Best Buy To Sell Electric Cars?

When you need a case for your iPhone, a BluRay DVD player, a laptop computer or a gaming system, chances are good you head to Best Buy. The Minneapolis-based retailer has come out on top of the retail electronic wars, outlasting once dominant rivals such as Circuit City and CompUSA. One secret to the success of Best Buy has always been diversification, and the retailer was among the first appointed distributors for Brammo electric motorcycles. They followed up on this success by gaining the distribution and installation of Level 2 chargers for the Ford Focus Electric and the Mitsubishi I EV. Now that they’ve got their foot in the EV door, the retailer thinks it makes sense to expand into EV sales. Read more

Rolls-Royce To Show Electric Phantom In Geneva

There are certain things in my life I consider absolutes: I never want to see Roseanne Barr naked, I’m never again going to eat Brussels sprouts, I’m never going to buy a sports car with a slushbox and Rolls-Royce should never build an electric car. Let’s be honest here: no one needs a Rolls-Royce, and the brand has always been the equivalent of a socio-economic single digit salute. They’re about as far from politically correct as an automaker can get, at least until someone builds a car that runs on spotted owls and endangered desert tortoises. Read more

Tesla Model S Uncovered Images – Sort Of

The guys at Autopia have a great imagination just as other gear-heads who post off-the-wall automotive stuff online. A new rendering of the Tesla S has taken it to a new level. They have rendered what the Tesla S may actually look like found in their post, “Behold the Tesla Model S“.

They basically took a combination of a few teaser images that have already been circulating over the internet on various automotive sites and automotive blogs. If you ask me, it looks pretty convincing and I am willing to bet the actual Tesla Model S to look very similar to the photoshop job below. Can we call it a photoshop job? Is that still the correct lingo?

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Aptera Motors 2e – The Future Arrives in October

Aptera Motors, a southern California startup automotive company, has plans to put the new 2e electric-three-wheeled car in driveways by October of this year (2009). Although it is an “interesting” looking car to say the least, this vehicle should get the equivalent of 200mpg and can achieve 100 miles on a single charge. The 2e is all-electric and looks like a contender to win the $10 million Progressive Automotive X Prize which is basically a race to build a “supergreen car”.

As automakers struggle to make an abrupt change in the way they build cars and the green-friendly technology put in them, many new firms and startup companies such as Aptera Motors are developing new innovative creations for the masses. These new creations surpass anything ever seen on the road when it comes to being environmentally friendly. Even so, during the North American International Auto Show this year we witness the most “green” show ever from major Auto manufacturers around the world.

Looks like we will only see more and more of these innovative vehicles while we have already witnessed new breakthroughs by Fisker, GM and Tesla Motors to name a few.

[source: AUTOPIA - blog.wired.com/cars]

Mini E Emerges Popular in America

It is pretty much guaranteed that the Mini E would be a huge hit when gas prices reach $4 a gallon or more in America. But during the low prices the Mini E seems to still be a popular subject while being an all electric vehicle with a range of only 120 miles per charge.

The demand for the Mini E is about 4 to 1 so they cannot supply enough for every person who really wants one. They are currently being leased out for about $850 a month but the savings will actually come into play after you add in a few years absent of paying for gas for the miles driven.

BMW has plans to lease out 250 in SoCal and another 200 in NY and New Jersey by March. This is a good time to monitor the lithium-ion battery for future electric vehicles. Now only if Apple Computer could make a car like they do brand new 17 inch Macbook Pro’s that last 8 hours… just boost that power and put it in a car. I am sure it not that simple but nonetheless an idea to submit to Steve Jobs since he will remain CEO for a while longer.

  

NAIAS 2009: Toyota Will Debut Battery Electric Vehicle Concept at 2009 North American International Auto Show

As we approach the utopia of “a world without gas powered vehicles”, all of the big dogs are rolling out their own version of an all electric vehicle. Toyota, who has had some experience with this in the past with the RAV-4 Electric Vehicle, is going to debut a battery electric vehicle concept at the upcoming 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. 

We knew Toyota would be jumping into this game, it was only a matter of time especially from the #1 seller of Hybrid vehicles.

We are not sure if they will be using a current Toyota chassis for the new battery electric Toyota but if we were to guess it would be based off of one of their smaller vehicles ie: Toyota Prius, Corolla or any Scion.

This tip comes in from a press released just issued today:

Toyota Will Debut Battery Electric Vehicle Concept at 2009 North American International Auto Show

TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. will display a battery electric vehicle concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. This display marks the world debut of this concept vehicle.