Over at the blog Celsias.com, writer Craig Mackintosh has a pretty good write-up on plug-in hybrids and battery powered cars. The article touches briefly on the failure of the EV market in the '90s, and then gets into the future. He discusses the…
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GM's RWD Alpha platform to underpin new Chevy, not Pontiac
When we first got word earlier this year that GM was working on a new small rear-wheel-drive platform called Alpha, everyone thought that Cadillac and Pontiac would be the first brands to get it. A rear-wheel-drive replacement for the Euro-only BLS…
First tortilla prices, now water shortages? More ethanol costs
We've already seen corn prices on the rise as demand rises thanks to more of the grain being diverted to ethanol production. As the population of both the United States and the planet continues to rise, the demand for fresh water goes up with it.…
Volkswagen opens sign-up site for Jetta TDI Cup
At the SEMA show in October, Volkswagen announced a new grass-roots racing series based around the new Jetta TDI. VW is organizing the series for amateur drivers between 16-26 years old. For $35,000, drivers get a season of racing in diesel Jettas…
Paris Preview: Mazda to introduce new 2.2L diesel engine
At the Paris Motor Show next month, Mazda will be showing off its new 2.2L MZR-CD clean diesel engine that will be installed in the Mazda 6. The new engine is rated at 182 hp and yields 42 mpg (U.S.). One of the interesting elements of the new engine…
Venturi to launch electric Fetish and Eclectic in April 2008
Monaco based Venturi showed off a pair of electric cars at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, the Fetish sports car and the decidedly oddball Eclectic. While Venturi has much more modest ambitions than Tesla for their battery-powered roadster they plan to…
London pedicab drivers endangering passengers by adding batteries
Just as in many cities around the world, rickshaws have become an increasingly common mode of transportation in London. Bicycle rickshaws (also known as pedicabs) are efficient and emissions free. However, they are not designed for high speeds and…
PetroSun chooses Albama for algae biodiesel production
Phoenix based PetroSun has decided to build a new commercial scale algae biodiesel production facility in Alabama. After evaluating a number of locations, Alabama probably offered up the most cash and tax breaks to lure the company. PetroSun will be…
How do power-split parallel hybrids work?
Over the past decade, if there is one word that has become synonymous with green motoring it is hybrid. Ever since Toyota launched the first modern commercially viable hybrid with the original Prius (above) in 1997, over one million of them have hit…
Japan may get Audi Q5 hybrid around 2012
America got its first look at Audi's new Q5 mid-size SUV during the recent Audi Mileage Marathon. Those examples were powered by the company's 3.0L V6 diesel engine. So far there is no word from Audi on when or if Americans will ever be able to buy a…