Buyers of the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf would be eligible for a $10,000 federal tax credit in some cities under a $10 billion Senate plan to boost electric vehicles.  House and Senate members have released similar plans intended to make electric vehicles  more than niche models.

The House version would spend $6.6 billion, dedicating $800 million to five “deployment communities” to speed 700,000 plug-in vehicles into use and establish recharging networks. A Senate version would spend about $10 billion and grant $250 million to up to 15 communities.

Reported by David Shepardson of  The Detroit News

Today is Earth day and the editors from Kelley Blue Book decided to reveal their selections of this year’s Top 10 Green Cars. 

The newest version includes a mix of domestic and foreign brands with some vehicles using either hybrid or clean-diesel technology.  Here is the list of Kbb.com’s Top 10 Green Cars for 2010, along with additional commentary from site editors:

2010 Toyota Prius: 50 mpg (51 city, 48 highway) “Although the third-generation Toyota Prius is the biggest, most powerful iteration yet, it’s also the most fuel-efficient. In addition to all the sophisticated hybrid powertrain technology under the hood, the Prius offers a high-tech options list that includes a glass moonroof with a solar-powered ventilation system, voice-activated navigation and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with Lane Keep Assist.”

2010 Honda Insight: 41 mpg (40 city, 43 highway) “Starting at $20,510 and topping out at just $23,810 — with features like a voice-activated navigation system, Bluetooth phone connectivity and an upgraded audio system — the Honda Insight is the most affordable hybrid available today, and the second most fuel-efficient car on the road.” Read the rest of this entry →

NHTSA to Investigate 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Brake Systems

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a formal investigation of the 2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid to determine whether the vehicles suffer momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over bumpy surfaces. NHTSA said in a statement that it has received 124 consumer complaints, including four reports of crashes and two of minor injuries. They indicated drivers have described the condition as “a brief lag in braking capability or a brief surge while braking.” The 2004-2009 Prius was included in Toyota’s October recall of 3.8 million vehicles for floormat entrapment of the accelerator pedal.

Detroit Auto Show: An electric cavalcade

With federal mileage standards rising, automakers next week will show a fresh group of fuel-efficient vehicles at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Ford will unveil the redesigned production Focus, and Honda will show the production version of the CR-Z hybrid hatchback. Toyota and Volkswagen will roll out hybrid concepts; Audi, BMW and Fiat will display electric concepts.

Show organizers are arranging various electric cars, including one from China’s BYD Auto, in a space on the show floor called Electric Avenue. But high performance will get its due. Judging by vehicles at the show, performance cars and econoboxes will coexist happily in the 2016 model year, when automakers must reach fleet averages of 35.5 mpg.

At the Detroit show, Cadillac will unveil the high-performance CTS-V coupe, and Buick will show a performance sedan concept. General Motors and Chrysler Group may have replenished treasuries after surviving U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 2009, but their fresh resolve won’t be fully reflected on the show floor. Both automakers have modest unveilings. GM will have one production car: the CTS-V. Chrysler will have none. But Chrysler and partner Fiat are showing some concepts that explore their product planners’ ideas for the next few years. They will show a concept version of the Lancia Delta mid-sized hatchback with a Chrysler grille. They also will show an electric concept of the Fiat 500 minicar.

By: Charles Child – Automotive News