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Experts see cost cuts for electric cars

DETROIT--Although a technological breakthrough for batteries is unlikely before 2020, industry experts say the case for electric vehicles will improve significantly in the next few years.

Jon Bereisa, CEO of consulting firm Auto Lectrification, said at the Automotive News Green Car Conference here last week that costs of such items as the lithium ion batteries will drop as automakers boost production and achieve economies of scale.

Right now the battery costs are prohibitive for many drivers. For example, the Chevrolet Volt hybrid's battery, which holds the energy equivalent of about 1 gallon of gasoline, costs about $8,000, Bereisa … Read more

Nissan tests mobile charging service for stranded EVs

When you run out of gas, you basically have two choices: hoof it to the nearest gas station to fill up a canister, or ask roadside assistance to bring the gas to you. Electric vehicles with a dead battery don't have that option, unless you're in Japan.

Nissan and the Japan Automobile Federation, the Japanese version of AAA, have launched a mobile battery charging unit to help stranded EV drivers on the road. The trial service is an attempt to curb range anxiety until EV charging infrastructure catches up to its gasoline counterpart. It will also "create … Read more

This Day in Tech: Weak spots in Web-based e-mail, Apple's WWDC

Too busy to keep up with the tech news? Here are some of the more interesting stories from CNET News for Friday, June 3.

Five questions heading into Apple's WWDC Apple may have already declared what it's going to demo at next week's Worldwide Developers Conference, but what else does it have up its sleeve? More

Targeted attacks hit Web-based e-mail Attacks aimed at Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail point to weak spots in e-mail services that can let attackers into corporate networks, reports say. More

Sparked: Volunteer work, right in your cubicle Sparked, a recently rebranded version … Read more

Car Tech Live 218: Nissan Leaf sticks it to Chevy Volt (podcast)

Nissan slams the Volt as being a cousin to the leaf blower, a new app keeps an eye out for accidents ahead, and we drive the Mini Cooper S Countryman.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 218 SHOW NOTES

• CNET drives the Mini Cooper S Countryman

• App keeps an eye on accidents about to happen

• New Corvette coming in 2013?

• Nissan Leaf sticks it to Chevy Volt, oh so subtly.

• Tanner Foust pulls off a huge Hot Wheels jump

• CNET's LOLcars gallery!

Nissan constructing solar charging station for Leafs

Nissan began construction on a 30-car solar charging station outside of the future Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Tennessee. The solar charging port is expected to be completed in July, and will use renewable energy to charge the Nissan Leafs that will be produced there in 2012. The Nissan Leaf and its 24 kWh lithium ion battery pack are currently manufactured in Japan.

When the solar car ports aren't being used to recharge EVs, the excess solar energy will help power Nissan's manufacturing facilities, according to a Nissan spokesman. Nissan did not release details about the energy capacity … Read more

This Day in Tech: More rumors about the next iPhone

Too busy to keep up with the tech news? Here are some of the more interesting stories from CNET for Wednesday, May 18.

Neat trick: Wireless laptop dock Samsung's Central Station senses your computer is nearby and--without any silly, tangled cords--connects to it wirelessly. Ain't that cool? Seriously, it's the little things in life that bring CNET editors joy. Read the full review

WritePad 5 buddies up with Evernote for app marriage New WritePad 5 app for iPad, Android adds ability to sync with another popular app, Evernote. Marriage points to future where unrelated apps from diverse … Read more

This Day in Tech: Risks of a hyper-personalized Web

Too busy to keep up with the tech news? Here are some of the more interesting stories from CNET for Tuesday, May 17.

Nissan track-tests electric race car Nissan releases a video showing track testing of its Leaf Nismo RC electric race car. More

Bing 'likes' Facebook (video)Amazon may enter the tablet market with two mobile devices, T-Mobile offers free Wi-Fi calls, and Microsoft's Bing gets Facebook support in its search results. More

Winklevoss twins taking Facebook case to Supreme CourtThe twins' attorney says that a recent ruling against their appeal was wrong and that they will bring … Read more

Nissan track-tests electric race car

At this year's New York auto show, Nissan showed off its Leaf Nismo RC, a race car based on the Leaf electric car. But rather than just making it an auto show spectacle, Nissan is track-testing the Leaf Nismo RC and looking to start a new race series.

In a video released by Nissan, Nismo driver Tsugio Matsuda puts the Leaf Nismo RC through its paces on a test track, offering positive commentary about the car's performance. Other moments of the video show track engineers removing body components and spraying water on the battery pack to cool it. … Read more

Cool Leaf's shiny keyboard mimics a mirror

When turned on, the Cool Leaf touch-panel keyboard from Japan-based Minebe displays a backlit keyboard interface. When switched off, the keyboard looks like a common household mirror.

Designed by Dr. Kazuo Kawasaki, the mirror-like touch-panel surface of the keyboard doesn't contain any holes for dirt to fall in. Hence, it can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. As such, the keyboard is expected to be used in areas that place a priority on cleanliness such as medical treatment sites and food plants.

For the time being, the keyboard is only compatible with Windows. Apple users won't have to miss out on this product, though, as a Mac version has also been announced.

The Cool Leaf will be available in Japan on May 13 for 26,000 yen ($316). The English, German, French, and Italian versions are scheduled to be released in July.

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf ace their crash tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said today that the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf performed quite well in its first-ever crash tests on "mainstream" electric cars.

According to the IIHS, the Volt and Leaf earned the highest rating of "good" for front, side, rear, and rollover crashes. Both vehicles qualified for the organization's Top Safety Pick award, given to vehicles that deliver "state-of-the-art crash protection."

"The milestone demonstrates that automakers are using the same safety engineering in new electric cars as they do in gasoline-powered vehicles," the IIHS said in … Read more