* DC - House panel presses Energy Dept., startup on OK of fed loans
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Washington,DC,USA -The Detroit News, by David Shepardson -April 25, 2013: -- Fisker Automotive Inc. and the Energy Department came under intense questioning Wednesday at a congressional hearing as the struggling plug-in hybrid automaker disclosed publicly it is considering filing for bankruptcy... New documents released by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee show the Anaheim, Calif., based startup was facing deeper financial and quality problems than previously known... The documents show the Energy Department loaned Fisker $32 million of the $192 million it advanced after Fisker had said it had started building the $100,000 hybrid sports car in February 2011, when in fact it hadn't... As a result, the Energy Department halted payments in June 2011 — after only disbursing $192 million of the $529 million awarded — and has never resumed payments. By August 2012, Fisker had just $12 million on hand, according to an Energy Department document, and again warned it could run of money in months... Fisker faced quality problems, multiple recalls, battery problems and its battery supplier A123 was forced to file for bankruptcy. It hasn't been able to build a new vehicle since July and laid off 75 percent of its staff in recent weeks...
* Michigan - GM: Chevy's electric Spark will go 82 miles on full charge. Automaker says 119 mpg EPA rating highest among EVs
(Image from GM: Pricing for the 2014 Spark EV has not been announced, but GM has said it will cost less than $25,000 after subtracting the $7,500 federal income tax credit)
Detroit,MICH,USA -The Detroit News, by Melissa Burden -April 25, 2013: -- General Motors Co. said Wednesday its 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV will achieve an Environmental Protection Agency rated range of 82 miles of combined city and highway driving at full charge... The Detroit automaker said the Spark EV's fuel-efficiency rating by the EPA of 119 miles per gallon equivalent is the highest of any EV sold in the retail market... Because the Spark uses no gasoline, MPGe is an equivalency formula that EPA developed that calculates a value comparable to fuel consumption in a gasoline-powered vehicle. The rating allows car buyers to compare their vehicle's efficiency to other electric vehicles and gasoline-powered cars... Chevrolet spokesman, Randy Fox, said the Spark EV is not only the most efficient electric vehicle, but the most efficient passenger car, surpassing any mileage rating in today's marketplace...
* Michigan - Detroit Electric teams with China's Geely to build electric cars
(Photo from Detroit Electric: Under terms of the partnership, the first models — based on Geely’s Emgrand EC7 car, above, — will go on sale starting in 2014)
Detroit,Michigan,USA -The Detroit News, by Karl Henkel -April 26, 2013: -- Detroit Electric, the rejuvenated automaker aiming to build a line of limited electric sports cars, said Thursday it has teamed with China-based Geely Automobile Group to develop electric vehicles and related motors and drivetrains for the Chinese market.... The partnership will allow Detroit Electric to have manufacturing locations on three continents: at a to-be-determined site in Wayne County; in the Netherlands in Europe; and in China. It hopes to sell a lineup of electric cars, starting with a $135,000 sports car and later a more affordable sedan and hatchback... Under terms of the partnership, the first models — based on Geely's Emgrand EC7 car, which is similar in dimensions to a midsize car — will go on sale starting in 2014... The vehicle will initially be sold in China to business users and public-sector organizations. The companies forecast sales of 3,000 units in the first year, growing to 30,000 within three years...
* Sweden - Siemens and Volvo bring EV charge times down to 90 minutes
(Image: The fast-charger system uses a three-phase outlet to bring about a 164 km -102 mi- range in 1.5 hours)
Goteborg,Sweden -Gizmag, by Angus MacKenzie -April 25, 2013: -- When it comes to electric vehicles, the conversation invariably diverts to concerns about vehicle range, infrastructure, and recharge times. To address the last of those issues, Volvo and Siemens have developed a new fast-charging system that cuts recharge times down to 90 minutes... The new 22-kW fast-charger system, fitted to a Volvo C30 Electric, is reported to be the world's first on-board charger that operates on a three-phase supply. The system, small enough to fit innocuously inside the vehicle, uses a three-phase outlet to provide enough charge for a range of 164 km (102 mi) in 90 minutes (based on a NEDC certification driving cycle). This compared to a 230-V single-phase household outlet that takes 8 to 10 hours to charge, depending on available current... A new Siemens electric motor develops peak power output of 89 kW (120 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb.ft) of torque to the Volvo’s wheels. These figures give the EV a top speed of 125 km/h (78 mph) and a 0 to 70 km/h (42 mph) time of 5.9 seconds. Range is reported at 163 km (101 mi) on a full charge... Charging using a 400-V, 10A–32A outlet is where the quick turnaround comes from, but if only a standard socket is available then you’re looking at a 10-hour charge...Labels: carmakers news USA, electric vehicles
(Photo: Sergio Marchionne, Fiat’s chief executive and CEO of Chrysler Group) 
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(Image from GM: Pricing for the 2014 Spark EV has not been announced, but GM has said it will cost less than $25,000 after subtracting the $7,500 federal income tax credit)
(Photo from Detroit Electric: Under terms of the partnership, the first models — based on Geely’s Emgrand EC7 car, above, — will go on sale starting in 2014) 
(Image: The fast-charger system uses a three-phase outlet to bring about a 164 km -102 mi- range in 1.5 hours)
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