Archive
Vauxhall/Opel Ampera - GM's hybrid for Europe
The Opel / Vauxhall Ampera is the European version of the Chevrolet Volt due for launch in 2012. It’s a plug-in series hybrid or as GM call it, an E-REV – Extended-Range Electric Vehicle. The battery range is 40 miles but a petrol engine extends the range to over 300 miles, so lessening ‘range anxiety’. GM will build the car at Ellesmere Port if the Coalition Government provides funding of £30m. 
Think City
The Think City is a fun, two seater electric runabout available in some European markets now but not,so far, in the UK. It will launch in America in late 2010 ahead of a production plant opening in early 2011. The American venture just might be over-ambituous.
Gordon Murray Design T.27
British companies Gordon Murray Design and Zytek Automotive are developing a revolutionary electric city car.
Toyota Auris Hybrid
The Toyota Auris Hybrid is the first full hybrid in the compact family car class. It offers outstanding green credentials at an exceptionally competitive price.
Land Rover will launch hybrids in 2013 with plug-in electric hybrid ready to go
Land Rover will launch hybrids in 2013 and plug-in hybrid around 2015
PSA Peugeot Citroen electric/hybrid strategy
PSA Peugeot Citroen will launch electric cars in 2010 followed by diesel hybrids a year later and a PHEV in 2012.
Fisker Karma
Deliveries of the Fisker Karma to start early in 2011 followed by ‘Project NINA’ family car in 2012.
Merecedes-Benz BlueZERO range
The Mercedes-Benz BlueZERO concept cars are a range of models each with a different power source.
Volkswagen E-Up!
Volkswagen E-Up! all-electric concept car will go into production as three different models branded VW, Seat and Skoda. 
Renault electric car concepts
Renault-Nissan are investing 200 million euros a year to take leadership of an electric car market they estimate at 20% of the global car market by 2020.
Lightning GT
The Lightning GT combines classic British sports car design with racing car technology plus innovative battery power and electric motors.
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt just has to succeed. It has become a symbol not only of General Motors’ recovery from bankruptcy but of the entire American-owned, American-designed and American-built motor industry.
ECC Citroen C1 ev’ie
The Electric Car Corporation is the first company to bring to the UK market an all-electric version of a petrol-driven, mainstream car.
Ford Focus BEV
Ford develops an all-electric car prototype for a government research project as part of a consortium with Scottish and Southern Energy, Strathclyde University and the London Borough of Hillingdon
Honda FCX Clarity
The Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) is the world’s most exclusive car.
Honda Insight
If hybrids are all one happy family, then the Honda Insight is the Toyota Prius’s younger (and almost identical) sister.
Mega e-City
The Mega e-City is a three door hatchback available as a 2-seater or a 2+2. It is built by Aixam Mega, a manufacturer of ultra light commercial and utility vehicles based in the French Alps.
MINI E
‘It’s 90% cheaper to use the MINI E!’
Say you drive your current car a typical monthly distance of 1200 miles and it returns 35 mpg - it’ll cost you around £170 in fuel. Now compare that to an all-electric MINI E which does the same distance and is fully charged every day. BMW says it’ll cost just 50p a day in electricity, or roughly £14 a month – that’s 90% cheaper!
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Understand the i-MiEV name and you understand the vehicle. Based on the Mitsubishi petrol-powered four-seater ‘i’ minicar, it’s the Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle. 
Nissan Leaf
In August 2009, Nissan unveiled the all-electric Nissan Leaf, a front-drive, five-seater hatchback due to start selling in Japan, the United States and Europe in late 2010. 
Pininfarina Bluecar
Launched to great acclaim at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the all-electric Pininfarina-Bollore Bluecar is the result of a joint venture between Italian design studio Pininfarina and the French industrial group Bollore.
REVA cars
REVA is the brand name of the Reva Electric Car Company, a global pioneer in the manufacture of all-electric cars.
Smart Electric Drive
Smart first started trialling the Electric Drive version of its Fortwo model in 2007
Tesla Roadster
The all-electric Tesla Roadster does 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and is six times more energy-efficient than comparable sports cars!
GM announces Volt prices
General Motors has revealed that the extended-range hybrid Chevrolet Volt price will start at $41,000. This compares with key rival, the Nissan Leaf, priced at $32,780.
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- Will government subsidise GM's proposal to build Ampera at Ellesmere Port?
- Honda reveals electric car plans
- Electric cars in peril
- BBC chooses Think City for pioneering 4,000 mile tour of Europe in an electric car
- Designer of McLaren F1 creates world’s most efficient electric car
- Toyota's new hybrid offers outstanding value for money
- Hydrogen vehicles in time for London Olympics
- Successor to cherished Routemaster London bus revealed
- Nissan Leaf pricing promises sales success
- Electric models at Beijing Auto Show
- The phenomenal growth of the Chinese car market
- Plugged-in Places
- Plug-in Car Grant
- Daimler-BYD tie-up will create new brand
- New electric models planned for 2013 in Renault-Nissan and Daimler cooperation
- Nissan announces prices for the Leaf in Japan and the United States.
- Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler spoilt for battery choice
- Nissan to build Leaf in Sunderland
Global warming
The greenhouse effect is the heating of the Earth’s surface due to the presence in the atmosphere of greenhouse gases that absorb and transmit infrared radiation.
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Electric Cars
Electric cars cost about two pence per mile to run. Electric cars have zero emissions and are friendly to the environment.more...
Free parking and charging
There is free charging and free parking for zero emission cars in the borough of Westminster, Central London. There are also limited facilities in other boroughs but outside London there are few (but growing) points.more...
New Automotive Council and electric car demonstrator project
The government has set up a new Automotive Council and a £25 million electric car demonstrator programme to speed up the introduction of ultra low carbon vehicles.
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Price reductions
The government want to reduce dependence on foreign oil and to move to a low carbon economy. It is therefore incentivising purchases of ultra low carbon cars.more...
Exhaust emissions
The internal combustion engine, is now regarded as a significant factor in the pollution of our atmosphere – to the detriment of the health of the world and its inhabitants.
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