Nissan spent the better part of this week showcasing a spiffy electric car designed to deliver more power than current hybrids. The car, due to go on sale in 2010, carries a 300-kilo lithium-ion battery that Nissan claims can accelerate faster than a comparable gas engine. Exact specifications are unknown, but the new battery technology [...]

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What you see here might look like the Honda Clarity FCX or even Toyota Prius, but it’s actually Honda’s wrapped up hybrid out for endurance testing in the U.S. southwest. The design similarity, says Snark21883, is there because a “kammback five-door hatch, is the most aerodynamically efficient shape that will also accept four doors and [...]

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It’s no GT-R, but Nissan reports that its X-Trail fuel-cell vehicle has done a few circles around the Nurburgring  with a best lap time of 11:58.  In comparison, the Nissan GT-R went around in 7:29. It’s not bad considering the thing’s not really meant to be raced around a track. Nissan is the first automaker [...]

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As if the Toyota Crown Hybrid was not quiet enough, the engineers at Toyota have made it even quieter. Instead of adding insulation to the cabin, Toyota has adapted a similar technology used in noise cancelling headphones to reduce engine noise.
The company’s Active Noise Control system uses three microphones to monitor the cabin for engine [...]

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A common sense “build what sells” attitude has “forced” Toyota to bring Prius production closer to tree hugging Americans through a new yet-to-be-built-factory in Blue Springs, Mississippi. Slated to open in late 2010, the plant will join two plants already operating in China and Japan. A 2010 date means the plant will kick off production [...]

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Typically the popo use electricity to zap people, but one Police force in Japan has been fortunate enough to get another, less lethal, electric toy in the arsenal. The Kanagawa Prefecture will be getting an oppurtunity to test Mitsubishi’s i MiEV until March 2009. Mitsubishi’s geek squad will regularly check test data for whatever it [...]

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Toyota has pretty much dominated the green car market with its Prius Hybrid and it now plans on upping the ante with solar panels on higher end models. The panels, according to Reuters, are Toyota’s way of responding to a “growing demand for green cars.” Don’t get too excited just yet, Toyota has admitted that [...]

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If you have a Prius sitting in the garage, pat yourself on the back. These days you’re one of the lucky few, strong and proud - or some slogan like that. Anyway, just count your blessings because Toyota, given the hysteria of high fuel prices, is finding it difficult to match consumers with Priuses. The [...]

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