top billing goes to the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO.

Athletic, upscale, class-leading, confident, engaging and impressive are all words that seem befitting of an award winner, and you’ll find all of them in the press release after the break describing the new SHO. Ford has said time and again that the SHO’s EcoBoost V6 engine delivers V8 power with V6 fuel economy. But wait - there’s more! We have a second Urban AOTY, this one on the green side of the coin. With the latest Toyota Prius and Honda Insight obvious choices for such an award, Ford is surely happy to see that its 2010 Fusion Hybrid - the most fuel efficient midsize sedan in America at 41 city, 36 highway - earned the trophy, giving the Blue Oval a total sweep of the ceremony.

So, what qualifies a vehicle to be an Urban Automobile of the Year, anyway? Glad you asked. According to Randi Payton, president and publisher of On Wheels Media, “The Urban Automobiles of the Year resonate with the majority of new car buyers who live in urban and suburban areas. The vehicles chosen are cost and fuel-efficient and have performance and safety characteristics relevant to consumers in metropolitan areas.” So, there you have it.

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford Fusion Hybrid awarded 2010 Urban Green Automobile of the Year

Ford Fusion Hybrid awarded 2010 Urban Green Automobile of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi Colt Cleartec road test

There's decent space for passengers in the front and back of the Colt and the rear bench can be slid fore and aft to vary rear legroom. The rear seat is a 60/40 split and fold affair that is necessary to augment the small boot if you want to carry larger items. The three-door [...]
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What is the potential for high-blend UK biofuel use?

How much of an impact can biofuels play in the battle against harmful emissions – a new study for the UK's LowCVP Transport & Travel Research Ltd has examined the possibilities.
The report looks at the opportunities for increased use of high-blend biofuels at blends greater than 10 per cent by volume in the UK and [...]
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What's holding back electric cars in Amsterdam? Bicycles

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Europe/EU

There are a lot of hurdles to getting people into electric cars. There’s the cheaper price of gasoline, worries about range anxiety, and those cancer fears. Who would’ve thunk it that another problem is people are too in love with their bicycles? This is the situation in Amsterdam, where decades of bicycle promotion have resulted in a population that happily gets around on two wheels. Who wouldn’t, considering that bikes have the right-of-way over cars? Some people in the city really don’t like cars.

Now that the Dutch government is trying to promote plug-in vehicles with things like free power to EV owners, purchase assistance and more parking spaces, they’re finding bike riders are strongly opposed to the plan. Adding 10,000 cars to the city in the next five years, the government’s stated plan, doesn’t have broad appeal in a town with 550,000 bicycles. In fact, there were more transportation “movements” in the city performed by bicycle last year than by cars (38 percent of the total to 37 percent). The cyclists aren’t opposed to electric cars per se, just the idea of more cars in their small, bike-filled city.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]
Photo by herval. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

What’s holding back electric cars in Amsterdam? Bicycles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota to raise Prius MSRP by $400 in February, Camry Hybrid by $250

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, USA

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Buried at the very bottom of a press release announcing pricing for the completely new 2011 Sienna minivan, Toyota included a chart indicating that it will increase the price for the 2010 Prius and Camry, including the hybrid. The Prius’ base MSRP will now begin at $21,400 for the level I model.

The Prius II, which is probably the cheapest you’ll be able to get, goes up to $22,800; the Prius III will go to $23,800, the Prius IV will increase to $26,600, and the loaded Prius V will cost you $28,070. That represents a $400 increase (where have we seen this before?) and doesn’t include a $750 charge for processing and delivery. For information on what is included at each trim level, click here.

Camry Hybrid prices don’t go up quite as much, rising $250 to a starting price of $26,400. These adjustments are slated to go into effect on January 24th for the Prius and February 1st for the Camry. See the complete breakdown after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota to raise Prius MSRP by $400 in February, Camry Hybrid by $250

Toyota to raise Prius MSRP by $400 in February, Camry Hybrid by $250 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford believes it can get premium dollars for Fiesta... what do you think?

Filed under: MPG, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta - Click above for high-res image gallery

So you’re ready to be your own 2011 Ford Fiesta agent, but you’ll actually be paying for yours instead of the company giving you one to drive for free. If you want one that’s got all the doodads, this is what you need to do: bring money. A base Fiesta sedan starts at $13,320, but go for the pricier hatch and check a few boxes and you’ll hopscotch your way past the $23,000 line — and there will still be options left.

Ford doesn’t see this car as just a small American hatchback for people who want a smaller footprint but all the style and utility. The base and lower end models fit the bill for that, but on the other end, Ford officials tell Automotive News that it sees the Fiesta as an aspirational, high tech hatch that can command attention and commensurately elevated prices. Said Ford’s Jim Farley, “Americans have shown us if we bring out aspirational products, not only will they pay the base price, but go up.”

We played with the Fiesta configurator and wound up at $22,970. Yes, it’s easy to do, but that does give you just about everything — we skipped the graphics packages, the smoker’s kit, and a couple of other accessories. But of that $9,650 difference between the sedan’s base and our wishlist hatch, about half of the cost is loaded on the front end: the SES starts at $17,120 before you do anything to it, and that goes to $18,190 if you go for the automatic. Ford’s getting premium prices in Australia for the Fiesta, and it believes it can do the same here. If you think so - or don’t - let us know in comments.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

REPORT: Ford believes it can get premium dollars for Fiesta… what do you think? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daimler to ramp up lithium-ion battery production

Lithium-ion battery production could increase by 10x its original target number if Daimler and Evonik get their way.
According to a report in Germany's Handelsblatt, the companies want to invest an additional €200million in their joint lithium-ion manufacturing venture Deutsche Accumotive GmbH & Co. KG to boost production at the plant that is currently under construction.
The [...]
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Copenhagen summit concludes: what was and was not achieved?

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 15 Conference of Parties (COP 15) came to its conclusion after an all-night session that sent two weeks of climate talks into overtime.
The result was the tentative approval of a non-biding, three-page political statement hashed out between the leaders of Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, South Africa, [...]
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