tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14010008200447156452023-11-15T09:11:42.171-08:00Clean Green CarsEditorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.comBlogger1078125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-58853504973723615872010-04-06T15:09:00.001-07:002010-04-06T15:00:17.047-07:00Super-light electric concept revealed<html><head><title>Super-light electric concept revealed</title></head><body><p>A new electric vehicle prototype weights half the average weight of a conventional electric vehicle.<br /> Designed and built by Japanese manufacturing firm, Teijin, the new concept weighs just 437kg, much less than a smart fortwo at 750kg. The PU_PA EV (as in 'pupa electric vehicle,' a reference to metamorphosis) is designed to embody the firms [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/SBr7efmK8oE" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/SBr7efmK8oE/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-21765410476454827652010-04-06T15:09:00.000-07:002010-04-06T15:00:14.695-07:00Report: Prius tops Japan's March sales list, wait time back up to six months<html><head><title>Report: Prius tops Japan's March sales list, wait time back up to six months</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/toyota/" rel="tag">Toyota</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2010-toyota-prius-review"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/prius2010rev002-630.jpg" alt="" /></a> <em><strong><br /> </strong></em></p> <div><em><strong>2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> Even with Toyota’s unintended acceleration issues, it really should come as no surprise that the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/toyota/">Toyota</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/prius">Prius</a> tops the sales charts once again. The perennial best-selling hybrid has kept its perch near the top of the leader-board for years. Just days ago, we reported that the Prius was the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/hybrid-sales-up-18-percent-in-march-trail-overall-market-increa/">best-selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S. for the month of March</a>, no surprise there. Now comes word that the Prius is the best selling car in Japan for the same month.</p> <p>The Prius is not only the best-selling hybrid in Japan, it’s the best-selling vehicle, period. March numbers show that the Toyota Prius has now accrued 277,485 sales in a twelve-month period. The Prius has held onto that top spot in Japan for 11 months now, no small feat. High sales of the Prius are partly attributed to large government incentives given to purchasers of fuel efficient vehicles in Japan.</p> <p>Trailing behind the Prius in second place is the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/honda/">Honda</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/fit">Fit</a>. This small-sized offering also offers up strong fuel economy and a competitive price. Still, the Fit trails the Prius by a wide margin in sales in the last twelve months only racking up 173,154 units sold. In fact, the Prius is so popular in Japan that the waiting list stands at a reported six months right now!</p> <p>[Source: <a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100406/AUTO01/4060381/1361/Toyota-Prius-tops-Japan-s-March-auto-sales">Detroit News</a>] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/report-prius-tops-japans-march-sales-list-wait-time-back-up-t/">Report: Prius tops Japan’s March sales list, wait time back up to six months</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100406/AUTO01/4060381/1361/Toyota-Prius-tops-Japan-s-March-auto-sales">Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/report-prius-tops-japans-march-sales-list-wait-time-back-up-t/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19428389/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/report-prius-tops-japans-march-sales-list-wait-time-back-up-t/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/06/report-prius-tops-japans-march-sales-list-wait-time-back-up-t/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-66766428999556847912010-04-06T03:09:00.001-07:002010-04-06T03:08:27.009-07:00London library benefits from electric van<html><head><title>London library benefits from electric van</title></head><body><p>The City of London Corporation has become one of the first local authorities to benefit from the Department for Transport's (DfT) Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LVCVPP), after it took delivery of an all-electric van.<br /> The van produced by Allied Electric, is a battery-powered adapted Peugeot Boxer, capable of travelling over 100 miles and can [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/RYWH229jWAg" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/RYWH229jWAg/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-55278809199513737762010-04-06T03:09:00.000-07:002010-04-06T03:06:43.819-07:00Report suggests fuel tax better than higher mpg standards for heavy duty vehicles<html><head><title>Report suggests fuel tax better than higher mpg standards for heavy duty vehicles</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/diesel/" rel="tag">Diesel</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a></p> <p><img width="325" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="217" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/part-450.jpg" />Passenger cars and light-duty trucks will be subjected to <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/new-federal-cafe-standards-officially-released-34-1-mpg-by-2016/">stringent new emission standards</a> in the near future. Heavy-duty vehicles are not being left out of the mix and will have their own regulations intended to slowly lead to cleaner vehicles delivering goods across the nation. That’s a good thing.</p> <p>However, there is dispute over how best to achieve the goal of cleaning up the nation’s fleet of heavy-duty vehicles. On one hand, the Environmental Protection Agency believes that regulating emissions is the best way to clean up the notoriously dirty vehicles. On the other hand, research shows that a fuel tax may be the best answer.</p> <p>A <a href="http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12845">report released by the National Research Council</a> (NRC) concludes that a fuel tax is is the simplest, most efficient way to reach clean air goals. The study finds that, while regulations on future heavy-duty vehicles is certainly beneficial, the regulations will have virtually no impact on the hundreds of thousands of old, inefficient heavy-duty vehicles that are likely to remain on our roads for decades.</p> <p>The NRC study shows that a fuel tax would force companies to be efficient in planning routes, delivering items and driving in a manner that conserves fuel. The fuel tax would also affect all heavy-duty vehicles, no matter how old or outdated. Another reason for the NRC to suggest a fuel tax rather than strong regulations is cost. The NRC report shows that new, efficient, high-tech diesel engines costs on average $23,000 more than gasoline engines. In an industry where profit margins are slim, footing this additional upfront cost is not easy and it’s argued that since a fuel tax is spread out through the life of the vehicle, the costs are easier to cope with. Whether it’s a fuel tax or stringent regulations, one thing is certain, the nation’s fleet of dirty, workhorses will have to clean up their act soon.</p> <p>[Source: <a href="http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12845">National Research Council</a>, <a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/04/federal-report-suggests-raising-fuel-tax-on-trucks-and-buses-to-improve-mileage.html">Green Car Advisor</a>] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/report-suggests-fuel-tax-better-than-higher-mpg-standards-for-he/">Report suggests fuel tax better than higher mpg standards for heavy duty vehicles</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:47:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/04/federal-report-suggests-raising-fuel-tax-on-trucks-and-buses-to-improve-mileage.html">Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/report-suggests-fuel-tax-better-than-higher-mpg-standards-for-he/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19423967/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/report-suggests-fuel-tax-better-than-higher-mpg-standards-for-he/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/report-suggests-fuel-tax-better-than-higher-mpg-standards-for-he/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-76614833159224588892010-04-05T15:09:00.001-07:002010-04-05T15:01:52.688-07:00Garia announces Soleil de Minuit limited edition golf cart - and you thought $17,500 was expensive<html><head><title>Garia announces Soleil de Minuit limited edition golf cart - and you thought $17,500 was expensive</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/"><img vspace="4" hspace=" " border=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/02thegariaeditionsoleildeminuit-630.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>Garia Soleil de Minuit - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> Just a few months ago (in early December 2009), the “<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/12/07/meet-the-garia-the-worlds-most-exclusive-golf-cart/">World’s Most Exclusive Golf Cart” was the new Garia</a> vehicle that is priced $17,499 or 13,999 Euros, plus tax and delivery. Now, though, we know that even this absurd price for an all-electric golf cart can be nearly tripled thanks to the new <a href="http://www.garia.dk/limited-edition">Garia Soleil de Minuit limited edition</a>. The golf cart for the insane will be unveiled at the Top Marques Monaco 2010 starting April 15. How much will the new Soleil de Minuit cost? A smooth $52,000 or €39,000. Yes, that’s $52,000.</p> <p>That price leaves us little choice but to believe <a href="http://www.garia.com/">Garia</a>’s claim that the Soleil de Minuit is “the most expensive golf car ever made by a manufacturer.” What would possibly make someone interested in this way-overpriced monster? Well, it’s made at Valmet Automotive, which is where the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/porsche">Porsche</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/cayman">Cayman</a>, Porsche <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/boxster">Boxster</a> and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/think-details-its-plans-to-let-its-simple-bold-electric-cars-c/">Think City are made</a>. Aside from the pedigree, the cart:</p> <blockquote> <div><em>features carbon roof, one-of custom paint tailored to enhance all design features on The Garia, two-colored hand-stitched luxury seats, alcantara roof lining and numerous hand-made details to create a truly unique luxury golf car</em>.</div> </blockquote> <p> Of course, there’s also a built-in refrigerator and the ability to have the cart painted whatever color you want, you know, to match your other cars. We’d get ours in Grey Poupon yellow. </p> <p></p> <div> <p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/low/">Garia Soleil de Minuit Limited Edition Golf Cart</a></strong></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/02thegariaeditionsoleildemi_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/02thegariaeditionsoleildeminuit_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/03thegariaeditionsoleildeminuit_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/03thegariaeditionsoleildemi_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/garia-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/gariaeditionsoleildeminuit1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> <p> [Source: Garia] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/garia-announces-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart-and/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Garia announces Soleil de Minuit limited edition golf cart - and you thought $17,500 was expensive</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/garia-announces-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart-and/">Garia announces Soleil de Minuit limited edition golf cart - and you thought $17,500 was expensive</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:18:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/garia-announces-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart-and/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19426976/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/garia-announces-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart-and/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/05/garia-announces-soleil-de-minuit-limited-edition-golf-cart-and/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-47569839039718274492010-04-05T15:09:00.000-07:002010-04-05T15:00:20.821-07:00Fuel economy standards established<html><head><title>Fuel economy standards established</title></head><body><p>The US Department of Transportation, along with the US Environmental Protection Agency, have announced increasingly stringent fuel economy standards as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Corporate Average Fuel Economy programme and the Clean Air Act for 2012-2016.<br /> The standards outline the following:<br /> - Car makers must improve fleet-wide fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/WLv4PG-riy8" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/WLv4PG-riy8/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-71847644203433564962010-04-04T15:09:00.000-07:002010-04-04T15:00:14.457-07:00Can plug-in vehicles make any money before they become outmoded?<html><head><title>Can plug-in vehicles make any money before they become outmoded?</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nissan-leafhi008opt.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> Writing on the <a href="http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/2010/03/will_plugin_vehicles_be_obsolete_before_theyre_profitable.html">AltEnergyStocks</a> site, John Peterson tries to make the case that plug-in vehicles are a bad investment for automakers and are unlikely to be profitable anytime in the foreseeable future, certainly not before they are obsolete. Considering the issue purely from a business case perspective, Peterson is very likely correct, at least for the first generation or two. Cars like the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/nissan/">Nissan</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/leaf">Leaf</a> and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/volt">Chevrolet Volt</a> will almost certainly be money losers for the lifecycle of the first-generation models (for its part, Nissan says they will <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/">make a profit</a> off of the Leaf, though it isn’t going into details). However, without the creation of money-losing first-generation models, it would be hard to get to subsequent iterations with improved technology, lower manufacturing costs and higher volumes, thus bringing the costs down. </p> <p>Peterson also argues that battery makers are overvalued and at “nosebleed” levels, and specifically mentions A123 Systems and Ener1. While both companies may well be overvalued based on their current stock prices - $13.67 for A123 and $4.40 for Ener1 - from where we sit, these hardly qualify as nosebleed and are well below their peaks of the past year. Both of those companies also have new battery plants opening this year, not 2012 and beyond as Peterson says in his article. </p> <p>In general, it’s certainly hard to make a viable economic case for first-generation plug-in vehicles based on fuel savings and cost of the vehicles, but if batteries are ever going to progress, this is a step that needs to be taken. It may well turn out that plug-in vehicles never turn out to be the best solution, but if no one tries, it won’t ever be known.</p> <p>[Source: <a href="http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/2010/03/will_plugin_vehicles_be_obsolete_before_theyre_profitable.html">AltEnergyStocks</a>] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/04/can-plug-in-vehicles-make-any-money-before-they-become-outmoded/">Can plug-in vehicles make any money before they become outmoded?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:09:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://www.altenergystocks.com/archives/2010/03/will_plugin_vehicles_be_obsolete_before_theyre_profitable.html">Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/04/can-plug-in-vehicles-make-any-money-before-they-become-outmoded/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19425591/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/04/can-plug-in-vehicles-make-any-money-before-they-become-outmoded/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/04/can-plug-in-vehicles-make-any-money-before-they-become-outmoded/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-34436851183436054182010-04-03T15:08:00.000-07:002010-04-03T15:00:13.881-07:00Video: Porsche highlights Intelligent Performance of 918 Spyder, 911 GT3 R Hybrid<html><head><title>Video: Porsche highlights Intelligent Performance of 918 Spyder, 911 GT3 R Hybrid</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/porsche/" rel="tag">Porsche</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/racing/" rel="tag">Racing</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/#continued"><img border="0" vspace="4" hspace="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/porsche-918-spyder-video.jpg" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>Porsche 918 Spyder at the track - Click above to watch the video <a href="http://www.green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/#continued">after the break</a></strong></em></div> <p> No doubt about it, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/porsche918spyder">Porsche 918 Sypder</a> was both one of the biggest surprises of the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/geneva-motor-show/">Geneva Motor Show</a> and one of its most memorable vehicles. No surprise, then, that the German automaker has signaled its desire to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/22/report-porsche-building-business-case-for-918-spyder/">put the hybrid sportscar into production</a>. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/porsche">Porsche</a> is once again hinting at its production goals for the 918 Spyder with its latest advertising campaign, calling the sportscar “The future of motorsport and series production.” Doesn’t get much more straightforward than that, eh? To go along with the new round of marketing, Porsche has released a new video that offers a bit more information about its showstopper, which you can find after the break.</p> <p>In addition, there’s a second video highlighting Porsche’s new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/911">911 GT3 R Hybrid</a>, which <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/28/porsche-911-gt3-r-hybrid-finishes-sixth-in-first-outing-may-com/">managed an impressive sixth-place finish</a> in its racing debut last weekend. Wanna see for yourself? <a href="http://www.green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/#continued">Click past the break</a> to watch both videos from Porsche.</p> <p> [Source: Porsche] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/03/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Video: Porsche highlights Intelligent Performance of 918 Spyder, 911 GT3 R Hybrid</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/03/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/">Video: Porsche highlights Intelligent Performance of 918 Spyder, 911 GT3 R Hybrid</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:24:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/03/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19425124/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/03/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/03/video-porsche-highlights-intelligent-performance-of-918-spyder/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-33178246889513665892010-04-03T03:09:00.000-07:002010-04-03T03:00:29.041-07:00New York 2010: Ford wins "Green Ad of the Year" with ka-ching hybrid ad<html><head><title>New York 2010: Ford wins "Green Ad of the Year" with ka-ching hybrid ad</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/" rel="tag">New York Auto Show</a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/"><img border=" " vspace="4" hspace=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/screen-shot-2010-04-02-at-4.29.07-pm.png" alt="" /></a></p> <div><span> Christopher Leaves - Click above to watch video </span><a target="_blank" href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/#continued">after the jump</a></div> <p> While the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/kia">Kia</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/hamsters-ftw-kia-soul-ad-wins-top-nielsen-auto-ad-award-w-vide/">hamsters won the big cheese Most Effective Automotive Ad</a> title in Nielsen’s fourth annual Automotive Advertising Awards this year, handed out during the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/New-York-Auto-Show/">New York Auto Show</a>, it was <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a>’s ad for its hybrid vehicles that won for Green Ad of the Year. Nielsen asked a panel of 2.5 million television viewers to find out which ads were the most effective, especially in creating something memorable.</p> <p>The “Christopher Leaves” ad features the driver, we’re assuming named Christopher, suggesting the green leaves in the hybrid dash should really show something a little more representative of what the fuel efficiency means to the owner. Interested in idea? The ad is only 17 seconds long, and you can watch it <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/#continued">after the jump</a>. </p> <p>[Source: Nielsen] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New York 2010: Ford wins “Green Ad of the Year” with ka-ching hybrid ad</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/">New York 2010: Ford wins “Green Ad of the Year” with ka-ching hybrid ad</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:43:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19422069/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/new-york-2010-ford-wins-green-ad-of-the-year-with-ka-ching-hy/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-5477634366621978032010-04-02T15:08:00.000-07:002010-04-02T15:00:43.311-07:00Daimler working on new transmission-integrated electric motor for hybrid vehicles<html><head><title>Daimler working on new transmission-integrated electric motor for hybrid vehicles</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mercedes-benz/" rel="tag">Mercedes Benz</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/daimler/" rel="tag">Daimler</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/daimler"><img border="0" align="right" width="350" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="250" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/gyi0057305673-630op.jpg" alt="" />Daimler</a> is currently working on a new hybrid vehicle engine that the company calls a transmission-integrated electric engine. As the name suggests, the setup puts the electric engine (motor) into the automatic transmission. </p> <p>According to Daimler, the setup is good to power levels of more than 15 kilowatts and the integrated setup could boost performance of the company’s hybrid vehicles while also reducing fuel consumption. By containing the vast majority of the hybrid powertrain components within the transmission, the system could be utilized across vehicle platforms with relative ease.</p> <p>The automaker will invest $56 million into its Berlin factory to convert a portion of the plant to work on development and production of the transmission-integrated electric engine for future <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mercedes-benz/">Mercedes-Benz</a> hybrid vehicles. Follow the jump for more information.</p> <p>[Source: Daimler]<span><br /> </span> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/daimler-working-on-new-transmission-integrated-electric-motor-fo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Daimler working on new transmission-integrated electric motor for hybrid vehicles</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/daimler-working-on-new-transmission-integrated-electric-motor-fo/">Daimler working on new transmission-integrated electric motor for hybrid vehicles</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 17:18:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/daimler-working-on-new-transmission-integrated-electric-motor-fo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19422819/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/daimler-working-on-new-transmission-integrated-electric-motor-fo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/02/daimler-working-on-new-transmission-integrated-electric-motor-fo/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-12653172536557138842010-04-02T03:08:00.000-07:002010-04-02T03:00:14.929-07:00Plug-in vehicle industry responds to Nissan Leaf's low price<html><head><title>Plug-in vehicle industry responds to Nissan Leaf's low price</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/#3"><img border=" " vspace="4" hspace=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-02-630f.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> There was a lot of justified excitement on these pages when <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/nissan/">Nissan</a> announced the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/">$32,780 price</a> for the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/leaf">Leaf</a> ($25,280 after federal tax credits). Considering the impact this price will have on the plug-in vehicle industry as a whole, we wanted to go around the virtual horn and see what other plug-in vehicle automakers and advocates think about this price. Here are the responses, and we’ll add more as people get back to us. </p> <p>First, Kim Adelman, of <a href="http://www.pluginconversions.com/">Plug-In Conversions Corporation</a>, who told AutoblogGreen that: </p> <blockquote> <div><em>Nissan has done a great thing. This will make it much easier for more people to experience all electric driving. Same feeling and excitement as when I first ordered my Toyota Rav4-EV in 2001. It’s only a decade later! I hope this puts productive pressure on the other car companies</em>.</div> </blockquote> <p>Plug In America members are also wildly excited about the price, <a href="http://evsandenergy.blogspot.com/2010/03/nissan-announces-affordable-price-for.html">with Paul Scott writing</a> that, Nissan’s announcement:</p> <blockquote> <div><em>No doubt sent shivers down the spines of Toyota and Honda, not to mention GM execs. They now have to compete at a much lower price point if they want to play the game in which Nissan is writing the rules</em>.</div> </blockquote> <p> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mitsubishi">Mitsubishi</a> North America’s product communications manager, Maurice “Moe” Durand, told AutoblogGreen that the i-MiEV is not launching until the end of 2011 in the U.S. and the price has not yet been set, but that Mitsubishi “is very much aware of Nissan’s pricing.” Over on the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/mini">Mini</a> E team, Richard Steinberg, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>’s manager of electric vehicle operations and strategy, told us that: </p> <blockquote> <div><em>To be honest, the MSRP was quite reasonable. I thought that was appropriate for the technology. What is really going to draw the headlines, of course, was the $369 per month lease with two grand down. That is really an attractive payment. What I don’t really understand is what happens when the federal tax credit runs down</em>.</div> </blockquote> <p>The Mini E, which customers are leasing now, is not eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit; the Leaf is. For the record, those credits phase out for each manufacturer:</p> <blockquote> <div><em>once cumulative sales of qualified vehicles reach 200,000 vehicles. The phase-out period begins two calendar quarters after the first date in which a manufacturer’s sales reach the cumulative sales maximum after December 31, 2009. The credit is reduced to 50 percent of the total value for the first two calendar quarters of the phase-out period and then to 25 percent for the third and forth calendar quarters before being phased out entirely thereafter</em>.</div> </blockquote> <p>Read the details <a href="http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/stimulus/arra.html">here</a>.</p> <p></p> <div> <p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/">New York 2010: Nissan Leaf</a></strong></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/plug-in-vehicle-industry-responds-to-nissan-leafs-low-price/">Plug-in vehicle industry responds to Nissan Leaf’s low price</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:49:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/plug-in-vehicle-industry-responds-to-nissan-leafs-low-price/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19423390/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/plug-in-vehicle-industry-responds-to-nissan-leafs-low-price/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/plug-in-vehicle-industry-responds-to-nissan-leafs-low-price/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-698984655478022572010-04-01T15:08:00.001-07:002010-04-01T15:00:19.512-07:00Kia D-Segment Hybrid set for 2011<html><head><title>Kia D-Segment Hybrid set for 2011</title></head><body><p>Take a look at the all-new Kia Optima – it is the Korean car maker's replacement for the Magentis.<br /> Built on an entirely new platform, the car will be launched across several markets, with the UK expected to see the Optima during 2011.</p> <p>Designed at Kia's studios in Frankfurt, Germany and Irvine, California, the all-new Optima [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/aNIsUS0tkTs" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/aNIsUS0tkTs/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-24046746472779222922010-04-01T15:08:00.000-07:002010-04-01T15:00:18.201-07:00Cadillac not concerned with Lincoln MKZ hybrid launch, Converj status unchanged<html><head><title>Cadillac not concerned with Lincoln MKZ hybrid launch, Converj status unchanged</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/cadillac/" rel="tag">Cadillac</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/lincoln/" rel="tag">Lincoln</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/detroit-2009-cadillac-converj"><img border="0" vspace="4" hspace="0" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/cadillacconverjdd_09_opt.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <div align="center"><em><strong>2009 Cadillac Converj concept - Click above for high-res gallery</strong></em></div> <p> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford Motor Company</a> recently unveiled its <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/lincoln/">Lincoln</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-new-york-2010/">MKZ Hybrid</a> at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/">New York Auto Show</a>. The vehicle will become the brand’s first entry into the luxury hybrid vehicle segment, a segment dominated by <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/lexus/">Lexus</a> products. For Ford, the move to enter the segment may be risky and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/report-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-a-low-volume-seller-4-000-sounds-abo/">sales volume could be quite low</a>. With Ford entering the segment, how will <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/gm/">General Motors</a> respond? According to Don Butler, a <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/cadillac/">Cadillac</a> marketer, the brand is not concerned with the MKZ Hybrid’s introduction and the vehicle’s unveiling will have no impact on Cadillac’s current alternative powertrain plans. As Butler said in an interview with <em>Ward’s Auto</em>:<br /> <blockquote></blockquote> <blockquote> <div><em>We don’t want to do a hybrid just to do a hybrid. And we don’t want to just take something and put another badge on it and say, ‘There’s our hybrid.’ It needs to be purpose-driven. We need to do what makes sense for Cadillac and its brand. You can expect alternative powertrains in Cadillac’s not-so-distant future. It’s not like we are moving away. <br /> </em></div> </blockquote> <p>Of course, if Cadillac did want to respond to the MKZ Hybrid, they could simply put the green light back on for the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/11/09/report-gm-will-build-cadillac-converj/">Cadillac Converj concept</a>. The Converj, using powertrain components from the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/chevrolet/">Chevrolet</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/volt">Volt</a>, could come to market quickly and be ready to take on the MKZ. The Converj would utilize the advanced extended range setup as opposed to the Lincoln’s more traditional hybrid powertrain and would likely cost significantly more, but the added benefits of the Voltec system could lure potential MKZ buyers to the Cadillac brand.<em> </em>Hint to Cadillac, build the Converj!<em><br /> </em></p> <blockquote></blockquote> <blockquote></blockquote> <p> [Source: <a href="http://wardsauto.com/home/cadillac_lincoln_hybrid_100331/">Ward's Auto</a>] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/cadillac-not-concerned-with-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-launch-converj-s/">Cadillac not concerned with Lincoln MKZ hybrid launch, Converj status unchanged</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://wardsauto.com/home/cadillac_lincoln_hybrid_100331" />Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/cadillac-not-concerned-with-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-launch-converj-s/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19421982/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/cadillac-not-concerned-with-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-launch-converj-s/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/04/01/cadillac-not-concerned-with-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-launch-converj-s/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-28853744083069871542010-04-01T03:08:00.001-07:002010-04-01T03:00:18.840-07:00Ford to introduce Lincoln hybrid<html><head><title>Ford to introduce Lincoln hybrid</title></head><body><p>The Ford Lincoln brand will reveal its first ever hybrid car as part of the New York International Auto Show.<br /> The 2011 MKZ Hybrid is expected to deliver at least 41mpg in the city and tops its nearest competitor – the 2010 Lexus HS250h – by 6mpg, while still providing room for one more passenger and [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/zUX5JrHKuj4" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/zUX5JrHKuj4/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-62256378130888976212010-04-01T03:08:00.000-07:002010-04-01T03:00:16.702-07:00New York 2010: The inside story of the Nissan Leaf price<html><head><title>New York 2010: The inside story of the Nissan Leaf price</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/autobloggreen-exclusive/" rel="tag">AutoblogGreen Exclusive</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/" rel="tag">New York Auto Show</a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/"><img border=" " vspace="4" hspace=" " src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-630b.jpg" alt="" /></a></p> <div><strong><em>Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery</em></strong></div> <p> With all of the reveals and <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-ford-announces-hohm-electric-vehicle-charging-par/">partnership announcements</a> here at the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/">New York Auto Show</a> the most important thing we’ve heard is a number: $25,280. That’s the price that <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2008/05/18/nissan-hedges-all-electric-bet-with-range-extender-option/">Nissan</a> said yesterday it will sell the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/nissan-to-build-leaf-electric-vehicle-at-british-factory-from-20/">Leaf</a> for when it goes on sale later this year (full production starts in 2011), and it’s much lower than rumors we’ve heard from competitors in the plug-in vehicle space. We sat down with Mark Perry, Nissan’s director of product planning, to talk about this price - how it came to be, what the reaction has been, etc. - because we’re pretty sure readers would like to know more details about Nissan’s strategy.</p> <p>Perry was all smiles when he talked about how Nissan got to <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/2011-nissan-leaf-us-pricing-officially-announced-as-low-as-25/">the $32,780 price</a> - of course, the headline is that <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/2011-nissan-leaf-us-pricing-officially-announced-as-low-as-25/">this turns into $25,280</a> after $7,500 worth of federal tax credits - and we understand why. He told us that this price is the result, in part, of 17 years of work Nissan has done on lithium-ion batteries. By doing everything in-house for so many years, Nissan doesn’t need to charge the customer for battery research like other companies that are freshly bursting into the electric vehicle (EV) market and are just now figuring out how to make EVs that work. Plus, by spreading the R&D over many years, selling the Leaf for just under $33,000 allows the company to make a profit off the car. </p> <p>Of course, the Leaf does not exist in a vacuum, and Perry said that the $33k was most definitely based on market factors. Government incentives played a role in setting the price, Perry said, as did estimating what other companies will price their plug-in vehicles at. Considering we don’t know for sure yet what cars like the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/chevrolet">Chevrolet</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/volt">Volt</a> or the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford">Ford</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/focus">Focus</a> Electric will be, we can’t say yet how Nissan’s announcement will impact those MSRPs. Still, we assume there was a lot of hand-wringing in offices that didn’t belong to Nissan. There was a lot more to our talk, so go ahead and take a listen <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/#continued">after the jump</a>. </p> <p></p> <div> <p><strong>Gallery: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/">New York 2010: Nissan Leaf</a></strong></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-01_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-02_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-03_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-04_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-nissan-leaf/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/nyas-2010-nissan-leaf-05_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" /></a></div> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New York 2010: The inside story of the Nissan Leaf price</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/">New York 2010: The inside story of the Nissan Leaf price</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19421880/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-the-inside-story-of-the-nissan-leaf-price/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-53280481719437893682010-03-31T15:08:00.001-07:002010-03-31T15:00:13.514-07:00Chinese urbanisation rising rapidly<html><head><title>Chinese urbanisation rising rapidly</title></head><body><p>Already established as the leading automotive market in the world, China shows no signs of slowing down with its urbanisation rate predicted to reach or exceed 50 per cent within five-six years.<br /> According to the Chinese Government, the urban population had reached 622million by the end of 2009 with an urbanisation rate at nearly 47 per [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/4NULDSURTVk" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/4NULDSURTVk/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-57175153861532785752010-03-31T15:08:00.000-07:002010-03-31T15:00:12.572-07:00New York 2010: 2011 Scion iQ is a little intriguing<html><head><title>New York 2010: 2011 Scion iQ is a little intriguing</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/scion/" rel="tag">Scion</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/" rel="tag">New York Auto Show</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/new-york-2010-scion-iq/"><img border="1" vspace="4" hspace="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/leadsciontcny2010iqlive.jpg" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>2011 Scion iQ - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> Well, well, well - it looks like Toyota’s <a href="http://autoblog.com/tag/iq">iQ</a> is coming to the U.S. after all, only it will be (<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/06/29/report-scion-iq-headed-for-america-by-early-2011-with-a-few-cha/">as reported</a>) sporting a <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/scion">Scion</a> badge. Makes sense. Especially as according to Scion, the world’s smallest four-seater is aimed squarely at a very young demographic. Not just young, but hip and urban, too. In fact, we were told that the iQ represents a “new urbanism,” and is a vehicle for a “progressive buyer.” We can hear Glenn Beck’s aneurysm from here. </p> <p>As for details, the “mini-er, smart-er” iQ sports a 1.3-liter engine delivering its not-yet-divulged power through a CVT. Mileage should be in the high 30s, which is reasonable but far from overwhelming for such a small package. The iQ will also ship with stability control, traction control and ABS, as well as ten - count ‘em - <em>ten</em> airbags, as well as the industry’s first-ever rear window bag. As for now, that’s the whole story. We’ll update you on price, performance specs, and on-sale date when we know more. Press release <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-2011-scion-iq-is-a-little-intriguing/">after the jump</a>.</p> <p><em><strong>Photos by <a href="http://www.drewphillipsphotography.com/">Drew Phillips</a> / </strong></em><em><strong>Copyright (C)2010</strong></em><em><strong> Weblogs, Inc.</strong></em> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-scion-iq-new-york-2010-reveal/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New York 2010: 2011 Scion iQ is a little intriguing</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-scion-iq-new-york-2010-reveal/">New York 2010: 2011 Scion iQ is a little intriguing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:25:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-scion-iq-new-york-2010-reveal/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19422030/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-scion-iq-new-york-2010-reveal/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/2011-scion-iq-new-york-2010-reveal/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-63577421006129419192010-03-31T03:08:00.001-07:002010-03-31T03:00:17.510-07:00New York 2010: Lincoln unveils its first hybrid - the MKZ - which could get 41 mpg<html><head><title>New York 2010: Lincoln unveils its first hybrid - the MKZ - which could get 41 mpg</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/hybrid/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/lincoln/" rel="tag">Lincoln</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/" rel="tag">New York Auto Show</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/2011-lincoln-mkz-hybrid/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2011lincolnmkzhybrid000opt.jpg" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/report-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-will-debut-in-new-york/">Rumors of a new Lincoln hybrid</a> debuting at the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/new-york-auto-show/">New York Auto Show</a> this week are true, as the new MKZ Hybrid officially debuts on the Ford stand later today. Ford’s president of The Americas, Mark Fields, said the MKZ Hybrid “delivers the best fuel efficiency of any luxury sedan in America.” Official numbers are not yet available, but the estimate is that the MKZ Hybrid will be 41 miles per gallon (city). More interestingly, the new Lincoln hybrid can reach speeds of 47 miles per hour while being powered only by the battery. Ford would like everyone to compare these specs to the 2010 <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/hs250h">Lexus HS 250h</a>, which gets 35 mpg in the city and can only get up to 25 mph in all-EV mode. </p> <p>When burning gasoline, the MKZ Hybrid will use a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 hybrid engine that, when combined with the powerplant’s electric motor, offers 191 horsepower. The car goes on sale in the fall. We’ll learn more from the show floor later today. For now, you can find Ford’s official press release after the jump.. </p> <p>[Source: Ford] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-lincoln-unveils-its-first-hybrid-the-mkz-whic/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>New York 2010: Lincoln unveils its first hybrid - the MKZ - which could get 41 mpg</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-lincoln-unveils-its-first-hybrid-the-mkz-whic/">New York 2010: Lincoln unveils its first hybrid - the MKZ - which could get 41 mpg</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-lincoln-unveils-its-first-hybrid-the-mkz-whic/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19418852/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-lincoln-unveils-its-first-hybrid-the-mkz-whic/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/31/new-york-2010-lincoln-unveils-its-first-hybrid-the-mkz-whic/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-41161074563047460132010-03-31T03:08:00.000-07:002010-03-31T03:00:13.415-07:00Updates on Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i-MiEV in Japan<html><head><title>Updates on Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i-MiEV in Japan</title></head><body><p>There are two pieces of exciting news for green car enthusiasts in Japan after Nissan and Mitsubishi both made announcements regarding their eagerly anticipated electric cars – the Nissan LEAF and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV.<br /> Nissan, which is aiming to sell 6,000 units of the battery-electric LEAF in the fiscal year 2010, has announced a starting price [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/4Ai16AUNZHU" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/4Ai16AUNZHU/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-22452585063365605992010-03-30T15:08:00.001-07:002010-03-30T15:01:32.133-07:00FedEx adds 4 more BEVs to its already green delivery fleet<html><head><title>FedEx adds 4 more BEVs to its already green delivery fleet</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/ev-plug-in/" rel="tag">EV/Plug-in</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/fedex-adds-4-more-bevs-to-its-already-green-delivery-fleet/#continued"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" align="top" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/fedex-modec-route-66-630-1269962063.jpg" /></a></p> <p>Two of the largest parcel delivery fleets in the U.S. have been competing neck and neck in a race to become the greenest in the land. Both Federal Express (FedEx) and United Parcel Service (UPS) have delved into alternative energy vehicles for daily delivery use.</p> <p>In the latest skirmish to become the greenest fleet, FedEx has trumped its competitor by adding four battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The BEVs will go into service this June in the Los Angeles area and will add to the company’s fleet of 1,800 alternative energy vehicles.</p> <p>Two of the BEVs will be built by <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/07/modec-and-navistar-cooking-up-jv-get-39-2-million/">Navistar</a>, an Indiana-based company that has built several similar vehicles for FedEx and that <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2008/12/13/fedex-express-will-use-modec-electric-vans-in-london-sticks-wit/">currently see use in London</a>. The other two BEVs are coming from an undisclosed supplier.</p> <p>Though range and performance specs for the new BEVs were not revealed by the company, they did note that each of the new delivery vehicles would be capable of completing a full day shift on a single charge. The addition of the new electric delivery vehicles to the <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/07/23/fedex-expands-hybrid-fleet-converts-92-older-delivery-trucks/">largest hybrid delivery fleet</a> in the world will help bring FedEx one step closer to its goal of increasing its overall fuel efficiency by 20 percent. Follow after the jump for video of the FedEx BEV in action and the full press release. Click <a href="http://electric.van.fedex.com/">here to follow the vehicles’ inaugural run</a> from Chicago to L.A. along the historic Route 66.</p> <p>[Source: <a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/03/federal-express-electrifies-its-us-fleet-of-delivery-trucks-with-addition-of-4-bevs.html">Green Car Advisor</a>] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/fedex-adds-4-more-bevs-to-its-already-green-delivery-fleet/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>FedEx adds 4 more BEVs to its already green delivery fleet</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/fedex-adds-4-more-bevs-to-its-already-green-delivery-fleet/">FedEx adds 4 more BEVs to its already green delivery fleet</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/03/federal-express-electrifies-its-us-fleet-of-delivery-trucks-with-addition-of-4-bevs.html">Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/fedex-adds-4-more-bevs-to-its-already-green-delivery-fleet/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19419128/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/fedex-adds-4-more-bevs-to-its-already-green-delivery-fleet/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/30/fedex-adds-4-more-bevs-to-its-already-green-delivery-fleet/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-12856457662899460792010-03-30T15:08:00.000-07:002010-03-30T15:00:12.452-07:00CHAdeMO to take ‘crucial steps’ for electric cars concludes industry analyst<html><head><title>CHAdeMO to take 'crucial steps' for electric cars concludes industry analyst</title></head><body><p>Efforts to standardise electric-car technology will remove a major potential stumbling block to take up as the first mass-produced zero-emissions car is launched, a leading car industry analyst firm concludes.  <br /> The debut of the Nissan Leaf at the EVER Monaco electric vehicle show (March 25-28) followed the recent formation of the CHAdeMO association by Japanese [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/6_uSmbc8tqU" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/6_uSmbc8tqU/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-56048533157707182602010-03-30T03:08:00.001-07:002010-03-30T03:01:38.853-07:00Gasoline-powered alarm clock catches Energy Star off guard<html><head><title>Gasoline-powered alarm clock catches Energy Star off guard</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/legislation-and-policy/" rel="tag">Legislation and Policy</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/green-daily/" rel="tag">Green Daily</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p> <div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/science/earth/26star.html?sudsredirect=true"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/03/26mar10alfab32r.jpg" /></a></div> <p> You know that familiar <a href="http://www.energystar.gov/">Energy Star</a> label that seems to show up on everything from your computer to your washing machine and dryer? It’s the little blue square with the star inside, and it’s become a rather ubiquitous sight over the last decade or so as the desire to save energy and be environmentally conscious has firmly entrenched itself into the hearts and minds of the American populace.</p> <p>But what exactly does a product need to prove to earn the coveted Energy Star label? That very question was put to the test last June by Congressional auditors posing as four separate companies submitting products to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Department, which jointly run the Energy Star program. The results were enlightening.</p> <p>For instance, a gasoline-powered alarm clock sailed through the program without objection after purposely fraudulent documents were submitted saying it was 20-percent more efficient than competing models. How’d that happen? Apparently, there is an automated system in place that granted an auto-approval to the gas-swilling wake-up machine.</p> <p>According to <em>The New York Times</em>, the Energy Department has promised to make sure all products that wear the Energy Star label are properly tested by an independent group. In the meantime, we’re gonna take a quick little nap in our super-efficient gasoline-powered <strike>alarm clocks</strike> cars… just five more minutes!</p> <p>[Source: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/science/earth/26star.html?sudsredirect=true">The New York Times</a> via <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/energystar-program-certifies-gasoline-powered-alarm-other-ima/">Engadget</a>] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/gasoline-powered-alarm-clock-catches-energy-star-off-guard/">Gasoline-powered alarm clock catches Energy Star off guard</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/26/science/earth/26star.html?sudsredirect=true">Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/gasoline-powered-alarm-clock-catches-energy-star-off-guard/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19418962/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/gasoline-powered-alarm-clock-catches-energy-star-off-guard/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/gasoline-powered-alarm-clock-catches-energy-star-off-guard/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-77760157283190979262010-03-30T03:08:00.000-07:002010-03-30T03:00:14.062-07:00Green cars: a social status symbol suggests study<html><head><title>Green cars: a social status symbol suggests study</title></head><body><p>People buy environmental goods to improve their social status new research suggests.<br /> Anything from greener cars, to domestic products and fair trade food are bought as a status symbol, the new study, co-authored by Dr. Bram Van den Bergh, Assistant-Professor at Rotterdam School of Management concludes.<br /> According to the research published in the Journal of [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/helk493yiPE" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/helk493yiPE/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-52217543772784802542010-03-29T15:08:00.001-07:002010-03-29T15:00:15.940-07:00Talking cars trialled for the first time<html><head><title>Talking cars trialled for the first time</title></head><body><p>So-called 'talking cars' took to the roads for the first time in Europe on Wednesday(March 24), after a trial of the technology took place in Amsterdam.<br /> A fleet of cars able to communicate with each other and with road infrastructure (traffic signs, lights, management centres) drove alongside everyday traffic around Amsterdam Airport last week.<br /> The [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~4/mav0ITU-sYQ" height="1" width="1" /><br /> <a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheGreenCarWebsite/~3/mav0ITU-sYQ/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1401000820044715645.post-36232075317176367792010-03-29T15:08:00.000-07:002010-03-29T15:00:14.882-07:00Report: Mahindra dealers still waiting, pickups still not EPA approved<html><head><title>Report: Mahindra dealers still waiting, pickups still not EPA approved</title></head><body><p>Filed under: <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/diesel/" rel="tag">Diesel</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/manufacturing-plants/" rel="tag">Manufacturing/Plants</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/mpg/" rel="tag">MPG</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/india/" rel="tag">India</a>, <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/category/usa/" rel="tag">USA</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/mahindra-pik-up/#3"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/08/mahindra-truck.jpg" /></a></p> <div><em><strong>Mahindra Pik-Up - Click above for high-res image gallery</strong></em></div> <p> According to Pawan Goenka, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/mahindra">Mahindra</a>’s president for global automotive, vehicle testing that would provide EPA approval for the Indian automaker’s upcoming diesel-powered, 30-mile-per-gallon pickup truck “is taking a bit longer than what we anticipated.” That, it would seem, is an understatement. Mahindra first announced an expected mid-2009 sale date for the truck, which was later revised to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/25/mahindra-delays-launch-in-u-s-to-late-2009/">end-of-2009</a>, then <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/07/u-s-mahindra-pickup-reportedly-stalled-until-february/">February of 2010</a> and then finally <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/05/report-mahindra-to-set-u-s-pik-up-launch-date-in-next-few-week/">March of 2010</a>. You’ll notice starting Thursday that the calendar date now says April, meaning Mahindra will miss yet another target date.</p> <p>At this point, Mahindra does not yet have official approval from the EPA to sell its wares in the United States. The Indian automaker says it should take about a month for the paperwork to be completed (a timeframe not acknowledged by the EPA, naturally) and then dealers can finally place orders for the trucks. Considering that Mahindra’s vehicles will ship from India, it’s clear that there will still be some time before you’ll be able to stroll down to you nearest dealer and drive off in a new oil-burning bundle of joy.</p> <p>That fact is not lost on Mahindra’s 300-plus dealers, some of whom have paid up to $200,000 in franchise fees and, in some cases, have been waiting for years to see their investment pay off. That said, nobody ever said that launching a completely new brand of vehicles in the U.S. was going to be easy, inexpensive or fast.</p> <p>[Source: <a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100329/RETAIL07/303299954/1400">Automotive News</a> - Sub. Req'd] <p><a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/report-mahindra-dealers-still-waiting-pickups-still-not-epa-ap/">Report: Mahindra dealers still waiting, pickups still not EPA approved</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://green.autoblog.com">Autoblog Green</a> on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:56:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p> <h6></h6> <p><a href="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100329/RETAIL07/303299954/1400">Read</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/report-mahindra-dealers-still-waiting-pickups-still-not-epa-ap/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/forward/19418451/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a> | <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/report-mahindra-dealers-still-waiting-pickups-still-not-epa-ap/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a><br /> <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/report-mahindra-dealers-still-waiting-pickups-still-not-epa-ap/">Details…</a><br /> Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13983542827434562704noreply@blogger.com0