2017 Cadillac CT6 PHEV Arrives This Spring With 30 Mile Electric Range

Cadillac announced yesterday that its 2017 CT6 Plug-in Hybrid will arrive this spring with an estimated 30 miles of electric only driving range, and a total range of more than 400 miles.

The CT6 Plug-In Hybrid is expected to have fuel economy estimated at 65 MPGe — miles per gallon equivalent.

“The CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, and by far the lightest car in its class, making it an ideal platform for electrification,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “In the CT6, Cadillac presents a new formula for prestige luxury. The advanced Plug-In Hybrid system is a key addition, providing a combination of exceptional fuel economy, crisp acceleration and strong electric-driving range.”

The hybrid, with a starting price of $76,090 before incentives, will only be built in China, unlike the flagship gasoline-powered CT6, which is produced at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.

The CT6 Plug-In includes a new rear-wheel drive electric variable transmission (EVT), allowing the car to provide smooth, powerful acceleration, Cadillac said.

The CT6 borrows parts from the Chevrolet Volt and adapts them to the CT6’s rear-wheel drive chassis.

Like the Volt, the CT6 features two electric motors, each producing 100 horsepower.

The two-motor EVT combines with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine to produce an estimated combined 335 horsepower and 432 pounds-feet of torque.

The output is good for an estimated 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, or the same time as V6 competitors, the company said.

Electric top speed is 78 mph, and with the additional engine power, it has a top speed of 150 mph.

The lithium-ion battery pack will have 18.4 kilowatt-hours, just like that of the Chevy Volt, but won’t use the same T-shaped battery-pack layout as the Volt.

Instead, the battery will be integrated into the floor, which according to Cadillac, helps increase vehicle stiffness.

Cadillac says the CT6 Plug-In will be available as a package within the CT6 product line, with pricing and equipment similar to its premium luxury model.

Many optional features come standard on the plug-in model such as rear seat infotainment, enhanced night vision technology and a rear camera mirror.

Despite hype, Nissan Leaf outsells Tesla Model S 2-to-1

All eyes continue to be on how quickly the Tesla Model S has been accepted by consumers, beating the expectations of critics who said it was too expensive and that the EV range would always be a hinderance in places other than California. But among other electric vehicles, how do its sales stack up?

According to Hybrid Cars, the Model S will pass the 100,000-sales mark in December and be this year's top-selling plug-in vehicle. Consider that this large luxury sedan that just happens to be electric typically sells for north of the $100,000 mark. And consider, as they do, that about 60 percent or so have gone to American buyers and that means roughly 60,000 US buyers have picked up a Model S - that beats the sales of other large gas-powered luxury sedans. Tesla does not officially release monthly sales figures.

Despite the excellent year-to-date numbers, the Model S still hasn't caught up to the other big names among electrics, the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf. And it's estimated that if you factor in the first-generation Volt and its Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden derivatives, General Motors has sold just over 100,000 of its range-extender EV since it first went on sale in December 2010. Sales have been off significantly this year, mostly due to production stopping in spring to retool for the 2016 Volt that recently went on sale in some states.

But since the Nissan Leaf went on sale around the same time as the Volt, it's maker has managed to move almost twice as many, or about 200,000 cars globally. This, even as the Leaf's US sales were off more than 40 percent through November. Blame that on the Leaf's age, the 2016 model's noticeably longer range and that used Leafs are dirt cheap these days.

The bottom line is that while the Tesla Model S has been a hit as far as electric vehicles are concerned, it hasn't caught up to the popularity of the Nissan Leaf yet. And with a second-generation Leaf due in the near future and the Tesla Model X possibly affecting Model S popularity, it's too soon to see where that car's momentum will stop.

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1 Million Electric Cars Now In The World

More than one million all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have been sold worldwide to date, according to the most recent figures. Considering that the 500,000 threshold was just passed last July, that means that growth has really been picking up as of late — with a bit over 200,000 in sales between July–December 2014; and with around 300,000 of sales in just the last 9 months or so.

Of these estimated 1,004,000 EVs sold worldwide to date, an estimated 62% are pure EVs and 38% PHEVs. The vast majority of these sales have occurred since late 2010, when the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF launched (click those links for some serious flashbacks). That means that the one million sales threshold was passed after around 4 years + 10 months of time.

As one can probably guess, of these million or so sales, a great majority have been from only a few models — the Nissan LEAF, the Chevrolet Volt, the Tesla Model S, the Toyota Prius PHEV, theMitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the BYD Qin, the BMW i3, the Renault Zoe, and the Ford Fusion Energi leading the pack. As seen in the graph above, roughly 200,000 Nissan LEAFs have been sold to date, and 100,000 Volts, making those two the clear leaders — though the Tesla Model S is close behind with 75,000 units sold.

Presumably, with the launch of the Model X and the Model 3, Tesla will claim a much greater market share, but that remains to be seen. BYD also looks likely to increase its market share notably in the coming years, based on market trends and new models. Mitsubishi and Toyota have been doing fairly well as well, though one wonders what the future holds for those two companies — the US release of the Outlander PHEV should be interesting, for instance, if it ever happens.

As far as Toyota goes, while the Prius PHEV is technically a plug-in the model, it only has 11 miles of rated all-electric range (and 6 miles on the highway), so those numbers should be taken with a caveat on that point. The company’s future plans concerning EVs appear to be rather nebulous for now — though, one wonders how long the hydrogen car charade can keep going, so maybe that’ll change soon.

With regard to where these million+ sales have occurred, there are no surprises there — the US,China, Japan, and Northern Europe lead the pack by a substantial margin. The US accounts for a bit more than a third of the total figure (363,265 units sold); China follows with about half of that share (157,354 units sold); Japan with a fair bit less than that (121,000+); and various European countries and Canada round out the top 10.

It should probably be noted here that President Obama’s supposed goal to spur 1 million EV sales in the US by the end of 2015 will not be achieved — less than half of that figure will likely have been sold by the end of the year. But maybe he misspoke and the goal was 1 million EV sales worldwide. 

Sales in the US will likely pick up in the coming years, though, as cheaper models (such as the Chevy Bolt, the Model 3, etc) launch. That said, until good-quality models start being offered in the sub $20,000 range, it’s unlikely that sales will see the boom that advocates would like to see, in my opinion.

It’ll be interesting to see how units do on the used car markets in the near future, though — 6 years from now, how much will a used Chevy Bolt be selling for? Will it be cheap/functional enough that someone of lesser means might be willing to give it a try rather than going with a conventional offering?

Sales in the European and Chinese markets are continuing to grow relatively fast. I wouldn’t be surprised to see China take the top spot within only a few years.

On the subject of the European markets, it has only been a couple of countries driving the majority of the growth of recent times, and much of this has been down to policy support (most especially in the UK, Norway, France, and the Netherlands).

A final note that’s probably worth making here: much of the EV sales in Germany and France to date have been of units offered by local companies — BMW and Renault, in particular. Foreign manufacturers have had a hard time gaining much of a market share in these countries, with the Tesla Model S and Nissan LEAF being exceptions.

Images via GM-Volt

Volt cruises into North Carolina and South Carolina

2011 Chevrolet Volt on test in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 2011

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General Motors today announced that it is ramping up sales of its plug-in hybrid electric car, the Chevy Volt, in two new states: North Carolina and South Carolina.

Like other new electric cars, the Volt is only available in a few states. Before today’s announcement, it was available in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, California, Michigan and Texas, a representative of the company said. The Leaf initially rolled out in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. California is the only state where the two cars overlap right now. Volt deliveries will begin in North Carolina and South Carolina in August, company officials said.

Nissan has taken the lead in the small, but fiercely competitive, low-end electric car market. The company sold 1,708 Leaf cars in June. That puts it well ahead of General Motors, which sold 561 of its hybrid electric Volt cars in the same month. Nissan has now sold 3,875 Leafs compared to General Motors’ 2,745 Volts sold in the first half of the year. Sales likely didn’t grow as quickly as the Leaf because General Motors said it was pulling back on its Volt supply to issue more demonstration cars to dealerships.

2011 Chevrolet Volt outside Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant

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General Motors recently slashed the price of the Volt to around $40,000 to make it more competitive with the Nissan Leaf. The 2011 Nissan Leaf sells for $32,780, while the 2011 Chevy Volt costs around $41,000 prior to the price cut. Electric car buyers can apply for a federal tax credit that can bring the price down by $7,500.

While the cars operate in very different ways, they’re both designed to attract mainstream car buyers looking for a more environmentally friendly option or a way to save money on gas. The Volt has an equivalent fuel efficiency rating of 93 miles per gallon while it is running on pure electric power, and the Leaf has an equivalent fuel efficiency rating of 99 miles per gallon.

The Volt has a traditional internal combustion engine and an engine powered by a battery jammed into the same vehicle. The car can run around 35 miles off battery power before the internal combustion engine kicks in, giving the car a total range north of 300 miles on a full charge and full tank of gas. The Leaf is a pure plug-in electric car that can travel around 100 miles on battery power before it needs to recharge.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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Nissan recently went on the offensive by taking a shot at the Volt in a television advertisement. Sales of both electric cars were neck-and-neck for several months and only differ by around 17 cars shipped at the end of May.

Most electric car buyers are more concerned about how long it takes to charge the car and how far it is able to drive than the actual price of the electric car, according to a report by Accenture. Pure plug-in electric cars are typically limited in how far they will go on a charge, and they can take a long time to recharge.

Source: All Cars Electric

How the Chevy Volt leads buyers to the Cruze

2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Chevy Volt just a big bait and switch? According to CNN Money (yep, that's the same site that recently called the Chevrolet Volt's technology obsolete), the Volt is more or less a brilliant marketing ploy dreamed up by some clever folks over at General Motors.

CNN Money says the Volt is a halo vehicle that, like the Chevrolet Corvette, draws buyers into showrooms. Once there, consumers seeking only a glimpse of the fire-breathing Corvette usually end up buying a more tame Chevy Impala. Likewise, the Volt, being a remarkable feat of engineering, draws in loads of potential buyers who opt for the significantly cheaper, though also amazingly fuel efficient, Chevy Cruze.

In other words, CNN Money says that, with regards to the Volt, GM has "used a tried-and-true marketing ploy to score a home run." Agree?



Source: Autoblog Green

2011 Volt vs. 2008 Prius – A Friendly Comparison

As an owner of both a 2008 Toyota Prius and a 2011 Chevy Volt, I thought I’d compare the two in a friendly way so that prospective buyers might understand why I think the Volt is a superior design.

Let me start by saying that I was a Prius fan from the beginning and I still am. I have owned 2002, 2005, and 2008 model year Prii, and they have all delivered efficient, reliable service. I have every reason to believe that the new Prius models including the plug-in Prius will be equally attractive to potential buyers.

So first, let’s compare them in terms of efficiency and cost of operation. My 2008 Prius has essentially the same EPA mpg ratings as the new 2011 models, so I suspect my experience is pretty typical for most Prius owners. I get about 48 mpg average in the summer and about 38-40 mpg in the cold Rochester, NY, winters. I have gotten over 50 mpg frequently, but I think my averages are about right.

2011 Chevrolet Volt and 2008 Toyota Prius.

I have owned my Chevy Volt since March, 2011, and because we had a terribly cold spring in Rochester, the temperature during the first two weeks I owned the car was in the 20’s (Fahrenheit). My all-electric range has varied from about 25-30 miles in the coldest weather to about 50 miles when the temperature is between 65-75 degrees. At temperatures of 80-95 degrees, I get about 45 miles of range with the air conditioning on.

As of the time I write this, I have driven the Volt 4,192 miles of which 3,397 were in all-electric mode. I have used 20.8 gallons of gas, so my Volt-calculated mpg is at 201 (cost of electricity not included) and my average mpg in charge sustaining mode (when the Volt uses gasoline) is 38 mpg. I got 41 mpg on a recent long trip, but I think the average is reduced when gas is used on shorter trips.

Let’s assume that the Prius is also driven 4,192 miles and gets 46 mpg average. At $3.60/gallon of gasoline the operating cost per mile is $.078/mile. Assuming the national average cost of electricity at $.11/kWh, and using my OnStar reported electricity consumption in the Volt of 33 kWh/100 miles (several other sources have reported similar numbers), the operating cost per mile of my Volt including the cost of electricity and gasoline has been $.047/mile. So if your use is like mine, the Volt gets about 76 MPGe (all costs in) and is a much more efficient choice than the Prius, which was heretofore the most efficient car on the market. In fact, a Prius is only 60 percent as efficient as a Volt under these operating conditions.

A few caveats: Because I park my Volt inside a garage, battery temperature regulation needs are minimized, and those who park their Volts outside during a cold winter or hot summer and keep them plugged in will probably see a higher average electricity consumption/mile. In fact, during the cold month of March here in Rochester, my average electricity consumption for the Volt was 35 kWh/100 miles. On the other hand, if one charges at night, electricity costs/kWh can be substantially less than $.11/kWh, in which case the Volt fares even better against the Prius. And if the cost of gasoline goes above $4/gallon, the Volt does even better in the comparison. Of course, if you live in an area where the cost/kWh of electricity is considerably higher than the national average, the Volt and the Prius become more comparable in terms of operating cost/mile. But be careful here – electricity cost/kWh is not obtained by simply dividing your electric bill by the number of kWh you have used during the billing month. Since there is a substantial connection fee independent of kWh used, the cost you should use is the cost of adding additional kWh’s to your current bill, which is much less on a per/kWh basis.

Volt Interior (2011 Production Show Car shown).

In terms of usable space inside each vehicle, the edge goes clearly to the Prius. There is both more room per passenger and room for more passengers (5 vs. 4 in the Volt). The trunk is also a bit bigger in the Prius.

In terms of ride and handling, the edge clearly goes to the Volt. The Volt is quieter, handles better, is quicker, and is more comfortable on long trips (at least to my 64-year-old back). Interestingly, the big, heavy Volt battery running down the bottom center of the car seems to virtually glue the car to the road, and traction in snow is really quite good.

In terms of cost, a comparably equipped Prius costs about $4,000 less than a Volt after the tax credit. You would have to drive the Volt like I do for about 129,000 miles to make up the difference if you were trying to justify the additional cost on the basis of energy cost savings (assuming the cost of both gasoline and electricity remain at current levels).

In terms of raw energy consumption, the Volt as I use it is clearly superior, and for those who care about environmental concerns and the consumption of non-renewable energy resources, this may be the deciding factor. In terms of the amount of imported oil consumed, the Volt is even better, since most of the energy it consumes comes from electricity generated from American sources.

If I ask myself, “If I charge the Volt only once a day, how far would I have to drive the Volt each day to reduce its average MPGe to that of a Prius,” the answer is more than 140 miles per day. I think the percentage of Americans who drive more than 140 miles per day is very small. For that reason, it always pains me to hear reviewers say that the Volt may be a good choice for some drivers.

In terms of reliability, the Volt is a new design so there is no record of service reliability over the life of the car. To date, Volts appear to be very reliable, but only time will tell. The Prius has proven to be very reliable, so it has to get the edge in this area.

2008 Prius interior.

Occupant crash safety tests have resulted in high scores for both vehicles, but the Volt has scored better overall. The Volt recently received 5 stars in the new, more stringent, government crash test program. A 2010 Prius earned 4 out of 5 stars in the less stringent tests conducted in prior years.

Fit and finish is an area I would usually concede to Toyota, who set new standards in this area for years, but the Volt is surprisingly well made. In fact, the Volt is one of the tightest cars I have ever driven, with a kind of solid body feel that provides real security to its occupants. I’ll call this area a wash.

One final note – a plug-in version of the Prius has been announced, with an all-electric range reported to be about 13 miles (although the Prius will still use its gas engine any time it needs real power, and all the time at highway speeds). The Volt’s battery is warranted for 8 years or 100,000 miles, by which time it is expected to have been reduced in capacity to about 80 percent of its initial value. If that is true, an 8-year-old Volt will have more than twice the range of a new plug-in Prius. For those worried about resale value down the road, this is a pretty interesting fact.

My conclusion: if you have to have seating for 5, the Prius is a very sensible choice. Otherwise, go for the Volt. You won’t regret it.

Source: Bill Destler via GM-Volt.com

MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF 70 NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO CITY'S FLEET AND LAUNCHES NEW CITY EFFORTS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT ELECTRIC VEHIC

PRESS RELEASE

New City Website Provides Facts About Electric Vehicles - 21 Percent of Consumers are More Likely to Purchase an Electric Vehicle after Being Provided Basic Facts

Electric Vehicles Will Help Achieve Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Emission Goals in PlaNYC

City Hosting Free Screening of "Revenge of the Electric Car" and Information Session to Answer Questions About Electric Vehicles Tonight in Central Park

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Operations Stephen Goldsmith, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability David Bragdon and Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Edna Wells Handy today announced the addition of 70 new electric vehicles to the City’s fleet and launched new City efforts to provide New Yorkers with the facts about electric vehicles. Research has shown most consumers are unaware of basic facts about electric vehicles, and the likelihood of a consumer purchasing an electric vehicle rather than an internal combustion vehicle increases dramatically once they are provided with the facts about electric vehicles. The City already has the largest municipal electric vehicle fleet in the country, now totaling 430 electric vehicles with the infusion of the 70 new electric vehicles announced today. Tonight, the City will host a free electric car information session and documentary screening in Central Park, and the City’s electric vehicle information website is now live on www.nyc.gov. The Mayor made the announcement at the Department of Sanitation’s Central Repair Shop in Maspeth, Queens where he was joined by Department of Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty; representatives from the New York Power Authority; the Environmental Defense Fund; the Sierra Club; Azure Dynamics, a partner of Ford Motor Company; General Motors; Navistar International Corporation; and Coulomb Technologies Inc., the manufacturers of the public electric vehicle charging stations available in the city.

“This is the latest and largest-ever addition of electric vehicles to the City’s fleet, which is already the largest municipal clean-air vehicle fleet in the nation,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We will continue to lead by example, but we also must provide New Yorkers with tools to make environmentally friendly choices in their own lives. When provided with the facts, people become far more likely to choose an electric vehicle. Our job is to ensure the public has the facts, ensure they can make their own decisions and ensure that if they want to drive an electric vehicle, we are providing the infrastructure needed. It’s all part of our PlaNYC agenda to create a greener, greater New York City.”

“This largest-ever increase in the City’s electric-powered vehicle fleet is not only good for the environment, it’s good for City taxpayers too,” said Deputy Mayor Goldsmith. “Using electric vehicles reduces air pollution and carbon emissions while also lowering gasoline consumption – a fact that will translate into significant life-cycle savings per vehicle for the City. Today’s announcement illustrates New York City’s ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of U.S. cities in our use of electric vehicles, and marks another milestone in achieving the sustainability goals set out in PlaNYC.”

“While we are doing our part to make City agency fleets greener, we’re also working to help New Yorkers to have more sustainable choices in their lives as well,” said David Bragdon, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability. “Our goal is to arm the public with information and provide the resources that will allow New Yorkers to reduce their environmental impacts and long-term energy bills.”

“I’m very proud that DCAS enabled acquisition of these 70 vehicles by coordinating grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the New York Power Authority,” said Commissioner Handy. “While New York City is already a leader in this area, boasting the largest clean-fuel municipal fleet in the country – emissions from these 70 electric vehicles are 75 percent cleaner than internal combustion engine vehicles. In addition to obtaining the funding for this initiative, DCAS teams shepherded the contracting, procurement and placement of the Volts, electric Transit Connects, and eStart vehicles in recipient agencies.”

“The New York Power Authority is proud to partner with Mayor Bloomberg and our New York City governmental customers to advance their efforts to address environmental health concerns and lower greenhouse gas emissions through the purchase of electric vehicles for their fleets,” said Richard M. Kessel, president and chief executive officer, New York Power Authority. “We are committed to helping New York City achieve its sustainability goals under its PlaNYC initiative and will continue to study the overall benefits that these electric vehicles provide to the agencies and to the overall community.”

“A year ago we announced with the City of New York the installation of the first public charging station to support electric vehicles as part of the ChargePoint America Department of Energy grant program,” said Colleen Quinn, Vice President of Government Relations at Coulomb. “We are pleased to see this commitment to the government fleet effort as well. Coulomb is proud to continue our relationship with the City of New York and continue to lay the groundwork for this important era of clean transportation. We applaud the City for implementing their green fleet of EVs, which will reduce our dependency on foreign oil but reduce carbon emissions as well.”

The City’s electric vehicle program is made possible due to a partnership with the New York State Power Authority and funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation – each helped fund a portion of the cost differential between the purchase of an electric vehicle and gas-powered vehicle – and the U.S. Department of Energy, which provided a grant to the charger manufacturer Coulomb to provide the public charging stations installed throughout the city.

A survey by McKinsey & Company for the City showed a lack of consumer information and lack of educational resources on electric vehicles. Only 30 percent of New Yorkers are knowledgeable about the specific benefits and limitations of electric vehicles. Providing basic information on electric vehicles dramatically increases interest in the vehicles – the study showed 21 percent of consumers were more likely to purchase an electric vehicle after being educated about the facts on the vehicles.

The City’s electric vehicle information site, Drive Electric NYC, available at www.nyc.gov, provides users with the primary facts about electric cars: how they drive, how they are unique and how they are similar to and differ from conventional vehicles. The site also includes a map of public charging stations in the city, a cost calculator link to help potential owners understand the total cost of an electric vehicle versus a conventional vehicle – including fuel costs – and describes how electric cars work in everyday use. The site also documents the environmental benefits of electric cars. The site is part of the recently updated PlaNYC, which includes an initiative to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles. The City is also collaborating with the cities of Boston and Philadelphia as part of the Northeast Regional Electric Vehicle Partnership to improve conditions for electric vehicles and alleviate barriers to early electric vehicle adoption through low-cost, high-impact actions.

The Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability and Nissan will host a free electric vehicle information session tonight from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM in Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell, where the public can examine electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt, Ford Transit Connect, Navistar eStar, Nissan LEAF, and original electric Toyota RAV4. Experts from the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, the Sierra Club, Nissan and Con Edison will be on-hand to answer questions about electric vehicles.

The information session will be followed by a free screening of the new documentary “Revenge of the Electric Car” at 8:30 PM, also at Central Park’s Naumburg Bandshell. The critically acclaimed film premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and it tells the story of the development of a new breed of electric cars during the global economic crisis. The film is the sequel to the 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car.”

The City’s new batch of electric vehicles includes: 50 new “extended range” hybrid Chevrolet Volts, 10 fully electric Ford Transit Connect cargo vans, and 10 new fully electric Navi-star “E-star” utility trucks.

The City agencies utilizing the 70 new electric vehicles are: the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Department of Correction, the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Sanitation, Department of Transportation, New York City Fire Department, the New York City Police Department, and Taxi and Limousine Commission. The FDNY and NYPD initially will use the vehicles for non-emergency duties, including use by NYPD Traffic Enforcement Agents

The Chevrolet Volt is the first electric car being used by the NYPD. The NYPD already uses electric scooters and electric powered golf carts on boardwalks, in parks and some transit hubs.

The Administration is already working towards the use of electric vehicles in the City’s fleet of more than 13,000 yellow taxis. As part of its selection as the supplier of New York City’s Taxi of Tomorrow, Nissan is working with the City and taxi owners on a pilot program to study the use of zero-emission electric vehicles as taxis. Nissan will provide six 100 percent electric Nissan LEAFs to taxi owners for testing in 2012 as well as the charging stations to support their use. The City’s Taxi of Tomorrow – the Nissan NV200 – can be manufactured as an all electric taxi, if the pilot program proves successful.

Facts on Electric Vehicles

• Based on our current power generation, electric vehicle use is responsible for emitting approximately ¼ the CO2 associated with the use of the average car in New York City.
  
  
• Transportation contributes 20 percent of the city’s CO2 emissions and is the biggest single source after buildings.
  
  
• Electric vehicles do not have any tailpipe emissions such as NOx or particulates (both of which contribute to respiratory illness) and emit practically no engine heat reducing the sweltering heat on busy corridors.
  
  
• Electricity prices have risen more slowly and are traditionally more stable than oil prices, so consumers with electric vehicles are less impacted by power price fluctuations.
  
  
• The range of an electric vehicle far exceeds the average American’s daily miles traveled and they have an emergency mode to warn the driver of low power, providing enough power to get off the road.
  
  
• By the most optimistic estimates, electric vehicles will represent 0.6 percent of total energy consumption by 2015. If 70 percent of all electric vehicles plugged in at the same time during the peak period, it would increase demand by less than two percent.

GreenGo Tek's electric Scout fends off Volt, Prius to capture 3 awards at EV show

Eat your heart out, Chevrolet Volt! GreenGo Tek's 2011 electric Scout truck is on the prowl.

As the Midwest's largest electric vehicle event – the Michigan Electric Vehicle Show and Rally – came to a close and the dust settled, it was GreenGo Tek and its spankin' new 2011 Scout truck – not the 2011 Chevy Volt – that was presented with three awards: best four-wheeled production vehicle, most creative electric vehicle and the coveted best of show.

The zero-emissions Scout faced off against stiff competition at the third annual EV show, including well-known models like the Volt and the Toyota Prius, and some lesser-known vehicles from companies like Bright Automotive and EcoV Electric.

In the end, the battery-powered Scout Pickup walked away with three of the evening's six awards, prompting Ray Leduc, chief executive officer of GreenGo Tek to release this statement:

We were completely knocked out by the response we got at the Michigan Electric Vehicle Show. What a great night! It was wonderful to see the electric vehicle community embrace a manufacturer that maybe doesn't have the corporate reach of Chevy or Toyota, but that is just as committed to delivering well-built, affordable, eco-friendly electric vehicles.

Kudos to GreenGo Tek for facing off against some of the automotive industry's big dogs and coming out on top.


Source: Autoblog Green

SAE International Announces 2011 Vehicle Battery Summit - 14-15 November, in Shanghai

An explosion of recent research on Li-ion battery development, along with the growing international commitment to the market penetration of battery powered vehicles, has prompted development of the SAE International 2011 Vehicle Battery Summit, November 14-15, 2011 in Shanghai. Designed to integrate the most recent battery innovations with lessons learned in recent EV/PHEV commercialization efforts, this year's Summit will build significantly on the knowledge presented at last year's highly successful (2010) Summit.

Last September, nearly 300 engineering and corporate decision makers from leading battery, automotive, energy storage/distribution companies and their suppliers gathered in Shanghai to discuss Li-ion battery innovations and research as well as their implications for the market penetration of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Featuring nearly thirty speakers from nine different countries and delegates from 17 countries, last year's Summit offered a uniquely global view of Li-ion battery technology and EV/PHEV industries worldwide.

This year's Summit will again bring together the world's most highly regarded engineers, scientists and corporate representatives to update the industry on the latest progress and plans for lithium based battery technologies and research as well as their implications for worldwide markets.

The Summit will be chaired by Dr. Menahem Anderman, President of Advanced Automotive Batteries and founder of Total Battery Consulting, Inc. An expert battery consultant, Dr. Anderman is known throughout the industry for his Advanced Automotive Battery Conferences (AABC) and for publishing multi-client studies of advanced vehicle and battery markets and technologies, with an emphasis on energy storage.

The Summit will feature more than 20 in-depth presentations organized across four sessions: Electrified Vehicle Market Development chaired by Dr. Anderman; Innovations in Cell Chemistry for Energy Storage chaired by Steven J. Visco, Polyplus Battery Company; Battery Design for Safety and Extended Life chaired by Dr. Robert Spotnitz of Battery Design LLC; and Battery Pack Integration and Charging Challenges and Solutions chaired by Dr. Zhenxing Fu of Shanghai E-Propulsion Auto Technology Company (SAIC).

A China Keynote will also address China's key role in the global development of Li-ion batteries and EV/PHEV markets as outlined in China's 12th Five Year Plan and the Energy Saving and New Energy Vehicle Development Plans.

For registration, program updates and sponsorship and exhibit opportunities visit www.sae.org/events/battery or e-mail pr@sae.org .

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.

LaHood and Bly comment separately on Volt and intentions for electric vehicles

A couple days ago in Michigan, the Chevrolet Volt was praised by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, even as GM’s Micky Bly, was at a nearby function releasing snippets about future generation plans, and more.

LaHood’s comments came during a tour of the Flint Truck Assembly plant Wednesday, where he said the Volt set the pace for all U.S. automakers to follow.

“The Volt I believe can be a model for the American car manufacturers,” he said.

A model for all other American manufacturers to follow.

LaHood, who also visited the Bay City assembly plant, said the Volt showcases the innovation in many of GM’s products that led it to post a $36.2 billion first quarter profit.

His tour of the Flint plant – where the Volt’s gasoline engine will be built – followed a $109 million investment by GM that will add or retain around 100 jobs in Flint and Bay City.

LaHood said also that the $7,500 federal tax credit for EV buyers has been a good thing, and the president wants to amend the tax code to make the credit into a point-of-sale rebate.

Meanwhile on the same day in Detroit, Micky Bly, GM’s executive director of global electrical systems, hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries also spoke about the Volt and related topics.

“It gets heads turning no matter where I go,” Bly said at a Detroit Economic Club luncheon of his personal Volt he has had for about six months. “It’s distinctive.”

With 56.2 mpg as the new 2017-2025 CAFE number being floated by the White House, Ray LaHood had only good things to say about the Volt.

As for the next iterations of the Volt, Bly divulged the majority of GM’s attention is being spent on battery development and confirmed much work has already taken place for gen-two, and gen-three.

“As far as gen-two, gen-three, we really haven’t made any announcements about the car itself, but what I can tell you is the battery side of things,” Bly said. “We’ve already started extensive development of the battery for gen-two, gen-three at a research level.”

Without being more specific, Bly said GM is trying to decide whether to make the vehicle more efficient, or work on the same efficiency at a lower cost.

“That’s where we’re spending all of our time right now is really on that next-generation battery technology,” Bly said. “Still nothing to announce there about other fuel capabilities on the vehicle, we’ll start to see some things later this year we’ll be announcing then.”

Bly’s comments came during a meeting with David Vieau, president and CEO of A123 Systems, and member of the Deutsche Bank, where the discussion was on the prospect of Detroit gaining a world leadership role in electric vehicle production.

Micky Bly shares a little on the next Volt batteries.

Dan Galves, who spoke for the Deutsche Bank’s Global Auto/Auto Parts equity research team, predicted 20 percent lithium-ion automotive batteries will be made in Michigan by 2015

“The U.S. has about 30 percent of that capacity and Michigan represents about two-thirds of that,” said Galves, a former GM employee, “so 20 percent of the world’s capacity of lithium ion batteries we think will be in Michigan.”

Galves said about 25 percent of the world’s vehicles are made in the U.S., and it is a significant milestone for Michigan to take 20 percent of the emerging lithium-ion battery market.

What is more, the burgeoning battery market could mean new opportunity for the country now weighed down by a foreign trade deficit, Galves said, adding he expects the automotive battery industry to be a $14 billion market by 2015.

“This is not a burden to America,” he said, “This is the biggest job opportunity, the biggest economic opportunity to reduce that trade deficit.”

Bly noted GM will release its next-gen eAssist this summer, and is looking at ways to incorporate battery assist in many more of its vehicles.

“Now that were on our second – working on our third – generation of technology, you can start transforming that down to smaller and smaller cars,” said Bly. “We need to drive this technology into many different elements.”

The eAssist technology for internal combustion-powered vehicles is estimated to improve highway efficiency by 25 percent, and in light of stricter CAFE requirements looming, is expected to be increasingly utilized by GM.

“We will continue to see that technology grow,” Bly said.

CNN says Chevrolet Volt tech is "obsolete" compared to Toyota Prius Plug-in

Plug-in Prius Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volt fans like to point out that Chevy's plug-in hybrid can go 25 to 50 miles without using a drop of gas. Then, the Volt shifts seamlessly into its "range-extending" mode. Not everyone is impressed by this. CNN Money recently had the audacity to call the Volt's technology "obsolete."

Here's a rundown of the reasoning behind CNN Money's bold claim: The Toyota Prius Plug-in has an estimated range of 13 miles in electric-only mode. Then, the plug-in Prius switches over to Toyota's fuel-sipping hybrid mode. In the non-plug-in Prius, that system is good for 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. Meanwhile, after the Volt switches over to its gasoline-burning mode, most road tests have shown it's not that fuel efficient. In fact, Popular Mechanics found their Volt got just 32 mpg in the city and 36 mpg highway. As we all know, 51 > 32. Thus, CNN Money concludes:

On trips of 13 miles or less, the Prius plug-in and Volt deliver the same all-electric mpg: zero. On trips between 13 miles and 35 miles in length, the Volt beats the Prius. But after 35 miles, the Prius handily outscores the Volt.

But it all boils down to price. Stickered with a base price of $41,000, the Volt ain't cheap. Pricing for the Prius Plug-In, though not officially confirmed, is expected to start at approximately $28,000, meaning that it will likely undercut the Volt's MSRP by more than $10,000. Yes, rebates alter that number, but CNN finds it difficult to justify the hefty premium for what amounts to less than 30 miles of added electric-only range. Do you agree?


Source: Autoblog Green

2011 Chevrolet Volt Proves it can be an Electric Wizard Too

2011 Chevrolet Volt charging port

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When is a 2011 Chevrolet Volt not a plug-in hybrid?

When it covers 2,500 miles between fill-ups.

That’s how far Maryland resident Jeff Parmet has driven in his 2011 Chevrolet Volt in the past six months. In fact, he’s just visited the gas pump for the first time since buying the car.

Until its release last winter, Chevrolet was pretty adamant that its 2011 Volt was a range-extended electric car. That is, until it was disclosed that under circumstance, its range-extending gasoline engine could directly drive the front wheels, making it a plug-in hybrid.

A whole group of electric car fans were horrified. “How could General Motors have cheated us?” they asked. To them, the Volt was nothing more than the automotive equivalent of a mudblood.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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But just like that clever wizarding mudblood Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, the Chevrolet Volt has proven time and time again that it is capable of being just as much an electric car as the all-electric 2011 Nissan Leaf.

Driving 2,500 miles on a single tank of gasoline equates to 2,156 miles of all-electric driving, with just 344 miles of gasoline-fueled driving. Put another way, with the Volt’s 9 gallon gas tank, an average equivalent fuel economy of 277 miles per gallon.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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That’s enough to make cars like the gasoline-sipping 2011 Toyota Prius look like a Humvee.

Although most Volt drivers are unlikely to achieve such a long period between fill-ups, perhaps its time for Chevrolet - and the electric car industry - to acknowledge that when driven mindfully on sub 35 mile trips the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is most definitely more electric than car.



Source: All Cars Electric

Chevrolet Shows Off Electric Beat in India

Yesterday General Motors began displaying and testing a Volt-related, all-electric version of its Chevrolet Beat minicar in New Delhi.

The EV is not being proposed for sale anytime soon, but India was chosen as a demanding environment – as well as growing market – to demonstrate the car.

The potential world market EV is actually the latest battery electric conversion by GM, which has previously announced electric vehicle demonstration programs in Germany, Korea, and China.

Chevrolet Beat Electric launch. From Left: GM Vice Prsident, Corporate Affairs, P. Balendran, GM India President and Managing Director, Karl Slym, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Sumit Sawhney. (Photo credit: Indian Autos Blog).

The Beat Electric is powered by a 300-cell, 20-kWh, liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery similar to what is in the Volt, but larger for the smaller, but non-range-extended car.

It is said to be good for about 130 km (81 miles) of normal driving. Recharge time with 240-volt power is under eight hours.

A single-speed drive unit and an electric motor producing about 45-kW (60 horsepower) turn the front wheels.

No top speed or other tech specs were listed for the latest EV being shown by its North American-based maker in several markets other than its home market.

GM’s Kevin M. Kelly, manager, electric vehicle and hybrid communications, told us a bit about the German and Korean EVs of which readers of GM-Volt may already be familiar as they may also of GM’s Chinese ventures.

In Germany, the electric GM/Opel Meriva, announced September 2010, has a 60-kW (82-horsepower) electric motor with torque output of 215 Nm (159 foot-pounds). Its 16 kWh battery delivers range of 64 km (40 miles), and top speed of 130 kph (81 mph).

Opel Mervia EV1.

GM said Opel’s engineers integrated the electric drive without making concessions on luggage capacity or comfort.

“The electric Meriva may look like the production car, but is a pure research-vehicle. We are testing charging at high currents in less than one hour, as well as the communication protocols between the vehicle and charging station,” said Opel Vice President of Engineering Rita Forst.

In Korea, on October 2010, it was announced that three Cruzes and seven GM Daewoo Lacetti Premieres were converted to all-electric spec.

The 10 Cruze/Lacetti EVs are equipped with a 31-kWh battery and generates maximum power of 150 kW (201 horsepower). The products in the demonstration fleet have been monitored closely to determine the amount of real-world range achievable by vehicles of their size.

GM Daewoo Lacetti Premiere EV and Chevrolet Cruze EV.

On specific test schedules conducted by LG Chem, the demonstration vehicles may achieve a range of up to 160 km (100 miles). The vehicles can go from 0 to 100 kph (60 mph) in 8.2 seconds with a maximum speed of 165 kph (102.5 miles per hour).

In China, GM said in April this year it would showcase none other than the Volt as well as the Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) concept. We have not heard of any EV conversions there yet.

The Chinese Volt and EN-V were part of a test drive involving officials from the Shanghai Municipal Government, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and the International Energy Agency, along with representatives from Electric Vehicle Initiatives (EVI) member countries and pilot cities.

Gives a new meaning to being green with EN-V. We were not able to confirm whether this one gets five NHTSA stars for frontal impact protection, but kind of doubt it.

GM said it would help promote the demonstration and commercialization of electric vehicles in China by sharing its latest advanced technology achievements and expertise, contributing to the development of electric vehicle infrastructure and standards, facilitating international exchanges and promoting electric vehicles.

“No company has made greater advances in vehicle electrification than GM,” said Kevin Wale, president and managing director of the GM China Group. “We are pleased to be sharing our achievements and expanding our cooperation to ensure a cleaner, greener future for China and its people.”

While the China, Korea, and Germany stories may be old(er) news for some of you, the big news this week is in India regarding GM’s latest Chevrolet EV presumably made with trickle-down-tech from the Volt.

When we last reported on the India Beat, the rumors were it would be shown in April, but plans were stalled.

Initially, GM and REVA had intended to bring a Spark EV to market, but those ties were severed, and GM built its own Beat EV instead – as a show car for now.

Side view of a standard ICE Beat.

While a price of around $7,771 had been estimated for the GM/REVA e-Spark, Indian Autos Blog observed even if the Beat Electric was offered to the public, it would be a tough sell, as its “L-Ion batteries are way too expensive for the cost-conscious Indian buyer who experiences frequent power cuts at home and work.”

Instead, a Beat diesel is expected to be the new workhorse of the line due later in July.

Tailored for India

As it is, GM said it timed the Beat EV to join its fellow GM EVs in honor of the recent World Environment Day (June 5), and its engineers would evaluate it as a world environmentally sensitive car.

“General Motors is committed to providing customers around the world with electrification technologies that will reduce their fuel consumption, helping them save money. GM India will lead in this ‘tailored for India’ demo program for battery electric technology, with Chevrolet Beat chosen as the best way to evaluate the technology, said Karl Slym, president and managing director, General Motors India. “We are delighted that Chevrolet selected India as an important market to test battery electric technology, while recognizing the capabilities of our engineering team to help identify ways to make this technology more affordable.”

Chevrolet Beat EV. (Photo credit: Indian Autos Blog)

Aside from Beat EV, GM India is already offering a range of alternate fuel vehicles including Chevrolet Beat LPG, Chevrolet Spark LPG and Chevrolet Aveo CNG.

The Beat EV could lead to a viable city car in many markets, and surely there would be buyers for a version of it in the U.S. as well.

Coincidentally, automaker Think Global of Norway declared bankruptcy a couple days ago, and will not be launching its similar purpose $36,495 City minicar in North America.

We know of no plans to bring the Chevrolet Beat EV to North America, but if it could one day be offered in India for around one-quarter to one-third the sidelined U.S. Think’s price, we dare say it could be a seller even at two-to-three times the Indian price in the U.S.

Unfortunately, Kelly was not at liberty to divulge any North American advanced-tech plans, but he did say GM is looking at all kinds of options for the North American market, including EVs.

He did say GM is figuring out how best to tailor a car for the U.S. but there is “no firm timing” for when GM’s home market will see even an experimental EV like they already have had particularly in Germany, Korea, and now India.

Source: GM-Volt.com