Back in February of 2009, UK-based Lightning Car Company announced that it was intent on building and selling its electric GT sometime in 2010. Well, the year is but three months from coming to a close and Lightning, as one might expect of any fledgling automaker, is running behind schedule. Lightning claims that its battery-powered GT will enter a "late prototype" phase soon and hopes to have the vehicle production-ready by spring of ... 2012.

Since unveiling the GT back in 2007, significant changes have been made. The proposed in-wheel motors have been ditched in favor of a rear-drive setup sourced from an unnamed German manufacturer. Performance numbers have been modified to account for changes made to the vehicle's drivetrain and electric motors. The car is tipped to run from 0-60 miles per hour in five seconds and range is expected to be more than 100 miles. With a projected price now soaring to £180,000 ($290,628 U.S. at the current exchange rate) we'd have to admit that selling even 250 electric GTs per year (Lightning's projected production volume) seems more than a bit optimistic. Hat tip to Mike!



[Source: Autocar]

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a world leader in safety-related testing and certification, released its first in a series of white papers focused specifically on evolving battery technology. The white paper, entitled Safety Issues for Lithium-Ion Batteries, explores the potential dangers of high-tech batteries. More specifically, the UL's position paper discusses the probable causes of lithium-ion battery failures and suggests new types of tests that will help manufacturers design and construct more robust and safer batteries. Additionally, the paper explores new uses for high-tech batteries and assesses the potential risks associated with implementing this evolving technology in key areas like consumer electronics, medical devices, industrial equipment and automotive applications.

Carlos Correia, vice president of the UL's high-tech division, discussed the importance of developing and adhering to strict lithium-ion safety standards, stating:

It is critical that safety standards maintain relevance and support safe use of lithium-ion batteries as they become more prevalent and usage expands in new ways. UL is dedicating significant resources to translating battery safety research into safety standards and this position paper is one example of that commitment.

There is a brief outline of the paper after the jump. Alternatively, click here (registration required) to download a copy of the white paper, or here to read more about testing and certification services provided by the UL.

[Source: Underwriters Laboratory]

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In mid-May, Epyon unveiled its fast-charging system for electric vehicles during the Nissan Leaf's brief stop in the city of Amsterdam. Later that month, the company installed Europe's first fast-charging station at a fueling depot in the Netherlands. Now, Epyon announced that it has lined up five investors willing to back the company to the tune of €7 million ($9.7 million U.S. at the current exchange rate). The funds will be used to scale up Epyon's operations, which includes installing fast-charge stations across much of Europe.

Epyon's equity funding comes in part from three new shareholders: LiteOn Technology Corporation of Taiwan and Dutch investors BOM and Breesaap. Existing investors SET Venture Partners and Chrysalix also contributed to the recent funding efforts and remain Epyon's primary shareholders. LiteOn Technology hopes to expand Epyon's reach beyond Europe and is looking to countries like Asia, China and the U.S. as potential areas for growth.

[Source: Epyon]

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Just three days after Michael Jackson, Coda Automotive's senior vice president of global sales, marketing and distribution , resigned to start his own company, the company's CEO, Kevin Czinger, is also stepping down from his position. Czinger, who has pretty much been the public face of the Miles Electric Vehicles spin-off since he joined in 2008 – and a substantial shareholder – will adopt the role of senior strategic advisor.

While we could only speculate as to the reason for his departure from the Coda limelight, top executive's don't typically bow out at a critical time in a company's development because things are going swimmingly. Indeed, if we were to guess whether or not some vehicles would reach customers by the end of the year as had been planned, we would say, not. Last we heard the company hadn't yet closed a deal with Amports for final assembly in Benicia, CA.

The company, whose press release refers to the move as a management realignment, will tap board co-chairman and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven "Mac" Heller as interim CEO while current CFO Mark Jamieson will take the title of Chief Operating Officer. To check out the official aforementioned presser, as well as watch bonus video of Mr. Czinger in full sales pitch mode with earth2tech's Katie Fehrenbacher, hit the jump.

[Source: Coda Automotive]

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Fisker Automotive, the plug-in hybrid startup company based in Irvine, CA, is planning to raise another $75-$150 million to add to the $300 million it has already raised privately, the $529 million awarded from the U.S. Department of Energy and the $21.5 million in grants and loans it has gotten from the state of Delaware. If you think there's a lot of money going in, but not much coming out, company CEO Henrik Fisker says not to worry. Investors are most likely going to be paid back when Fisker stock eventually goes public, like Tesla Motors did, Fisker told Reuters:

We have to launch the Karma first, that is clear. You have to get the revenue and launch the Karma, but we already are making sure our company is prepared for this possibility of an IPO.

The first factory-produced version of its $88,000 sports sedan Karma was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in October. CEO Fisker, the designer of the Aston Martin DB9, V8 Vantage and BMW Z8, said at the event that the company has more than 3,000 pre-orders for the Karma and expects to start deliveries in March (we'll see). In late 2012, Fisker plans to launch Project Nina in Delaware where they bought the Boxwood Road Plant previously owned by General Motors. The plan is to employ 2,500 people in Delaware and produce the Nina SUV and a two-door version. Then, if things go well, three iterations of the Karma will be built: the sports sedan, a convertible, and a sports wagon. The plans are big, and will apparently cost another $150 million or so.

[Source: Delaware Online]

It's that time of month again: October's sales numbers are in and gas-electric hybrids soared to a five-month high. Truth be told, the recent trending suggests that November's sales figures for hybrids may continue to climb even higher.

Let's dive in. October's sales of all hybrids, which includes cars, light trucks and SUVs, jumped up by 7.1 percent over September sales figures. Sales volume for October hit 22,254 units, the highest mark reported since May of this year. In addition, the market share for hybrids climbed to 2.54 percent, an 11-month high.

These sales numbers may have been sparked by some newer entries that are capturing buyer's attention. In particular, Honda's sporty CR-Z racked up 1,419 sales, nearly 200 more than in September. The Lincoln MKZ hybrid also joined the party and tallied a reasonable 366 sales in October, compared to just ten the previous month. All in all, hybrids continue to fare quite well, but outside forces like gas prices often influence a buyer's decision and we know that hybrid sales could tank if pump prices bottom out.



Photos copyright ©2010 Steven J. Ewing / AOL

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Netherlands-based Athlon Car Lease, one of Europe's leading providers of fleet vehicles, has signed a pre-order agreement for 65 Kangoo Express Z.E. and 35 Fluence Z.E. electric vehicles (EVs) from automaker Renault. Athlon intends to lease the battery-powered Renaults to one of its subsidiaries, Rabobank, a financial services provider. Hans Blink, president of Athlon Car Lease, stressed the importance of offering EVs to its clients, stating:

At Athlon Car Lease, we strongly believe that electric vehicles will represent a significant part of the mobility solutions market in the future. Supporting our biggest customer Rabobank to introduce electric vehicles to their fleet is an important first step in stressing our position as a major player in this market.

In late 2009, Athlon signed a distribution deal with Renault. This latest 100-unit pre-order builds upon the previous agreement and falls under Athlon's Sustainable Mobility Plan.



[Source: Renault]

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China's Chery Automobile Co. has developed and displayed numerous electric vehicle (EV) concepts including the Riich M1, S18, Tiggo 3 and even the QQ, but when it came down to launching these battery-powered autos, the company had always been a bit hesitant. That changed earlier today when Chery Auto officially launched its first li-ion powered EV, the Ruilin M1. Chery choose to roll out the M1 at the 25th World Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS 25) in Shenzhen, China.

Sporting a li-ion phosphate battery pack developed by China BAK, the Ruilin M1 offers a comfortable 93 miles of cruising range on a full charge. Though not quite capable of eclipsing the Nissan Leaf's 90-plus miles per hour top speed, the Ruilin's 75 mph limit seems more than acceptable to us. In addition to the production Ruilin M1, Chery also rolled out four other li-ion powered concept vehicles, including the Ruilin X1, Chery A5, Ruilin G5 and another M1 model. Pricing and full specs for the Ruilin M1 are not available yet, but we'll try to get our hands on this info as soon as it's released. Hit the jump for more on Chery's battery-powered plans.

[Source: China BAK Battery Inc.]

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Audi will up the fuel efficiency ante with the addition of two new models that bring a new miles per gallon level to the A4 lineup that has never been reached. Packing 2.0-liter TDI engines, the pair of new models – a sedan and an Avant (wagon) – boast near best-in-class fuel economy ratings of 53.5 mpg (U.S.) and 51.1 mpg, respectively. In addition, the sedan's emissions now stand at 115 grams CO2 per kilometer, while the wagon version trails ever so slightly at 120 g/km CO2.

Increased efficiency often comes at the expense of performance, but Audi claims that its 2.0-liter TDI mill makes no such sacrifice. Engine output is listed at 136 horsepower and torque at 236 pound-feet which combine to propel the A4 sedan to 62 miles per hour in 9.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 134 mph. The wagon, with its added weight, completes the sprint to 62 mph in 9.8 seconds and continues to 129 mph before packing it in. Both models feature a six-speed manual trans with slightly lengthened gear ratios, some aerodynamic tweaks aimed at improving drag and come shod with low-rolling resistance tires.

Pricing for the A4 2.0 TDI sedan starts at €31,600 ($45,000 U.S. at the current exchange rate) and the A4 Avant 2.0 TDI rings in at €33,250 ($47,300 U.S.). Both models are currently available only in Germany, but we suspect that other countries will be added soon.

[Source: Audi]

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If you happen to find yourself along the 60-mile stretch between London and Brighton in the UK this weekend, you may witness an interesting phenomenon. On Sunday, the flow of traffic will feature the automotive past flowing from North to South whilst a day earlier, greener vehicles of the present and future will be rolling South to North. That is to say, while the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run continues its long-running annual parade tradition featuring over 100 pre-1905 horseless carriages, the first ever RAC (Royal Automobile Club) Brighton to London Future Car Challenge (BLFCC) will precede it on Saturday. A similar eco event took place last year.

There is quite a diverse assortment of powertrains among the 64 expected participants in the inaugural event, among them low-emission internal combustion, hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell and all-electric machines. Besides just looking pretty, they will also be a little friendly competition to see who can complete the journey most efficiently and trophies and awards will be handed out. If you''d like to see all the entries in London, there will be a formal finish in Pall Mall before they move onto a ceremonial finish on Regent Street where organizers expect (perhaps optimistically) as many as 250,000 spectators.

Some of the vehicles entered have never before seen British asphalt and we look forward to seeing some pics of those lesser-known rides, including an electrified Volkswagen Caddy Maxi by Energetique and the Proton Exora Extended Range EV. Check out the entire entry list (PDF) to see if your personal favorite is among them.

[Source: Brighton to London Future Car Challenge]