In the frontal impact crash test, the passenger dummy got four stars, but the driver dummy limped away with two stars.
Newswire
“EPA-certified” fuel economy figures – are they reliable?
Consumer Reports reported that they achieved only 39 mpg overall for the Fusion Hybrid, and 37 mpg for the C-Max Hybrid, about 20 percent lower than the EPA figures.
US Army base uses EVs as energy storage devices on microgrid
While many have discussed the potential of EVs to act as energy storage devices in a smart grid of the future, the day when this idea can be implemented on a citywide scale is probably pretty far off. However, a smaller, self-contained “microgrid” offers the perfect opportunity to test the concept. Microgrids are one of… Read more »
Wanxiang wins A123 at auction
Chinese auto parts firm Wanxiang is the proud owner of battery maker A123 Systems, having won this week’s bankruptcy auction with a bid of between $250 million and $260 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Other bidders included Johnson Controls, NEC and Siemens. Wanxiang will not be buying the segment of A123 that provides… Read more »
EPA releases official range rating for 60 kWh Model S
You can’t buy one just yet, but the EPA has released its range and efficiency ratings for the 2013 Tesla Model S with 60 kWh battery pack. As expected, the range on these babies blows away every other pure EV on the market. Model S is available with three battery options: 40, 60 and 85… Read more »
VIDEO: Fisker’s Posawatz talks about A123, the Atlantic and DOE loans
A former GM exec who’s now filling a very different role as the CEO of a California startup, Mr P has learned that fund-raising is a never-ending process.
Auction for assets of A123 begins in Chicago
Fisker was forced to temporarily shut down production of its Karma luxury sedan due to A123’s troubles, and is hoping for a quick resolution.
Austin Energy gets $500,000 to promote plug-in vehicles in Central Texas
Deep in the heart of a state that’s famous for petroleum and pickup trucks, Austin Energy, the electric utility that serves the capital city, is a leader in promoting electric vehicles. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded the company an additional $500,000 to encourage plug-in vehicle adoption in Central Texas. Austin Energy has… Read more »
November sales: Prius Plug-in takes lead, Volt drops to third place
The good news: 2012 plug-in vehicle sales may turn out to be triple the 2011 figure. The bad news: November’s total is down a little from October, and sales of the former front-runner, the Chevy Volt, took a big hit. The Volt sold 1,519 units in November, a steep decline from October, in which the… Read more »
Tesla reaches break-even point as it struggles to catch up with orders
Tesla’s on a roll these days. Still basking in the glory of rave reviews by Motor Trend and Consumer Reports, CEO Elon Musk announced that the company has stopped burning cash and reached the break-even point, a major milestone for any start-up. “Am happy to report that Tesla was narrowly cash flow positive last week. Continued improvement expected… Read more »