2014 Nissan Versa 1.6 S on 2040-cars

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Recharge Wrap-up: Toyota FCV ready for production, Nissan tests Leaf-to-Home energy management

Toyota will begin selling its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FCV) in Japan in December. The US and Europe can expect to see the car become available next summer. The FCV, which will likely be called "Mirai" (meaning "future") in Japan, is ready for production ahead of its initial deadline at the end of the fiscal year in March. Toyota planned for annual production of 700 units, but might increase output to meet higher-than-expected demand, which is currently nearing 1,000 units. The cars will mostly be sold in the four cities where a hydrogen fueling infrastructure is already being put in place: Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka. Read more at Nikkei Asian Review. Nissan is testing the Leaf EV as part of an energy management system including "Leaf to Home" technology. The system allows the Leaf to help support the power grid during peak energy usage, or provide backup power to a home or building during outages, particularly in emergencies like natural disasters. Using the Leaf's battery to provide electricity during peak hours would lessen the demand on the grid and make the system work more efficiently. Furthermore, if consumers are compensated for the energy saved by using the Leaf for power during periods of high demand, it could encourage more people to adopt the EV. Learn more in the press release below. CDP has given Honda a perfect climate disclosure score in its Global 500 Climate Change Report for 2014. CDP keeps track of how much companies are disclosing about their impact on global climate change. "The need for data on corporate climate change impacts and strategies to reduce them has never been greater," says CDP CEO Paul Simpson. "For this reason we congratulate those businesses that have achieved a position on CDP's Climate Disclosure Leadership Index." Other perfect scores were earned by Nissan, BMW, Daimler and General Motors. Read more in the press release from Honda below. Scientists at Stanford University have developed a lithium ion battery that can warn users before it overheats. A thin layer of copper between the anode and the layer separating the anode from the cathode acts as a sensor. When it detects lithium buildups from overcharging are approaching the separator, it sends an early alert long before it gets to a point where it would cause a short (which could lead to a fire). The new safety measure could be used in all sorts of battery applications, and not be limited to EVs. Learn more at Phys.org.

Nissan recalling 300k Versas, Armadas in two separate campaigns

Nissan is issuing two recalls that affect a total of 300,301 vehicles in the US. By far the larger of the two covers 298,747 examples of the 2012-2015 Versa and 2014-2015 Versa Note. The center console trim panel on these vehicles can catch a driver's shoe when it's moving from the acclerator to the brake. The delay could potentially cause an accident. To fix things dealers will modify the part, and owners will start being notified in mid-October. NHTSA has been investigating this issue since 2014. The agency moved it from a preliminary evaluation into an engineering analysis earlier this year. At that time there was one crash with minor injuries, among the complaints of the problem. The second recall covers 1,554 examples of the 2015 Nissan Armada with manufacturing dates between April 30, 2015, and June 5, 2015. On them the driver and front passenger seatbelts might not latch properly, or they might not unlatch when the button is pressed. Dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the necessary assemblies if necessary, and the campaign will start in early October. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Lower Trim Panel may Impede Pedal Operation , 1 INVESTIGATION(S) Report Receipt Date: AUG 12, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V507000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Potential Number of Units Affected: 298,747 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) NISSAN VERSA 2012-2015 NISSAN VERSA NOTE 2014-2015 Details Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles manufactured June 9, 2011, to March 11, 2015, and 2014-2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles manufactured April 23, 2013, to March 11, 2015. The affected vehicles have a center console trim panel that may catch the driver's shoe and delay the transition from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal. CONSEQUENCE: A delay in the application of the brake pedal would lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash. REMEDY: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will modify the console trim panel, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by mid-October 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Preserving automotive history costs big bucks

$1.8 million is spent each year to maintain GM's fleet of 600 production and concept cars.
When at least two of the Detroit Three were on the verge of death a few years back, one of the tough questions that was asked of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler execs - outside of why execs were still taking private planes to meetings - was why each company maintained huge archives of old production and concept vehicles. GM, for example, had an 1,100-vehicle collection when talk of a federal bailout began.