Toyota Denied Again in Patent Case by Paice

Toyota was once again denied a reprieve in their patent case with Paice LLC. The US International Trade Commission judge Theodore Essex denied Toyota's request to dismiss the case.Also, it was once again re-iterated that Toyota could not argue the patent was invalid, since Toyota has already lost that case.Toyota Loses in AppealToyota loses to PaiceToyota Sued Again by PaicePaice vs Toyota summarySource: BusinessWe...

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Rotary, Battery Price and Possible Price Drop for the Chevy Volt

Photo from flickrInside Line has the latest and greatest info for those interested in the Chevy Volt.  First, they let us know GM is looking at replacing the ICE in the first generation Volt with a rotary engine.  Second, they say GM is hoping the price tag on the battery pack would drop in half (from $10,000 to $5,000) by the time the second generation Volt is ready.And third, GM is contemplating launching the Volt at around $35,000 to...

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Honda Brings CR-Z to E3 Expo

I'm not sure I'm buying into the whole thing, but Honda thinks the upcoming CR-Z sport hybrid coupe is 'evocative of video games.' And so they're bringing the CR-Z along as a demonstration for the E3 Expo. Press Release follows:The all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe will make its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) debut on June 15th. Evocative of video games, the two-passenger CR-Z introduces a number of interactive features including...

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Ford Adding to Hybrid Electric Production in Michigan

Ford will be creating a new 'center of excellence' in Michigan to assemble battery packs and electric-drive transaxles. The parts are being designed for the next generation of hybrids from Ford which will be based on Ford’s global C- and CD-car platforms. The next generation of hybrids is expected to begin production in 2012.Ford will be investing $135 million in the new center. In a statement, Ford's president of the America's Mark Fields said "Electrified vehicles are a key part of our plan to offer a full lineup of green vehicles, and we...

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Lexus Recall for the LS

The latest recall from Lexus does involve the hybrid 2010 LS 600h and LS 600h l. A programming change of the steering control ecu for the variable gear ratio steering (vgrs) system can cause improper activation of the steering system protection logic designed to protect the system when larger than normal steering inputs are applied at a fully turned position.An improper activation of the steering system protection logic can cause the steering wheel to become off-centered up to 90 degrees. this may occur after the driver has fully turned the steering...

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Maryland to Offer $2000 Incentive to Drivers Who Plug-in

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley went on a signing spree today. Some of the bills signed today include banning hand-held cell phone use while driving, maintaining a three-foot buffer while passing a bicyclist, mediation in a foreclosure in some cases, and a Heritage Tax Credit used toward the rehabilitation of older neighborhoods.And while the governor was at it, a $2,000 excise motor vehicle tax credit for anyone who buys a plug-in or electric...

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Toyota Auris Hybrid Price and Options

Toyota Auris HybridToyota has set the price for its Auris Hybrid at £18,950 for the base model, T4. The T Spirit model will cost £20,700.  That makes it a little more expensive the Honda Insight and a little bit less expensive than the Toyota Prius in the UK.The Auris hybrid is the first hybrid to be built in the UK at the Derbyshire plant. The Auris hybrid mates the 1.8 liter engine to an electric motor for a total of 134 hp. It improves...

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NHTSA Will Add Sound to Hybrids

Photo from flickrThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will begin writing legislation to set requirements "for an alert sound that allows blind and other pedestrians to reasonably detect a nearby electric or hybrid vehicle" within 18 months and must finalize the rules within three years (Source: Detroit News, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers).The sound will be activated automatically and drivers will not be allowed to turn...

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Calcars Lists 20 Companies Making Plug-ins

The Companies Who are Making Plug-in Vehicles - CalcarsNot to put too fine a point on it, but the reason you keep hearing about plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) lately is because everyone is doing it.  Calcars put together a list of 20 car makers who are working on their plug-in hybrid technology, and the list just keeps on getting longer.I love the image they put together (I hope they don't mind my posting it here with attribution to...

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Nissan Looks for Leaf to Become Profitable in Three Years

Brian Carolin, Nissan's US sales and marketing chief, predicts the Nissan Leaf will be profitable... eventually. With the battery pack costs at $18,000, it's just about impossible to make money off the car.“Over the course of the vehicle life, it is profitable—in year three,” he said (WSJ).But in 2012, when Nissan starts producing the Leaf in the US at the Smyrna plant in Tennessee, Nissan hopes the economies of scale will have kicked in. The Smyrna plant has the capacity to build 150,000 cars a year.As it is, only about 20,000 cars will be sent...

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Nissan Opens Up Leaf Reservations to the Public

Nissan Leaf Reservations Open to PublicNissan is opening up reservations for the Leaf to the public. After taking 9,500 reservations from consumers who had previously shown an interest in the compact electric vehicle, Nissan is hoping for another 15,000 pre-orders (according to reports).The Nissan Leaf will be available starting in December, but only in select areas. Full market rollouts won't occur until 2012. Anyone with reservations will be...

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Darker Side of CT 200h

Dark Ride CampaignLexus is ramping up their marketing campaign before they launch the new CT 200h (more details on the new Lexus hybrid) in 2011. As part of the campaign, viewers can take charge as Norman 'Tony' Reedus drives across the Nevada desert.Interested? DIRECT FILM VIEWING LINK: www.lexusdarkride.com CAMPAIGN LINK: www.darkersideofgreen.comTRAILER LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0KhesoAZcIGet more details from the press release...

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Hawaii Rebates for Plug-in Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

Hawaii will receive $4.25 million in stimulus money to help develop the plug-in hybrid car market in the island state. Rebates of $4,500 will be made available to those who purchase an electric or plug-in hybrid starting on August 1st. The program ends March 30, 2012.That's in addition to the up to $7,500 available nation-wide. In addition, another $500 will be offered to those who purchase a charger for their new vehicle.This is good news for those who were excited to learn Hawaii had been added to the short list of the initial states the Nissan...

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Infiniti G37 May be Hybrid Essence

Motor Trend is reporting a source inside Nissan may take the Essence concept vehicle and use it as the basis for the new G37 due out in 2012. The G coupe may also get a hybrid powertrain option, inherited from the M35 that develops around 360 total horsepower. At the same time, another source is claiming the partnership with Daimler may lead to a hybrid diesel, which would likely go on sale outside of the US.I'll file this under rumors for n...

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Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid

Suzuki Swift Plug-in HybridSuzuki is testing 60 Swift plug-in hybrids in Japan this autumn. The Swift plug-in was first seen at the the Tokyo Motor show in October. The small K-car may not have the range of the Volt, but the price should make it an attractive option if it gets to production.The hybrid engine combines a 600cc ICE with an electric motor.  The car runs off the battery pack exclusively (like the Chevy Volt), while the gas engine...

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Hawaii One of the First to See the Nissan Leaf

Nissan has decided to start selling the Leaf, an all electric vehicle in Hawaii, as part of their initial launch in the U.S. beginning in early 2011. Nissan and Hawaii have been working towards a partnership to promote the development of an electric vehicle network. As part of the collaboration, Nissan has committed to make the highly anticipated all-electric Nissan LEAF available to Hawaii consumers."We appreciate Nissan's recognition of Hawaii as a global model for electric vehicles and a leader in clean energy," said Governor Linda Lingle....

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Ford Hybrids in Europe by 2013

Ford and the Spanish government say it may cost $36 million to develop, but the end result will be a hybrid electric vehicle for Europe by 2013. The C-Max compact minivan will begin selling in Europe late in 2010, but the hybrid version is three years away.Ford says the C-Max hybrid will be built at the Valencia Plant in Spain. Ford will spend almost $410 million to develop the C-Max vehicle line-up, including a seven seater to be exported to the US next year."These new advanced technology models are key to Ford's commitment to delivering a portfolio...

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Toyota Continues to Work on Recalls

To date, Toyota has performed more than three million remedies on their three recent recalls:1.6 million to address the potential for sticking accelerator pedals,1.5 million to address the potential for floor mat pedal entrapment, and115,000 program updates to the anti-lock brake systems (ABS) in certain 2010 Prius and Lexus models.More than 732,000 vehicles have received the modification to the pedals and floor mats. That brings the total number of serviced vehicles to about 2.4 million. That means they've coverd about 70 percent of the recalled...

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Lexus HS 250h is Under Target

Sales of the HS 250h, the first dedicated luxury hybrid from Lexus, is well below what Toyota had targeted (source: Ward). Initially, Lexus thought they could sell 25,000-30,000 HS annually. But after the rush of sales in Japan, Lexus started keeping more units in Japan, rather than shipping them to the US.  Lexus subsequently downgraded their target to 20,000-22,000 units annually."Right now, there’s so much demand for that product in Japan…maybe 20,000-22,000 might be more realistic," Mark Templin, Lexus Div. group vice president and general...

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Volkswagen Thinking in All Electric Terms by 2013

Last time Volkswagen updated their sustainability plans, their plan was to build a hybrid Golf and Passat after starting with a Jetta in 2012. All three models are exciting options for those interested in hybrid technology.But it seems that VW is now upping their game. In their latest sustainable driving plan, VW is expanding on the possibilities. VW will be selling an electric Golf and Jetta soon after the electric Up! comes in 2013.According to Car and Driver, Volkswagen will have a fleet of 500 electric Golfs for testi...

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