The deal is Ericsson’s first for its Connected Vehicle Cloud platform, which will provide Volvo drivers with infotainment apps and aftermarket services. It looks like Volvo will be keeping its platform mostly closed, though. Read more »
Welcome to the future of DIY clean power and electric vehicles. Solyndra engineer Michael Ahern electrified a Volvo 240 that he bought on Craigslist for $150 and has been charging it up with Solyndra tube-shaped solar panels on his roof in San Jose, Calif. Read more »
Recent developments in the vehicle industry suggest that 2011 could be the year of the car as a major platform for apps. From BMW’s support for Apple’s iPod Out feature to the emergence of Nokia’s Terminal Mode, a system that integrates mobile applications and the car, automakers and app developers are jumping on board the in-vehicle app movement. This report examines that landscape, its major players and their offerings, and how the market is shifting from device to car and, eventually, to the cloud. Increased broadband speeds, electronic vehicles and social apps such as those powered by Twitter will play major roles on this journey. Additional companies mentioned in this report include Ford, BMW, Geely, Nissan and Google. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Volvo has started producing its all-electric C30, and will start shipping cars to fleets (mostly under leases) in Europe by the Summer. Watch our video test drive of the C30 Electric and our interview with Volvo’s President of Special Vehicles. Read more »
Greentech marked its best year ever in 2010, and part of that is thanks to the wealth of activity across sectors during the fourth quarter. Global investment in clean energy surged, and while wind power remained the biggest greentech area, solar power saw the fastest growth. The energy efficiency sector appears to have more room for smaller players to make their mark amidst a rapidly maturing market. Meanwhile, China’s stance as a growing greentech giant continued to complicate its relationship with the United States. Companies mentioned in this report include General Electric, Intel, ZigBee, iControl, People Power and EnerNOC. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Volvo’s got a reputation for building some of the safest cars around, and as Lennart Stegland, President of Volvo special vehicles, tells us that applies to electric vehicles, too. Read more »
Volvo’s all-electric vehicle, the C30, has been hitting the streets of California this week, under going test drives during the LA Auto Show, and being tested in fleets in California starting next week. Read more »
The city that’s so defined by its car culture, traffic and massive freeways, is hosting a major auto show this week: the LA Auto Show. Here’s 10 green cars to watch for outta the show this week. Read more »
Chinese automaker Geely, which is known for its low-cost compacts, plans to buy the loss-making luxury brand Volvo for $1.8 billion from Ford Motor. How does the deal play into China’s larger role in the nascent electric vehicle market? Read more »
Diesels and hybrid-electric cars have often been posed as competitors racing to capture the green-automotive market. Diesels are more popular in Europe, while hybrids are more popular in the United States. Both have their advantages and disadvantages: diesels can get impressive fuel economy without complicated drivetrains […] Read more »
