The amazingly simplest and most eco-friendly : Hertz rent-a-car. That’s right – when you need a long-haul vehicle, go rent one . Another option is a plug-in hybrid like the Chevy Volt, the best of both worlds — a plug-in electric for … Another option: Half the cars in Europe are diesel, and America is starting to get…

Ready to push the envelope? Sanyo’s plug-in ACE card? Sanyo is making big battery moves , including deals with a number of automakers, most notably, Toyota, which makes Sanyo’s 2012 lithium battery mass production plans compelling. Perhaps some huge battery breakthrough or charging technology will defy the plethora of plug-in and hybrid evidence, if not; however, then hybrid cars…

A niche within a niche 25 percent hybrid by 2025 The other day I came across the Research and Markets report on hybrid and electric cars. By 2025, according to the report, 35 percent of all vehicles will be battery powered. 25 percent will be hybrid cars , while 10 percent will be EVs. How will the Big 3 compete? Thus far GM, for instance…

Only for the Delta platform Alan Taub, GM’s head of global research and development, recently told AutoCar that the Voltec powertrain powering the Chevy Volt is only viable for Volt-sized vehicles. According to Taub, GM’s range extended electric vehicle technology is too big for cars smaller than the Volt, and adding batteries for …

You’ve come a long way baby So, GM repaid the final $5.8 billion owed in government bailout loans. That’s great. Of course, it might have been a bit nicer had GM returned the people’s money with actual profits, rather than a government escrow account, but the perception of Government Motors is undoubtedly holding GM back. Paying off this debt helps remove that…

Ready to take on BYD GM continues to ramp up its Chinese investments, and the automaker plans to double that amount of models it sells in China over the next few years. One of the first new vehicles to hit China will be the Chevy Volt , which will launch late

GM’s plug-in wild card? What’s the coolest car in China? It’s a Buick, of course, which is good news for GM, as China is the hottest automotive market in the world. In fact, quite soon GM could be selling more than 3 million cars in China annually. And that’s the…

Ready to end your foreign oil dependence? Just got off a conference call with GM regarding the Chevy Volt . In a nutshell, everything is going great. After testing the Volt battery pack in essentially every type of weather and driving condition possible, all systems are go for the November launch. Still, a few notes did stick…

GM’s range extended plug-in Volt When the next Honda Accord hits the streets, it just might come with a plug-in option according to some Honda insiders . It seems Honda has been quietly developing a Chevy Volt -like plug-in hybrid drive that also utilizes capacitors to increase EV range. In addition to

Coming in November to a dealer near you? There is still much software to be written and much needed testing, but the first Chevy Volt hit the assembly line at GM’s Hamtramck plant Monday “to ferret out any areas that are difficult to assemble” according to GM’s Bob Lutz . Most important, the Volt program is on track for its November launch. Nonetheless, for those longing a Volt, get ready to wait much longer as…

How can this cost $51,000? The Mitsubish i-MiEV is a terribly unimpressive car, at least in terms of body design, styling and comfort. The few times I’ve been in the 100 mile EV, I’ve wondered why anyone would buy such a vehicle for more than $20,000. Yet, the i-MiEV costs $51,000. By 2012, Mitsubishi hopes to sell 30,000 i-MiEVs per year, but aren’t such numbers completely unrealistic? For instance, why buy an i…

The most important vehicle in America? In February, Ford sold almost 33,000 Ford F Series trucks, making it the top selling vehicle in America, by far. Of the top 3 selling vehicles, 2 were trucks. Inevitably, day after day, month after month, year after year, and decade after decade, large trucks dominate the top of US …