Hasta La Gadget!

Thought that fragmentation was reserved for the mobile OS realm? Think again. With the first (and second) waves of electric vehicles dribbling out to the streets, an obvious problem is becoming even more obvious. The city of Chicago is fixing to install 73 fast-charging EV stations by the end of the year, but two of the most commonly driven ones won’t be able to take advantage. Chevy’s Volt and Ford’s Focus Electric will only support the slower Level 2 charging, leaving those faster ones for Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i MiEV owners to enjoy. As if that weren’t headache-inducing enough, a slew of other automakers are reportedly planning to “sign on to a new standard for fast charging that would be incompatible with Chicago’s infrastructure,” and if you think the Windy City is alone in this mess, you’re wrong. We’ve already heard of similar issues in the nation’s capitol, and Jack Pokrzywa, manager of global ground vehicle standards for SAE International, still doesn’t seem convinced that auto producers are really ready and willing to commit to a single fast-charging standard. HD DVD vs. Blu-ray was one thing, but thousands of vehicle chargers crowding up our cities once they become obsolete in a year? That’s so not green.

Ford Focus Electric confirmed to not support fast charging, EV fragmentation looms large originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Current gasoline-powered hybrids can barely manage to keep ahead of small diesels in the mpg wars that will shape our future transportation structure, but in theory a diesel hybrid would rule the roost — for the moment, at least. That’s what Volvo will be showing off in Geneva shortly, promising a whopping 124MPG from the V60 plug-in diesel hybrid it announced a few weeks back. The car uses an internal combustion engine driving the front wheels and an electric one to spin the rears, meaning 2WD efficiency but AWD grip — and a combined 285hp to handily blow the doors off any Prius that dares step up at a streetlight. Volvo is saying the car will take about five hours to charge on a standard household outlet and that you’ll be able to monitor that status from your iPhone. Check it out in the video below and turn up those speakers in preparation for one heck of an inspirational piano solo.

Continue reading Volvo releases more details on 124MPG V60 plug-in, shows off iPhone app (video)

Volvo releases more details on 124MPG V60 plug-in, shows off iPhone app (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re tired of hybrids like the Prius or Volt, cars that could easily get lost in a Hertz parking lot, check out the GP. It’s the first and only product from resurrected Belgian auto maker Imperia, which previously operated in the early 20th century, but other than the pronounced front grille offers little resemblance to its forbears either above or below that pronounced bonnet. It has an inline four cylinder turbo engine offering 212hp that’s paired with a 134hp electric engine, itself backed by a Li-polymer battery pack. It’ll do about 45 miles on batteries alone but, more importantly, will roll the 0 – 60mph sprint in under four seconds. Or, at least, it will if it ever hits production. A concept of the car was unveiled at the Brussels Auto Show, but it’s anyone’s guess when it might actually hit the road for reals.

Imperia plug-in hybrid does 0 – 60 in four seconds, looks classy while doing it originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you live in California you’re blessed with a lot of things, including weather patterns that seem to get stuck in a rut an awful lot. Another treat you’ll find is an additional $5,000 rebate on cars that are rated AT-PZEV — that’s Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle, those having very low emissions and hybrid-like technology. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt failed to score that rating because its batteries are not rated for 10 years and 150,000 miles, part of the AT-PZEV rules, but GM is apparently looking to fix that next year with a version of the Volt that will qualify. It’s unclear whether all Volts will be upgraded or whether it’ll be an option — and if an option how much that will cost — but a total of $12,500 in rebates on the Volt would certainly make that $41,000 MSRP a lot more palatable.

2012 Chevy Volt could be eligible for an extra $5,000 off in California originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We like the idea of the Chevy Volt, but at a starting price of $40,280 it’s a bit of a tough sell — even considering the $7,500 tax break you’ll get for being on the cutting edge. GM CEO Dan Akerson agrees, according to GM-Volt.com giving his designers the task of cutting $7,500 out of the car’s cost by the time its next generation appears at dealers. Assuming our federal tax credit still exists that would push the out the door figure for the car down to around $25,000, about the same as the Nissan Leaf and into the budgets of far more Americans than it currently targets. We’re not sure exactly what corners will be cut to make this happen, but we’re hoping they don’t try to make the wheels any thinner.

GM CEO Dan Akerson wants next-gen Chevy Volt to be $7,500 cheaper, we do too originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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