Latest electric drive news and analysis articles 
That part of the automotive industry concerned with vehicles possessing part or fully electrically driven wheels; includes hybrids, EVs, batteries and all associated electric drive components and power control technologies
US: Tesla pays back big Federal loan early
23 May 2013
Tesla Motors has announced that it has paid off the entire loan awarded to the company by the US Department of Energy in 2010.
US: New Chinese bid to buy Fisker – reports
22 May 2013
Chinese business interests are again reportedly moving to buy financially crippled electric car start-up Fisker Automotive.
SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai names next Tucson as first fuel cell production car
21 May 2013
Hyundai Motor has announced that the fuel cell vehicle it will build at the rate of 10,000 units a year will be a version of the next Tuscon.
PRODUCT EYE: Honda CR-Z
21 May 2013
It isn't often that a three-year old car, albeit one that was facelifted not long ago, attracts admiring glances in car parks. Glenn Brooks was surprised to learn that few people know what a Honda CR-Z is.
UK: BMW announces 'i' dealer network
20 May 2013
BMW UK has announced the network of dealers that will sell and service its new i sub-brand using electric drive systems and offer 'premium mobility services'.
SWEDEN: Volvo to increase plug-in hybrid production
16 May 2013
Geely Group's Volvo Cars is ramping up production of its V60 plug-in diesel hybrid by 90% to cope with strong demand across Europe, particularly in Holland, Belgium and Italy.
COMMENT: Is Tesla really worth twice as much as Fiat SpA?
16 May 2013
We live in strange times. As Fisker, a rival with supposedly superior range-extending technology falls apart, the value of Tesla rises yet again, this time by almost two percent on Wednesday to US$9.7bn.
SWEDEN: Volvo to trial plug-in hybrid buses in Gothenburg
16 May 2013
Volvo Buses' new plug-in hybrids will hit the streets of Gothenburg, Sweden this month as part of a field test. The technology will facilitate a reduction in fuel consumption by 75% compared with current diesel buses.
US: Nissan passes 25,000 Leaf sales
15 May 2013
After its best sales month to date in March and a 423.5% year on year increase in April, Nissan's Leaf EV has passed the 25,000 sales mark in the US.
SWEDEN: NEVS pencils autumn 2013 for Saab 9-3 petrol/diesel restart
13 May 2013
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), says it is aiming to restart Saab production this autumn as it continues a recruitment drive for its new venture.
FRANKFURT PREVIEW: Global debuts list [Peugeot 308 & Volvo VEA engine family added]
13 May 2013
The media days for the Frankfurt motor show are 10 & 11 September. Each time a vehicle or concept world premiere is confirmed for this biennial event, our preview list is updated.
JAPAN: Nissan starts field testing e-NV200 in Saitama city
13 May 2013
Nissan has started field tests of its electric e-NV200 compact van in Saitama city.
BARCELONA SHOW: Global debuts [Final list]
10 May 2013
The media day for the Barcelona motor show was 9 May. Our preview list is now republished as an historic record of the vehicles which were global debuts.
COMMENT: Can we stop talking about EV start-ups, please?
9 May 2013
Far too many analysts and writers have spent time covering electric cars by focusing overly on start-up automakers that formed to grab a piece of the emerging market for plug-in cars.
US: Tesla posts first ever quarterly profit
9 May 2013
US-based electric car maker Tesla Motors has posted its first ever quarterly profit in the first quarter as it also said it exceeded its target for deliveries.
US: Tesla Model S gets top CR rating
9 May 2013
Tesla has been given a boost by the influential Consumer Reports (CR) organisation in the US, with its Model S receiving the highest score in ratings: 99 out of 100, a tally rarely achieved.
NORWAY: Nissan Leaf takes number two spot in Norway sales chart
9 May 2013
The Nissan Leaf has taken the number two spot in the overall car sales chart for Norway in April, beating a host of household name combustion engine cars in the process.
US: Coda bankruptcy filing raises uncomfortable questions
3 May 2013
Coda Holdings' bankruptcy filing this week appears to be the latest in a series of bumps in the road to electrification for the automotive industry.
SOUTH AFRICA: Incentives launched to boost EV manufacturing
3 May 2013
The South African government has announced a series of incentives aimed at encouraging both the local manufacturing of electric vehicles and their purchase.
TOKYO PREVIEW: Global debuts list [Toyota fuel cell vehicle added]
2 May 2013
The media days for the Tokyo motor show are 20 & 21 November (the same as those for the LA show). Each time a vehicle or concept world premiere is confirmed for this biennial event, our preview list is updated.
UK: 500kg weight loss claimed for I4 Range Rover Sport
1 May 2013
Stuart Frith, the chief programme engineer for the new Range Rover Sport, has revealed details of more derivatives to come, including "over 500kg of weight reduction compared to the outgoing model" for the still-secret four-cylinder versions.
SOUTH KOREA: LG Chem eyes SOP at US car battery factory in H2
30 April 2013
LG Chem intends to commence production at its US car battery plant in the second half of 2013, despite slow demand for electric vehicles.
US: Chevrolet claims economy benchmark for Spark EV
30 April 2013
Chevrolet claims that the 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV is the "industry benchmark in retail electric vehicle efficiency" with a combined city/highway EPA estimated range of 82 miles when fully charged and an EPA-estimated combined city/highway 119 MPGe fuel economy equivalent.
JAPAN: Mitsubishi says 'dropping' caused li-ion battery problems
30 April 2013
Mitsubishi Motors has said the overheating of lithium ion batteries used in its Outlander SUV plug-in hybrids was likely to have been caused by cells that were damaged when they fell to the ground during production.
BELGIUM: Ford and Schaeffler develop in-wheel motors research car
30 April 2013
Ford Motor and Schaeffler have demonstrated the Fiesta-based eWheelDrive car, a driveable research vehicle that could lead to improvements in urban mobility and parking by making possible smaller, more agile cars.
AUSTRIA: VW hails natural gas, plug-in hybrids and is to add 10-speed DSG
29 April 2013
Volkswagen has set out some views on future powertrain and drivelines at a symposium in Vienna, including an upbeat assessment on prospects for natural gas and plug-in hybrids, but with an emphasis on future alternative powertrains co-existing with the internal combustion engine.
PRODUCT EYE: Audi A3 Sportback
29 April 2013
It seems hardly a month goes by when there isn’t one new form or another of the new Audi A3 being announced. Glenn Brooks, who attended the UK launch of the Sportback, looks at what's ahead for the local importer's best selling model.
CHINA: Detroit Electric strikes deal with Geely
29 April 2013
Detroit Electric, the start-up electric car maker is to partner with China's Geely Automobile to develop EVs for the Chinese market.
UK: Nissan supports London Congestion Charge changes
29 April 2013
Nissan has welcomed the changes to the London Congestion Charge from Transport for London (TfL), which sees pure electric cars and vans or vehicles emitting less than 75g/km receiving a 100% exemption from the GBP10 (US$15.37) charge.
SWEDEN: Volvo C30 electric car upgraded with 'powerful motor and fast charger'
25 April 2013
The first electric cars emerging from the strategic partnership of Volvo Cars and Siemens are delivering a claimed 0-70 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a full recharge in only 1.5 hours.
