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Recharge Wrap-up: Fisker takes apart Finland assembly, Nissan Leaf sales in Europe expected to grow 25%

The Fisker Karma's Uusikaupunki, Finland production lines are being dismantled. The lines, operated by Valmet Automotive in the same plant that assembles the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, have been idle since Fisker's money woes brought them to a halt in 2012. Fisker, which has since been purchased by Wanxiang, and Valmet are still in talks over future collaboration. Read more at YLE. Nissan expects a double-digit percentage growth in Leaf sales in Europe in 2015. Nissan Europe's Jean-Pierre Diernaz puts that number at around 25 percent over 2014's record sales. Part of this is due to much lower prices than earlier model years, thanks to government incentives and lower production costs than earlier model years. Diernaz also said that the e-NV200 van will make up about 20 percent of Nissan's EV sales in Europe. Read more at Automotive News Europe. EV drivers pay less on average in taxes than gasoline vehicle drivers in every state except Virginia. Some states impose extra taxes and registration fees for EVs to make up for lost revenue from fuel taxes, but EV drivers still come out ahead, even when compared to high-mileage cars like the Toyota Prius. Even in Wisconsin - which might follow Colorado, Nebraska, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington in added EV fees - those who drive electric should fare better. Virginia, however, charges EV drivers an extra $114 annually across two added fees, while gas drivers would only get dinged about $35.10 in gas taxes in a 50-mpg car. Read more at Green Car Reports. Two hydrogen-powered electric bus prototypes will be deployed on a trial basis Hamburg, Germany. The Solaris articulated electric buses use fuel cell range extenders from Ballard. The buses were unveiled on December 18, and will go into operation in January 2015. The German government is funding the trial, and Hamburg aims to cease the purchase of diesel buses by 2020. The new-generation fuel cell system in the two Hamburg buses improve upon Ballard's previous design by using fewer parts and exhibiting less parasitic power loss from the integrated air compressor and coolant pump. Read more at Ballard's website. Featured Gallery 2012 Fisker Karma: Second Drive View 30 Photos Related Gallery 2013 Nissan Leaf View 55 Photos News Source: YLE, Automotive News Europe, Green Car Reports, BallardImage Credit: Copyright 2014 Drew Phillips / AOL Green Fisker Nissan Alternative Fuels Transportation Alternatives Electric Hydrogen Cars recharge wrapup

NHTSA opens investigation into Nissan's handling of airbag recall

In March of 2014, Nissan recalled eight models among its Nissan and Infiniti brands, totaling more than one million vehicles, over faulty occupant classification system software controlling the passenger airbag. The company discovered a variety of factors that would interfere with the system's ability to detect an adult passenger in the shotgun seat, resulting in an illuminated warning on on the dashboard and the passenger airbag not deploying in an accident. Yet 124 complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since the recall allege that the dealer-installed fix hasn't actually fixed the problem; some consumers say the problem persists after multiple trips to the dealer. The Detroit News reports that NHTSA is opening an investigation into the matter to determine whether a new recall is needed. The occupant sensor has been a bugbear for Nissan over the past couple of years; a much smaller recall for the issue in 2013 covered five of the eight vehicles that were recalled in 2014, and that earlier recall also continued to generate complaints after the issue had supposedly been fixed. At the same time, the company learned that in two instances there was another twist, where the dashboard warning wasn't illuminated but the passenger airbag still didn't go off in an accident. Nissan isn't alone, though, with airbag recalls on a steep upswing across the industry even before the Takata debacle.

This tiny 1.5L engine from Nissan makes 400 horsepower

Back in 2012, Ford packed its tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost three-cylinder in a carry-on suitcase, destined for use in the Fiesta here in the US. In June, Nissan will pack its tiny new three-cylinder engine in a 24 Hours of Le Mans racecar. Nissan's don't-call-me-DeltaWing ZEOD RC racecar will still be able to tackle a single lap under full electric power, but the rest of the time it will be powered by the new 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine.
Holding the lightweight engine (at right) is Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani, and he's likely smiling because that 40-kilogram (88-pound) engine packs quite a punch with 400 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Nissan would like to take a moment to point out this engine's power-to-weight is better than the engines currently used in Formula One racecars. Scroll down for more information on this new race engine, which we'll see in action at Le Mans in June.