Tag Archives: electric vehicles

Volkswagen and Ford Alliance Under Study

Posted on 21 June 2018 by Ken Zino

Against this backdrop and with a possible shakeout as devastating as occurred more than a century ago as the automobile emerged, it’s not surprising that long established car companies are seeking collaborative agreements to share the risks, cut the cost of research, development and production and survive as an entity when taking an individual road appears one paved with doom. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, autonomous vehicles, car sharing, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, financial results, fuel economy or emissions, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Smart Head Annette Winkler Abruptly Departs Daimler

Posted on 29 May 2018 by Ken Zino

Winkler and – struggling Smart – were (are?) part of Daimler’s confusing small car strategy and current rush to electric vehicle production. Smart lost billions of Euros for Daimler. Its only fit appeared to be as a foil against mileage and emissions regulations, allowing the owner of Mercedes Benz to continue to thrive selling gas guzzlers. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, electric vehicles, environment, people | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformation to Mobility Company? Ford Returns to Detroit.

Posted on 25 May 2018 by Ken Zino

As part of an $11.1 billion investment in global electric vehicles announced earlier this year, Ford says it will sell electrified vehicles that “offer exciting experiences and enhanced capabilities based on what people need and want – including the all-new Mustang-inspired battery-electric SUV in 2020.” Continue reading →

Posted in autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, electronics, engineering, fuel economy or emissions, marketing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ford, Zotye Ink Chinese JV Agreement on Electric Vehicles

Posted on 10 November 2017 by Ken Zino

Pending regulatory approval – all but certain in the government directed economy – the new JV will design, build, market and distribute all-electric passenger vehicles for China, the world’s leading electric vehicle market. The establishment of the JV is a combined investment of 5 billion RMB (~ $756 million). Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, fuel economy or emissions, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2017 Honda Clarity Electric Sedan Debuts

Posted on 2 August 2017 by Ken Zino

The Clarity Electric has an EPA fuel economy rating of 126/103/114 MPGe (city/highway/combined) and an EPA range rating of a mere 89 miles on a full charge – a range-limited market no doubt. Continue reading →

Posted in electric vehicles, new vehicle | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Renault-Nissan Alliance Sells 9.6 Million Vehicles in 2016

Posted on 8 February 2017 by Ken Zino

The Renault-Nissan Alliance had global sales of 9.96 million vehicles during 2016. The car group also continued its leadership in zero-emission vehicles with cumulative sales of ~425,000 electric vehicles since the introduction of the Nissan LEAF in 2010, followed by … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, milestones, news analysis, sales | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

General Motors to use 100% Renewable Power by 2050

Posted on 14 September 2016 by Ken Zino

General Motors said today it plans to generate or source all electricity with renewable power for its 350 operations in 59 countries with wind, sun and/or landfill gas by 2050. Continue reading →

Posted in energy | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

NEVS Completes Saab Asset Buy including the Brand Name

Posted on 4 September 2012 by Ken Zino

National Electric Vehicle Sweden or NEVS announced today that it completed the purchase of the main assets of bankrupt Saab Automobile, Saab Automobile Powertrain and Saab Automobile Tools. This includes the Phoenix platform, tools and the manufacturing plant in Trollhättan as well as test and laboratory facilities. NEVS has also signed a licensing agreement to use the Saab name on its future vehicles. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, electric vehicles, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM China Begins Building and Testing Advanced Batteries

Posted on 20 August 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors China is now making and testing prototype battery cells and complete systems at its Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai, potentially creating a huge offshore industry that will build more affordable batteries for customers globally. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Electric Vehicle Charging and Battery Expo This November

Posted on 11 June 2012 by Ken Zino

What’s said to be the world’s first-ever Charging Infrastructure Expo will be held 13-15 November at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich., alongside The Battery Show. The forum is for industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges in the charging infrastructure industry, as well proving a showcase for the latest battery technologies and electric vehicle charging technologies. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chevrolet Volt EVs on Way to California. Volts now Qualify For HOV Lanes and a $1,500 State Taxpayer Subsidy

Posted on 24 February 2012 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet Volts with a ‘Low Emissions Package,’ which is standard for California Volts, began shipping from the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant this week and will begin arriving at the more than 140 Chevrolet dealerships in California before the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, marketing, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BMW Delivers First All-Electric Active E in the US

Posted on 14 January 2012 by Ken Zino

The fully electric Active E with its lithium-ion batteries have a claimed a driving range of up to 100 miles on a full charge. With an output of 170 horsepower, maximum torque of 184 lb-ft from a standstill, BMW said Active E accelerates from 0–60 mph in under nine seconds. If the driver is a lead-foot – or is that now lithium foot? and/or the weather is cold – the Bimmer won’t go that far, of course. All such mileage claims await independent verification. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, fuel economy or emissions, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

GM China Advanced Technical Center Nears Completion

Posted on 19 December 2011 by Ken Zino

GM intends to use Chinese battery suppliers in future electric vehicles – the latest setback for beleaguered U.S. workers who are facing grim employment prospects in the moribund U.S. economy. This is no longer a blue-collar or solely a UAW problem. College level white collar engineering jobs are at stake in advanced technologies touted by politicians as the key to returning the U.S. to global competitiveness. Continue reading →

Posted in auto news, economy, electric vehicles, environment, labor issues, new vehicle, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BMW and Toyota to Jointly Research Lithium Ion Batteries

Posted on 1 December 2011 by Ken Zino

BMW Group and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced today a memorandum of understanding (MOU) where the companies will research together the next-generation lithium-ion battery technologies. It is the latest example of automakers trying to decrease the astronomical cost of developing more efficient vehicles mandated by increasing stringent fuel economy or CO2 regulations. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, environment, news, news analysis, transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Renault Dedicates Enlarged Electric Vehicle Test Center

Posted on 15 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Since missing the hybrid segment completely that Toyota went on to dominate globally, reaping billions upon billions of dollars worth of “Green” image benefits in the process, Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both Renault and Nissan, has “bet the farm” by investing almost $5 billion in electric vehicles. Thus far, the Nissan Leaf, with roughly 8,000 sales year-to-date, has not met expectations in the U.S. Nissan, optimistically, wants 20% of its sales to be EVs by 2020. Continue reading →

Posted in alternative fuels, auto news, electric vehicles, energy, environment, new vehicle, news, news analysis | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment