Hasta La Gadget!

It’s really nice that almost all non-Apple smartphones use the same charger, which is the MicroUSB standard. Electric cars may be going the same way. Global engineering group SAE International has published a new standard for plug-in electric cars. It goes by the catchy name of J1772 Revision B. Although the convenience of a standard plug is by itself a huge improvement, the standard also includes a specification for “quick charging.” Quick charges uses high voltage direct current to charge your car in as little as 30 minutes–but you won’t be able to do it at home. So the new standard–nicknamed “Combo”–uses paired couplers, which means your car can use both AC and DC charging with the same plug.  (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Ford C-Max Energi packs quite the punch, GM and Ford hope to build first “robot” car,

In August of 2011, we learned that the Cadillac Converj concept car would enter production and be called the Cadillac ELR. We didn’t know at the time exactly when the vehicle would enter production. General Motors has officially announced that the ELR Coupe will enter production in late 2013.

The vehicle will be a front-wheel-drive extended range electric vehicle and will be constructed at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant. The car sounds very much like a Cadillac branded Chevrolet Volt. However, the ELR we’ve seen in renderings, such as the one above, will certainly be a better-looking vehicle than the Volt.

Whether or not that rendering will be what the vehicle looks like when it rolls off the assembly line remains to be seen. The vehicle uses a T-shaped lithium-ion battery, electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. The gasoline engine will kick on to charge the batteries when more driving range is needed.

As I said, it’s basically a Volt with a two-door body. The Volt is already an expensive vehicle, and anything with the Cadillac crest on the grill carries a significant premium. I’d wager we’re talking about a $50,000 or more extended range electric vehicle when the ELR Coupe is available at your local dealership.

[via Motoward]

GM has announced that it’s instituting a significant recall on a number of vehicle models due to the risk of fuel leakage. The recall covers almost 41,000 General Motors models, including the Pontiac G5 and Torrent, Chevrolet Cobalt and Equinox, and Saturn Ion. The recall covers specific year models in each affected vehicle.

The recall covers 2007 through 2009 Pontiac G5s and Chevrolet Cobalts. The Saturn Ion, Chevrolet Equinox, and Pontiac Torrent vehicles are all from the 2007 model year. The recall applies to specific states, including vehicles sold in or registered in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Texas, and California.

The recall also applies to some models sold and registered in Arkansas or Oklahoma. GM says it is has been investigating the issue covered in the recall since 2011, after a dealer reported fuel leakage from five different vehicles. According to GM, there has been no reports of fire or injury related to the fact.

GM says that the fix include replacing a fuel module in the vehicles. The repair will be performed at no charge for vehicles as long as the repair is requested within 10 years or 120,000 miles from when the vehicle sold. I guess you’re on your own if your vehicle has over 120,000 miles.

[via LA Times]

General Motors recalls almost 41,000 vehicles due to fuel leak risk is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

General Motors and other automakers have used crash test dummies in the design and engineering of new vehicle safety equipment for a long time. GM has announced that it using a new type of crash test dummy called BioRID to help understand how drivers and passengers are hurt in rear impact accidents. The new crash test dummy was designed by Chalmers University in Gothenburg, Sweden, specifically for seat restraint assessment.

The key feature that sets the new crash test dummy apart from others is a sophisticated spinal column that has 24 vertebrae simulators. Those 24 vertebrae simulators allow the dummy to sit naturally and demonstrate human-like neck movement in rear-end collisions. In the first step towards using BioRID as part of its crash testing regime, GM has to be able to deliver repeatable and reproducible test results.

GM crash test engineers have been developing and conducting tests to evaluate different BioRID dummies to produce consistent measurements when subjected to identical test procedures. GM test engineer Barbara Bunn has been working with engineers from Chrysler, Ford, and Humanetics Innovative Systems to evaluate the new test dummy. Humanetics is the builder of the BioRID dummy.

The testing procedure involved subjecting the new crash test dummies to low-speed rear impact simulations using nearly identical seats. Measurements from the test accidents were collected and compared to data collected during similar tests by other labs in Europe. The findings have been submitted to regulators around the world for consideration. The goal is to get the BioRID dummy approved for testing to help make automobiles safer.

GM BioRID crash test dummy helps evaluate rear impact injuries is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

General Motors has used OnStar technology in some of its vehicles for many years now. OnStar is an interesting technology that puts a blue button somewhere inside the vehicle, typically on the rearview mirror, allowing the driver to make phone calls or get assistance. The coolest part about OnStar has always been the ability of the service to activate automatically in the event of an accident.

Since OnStar launched, the blue button has been the same. For 2013, OnStar says it is “Buttoning Up” with a new look in 2013 models. One of the coolest new looks for OnStar in 2013 model GM vehicles is the frameless mirror you see in the photo above. That particular mirror will be used in the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro.

The black button that was previously called the “Hands-Free Calling button” had a white phone with a circle around it. OnStar has changed that button to the “Voice Command button” with a general speech icon on it that looks like a person sitting down and talking. The Emergency Button was previously a white cross with a red circle around it. That button has been replaced with a red circle sporting a white border and white letters spelling out SOS, the recognized international symbol for distress.

The iconic blue OnStar button has also changed with a switch to the company’s new logo introduced in late 2010. The frameless mirror you see in the photo above that will be featured in some 2013 Camaro models will have touchscreen access. The OnStar buttons on the mirror has electrochromic capabilities and lights up when touched and dims shortly after. The mirror is also auto dimming and will be standard on the Camaro 2SS, 2LT, ZL1 coupe and convertible models.

OnStar upgrades design for 2013 GM models is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.