EV

Cable carrier Cox Communications is branching out with a new wireless service.

The company today launched its Cox Wireless mobile phone and high-speed Internet service with the enticement of what it's calling the "Unbelievably Fair" MoneyBack Minutes program. Mobile subscribers who use the service can get up to $20 per month back on any unused minutes.

Banking on consumer dissatisfaction with existing mobile phone plans, Cox said it's the first wireless carrier to make such a money-back offer. More than that, the addition of the wireless service to Cox's existing package of video, Internet, and … Read more

Tesla got a great deal on the NUMMI plant in its deal with Toyota this year, but what does Toyota get out of it? At the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota let us know, pulling the wraps off of its RAV4 EV Concept powered by Tesla. However, the EV wasn't the production-bound model that many were expecting. Rather, what we were shown was more of a stepping stone to a more complete vehicle that may come later.

To call the RAV4 EV a glorified test mule would be understating things a bit. Then again, the concept is built … Read more

Toyota Motor unveiled big plans for staying in front in clean-car technology as rivals race to play catch-up, saying it would launch 11 new hybrids and a rechargeable Prius that may cost as little as $36,000.

Having dominated the hybrid field for more than a decade with the iconic Prius and 13 other models so far, the world's top automaker has won a reputation as the most advanced car maker in next-generation technology.

But with governments tightening environmental and fuel economy standards, competitors are turning up the heat with new technologies including battery electric cars and "range … Read more

The Walgreens pharmacy chain will offer rapid-charging EV stations at 18 Houston-area stores next year, through a partnership with power utility NRG Energy.

NRG's eVgo Network(pronounced ee-vee-go), one of the first commercial electric-vehicle-charging networks to launch in the U.S., will initially consist of over 100 charging stations and cost NRG about $10 million in infrastructure investment.

The eVgo Network will be rolled out in early 2011 throughout Houston and Harris County, Texas, and include two types of facilities, as well as two types of EV charging stations.

The eVgo network will be an integration of both Level … Read more

Automaker Think plans to introduce its all-electric Think City car in mid-2011 at a price of $34,000 before incentives, the company's chief marketing officer announced via a Monday interview with blog PluginCars.com.

Think CMO Michael Lock said he is under no illusions about the company's place in the U.S. car market. He said Think's management does not expect the average American family to replace its combustion engine car with a small electric vehicle. It does believe, however, that the urban family will consider buying the Think City as a second car, with which to … Read more

While it's unclear how many consumers are willing to pay more for plug-in electric cars, the case for fleet operators is a lot simpler to make, according to advocacy group the Electrification Coalition.

The group, made up of CEOs from the auto and electric power industries, today released a road map for fleet electrification in which it argues that corporate fleets can help make plug-in vehicles more commonplace. The document, prepared in an effort to influence policy, was released by members at a press conference in Washington, D.C.

Electrifying transportation offers the best means for reducing oil consumption, … Read more

Electric vehicles will figure prominently at the upcoming LA Auto Show, but yet another survey is highlighting that consumer apprehension about the new technology is one of the biggest challenges to plug-in vehicles.

Pike Research today released a survey of 1,042 U.S. consumers that found interest in highway-capable gas-electric hybrids and battery electric cars, with 44 percent of respondents saying they would be interested in a plug-in with a range of 40 miles to 100 miles and a fuel equivalent of 75 cents per gallon.

A battery range of 40 miles suited 83 percent of drivers, with the … Read more

General Electric plans to purchase 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, giving the budding EV business a significant boost.

Initially, GE will purchase 12,000 vehicles from General Motors--starting with the Chevrolet Volt, which has just become available to early buyers this month. The company said it will be the biggest single fleet purchase of electric vehicles so far.

GE said that it intends to convert at least half of its fleet of 30,000 vehicles. But the move into electric vehicles is also geared at boosting demand at its grid equipment and fleet management businesses. GE sells an EV … Read more

Leading up to the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mitsubishi leaked a few renderings and dimensions of the slightly beefier i-Miev, which the manufacturer will reveal to the public next week. The 100-mile range electric vehicle is expected to go on sale in the U.S. next year, and is currently on sale in Japan.

Almost a foot longer and just over 4 inches wider than its Japanese counterpart, the i-Miev's proportions have been increased to accomodate additional safety features to help it comply with current and upcoming National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration regulations, such as more airbags, … Read more