Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Chicago Auto Show

Ford Transit Connect Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

Not only did Ford reveal the all-electric version of the Transit Connect Electric at the Chicago Auto Show this week, but they also pulled the electric vehicle (EV) into the snowy Chicago streets and allowed us to take it for a quick spin. After our five minutes behind the wheel, we can say that, if your company needs a sensible delivery vehicle that doesn’t have to travel all that far each day, then this should be your electric van of choice. Well, depending on how much these vans will cost, a number we won’t get until later this spring.
The most noticeable thing about the Transit Connect Electric is that this is a fully realized EV. Based on a very popular model - the standard gasoline and diesel Transit Connects have sold around […]

Oryginally by Megan Treacy

Filed under: GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show, At Witz End

Bob Lutz speaking at the 2009 LA Auto Show

Attending the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, my first as a journalist in 15 years, I was stunned by the excitement and optimism of the people involved and the depth and breadth of the product on display. “This is the Golden Age of the Automobile,” I thought.
That atmosphere prevailed until 2009, when the economy, the auto market and (many feared) the entire U.S. industry seemed to be crashing down around everyone’s ears. The product was there, but the trappings were sparse and the aura decidedly glum. Now we’ve seen the 2010 Detroit show, which was subdued but cautiously optimistic. There was a strong emphasis on “green” - small-car introductions, hybrid and EV concepts, a plethora of neighborhood EVs on “Electric Avenue” and a lushly wooded drive course for volt-powered vehicles - plus the […]

Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volvo, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Th!nk (Think)

EnerDel’s Fisher, IN facility - Click above for high-res image gallery

Enerdel’s announcement of a big investment to make more lithium-ion batteries in Indiana - $237 million for the company’s third site in the state - gave Governor Mitch Daniels a chance to explain how his state can go through the same transformation on the advanced powertrain front that he himself has. “I’ve always been an internal combustion guy,” he said, “but I have been converted in every way to electric vehicles. They drive great, by the way.” The Governor was also confident that, “Indiana can be the capitol of this new industry.”
Yes, the city that is home to the Indianapolis 500 is getting a lot of plug-in vehicle attention. On top of EnerDel’s announcement yesterday, partner Think announced an expansion in nearby Elkhart, IN recently. Bright Automotive and AltairNano are also […]

Oryginally by Megan Treacy

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

2010. For plug-in vehicles advocates, this is the year of many, many promises. As of today, there are only around 3,000 highway-capable electric vehicles from major automakers on U.S. roads. By this time 12 months from now, there should be many thousands more. Someday, we’re pretty sure, plug-in cars will be as common as after-Christmas sales on December 27th, but for now we’ve culled a list of the cars that automakers have either announced will be making their market debut in 2010 somewhere in the world or, in some cases, will take a big step towards production status this year. In short, these are the cars that will make 2010 Year One of the new electric car era. We hope.
Follow the jump to check it out and let us know of your additions in the comments.
Continue reading Ten Plug-In Cars We’re Impatiently Waiting For […]

Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)

Filed under: Diesel, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Lightweight

Today is the very last day of the year. And guess what? This is the very last post you’ll see on AutoblogGreen in 2009. Fret not, green car aficionados, there will be fresh new material to keep us all interested in 2010, but let’s take a minute to look back. Not just on the last decade, but on the entire last century.
We can all recite the usual suspects when talk turns to the green automotive scene. Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Tesla Roadster, Volkswagen Jetta TDI. But cars like these wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for some of their predecessors as seen on today’s list. Whether powered by gasoline, diesel, electrons or some combination of those three, American history is full of cool green cars.
In reality, there are entirely too many historic eco-friendly cars for us to list here, so […]

Oryginally by blogs@bobvila.com (Ben)