Volt continues to be top-selling plug-in in US; Prius PHV #2, LEAF #3

The Chevrolet Volt was the top-selling plug-in vehicle (PEs) in the US in June 2012, posting 1,760 units, up 213.7% by volume from the 561 units in June 2011. For the first six months of the year, Volt sales reached 8,817 units, up 221.2% from 2,745 units in the first half of 2011.
The Toyota Prius PHV posted 695 units, representing 3.6% of the 19,150 units of Prius family sales in June, and taking second place for PEV sales for the month. The Prius sedan posted 11,514 units (60.1% of family sales); the Prius C, 2,657 units (19.1%); and the Prius V, 3,284 units (17.1%).
Nissan’s LEAF came in third for the month with 535 units sold, down 68.7% from the 1,708 units sold in June 2011. For the first six months of the year, the LEAF has sold 3,148 units, down 18.8% from the 3,148 units sold in June 2011.
Overall, GM sales were up 16% year-on-year in June to 248,750 vehicle—the company’s highest sales since September 2008. GM passenger car sales were up 12% year over year, due to a 32% increase in Chevrolet Malibu sales (31,402 units) and a 21% increase in Buick LaCrosse sales (7,206 units). Sales of the Cruze were down 23.8% to 18,983 units.
Combined sales of all seven Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac crossovers were up 30 % versus a year ago. Truck sales were up 11%, with all pickup, van and SUV segments up year over year.
Toyota Motor Sales saw its June sales in the US increase more than 60.3% by volume year-on-year to 177,795 units. TMS posted June sales of 25,776 hybrid vehicles, an increase of 335.2% compared to the same period last year. Toyota Division posted June sales of 23,105 hybrids, while Lexus Division reported sales of 2,671 hybrids for the month.
Nissan reported June US sales of 92,237 units versus 71,940 units a year earlier, up 28.2%. Nissan Division sales increased 24.6% for the month at 81,801 units. Sales of Infiniti vehicles were up 66.1 percent over the prior year, to 10,436 units.
Nissan Altima sales of 21,812 increased 11.7% from a year ago. All vehicles in Nissan’s truck, SUV and crossover lineup posted sales increases, with trucks collectively posting a 38% rise in June from a year ago.

‘Fully functional’ extended-range Infiniti EMERG-E runs at Goodwood

To prove that Infiniti’s extended range EMERG-E supercar is far more than just a styling exercise, the brand unveiled “fully functional” versions at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend past.
The demonstrator cars, have already taken part in the famous hillclimb, and on Sunday, Formula 1 pilot Mark Webber performed a stint in the EMERG-E.
According to Jerry Hardcastle, vice president of Vehicle Design and Development for the Nissan Group Technology Centre Europe, as well as chairman of the UK’s Automotive Council, the demonstrators remain true to the original concept car shown at Geneva, utilizing twin electric motors that generate 402 horsepower, enabling 0-60 mph acceleration of four seconds and 0-130 mph in 30 seconds.

Utilizing a modified Lotus Evora chassis, the demonstrators also incorporate a Lotus developed 1.2-liter gasoline generator that produces 47 horsepower at just 3,500 rpm. Zero emissions range is pegged at 30 miles at which point the gasoline generator kicks in. Even after 300 miles Infiniti says the EMERG-E demonstrators deliver an emissions output of just 55 grams per kilometer.
However, in order to make the EMERG-E viable as a running, driving vehicle some changes still had to be implemented. One of the most notable is the addition of front and rear spoilers.
“We added the spoiler onto the cars because we needed to balance the front and rear lift of the car,” said Hardcastle. “The spoiler was therefore specifically designed to be purely functional as opposed to being added just for design purposes.”




Besides showcasing Infiniti’s potential future at Goodwood, the EMERG-E demonstrators have also been enrolled in a yearlong test program that aims to explore developments in sustainability and also what Infiniti dubs as “responsible performance.” “In EMERG-E, we’re trying to study and investigate and showcase two things: one is the potential of a mid-engine sportscar for the Infiniti range, and the second is of a new range-extended powertrain,” said Hardcastle. “On the one hand we had an opportunity to make a mid-engine Infiniti sportscar, which would differentiate it from anything in the Nissan range and anything else in the Infiniti range. The mid-engine concept could have any powertrain, so we made a bold decision. Nissan and Infiniti already have a lot of technology for normally aspirated engines, turbocharged engines, diesel engines, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. We hadn’t really studied in great depth the potential of a range-extended electric vehicle though, and so that gave rise to the second opportunity to study a new powertrain as well. So in EMERG-E, we’ve brought the two things together.”





Helping the foster the idea of EMERG-E as a viable automotive concept, the Automotive Council Technology Group has developed a roadmap, which lays out goals for automotive environmental sustainability, including reduced CO2 emissions and reduced vehicle weight.
“If you make a lightweight car, whatever powertrain you use, it will have lower CO2,” said Hardcastle.
As a result, using a Lotus based chassis was seen as a logical step for the EMERG-E demonstrators, which utilizing an aluminum chassis tub and carbon fiber bodywork. The vehicles has a relatively bantam curb weight of 3522 pounds.


Source: GM-Volt.com

Tata works with French company on sub-$20,000 EV

Yes, the car will still cost less than $20,000. No, we still don't know when it's coming out.

India-based Tata Motors is working with France-based Dassualt Systems at developing more technology for the eMO ("electric mobility") electric vehicle that's so far only appeared in concept form, the Hindu Business Line reported.

The two companies are working on design touches that will keep both the cost and weight of the vehicle as low as possible in order to reach the goal of selling a vehicle with a 100-mile single-charge range for less than $20,000, according to the publication. But there's still no word on how much Tata's investing or when a production model will see the light of day.

Tata Technologies' President of Vehicle Programs and Development Kevin Fisher, speaking at the North American Auto Show in Detroit in January, called the eMO "a giant business card" that the automaker was using to pitch its new technologies, though he wasn't specific on if or when the car would be made.

Tata has said the eMO's 18.4 kilowatt-hour battery pack can provide as many as 100 miles on a single charge. The car's design aspects include "suicide" rear doors and no B-pillar to allow for a larger opening, which will make up for the fact that the car will have no rear hatch.

Tata, which acquired Jaguar Land Rover from Ford for $2.3 billion four years ago, continues to show signs of entering the electric-drive vehicle market. Tata had planned to start selling its Tata Vista Indica electric vehicle in India last year, though that model has yet to debut. Tata has said the 74-horsepower Vista Indica EV has a top speed of 71 miles per hour as well as a 100-mile single-charge range.


Source: Autoblog Green