Posts about Energy Car as of September 7, 2009

Toyota Prius 2010 – 2 million hybrids and counting CBC broadcasts documentary GM killed the electric car Stephen Pate, NJN Network, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, September 6, 2009 with story from AutoBlogGreen As of August 31, 2009, Prius announced they had shipped more than 2 million hybrid cars in 12 years. Ironically CBC broadcast a documentary last night Who Killed the Electric Car? Toyota has plugged away with great success in saving the planet with its hybrid cars.

The last six years have seen the increase on demand for hybrid cars by 50%. It’s no surprise how much of an effect they have had on the average driver and consumer but it seems that hybrid is definitely the future of the automobile industry; so much so, in fact, that it’s also not a shock to see hybrid car rental companies sprouting up here and there. On the Rise Surprisingly, car rental companies that support environmentally friendly cars were around even before the introduction of the first hybrid electric.

Hybrid cars account for probably less than 5% of the US Market but the demand for them has risen to over 50% over the last six years that they entered the mainstream. It’s no surprise how much of an effect they have had on the average driver and consumer but it seems that hybrid is definitely the future of the automobile industry; so much so, in fact, that it’s also not a shock to see hybrid car rental companies sprouting up here and there.

China is tightening grip on its rare earth metals, which may derail production of hybrid and electric cars, according to The New York Times and Bloomberg. Hybrid cars use rare metals, especially neodymium for magnets in electric motors, and lanthanum in nickel metal hydride batteries.

The Lotus Range Extender EngineLotus has developed a 1.2 litre 47bhp Range Extender Engine that will show at Frankfurt and be trialled in a Jaguar XJ. Lotus have been innovators – and innovators on a budget at that – ever since Colin Chapman took them to the top of the road car abd track car tree in the seventies. Working with what at times seemed like nothing more than a wish and a prayer, Chapman took Lotus to the automotive peaks with cars like the Lotus Elan and the Lotus series of F1 cars.

Front view of the Lexus LF-Ch (click image for bigger photo)We’ve got the first photo of the front of the new Lexus FL-Ch Compact Concept ahead of its reveal at Frankfurt. It doesn’t seem like great big news, I know. But all we’ve had from Lexus so far on their new Premium Compact is a less than revealing studio shot of the rear 3/4 view. But just popped in to our inbox is the picture of the front of the Lexus LF-Ch. So now you have the front and the back. Can’t say I’m totally overwhelmed by the style.

Peugeot are bringing the iON EV to FrankfurtPeugeot are bringing the Mitsubishi i-MiEV based Peugeot iOn EV to Frankfurt. Does Frankfurt have direct access to the German National Grid? If not, with the amount of electric cars makers are bringing to the show, there could be a blown fuse or three. Latest to join the electric car party is Peugeot, who have announced they will be showing the Peugeot iOn, which is to all intents and purposes a re-badged Mitsubishi i-MiEV.No question that this – like all these little electric cars – is a city car only.

High-performance concept study with BMW ActiveHybrid technology visualising the dynamic performance typical of a BMW against the backdrop of future demands in sustained mobility. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics as a symbol for the future of Sheer Driving Pleasure in harmony with trendsetting efficiency. Development aim: The performance of a BMW M Car and a highly emotional character combined with the fuel economy and emission management of a modern small car in the premium class.

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; } .flickr-yourcomment { } .flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; } .flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } 80201021JF038_AUTO_SHOW, originally uploaded by dinhhuong283 The nature of media warfare is a rather unforgiving beast, such as during a recent press meet where Audi President, Johan de Nysschen, confidently called [...]

Photo via Beige Alert Paice, a company that develops hybrid electric power train technology, has filed a patent infrigement case against Toyota (yet again), saying that the company is using Paice’s technology in the Prius and two other hybrid vehicles. Should Paice win, it could spell the death of certain vehicle imports, possibly including the green icon Prius. … Read the full story on TreeHugger