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Recharge Wrap-up: Mazda, Subaru and Toyota PHEV, Nomadic Power grant

The next generation of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid looks to be important for Mazda and Subaru as well. Toyota will likely need to sell more of the new plug-in hybrid to meet stricter ZEV standards in California. That means it will get more extra electric range, as customers have been asking for. Subaru and Mazda will also have to adhere to the California standards beginning in 2018. Those two smaller automakers will likely license a plug-in hybrid powertrain from Toyota in order to fulfill compliance. Read more at Green Car Reports. Tesla is partnering with Dalhousie University to improve battery technology. Tesla signed a five-year research agreement with Dalhousie's Jeff Dahn, a lithium-ion battery researcher. Dahn and the 25 researchers in his lab will work with Tesla's Director of Battery Technology, Kurt Kelty, to increase capacity through improved materials. The collaboration could be important both for Tesla's automotive and stationary batteries. "Our research group's goal is to increase the energy density and lifetime of Li-ion batteries, so we can drive down costs in automotive and grid energy storage applications," says Dahn. Read more from Dalhousie University. Nomadic Power is receiving a European Commission grant worth ˆ2 million (about $2.26 million) for trailer-mounted mobile batteries. Nomadic Power's mobile batteries, called Nomads, have incorporated photovoltaic systems and can be used to extend the electric driving range of a plug-in vehicle, or to provide backup power to a home. The Nomads use an intelligent energy management system to learn and predict user behavior and manage the solar system based on weather forecasts. "We see a strong future in electric-powered mobility and an increasing use of renewable energy, photovoltaic power in particular," says Nomadic Power CEO Dr. Manfred Baumgaertner. "Our mobile batteries have great potential in these markets that recently got a significant shot in the arm by Tesla's announcements." Read more from Nomadic Power, and at Green Car Congress. Related Gallery 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: First Drive View 24 Photos News Source: Green Car Reports, Dalhousie University, Green Car Congress, Nomadic PowerImage Credit: Nomadic Power Government/Legal Green Mazda Subaru Tesla Toyota Technology Electric recharge wrapup

2019 Mazda CX-5 debuts with turbocharged engine and near-$40K price tag

We've seen a couple different leaks concerning the 2019 Mazda CX-5, but now Mazda finally has official word on what's coming our way. One exciting development is the addition of the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on higher trim levels. It's great to see Mazda sharing that engine to other models after originally debuting in the larger CX-9. In the CX-5, it makes 250 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on 93 octane. To get the boosted engine, you'll have to opt for one of the two new trim levels Mazda has added for 2019: Grand Touring Reserve or Signature. Of course, with higher trim levels and more powerful engines come higher prices. The Signature trim comes in at a whopping $37,885 including destination charges. For 2018, the highest trim level available was the Grand Touring, and that car costs $30,640. Mazda adds a bunch of new features for the expensive Signature trim, though. You'll get brown leather seats, real wood trim, a uniquely stitched leather steering wheel, 360-degree view camera, a frameless auto-dimming mirror, LED lighting throughout the interior and dark silver 19-inch wheels. These options are in addition to the new and still luxurious Grand Touring Reserve trim level. This trim has heated and cooled seats, a heated steering wheel and power folding mirrors as its highlights. For comparison, the Grand Touring Reserve with the turbocharged engine costs $35,865. Making the CX-5 more luxurious wasn't the only aim for 2019 — Mazda also gave it a new version of its G-Vectoring Control handling system. The updated G-Vectoring (now called G-Vectoring Control Plus) helps when the driver is unwinding the wheel by "adding a hit of braking to the outside front wheel," according to Mazda. This, in addition to some suspension refinements, are supposed to make for a smoother and better ride. Specifically, Mazda says it re-tuned the suspension to reduce friction and adjusted the steering geometry to achieve more natural feeling handling. Sweating over these small handling and feel things is why we typically end up liking the driving experience of Mazda vehicles. Mazda increased prices on the CX-5 across the board, too. The Sport trim is $1,600 more than before, with other trims following suit at similar increases. We'll see how the changes affect the sporty and now more expensive crossover when we get our hands on a 2019 model. For now, you can build them on Mazda's website, and Mazda says they'll be available sometime this fall.

Toyota delays Mexico plant as it plans U.S. plant with Mazda

TOKYO — Toyota will push back the start of operations at its scheduled new plant in Mexico, to the first half of 2020 from the initial plan of 2019, the company said on Thursday. Japan's top automaker had initially planned to start building the Corolla sedan at the $1 billion Guanajuato plant but said last week it would switch production to a new U.S. factory to be built with Mazda. Toyota said the delay was necessary to adjust its supply chain in Mexico to produce the Tacoma pickup instead of the Corolla compact car. That factory could also build sport utility vehicles, a Toyota spokesman in Mexico said last week. "With the production model change to the Tacoma pickup, the start of production will consequently be in the first half of 2020," a Toyota spokeswoman said. "However, we will make our utmost effort to advance the timing in order to minimize the impact to suppliers and the local community." Until the scheduled start of the joint venture plant with Mazda in 2021, Toyota will supply the Corollas that were initially slated to be built in Mexico from its factories in Mississippi and Japan, the company said.Related: Mazda-Toyota partnership has us dreaming of a rotary hybrid Reporting by Makiko YamazakiRelated Video: