Electric Vehicles

Toyota unveils Fuel Cell Vehicle in Colorado

Seventeen years after the Toyota Prius became the first mass-produced hybrid car, Toyota is leading automotive innovation again. Its zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell electric car will makes it North American debut June 27 at the Aspen Idea Festival. With previous exterior details of the car, currently named the FCV, announced recently in Japan, the North American unveiling is the precursor to the car’s mainstream release. Interior features, along with the vehicle’s name, volume, and full specifications will be released later. Toyota has also announced the FCV will go on sale in the Japan domestic market before April 2015. It will debut in the summer 2015 in Europe and in California. The sedan will be priced in the Japan domestic market

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Elio Motors start date halted after funding delay

The much-hyped, three-wheel Elio has plenty of supporters and perhaps an equal number of detractors. Chalk one up for those who are cynical about the $7,500 car and its heavily touted specs. According to Louisiana news reports,  the previously announced March 2015 production start date at the former GM plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, has been delayed six months until September 2015. The reason: Company founder Paul Elio has announced a funding delay. The News-Star newspaper reported Stuart Lichter, an industrial developer leasing the plant, was set to invest $7.5 million in Elio Motors — in conjunction with the purchase of the facility for the same amount by Caddo’s Industrial Development Board. The proposal was approved in August, but has now

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Range anxiety still deterent in electric car sales

Not too many years ago, the term range anxiety might pertain to a golfer who’s nervous on a driving range or rancher uncertain about spending time on an open range. But with an increasing number of auto manufacturers offering electric options, range anxiety is a major reason why car buyers have been wary of switching from gas powered vehicles. It’s the fear of running out of power and stuck miles from the nearest charging station. According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association, the industry trade organization in Arlington, Va., 71 percent of respondents said range anxiety is a concern when considering purchasing an electric vehicle. And it’s warranted. With more than a dozen mainstream manufacturers offering the

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Tesla, Elon Musk get massive 60 Minutes recharge

Elon Musk and his empire at Tesla Motors is not new to 60 Minutes. But each time the entrepreneur appears on the enduringly popular Sunday night news program — an old, new or updated segment — there’s something to discover. The interview of Musk on March 30 by Steve Kroft covered familiar ground, the passion Musk has for his high speed, high-technology electric car and the passion for the SpaceX spaceship he hopes will be the first to take human passengers to Mars. What was new, at least for me, was the interview with his mother and brother and Musk’s nearly carefree look back at the near collapse of his company. The segment also briefly discussed Musk’s five sons and

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2014 Lexus RX 450h: Ideal upscale family car

Lexus is intelligently — and profitably — expanding its product line with vehicles such as its well-engineered 2014 RX 450h hybrid. The refined gas-electric crossover is well-developed, with good performance, sparkling fuel economy, carlike comfort and maneuverability and roominess. No wonder it’s among Lexus’s top-selling models. The RX 450h is priced at approximately $46,310 to $47,810 and has standard all-wheel drive and a smooth continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that can be manually shifted and put in driving modes ranging from “Economy” and “Sport” to  “Snow” and “EV.” The RX 450h got numerous improvements for 2013, so there are no significant updates for the 2014 model. This vehicle is more tried-and-true than ever. The 450h uses a 3.5-liter V-6 with

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Peugeot unveils hybrid air engine with 125 mpg

It’s not the first time the idea of a modern car running on compressed air has emerged.  But it’s a recent first and this time it’s Peugeot. The french automaker has introduced a concept car that features a new Hybrid Air engine system which combines both a traditional petrol engine with compressed air. The new engine system is capable of running only on air for 80 percent of its driving time. As a result, fuel economy is estimated at 125 miles per gallon. The Hybrid Air system is expected to be installed into some existing models like the Peugeot 208 and Citroen C3, available only in Europe. According to a Peugeot press release, this is how the compressed air system

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2014 Tesla Model S innovation detailed in video

The 2014 Tesla Model S and its older siblings have been bombarded with awards. In its latest honor, The Tesla was Consumer Reports’ top pick overall among 10 categories of cars, light trucks, and SUVs. The top-10 list was selected from more than 260 vehicles the organization has recently tested. The magazine considers the Model S a “technological tour de force, while pricey, is brimming with innovation.” Consumer Reports rated the Model S with a score of 99 out of 100, becoming the magazine’s best car ever tested. “If it (the Tesla) could recharge in any gas station in three minutes, this car would score about 110,” said Jake Fisher, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Fisher called the

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Tesla honored again, Consumer Reports’ best overall car

For the first time in four years, Consumer Reports has named a top overall pick in its annual best vehicle list. The winner is the 2014 Tesla Model S electric car. In 2010, the last time an overall pick was selected, the Lexus LS 460L received the honor. The magazine’s 10 top picks this year included five Japanese nameplates, including Honda’s Accord and Odyssey, Subaru’s Impreza and Forester and Toyota’s Prius hybrid. German manufacturers had two vehicles on the list, the BMW 328i and the Audi A6. American manufacturers were represented by Tesla and the Chrysler Ram 1500 pickup truck. It was the first time since 1998 a Chrysler vehicle made the list. The Jeep Grand Cherokee achieved top pick

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Toyota woes again: 1.9 million Prius models recalled

Toyota’s massive problem with recalls dating to 2009 has continued. The Japanese manufacturer is recalling 1.9 million hybrid Prius cars globally for a software issue that could cause the vehicle to stall. Toyota Motor Corp. said 997,000 Prius cars in Japan, 713,000 in North America, another 130,000 in Europe and the rest in other regions are being recalled for a problem in the software to control the hybrid system. No accidents or injuries have been reported related to the problem. The software could cause transistors to become damaged, causing warnings lights to go off, driving power to be reduced or the car to stop. The recalled vehicles were manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014. Toyota has recalled more than

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2013 Ford C-Max/C-Max Energi: Clever crossover

Get past their odd names and you may find that the 2013 Ford C-Max and its sister C-Max Energi are surprisingly good hybrid crossover vehicles. New for 2013, the C-Max/C-Max Energi front-drive, four-door compact hatchbacks are virtually unchanged for 2014. They’re designed to directly compete with the top-selling Toyota Prius and seat five, although the center of the rear seat of the C-Max Energi I tested is too stiff for longer trips. The C-Max and C-Max Energi use a two-liter four-cylinder gas engine and electric motor. Both have a combined 188-horsepower rating, which gives them lively acceleration and good highway performance, although they’re rather heavy. The transition between electric and battery power is seamless. Both use a smooth CVT automatic

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric

Mercedes-Benz has waited a long time to enter the electric car business, but it will early next year with 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class. It’s all-electric hatchback with a 24-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack offering a driving range of up to 124 miles on a single charge. Mercedes reports the car will have an electric motor supplying 134-horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque. The new car can reach a top speed of 93 miles per hour and accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Mercedes-Benz unveiled B-Class electric vehicle at the 2013 New York Auto Show in March. The new B-Class will feature active parking assist and a radar-based collision prevention system. The B-Class Electric Drive will be the smallest

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Kia to offer more Soul with 2014 all-electric edition

The 2014 Kia Soul will be offered early in 2014 as the South Korean manufacturer’s first all-electric vehicle in the United States. The Soul EV, which will be available in selected markets, will be powered exclusively by a battery for gas-free driving and zero emissions. Range and eMPG estimates have not been announced. “Eco-consciousness already comes standard on the all-new Soul with 85-percent of its materials able to be recycled at the end of its lifespan, and the Soul EV will further demonstrate Kia’s engineering capabilities as well as our commitment to producing vehicles with reduced environmental footprints,” said Orth Hedrick, executive director of product planning. Kia Motors was recently ranked by Interbrand as one of the “50 Best Global

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Rent a Tesla? It’s cheap at $500 per day compared to a Ferrari

Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche Audi and Mercedes-Benz are “dream cars,” to rent. At least that’s how Hertz describes its rental program of top-end cars that now will include arguably the most unique vehicle in the top echelon lot — Tesla. Hertz, Enterprise and other rental car agencies are now offering limited Tesla Model S models with different battery sizes in selected Southern California locations. Like Hertz, Enterprise has a special name for its high-end fleet. The Tesla is in the agency’s Exotic Car Collection. “The Tesla Model S is a new luxury sedan that is transforming the way the public looks at electric vehicles,” said Adam Belsky, Enterprise’s group sales and marketing manager for the Exotic Car Collection in

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Elon Musk channels Chevy Chase in pending Tesla trek

Elon Musk has never been shy about expressing his opinion or touting his iconic vehicle, the Tesla. Now the CEO of the high-performance electric sports car manufacturer will further promote his vehicles with a well-tested approach — leading by example. According to a recent report on CNNMoney.com, Musk has finalized the details of a six-day trip cross country car trip with his five sons at the end of 2013. “Just finalized the LA to NY family road trip route in Model S. 6 day, 3,200-mile journey with only nine hours spent charging,” Musk Tweeted in his trip announcement. Three months ago, Musk announced plans to drive across country to promote the Tesla and his expanding network of superchargers. “I’m planning

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Lexus LF-NX oddball concept hybrid gets world debut in Frankfurt Auto Show

The oddly named and odd-looking  LF-NX, a Lexus compact crossover hybrid concept, will make its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. It will be powered by a new variant of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system tuned for SUV performance. With its distinctive and sculpted styling, the LF-NX concept’s exterior design reflects an evolution of Lexus’ L-finesse design language. The Frankfurt Auto Show begins Sept. 10 with media previews will be open to the public beginning Sept. 14. The LF-NX front is dominated by a strong interpretation of the Lexus spindle grille, expressive signature front lighting with independent Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and unique corner styling. It separates the bumper from the front wing with an aggressive vertical cut.

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Neil Young stalls, but still rocking on EV highway

Neil Young has long been known as a musical innovator. But the masterful singer and composer is also equally renowned to railroad buffs and electric car enthusiats. But even someone as accomplished as Young needs an assist from time to time, which is what the California Highway Patrol offered when the singer-songwriter and owner of a one-of-a-kind electric car got stuck on Interstate 80 near Donner Summit. According to a report in the Tahoe Daily Tribune newspaper, Young’s $1 million hybrid electric remastered 1959 Lincoln Continental broke down Aug. 23 while Young was en route to a Green Festival in Canada. Young, who has blogged for months about his adventures on the website lincvolt.com, drives the car to promote “green,”

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