Tag Archives: hybrid cars

GM Announces Major Breakthrough in Electric Car Batteries

This might be only the second full week of August, but already it is the month of hybrid and electric cars. Earlier this week, we told you about new technology out of Middle Tennessee State University that will transform normal vehicles into fuel-efficient hybrid cars.  Yesterday, GM continued the trend by making a major announcement about the future of electric cars.

GM CEO Dan Akerson announced at an employee meeting Thursday that there has been a breakthrough in the lithium-ion batteries used in electric cars. Right now, the Chevrolet Volt can go for about 35 miles per electric charge with a gas motor that kicks in if the battery power runs out. Akerson announced that the new batteries would be able to travel 100 miles per charge, nearly three times its current power, and he teased that the batteries would soon be able to travel up to 200 miles per charge. He called the increased battery power a “game changer” in the industry.

Even with this great news, though, GM is still being cautious and keeping their business in mind while exploring hybrids and electric cars. If it turns out that they can’t make 200-mile batteries, they are also working on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and natural gas vehicles. Akerson compared focusing solely on electric cars to putting “all of our chips on one bet” and assured GM employees and the public that GM would explore all of their options.

If GM came out with electric cars that could go 200 miles on one charge, would you take one for a test drive? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

GM’s new high-powered electric cars are still a ways off, but Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a new or used car today. Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and keep up with the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

President Discusses Additional Financing for Green Cars

There’s some good news for the buyer who’s been looking at green cars such as the Nissan Leaf or the Chevrolet Volt. It turns out that the President is wanting to aid in special finance for such electric and hybrid cars.

President Obama, in a speech delivered at the Daimler Trucks North America manufacturing plant in Charlotte, North Carolina, made note of his goal to raise the existing tax credits on vehicles. This will pertain to vehicles from $7,500 to $10,000 in an attempt to make these new cars appealing to the average consumer. If a car buyer decides towards the hybrids, natural gas, or electric cars, they could be looking at being qualified for the credit.

“To cities and towns all across the country, what we’re going to say is, if you make a commitment to buy more advanced vehicles for your community — whether they run on electricity or biofuels or natural gas — we’ll help you cut through the red tape and build fueling stations nearby,” the President said, “And we’ll offer tax breaks to families that buy these cars, companies that buy alternative-fuel trucks like the ones that are made right here at Mount Holly. So we’re going to give communities across the country more of an incentive to make the shift to more energy-efficient cars.”

The plan that he has set forth will be investing up to $1 billion dollars in the National Community Deployment Challenge. This is being done in order to help the local communities get the infrastructure it needs to support the alternative fuel cars.

No matter what kind of car you’re looking for from a hybrid to luxury to a rough-and-tumble truck, Approved Loan Store can help. Fill out our application here, and like us on Facebook to read more auto news and watch video testimonials from Approved Loan Store customers!