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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Honda Fit EV available for lease in US from July [VIDEO]

The battery-electric vehicle market is about to grow by one model with the introduction of the Honda Fit EV to California and Oregon starting on July 20. Honda promises Fit EV availability will be expanded to six East Coast markets starting in early 2013. This staged rollout to strategic early-adopter markets has been employed by other automakers in rolling out alternative-propulsion models, such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf.

Customers in those two West Coast markets interested in getting into the EV version of Honda’s acclaimed compact should be prepared to fork over $389 a month for a 36-month lease. Although that figure is higher on its face that some other leases on similar models such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, that figure is a zero-down lease, whereas the Leaf and Mitsubishi i electric require a down payment as part of the lease. On its face, the least-desirable deal is on the Ford Focus Electric, which is $439 a month, and also adds a $2490 down payment, $595 acquisition fee, and $3524 due at signing. Like the deal for the Volt, the Fit EV lease is a closed-end lease, and the car cannot be purchased at the end of the term.

What your monthly payment gets you is the current highest-rated fuel efficiency rating granted by the EPA, a significant 118 MPGe, topping the Focus EV’s 105 MPGe combined rating, as well as the Mitsubishi i’s 112 MPGe, and the Leaf’s 99 MPGe. The EPA recently announced a combined efficiency figure of 89 MPGe for the high-performance Tesla Model S luxury sedan. However, the Fit EV’s modest 82-mile range can’t match the Model S’s 265-mile range with its optional 85-kWh battery pack.

Top 10 favourite things about the Tesla Model S [VIDEO]

Serial entrepreneur Konstantin Othmer was one of the lucky few who took delivery last Friday at the Tesla Model S official launch.

Besides giving rides to friends and family, he's also made a Youtube video to share with the world what he likes about his new all-electric car.

Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid to debut @ Goodwood

Ahead of schedule, Lotus' new Evora 414E Range Extender Hybrid Electric Vehicle (REEV) has started its dynamic and durability testing at the Lotus HQ in Hethel, Norfolk.

The Lotus Evora 414E is a series hybrid technology demonstrator which shows some of the headline technologies that Lotus Engineering, one of the world' s leading automotive engineering consultancies, has within its portfolio.

The Evora 414E is powered by two electric motor packs driving the rear wheels through its Xtrac transmission with a battery pack that can be charged by the Lotus range extender engine or directly from mains electricity. The Lotus 3 cylinder range extender engine has been design protected to run on either gasoline or renewable bio alcohol fuels (methanol and ethanol). It drives an EVO electric generator which produces electrical energy to either charge the battery pack or power the EVO traction motors directly.

In normal driving, the Evora 414E will run purely on electricity stored in the battery pack for up to 30 miles (48 km). With the Lotus range extender and the electric traction motors powering the vehicle through an Xtrac 1092 transmission, the Evora 414E is targeted to produce just 55 g of CO2 / km emissions on the Northern European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Should the driver require more performance, under hard acceleration, for example, the electricity will come from both the battery storage and the small range extender engine.

It's all Torque

Now that the car is undergoing testing, what does 1000 Nm in an Evora feel like? Simon Corbett, Principal Vehicle Dynamics Test and Development Engineer at Lotus Engineering, has been doing the majority of the development testing, over the last few weeks, "The Evora S has 400 Nm of torque which in such a lightweight car is already a healthy figure. But the Evora 414E has two and a half times that amount! The acceleration sensation is almost indescribable, the surge of torque is like an ocean wave!"

See under the skin of the Evora 414E at the Goodwood Festival of Speed As part of the REEVolution consortium, funded by the government's innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, Lotus will show a cutaway version of the Evora 414E, with the addition of regenerative braking, HALOsonic and realistic 7 speed paddle shift technologies at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, giving an unusual insight into this pioneering vehicle.

  • 1000 Nm (738 lbft) of Torque
  • 414 PS (408 hp)
  • 0-60 mph / 97 km/h in around 4 seconds
  • Top speed 130 mph (209 km/h)
  • Target emissions of just 55 g CO2 / km (NEDC)

  • Ferrari F70 Hybrid Could Challenge Bugatti’s Acceleration [VIDEO]

    These are the first spy images of the Ferrari Enzo replacement, scooped testing outside the marque’s factory in Maranello.

    The disguised model – codenamed F70 and set to be Maranello’s most expensive hypercar – sits extremely low to the ground and features an elongated rear to house it’s 7.3-litre V12 engine. Mated to the engine is a dual-clutch gearbox and electric motor.

    Initial reports suggest the HY-KERS system is tipped to produce in the region of 900bhp, which may enable the F70 to strip the Bugatti Veyron from its title as world’s fastest car.

    Some more recent reports suggest the F70 will feature a biturbo engine, most likely a V12, combined with the HY-KERS system and four-wheel drive for a total output of 1000 HP.

    Under the carbonfibre skin of the F70 front sits another electric motor to run ancillaries.

    Behind the new hypercar’s wheels (which feature an F1-style single bolt) sit large, drilled brake discs. A quad exhaust system exits the hypercar’s rear.

    The innovative HY-KERS system will make the new Enzo the cleanest and fastest Ferrari in the range.

    The new Ferrari Enzo F70 is expected to go on sale at the beginning of 2013.

    Zero to 200 km/h (124 mph) time is expected to be 6.5 seconds.

    Friday, June 29, 2012

    Stalking hot girls in a Renault Twizy - Auto Express [VIDEO]


    The Renault Twizy has split opinion with its stripped-back interior and pod-like styling, but one thing's for sure: it's unique. So far, Auto Express had only driven it on smooth tarmac in Ibiza, but now it's time for its real test -- on potholed city roads in the UK.

    The test car is a top-spec Technic model, which adds 'luxuries' such as 13-inch alloys and carbon-look plastic on the roof and dash. The scissor doors are an extra £545, but are a must- have option for keeping your feet dry. Whichever way you look at it, this is a back-to-basics machine.

    Thursday, June 28, 2012

    Audi R8 e-tron sets a new production EV record at the Nürburgring [VIDEO]


    The R8 e-tron has set a new record for a production vehicle with an electric drive system on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

    Racing driver Markus Winkelhock piloted the high-performance, all-electric-drive sports car around the demanding 20.8-kilometer (12.92-mile) track in 8:09.099 minutes. With this Audi has achieved yet another milestone in its history, following overall wins at the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and Le Mans.

    “The R8 e-tron has given a magnificent demonstration of its potential on the toughest race track in the world,” said Michael Dick, AUDI AG Board Member for Technical Development. Dick, who completed a fast lap himself in the R8 e-tron, added: “The record-setting drive confirmed that we are on the right track. To us, electric mobility has never been about sacrifice, but rather is about emotion, sportiness and driving pleasure.”

    A comparison with the current record lap driven by a combustion engined production car shows just how impressive the 8:09.099-minute time really is. The record time of 7:11.57 minutes was achieved with a Gumpert Apollo Sport, which is powered by a 515 kW (700 hp) Audi V8 gasoline engine.

    Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) set a new lap record for an electric vehicle at the Nürburgring of 7:47.794-minute on 29 August 2011 using a Radical track day car powered by two EVO Electric motors.

    The drive system of the Audi R8 e-tron that Markus Winkelhock drove to the world record corresponds in every detail with that of the production model that will come on the market at the end of the year. Both of the car’s electric motors generate an output of 230 kW and 820 Nm of torque; more than 4,900 Nm (3,614.05 lb-ft) are distributed to the rear wheels nearly from a standing start.

    The Audi R8 e-tron accelerates from zero to 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 4.6 seconds. Its top speed is normally limited to 200 km/h (124.27 mph); 250 km/h (155.34 mph) was approved for the record-setting lap.

    The R8 e-tron’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery stores 49 KWh of energy – enough for a distance of about 215 kilometers (133.59 miles). Its “T” shape allows it to be installed in the center tunnel and in the area between the passenger compartment and the rear axle. It is charged by energy recovery during coasting and braking. The ultralight car body of the Audi R8 e-tron is made primarily of aluminum, along with CFRP components; this is a main reason why the high-performance sports car weighs just 1,780 kilograms (3,924.23 lb), despite the large battery.

    In order to further underscore the production-relevance of the R8 e-tron and the capability of its drive technology, Audi has set another record on the Nordschleife in addition to the single lap record time. Immediately afterwards, Markus Winkelhock drove two fast laps in one go in a second R8 e-tron that was limited to 200 km/h (124.27 mph). At 8:30.873 and 8:26.096 minutes, both laps were well under the important nine-minute threshold.

    “The record drives were a fantastic experience for me,” said Markus Winkelhock. The 32-year-old, who lives near Stuttgart, has a high standard for comparison – the Audi R8 LMS ultra, in which he, along with Marc Basseng, Christopher Haase and Frank Stippler, won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring a few weeks ago.

    “Of course, the R8 e-tron is a production car, not a racing car with the assistance of aerodynamics,” Winkelhock emphasized. “But with its low center of gravity and rear biased weight distribution, it brings with it a lot of sporty qualities. The torque with which the electric motors propel the car uphill beats everything that I know – even if they make hardly any noise in the process, which at the start was really a completely new experience for me. In places where I really need traction, the torque vectoring – the displacement of the torque between the powered wheels – really helps me.”

    Michael Dick proudly summed up events after the record-setting drive at the Nürburgring. “Within just a few weeks we’ve taken on some big challenges and in the process we’ve shown that we are at the forefront with all of our drive concepts,” he said, adding:“We won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in May in the Audi R8 LMS ultra with a ten-cylinder engine.

    In mid-June we triumphed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Audi R18 e-tron quattro – the first overall victory for a hybrid-electric vehicle in the toughest race in the world. And now we’ve set another record with the all-electric-drive R8 e-tron on the most demanding track there is.”

    Edison's battery goes ultrafast, charges in 2 mins

    Thomas Edison designed the rechargeable nickel-iron battery in the early 1900s to power electric vehicles. It was used in electric cars until about 1920. The battery's long life and reliability made it a popular backup power source for railroads, mines and other industries until the mid-20th century. Scientists at Stanford University said they have dramatically improved the performance of Edison's nickel-iron battery.

    "The Edison battery is very durable, but it has a number of drawbacks," said Hongjie Dai, professor of chemistry. "A typical battery can take hours to charge, and the rate of discharge is also very slow."

    The Stanford team has created an ultrafast nickel-iron battery that can be fully charged in about two minutes and discharged in less than 30 seconds. They managed to increase the charging and discharging rate by nearly 1,000 times.

    The high-performance, low-cost battery could someday be used to help power electric vehicles, much as Edison originally intended, Dai said.

    Edison created the nickel-iron battery as an inexpensive alternative to corrosive lead-acid batteries. Its basic design consists of two electrodes – a cathode made of nickel and an anode made of iron – bathed in an alkaline solution.

    "Importantly, both nickel and iron are abundant elements on Earth and relatively nontoxic."

    Carbon has long been used to enhance electrical conductivity in electrodes. To improve the Edison battery's performance, the researchers used graphene – nanosized sheets of carbon that are only 1-atom thick – and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, each consisting of about 10 concentric graphene sheets rolled together.

    In conventional electrodes, people randomly mix iron and nickel materials with conductive carbon. Instead, the team grew nanocrystals of iron oxide onto graphene, and nanocrystals of nickel hydroxide onto carbon nanotubes.

    This technique produced strong chemical bonding between the metal particles and the carbon nanomaterials, which had a dramatic effect on performance, the researchers said.

    "Coupling the nickel and iron particles to the carbon substrate allows electrical charges to move quickly between the electrodes and the outside circuit. The result is an ultrafast version of the nickel-iron battery that's capable of charging and discharging in seconds."

    The 1-Volt prototype battery developed in Dai's lab has just enough power to operate a flashlight. Now, the researchers aim to make a bigger battery that could be used for the electrical grid or transportation.

    Most electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt, run on lithium-ion batteries, which can store a lot of energy but typically take hours to charge.

    "Our battery probably won't be able to power an electric car by itself because the energy density is not ideal," Graduate student Hailiang Wang said. "But it could assist lithium-ion batteries by giving them a real power boost for faster acceleration and regenerative braking."

    The enhanced Edison battery might be especially useful in emergency situations. There may be applications for the military, for example, where you have to charge something very quickly.

    The prototype battery has one key drawback – the ability to hold a charge over time. "It doesn't have the charge-discharge cycling stability that we would like," Dai said. "Right now it decays by about 20 per cent over 800 cycles. That's about the same as a lithium-ion battery. But our battery is really fast, so we'd be using it more often. Ideally, we don't want it to decay at all."

    Tesla Developing All-Electric Mercedes-Benz B-Class

    Last May, there were reports coming out that German automaker Mercedes-Benz had contacted premium electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors about possibly working on an all-electric Mercedes-Benz vehicle. Initial reports said it was an A-Class, but now it turns out that the vehicle in question is actually a B-Class.

    According to new reports, the all-electric B-Class should make its world debut sometime in 2014. The first idea was to use range extenders, (shown @Frankfurt 2011 as an range-extended concept) but ultimately the engineers went with an all-electric drivetrain, of which Tesla should be in charge.

    There’s not much specific information right now, but we’ll keep you posted as new details surface.

    Driving the 2012 Tesla Model S - [VIDEO]

    On this episode of Wide Open Throttle, Jessi Lang reports from the Tesla facility on the day of the long-awaited rollout of the Model S, the world's first premium all-electric sedan and the car on which the company's future now depends.

    Then, Motor Trend Technical Director Frank Markus gets exclusive one-on-one time with Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Chief Designer Franz Von Holzhausen as he tours the Tesla factory and finally gets behind the wheel of the car that Tesla is hoping will galvanize the world's transition from internal combustion engines to electric mobility.

    Wednesday, June 27, 2012

    Opel Ampera is Europe’s best selling passenger electric vehicle

    The Opel Ampera electric vehicle is Europe’s best selling passenger electric vehicle according to sales figures from May 2012. With a European segment share of over 20 percent, the award-winning Ampera has now overtaken all of its rivals.

    “We are proud that we are the number one in Europe. Our sales data and customer feedback confirms that we are definitely on the right track with the Ampera”, says Enno Fuchs, Opel’s e-mobility launch director. “Especially in markets with governmental incentives like the Netherlands we have performed very well.”

    In the Netherlands, the Ampera has taken more than 77 percent of the passenger EV market share in May, making it the undisputed leader of its segment by a wide margin with all the other competitors only managing single figure percentages.

    The average year to date market share for the Ampera in the Netherlands was more than 50 percent, underscoring its continuing popularity in that country. Based on the latest available figures, the Ampera is also the best-selling EV including Germany with a share of more than a third and Switzerland with 44 percent.

    Fully Charged drives the Lightning GT ]VIDEO]

    Robert Llewellyn takes a drive with Iain Sanderson, the marketing type behind the Lightning GT.

    First revealed in 2008 with 4x in-wheel motors said to provide a combined 700 hp (here is a video from 2008 showing prototype testing) the car was slated to start low volume production in "spring 2012" with a RWD 400 hp in-board electric motor configuration.

    Unfortunately this brief video leaves most questions about this car company unanswered.

    Tuesday, June 26, 2012

    Audi R8 e-tron spied on the road [VIDEO]

    Audi engineers are busy preparing the R8 e-tron for a test fleet of around 1000 units that are due to be evaluated by the end of this year.

    Fortunately our spies were on hand to catch a prototype while it was out testing and it seems very clear that Audi are doing little to disguise this pre-production model.

    TRANSLOGIC 105: Pecan St Smart Grid EV Research Project [VIDEO]

    A few miles outside of Austin, TX you'll find Pecan Street Inc's Mueller smart grid demonstration project, a collaborative research initiative from The University of Texas, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Environmental Defense Fund.

    Here, residents are testing various forms of integrated clean energy solutions and electric vehicles are a big part of this pioneering community.

    Monday, June 25, 2012

    Nissan Leaf to reverse into the record books [VIDEO]

    At the Goodwood Festival of Speed (29 June - 1 July), the 100% electric Nissan LEAF will attempt to complete the famous 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb course as fast as possible... but in reverse, setting a new Guinness World Record for the fastest time over a distance of one mile in reverse.

    With direct drive from the electric motor to its wheels, the Nissan LEAF going backwards should be able to hit the same top speed it manages going forwards. With its batteries located under the floor of the car, it has a low centre of gravity making the car very stable at speed with little body roll under cornering. And with fewer moving parts than a conventional car, there's less likelihood of mechanical issues thwarting the attempt.

    The attempt is part of Nissan's ambitious social media-driven campaign, The Big Turn On, which is spreading the EV message across Europe. The campaign aims to prove that as well as being environmentally friendly, the Nissan LEAF is safe, economical to run, practical, and fun to drive.

    Professional stunt driver Terry Grant will attempt the LEAF Reverse Record. Terry thrilled the crowds at the 2011 Festival of Speed by driving a Nissan JUKE up the hillclimb course on two wheels.

    "The LEAF Reverse Record isn't going to be easy and will be very challenging," admitted Terry. "I'd prefer to do it on a nice straight and level strip of tarmac rather than on Lord March's drive. The hill not only climbs, but is also full of twists, turns and obstacles.

    "It's a hugely technical test of speed and concentration. But despite the risks, the strength and integrity of Nissan LEAF's design gives me confidence. Whatever happens, I know I'm going to finish the weekend with a serious crick in my neck!"

    One Hour Charge time for Tesla Model S 'Super-Charger'

    Tesla Motors Inc. delivered the first Model S sedan today and hinted it plans to unveil supercharging technology that will allow owners to recharge the long-range electric vehicle in just one hour.

    Tesla chief technology officer J.B. Straubel said the company has developed a 90-kilowatt, 440-volt supercharging technology that can recharge a 300-mile-range car in one hour.

    "If you recharge a Nissan Leaf in 30 minutes, it's much different than if you can do a 300-mile Model S in 30 minutes," said Straubel, adding he likes to use "range per hour" as his recharging measurement of choice.

    He said the possibility of charging 150 miles of battery range in 30 minutes is "not science fiction," and that Tesla will be unveiling the technology "in less than one year."

    Tesla is currently building one salable Model S electric sedan a day at its factory here for quality-control reasons. Company officials anticipate the plant will ramp up to a production rate of 80 cars a day by year's end.

    Tesla's anticipated run rate by year's end would represent an annual pace of 8,000 units from a single shift, said Gilbert Passin, Tesla's head of manufacturing.

    So far, Tesla has built "at least 20" salable cars, which includes customer orders and dealerships demonstrator models, Passin said.

    Each vehicle currently undergoes a 100-mile test by Tesla engineers after it leaves the assembly line, Passin said.

    Reservations list growing

    George Blankenship, Tesla's vice president of retail experience, said Tesla had 9,800 reservations worldwide for the Model S sedan at the end of the first quarter. That's up from about 8,000 at the end of December 2011.

    "Our first quarter was stronger than our fourth quarter [of 2011], which was stronger than our third quarter," Blankenship said. "We continue to have strong reservations."

    A buyer that plunks down $5,000 for a reservation will have to wait until May 2013 for the Model S to be delivered. Tesla is looking to shave the waiting time down to three months, but Blankenship could not give a timeframe for when that might happen.

    Tesla has 12 U.S. factory stores, including seven with the automaker's new design schematic in expanded real estate space located in upscale shopping malls.

    Tesla expects to add 10 new stores this year. Some will replace older stores; others will be in new markets like Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Northeast corridor between New York and Boston.

    The stores were supposed to draw 1,000 visitors a month, but Blankenship said the current customer flow is four times that.

    Peugeot Announce 508 Diesel HYbrid4

    The innovative HYbrid4 technology is now offered with a 3rd body style in the Peugeot model range. After application to crossover and all road estate types, it is a saloon that now benefits from the unique abilities provided by the Full Hybrid Diesel. With CO2emissions reduced to 95 g/km combined with a high level of performance, the 508 HYbrid4 represents an unequalled offering in its segment.

    Peugeot is the precursor of the Full Hybrid Diesel. This technology, which is still unequalled in the market, was designed to be modular and adaptable to different platforms. With this new offering in the 508 range, Peugeot gives a 3rddimension to HYbrid4.

    Indeed the performance provided by this innovative drive train, which is based on the virtuous association of a 2.0 litre HDi Diesel engine producing 120 kW (163 hp) and a 27 kW (37 hp) electric motor, will allow the 508 HYbrid4 to win new market share, particularly with BtoB customers or in countries where there are high fiscal incentives related to CO2emissions.

    A technological step ahead allows unequalled benefits to be offered, associating performance of a high level and much reduced fuel consumption:

    Maximum power of 147 kW (200 hp),

  • 4 wheel drive,
  • 4 driving modes including a 100% electric mode,
  • 95 g/km CO2for 3.6 l/100 km (78.5 mpg)on the combined cycle.

    All of the qualities that contributed to the success of the 508 are of course present in this new model. Recognisable by a discreet badge on the grille, the HYbrid4 versions retains a streamlined, prestigious and dynamic appearance. On board, the control knob used to select the 4 driving modes (Auto, ZEV, Sport, 4WD), particularly well integrated into the centreconsole, underlines the high level of perceived quality that characterises the whole 508 range.

    The boot, with a volume of 355 litres of water (VDA 210 standard), retains all of its practicality in use, particularly thanks to its rectangular form. With its modularity preserved and 1/3 –2/3 split folding rear seats, the load capacity can reach close to 1 400 litres when use is made of all of the space in row 2.

    Finally, the recognised dynamic qualities of the 508 are increased with the HYbrid4 technologywhich offers 4 different driving experiences and which makes full use of Peugeot's suspension know-how (pseudo McPherson at the front and multi-link at the rear).

    So the 508 HYbrid 4 distils unique driving pleasure, of a new generation, combining dynamicemotion with environmental requirements.

    The 508 HYbrid4 is built at Rennes, in France, and will be on sale in Europe from June. Advanced orders have been taken in Holland and these amount to nearly1600 orders at mid-June 2012.

  • Saturday, June 23, 2012

    Chevy Spark EV Hits the Desert for Hot Weather Testing

    The Chevy Spark EV team is hitting the road again this weekend to complete some additional testing of the Chevrolet Spark EV, focusing on hot weather performance. The GM team will travel from Yuma, AZ, to Torrance, CA, this Sunday (June 24) to see how the Spark performs in the grueling heat of the desert.

    During the 305 mile journey on I-8 West, across some country highways near the Anza-Borrego Desert State Wilderness Park and Warner Springs, AZ, through Laguna Niguel, CA, up into Torrance, they’ll be paying careful attention to how the battery and drivetrain systems perform in real-world conditions.

    Before you ask, no, the Spark will not to travel the full 305 miles on a single charge. It will stop along the route to charge using DC fast charging.

    This drive will allow GM to see if they need to make any last-minute adjustments to improve overall operating efficiency.

    BMW i Born Electric Tour Makes First Stop in Rome [VIDEO]

    The BMW i Born Electric Tour started at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome.

    The event in Rome is scheduled to cover four days from June 20 to 24, then the tour will visit six other cities over the next 12 months:

    Tour schedule:

  • Rome, June 2012
  • Dusseldorf, September 2012
  • Tokyo, October 2012
  • New York, November 2012
  • London, January 2013
  • Paris, March 2013
  • Shanghai, June 2013

  • Nissan offering free LEAF taxi rides in London

    A fleet of zero-emission Nissan LEAFs will be driving around London on June 23 and 24, offering free ‘taxi’ rides.

    To grab a ride, all a prospective passenger has to do is send a Tweet that incorporates the hashtag ‘#6XCHEAPER’ and their chosen destination. Nissan is also using the activity to gather consumer feedback on a potential taxi of the future.

    The use of Twitter is an integral part of Nissan’s ambitious campaign, ‘The Big Turn On’, which is spreading the EV message via social media channels and aimed to get one million consumers switched onto electric driving in just 100 days.

    The 1 million ‘turn ons’ target was achieved on June 20, 18 days ahead of the original target.

    The ‘#6XCHEAPER’ tag emphasises that fuelling an electric vehicle is six times cheaper than a similar sized petrol car. Using off-peak electricity, Nissan estimates it costs just 1.75 pence in fuel to travel one mile in a Nissan LEAF, but more than 10 pence per mile in a conventional car.

    Electric vehicles enjoy even more savings. Because it produces zero emissions, Nissan LEAF is exempt from London’s congestion charge and attracts no annual vehicle excise duty.

    Jim Wright, managing director of Nissan GB, said: ‘This is part of a campaign designed to get people to turn on to 100 per cent electric driving by busting many of the myths and highlighting the many benefits of electric cars, including incredibly low fuel costs.

    Practical and affordable

    ‘By offering free taxi rides, we aim to show hundreds of people just how practical and affordable the Nissan LEAF is to run. As each journey costs us so little, we’re not charging passengers – there’s no point quibbling over a few pence.’

    The fleet of Nissan LEAF EVs will be based at their very own ‘taxi rank’ at the Truman Brewery, near Liverpool Street Station and will be giving free rides to destinations across London.

    That means as far west as Turnham Green or to the O2 Arena in the east. The Nissan LEAF cabs will go south of the river as far as Clapham and as far north as Hampstead. They will be operating from 10am to 6pm on both Saturday and Sunday and driven by professional drivers from car service operator, Climate Cars.

    All Tweets sent with the ‘#6XCHEAPER’ hashtag will be monitored and winners of the free rides chosen at random to avoid queues. Each journey will be logged and passengers shown just how much they would save in fuel costs by going electric.

    Friday, June 22, 2012

    Green Overdrive test drive Tesla’s Model S electric car [VIDEO]

    On Friday Katie Fehrenbacher got a chance to drive the Tesla’s Model S on the streets around Tesla’s factory in Fremont, Calif.

    The low center of gravity, smooth ride, and lack of vibration were pretty amazing.

    Toyota introduce Li-Ion battery in Prius+ [VIDEO]

    Toyota expands the Prius family with new Prius+

    The Toyota Prius advances from being a single, global model to become a family of full hybrid vehicles this year. In Europe the first stage of this development is the introduction of Prius+, the first full hybrid seven-seat vehicle to be sold in the region. Soon it will be joined by Prius Plug-in, a new version of the world's best-selling hybrid that promises even greater fuel efficiency and low emissions thanks to a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

    These additions to the Toyota range, together with the recently launched Yaris Hybrid, Auris Hybrid and third-generation Prius, demonstrate the fundamental adaptability of Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive to work in different size vehicles. The steady increase in the number and variety of hybrid models will continue with 10 planned for introduction by 2015 and most of the European range to include hybrid derivatives by the early 2020s.

    Prius, Prius+ and Prius Plug-in will expand Prius's customer base and sales potential. Prius+ is designed for growing families who need the space and flexibility of a seven-seater, while Prius Plug-in, with CO2 emissions expected to be as low as 49g/km, will appeal to environmentally conscious early-adopters.

    Prius has enjoyed environmental and technical leadership for more than 10 years, garnering multiple awards and selling more than 2.6 million units worldwide. The latest model, launched in 2009, has accelerated its popularity with more than 1.27 million sales -- more than 24,000 of them in the UK.

    Since 1997 Toyota has sold more than four million full hybrid vehicles, helping give the company an unchallenged lead in the progress towards sustainable mobility. Together these vehicles have already contributed to an estimated reduction in automotive emissions of more than 25 million tonnes of CO2.

    Prius+ is available to order now, with customer deliveries commencing on 9 July. It is available in two grades, T4 and T Spirit, priced £26,195 and £29,495 on the road, respectively.

    Thursday, June 21, 2012

    Nissan Leaf Limousine! [VIDEO]

    Built by Imperial Coach Builders of Springfield, Missouri who claim to be the builders of the world's first-ever electric stretch limousine.

    The Nissan LEAF limo is no doubt a one-of. According to Imperial Coach Builders, the conversion process was relatively simple "We took a regular Nissan LEAF and we cut it into two and basically extended the frame to add a center section to stretch it into a limousine."

    Tesla Model S: EPA rating 89 MPGe, 265-mile range

    The EPA has rated the Tesla Model S luxury EV equipped with the 85 kWh pack at 89 MPGe combined (88 MPGe city, 90 MPGe highway), with a range per charge of 265 miles. Tesla is offering a choice of three battery pack configurations on the Model S: 40, 60, and 85 kWH packs, along with an 85 kWh pack performance model. The EPA numbers for the other packs have not been released, according to Tesla.

    EPA-rated power consumption for the 85 kWh model (with a starting price of $69,900 after the $7,500 federal tax credit) is 38 kWh/100 miles combined (38 kWh city, 37 kWh highway).

    The battery is warrantied for 8 years, unlimited miles. Charge time at 240V according to the EPA is 12 hours. The Model S is equipped with a 10 kW capable on-board charger with the following input compatibility: 85-265 V, 45-65 Hz, 1-40 A. With a High Power Wall Connector and Twin Chargers (i.e., 20 kW capable), Model S can be recharged at the rate of 62 miles of range per hour. The 85 kWh version of the Model S is “Supercharger” equipped, allowing fast charging that will replenish 160 miles of travel in about 30 minutes when applied to the 85 kWh vehicle.

    The Model S with 85 kWh pack has a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds.

    Source: EPA

    Wednesday, June 20, 2012

    Audi and Toyota Hybrid Lead Battle 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours [VIDEO]

    In case you were unable to catch the Le Mans 24 Hours broadcast over the weekend, here is a replay of the battle for the lead between hybrids from Audi and Toyota at the 4 hour mark. Enjoy!

    2012 Ford Focus Electric Review [VIDEO]

    While other electric cars trickle into the market, the 2012 Ford Focus Electric is the closest competitor yet to the 2012 Nissan Leaf, which currently reigns as the most popular all-electric car despite its initial tepid sales.

    Overall, the Focus Electric is a competent ride, according to Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder. But how does it stack up against the Leaf?

    Inside Tesla! Model S Final Assembly [VIDEO]

    After stamping, body assembly and painting this week we get a behind the scenes look at:

    FINAL ASSEMBLY

    After a final coat of paint and clear coat, Model S is transported to the assembly center on automated SmartCarts that follow magnetic tape strips on the floor. Along the way, robots use high-definition 3D cameras to accurately position the panoramic roof. The interior seats, center console, and instrument cluster are all installed as SmartCarts continue to move Model S through the assembly line. Then the drivetrain and battery modules are precision-lifted and secured. After the final exterior components, such as tires, wheels and emblems are added, your car is powered up for the first time.

    Before leaving the factory, every Model S undergoes stringent quality tests on a uniquely designed final inspection platform with premium quality bamboo flooring and LED lighting. The car is inspected by Tesla associates for perfect body fit and appearance. Your Model S then enters the industry’s first all-glass water test booth, where it is sprayed by water from 360 stationary nozzles to ensure your car has perfect water tightness. Tesla’s water test booth holds 1,500 gallons of water that is purified and re-used for each test to minimize wasted resources.

    As a final quality test before Model S is ready to be shipped, every car is tested on Tesla’s indoor confirmation track – North America’s first. Though most confirmation test tracks are outdoors, Tesla’s zero emissions powertrain makes an indoor test track possible.

    Behind the Scenes -Toyota Motorsport GMBH @ LeMans [VIDEO]

    On this episode of The Downshift, they take a look back behind the scenes at Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Germany, where Toyota was hard at work preparing their new hybrid prototype racecar for the world's oldest endurance race, The 24 Hours of Le Mans.

    Monday, June 18, 2012

    Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV headed for Paris debut

    At the forthcoming 2012 Paris Motor Show Mitsubishi Motors will continue to roll out its ambitious, global and green new product generation with a series of significant premieres. Highlight of this offensive will be the world introduction of the all-new Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV.

    New Frontier Neither a mere adaptation of an existing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) – powered vehicle, nor a dedicated Plug-in Hybrid technology showcase, the New Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV (or "PHEV") will share its architecture with the soon-to-be-introduced New Outlander's ICE versions – an engineering feat in itself.

    As such, it will be the first mainstream car from a major manufacturer envisaged from the outset with built-in provisions for either ICE or PHEV power trains.

    Plug-in Hybrid EV Adding to its credentials, the New Outlander PHEV will further distinguish itself:

    Mitsubishi Motors' first Plug-in Hybrid car, it will be an EV-based vehicle, relying on MMC's extensive EV and electronic know-how, supplemented by a petrol engine when needed – a solution more suited to global markets than Diesel. Making the best use of Mitsubishi's renowned 4-Wheel-Drive expertise, it will also be the first permanent 4WD electric car in series production.

    Long haul The New Outlander PHEV unique drive train combination of front electric motor + rear electric motor + front traction/generator petrol engine will translate into a choice of three driving modes:

  • Pure (Twin Motor 4WD EV)
  • Series (Twin Motor 4WD - EV supported by generator)
  • Parallel (ICE engine supported by Twin Motor 4WD).

    When fitted to the New Outlander, the Mitsubishi Plug-in Hybrid system will allow for a long haul range and very low emissions similar to that of the Concept PX-MiEV II show car, i.e. a driving distance of over 800 km and a CO2 target below 50 g/km.

    Further... Whilst the New Outlander ICE will start its commercial career in Western & Eastern Europe in the fall of 2012, the Outlander Plug-in Hybrid EV will be retailed in Europe during the course of 2013.

    Complementing this New Outlander family, Mitsubishi Motors will stage further premieres at the Paris Motor Show, aimed at a European audience and to be detailed at a later stage...

  • Nissan Sees Leaf Sales Doubling As US Factory Begins Production

    Nissan will overcome a slowdown in deliveries of its all-electric Leaf vehicle, doubling U.S. sales to 20,000 during its current fiscal year, the vice chairman of its U.S. unit said.

    A new plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, will be ready to make the cars in December, helping boost supply before the fiscal year ends in March, Nissan’s Bill Krueger said in an interview yesterday in Los Cabos, Mexico, where he was visiting for the B-20 business summit. The automaker also is expanding sales nationally after beginning in seven states, he said.

    Leaf sales have dropped the past two months, trailing GM’s rechargeable Chevrolet Volt and Toyota's plug-in Prius in May. Overseas, however, Leaf has fared better. Sales so far this fiscal year are up 125 percent in Japan, where demand was hurt last year by the March earthquake and tsunami. They are also up 207 percent in Europe, where the Leaf did not roll out as quickly.

    Nissan has sold 37,285 Leaf since it was introduced. Of that figure, 17,710 have been sold in Japan; 13,921 in North America; 4,881 in Europe; and 773 in other markets, Nissan said. The Leaf is made in a single plant in Japan.

    “We’ve had to fulfill demand from one plant globally,” Krueger said. “Once we localize it in December, the second half of the fiscal year is when we’ll see most of the supply, demand be available.”

    Renault Samsung to Sell All-Electric Car in S Korea Next Year

    Renault Samsung Motors, the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., Monday entered the race to sell electric cars in Asia's fourth-biggest economy, announcing plans to start sales of its all-electric powered car to customers from the second half of next year.

    South Korean car makers are at the initial stage of introducing electric vehicles as they see potential demand for the environment-friendly cars amid rising oil prices.

    Kia Motors aims to introduce an all-electric version of its Ray car in 2013 for general customers, depending on Korea's progress in building charging stations for electric vehicles. Hyundai Motor, which owns 34% stake in Kia, plans to sell an Elantra-sized compact electric car from 2014.

    The make-or-break issue for car makers looking to introduce all-electric cars in Korea is the lack of charging stations across the country. Only a small number of charging stations currently exist and are used for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles -- Hyundai's BlueOn and Kia's Ray--used by the Korean government. The government has said it will build 150,000 charging stations across the country by 2016 to help boost sales of eco-friendly vehicles.

    Prior to sale of the SM3 ZE (Renault Fluence) to customers, Renault Samsung said it will supply 500 units of the pure electric car at KRW64 million ($55,000) per vehicle to public organizations this year in a pilot program. The per-vehicle price includes the government's current subsidy worth KRW15 million.

    "We will have customers pay for the battery on a lease program to help ease their initial burden in purchasing the car," Lee Sang-tae, Renault Samsung's deputy overseas program director, said. "The final sticker price will be determined depending on what the government's subsidies are for customers."

    LG Chem will supply a 24-kilowatt lithium-ion polymer battery for the SM3 ZE model built at the auto maker's Busan plant, Mr. Lee said. He expects the price of the 24-kilowatt battery to be lowered from the current KRW24 million, pulling down the price of the electric car as well.

    LG Chem is also the supplier of car battery for General Motors Co.'s (GM) Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

    GM Korea does not have a plan to sell an electric version of the Chevrolet Spark mini car in the domestic market though the company will produce it next year at its Changwon plant for export initially to California.

    BMW AG is also set to enter the local electric car market in 2014 with its i3 model following its global launch in 2013.

    Hyundai said it does not have a plan to sell the BlueOn all-electric car to customers.

    Sunday, June 17, 2012

    Bitter-Sweet Le Mans Debut For TOYOTA Racing

    TOYOTA Racing experienced thrilling highs and extreme lows during an eventful Le Mans 24 Hours which ended in the 11th hour.

    An impressive start to the team’s first race saw the TS030 HYBRIDs fighting at the front, reaching a pinnacle when Nicolas Lapierre, sharing the #7 with Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima, took the lead as the six-hour mark approached.

    However, the team’s joy at seeing its super capacitor-based hybrid powertrain lead the field was ended only seconds later due to a heavy accident for Anthony Davidson in the #8 he drove alongside Stéphane Sarrazin and Sébastien Buemi. He was hit by a lapped car and suffered heavy impact with the tyre barriers at Mulsanne Corner, which comes at the end of the Mulsanne Straight when cars reach a top speed of more than 330km/h.

    After getting out of the car on his own, he was taken to the circuit medical centre suffering from shock and back pain. Despite no obvious injuries, he was taken to hospital for checks which revealed breaks to his T11 and T12 vertebrae.

    Those injuries are expected to heal fully in approximately three months and he will remain in hospital until Monday.

    A safety car period followed that incident and, when the green flags waved, Kazuki fought for the lead. However he was also unlucky with lapped traffic and made contact with another car, causing a puncture and rear bodywork damage.

    That began a challenging period for the team, with several problems losing the #7 significant time in the pits as the crew worked hard to achieve the target of taking the chequered flag.

    However, an engine failure after 10-and-a-half hours forced the difficult decision to retire the #7 and end TOYOTA Racing’s first race prematurely. Having proven the performance of its TS030 HYBRID chassis and TOYOTA HYBRID System – Racing in one of motorsport’s toughest races, the team will return to action with confidence at the WEC Six Hours of Silverstone on 26 August.

    Nissan Leaf 'Car & Driver' Skidpad TEST DRIVE [VIDEO]

    Can we make an electric car pull 1.00 g on the skidpad? Can we take a Leaf and make it perform like a Porsche 911 Carrera S on the skidpad.

    What's the difference between performance-tire categories? Can electric cars be fun? Watch the above Car & Driver video to get the answers.

    Audi e-tron quattro hybrids dominate Le Mans 24 Hour race

    Audi claimed the first Le Mans 24 Hours victory for a hybrid car as #1 crew Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler repeated their 2011 triumph in the 80th running of the famous event.

    The trio led a one-two for the new e-tron quattro and topped an all-Audi podium.

    Toyota exceeded expectations with its pace and Audi allowed its drivers to push each other to the limit in a battle from which none of the combatants could get through totally unscathed.

    None suffered as big an accident as Toyota man Anthony Davidson though, with the Briton sustaining two fractured vertebrae in a horrifying clash with a GT car.

    The #1 Audi was the only one of the team's four cars not to run into moderate trouble in the opening hours, as both ultras needed precautionary garage visits for checks, and the sister #2 e-tron had to pit to remove a large amount of rubber build-up that was interfering with its suspension.

    That allowed the impressively quick Toyotas to take the fight to the #1 Audi, and near the end of hour five Toyota's Nicolas Lapierre was going wheel-to-wheel with Audi's race leader Treluyer in a spectacular side-by-side dice from which the TS030 emerged on top.

    But just as it did so, the television cameras cut to the sight of the wreckage of the sister #8 TS030, which had flipped through the air and slammed into the barriers after contact between Davidson and AF Corse Ferrari GTE Am driver Piergiuseppe Perazzini on the approach to Mulsanne corner.

    A long safety car period followed while Davidson was extricated and the crash barriers rebuilt following violent assaults from both the Toyota and Ferrari.

    Toyota lost the lead in the pitstop during this caution, and then saw its starring run all but ended at the restart when Kazuki Nakajima clashed with the DeltaWing, ending the experimental car's promising race and forcing the Toyota into its garage for extensive bodywork and floor repairs.

    An engine failure then stopped the car just before half-distance.

    Euro NCAP Will Soon Require Auto-Braking For 5 Star rating [VIDEO]

    Euro NCAP this week published the results of its survey on the availability of Autonomous Emergency Braking systems in Europe and reveals that the assessment programme will include AEB technologies in its star rating from 2014.

    Real world performance data suggests AEB systems can reduce accidents by up to 27%. Although the introduction of these active safety technologies is reducing road deaths and injuries, the availability of AEB in Europe is far from standardized. A recent survey undertaken by Euro NCAP reveals that AEB is completely unavailable on 79% of the car models on sale in Europe and that 66% of manufacturers do not offer an AEB system on any of their new car models.

    Autonomous Emergency Braking systems can help to avoid crashes or to mitigate their severity by warning the driver and supporting his braking response and/or by applying the brakes independently. The technology generally uses forward-looking radar, lidar and video systems to provide a complete, accurate, real-time image of the road ahead. Since 2010, several car manufacturers have been recognized for the safety benefits of their AEB systems through Euro NCAP Advanced rewards.

    Euro NCAP finds that premium brands such as Volvo, Infiniti and Mercedes have the best levels of standard AEB fitment, and are joined by Jaguar, Range Rover, Audi and Lexus when optional fit is also considered. Cars in the Executive and Large Family categories have the highest level of availability, at least as an option. However, some volume sector manufacturers are showing that AEB can be offered as standard or as an affordable option on mass-market vehicles. Amongst others, Mazda, Ford, Honda and Volkswagen are selling AEB systems partly as standard or optional on some high-volume cars such as the Mazda CX-5, the Ford Focus, the Honda Civic and the VW up!. It is understood that Fiat will also make AEB a low-cost option on the new Panda in July 2012. AEB systems are increasingly being made available as cars are replaced by new or facelifted models, such as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, the Ford Fiesta and Ford Kuga.

    Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP says 'A faster penetration of these technologies into new cars will make it more realistic for the European Union to reach its target to cut road deaths by 50% by 2020. Consequently, Euro NCAP has decided to include AEB assessments as part of the overall star rating from 2014 onwards and hopes that European authorities will soon require AEB as mandatory on all new vehicle types.'

    Since Euro NCAP published the first safety rating in 1997, considerable efforts have been made by car manufacturers, technology providers, authorities and road operators to make cars safer. Despite an important reduction of road deaths the past 15 years, in Europe today, over 30,000 people are still killed on the road and many more are injured every year. The inclusion of AEB systems in the Euro NCAP star rating will alert and encourage consumers to choose AEB when buying a new car as it will improve their safety, make a real difference and help them avoid or mitigate a crash.

    The electrification of automobiles may play a large role in facilitating the mass adoption of Autonomous Emergency Braking systems. With the integration of braking and powertrain systems in hybrid vehicles and the future introduction of in-wheel motor systems, safety functions such as Anti-lock braking, stability control and autonomous emergency braking systems can become software features that are virtually free to reproduce and distribute which can be updated on-line with the same ease and regularity as today PC and smart phone operating systems.

    Saturday, June 16, 2012

    Audi R18 e-tron quattro - Animation [VIDEO]

    Premiere at the Le Mans 24 Hours: The 80th running of the endurance classic that has been held since 1923 will see a sports car with hybrid drive starting from grid position one for the first time -- the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro.

    The intelligent combination of TDI power at the rear axle and an electrically driven front axle made it possible for André Lotterer in the Audi R18 e-tron quattro designated as car number "1" to achieve a fastest lap of 3m 23.787s in the final qualifying session on Thursday night shortly after 22:00 -- and thus an improvement of last year's best time by nearly two seconds.

    "The car was running like it was on rails, simply incredible," raved the 31-year-old German as he praised the advantages of the new type of electric quattro drive that is already being tested at Audi for use in production vehicles. "The guys at Audi Sport did a top job yet again and made my first pole position at Le Mans possible for me. Many thanks to them for this!"

    But not only the R18 e-tron quattro showed a convincing performance on both qualifying days at Le Mans. World championship front runner Loïc Duval in the fastest conventionally powered number "3" R18 ultra was merely 0.291 seconds slower. "My lap wasn't completely free, more would have been possible," reported the Frenchman. "That's why I'd actually expected my time to be beaten. But the main goal was to be in front of Toyota -- and we achieved this."

    Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen in the number "2" Audi R18 e-tron quattro set the fourth-fastest lap (3m 25.433s) behind the quickest hybrid vehicle from Toyota. Le Mans rookie Marco Bonanomi in the number "4" Audi R18 ultra took grid position six (3m 26.420 s. This meant that all four vehicles fielded by Audi Sport Team Joest qualified for the three front rows.

    After 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2011, this marked the seventh pole position for Audi at Le Mans. Each time, the brand with the four rings secured the complete front row at those events as well -- albeit never before with two different technologies.

    "Of course, we're proud to be the first automobile manufacturer to clinch the pole position with a hybrid vehicle at Le Mans and to outperform the two Toyota hybrid cars," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "But this is just a very small step. The much bigger task is still ahead -- the race. Therefore, as always, we used the two practice days almost exclusively to work on the race set-up. The result is that we've now got cars that are very good to drive and which until now ran with absolute reliability too. But you could also very impressively see today that you can't only be fast at Le Mans with a diesel -- that's exactly what we've always said. This double pole is the nicest thank you for the entire squad that has been working hard on preparing the cars so superbly."

    The 80th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours will be started on Saturday at 15:00 and broadcast live by numerous TV channels worldwide. At www.audi-liveracing.com Audi is offering live streaming in which spectators can continually watch the race from the onboard perspective of the Audi R18 cars.

    The smallest Audi made a big appearance at Le Mans as well. The A1 quattro that is produced in a limited number of 333 cars will be driven in front of the field on the formation lap.

    Friday, June 15, 2012

    Nissan Leaf is now on sale in Australia

    Nissan has introduced the first mass-produced, purpose built electric car to the Australian market, the LEAF.

    The Nissan LEAF is priced at $51,500 MSRP and is available now from 13 LEAF accredited Nissan dealerships across Australia.

    Even without any meaningful government EV incentives, Nissan is confident of selling at least 300 Leafs in its first year on sale, with fleet business accounting for between 60 and 70 per cent of volume.

    Currently there are 37 firm orders, but Nissan Australia expects the publicity surrounding the car in the wake of its Australian media launch in Sydney last week to prompt people into visiting the 13 dealerships handling the car.

    To help stimulate interest, a $599 monthly lease package with a guaranteed buyback feature is being introduced, as well as a three-year free subscription to Nissan’s ‘Carwings’ in-car communications and telematics service.

    Token government gestures to help people into EVs include no stamp duty in the ACT and $100 off Victorian annual registration – though these pale against the significant tax, toll road and parking discounts or exclusions (among other incentives) offered abroad.

    The company has partnered with energy company Origin as its preferred provider of charging services, which means that Leaf buyers will have the option of having Origin's charging equipment installed in their garage.

    Each Leaf dealership has a ‘Level Three’ 400V fast charger that provides up to 80 per cent battery capacity in around 30 minutes.

    Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid on Pole @ Le Mans [VIDEO]

    Le Mans 2012 has started and already big battles are developing between Audi and Toyota. Even inside the Audi camp there is a fierce battle between the Hybrid and TDI powered R18 crews.

    The #1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro took a sensational pole position in hands of Benoit Treluyer who also claimed the 2011 pole position. The French driver set an amazing 3:23.787, that is two seconds faster from last year’s pole position.

    The #8 Toyota is in third position on the grid – 1.055secs away from pole position – with the other TS030 HYBRID in fifth.

    Thursday, June 14, 2012

    BMW will price i8 hybrid at more than 100,000 euros [VIDEO]

    BMW says it is sticking to plans to sell the i8 hybrid supercar for more than 100,000 euros ($125,400) when the model reaches customers in about two years.

    The premium German automaker will price the smaller i3 electric compact car, the first model from its i sub-brand to go on sale next year, "very competitively for the substance you get" from new powering technology, Ian Robertson, BMW's global sales chief, said Wednesday at the unveiling of the sub-brand's first global sales outlet in London.

    The showroom "is a further demonstration of our commitment to electro-mobility," Robertson said. The German company is spending 530 million euros developing the sub-brand to keep its sales lead over rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

    BMW is currently the best-selling premium brand worldwide with global sales of 1.38 million cars and SUVs last year. Audi sold 1.3 million, while the Mercedes-Benz brand sold 1.26 million in the same period.

    In April, BMW released pictures of the i8 Spyder, a roadster version of the i8 coupe, the third concept in the automaker's sub-brand line-up.

    Concept base

    The production model of the i3 compact is based 85 percent to 90 percent on the car's concept version, Benoit Jacob, chief designer for the i models, said at Wednesday's unveiling.

    BMW says it is considering offering i cars through a mobile sales force, which would operate in locations with no dealers, and over the internet. The automaker has already used mobile teams to offer test drives at holiday resorts, said Linda Croissant, a BMW spokeswoman.

    At the same time, "the dealer will remain the backbone of what we are doing in the interface with the customer," Robertson added.

    In BMW's homeland, Germany, 45 of BMW's roughly 200 dealerships will sell i models, Robertson said. To protect the sales outlets from the risk of dealing with new-technology cars, BMW will continue to own the vehicles, and the 45 i-brand showrooms will operate as agents rather than dealers, Karsten Engel, BMW's head of sales in Germany, said earlier this month.

    Sources: Bloomberg and Automotive News Europe

    The Australian Holden Volt price is $60,000

    General Motors Holden have priced the Volt Plug-In hybrid at $60,000 plus on-road costs.

    Having announced the 49 dealers that will sell and service the Volt earlier this week and revealing that orders have already been placed by the first Volt customers, EV News calls to one of the dealers listed confirm the retail price will be $60k, approx $10,000 more than the Nissan Leaf in Australia.

    Holden chief executive Mike Devereux has said Holden will not approach the federal government for financial incentives to help buyers. "It's not our intention to seek (government) support for the Volt," he says. "This car is viable on its own, otherwise I wouldn't be bringing it here."

    Infiniti EMERG-E electric concept [VIDEO]

    A brief view of the EMERG-E electric sports car concept, of which two prototypes will show at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012.

    Australian F1 racer Mark Webber will become the first person to drive the Infiniti Emerg-e prototype in public when he unleashes the 300kW plug-in sports car on the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb on July 1.

    TRANSLOGIC 104: Kenguru Wheelchair-Accessible EV [VIDEO]

    One major issue facing transportation is accessibility, especially for those in wheelchairs. From public to personal transit, a wheelchair presents unique mobility challenges.

    Sure, it's possible to outfit existing vehicles for wheelchair accessibility, but the process is expensive and doesn't always yield a complete, integrated solution. That's where Kenguru changes things. The Kenguru is an electric vehicle with no seats, that allows drivers to control the car from their wheelchair.

    More Infomation

    Wednesday, June 13, 2012

    Renault clocks up 14,000 EV orders

    Renault has received 14,000 orders across its four-model Z.E. electric car range, the French manufacturer's global head of electric vehicles revealed earlier this week.

    Thierry Koskas said the figure showed consumer demand for all-electric cars was strong. Along with its partner Nissan, Renault aims to sell 1.5 million electric cars worldwide by 2016 and estimates they could make up 10 per cent of the global market by the end of the decade.

    The company has three electric models currently available in the UK: the Kangoo van, Fluence saloon and Twizy quadricycle. A fourth, the ZOE city car, is scheduled to hit forecourts in October.

    The Fluence starts at £17,495, achieving a significant cost advantage over competitors such as the Nissan LEAF by allowing customers to rent the battery separately.

    Fully Charged - Agility Saietta EV Superbike [VIDEO]

    Robert Llewellyn visits the National Science Museum in London to speak with Lawrence Marazzi (Director of Agility Global Ltd) about the Agility Saietta.

    Agility says the 'Saietta represents the first meaningful redesign in motorcycling in a generation. Its unparalelled handling and revolutionary styling have set the benchmark for performance and design across the industry.

    Its fistful of world firsts, stack of glowing reviews and awards have firmly established Saietta as the best motorbike available, bar none. The all-day-long range, unmatched handling and impressive power are all that you could ask of a vehicle.'

    Smart Fortwo electric drive enters production [VIDEO]

    Daimler AG started production of the new smart fortwo electric drive at the smart Hambach plant. Like the models with combustion engines, the electric vehicle is now rolling off the production line in the standardised production process. Furthermore, Daimler invests more than €200 million to upgrade the site and secure its future.

    "The new smart electric drive and the expansion of the Hambach plant are two important milestones for the future of smart", said Dr. Annette Winkler, Head of smart. "With the new smart electric drive we are further expanding our leading position in urban mobility and making fully electric driving accessible to everyone. For this – and for the successor generation to the current smart – we are making significant investments in the Hambach site. And I am convinced that this is money extremely well invested."

    Dr. Joachim Betker, Head of the smart plant in Hambach, emphasised the ground-breaking integration of the electric version in the production process: "For the first time we have realised the consistent and perfectly integrated production of models with electric drive and those with combustion engines. In production, we are now optimally utilising the smart vehicle concept's immanent potential for different drive systems."

    12 June 2012 – this date marks the start of sales* for the first real alternative to the usual refuelling stops. With the launch of the new smart fortwo electric drive, in future smart customers can enjoy even more fun at the wheel of an attractively priced vehicle that has the familiar compact dimensions - as a coupé or a cabriolet. The most important feature distinguishing it from its siblings with conventional engines is the fact that it has no exhaust, which means that it does not produce any emissions on the road.

    With its 55kW electric motor the smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0 - 60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and with a maximum speed of 125 km/h driving pleasure is also guaranteed on urban motorways. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the urban two-seater to travel approximately 145 kilometres in city traffic without producing any local emissions. As those components each come from joint ventures with the German companies Bosch (EM-motive) and Evonik (Deutsche ACCUmotive) and as the vehicle is built in the plant in Hambach (France), the new smart fortwo electric drive is the first true European electric car.

    The new sale&care model makes opting into electric mobility particularly attractive: it offers customers an opportunity to buy, finance or lease the vehicle at an attractive price and to rent the battery for a monthly fee. Purchase, financing or leasing of the vehicle including the battery is also possible.

    The company is making significant investments in the plant to secure its future. The total investments for the expansion and modification of the plant plus preparatory measures for the successor series to the current smart exceed €200 million. The largest individual project with a total investment of more than €50 million is the new paint shop where an environmentally-friendly liquid painting process that meets the current Daimler Group standard for passenger car plants will replace the present powder painting process. The new paint shop will thus greatly expand the variety of paint colours that can be realised, which means that in future smart customers will also be able to choose the colour of the tridion safety cell of their smart from all available paint finishes.

    Prices in Germany (including 19% VAT):

    sale&care
    Coupé
    Cabrio
    smart fortwo electric drive
    18.910,00 €
    22.000,00 €
    Battery-rent
    65,00 €/month


    Vehicle including battery
    Coupé
    Cabrio
    smart fortwo electric drive
    23.680,00 €
    26.770,00 €


    Delivery in Germany starts in late summer, all other markets - a total of more than 30 - will follow successively.

    Inside Tesla! Model S Paint Centre [VIDEO]

    This week we head to the Paint Centre.

    PAINT CENTRE

    The Tesla Model S Paint Center uses some of the highest quality processes available to the automotive industry today. First, a Body-in-White is submerged into our pre-treatment bath where the aluminum gets prepared for its first treatment layer.

    The Model S is then dipped into a 75,000 gallon tank of advanced electro-coating solution to enhance the appearance of subsequent paint layers. After this e-coat dip, the car goes through a 350° F oven to ensure a “baked on” protection against corrosion. Highly-skilled craftsmen then apply sealer to ensure it is watertight and quiet.

    Next, the car gets its primer coat, followed by a base coat from one of our 10 vibrant color choices. Lastly we apply a clear coat application to make the car shine! These “coats” are all applied by the latest robotic paint applicators that not only spray, but also open the doors, hood and liftgate to cover every surface of the car. The robots move fast, so watch carefully in the video to see all these manoeuvre's.

    Next week we wrap up our Model S video series with a look at how Model S comes together on the Final Assembly Line.

    A123 Systems Introduces Breakthrough Lithium Ion Battery Technology

    A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate® lithium iron phosphate batteries and systems, today introduced Nanophosphate EXT™, a new lithium ion battery technology capable of operating at extreme temperatures without requiring thermal management. Nanophosphate EXT is designed to significantly reduce or eliminate the need for heating or cooling systems, which is expected to create sizeable new opportunities within the transportation and telecommunications markets, among others.

    "We believe Nanophosphate EXT is a game-changing breakthrough that overcomes one of the key limitations of lead acid, standard lithium ion and other advanced batteries. By delivering high power, energy and cycle life capabilities over a wider temperature range, we believe Nanophosphate EXT can reduce or even eliminate the need for costly thermal management systems, which we expect will dramatically enhance the business case for deploying A123's lithium ion battery solutions for a significant number of applications," said David Vieau, CEO of A123 Systems. "We continue to emphasize innovation with a commercial purpose, and we expect Nanophosphate EXT to strengthen our competitive position in existing target markets as well as create new opportunities for applications that previously were not possible to cost-effectively serve with lithium ion batteries."

    Unlike lead acid or other advanced battery technologies, Nanophosphate EXT is designed to maintain long cycle life at extreme high temperatures and deliver high power at extreme low temperatures. According to the testing performed to date at the Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research (CAR) and the very low observed rate of aging, cells built with A123's Nanophosphate EXT are expected to be capable of retaining more than 90 percent of initial capacity after 2,000 full charge-discharge cycles at 45 degrees Celsius. CAR has also starting testing the cold temperature performance of Nanophosphate EXT, which A123 expects will deliver a 20 percent increase in power at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.

    "Based on our analysis, the performance of A123's new Nanophosphate EXT at high temperatures is unlike anything we've ever seen from lead acid, lithium ion or any other battery technology," said Dr. Yann Guezennec, senior fellow at CAR and professor of mechanical engineering at the Ohio State University. "Nanophosphate EXT maintains impressive cycle life even at extreme high temperatures without sacrificing storage or energy capabilities, especially as compared with the competitive leading lithium ion technology that we used on our head-to-head testing. If our testing also validates the low-temperature power capabilities that A123's data is showing, we believe Nanophosphate EXT could be a game-changing battery breakthrough for the electrification of transportation, including the emerging micro hybrid vehicle segment."

    Nanophosphate EXT is based on A123's proprietary lithium iron phosphate battery technology, which offers high power, long cycle life, increased usable energy and excellent safety as compared to other available battery technologies. Nanophosphate EXT is designed to extend these capabilities over a wider temperature range, enabling customers to deploy more advanced solutions that increase performance in applications that frequently experience battery cycling at extreme temperatures. Because Nanophosphate EXT is designed to reduce or eliminate the need for costly thermal management, it is expected to deliver these performance advantages while also increasing reliability, minimizing complexity and reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) over the life of the battery system for a number of applications, including those within the transportation and telecommunications industries.

  • Transportation—Nanophosphate EXT is designed to augment the performance advantages of A123's solutions for electric and micro hybrid commercial and passenger vehicles. By enabling increased power at low temperatures, Nanophosphate EXT is expected to substantially improve the cold-cranking capabilities of A123's lithium ion 12V Engine Start battery. This would eliminate what has historically been the only performance advantage of lead acid in starter battery applications, and is expected to considerably increase the value proposition of A123's Engine Start battery as a lighter-weight, longer-lasting alternative to absorbent glass mat (AGM) and other lead acid batteries. This is expected to reduce TCO for micro hybrid applications, which represents a growing subset of the global electric vehicle market—According to Lux Research, the worldwide market for micro hybrids is projected to reach more than 39 million vehicles in 2017, creating a $6.9 billion market for energy storage devices.

    In addition, Nanophosphate EXT is expected to enable automakers to significantly reduce or completely eliminate active cooling systems in electric vehicle battery packs. A123 expects this to lower cost, reduce weight and improve reliability, providing automakers with a cost-effective solution that A123 believes will increases efficiency and minimize system complexity without sacrificing vehicle performance, battery life or driving range. Strategy consultancy Roland Berger forecasts that the global automotive lithium ion battery market will reach more than $9 billion by 2015.

  • Telecommunications—Nanophosphate EXT supplements the advantages of A123's lithium ion battery solutions for telecommunications backup, which are designed to replace the lead acid batteries deployed at new and existing global cell tower sites built off-grid or in regions with unstable power. These sites typically require diesel generators to support the batteries, and due to the lengthy charge time necessary for lead acid batteries, the generators are often forced to operate for extended periods. In contrast, A123's solutions charge about six times more quickly than lead acid, which significantly reduces generator run time and lowers fuel costs by 30 percent or more. At cell towers in extreme temperature environments, Nanophosphate EXT further reduces operating and maintenance costs by minimizing or eliminating the need for air conditioning or heating. In higher-temperature climates, for example, the cost of installing and running the air conditioning necessary to properly cool the lead acid batteries can represent up to 50 percent of the total power consumed at each cell tower site. A123 believes that Nanophosphate EXT has the potential to significantly expand the global addressable market for its telecommunications backup solutions to more than $1.2 billion by 2016.

    "From the introduction of our breakthrough Nanophosphate battery chemistry to our envelope-pushing work developing ultra high power batteries for Formula One racing to our introduction of megawatt-scale grid energy storage systems, A123 has been at the forefront of battery and energy storage innovation. Today we announce another milestone, and believe Nanophosphate EXT to be a significant breakthrough," said Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, co-founder of A123 and professor of materials science and engineering at MIT. "Lithium ion has always had a number of significant advantages over lead acid and other advanced battery technology, but its performance limitations at extreme high and extreme low temperatures have prevented it from addressing a number of important applications. Nanophosphate EXT changes this dynamic, and highlights why we believe continued lithium ion battery R&D is critical for discovering next-generation breakthroughs that can fundamentally change how the world uses energy storage."

    Availability

    A123's Nanophosphate EXT technology is scheduled to enter volume production in A123's 20Ah prismatic cells during the first half of 2013. A123 is also evaluating plans to potentially offer Nanophosphate EXT across its complete portfolio of cell products.

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