Nine-time Unlimited division champion Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima has broken the 10 minute barrier with an electric vehicle at Pikes Peak even surpassing the 9:51.278 he turned in during the 2011 race in a 900 hp Suzuki SX4, when he was the first driver ever to crack the Peak’s elusive ten-minute barrier.
The new EV record now stands at 9:46.530 beating the 10:15.380 set by Fumio Nutahara for Toyota Motorsport in 2012 and was just a whisker shy of 2012 outright winner Rhys Millen who set 9:46.164 in a 700 hp Hyundai Genesis.
“I am very happy with my new record,” says the 63 year old Taijma to KRDO News Radio. “I will keep continuing developing and racing the electric car here at Pikes Peak. You can see it as my ‘stop global warming campaign’.”
The outright hill record goal posts have been moved significantly this year by nine time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb setting a time of 8:13.878 in a 900 hp 900 kg Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak Special.
When asked about beating the new gasoline record, Tajima responded: “We are able to do that very soon, it depends on the battery. With a high quality and high density battery, I can beat that record for sure.”
Drag Times have put together a video showing the Model S 60 vs the 85 Performance digital dashes side by side from 0-114 MPH. Both runs were done on the same road but at different times.
The Model S 60 was amazing consistent running 3 consecutive 0-60 MPH runs in just 5.1 seconds with 1/4 mile in 13.7 @ 102.8 MPH.
The Model S Performance did 0-60 MPH in just 3.9 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 12.3 @ 111.7.
The Toyota TMG EV P002 and driver Rod Millen, the former Pikes Peak overall record holder, have made substantial gains on last season's record-setting performance and are prepared to defend its Electric Class record in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) on June 30 following a successful test program and continued upgrades to the vehicle.
A previous winner of the EV class at Pikes Peak, the AC Propulsion powered, Yokohama sponsored Electric Sports Buggy Concept HER-02 has qualified 6th on the bottom section for this years event.
EV Sports Concept HER-02 SPECIFICATION
Chassis Design : Ikuo Hanawa / Summit Racing Promotions
Body Design : Kenichi Sato / YOKOHAMA RUBBER
Length / Width : 3800mm / 1900mm
Gross Weight : 1150kg (2535lb)
Motor : AC PROPULSION AC Induction Motor 190kW (255hp)
Charger : AC PROPULSION Onboard bi-directional with 18kW for charging, V2G and UPS mode.
Mitsubishi's 500 hp AWD MiEV Evolution II's have taken the two fastest times in the Electric Class on Day 2 Practice/Qualifying on the bottom section of the Pikes Peak course. Driven by two-time Dakar rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka and Pikes Peak motorbike specialist Greg Tracy, the team say their firm intention is to break Toyota’s EV course record of set in 2012.
The TMG EV P002 electric race car posted the fourth-best qualifying time behind ‘MONSTER’ Tajima.
Rod Millen, driving the TMG-developed car, posted a time of just over four minutes (4:04.331) on the lower portion of the 156-turn course, more than 25 seconds faster than last year’s qualifying effort.
The TMG EV P002, which set the Electric Class record in 2012 with driver Fumio Nutahara (10:15.380), features an ugraded electric powertrain while aerodynamic improvements have been made by Toyota Racing Development USA.
Four San Francisco Bay Area local government fleets—San Jose, Los Gatos, Campbell and Mill Valley—are deploying a total of 50 Mitsubishi i-MiEV EVs, representing the largest municipal fleet deployment of light-duty all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the US to date.
Supporting the region’s efforts to establish the Bay Area as the “EV Capital of the US” and Governor Brown’s goal of 1.5 million EVs on California roads by 2025, this deployment is one in a series the BACC and partners are facilitating, which collectively could result in 250+ EVs deployed over the next 12 months for valuable potential impacts including fuel cost savings of nearly $2 million and avoidance of nearly 6 million pounds of CO2 over five years.
The vehicles were secured under highly favorable lease terms, removing the upfront cost barrier and risk of traditional vehicle procurement. These unique lease options are allowing participating municipalities to expand on their already progressive sustainability efforts, while delivering the significant operations, maintenance and fuel cost savings associated with EVs.
The City of San Jose, which received 38 of the 50 vehicles, is aiming to power 100 percent of its fleet with alternative fuel vehicles by 2022 as a part of its Green Vision, and is currently 40 percent of the way toward achieving this goal. “We appreciate the opportunity to secure these new vehicles without any upfront expenditure,” said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. “By replacing older, less efficient vehicles with clean EVs, we reduce emissions but more importantly, save on fuel costs.”
This deployment also is enabling smaller municipalities to both demonstrate the benefits of EVs in fleets and emerge as sustainability leaders. “The Town of Los Gatos is pleased to participate in this initiative to add electric vehicles to the fleet, which lowers our carbon footprint in keeping with our Sustainability Plan,” said Town of Los Gatos Mayor Barbara Spector. “In addition to being nearly 40 percent less expensive to fuel, these vehicles will significantly reduce the Town’s greenhouse gas emissions – over three years our five vehicles will avoid nearly 20,000 lbs of CO2.”
“Many of our fleet vehicle routes are predictable and take place within the city itself,” explained City of Campbell Mayor Evan Low. “These i-MiEVs are ideally suited for such applications and, using the network of 11 charging stations we’ve installed, we’ll be able to charge the vehicles throughout
Drayson Racing is proud to announce that it has set a new World Electric Land Speed Record of 204.185mph.
Former science minister, businessman and racing driver Lord Drayson was behind the wheel of the Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le-Mans Prototype in near perfect conditions, the Oxford-based sustainable motorsport company smashed the previous 175mph record, which had stood for nearly forty years, by 29.2mph.
As the new world record holder, Lord Drayson commented:
"I'm delighted we've beaten the record tonight and can show the world EVs can be fast and reliable. Drayson Racing is a laboratory for EV technology, testing it to the most extreme level, as we've seen today."
"It is not the outright speed of 204.185mph that is most impressive about this record, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1000kg electric vehicle on a short runway over a measured mile. However I've got a great team and world-class partners, such as Qualcomm Halo, Michelin, Multimatic and Cosworth."
"This is a true celebration of Britain's leading position within the burgeoning electric vehicle industry and I'm delighted to be at the forefront of this electric revolution. We hope to set more records tomorrow. "
Drayson Racing is a research and development business, pioneering the development of sustainable technologies in the challenging environment of motorsport. With the electric land speed record it intends to showcase what is possible with an electric drivetrain and underscore Britain's leadership position in the EV industry.
Australian Brumbies rugby union club player, Scott Fardy will lead a charge with a difference this month as he takes to the streets of Canberra in a 100% electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV.
It’s all thanks to Rock Development Group and the ACT Electric Vehicle Council (the Council) to help support and promote electric vehicles as a viable transport alternative for the ACT.
Scott Fardy said “When I travelled to Japan in 2009 I couldn’t believe how many electric vehicles were on the road. I’m so excited that I get to cruise the streets of my home town in one for a month.”
Scott will share his electric vehicle experience via the social media platform Twitter using the handle @scottfardy and hashtag #EVsrock. “I thought this would be a really fun and interactive way to share my adventures with everyone and I really hope to hear from lots of other Twitter users who see me cruising around town.”
The Council approached Scott because he has a demonstrated commitment to promoting community-orientated charitable and environmental causes, and educating youth about the benefits of team sport in Canberra and the surrounding regions.
“To me, electric vehicles are a no brainer.” Scott added. “I know that at times I cringe at petrol prices. An electric car sure has less of an impact on your wallet. I couldn’t believe it when the Council told me I could charge it up overnight for less than the price of a pie at a Brumbies game!”
The ACT has the cheapest electricity in the country whereas the price of petrol is 10c/L higher than the national average at $1.47 a litre. This is an indicator that Canberra has good reason to consider an electric vehicle when making a new car purchase.
Other benefits of owning a 100% electric vehicle in the ACT are that under the Green Vehicle Scheme no duty is payable at registration time. not to mention that going electric helps reduce vehicle pollution and decrease carbon emissions.
Follow Scott’s electric vehicle adventures on Twitter: @scottfardy and #EVsrock
Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima returns to the 90th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, assembling a new electric vehicle in hopes of breaking the world record time he set in 2011 while raising 'climate change' awareness.
Compared with the Porsche 918 and the hybridized Ferrari F70/Enzo replacement, The Jaguar C-X75 takes a smaller-engined, subtly different approach to being a “supercar with an environmental edge.”
The still-born Hypercar has a lightweight 1.6 litre supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 500 hp and reving to 10,000 rpm. While the original concept was for the C-X75 to be a series hybrid with four 195 bhp (145kW) electric motors – one for each wheel - produce 778bhp and a total torque output of 1,180lb ft (1,600Nm), the car tested here has 390 hp (285 kW) of electric power giving a total output of 890 hp (654 kW) when combined with the ICE.
The Le-Mans week timing of this publicity is curious. With old rival Porsche going public with plans to return to Le-Mans with a Hybrid prototype in 2014, is Jaguar trying to steal some of their thunder?
While the Paris Air Show is famous for its aerial displays, a more down-to-earth demonstration at Le Bourget Airport is showing the way for the increasingly electric future of aviation.
A modified A320 showed off its moves on the runway this week, powered by its environmentally-friendly electric green taxiing system (EGTS), which was developed by EGTS International – a joint venture of Safran and Honeywell. One wheel on each main gear is equipped with an electric motor, reduction gearbox and clutch assembly to drive the aircraft during taxi operations, with power electronics and system controllers allowing pilots to control its speed and direction.
The EGTS is powered by the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU) generator, allowing the aircraft to move around the tarmac without using its main engines. This will improve airline operating efficiency during taxi operations and reduce fuel consumption by up to four per cent per flight cycle.
For the second time in succession, Audi has won the Le Mans 24 Hours with a hybrid race car and quattro drive, thus continuing its unique success story at the world’s most important endurance race. Victory was clinched by Loïc Duval (F), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB).
As expected, the twelfth triumph for the four rings at Le Mans was one of the most difficult and hardest-fought ones. Following a change in the regulations that was made at short notice, the three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars on average were able to do two laps less on one tank filling than their main rival Toyota. The Audi drivers had to compensate for the additional pit stops by faster lap times on track – and did so in weather conditions that at times were extremely difficult.
Rain showers crossed the track again and again during the dramatic race. They resulted in numerous incidents and a total of eleven safety car deployments. The field ran for more than five hours under ‘yellow’ while the track was cleared and repairs were performed.
The three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars, which are equipped with an electrically driven front axle, were the fastest vehicles in the field throughout the entire race – as well as the most efficient ones: Victory in the Michelin Green X Challenge, a competition of the cleanest, fastest and most efficient prototypes, went to Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm as well.
“We owe the twelfth victory of our brand at Le Mans to the consistent, innovative spirit of our engineers, the unconditional commitment of the entire team and the skills and strong nerves of our drivers. On behalf of Audi, I extend my sincere congratulations on this success to all of them,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, who, as usual, personally watched the race on location. “This marks another great success for Audi in which our hybrid system again prevailed and new technologies, which our customers will also benefit from in the future, were tested.” They included innovative radiators and matrix-beam LED headlights, which make optimum lighting of the corners at night possible – a crucial advantage at Le Mans.
“We knew that, not least due to the regulatory requirements, it would be very difficult for us this year,” commented Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “As expected, Toyota was a very strong rival – but our Audi R18 e-tron quattro was in a class of its own. My thanks go to the entire team that worked for months to achieve this success.”
The twelfth Audi victory at Le Mans was achieved by the number ‘2’ Audi R18 e-tron quattro driven by Loïc Duval (France), Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Allan McNish (Scotland) who had started the race from the pole position. For Duval, who had clinched the pole position on Wednesday, this was the first success at the classic French endurance race and the third for Allan McNish. Tom Kristensen, who has been the sole record holder of the race since 2005, triumphed for the ninth time.
The victorious Audi R18 e-tron quattro ran for 24 hours without the slightest technical problem. Duval/Kristensen/McNish took the lead at 21:43 on Saturday night and would not relinquish it anymore up to triumphantly crossing the finish line at 15:00 on Sunday. The three Audi drivers achieved the crucial one-lap advantage over the second-placed Toyota at an early stage and maintained it all the way to the end, even in partially chaotic conditions with torrential rain.
Misfortune struck the other two Audi squads that almost simultaneously were forced to make unscheduled pit stops shortly before the end of the seventh hour of the race and, up to that time, had made for an Audi one-two-three lead up to that time. Oliver Jarvis was touched by a slower vehicle and, as a result, suffered a punctured tire on which he had to complete nearly an entire lap that cost him two laps. In the thrilling final phase, Le Mans newcomer Lucas di Grassi (Brazil), Marc Gené (Spain) and Oliver Jarvis (Great Britain) managed to overtake the Toyota that had been running in third place up to that time, and to thus secure third place on the podium.
Due to changing the alternator Marcel Fässler (Switzerland), André Lotterer (Germany) and Benoît Tréluyer (France) lost their sure lead a total of twelve laps. With an impressive recovery the 2011 and 2012 winners managed to advance from 24th place to position five in their R18 e-tron quattro.
The 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours was overshadowed by a fatal accident that occurred in the GT class shortly after the race started. “Obviously, this horrible incident dampens the joy about another great Le Mans victory for Audi in which our team and our drivers were under extreme tension for 24 hours and couldn’t make any mistakes,” commented Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “We were all completely shocked by the news of Allan Simonsen’s death. During his career, he also contested races in the Audi R8 LMS. Our sympathy primarily goes to his family and friends but to the team of Aston Martin as well. It shows that you must never stop doing whatever is possible for safety in motorsport. This is the first fatal accident we’ve had to witness in 15 Le Mans years. I hope it’ll remain the last.”
Renault Sport boss Jean-Michel Jalinier says one of the biggest challenges facing F1 engine suppliers next season is better fuel economy while maintaining power output.
Renault's 2014 V6 turbocharged F1 engine, dubbed the Energy F1-2014, went on display at the Paris airshow on Friday.
Already two teams have signed up to use it, Red Bull and Toro Rosso, while Renault expected to secure Lotus and Caterham in the near future.
In 2014 Formula 1 will enter a new era. Engine regulations form the major part of the coming revolution, with the introduction of a new generation of engines, called "Power Units" that combine a 1.6 litre V6 turbocharged engine with energy recovery systems that will dramatically increase efficiency by harvesting energy dissipated as heat in the exhaust (mgu-h) or brakes (mgu-k).
The maximum power of the new V6 Power Unit will exceed the output of current V8 F1 engines however fuel efficiency will be radically improved, Renault says. With only 100kg permitted for the race, the new units will use 35% less fuel than their predecessors.
"From next year, one of greatest challenges in F1 will be to maximize energy efficiency and fuel economy while maintaining the power output and performance expected of F1 cars," said Jean-Michel Jalinier, President of Renault Sport F1 during the press conference.
"Renault has pioneered this technology in its road car engine range with the Energy series. Naming the Power Unit Energy F1 creates an unbroken range, from the Clio through to our competition department."
Nissan today unveiled the groundbreaking, innovative ZEOD RC - the world's fastest electric racing car that will reach speeds of more than 300km/h with electric technology at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) will make its race debut at next year's Le Mans 24 Hour. The global leader in electric vehicles for the road, Nissan will trial variants of electric drive train technologies as part of its intended future return to LM P1 competition to challenge for overall victory at Le Mans.
The car will compete under the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's 'Garage 56' entry – an additional spot on the grid for vehicles that showcase new and innovative technology.
Run as a Nissan / Nismo full factory program with input from Japan, Europe and the USA, the program design team is headed by Ben Bowlby who has been newly-appointed as Nissan's Director of Motorsport Innovation and previously worked on the Nissan DeltaWing.
Nissan today kicked off a unique aspect of the program – fans getting the chance to unveil the car in the public area of the Le Mans circuit. Nissan intends to draw back the curtain for fans to provide continued updates via its partnership with YouTube and its Nismo.TV channel.
"Nissan has become a global leader in the development of zero emission automotive technology and the Nissan ZEOD RC will allow us to further develop those capabilities using the toughest endurance race in the world as a mobile test bed for our planned LM P1 power train," said Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President and Executive Committee member at Nissan Motor Company Limited.
"The Nissan ZEOD RC is a natural progression that follows on from the development of the Nissan LEAF road car and the LEAF RC race car prototype. The technologies developed through the program will form part of future innovations for road cars.
"The program is designed to develop multiple technologies to evaluate how they could be used for a future LM P1 class return of Nissan at Le Mans. We are investigating multiple options. A Zero Emission on Demand option where the driver can switch between electric and petrol-powered drive is a future direction for road cars, so that will be tested in addition to pure electric power and other new technologies."
Launched in 2010, the Nissan LEAF has become the world's best-selling all-electric car. The Leaf won the 2010 Green Car Vision Award, the 2011 European Car of the Year, the 2011 World Car of the Year, and the 2011–2012 Car of the Year Japan.
Nissan launched the Nissan LEAF RC in 2011 – a racecar powered by the same 107-hp electric motor that is used in the road car.
While current battery technology doesn't provide the energy storage capacity to race a solely electric Le Mans prototype, Nissan ZEOD RC designer Ben Bowlby believes the development of the car will be an important step in the "electrification" of motorsport.
"A car like this provides an incredibly challenging test bed for what could be highly-effective options for road cars. Throughout the next year we will be testing multiple drive trains in an extensive test program," Bowlby said.
"Nissan is a leader in electric vehicle technology for the road, now we want to take those lessons learnt and utilize that knowledge base in the development of the new race car."
Tesla Motors Inc on Thursday unveiled a system to swap battery packs in its electric cars in about 90 seconds, a service Chief Executive Elon Musk said will help overcome fears about their driving range.
The automaker will roll out the battery-swapping stations later this year, beginning along the heavily-traveled route between Los Angeles and San Francisco and then in the Washington-to-Boston corridor.
"There are some people, they take a lot of convincing," Musk said at an event at Tesla's Los Angeles design studio. "Hopefully this is what convinces people finally that electric cars are the future."
A battery pack swap will cost between $60 and $80, about the same as filling up a 15-gallon gas tank, Musk said. Drivers who choose to swap must reclaim their original battery on their return trip or pay the difference in cost for the new pack.
Musk demonstrated two Model S battery pack swaps in the time it took for a car on a screen above the stage to fill up with gas, about four minutes.
The stations will cost about a half a million dollars each to build. They will be located alongside Tesla's fast-charging stations, which take around 30 minutes to charge the car's battery.
Musk told Reuters earlier this week that the battery-replacement network would entail an investment of $50 million to $100 million.
The announcement comes a month after Better Place, an electric vehicle company whose business was centered around battery swapping, said it would liquidate.
Nissan have announced plans to offer a battery replacement program for U.S. LEAF customers who wish to replace their original equipment, lithium-ion battery pack.
The program, which will begin during the first half of 2014, will work in tandem with the Nissan standard battery warranty for LEAF – which includes industry-leading five-year, 60,000 mile coverage against battery capacity loss (below approximately 70%) and 8 years/100,000 miles against defects – to provide multiple layers of assurance for electric vehicle owners.
Erik Gottfried, Nissan's director of Electric Vehicle Sales and Marketing, said: "Nissan anticipates that the great majority of our current LEAF drivers will never need this battery replacement option. However, this program is yet another example of Nissan's commitment to deliver peace of mind for our continually growing community of LEAF drivers."
Nissan conducted a global survey of LEAF owners and prospective electric vehicle customers and reviewed publicly available industry data to help shape the replacement proposal. Owners and prospective owners voiced a preference for a monthly payment program, and that they wanted assurances that the battery will maintain its capacity at a certain level.
"Technology is evolving and battery prices are projected to decline as EVs become increasingly mainstream," said Gottfried. "Therefore, this new battery program today affords more flexibility for the future so that customers can both upgrade to the latest available technology for their LEAF and enjoy more predictable vehicle operating costs."
The battery replacement option is being modeled after aspects of both competitor and Nissan Europe battery leasing programs. The majority of the EVs bought in Europe involve battery leasing separate from the vehicle.
All LEAF batteries installed under this program will enjoy coverage similar to the terms of standard battery coverage under the Nissan New Electric Vehicle Limited Warranty and be assured to maintain at least 9 bars capacity, or approximately 70 percent and protection from defects in materials or workmanship for the time they own their LEAF and remain in the battery program. If necessary, Nissan will replace the battery with a new or remanufactured battery to restore capacity at or above a minimum of 9 bars, much like the existing expanded battery capacity warranty.
The Nissan LEAF battery replacement program pricing is consistent with Europe and will be approximately $100 per month. The replacement program will officially launch during the first half of 2014, and all Nissan LEAF vehicles will be eligible. It will be administered by Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation.
"The battery replacement option will provide the peace of mind that customers have an economical option should they choose to replace the battery for whatever reason," says Gottfried.
Nissan will announce additional details of the battery replacement program later this year, including other global markets.
Yokohama have announced that its racing team will participate again with the company's original electric vehicle (EV) in the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The event - the world's toughest hill climb race - will take place on June 30 in the state of Colorado, U.S.A. The team refers to the race as the "Team Yokohama EV Challenge." As it was last year, the team's EV racing car will be equipped with "BluEarth-A" tires, which deliver superior driving performance, and enhance fuel efficiency.
The two-fold challenge with a zero-emission vehicle on fuel-efficient tires is to harmonize environmental responsibility with the joy of driving and to further research and development of even better EV tires. This will be the fifth year for YOKOHAMA to participate in the race.
In both 2010 and 2011, the team accomplished outstanding feats, substantially besting the previous all-time records for an EV. In 2012, it beat its own record by more than 21 seconds, advancing its performance each year. This year, the team has improved the motor of last year's record-shattering EV car in an effort to beat the record yet again. It will once more be driven by Mr. Ikuo Hanawa, a highly skilled off-road racer.
Porsche engineers continue to test the 918 Spyder around the world.
In the final months of shakedown tests, the 918 Spyder makes an appearance in the Valley of Fire outside of Las Vegas Nevada, soon approaching 1 million miles tested on the prototype vehicles.
Robert Bosch GmbH and the Japanese companies GS Yuasa International Ltd., based in Kyoto, and Mitsubishi Corporation, based in Tokyo, have agreed to work together on the next generation of high-performance lithium-ion batteries.
These batteries are fundamental for future forms of mobility, such as plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicles. The companies aim to use advanced cell management and progress in electrochemistry and materials to significantly increase energy content. This will reduce weight and space requirements, and increase the range of electric vehicles.
The three companies intend to set up a joint venture for joint research and development, and to support their mother companies in sales and marketing activities. Operations are planned to start in the beginning of 2014. The headquarters will be Stuttgart/Germany. The establishment of the joint venture is subject to approval by the antitrust authorities.
Bosch intends to hold a 50 percent stake in the joint venture, with GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation each holding 25 percent. The composition of the board of management and supervisory board will reflect these shareholdings.
Bosch will contribute its know-how in production processes and quality management relating to the large-scale series production of complex products. With its competence in the area of battery packs and battery management systems, Bosch specializes in the monitoring and control of cells and complete battery systems, as well as in integrating them into vehicles. In addition, Bosch will support these joint activities with its entire portfolio of components for electromobility.
GS Yuasa will contribute its many years of experience in manufacturing lithium-ion cells whose high density makes for a longer range, as well as its expertise in materials systems and electrochemistry. As an established manufacturer of automotive and non-automotive lithium-ion battery cells, GS Yuasa has a strong engineering team and modern production lines with a high level of automation.
Mitsubishi Corporation will contribute its worldwide marketing network and expertise as a global integrated business enterprise. Mitsubishi Corporation will apply its strengths in building global value chains, covering natural resources, material, sales and take advantage of their synergy to advance this business.
Team APEV with Monster Sport shall once again challenge the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (June 24 - 30) in Colorado Springs, USA.
The 2013 Monster Sport E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Special race car is an all-improved version based on last year's model. Improvements have focused primarily on reliability and the reduction of vehicle weight every single vehicle component has been reviewed and revised. resulting in a much lighter and durable package.
This year ‘Monster Tajima’ is gunning for the outright course record at Pikes Peak against his long time rival Rod Millen after one of the E-RUNNER's electric motors caught fire last year 12 miles into the course.
Plug-In Electric Vehicles Will Reach 3 Million in Annual Sales by 2020, Forecasts Navigant Research
While hybrid electric vehicles have largely been accepted as a part of the general automotive market in many regions, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) remain a new technology facing the challenges inherent in all new markets. Nevertheless, according to a new report from Navigant Research, the combination of rising fuel prices, falling PEV prices, and increasing availability of PEV models will drive rapid growth in this segment over the next several years. Worldwide sales of light duty PEVs, including both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), will reach 3 million units annually in 2020, representing 3 percent of the total light duty vehicle market, the study concludes.
“In its earliest days, the market for PEVs experienced both a great deal of hype and intense skepticism,” says Dave Hurst, principal research analyst with Navigant Research. “Neither scenario has proven true, as the PEV market continues to grow rapidly - about 150 percent between 2011 and 2012 - but remains a very small part of the overall global automotive market, with 0.2 percent market share in 2012.”
The limited availability of PEVs has been an inhibiting factor for growth in a number of large vehicle markets, including the United States, Germany, France, China, and other Asia Pacific countries. However, many of these limitations will be reduced over the next two years, according to the report, as new vehicles from Honda, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and others are launched in a broad range of countries.
Siemens AG, Diamond Aircraft and EADS are set to present the world's first aircraft with a serial hybrid electric drive system at the Paris Air Show Le Bourget 2011. The two-seater motor glider successfully completed its maiden flight on June 8 at the Wiener Neustadt airfield in Vienna, Austria. The aircraft was built by the three partners to test the hybrid electric drive concept. In the future, the technology, which is intended for later use also in large-scale aircraft, will cut fuel consumption and emissions by 25 percent, compared to today's most efficient aircraft drives.
Air traffic accounts for some 2.2 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide. For this reason, aircraft, too, must become more efficient. One possible solution – which Siemens and its partners Diamond Aircraft and EADS are testing in the DA36 E-Star motor glider – is to electrify the drive system.
"A serial hybrid electric drive can be scaled for a wide range of uses, making it highly suitable for aircraft as well," said Dr. Frank Anton, the initiator of electric aircraft development at Siemens. "The first thing we want to do is test the technology in small aircraft. In the long term, however, the drive system will also be used in large-scale aircraft. We want to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 25 percent, compared to today's most efficient technologies. This will make air travel more sustainable."
The motor glider, which is based on Diamond Aircraft's HK36 Super Dimona, is the only aircraft of its kind in the world. It is the first to use a so-called serial hybrid electric drive, which has been utilized to date only in cars, as an integrated drive train. The plane's propeller is powered by a 70kW electric motor from Siemens. Electricity is supplied by a small Wankel engine from Austro Engine with a generator that functions solely as a power source. A Siemens converter supplies the electric motor with power from the battery and the generator. Fuel consumption is very low since the combustion engine always runs with a constant low output of 30kW. A battery system from EADS provides the increased power required during takeoff and climb. The accumulator is recharged during the cruising phase. "The serial hybrid electric drive concept makes possible a quiet electric takeoff and a considerable reduction in fuel consumption and emission," said Christian Dries, the owner of Diamond Aircraft. "It also enables aircraft to cover the required long distances."
The electric motor glider successfully completed its first flight at the Wiener Neustadt airfield in Vienna, Austria on June 8, 2011. "On the long way to hybrid electric-powered commercial aircraft, the maiden flight of the DA36 E-Star is a small step and at the same time a historic milestone," said Dr. Jean Botti, Chief Technical Officer and member of the Executive Committee of EADS.
The next development step will be to further optimize the entire drive train. Siemens scientists are currently working on a new electric motor that is expected to be five times lighter than conventional drives. In two years, another aircraft is expected to be equipped with an ultra-light electric drive. Siemens' Drive Technologies Division has already used integrated drive trains in other applications like marine drives. The knowhow gained in these areas has now been applied in the aviation industry as well. Combined with the corresponding product portfolio, the components of the drive train can be optimally adjusted to one another.
The DA36 E-Star will be exhibited at the Paris Air Show Le Bourget in a flight demonstration every day from June 20 to June 26, 2011.
Will electric propulsion become an alternative for fossil fuel also in the aviation industry? EADS is evaluating different approaches and is demonstrating a number of initiatives in the field of electric and hybrid propulsion at the Paris Air Show 2013. These projects are part of the Group’s commitment to develop technologies that further reduce aircraft carbon dioxide emissions.
The Group has not only developed and built an electric general aviation training aircraft in cooperation with Aero Composites Saintonge (ACS), called E-Fan but EADS has also engineered together with Diamond Aircraft and Siemens an updated hybrid electric motor glider, the Diamond Aircraft DA36 E-Star 2. EADS has also cooperated with Rolls-Royce on a smarter future distributed propulsion system concept. These three projects are known as ‘E-aircraft’ projects.
The development of innovative propulsion system concepts for future air vehicle applications is part of EADS’ research to support the aviation industry’s environmental protection goals as spelled out in the ‘Flightpath 2050’ report by the European Commission. This roadmap sets the target of reducing aircraft CO2 emissions by 75%, along with reductions of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) by 90% and noise levels by 65%, compared to standards in the year 2000. EADS Innovation Works (IW), the corporate research and technology network of EADS, is developing and continuing to explore innovations in the field of environmentally friendly propulsion, in order to provide technology bricks for the operating divisions.
E-Fan: electric aircraft in progress
Two years after the first electric aerobatic plane and the smallest manned aircraft in the world with four electric engines, the all-electric Cri-Cri, the teams at EADS IW and Royan-based ACS (Charente Maritime, France) have gone a step further with E-Fan, a fully electric general aviation training aircraft.
“The introduction of the E-Fan electric aircraft represents another strategic step forward in EADS’ aviation research. We are committed to exploring leading-edge technologies that will yield future benefits for our civil and defense products,” said Jean Botti, Chief Technical Officer (CTO), at EADS.
The two-seat E-Fan has undergone a very intensive development phase of only eight months. It features two electrical engines driving shrouded propellers. Total static engine thrust is about 1,5 kN, with the energy being provided by two battery packs located in the wings. The length of the aircraft is 6.7 meters with a wingspan of 9.5 meters. It is the first electric aircraft featuring ducted fans to reduce noise and increase safety. Another innovation is the main landing gear. It allows electrical taxiing on the ground without the main engines and in addition provides acceleration during take-off up to a speed of 60 km/h. To guarantee a simple handling of the electrically powered engines and systems, the E-Fan is equipped with an E-FADEC energy management system.
“We believe that the E-Fan demonstrator is an ideal platform that could be eventually matured, certified to and marketed as an aircraft for pilot training,” explained Botti. EADS IW is developing the electrical and propulsion system together with partners like ACS, which is building the all-composite structure, the mechanical systems and conducted the aerodynamic studies. The French innovation institutes CRITT Matériaux Poitou-Charentes (CRITT MPC) and ISAE-ENSMA, as well as the company C3 Technologies have been responsible for the construction and production of the wings. The engagement of these companies is also an investment in French infrastructure, jobs and know-how. Furthermore, electrical engineering experts from Astrium and Eurocopter helped out with their expertise in testing the battery packs while the livery was designed by Airbus. The E-Fan project is co-funded by the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC, the French civil aviation authority), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), the French Government (Fonds FRED), the Région Aquitaine and the Département Charente-Maritime of France.
World’s first serial hybrid electric aircraft, Diamond Aircraft DA36 E-Star 2, developed further
In addition to the development of the E-Fan, EADS is also demonstrating hybrid propulsion systems. One of them is in the Diamond Aircraft DA36 E-Star 2 motor glider first introduced at the Paris Air Show 2011. The two-seater has been updated with a lighter and more compact electric motor from Siemens, resulting in an overall weight reduction of 100kg. Electricity is supplied by a small Wankel engine from Austro Engine with a generator that functions solely as a power source. EADS IW prepared the battery packs, which are installed in the wings.
Propulsion gets smarter
Since 2012, EADS IW has been working together with Rolls-Royce within the Distributed Electrical Aerospace Propulsion (DEAP) project, which is co-funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board. The project researches key innovative technologies that will improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust gas and noise emissions by having a distributed propulsion system architecture. In this architecture, six electricallypowered fans are distributed in clusters of three along the wing span and housed with a common intake duct. An advanced gas power unit provides the electrical power for the fans and for the re-charging of the energy storage.
“The idea of distributed propulsion offers the possibility to better optimize individual components such as the gas power unit, which produces only electrical power, and the electrically driven fans, which produce thrust. This optimises the overall propulsion system integration,” explained Sébastien Remy, Head of EADS Innovation Works. “The knock-on effect we expect thanks to the improved integration of such a concept is to reduce the overall weight and the overall drag of the aircraft,” he said. During the Paris Air Show, EADS IW exhibits can be viewed at the EADS Pavilion at the end of chalet row A. CTO Jean Botti will conduct a Media Tour to explain the exhibits and technologies on Tuesday, 18 June at 13:30.
The TMG EV P002 race car is ready to defend its electric record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (30 June) after concluding a successful upgrade and testing programme.
A two-day testing session at Pikes Peak was completed smoothly at the weekend, delivering encouraging results to the team from TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG) and TOYOTA Racing Development USA (TRD USA).
The test session saw the TMG EV P002 run on half of the track each day, with combined times indicating a time significantly quicker than last year’s record.
Multiple Pikes Peak record-setter Rod Millen was at the wheel as fine-tuning was carried out on the balance, braking, traction control and cooling, while tyre choice was also evaluated.
Based on data gained from last year’s record run of 10mins 15.380secs, engineers at TMG’s electric vehicle technology centre in Cologne, Germany have made enhancements to the electric powertrain.
Motor speed and torque have been increased while the powertrain’s operating parameters have been tuned to better suit the challenge of the unique 19.99km (12.42miles) Pikes Peak track. It now delivers 400kW of power and 1200Nm of torque.
Since arriving in the United States last month, engineers at TRD USA have performed aerodynamic and other upgrades to the chassis.
With a three-fold increase in downforce and new carbon ceramic braking system, combined with the electric powertrain upgrades, the TMG EV P002 is now ready to take on the challenge of an increasingly-competitive electric class.
TMG is using its pioneering off-board battery-to-battery charging technology, including Schneider Electric EVlink™ DC Charger, to charge the TMG EV P002 from the mountainside, where there is no reliable connection to the power grid.
Mounted in a TOYOTA Hiace, the TMG DC Quick Charger includes a 42kWh lithium ion battery, which charges directly from the AC power grid. After an overnight charge, it quickly delivers high levels of power to the TMG EV P002 without additional installation or infrastructure.
With varying current and voltage output, the TMG DC Quick Charger is an independent source of power for rapid recharging in any location and it is being used to charge the TMG EV P002 throughout the Pikes Peak event.
TMG EV P002 Technical Specifications
Performance
Top Speed
230 km/h (142mph)
Maximum Torque
1200Nm
Maximum Power
400kW
Maximum Revs
6000rpm
Powertrain
Electric Motor
2 axial flux
Inverter
2 x TMG inverters
Gear Ratio
3.13
Transmission
Single-reduction gearing
Battery
Lithium ceramic
Battery Capacity
42 kWh
Charging Technology
Off-board DC charging
Dimensions
Length
4.10m (13 foot 5 inches)
Height
1.04m (3 foot 5 inches)
Width
1.79m (5 foot 10 inches)
TMG DC Quick Charger Specifications
AC Grid Connection / Input
Grid Connection
400 V AC CEE 16 A
Nominal input power
6.6kW
DC Vehicle Connection
Output voltage
400 VDC
Maximum DC output power
25kW
Storage
Battery
42 kWh, lithium ion
General
Technology partner
Schneider Electric (EVlink™)
Operating temperature
0 to 40°C
Storage temperature
-30 to 60°C
Protection
Short-circuit protection, output fuse, over-current and over-voltage protection, under-voltage shutdown
An all-electric BYD ebus is now carrying passengers in the Polish Capital. MZA Warsaw, the municipal transport company, is testing the environmentally friendly bus from the Chinese auto giant BYD until June 18, 2013. The bus is working on route 222, which runs through some of the main streets of Warsaw, such as Trakt Królewski.
250 km on one charge
The BYD ebus can drive for 250 km even in heavy city traffic after one full charge. This is the furthest range of any electric bus. Charging time depends on the applied charger. The bus that is tested charges in the depot in just 5 hours from a completed depleted battery.
Pure electric BYD buses have been used in public transport since 2011. In China already 1,000 such buses have been built In the city of Shenzhen, 200 BYD electric buses have together accumulated almost 17 million km in passenger carrying service. In the first quarter of 2013 the BYD ebus obtained full European certification. This allowed the company to start selling buses on the European market. The Dutch province of Friesland is the first place in Europe where BYD electric buses are in use.
BYD ebus
The ebus built by BYD, is the first pure-electric bus powered by Iron-Phosphate battery in the world. More than 250 BYD ebuses are now in passenger carrying operations - by far the largest number from any bus brand. BYD ebus measures 12 meters long and is designed for customer transport comfort in mind. The technically advanced and specially designed wheel-hub motor, and its electronically controlled air suspension can offer customers a product with an exceptionally low floor, multiple door choices, and ample floor space for easy passenger access.
The imposing windscreen occupies two thirds of the frontal area of the bus for maximum viewing as well as safety. The bus body conveys an elegant exterior image, while the interior boasts an air of quality with adjustable driver’s seat, durable seats for passengers and a carefully engineered sound insulation keeping the interior ride whisper quiet.
BYD’s pure electric bus employs many advanced technologies developed in-house by BYD’s 15,000 engineers strong R&D team. For example, the Iron-Phosphate battery or “Fe Battery” used on the BYD ebus is safe and non-polluting: the materials contained in the battery can be recycled or safely disposed of.
BYD ebus Project
Orders have been awarded in China, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Uruguay, Canada and the United States. The BYD electric bus has also been successfully tested in many cities in Europe including Madrid, Barcelona, Budapest, Salzburg, and etc. The accumulated mileage of the 200 electric buses operating in the city of Shenzhen(China) alone have exceeded 15 million kilometers (or 9.3 million miles) by the end of March 2013.
The future of solar-powered vehicles in Australia is being re-imagined by a group of talented UNSW students determined to transform a once 'alien' design into a more "human friendly" car.
“We want to go beyond the spaceship type cars we’ve built in the past and create the sort of car you could drive anywhere, all while keeping the design cool and producing zero emissions,” says UNSW engineering student Sam Paterson.
Paterson is the project manager for Sunswift, the UNSW solar racing team run by undergraduate business and engineering students.
The team is currently building a next-generation vehicle for the 2013 World Solar Challenge – an epic 3,000 km race from Darwin to Adelaide. The focus is on delivering a more “human friendly” car and the team has launched a crowd funding campaign to help bring it to life.
In 2011, UNSW Sunswift set a world record with its fourth generation car, which became the fastest solar powered vehicle, reaching a top speed of 88 km/hour. This was the team’s second world record since forming in 1996.
But this year the team is competing in a new class – the cruiser class – where the objective is not speed but practicality. Vehicles must have four wheels instead of three, and must accommodate both a driver and a passenger.
“The ultimate goal is to design and build a car that can meet the requirements for road registration in Australia,” says Paterson. “We’re extremely confident in our latest design, and excited for the race in October.”
“We have tried a new fundraising method with this car and are hopeful we can reach our target. We are also incredibly grateful for all the support and encouragement we’ve already received,” says Paterson.
The team just reached $14k of our $20k crowd-funding goal! With 11 days to go. The final day of the campaign is Thursday 27 June. For more information on Sunswift’s fifth generation car, known as eVe, and to support the project visit the campaign profile on the Pozible website: www.pozible.com/eVe
We're seeing an increasing number of innovative systems proposed to power large road vehicles electrically. ABB recently unveiled a quick charging system for buses, Siemens have offered a system for trucks based on overhead wires while KAIST and Bombardier are testing wireless solutions.
By running electrically-charged power lines through long stretches of highway roads, Volvo hopes to offer long-haul truckers electric vehicles that don’t have to stop to re-charge.
“In city traffic, there are currently various solutions and we are researching many others. We have field tests in progress where our plug-in buses are equipped with a battery that can be charged quickly when the buses are at bus stops,” says Mats Alaküla, the Volvo Group’s expert on electric vehicles and Professor at Lund University.
But for long-distance trucks and buses, this will not work. They stop infrequently and to cope with this task they would need so many batteries that there would be no room for any loads or passengers. A solution is required where power is continuously supplied to the truck from an external source.
The Volvo Group participates in a large Swedish research project to find solutions for this, with the support of the Swedish Energy Agency. The project includes the Swedish Transport Administration, Vattenfall, several universities, vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
The method currently being developed and tested by the Volvo Group, together with Alstom, entails two power lines built into the surface of the road along the entire length of the road. A current collector in contact with the power lines will be located on the truck.
“With this method, electric vehicles could be continuously supplied with power without carrying large batteries,” says Mats Alaküla. “The power line will be built in sections and one section is only live as the truck passes.”
Last year, Volvo built a 400-meter long track at its testing facility in Hällered outside Gothenburg. The company has been testing the system since last autumn.
“We are currently testing how to connect the electricity from the road to the truck. The electricity flows into a water-cooled heating element, with similar power requirement as an electricity-driven truck,” says Richard Sebestyen, who is the project manager at Volvo Group Trucks Technology, which is the Volvo Group’s research and development division.
However, a great deal of research still remains before this can become a reality. It involves the continued technical development of the current collector, electric motor and the control systems required. It also involves road construction, road maintenance, electricity supply along the roads and various payment models, etc.
“A lot of years remain before this is on our roads,” says Mats Alaküla.
“But, if we are to succeed in creating sustainable transport systems, we must invest significantly in research now. I am convinced that we will find a cost-efficient way to supply electricity to vehicles in long-distance traffic and we have already come a long way in our research.”
Follow EV News on Twitter
