The cute, cuddly FIAT 500e EV may have been born only out of regulatory necessity. So what happens if it becomes the best-reviewed new EV in its class? The bar is raised; the game changes. Maybe Chrysler will even concede that it should sell it outside of the Golden State. Summertime in Sonoma County… Read more »
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Tesla pays off DOE loan early, taxpayers profit
Delivering a welcome victory for the government’s policy of supporting American manufacturing, Tesla Motors has paid off the loan it received from the Department of Energy nine years ahead of schedule, giving taxpayers a profit of at least $12 million on the original $465 million loan, Reuters reported. “I would like to thank the Department… Read more »
Fisker settles suit with insurance company – precursor to a sale?
The carmaker filed suit in December, after the insurer refused to cover the loss of 338 Karma sedans, worth about $33 million, that were destroyed in Superstorm Sandy.
Musk: Boeing batteries “inherently unsafe”
Well, what a surprise – Elon Musk is in the news again. A few days ago, he offered to help out beleaguered Boeing, whose pride and joy, the new 787 Dreamliner, has been grounded because of its battery pack problems. Now Musk has criticized the Dreamliner’s battery design as “inherently unsafe,” in an email to… Read more »
Mouse Tesla offers to remove thorn from Lion Boeing’s paw
Elon Musk, the entrepreneurial force behind Tesla Motors and SpaceX, who surely knows a thing or two about lithium-ion batteries, has offered unspecified aid to aviation giant Boeing, whose flagship 787 Dreamliner remains grounded after a pair of battery-related incidents. “Desire to help Boeing is real & am corresponding w 787 chief engineer,” Musk tweeted… Read more »
Chevy reveals specs and price for 2014 Spark EV
Chevrolet’s 2014 Spark EV will have its official coming out party at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, but GM has released a few details ahead of the ball. It plans to price the electric hatchback under $32,500 (before incentives), slightly undercutting the $35,200 Nissan LEAF, and to sell it in several global markets (not… Read more »
Chrysler pulls prototype PHEVs from service to deal with battery problem
The development of the 109 Ram pickups and 23 Town & Country minivans was jointly funded by Chrysler and the DOE.
Ford’s new plug-ins
Ford’s recent launch of the Focus Electric, and the upcoming launches of the Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrids, are major milestones for the American EV industry. The Focus Electric claims the title of the only pure EV currently available from the Big Three US automakers, and the Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi will… Read more »
Ford Focus Electric is headed for dealers
According to Reuters, about 350 Focus Electrics will be sent to 67 dealers in California, New Jersey and New York over the next couple of weeks.
Year-end EV sales figures: the winner is…
As major EV makers announced their 2011 sales figures today, it appears that the Japanese beat the home team by a nose – Nissan sold 9,674 Leafs, and Chevy delivered 7,671 Volts.