Toyota Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid with 400-Mile Range
By Tom Bartley (4/30/11) In 2012, Toyota will start selling an SUV with 100-mile electric range – the RAV4 EV. In 2015, Toyota will start … Read more
Month: April 2011
Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF Electric Cars Earn Highest Safety Ratings
The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf earn the highest safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in the first-ever U.S. crash test evaluations of plug-in electric cars. The milestone demonstrates that automakers are using the same safety engineering in new electric cars as they do in gasoline-powered vehicles.
Nissan LEAF Electric Car Wins 2011 World Car of the Year
At the New York International Auto Show, the 100-percent electric car Nissan LEAF was named 2011 World Car of the Year, edging out the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A8 for the top spot. The award is the latest in a string of accolades for the world’s first affordable mass-market all-electric vehicle, which was also named European Car of the Year.
Resistance is Futile – Save Gas, Save the Planet Excerpt
Being aerodynamic and using low rolling resistance tires are reasons that the Toyota Prius achieves good fuel economy. When you buy your next vehicle, look for cars with better miles-per-gallon due to use of advanced powertrains. There are more than one hundred car models that offer over 40 miles per gallon. An increased number of these models are being made available in the United States. People are often surprised by the excellent safety of some lighter vehicles with excellent fuel economy.
Toyota RAV4 EV Test Drive with impressive Tesla Drive System
In this test drive of the new Toyota RAV4 EV, this electric SUV beat a V8 gasoline pickup going up hill. Combine a mature Toyota RAV4 chassis and interior with a maturing Tesla electric drive and you have a premium electric vehicle in months not years. 31 of these prototype all-electric SUVs are now on the road and demonstrating 80 to 120 mile electric range.
14 Ways that Solar Power Costs will Decrease Sharply
In this decade, installed solar will drop to half its current cost. Such cost reductions will take more than lower costs of silicon panels and thin-film. Process, policy, right size, right place, interconnects, hybrid systems, and market solutions are now key for cost reduction. With progress in these 14 areas solar costs will approach grid parity in more locations.
China Plans 220,000 EV Charge Points and 2,351 Battery Switch Stations
China leads the world with over 100 million riding e-scooters, e-bikes, and light-electric vehicles. By December 2015, China plans to have 500,000 electric vehicles that can travel slow streets to fast highways. Those EV will be supported with 220,000 charge points and 2,351 battery swap stations in the nation’s latest plans. China’s 12th Five Year Plan is summarized in a new Deutsche Bank (DB) report.
Congress Tries to Cripple EPA
Although the attempt of Congress to cripple the EPA may help short-term profits of oil and coal companies, such action would damage companies benefitting from clean transportation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. Hybrid and electric car sales would be hurt. As the Senate and House gear up to vote today and tomorrow on measures to block EPA from updating its health protections, NRDC gives this testimony to the House Oversight and Investigations Committee.
Toyota Sells One-Millionth Prius in U.S. – Best Hybrid Car
One Million Toyota Prius have now been sold in U.S. Over 2 million Prii have been delivered globally. Over 3 million Toyota hybrids have been sold globally. By the end of 2012, Toyota Motors will offer at least eleven Toyota and Lexus hybrid and electric cars.
It’s Time to Lose Weight – Save Gas, Save The Planet Excerpt
Americans spend an extra $3 billion on fuel because vehicles are heavier than they were in 1960. Cars need to go on a diet. Vehicles can be better designed. Minor reductions in weight and drag can improve fuel economy up to 50 percent for a cost of a couple of hundred bucks. With the growing use of aluminum, composite materials, and aerodynamic design, we will see diesel cars delivering 100 miles per gallon and more if they are hybrid.