The lithium-ion batteries to be used in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt electric car will soon be installed and tested in specially-equipped versions of the Chevrolet Malibu, the company said.

This will allow the automaker to test the batteries in actual driving situations, the company said during a media event in the Detroit suburb of Warren. Read Aritcle

PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)----Raser Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Arca: RZ) announced today that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tecstar, LP and Wheel to Wheel, LLC, outlining their intent to work together with Raser to manufacture plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) for utility, government, and other fleets.

Tecstar is one of the nation's leading second stage manufacturers and has been working with leading automakers to modify production line vehicles under warranty for OEM sales. Wheel to Wheel, LLC is a sister company to Tecstar and provides engineering development and prototyping support. Raser plans to have Tecstar convert popular SUV and light truck vehicles to 100 mpg plug-in series hybrid vehicles with 40 mile all electric range using Raser's proprietary Symetron(TM) electric powertrain technology and integrated series hybrid drive system to fulfill soft orders by utility, government and other green fleets. read article

Utility to Expand Green Fleet With Plug-in Hybrid Electric Sports Utility Vehicles Designed to Achieve Over 100 Miles per Gallon

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 7- Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced it has entered into an agreement with Raser Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Arca: RZ) for the purchase and demonstration of plug-in series hybrid electric sport utility vehicles (SUV). The vehicles are designed to achieve over 100 miles per gallon (mpg) in typical daily driving, while operating in near zero emission mode.

Initially, PG&E will purchase two plug-in hybrid SUVs from Raser for demonstration and testing, with the goal to integrate additional PHEVs into its fleet in the future. The PHEVs are expected to cut operational fuel costs up to 75 percent by driving in all-electric mode during typical daily fleet routes of up to 40 miles. When driving beyond the 40-mile battery electric range, the PHEVs may continue up to 400 miles by generating their own electricity. The fleet PHEVs are also expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to nearly zero during local daily driving. PG&E plans to plug in the vehicles at night, when energy demand is lowest, to maximize emission reductions and fuel savings for daily routes. Subsequent versions are expected to provide emergency mobile power from the vehicles onboard 100 kW generator to assist in power outages or provide mobile power for work and repairs. Read Article

Raser Technologies, Inc. has signed an agreement with a global automotive manufacturer in its effort to produce a plug-in-hybrid electric demonstration vehicle incorporating Symetron electric motor and electronic drive technology.

Raser also announced previously that it teamed with FEV Engine Technology, Inc. as the integrator for this plug-in-hybrid vehicle project. (Earlier post.) The vehicle is targeted to achieve more than 100 mpg for the typical American driver with improved acceleration while dramatically reducing harmful exhaust emissions.

FEV has previously supported this undisclosed OEM as an engine, powertrain and vehicle developer, and system integrator. FEV works with OEMs worldwide to develop new powertrain and vehicle integration designs into prototypes that can be integrated into OEM production vehicles.
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Ford announced that a Ford Escape plug-in hybrid, able to reach 120 mpg (yes, that's what they say) has already been delivered to utility company California South Edison as "part of unique partnership to advance commercialization of PHEVs." It's the first of a series of 20 vehicles which will conduct a long-term road test. Read article

Maxwell Technologies, Inc. and Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd., (Lishen), China’s leading producer of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, have formed an alliance through which they plan to manufacture and market novel hybrid energy storage system (HESS) products combining the companies’ respective ultracapacitor and li-ion battery technologies.The companies have identified a number of initial target applications for the new products that leverage the complementary power-dense and energy-dense strengths respectively of double layer capacitor and li-ion battery technologies, ranging from quick-charge cordless tools to electric vehicles, and anticipate production and delivery of initial product samples in early 2008.
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More Than 100 Miles Per Gallon Targeted.

Raser Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Arca: RZ) announced today that it has signed an agreement appointing FEV Engine Technology, Inc., one of the world’s leading developers of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, as the integrator for an advanced plug-in-hybrid electric demonstration vehicle, incorporating Symetron™ electric motor and power electronic drive powertrain technology. The vehicle is targeted to achieve more than 100 mpg for the typical American driver while dramatically reducing harmful fuel emissions. Read Article