Alpine Type S 12 Dual 4 Ohm In Sealed Box on 2040-parts.com

Better Place EV Battery Swap business goes bust

It seemed like a good idea: take the cost of batteries out of the cost of buying an electric car and instead charge EV owners to use ‘Battery Swap’ stations where depleted batteries could be swapped for fully charged ones in the time it takes to fill an ICE car with petrol. But it’s all gone a bit Pete Tong. Better Place – which partnered with Renault in 2009 to make the battery swap technology viable – has failed to find anyone to add to the $750 million already involved in the project and has filed for bankruptcy.

‘GEN Y 2012 – Express Yourself’ contest launched

Liberty Electric Cars has launched a competition for design students calling for ideas for a revolutionary ‘Car of the Year' 2020. The company, which specializes in electric vehicle (EV) drivetrain technologies for multiple vehicle platforms, has asked for students to create a revolutionary electric vehicle for its ‘GEN Y 2012 – Express Yourself' contest. The design must be targeted for Generation Y (between 18 and 29 years old), with the brief stating that the vehicle "should be iconic in shape and allow the user to express their own personality." The vehicle should also "become a fashion item, fun to drive and should use innovative technologies and materials that can be easily configured according to the driver's requirements." The contest is open for students enrolled in a college or university-level design program, either in transportation, product or fashion design, engineering or architecture.

Mercedes E300 BlueTEC Hybrid and E400 Hybrid Detroit debut

Mercedes E300 BlueTEC Hybrid Mercedes has revealed a pair of hybrid E-Class cars bound for a Detroit debut – the E300 BlueTec hybrid for Europe and E400 Hybrid for the US. All car maker are busy introducing hybrid platforms where they can, especially for their big-selling cars, and MB is no different, with a pair of new Mercedes Hybrid cars bound for a debut at next month’s Detroit Auto Show. The Mercedes E300 BlueTec Hybrid is the offering for Europe, although it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Mercedes eventually launched it in the US.