New LG Chem Power CEO, Tesla CPO In Europe, JB Straubel #2 On 40 Under 40… (Clean Transport News)
Check ’em out (or else!):
Tesla CPO Program Appears To Be Up & Running In Europe + Canada
It seems to be the case that Tesla’s Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program is now up and running in Europe and Canada, going by the looks of things. At least 10 countries in Europe are now playing host to the program, as well as Canada.
LG Chem Power Names New CEO
LG Chem Power will soon have a new CEO, with the CEO of the last decade, Prabhakar Patil, stepping down as of October 1st, according to recent reports. The respected CEO is now set to be replaced by the former Director of Global Battery Systems Engineering at General Motors, Denise Gray. Gray previously worked on the development + launch of the lithium-ion battery system featured in the original Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The Volt currently utilizes LG Chem battery cells manufactured in Michigan.
Dongfeng + Renault Partnering To Bring EV Based On Fluence ZE To China
A new partnership between Dongfeng and Renault — the joint venture between the two, Dongfeng Renault Automotive Company (DRAC) — will be bringing a “new” electric vehicle (EV) based on the Fluence ZE to the Chinese market, according to recent reports.
Volkswagen Passat GTE Now On Sale In Germany
Despite the ongoing scandal, Volkswagen is largely continuing its normal operations — case in point, the company recently released the Volkswagen Passat GTE plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to the German market. The model is now available for €44,250 (~$49,000) as a sedan, or for €45,250 (~$51,000) as a wagon.
Lux Research: Volkswagen “In A Strong Position To Innovate Their Way Out Of This Mess”
Tesla Model X Falcon-Wing Doors — GIF From Tesla Website Images
As the title says. Click through to check it out (won’t load on CleanTechnica for some reason).
Tale of the Tape — Model X Dimensions
Rear cargo well, 45x15x18″ deep, above the cargo shelf, 18″ to the curve of the hatch (lowest point). 12″ from back of 3rd row to hatch (approx) at top of seat, 15″ at bottom of seat back.
Tesla’s JB Straubel Takes #2 On Fortune’s “40 Under 40 List,” Uber & Lyft People Share #3
The second-in-command, so to speak, at Tesla Motors, is JB Straubel. JB was recently ranked #2 on Fortune’s annual “40 Under 40” list — beating out quite a number of other notable figures, including those behind the ridesharing services Uber and Lyft (who came in #3).
2016 Chevy Volt Will Be Released In Canada Before 39 US States
The 2016 Chevy Volt will apparently be released in various Canadian provinces before being released in around 39 US states, according to recent reports. Bad news for those of us waiting for it here in the underserved states of the union, but good news for those in Canada, I suppose.
Volvo: Electric Bus Use Can Cut City Transport Costs By Millions
A new analysis — taking into consideration such variable factors as travel time, associated emissions, overall energy use, noise, taxes, resource use, etc — has determined that electric buses could allow cities in Sweden (and elsewhere) to save the equivalent of around SEK 100 million a year (assuming a city population size of 500,000).
Zero Motorcycles Unveiling 2016 Lineup At American International Motorcycle Expo
One of the top electric motorcycle companies in the world, Zero Motorcycles, has revealed that it will be unveiling its 2016 lineup at the upcoming American International Motorcycle Expo. That event is set for October 15–18 in Orlando, Florida.
We Need to Talk: 2015 Toyota Prius V
I spent over a week driving in and around heavy Chicago traffic in the 2015 Toyota Prius V. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s world was exploding into chaos and making diesel seem like a really terrible alternative to EVs and hybrids like this one. How did that impact my views on the Prius V? Let’s find out!
2017 Toyota Prius V AWD Crossover Gets Rendered
In an alternate universe, a lifted, all wheel drive Toyota Prius V fitted with scratch-resistant fender flares and bumpers in matte plastic already exists- and it’s stealing business from the Volvo XC60 and Subaru Outback dealers in a big way.
Modi ‘n Musk Talk Shop
The Indian PM stopped in and chatted with Tesla execs about Tesla Energy products. Musk likened the proliferation of stationary storage to the advent of cell phones, which leapfrogged landlines in some parts of the world. Local solar/wind generation plus battery storage equals reliable power without the smoky plants.
Carlos Ghosn Says He’s Not Worried About Cheap Oil Or An Apple Car
In an interview with Reuters’ Fred Katayama, Ghosn indicated that the company sets its EV strategy based on consumer need and emission regulations. Rising issues such as the Apple car rumor and fluctuating oil prices seem to have little influence on the company’s plans.
German Public Prosecutor Opens Investigation of Dr. Winterkorn in Exhaust Scandal
The Center for Economic Criminal Matters (Zentralstelle für Wirtschaftsstrafsachen) of the German public prosecutor in Braunschweig (Staatsanwaltschaft Braunschweig) has begun an investigation of Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, the former CEO of Volkswagen AG, over the VW exhaust affair (“VW-Abgasaffäre”).
#dieselgate: BKA Agents Raid VW R&D, Preparations For Mass Manager Exodus, Withdrawal From Soccer And Racing Possible, Hallway Radio Says
Germany’s Federal Police raided Volkswagen’s maximum security R&D dept, and carried away computers, while the VW’s finance dept is running map exercises involving the sale of assets, even to China, if necessary, Volkswagen’s hallway radio says in Wolfsburg.
Bosch Warned VW About Illegal Diesel Emissions In 2007
The emissions cheating scandal swirling around Volkswagen today has wiped out half of the company’s stock value in 5 days. JPMorgan analyst Jose Asumendi has warned investors that VW’s liabilities from the scandal could be as high as $45 billion, according to CNN. That’s the total of fines, the cost of fixing or buying cars back, and civil damages the company may be responsible for.
Study Comparing Crash Risk of EU and US Vehicles Indicates Differences In Performance
An international research study examining the safety performance of US and EU motor vehicles has found differences in performance between the two. The study is the first side-by-side comparison of predicted risk for EU-regulated and US-regulated vehicles and was conducted collaboratively by The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI); and Safer Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), in association with Centre Européen d’Etudes de Sécurité et d’Analyse des Risques (CEESAR), France, and Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), UK.
#Dieselgate: What Did They Know (Lots), and When Did They Know It (2007)
Volkswagen’s diesel debacle marches on. A Volkswagen engineer warned his bosses in 2011 that he had detected “illegal methods in connection with exhaust readings,” writes the Frankfurter Allgemeine. And earlier in 2007, supplier Bosch warned Volkswagen not to use its technology in an illegal way, writes Bild am Sonntag (no link.)
Fuel Economy Tests Highly Inaccurate, Report Claims
Using data from a 600,000-car analysis compiled by the nonprofit International Council on Clean Transportation, the Brussels based organization Transport & Environment said on Monday that Mercedes automobiles use 48% more fuel on average than their published statistics claim, with the discrepancy exceeding 50% on new A, C, and E Class models.
Bolloré Bluecar May Be Sold In America
Never heard of Vincent Bolloré? You’re not alone. Like Tesla’s Elon Musk, he is a self-made billionaire who is passionate about electric cars and the benefits they can bring to society. His family has “known three kings, one emperor and 24 presidents of the Republic,” he says proudly. His company makes the Bolloré Bluecar, an electric sedan with 120 miles of range.
2 Million Audi Cars Impacted by VW EPA Cheat
Last week’s headlines were dominated by the massive emissions-cheating scandal at German car maker Volkswagen, who was “outed” by independent investigators for fitting elaborate electronic devices that allowed more than 480,000 diesel VWs to cheat their way past EPA emissions testing. Even before the EPA announced whether or not it intended to hit VW with the full force of an $18 billion fine, VW’s stock prices plummeted as news broke that this was a global problem effecting more than 11 million VW cars worldwide. A number of Audi vehicles were also fitted with the device, although how many, exactly, wasn’t clear until recently- and that number is: 2 million.
Panoz Reveals 74 MPG Deltawing Production Road Car
When Panoz first showed off design renderings back in 2014, we called them hideous and said they ruined the clean, dart-like proportions of Ben Bowlby’s original design. We were 100% right, of course — but seeing the Panoz production car’s final design in the form of the slick blue beastie you see, above? I have to admit: It’s not bad!
Elon Musk: Battery-Powered Transcontinental Airplanes Becomes Compelling at 400 watt-hours per kg
Is electric aircraft more viable than we think?
2015 Chevy Spark EV Review
I rented a 2015 for a week and here are the results….
China Electric Vehicle Charging Station and Charging Pile Report, 2015-2016
In 2013, the good sales of Tesla’s Model S set off a global wave of new energy vehicles. Various technologies mushroomed in 2014 after many years of accumulation. Automakers, including Germany-based BMW and Audi, Japan-based Toyota and Nissan, the US-based General Motors and Tesla, China-based BYD and Roewe, launched a series of new energy vehicle models in 2014, marking the initial prevalence of new energy vehicles.
New San Diego Regional Plan Focuses on Public Transit
The San Diego Association of Government on October 9 will consider a 35-year regional plan that prioritizes public transit in its management of an expected 1 million new residents.
Sidewalk Cafes—Silver Bullets of Walkable Places
No single tool builds “walk appeal” as powerfully as sidewalk cafes, which are both a cause and an effect of places we love to walk.
Witness a Car-Free Paris
We call them Open Streets events. In French it’s Journée Sans Voiture. On September 27, the world saw a car-free Paris.
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