Skoda Commences Road Tests of its First Pure Electric Vehicle

After the production of a fleet of 10 electrically powered Octavia Green E Line models last fall, Skoda is entering the second phase of its EV project as it commenced road tests around the Czech city of Mladà Boleslav, which is located about 50 km northeast of Prague.

The company's goal is to gain practical experience with electric propulsion in real life conditions as it prepares for the presentation of an actual production model.

The Octavia Green E Line was introduced as a concept at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. It is based on the Octavia Combi swapping the regular model's internal combustion engine for an electric powertrain that comprises of an electric motor developing a maximum output of 85kW (114HP) and 270Nm (199.2 lb-ft) of constant torque, and a lithium-ion battery.

The Czech automaker says that the Octavia Green E Line can accelerate from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 12 seconds and reach a top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). The batteries offer a driving range of around 150km (93 miles).

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Volvo to Debut New XC60 Plug-In Hybrid Concept at the Detroit Auto Show

Last month, Volvo launched the production version of its first-ever plug-in hybrid model based on the V60, which will go on sale in limited numbers this November in certain European countries.

Today, the Swedish car manufacturer announced that it would soon be adding another plug-in hybrid in its range, this time based on the XC60 crossover featuring a gasoline (instead of a diesel internal combustion engine like the V60 PHEV).

Although officially it's still a concept, Volvo makes no attempt to hide the fact that in reality it is a forerunner of the production version which will follow and, by its own admission, is aimed squarely at the U.S. market.

“The gasoline plug-in hybrid is ideal for the American motorist who wants an electric car while at the same time retaining all the power and capacity that comes in his or her present vehicle”, said Volvo’s President and CEO Stephen Jacoby.

The XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept features a turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine up front, with an output of 280HP and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque that’s driving the front wheels through a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Like the V60 PHEV, its rear wheels are driven by a 70HP electric motor powered by an 11.2 kWh lithium-ion power and the driver can select all-wheel drive at the push of a button. The system's combined output is 350HP enough to accelerate the car from 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in just 5.8 seconds when the “Power” mode is selected.

The hybrid XC60 can be propelled solely by the electric motor for about 45 kilometers (28 miles) with zero emissions when the “Pure” mode is selected.

The default “Hybrid” mode provides an average consumption of just 2.3 lt/100 km (102.2 mpg US), a maximum range of up to 960 km (600 miles) while emitting just 53 g/km of CO2.

The hybrid XC60 bears a “T8” designation in order to demonstrate that its performance is comparable to that of a conventional eight-cylinder engine.

“It’s time to stop counting cylinders”, says Peter Mertens, Volvo’s senior vice president at the R&D department. “Four-cylinder engines are the most effective way to quickly reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption without compromising customer expectations when it comes to driving pleasure and performance.”

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Honda EV-STER Concept to Spawn a Production Model

It looks like the retro-styled N Concept 4 city car won't be the only Honda study displayed at this month's Tokyo Motor Show that will end up going into production as the Japanese carmaker's CEO Takanobu Ito told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that the open-top EV-STER has also received the green light.

The Honda boss revealed that the battery-powered, rear-wheel drive roadster could arrive in the market as early as 2012, adding that the company may also introduce more conventional version with a classic gasoline engine, without offering any more details.

However, it's only reasonable to assume that the gasoline model would be a hybrid matching an internal combustion engine with an electric motor.

At 3,570mm (140.5-in.) long, 1,500mm (59.0-in.) wide and 1,100mm (43.3-in.) tall, with a wheelbase of 2,325mm (92.5-in.), the tiny concept is marginally larger than Honda's 1990s mid-engined kei car, the Beat.

In conceptual form, the two-seater features an electric motor that draws energy from a 10kWh lithium-ion battery and powers the rear wheels. Honda said that the EV-STER could complete the zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint in 5 seconds flat and reach a maximum speed of 160km/h (100mph).

The Japanese automaker also claims a driving range of around 160 kilometers (100 miles) and a charging time of under 3 hours using a 200V source and in less than 6 hours with a 100V source.

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The Package Offers Low-emissions Chevy Volt 2012 California HOV Lanes

State of California has more than 1,400 miles of high occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lanes. Initially, only vehicles with two or more residents are used to minimize clutter. But as low-emission vehicles are becoming more common for the Golden State recently changed the rules allowing them to use the lanes to broaden their appeal to buyers.

"HOV Lane Access for a homage area in California," said Chris Perry, vice president of global marketing for Chevrolet. Despite the extended hybrid, V does not meet one of the 40 000 HOV stickers that are available only in California, Advanced, Advanced Technology - Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. "

So far. Is that GM has changed to 2012 volts with a low-emissions package which makes it eligible to use HOV, even with less than two people inside

According to Chevrolet, its engineers have added a pump secondary air injection, a current of air in the exhaust system to improve the capacity of the catalyst to remove more pollutants from the area extending internal combustion engine .

Perry commented that "low-carbon Volt will be a strong draw for drivers driving environments congested daily commute in the United States."

In addition, buyers of all low emission equipped 2012 Volt will be eligible for the delivery of State Project cleaning of the vehicle that adds an incentive to over $ 1,500 loan, but the current federal government fiscal $ 7500.

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