Aside from the development and production of the two environmentally-friendly lines of vehicles, the GM plant will also open up at least 2000 jobs for plenty of qualified American assembly workers. Because of the pending projects, economic experts also foresee more employment opportunities coming from service providers and domestic parts providers.

The Fisker projects are also set to contribute to reduced carbon emmicions and cleaner air. According to Secretary Chu, the release of these hybrid cars should put the production of American environmentally-friendly vehicles at the forefront of automotive design and production.

Initially, the money from the loan will be used by Fisker for qualifying engineering costs. This will be conducted in Irvine California, with the engineers designing tools and equipment and working on efficient manufacturing processes. The Karma should hit the showrooms in 2010, with the Project Nina hitting the assembly lines by late 2012.

These Fisker cars will run on electric engines which get their power from rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. Once the power is depleted, the car will then use and efficient, gas-powered engine.

Both lines of hybrid vehicles will have an all-electric tailpipe, emission free range of forty to fifty miles when they’re fully charged. The cars can be conveniently charged at home, and the production of these vehicles is set to reduce America’s dependence on oil.

Looking at the 2012 Ford Focus, one might say that it just looks like an oversized 2011 Ford Fiesta but looking at the specs of the car, you will say it can stand on its own.

The Ford Focus a similar broad shoulder look following the company’s “kinetic design”. The numbers show though that it is longer than the Fiesta and has a much lower rear.

It seems that the car maker is taking its commitment of best in class mileage. The 2012 Focus, according to insiders, can boast of an impressive fuel mileage for a compact.

The official numbers of how it consumes fuel are not yet out but experts say that the 2012 Focus has a most efficient version that can hit 30mpg on city driving and 40mpg while cruising on highway. The numbers are excellent since they are at par with the numbers of the 2011 Fiesta which is really a class smaller than the Focus.

If the numbers are precise, the 2012 Ford Focus will be 6 mpg better than the other cars of its class.

The unit in display at the Detroit Auto Show had a 2.0L direct injected which can output 155 horsepower and about 145 lb-ft of torque. An Ecoboost turbocharged version might also come out. The engine will be paired with an impressive six speed automatic transmission with dual clutch. The car maker coins the feature as a PowerShift which uses technology found in high end cars like Porsche.

Ford is also set to release Focus Electric. This will come out as a 2013 model. More Ford news at Ford Car Talk.

The CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, tries to convince everyone that it might not be the picture of the near future. Automakers recently had a convention in Michigan to discuss the future of the industry including the upcoming technologies and vehicles.

During the briefing, the spotlight was on the hybrids from GM and also on the EV being developed by Nissan. A lot of car manufacturers hinted that they are also developing their own electric vehicles but none of them believed that EVs will dominate the market anytime soon.

The forecast of the Nissan topman suggests that EVs will get a small chunk of the global car industry with 10% of sales in a matter 10 years. Through that time period further engine technologies and possibilities will be enhanced or be developed.

Product development though of car makers is still on hybrids, diesels, and the usual gas run engines. No one denies though that EVs will get a foothold into the market. So for now, Nissan and other car makers will sell what can sell and continue to experiment and perfect their EV concepts.

The all electric vehicle will have the same name as its V8 engined brother but will have 525hp from the corner mounted electric motors instead of the 571hp of the SLS AMG standard variant. The torque of the EV will be a good 650lb-ft.

The distribution of the engines to make the electric supercar an AWD vehicle makes distribution of power more efficiently. The power is distributed by two transmission systems with one hooked to each of the axle.

The supercar term does not only apply to it being a futuristic all electric vehicle. The SLS AMG also boasts of excellent driving performance. The car can zoom like its combustion engine counterpart and can blast from 0 to 100km/hr in a flat 4 seconds which is just 0.2 second off the V8 record.

The electric SLS AMG though needs to deal with some weight issues for the housing of the 48kWh 400V battery pack. Looking at the schematics of the V8 model, the battery will be placed on the area of the transmission tunnel for the electric car. The engine will also house other electronic components.

The body of the Gullwing will also be modified since the electric motor can be placed a bit lower so the center of gravity of the vehicle can be improved.

Mercedes Benz did not give a clear timeline for the development or the release of the all electric SLS AMG. It might be a few years before this supercar hits the road.

Being the coolest car worldwide, you will find that Tesla roadster’s speed is incredible at around 20 km an hour. With a speed as high like this anyone’s heart will surely skip a beat. Its ability to gain a speed of 60 mph in around 3.7 seconds will completely sway you off your feet. Tesla’s addition to the market, Roadster, is considered to be the best in electric sports car series. The body style of roadster is a 2 door with a fuel capacity of 53 kWh.

And the design of the car in some specific areas was formed in assistance with Lotus Cars. The designers of Tesla constructed the panel of the body by putting in use composites of carbon fiber to diminish its weight to minimum. This choice of the company makes this electric sports car take its position among the cars which are not really expensive.

If you are making a booking for renting a Tesla roadster in Las Vegas through the Internet, then it is best recommended to go through the terms as well conditions cautiously prior to verifying your registration. However, if it is over the telephonic conversation you are making your registration then know about all the restrictions from your agent. Ensure that you properly recognize the reservation’s conditions. To take preventions in case there in case the car breakdowns, ensure that the car rental company has coverage anywhere you go in Las Vegas.

So if you require wheels on your next visit to make your journey a refreshing change from the previous ones then renting a Tesla Roadster will be an ideal alternative. Get set and pack your bags to have a wonderful time in Las Vegas by rolling down the streets in Tesla Roadster and giving shape to your most coveted dreams.

Two Toyota Prius units were converted as hybrid cars running on a Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module designed by A123Systems. The module nestles nanophosphate Li-ion batteries which saves up on up to 100mpg of fuel consumption.

The hybrid Prius units can be electrically assisted for an average of 30 to 40 miles. These hybrid cars can be recharged for a short five hours through any 110V electric outlet.

The Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module by A123Systems cuts down the greenhouse gas of these hybrid Prius units by at least 50% compared to conventional Prius units. This is approximately 80% less compared to regular sedans. Further experiments and data collection will be done by the Department of Energy National Laboratories in Idaho.

The hybrid electric bucket trucks configured by International Durastar, on the other hand, showed up to 60% of fuel savings because of the module. These trucks can also run totally without diesel consumption, and solely depending on electric power. The two units have been assigned to Dominion Virginia offices in the north.

The power company uses 1.7 million gallons of soy-based biofuel on 783 trucks. The higher cost of biofuel, Dominion said, is offset by the vehicles’ fuel efficiency and minimized maintenance requirements for the engines.

Dominion Virginia Power generates up to 27,000 megawatts of power annually. It serves retail power consumers in 12 states.

Number one on the vision list of Better Place is to have charging stations where people would shop, dine, or work so electric cars can be charged for 100 miles and more of capacity. The company also envisions exchange stations where batteries can be swapped for new ones in a snap of a finger.

Better Place foresees lithium ion battery prices to drop in the future basing on economies of scale. These batteries will form part of the company’s Electric Recharge Grid that will cover regions or even a country.

Driving an electric vehicle will be like owning a mobile phone. It will be based on subscriptions. Minutes on phones will be like miles on the road for an EV. With higher plans, come some perks. A free phone? Maybe a free EV.

Better Place envisions EVs that look like and can compete with production line combustion engine vehicles.

The first Better Place recharge grid will ideally be located in California, Japan, Australia, Denmark, Israel, and Hawaii. Deployment of the Better Place system will be based on the commuter traffic and the density of the populations. Like mobile phones, it will lay seeds on urban areas and start growing from there.

There are now governments negotiating with Better Place to help set up their oil free transport network. Investments are in place and Better Place wants to live up to its company name.

The e-Zone is a slow speed car that has enough space for 2 persons and is made of a fiber glass body supported by a tough aluminum frame. The engineering is specifically aimed at improving the safety of the vehicle in the event of crashes. The manufacturer makes an airbag optional.

The e-Zone passed the safety standards of Europe and of the US FMVSS301 when it was tested in a 30 mph crash simulation.

The vehicle sports a McPherson suspension system utilizing a 4-wheel independent configuration. Controlling the vehicle comes easy with the hydraulic disc brakes and regenerative braking using electromagnetic technology.

The e-Zone runs using an AC motor powered by a 72 volt battery. Owners will have two options for the battery packs: a lead-acid set will last for 35 miles while lithium polymer types can stretch from 45 to 75 miles.

The car being considered as a low speed vehicle has a limited top speed of 25 mph. The e-zone is just 103 inches long with a turning radius of 12 feet.

A batch of e-Zone cars were shipped to the Fiji Island where they will be used as earth friendly vehicles to help locals and tourists go around their favorite sites. CT&T is also set to put up a production line in Fiji with a projected output of 10000 vehicles per year. They are also looking at supplying nearby Australia and New Zealand.

The auto industry is still buzzing about the Tesla Model S. Everyone is still waiting if it will really look bulkier than its competitor Fisker Karma. The car is expected to debut next March in the Geneva Motor Show.

According to Tesla officials, the Model S will rule the market. It is said to be designed to compete against Blue Tec E Class of Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet Volt, and the GS450h of Lexus.

The technical specifications are still kept secret by the manufacturer but they boast that the Model S will be an electric vehicle that doesn’t drive like a golf cart. The car should be accelerating to 60 mph in 5 seconds with drivers enjoying super handling quality from its Lotus Elise chassis.

The car previously known as the “Whitestar” will be a 4-door sedan with a capacity of carrying 5 passengers. A single charge is expected to run 240 miles without any emission. The initial priced was revealed at $60000.

Model S will be built in the Silicon Valley factory to be built by Tesla in summer of 2009. The $250 million facility will be designed to manufacture non-emission cars and house the corporate office of Tesla.

Tesla is known for producing the Roadster which has been receiving good reviews resulting to a long line of orders keeping the momentum of the company amid the financial crisis around the globe.