USA / Global
September 26, 2013
Nissan And NRG eVgo Experiment With Free Charging In Texas*
Nissan LEAF Gets A Free Charge At An eVgo Station Nissan announced today that they will be offering free charging at NRG eVgo stations (*) to all new LEAF buyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth and greater Houston areas. Nissan states that the Dallas-Fort Worth area is "one of the fastest growing markets" for the company, with sales up over 500% this year. And yes, there is ...
Bluebird DC50 Unveiling Pushed Back to April 2014
It was less than 3 months ago when Bluebird declared it would launch its electric DC50 this September. Bluebird GTL Formula E Well, September is here and the word now is that there's a big delay. Apparently, the Bluebird D50 will not make its debut now until sometime in April 2014. So, it's months behind schedule. What's the hold up? This one is ...
BMW i3 Production Process Videos – Batteries and Drivetrain
BMW i3 electric motor production BMW, as befits a company focused on electric vehicles, is keeping battery and drivetrain production process in-house. Here are two unique videos on how li-ion cells are assembled into modules and then into i3 battery packs. The next two videos showcase the i3's single-speed transmission and an automated process of hybrid synchronous mo...
Cumulative Nissan LEAF Sales Zip Past 35,000 in US
"With cumulative U.S. sales passing 35,000, Nissan LEAF is bringing owners throughout the United States together to share their enthusiasm and experiences during National Plug In Day on Sept. 28 and 29." That's what Nissan's press release says, but the real story lies in the details. Yes, Nissan is a National Plug In Day sponsor and most likely the biggest promoter/supporter of the event...
Volkswagen e-Golf Not Coming to US Until 2015...VW Admits It's Behind the Curve
VW e-Golf to Go On Sale in US in 2015 The Volkswagen e-Golf is coming...the Volkswagen e-Golf is coming. 2015 is Too Late, Right? But not until 2015. The electric Golf will be available in Europe sometime next year, but it won't hit US shores until 2015. That seems like it's forever away from now and we're thinking VW is going to be...
Nissan Offers Free Gas to Show Drivers What It's Like to Own an Electric Vehicle
In celebration of National Plug In Day, Nissan is kicking off the festivities by offering free gas at 4 fueling stations in the US. The idea is to "provide local drivers with a taste of what it’s like to eliminate the cost of gas by offering free fill-up," says Nissan. We rather like this idea, but giving away free gas alone will not convert ICE drivers over to electric. All location...
Dispelling Some Myths About The Environmental Impact Of Electric Vehicles
Getting a Nissan Leaf in 2012 was almost a no-brainer for us. Despite being EV-uninitiated, scientific and general knowledge, plus inquiries with Seattle City Light about their grid (done when we pondered installing solar), made the environmental calculation clear-cut. The bottom-line LCA figure from the 2013 EPA life-cycle analysis for EVs (click to enlarge) ...
Hertz "Dream Cars" Rental Fleet Adds Tesla Model S
Hertz Dream Car Site Confirms Model S Availability Hertz is currently in the process of adding the Tesla Model S to its "Dream Cars" rental fleet. Hertz Dream Car Rental Options These fleets specialize in offering high-end vehicle to high-class (wealthy) clientele. The Model S is a relative bargain among the group of vehicles offer...
Video: Primer on Maximizing Chevy Spark EV Range
It only has a range of 82, as per the EPA, but we've already witnessed a first-hand account of 93.8 miles being achieved. Maximizing Range Requires Skill and Knowledge Of course, we're referring to the 2014 Chevy Spark EV and its range. You might think that for a vehicle rated at 82 miles, 93.8 is unachievable. Obviously, that's not the case. So, how...
Why the Second Tesla Model S Unintended Acceleration Complaint is Still Absolutely Meaningless
Unintended Acceleration Complaints Compiled in 2010 - Source: Edmunds Now widely reported, a Tesla Model S supposedly had some "unintended acceleration," which led to it jumping a curb and landing on top of a 4.5-foot high retaining wall. Unintended Acceleration Complaints Filed With the NHTSA by Model - Source: Edmunds It seems miraculo...
Nissan LEAF With Driver Assist System Gets License Plate For Public Road Testing In Japan (w/video)
First Nissan LEAF with Advanced Driver Assist System will be tested on Japanese roads Nissan announced that President and CEO Carlos Ghosn today took delivery of Japan's first license plate for a vehicle equipped with "highly advanced driver assist systems." This vehicle will be tested on Japanese roads, marking a first for this type of technology to be used on roads in Japa...
US Launch of Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Delayed to 2015
Outlander PHEV US Launch Pushed Back to 2015 The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been plagued with setbacks (battery issues mainly...all of which have been corrected now) since the beginning. Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Cutaway It's currently available in both Japan and Europe and is supposedly selling so rapidly in those two regions that Mi...