Posts Tagged ‘Image Gallery’

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Green Daily

As the release date of the Nissan Leaf gets closer and closer, we eagerly await word on each and every production update. This latest bit of news rolling in relates to battery production. NEC, one of the joint venture partners of Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), officially announced that mass production of the Leaf’s battery pack kicked off late last week. The announcement comes as no surprise, but it’s comforting to know that the Leaf is one step closer to introduction. With battery production underway, it shouldn’t be long before Leafs begin to roll off the line.

For now, NEC’s Sagamihara plant in Japan is solely responsible for the production of the Nissan Leaf battery pack. By 2013, Nissan’s battery manufacturing facilities in Smyrna, TN and Sunderland, UK will be operational and provide a significant, and hopefully much needed, boost in production capacity. With a nationwide rollout of the Leaf in the U.S. scheduled for 2011 and Canada inked in for 2012, the Sagamihara plant will likely have to function at full bore to keep up with demand.

Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: NEC via Google Translate, Nissan-Leaf]

Production of Nissan Leaf battery pack now underway in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Green

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chevrolet

While government tax incentives will no doubt help to make plug-in vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt more affordable, the total cost of ownership will also be influenced heavily by residual values. With several months to go before the first customers even take delivery of a Volt, residuals are purely speculative and will be influenced by numerous factors. Still, we like to think about these things out when we can, and another green car might be able to provide some insight.

When the Prius debuted in the U.S. market a decade ago, it had an exceptionally high 55 percent residual after three years, and the resale values have held up very well over time. The Volt also has the potential for high resale values based on the current interest in the car and limited early availability. The possibility that there won’t be any major battery breakthroughs in the near term will also help if the Volt’s technology stay’s state of the art. On the other hand, of course, if the performance of the Volt and its battery don’t live up to expectations over the first few years of batteries get much better fast, then it will kill the resale of the early cars. We’ll just have to wait and see.

[Source: Ward's Auto World]

Is the Toyota Prius’ history a way to predict the Chevy Volt’s long-term value? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Green

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, In The AutoblogGreen Garage

We’ve met the Nissan Leaf before. First at its coming-out party in Japan, followed by an all-too-brief stint behind the wheel of a Versa-based prototype late last year. Now we’ve had a chance to sample Nissan’s first foray into the world of electric vehicles in production form and the automaker picked one of its most important markets – the heart of Silicon Valley – to give us some seat time.

If there’s any area ripe for early-EV adoption, it’s San Jose, CA. And during a quick test loop through the tight confines of Santana Row and a run through the city’s suburban surrounds, it’s obvious that the first mass-produced EV is officially ready for prime-time.

Follow the jump to continue.

Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn’t change the game, just the players

First Drive: 2011 Nissan Leaf doesn’t change the game, just the players originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Green

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Toyota

At it’s peak in 2002, Toyota was selling over 70,000 Sequoias. Last year, that number dropped to below 20,000 units. So it comes as little surprise that ToMoCo will be nixing its Tundra-based SUV at the end of the current model’s lifecycle.

A source speaking with PickupTrucks.com confirmed that the Sequoia won’t live on, partially due to slow sales, but surely in part to get Toyota’s CAFE ratings in check before the new rules hit in 2015. But all’s not lost for the automaker’s body-on-frame offerings.

A redesigned Tundra is set to arrive in 2014, just in time for Ford, General Motors and Nissan’s newest half-ton pickups. Although sales of the Tundra haven’t lived up to Toyota’s lofty expectations, it’s obvious the automaker feels the need to compete in the segment, and a refreshed model should help sales, despite the market’s less-than-enthusiastic reception of Toyota’s largest pickup.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Toyota to kill Sequoia, Tundra redesigned in 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chevrolet, GM, Plug In Conference

At 9 am PDT this morning (noon EDT), General Motors marketing VP Joel Ewanick will be making an announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, CA, about the sticker price and ordering process for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Later, at 1 pm PDT/4pm EDT, Volt marketing director Tony DiSalle and vehicle line director Tony Posawatz will be available to answer the inevitable questions that all of you have about the process. You can submit your questions and watch the live video webchat using the form the after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Ask GM’s Tony DiSalle and Tony Posawatz your questions about Volt pricing and ordering, Tuesday 4pm EDT

Ask GM’s Tony DiSalle and Tony Posawatz your questions about Volt pricing and ordering, Tuesday 4pm EDT originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Green