ZipCar is once again in focus but this time, it is because of their first-ever Electric Vehicle Pod. These new vehicles are among the most efficient and technologically advanced on the road today and are available to members by the hour for a fraction of the cost of owning one.

“Since early in this decade, Zipcar has been integrating alternative vehicles into the fleet — giving our members the opportunity to push the envelope and evaluate a range of advanced-vehicle technologies,” said Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar. “Our proprietary car sharing technology platform allows us to manage a variety of cutting-edge vehicles, serving hundreds of thousands of Zipsters who benefit from convenience, cost savings and a commitment to reducing carbon emissions.”

With the uncertainty as far as reliability and feasibility of owning one still up in the air, people who want to go places can still do so by trying out this alternative. Apparently a lot of issues such as charging issues and the length at where they can go is still unresolved so why worry if you have ZipCar to help you out for now?

(Source) Press

Tags: advanced vehicle technologies, cutting edge, electric car, electric vehicle, feasibility, new vehicles, pod, reducing carbon emissions, technology platform, zipcar

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Toyota is looking at a new state-of-the-art transmission test cell and has chosen A&D Technology to be the supplier for it. Under the agreement, A&D will be supplying Toyota with three low-inertia permanent magnet dynamometers and high-performance AC drives together with their iTest data acquisition and control system.

Also, Toyota will be supplied with a system that includes A&D’s Andromeda real-time, multi-processor simulation platform, allowing Toyota to simulate virtually any combination of engine, vehicle, and powertrain configurations, including hybrid systems, in conjunction with the physical transmission.

With this advanced technology platform, Toyota can perform a variety of transmission development activities, from durability testing to conceptual studies.

(Source) Press

Tags: advanced technology, conceptual studies, conjunction, data acquisition and control, durability testing, high performance, hybrid systems, inertia, physical transmission, powertrain, state of the art, technology platform, test cell, transmission development, transmission test

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Boston-Power has announced a piece of great news that will get the demand for lithium-iron batteries and jobs up on their feet. The company has already been a familiar figure in the world of longest-lasting, fastest-charging, most environmentally sustainable and safest lithium-ion battery technology platform today and now it plans to build an advanced facility to deliver advanced batteries as needed today.

This not only covers the area of addressing the expected growth in demands for lithium-iron batteries but also means that new jobs will be made available. Approximately 600 new jobs would be needed at the Auburn facility and 2,000 more indirectly through supply chains to be put up.

An award-winning provider of next-generation lithium-ion battery cells to market-leading companies,

Boston-Power will also today provide a ‘first look’ at Swing, the company’s product for Plug-in Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicles (PHEV/BEV). The only eco-certified battery of its kind, Swing is poised to drive the adoption of PHEVs and BEVs by establishing new benchmarks in energy density, long life, safety, weight, cost and environmental sustainability.

“Our goal is to make Massachusetts a manufacturing hub for the advanced batteries that will power the nation’s clean energy future, and Boston-Power’s plan to create this facility in Auburn is a big step toward that goal,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “We look forward to working with the company and our colleagues in the Congressional delegation to make this happen.”

(Source) Press

Tags: battery cells, battery technology, clean energy, electric vehicles, energy density, energy future, environmental sustainability, life safety, lithium, lithium ion battery, supply chains, technology platform

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With the demand for lithium-ion batteries expected to increase, ExxonMobil takes the initiative in making sure that they distribute quality and efficient batteries once that happens. ExxonMobil Chemical continues to extend its technology leadership with the development of two new grades of V series co-extruded battery separator films. These new developmental grades will help make lithium-ion batteries (LIB) safer than ever before for hybrid and electric vehicles, power tools and electronic devices including laptop computers.

Featuring improved thermal stability and lower shutdown temperature for a higher safety margin, the developmental grades add to the company’s battery separator film portfolio that includes the award-winning V-series separator films introduced in 2007. Based on the same advanced co-extrusion technology platform and proprietary wet bi-orientation manufacturing process as V-series separator films, the developmental grades can help prevent thermal runaway in batteries while providing LIB designers more flexibility in selecting electrode systems and formats in battery designs to improve power and capacity density.

ExxonMobil Chemical currently manufactures battery separator films in Nasu, Japan, and is building a manufacturing facility in Gumi, Korea, to accommodate additional demand and serve global customers reliably and efficiently. The new manufacturing plant will be completed in 2010.

(Source) Press

Tags: battery separator, electric vehicles, electrode systems, electronic devices, extrusion technology, exxonmobil, film portfolio, global customers, gumi korea, laptop computers, lithium, lithium ion batteries, manufacturing plant, manufacturing process, nasu japan, new films, safety margin, technology leadership, technology platform, thermal stability

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Though it may seem like a chain of business deals, Edmunds.com seems to be the winner in the end. Edmunds.com has secured a mobile advertising deal with Quattro Wireless who in turn secured a site sponsorship with Volvo for the re-design launch.

With a mobile ad campaign that started April 1, Volvo became the first sponsor for Edmunds.com’s site re-launch and will have exclusivity over Edmunds.com’s “Vehicle Spotlight” for the duration of the campaign for the launch of its 2010 XC60 Crossover vehicle. Quattro is developing an innovative and expandable mobile microsite and ad unit for Volvo to support their key sponsorship site placements and create an interactive experience for the consumer. Quattro worked with Mobext and Media Contacts, Volvo’s digital media agency, for the sponsorship deal.

As an exclusive publisher in the Quattro Mobile Ad Network, Edmunds.com will leverage Quattro’s team and their technology platform to publish a re-designed site with auto news and reviews, vehicle pricing including Edmunds.com’s True Market Value, buying guides, loan calculator, dealer locator and other utilities for a mobile audience.

Through Quattro’s platform, Edmunds.com’s wired site content has been dynamically configured for mobile with the layout and navigation specifically adapted for all types of mobile handsets. Quattro Wireless’ technology and turnkey solutions have been leveraged by many of the leading brands in automotive including Edmunds.com, Volvo, Toyota, Mazda, Lincoln and Car and Driver.

(Source) Press

Tags: business deals, car and driver, crossover vehicle, dealer locator, driver source, edmunds, interactive experience, launch, leading brands, loan calculator, microsite, mobile advertising, mobile audience, mobile handsets, sponsorship deal, technology platform, turnkey solutions, wireless venture

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