Plug-in hybrid electrics

Transit Connect BEV is the first production vehicle from accelerated electric vehicle strategy

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 30 – Ford Motor Company announced today that Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD) has joined in a collaborative effort to deliver a pure battery electric Ford Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will integrate its Force Drive ™ battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use.

The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft.    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- Wilmington, DE -- As part of the of the Administration’s commitment to jumpstarting the production of fuel efficient vehicles in America, Vice President Joe Biden today announced Fisker Automotive is re-opening a shuttered former GM factory in Wilmington, Delaware, to produce long-range, plug-in, electric hybrid vehicles. The Wilmington assembly plant was selected by Fisker Automotive for its primary global production facility based on its size, production capacity; and access to shipping ports, rail lines and skilled workforce.    » read more »

NREL-developed methodology shows promise for estimating real-world energy use

September 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently joined forces with researchers from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to take the lead in developing and testing a new method for predicting the real-world fuel and electricity consumption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

After examining data on the only PHEV currently available in large numbers, the NREL-developed method shows promise for reasonably predicting the PHEV’s average fuel and electricity use.    » read more »

August 5, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter today congratulated Frederick-based UQM Technologies for securing a $45.1 million Recovery Act grant to advance the research and production of the company's electric and hybrid-electric vehicle propulsion systems.

UQM (NYSE Amex: UQM) was the only Colorado company to land any of the $2.4 billion in competitive grants awarded today by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Recovery Act's Advanced Battery Manufacturing Initiative. The awards are going to 48 companies and research institutions working on the manufacturing and deployment of electric vehicles, batteries and components.

"Congratulations to UQM Technologies," Gov. Ritter said. "All of Colorado is proud of the company's tremendous accomplishment.    » read more »

Plug-in hybrid model debuts in 2011

2009-08-06 -- TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - General Motors' plug-in hybrid technology will be introduced in a new Buick crossover vehicle in 2011, Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of product development, announced here today during the Management Briefing Seminars.

The yet-to-be-named Buick crossover will launch in late 2010 offering a family of fuel-efficient direct-injected gasoline engines, followed in 2011 by the plug-in hybrid model.

"Buick has always been at the forefront of new technology, so it is only fitting that the brand should debut our new plug-in hybrid technology in a beautiful new crossover," said Stephens. "This will firmly put Buick, and GM, front and center in the advanced technology game."

A new Buick for a new customer    » read more »

June 18, 2008 Torrance, CA - With the introduction of the third generation Prius, hybrid-electric vehicles have now been on the road for more than 10 years. They’ve received much attention for offering substantial fuel savings and fewer emissions then their traditional counterparts. But questions remain. What is a hybrid? How do hybrids work?    » read more »

First Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) delivered in Canada to Hydro-Québec, the largest electricity generator in Canada.

MONTRÉAL, Québec, June 9, 2009 – Ford Motor Company and Hydro-Québec announced today that Hydro-Québec has joined a North America wide demonstration and research program on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces it will lease a plug-in hybrid vehicle in Japan in collaboration with local governments selected under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's EV & PHV Towns program1, which aims to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.    » read more »

Senator Helps Unveil a 100 mpg Electric Hummer

May 20th, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today called on President Obama to protect America’s leadership in plug-in hybrid technology as his administration moves forward to restructure the nation’s ailing auto industry.

Hatch’s remarks came as he joined auto industry entrepreneurs and officials in Upper Senate Park to unveil the 100 mpg electric Hummer H3, which has been developed by Raser Technologies in cooperation with FEV and General Motors.    » read more »

March 25, 2009 -- The National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest wildlife conservation group, today urged the President’s auto task force to support General Motors’ recovery plan.

In a letter to President Obama’s Task Force on the Auto Industry, NWF President and CEO Larry Schweiger said GM’s plan to develop advanced battery technology for plug-in hybrid cars is “a critical step in confronting global climate change.”

“General Motors is making a serious commitment to develop plug-in hybrid and electric cars, and the battery technology that goes into them, that can transform the way our nation captures and stores energy,” Schweiger said in a March 20 letter to the Task Force.    » read more »

DOE Support for Advanced Battery Manufacturing and Electric Vehicle Deployment to Create Tens of Thousands of U.S. Jobs

March 19, 2009 -- POMONA, CA - Today, President Barack Obama announced the availability of $2.4 billion in funding to put American ingenuity and America's manufacturers to work producing next generation Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles and the advanced battery components that will make these vehicles run. The initiative will create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and help us end our addiction to foreign oil. Americans who decide to purchase these Plug-in Hybrid vehicles can claim a tax credit of up to $7,500.    » read more »

March 19, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued the following statement on President Obama's announcement on Recovery Act funds for hybrid vehicle and advanced battery technologies:

"I applaud President Obama for his remarks today on the future of vehicle electrification and grid technologies. The announcement that the Department of Energy will award $2.4 billion in grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for advanced battery manufacturing and electric vehicle deployment comes at a critical time.    » read more »

Adds Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle to Department’s Fleet

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Andy Karsner today announced up to $30 million in funding over three years for three cost-shared Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) demonstration and development projects.

The selected projects will accelerate the development of PHEVs capable of traveling up to 40 miles without recharging, which includes most daily roundtrip commutes and satisfies 70 percent of the average daily travel in the U. S. The projects will also address critical barriers to achieving DOE’s goal of making PHEVs cost-competitive by 2014 and ready for commercialization by 2016.    » read more »