First Chevy Volt Rolls off Assembly Line

The first 2011 Chevrolet Volt rolled off the assembly line in Hamtramck, Michigan, on Monday.

Earlier cars were made in limited numbers at other GM locations. Some have been seen at auto shows. One quarter of th cars have been used for crash tests so far, and the remaining ones have logged well over half a million collective miles of testing. VIDEO: Test Drive of the Volt (Wall Street Journal)

Ford Announces Electric Vehicle Strategy

Ford’s global electrification strategy includes plans to produce five full electric or hybrid vehicles in the compact, midsize and light commercial segments for the North American market by 2012 and European markets by 2013.

Specifically, Ford will launch two zero-emission all-electric vehicles including the Transit Connect Electric light commercial vehicle in North America in late 2010 and in Europe in 2011, followed by the Focus Electric in North America in 2011 and Europe in 2012. Three other yet-to-be-named vehicles – including two next-generation hybrid electric vehicles and a plug-in hybrid vehicle – will follow in North America in 2012 and Europe in 2013.

Toyota Begins Plug-in Hybrid Demo in 2010

The 2010 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle (PHV) made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December, 2009.

The vehicle expands Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology with the introduction of a first generation lithium-ion battery that enables all-electric operation at higher speeds and longer distances than the conventional Prius hybrid. When fully charged, the vehicle is targeted to achieve a maximum electric-only range of approximately 13 miles and will be capable of achieving highway speeds up to 60 mph in electric-only mode. For longer distances, the Prius PHV reverts to “hybrid mode” and operates like a regular Prius.

A total of 350 vehicles will begin delivery in Japan and Europe in support of model programs with business and government partners aimed at raising societal awareness of, and preparedness for, this important new technology, with 150 vehicles in the US. Regional programs are currently slated for California, Washington D.C., New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania. Each placement scenario will have a variety of ‘use cases’ or driving conditions to gain maximum input to vehicle performance and customer needs.

The battery powering the Prius PHV is the first lithium-ion drive-battery developed by Toyota and its joint venture battery production company, Panasonic Electric Vehicle Energy (PEVE).

All vehicles will be equipped with data retrieval devices which will monitor activities such as how often the vehicle is charged and when; whether the batteries are depleted or being topped off during charging; trip duration, all-EV driving range, combined mpg and so on.

Plug-in Hybrid Website

Mass Production of GM's Volt Battery Begins

Three years to the date after the Chevrolet Volt concept car was unveiled, the first Chevrolet Volt lithium-ion battery pack moved through the assembly line at GM’s new Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant in Michigan. GM announced that this is the beginning of the production of the Volt.

The raw lithium cells will be manufactured LG Chem’s plant in Korea, and LG Chem plans to build a lithium cell battery in Michigan later in 2010.











GM Volt Website

Jay Leno Test Drives a Volt

Chicago's Solar-powered Plug-in Station for Cars

One of the nations first solar-powered electric vehicle plug-in stations was installed in the spring of 2009 in Chicago. The ChargePoint Stations are built by Coulomb Technologies.

Read the article in Inhabitat
Read the article in Jetson Green

Electric Dream Machines: Pull up & Plug in

From an article in Australia's The Age by SIMON O'BRIEN November 11, 2009 & in AllCars Electric.com by Eric Loveday 11/10/09

Brisbane is hosting Australia's first first Electric Vehicle Conference this week.
The article in The Age describes how issues of developing electric car infrastructure will be discussed by authorities in technology, business and government.

Luke Grana, Chief Executive Officer of ChargePoint Pty Ltd. has said that the average cost to drive a car in Australia is about $10 for 100 kilometers, but an electric vehicle would cost only about $2 per 100 kilometers.

Coulomb Technologies has ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations in use around the world.

Trial charging systems in parking lots would be in place in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne by the first half of 2010. The effects on the electrical infrastructure consumers, society and the environment will be studied.

Hybrids in 2009 Races - Formula One & Le Mans

2009 Formula One
Beginning with the 2009 season, the Formula One regulations allow for the use of hybrid technology to increase the power & efficiency of the race cars.

The BMW Sauber F1.09 will be equipped with a hybrid system consisting of a combination of electric motor & generator, with power electronics & an energy storage module. Regenerative braking boosts the power in the energy storage module so the electric motor, in combination with the V8 provides extra power.


Le Mans

Peugeot has revealed a hybrid race car for the 2009 Le Mans competition. Approval is pending.
Read more at: AutoBlogGreen 9/2008,



Toyota is reportedly planning re-entering Le Mans racing - this time with hybrids. Read more at: Automobile 4/2008, Left Lane 3/2008,



HYBRIDS AREN'T WIMPY! A Personal Story On a personal note, I was shocked at the tremendous power & speed available when the electric motor & gas engine in our Toyota Hybrid Highlander kicked in together. We wanted better gas mileage in a SUV, but I thought that hybrids were wimpy.

So when we drove our Highlander on an interstate with four adults, two children and all our luggage, I was being careful about being stuck behind a semi on a hill. I just gave a little extra on the accelerator to get around the semi and return to the slow lane. Well, both the electric and gas engines kicked in. Even with four adults, two kids, all our luggage & GOING UPHILL - I was at 95 miles per hour very quickly. I'm glad everyone else was asleep so I wouldn't hear a commentary on my speed burst, but Wow - HYBRIDS AREN'T WIMPY!