Alt Energy Autos

Even Though Think is Bankrupt, Some Cars Remain for Sale

2012-02-13T07:46:00.002-05:00

If you were smitten by the little electric Think City and thought the company's recent bankruptcy put the kibosh on your chances of ever owning one of the plastic-paneled car, then *ahem, think again. It seems there are still some of the city runabouts to be had if you look in the right place.

One such location is Green Wheels in Chicago, IL. The dealership, as the name suggests, specializes in all-electric and hybrid vehicles and has a couple post-rebated demos on hand they can sell for as low as $17,995. If you're willing to lay out $31,500 for a brand-new one – and remember, there are rebates still available in some states that can bring that initial sticker down below $20,000 – they have a couple of those as well and say that they have access to more. While that price is nicely down from the pre-bankruptcy $36,495 MSRP, it's a little uncomfortably close to that of the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i. Still, we liked the little coupe when we drove it and for some, this car just might be the bee's knees.

If you do happen to make the trip to Green Wheels, you might also get a chance to see the BYD e6 in person. The dealership will be offering the Chinese all-electric crossover later this year and already has one on the lot you can look over.

Source: Autoblog Green

More on Tesla Model X crossover EV unveiled - VIDEO

2012-02-13T07:43:00.000-05:00

2015 VW Golf Plug-In Hybrid to Debut In Paris

2012-02-12T20:34:00.002-05:00

Back in the 1980s, Volkswagen worked on producing both fully-electric and plug-in hybrid versions of its Mk II Rabbit -- also known as the Mk II VW Golf.

It’s been no secret that Volkswagen has been working on resurrecting an all-electric Golf in the form of its 2013 VW Blue E-Motion, but now VW has confirmed that it will be unveiling a plug-in hybrid Golf at the 2012 Paris Motor Show.

Combining a 1.4 liter Twincharger Stratification Injection (TSI) engine with an 80 kilowatt electric motor, the VW Golf Plug-in Hybrid will be built upon the MQB platform which VW unveiled earlier this month.

Designed to accommodate both a large battery pack and an electric motor without compromising in-car space, the new platform will form the basis of plug-in and non-plugin VW Golf VII models and associated cars like the Audi A3.

According to Autoexpress, the plug-in hybrid should manage a range of up to 30 miles in all-electric mode, while mixed-mode driving should yield a gas mileage of around 141 miles per imperial gallon (117 MPG U.S.).

Volkswagen's MQB Platform

Part of the key to its impressive fuel economy lies in the TSI engine, which can run on just one or two cylinders when power demands are low, allowing the VW Golf Plug-in Hybrid to run in a low-power mode if most of the power needs are met by its electric motor.

VW also promises the new plug-in hybrid -- which will also have a non plug-in sibling -- will come laden with technology.

At the heart of this will be an eight-inch touch screen display which VW have likened to Apple’s iPad. From VW’s description, it seems a little like the touchscreen display we’ve previously seen in VW concept vehicles like the all-electric Bulli concept it displayed last year at the Geneva Auto Show.

As for cost?

According to VW, it expects the 2015 Golf VII Plug-in Hybrid to cost around the same as the new VW Golf GTi.

Source: Green Car Reports

Next Tesla Roadster delayed until after mass-market EV launch

2012-02-12T14:51:00.002-05:00

With the demise of the Lotus Elise in the United States, the Tesla Roadster's fate was sealed. With no chassis rolling out of Hethel, Tesla had to end production of the Roadster and shift its focus to the Model S and the just-revealed Model X.

But some kind of Roadster successor has always been in the cards and as Tesla's SEC filings revealed two years ago, the new sports car was supposed to arrive next year. But according to Elon Musk, the release of the next Tesla Roadster could be as far as four years away. And probably longer.

Speaking with Inside Line, Musk said said that Tesla's next project will be its "Gen 3" electric car; a smaller, mass-market EV that will carry a more affordable price tag. Originally, this new model was going to launch in 2016, but Musk revealed that the automaker is now "thinking early 2015."

While the escalated timeline is good for EVs, it's not good for EV enthusiasts. According to Musk, the next Roadster won't be out until after the Gen 3 launches, and that means Tesla won't have another sports car until 2016 at the earliest.

Source: Autoblog Green

Stuff I Want: Scion Pit Boss Cartel iQ

2012-02-12T06:51:00.000-05:00

As you may recall from my thrilling and engrossing commentary a year ago, the then-new Scion iQ was my favorite car of the 2011 Chicago Auto Show. After spending several hours listening to GM flaks, checking out new Hyundais and Dodge Darts, and driving around in a Fiat 500, however, it looked like the year-old Scion iQ was going to be my favorite car at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, as well …

… but then I saw this: the Scion Pit Boss Cartel iQ.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am in love. Not some crude, lusty sort of pseudo-love like the kind I wanted to slather onto the flanks of the new NSX (Oh no, Sir!). This was the kind of love that blindsides you while you’re holding a weeks-old puppy at the pound and it falls asleep in your arms.

If you don’t take that puppy home, then you’re a jackwad.

Sadly, I was NOT allowed to drive the angry little blue Pit Boss home. I named him “Bossy”.

Despite being pale and fat, I managed to successfully flirt my way into the spartan cockpit long enough to both make “Vroom!” noises while yanking the wheel back and forth like a mental patient and play some Michael Jackson and Bone Thugs n’ Harmony on Bossy’s brilliant (Brilliant!) Alpine audio system.

Aside: I’m old and I like that stuff. GET OFF MY LAWN!

The rest of the car was a cornucopia of trick racer kit, with on-board air tools to quickly swap out Bossy’s street-biased front tires with track-ready Toyo rubber mounted to lightweight performance rims (visible in the back of the car). A rollaway jack stows neatly in Bossy’s rear bumper, as well, making trackside service for the ACT clutch and uprated brake system a breeze.

With its combination of relatively low cost, high mileage, great, party-making audio gear and serious trackday fun just waiting to happen, I submit (for your consideration) that this little Bossy concept Scion represents the most (legal) fun you can have in a car, whether or not you’ve got your pants on.

Now, if only they’d build me one …

Source: 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Source: Gas2.0

The CNG Civic GX Returns!

2012-02-12T06:45:00.002-05:00

The CNG Honda Civic GX has returned to the Chicago Auto Show this year. Named the 2012 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal, the unassuming sedan looks just like any other 2012 Civic. The only indication that this is not a car running on standard gasoline is the CNG badge on the back, proudly but quietly claiming that this car is one of the cleanest-burning in the world.

CNG vehicles (NGVs) are still somewhat of a niche, mostly due to natural gas stations being a little hard to find (the US Department of Energy does have a locator application to find alternative fuel stations), but natural gas burns very cleanly. Just about the only way to be greener with your vehicle is to get something purely electric and then power it with solar panels alone.

In addition to being much cleaner-burning than gasoline-powered cars – the Civic GX has an AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle) rating as certified by CARB – the mileage is great. The Civic GX has a 31mpg EPA rating (combined – 27mpg city and 38mpg highway, gasoline-gallon equivalent). The actual volume of fuel burned, since it’s natural gas, is a little higher, and that brings us to the one sacrifice that an NGV driver will be making.

The 2012 CNG Civic has not solved the problem of the 2011 CNG Civic, which is namely this:

There’s very little trunk space, since the fuel tank has to be quite a bit larger than a standard Civic. On the other hand, low emissions plus good mileage plus eligibility for energy efficiency incentives more than make up for a lack of trunk space in my book. The Civic GX is available in California, New York, Utah, or Oklahoma.

Source: Gas2.0

The Two Roads of Volkswagen – Diesel and Hybrid

2012-02-11T08:10:00.000-05:00

On a bright shiny white stage were Volkswagen’s greenest presentations at the Chicago Auto Show – a Beetle TDI (diesel), and the Jetta Hybrid, in pure flat white. Both of them looked pretty good up there on their clean-looking display, and I almost didn’t miss that there was nothing completely electric.

The Hybrid Jetta Has Good Mileage, Looks Great

Volkswagen wants you to know that the Jetta can be driven on battery power alone up to 44mph, that it goes 0-60 in under 9 seconds (perfectly average, by the way), and that it gets 45mpg combined. It only goes about a mile, mile and a quarter, under battery power alone, but that does still get you to the nearest station (hopefully) if you run the tank bone-dry. No official word on emissions, though, carbon dioxide or otherwise.

The problem with the Jetta is the same problem that nearly every other automaker has with integrating an electric motor and its batteries – the trunk space suffers. Oh, how it suffers. There’s a giant shelf eating up much of the trunk space, and a tiny pass-through for when you’ve got skis or something. The seats do fold down, but the batteries take up so much space that whatever you’re transporting had better be fairly flat or it’s not going in there.

The Diesel Bug Is Manly!

We’ve talked about the problems with diesel here on Gas2, but the up side is that the Beetle TDI isn’t going to be burning a whole lot of it. VW wants you to know that it gets 29mpg city and 39mpg highway (much better than either the Beetle 2.5 or Beetle Turbo, but not the best diesel mileage out there), and that it’s “more masculine” than previous Bugs. No, really, that’s what the press release they handed us said. The press release was on a thumb drive shaped like a key, by the way, making it easily the most awesome hand-out at the show.

In addition to not burning too much diesel, VW is taking steps to reduce emissions; this diesel Beetle does have a particulate filter and three catalytic converters (for oxidation, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen sulfide). The engine then makes only 140HP for a 3,000 lb. car, but it should be pretty drivable.

VW also pointed out that even though the roof is flatter, there’s still space in the rear seat. I did not actually climb into the rear seat, but since it’s not a hybrid, there’s plenty of storage space once the seats fold down. Points for the diesel hatchback.

Final impressions on the VW green display – not bad, not bad, definitely worth a test drive (we weren’t allowed to drive these display cars either, so you’ll have no preconceptions there).

Source: Gas2.0

So This Is What’s Wrong With the i-MiEV

2012-02-11T08:09:00.000-05:00

Mitsubishi brought a couple of i-MiEVs to the Chicago Auto Show, one in white and one in a gorgeous plum purple. Since I’ve written about the capabilities and specs of the i-MiEV multiple times, I don’t think I need to go into that here, but I did come to a realization while poking at the display. I think I have identified why the i-MiEV will not do well in the American market (and seriously, guys, this makes no one sadder than me, because it is still the cutest electric car I have ever seen).

The Cutest EV of 2011

On the outside, the i-MiEV looks great. It’s got the egg shape with the quizzical little headlights tilting forward, the tiny little grill at front looking like a happy cartoon mouth, and even the bigger bumpers actually look pretty decent in person. It looks like an actual car, not some kind of (admittedly adorable) toy.

One of the floor models had its hood up, and I have to give points to Mitsubishi for this. The vast majority of hybrid and electric cars we poked at had the hoods (and sometimes even the trunk) locked down tight. In stark contrast, the i-MiEV was just hanging out with its electric motor on display, as if to say, “Hey, look, electric cars aren’t scary or arcane at all. Come see how this works.” It was a display that encouraged all sorts of curiosity.

…But Not On the Inside

But then I opened the doors and got to poke around the inside of the car. It’s really easy to tell that it’s based on a kei car (the little tiny inexpensive ones with awesome gas mileage that come with the advantages of lower yearly taxes and fees but as a trade-off don’t go faster than maybe 60 mph with a stiff tailwind). And honestly, the inside of most kei cars do not really qualify as “nice.”

Don’t get me wrong – the Mitsubishi i and i-MiEV are perfectly serviceable little vehicles. They’ve got all the parts you need in the places you’d expect, they’ll go where you want, they’re super adorable and I would still drive either one into the ground. But when bringing the i-MiEV to an American market and charging upwards of $20,000 after the maximum tax credit has been applied… the consumer expects that the inside is actually going to look really nice.

And unfortunately, the inside of the i-MiEV looks and feels like a kei car. I don’t think the fact that it’s an electric car or the fantastic most-efficient-ever EPA rating will be able to overcome that impression. I am disappointed, Mitsubishi. For what it’s worth, the best impression I got from sitting in a battery electric car at the show was the Nissan Leaf. It was fabulous. And I wanted the i-MiEV to be fabulous, too, it just didn’t happen.

Source: Gas2.0

More on Tesla Model X crossover EV unveiled; set for late '13 launch

2012-02-10T07:18:00.001-05:00

The all-electric Tesla Model X crossover was unveiled at a red-carpet, velvet-rope style event at the Tesla Design Studios in Hawthorne, CA tonight, with company co-founder Elon Musk confirming that the Model X will start production late next year and that full production is expected in 2013.

With luminaries such as California Gov. Jerry Brown in attendance and a post-announcement concert by Foster the People, Musk presented a CUV that, as rumored, has so-called "falcon-wing" doors that are similar to those of the old gull-wing vehicles but bend in the middle, allowing them to be opened in tight spaces while offering better access to the rear and third row of seats. Musk said the Model X, which is expected to be priced similar to the $57,500 Model S sedan set to debut this summer, can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds, or 0.2 seconds quicker than a Porsche 911. The vehicle, which Musk says can seat "seven real adults," actually has front and rear electric motors that instantaneously shift power from one to the other to maximize traction, Musk said. He added that the CUV's turning radius was comparable to that of a Mini Cooper.

Musk, speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 people, touted the Model X as having, "more room than a minivan, more style than an SUV and more performance than a sports car." Indeed, with no internal combustion engine, the vehicle has substantial rear cargo space behind the third row of seats as well as a "frunk" in front of the car (which provided the evening's only glitch with a sticky latch. See video of that after the jump). Musk said that the "frunk" has the same storage space as the rear cargo area of an Audi Q7. Musk should know, since he owns one.

Musk also said Telsa will start deliveries of the Model S sedan – upon which the X is based – "no later than July" and will start taking online reservations for the Model X at noon Pacific time Friday. Tesla is expected to produce between 10,000 and 15,000 Model X units a year starting in 2014.

Source: Autoblog Green

Toyota's Strong Showing at Chicago Auto Show

2012-02-10T06:53:00.000-05:00

As with any good carnival, there were rides aplenty at the 2012 Chicago auto show … and Toyota had a huge section of floorspace reserved for guests to hop into the passenger seat of a 3rd-gen Prius, Prius v, or a Camry hybrid and experience the hybrid magic at work. Fellow Gas2 writer Jo Borras and I took advantage of some “massive” announcement that had nothing to do with hybrid or electric anything (it was a new Shelby Mustang – Ed.) to hop into Toyota’s hybrids for a quick spin.

The Camry

The all-new-for-2013 Camry looks like a Camry. Which is quite handy, since that’s exactly what it’s supposed to look like. They’re all over, and the new one will blend right in (Jo had to tell me we were in a new one, that’s how much it retains the “Camry” flavor). The hybrid has a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder gasoline-powered engine (156 HP) and a 105 kW AC electric motor, that work together to give a combined EPA rating of 41 mpg.

Once we got into the Camry, the brightly lit display in the center of the dash proudly showed off the gas engine, the electric motor, and the batteries, along with little arrows connecting all three elements. As the (politely informative) Toyota employee took us around the very short track, the display showed how the electric motor drives the car at slow speeds, the gas engine kicks in at high speeds, and regenerative braking recharges the batteries. It is entirely possible that were I to actually drive one of these, I would crash it because I was watching the display instead of the road. (I’m easily distracted, please don’t take that as a comment on the drivability of the car!!)

The other main difference between the hybrid and standard Camry is of course the trunk space playing host to the batteries. One seat folds down and there’s a pass-through, so if you buy something in a narrow box at IKEA you’re good to go. The 2012 was supposedly redesigned for more space than the 2011, though, so that’s another point in its favor.

Final impression of the Camry hybrid? I liked it!

The Prius v

We also hopped into a Prius v, with another perky and informative Toyota employee in the driver’s seat. It’s easy to see why the Prius outsells every other hybrid in the United States (even if you’re not thinking about how reliable it is, which is very). It’s not necessarily a pretty car (it looks kind of buggy to me), but it was really comfortable to ride in. A very short list of cars stood out as something I would be happy to climb into for five minutes or five straight hours, and the Prius was one of them.

We had the same display in the Prius v as in the Camry, which – as I failed to mention above – also had nifty little back-up cameras. Both cars will tell you as your back end approaches an obstacle. I approve of this wholeheartedly. We didn’t engage the gasoline engine in the Prius, either, but we did note that despite having been driven around the track (admittedly, at super low speeds) all day, the batteries were still in pretty good shape.

No trunk space is sacrificed in the Prius v either – the back seats fold down completely and the entire contents of a college kid’s dorm room minus furniture could be crammed into the back (probably). Toyota has gotten it right. Full points on correctly placing the batteries, Toyota, really well done there. The back seats on the third generation Prius also fold down, so that actual things can be fit into the trunk. The plug-in hybrid, though, has the same issue as many other hybrids – just a narrow pass-through. Check out the v (seriously, I love this):

One final (not specifically green but pretty awesome) option available on every Prius is the hands-free parallel parking feature. Engage option, drive past parking place, tap icon on screen – and the car will parallel park for you. I am the worst parallel parker I know. I want this.

We did not get a chance to ride in the Prius c, as it was not part of the ride-along experience. We were told that the floor model was driven into the building, so it’s fully functional. And actually rather cute.

Final impression of the Prius? All of the other automakers trying to dislodge it from the market definitely have their work cut out for them … and the v version is even more “real-life” friendly than the vanilla version.

Source: Gas2.0

Tesla Model X Announcement - From E-Mail

2012-02-09T17:52:00.000-05:00



	Model X Premiere Event Join us for a special live webcast 02.09.2012 at 8:00PM PST http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx

			Tesla Motors \| Tesla Motors \| 3500 Deer Creek Road \| Palo Alto, CA 94304 update profile \| unsubscribe \| privacy policy

2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid

2012-02-09T09:09:00.001-05:00

The world doesn't need another automaker claiming to have cracked the code for a fun-to-drive hybrid. The concept hasn't worked particularly well in any application. Just ask Lexus. And Honda. Twice.

Granted, we don't know how Volkswagen plans to pitch the 2013 Jetta Hybrid when it goes on sale this fall. We didn't get a two-hour long marketing presentation and associated PowerPoint. Instead, we snagged the keys while an executive-level engineer droned on about next-gen modular EGR systems and EU4-compliant oxidation catalytic converters.

We needed an escape and the Jetta Hybrid was it.

So maybe it was the sub-zero temps outside the VW pavilion in Wolfsburg, Germany or the chance to do something – anything – to combat the effects of three hours of sleep in 36 hours. But what we found during our all-too-brief drive of the Jetta Hybrid wasn't a cynical engineering-meets-marketing stop-gap, but instead the first compelling alternative to the Toyota Prius.

The Jetta Hybrid made its debut at last month's Detroit Auto Show and – considering everything else clogging the halls at Cobo – it didn't get much interest. That's because it's not that interesting.

The exterior is barely distinguishable from a standard Jetta, although the new front air dam, rear diffuser and spoiler are supposedly good for a 10-percent decrease in the sedan's coefficient of drag. Further boosting efficiency is a set of 15-inch wheels with low-rolling resistance rubber and a grille-mounted VW logo with a blue background – sure to be good for a few fractions of an MPG.

The underlying tech is just as mild-mannered, with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine putting out 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque between 1,400 and 3,500 rpm. Sandwiched between that small-displacement mill and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is an electric motor outputting an additional 27 hp (20kW). Unlike VW's first hybrid (the Touareg) that relied on a nickel metal hydride battery pack, the Jetta uses more modern and efficient lithium-ion cells – 60 in total, mounted behind the rear seat backs and weighing less than 80 pounds.

If that doesn't sound like much, that's because it isn't. The batteries only provide 1.1 kWh of juice. Thankfully, that means tonnage has been kept in check, with the whole package adding 221 pounds to the Jetta's curb weight for a total of around 3,300 pounds.

All this adds up to a claimed 45 MPG combined – five MPGs fewer than the Prius, but it's a fair trade.

Out on the drive loop that combined a short burst of autobahn with some residential and industrial driving, the combination of the turbo'd 1.4 and electric motor proved more than adequate to scoot around town and up to freeway speeds. Nail the throttle past the kick-down point and the "power" gauge taking the place of the tachometer swings from zero, passes 10 and moves into the "Boost" section. Thrust is far from overwhelming, but it feels quicker than the claimed nine-second 0-60 mph run. We'd guess something in the low eights or high sevens.

But naturally, the Jetta is more about fuel efficiency and all-electric motoring than outright power. And compared to the Prius, it's even easier to keep things humming without the aid of internal combustion.

While the Prius requires micro-millimeter precise control of the throttle to keep it from clicking over the engine, the Jetta Hybrid prototype would only demand the four-pot's assistance when we flexed our right foot just slightly more than maintenance throttle. Moreover, VW claims you can run the Hybrid up to 44 mph in EV mode and for up to 1.2 miles before the battery is tapped of juice.

Even more impressive is VW's ability to get a much more progressive and compliant braking experience from its regenerative system. Unlike the Prius, which has always been plagued by overly-grabby brakes, the Jetta Hybrid manages to allow more modulation. The only ding is an odd regen sensation when lifting off the brakes – it feels like a strong headwind slowing things down.

Couple the better brakes and highly controllable throttle with the seven-speed DSG – an obvious improvement over CVTs fitted to most hybrids – and VW has a gotten remarkably close to creating a valid contender to the Prius, while not leaving the driving experience out of the equation.

With only a short drive under our belt, that's not a definitive call by any means, but it's an impressive proof of concept that, with the proper pricing (figure around $25k), delivers everything we want in a hybrid, plus something that's been missing: driver engagement.

Source: Autoblog Green

Alook at the Volkswagen Beetle TDI from the Chicago Auto Show

2012-02-09T07:34:00.002-05:00

While Volkswagen didn't host a press conference to launch its new diesel Beetle, the carmaker put the 2013 Beetle TDI on display at the Chicago Auto Show in its first U.S. appearance.

It's really the return of a long-lost friend, since VW sold the previous-generation New Beetle with a 1.9-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine from its 1999 launch through the 2006 model year.

Stricter emission standards sidelined the TDI Beetle after that, but it's back in the new generation that debuted for 2012.

According to details released last week by Volkswagen, the 2013 VW Beetle TDI is projected to deliver EPA fuel-economy ratings of 29 mpg city and 39 mpg highway.

That will likely produce a combined rating of 32 or 33 mpg, though VW Jetta TDI owners will tell you that the EPA ratings consistently underestimate their real-world fuel efficiency.

2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, Chicago Auto Show, Feb 2012

The 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel is rated at 140 horsepower and a generous 236 pound-feet of torque, so the Beetle TDI should deliver the usual low-end surge of power beloved by diesel drivers.

To refine the engine, VW has fitted balance shafts and crankshaft counterweights to smooth out the customary diesel rattle.

Buyers can opt for either a six-speed manual transmission or Volkswagen's "DSG" six-speed dual-clutch automatic manual transmission.

2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, Chicago Auto Show, Feb 2012

Special features on the new VW Beetle TDI include a unique design for the 17-inch alloy wheels, a chrome accent strip along the side window line, and of course various TDI badges.

A secondary instrument pod, containing not only gauges for oil temperature and turbo boost, but also a digital stopwatch, is located on the top center panel of the 2013 Beetle TDI instrument panel, distinguishing it inside from lesser models.

Pricing for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI hasn't yet been announced, but the car will appear at VW dealers later this year.

Source: Green Car Reports

Toyota prices 2012 Prius C under $19K*

2012-02-08T20:58:00.003-05:00

PRESS RELEASE

Following the North American debut of the all- new 2012 Prius c at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., will bring this dynamically styled, five-door hatchback to market in March 2012, extending Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive to the subcompact segment.

The letter "c" represents "city" in the Prius c name. Designed to function as an urban-friendly vehicle with an engaging driving experience, hatchback utility, and an EPA-estimated city fuel economy rating of 53 mpg, * Prius c offers the highest city mpg rating of any vehicle without a plug. The all-new Prius c joins the Prius Family, which includes the third generation Prius Liftback, the versatile new Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, which will also be available in early 2012.

With over two and a half million units sold worldwide, Prius remains the world's premier eco-vehicle brand, and it has established consumer trust in hybrid technology. With Prius c, Toyota will make the market's most proven hybrid technology available to subcompact car shoppers with a starting MSRP of $18,950.

Unique Place in the Prius Family
A gateway into the Prius Family, the new Prius c will find favor with younger shoppers seeking a smartly designed, fuel-sipping subcompact car packing advanced drivetrain and in-car technology. The Prius c will offer engaging driving dynamics and superior urban maneuverability. When the 2012 Prius c arrives in showrooms in March 2012, this all-new hatchback will offer:

• The highest rated city fuel economy of any vehicle without a plug*; 53 mpg in the city, and 46 mpg on the highway, for a combined rating of 50 mpg
*2012 EPA-estimated 53/46/50 city/highway/combined mpg. Actual mileage may vary.
• A starting MSRP of $18,950 with a proven hybrid powertrain and premium technology
• A premium subcompact car experience thanks to a wide array of available convenience and advanced in-car electronics features, including a standard 3.5- inch full color TFT multi-information display, Bluetooth® hands-free phone capability, USB port with iPod® connectivity, and available Display Audio system with Navigation and EntuneTM

Value-oriented Hybrid in Subcompact Segment
The Prius c will be available in four grades, offering desirable features, equipment, and enhanced capability providing consumers compelling value. The Prius c will offer many standard features such as automatic climate control; tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, multi-information display and Bluetooth® hands free phone controls; and remote keyless entry with illuminated entry among a long list of standard equipment.

Grade	2012MY MSRP
Prius c One	$18,950
Prius c Two	$19,900
Prius c Three	$21,635
Prius c Four	$23,230

The smaller scale of the all-new Prius c becomes apparent in comparison to the familiar proportions of the midsize Prius Liftback. This reduced vehicle size necessitated a challenging scaling-down of the Hybrid Synergy Drive to adapt the propulsion system to the Prius c. The Prius c is smaller and lighter than its midsize Prius Liftback stable mate with 19.1 inches less length (157.3 vs. 176.4 inches OAL), and 542 lbs. less weight than the Prius Liftback (2,500 vs. 3,042 lbs.). The Prius c rides on a wheelbase that is nearly six inches shorter than the midsize Prius (100.4 vs. 106.3 inches). In adapting the Hybrid Synergy Drive to the smaller Prius c platform, each of the system's major components were re-designed to reduce weight, scale and improve vehicle efficiency.

	OAL	OAH	OAW	Wheelbase	Curb weight
2012 Prius	176.4 in.	58.7 in.	68.7 in.	106.3 in.	3,042 lbs.
2012 Prius c	157.3 in.	56.9 in.	66.7 in.	100.4 in.	2,500 lbs.

Efficient Packaging
The Prius c's effective packaging design strategically situates key drivetrain components within the chassis to help optimize interior space and handling. The gasoline engine, transaxle and power- control unit are optimally positioned within the vehicle to help enhance weight distribution and lower the center of gravity, which aids handling. The hybrid battery is positioned directly beneath the rear seat while the fuel tank is beneath and just aft of the rear seat. Such positioning ideally distributes mass within the wheelbase improving weight distribution to help enhance handling. By strategically placing the hybrid drivetrain components and battery to maximize interior space, the Prius c is able to offer 104 cu. ft. of interior volume (87 cu. ft. passenger volume, 17 cu. ft. cargo volume with 2nd row up).

The Prius c's smart packaging layout offers elements of convenience and ease- of-operation for driver and passenger. The vehicle has a 20.9 inch hip point (measured from the ground) and a 30.1-inch door opening height (measured from the hip point) to help ease ingress/egress events. The packaging of engine components low within the chassis allows for a lower hood angle, enabling a 9.0-degree angle of depression for the driver. This angle, coupled with a less intrusive A-pillar design help improve the driver's forward visibility. The Prius c's shorter 31.9-inch front overhang contributes to the vehicle's tight 15.7-foot turning radius, helping make it extremely maneuverable in urban settings.

Youthful Exterior, Interior Design
The Prius c exterior design projects a fun, youthful attitude for this all-new addition to the Prius family, while offering excellent aerodynamic performance. Adding to its character the Prius c's lower-body styling is wider below the beltline, and features sculpted rear flares to help express a sturdy, athletic stance that communicates a more agile driving experience.

The rear design of the Prius c tapers the cabin toward the rear hatch to help enhance aerodynamic performance. Extensive aerodynamic features were engineered into the Prius c to help achieve a 0.28 coefficient of drag. The side mirrors incorporate fins and smooth shapes to aid aerodynamic performance.

The Prius c's available exterior colors include vibrant hues that are unique and expressive. The available colors include three new colors – Habanero, Moonglow, and Summer Rain Metallic – along with Blue Streak Metallic, Absolutely Red, Black Sand Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Classic Silver Metallic, and Super White.

The Prius c interior design seeks to create a space that is futuristic yet passenger friendly. The layout of the drive-system controls and the utility functions enhance the feeling of comfort. The thin, wide instrument panels, and placement of displays and controls, help convey a greater sense of spaciousness in a subcompact interior. The door trim, seat surfaces, and instrument panel feature treatments in lighter colors to help create contrast against the base black interior color.

The Prius c displays key information on an easy-to-read, digital-display combination meter atop the center of instrument panel, which is offset toward the driver. Locating this digital gauge panel closer to the driver helps reduce the driver's eye movement, and the instrument cluster's revised forward position helps achieve an optimal focal distance from the driver.

The Prius c is equipped with an advanced 3.5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) full-color Multi-Information Display (MID) that helps the driver better utilize the advanced features unique to hybrid vehicles. The new color TFT display illustrates drive information and energy usage in a fun, easy-to-read manner. The display offers, Energy Monitor, Drive Information, and an ECO-Score display that illustrates driving scores for each portion of a trip.

An ECO-savings display allows for gasoline costs and a comparison vehicle to be pre-set to help the system provide an ongoing estimate of the actual cost savings enjoyed driving the Prius c. The system can also display this data as a longer-term savings record, calculating savings and consumption over the span of months.

The Prius c offers a Touch Tracer display that coordinates driver tactile action on the steering wheel controls to a visual indicator on the multi-informational display atop the dashboard to help keep the driver's gaze closer to the road.

The Prius c's front seats have been designed to offer enhanced comfort and safety while reducing weight. The Prius c's seat design incorporates a urethane foam material that has been optimized to help reduce the seat's thickness, mass and weight while retaining comfort. The front seats offer improved seatback support with additional foam in the lower back and lateral bolster areas. They also adopt the Advanced WIL (Whiplash Injury-Lessening) structure that simultaneously support the head and lower back in the event of a collision from the rear.
The rear seats of the Prius c are available as full-fold or 60/40 split fold, depending on trim level. A denser urethane foam material used in the rear seat structure enables a relatively compact seat design that enables greater luggage area.

Seat fabrics available for Prius c include two different kinds of cloth and an available SofTexTM trim. The base seat fabric covering of the Prius c One grade has a solid color with various embossed patterns. The seat trim on Prius c Two and Three grades features a modern two-tone pattern with black bolsters and light blue-gray inserts which provide a pleasing color contrast. The Prius c Four includes premium SofTex trim with heated front seats, offered in black or light blue-gray.

Lightweight trim materials are utilized throughout the Prius c interior to help reduce overall vehicle weight. Durable, highly rigid, lightweight materials cover the A- pillar, center pillar, and trim the rear deck area. Lightweight materials are also adopted for the luggage floor, and the floor carpet is composed of a highly durable material that also provides weight savings.
The Prius c's door trim expresses a sense of advanced design with its shapes, contours and features. The USB port and auxiliary terminal are located in an open tray area in front of the passenger seat, which is ideal for storing of electronic devices.

The Prius c utilizes an efficient, compact air conditioning system. Key air- conditioning system components such as the blower fan, and air flow conduits have been addressed to reduce size and weight, while improving efficiency to help reduce electrical consumption. The system also utilizes a clean air filter that removes pollen, dust, and larger airborne objects. In ECO mode, the air conditioning operation is suppressed to help improve fuel consumption. The Prius c's roof is lined with heat insulating material to help realize better HVAC efficiency.

Display Audio and Connectivity with Entune®
The Prius c offers three audio system configurations; the Prius c One grade's audio system features four speakers and includes AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod® connectivity, hands-free phone capability, phone book access, and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology. The Prius c Two grade has the same audio features with a six speaker system.

The Prius c Three and Four grades include a Display Audio System with Navigation and EntuneTM that has six speakers. It includes a 6.1-inch touchscreen, SiriusXMTM Satellite Radio capability (includes a 3-month trial subscription to XM Select package), HD RadioTM with iTunes® tagging, and advanced voice recognition. Toyota's EntuneTM multi-media system functions through a smart phone interface that brings applications such as BingTM and Pandora® to the vehicle audio display. This audio configuration also features real-time traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports, and stocks.

Prius c Hybrid Synergy Drive
As with other Prius models, Prius c relies on Toyota's revolutionary Hybrid Synergy Drive® and excellent aerodynamics to achieve outstanding fuel efficiency. The Prius c relies on the seamless operation of two power sources (a gasoline engine and an electric motor tandem) either in parallel or serial operation as a means of propulsion. During deceleration and braking, the electric motor/generator tandem creates energy that is returned to the Hybrid System's battery to help restore charge. The Prius c's gasoline engine and electric motors can work in tandem or individually to propel the vehicle while powertrain operations (level of power application, power split, and regenerative flow) are managed by computer control to best match the application of power to given conditions.

The Prius c features a SULEV (Tier 2 Bin 3) compliant 1.5-liter in-line, four- cylinder gasoline (1NZ-FXE) engine that utilizes an efficient Atkinson cycle to improve its efficiency. This engine's Atkinson cycle modifies the engine's intake valve opening events to close later during the compression stroke. This delayed closure allows a portion of the intake charge to be forced back into the intake manifold to be used by the next cylinder, maximizing use of the fuel and improving thermal efficiencies. The 1.5-liter engine in the Prius c also adopts an electric water pump, a micro-polishing process that reduces friction of the reciprocating assembly, and a cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system that also helps improve efficiency.

The Prius c's efficient gasoline engine is mated to a new transaxle assembly that is the most compact, lightweight transaxle designed for a Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive System which is a two-electric-motor full hybrid system. The new P510 continuously variable transaxle contains two high-output motors (one acts as a starter/generator), a power split mechanism, a speed reducer device, and an open-type differential.

Several components within the Prius c's transaxle feature enhanced designs aimed at enhancing the function of the unit and improving drivability. By optimizing the design
and spring characteristics of the transaxle's vibration damper, low noise performance is achieved as well as increased suppression of the vibrations transferred by the engine. The new compact electric motor/ generator design in the P510 transaxle is smaller and lighter weight than previous motors thanks to a new stator design with rectangular coil configurations to achieve higher outputs from more compact dimensions.

The Prius c's hybrid system includes a 144-volt nickel-metal hydride battery pack that weighs 67.2 lbs. compared to the 201-volt battery in the midsize Prius that weighs 91 lbs. This battery positioning places mass near the middle of the Prius c's shorter wheelbase (100.4 inches), improving the vehicle's center of gravity to benefit stability and handling. The battery pack itself is comprised of 20 battery modules connected in series with each module containing six cells (total of 120 cells vs. 168 cells in Prius).

The Prius c is equipped with a newly designed power control unit that is lighter weight and more compact to reduce overall hybrid system weight. The power control unit contains an inverter, a voltage boosting converter and an AC/DC converter. The system's inverter converts high voltage direct current (DC) from the battery to alternating current (AC) for consumption by motor/generator tandem, and takes the AC power generated by the generator/motor into DC power to charge the battery. The new power control unit weighs three lbs. less than the unit on the Prius Liftback, and it includes an improved cooling system. The inverter's efficiency is improved with a newly designed Insulated Gate Polar Transistor (IGPT) that helps reduce the hybrid system's energy loss to improve fuel efficiency.

The Prius c hybrid system's DC-DC converter modifies the power generated by the DC 144v power motor/generator within the transaxle converting the electrical flow to DC 12 volt power. This 12-volt electricity is supplied to the vehicle's auxiliary devices and for maintaining charge of the12-volt battery. The size and weight of the Prius c's DC-DC converter has been reduced while the unit is able to realize improved performance and functionality.

Three Driver Convenient Drive Modes
Prius c offers three drive modes: Normal, ECO, and EV modes. Using a drive mode switch, operators can engage ECO and EV modes to best suit their driving needs.

With Prius c's ECO mode, the engine's throttle opening is reduced by a maximum of 12% compared to normal operation to reduce energy consumption. Also, the air-conditioning system operates in such a way to help reduce energy depletion and enhance vehicle efficiency. For instance, when ambient temperature rises above a preset level, internal air recirculation is activated to minimize air ventilation loss. Also, the blower fan airflow volume can be reduced to encourage fuel efficiency.

The Prius c also offers an EV mode that allows the vehicle to be driven a short distance using only the electric motor and hybrid battery for propulsion. The EV mode is well suited to situations when drivers seek to reduce noise while driving in residential areas, or limit exhaust emissions within indoor parking structures, for example. The Prius c can drive approximately one mile at speeds under 25 mph on solely electric power.

Vehicle Structure Helps Enhance Handling and Safety
The Prius c's body structure makes extensive use of light-weight, high-tensile steel to help reduce vehicle weight and help improve fuel economy. The use of high strength steel also lends the Prius c a rigid body structure that also helps enhance occupant safety and vehicle handling. The design of the body's front structure helps disperse impact energies around the passenger cabin, directing frontal crash energies around the passenger cabin and through the floor, rocker structures and A-pillar. The body features a side collision structure that utilizes multiple grades of steel to better manage impact deformity in addition to a reinforced center pillar and rocker panel that use 980 MPA grade steel. The Prius c's roof reinforcement structure uses 590 MPA grade steel to help better resist deformation.

Unification of the front crash-box structure with the radiator support, and optimizing the shape of the front cowl improves the torsional rigidity and stiffness of the Prius c chassis, helping enhance front suspension performance. Strategically placed metal reinforcement members are
applied to the rear door periphery and surrounding the rear suspension to improve the rear structure's rigidity under load. Additional reinforcement metal placed around the rear door openings also help improve the vehicle's torsional rigidity. An aluminum rear bumper reinforcement member is used to help increase rigidity between the rear subframe members, reducing weight while helping control flexing of the subframe to improve handling.

The circles and boxes denote area of the Prius c unibody that are supported with sound and vibration absorbing foam.

The Prius c body structure design implements several countermeasures to help mitigate noise and vibration entering the cabin. A spray-type insulation coating is used beneath the vehicle, and its optimal thickness helps realize the best sound insulation benefit with the least weight penalty. The center floor cross member and under floor reinforcement have been joint to contribute to ensuring handling stability and improve sound insulation. Foam materials are also utilized in various sections of the unibody structure such as the A-pillar, the B-pillar and the ends of the rocker panels among other structures

Suspension and Steering
The Prius c shares the suspension design with the Yaris subcompact. The front suspension consists of a Macpherson strut design, and the coil spring and shock-absorber characteristics have been tuned to help stability, flat turning and smooth ride comfort. The front-suspension- bushing characteristics have been tuned to help suppress vibrations transmitted to the vehicle on bumpy roads and help create a flat comfortable drive. A 24.2- mm stabilizer bar is equipped to the front of the vehicle to help enhance turning stability.

The tuned torsion-beam rear suspension helps create enhanced ride comfort and provide a smooth, responsive steering feel. The coil spring and shock absorbers have been tuned to offer a high level of stability, flat cornering and smooth ride while minimizing road vibrations. The thickness of the rear beam member has also been optimized to enhance rigidity and provide greater rollover resistance. The Prius c rides on a relatively long 100.4-inch wheelbase, which also helps enhance the vehicle ride quality.

Prius c is available with 15- or 16-inch wheel and tire combinations. Fuel- efficient tires that offer lower rolling resistance with improved road gripping performance have been adopted. Aerodynamic considerations helped shape the design of the wheels to help reduce wind resistance and improve fuel economy.

The Prius c is equipped with a column- type Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, which offers reduced steering efforts and power consumption with the adoption of an efficient electric motor and reduction gear that increase power assistance. Among the equipment available for the Prius c Four grade are aluminum-alloy 16-inch wheels which are also accompanied by a quicker steering ratio. The ratio yields 2.28 turns lock- to-lock, compared to the 3.02 turns with the 15-inch wheel specification.

The steering column is a lightweight, compact manual tilt/telescopic assembly. The Prius c's driver controls a D-shaped steering wheel that offers additional knee clearance for easier ingress/egress.

Safety
The Prius c is equipped with several active and passive safety elements. The Prius c is equipped with nine airbags, including driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front passenger seat cushion airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, and driver's knee airbag.

Star Safety SystemTM includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Smart Stop Technology (SST).

The Prius c is equipped with a Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS). To help the awareness of those around the vehicle, the VPNS will sound when the vehicle speed is above zero and below 15.5 mph, in EV mode or when engine is stopped, and the shift position is not in "P". The warning sound is a continuous polyphonic tone; the tone's sound pitch is coupled to vehicle speed with pitch of the tone increasing with vehicle speed

Peace of Mind Warranty Protection
Toyota's 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Additional 60-month warranties cover the powertrain for 60,000 miles and against corrosion with no mileage limitation. The hybrid-related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for eight years/100,000 miles.

The Prius c will also come standard with Toyota Care, a complimentary plan covering normal factory-scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Toyota expects Volt-beating mileage for Plug-in Prius, superlative sales for Prius c

2012-02-08T07:25:00.001-05:00

Today’s GM-Volt post will be a hybrid-hybrid article. What’s that, you ask? Rather than re-phrase a report from Japan about the Prius c by The Truth About Cars, I’ll paste it in below my brief.

TTAC has been known to upset people, but that’s its contrarian schtick, and its Managing Editor Bertel Schmitt is sticking to it.

2012 Plug-In Prius.

And for your more plain vanilla, just-the-facts reading pleasure, I’ll start with the latest about another Prius, the Plug-in. Both are due in March (limited availability for PIP).

PHV/PIP

Toyota has upped its fuel-efficiency projection for its Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV), according to Bloomberg, which reports the automaker expects to top the Volt in its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating.

Toyota’s U.S. Group Vice President Bob Carter, said the Plug-In Prius (AKA PIP) should manage 50 mpg in hybrid mode for combined city/ highway mileage, and earn 95 MPGe assuming its 4.4-kwh lithium-ion battery is recharged frequently.

“It’s still an estimate, but we are confident it’s going to be 95,” Carter said of Toyota’s projection Tuesday. The EPA rating will be known “in a couple weeks,” he said.

In comparison, the extended-range electric Volt can go 25-50-plus miles on a charge, is rated at 37 mpg combined, and 94 MPGe.

Toyota’s news represents an increase from a September estimate of 49/87. Satoshi Ogiso, chief engineer for Toyota’s Prius models, said the higher estimate follows further battery pack testing and additional newly developed “control programs.”

But before Prius fans get too excited, GM Spokesman Rob Peterson said driving conditions further separate the PIP from the Volt.

“The big difference here is in real-world conditions,” Peterson told Bloomberg. “The Volt’s ability to go all-electric at all speeds for 25 to 50 miles allows most drivers to commute on electricity only.”

The PIP has an electric-only mode top speed of 62 mph compared to the Volt’s top all-electric speed of 100 mph.

“At any point in time that a Prius driver exceeds 62 mph, their gas engine goes on,” Peterson said.

What’s more on average Volt drivers are filling their gas tanks but once a month, Peterson said.

For the PIP’s first year, Toyota aims to sell 15,000, compared to 45,000 year-two Volts to U.S. customers.

But as you’ve also no doubt noticed, Toyota has a huge head start in gas-electric vehicles, and dominates in the hybrid market segment, routinely occupying top billing for U.S. hybrid sales with its Prius line. The regular Prius, now called the third-generation “Liftback” has loomed largest taking over half of the limited hybrid car market.

Counting Prius v sales, the 2011 year-end total for the Prius line was 136,463 units sold compared to the next in line, Lexus (another Toyota brand) CT 200h, which sold 14,381 in 2011.

Toyota has chosen to lump all Prius sales numbers into one category, and it is projecting all four Prius models combined to account for 220,000 U.S. sales in 2012.

The company is now demoted to third overall in global sales, however, following disastrous effects from the March earthquake and tsunami.

GM has regained this spot, followed by Volkswagen, with Toyota following.

Toyota Drowns In Orders For Game Changing Engineering Feat Prius C

By Bertel Schmitt

Note: TTAC is one of our sister publications. Bertel spends his time covering the auto industry in China and Japan, not to mention Europe and the U.S., and previously worked over 30 years at a high level for Volkswagen.

When I called Toyota’s new Aqua / Prius c affordable compact hybrid first a “gamechanger,” then an “engineering feat,” this attracted the attention of self-styled jargon vigilantes. They demanded equal platitudes to be bestowed on domestic models. In the meantime, the Japanese game changer threatens to change Toyota’s best laid plans: It sells ten times better than expected.

Someone at Toyota told The Nikkei last week that the company “received about 120,000 orders for its new Aqua compact hybrid between its Dec. 26 release and Jan. 31, 10 times the monthly sales target of 12,000 vehicles.” Toyota markets the car as the Aqua in Japan. In the U.S. and other markets, it will be called Prius c.

These orders go on an already big pile. When the car was formally launched on Dec. 26 in Tokyo, Toyota “had received orders for 60,000 Aqua hybrid cars ahead of its launch,” says the Wall Street Journal. At that time, the waiting period for the car after an order was placed was said to be four months.

The onslaught of orders puts Toyota in a quandary. Not only have they planned for 12,000 units a month, these plans are also hard to, well, change. As Prius c Project Manager, Masahiko Yanagihara, had patiently explained to this reporter, the Aqua/Prius c is being built in the Iwate plant of subsidiary Kanto Auto Works in Kanegasaki. This plant has a maximum capacity of 30,000 units a month, if Toyota pulls out all the stops and works overtime. However, the plant also makes “other cars, such as the Ractis, Belta, Blade etc.” Until Toyota finds ways to expand its production capacity, the car will remain in short supply.

This shortage will only be exacerbated when the car is launched worldwide this year, while production remains back in Japan. Dubbed as “the world’s most fuel efficient hybrid car,” the Prius c is slated for sale in 50 countries, including the U.S. In Europe, Toyota will release a new small hybrid based on the Yaris compact. It will use the same hybrid system as the Aqua. Timing for the overseas launch has not been released. In the U.S., the Prius c is said to have a starting price of around $19,000. A look at gasoline prices and world news says that an affordable 53 mpg (EPA, city) car could not have come at a better time. If there would not be that bottleneck called Iwate. And the Yen.

Toyota has been hesitant in establishing hybrid production outside of Japan. The numbers seem to back this up. The Prius is Japan’s best selling car. This year, the title could go to the Aqua/Prius c. Outside of Japan, hybrids are still a niche play. The market share of hybrids in the U.S. was 2.11 percent in 2011, down from 2.78 percent in 2009. The Prius c is the little car that could change that.

Source: GM-Volt.com

New Mitsubishi i-MIEV Unseats Honda Civic Natural Gas after 8 Consecutive Years at the Top

2012-02-08T07:22:00.001-05:00

PRESS RELEASE

With the auto industry back on its feet and fuel economy standards shifting into high gear, automakers provided American consumers with a huge array of vehicles and technologies to choose from in 2012. Today at greenercars.org, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its 14th annual comprehensive environmental rankings showing how these offerings stack up.

The "Greenest" list saw a considerable shake-up this year, with the Mitsubishi i-MIEV battery electric vehicle claiming the top spot from the Honda Civic Natural Gas, which has held on to first place for eight years in a row. Making its model year 2012 debut on the American market, the i-MIEV earns a score of 58, the highest Green Score awarded since the rankings began in 1998. With a combined city and highway fuel economy of 112 miles per gallon equivalent, the i-MIEV outpaces all other vehicles currently sold in United States. "Even taking into account the emissions generated from the electricity used to power the i-MIEV, it still handily outscores other vehicles on the market today," said ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan.

The Honda Civic Natural Gas, despite its improved fuel economy this year, appears in second place, tied with the Nissan Leaf. Rounding out the top six are the Toyota Prius, the Honda Insight, and the Smart ForTwo. This year, hybrids dominate the "Greenest" list occupying half of all spots. Highly efficient conventional gasoline vehicles also continue to have a presence on the "Greenest" list, claiming three of the top twelve spots.

"It's increasingly obvious that automakers are fully invested in providing consumers with the widest possible array of vehicle choices. Earning a spot on the " Greenest" list is proving to be a real challenge for automakers given the variety of vehicle technologies on the market and the proliferation of highly efficient conventional vehicles. Just using the latest technology does not guarantee a top spot," said Vaidyanathan. This year saw the arrival of a number of new hybrid options for drivers from Hyundai, Kia, and Infiniti, but none broke into the top twelve.

Widely regarded as the pre-eminent buyer's guide to environment-friendly passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, greenercars.org provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2012 model.

Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a "Green Score," a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that contribute to climate change.

This year, a number of updates were made to the Green Book® methodology to more accurately estimate vehicles' environmental impacts. These include improved emissions estimates for the vehicle manufacturing process, changes reflecting current natural gas extraction practices, and consideration of upcoming shifts in the generation mix for the electricity used to power electric cars.

The greenercars.org website also identifies top, widely-available models in each vehicle class. This "Greener Choices" list includes trucks and SUVs such as the Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Canyon, Honda Odyssey, and the Ford F-150 (FFV). Cars such as the Chevrolet Sonic-5 and Hyundai Sonata top their respective classes. As the list demonstrates, consumers can make "greener choices" whatever their vehicle needs may be. Domestic manufacturers claimed five of the twelve spots.

The "Meanest" list this year sees a number of heavier light-duty vehicles, pushing out European sports cars as the highest emitters. The dirtiest vehicles for 2012 are the twin Chevrolet G3500 Express and GMC G3500 Savana cargo vans, followed by the Ford E-350 Wagon and the Bugatti Veyron sports car.

In addition to highlighting the year's "Greenest," "Meanest," "Greener Choices," and best-in-class lists, the greenercars.org website features informational write-ups on model year 2012 highlights, a consumer primer on vehicles and the environment, and advice on how to buy green when shopping for a new car or truck.

Summary "Green Scores" of the 1,000+ configurations of all model year 2012 vehicles are made available to subscribers of ACEEE's Green Book® Online interactive database along with each configuration's fuel economy, health-related pollution impacts, and greenhouse gas emissions. Subscribers can also build custom lists for comparing vehicles. Monthly and annual subscriptions to ACEEE's Green Book® Online are available at greenercars.org .

About ACEEE: The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, visit aceee.org.

Time Lapse Tear Down of the Chevy Volt - VIDEO

2012-02-07T19:18:00.004-05:00

Teardown of the Chevy Volt:

Chevy Volt – Gen-Two Upgradability Inside

2012-02-07T19:17:00.000-05:00

A methodical teardown and analysis by a team of automotive engineers has revealed the Volt to be at least as advanced as some of you already know it is, and it appears also to have been designed from its inception for future upgrades.

The teardown was the sort of thing automakers more often do behind closed doors to reverse engineer a competitor’s vehicle, but this one by Munro & Associates was attended by Reuters and EE Times.

Based on Reuters’ report, Automotive News noted that the Volt’s complex electronics are a “blank slate” ready for “quick improvements,” thus making this first-of-its-type car one step closer to consumer electronics which also see more frequent updates than automobiles usually do.

Although we have no word on whether GM intends to tap the Volt’s inherent potential anytime soon, GM has acknowledged that room was made for future plans from the beginning.

“This heavy emphasis on advanced electronic systems management was a deliberate program priority,” said GM’s former vice chairman Bob Lutz previously.

Deconstructing the new EREV

The teardown was not performed under GM’s watch, and for the most part, GM continues to keep many developments secret as it conservatively moves forward, with the Volt leading the way.

GM could not prevent some engineers from gaining further insights, however, as they removed over 600 components from the Volt. These were carefully cataloged over a three day time span at Munro’s Troy, Mich. warehouse/headquarters.

Among other things, the Volt’s circuitry suggested a development plan not just for the Volt, but also for other GM electric vehicles, such as the Spark EV.

Analysts observing the Volt’s teardown confirmed GM clearly left unused circuit board space for more computing power to improve performance – be it EV range or power or both.

“They’re reserving a lot of this real estate for future development so that they can easily put more components on here if they want to,” said John-Scott Thomas, a senior engineer at UBM TechInsights, of a circuit board removed from the Volt’s battery pack.

Munro & Associates CEO Sandy Munro was similarly impressed with one of the Volt’s circuit boards held up for inspection.

“This is, without a doubt, the most advanced board I’ve seen General Motors put out and it’s got room to grow,” Munro CEO Sandy Munro said. “This is hot stuff.”

Incidentally, Munro & Associates did a similar teardown of a 2007 Prius a few years back, but no one was talking about that vehicle during the Volt dissection.

Holding up a circuit board from the Volt’s inverter with its 32-bit Freescale Semiconductor chips, UBM’s Thomas said it was “more of a development board. This is their first pass. There are places here where you can see that it looks as though you should be able to put an integrated circuit and there’s nothing there,” he said. “They might already have plans to add that in at a future date.”

Freescale and Japan’s Renesas Electronics are dominant forces in the $23.6 billion global auto chip arena, controlling about two-thirds of the market.

The Volt actually has about 20 Freescale chips – around twice as many chips as a typical internal combustion powered vehicle.

In their haste to get the Volt to market, GM’s engineers were said by Freescale to have taken a conservative approach with the Volt’s internal layout.

“They didn’t have as much time to do as many redesigns,” said Freescale auto field engineer John Cotner. “Risk reduction was a more important factor than it is in a lot of vehicle design.”

Automotive News quoted chief Volt engineer Doug Parks who has previously said GM played it safe with the first-generation vehicle which was built in anticipation of next-generation batteries and other future refinements.

For at least the past 18 months, Cotner said, Freescale and GM have been working on the next technological leap. The route they are taking involves fewer, smaller modules in electric vehicles.

GM would not divulge however whether the Spark battery will make use of Freescale chips.

On a more general note, Parks and others have said GM is of course working on Volt improvements.

“We do want to try and design more performance in the car, maybe get a little more EV range for our money,” Parks told Reuters.

Whether the pace will be quickened or curtailed remains to be seen.

GM has also said it is waiting until May or June to decide whether to fulfill its projected 60,000 unit production this calendar year, or notch it back if it sees less demand.

Assuming GM and the Volt can get past the malicious PR gauntlet they had to run through last year into this, and demand increases, the Volt will be ready for Gen Two – in fact it is already partly built into the Volt’s DNA.

It was a forward reaching plan begun with gusto that’s now taking on a more sedate and measured approach.

GM has a major head start, and a look inside the Volt proves it.

Source: GM-Volt.com

2013 Buick Regal To be Outfitted with Mild Hybrid eAssist as Standard

2012-02-07T19:10:00.002-05:00

It takes a lot of money and time to develop and produce hybrid cars and electric vehicles, but that's not to say regular gasoline cars can't benefit from some of their technology.

Mild hybrid technology is a cost-effective way of improving the gas mileage of a car using a fairly simple electric motor and battery setup.

That's the approach Buick is taking, when it equips its 2013 model-year Buick Regals with eAssist.

The 2.4-liter gasoline Regal will use the system, that pairs a small lithium-ion battery pack with a small electric motor, to assist the engine. That will allow it to achieve an estimated 36 mpg on the highway, under the EPA cycle.

That's an improvement of 5 mpg over the 2012 Buick Regal 2.4, and raises combined economy from 23 mpg to 29 mpg, or enough to save around $450 in gas each year on the EPA's 45 percent highway, 55 percent city, 15,000 mile estimate.

eAssist is already available on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan. Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing, explains that “Buick is committed to increasing innovation across the lineup,"

"By making the advanced eAssist powertrain standard on a second vehicle, we are putting the spotlight on smart technology" he adds.

Buick hasn't yet announced an on-sale date. Pricing for the 2013 Buick Regal eAssist is also yet to be confirmed.

Source: Green Car Reports

Fisker Karma Lays Off Workers and Looks For New Loans

2012-02-07T08:08:00.001-05:00

The bad news just keeps on coming from electric-car startup Fisker Automotive.

The company said today that it has laid off employees and contractors at both its new Anaheim, California, headquarters and its assembly facility in Wilmington, Delaware.

Layoffs by car companies are hardly new, but Fisker was granted $529 million in low-interest loans by the U.S. Department of Energy under its advanced-technology vehicle manufacturing program.

Now Fisker is reportedly trying to renegotiate the terms of that loan, having missed critical deadlines in the development of its second vehicle, a mid-size plug-in sedan known as Project Nina.

The company has claimed that much of the work on the Nina vehicle--design, engineering, and development and testing--is already done.

In October, Fisker said full production of Project Nina won't begin until mid-2013, though the company insisted at the time that some production will occur place before the end of 2012.

According to the Associated Press, Roger Ormisher, a Fisker spokesman, said the company hopes it can "reach a resolution soon" with the Department of Energy on revised terms.

2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic, New York City, Jan 2012

Under the same DoE loan program, startup Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] also received loan guarantees of $465 million, though the big money went to established carmakers Ford ($5.9 billion) and Nissan ($1.4 billion).

Thus far, Fisker has drawn down approximately $193 million of the loans. Under the terms of the loan agreement, a maximum of $169 million was allocated to complete the development of the 2012 Fisker Karma, a range-extended electric luxury sport sedan that started deliveries very late last year.

The Karma has had significant teething troubles, with several delays in the announced launch dates and two recalls, one to prevent a battery-pack leak and the other to update software.

It was also rated at a mere 20 mpg by the EPA in range-extending mode, when the 2.0-liter gasoline engine switches on to power a generator that sends electricity to the pair of electric motors that turn the rear wheels.

A further indignity: The low, sleek Karma sedan was rated a subcompact by the EPA, based on its limited interior volume. As we learned during our brief test drive in New York last month, the car is somewhat tight inside--although not necessarily cramped.

2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic, New York City, Jan 2012

The layoffs announced today included 40 employees and contractors in Anaheim, and 26 workers at the Wilmington plant.

According to trade journal Automotive News (subscription required), the company had 650 employees in Anaheim last month, along with about 100 in Delaware.

The goal is for Fisker Automotive to conserve its cash while it attempts to renegotiate the DoE loans and seeks additional sources of equity.

Late last month, the company doubled the size of its Series D funding round to $300 million, of which it has $243 million already committed.

That brings total private investment in Fisker to $866 million, along with the $529 million of DoE loans.

Critics have suggested that startup electric carmakers Fisker and Tesla are vulnerable to the same charges of improper influence being levied after the collapse of solar-cell manufacturer Solyndra, which also received DoE loans.

Source: Green Car Reports

Switzerland-based Catecar extended-range vehicle is tested in Geneva

2012-02-05T17:23:00.002-05:00

A Switzerland-based company is testing an extended-range plug-in mini-vehicle that it says gets more than 200 miles per gallon and has a single-tank range of more than 300 miles, according to website TechnologicVehicles.com.

The company, Catecar, tested a prototype of the vehicle at the Geneva Airport this week. The car weighs less than 800 pounds, while its batteries account for about 10 percent of the vehicle's weight, according to the website. Making the car even more energy efficient are the solar panels on the vehicle's roof.

At just under 10 feet long, Catecar is about a foot longer than Daimler's Smart ForTwo two-seater and about two feet shorter than the Mini Cooper. In other words, it's not big – but the company does have big plans, and production could start next year, TechnologicVehicles reports.

Source: Autoblog Green

Tesla Talks up the Model S - Promo - VIDEO

2012-02-05T17:21:00.000-05:00

GS Yuasa will triple Li-ion battery supply to Honda

2012-02-05T16:44:00.001-05:00

GS Yuasa Corp. plans to boost lithium-ion battery output for Honda Motor Co.'s hybrid vehicles threefold to 15 million cells by fall 2012.

The production hike will be achieved by expanding and strengthening facilities at a Kyoto plant of Blue Energy Co., a joint venture with Honda, at a total cost of about 10 billion yen.

The plant currently produces 5 million cells a year for the Civic Hybrid sold in North America. Its output capacity will be increased to also supply batteries for a plug-in hybrid that Honda plans to launch in Japan and the US later this year. The capacity hike will give the plant the ability to supply enough lithium ion batteries for 200,000 to 300,000 hybrids and plug-in hybrids a year.

Excellence in Energy Efficiency Act promises $1 billion prize for 100 MPG car

2012-02-04T11:32:00.002-05:00

Are you a U.S. automaker? Do you want a billion dollars? Have we got a deal for you! Just build 60,000 cars that get 100 miles per gallon and the government will send a truckload of cash to your office doors (or, perhaps, mail a check).

H.R. 3872 – the Excellence in Energy Efficiency Act of 2012 – was just introduced by Representative Dan Lungren (R) of California's 3rd Congressional District. If passed, the legislation would have the Secretary of Energy "establish a program to award a prize in the amount of $1,000,000,000 to the first automobile manufacturer incorporated in the United States to manufacture and sell in the United States 60,000 mid-sized sedan automobiles which operate on gasoline and can travel 100 miles per gallon."

That's right, no cheating with subcompacts toys or fancy all-electrics, it's for adult-sized gasoline burners only, baby! It's unclear whether plug-in hybrids such as the Chevy Volt or upcoming Ford Fusion Energi might be eligible, but we doubt it since OpenCongress says the subtitle is "To provide a prize to the first manufacturer of highly-efficient mid-sized automobiles powered by gasoline" and the Volt already comes in at 93 MPGe.

While established automakers couldn't be lured in by the measly $1 million offered by the Progressive X-Prize, we're sure they'd be more than happy to accept a check with the big B on it. The question this proposed law begs, though, is would they make an extra effort to achieve this sort of sky-high efficiency goal under other circumstances?

Source: Autoblog Green

Will Quad 0 Leases Help Boost Sales in California?

2012-02-04T11:29:00.002-05:00

With last month's sales of the 2012 Chevy Volt less than half what they were in December, Chevrolet has stepped up its efforts to sell its innovative but pricey range-extended electric car.

And it's doing it the old-fashioned way, by "putting money on the hood," as salespeople say.

According to Chevy salesman and certified Volt specialist Randall Blaum, the company has come out with what it calls the "Quad $0" lease program for the 2012 Volt.

That means no down payment ($0 down), no security deposit ($0 deposit), no payment for the first month of the lease ($0 first payment), and no cash due when the sale is completed ($0 at signing).

Owners are still responsible for their local DMV and registration fees, plus a small amount in taxes that cannot legally be rolled into the lease amount.

The base payment on a 36-month lease ranges from $369 to $425 per month, depending on the options on the specific Volt leased, and allows 12,000 miles per year.

The base price of a 2012 Chevrolet Volt is $39,995, and adding a healthy number of options can take the price toward $45,000.

The downside to this seemingly attractive offer? It's only available in California--and it applies only to 2012 Volts built before production halted in mid-December.

Traffic

Those cars do not have a very desirable feature to be included in 2012 Volts built for sale in California when production restarts this month: the added emissions equipment to certify them as "electric Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emission Vehicles."

Volts with that "e-AT-PZEV" certification qualify to receive one of 40,000 "green sticker" permits allowing owners to travel in High Occupancy Vehicle lanes with only a single occupant.

So California Volt buyers will need to assess carefully whether the financial advantages of the Quad $0 lease for an existing 2012 Volt outweigh the benefit of solo HOV-lane travel in an updated 2012 Volt later this year.

You can draw your own conclusions as to whether this will juice sales of the Volt in its most crucial market, or simply act as a clearance sale for cars that may be viewed as less desirable once newer 2012 models arrive at California dealers.

Meanwhile, Blaum says his dealership--Quality Chevrolet in Escondido, California--has 10 Volts that qualify for the Quad $0 lease in stock now.

Source: Green Car Reports