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Recharge Wrap-up: Fiat 500X emissions, Japan EV sales down

The Fiat 500X exceeds EU emissions limits, according to environmental lobby group DUH. In dyno tests, DUH found NOx emissions in the diesel-powered 500X to be 11 to 20 times the limit with a warm engine, but closer to the limit with a cold engine. Testing of vehicles from Fiat and other automakers "point towards defeat devices," says DUH campaigner Axel Friedrich. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) offered no comment in response to the accusations. Read more from Reuters. A UK study finds that about 20 percent of the benefits from fuel efficient vehicles are negated by a tendency for people to drive them more. The study, which covers the years 1970 to 2011, finds a significant "rebound effect," when consumers use more of a cheaper energy source. It suggests these drivers drive more not because of the fuel efficiency, but because of the lower operating costs. "Until now, we didn't know the size of this effect for British motoring," says Dr. Lee Stapleton, Research Fellow for the University of Sussex Centre on Innovation and Energy Demand. "We found evidence of a significant, long-term rebound and expect our results to be of interest for public policy." Read more at Green Car Congress. Japanese EV sales have declined for the first time ever. Sales of electric vehicles slid 22 percent in 2015, leaving them at the same levels as 2012. Low gasoline prices are to blame, as well as the late arrival of the updated Nissan Leaf, which caused potential customers to hold off on their purchase. This allowed the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to take the lead as Japan's best selling EV. The Toyota Prius Plug-In came in third place in EV sales, with the BMW i3 close on its heels. Read more from EV Sales. Featured Gallery 2016 Fiat 500X: First Drive View 34 Photos Related Gallery Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Concept-S: Paris 2014 View 12 Photos News Source: Reuters, Green Car Congress, EV SalesImage Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL Green Fiat Mitsubishi Nissan Emissions Fuel Efficiency Electric recharge wrapup

Toyota, Honda, Nissan and more collaborating to increase fuel efficiency

Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Daihatsu have announced an alliance that will see a push to improve fuel economy from both gas-powered and diesel-powered engines by as much as 30 percent before the end of the decade.
The newly assembled Research Association of Automotive Internal Combustion Engines put the roughly $20-million project together, with the Japanese government committing to half the cost while the eight manufacturers will chip in the rest.
According to Automotive News, the automakers will team up and share basic research on internal-combustion engines in a bid to cut costs. Eventually, the results of the research will find its way into a production vehicle, although it's unclear just when we'll see the fruits of this partnership on the road.

2016 Mitsubishi i-MiEV coming in March

For the next incarnation of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle, the Japanese automaker is looking to give a bit more for the sake of selling a few more. It's a simple concept for a pretty simple car. The re-trial run starts next month. The EV's 2016 model-year version will go on sale in the US in March, Inside EVs says. On the face of it, not a lot will change with the four-seater. The car will still deliver 66 horsepower and will still provide a single-charge range of 62 miles. When reached by AutoblogGreen, Mitsubishi confirmed these numbers as well as its MSRP of $22,995, same as the 2014 model (there was no 2015 model-year version). That's the cost before the $7,500 federal tax break kicks in. Still, there is news. The 2016 version will have an optional navigation package that will include a seven-inch touchscreen display as well as real-time traffic data and 3D mapping. Folks can also pay a little more for touches such as a Bluetooth hands-free phone system, rear-view camera and USB port, according to Mitsubishi. The company hopes these changes will spur near-dormant sales of the model, which made its US debut in 2011. Last year, Mitsubishi sold just 196 units of the i, down from 1,029 in 2013. Related Video: Featured Gallery Mitsubishi i-MiEV News Source: Inside EVs via Green Car Reports Green Mitsubishi Electric i-miev