2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue Sedan 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: Hyundai H350 Fuel Cell van, Formula E in Brooklyn

Formula E's New York City e-Prix will take place in Brooklyn. With lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty as its backdrop, the race will play out on a 1.21-mile, 13-turn course on the streets of Red Hook. Formula E revealed the location at a press conference at the site of the circuit, at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the New York Harbor. "New York City is where technology, sustainability and commerce collide," says NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We are thrilled to be the new home of the ePrix." The race is scheduled for July 29, 2017. Watch the video above, and read more from Formula E. Hyundai is debuting its H350 Fuel Cell Concept at the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, Germany. The hydrogen-powered commercial van offers emissions-free (except for water vapor) driving without the lengthy recharge times of a plug-in vehicle. It has a driving range of 262 miles on a single tank, and refuels in just minutes. It can be configured with a cargo area of up to 456 cubic feet, or with seating for 14 passengers. Hyundai's fuel cell van concept draws from the automaker's experience with the Tucson Fuel Cell production vehicle. Read more from Hyundai. Mercedes-Benz says it will offer an electric delivery van again in 2018. The German automaker left the niche market in 2012 after slow sales of its Vito E-Cell, which it launched in 2010. "The future of urban deliveries will be electric," says Volker Mornhinweg, head of the company's vans division. "We at Mercedes-Benz Vans are convinced of this." While Mercedes has not said whether the EV will be a new model or an electric version of a current offering, it did say it would develop the powertrain in-house, and offer various battery capacities. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Related Gallery Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Cell View 16 Photos News Source: YouTube: FIA Formula E Championship, Formula E, Hyundai, Automotive News Europe Green Motorsports Hyundai Mercedes-Benz Minivan/Van Commercial Vehicles Electric Videos recharge wrapup

China sticking to its guns on EVs for the future

Automakers are obviously free to develop whatever next-gen, zero-emissions tech that they want. However, if a company wants to get on the good side of the Chinese government, that strategy better include some plug-in vehicles. The authorities there are lending major support to plug-ins at the moment, and its forcing the auto industry to play along. According to Bloomberg, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW are all launching dedicated EV brands with their joint venture partners, and as many as 40 electric models could hit the Chinese market this year alone. However, analysts don't think the vehicles are going to sell well. Instead, the launches are essentially a way for companies to play nice with the government and help get the approval to build factories in the country. Take Toyota as an example. The company is pushing the future of hydrogen hard with promotional films for the Mirai and engineers talking down fast-charging EVs. Still, the Japanese automaker is getting ready to launch two EV brands in China with its joint venture partners, according to Bloomberg. China's push for alternative fuels has been happening for a while, but it really kicked into high gear last year. The government has set a goal to improve fleet-wide economy by 40 percent by the end of the decade in order to spend less importing oil and for the population's health. The plan has shown some success so far with hybrid and EV sales growing early in 2015. Related Video: News Source: BloombergImage Credit: Kin Cheung / AP Photo Government/Legal Green BMW Hyundai Toyota Volkswagen Green Culture Technology Electric tax incentives chinese government

Frankfurt Motor Show Notes: Why Jaguar decided to build an SUV

It was inevitable. Jaguar had to make an SUV, and that notion became reality this week with the debut of the F-Pace, an all-wheel-drive five-seater that will launch in the United States next spring. Some purists may cringe. But in an era when Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and other traditional luxury brands are all building or (planning to build) SUVs, Jaguar had to evolve. While it seems like a leap for Jaguar to make an SUV, longtime design director Ian Callum said it's been in the works for years. "The first time I was asked the question was when I arrived 16 years ago," he said. So in 1999 (and probably well before that), Jaguar was already thinking SUV. What took so long? "It wasn't a priority," Callum said. Jaguar was concentrating on fixing its existing lineup, which was pockmarked with holes and poorly selling products, like the X-Type. Along the way, Jaguar and sister brand Land Rover were sold by Ford to Indian conglomerate Tata Motors. Flash forward several years, and Jaguar and Land Rover are both experiencing a resurgence in the United States and around the world. Jaguar's lineup is flush with the E-Type's modern successor, the F-Type, plus a new version of the XF. The XJ received a 2016 freshening, and the smaller XE sedan is on the way. Jaguar put its house in order as other factors conspired to make a crossover timely. Fuel prices stayed relatively low, and consumers in the US and China remained steadfast in their love for utility vehicles of all stripes. Making a Jaguar SUV became a priority. "The world was telling us in no uncertain terms this is what they wanted," Callum said. "Not to be in the sector would be a little naive for the sake of purity." Jaguar proved its intent two years ago when it revealed the C-X17 crossover concept at Frankfurt, and the final production model is close to the prototype's striking looks. "I thought we managed to maintain that spirit," Callum said. It's a true Jaguar, with cues from the F-Type, 1968 XJ, and other famous models. Who would have thought Jaguar would make an SUV? "I certainly didn't," Callum admitted. But the F-Pace is here. If Callum is okay with it, purists can be, too. Quick Hits Opel retrenches for 2016 and beyond Opel used the Frankfurt show to display its new generation of the Astra, a critical vehicle line for the German division of General Motors.