The world wide auto industry is making the push towards greener and more fuel efficient vehicles. One of the key components currently used in these green vehicles are lithium-ion batteries which are currently manufcatured all over the world.

Today, a country that you probably wouldn’t expect to be a key player in the game has announced that they will be producing their own lithium-ion batteries by 2018. That country is none other than Bolivia.

The purpose of producing their own lithium-ion batteries is so they could bypass the costly expenses of imported batteries made elsewhere. Smart, huh?

via laht

Tags: batteries, bolivia, lithium ion

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What you see above is Suzuki’s 2010 Swift, a plug-in hybrid concept that is set to make it’s official debut at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. This little vehicle features a 660 cc engine to charge its on board lithium ion batteries situated between the 2 front seats.

Those lithium ion batters in question will be used to power the car’s 54 kW motor which will then give the car front wheel drive.

That’s all we have now regarding the 2010 Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid concept, check back as the Tokyo Motor Show grows closer.

via autoblog

Tags: batteries, hybrid, lithium ion, Plug-in, Suzuki, tokyo motor show, wift

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As new electric cars continue to flourish and come out one by one, how much they would cost is the prime concern for most motorists. Basing it from the initial prices set out in the market, they are not that cheap. And now, the next best thing to do right now is to compare and see which electric car can fit into their budget and deliver their transport needs.

REVA initially made the headlines when it unveiled its electric car in India last February. And now, that same company reveals the price for its REVA NXG which is scheduled to go into full production by 2010. Average prices in Europe, will be around 14,995 EUROS for the lithium-ion NXR Intercity version, plus a monthly mobility fee for the batteries and other services.The REVA NXG pricing in Europe, excluding batteries is from 23,000 euros plus a monthly mobility fee.

The REVA falls under the M1 category three door, four seater hatchback family and can reach a top speed of 104 KPH and a range of 160 KMS. They boast of a keyless entry and operation and will include REVA’s exclusive REVive remote emergency charge.

Check out the gallery below:

(Source) Press

Tags: batteries, Budget, electric car, electric cars, Europe, headlines, India, initial prices, keyless entry, kph, lithium, lithium ion, motorists, prime concern, reva nxg, top speed

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For car owners who want a reliable car alarm system, Viper is a name you can rely on. Though Viper has had a lot of car security systems in the market, here is something that should take car owners to the next level of car alarm systems. The Viper 5901 Responder Two-Way Security System features a 2-way hybrid security remote start system good for as far as one mile.

The remotes have a 20% larger LCD display and comes with 3 side mounted buttons. With this remote, you don’t have to worry about battery changes as it comes with a rechargeable battery. For recharging, it has a mini-USB charging port to make sure that you don’t run out of batteries when you want to arm and disarm the remote at times you need to use or get something out of your vehicle.

Price: $226.95

(Source) Amazon

Tags: amazon, batteries, battery changes, car alarm system, car alarm systems, car owners, car security systems, mini usb, next level, rechargeable battery, remote start, remotes, Security System, viper

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The Toyota Prius may be running on batteries but this does not mean that they are totally emission free. In fact, they are bound to produce some issues once on the road and the best people to answer these things in mind is no other than Toyota itself.

With the current Toyota Prius they looked at a vehicle’s whole life cycle, how it’s made, driven and disposed of. Based on 10 years’ use and driving 150,000km, the Prius achieves a 43 per cent reduction in the amount of CO2 emissions during its life when compared to a petrol engine vehicle of a similar size.

Although it is accepted that there are more emissions used in the initial manufacture of the vehicle and, in particular, its battery, after about 11,000km of driving, the life cycle CO2 becomes less than that for a similar petrol vehicle. It passes out diesel at 35,000km.

Toyota added that, given the improvements within the production process at the Tsutsumi plant in Japan where Prius is produced, it is quite possible that these figures have improved since this report was first produced.

(Source) Independent

Tags: batteries, co2 emissions, life cycle, petrol engine, Toyota, toyota prius

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Most car audio receivers these days come with an option to plug in your iPod or portable media player. The next problem you may want to address is what would you do once your batteries run out. Well, SiK is a step ahead as it announces the Pimp iPod car charger so you will never miss a beat.

SiK has launched the Pimp, a new iPod car charger that enables audio output through car speakers. A 3.5mm jack is present on the dock connector, while the power supply is compatible with most 12V sockets and based on a replaceable fuse. Housing is rendered in anodized aluminum and stainless steel, and the charger comes equipped with three feet of cable.

Although compatible with most iPods from the fourth generation or later, SiK notes that it does not support the iPod shuffle.

(Source) Ipodnn

Tags: aluminum, audio receivers, batteries, car chargers, car speakers, fuse, ipod car charger, ipod shuffle, ipods, new ipod, pimp, sik, sockets

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While plans for the prototype SUV by AFS Trinity Power Corporation bogged down a bit, it looks like it will not only solve the transport problems but also the rising number of unemployment cases caused by several car manufacturing shutdowns and job cuts.

However, with the new plan of AFS Trinity Power Corporation on its disregarded SUV plan, we may be seeing two birds hit with one stone, or car in a manner of speaking.

For their part, AFS Trinity announces prototype SUV fitted with new high mileage, high performance technology at heart of $2.5 billion ‘green retooling’ DOE proposal.

The AFS Trinity Plug hybrid will realize the following benefits:

Assured battery life better than 150,000 miles while using off-the-shelf Li Ion technology – which means no new batteries need to be invented;

Dramatically lower fuel usage and CO2 – zero gas consumed on most days;

40 miles electric operation on an overnight charge – all that is needed by 78% of U.S. drivers for their daily driving

(Source) Press

Tags: batteries, economic turmoil, high performance technology, hybrid suvs, Prototype, unemployment

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In what many would see resembling the Cadillac CTS coupe, the Cadillac Converj is actually General Motor’s backup for the Chevy Volt. The 2009 concept car can run the same 40 miles as the Volt on electric power and the engine-generator kicks in to recharge the batteries and sustain electric propulsion afterwards.

So what differentiates the Converj from the Volt? Styling — or as GM vice chairman Bob Lutz put it, the sort of razzle-dazzle that might make the Converj appeal to buyers based on looks alone. The four-seater features Cadillac’s familiar angularity stretched to concept-car proportions, with 21-inch wheels in front and 22-inchers in the rear.

But while it seems that the Cadillac Converj promises to be another steal, it all depends on the performance of the Volt. Cadillac could certainly adapt a luxury version, which one analyst we talked to said makes more sense from a pricing standpoint.

(Source) Cars.com

Tags: batteries, Cadillac, cadillac cts, Cars, chevy volt, concept car, electric propulsion, GM, luxury version

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