An anonymous source inside GM said that the American giant might develop a cheaper version of Chevrolet Volt, at the expense of a smaller mileage.

While the new Chevrolet Volt have not been launched on the markets yet, Chevrolet is seriously thinking at developing a cheaper version of it. The cheap Volt might be a rival of the hybrid and diesel models with smaller prices and will have a mileage of around 20 miles in full electric mode. Chevrolet Volt can run in full electric mode between 25 and 50 miles, then the internal combustion engine starts to recharge the batteries. The exception is the barrier of 100 mph, when the engine starts automatically.

According to some sources inside General Motors and quoted by Favstocks, Chevrolet might cut off $10,000 from the production price of Volt, only be redesigning in, raising the production numbers, a new battery, or a combination of the three. As well, they might reduce the autonomy in full electric model, a move that would increase the fuel consumption and the CO2 emissions, but would transform Chevrolet Volt into a cheaper car.

For now, GM officials didn’t speak about the rumor. Chevrolet Volt would have a major advantage, at least on the US market, if it has a starting price of $31,000, getting support from the US Government, that would offer a price reduction based on environmental funds specifically collected. On the other hand, increasing Volt’s production might lead to other problems, as the dealerships are already overworked, as the plant producing Volt’s batteries is already working at full capacity.

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This statement belongs to Henrik Fisker, the man behind the luxury electric vehicle, Fisker Karma. He said that the people will get used to hybrid and electric vehicles just like they did with the smartphones and flat screen TVs.

Henrik Fisker said that ones contesting the electric and hybrid cars because of their production costs should take a look at the inventions of the last 10 years. The new technology is very expensive in the beginning, but once it is developed, the production price drops, saying that the spartphones and the flat screen TVs are the best example.

Fisker believes that this is only the beginning of the electric cars era, and just like any advanced technology, is first bought in small numbers, than the sales increase exponentially. The Fisker Karma model is a luxury electric vehicle that combines that very low emissions with sportiness and luxury in the same car.

Henrik Fisker said that the mid-size luxury car segment, will be one of the main segments for developing the hybrid and electric drive trains. The only impediment at the moment is the production price. Fisker wanted to highlight that in 1997 a flat screen TV had a price of around $20,000 and now it can be bought for $500, and that the same will happen with hybrid and electric technology

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Dan Akerson, CEO of General motors, confirmed a hybrid version of Cadillac SRX and announced that the GM plans will built twice more Chevrolet Volt units in 2011 than initially planned.

The officials of Chevrolet US announced that General Motors will double the production number for Volt during 2011. The Americans aim to build 45,000 Chevrolet Volt units  per year in 2012, and for 2011 they want to build not less than 25,000 vehicles. The reason behind the increase in production numbers is the high demand registered by this model and its introduction in more and more Chevrolet and General Motors dealerships.

The end of 2011 will mark Chevrolet Volt’s debut on the European market. The Europeans will also receive its version built by Opel and called Ampera, a vehicle that benefits from the same Voltec drive train. First, the Volt units shipped to Europe will be built at the GM plant in Hamtrack, Michigan, but the Americans might also use a European plant to built Chevrolet Volt in order to reduce the costs.

As about the hybrid version of Cadillac SRX, Dan Akerson said that “is very likely” for the model to enter production. Despite Volt’s success, the model will not be built in a Cadillac version, staying a member of the Chevrolet family for the US market.

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The London Black Cab is one of the main landmarks of the British capital. It is just as famous as the red phone booths and the double-decker. It looks like Volkswagen wanted to reveal their own version of the London Black Cab.

London is famous world wide for their well-known green tax in the center of the city, and rumor has it that the tax fee may become even bigger. But Volkswagen offers the ideal solution to reduce the CO2 emissions in London’s down-town, with a zero emissions taxi. The new taxi is based on the coming Volkswagen Up! electric.

The car is fitted an electric motor capable of developing 115 HP and is powered by a set of Li-Ion batteries. The posted top speed is of  75 mph and a range of 190 miles. Volkswagen official said that the batteries can be 80% recharged in about one hour.

In order to be a 100% cab, the Germans have modified Up!s interior for accommodating tow adults and their luggages. The interior is simplistic, and the main controls are actioned via a touchscreen in the right of the driver, and the passengers also benefit from a touchscreen showing them various infos.

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Chevrolet auctioned the first Chevy Volt unit that left the assembly line. The car, for sure, one that will enter the history books of modern cars, was bought for not less than $225,000.

The American automaker today announced that they officially closed the auction for the first Chevrolet Volt unit that left the assembly line. It’s the first production Chevy Volt, and it was sold for not less than $225,000. The American electric car managed to total an impressive numbers of purchase requests.

The final value of the car is no doubt a record, considering that the starting price was set to only $50,000. The money from the auction will be donated to support the educational initiatives of Detroit Public Schools Foundation.

The American automaker puts all its hopes in the new Chevrolet Volt to help them solve their financial problems. Powered by an electric motor of 150 HP, Volt is able to travel a distance of 40 miles only with the energy stored in the lithium-ion batteries.

Chevrolet Volt’s resources help the electric car sprint from o to 60 mph in 9 seconds and hit a top speed of 100 mph. Volt’s autonomy is extended with the help of a 1.4-liter gasoline engine of 84 HP, capable of recharging the lithium-ion battery and so provide energy for the electric motor.

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Nissan Leaf is now the most fuel efficient model in its segment on the US market. EPA calculated the mpg for the electric model, and Leaf scored 99 mpg.

Once it debuted on the North American market, Nissan Leaf had to receive an EPA sticker showing the fuel efficiency. The guys of Environmental Protection Agency are labeling every model sold in US with a small sticker that specifies the fuel efficiency and the CO2 emissions of the vehicle. Being a full electric vehicle, is hard to calculate the fuel consumption of Nissan Leaf, the CO2 emissions being the only element that scored zero.

Nissan leaf became the most fuel efficient model in its class, scoring the equivalent of 99 mpg combined city/highway. Although Nissan officials have said that the model can run for 100 miles with a full charge, EPA disagreed saying that the model has an autonomy of  73 miles. So the estimated mileage of Nissan leaf is of 99 mpg. Of course, the comparison between Leaf and the conventional vehicles is unfounded and has an orientation purpose. EPA officials have also specified the annual electric costs, $561 for an average user.

Because we are talking about a full-electric vehicle, Nissan customers in The States, will get a $7,500 discount from the American Government, for a car that receives the contribution of an generator powered by an internal combustion engine. Some states in USA also offer additional cut-offs for buying an electric vehicle, so the customers will get an even bigger discount. The starting price for a Nissan leaf in US is of $32,780, the $7,500 cut-off not included.

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Kia revealed the first pictures of a new concept, waited to debut at Paris Auto Show. Pop, the three meters model, is anticipated as a rival for Smart.

Kia will bring this year at the Paris Auto Show a new concept, already anticipated by several teaser pictures. The South-Korean automaker plans to attract the public’s attention with an electric vehicle, designed for the crowded cities, which adopts a nonconformist design, drawn by the same Peter Schreyer.

The first informations talk about the new concept as being Kia’s first intention to enter an European auto market, in continuous growing, the one of micro-cars. Named Pop, the concept will bring an electric unit powered by lithium-ion batteries, which can be recharged from the cells integrated in the panoramic roof.

The South-Koreans proved that they know how to use this technology since this spring, when they brought the Ray Concept, at the Chicago Auto Show. The concept was taking energy from the Sun to be able to power a permanent air conditioning system, which had the role to keep a pleasant temperature inside the car, no mater how hot was outside.

The new Kia Pop Concept will have a length of about three meters and will adopt a revolutionary design, with unusual lines, LED lights and nonconformist ergonomics. Three passengers will be able to travel inside Pop, the seats arrangement being a 2+1.

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Hyundai officially announced that in maximum five years they will start the production of an electric vehicle. The car’s development process already started, the Korean engineers working at the batteries that will power the model.

Seen as a threat by Volkswagen and Toyota, the Korean Hyundai-Kia Group must also confirm the power they showed so far in the coming years. In order to do that, the Asians will have to focus more on the eco vehicles segment, a segment that will surely witness a growth in the near future.

Hyundai will profit from the good image they created themselves and in 2015 will launch their first production electric car. The announcement is an official one, made in the same time with the launching of the new ix35. It seems that the Korean group already works at the technology of the cells that will power the electric vehicle. The tests will begin in maximum two ears, once the lab stages come to an end.

The Korean automaker produces hybrid vehicles since last year, using petrol or LPG, which can function with the help of electric units. The hybrid vehicles production started in Korea, the next aimed targets being the European and North American markets. Step by step, Hyundai might become one of the biggest players of the segment, next to Toyota.

Via: autoesporte

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Last week, the President of General Motors, Ed Whitacre, announced they will add some new markets for the launching of Chevrolet Volt, as a response to the interest in US for the new electric vehicle developed by the company.

Whitacre confirmed that Chevrolet Volt will be initially launched on seven markets in US. Later this year, the retails will begin in California, Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas and in New York. The Chevrolet Volt cars are also waited in the dealerships in Michigan, New Jersey, Connecticut, as well in Texas and New York in the first trimester of 2011.

Whitacre said that GM will able to sell Volt on such different markets because of the versatility of the car as it is both a city car and very good for long trips, for the summers in Austin and the winters in Manhattan. He also said that Chevy Volt ca be very well used as a day-by-day car, as it gives you the freedom of driving without fuel consumption and the stress of planning every trip by the battery level.

GM announced a plan of producing 10,000 Chevrolet Volt units by the end of 2011 and 30,000 more in 2012, at General Motor’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant in Michigan. Volt will be available in all the states in 12-18  after the first launch. Chevrolet wishes to develop a network services in the 12-18 months from launch.

In order to celebrate the new launching markets, on July 1, starting from Austion, Volt begun a “trip” on a route of 1777 miles. The car stopped in Little Rock, Ark., Nashville, Tenn., Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, before reaching its destination, in New York, on July 4, right on time for celebrating The Independence Day. This trip proved Volt’s unique capacity of running for 40 miles in electric mode, having a total autonomy of about 300 miles.

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China keeps coming up with some incredible designs, and with solid technology behind them. Well, maybe they’re not exactly world leaders or trend setters when it comes to design, but then again that should not come first when talking about taking care of the environment…or diminishing petrol reserves. So we get (it’s pretty self-explanatory) what zero-emission cars, like the Nissan Leaf (word’s best EV vehicle) , but what’s that, negative-emission? Read on to find out. Designed by Chinese partner of General Motors, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), this car looks SF and has skills that could fit in the same genre, in a positive way. Meet the YeZ, named so from a metamorphosis of the Mandarin name for “Leaf”. Go figure..

The YeZ, world's first negative-emission car, via China researchers upper view, wow it really looks like a leaf

The “negative carbon emissions” vehicle features an all-electric drive-train that draws the bulk of its power from photoelectric converter mounted on the yez…uh, roof of the vehicle. Similar to the way a plant grows towards the light, the solar crystal films that make up the system can track the movement of the sun to maximize solar energy collection. Illuminated power lines that mimic the veins of a living organism carry the electricity to the battery of the vehicle via streams of light. Additional electricity is generated by small windmills mounted on each of the wheels.

What takes the car to the new levels of environmental friendliness, however, is a body comprised of metal-organic framework materials, or MOFs, that capture water and carbon dioxide from the surrounding air through adsorption, and combine the two through a process of artificial photosynthesis that not only generates electricity, but also creates air conditioning refrigerant and “exhales” oxygen back into the atmosphere. Hence, “negative carbon emissions”.

The YeZ, world's first negative-emission car, via China researchers

So my car could work on nothign but solar and wind energy, for ever and ever, and while I’m driving around (probably not at 120 mph, but still …) and rockin’ to my solar powered speaker system I’m also cleaning the atmosphere?! Yes, the technology behind the YeZ is theoretically sound and the team behind the concept assures us it could work, especially if the Chinese government continues to invest in research (nota bene United States Gov, and Dear President Obama who just cut half of NASA’s funds).

But don’t rush to contact dealers, this YeZ car or similar ones will only start being made as of 2030 or the sort, as SACS admits. So long life and strong health to you, as a Chinese greeting goes, and let’s hope we’ll take our first retirement trip in negative-emission “cleaners” such as the YeZ car. This Chinese Leaf (or Tree, cause it’s more than the Leaf in many ways) can be seen in this year’s Shanghai 2010 Expo. And in the gallery below, thanks to Fox News.

[ PHOTO GALLERY: The YeZ, world's first negative-emission car, via China researchers ]:

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