GM's Chevy Volt reached an major milestone few weeks ago, as first pre-production models started rolling off the Hamtramck, Michigan factory's assembly line.

Until then pre-production 2011 Volts were built by hand, as company tested the parts and assembly procedure. Moving the process to the assembly line is one of the steps towards commercially deploying the vehicle to mass market.

GM's is planning to continue building its pre-production electric car models until late summer, when it changes to final mass production, that has to be ready for the November 10 launch.

GM also sold fist 100 Volts to US government. The government was also interest in Chrysler's Dodge Ram - newly announced plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Until now only Ford was left out of government buying, as their top-selling Ford Fusion Hybrid is still not in governmental car fleet.

GM Volt is the first electric vehicle that is completely mass produced in USA (Tesla manufactures Roadsters overseas and in smaller series, while the mass produced 2011 Nissan Leaf will be produced in Nisan's main factory in Japan).

Volt will hold up to early promise of reaching 40 miles on one charge (thanks to its 16 kWh battery). Charging the battery can be done all over the world as standard residential 120-240VAC is accepted. Volt's range can be extended to over 300 miles (500 km), with additional small 4-cylinder gas engine (in 2012 version of Volt, GM will move to diesel engine).

Second generation of Volt to get diesel

While first generation of Volt is not yet on the market, but GM's engineers are already at work at second generation. Main focus of the work is to extend the range, while lowering the consumption. As battery technologies are not progressing, this will have to be connected with radical change of addon helper engine.

First gen Volt uses a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that has just 71 hp. GM is looking into smaller, two-cylinder gasoline that would produce between 20 to 24 horsepower, or small rotary engine (just one rotor). Rotary engine's advantage is lighter weight and more compact size. But the downside is high fuel consumption. The final option is a diesel engine.

While cost on the internal combustion engine is important (and diesel engine is problematic here), the major effort to lower costs of Volt can be reached by cutting costs for the battery pack (currently battery pack in 2011 Volt costs around $10,000). GM hopes to halve that cost for the second generation Volt… How - still not clear …

If the increase in electric cars will also increase production of electricity from thermal and nuclear power plants, impact on the environment will be negative, warn the environmentalists!

The non-governmental organizations warn that an increased number of electric cars on the roads could increase emissions of carbon dioxide! Plain mathematics proves this danger to be real. Except in the event that cars are propelled by green energy. Therefore it is vital that national target for renewable energy sources are set, as only these would ensure that emissions from electric cars to really be zero.

Increasing production of impure energy

A study ordered by the NGO Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace and Transport & Environment, concludes that electric cars contribute significantly to the decarbonation of road passenger transport. Increasing the number of electric cars on the roads, taking into account the current legislation, could lead to an increase in electricity production from thermal and nuclear power rather than increasing energy production from renewable sources, the report shows.

To exploit the environmental potential of electric cars, the EU should eliminate the so-called super credits for electric cars, non-governmental organizations warn. That would allow car manufacturers is to sell 3.5 cars with high emissions per each electric car, without affecting the overall objective of carbon dioxide emissions in their fleet. Super credits also reduce the contribution of electric vehicles to achieve emission targets in transport, which is part of EUs directive on renewable energies.

KIA/Hyundai announced, that by the middle of the year it will complete development of its hybrid sedan car, which will enter mass production in second half of 2010. Hyundai’s goal is to have car available in shops through U.S. some time Q3/Q4 2010. Kia’s boss Alex Fedorak stated publicly that even tho, they are targeting budget buyers, they are unwilling to sacrifice any quality in the process.

While jury is still out whether this new hybrid will be based on KIA Forte LPI, it is confirmed that car will have mileage at least 41 mpg (5.7 litres/100 km). KIA is coming very strong to hybrid market, and is determined to have its first sedan hybrid offering with the best prices possible, making it very possibly the cheapest hybrid car on the market. Price remains an unknown, and its pollution levels as well…

With electric cars on the go, more and more are raising voices of concern about green nature of technology…. They claim that electricity, unfortunately, is not a panacea. Only 16 percent of electricity is produced from renewable sources in Europe, and in United States this percentage is even lower, at 8,8.

During charging and discharging of battery the energy loss of about 10 percent is generated. No one also asks about the recycling of battery, once its lifetime is complete (which is from 7 to 12 years). And on the other side - because cheap batteries are produced in China – using old, deeply flawed technology and unchecked (dirty) ingredients, it is mistaken to think that electric or hybrid car is green and that there will be no polluting with it.

Even before electric car is put on road it pollutes extensively. Thinking that the electricity as a fuel in the automotive will result in lower pollution clearly classifies as adulteration.

Insight is Honda’s hybrid answer to Toyota Prius. While it drives better than 2009 Toyota Prius, it is still far away from perfect, especially once you calculate your fuel consumption.

British popular TV series Fifth Gear tested the Honda Insight, and found out that fuel savings from high tech hybrid technology in Insight is negligible, as it is nearly the same as current generation of WV Golf 2.0 TDI…

While Honda Insight is still cheaper that Toyota Prius, we might want to wait for the 2010 Toyota Prius plugin… See video below… But with Insight being just about average, it is more interesting what Honda has in store for 2010 and beyond… Honda’s new CEO Takanobu Ito officially announced the sports hybrid called CR-Z.

Here is another comparison between Toyota Prius and Honda Insight…

More on Honda Insight 2009 reviewed + Honda sport hybrid CR-Z announced

As a part of my journalistic routine I frequently re check our previous stories and companies behind them… Remember last years very hot topic? Car that runs on water? Genepax, a japanese company claimed they did it, and with help of reuters camera they launched the news at high level…

There were a lot of discussions around, pro and against. Genepax was asked to produce proof from independent authority…

Two years later, Genepax's web site reads: due to long development process and high cost we are taking website off line until further notice…

What does that mean? They have no money left even for cheap web hosting? I do not believe that. So it is either - they stopped their 2 year old scam because no new publicity was given; or - they did it under pressure (oil has powerful connections); or- they simple really mean to concentrate on finishing this, and web gives just distraction and cost…

Time will tell…

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Mazda is reinventing itself as a green automaker. First it has just started to globally sell its all new, green, eco Mazda 3 (Mazda Axela). And secondly it announced plans to develop more and more hybrid cars, with first models out on market in 2010/2011.

Mazda has high hopes for new eco+sporty Mazda3 , as they plan to sell more than 2,000 cars every month. And while Mazda 3 does not bring any new propulsion/motor technology to the table, the reworked 2.0-liter motor got a stop-start technology (named i-stop by Mazda). According to Mazda this will make all the difference, as new Mazda Axela will top 43 mpg (U.S.), which is an improvement of more than 15 percent compared to the previous model. Price of Mazda 3 will be around $19,500. I-stop secured an EPA "SmartWay" designation, from US environment agency.

And plans for the future? It is true that Mazda has offered a hybrid versions of its SUVs (Tribute) in the past, but this time Japanese automaker is aiming higher than rebranding the Ford Escape Hybrid… They talked about big investments in hybrid automotive technology, and new hybrids will all be 100% developed in-house. Mazda plans to adopt the new motor technology to all existing model lines (in all price ranges), but it will not introduce any new “hybrid” model lines like Toyota did with Prius, Lexus with HS 250h and Honda with its Insight. Due to late start, realistically Mazda will probably need more than 3 years to come up with a hybrid technology on pair with Toyota, Honda and others.  But in mean time it will probably start  development of pure electric cars as well – and here it is not so late… Reason for Mazda’s decision lays in upcoming regulations in the United States and EU, that will reduce allowable carbon emissions and improve minimum fuel efficiency. Any electric car or hybrid does have these advantages.

More on Mazda to offer hybrid technology on all models

In light of recent initiatives from government and public, for car makers to move more into green and economic, Ford announced that it will Invest more than $550 million to convert existing truck assembly factory in Michigan to new plant devoted to building new all electric car – Electric Ford Focus.

While General Motors and Chrysler got bailout money from government, Ford declined the help and decided to do it on its own! Few days ago  Chrysler filed for bankruptcy and GM is nearing that point, it looks like Ford is progressing ahead and returning to profitability. Ford is doing that by restructuring its production lines to produce more fuel efficient vehicles. Part of Ford’s answer to efficient next generation product is a first electric car.

"We're changing from a company focused mainly on trucks and SUVs to a company with a balanced product lineup that includes even more high-quality, fuel-efficient small cars, hybrids and all-electric vehicles," explained  Ford's Mark Fields. "As customers move to more fuel-efficient vehicles, we'll be there with more of the products they really want."

New Ford will be all about fuel economy and the electrification of vehicles, and battery-electric Focus is a first step in this direction. Ford hinted that Focus will be equipped with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. Focus is a result of development collaboration with Magna International and will go into production and world wide sale in 2011.

More on Ford Announces All Electric Focus, enters EV market

Earlier this week, Tesla Motors unveiled its second car, the Model S sedan. Tesla showcased a working prototype car, but press was not allowed to do test runs. Model S will bare price tag of 57.400 USD, but after $7.500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles, its base price will drop to psychologically more attractive price $49,900. Would that make you buy electric car?

After high end Tesla Roadster which is already selling, Model S sedan will target mid range. Model S is believed to be a major step toward mainstream electric car, and some even say it will be first mass produced electric car in world (GM's EV1 was hand-built and reached total production of about 1,100 units from 1996 to 1999; and other electric cars like Toyota's RAV4 EV were in fact gasoline cars converted to electric propulsion). Model S will be a four-door luxury sedan, that will share power train components with Tesla Roadster. This means it will have a 1,000-pound (500 kg) battery pack of more than 6,800 lithium-ion cells. Its range will remain around 240 miles (390 km) per charge, similar to  what Roadster achieves today.

In late 2011 when Model S hits the roads, it will (luckily for us) find itself in tough competition from electric vehicles made by other manufacturers. Model S will remain pure electric vehicle, as it will have no secondary engine (like hybrids, and plug-in hybrids). Competition will include future models of Toyota Prius and Honda Hybrids, upcoming electric cars from Nissan, Mitsubishi and of course highly anticipated Chevy Volt, but also Tesla's competitor - Fisker Automotive. If Chinese manufacturers BYD's promise will hold, US roads will also be swarmed with smaller and cheaper electric cars. Price-wise Model S will compete against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5-Series and the Audi A6. Highly anticipated GM Volt is scheduled to go on sale in November 2010. Its price will be about $40,000, and its range on batteries will be only 40 miles. Volt will include small gasoline engine that will extend the range. Tesla admitted it considered hybrid technology, but after careful review, they decided that future of transportation is pure electric vehicle.

More on Tesla unveils mainstream electric car – Model S

  Electric cars have been known all over the globe and each country has been working their way to give off something for the problems that are faced with the use of this kind of transportation. While the electric vehicles have been the profound solution for the oil demands and the carbon dioxide pollution, Australia identified two disadvantages of this. One, it has a shorter driving length capacity. Second, charging stations are not yet established for long range traveling. Because of this, the world responded for its solution where Australia spared $667 million to put up electrical charging network in major cities.

In Denmark, the creation of Shai Agassi of the grid battery supply for the electric cars will be commenced. In Israel, they have already come in conjunction with Europe to work on the alternative energy research so it will be a good one and when there are identified problems, it will be addressed accordingly. It also concerns the several environmental conditions that the globe will have in the future decades to come, so it will be better to start research as soon as possible to save more lives and to save the future generation from misery. Israel also plans to have 500,000 thousands recharging stations so motorists will not have a hard time filling their cars with the right energy that they need to sustain their travel and to make it work for the time that they will be in need of it.

More on A Global Awareness on Electric Vehicles