At the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, South Korean automaker CT&T unveiled two new electric vehicles on Tuesday, both which are scheduled to go into production in the second quarter of this year.

While the vehicles are not approved for regular roadway driving in the States, and are classified as low-speed vehicles (LSV) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, they offer a variety of advantages, such as energy-efficiency, less pollution and a much quieter ride, unlike gasoline-powered vehicles.

While low-speed electrics have smaller, less-expensive batteries and can be good vehicles for specific uses, they are still costly to own, no thanks to the expense of the battery.

Curt Westlake, marketing director for CT&T, said at Tuesday’s unveiling:

“Until the battery technologies get to the point where batteries are affordable, full-speed electrics are going to be expensive.”

On Tuesday at the auto show, CT&T offered up a sharp looking, very light blue 2-seat roadster, known as the C Square. While Westlake wouldn’t talk price, he did reveal that the C Square has a top speed of 93 mph and can travel 155 miles on a single charge, getting its’ power from a lithium-polymer battery pack.  Joe White, the company’s chief operating officer in America, has stated publicly that the C Square will set you back roughly $50,000 - or less than half the price of the electric Tesla Roadster.  Click here for short video.

The second CT&T vehicle is the eZone Plus, a 2-seat car specifically designed for drivers to run about in larger cities downtown. The eZone Plus can reach speeds up to 45 mph with a range of 75 miles. Reps for CT&T say plans to design and build a 4-door version are in the works.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Eco Friendly, General, Korean Automakers, LSV, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev, golf carts, transportation

The Washington Auto Show and Green Car Journal will be hosting the third annual Green Car Summit on Monday, January 25.

The 2010 Green Car Summit will launch the first of the show’s two Public Policy Days that unite policy makers with international media and industry leaders. The Green Car Summit’s location on Capitol Hill facilitates reaching key Members of Congress and their staff, along with high-level government and industry officials and prominent members of the Washington media circuit.

Says Ron Cogan, Editor and Publisher of the Green Car Journal and GreenCar.com:

“We are at a critical time in the history of the motor vehicle, with decisions made today influencing the direction of the auto industry for many years to come. While there is significant support in Washington for a new generation of vehicles operating on electric drive and low carbon fuels, and growing evidence that auto manufacturers are moving in that direction, important questions remain regarding how to get there in realistic ways.”

The Green Car Summit will be held at the Capitol in the Cannon Building on January 25, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

photo courtesy: Washington Auto Show

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Autos, General, Green

At the 2009 LA Auto Show, Volkswagen has plans to unveil its’ new concept car, the VW UP! Lite, a combination of Volkswagen’s TDI Clean Diesel engine, an advanced electric motor, and a seven-speed Direct Shift Gearbox. 

The Up! Lite, which is said to get up to 70 mpg on the highway, and has room for four adults, will be on display through December 13, 2009, in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The Volkswagen Up! Lite has an all-new hybrid power train, which consists of an 0.8-liter, two-cylinder TDI Clean Diesel engine, and an electric motor that acts as the vehicle’s starter, alternator, and E-drive unit.

According to the press release, the 0.8L engine produces 51 horsepower and up to 88 lbs.-ft. of torque. The electric motor, with its 13 additional horsepower, can be used to boost the TDI engine when needed, provide valuable regenerative braking, and even propel the Up! Lite on its own. The seven-speed DSG transmission ensures the driver has access to the full power range whenever needed, and allows for a 0 to 60 mph run of 12 seconds, a top speed of 100 mph, and the exceptional fuel economy rating of 70 mpg.

Side cameras stand in place of traditional outside mirrors and 18-inch carbon fiber and aluminum wheels give it a sports car-like look.  In the cabin, there’s a touch screen and hand motion sensors for climate controls, Internet connection, telephone, multimedia playback, and more. Also on tap are three cameras that replace the rearview mirror, while a folding rear seat means extra storage space.

The more I see and hear about the UP!, the more I think I really like it, and while it’s a concept car, I hope it becomes available in the near future.  It looks like a sharp little car that’s built for fun – and functionality!

What do readers think?

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Fuel Efficient, Volkswagen

The 63rd annual IAA auto show begins on September 17 in Frankfurt, Germany. The 17th and 18th are trade days and then the show opens to the public from September 19 through September 27, 2009. Among the vehicles scheduled to be on display at the event is the new Mercedes-Benz Vision S500 Plug-in Hybrid.

“The Vision S 500 Plug-in HYBRID can drive for up to 30 kilometres solely on electricity and therefore without producing any local emissions. The efficient drive system combined with the CO2 bonus for the battery-electric driving mode enables the vehicle to achieve a certified consumption of only 3.2 litres of petrol per 100 kilometers.” Source: Daimler

This is approximately 73 miles per gallon. This is quite a bit more than the 50-mpg third generation Toyota Prius but far less than the estimated 100+ mpg rating that the Chevrolet Volt may be awarded.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Mercedes

The theme for the SAE 2009 World Congress is Racing to Green Mobility; the conference will be held from April 20-23, 2009 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. FEV, Inc will be one of the many exhibitors at the event, however they will be showing an H3 Range-Extended Electric Vehicle in their booth.

“The Hummer H3 ReEV is the first range-extended electric vehicle based on a full-sized SUV. The Raser scalable plug-in series hybrid design provides 40+ mile all-electric range and 100+ mpg fuel economy. FEV performed the full vehicle integration including electrical and mechanical design. Additionally, FEV developed all software for the hybrid control unit and in-vehicle graphical display.” (Source: PR Newswire)

One of FEV’s goals in choosing the H3 is to show that electric vehicle technology doesn’t have to be limited to smaller vehicles and can be used in a variety of platforms. For more information on the event, visit the SAE 2009 World Congress website.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, gm

Yesterday, the Honda FCX Clarity was named as the 2009 World Green Car at the New York International Auto Show. The FCX Clarity was one of over 25 vehicles nominated including the smart ed, Telsa Roaster and the Toyota IQ.

“Jurors felt that “The FCX clarity is an utterly real, hydrogen-fueled luxury sedan that provides the amenities people expect in a premium car with 430 km range, fuel consumption of about 3.3 litres/100 km (72 mpg US) equivalent and zero tailpipe emissions. While there is only so much the automotive industry can do when it comes to this technology - governments need to come onboard to help create a true refueling infrastructure - Honda must be credited for taking a bold step in leasing FCX Clarity to customers in California for US$600 per month. There’s still a long way to go before fuel-cell cars will become a commercial success, but hats off to Honda for continuing to advance this expensive technology during a time when every cent counts.” Source: PR Newswire

This is the second time that Honda has received recognition for its green cars – in 2006, the Honda Civic Hybrid was named as the winner of the World Green Car Award.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows

Mercedes-Benz premiered its ML 450 Hybrid at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. This ML450 is the first full hybrid vehicle made by a European automaker.

“The performance figures for the ML 450 HYBRID (335 hp, 381 lb-ft) are at the level of a classic eight-cylinder SUV with permanent all-wheel drive. “Yet, its fuel consumption and its emissions are up to 60 percent lower,” continues Ernst Lieb. Conceived specifically for the North American market, the ML 450 HYBRID achieves highway gas mileage of 24 mpg (21 mpg city), making it the most efficient vehicle in its segment.” Source: Daimler

The ML450 has Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) classification and uses a Two Mode hybrid system. The Mercedes-Benz ML 450 Hybrid will go on sale in the states this fall.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Mercedes

Smart is making waves at the 79th Annual Geneva International Motor Show. Details about the test markets Smart ED (electric drive) have been released and the company has announced a new limited edition model.

Smart ED Test Drives
Smart fortwo electric drives can be found on the streets of London, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Milan, Pisa and other cities across Europe. The original electric smart concept was debuted in 2006 and now the vehicles are running on second-generation lithium-ion batteries.

These vehicles are not being test driven by professionals, however. Everyday drivers are leasing these vehicles for a four-year period and Daimler is gathering the data to help hone the vehicle for a commercial launch.

While the smart ed tests are currently limited to several major European cities, a few U.S. locations are being considered for the next expansion of the test drive program.

Smart ForTwo Edition Limited Three
A new smart fortwo model was also unveiled at the Geneva show.

“The new special finish of the spring model injects a fresh shot of colour for the new season and harmonises extremely well with the tridion safety cell. The 15 inch alloy wheels in a sporty six-spoke design fitted with tyres measuring 175/55 R15 at the front and 195/50 R15 at the rear are a further eye-catching feature. The exterior look is rounded off by exclusive aluminium-effect “limited three” logos in the mirror triangle.” (Source: Daimler)

The new model comes in both coupe and cabriolet (convertible) models. Admittedly, the thought of staggered wheels on an itty-bitty smart fortwo made me chuckle. However, Daimler obviously understands that there is a market for a sportier look on this fuel-efficient two-seater.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, smart

The 2009 Geneva International Motor Show has begun and the AutoWeek Editors’ Choice Awards are in. The Infiniti Essence Concept has been named Best in Show for the 79th annual motor show. The specs on this concept are amazing, especially for those of us who like a little pep in our engines.

“The Essence is the best car in the Geneva show by a wide margin,” said AutoWeek Managing Editor Roger Hart. “Infiniti calls the two-seat, 600-hp, rear-drive hybrid the ‘essence of the brand in one car.’ The heart of the beast is Nissan’s venerable 3.7-liter, V6 engine, fitted with twin turbochargers for the concept. The engine is rated at a whopping 434 hp. It is spectacular.” (Source: PR Newswire)

You read that right; this is a hybrid! I am a former Infiniti owner myself; I traded in my G35 Coupe for a more family friendly model that gets better gas mileage but I miss the zip of the engine. Although the Essence is just a concept car, I can only hope that it makes it to market with a respectable fuel efficiency rating.

For more information, view the Infiniti Essence press release.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, Luxury Hybrids

The third generation Toyota Prius, available beginning in model year 2010, made its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The vehicle is on its way to Europe for its European debut at the Geneva International Motor Show, which begins in just a few weeks.

The Prius will be part of the show’s focus on alternative fuel vehicles. The 2009 Geneva show has dedicated Hall 3 to green motoring. Other eco-friendly vehicle news expected from the show include the reveal of the Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport Air Concept, an E85 Bentley and the European debut of the Fisker Karma S.

Toyota also has another surprise in store during the Geneva Show, a “world-reveal of a new European-built model at an international media reception hosted by Toyota the evening before the Geneva motor show press day.” (Source: Newspress)

This year will mark the 79th anniversary of the Geneva International Motor Show; the show will run from March 5-15.

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Filed Under: Auto Shows, toyota