InfoAnda - Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Dark Knight Rises earns $160.8 million in debut | | 24 July 2012
Google may scrap Yahoo deal: sources | Technology | | 31 October 2008
Peru's Garcia names party insider prime minister | International | | 12 July 2009

Korea NPS to invest $1 billion in Asian property | 30 September 2010

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Singapore Asia Pacific World Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut AFP - Sunday, June 20 Send IM Story Print Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut TOKYO (AFP) - – As the Gulf of Mexico disaster casts an ugly spotlight on the pitfalls of global oil dependency, Japan's auto giants are moving into high gear in a drive to mass-market electric cars. Nissan, Honda and Toyota are among car-makers now gambling that electric vehicles (EVs) with their zero tailpipe emissions will catch on and, some time in the future, start to drive traditional gas-guzzlers off the road. If their bet pays off, green car proponents say, it could ring in a revolution that changes the very idea of what an automobile is, turning cars into electric appliances that drive smoothly, cleanly and silently. US President Barack Obama called last Tuesday for a "national mission" to develop clean energy, speaking from the White House as gushing crude oil kept fuelling his country's worst environmental catastrophe. "The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now," he said in a sombre prime-time telecast. Battery-powered cars will be a crucial part of that future, manufacturers promise, even as critics point to tough hurdles -- including higher sticker prices and 'range anxiety' -- to gaining wide consumer acceptance. An EV's energy consumption and carbon footprint are determined by the way its battery is charged -- meaning it can effectively be powered by anything from fossil fuel or nuclear plants to hydro, wind or solar energy. A critical question will be whether sufficiently large networks of electric re-charging stations are built -- a chicken-and-egg question that has long held back the development of EVs, analysts say. Cars that can be charged like a cellphone by plugging them into a wall socket, preferably during overnight off-peak hours, promise to shield consumers from volatile petrol prices and be cheaper in the long run. Another benefit is that they emit none of the tailpipe pollutants that have covered the skies over cities from Los Angeles to Mumbai in smog. Their efficiency is boosted because they are lighter, have motors that directly power wheels, preserving energy otherwise lost in transmission, and because the battery charge is topped up by regenerative braking. Bullish Nissan, part-owned by Renault of France, will in December roll out its Leaf -- short for Leading Environmentally Friendly, Affordable Family car -- as the world's first mass-produced electric car. The five-seater hatchback has a top speed above 140 kilometres (90 miles) per hour, a range of 160 kilometres (100 miles) and can be recharged in eight hours, or rapid-charged to 80 percent of capacity in 30 minutes. "We do believe this car is a game-changer in terms of this technology, and it will play a role in the future," Simon Thomas, Nissan's senior vice president of sales and marketing, said in London last month. Nissan plans to sell 50,000 EVs in the United States, Japan and Europe per year in 2011 and 2012 and then 500,000 units in 2013. It predicts that by 2020 electric cars will account for 10 percent of the global auto market. -- Japan enthusiasts drive electric car 1,000 kilometres -- Although experts foresee revolutionary change, they disagree on the pace. "This could be a new industrial revolution," said Mamoru Kato, analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center. "With EVs, you will no longer need traditional auto parts makers. Carmakers will essentially become electronics makers." However, he predicted EVs won't really take off for another 10 years. "I think the hurdle for their popularisation is very high," he told AFP. "It will take at least a decade to improve batteries so that they can sufficiently power vehicles. After that, it will take more years to build up infrastructure, like battery power stations." Questions remain about global standards for electric plug-in systems, and about the supply of lithium for batteries and their safe disposal. Batteries now make up about a half the price of an EV, typically between 10,000 and 20,000 dollars, and a key will be to make them cheaper and last longer, said Tatsuya Mizuno, analyst at Mizuno Credit Advisory. "Generally, they have to increase performance while cutting prices," he said. "It will be difficult. But prices of electronics parts are falling fast." Whatever the outlook, other major carmakers, among them General Motors, Ford, BMW and Daimler, plan to start selling EVs by 2013. At home Nissan will go head-to-head with Mitsubishi Motors which launched its all electric "i-MiEV" compact a year ago. Toyota, which has for more than a decade sold petrol-electric hybrids such as the Prius, has promised to launch its own electric car by 2012. Last month it bought a 50-million-dollar stake in Tesla Motors, a Palo Alto, California start-up that in 2004 began developing its Roadster, a boutique, "highway-ready" electric sports car with a range of about 245 miles. The Silicon Valley firm this year also bought the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California which until recently made Toyota's Corolla and Tacoma vehicles, to build its Model S sedan and future Tesla vehicles. Some industry players may leapfrog to EVs, PriceWaterhouseCooper said in a recent report, pointing to the "changing geography of the automotive industry". "Chinese automakers, for example, understand it will behove them to focus on developing electric vehicles rather than committing major resources to catching up on internal combustion engine standards," it said. In many countries, electric charging networks are now being built. The company Better Place has built up EV infrastructure in Denmark and Israel where drivers can either recharge or swap batteries, focusing on customers such as government agencies and taxi fleets. Nissan says it has partnered with 50 groups and communities around the world, from Australia's capital Canberra to parts of England, to introduce EVs with subsidies and benefits such as dedicated highway lanes. California is shaping up as the US test-bed for EVs, with the government offering rebates and backing a network of more than 5,000 charging stations, set to be up and running by 2012. Many will be at locations where people spend time -- including restaurants, hotels, malls and churches -- and some major retailers plan to offer electricity for free to attract customers, Dow Jones has reported. In Japan pilot programmes in tourist spots and by city governments have given many people a taste of driving an EV. A citizens group, the Japan Electric Vehicle Club, has fuelled the buzz. In May it claimed a new world record when it drove its own EV, fitted with a stack of lithium ion batteries, for 1,003 kilometers (623 miles) on a single charge. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Australia govt, Telstra agree on broadband project Reuters - 1 hour 47 minutes ago China Railway says to sell $914 mln A-shares Reuters - 2 hours 35 minutes ago Australia in 9.6 billion dollar deal with Telstra AFP - 2 hours 37 minutes ago Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut AFP - Sunday, June 20 Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash AFP - Sunday, June 20 News Search Top Stories Britain facing biggest budget cuts in decades Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists Murray confident Wimbledon within his grasp Red carnations for Nobel laureate as Portugal mourns Danes send Cameroon packing, Dutch into W.Cup last 16 More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed Most Recommended Aussie man jailed for blowing bubble in court Sweden's future queen to wed former personal trainer Battered BP boss relinquishes duties on US oil spill Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists EU chief Barroso says euro is strong More Most Viewed » Physicists solve mystery of missing neutrinos More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Asia Entertainment Photos World Cup 2010 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

Other News on Sunday, 20 June 2010
Afghanistan hit by 'alarming' rise in bombings: UN
UN alarmed over escalating violence in Afghanistan
Exiled Rwanda general wounded in South Africa shooting |
Sarkozy hails Russia as gas, skyscraper deals inked
Four Armenians and one Azeri killed in Karabakh clash |
UN says security in Afghanistan has not improved
Russia fears for health of the euro: Medvedev
Tropical storm Celia forms in Pacific off Mexico |
UN chief: Security in Afghanistan has not improved
Hopes fade for survivors after Colombia mine blast |
25 Saudi Guantanamo prisoners return to militancy |
Press group urges Kuwaiti ruler to free blogger |
Ghana go top with draw against 10-man Aussies
US envoy Mitchell ends tour with visit to Egypt's Mubarak
APEC agrees to promote nuclear power: reports
Colombians turn to Facebook in final vote push |
China to allow more exchange rate flexibility
Strike ends at Toyota's China-based parts supplier
NeuroSky lets gamers use their brains
Iran's top Sunni rebel hanged
Britain facing biggest budget cuts in decades
Santos seen winning Colombian presidency |
US takes gentle approach in Kandahar
Whales closer to us than thought, say scientists
Iran executes leader of Sunni rebel group |
3 children killed, 23 people hurt in Afghanistan
Murray confident Wimbledon within his grasp
Red carnations for Nobel laureate as Portugal mourns
Obama Welcomes Chinese Exchange Rate Reforms
Danes send Cameroon packing, Dutch into W.Cup last 16
Poles vote for new president after plane crash |
Tropical Storm Celia may become hurricane off Mexico |
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Parents shot in front of daughter in Thai attacks
Death toll from floods in China reaches 132
S.Korea to boost role in anti-arms trafficking club
Malaysia's rescued baby pygmy elephant dies
Bangladesh closes university after World Cup riots
Buzz builds around electric cars as Nissan plans debut
China's Xi hopes to strengthen Australia ties
Bangladesh jute gets boost from plastic bag backlash
Japanese fans deflated after World Cup defeat
'Brand China' takes aim at global electronics giants
Courageous Socceroos no longer an embarrassment
Chinese criticize move to loosen exchange rate
Australian burglar nabbed by sweet tooth
China makes long-awaited currency move
Japan whaling town dreams of glory days
Gambling mogul predicts 30 pct growth in Macau casinos
Asian filmmakers offered $100,000 grants
'Peasant Da Vincis' on show in Shanghai exhibition
Thirsty World Cup fans boosting beer sales: brewers
Big name companies 'ambush' World Cup
Milan fashion for men: '50s retro with a nod to green
Half a million celebrate Gay Pride in Berlin
Conservative Croatia holds its ninth Gay Pride parade
Asian filmmakers offered $100,000 grants
Baghdad suicide bombers kill 26
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01