Nissan Electric Vehicle: Hidden inside this Cube

Even though Nissan has made an effort to carve out a place for itself in the Hybrid market, according to Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, zero emission vehicles are the future of the company.  To that end, Nissan has been running tests on an electric version of the compact Cube in preparation of an EV to produced and sold in Japan and the U.S. in 2010.  Those that are interested in Electric Vehicles but not the styling of the Cube can rejoice in the news that according to Nissan the new vehicle will not be based on the styling of any currently produced model.

ZPM Air Car

Compressed air engines aren’t new, they’ve been around since the 1920s, but they’re just now getting the mainstream notice that will allow them to flourish.

Back in Feburary, Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) announced that they’d be offering their compressed-air engine Air Car in the United States starting in 2010. They’ve been pushing back the date for when they’d start accepting orders for the car, and it’s finally settled at “Mid-2009″.

All this talk about the Air Car, but how the hell does it work?

Today, Honda has confirmed that a bigger, updated model of their hybrid vehicle, the Honda Insight, will make its green entrance at the Paris auto show in October. Introduced in 1999, the Honda Insight is technically billed as the first mass produced hybrid vehicle and, in theory, should’ve beat the Toyota Prius at it’s own game. Unfortunately, in addition to being the leaders in hybrid technology, Honda was also the leader in aesthetically revolting exterior design. The latter distinction ultimately cost them big time; from 1999 to 2006, the Honda Insight only sold a total of 17,001 units. Expected to hit dealer showrooms in April, the 2009 Honda Insight will ditch the 2-passenger, covered rear wheel layout in favor of a five-passenger hatchback and will look absolutely nothing like its rival, the Toyota Prius. We jest, of course.

‘See The 09 Insight After The Jump

Later this month, Chrysler will offer a preview of the three electric car prototypes it plans to produce over the course of the next decade. Currently working with battery suppliers both at home and abroad, Chrysler’s primary focus is developing an electric plug-in hybrid vehicle capable of averaging 300 miles per charge. “Fuel cells are in the future, ” said Chrysler co-president Jim Press, “but probably more in my kids’ future than my own.”

Full Chrysler Concept Gallery After Jump

As reported by Autotopia, Oregon-based SeaPort Airline has become the first entirely green airline to offer enviro-friendly air travel between the Portland International Airport and Seattle’s Boeing Field. First opening its doors back in June, the fledgling airline is a small operation with a fleet only 3 planes large, and it’s leaving an even smaller carbon footprint. Using planes assembled by Swiss aeronautic company Pilatus, SeaPort ferries passenger’s in turboprop PC-12’s. The 47 ft long, 14 ft high, single engine PC-12’s are only able to accommodate 9 passengers at a time [plus 2 crew], and have a maximum altitude of 30,000 ft. Suitable for the short local commute, the PC-12’s reach top cruising speeds at 300 mph - and only consume an average of 51 gallons of fuel per flight.

Possible Infiniti G35 Hybrid

After two years of using Toyota techology in a hybrid version of the Altima, Nissan is developing prototypes entirely on its own that signal their impending entrance into hybrid competition with the big boys.  Finding previously untapped Hybrid consumers is a bit of a challenge for automakers, but Nissan is hoping to attract customers by offering a luxury rear-wheel-drive hybrid.

2009 Hyundai Sonata

In comparison to both American and Asian automakers, Hyundai is getting a late start in developing hybrid and electric vehicles.  However, the Korean automaker has promised to put a hybrid subcompact, a hybrid mid-size and a plug-in competitor to the Chevrolet Volt on the road within five years.  As a whole Korean automakers are spending approximately $1 billion on the battery technology needed to power such vehicles and the government has contributed another $40 million.  The historically inexpensive car manufacturer’s entry into these types of automobiles is another good sign for those with the will, but not necessarilly the cash, to buy electric vehicles.

2010 Volt: Just one piece of GM's future

Whether you are a fan of GM or not, and I certainly have been as critical as anyone, the world’s largest company shows signs of bolstering their committment even further to provide better fuel efficiency in the future.  In each area of vehicle production; gas, diesel and hybrid, GM has important plans in the works.

Recently, spy shots and leaked interior photos of the highly anticipated Chevy Volt have hit the auto blogging world, leaving most motorheads foaming at the mouth. I, on the other hand, sort of feel like I showed up to meet an eHarmony.com date and he turned out to look more like Boy George than George Clooney.

Full Gallery After The Jump

The fight to be crowned the first mass producer of an extended-range electric vehicle [E-REV] is on, folks. The waiting list for the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt is now about 40,000 eager-buyers long, and fellow auto makers want a piece of the action. Today, Autocar UK reported that inside sources have confirmed that Mazda is currently developing an E-REV of their own. Powered dually by a rotary engine and rechargeable battery pack, the Mazda plug-in prototype is housed within a Mazda 5 MPV body shell. Trial runs have already begun, but the Mazda E-REV’s future release is hindered by the same obstacle almost all the electric vehicle manufacturers are facing: the exorbitant cost of the requisite batteries.