EVs

Study: To speed electric cars to market, sell batteries separately

To get more electric vehicles on the road, consumers should have the option to essentially lease the batteries, a University of California at Berkeley study argues.

The UC Berkeley Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology on Monday released an analysis that found that there are environmental and economic benefits to adopting electric vehicles, but the high cost of batteries is a persistent problem that remains a barrier to buyers.

The study's author, economist Thomas Becker, argues that pay-per-mile service contracts--the rough equivalent of buying a service contract with a cell phone--and swappable batteries will hasten adoption rates. Separating the cost … Read more

Report: Toyota to mass-produce plug-ins in 2012

Toyota Motor plans to start mass-producing plug-in hybrid cars in 2012, according a report.

The Japanese business newspaper Nikkei said on Saturday that the first year's production is expected to be about 20,000 to 30,000 cars.

Toyota earlier last year said that it plans to start testing 500 plug-in hybrid Priuses in 2010 for fleet owners.

Current Priuses use nickel metal hydride batteries, but for its plug-in vehicles Toyota plans to use lithium ion batteries developed and made through a joint venture with Panasonic.

The plug-in hybrid cars from Toyota will be able to go between 12 … Read more

Best Buy shifts into electric vehicles sales

Would you like an electric bike to go with your new DVR?

Best Buy has started selling electric vehicles, including the Enertia electric motorcycle from Brammo, according to reports.

The company in May started offering electric bicycles, scooters, and Segway transporters at 21 of its West Coast stores, according to the Los Angeles Times. This month, the home products retailer will add the Enertia motorcycle to create an electric vehicle line with a range of speeds and range.

Although it may sound like a stretch to offer refrigerators and electric vehicles under the same roof, company representatives said that there … Read more

How I became a walking hot spot

ASPEN, Colo.--One thing I love is finding uses for things that perhaps no one has thought of before.

I'd already been on Road Trip 2009 for several days when I arrived in this tony Colorado mountain town known best as a playground for the rich and famous. I was hoping to go for a walk and find something good to eat.

It had been a long day of driving, starting in Colorado Springs, and traveling over Independence Pass, a 12,095 "Top of the Rockies" spot just on the Continental Divide. I had planned to stroll … Read more

Hybrid ship ahoy: Valence to supply Siemens

Lithium ion battery company Valence plans to supply batteries to Siemens for hybrid ships and to Chicago utility S&C Electric for grid storage.

Its deal with Siemens Drive Technologies calls for Valence to develop energy storage for a planned hybrid marine propulsion system from Siemens. Valence will hook up its lithium iron magnesium phosphate batteries to Siemens' drive system via a standard interface, the company said.

The two companies have already supplied a hybrid drive train for double-decker buses from Wrightbus.

Valence on Wednesday said it intends to supply grid-connected storage systems for S&C Electric, which … Read more

Coda unveils 'practical' all-electric sedan

Updated at 12:45 a.m. PDT with comments from Coda Automotive conference call.

You could call electric car company Coda Automotive the anti-Tesla.

The company, formed by fleet vehicle provider Miles Electric, on Wednesday unveiled the Coda, a plain-looking electric car that's designed for everyday use.

The highway-capable four-door sedan can go between 90 and 120 miles on its lithium ion battery pack. It will be available to consumers in California in the fall of 2010 at a price of $45,000. The cost can be offset by about $10,000 from a federal tax credit and state … Read more

Rumor: Audi to debut electric, convertible R8s

Audi loves its R8 variants. So far, we've seen V-8 and V-10 gasoline engines and V-12 TDI concept. Now, if rumors are to be believed, Audi is poised to introduce two more variants of the R8 supercar at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt: a convertible and a zero-emissions electric version.

The convertible has been spied testing by German publication Auto Motor und Sport, so it is all but guaranteed to be unveiled sometime in the near future. However, the electric version is something of a dark horse, subject to speculation. No one knows if it will be full … Read more

Jay Leno drives the futuristic Aptera 2e

Talk show host and car nut Jay Leno was recently given an opportunity to drive the uniquely styled Aptera 2e electric vehicle and talk to Paul Wilbur, Aptera's president and CEO. Leno seemed genuinely impressed with the 2e's road manners, quiet cabin, and smooth drivetrain, but mostly he raves about the three-wheeler's futuristic appearance and slippery aerodynamics.

Check the video below to see the Aptera 2e in all of its rubberneck inducing glory.

(By the way, the Jetsons' dog is named Astro.)

Zenn boosts stake in EEStor's energy storage

Electric car maker Zenn Motor has increased its investment in EEStor, a stealth company that focuses on energy storage and claims its technology will yield an affordable car-battery pack.

Toronto-based Zenn said Thursday that it has verified previously done tests of EEStor's ultracapacitor technology and that it has invested an additional $700,000 in the company.

As part of its agreement with EEStor, Zenn now has an option to purchase as much as 10 percent of the company--up from 3.8 percent--if EEStor delivers "production-quality" energy-storage devices for small cars.

Zenn now makes its namesake "neighborhood&… Read more

Lutz to Letterman: 'We can't survive selling $100K cars'

The most recent battle over electric car technology isn't being fought in the showrooms, but on the set of the "Late Show with David Letterman."

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz was invited on the "Late Show," giving him the opportunity to respond to Letterman's negative comments about the Chevrolet Volt, which is an extended range hybrid.

Not really understanding the concept of a plug-in hybrid, Letterman had previously called the 40-mile all-electric capacity "insane" on a previous episode during which Tesla CEO Elon Musk was a guest promoting the electric Model S sedan prototype.

Lutz offered his rebuttal on Wednesday, Chevy Volt in tow, and tried to explain why GM doesn't sell an all-electric vehicle and is instead is coming to market first with a plug-in. … Read more