Barcelona, Spain – SEAT recently delivered three new electric cars to Barcelona where the vehicles will be tested by Barcelona City Hall in its municipal car fleet for an initial six-month trial period, during which SEAT will gather information and assess performance prior to mass production of electric vehicles. With the hybrid and electric vehicles, SEAT is developing two different technologies, placing the company in an optimal position to respond to market demand.

Ramon Paredes, Executive Vice-president for Governmental and Institutional Relations at SEAT and the Volkswagen Group in Spain, declared that “once more SEAT is showing its links to emblematic projects such as development of the electric car for the future of the country”. He also underscored the fact that “we are the only brand with the capacity to think through, develop and produce an electric vehicle in Spain.”

Dr. Matthias Rabe, SEAT Executive Vice-president for R&D commented: “Delivering these electric vehicles to institutional fleets covers a new stage in our electric motoring strategy.

“SEAT’s future is electric and we are opting for diversification of alternative technologies so as to cater to different motoring needs.”

Within the framework of this strategy, SEAT has loaned one e-Altea XL to Endesa, and another to the Catalan Energy Institute (ICAEN); a further two TwinDrive – one to each of the two organizations mentioned – will be made available over the forthcoming weeks. The company is immersed in the first stage of the introduction of an electric car and envisages the loan of further vehicles to different governmental departments, institutions, and private companies interested in eco-friendly fleets over the forthcoming months.

The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive and the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive are two vehicles with different but complementary technologies. The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive can be used in wide variety of different circumstances, and for that reason is SEAT’s first all-electric car. It has a range of 135 kilometres, a power output of 115 hp (85kW), an engine torque of 270 Nm and a top speed of 135 kph. Of the several new features found on it, two of the most striking are battery location under the rear seats and the boot, meaning no reduction in passenger compartment space, and the photovoltaic panels on the roof, cutting energy requirements for the vehicle’s air-conditioning.

The Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive couples the advantages of emission-free driving to the range of a conventional petrol-engine car. The TwinDrive allows for all-electric or hybrid driving, meaning no change whatsoever in driving habits or life style for customers. It has a range of 52 kilometres in electric mode, with a top speed of 120 kph. In mixed mode (electric and combustion) consumption is 1.7 litres, emissions are under 39 g/km, and top speed is 170 kph.

SEAT’s commitment to sustainable motoring and environmental protection extends to other brand vehicles already on the market. SEAT has a long track record of producing low-emission cars – for the record, 70% of cars marketed in Spain have emissions below 130 g/km of CO2.

Additionally SEAT is involved in other projects to promote electrical motoring in Spain. One of them – headed by SEAT – is Cenit Verde, a public-private initiative comprising companies from different sectors, universities and research centres, and backed by the Spanish government. This project takes a global approach to research into the foundations for a successful introduction of the electric car in Spain.

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A Midwest-based plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufacturer is calling on Congressional and media critics to put their partisanship aside and heed President Obama’s call to create American jobs and spur the development of alternative energy technology by swiftly processing its loan application under the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) Program – which Congress authorized in 2007.

“These loans enable automotive companies (established and start-ups alike) to lead America forward – towards energy independence, better national security and an improved environment; creating  thousands of American jobs in the process,” said Mike Donoughe, Bright Automotive COO.  “This is exactly what the President is calling for tonight and Bright Automotive is ready, willing and able to answer that challenge for our country.”

Bright Automotive is an Indiana and Michigan-based company developing the Bright IDEA vehicle.  The vehicle is a plug-in hybrid electric commercial van that delivers unprecedented fuel economy and utility while significantly lowering the total cost of ownership. Bright’s technology is on the road and is being tested by the Department of Defense and other fleets.

The company reports it has anxious customers ready to buy its vehicles, with half of its customer base small businesses – the growth engine of jobs in America – which will save thousands of dollars per vehicle every year.

Many experts believe plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are the best opportunity going forward to thwart expensive and volatile oil prices that likely will exceed $100 a barrel for the foreseeable future, meaning $4 a gallon gas at the pump nationwide sooner rather than later.

“Yes, we are about cleaner energy,” said Donoughe.  “But our belief is that ‘you have to be green to be green’ – meaning it is not enough to be green environmentally, if you are not green economically.  That is why it is crucially important that we are a smart play for businesses operating fleets of vehicles; from service professionals like Comcast and FedEx to your local plumber or florist.”

A typical business fleet currently spends about $5,000 to $7,000 annually on gasoline per vehicle. The Bright Idea PHEV saves $4,000 to $5,000 in fuel costs annually.  For a small business that has 15 trucks in its fleet, this is significant operational savings.  For larger businesses with 100 vehicles or more, the savings can reach a million dollars or more per year.

For Federal and state government and public service fleets, totaling more than 400,000 vehicles with a target to be alternatively-fueled in the next few years, it represents literally billions of dollars in fuel costs saved for taxpayers.

The Bright IDEA vehicle will be developed in Rochester Hills, Michigan, while its hybrid electric powertrain will be engineered in Anderson, Indiana.  When production begins, it will be assembled in Indiana at a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.  These new operations will conservatively create more than 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and will be 100 percent U.S.-based.

“Our business plan has been thoroughly vetted by the government since submission in December 2008and we have received tremendous bipartisan support from legislators in Indiana, Michigan and across the country,” said Donoughe.  ”That support has helped us get the ball into the red zone, but not yet into the end zone.

Michigan Congressman John Dingell told the Detroit News there is an attempt being made by certain members of Congress to kill this program.  That prospect could end our plan to build our vehicle and create great jobs in the heart of America.”

Consistent with President Obama’s call for action in his pre-State of the Union video, Donoughe argues these loans are exactly the type of investments our government should be making – supporting companies like Bright Automotive in advancing proven technologies and creating good jobs to help small business owners improve their operations.

“They are doing it in Germany and China and elsewhere – and we must do it in the United States to regain and retain our manufacturing base and competitive edge,” said Donoughe.

President Obama said in a January 11th speech heralding companies that were “in sourcing” work back to the United States: “I don’t want the next generation of manufacturing jobs taking root in countries like China or Germany.  I want them taking root in places like Michigan and Ohio and Virginia and North Carolina.”

Donoughe noted that if the ATVM Loan Program is scuttled, U.S.-based private financing will likely not commit and companies like Bright will be forced to look at foreign sources; most likely China.  Typically, the jobs follow the investment.

“If jobs aren’t important enough, let’s talk about our national and energy security,” said Donoughe.   ”Dealing with our nation’s security vulnerabilities requires sustained commitment and targeted involvement by the federal government, including leveraging programs already in place like the ATVM loan program.

We mustn’t let volatility— in Washington or by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz —undermine our commitment to investments in modernizing our transportation technologies. One member of the Saudi royal family recently noted, OPEC doesn’t ‘want the West to find alternatives.’” ”We stand ready to deliver American advanced technology developed and built by Americans,” added Donoughe.

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The Mercedes S400 hybrid proves you don’t have to sacrifice an iota of luxury to reduce your carbon footprint. The ‘S’ in the Mercedes S-Class series stands for sonderklasse, German for “special class” – a truly apt nomenclature for a vehicle that combines the classic style and sophistication of a luxury sedan with the hi-tech amenities and fuel economy of a cutting-edge hybrid model. For green limo service in Los Angeles, nothing rivals the elegance and the comfort of the Mercedes S400 Hybrid. Superior acceleration endures a smooth, quiet ride. A slew of luxury interior accommodations, including heated, ventilated seats complete with massage features, will make you think twice about getting out even after you’ve reached your destination. Indeed, saving the Earth never felt so good…

And now, you can find this gorgeous piece of machinery at KLS Transportation Services, a Los Angeles limousine company that has earned heaps of praise from its many loyal clients, but still refuses to rest on its laurels. The addition of the S400 represents their latest step to further improving on their service and offering their clients even more choices. Southern California has long been known as a pioneer in environmental sustainability. As a leader in the luxury transportation industry, it makes perfect sense for KLS to offer eco-friendly options to its large and ever-growing base of customers.

KLS has been serving the community for years, offering a wide variety of luxury vehicles that range from their Lincoln Town Car series to stretch limousines, a party bus in Los Angeles, and more. This is a Los Angeles limousine service that endeavors to always stay ahead of the curve, and the incorporation of hybrid technology into their extensive fleet is just one part of that continuing effort.

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There are hybrids and then there are hybrids. The sole hybrid powerplant to be honored by WardsAuto.com and Wards Auto World magazine in their 2012 “10 Best Engines” list happens to be the one that challenges conventional wisdom about the compatibility of performance and fuel economy – the 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid’s innovative 3.5-liter V6 with Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid system.

Offering 360 horsepower and 32 miles per gallon highway fuel economy, the Infiniti M Hybrid system utilizes an advanced 1-motor, 2-clutch parallel hybrid design and high-speed motor control technology to enable seamless transitions between the combustion engine and electric motor.

“The Infiniti M hybrid is pure exhilaration in a world of uninspired hybrids, delivering the power of a luxury V8 engine with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder,” said Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore. “Able to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in under 6.0 seconds, and capable of driving at speeds of 62 miles per hour in pure electric mode, it’s the one hybrid worthy of the Infiniti name – and, apparently, Ward’s recognition.”

The Wards Auto editors called out the design of the Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid system for its combination of “a single 50-kW (67 hp) electric motor linked to a powerful lithium-ion battery pack.” The editors also noted “the M35h trumps German luxury hybrid sedans that cost much more.”

To be eligible for the “10 Best Engines” award, each engine must be available in a regular-production U.S.-specific model on sale no later than first-quarter 2012, in a vehicle with a base price below $55,000. The full article on the awards testing and results will be available online at WardsAuto.com on January 3rd. The awards will be presented at a ceremony during the North American International Auto Show on January 12th.

About the 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid breaks new ground as the first true luxury performance “driver’s” hybrid. Featuring the innovative Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid™ system – a one-motor, two-clutch parallel hybrid system – the M35h delivers the performance expected from a luxury sports sedan with the fuel efficiency of a compact car.

Precise, high-speed motor control technology, enabled by the powerful Lithium-ion battery, allows power to be delivered directly to the 7-speed automatic transmission. With its compact hybrid system design, the Infiniti M Hybrid also delivers uncompromised interior space and competitive trunk space.

The system also utilizes an innovative Hybrid Electric Power Steering system and Electric Driven Intelligent Brake regenerative braking system, both which help conserve energy and provide a natural, enjoyable driving feel. The Infiniti M Hybrid’s exhilarating driving performance also greatly benefits from use of Infiniti’s proven 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine, which paired with the 50 kW electric motor, provides a hybrid system net power of 360 horsepower.

Torque figures are equally impressive, with the V6′s 258 lb-ft of toque combining with the electric motor’s immediately available 199 lb-ft of torque to provide strong performance. Fuel economy figures are estimated at 32 mpg Highway, 27 mpg City and 29 mpg Combined.

The rear-wheel drive M Hybrid also embraces the essence of all things Infiniti – style, performance, luxury, craftsmanship and technology. The Infiniti M’s dramatic, sports styling provides a coefficient of drag of just 0.26, while the roomy, comfortable interior environment features standard leather-appointed seating, standard Japanese Ash wood trim or available silver powdered genuine White Ash wood trim, and available premium audio and climate control systems.

Key standard features include Active Noise Control, Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, XM Satellite Radio (XM subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System and power sliding glass tinted moonroof.

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