Energy-Saving Cars In The Spotlight
Opel has displayed early versions of its Ampera hybrid vehicle at other auto shows, but this time, for the Geneva show, a top executive at General Motors’ Opel/Vauxhall unit drove it from Germany.
The message of the 348-mile road trip by the executive, Gherardo Corsini, who heads the electric vehicle project, was straightforward _ the car works.
“Getting lots of curious looks at the rest area,” one of Mr. Corsini’s passengers, Dietmar Thate, manager of social media for Opel, said via Twitter after the car made a short stop on Sunday.
The hybrid car is meant to run on batteries for about 60 km before a gasoline-powered generator kicks in for longer trips.
One of the big themes of the Geneva International Motor Show, which opens to the news media on Tuesday and to the public on Thursday through March 14, is that electric-powered vehicles are moving inexorably from prototypes to actual production — whether or not the buying public is ready.
“The time is past when companies only displayed studies,” said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Centre for Automotive Research at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Duisburg, Germany. “Now the industry is moving toward hard facts.”
Governments around the world, eager to do something about global warming, have been pushing automakers in that direction.
But the shift toward electric vehicles also represents a huge leap of faith for the automakers, especially as they emerge from a devastating downturn. To be able to produce electric cars in a few years, they must invest billions now without knowing how large the market will be.
In addition, there is no consensus on what kind of technology will prevail. The possibilities include pure battery power, some combination of batteries and internal combustion engines and more exotic solutions like hydrogen fuel cells.
“Right now, car companies don’t quite know what technology to bet on,” said Peter Wells, co-director of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff University in Wales. “It’s probably not safe to bet on just one.”
Opel, which is trying to regain market share in Europe from Volkswagen and Ford, is scheduled to start commercial production of the Ampera — a cousin of the Chevrolet Volt — near the end of next year. BMW said last week that it would produce an electric vehicle made partly with lightweight carbon fibre at its existing plant in Leipzig, with market introduction no later than 2015.
Toyota, still struggling to repair a reputation battered by reports of sudden acceleration and other problems in its vehicles, is scheduled to show the latest prototype of its plug-in Prius hybrid in Geneva. The car will be able to travel 25 km solely on battery power and is expected to hit the market in 2011.
Some industry experts say all-electric vehicles present an opportunity to create a new market among well-heeled, environmentally conscious buyers.
“Interesting customer segments are waiting desperately in some cases for these products,” said Gregor Matthies, a partner at the consultant Bain & Co. in Munich.
In November, Daimler began producing small numbers of battery-powered versions of its two-seat Smart car in Hambach, France. The company has said it plans to produce 20,000 a year, beginning in 2012.
Mitsubishi’s MiEV, already in Japanese showrooms, is scheduled to be available in Europe later this year. Nissan plans to introduce its Leaf in the United States, Europe and Japan in December.
Even the makers of sports cars, bastions of internal combustion, are tentatively moving toward electric power. By Jack Ewing, New York Times News Service
Spend Less Time & Get Better Results
With the advent of today’s technology, information gathering has become a relatively easy task for anybody. You can get on the net and get multiple quotes from different insurance companies. You must be thinking, why you should get multiple quotes for a cheap auto insurance, when you can do it with lesser work. Some people feel that comparing a number of options and selecting one from them would be good enough.
Well, it’s really advantageous because when you contact one insurance provider you’ll just get one rate and you need to repeat this process number of times to make a fruitful comparison. But doing it online is quite easy while you only spend less time and get better results, which in turn helps you locate a provider who will assists and give you better quotes.
Research & Discover
You might be thinking that having your home and auto insurance with the same company would certainly save you money, but it might actually be costing you more. Do your research and discover that having separate policies will be cheaper, as competition in the car insurance business is getting intense these days. Blame it on the prevalence of many insurance companies offering all types of low cost car insurance bargains available in the market today. And when you’re buying a new car, don’t just look at the type of sound system or probably the color of the paint it has. Instead, compare all the features and specifications, ultimately having the choice you most need. After all, you are your own best advocate and you need to be sure you know exactly what you are getting yourself into.
Toyota Says It Will Act Soon On Priuses
Toyota said yesterday that it will soon announce plans to deal with braking problems in its prized Prius hybrid amid reports it has decided to issue a recall for the vehicle in Japan, a possible new embarrassment for the world’s biggest automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp. has had to recall more than 7 million other cars in the United States, Europe, and China over a sticky accelerator and floor mats that can get caught in the gas pedal. Those problems and criticism of Toyota’s response to them have sullied the stellar reputation for quality long held by one of Japan’s corporate icons.
Separately, the company has told dealers in the United States it is preparing to repair the brakes on thousands of Prius vehicles there, according to an e-mail sent by a company executive. It was unclear whether Toyota planned a formal US recall.
“We will make an announcement soon on the action we plan to take,’’ spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said, commenting on media reports yesterday that the company had decided to issue a Japan recall. Takeuchi did not confirm those reports.
The Prius is the world’s top-selling gas-electric hybrid, and its fuel efficiency has drawn intense interest amid concerns about global warming and dependence on fossil fuels.
Toyota decided Saturday on a recall in Japan covering its latest Prius model and has notified domestic dealers, according to Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, which did not name sources. It said Toyota would announce the move early in the coming week after consulting with the Japanese government. Japan’s Kyodo News agency and TV Asahi carried similar reports. Kyodo said Toyota has started notifying dealers, and that at least 170,000 vehicles in Japan would be subject to recall.
Phone calls to the section at Japan’s transport ministry dealing with recalls went unanswered yesterday. None of about 10 Toyota dealers in Tokyo and the western Japanese city of Osaka had received any notification. Three dealers in the United States said the same thing on yesterday.
Prius drivers in Japan and the United States have complained of a short delay before the antilock brakes kick in – a flaw Toyota says can be fixed with a software programming change. The brakes will work if the driver keeps pushing the pedal.
The brake problem affects about 270,000 Priuses that were sold in the United States and Japan starting in May. The company says it has fixed vehicles that went on sale since last month.
Bob Carter, a Toyota group vice president, sent an e-mail message Friday night to US dealers, saying the automaker is working on a Prius repair plan and will disclose details early this week. At least 100 US drivers of Prius cars have complained to the government that their brakes seemed to fail momentarily when they were driving on bumpy roads. The government says the problem is suspected in four crashes and two minor injuries.
Public awareness of the problem “has prompted considerable customer concern, speculation, and media attention due to the significance of the Prius image,’’ Carter said in the e-mail. “We want to assure our dealers that we are moving rapidly to provide a solution for your existing customers.’’
Toyota yesterday began airing spots on US television that say the company is “working around the clock’’ to build the highest-quality vehicles and to restore faith in its vehicles.
“In recent days, our company hasn’t been living up to the standards that you’ve come to expect from us,’’ an unidentified announcer said in a voiceover.
Carter wrote that the ads tell viewers about Toyota’s 50-plus years of building safe, reliable vehicles in the United States.
Toyota’s response to the safety issues has drawn the attention of US politicians.
Toyota Motor North America’s chairman, Yoshi Inaba, will appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday.
A key committee member has asked that transportation officials who served under President George W. Bush also appear. By Kelly Olsen, The Boston Globe
Compelling Family Vehicle
In recent years, different car customers were always on the go for bmw which has really eliminated unnecessary character lines and add-ons for a more classic look and the x3 is classy. The greenhouse is very generous affording excellent road visibility in all directions. It doesn’t just look good on the outside; it feels good on the inside as well. That has always been the creed at bmw, the “ultimate driving experience” and the x3 does an admirable job at living up to that philosophy. The gauges are simple and clear, the steering wheel satisfyingly plump, everything in its natural place.
As a matter of fact, bmw x3 provides more space and utility for users to aid in their day-to-day adventures. It comes standard with a 3.0 liter in-line six cylinder engine rated at 215hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. Although you won’t probably notice the lower horsepower during the winter months, but you will in the warm half of the year on dry roads. Another thing is the enlarge backseat makes it a more compelling family vehicle, with plenty of legroom and a reclining seatback that make road trips friendlier for those riding in the back. And so this summer, let the drive itself be great family fun for everyone.