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Green Car Congress
Green Car Congress (www.greencarcongress.com) has great Volkswagen news, photos, videos and more
Monday, Nov 2
Saft to Raise Approximately 120M to Fund Li-ion Plants in US
Johnson Controls-Saft has also recently been selected by Volkswagen to supply battery products for a fleet of electric vehicles; by Jaguar Land Rover for an HEV development that should lead to a future production program; and by Ford for an electric commercial vehicle with Azure Dynam...
Sunday, Nov 1
Report: Sanyo To Supply NiMH Batteries For Peugeot Diesel-Electric Hybrids
PSA Peugeot Citroen, a French player that aims to be the world’s first to bring a diesel-electric hybrid to market, is the fifth automaker that Sanyo is expected to supply batteries to. Sanyo supplies NiMH batteries to Honda and Ford and is expected to supply lithium ion batteries to the Vo...
Friday, Oct 23
Volkswagen Group and Stanford University Expanding their Research Cooperation
Volkswagen Group research directors, Dr.-Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, together with Stanford’s Prof. James Plummer, Dean of the School of Engineering, will inaugurate the new Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Lab (VAIL) on the Stanford University campus at a... V...
Thursday, Oct 15
VW To Invest 4B in China Expansion; Shanghai Volkswagen Produces its Five millionth Vehicle
These investments will be financed from the cash flow of both Volkswagen joint ventures. Together with FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun, the second joint venture, the Group has delivered more than eight million vehicles from the Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda brands in China since 1984.
Thursday, Oct 8
Volkswagen Extends Range of Natural Gas Touran
In natural gas mode, the increased fuel tank will have a range of approximately 520 kilometers (323 miles) and the 11-liter gasoline reserve tank will add an extra 150 kilometers (93 miles). Improvements to consumption and emissions levels have meant that the Touran TSI EcoFuel with a 7-...
Saturday, Sep 26
BMW, Daimler and VW Propose Global e-mobility Standardization on Vehicle2Grid Communication, Harmonization of Chargers
—Werner Preuschoff —Werner Preuschoff High reliability and safety. Long-term viability. —Ralf Oestreicher The same connector geometry supports both 1 and 3 phase charging, and all current levels. (Most of Southern Europe is single phase at home, Oestreicher noted.)
Friday, Sep 25
Volkswagen and Varta Microbattery Ltd. to Collaborate on Next-Generation Li-ion Systems for Electric Drive Vehicles
The new partnership is one of a number of battery collaborations for Volkswagen, which has also announced collaboration or participation in specific projects with Sanyo (earlier post), Toshiba (earlier post), BYD (earlier post); and, via the Lithium Ionen Batterie LIB 2015 consort...
Saturday, Sep 12
Volkswagen Group to Invest 4B by 2011 to Expand Activities in China
Currently, models manufactured by the Volkswagen Group in China include the Volkswagen Polo, Lavida, Santana, Santana Vista, Passat New Lingyu, Touran, Golf, New Bora, Jetta, Sagitar and Magotan, as well as the Škoda Fabia, Octavia and Superb and the Audi A4L and A6L.
Thursday, Sep 10
Volkswagen and LichtBlick Partner on Home Combined Heat and Power Systems; LichtBlick Plans a SchwarmStrom for 2,000 MW of Decentralized Power
Volkswagen is to start volume production of home power plants at its Salzgitter engine plant. The Volkswagen Works Council sees this project as a first key step towards alternative employment in addition to conventional engine production.
Friday, Sep 4
Volkswagen to Premiere New Generation of Polo, Golf and Passat BlueMotion Models; Consumption As Low As 3.3 L/100km (71.3 mpg US)
The new Golf BlueMotion (77 kW / 103 hp) diesel offers fuel consumption of 3.8 L/100km (61.8 mpg US), with 99 g CO2/km. Its theoretical range is 1,447 kilometers (899 miles) on a 55-liter tank. The new Passat BlueMotion offers average fuel consumption of 4.4 L/100km (53.5 mpg US) with 114 g/km CO2....
Saturday, Aug 15
VW and Porsche to Merge; New Integrated Auto Group with 10 Brands, Led by VW
At its extraordinary meeting today, Volkswagen AG’s Supervisory Board approved the comprehensive agreement to create an integrated automotive group with Porsche, led by Volkswagen. A corresponding agreement has been negotiated by Volkswagen AG and Porsche Automobil Holding SE, a...
Sunday, Aug 2
New Models Drive Surge in Natural Gas Vehicle Sales in Sweden
Behind those two market leaders comes VW Touran, VW Caddy, Opel Zafira, Mercedes E 200 NGT, Opel Combo, and Fiat Punto. Within the van segment Volkswagen Caddy accounts for some 45% of the total sales, followed by Opel Combo, VW Transporter, Fiat Fiorino, VW Pick-Up, Iveco Daily, and Fiat...
Wednesday, Jul 8
Zipcar Launches Car Sharing Club with Hybrids, PHEV and EV in London
Motorists will have the chance to drive a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius and a Honda Insight Hybrid as well as conventional gasoline cars including a BMW 318 and a Mini Cooper. Other vehicles include a VW Caddy Maxi van and a Toyota Verso people carrier. By September, users will have acce...
Sunday, Jul 5
VW Chief Executive Says Company Will Introduce EVs Based on the Up! New Small Family in 2013; Cautions Against Electro-Hype
Volkswagen is now committed to electromobility, he said, but noted that “electro” is not enough. “A company such as Volkswagen must include all relevant technologies.” For the medium term, Volkswagen sees a mix of drive concepts:
Wednesday, Jun 17
Volkswagen 1.4-Liter TSI TwinCharger Named International Engine of the Year, Green Engine of Year
International Engine of the Year Awards 2009 WinnersInternational Engine of the YearVolkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Golf, Eos, Scirocco, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta, Seat Ibiza Cupra)Best New Engine of 2009Porsche 3.8-liter flat-six (911)Green Engine of the YearVolkswagen 1.4-l...
Saturday, Jun 13
New LPG Golf Plus BiFuel Now Available in Europe
In LPG mode, the 1.6-liter 72 kW / 97 hp four-cylinder engine in the Golf BiFuel consumes 9.2 liters of LPG per 100 kilometers on average (149 g/km CO2). The autogas tank (4-liter effective volume at storage pressure of 8 to 10 bar)&madsh;with its space-saving installation in the spare w...
Tuesday, May 26
Volkswagen and BYD Agree to Explore Partnership for Hybrids and EVs
Chinese carmaker BYD and Volkswagen have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the options for partnership in the area of hybrids and electric vehicles powered by lithium batteries. Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Martin... Chinese carmaker BYD and Volk...
Saturday, May 16
Volkswagen Emphasizes Downsizing at 30th Vienna Engine Symposium; Highlights 1.2 TSI and 1.6 TDI
The potential of internal combustion engines is far from exhausted. Both engines impressively show how Volkswagen reduces the CO2 emissions and the fuel consumption and that to fungible costs. Downsizing is rigorously being developed in the volume segments with the 1.2 TSI and the 1.6 TDI.
Sunday, Apr 12
European Investment Bank Approves 866M in Loans for Cleaner Cars; Majority to Nissan and Jaguar
The EIB also approved a loan for a Volkswagen plant in India, which will produce small cars that meet tougher emissions requirements ahead of their introduction in major Indian cities from 2010. The EIB has signed loans with BMW, Renault and Volvo Trucks since they were approved at the las...
Monday, Mar 30
Continental Using BASF’s Ultramid Plastic in Latest Control Units for Dual-Clutch Transmission
The plastic parts of the integrated control units for dual-clutch transmissions produced by Continental for use at VW, Audi, Ford and BMW are made of Ultramid A3WG6, a proven PA 66 produced by BASF. This material is highly heat-stabilized, oil-resistant... The plastic parts of the integra...
Tuesday, Mar 3
VW Introduces Fifth Generation Polo; Weight Down, Fuel Consumption Down
Volkswagen will offer seven engines on the new Polo during its first year of production—four gasoline and three diesels. Five of these engines are brand new or are being used for the first time in the Polo; three of them can be paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG) as an option...
Thursday, Feb 12
Volkswagen and Toshiba to Partner on Electric Drive, Power Electronics and Batteries
Volkswagen AG and the Toshiba Corporation signed a letter of intent to cooperate for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen’s planned New Small Family. Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of... Volksw...
Monday, Feb 2
Volkswagen Introduces BlueMotionTechnologies Umbrella Brand for Fuel-Efficient, Low-Emissions Technologies; Previews Touareg Hybrid
Prototype Touareg Hybrid. Click to enlarge. In the first part of 2009, Volkswagen will simultaneously bring three fuel-efficient Passat versions with low emissions to the market: the second generation of the Passat BlueMotion, the Passat BlueTDI and the Passat TSI... Prototype Touareg H...
Thursday, Dec 4
VW Premieres New Golf Plus, Golf BiFuel (LPG) and Passat TSI EcoFuel (CNG) at Bologna Motor Show
After the Golf, in early 2009 Volkswagen will also fully convert the Golf Plus over to common rail diesel engines with four valves per cylinder. The TDIs output 66 kW / 89 hp; 77 kW / 103 hp; 81 kW / 108 hp; and 103 kW / 138 hp. At launch, TDIs will be available with 81 kW and 103 kW. All diesels feature a...
Friday, Nov 28
Germany Aiming for 1M EVs and PHEVs by 2020
Some 600 participants, mostly executives from German automakers, suppliers, utilities, research institutions, and NGOs attended the conference which had been organized by VDI/VDE-IT. German automakers presented their recently announced electric and hybrid vehicles, such as th...
Wednesday, Nov 19
VW Highlights Three Fuel-Cell Vehicle Prototypes at LA Auto Show
Shanghai Volkswagen provided 20 Passat Lingyu fuel cell vehicles for use at the Beijing Olympics. The Tiguan HyMotion fuel cell concept uses a VW-developed high-temperature fuel cell stack. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen came to the Los Angeles Auto Show to tout the efficiency and perform...
Wednesday, Jul 18
Audi to Begin Production of Next-Generation Diesels in 2008; Bin 5 and Beyond
The first of the new 2008 diesel engines will be three-liter V-6 units for the Audi A4 and Audi Q7. These engines will develop 176 kW (240 hp) and deliver peak torque of 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) in the Audi A4 and 550 Nm (406 Nm) in the Audi Q7. Audi will market these new models in the USA and in Europe from t...
Thursday, May 10
VW’s New 90 kW Version of the TSI
The new engine, in combination with the new VW 7-speed dual clutch gearbox with dry clutches, enables a 22% improvement in fuel consumption compared to the predecessor powertrain in the Golf, and hits a 139 g CO2/km target in the European driving cycle.
Thursday, Apr 5
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec Named 2007 World Green Car
The award jurors felt that the Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec deserved the award for its role in enabling a diesel re-entry to the North American market, as well as for paving the way for super-clean diesel technology around the world.
Saturday, Mar 24
Porsche to Bid for Volkswagen
Volkswagen now builds the Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7 SUVs at the same plant. The two companies have further joint projects: a hybrid drivetrain which is to come on the market by 2010, a joint electronics platform, a cooperation with regard to the building of the body s...
