Electric Vehicle Insider

Nissan is backing the Leaf’s Lithium-ion battery with an 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty (whichever comes first). Of note, however, the warranty does not cover what the company calls “gradual capacity loss,” which is a feature of all rechargeable batteries.
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Potential benefits of increased use of electric-drive vehicles (EVs), as well as challenges that need to be overcome in advancing the technology, were discussed by a panel of experts during a March 17 webinar cosponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
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President Obama reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rapidly growing the U.S. electric car industry in his State of the Union speech on January 25. The investment, which includes a proposal for $7,500 on-the-spot rebates for new electric car purchases during 2011, is part of a plan for the U.S. to become the first nation with 1 million “advanced technology vehicles” on its roadways.
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“Revenge of the Electric Car” is a new documentary from director Chris Paine, who also directed “Who Killed the Electric Car.” The new film, coming in Spring 2011, focuses on the dramatic resurgence of the electric car around the world, “tracks the electrifying race to challenge the age of gasoline,” according to its promoters.
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Green Vehicles Inc. is now accepting reservations for its two-passenger, all-electric, three-wheeled car. The compact, lightweight “Triac” features 80 mph maximum speeds, a 100 mile range, and a list price below $25,000.
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Based on tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Nissan Leaf’s fuel efficiency window sticker will indicate an mpg equivalence of 106 mpg for city driving, and 92 mpg on highways, for a combined average of 99 mpg, according to news reports today.
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Honda today unveiled its “Fit EV Concept” electric vehicle, a forerunner of an all-electric version of the Honda Fit hatchback. The company plans to begin delivering the Fit EV to customers in the U.S. and Japan in 2012.
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Mitsubishi will price its electric car around 10 percent lower than the Nissan Leaf when it hits the North American market in 2012, according to the Wall Street Journal.
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A trailer for “Revenge of the Electric Car,” a sequel to Who Killed the Electric Car?,” will premier on Facebook as soon as the film’s Facebook Fan page acquires its 10,000th fan. When the trailer video is posted on Facebook, it will be the first and only place where it can be viewed.
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The Renault-Nissan Alliance expects to build and sell 500,000 electric vehicles per year globally by the end of 2013, the Associated Press reports.
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Opel has begun taking reservations in Germany and the Netherlands for the Ampera electric vehicle, its variant of Chevy’s Volt. Like the Volt, the Ampera features dual power sources: a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery; plus a gas-powered, range-extending engine/generator.
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In what’s touted as the largest-ever single electric vehicle commitment, GE plans to acquire 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015. The buying spree will initially involve 12,000 GM vehicles, beginning with GM’s Chevy Volt in 2011.
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In addition to pioneering the world’s first mass-marketed all-electric vehicle — the Leaf — Nissan has been busy developing advanced safety systems that reduce the risk of accidents by wrapping a virtual safety bubble around the car.
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Brammo has announced an enhanced version of its Enertia electric motorcycle with double the range of its predecessor. The Enertia Plus, boasting a range of 80 miles per charge, is available for immediate pre-order with 2011 deliveries.
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This just in: the Nissan Leaf’s “easy-to-use touch-screen Information Hub” will run Microsoft’s Windows Embedded Automotive operating system. But not to worry: it won’t be driving or controlling the car, so fear not the dreaded BSOD.
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