Green Options » NAIAS

Chrysler Releases “New” Dodge Circuit Electric Car - Still No Tesla

Jo Borras — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:55:43 +0000

This has been a Lotus/Chrysler-heavy blog in the past few days, but let’s face it: if you’re talking advanced automotive technology and lightweight engineering, you’re talking about Lotus Cars - and if you’re talking highly-anticipated new electric vehicles at Detroit’s 2009 NAIAS auto show, you’re talking about Chrysler’s ENVI electric-vehicle program.

The car shown above is the Dodge Circuit, which Chrysler promised would be a real step forward from the concept Dodge EV they showed last summer (a UK-only Lotus Europa powered by a 200 kW electric motor that Dodge painted yellow and decorated with cheap vinyl stickers). I won’t keep you in suspense: it ain’t.

More - including Chrysler’s official press release and some official photography - after the jump.

Fisker Reveals Production Version of Luxury Electric Car

Nick Chambers — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:35:13 +0000

Gearing up for an offical public debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show next month, Fisker Automotive has released photos of what they’re calling the final production version of the Fisker Karma luxury plug-in hybrid electric sedan set to start rolling of the production line at the end of next year.

Cars and Buildings

Philip Proefrock — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:43:33 +0000

I’ve been away a bit the last couple of weeks which is why you haven’t heard as much from me as usual. I’ve been learning some new things about cars and automotive technology and seeing the latest models being unveiled. I had an opportunity to find out about the new ethanol process and partnership between General Motors and Coskata Inc. that may prove to be a significant milestone in energy production, and signal a reduction in the use of fossil based materials as fuels.

I also attended the North American International Auto Show (more commonly known around here as the Detroit Auto Show) to see what is new in the automotive world. Over at our sister website, Gas 2.0, I’ve written more about Coskata’s technological development in ethanol production, a next generation process for producing ethanol without using corn or other food as feedstock for the process. Even if you hate cars and never drive one, the Coskata process is interesting because, by using different microbes in the bioreactors, other useful alcohols can be produced, including some that are used in the production of plastics (which have applications in buildings and other products). The front end gasification technologies also can be used to deal with municipal waste streams, in some implementations.

Gearing Up For The Detroit Auto Show

Clayton B. Cornell — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:51:49 +0000

Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to Detroit, MI to cover the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Judging by the itinerary and the documented experiences of Jeff McIntire-Strasburg from last year, it should be a busy trip.

I’ll be reporting on the latest developments in greener personal transportation with a particular focus on new gas-electric hybrid models, as well as concept vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells and other electric technologies. I’ll also report on advances in fuel efficiency represented by new production and concept vehicles, and, hopefully, get responses from auto industry executives and other insiders about their plans to meet the requirements set forth in the recently-passed US Energy bill.

Be sure to check back on Sunday for a potentially groundbreaking announcement from the show (that’s all I can say at this point). But I should also add a disclaimer: GM will be covering my expenses for the trip (as they do for a handful of bloggers) with the understanding that I may report freely.

So stay tuned…it should be an exciting week.