1966 Vw Beetle Convertable on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: AutoNation CEO calls anti-Tesla laws unnecessary, Common Pence donates subway money

Volkswagen has presented a list of near-term technologies to improve fuel economy and decrease emissions. The list includes an addition to a coasting function in its stop-start system, a 10-speed DSG transmission and a more power-dense four-cylinder TDI engine. Volkswagen aims to be the world's most sustainable automaker by 2018 through electric mobility, improved design and increased environmental performance from internal combustion vehicles. Volkswagen also announced other technologies for increased interactivity and connectivity in its vehicles. Read more at Green Car Congress. Commence Pence is a system that allows subway riders in London to donate their unused transit money to charity. People visiting the city often load up enough on their subway card (called Oyster Card) to get them through their trip and end up with unused funds leftover. Zander Whitehurst, a British designer, has created a device that can use the card's RFID to accept leftover funds, which then get diverted to charity rather than reverting back to the agency in charge of running the subway fare system. See the video below or read more at Wired. Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation has called Michigan's efforts to ban Tesla's direct sales in the state "unnecessary protectionism." The statement comes as a bit of a surprise, as it dissents from the majority of auto dealers who support a franchise model, as well as laws that forbid automakers selling directly to the consumer. "If Elon Musk wants to make a mistake and go with an inefficient distribution system, that's his right as an American," says Jackson, showing he feels he has little to fear from the electric automaker. Jackson has more to say on the matter, which you can read over at Green Car Reports. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery Tesla Stores Around The World View 22 Photos News Source: Green Car Congress, Wired, Green Car ReportsImage Credit: Rick Bowmer / AP Government/Legal Green Tesla Volkswagen Fuel Efficiency Transportation Alternatives Electric recharge wrapup

Autoblog Podcast #406

Episode #406 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Brandon Turkus, and Chris Bruce talk about the Mustang Shelby GT 350, the Los Angeles Auto Show, and the Volkswagen Golf winning Motor Trend Car of the Year honors. We start with what's in the Autoblog Garage and finish up with some of your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Check out the rundown below with times for topics, and you can follow along down below with our Q&A. Thanks for listening! Autoblog Podcast #406: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience. Topics: Ford Shelby GT350 LA Auto Show Volkswagen Golf wins Motor Trend COTY In The Autoblog Garage: 2015 Ford Fiesta SFE 2015 Honda CR-V 2015 Audi Q3 Hosts: Dan Roth, Brandon Turkus, Chris Bruce Runtime: 01:26:07 Rundown: Intro and Garage - 00:00 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 - 29:21 LA Auto Show - 40:36 Golf is Motor Trend COTY - 53:50 Q&A - 01:00:42 Get the podcast: [UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10 PM Eastern at UStream [iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes [RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator [MP3] Download the MP3 directly Feedback: Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com Review the show in iTunes

Recharge Wrap-up: Jaguar Land Rover talks EVs, Batteries should be modular

A new study out of Germany suggests adopting a modular approach to battery offerings in plug-in hybrid and extended range electric vehicles. Automakers could offer the same car with different battery sizes (and different costs, accordingly) to drivers depending on their driving ranges. This would optimize the total cost of ownership for various drivers better than the current approach. Developing a modular battery design and offering appropriate batteries for different customers "is the key for electric powertrains to meet customer expectations and become cost competitive against conventional technologies," according to the report from the Institute of Vehicle Concepts, German Aerospace Center. Learn more at Green Car Congress. Jaguar and Land Rover are looking to offer more electric driving from their vehicles. Wolfgang Ziebart, head of product development for Jaguar Land Rover, said in an interview that its hybrid system is being tweaked for more electric power and "downsized" combustion. He also said the likely target market for EVs would be second and third vehicles, rather than primary vehicles for urban driving. Within that market, Europeans look for something smaller, while American drivers lean toward larger luxury vehicles for their second car. Ziebart uses the Tesla Model S as an example of American tastes, and compares its size to that of the Jaguar XJ. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Thailand will likely approve a Volkswagen factory as early as next week. A German newspaper suggests that Thailand's Board of Investment is set to greenlight the plant, which is planned for a site near the Port of Bangkok. Thailand is a relatively large and growing auto manufacturing country, which seeks to be a major producer of eco-friendly vehicles. The country's "Eco2" program would provide incentives to Volkswagen if it builds clean cars and meets certain production targets. Read more at Reuters. Formula E has chosen Sky Deutschland for broadcasting rights in the German market. The deal includes television rights, as well as online broadcasting. Sky Deutschland has 3.8 million subscribers in Germany and Austria. Showing the races on Germany's largest pay television provider should help generate interest for the series, particularly the Berlin ePrix - the inaugural season's penultimate race - scheduled for May 30, 2015. Read more at the Formula E website.