Gas 2.0

Jaguar to Build Electric Car in 2011
8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock
Reinvention: Tour of GM’s New Electric Vehicle Battery Testing Facility [+pictures]
Update: GM May Hunt for Fuel Cell Development “Efficiencies”
US Adds $30 Million in Funding to Develop Next Generation EV Batteries
London Launches First Electric Car Hire Scheme in UK
Subaru Charges Into Electric Cars With Stella EV

Jaguar to Build Electric Car in 2011

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 01:45 PM PDT

Is it the truth or just wishful thinking that British car company Jaguar is developing an electric luxury vehicle?

Jaguar has an electric vehicle, the XE roadster - a two-seat convertible, scheduled for introduction at the Geneva show in 2011. The XE roadster will come with an optional range-extended electric drive-train, which is similar to the Chevy Volt.

The roadster will receive an electric motor with an extended-range three-cylinder gas engine, which is being engineered for the new-age E-Type. It is uncertain whether this engine would come in addition to Jaguar’s conventional 5.0-liter and supercharged 5.0-liter V-8s.

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8th Grader Builds Solar-Powered Bike With GPS, iPod Dock

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 09:34 AM PDT

Eighth-grader David S. Dixon–along with his dad David G. Dixon–has built a street-legal quadricycle powered by a solar-charged electric motor. The bike not only carries his dog and three friends, but it has also has an iPod dock and GPS. Ya, it’s that cool!

Coined as the Solar Human Hybrid (SOHH), the vehicle was launched as part of David Jr.’s middle school project for the Novato Charter School.

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Reinvention: Tour of GM’s New Electric Vehicle Battery Testing Facility [+pictures]

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 09:31 AM PDT

Editor’s Note: This is a 4-part series covering my trip to Michigan to test-drive the Chevy Volt. See post 1. LiveBlogging from the opening of GM’s New Battery Lab, and 2. Chevy Volt Test Drive: How GM's Electric Car Works. Disclaimer: GM flew me out for this event. This post is in no way affiliated with the GM ads that appear at the margins.

The real reason we were in Warren, MI wasn’t to test-drive the Volt, but to be on hand for the grand opening of GM’s new battery testing facility. The $25 million Global Battery Systems lab is now the largest battery testing facility in the United States, and is four times larger than the company’s old lab.

GM made a strategic decision to keep battery development in-house, because it will likely be a key competitive advantage in the race to commercialize electric vehicles. The lab already employs 1,000 engineers who work on advanced battery systems like the one found the the Chevy Volt.

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Update: GM May Hunt for Fuel Cell Development “Efficiencies”

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 08:13 AM PDT

The financial woes at General Motors could finally be catching up with its fuel cell vehicle development program.

In a Web-based interview with the media Tuesday, CEO Fritz Henderson said the company may take a close look at what it spends on fuel cell development. When asked by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle’s Matt Daneman about fuel cells, Henderson said “while we need to be more efficient in this area, we are confident we can maintain the capabilities necessary to win in the market going forward.” Th giant automaker declared bankruptcy this month and is selling off subsidiaries.

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US Adds $30 Million in Funding to Develop Next Generation EV Batteries

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 06:40 AM PDT

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced yesterday that over the next three years it is ploughing $11 million into research projects to develop advanced batteries for electric cars. The projects are also in line to benefit from a whopping $19 million in further support from the private sector.

A total of seven cutting-edge projects will focus on improving battery material performance and developing the manufacturing processes to produce them. The ultimate aim is to reduce the cost of batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), one of the main financial barriers to more widespread uptake.

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London Launches First Electric Car Hire Scheme in UK

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 03:20 AM PDT

Earlier this week, London launched Britain’s first ever electric car hire scheme. The initiative, run by Streetcar, the country’s largest pay-as-you-go car-sharing club, will offer members a specially adapted Toyota Prius at rates starting from £5.95 (just under $10) an hour.

If the trial proves a hit with club members, Streetcar plans to roll out extra electric cars throughout the capital to meet rising demand.

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Subaru Charges Into Electric Cars With Stella EV

Posted: 17 Jun 2009 02:42 AM PDT

Subaru has become the latest in a long line of car manufacturers to start producing electric cars. The Japanese company plans to start selling a compact all-electric plug-in number called the Stella EV in Japan over the coming weeks.

Unusual for such a compact EV, the Stella boasts four seats and a top speed of 60 mph, which is likely to prove just about bearable to drivers using it as a second car for city use (photo gallery after the jump).

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