AutoblogGreen

It was only last April that Audi was saying that it had no plans for an electric car (EV) in the immediate future. It's possible they're operating under a different definition of "immediate future" than us or maybe they have just changed their minds because, according to Car Magazine Online, Audi has unofficially said it will offer an electric version of the Volkswagen up! when they become available, possibly before 2011. In terms of vehicle development lead times that sure sounds like "immediate future" to us! Of course, it is conceivable they may be as just as flaky with their EV plans as they have been with their Q5 and Q7 hybrid programs. If there are more up! production delays, Audi may may a plan B. According to another bite-sized article in Car Magazine Online, Audi is also considering reviving its A2 (R.I.P. 2005) with an aluminum space frame (ASF) and stuffing it full of batteries. With all Audi's indecision though, a more sure bet may be Volkswagen making an electric Volkswagen.

[Source: Car Magazine Online]

The trend away from gas guzzlers, as well as the need for cash, is causing GM to search for a new home for its Hummer brand and now in a stroke of mad genius, Chrysler has realized it could probably get some cash for its long time sports car superstar, the Dodge Viper. Chrysler has been getting its zoom on with the eye-catching model since back in '92 and although they have managed to keep it fresh enough for the potential buyers in that market, the question about what to do after you've reached 600 hp eventually arises. Of course, most sports car enthusiasts would answer that with the quick retort of "give it 700 hp" but seriously, unless you're using as a track car, more hp is pointless, no? A better response might be to make it easier to drive (like GM has done with the ZR1 Corvette) but that kind of work takes a certain kind of dedication and specialization that might be better suited to a smaller, more performance focused firm. Since the car is now put together at a largely independent plant in Detroit, perhaps Chrysler can find someone willing and able to buy the whole kit and Viper cache kaboodle for a boatload of bills and add some sweetness to the sorrow of parting. Let's just hope the break-up is over quickly because Chrysler needs to concentrate their efforts on cars people can afford to drive if they are to survive.

[Source: Just-Auto]

A while back we somewhat cynically informed you of an Acura TL converted to all-electric that was being made available for the low low price of *cough $185,000. It seems no one took advantage of the offer but that has turned out to be a good thing for Luxury Electric A.K.A. Potential Difference, the company behind the vehicle. Why? Because today, at the Democratic National Conference, where electric cars are getting all kinds of love, Luxury has announced they will take their prototype car, "The Electric," on a transcontinental trip to promote the potential of electric vehicles. According to Luxury Electric founder and Nevada Democratic Party Delegate Elliott Small, "The coast-to-coast drive will show that all-electric automotive technology is ready today. We're eliminating the biggest barrier to mass-market acceptance of electric vehicles by showing that they are not only practical for daily commuting, but deliver outstanding performance, range, comfort and durability as well."

Along the way they have a planned stop in Atlanta to demonstrate some rapid charging technology for which they hold patent licensing from Georgia Tech Research. No word on how quickly they can re-charge their lithium ion phosphate batteries but Engineering VP Bill Rowling, who also runs Truckcity CB & Solar, claims they can get 140 miles to a charge. The transcontinental trip announcement lacked a start date though it did mention they are still seeking sponsors for the event. If you'd like to help them out perhaps you can buy this prototype, since it's still being offered for the reduced price of $150,000 on Autotwins (who also feature it on Craigslist). With that kind of cash we suspect they could convert another TL and still have funds with which to electrically traverse America. The company's ambitions don't stop with conversions either. According to their website, they have their own original design they intend to offer in 2010. Hit the jump to see their 2010 design, a quick tire squealing video of their prototype and the official press release.

[Source: Luxury Electric]

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Troy University, in Troy, Alabama, be on the lookout for a marauding gang of large guys rampaging about the campus on small electric scooters. Ok, maybe that could be construed as being somewhat overstated. But, if you replace "marauding gang" with "members of the football team" and "rampaging" with "ecologically transporting themselves" then the report is completely accurate.

The scooter riding began at the end of last semester when football player Nathan Nolin decided to invest in the green transportation device instead of driving his truck (which was costing him $85 a fill-up). It's worked out so well, he hasn't bought gas since. His football compatriots realized a good thing when they saw one and got their own scooters as well swelling the number of this "biker" gang to about 20. Not only have they all enjoyed a summer wizzing around having fun and saving gas, they've also cut down on all the hassles that go along with trying to find parking on campus. With school getting back underway the players have been busy fielding all kinds of questions from "regular" students as to where they got their two-wheelers and so expect their little fad to begin extending among the rest of the student population. Way to go, Trojans!

[Source: Montgomery Advertiser]

With the cost of diesel still sky high, there is a lot of interest in heavy duty hybrids these days and Eaton Corp. is well positioned to take advantage of the market opportunity. With big truck brands like Peterbilt using their hybrid drivetrains and companies like Coca-Cola demanding them, the future is bright enough for the industrial manufacturer that they feel the need to further expand their operations center in Charleston Township, Michigan. They're about to add 20,000 sq.ft. on top of (literally) the 211,000 sq.ft. of multi-purpose building that already occupies the 112-acre campus, creating a third floor. Of course they'll need workers to fill the new space when it's finished in January and we expect they'll do just that. According to the manager of communications for Eaton's Truck Group, Don Alles, they expect to expand their already 600 strong workforce by 15 percent over the next five years.

[Source: Kalamazoo Gazette]

If competition spurs companies to improve the quality of their offerings and the speed with which they innovate, then we may soon expect more from Shai Agassi's Better Place and its partner in Israel, Renault. While BYD already announced they would be selling electric vehicles in Israel earlier this month, that pronunciation gains serious weight with the news that IDB Holding Corp. Ltd. is said to be close to officially announcing a deal with the Chinese automaker to bring both its all-electric E6 and its 60 mile plug-in serial hybrid (PHEV) F6DM to the Jewish state.

IDB, which is run by its largest shareholder, Nochi Dankner, has interests in most areas of the Israeli economy save for automobile importing. The shouldn't prove overly problematic as the Lubinsky and Livnat families, who together hold 50 percent of the company, are currently importers of Peugeot and Citroen and have experience in the truck industry. They also operate a network of service stations and "logistic centers." It should be interesting to see whether they employ a cooperative or confrontational approach to competing with the Better Place and their partner, Renault. You bring the popcorn and we'll bring the details of any upcoming battles royale.

[Source: Globes Online]

Volvo has announced plans to launch a new hybrid bus for Europe at the IAA Bus and Truck Show in Hanover, Germany this September. No stranger to building big hybrids, Volvo had been waiting to have a go at a bus until it was more "commercially viable." Now, with many parts based on standard products, the company believes it is approaching a "generational shift" and will be able to save customers up to 30 percent of their fuel cost which would allow them to recover the extra bump in the price tag relatively quickly.

The first hybrid model is a 12 meter (40 foot) low-floor city bus with all the components of its parallel hybrid drivetrain sourced from Volvo. The hybrid uses a 5 liter diesel engine that is smaller than the one normally used in this chassis which allows them to add the extra hybrid bits within the same space. The weight of the hybrid is about the same as the diesel model was but has better weight distribution and so can carry more passengers. Though it's not mentioned in the information from Volvo, there is an articulated model present in the press images (see gallery below) and we suspect that this may be part of their future plans - at least, we hope so. The official press release is after the break.



[Source: Volvo]

Now your Smart Fortwo can stand apart from all other Smarts in the crowd with its very own custom ink inspired by tattoo legend Ed Hardy. Project Tattoo has taken 100 Smarts apart and rebuilt them with all kinds of custom interior components to make it as pimp on the inside as the seven-layered Ed Hardy tattoo inspired satin finish paint looks from the out. For a little extra zoom they've even thrown in half-a-dozen extra horses and 14 lb-ft of torque courtesy of Doug Thorley headers featuring twin chrome tips. Included among the other upgrades are a dash and seats finished in leather with embroidered suede inserts, piano black gloss interior accents, and a kickin' touch screen stereo with integrated navigation system.

The limited edition trinket will be announced today at the "When I Move You Move" lifestyle trade show in Las Vegas. Each car will be numbered and autographed by designer Christian Audigier, the man behind both the trade show and the tattooed Smart. At a cost of over $24,000 for the upgrades (includes the tax but not the donor car), the Ed Hardy Smart Fortwo is only slightly less painful than a full body tattoo but, of course, there's always a price to pay when it comes to expressing your individuality through "art." Check out all the Ed Hardy-inspired sweetness in the gallery below. Thanks to Ryan for the tip!



[Source: Project Tattoo]

It looks as though the passing of Xebra-friendly laws and promises of millions of dollars in tax incentives will result in the building of an $84 million ZAP! factory in Kentucky. The governor of the bluegrass state, Steve Beshear, is expected to announce a deal between ZAP! and Integrity Manufacturing Inc. later today that could eventually result in up to 4,000 jobs (according to Integrity) with salaries averaging $20/hr. The new plant would give the California-based electric vehicle company a domestic manufacturing facility at which to produce its three-wheeled Xebra as well as the long-touted reverse tricycle Alias and future models. The new factory is to be sited at the Wilkey Industrial Park in Franklin County and possibly be as large as a million sq.ft. According to a local news blog, the deal has its critics who question the viability of the project as well as ZAP's commitment. Time, we suppose, will be the final arbiter but in the interim we'll keep you up to speed on all the details as they emerge.

[Source: WHAS11 Political Blog]

The world's number one rechargeable battery maker is seeking out new automotive clients in an attempt to stay on top of the heap. With its competitor, Matsushita (Panasonic), snapping at its heels with plans to triple output, Sanyo is on the hunt for new contracts from auto manufacturers. Sanyo's nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are already in the Ford Escape hybrid but it is lithium ion where the company will no doubt want to focus its efforts, especially given that companies like Audi seem keen on the newer tech. They are also currently investing billions in that effort.

Using something of a shotgun approach, Sanyo says it's in talks with 5 or 6 different companies on three different continents.They had already been cooperating with Volkswagen on lithium ion batteries for hybrids coming to market in 2010. Volkswagen is also presumed to use that company's batteries for its planned all-electric vehicles as well. In a boast to Reuters, Sanyo Electric Senior Vice President Masato Ito said of their nearest competitor, "By the time Matsushita has raised its capacity to 75 million, ours will be well over 100 million." We can only hope that all this increased investment and battery braggadocio will result in lower prices.

[Source: Guardian]