The Focus-based electric car that Ford is developing with Magna for a 2011 introduction is not the only EV program in the company. Early next year, Ford will start testing a fleet of battery-powered Focuses in the UK with funding from a British government program. The Technology Strategy Board announced a total of £25 million for eight projects, including the Ford EV test (we’ll have details on the others up soon). Unlike the production-intent program in the U.S., Ford is collaborating with its partner for the Transit Connect EV, Smith Electric vehicles. The battery Focuses will be used by staff from Scottish and Southern Energy in Hillingdon, Middlesex, a utility which is partnering with Smith and Ford on the program. The Focus will use the same lithium iron phosphate batteries that Smith put into the Tourneo Connect BEV concept that we saw at the Geneva Show in March . Gallery: Ford Tourneo Connect BEV [Source: AutoCar ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , UK Ford to launch Focus BEV test fleet in the UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Click the Focus EV “mule” for a high res gallery With Magna International set to take control of General Motors’ European operations, it will be interesting to see how the Canadian parts supplier and contract manufacturer implements its electrification strategies. Last January, Magna and Ford announced a collaboration to produce a new battery electric vehicle beginning in 2011 based on the next generation Focus platform. In March, the company unveiled a concept called the mila ev built on a dedicated platform for electric and hybrid vehicles that Magna would offer up to other automakers. The idea is that as the basic engineering underneath most mainstream cars becomes more and more similar, automakers could share common platforms and add unique bodies and interiors to differentiate them. Magna already has an assembly facility in Austria that builds vehicles under contract for automakers including BMW, Porsche and Chrysler. The acquisition of Opel would give Magna more platforms and manufacturing facilities to work with so that it could supply ready-to-use EV architectures to automakers. It’s too early to tell how the relationships between GM, Ford, Magna and other automakers will shake out over the next several years when it comes to bringing electrified vehicles to market. Gallery: ABG Quick Drive: Ford Focus EV mule [Source: Green Car Congress ] Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc. Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid Electrification of vehicles will be key to Magna’s future originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Long dead are automotive advertising campaigns that focus solely on the technical aspects of cars. Advertising now focuses in on sensations, feelings, abstract concepts and that “special something” that makes a particular vehicle stand out. Toyota’s campaign to launch the 2010 Prius in the States takes exactly this kind of approach, with advertisements that are full of nature, singing flowers and the slogan: “Harmony between man, nature and machine.” The campaign includes not only beautiful imagery, but also highlights cool technology like solar panels installed on the roofs of bus stops, surely to recall that the new Prius is fitted with them on its sunroof. The artsy side of the campaign comes from 12-foot-tall flower sculptures that host recharging stations for cell phones, laptop computers and other electronic devices. Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius [Source: Edmunds ] Filed under: Hybrid , Toyota , USA Toyota uses flowers and technology to advertise the 2010 Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 13 May 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Click for a high res gallery of the Magna Steyr Mila EV Magna International’s contract manufacturing unit, Magna Steyr, used the Geneva Motor Show to unveiled its Mila EV concept (read more here ) last month. The parent company’s strong work in the electric vehicle field helped Ford recently unveil its Focus EV mule - and it helps everyone . These concept vehicles have a new home of sorts, a place where Magna will centralize its work on electric and hybrid drive vehicles. Magna recently announced plans to expand in Rochester Hills, Michigan (near Detroit) in order to keep working on the Ford electric vehicle program. The $20 million expansion will move people into a new company HQ next month, including 90 new employees over the next five years, and continues the work that Magna’s new acquisition BluWav is doing on electric drive systems. Magna officials also said that an announcement would be coming from Ford about the Focus EV’s li-ion batteries. [Source: MLive ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Ford Magna International gets new Michigan HQ for electric vehicles, hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

According to a report on AutoWeek , EV Innovations (which used to be called Hybrid Technologies ) has plans to introduce two new electric vehicles at the 2009 New York Auto Show next month. We’ve been hearing about the Inizio supercar for a while and we’re thinking it’s the production version of the sportscar prototype that was sold to one lucky Sam’s Club member late last year. The quoted specifications are extremely impressive, with the Inizio reportedly able to hit 60 mph in just 4 seconds, a top speed of 170 miles per hour and a range of 200 miles per charge. Price? $139,000. If true, that’s a great deal for a vehicle with that kind of performance. The second EV that’s scheduled to be shown is called the Wave. We’re not sure if this is a completely new vehicle or if it’s based on an existing platform, but it’s reportedly able to hit a top speed of 80 mph with a range of 170 miles per charge. Again, the reported asking price of $34,900 sounds too good to be true. Deliveries are scheduled for “sometime in 2010.” We’ll know more when we get to NY in a few weeks. [Source: AutoWeek ] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , New York Auto Show , Green Daily EV Innovations to debut two new cars at NY Auto Show originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

Okay ladies, don’t get defensive.  I’ve just learned through the years that, as a woman, there are certain things that I will not cut myself short on as a driver.  The most important is the proper car insurance.  Several times in my life, I have been very grateful for the roadside assistance option on my auto insurance.  Outside of the obvious uses when the car actually breaks down, you need a tow truck, and don’t have a credit card with you, roadside assistance is even more valuable to me when I’ve got a simple flat and know I can just call someone to have it taken care of.  I am perfectly capable of changing a tire.  Have done it many times.  Unfortunately, I’m still a woman, and cannot seem to be allowed to change a tire on the highway without having every well meaning, and perhaps some not necessarily well meaning, man stop and ask if I need help.  Chivalry is not dead, it’s just simply not safe.  I’ve also found myself sitting in the car several times with the cell phone to my ear, long after I’ve already called for roadside assistance, just to avoid having to tell every good Samaritan that stops that it’s okay, help is already on the way.  It’s hard to be independent sometimes, without clawing your way there.  I must be getting old and tired.  I just don’t have it in me to fight it any more.  Yeah okay, I’m just a girl, whatever.  I still think roadside assistance on the insurance policy is a must for every woman and, before it was as commonplace as …well, cell phones and credit cards, I felt the same way about cell phones.  I have always felt a woman must have a cell phone in the car, even if for no other reason.  I still never use my cell phone for anything unless I am in my car.   No one has my cell number except my husband, and that’s the way I like it.  My cell phone never leaves my car.  I know I would feel like I was surely going to get into an accident if I found it missing from my car.  Murphy’s law being what it is.  I just feel very insecure if the phone is not with me in the car – especially with kids.  And, while my vehicle is not equipped with it, I’ll say here and now that OnStar is the best use of technology that I have seen yet! So, cell phones and roadside assistance.  Two absolute necessities if you are a woman on the road to assure your safety and confidence. Related posts: Tips for Women Buying a Car First and foremost, if you are a woman wanting to… Fastest Growing Driving Danger Driving while intoxicated is against the law because you don’t… Learning About Women Working on Cars There was once a time, some call it the “good…