Germany: Volkswagen to slash up to 5,000 jobs to fund electric vehicle drive

Carmaker Volkswagen will shed up to 5,000 jobs between now and the end of 2023 as part of cost-cutting to finance its transition to electric vehicles, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

Up to 900 employees would opt for an early retirement scheme while others would leave the company as part of a gradual halting of their activities, it said.

It did not give a precise figure for those employees, saying only that it would be in the lower end of a “four-digit number”, an expression usually used to mean between 2,000 to 4,000.

Read more at: https://apiwp.thelocal.com/20210314/volkswagen-to-slash-up-to-5000-jobs-to-fund-electric-vehicle-drive/

Electric Cars: Thanks to Tesla, electric car in passing lane to the future - by Don Pittis

Car of the year Tesla S, Electric

Could it have been just six years ago that a film called Who Killed the Electric Car? described a brilliant new technology overwhelmed by dark forces? Led by America's powerful oil lobby, said the film, a homegrown conspiracy took a promising technology and literally crushed it, as General Motors called in all their leases on the EV1 and destroyed all but a handful.

I am convinced that today the future of the electric car has suddenly been transformed. Two nearly simultaneous events suggest electric vehicles have smashed through a crucial roadblock, and that you will likely be driving one in your lifetime.

The first significant event was the announcement yesterday that Tesla Motors, the all-electric upstart automaker run by Elon Musk — a real-life Tony Stark (a.k.a. Iron Man) — has had its first ever quarterly profit.

The second significant event is a review today in the highly credible Consumer Reports magazine that called the Tesla Model S "the best car we've ever tested."

Read more: Don Pittis: Thanks to Tesla, electric car in passing lane to the future - Business - CBC News

Electric Car: Say bonjour to Twizy: Renault’s stylish EV with a petite price

Renault Twizzy

Renault's tiny Twizy went on sale over the weekend in the Britain, offering drivers a cheap, fun, and environmentally-friendly alternative to their inner-city commute.

Size doesn’t always matter: at least not to Renault. Showcasing that it knows how to do small in a big way, the French automaker recently released its diminutive Twizy city electric vehicle in the United Kingdom.

If you’re not entirely up to speed on the Twizy, no need to worry. The Spanish-built city-electric carries a sticker price of euro 7,699 (roughly $10,000), features an all-electric motor, and a body structure similar to the Smart ForTwo. To ensure the Twizy’s price reflects its small stature, customers wishing plunk down the cash are obligated to lease the car’s battery at 55 euro ($ 72) per month under a three-year contract, which allows for 4,500 miles a year of driving.

Renault offers the Twizy  in two different models: a 15kW (20hp) versions capable of hitting speeds of 50 mph, and the lower powered,  Twizy 45, which packs a 4kW motor producing 5hp  and a top speed of 28 mph.

For more: Say bonjour to Twizy: Renault’s stylish EV with a petite price

Car Industry: 2012 Mitsubishi i: An electric car on a budget - by Tom Voelk

When it comes to electric cars, most people think Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. Wealthy folks might shop Tesla and Fisker. Now there’s a plug-in car for budget buyers- the Mitsubishi i. Not a lot of people are plugged into the i just yet. It’s been available in Japan and Europe but the US version is only now arriving in Hawaii, California, Oregon, and Washington. The Northeast will see them in April. It goes nationwide next year.

The i is the most inexpensive electric car you can buy in America, starting at 29,125*. My friend the asterisk (which you’ll see a lot more of in the video) signals that the price is actually $21,625 because of a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The EPA rates city MPGe at 126, highway is 99. This is more efficient than both Leaf (106/92) and Volt (95/93). Range is a different story. Volt is much less limited because of its onboard gas generator, Leaf is EPA rated at 73 miles. The EPA rates i’s range at 62 miles on a full charge. That’s under ideal conditions.

For more: 2012 Mitsubishi i: An electric car on a budget | KING5.com Seattle

Britain - Alternative energy - Filming an electric car’s epic journey

Award-winning director Claudio Von Planta describes his five-month, 26,000km journey from Alaska to Argentina, filming a team of engineering students determined to test their electric super car to its limits.

Note EU-Digest: BBC World News is broadcasting a new series Racing Green starting 1 January 2011. The eight part documentary follows a team of five young engineers from Imperial College London, as they attempt the 26,000 KM journey along the Pan-American Highway, in the electric car they designed and built. Project Manager Alex Schey initiated the Racing Green Endurance project in 2005. The objective was to design a good looking battery electric car with the largest range in the world, and to test it by driving it along the world’s longest road.


Their trip began in Chena Hot Springs, North Alaska in July 2010. From there the car and the team travelled to Vancouver, down to San Francisco, across Texas, to Mexico and finally down through South America, finishing in Argentina. During the 70 days of driving the team faced a number of challenges including being stopped 46 times by, the car catching fire, crashing the car, and tropical rainstorms.


Series producer Claudio von Planta, whose credits include Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's Long Way Round and Long Way Down, began following the team in November 2009 to produce the documentary, which will be aired on BBC World News on Saturdays at 7.30 and 20.30 GMT and Sundays at 13.30 and 17.30 GMT from 1 January 2011.

For more: BBC World Service - World Agenda - Filming an electric car’s epic journey

VW China Seeks Electric-Car Sales as Nissan, GM Add Models

Volkswagen AG, Europe’s largest carmaker, plans to build and sell 10,000 electric cars in China from 2014 to 2018 as rivals add more fuel-efficient vehicles in the world’s biggest automarket.

The German company will produce an electric model at local ventures with SAIC Motor Corp. and FAW Group Corp. as early as 2013 and is considering a battery-powered model specifically designed for the nation in 2018, said Karl-Thomas Neumann, president of Volkswagen Group China, at a conference on electric vehicles in Shenzhen, China yesterday.

Volkswagen, the first overseas automaker to enter the Chinese market three decades ago, joins Nissan Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Daimler AG in planning electric vehicles in the country. While local demand for electric cars and hybrids trails other markets, China is offering buyers of plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars subsidies of as much as 60,000 yuan ($9,000) to help cut pollution and reduce oil dependency.

 

For more: VW China Seeks Electric-Car Sales as Nissan, GM Add Models - BusinessWeek

Germany: Audi A2 electric car sets a journey record with one charge

An Audi A2 electric car reached Berlin on Tuesday after running about 600 km from Munich with one charge, setting a new journey record for electric car.

German Economic Minister Rainer Bruederle welcomed this car at the courtyard of the Economy Ministry, praising it a "world record." Bruederle said the car is a "technological leap forward," as electric cars are usually to be recharged after running 60 or 70 km.

The electric vehicle was developed by electric car firm Lekker Energie and energy storage company DBM Energy on a basis of Audi A2. The driver drove the car at a recommended speed of 130 km per hour and the car shared many characters with a normal car, like power steering, airbags, air-conditioning and heated seats, said by the company representative. The car has super light lithium metal-polymer batteries, which are not just lighter than conventional solutions but are more energy efficient and powerful than ordinary batteries.

In May, the German government launched its National Electric Mobility Platform (NEMP) to support the development of electric car, aiming to realize one million electric cars on German road by 2020.

For more: Audi A2 electric car sets a journey record with one charge - People's Daily Online

Automobile Industry, France - The electric vehicle, a global strategym

Renault aims to become the first full-line manufacturer to market zero-emission vehicles accessible to the greatest number, by 2011. Electric cars emit no CO2 in use. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is developing a complete range of 100% electric powertrains with power ratings of between 15kW (20hp) and 100kW (140hp).

For more Renault.com - The electric vehicle, a global strategy

Renault Testing Electric Vehicle Prototypes In Israel - by Derek Kreindle

Renault is currently testing prototypes from their upcoming electric vehicle range in Israel, with a view to selling them in the country by next year. The vehicles, known as the Renault Fluence Z.E. (for zero emissions), look just like normal Renault Fluence sedans, but run solely on electric power.

At first glance, Israel may seem like a strange place to focus EV efforts on, but it makes perfect sense upon closer examination. For starters, the, ahem, geopolitical concerns regarding the country and its petroleum-producing neighbors means that energy independence is crucial for the 7.3 million strong nation.

For more: Renault Testing Electric Vehicle Prototypes In Israel | AutoGuide.com News

Renault: Zoë Electric Car to be Made in France

arlos Ghosn, Chairman & CEO of Renault, declared after meeting the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, on January 16, “Renault is a French company, a socially responsible citizen, attached to its industrial and technological roots. This is one of the reasons why we decided to produce Zoë, the core of Renault’s Electric Vehicle range, in the Flins plant in France, near our 10,000 engineers, starting in 2012.”

“No decision had been taken concerning the production location of the next Clio in 2013. I confirmed to the French President that we will produce the Clio 4 in Flins, with a double sourcing in Bursa, Turkey. The future of the Flins plant is guaranteed and employment will be maintained at term.”

For more: Renault: Zoë Electric Car to be Made in France | The Global Herald

motorauthority.com: Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid Launch Delayed Until Q3 2010 - by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

the electric Karma

For the complete report from the MotorAuthority click on this link

Fisker Karma Plug-In Hybrid Launch Delayed Until Q3 2010 - by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Originally slated to on sale in November of this year, the all-new Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid luxury sedan will now go on sale in the third quarter of 2010. Significant investments from major venture capital firms, a half-billion dollar conditional loan from the U.S. government and the establishment of a global network of independent retailers highlight Fisker’s rapid growth.

Since its founding in August 2007 the company has developed a new plug-in hybrid car, appointed a network of 42 independent U.S. retailers and three European distributors, been awarded $528.7 million in loans from the U.S. Department of Energy, and announced the development of a second, more affordable model codenamed Project Nina. As for the Karma, the luxury plug-in hybrid sedan is expected to keep its sticker price of $87,900 when it goes on sale late next year. For this money, customers will receive one of the most fuel efficient sedans on the market, with claims of up to 100 mpg in fuel economy and a healthy 408 horsepower and a monstrous 959 pound-feet of torque on tap.

EurActiv.com - Germany seeks leadership in electric cars

For the complete report from EurActiv.com click on this link

Germany seeks leadership in electric cars

Germany lawmakers on Wednesday (19 August) approved a plan to put a million electric cars on German roads by 2020, in a bid to become the worlds top market for electric vehicles.As part of the plan, the government will spend €500 million to develop battery technology and build a network of charging stations across Germany. The government's goal is thereby to place Germany at the cutting edge of innovation amid tough international competition. According to EurActiv Germany, automotive analysts acknowledge that Germany is behind the pace in the "green-car" race, with countries as diverse as China, Japan and the US investing heavily in electric and other alternative techologies. This week, the Japanese manufacturer Nissan unveiled its all-electric Leaf, scheduled for mass-production in 2012, and other big car-makers including Daimler, Mitsubishi and General Motors have models ready for production. In Europe, many countries have already introduced schemes, often more ambitious than the German one, to create markets for electric vehicles.

NYT: Electric Car’s Connection to Goldman Sachs - by Jim Motavalli

For the complete report from the NYTimes.com click on this link

Electric Car’s Connection to Goldman Sachs - by Jim Motavalli

Coda recently announced that it had raised $24 million, with an undisclosed portion coming from its new advisory board member, Henry M. Paulson, the former Treasury secretary, who, before that role, was the chairman and chief executive of Goldman Sachs. Coda’s chief executive, Kevin Czinger, is a former Goldman Sachs executive director, leaving in 1995. Mr. Czinger said in an interview that he brought Mr. Paulson into the company because he had “an interest in the environment and in China, plus he saw the business opportunity.”

Coda’s co-chairman, Steven Heller, is also a Goldman Sachs man. Until his retirement in 2002, he had served as the head of global mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs and reported to Mr. Paulson. “He was my boss for many years, and I’ve known him for 20 years,” Mr. Heller said in an interview. “He’s a tough, rational investor who understands our business model and our strategy and wants to be part of it.”

The Coda electric car is based on the Saibao sedan from the Hafei Automobile Group in China. Coda has a joint venture agreement with its Chinese battery supplier, Tianjin Lishen Battery, but in June Coda said it would also seek federal funding to establish an American battery factory with Yardney Technical Products (which developed batteries for the B-2 bomber and NASA’s Mars exploration vehicles). Coda plans to have its car on the market (initially only in California) next year.

Alternative energy - electricity: Eestor promises demo of its radical new battery in 2010 - by Matt Jansen

For the complete report from Tainted Green click on this link

Alternative energy - electricity: Eestor promises demo of its radical new battery in 2010 - by Matt Jansen

Eestor has shrouded itself in mystery, and if the promises it’s making about a new ultracapacitor battery in 2010 are true that certainly makes sense because other companies would kill for that sort of leap in efficiency. Zenn Motor Company has invested enough to earn a 10.7% ownership stake in Eestor with its latest payment at $700,000. Confirmable details are scant but Eestor has convinced Zenn Motor company that its technology is real and will be demonstrated in 2010. Seeing an actual battery in action is another matter though and seems to be dependent on the ability to ramp up production leading up to full scale commercialization. One of the most basic questions GM-Volt asked during its interview with Ian Clifford, CEO of Zenn Motor Company is “have you actually seen one of these devices functioning?” That is a seemingly straightforward question that wouldn’t require details as to how the technology works, but Clifford deferred saying “That gets into the point of non disclosure.”

All New Electric Car from Nissan/Renault To Go On Sale Next Year

EU-Digest

Alternative Energy - All New Electric Car from Nissan/Renault To Go On Sale Next Year

"Leaf", the new all electric car by Nissan which goes into mass production on a global scale will cost around euro 10.000, which is approximately the same price as today's combustion powered Nissan Versa.

With its new "Leaf" Nissan/Renault hopes to regain some ground it lost from Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in the gas-electric hybrids car sector. These energy efficient and environmentally clean cars are becoming increasingly popular.

Business Green: Norwegian Think gets green light for EU-wide electric car sales - by James Murray

The Think electric City Car from Norway

For the complete report from BusinessGreen.com click on this link

Norwegian Think gets green light for EU-wide electric car sales - by James Murray

Norwegian electric car firm Think Global is poised to accelerate the roll out of its TH!NK City electric car across Europe, after yesterday becoming the first electric car manufacturer to have its car certified as highway safe across the whole of the EU. The company was awarded a so-called homologation certificate from Dutch certification authority RDW at a ceremony in The Hague, where the Dutch government is working on plans to roll out 500 of the Th!NK City car from this summer. Think said the new certification would make it easier to enter new European markets, allowing it to operate without having to apply for fresh safety certification in each new market.In order to obtain the certificate, the TH!NK City was tested against 40 different directives, covering areas such as crash, braking, lighting and emissions performance. The certification process also involved an audit of the company's engineering and production process, designed to ensure each individual vehicle meets the same requirements.

TH!NK city is an environmental vehicle, emission free and 95 percent recyclable. It reaches a top speed of 100 km (65 miles) per hour and can drive up to 180 km (110 miles) on a single charge. TH!NK city meets all European and US federal motor vehicle safety requirements. At the Geneva Motorshow earlier this year, Think announced a strategic partnership with energy giant General Electric, also an investor in Think. At the Show, Think unveiled its future car, the TH!NK Ox, the first 4/5-seater fully electric vehicle which is slated to begin production in 2010/11. Think has also established partnerships in the US with battery suppliers A123 and EnerDel.

The initial distribution of TH!NK city will be targeted to the most `EV friendly’ cities in Europe. Due to high demand for TH!NK vehicles and finite production capacity in 2009 the Think Global company wants to make sure that they concentrate their efforts on the European cities where one will receive the maximum benefit of buying and using the TH!NK city.

Earth Times: Electric car industry agrees on one plug for Europe to rule them all

For the complete report from Earth Times click on this link

Electric car industry agrees on one plug for Europe to rule them all

Electric car
makers and power companies are to unveil this week a standard Europe-wide power plug to recharge the batteries of electric vehicles, the German newspaper Die Welt reported today. The agreement avoids the plug-and-socket problems familiar to travelers who take small appliances such as hair-dryers abroad. The standard had been agreed by 20 big companies and will be announced at the five-day Hanover Fair, a big annual expo of industrial products which opens for business on Monday April 20 in Germany.

The future of electric cars as a replacement for petroleum-powered vehicles depends on motorists being able to recharge batteries anywhere with a minimum of fuss.

CSMonitor: Alternative energy: Electric cars charge ahead - by Mark Clayton

For the complete report from the csmonitor.com click on this link

Alternative energy: Electric cars charge ahead - by Mark Clayton

GM
Chevy Volt – Demo 2009, production November 2010
Saturn Vue PHEV – 2010. Note: GM has discontinued the Saturn line and the Vue’s fate in unclear.
Nissan
EV – 2010
Toyota
Plug-in Hybrid Prius – Demo 2010, production 2011
Chrysler
PHEV – 2010
EV Jeep – by 2013
EV Minivan – by 2013
EV Roadster – by 2013
Ford
Plug-in Hybrid Escape – 2012
EV Magna – 2011
BMW
e-Mini – 2009
Audi
A1 Sportback PHEV – 2011
Hyundai
PHEV Sonata – 2013
Volkswagen
PHEV Golf – 2011

Plus, there are entrepreneurial companies:
Tesla (now and 2011)
Fisker (2009)
BYD (2009)
Bright Automotive (2012)
Miles (2009)
Aptera (2009)
Persu Mobility (2011)
Myers Motors (now)

And finally, PHEV conversions from:
A123/Hymotion
Plug-in Conversions
3-Prong Power

Businessweek: Electric Car - Europe's Chevy Volt - by Paul Evans

Opel electric Car available 2011

For the complete report from BusinessWeek click on this link

Europe's Chevy Volt - by Paul Evans

Electric Car - Europe's Chevy Volt - by Paul Evans

After various sneak peeks and spy shots, we now have official pictures of the European version of the Chevrolet Volt. To be officially launched at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, the left hand drive Opel/Vauxhall Ampera will go on sale late 2011 with a right-hand drive Vauxhall version available in 2012.

TFOT: Alternative energy - 2010 Solar Roof Prius will power air conditioner system

For the complete report from TFOT click on this link

Alternative energy - 2010 Solar Roof Prius will power air conditioner system

Toyota has announced that the next redesign of their highly successful hybrid Prius automobile will include solar panels on its roof. These panels will power the air conditioning system, allowing its operation without turning on the car's main engine. The system prevents the vehicle from heating up while parked, significantly decreasing the time it takes to cool the car once it's in operation again, and limiting the use of air conditioning that would otherwise be necessary to remove the heat gathered while parked.