Chrysler Group Halts Plug-in Hybrid Test Fleet after Discovering a Problem with the Batteries

The Chrysler Group has temporarily pulled the plug on its test fleet of advanced plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs) to fix a battery problem that occurred on a small number of models.

In particular, the Detroit-based carmaker said three of the fleet’s 109 pickups fitted with plug-in hybrid powertrains sustained damage when their prototype 12.9-kWh lithium-ion propulsion batteries overheated, adding that no injuries were reported with all incidents happening when the vehicles were unoccupied.

Read more »

Chrysler , Electric Vehicles , Hybrids , Ram , Ram Concepts , Reports

All-Electric iQ Revealed, but Only 100 will be Produced as Toyota Prefers to Focus on PHEVs

While electric vehicles may not yet have substantial range to be as versatile as hybrids or internal-combustion engine models, if the their use is confined in daily commute in cities, theoretically then, their range is more than enough to satisfy most drivers’ needs.

The iQ city car (sold under the Scion nameplate in North America) is designed specifically designed to be used in an urban environment. Prototypes were displayed at both the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the form of the FT-EV III concept and this year’s Geneva Auto Show. Now Toyota has officially revealed a plug-in all-electric variant – but it will not enter full production.

Read more »

Electric Vehicles , New Cars , Paris Auto Show , Reports , Toyota , Toyota Videos , Toyota-Scion iQ , Video

Peugeot Onyx Supercar Gets Scooter Concept Sibling, will Also Debut in Paris

The public outside of Europe may not generally know it, but Peugeot has a long history in the motorcycle segment having introduced its first bike back towards the end of the 1800s and continues to do so today offering 14 different models including scooters, multi-gear bikes and mopeds with engine capacities from 50cc to 500cc (0.5-liters).

At next week's 2012 Paris Motor Show, the French company will present a new prototype three-wheeler named the Onyx Concept Scooter, and yes, as you may have guessed already, it was inspired by the 680HP diesel-electric Onyx Hybrid Supercar Concept.

Read more »

Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Hybrids , motorcycles , Paris Auto Show , Peugeot , Peugeot Concepts

Nissan Shows Off e-NV200 Study at IAA in Hanover, Expands Cooperative Testing with FedEx

After a world premiere at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show in January, the Nissan e-NV200 pure-electric concept is now being displayed at this week's 64th IAA Commercial Vehicle International Motor Show in Hanover, Germany.

Along with the regular concept finished in white, Nissan is also showcasing an example decorated with Nissan and FedEx graphics and logos as the two companies announced an expansion of their cooperative testing.

Read more »

Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Nissan , Nissan Concepts , Nissan NV200

Mercedes-Benz to Display B-Class Electric Drive Concept in Paris, Production Model to Follow

Mercedes-Benz has chosen the Paris Auto Show to showcase an all-electric version of its compact MPV in the form of the B-Class Electric Drive concept.

The B-Class study is one of the first to receive the “Electric Drive” designation, which from now on will adorn all electric passenger cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart.

Read more »

Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Mercedes , Mercedes B-Class , Mercedes Concept , Paris Auto Show

Citroen to Unveil DS3 Electrum Concept at the Paris Motor Show

While the DS3 Cabrio may steal most glances at Citroen’s Paris Auto Show stand, the brand with the double chevron logo will also display another interesting version of its stylish hatchback.

The DS3 Electrum is an all-electric plug-in concept of the firm's chic supermini. Its drivetrain features two 65 kW (87HP) electric motors on the front axle and a Panasonic 17.5 kWh lithium-ion battery that can be charged via a socket hidden under the classic fuel cap.

Read more »

Citroen , Citroen Concepts , Citroen DS , Citroen DS3 , Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Paris Auto Show

2011 World Auto Production Sets New Records, Global “Fleet” Could Top 1 Billion by Year’s End

The Worldwatch Institute reports that global production of passenger vehicles, i.e. cars and light commercial trucks, set a new record in 2011 with 76.8 million units compared to 74.4 million in 2010.

This means that at the end of 2011 a total of 691 million passenger cars were on roads all over the world, rising to 979 million if we include light- and heavy-duty trucks.

Read more »

China , Electric Vehicles , Hybrids , Reports , Study

Toyota Says Prius Plug-in Hybrid U.S. Sales Top 6,000 Units, Beats Volt and Leaf...or Did it?

A Toyota press release bragging about the achievements of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid variant since it went arrived in U.S. showrooms at the end of February states that the EPA-rated 95 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) Japanese hatchback has delivered 6,061 units in its first six months (March through August) on sale.

However, that's not what caught our attention; this is what did and we quote Toyota's press statement:

"This sales figure represents sales momentum that has propelled the Prius Plug-in to a stronger first full six-months sales pace (6,061 units) than Chevrolet Volt Plug-in (2,745 units) and the all-electric Nissan Leaf (3,875 units)."

Read more »

Chevrolet Volt , Electric Vehicles , GM , Hybrids , Nissan , Nissan Leaf , Reports , Toyota , Toyota Prius

Nissan TeRRA Concept is an All-Electric 'Urban' SUV [w/Video]

We have already shown you the first pictures of the Paris Motor Show-bound Nissan TeRRA, but now we have more detailed information and an official video of the SUV prototype.

But first things first. Despite the styling references and a name that hints at a vehicle related to the Xterra, Nissan makes no mention of this in its press release, while it also points out that the TeRRA is a "purely a concept car" and is not intended for production.

Read more »

Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Nissan , Nissan Concepts , Nissan Videos , Paris Auto Show , Video

Scoop: New Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Sheds its Camo and Gets Caught By Our Lens

When Mercedes-Benz displayed the SLS AMG E-Cell concept at last year’s Detroit Motor Show, company boss Dr. Dieter Zetsche boldly stated that it is “the most technically advanced sports car in the 125-year history of the automobile” and confirmed that a production version was on its way.

This year, the three-pointed star announced that the SLS AMG E-Cell would hit the market in 2013. While 2012 still has some way to go (assuming the Mayas were wrong and the world doesn’t end…), the production version has been caught completely undisguised.

Read more »

Electric Vehicles , Mercedes , Mercedes Scoops , Mercedes SLS AMG , Scoops

GM Refutes Reuters’ Claim That Each Volt Costs $89,000 to Build, Though it’s Still Losing Money

Despite a rather high US$39,995 sticker price for the base edition of the Volt, Chevrolet’s range-extended hybrid has sold a record 2,831 units in August. So all is well for GM?

In the case of the Volt, the answer is a bit complicated since it’s not your run-of-the-mill gasoline- or diesel-powered car. It’s a problem shared by every hybrid and all-electric vehicle manufacturer: the development costs, the tooling, the battery packs and the powertrain, when added up, simply make for a very high price.

Read more »

Chevrolet , Chevrolet Volt , Electric Vehicles , GM , Hybrids , Reports

Peugeot Teases New Onyx Supercar Concept for Paris Motor Show

There was no doubt in our mind that France's "Big Three", Peugeot, Citroen and Renault, will each try to impress visitors and the press alike with dazzling concept models at the 2012 edition of the Paris Motor Show.

The first study to come into light ahead of the show is from Peugeot and it's named Onyx.

Read more »

Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Hybrids , Paris Auto Show , Peugeot , Peugeot Concepts , Peugeot Videos , Video

Citroën Unveils New Electric Berlingo at the Hanover Motor Show

For the past 20 years or so, Citroën has been producing pure-electric commercial vehicles, including its C15, C25 and the first-generation Berlingo LCVs. The French marque will continue this tradition with the unveiling of the new Electric Berlingo at the 2012 Hanover Motor Show in Germany from September 18 to 27. Read more »

Citroen , Citroen Berlingo , Electric Vehicles , New Cars

SsangYong Prepares e-XIV Small Crossover Concept for Paris Motor Show

This month's Paris Auto Show will see SsangYong lifting the wraps off a new concept study for a range-extender electric crossover named the e-XIV.

The prototype that was teased in these sketches is an evolution of the XIV-2 Concept displayed at the Geneva International Auto Salon this past March, which itself was a three-door version of the XIV-1 Concept from the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Read more »

Concepts , Electric Vehicles , Hybrids , Paris Auto Show , SsangYong , SsangYong Concepts

To the Popemobile: Renault Gifts Two Specially Modded Kangoo Maxi Z.E. to Pope Benedict XVI

The head of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI, has received a new set of wheels, courtesy of French carmaker Renault.

The Pope's new ride is based on the pure-electric Kangoo Maxi Z.E. and was developed in association with the French coachbuilder Gruau, while Renault also donated a second vehicle to the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City.

Read more »

Electric Vehicles , New Cars , Offbeat News , Renault , Renault Kangoo , Reports , Tuning

New 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid, First Details, Goes on Sale Worldwide Next Year

Together with the premiere of the European version of the Mirage, Mitsubishi will present the global debut of the new Outlander PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) at the 2012 Paris Motor Show held from Thursday, September 27 through Sunday, October 14.

The Japanese automaker says that the Outlander PHEV is the world's first plug-in hybrid SUV offering "the environmental performance of an electric vehicle (EV), the cruising range of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, and the on- and off-road performance of an SUV".

Read more »

Electric Vehicles , Hybrids , Mitsubishi , New Cars , Paris Auto Show

2013 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe: Mega Gallery with More Than 400 High-Res Photos

Well, the cat is almost completely out of the bag as Honda released a comprehensive image gallery along with the sales dates and fuel economy numbers for the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe, as well as the 2014 Accord Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

What’s missing are the prices but it won't be long before we find out as the 2013 Accord Sedan goes on sale in the States on September 19, 2012, with the Coupe to follow on October 15, 2012.

The new, two-motor 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Sedan will reach U.S. dealerships in early 2013, followed by a conventional hybrid based on the same powertrain architecture in the summer of 2013.

The regular Accord Sedan and Coupe are offered with Honda's new Earth Dreams 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which in its base form delivers 185-horsepower and 177 lb-ft of peak torque.

When coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), the sedan returns 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined, while with a 6-speed manual gearbox, 24 miles per gallon city, 34 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined.

Read more »

Electric Vehicles , Galleries , Honda , Honda Accord , Hybrids , New Cars

New Saab Owner Gets Rights to Name and Phoenix Platform, But Not Griffin Logo; Any Suggestions?

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. At least that’s what Juliet tells Romeo in the renowned play. However, even if the executives of NEVS (National Electric Vehicle Sweden), Saab Automobile’s new owners, are avid Shakespeare readers, they still wanted the Saab name along with the rest of the brand.

Last we heard, they were negotiating with Saab AB, the aerospace company and Scania AB, which own the rights to both the name and the logo of the automotive company.

On Monday, however, NEVS announced that is has completed the acquisition of Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB, IP rights for the Phoenix platform and the Saab 9-3, the Trollhättan manufacturing plant and test and laboratory facilities, effective August 31, for an undisclosed amount of money.

Read more »

China , Electric Vehicles , Japan , Reports , saab , Saab 9-3

FIA to Launch Formula E All-Electric Car Racing Championship in 2014

Until recently, using anything other than a gasoline-powered engine in a racing car was not an option.

Audi changed that in 2006 with its Le Mans-winning, diesel-powered R10 TDI, Peugeot followed suit with the 908 HDi FAP, and suddenly race viewers and race car drivers alike were treated to a different set of sounds.

This year was even more interesting. That’s because in the 2012 edition of the 24 hour race, both Audi and Toyota fielded hybrid-powered entries, the former filling all three places of the podium and the latter showing that it was a force to be reckoned with before retiring.

Read more »

Brazil , Electric Vehicles , F1 , Racing , Reports

Fisker Hosts Largest Karma Gathering Ever, All Cars Keep Their Cool

Fisker has been through a lot lately – and we're not only talking about its financial issues but more about the Karma-related recalls and fires.

Fortunately for Fisker, no one had to call the fire brigade during the largest gathering of Karma sedans at the company’s global headquarters in Anaheim, California over the weekend.

Read more »

Electric Vehicles , Fisker , Fisker Karma , Hybrids , Reports