hybrid, electric and other green cars news articles 
Pre-orders for Nissan LEAF will commence on September 1st in the UK
Nissan International SA has confirmed that pre-orders for Nissan LEAF in the UK will commence on September 1, following Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. The ordering process is a first step in securing a place on the list to receive the Nissan LEAF and means Portuguese, Irish and British customers will be first in line to receive the car in Europe when it launches early next year. Nissan LEAF deliveries begin in Portugal in January, Ireland in February and the UK in March. "This announcement brings zero-emissions motoring one step closer to reality in Europe," said Simon Thomas, Senior... [more]
Vauxhall reduces C02 and fuel consumption in Insignia range
Vauxhall has made sizeable reductions in C02 and fuel consumption to key models in its Insignia range, meaning that customers now benefit from combined emissions as low as 129g/km. While changes to the Insignia’s 2.0-litre Turbo engine have yielded a near-five per cent drop in emissions on the Sports Tourer, thanks to improvements made to the engine’s engine management system, each of the Insignia’s 2.0-litre diesel powerplants also become greener and less costly to run. The Insignia ecoFLEX’s emissions have now dropped from 136g/km to just 129g/km, with a corresponding improvement in fu... [more]
Ford to introduce two zero-emission full battery-electric vehicles
Ford's European electrification programme announced in March sees the introduction of two zero-emission full battery-electric vehicles, including the Transit Connect Electric light commercial vehicle in 2011, followed by the next generation Ford Focus Electric in 2012. A hybrid and a plug-in hybrid derivative of the all-new C-MAX, plus another hybrid-electric model will follow by 2013. As a result, Ford will deploy a versatile people carrier version of the Transit Connect for the UK demonstration programme, which is supported by Scottish and Southern Energy. This will see a fleet of zero e... [more]
Axeon's Guide to Batteries explains car battery technology
Axeon has published a ‘Guide to Batteries’ to help industry stakeholders understand current battery technology and how it relates to the automotive sector. Given the growth in automotive battery applications, Axeon is committed to providing clear knowledge and information on battery technology to promote greater understanding of how batteries can revolutionise the automotive industry. The guide available to download from the Axeon website includes an introduction to different cell chemistries, as well as general information on how batteries work. Axeon also indicates some probable future... [more]
Peugeot 508 to be launched in 2011
Combining both a stylish and strong design with cutting-edge technology; quality, purity and efficiency have been the watchwords that have guided the Peugeot designers and engineers during the creation of the 508. The stylish exterior design is elegant and timeless and full of ‘French chic’. The interior of the car combines hi-tech with the use of high quality materials and every detail has been chosen to offer indisputable perceived quality, both visually and to the touch. An exceptional interior space, a very generous boot, and a level of standard specification provide interior comfort a... [more]
