Updates Coming August 1st

While On Vacation, I Will Visit Sea World

Tomorrow I will leave for San Diego, where I will be until Tuesday. Yes, I know this is my second vacation in a month, but I work hard during the year. Because of my absence, there will be no new posts until August 1st, the day of updates! While I'm away though, click here to go to Autobloggreen for the latest electric car news. Here's what you can expect on August 1st by 5 p.m. P.S.T.:

1. A New Daily Feature That Will Last A Whole Year
2. Four New Videos
3. A New Page
4. A New Poll

All Coming August 1st! So Come Back Then!

Approved!: Toyota Will Test Plug In Prius In Japan

Toyota has developed a plug in Prius, meaning it can be plugged in to any standard household outlet to charge the battery. Recently the received the approval of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to allow testing on Japanese roads to begin. Eight will be used for the testing at two will eventually be sent to the US. The cars have an all electric range of about eight miles.

We also covered a similar story. The link can be found here.

Autobloggreen Link

Study Says Plug In Hybrids Could Reduce Emissions

How surprising! A study recently found that plug in hybrids could drastically reduce emissions if American drivers recharged them in large numbers.

From The Daily Breeze: "Researchers estimated that with a market share of about 60 percent or more plug-ins, the vehicles could help reduce about 450 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions a year by 2050. The reductions would be the equivalent of removing 82 million passenger cars, or about one-third of the cars on the road."

Researchers also found that a major increase of plug in hybrid use would lead to only a minor increase. The article also says:

"An increase of 7 percent to 8 percent of electric use would reduce nearly 4 million barrels of oil per day by 2050, said Mark Duvall, program manager with the Electric Power Research Institute and one of the study's authors."

The Daily Breeze Link

SMITH Electric Vehicles Brings All Electric Trucks To U.S. Fleets

SMITH is an electric vehicle maker currently providing all electric trucks to the U.K. United State fleet owners want in on the fuel savings that these vans offer. SMITH is investing $30 million in a new factory to produce the vehicles for the U.S. They will be bringing over their smallest and their largest vans which can go up to 50 m.p.h. for 130-150 miles.

Autobloggreen Link

Toyota To Test Plug In Prius's In Japan

Toyota is famous for being one of the first automakers to pioneer hybrid technology. Soon, they will take it one step farther. Toyota will start testing Plug In Hybrid Prius's on Japan's public roads. Plug In Prius conversions can be done in America today and once the car is converted, it is said to get over 100 m.p.g. It might not be all electric (yet), but its one step closer to a cleaner future.

Autobloggreen Link

The Newsbreak Times Gets An Upgrade

Here at Electric Cars Now! we greatly appreciate our affiliates. Recently The Newsbreak Times went through an upgrade. They have a new and improved site and a new URL also. For those of you who have not visited The Newsbreak Times before, now is a great time to start! Remember, The Newsbreak Times; Delivering Your World Weekly.

Thanks Again For Being A Great Affiliate!

www.newsbreaktimes.com

GM To Bring Electric Car In 2010

Although the article doesn't say much, it could be promising. General Motor's Opel division (Opel is currently available in Europe I believe) is planning to bring an all electric car out by the end of 2010. GM's European chief Carl-Peter Forster, told Forbes that hybrid technology is too expensive in small cars.

Forbes Link

All Electric Mini Cooper Coming Soon?

James Blunt In His All Electric Mini Cooper

We covered a story about James Blunt getting an all electric Mini Cooper before (on the "News (From June 1st 2007 and Before)" page, then scroll down) and now it looks like Hybrid Technologies may be ready to release one for the consumer market. The car reportedly has a 120 or more mile range, go up to 80 m.p.h., and go from 0 to 60 in 6.0 seconds. The article does not say a release date or price.

TriplePundit Link

New Things In Near Future For Electric Cars Now!

I'm back from my vacation! Life on the road was great, but I'm happy to be home again. While on vacation, I thought of ways on how to make Electric Cars Now! more helpful and fun. So, beginning August 1st, we will introduce a new page to the site and a new daily feature, so stay tuned.*

*Events Subject To Change

No New Posts For A Week

As of Wednesday I will be going on vacation with my family. I find spending time with family very important and valuable. I will be posting again on July 18 or July 19. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. For the latest alternative fuel news, visit Autobloggreen while Electric Cars Now! is on a temporary hiatus. The link is below.


www.autobloggreen.com


UPDATE: I'm back so the news will continue!

Ford To Test Plug In Hybrids

They might not be fully electric, but plug in hybrids are a step in the right direction. Ford, which killed the TH!NK and Ranger EV, is bring plug in hybrid versions of its Escape Hybrid for Southern California Edison (SCE) to test.

Plug in hybrids, like regular hybrids, run partly on battery and partly on your standard internal combustion engine. The advantage to plug in hybrids is that because you can plug them in, you can go for miles without polluting. A plug in Prius could get over 100 m.p.g.

From Autobloggreen: "Ford and Edison will work together on a "multi-million dollar, multi-year PHEV evaluation and demonstration program." This means that Ford will give SCE a demonstration fleet of 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid SUVs that will be converted by Ford and a "battery company partner yet to be named" to be fully PHEV capable. SCE will test the Escapes, and, "Some of the vehicles will be evaluated in typical customer settings in order to model overall home and grid values this technology could tap." Does that mean customers will be able to test them? Unclear. But the good news is that "As Ford's plug-in hybrid program grows, the automaker will look for broader participation as it develops a business model not just for Southern California, but potentially nationwide."

Maybe if Ford finds the testing successful, we could all be driving plug in Escape's in a few years!

Autobloggreen Link

Live Earth Concerts Tomorrow (7.7.07)!

Al Gore Speaking About The Concerts

Here at Electric Cars Now! we believe everyday should be earth day. Tomorrow is one special day. Maybe you've heard, but if you haven't, tomorrow (7.7.07) there will be eight concerts in seven continents all taking place tomorrow. They are promoting global warming awareness and ways to save us from a major climate crisis. MSN and possibly your local NBC station will have coverage of the concerts. For more information, to get your name on screen, check local listings, and more, visit the link below.

liveearth.org

NOTE: Click the picture below takes you to the MSN Live Earth Site, NOT the official Live Earth site. For the official Live Earth site, click the link above.

July 4th - Independence Day

As most people are aware, tomorrow is July 4th, American Independence Day. Due to the holiday and festivities, there will be no new news tomorrow. The Electric Cars Now! staff wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday.