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Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Green Daily , USA Reports that hybrid vehicles would continue to be popular are nothing new and seem to be coming true . But a new study by NextGen Research paints a picture that might be a bit too rosy. Maybe. Components used in electric and hybrid vehicles will see a huge growth spurt in the coming years, NextGen found. Vehicle battery modules, for example, are expected to go from about $1.3 billion last year to $3.7 billion by 2014. For comparison, read these recent posts discussing these sorts of components with David Cole (difficult but positive) and Guido Reinking (expensive and negative). View post: STUDY: Market share for plug ins, hybrids set for huge growth by 2013 ... details >>>

GreenVehicles asked: Green Vehicles - Triac is a pure electric vehicle. 144V lithium-ion batteries with a very powerful AC motor.Content details >>>

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , GM Bob Kruse is going freelance. Kruse has been executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries at General Motors since early 2008. He has overseen the teams led by Denise Gray, Larry Nitz and Micky Bly that are developing hybrid and electric vehicles for GM. Kruse has opted to leave GM and form his own consulting firm called E V Consulting LLC to provide engineering expertise to companies looking to cash in on the federal bounty currently available for developing plug-in vehicles. Kruse and GM both say that he is leaving the company on good terms and the change has nothing to do with progress on the Volt or other programs. This just happens to be an opportune time for Kruse to strike out on his own. Kruse will be replaced by Micky Bly, who has been director of hybrid vehicle integration. For the last several years, Bly has led the teams that did the production development... details >>>

Filed under: Emerging Technologies , EV/Plug-in , Transportation Alternatives , USA With no time on its hands for promotional appearances at glitzy European autoshows , one of America's most advanced electric vehicles has been busy being put through its paces on the torturous terrain found at Black Point Lava Flow in Arizona. The Lunar Electric Rover (LER) has spent the last couple weeks wandering about this wasteland simulating a search for lost crew members in a trial that's putting the modern plug-in electric car architecture to the test. Unlike the dune buggy-like moon rovers of yore, the Ford Ranger-sized LER depends on lithium ion batteries and is currently using a chemistry that packs 125 wh/kg of energy, though NASA, not unlike today's would-be electric car buyer, hopes to have at least a 60 percent improvement in that number before it leaves the sales lot launch pad. The pack will not only need to hold lots of juice but be engineered to ... details >>>

Filed under: Hydrogen , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily Hydrogen cars in Vancouver - click above for high-res image gallery When you're down and out, that's when you find out who your real friends are. While there are calls for a more grassroots approach to hydrogen infrastructure development , the real pushers are the big automakers and the government. And, now that H 2 funding is under attack but also back in the mix , eight major automakers (or partnerships) - Daimler, Ford, GM/Opel, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Renault/Nissan and Toyota - have issued a joint press release saying they all "Stick up for Electric Vehicles with Fuel Cell" by signing a Letter of Understanding that they will work together on the development and market introduction of electric vehicles with fuel cells, especially from 2015 onward. Note the change in message here. No longer does the word hydrogen have top billing. Instead, these H 2 cars are now electric vehicle that just ... details >>>

Filed under: Diesel , EV/Plug-in , Audi Audi of America Johan de Nysschen has issued a public response to the firestorm created earlier today by a comment about the Chevy Volt being "a car for idiots." Anyone who has met de Nysschen in person knows he is not one to mince words. He has been a strong proponent of diesel technology as an important near to mid-term way to reduce petroleum consumption. In his new statement de Nysschen declares that he doesn't specifically remember using the words attributed to him, although he doesn't deny the sentiment behind them. Essentially he along with many others is highly dubious of the viability of the ER-EV concept, particularly from an economic standpoint. de Nysschen also highlights the fact that government policies are one of the driving forces behind electrification. While noting that in the long term electrified propulsion systems will be a major part of the transportation system, he points out that many questions remain... details >>>

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Nissan Nissan Qazana Concept - click above for a high-res image gallery The new Nissan EV that is debuting this weekend is just the first of a whole series of electrically-driven vehicles from the Japanese automaker. Among the future additions to the lineup may be a production crossover based on the Qazana concept that we saw at the Geneva Motor Show last March. According to Autocar, a production Qazana could arrive as soon as 2013 from Nissan's UK plant in Sunderland. No powertrain was identified for the Qazana at its launch, but Nissan has shown an electric Rogue which is only slightly larger. Nissan has already announced plans to build lithium ion battery plants in the U.S. and Europe in addition to Japan. View post: Report: Nissan Qazana and Nuvu could join EV lineup ... details >>>

Don't hold your breath for an electric Scion iQ anytime soon. Toyota executives are certainly good at sticking to the company line. Toyota officials have repeatedly downplayed the potential for pure battery electric vehicles and Yoshimi Inaba is no exception. Inaba-san is the newly-minted President and COO of Toyota Motor North America and Chairman and CEO of Toyota Motor Sales USA. Three weeks after taking over the top spot at Toyota in North America, Inaba-san came to Detroit to speak with a group of local media, including AutoblogGreen. Responding to the EV question, Inaba-san told the group "we don't see in the near future electric vehicles being mainstream... We don't see the major breakthrough in battery technology." Inaba-san didn't rule out introducing an EV if upcoming machines from Nissan, Ford, GM and others take off in the market, but seemed unwilling to commit to losing a lot of money on a battery-powered vehicle More: ... details >>>

Mitsubishi i MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery Ever wonder about your friend who's been converting an old Ranger to battery power? He's a nut. Or the lady who runs Electric Cars Are For Girls ? Off her rocker. This is according to MSNBC , which wrote recently that electric cars have, until recently, been the domain of the "lunatic fringe." In an article that talks about the bright near future for electric vehicles, MSNBC uses the terms "fanatics," which can be kind of charming, and the "lunatic fringe," which is less so. MSNBC says that, "while everyone won't be propelled by electrons anytime soon, for the first time, everyone can at least consider that as an option when the buy their next car." Guess the lunatic fringe is making its mark. View post: MSNBC: Early electric car adopters are the "lunatic fringe" ... details >>>

"Crazy/beautiful" Crazy/Beautiful is a 2001 drama /romance film starring Kirsten Dunst and Jay Hernandez. The enormously appealing Kirsten Dunst, probably the best of today's young Hollywood actresses, acquits herself handily in Crazy/beaut... details >>>