The Comeback Of The Electric Car

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The 2006 documentary film, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, deals with the history of the electric car, specifically the General Motors EV1, and its development in the mid 1990’s. The film explores the roles of automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, the US government, the Californian government, batteries, hydrogen vehicles, and consumers in limiting the development and adoption of this technology. Today’s environmental concerns, volatile gas prices, and advancements in electric car technology, have lead to auto manufacturers and the government into taking a second look at the electric vehicle.

Everyone is familiar with the Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf because they were one of the first electric hybrid and electric vehicles sold to the general public, but today, almost every car manufacturer is developing an electric vehicle. Tesla is a car company devoted to building only electric cars, and BMW has recently started it’s own brand of electric vehicles, the i brand, to name a couple.

If you are thinking of making the move to an electric vehicle, here are a few things to consider before making the purchase:

  • Even though electric vehicles are advertised as “saving you money at the pumps”, the original purchase price will be more expensive than a conventional vehicle. There are government tax credits for purchasing an electric vehicle, but you will still end up paying a bit more.
  • Drivers are limited to the distance they can commute. Battery technology has improved, allowing drivers to travel further distances than ever before, and hybrids add the extra security of an engine back up, but driving an electric vehicle long distances relies on finding charging stations along the way.
  • Unless your neighborhood or work place is adequately supplied with charging stations, you will probably want a charging station at your home. This is an added expense to install, and will result in electrical bills being a bit higher.
  • Finally, as with all advanced technology products, the longer you wait to buy, the better and cheaper the technology gets. As more auto manufacturers release their versions of the electric car, more data will be available to the consumer to help make the decision of what electric vehicle to buy.

Some other electric vehicles you can expect to see on car lots and roads soon, includes: the Fisker Karma, Ford C-Max Energi, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi I, Tesla Model S, Rav 4 EV, and the Fiat 500 electric.

Honda Recalls CR V And CR Z Vehicles

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Honda has announced two recalls that will affect some 2006 Honda CR-V crossover vehicles and some 2011 CR-Z sport hybrid coupes.

Honda will be recalling over 80,000 2006 CR-V crossover vehicles in the U.S. to replace the power window master switch. The problem is being blamed on accumulated residue from interior cleaners which can cause the electrical contacts on the switch to degrade. The increased electrical resistance of the contacts could pose a potential fire hazard. Dealers will replace the switch with one that cannot be affected by interior cleaners.

Honda will also be recalling certain 2011 CR-Z sport hybrid coupes to update the software that controls the hybrid electric motor on some manual transmission vehicles. When the gasoline engine has stalled, the battery is in a low state of charge, and the transmission is in gear, it is possible for the electric motor to rotate in the opposite direction. If the driver does not engage the brakes completely, the vehicle could roll back. A software update will be added to correct the problem.

Owners wanting more information on the recall can go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009, and selecting option 4.

BMW Recalls 3 Series Vehicles For Electrical Problem

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BMW will be notifying certain 3-Series drivers of an electrical malfunction recall that could leave motorists without tail, brake or signal lights. The problem is being blamed on an increased resistance in the electrical contacts of the lighting system within the vehicles body panels. Non working or intermittent working tail, brake, or signal lights will increase a drivers chance of getting into an accident. BMW will begin notifying customers of the recall starting in October. Owners wanting more information can contact BMW customer relations and services at 1-800-525-7417. The vehicles involved in the recall will include:

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August Car Sales Up In August

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GM sales strong in ChinaThe slowing economy has left consumers wary about making big item purchases, but according to a recent auto data report, automobile sales in August rose almost 8% from a year ago and 1.2% from last month. All of the large automakers have showed sales gains for the year to date, except for Honda and Toyota, whose dealers have struggled to keep inventory since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan early this year. Shortages of small, fuel-efficient cars, like the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus, have also lead to increased prices on both new and used hybrid, electric and compact cars.

G.M. said it remains confident that industry sales will top 13 million vehicles this year, back to 2008 levels, when 13.2 million were sold in the United States. They intend to step up production by adding overtime shifts to plants that build the Chevy Cruze, in an attempt to fill the compact car void plaguing the auto industry. Ford said it hopes to increase its overall production by 9% in the fourth quarter from what is was in 2010.

But analysts feel the automakers are “playing chicken” with the economy. Stockpiling extra inventory while consumer confidence declines could lead to too much inventory and price reductions that could end up hurting the industry in the long run.

Triumph Tiger Motorcycles Recalled

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Triumph has announced a recall for certain 2011 and 2012 Tiger 800 and Tiger 800 XC motorcycles, manufactured between September 2010 to June 2011. The problem is being blamed on a glitch with the engine management software (EMS). According to the report file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the old EMS could lead to low RPMs and a potential stall when decelerating. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Triumph customer service department at 1-678-539-8782.

Transmission Problems For Nissan

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Owners of some Nissan trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUV) are urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to open an investigation for transmission problems. Reports filed with the NHTSA alleged that an internal crack on the oil cooler tube in some Pathfinders, Frontiers and Xterras, could force coolant into the transmission causing transmission failure. Last October, Nissan extended the warranty on radiators of 2005-2010 Frontiers, Pathfinders, and Exterras to eight years or 80, 000 miles, but under the extended warranty, Nissan did not have to cover vehicles bought used. Owners feel that Nissan extended the warranty on these vehicles, knowing they would surpass 80,000 miles before having problems with the transmission. They want Nissan to issue a recall to all owners and reimburse those who have already paid for transmission repairs.

Porsche Recalls Vehicles For Seat Belts

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Porsche has announced a recall for certain 2011 and 2012 vehicles, because of a problem with the seat belts. In a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Porsche said there is a possibility that the mounting holes in the seat belt anchor plate are too small. The anchor plate may not rotate around the fastening bolt and may not give occupants the proper protection during a crash. Porsche dealers will inspect and replace defective seat belts free of charge. Owners wanting more information about the recall can contact Porsche at 1-800-767-7243. The vehicles involved in this recall include:

Maserati Recall For Steering Linkages

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Maserati has announced a recall for certain 2009 Granturismo sports cars and 2009 Quattroporte luxury sedans. The problem is being blamed on incorrect machining of the rear suspension left and right tie rods. The rods could fail resulting in loss of vehicle control. In the recall, dealers will replace the affected tie rods, install a tie rod kit and perform a wheel alignment, free of charge to the customer. Owners wanting more information on the recall can contact Maserati at 1-201-816-2600.