Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Lotus

After the engineering side of Lotus has spent over a decade working on electric vehicle technology, the production side finally looks ready to take advantage of it. Lotus CEO Michael Kimberley recently told the Financial Times, “Don’t be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly,” which could appear as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The first electric Lotus is expected to be a range extended EV with a smaller battery to provide some plug-in range and an internal combustion engine to stretch the driving distance out to 300-400 miles. That would put Lotus in direct competition with the Fisker Karma. It’s not known what vehicle layout Lotus will use, but given its limited resources, the new Evora is likely to be the donor platform. That will likely mean a mid-mounted battery pack with an engine directly behind.

Lotus Engineering consults with many automakers around the world on a wide variety of projects, most of which we never hear about. However, in the past two years, the company has been prominently involved with both Chrysler and Tesla Motors. Lotus developed the chassis of the Tesla Roadster as an evolution of its own Elise and manufactures rolling chassis for the California Company. Lotus also built the battery-powered Dodge EV based on its Europa sports car. What impact this new car will have on either of those projects is not clear right now. However, building its own EVs without a middle man would likely give Lotus a big financial advantage over Tesla.

[Source: Financial Times]

Lotus set to challenge Tesla and Fisker with extended range EV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Ford, Green Daily

Want to prove that ponies like ethanol? Give Oklahoma corn farmer Brent Hajek a call. He helped get a FR500C Ford Mustang running on E85 up to 252.78 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats is Utah back in September. The record-setting drive (well, almost. It still needs to be duplicated to make the books) handily beat the previous record of 246 mph. The Mustang used a 5.4L Ford GT block, heads and various performance parts from Ford Racing, but that sort of support was not a given. NewsOK reports that there was little enthusiasm for the Mustang record attempt until Hajek suggested using the corn-based fuel. Once the biofuel was part of the plan, they [Ford] were hooked.”

There’s a video of the event -rocking guitar soundtrack and all - after the jump. For more alt-fuel Mustangs, check out these biodiesel and electric versions.

[Source: NewsOK via Domestic Fuel]

Continue reading Ethanol-powered Mustang reaches 252 mph

Ethanol-powered Mustang reaches 252 mph originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Green Culture, Hybrid, Ferrari, Toyota, Green Daily

Way back in October at the Paris Motor Show, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa raised a few eyebrows when he asserted that Ferraris produce fewer emissions than Priuses. On the surface, it’s true - the total amount of fuel used in and all the emissions from every Ferrari in the world combined is less than those of all Priuses combined. Sadly, many people seem to stop right there, forgetting that mile-by-mile, the Prius is vastly more efficient. On average, Ferrari’s aren’t driven all the much, so of course they don’t burn that much fuel. When they are running, though, they are anything but green.

Car and Driver waited a few months to pick up the story, but here it is on their pages today with the title, “Save the Earth: Drive a Ferrari.” We’re not fans of perpetuating an obvious myth, and this seems like one of those stories that’s set to pop back up once every few months, much like the HUMMER versus Prius myth that still infects the internet from time to time. Shouldn’t C&D be above this?

[Source: Car and Driver]

Car and Driver gets in on the “Ferrari’s are greener than Priuses” myth originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hydrogen, Mazda

Mazda is in a unique position in the automobile world with its rotary engine. The Wankel engine happens to run rather well on hydrogen and is not as susceptible to many of hydrogen’s shortcomings as other internal combustion engines. The Japanese automaker has had hydrogen-fueled rotary-powered cars on the roads for the last few years and the automaker has previously suggested that it hopes to have a hydrogen-fueled car in production within the next five years.

Auto Motor und Sport is now suggesting that Mazda’s next-gen rotary-powered sportscar will feature a dual-fuel arrangement, being capable of running on both gasoline and hydrogen gas. If these rumors are accurate, we can expect Mazda’s first production hydrogen car to hit the roads in 2012 and revert back to a standard 2-door body style. The current RX-8 uses a set of reverse-hinged doors just aft of the normal front portals. We’ll see.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport (translated) via The Truth About Cars]

Hydrogen RX-9 rumors pop back up originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Hybrid, Ford, Green Daily

We found a story yesterday that seemed to indicate that Ford might not be able to get enough NiMH batteries for its Fusion (and Milan) hybrids. We asked Ford if they had anything to add to the story and this is what a spokesman said

“We have planned to double our volume with the addition of our new hybrids, the Fusion and Milan, joining the Escape and Mariner. If customer demand requires more, we will work with our supplier partners to meet the demand.”

So, not quite the “We’re offering a good-mileage mid-sized car in America, and WE CAN’T BUILD THEM FAST ENOUGH!” that a reader recommended, but a much more solid answer to the question of whether or not Ford’s spring 2009 entry has enough power to help keep the Blue Oval in the black next year.

[Source: Ford]

Ford says Fusion hybrid batteries will be available if needed originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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