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Connecticut garage fire destroys Volt and homemade EV

News reports say two plug-in electric cars--a 2011 Chevrolet Volt and a home-converted Suzuki Samurai--were destroyed in a garage fire in Barkhamsted, Conn., on April 14. The destroyed Volt had just 2,000 miles on the odometer. The owner said he converted the Samurai to electric power a few years ago.

Obama calls for shared sacrifice in auto bailout

President-elect Barack Obama says he wants to keep tough conditions on automakers that get federal loans. The companies must develop sustainable business models because it would be unacceptable "to keep them on their lifeline through taxpayer dollars in perpetuity," Obama told The Washington Post. Obama said industry restructuring will require "everybody, from labor to management to creditors to shareholders, giving something up." His comments contradict suggestions that the new administration will relax federal loan agreements reached last month with General Motors and Chrysler LLC, possibly with softer demands on the UAW.

Toyota leaves F1

Toyota are quitting F1 It’s not exactly a huge surprise, but Toyota has announced today that they are leaving Formula One and will not be back in 2010 to take their place. With the announcement that Bridgestone are also quitting F1 after 2010, and the departure of Honda before the 2009 season started, there is going to be no Japanese involvement in F1. Which is rather sad for a nation that loves its cars.