Mitsubishi Motors cuts Japan electric car price by up to US$9,100(RM29,200)

This is something for Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia and the policy makers to think about.

In Japan, the electric car, i-MiEV is now selling at (after price cut and government subsidy):

• Top range   - ¥2.0 million (about RM63,400)
• Entry level  - ¥1.7 million (about RM53,900)

Mitsubishi's all-electric car, the i-MiEV is selling at RM139,888 (on the road) in Malaysia.


Acceptance is slower than expected

Mitsubishi Motors Corp has slashed the price of its i-MiEV electric minicar in Japan by up to US$9,100 aiming to boost sluggish sales as makers of electric vehicles face slower-than-expected acceptance of the technology.

Japan's sixth-biggest carmaker, which started selling the i-MiEV in 2009, said it was dropping the price of its top of the range i-MiEV by around 25%, or 900,000 yen (RM29,200 at current exchange rate), to ¥2.9 million.

With government subsidies, the model can be bought in Japan for around ¥2 million.

Mitsubishi Motors also cut the price of the entry level i-MiEV by 190,000 yen to ¥2.5 million, which with subsidies can be bought for about ¥1.7 million.


TheGreenMechanics: If we want to encourage the adoption of energy efficient and electric vehicles in this country, we really need to relook at the relevant policies and make such vehicles affordable to many.


Full article at The Malay Mail

3.3 million zero-emission vehicles by 2025

Great initiative by eight US states!


Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, walks between a pair of zero emission vehicles displayed in Sacramento, Calif., following a news conference to announce the signing of an agreement on zero emissions cars. Photo: AP


By 2025, they are expecting to have 3.3 million zero-emission cars on the roads. Governors of the following states have pledged to work together to build charging stations and other fueling infrastructure:

• New York
• California
• Massachusetts
• Connecticut
• Maryland
• Oregon
• Rhode Island, and
• Vermont

In total, they make up about 23% of the US auto market according to the Associated Press. The pledge represents another step forward as officials try to cut down on harmful greenhouse gasses that are regularly emitted from most vehicles on the highway.

"This agreement is a major step forward to reducing the emissions that are causing our climate to change and unleashing the extreme weather that we are experiencing with increased frequency," said Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, in a statement.

Among their duties, participating states will assemble a task force that to develop strategies on widening the presence of charging stations, seen as perhaps the biggest obstacle in making zero-emission cars and EVs a mainstream success.

In terms of legislation, the states have already adopted stringent guidelines that call for a certain percentage of new vehicles sold to be zero emission by 2025. California is the most ambitious of the bunch, requiring 15.4% of new cars (around 1.5 million vehicles in all) to be free of harmful gas emissions by the target year.

But as the AP reports, that's a very tall order, considering hybrids and EVs currently account for less than 2% of California's auto market.


TheGreenMechanics:  It seems like a very tall order to me, but if they can offer tax breaks to dealers who can meet the percentage, and to the consumers who support this initiative, then that would be incetivising sales which makes sense. Where there's a will there's a way.


Full article by Associated Press here.

Nissan says 2014 Rogue SUV is more efficient, cheaper than rivals

It's very interesting to see that newer cars get more fuel efficient. It makes cost of owning a car cheaper, and hopefully the car price, too.

Nissan Rogue, or Nissan X-Trail as we know it in Malaysia is now in its 3rd generation and the styling looks fresh, unlike the current X-Trail model which is too boxy for my liking.

The new design remind you of the current Harrier. Image: USA Today

 The Rogue 2014 (X-Trail) was unveiled simultaneously in the US and Europe.

Price wise, it's very interesting (or should I say cheap) in the US, ranging from $23,350 to $30,280 (inclusive of destination and handling charges. That's translated to be about RM76,529 to RM99,242.

The current X-Trail model in Malaysia is selling at RM148,800, not really pleasing.


New Nissan Rogue 2014 is more efficient

Nissan says its revamped Rogue SUV will be cheaper but more fuel efficient than its rivals when it goes on sale in November.

Nissan unveiled the 2014 Rogue Tuesday at its North American technical centre near Detroit.

Nissan says the new Rogue will get an estimated 33 miles per gallon (7.1 litres per 100 kilometres) on the highway, a 20% increase over the outgoing model. That beats its rivals in the highly competitive small SUV segment, including the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape.

The Rogue still has its old 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine, but it's paired with a new transmission for better fuel economy. For the first time, the Rogue will offer three rows of seating and a cargo area with adjustable shelving.

It starts at $22,490.


Source: Timescolonist

All-electric car BMW i3 is officially unveiled

In another big step towards promoting electric vehicles, BMW joined the bandwagon with the launching of the BMW i3 in its production version simultaneously in three locations – New York, London and Beijing.

It costs €34,950 in its home country, Germany, equivalent to RM151,000 here but don't get too excited yet about the direct currency conversion. We have the tariff, duties, and other import permits that will sure jack the price up much higher.

The BMW i3 electric car is unveiled in London

Launching its BMW i3 model, the German group compared the prospects of the electric car market to the technical revolution of the mobile telephone, but declined to give any sales or production targets.

Sleek and distinguished as always

"What the mobile phone did for communication, electric mobility will do for individual mobility. The BMW i3 is more than an evolutionary step -- it is a great leap forward."
- Chief executive Norbert Reithofer, during the launching.

The series-produced model will go on sale in Europe in November to be followed in the United States, China, Japan and several other markets in the first half of 2014.


Price and Features

It will hit the German market at a price of €34,950 ($46,438) and has a range of 130 to 160 kilometres (about 80 to 100 miles).

The Munich-based company trumpeted technological features of the model, which can seat four, including a carbon fibre passenger cell to help offset the weight of the batteries and an aluminium chassis.

BMW said the global market for electric vehicles was showing positive development. "After almost 93,000 electric vehicles were registered worldwide last year, a total of 150,000 units is already forecast for the current year," a statement said.


Germany's electric vehicle policy

Germany set a target in 2008 of having one million electric cars on its roads in 2020 and said it wanted to be a pilot market in the field. But Chancellor Angela Merkel has acknowledged that the country would struggle to reach the target while insisting the goal should not be dropped.

The government offers tax incentives to electric car drivers but campaigners say much more needs to be done to encourage people to switch from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles.


TheGreenMechanics:
The i3 would be a good addition to the currently available locally - Leaf, iMiEV, and the soon to be available Chevrolet Spark.

Source: AFP

Fire risk: GM recalls 43,500 hybrid cars in North America

Oh no. This is not a good news at all for hybrid vehicles big community.

In a rare incident, GM is recalling hybrid car models for issues related to 'potential overheating of the circuit board' that could lead to a loss of battery charge and cause the engine to stall. Models affected are:

• Chevrolet Malibu Eco 2013
• Buick LaCrosse 2012 - 2013
• Buick Regal sedan 2012 - 2013

Recalling is uncommon in vehicle industry, but let's hope this will not halt the progress and dim people's enthusiasm for energy-efficient cars.

BTW, this hybrid is powered by a combination of a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine and a 15-hp electric motor, is priced at $25,995 in the US. That's about RM77,036 in Malaysia in dollar-to-dollar conversion. I bet it will cost you no less than RM160,000 in our 'import-friendly' car market!

The Chevrolet Malibu Eco

As reported by the press:

General Motors is recalling nearly 43,000 hybrid vehicles in the United States and around 500 in Canada to fix a defect that could cause a fire in the trunk, the automaker said Monday.

The recall affects Chevrolet Malibu Eco models from the 2013 model year and Buick LaCrosse and Regal sedans from 2012 and 2013 which are equipped with eAssist hybrid gas-electric engines.

"The issue is the potential overheating of the circuit boards in the generator control module, but it does not involve the eAssist battery," GM said in a statement.

GM said an overheating circuit board could lead to a loss of battery charge and cause the engine to stall.

"In addition, there may be a burning or melting odor, smoke, and, in rare instances, a fire in the trunk," GM spokesman Alan Adler said in a statement.

Most of the incidents occurred within the first 1,000 miles of operation, GM said and only two led to trunk fires. One was during an October screening in a dealership and the other occurred in March.

No injuries or crashes were reported as a result of the defect, GM said.
Source: The Bangkok Post

Malaysia to unveil policies for energy efficient vehicles by first half of this year

Good.

But one announcement after another is not good enough. Come up with the Policies then talk, not the other way around, shall we?

In October last year the same minister stated that the Government does not plan on cash rebates as an incentive to buy energy-efficient vehicles (EEV) similar to that implemented in the United States or other European countries. This is because the Government is already giving incentive to automotive players to open up their production here.

Is this considered a standard Policy or just bits and pieces of a "tailored policy for each manufacturer"? I think we are not sincere in liberalising the automotive industry in Malaysia. No wonder cars - both local and imported - are still overpriced after so many years of trying.

Bottom line is - GIVE ME A COMPETITIVELY PRICED CAR!

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Policies for energy efficient vehicles in 1H2013
Published: Jan 22, 2013
Via: The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will unveil policies on energy efficient vehicles (EEV) by the first half of this year, which would see the opening up of the segment in the automotive industry.

Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said this would provide good opportunities and a level-playing field for local and foreign players in the industry.

"This is one of the segments that we think is important under the ongoing revised National Automotive Policy (NAP). We have decided this is the segment that we need to open up in the near future," he said at the launch of the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2013 (KLIMS13) here on Tuesday.

He said the government is ironing out policy details such as on technology, fuel emission, standards and quality, adding Malaysia is the only Asean country focusing on the EEV market.

"All the stakeholders in the automotive trade have agreed on two things that we should make the production and marketing of EEV the future focus of the industry and that we should seek to establish a leadership position in the region for this sub-sector," he said.

Mustapa said although the government has not announced the final shape and form of the revised NAP, it will first introduce the pre-package customised incentives to support the development of the EEV sub-sector.

This is all part of the transition period towards the opening up of the automotive market towards 2015 and 2016 with the realisation of Asean Economic Community (AEC) and the implementation of free trade agreements between Malaysia and trade partners like Australia and Japan.

"With 2015 and 2016 around the corner, everyone in the motor sector are aware that they have to open up and all of them are gearing up to face new reality and new competition," he said. - Bernama