In the News

  • Ford hybrid sales on pace for record year

    Ford hybrid sales on pace for record year

    by Michael Wayland MLIVE April 10, 2013 DEARBORN- Ford Motor Co. is on pace for a record year of hybrid sales. The Dearborn-based automaker Wednesday announced it delivered its best hybrid sales quarter ever during the first three months of this year with sales totaling 21,080 vehicles ‚Äì marking the first time Ford has sold more than 20,000 hybrids in a quarter. Read more…

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  • Leaner, fitter GM emerges in fighting form after bailout

    Leaner, fitter GM emerges in fighting form after bailout

    By Tyrel Linkhorn, April 8, 2013 Dan Ammann, a top executive with General Motors Co., believes the slimmed-down company is developing and building the best cars and trucks it has ever made… The ToledoTransmissionplanthas received three investments totaling about $342 million since 2011. The most recent, a $55.7 million investment announced Thursday, is the final chunk of money needed to prepare the plant tobeginproducing an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission for GM.   Read more…

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  • ‚ÄòBattery University’ Aims to Train a Work Force for Next-Generation Energy Storage

    ‚ÄòBattery University’ Aims to Train a Work Force for Next-Generation Energy Storage

    by Brita Belli, New York Times, April 8 2013 This summer, San Jose State University is offering the first classes in what it calls “battery university,” a series in its professional development program intended to train a work force for the next generation of battery makers. The curriculum is being developed by more than 100 experts from the emerging battery storage sector ‚Äî mostly from the San Francisco Bay Area ‚Äî and will focus not only on developing the technology, [...]

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  • Lightweighting options for heavy trucks

    Lightweighting options for heavy trucks

    Plastics Today, April 7 2013 An increased industry emphasis on fuel efficiency, safety and operator comfort are accelerating the drive for heavy truck OEMs and their tier suppliers to discover new solutions for lightweighting, better ergonomics, styling, and sustainability. At the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY,Sabic’s Innovative Plastics business(Pittsfield, MA) showcased the ways material technology, processing technology, and design technology can help the heavy truck industry achieve lighter weight, more sustainable heavy duty trucks. Today, heavy trucks consume [...]

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  • Fuel Economy Keeps Rising: 24.6 MPG In March

    Fuel Economy Keeps Rising: 24.6 MPG In March

    by Antony Ingram, Green Car Reports, April 4, 2013 If you’re used to driving around in a Prius then average miles per gallon of 24.6 will sound a little poor in comparison. But that’s the average economy of all cars, light trucks, minivans andSUVspurchased in the U.S. in March–and it’s an all-time high. Read more…

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  • GM Pumps $332 Million into New Fuel-Efficient Powertrains

    GM Pumps $332 Million into New Fuel-Efficient Powertrains

    by Anita Lienert, Edmonds.com, April 4, 2013 DETROIT‚Äî General Motors on Thursday said it will invest $332 million to build new fuel-efficient powertrains, including a new Ecotec small gasoline engine family, a new V6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The new small Ecotec is part of a new family of gasoline engines that includes three- and four-cylinder variants with displacements ranging from 1.0 to 1.5 liters. Read more…

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