The manufacturing of hybrid and electric vehicles in the USA has taken another step forward after Magna E-Car Systems (logo, pictured) opened its latest facility in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

It is a 66,000sq ft facility that will manufacture components for both hybrid and electric cars. In particular, it will focus on electric powertrain controllers, electric motors and inverters for the Ford Focus Electric; while also producing inverters for the Fisker Karma and additional components for a host of global consumers.

After adding the new Grand Blanc Township facility, Magna E-Car Systems, which is a partnership between the Stronach Group and Magna International, now has four facilities in North America in addition to its two in Europe. It also has around 700 employees worldwide.

It has received recognition too as it was recently named a Michigan Green Leader in the Detroit Free Press.

Electric and hybrid cars enjoyed their highest share of the US automotive market yet, during March.

According to new figures from Ward’s Auto Info Bank, consumers bought a record 52,000 hybrid and electric cars during the month – that’s an increase from 34,000 during the same month last year.

Now, the two categories account for 3.64 per cent of total US sales – the highest monthly market share ever. The previous high was achieved back in July 2009, when the Cash for Clunkers scheme aided the vehicles to a 3.56 per cent market share. It also marks a significant leap from the turn of the year when hybrid and electric cars accounted for just 2.38 per cent of new car sales.

It is believed that buyers have been drawn in both by increasing petrol prices – which have teetered around $4 a gallon – and by the influx of new models on the market including the Toyota Prius C (pictured), the Prius V Wagon and the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

In addition, it has been a good month for the Chevrolet Volt. During 2011, General Motors sold just 7,671 Volt models – well below its target of 10,000. However, during March it set a new monthly record of 2,289 Volts sold. The Nissan LEAF battery electric car also saw its sales nearly double to 579.

Japanese carmaker Honda has made a huge announcement with just two weeks left before the Beijing International Auto Show – by declaring it will introduce three new hybrid cars in the China region.

In total, Honda will introduce more than 10 new and full model change Honda models over three years – from 2013-2015. Indeed it hopes to double its 2011 unit sales in the country by 2015.

The three hybrid models heading to the Chinese market are: the Honda CR-Z (pictured), the Honda Insight and the Honda Fit Hybrid. Each is equipped with the Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system with Honda indicating it is also planning to introduce a new hybrid system that will be dedicated to mid- and large-sized vehicles; as well as a plug-in hybrid system. In addition, Honda will also introduce a new Acura NSX in China, which will use a sport hybrid all-wheel drive system.

In a further indication of its environmental efforts, Honda is also looking to move to new engines that use Earth Dreams Technology. It also hopes to produce hybrid cars locally in China; and it began demonstration testing of electric vehicles in Guangzhou last year.

It will extend its fuel saving philosophy to the Acura brand too. During this year it will introduce the Acura ILX, a small saloon car; as well as the Acura RDX, a small SUV, in China. All powertrains of Acura models will be renewed by the end of 2015.

It’s not a resounding recommendation for hybrid cars: according to a new industry analysis, only 35 per cent of hybrid car owners would choose a hybrid again.

Even though the selection of hybrid models has more than doubled in the USA since 2007; a recent analysis by Polk shows that if Toyota Prius (pictured) owners aren’t factored in then the loyalty from hybrid car drivers actually drops even lower – to less than 25 per cent.

Despite not appearing to have much faith in hybrid cars, the vehicle owners do maintain brand loyalty: for example, in 2011, 60 per cent of Toyota hybrid owners returned to the market to buy another Toyota; while 41 per cent of them purchased another hybrid from any brand. Meanwhile, 52 per cent of Honda hybrid owners stayed with Honda; and just under 20 per cent bought another hybrid from any brand.

According to Brad Smith, the director of Polk’s loyalty management practice, having a hybrid in a line-up can give a brand a competitive edge to attract new customers.

However, he believes that hybrid cars don’t have the momentum they once had because of the growing strength of fuel economy among compact and mid-size competitors. As such, for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, there are a number of obstacles that will need to be overcome – including consumer unease with unfamiliar technology – before their sales will increase.

New York was once again the setting for an exciting new vehicle to be unveiled – as this time Fisker took centre stage with its Atlantic saloon car.

The Fisker Atlantic (pictured) was originally known as Project Nina and is a luxury four-door saloon car that uses Fisker’s extended range technology.

Much like that other famous Fisker model, the Fisker Karma, the Fisker Atlantic is a plug-in series hybrid car that allows drivers to switch manually or automatically between electric and petrol driving modes. It can also sustain the charge of its lithium-ion batteries while on the move.

It features a four-cylinder engine that works as a generator and is meant to offer maximum fuel economy and high torque.

In addition, it boasts a glass roof with a “spider” structure that allows the Fisker Atlantic to offer tremendous levels of rear headroom. It also surpasses or fulfils all current and projected rollover safety and crash test requirements worldwide.

Furthermore, its rear door handles are integrated within the rear C-pillars to offer the look of a sporting coupe without losing its practicality. The rear end meanwhile, is aerodynamically shaped and includes a sharp spoiler lip that runs over the side of the car and boosts its aerodynamic performance.

According to Tom LaSorda, who is the CEO of Fisker Automotive, the Atlantic represents a milestone as Fisker switches from start-up automaker to a mainstream car manufacturer. He believes the company still has a long way to go but will eventually have this vehicle in showrooms worldwide.

More statistics, including its fuel economy figures, will be offered nearer to its launch date.

Hybrid retrofitters, Ashwood Automotive has launched its own range of battery management systems and electric motors for hybrid and electric vehicles.

The Exeter-based firm’s new range is designed to offer optimum performance, quality and price, with the company promising that its new Axial Flux Permanent Magnet motor, which can be assembled within one hour, will be one of the lowest $ per kW motor on the market. There is also a new integrated Lithium Battery Pack Module which provides a simple, scalable plug and play power cell; and a Battery Management System that can support the full range of Lithium-ion chemistries.

Ashwoods- already know as the UK’s largest supplier of hybrid vehicles, supplying hybrid vans to the likes of the Environment Agency, Royal Mail and BT-developed the range of components as part of its continued development of its Hybrid Drive Technology. The new products were developed as part of a consortium with Citroen, Life Batt and Sevcon with grant funding support from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board.

The company believes the new range of components offers a unique combination of durability, performance and value for money – a combination that Ashwoods Global Applications Manager; Bob Beckwith explained was a market challenge that needed a solution.

“Battery Management is probably the single biggest challenge facing the Electric Vehicle (EV) and Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) market as it affects all aspects of vehicle performance,” he said.

“One of the greatest challenges that our engineers faced when developing the Hybrid Drive technology was the lack of effective battery management. There are no Battery Management Systems (BMS’s) available on the market that can effectively manage Lithium batteries on a demanding hybrid drive cycle.”

The company is now targeting the US market where Bob believes that Ashwoods Energy can break into a market that is currently dominated by larger companies.

Congratulations are due to Nissan – which has scooped an important industry award.

The Contribution Prize of the Ichimura Prizes in Industry was awarded to the Japanese carmaker by the New Technology Development Foundation for its one-motor, two-clutch parallel full-hybrid system.

In its 44^th year, the Ichimura Prizes in Industry is given to an excellent technology developer, or group of developers, who have contributed significantly to an industrial field. Nissan was the only automotive manufacturer to pick up an award this year.

Its hybrid system was highlighted for its lightweight system and simple structure. It has been developed for passenger cars and achieves compact car-level fuel efficiency while still offering acceleration, performance and driveability. It is available in both the Nissan Fuga and Infiniti M (pictured) models.

Previously, hybrid systems with torque convertors had been preferred to clutch systems in an effort to achieve smooth operation. However, Nissan’s engineers achieved smooth driving with motor and clutch control technology; as well as high response lithium-ion batteries.

The Chevrolet Express 2500 cargo van will soon get a makeover – a hybrid makeover.

That’s because XL Hybrids plans to fit the vehicle with its hybrid technology as part of the 2012 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Conference Energy Showcase event, which takes place on March 16.

The company, which specialises in developing low cost hybrid electric powertrains, has created a powertrain with a 2kWh lithium-ion battery pack, as well as a 40kW electric motor and a hybrid control system. It is believed that the hybrid powertrain increases city fuel economy by as much as 25 per cent.

Among the benefits of the hybrid powertrain are: rapid installation, as it can be installed in commercial vehicles in less than four hours; and no additional charging infrastructure or impacts on cargo capacity.

Currently, the hybrid powertrain is available for both the GMC Savana 2500 and Chevrolet Express cargo and passenger vans.

Next the company is expected to expand its line-up to include other models from both Chevrolet and Ford.

An agreement has been formed between Sevcon Inc and Flextronics Automotive with the aim of providing hybrid and electric drivetrains across Europe.

Sevcon is a global manufacturer of microprocessor-based controls for the advanced vehicles; while Flextronics is a global electronics manufacturing services provider. Now, by joining forces, the companies hope to combine the advanced motor controllers from Sevcon and its onboard system integration products; with the Flextronics high voltage DC/DC converter, as well as its charger and battery management technology.

Sevcon’s controls can vary the speed and movement of vehicles as well as optimising energy consumption. Meanwhile, Flextronics offers fully integrated light solutions, as well as power electronic applications for carmakers worldwide.

According to Sevcon president and CEO Matt Boyle, the partnership will allow Sevcon to increase the scale of its business and meet expanding product demand in Europe.

The companies will work on every kind of hybrid and electric vehicle – ranging from two-wheeled scooters, all the way up to passenger cars and trucks.

German carmaker Volkswagen was determined not to be outdone amid the bombardment of new concepts revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. So it took the opportunity at the showcase event to reveal a diesel version of its Cross Coupe plug-in hybrid concept.

A petrol version of the vehicle was revealed back in December – it offered fuel consumption of 87mpg and CO2 emissions of 62g/km. However, the Cross Coupe with a turbo-diesel direct injection engine and two electric motors achieves 131mpg and CO2 emissions of 46g/km. It offers a top speed of 137mph and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.5seconds, developing torque up to 400Nm

One of the key features of the SUV is that it is based on the new Modular Transverse Matrix which uses certain design parameters that are standardised across the Volkswagen brands.

This includes the distance between the accelerator pedal and the front wheel axis; and the mounting position of all engines. Additional elements include standardised front and rear suspensions. In addition, the Volkswagen Cross Coupe showcases how different variations can be applied on the Modular Transverse Matrix – as they could have been used just as easily in a full hybrid or in a vehicle with just an internal combustion engine.

The Volkswagen Cross Coupe Plug-in with a diesel engine is able to drive in pure electric mode for up to 28miles, with speeds limited to 75mph. The driver can also choose between focusing on optimising electric driving range or dynamic performance and can also intentionally switch to CHARGE mode when driving – this will charge the battery via the TDI engine.