Hasta La Gadget!

Headed to Pawnee, Indiana anytime soon? Don’t lie, it’s a place that survives in only two places: your mind, and NBC’s studios. The only “Pawnee” in proximity of the Hoosier State lies in Illinois, but it’s cool, we can still pretend. After hearing that Think was planning to hawk its City electric vehicle in the Big Apple this year, it looks as if Indiana’s government will actually be first to acquire it. Fitting, though, given how Think’s primarily manufacturing facility is parked in Elkhart, IN. The first 15 City EVs — described by the company as “all-electric, zero-emission cars designed in Scandinavia for fleet applications and urban commuters” — have hit the ground running, delivered to the Department of Administration to be used principally by the Department of Natural Resources in the state’s park system. Naturally, Ron Swanson was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a mind to swipe one for his own personal use, but once he learned of Think’s plans to finally roll out retail distribution in select US cities in the second half of 2011, his conscience got the better of him. Phew.

Continue reading First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ’em

First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ’em originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark it down, folks — it’s a monumental day. In a way, this marks the end of one of the longest running sagas covered at Engadget, but in reality, it’s probably the start of something else entirely. Chevrolet’s Volt was once the starlet of the electric vehicle universe. And then 2009 happened. In the meanwhile, a smattering of other automakers have moved forward with hybrid and pure electric plans, with Tesla’s Roadster heading out to thousands of motorists and Nissan’s Leaf shipping to customers earlier this week (just to name a couple). Of course, GM still maintains that the Volt is the “world’s first-and-only electric vehicle with extended-range capability,” but we’re sure a laundry list of rivals would love to argue that point. Regardless of the hurdles and hardships, Chevy has still managed to turn a far-flung concept into reality for around 160 people this week, and a slow but steady trickle of these things should continue for the foreseeable future. If you’re wondering if placing an order is right for you, have a look at our most recent test drives.

Continue reading Chevy Volt starts shipping to customers, most of whom forgot they ordered one last decade

Chevy Volt starts shipping to customers, most of whom forgot they ordered one last decade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

This week we revved up Chevrolet’s Volt and hit the streets for an elusive test drive of the hotly-anticipated electric vehicle. We also saw electric aviation soar to new heights as the pint-sized Cri-Cri airplane broke the electric aircraft speed record. The world of EV racing is also picking up the pace as GreenGT unveiled an all-electric supercar for the Le Mans race and Honda’s CR-Z Hybrid beat out scores of gas-guzzling autos in a 25 hour vehicular marathon.

High-tech architecture broke new ground as Apple announced that world-renowned architect Norman Foster is designing its new headquarters, and researchers revealed work on a living skin that could one day reinforce buildings and infrastructure with a hard, coral-like armored coating. We also watched as a crop of gorgeous bubble gardens popped up in the streets of Paris, and an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn was updated with a high-tech transforming facade.

In other news, this week the energy world was buzzing about a new type of organic solar cell inspired by wasp exoskeletons, and the largest photovoltaic plant in the United States officially opened in Nevada. We also saw several eco technologies take hold on the home front: researchers developed a hot solar-piezoelectric hybrid fiber that could be used to create energy-generating clothes, and Lavish & Lime rolled out a cute set of digital shower timers that are perfect for kids.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric vehicles gear up to race, Apple’s new HQ, and living architecture originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everything is somewhat more gargantuan in Texas, so its only natural that Houston has its eye on having the largest network of electric vehicle chargers in the country. The plan is a privately funded brain-child of power plant operator NRG Energy, which hopes to install 150 charging stations in the 25 mile vicinity of downtown Houston starting in February. Chargers will be placed at common retail locations such as Walgreens and Best Buy, but given that 80 to 90 percent of charging will occur in homes, an $89 all-you-can-juice monthly plan will also include the installation of 240-volt charging systems in residences. NRG doesn’t expect to turn a profit on its $10 million investment for several years, but hopes that taking the proactive step will create a lucrative business in the future as electric vehicle prices (hopefully) hit the skids. The company also wants to build a similar network in Dallas in early 2011, and perhaps San Antonio and Austin in the future as well. Still, while the plans are admirable for the home of big-oil, compared to London’s government-backed 1,300 station plan, NRG’s Houston aspirations still seem positively Rhode Island-sized.

Houston will be home to America’s largest car charging network, identity crisis originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi promised it’d bring the i MiEV over to the US before 2012 and now it’s rehashed that pledge with a slightly more detailed roadmap and an indicative price point to boot. Maurice Durand, the company’s communications manager for North America, is quoted as saying the newly renamed i will cost “around $30,000” when it launches, which is expected to happen in fall 2011. Sales expectations are a very modest 20,000 units by 2015, but apparently the idea is for Mitsu to just get its foot in the US electric vehicle market before introducing more powerful and versatile people carriers. The i is pitched as primarily a commuter’s vehicle, though it has been enlarged slightly to accommodate US safety regulations and “larger frame people.” Be honest, Maurice, you mean larger waistline, not frame.

Mitsubishi i is the new name of the i MiEV for American market, coming next fall for $30,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 06:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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