Hybrid News

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, Th!nk (Think)

Things continue to look up at Th!nk. Electric Aid is watching the Norwegian press for us, and found an article in Indre.no that says that Th!nk management is “very optimistic” about the chances that outside new investors - along with current ones and the Norwegian government - will step in and help the electric car company. There are also reports that one of Th!nk’s biggest supporters - Stein Erik Hagen, who tried to get investors into a double-or-nothing plan a few weeks ago - is teaming up with the founder of the Renewable Energy Corporation and solar entrepreneur, Alf Bjørseth, on a rescue plan. All this won′t make hundreds of City and Ox vehicles roll off the assembly line tomorrow, but it’s a step in the right direction. Thanks again to Leif Richard for the tip!

[Source: Electric Aid]

Th!nk thinks outside investors will step up to save Th!nk originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, Racing

KleenSpeed Technologies, one of the companies behind the WX10-T all-electric race car has opened up their website to the public to reveal some of what went on behind the scenes as they prepared their prototype, code-named Angelina, for its unveiling. Included on the site are pictures of everything from the electric drivetrain being integrated into the chassis to shots of their new digs, appropriately located at the Ames Research Center in California. One thing we couldn’t help but notice behind the drivers seat was the AC Propulsion-emblazoned controller box which is also found in the MINI E.

The company has also released some videos of “Angelina” moving under her own power. They include a short clip of the car taking advantage of a runaway near Kleenspeed headquarters, as well as some onboard camera footage shot at Reno-Fernley raceway in Nevada. That footage reveals how scary fast the W≪-T can be. Even without its bodywork and with lots of extra potential left in both car and driver, they came within five seconds of the track record set by the gas-powered version of this car. According to company officials, with the temperature “in the 100’s”, Angelina’s computer registered a top speed of 136 mph during these trials. Perhaps we’ll get a better idea of the car’s true capabilities when it explores Sebring near the end of January. Hit the jump for video extravaganza.

[Source: KleenSpeed Technologies]

Continue reading VIDEO: Electric race car development program revealed!

VIDEO: Electric race car development program revealed! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Domenick Yoney

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

Looks like I wasn’t the only one who wondered about the brake lights on AC Propulsion’s eBox. AC Propulsion’s Tom Gage responds to my post the other day with not only an answer to my question about if the hard decel that takes place when the regenerative braking kicks in triggers the brake lights, but also with a visual aid. Yes, he said, yes they do. His exact words were:

Of course the eBox turns on the brake lights during regen. We′d have a lot of bashed in rear ends if we didn’t. Still it’s a good question. In fact we heard it so often in test drives that we include an LED on the eBox dashboard that illuminates when the brake light comes on.

So, there you have it. One more green car mystery solved. Thanks, Tom. Now, what’s next?

[Source: AC Propulsion]

AC Propulsion’s eBox lights up the brake lights without driver pushing brake pedal originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily

Want a 2009 Prius with a plug? It’s available now, to the lucky winner of this auction on eBay. This particular vehicle was modded by the Green Car Company out in Bellevue, Washington and features A123’s Hymotion plug-in hybrid kit already installed. That kit doesn’t come cheap and this price of this PHEV Prius reflects that. The current bid is $42,100 but the reserve has not yet been met. The price isn’t holding people back, though, as the auction started out at $25,000 and that 46 bids have already been placed. The good news for plug-in fans is that all of the profits from the sale will go to the advocacy group Plug In America, so any excessive bidding could be seen as just a friendly donation to PIA. There are more details on the car here and if the Prius is too pricey for you, Green Car Co. is also selling one of those Vectrix Scooters. Current price: $5,200. Thanks to Anthony C. for the tip.

[Source: eBay]

eBay Find of the Day: plug-in Prius with A123 Hymotion kit installed charity auction originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Austin Alt Car Expo

The last in our series of reports from the discussion panels from last week’s Austin Alt Car expo focuses on the panel that had the broadest possible appeal: an overview of plug-in hybrids. Taking place on the Saturday, and therefore more accessible to the working public, the free-form panel featured Ron Johnston-Rodriguez of PluginCenter.com and the Port of Chelan County in Washington State, and Chelsea Sexton of Plug-In America. Austan Librach, who works for Austin Energy and Plug-in Partners (well, he used to work for PiP), moderated.

Johnston-Rodriguez started by giving a brief overview of plug-in hybrids, but all three of the panelists commented on Johnston-Rodriguez’s slides. The starting point was encapsulated by Librach’s statement that, “Assuming normal economics, we’re looking at a real bright future (for PHEVs).” That might be a big assumption, but it’s what a lot of people are counting on. Follow us after the jump to see what this future might look like.

Continue reading Austin Alt Car: panel looks at the future of plug-in hybrids

Austin Alt Car: panel looks at the future of plug-in hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily, Austin Alt Car Expo

If you want to get an answer to the question of whether or not consumers will flock to plug-in vehicles, Southern California Edison’s Ed Kjaer and Better Place’s Sven Thesen would be great people to get to put up some answers. That’s exactly what happened at the Austin Alt Car expo last weekend, where they presented an optimistic yet realistic assessment of what PHEVs might bring to the auto industry. The real question, Kjaer said, isn’t “Will Consumers Buy In?” but will the OEMs build PHEVs in volume? And that is not a given, not by a long shot. Kjaer didn’t dodge the original question, just posited that the answer is a pretty obvious “yes.” Whether or not we get the chance is the issue. Follow us after the jump for all the details.

Continue reading Austin Alt Car: Will Consumers Buy In? Duh.

Austin Alt Car: Will Consumers Buy In? Duh. originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

To capitalize on the growing green market, British automaker, Lotus, has created a new research and development group solely devoted to electric and hybrid vehicles. “We have an intensely proactive growth plan over the next five years,” said Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer for Group Lotus. “Indeed, Lotus will reinforce its position as a world leader in green transport engineering.”

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Original post by shamit