Hybrid, Electric, Plug-in, Clean Diesel Cars for the Responsible Consumers.

The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid bus is powered by two fuel cell systems of the same type used in the B-Class F-CELL car. Improved fuel cell components and hybridization with lithium-ion batteries allows the Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid to consume almost 50 percent less hydrogen compared to the preceding generation.
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Nissan North America announced that the Nissan LEAF zero-emission, all-electric car will make its North American debut in Los Angeles on Nov. 13. The Los Angeles showing will be the first time people in the United States will be able to see the five-passenger, five-door, gasoline-free car, which is embarking on a nationwide tour. Other Nissan LEAF appearance dates and city locations are included.

Renault affordable production zero-emission electric vehicles showing at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show. Here are four Renault electric concept cars provided a preview of Renault’s range of vehicles due to be released from 2011, all part of Renault’s long term electric vehicle global strategy.
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Leading vehicle manufacturers in fuel cell technology – Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, the alliance Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation – signed a joint statement to the development and market introduction of electric vehicles with fuel cells with a Letter of Understanding (LoU.)
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Electric cars have been around since the 1830s, but amidst all this excitement about bailout money, new clean diesel, hybrid and electric cars announcements, joint ventures and collaborations, and battery development progress, I though we’d take a brief look at the history of the electric car.
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President Obama today announced 48 new advanced battery and electric drive projects that will receive $2.4 billion in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The goals will be to accelerate the manufacturing and deployment of electric vehicles, batteries, and components here in America, and create tens of thousands of new jobs.
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Nissan previewed its dedicated EV platform which is comprised of a highly rigid body, high-performance motor, compact lithium-ion battery with high power output and energy capacity, delivering outstanding driving performance and safety, while offering a quiet and peaceful driving experience.
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Here’s part 2 of my conversation with Jim Ruby, Manager of Fleet Services, and Greg Nishihira, Business Manager of Fleet Services at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD.) In this segment Jim and Greg went into more details on UCSD’s fleet of neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs,) the on-campus generators, working with the city’s power grid, and future plans.

This recharging system claims to have solved a major problem of consumer adoption of EVs by allowing trips beyond typical current EV range of about 150 miles. With fast charging, drivers merely have to pull in to recharging stations much like refueling your internal combustion-engined cars, charge up the batteries, pay for the charge, and continue on their trips.

Car manufacturers are soon to bring to market electric and plug-in cars, and GM is doing the right thing for the Chevrolet Volt by working with stakeholders to build the right support infrastructure for the new electric car.