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Report: Toyota Prius braking issues may predate 2010 model; other problems reported
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily 
2009 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res gallery
Could the apparent braking problems reported on the Toyota Prius - which Toyota admits was an issue on the current model prior to being resolved earlier this year - extend past the recently released 2010 model? According to TheDetroitBureau.com, the answer is a resounding... maybe.
The third generation of the popular hybrid hatchback hit the market in 2009 as a 2010 model, and some 300,000 vehicles are thought to have a software glitch that could cause the car to lose braking power for up to one full second under certain circumstances. Apparently, though, reports of braking issues have been pouring in since 2005 or even earlier. If true, over a million second-generation Prius hybrids could potentially be affected.
Perhaps it's worth mentioning that previous electronic issues have also been reported, such as headlights that burn out too quickly and malfunctioning traction control system. As pointed out by TheDetroitBureau, "ABS, traction control, electronic stability control and various other technologies all rely, at least in part, on braking to improve the stopping, handling and stability of today's cars, including Prius."
[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]Report: Toyota Prius braking issues may predate 2010 model; other problems reported originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Audi Super Bowl ad: what trikes did the Green Police ride? The T3 Series
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Audi 
Now that the Super Bowl is over and the Audi Green Police commercial has aired without harm, one of the companies peripherally connected to the ad, T3 Motion, is proudly proclaiming their product's use by said police force. The product is the T3 Series electric trike, which has sold over 2,000 units and is used by police and security forces around the country (we've featured the trike on these pages before). The T3 Series can go up to 20 miles per hour and uses swappable batteries. Now, what's up with the company's CT3 personal commuter vehicle?
Back to the Audi ad. We also think there's a GEM electric vehicle that the Green Police use, which means Audi likes Chrysler EVs. As for what the anteater-like critter sniffing cars in the roadblock scene is, we'll leave it up to the zoologists out there to let us know. Watch the ad after the jump.
[Source: T3 Motion, Inc.]Continue reading Audi Super Bowl ad: what trikes did the Green Police ride? The T3 Series Audi Super Bowl ad: what trikes did the Green Police ride? The T3 Series originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Bright Automotive gets a visit from Obama Administration official
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, Bright Automotive Bright IDEA PHEV van - Click above for high-res gallery
The chances that Bright Automotive will get $450 million from the
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program (ATVMLP) might have gone up a bit thanks to a recent visit from a representative of the Obama Administrative. Teno Villarreal, special assistant for the Office of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers, spent time in Anderson, IN, last week and learned more about the the Bright Idea plug-in hybrid van. Representatives from the start-up automaker told Villarreal that up to 6,000 jobs could be created if the Idea goes into production (up from 5,000 claimed earlier). Villarreal's response was, "It's great technology, a great company. There's real excitement about the possibilities at Bright." So, maybe?
[Source: The Herald Bulletin]
Bright Automotive gets a visit from Obama Administration official originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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GM to engineer RWD hybrid powertrain for future Cadillacs?
Filed under: Hybrid, GM  General Motors' two-mode hybrid system hasn't exactly been a commercial success. GM has had a hard time finding customers willing to part ways with $10,000 or more for a fully capable SUV with sedan-like city fuel economy, but that reportedly isn't stopping the Detroit, MI-based automaker from improving its hybrid formula for its next generation of vehicles. GM is said to be working on a new electric motor that will reportedly shrink in size by 25 percent while increasing power by 20 percent. These smaller, more powerful motors will reportedly help The General put its hybrid tech in even smaller vehicles.
Automotive News reports that Tom Stephens, GM's vice chairman of global product operations, told reporters that the company's next two-mode setup will be lighter and more affordable when it hits the streets in 2013. The system will reportedly still be available for SUVs and trucks, but Stephens says the system will also be available in rear-drive cars. Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics reportedly told AN that the easy money is on Cadillac getting the upgraded Two-Mode tech, with the next generation CTS and the ATS as the best bets to include the hybrid powertrain. Given the fact that Cadillacs command a higher price tag, we're thinking that the Wreath and Crest is a good place to start if the automaker ever wants to make a profit off of a full hybrid vehicle. And with the STS likely to go away before 2013, we're thinking the CTS and ATS could be the only rear-drive Caddy sedans by the time 2013 rolls around. It can't hurt that the ATS and the next CTS will share the same platform either, making it easier/cheaper to add Two-Mode tech to both vehicles.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.] GM to engineer RWD hybrid powertrain for future Cadillacs? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Quantya tease tempts us to peek under the covers
Filed under: On Two Wheels, Europe/EU 
The slim profile that is the Quantya line-up is about to alter its silhouette in the form of a new model, or so the company would seem to tease in a recent tweet. Presented for our postulating pleasure was a picture of their latest product veiled in a crimson red cloth with a promise of a reveal at the upcoming Swiss-Moto event in Zürich. Being the impatient people we are, we couldn't help but take some stabs at what lies beneath the shroud and so relying on our knowledge of the company and its history (and with some help from the software wonder that is Photoshop) we've ventured a few guesses. One concoction we can count out straight away is the Frankensnowbike, since the hem of the harboring garment is lifted just enough in front to see a bit of black tire rubber.
Hit the jump to look at our photo manipulations and leave your own conjecture in the comments section. If you don't feel like straining your brain, no need to leave quite so soon. Skip to the bottom of the page where we placed a sweet video Quantya has put together of their present piece of sweetness in competitive combat at last year's Ride Green Eco Enduro.
[Source: Quantya]Continue reading Quantya tease tempts us to peek under the covers Quantya tease tempts us to peek under the covers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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California custom shop builds an electric Honda N360
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda  Back in October at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda unveiled an electric vehicle concept called the EV-N. The EV-N design was inspired by the tiny N360 of the 1960s. While the EV-N may or may not provide a preview of an upcoming electric city car from Honda, a little custom car shop in Santa Rosa, CA has been working on the real thing.
Hector's Chop Shop has been working on an electric conversion of a 1969 Honda N360. The project has gone through many changes of direction since it started. Early on, the crew working on the project had planned to remove the cylinder head and crankshaft from the little front driver. The electric motor was to be mounted on top of the block with a dummy crank in the bottom of the block. The motor was to drive the dummy crank so that the stock clutch and gearbox could be used.
That plan obviously didn't work out and the DC motor is now being installed in the back of the body shell driving the rear wheels through a 1985 VW GTI gearbox. Check out the progress on the project at the shop's website.
[Source: Hector's Chop Shop via Clunkbucket]California custom shop builds an electric Honda N360 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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GM announces B20 compatibility for 2011 Duramax 6.6l turbo diesel engine
Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Chicago Auto Show 
The move to official automaker support for higher blends of biodiesel has been a slow one. One important step along the way were the establishment of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards for B20 (20 percent biodiesel mixed with 80 percent petro diesel) in the middle of 2008. Last year, General Motors announced that the new 6.6-liter Duramax V8 engine would be factory certified to run on B20 sometime this spring. That time is now.
GM officially announced today at the National Biodiesel Conference that the 2011 Duramax 6.6l turbo diesel engine will be able to accept B20 (more details here). This engine will be used in the 2011 Chevy Silverado, the GMC Sierra heavy-duty pickups, the Chevrolet Express and the GMC Savana full-size vans. The Silverado will be unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show, so stay tuned for more from the Windy City.
[Source: General Motors]Continue reading GM announces B20 compatibility for 2011 Duramax 6.6l turbo diesel engine GM announces B20 compatibility for 2011 Duramax 6.6l turbo diesel engine originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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New York state senate proposal would require gallons/100 mile stickers
Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy 
Here at AutoblogGreen, we're no strangers to the mileage vs. consumption debate, but New York state could become the first in the nation to require fuel consumption ratings on new vehicles. For those not familiar with the concept, mileage measures how far you can drive on a given quantity of fuel. The standard measure in the U.S. for this rating is miles per gallon. Consumption, on the other hand, defines how much fuel is used to drive a given distance. Those in countries that use metric generally measure this in liters per 100 kilometers, while Americans would use gallons per 100 miles. When measuring fuel savings that result from increased efficiency, the consumption rating gives a linear representation of actual savings. The savings that result from improving the MPG drop geometrically as the mileage number rises. You can find a full explanation in this Greenlingsarticle we published in 2009.
New York state senator Daniel Squadron (D) recently introduced a bill that would require fuel consumption window stickers on new cars. The intent is to show consumers how much fuel would be saved by taking most inefficient vehicles off the road. Going from 12-15 mpg reduces saves nearly six times as much fuel over a given driving distance as an improvement from 50-60 mpg. The bill has been passed out of a senate committee in Albany but no corresponding bill has yet been introduced in the assembly.
[Source: All over Albany]New York state senate proposal would require gallons/100 mile stickers originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Report: Toyota brake problems expanding to Lexus HS hybrid, Prius recall forthcoming
Filed under: Hybrid, Lexus, Toyota  2010 Lexus HS 250h - Click above for high-res image gallery
While Toyota still hasn't officially recalled the Prius, they have admitted the world's most popular hybrid has potential brake problems. The company is now also looking into whether the Prius' country club cousin, the LexusHS hybrid, and the Japan-only Sai hybrid, which is based on the HS, might also need their brakes fixed. As of yet, nothing has been decided, but we expect more news soon.
It's also being reported by the Japanese media and the New York Times that Toyota will issue a global recall for the Prius early this week, and Automotive News (Sub. Req'd) reports that the car's brake problems will be fixed with a software update to the antilock braking system. With news of the Prius' brake problems spreading, reports of problems are increasing dramatically. While there were just over 100 complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as of last week, there are now over 800, a good sign that Toyota needs to do something, and soon.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: New York Times,
Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]Report: Toyota brake problems expanding to Lexus HS hybrid, Prius recall forthcoming originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Video: Nicolas Prost wins first electric Andros Trophy
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Europe/EU, Racing 
The first Andros Electric Trophy season has wrapped up and Nicolas Prost can lay claim to winning the first professional electric racing series ever held. His 250 points were 23 more than the nearest competitor after three sets of races on seven different tracks. The son of Alain started the season with a podium finish behind Marlène Broggi and race winner Jean-Baptiste Dubourg, despite being new to the ice, and found his way to the top spot by the second event at Grandvalira in Andorra. Although the competition was tight, Prost managed to return to the podium's peak with a dominating frequency that made him the outright favorite early on.
The drivers as a whole really seemed to enjoy a great sense of camaraderie at the Andros Trophy (or as they say in the official language of the series, la Trophée Andros Électrique). They were impressed by the vehicles and many are on record as saying they forgot all about the unique powertrain once the green flag dropped and their right feet pushed floorward. Between the races, there was expressed satisfaction of the environmentally improved nature of the event and lots of mentions of the electrically-powered vehicles being the "future of racing."
The eight copies of the Andros Car 03-Evo 2 built by Exagon Engineering held up quite well and put their torquey (147 pound-feet) 90 kW (122 horsepower) Siemens AC motors to good use, rounding the seven different circuits only a couple seconds slower than their long-established gas-powered marquee'd-marque-built cousins. There was the odd failure but considering the nature of the events, with the cars frequently banging into snowbanks and each other, the battery-powered buggies proved quite robust. To get a taste of some of the electric ice-racing action, check out the boat-load (10!) of videos waiting for you after the jump.
[Source: Trophée Andros]Continue reading Video: Nicolas Prost wins first electric Andros Trophy Video: Nicolas Prost wins first electric Andros Trophy originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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