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Automobile Industry

Tuesday
09Feb2010

GM Expanding Into In-House Design and Development of Electric Motors

DateFebruary 9, 2010 Author Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis

Betting on a growing eco-conscious consumer market, General Motors is continuing to diversify its business operations with an increasing emphasis on greener technologies. In the latest move in this direction, the company plans to expand its in-house vehicle development capabilities to include the design and manufacture of electric motors.

GM two-mode hybrid technology for the 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe. Image courtesy of automobilemag.com.

GM was selected last August by the U.S. Department of Energy for a $105 million grant for the construction of U.S. manufacturing initiatives to produce electric motors and related drive components.

GM plans to invest approximately $246 million in electric motor and electric drive manufacturing, including the construction of a high volume electric drive production facility at its Baltimore Transmission plant.

“The expansion of the Baltimore plant will generate a significant influx of money and jobs into the greater Baltimore area,” said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of global product operations. The company projects that this new initiative will allow it to create approximately 200 new jobs.

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Wednesday
13Jan2010

Washington Auto Show Expanding Presence of Green Technologies

DateJanuary 13, 2010 Author Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis

This year’s auto show season has begun with a focus on ‘green’ - both in the money and eco-friendly sense of the word. Among the first shows this year, The Washington Auto Show plans to more than double the size of its exhibits featuring ‘green’ cars and technologies.

Even before the actual exhibits open on Jan. 27, the day before will kick off with the beginning of the 2010 Electric Drive Transportation Association Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The EDTA is a cross-industry trade association that works in and outside of Washington, D.C. to promote the electrification of transportation, including battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles. Members include automotive and equipment manufacturers, energy companies, technology developers, as well as battery and component suppliers.

Among the issues that are set to be discussed will be ways to accelerate the development and adoption of fuel-efficient electric drive vehicles.

As for the actual ‘green’ exhibiting, the show will feature a 65,000 square-foot display called the Advanced Technology SuperHighway, which will showcase advancements in electric, diesel, natural gas, advanced petroleum, biofuels, ethanol, hydrogen, and safety technologies.

Adding to the excitement, Green Car Journal has announced the finalists for its 2010 Green Vision Award, which will be presented at the auto show‘s “Change Happens Here” event on Jan. 26.

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Tuesday
08Dec2009

GM India and Reva Electric Car Co. Partnering to Expand Eastern Presence

DateDecember 8, 2009 Author Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis

Despite the global recession, General Motors India and Reva Electric Car Co. are set to close the year on a high gear.

At last week’s Los Angles Auto Show, Robert A. Lutz, GM’s vice chairman of global product development, said, “Today, we have a much healthier balance sheet, with significantly less debt. We’re positioned to be profitable in anything close to a normal automotive sales market. And, we’ll begin to repay our government loans sooner than expected, starting this month.”

On the international front, Mr. Lutz remarked about GM’s newest ‘green’ India partnership, saying, “In September, we signed an agreement with Reva Electric Car Company to cooperate in the development of small car platform based electric vehicles for India.

“Our goal is to jointly develop, with Reva, electric vehicle technology, and advanced vehicle control systems. We’re also working closely with the government of India to develop an electric vehicle infrastructure.”

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Tuesday
24Nov2009

Nissan’s LEAF Zero Emission Car Goes on Tour

DateNovember 24, 2009 Author Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis

Stock photo.

For anyone curious about what it would be like to drive a ‘zero-emission’ all-electric car without having to buy one, you might be able to get your chance on Nissan’s North American tour of its newly developed LEAF five-door hatchback.

Nissan has just begun its LEAF tour which will stop in a total of 22 cities in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada. The automaker is going all-out to showcase the hatchback, which is expected to rollout in mass production in late 2010.

While Nissan is in full-swing marketing mode, they’re also providing some hard facts about the LEAF, which is designed with a lithium ion chassis. For those unfamiliar with automotive terminology, the chassis generally refers to the frame of a vehicle, including components such as the engine, transmission, and suspension.

The LEAF has a laminated lithium ion rechargeable battery with a capacity of 24kWh (kilowatt hours) and a power of over 90kW (kilowatts), built by the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation.

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Monday
02Nov2009

Jerusalem Signs Agreement to Expand Charging Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles

DateNovember 2, 2009 Author Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis

Left to right: CEO, Better Place Israel, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Moshe Kaplinsky; Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat; and Better Place Founder and CEO Shai Agassi. Photo courtesy of Flickr.com.

Jerusalem, one of the oldest and holiest cities in the world, is making a move to become one of the greenest cities as well. Mayor Nir Barkat has just signed a new substantial agreement with Better Place Israel to begin the development of a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the city.

Better Place, a international provider of electric vehicle infrastructure, services, and intelligent network design, has already placed several charge spots at the entrance of the city as part of the pilot program that will take place next year.

“Electric transportation presents the promise of reducing air pollution and preserving the capital for future generations, while contributing to the reduction of the country’s dependence on oil,” said the mayor during the signing ceremony.

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