33Nick

Electric Car Revolution May Be Delayed; Nissan Looks Good Regardless

We've been following Nissan for sometime now and believe they have made all the right steps in this trying industry. They are set to frog leap the rest of the industry.

Six Cars That Represent the Future of Driving

We have practical solutions now that don't require far out, decades away hydrogen technology. Plug-in hybrids are being driven right now and if well used, mostly on electricity. Finally, electric cars are available and outperforming their dated gas cousins.

What we need to do is keep a clear focus, electric car, develop battery technology and build an infrastructure.

Electricnick.com

Bush's Auto Plan Will Test Obama's Union Loyalties

It's really sad that ultimately, beyond the surface, it is yet again another political gang war where people will get hurt. Enough with ideological politics, we need to get a move on now.

Nissan: Serious About EV Leadership

Again, it is an all encompassing effort happening right now, and you can't look at only one segment of the industry and get an accurate glimpse. Better Place is one key to the riddle, they are working on electric recharging stations, and also tout leasing battery packs, so that you can stop into a station and drop the old ones, in with the new. Now you can drive as long as you want. Utilities are working on updating the old grid, and companies like AC Propulsion and their brilliant V2G are pushing innovations towards a more balanced grid.

Renault-Nissan's strategic alliance with Better Place, via Ghosn looks like pure genius so far. And remember Ghosn worked in Detroit, so he could still be key in the future of the U.S. indsutry.

In the meantime, companies like Renault-Nissan, Mistsubishi, and other mainstream that are betting on longer terms will eventually team up with startups like Tesla, Fisker, etc. Fisker is already eyeing GM engines, AFS Trinity wants to buy at least one GM plant to manufacturer their 150 mpg SUVs. There are local buyers for Detroit already. In the meantime, while our once-big 3 Detroit trio is trying to reconnect with driver's reality, the rest of the world is positioning themselves for an electrifying tomorrow. What a year it has been.

Automaker Rebadging Revisited

The idea makes some sense but using Subaru as an example isn't the best ones. People who buy Subarus buy into robustness. It still is the only car manufacturer who can boast to have 97.5% of its cars on the road to date. Plus, Subaru has a strong image already, despite the company's silly tries to revamp its lines.