TheDay.com - Yardney part of electric-car battery venture

TheDay.com - Yardney part of electric-car battery venture: "If Connecticut has anything to say about it, a former Lego manufacturing plant in Enfield will be helping to churn out electric cars within the next couple years.

The battery-manufacturing operation, which would be a joint venture between Yardney Technical Products of Pawcatuck and California-based Coda Automotive, got a boost Thursday with a report that the state is prepared to kick in more than $11 million to see it to fruition. Yardney previously had asked the U.S. Department of Energy for $38 million to get the project going, and any state funding would be contingent upon receiving the federal assistance, according to Neil McKiernan, an aide for U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District.

The electric-car venture, which calls for batteries to be manufactured in Connecticut and cars to be built in California, has won the enthusiastic backing of Courtney, whose Second District spans both Enfield and Pawcatuck. Courtney, along with local politicians and Yardney and Coda executives, appeared Thursday at the former Lego facility to demonstrate state support for the plan.

”This is a product that's really ready to move,” Courtney said in a phone message left after the event."

REPORT: Toyota will launch series production PHEV Prius in 2012

REPORT: Toyota will launch series production PHEV Prius in 2012: "According to Japan's Nikkei news agency, Toyota has decided to start series production of a plug-in version of the Prius hybrid in 2012. At launch, the automaker plans to build about 20,000-30,000 units a year of the plug-in hybrid. According to the report, the car will be priced comparably to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV at about $48,000. That's a pretty steep price and quite a bit higher than the $40,000 pricetag expected to be applied to the Chevy Volt when it arrives late next year. That also puts the PHEV Prius at about twice the price of a conventional model.

The PHEV Prius will likely be the first product to use lithium ion batteries produced by Panasonic EV Energy Co. The battery is expected to provide about 12-18 miles of range although it's not clear how much of that will be possible without running the engine. We'll probably have a better idea of that next year after the 500 or so prototypes go into test fleets starting late this year."

Dodge Circuit EV test drive video

Dodge Circuit EV test drive video: "Take a ride along in cab in the future sports car from Dodge that is solely powered by lithium ion battery and an electrical engine. Turning out over 268 horse power and nearly 500 foot pounds of torque, this sporty electric vehicle is similar to the Lotus Elise but better. Nearly identical interior with slightly different outer trim and lights, the Dodge Circuit EV sports car offers a range of 150 to 200 miles per charge. It is very fast and uses zero gasoline. Amazing!

Specifications of Dodge Circuit EV

* 268 hp / 480 tq
* 2980 lbs curb weight (verify it yourself)
* 13 sec quarter mile
* 120+ mph top speed
* 150 to 200 miles per charge
* 200 kw electric engine (possibly Siemens)"

Iran's Green Revolution and America's gas tax

Iran's Green Revolution and America's gas tax: "A stiff tax on imported oil, or at least on petroleum-based motor fuel. If the price of gas is high, people will find transportation alternatives, and the demand for oil will fall. In the long run, gas is going to be expensive anyway, but the huge profits will flow to multinational corporations, sheiks, and totalitarian governments. Tax the gas, and their profits will fall. We the people will benefit through the reduction of our national debt. An aggressive motor fuel tax ought to be viewed as a national security measure."

James Hansen arrested in WV coal mining protest

James Hansen arrested in WV coal mining protest: "NASA's chief climatologist James Hansen was among 31 protesters arrested on Tuesday in a civil protest against mountaintop-removal coal mining in West Virginia.

Hansen has been outspoken about carbon dioxide emissions and climate change since 1981. He has a reputation in the scientific community for having accurately predicted climate patterns since then. Last fall Hansen calculated that a 'safe' level of CO2 is 350 parts per million. Because CO2 concentrations now average 385 ppm worldwide, achieving the safe level requires rolling back emissions very sharply. Hansen says it can only be done by closing all coal-burning power plants within 20 years."

Tesla Motors - Customers

Tesla Motors - Customers: "PV+EV: We’re getting 72 miles per day of sunlight"