Yearly Archives: 2011

It looks like slow production at California-based Fisker Automotive is having an…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged A123systems bev electricvehicles EV fisker Google+ on by (updated 4701 days ago)

It looks like slow production at California-based Fisker Automotive is having an impact here in Michigan.

No doubt the Republicans in congress will be jumping all over this news as A123 Systems laid off 125 people from its two battery manufacturing facilities in Romulus and Livonia this week. A123 received a $250 million grant from the Department of Energy in 2009 for advanced battery development.

While Fisker has reportedly begun production of the Karma plug-in hybrid luxury sports sedan, deliveries will be well below the planned 7,000 in 2011. Fisker claims it will ship 1,500 cars by the end of the year. It's not clear when production will hit anticipated levels but A123 isn't waiting to find out.

Fisker isn't A123's only customer but they may well be the biggest right now. A123 also has contracts to supply lithium ion batteries to medium duty truck maker Smith Electric Vehicles as well as General Motors for its upcoming Chevy Spark EV.

#EV #A123systems #electricvehicles #bev #fisker

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A123 Systems lays off 125 workers at Michigan battery plants
Battery maker A123 Systems, which has been celebrated as one of Michigan's biggest alternative energy successes, laid off 125 workers at its Livonia and Romulus …

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As the author here says, no one should be surprised that the Journal wouldn't…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4701 days ago)

As the author here says, no one should be surprised that the Journal wouldn't publish this retraction; disappointed but not surprised.

Reshared post from +Lauren Weinstein

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A Columnist Recants, but the WSJ Edit Page Won’t Hear it
The paper runs a flawed column and declines to publish the retraction

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If you're still having trouble wrapping your head around why PROTECT-IP and SOPA…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ stopprotectip stopsopa on by (updated 4702 days ago)

If you're still having trouble wrapping your head around why PROTECT-IP and SOPA are so evil read Mike Masnick's latest post on the subject.

Masnick does a masterful job of summarizing all of the legal, ethical and technical reasons why these bills are so utterly wrong-headed and have the potential cause so much more harm than any potential benefit to the entertainment industry.

#stopsopa #stopprotectip

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The Definitive Post On Why SOPA And Protect IP Are Bad, Bad Ideas | Techdirt
There's been plenty of talk (and a ton of posts here on Techdirt) discussing both SOPA (originally E-PARASITE) and PROTECT IP (aka PIPA), but it seemed like it would be useful to create a single, "def…

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One of the more despicable aspects of big media is this sort of hypocrisy. 1

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4702 days ago)

Big media companies never seem to be reluctant to sic their lawyers on smaller sites that they think are quoting too much of their content even when they provide links back to the source. On the other hand, they are more then happy to use material created by those that don't have the resources to defend themselves without any attribution. If these traditional companies expect to defend their content they had better be prepared to respect other outlets in the same way.

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College editor: Seeing our work go uncredited is ‘frustrating’
Jason Alpert, the 20-year-old editor UC Davis’s California Aggie, tells me that 30 or more news organizations have contacted the paper for permission to use its protest photos. “We let them use them as long as they cite California Aggie and the photographer,” he says. “We don’t ask for money.” But many media giants — …Read More

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As you sit down to gorge yourself on turkey and more today, don't forget those… 2

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ OWS poverty thanksgiving on by (updated 4702 days ago)

As you sit down to gorge yourself on turkey and more today, don't forget those that don't have as much stuff.

With nearly a third of Americans living near or below the poverty line now, many struggle to get by from day to day. As an automotive journalist, many of the media drives I went on wound their way through rural areas like this.

#ows #poverty #thanksgiving

In album american homes (63 photos)

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I'm a fan of both Jaguar's XF and the station wagon form factor 11

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged cars Google+ jaguar stationwagon on by (updated 4703 days ago)

Now it looks like Jaguar will officially blend the two for first time with the upcoming XF SportBrake (Sport wagon + shooting brake). The XF is a great driving car despite my complaints about the gimmicky motorized vents and shift knob and the excruciatingly slow Flash-based infotainment interface. http://www.luxist.com/2010/02/08/review-2010-jaguar-xf-supercharged-a-worthy-leaping-cat/

The question is would I want the 500hp supercharged XF-R or the fabulously torquey and fuel efficient 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 (unfortunately not available in North America yet)? Now if only the XF was available with a manual transmission.

#jaguar #cars #stationwagon

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Jaguar XF Sportbrake
New Jaguar XF Sportbrake estate car is spied outside company gates

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Back in 2007, Cadillac unveiled a 2.9-liter V6 diesel intended for the European market… 1

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged cadillac cars diesel gm Google+ on by (updated 4704 days ago)

Back in 2007, Cadillac unveiled a 2.9-liter V6 diesel intended for the European market CTS. The company was seriously considering bringing it to the US market as then Cadillac general manager Jim Taylor told me in late 2007 http://www.green.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/we-may-yet-see-cadillacs-new-2-9l-v-6-diesel-in-the-us/

They even showed the diesel V6 in the original concept version of the CTS coupe at the January 2008 Detroit Auto Show http://www.greenfuelsforecast.com/ArticleDetails.php?articleID=427

Unfortunately the financial melt-down and bankruptcy put the kibosh on both the V6 and the 4.5-liter light duty truck V8 diesel. Both engines however are ready for production and could be revived. I suspect that GM will look at how well the upcoming Cruze diesel does before making a final decision.

#diesel #cars #cadillac #gm

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Cadillac considering diesel for U.S.
LeftLane. RSS Facebook Twitter YouTube. left. Lexus CT 200h. Lexus CT 200h. BMW Z4. BMW Z4. Cadillac CTS-V. Cadillac CTS-V. Ram 2500. Ram 2500. Subaru Forester. Subaru Forester. GMC Terrain. GMC Terra…

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In the spirit of making people feel old https://plus.google.com/u/0/114133424228405038490/posts/JgxRSLugDmd,… 7

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In the spirit of making people feel old https://plus.google.com/u/0/114133424228405038490/posts/JgxRSLugDmd, how many of you know how to operate one of these? I remember the frustration my then 12 year old son expressed a few years back when he encountered one for the first time and could not for the life of him how to make a call.

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