Gas 2.0

BMW Says First Electric Car, The Megacity, is Coming in 2013
American Le Mans Announces Ambassadors For Greener Racing
Tesla Roadster is Top Earth Day Prize on The Price is Right
London: Electric Vehicle Capital of Europe by 2015?
The Rumored Chevy Volt Electric Minivan is Real

BMW Says First Electric Car, The Megacity, is Coming in 2013

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 04:02 PM PDT

Ahead of the 2010 Beijing Auto Show BMW has announced that the company’s first mass-produced electric car will be released in 2013. Having just completed a year’s worth of electric vehicle testing with the Mini E, the BMW group now feels it has collected enough data to go full steam ahead with battery-powered cars.

Although it is likely a bit of a bummer to Mini fans, as BMW has previously stated, the Mini E (shown above) is not slated for production. Instead, BMW will start a completely new sub-brand to sell EVs dubbed ‘Megacity.’ Reportedly, the first Megacity will be a 5-seater in the size class of a VW Golf and will have a rear-mounted motor as well as rear wheel drive.

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American Le Mans Announces Ambassadors For Greener Racing

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 03:29 PM PDT

As many of you know, I dig racing. I’ve already dedicated several posts to efforts being made by the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) to promote a greener image when it comes to auto racing and to highlight the efforts being made in the racing world to develop green technology. While many people might dismiss the notion of production car-based racing as green, the fact is that many major manufacturers use racing as a test bed for new technologies, both performance oriented and otherwise, that eventually find their way into dealerships.

Last Friday, the ALMS announced a five member “Green Dream Team” made up of five racers from the ALMS. These five men will serve as ambassadors towards a greener racing series. Bob Dickinson, Vice President of Public Relations/Media Service, reached out and clarified for me what these ambassadors will do, and how the ALMS is looking towards a greener, and faster, future.

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Tesla Roadster is Top Earth Day Prize on The Price is Right

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:58 PM PDT

The Earth Day episode of The Price is Right featured a Tesla Roadster as the grand prize. With a value of over $100,000 it was the most expensive single item giveaway the show has ever had.

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London: Electric Vehicle Capital of Europe by 2015?

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 02:40 PM PDT

Transport for London commits over $150m to UK’s largest green transport initiative.

The transport authority for London has issued two tenders aimed at making the capital of Britain the electric vehicle capital of Europe by 2015.

The first, worth over $100m, is for electric, hybrid and low carbon vehicles. The majority of the funding is ringfenced for electric and hybrid passenger vehicles of up to eight seats. Other funding will go towards electric scooters and hybrid minibuses and trucks.

Declared bidders all have UK manufacturing pants and include the largest electric commercial vehicle manufacturer, Smith Electric Vehicles, and leading electric motor manufacturer Nissan. In all over 1,000 vehicles will be added to the transport fleet of the Greater London Authority by 2015. (more…)

The Rumored Chevy Volt Electric Minivan is Real

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:45 AM PDT

I’ll admit, it’s hard to get all hot and bothered about a minivan… but there’s a reason they have been a perpetually popular option for decades now. They’re practical, functional people movers with gobs of cargo space, comfort and convenience. Ever since the original Dodge Caravan defined the segment back in the 80’s, families the world over have swarmed to them in droves.

Of course, on the fuel economy front they’re a bit lacking. Which is why, as a dad of two (who likes to subject his family to the great American roadtrip every now and then), a green car nut and a supporter of the resurgence of the American automobile, I can honestly say I AM all hot and bothered by Chevy’s unveiling of the previously rumored, Volt-based, extended range electric minivan/crossover concept called the ‘Volt MPV5′ at the Beijing Auto Show today.

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