A BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car in testing camouflage is spotted by a trio in a Tesla Model S who take up pursuit
BMW i8 Vs Tesla Model S [VIDEO]
Volkswagen XL1 and e-up! to run @ Silvretta E-Car Rally
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Volkswagen will be lining up at the start of this year’s Silvretta E-Car Rally with two innovative vehicles: one is the XL1, the most efficient production car in the world, which is equipped with a plug-in diesel hybrid engine. The other is the e-up!, the first electric vehicle from Volkswagen to be produced in high volume. Volkswagen is showing in this way that these alternative drive systems are capable of excellent performance on Alpine roads as well.
The new e-up! is taking part in the Silvretta E-Car Rally in the Austrian Montafon region for the first time. With its Alpine route profile, the rally is both a test of reliability and highly demanding, as the challenge is to recover large amounts of the power used on the long uphill climbs through battery regeneration on the subsequent downhill sections.
With a totally electric drive system the e-up! provides an entry point to a new pioneering Volkswagen vehicle concept and with four seats guarantees scope for full utilisation. It is a car for everyday use, with impressively high torque of 210 Nm. Practically silent and with no loss of traction during gearshifts, the e-up! is powered by an electric motor that delivers a maximum output of 60 kW / 82 PS. It thus accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.4 seconds and achieves a top speed of 130 km/h. With its 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery it has a reach according to NEDC of up to 160 kilometres. This means impressively low energy costs of less than €3 per 100 kilometres.
The e-up! can be charged with 2.3 kW plugged into any standard 230V socket, with 3.6 kW via a home-installed wall box or with up to 40 kW plugged into a DC fast-charging station via the optional CSS (combined charging system). In the latter case, the battery is 80 per cent charged in under 30 minutes. The power connection point for charging the battery is concealed as usual under the fuel cap. In the ideal scenario the e-up! will be charged using electricity from regenerative sources and will then be running 100% CO2 neutral.
The e-up! differentiates itself from the basic up! model through a high-quality, aerodynamically optimised design. One striking identifying feature externally is the curved arrangement of the LED daytime running lights in the bumper. The front section, sills and underbody have also been aerodynamically enhanced. Burnished 15-inch alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tyres, Volkswagen emblems on a blue background and e-up! lettering on the hatch and the front doors make the fully electric four-seater instantly unmistakable.
Only a premium level of trim is being offered for the e-up! In addition to the high up! specification it includes ‘maps+more’ navigation, Climatronic climate control and multi-function display, heated windscreen, heated seats and tinted rear windows. The mobile online ‘Car Net’ services, which can be controlled via smartphone, appear in the e-up! for the first time in the New Small Family and also form part of the car’s standard specification.
The interior is characterised by light grey seat covers with blue fell seams, a design specific to the e-up! The purposeful use of leather and chrome trim conveys a purist overall impression – in keeping with a fully-fledged, urbane electric car’s vehicle concept.
The entry-level price of the e-up! in Germany as an already well-equipped base model inclusive of battery is €26,900. This autumn at the IAA (International Motor Show) in Frankfurt, Volkswagen will announce further details on how the vehicle is to be marketed, including, for example, leasing and flexible car hire packages.
Nissan developing an improved version of the Renault Twizy
Nissan is working on an innovative urban electric vehicle that it says improves on the Twizy produced by alliance partner Renault.
Etienne Henry, Nissan's head of product strategy and planning said the new car will combine the compactness and agility of a motorcycle with the weather protection and protective shell of a conventional car.
"The Twizy is also trying to combine these, but we think there are optimizations possible with this kind of vehicle," said Henry, who declined to say when the car might be added to Nissan's lineup.
Renault sees the Twizy as an alternative to scooters in Europe's crowded cities. The Twizy, which debuted last year, is powered by a choice of two electric motors, a 4kW/5-hp version with its top speed capped at 45kph that can be driven in most countries in Europe without a driver's license and a version with a top speed of 80kph. It has maximum driving range of 100 km.
In 2008, Nissan showed the narrow, two-seat Land Glider concept that leaned into corners like a motorcycle but still came with the security of four wheels and an enclosed cabin. In a statement at the time, Nissan said it "should not be regarded as a mere design study."
"That was a very interesting concept with very challenging and meaningful technology," said Henry, who declined to say whether any of the Land Glider's features would make it into its future EV.
Henry, who previously was product manager for the first-generation Qashqai compact crossover, said the new EV would successfully mix the motorcycle and car genres in the same way the Qashqai blended the strengths of a compact hatchback with the styling of an SUV.
One aim of the new EV is to help address congestion in fast-growing cities. "It's clear we need to offer an efficiency in terms of compactness, of space usage. Probably this will have an answer to this question," he said.
At this year's Geneva auto show, Toyota showed an electric urban mobility concept with the same capability to lean into corners as the Nissan Land Glider. The three-wheel i-Road is scheduled for limited production and will join the lineup of EVs in Toyota's car-sharing program in the French city of Grenoble next year.
Tesla has received hundreds of Model S orders from Hong Kong
Tesla Motors said it’s received hundreds of orders for its new Model S sedan, enough to double the number of electric cars on the roads of Hong Kong.
“Our number is over all electric cars in Hong Kong combined,” Kenneth Lui, Hong Kong sales manager for the Palo Alto, California-based company, said in an interview yesterday. Prices of the vehicle, which goes on sale in the city this winter, will be disclosed in the next couple of months, he said.
Tesla, headed by billionaire Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, has forecast Model S sales will reach 21,000 units this year, with deliveries to Europe and Asia beginning in the second half. The Model S, which starts at $69,900 in the U.S., is Tesla’s second vehicle after the $109,000 Roadster.
Hong Kong had 303 registered private electric cars at the end of April, according to the city’s Transport Department.
Tesla Model S at Willow Springs Raceway during a Track Day [VIDEO]
Here is a video of Tesla owner Abraham Shrem racing his Model S at Willow Springs International Raceway during the Speed Ventures Track Day.
Source: Inside EVs
Plug-In EVs report strong June sales month in US
Electric vehicles had their strongest month in June this year as major automakers cut prices and added hefty incentives to boost sales.
General Motors reported sales jumped by 53 percent to 2,698 in June, up over the 1,760 in June 2012 after it offered incentives worth as much as $5,000 off 2012 models and $4,000 off 2013 models. For the first half of 2013, sales are up 11.8 percent.
Nissan said sales of its all-electric Leaf were up 315 percent over June 2012 to 2,225, for its second-best ever month. Nissan has now sold 9,849 in the first half of 2013, more than the 9,819 it sold in all of 2012. In January, Nissan said it was cutting the price of the entry-level Leaf 18 percent to $28,800 for the 2013 model as it launched U.S. production.
Honda had its best-ever month in June with 208 Fit EVs sold, after selling 83 in the first five months of the year. Honda announced in May that it has cut the monthly lease payment on its Fit EV from $389 to $259 and also is cutting the payment for those who already had leased the vehicle. Honda sold just 93 last year.
Honda started sales in July 2012 of the Fit EV and said it plans to sell just 1,100 over two years, citing capacity constraints. The company has 200 dealers selling the Fit EV and said it plans steadier availability. Honda spokeswoman Jessica Fini said after the lease price was cut, “basically everything on the ground sold,” but she emphasized that the company still has inventory to sell.
GM plans to keep the same incentives in place for at least another month. GM is offering $5,000 off the 2012, and $4,000 off the 2013, and a $269 lease for 36 months with $2,399 due at signing. More than 40 percent of Volts are sold in California, followed by Michigan in second.
Malcho said GM has increased its incentives to stay competitive in the electric vehicle market. The company also wants to clear out some inventory before it begins building 2014 Volts later this summer.
In January, Ford Motor Co. dropped the price of the lease for a Focus EV from about $350 a month to $285, plus $930 due at signing. Ford reduced the base price of the EV Focus by $2,000 to $37,995. But Ford EV sales have remained very modest. Ford sold 157 Focus EVs in May to 723 for the first five months of the year. By contrast Ford has sold 8,177 hybrids in the first five months of the year.
Four time World Solar Challenge winners unveil – Nuna 7
The team that won the World Solar Challenge four times consecutively between 2001 and 2007 have unveiled their latest solar racer.
The Nuna7 solar-powered vehicle – which features pioneering pore-filling technology – will take part in the competition in Australia in October, representing the fourth time that the Nuon Solar Team from the Technical University in Delft and Sikkens paint experts from the company's Automotive and Aerospace Coatings business have worked together.
This year, however, will be the first time that the Nuna has used the new composite pinhole filler Aerowave 2501, which has already been used on commercial aircraft.
"When the carbon fiber shell of the Nuna is manufactured, the process creates pinholes that must be filled with putty and then sanded, often multiple times," explained John Grevers, AkzoNobel's Technical Coordinator for Benelux and Sikkens project leader for the Nuna.
"Our water-based pinhole filler replaces much of the putty and doesn't require sanding, because it can be easily wiped away. Which means it also adds less weight to the car than traditional fillers."
As well as the new pinhole filler, the Nuna 7 also features an aerodynamically advanced Sikkens coatings system designed to reduce wind drag and cut down on preparation time. Products used include Colorbuild Plus, Autocryl Plus LV, and Autoclear LV Superior.
"AkzoNobel is helping us a lot in terms of making sure that we have the best possible aerodynamics thanks to the finish they provide," said Leslie Nooteboom, the Delft team's Public Relations manager. "We feel that the company is playing a very important role in our chances of winning the race in Australia."
Added Grevers: "It has been a valuable experience for us to develop coatings that not only provide advanced aerodynamics, but can also perform well under the extreme temperatures of solar car racing. And it’s always good to work with students because they bring a fresh vision."
The team hopes to go one better than 2011, when the Nuna 6 finished second in the 11th World Solar Challenge. The biennial event – which aims to promote research on solar-powered cars – attracts teams from across the globe. The 2013 race will be staged from October 6 to 13.
Michelin TV: Drayson Racing Set New FIA World Electric Land Speed Record [VIDEO]
Drayson Racing set a new World Electric Land Speed Record of 204.185mph this evening with the support of Michelin tyres.
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 203mph 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 Michelin."
"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 drive train and underscore Britain's leadership position in the EV industry.
Monster Tajima wins EV class with fifth overall @ Pikes Peak
"Monster" Tajima has broken the 10 minute barrier with an electric vehicle at Pikes Peak beating the 2011 outright course record set by Nobuhiro Tajima himself at 9:51.278 behind the wheel of a 900 hp Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special.
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 Romain Dumas who set 9:46.18 in a Porsche GT3 RS.
Unfortunatley the outright record has now been put significantly further out of reach 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.
Source: Pikes Peak Timing
Monster Tajima wins EV class with fifth overall @ Pikes Peak
"Monster" Tajima has broken the 10 minute barrier with an electric vehicle at Pikes Peak beating the 2011 outright course record set by Nobuhiro Tajima himself at 9:51.278 behind the wheel of a 900 hp Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special.
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 Romain Dumas who set 9:46.18 in a Porsche GT3 RS.
Unfortunatley the outright record has now been put significantly further out of reach 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.
Source: Pikes Peak Timing
Pikes Peak Practice Day 3 Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution II [VIDEO]
Mitsubishi Motors Team Scores First and Second Place in Electric Vehicle Qualifying at Pikes Peak again on Day 3.
Tesla Model S 85 kWh Performance vs 60 kWh [VIDEO]
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.
Source: Drag Times
Rod Millen During The First Test Days of the TMG EV P002 @ Pikes Peak [VIDEO]
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.
Mitsubishi Top Time Sheets in Pikes Peak Qualifying [VIDEO]
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.
Bay Area local governments deploying 50x i-MiEVs
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
The Drayson Racing FIA World Land Speed Record [VIDEO]
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.
Rugby player squeezes into a Mitsubishi iMiEV to promote EVs
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
GoPro: “Monster” Tajima’s Cause – Pikes Peak 2012
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.
NISSAN unveil world’s fastest electric racing car at Le Mans [VIDEO]
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...
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Tesla unveils battery pack swap in 90-second [VIDEO]
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...
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