Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

A Victim of Federal Bias? Advanced Lead Acid Battery Company, Firefly, Goes Bankrupt

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 01:03 PM PDT

When we last brought you news about Firefly nearly two years ago, it was of a more hopeful nature: I had a chance to sit down with the company’s then-Senior Vice President, Mil Ovan, and discuss Firefly’s future.

At the time, Firefly seemed like it was set to take off. With lucrative military and private contracts to change out those institutions’ old hat lead-acid batteries with new ones that were supposed to provide much higher durability, longer charge capacity, and less sensitivity to temperature changes in a lighter and more compact package.

Well, that future is no more. Firefly has officially closed up shop and filed for bankruptcy. Chapter 7 to be exact. The one where all that’s left of the company is liquidated in a fire sale. (more…)

Same Electric Car + Different Brands = $18,000 Price Difference?

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 11:49 AM PDT

Peugeot and Mitsubishi have some ’splainin to do.

Mitsubishi plans to start selling their i-MiEV electric car in Europe later this year. In partnership with Mitsubishi, the i-MiEV will also be sold in Europe as the Peugeot iOn and the Citroen C-Zero.

The problem: Mitsu has said the i-MiEV will have a street price of 48,000 euros before any tax breaks and credits (roughly $66,000 US), whereas Peugeot and Citroen have said their versions of the i-MiEV will sell for less than 35,000 euros before tax breaks (about $48,000 US).

That’s a whopping price differential of 13,000 euros ($18,000 US) — for the same car! (more…)

Atomik Fiat 500 Abarth Electric Conversion is All Speed

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 09:11 AM PDT

Chrysler is hurting. Bad. Of the Big Three, it is in the worst shape, and its product portfolio is woefully out of date.

Their new “Italian Overlords” at Fiat are injecting some much-needed modernity into the lineup, including the very popular (in Europe) Fiat 500. Fiat even teased us with an electric Fiat 500 at the Detroit Auto Show… but no word on whether or not such a model is planned for production. So Atomik Cars beat Fiat to the punch, taking the much-lauded 500 Abarth Edition and turning it into an electric supercar.

(more…)
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