Bob Lutz steps up to defend Chevy Volt

http://gas2.org/2012/01/31/bob-lutz-steps-up-to-defend-chevy-volt/

France's bold drink driving legislation • every car to carry a breathalyzer

http://www.gizmag.com/france-breathalyzer-legislation/21541/

Envia Systems claims energy density record for lithium-ion batteries

- Two to 3 times times current energy density
- testing by ARPA-E
- $7 million from GM

Ticks all the boxes for a serious effort with good prospects for real world production.

Hopefully, all the above & the, "should cost less than half the price of existing li-ion batteries", makes it into production soon.

More at:

http://www.gizmag.com/envia-systems-record-lithium-ion-battery/21653/

New battery promises to bring 300 mile electric cars to the masses

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073442_new-battery-promises-to-bring-300-mile-electric-cars-to-the-masses

http://www.hybridcars.com/news/envia-li-ion-battery-yields-world-record-energy-density-41768.html

Better Place Renault Fluence Z.E. battery swap (video x 2)

Video made by a British visitor to Israel of his experience at a Better Place battery change station, which was undergoing final adjustments before commercial release of the service.

A Better Place advertising video is also included.

http://gm-volt.com/2012/02/21/better-place-renault-fluence-z-e-battery-swap-video/

/ swap /

Disappearing door eases vehicle entry & exit (video)

This could be a big help in tight parking spots, if it's real.

http://dvice.com/archives/2012/02/some-of-the-bes.php

Who cares about Apple TV? Bring us the Apple car infotainment system

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/news/who-cares-about-apple-tv-bring-us-the-apple-car

/ infotainment /

11 designs from the father of streamlining

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/02/11-designs-from-the-father-of-streamlining/

/ boat Norman Bel Geddes /

London falls behind on targets to become electric car capital of Europe

http://www.enn.com/sci-tech/article/43959

San Francisco gearing up for electric bike sharing program

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/san-francisco-gearing-up-for-electric-bike-sharing-program/

/ program programme hills CarShare e-bike ebike SF /

Nissan's electric race car makes for good, clean fun

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/02/nissan-leaf-rc-driven/

Petrol-electric range-extended EV completes Dakar Rally (video)

An interesting entry in the 2012 Dakar rally was from the Latvian company OSC.  Their Oscar eO is a petrol-electric range-extended EV.  In addition to regenerative braking, it also has regenerative damping!

More at:

http://www.greenmotor.co.uk/2012/01/dakar-rally-2012.html

/ Senegalese Senegal quad Lima Latvia /

Drayson Racing & Lola unveil 850 HP electric racecar

And it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat!

http://inhabitat.com/new-lola-drayson-electric-racecar-goes-from-0-to-60-in-3-seconds-flat/

/  FIA /

Android is coming to everything ... everywhere

http://m.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/android-is-coming-to-everything-everywhere/17743

/ watch /

Tesla shares drop on execs’ departures

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/tesla-shares-drop-on-execs-departures/

Silicon Valley is the new Detroit (video)

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/01/silicon-valley-new-detroit/47076/

Air battery to let electric cars outlast gas guzzlers

Electric vehicles have 3 problems which limit their usefulness as a general purpose replacement for an internal combustion engine vehicle.  This development holds out the hope of a solution to the range problem by 2020.

No news on time to recharge or cost.

http://www.newscientist.com/mobile/article/mg21328466.200-air-battery-to-let-electric-cars-outlast-gas-guzzlers.html

Tesla in 2012 – an interview with Elon Musk

With the Roadster we spurred GM to create the Volt, which Bob Lutz has been kind enough to acknowledge. – Elon Musk, CEO Tesla Motors, SpaceX, co-founder Paypal

http://gigaom.com/2011/12/27/12-for-2012/12/

China & Russia team up to launch the world's largest lithium ion battery plant

http://inhabitat.com/china-and-russia-team-up-to-launch-the-worlds-largest-lithium-ion-battery-plant/

IIHS sticks by volt safety rating: no pack issues after crash tests

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1071183_iihs-sticks-by-volt-safety-rating-no-pack-issues-after-crash-tests