Category: Electric Car News

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New Tesla Roadster coming in 2017

According to a recent report, Tesla could launch up to four new models by 2018.

While we already know about the Model X and the Model 3, Autobild is reporting the company is considering a compact city car.

Little is known about the vehicle - which has been dubbed the Model C - but it would be smaller and more affordable than the Model 3 which is expected to cost approximately $35,000.

The magazine goes says a new roadster - dubbed Model R - could arrive in 2017. This seems to contradict statements from Tesla CEO Elon Musk who has previously said an all-new Roadster is at least five years off. However, the wait could be worth it as Tesla's vice president of sales, George Blankenship, has previously suggested it could accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds and have a range in excess of 200 miles (322 km).

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Bugatti plan new 1500 hp Hybrid with axial flux motor & electric turbos

Autocar report that a new Bugatti Veyron is currently undergoing initial conceptual engineering tests in a programme aimed at unveiling the car in 2016 prior to a planned start to customer deliveries the following year. According to sources close to Bugatti, early test 
mules for the new car exist 
and have already been 
pressed into action in an 
early round of testing.

“Five developmental prototypes with differing powertrain combinations have been constructed up to now,” said one insider. “They are based on the existing car 
but use various solutions 
that are being considered for the new model.”

Following recent arrivals such as the McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder and LaFerrari, the new Bugatti will feature a battery powered hybrid electric powertrain. The same quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 powerplant as 
its predecessor will be retained but with the possible addition of electric turbochargers, perhaps along the lines of those used by Porsche in LMP1 (Porsche and Bugatti are both part of the VW group) and the 2014 Formula One KERS MGU-H (where the H stands for heat).

The big news centres around plans to provide the new Bugatti with hybrid drive by way of a disc-shaped Axial Flux electric motor mounted within the gearbox housing. Together, the petrol engine and electric motor are said to deliver up to 1500 hp. By comparison, the Veyron Super Sport has 1183 hp.

Autocar sources suggest that torque will be capped at 1500 Nm for the sake of gearbox reliability. A Veyron Super Sport already has 1500 Nm from 3000 to 5000 rpm. With an Axial Flux AC Induction motor able to generate almost as much torque (1250 Nm from the EE in-wheel motor) The Bugatti hybrid electric powertrain design looks like a very conservative step with full potential limited by the fragility of it's mechanical driveline.

The new hybrid Veyron should have some fairly startling performance in electric only mode (if it has one - see LaFerrari), but in parallel mode, other than providing torque fill below 3,000 rpm, (partly explaining why Bugatti expect 0-100 km/h times to drop to 2.3 sec) the full potential of the hybrid powerplant will be restricted by a mechanical transmission layout that may not have moved on much from the current Veyron.

As with the McLaren P1, a hybrid that still idles in traffic, or the LaFerrari which has no pure EV mode, the new Bugatti may succeed in combined the superior low rpm torque characteristics of an electric motor to give the instant throttle response and acceleration of an EV, what McLaren call 'torque fill', with the enormous top end torque of a large displacement forced induction ICE, but in common with the aforementioned hybrid hypercars, it will be very much a first generation mild hybrid.

We will have to wait for future evolutions of hybrid supercar powertrain design before we see anything truly revolutionary.

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Next Generation Volt to debut at 2015 @ Detroit Auto Show

The next generation Chevrolet Volt will debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Global Chevrolet Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney said today.

The 2016 Volt will build on the award-winning original's strong foundation of technology innovation. Volt sales were up 13 percent in July and more than 65,000 have been sold since it was introduced – making it the best-selling plug-in passenger car in the U.S. market.

"Volt is the perfect example of the ingenuity that drives everything we do at Chevrolet," Mahoney said at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefings. "Volt fully delivers on the promises of Find New Roads and will continue to provide consumers with the transportation solutions they need and deserve in the future."

Volt owners are driving more than 63 percent of their overall miles in electric vehicle mode, collectively logging more than 500 million gas-free miles since the Volt's retail debut in 2010. That has saved more than 25 million gallons of gasoline.

While the driving range in EV mode can be affected by temperature, driving technique and terrain, the ease with which Volt drivers are avoiding gasoline use demonstrates the Volt's suitability for almost any lifestyle.

Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive more than 970 miles between fill-ups and visit the gas station less than once a month.

The Volt has received multiple customer satisfaction awards from leading third-parties. According to a recent leading independent satisfaction survey, the Volt is the highest-rated compact car under $55,000. Owners are showing their satisfaction as well. For the past three years, a leading customer publication has reported survey results showing more than 90 percent of Volt owners said they would definitely buy a Volt again.

The Volt continues to draw buyers from non-General Motors' products. In the 2013 calendar year, nearly seven of 10 new Volt buyers traded in a non-GM vehicle, the majority of which were Toyota Priuses.

Among its accolades, the 2014 Volt has been recognized for its safety, most recently receiving the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety 2014 Top Safety Pick+ designation for vehicles equipped with an available Forward Collision Alert system.

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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Best Seller on UK Gov Grant Scheme

The Outlander PHEV is helping Mitsubishi sales success in the UK.

In July Outlander PHEV outsold all other vehicles which qualify for the governments Plug-in Car Grant, accounting for 43% of successful applications. This car has received huge levels of public interest, driven by the vehicle’s outstanding fuel consumption of 148 MPG and low emission credentials – 44g/km.

Toby Marshall, Director of Sales & Marketing for Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, said: “Now that the sales figures are in for July, it is clear to see we have made significant progress so far this year. The addition of the game-changing Outlander PHEV to our vehicle line-up has helped boost Mitsubishi brand awareness, increasing sales of all models in our range.”

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New Rechargeable Cell Has 7x Higher Energy Density Than Li-ion Cells

A Japanese research group developed a rechargeable battery based on a new principle in cooperation with Nippon Shokubai Co Ltd.

The group is led by Noritaka Mizuno, professor at the School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo. The new battery uses the oxidation-reduction reaction between oxide ions and peroxide ions at the positive electrode. The group proved that peroxides are generated and dispersed due to charge and discharge reactions by using a material made by adding cobalt (Co) to the crystal structure of lithium oxide (Li2O) for the positive electrode, verifying a battery system based on a new principle.

The new technology can realize an energy density seven times higher than that of existing lithium (Li)-ion rechargeable batteries, increase capacity, lower price and enhance safety. It is expected to be used for batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and next-generation stationary batteries.

The oxidation-reduction reaction between Li2O and Li2O2 (lithium peroxide) and oxidation-reduction reaction of metal Li are used at the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, of the new battery. The battery has a theoretical capacity of 897mAh per 1g of the positive/negative electrode active material, voltage of 2.87V and theoretical energy density of 2,570Wh/kg.

At that time, the energy density is 370Wh per 1kg of the positive/negative electrode active material, which is about seven times higher than that of existing Li-ion rechargeable batteries using LiCoO2 positive electrodes and graphite negative electrodes. The theoretical energy density of the new battery is lower than that of lithium-air batteries (3,460Wh/kg). But it has a sealed structure like conventional Li-ion batteries, realizing a high reliability and safety.

This time, as the positive electrode material, the research group used a material made by using a planetary ball mill to add Co to the crystal structure of LiO2. And the group proved that it is possible to realize a battery system in which the oxidation-reduction reaction between oxides and peroxides reversibly proceeds. And it proved that (1) peroxides are generated in the positive electrode for charge, (2) the peroxides are dispersed for discharge and (3) those reactions are repeated, by quantitatively analyzing the peroxides.

The group also proved that neither O2 nor CO2 is generated in the range where it is possible to reversibly charge/discharge the battery.

The positive electrode used in the demonstration test enables to repeatedly charge/discharge the battery with a capacity of 200mAh/g and to quickly charge/discharge the battery with a large current. The positive electrode has a smaller mass ratio of Co than LiCoO2, which is used for existing Li-ion batteries, and possibly lowers costs.

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First Siemens e-highway in the USA by 2015 [VIDEO]

For the first time ever, electric trucks powered by overhead cables will run in the USA and help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has given the go-ahead for Siemens to install an e-highway system for test purposes close to the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the biggest in the USA.

The Siemens e-highway electrifies selected traffic lanes using an overhead cable system. As a result, trucks can be supplied with electricity in the same way as trams. Working together with the Volvo Group and its Mack brand, Siemens is developing a demonstration vehicle for the project. Siemens is also working with local truck integrators in California whose vehicles will be part of the test as well.

The overhead cable infrastructure will now be installed in two directions in Carson (California) near Los Angeles. The project is expected to begin in July 2015 and will last a year. During the test phase, up to four trucks will travel up and down the route every day. The "e-trucks" are equipped with a hybrid drive system and intelligent current collectors. Powered by electricity from overhead cables, they produce no emissions when operating in the local area. On roads without overhead cables, the vehicles use an electric drive system which can be powered by diesel, compressed natural gas, a battery or with other energy sources. The current collector allows the vehicles to overtake and automatically dock and undock at speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour.

The e-highway concept is particularly effective from an environmental and economic point of view on heavily used and relatively short truck routes, e.g. between ports, industrial estates, freight transport centers and central transshipment terminals. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are looking for a zero-emission solution ("Zero Emission I-710 Project") for a section of the Interstate I-710. Around 35,000 shuttle truck journeys currently take place here every day. The intention is to set up a "zero emission corridor" for shuttle traffic between the two sea ports and the inland rail transshipment centers around 30 kilometers away. This will help to ease the pressure on the environment in a region which is plagued by smog. The aim is to eliminate local emissions completely, reduce the use of fossil fuels, cut operating costs and establish a basis for using the system on a commercial basis in the future

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Nissan, Mitsubishi to launch low-cost electric car by 2016

Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors will work together to develop a minicar-based electric vehicle, aiming to release a new model in fiscal 2016 at the lowest price among major automakers.

The carmakers have set up a 50-50 joint venture to pursue development.

Nissan, which released the Leaf electric car in 2010, is the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, with global sales of at least 124,000 units. Mitsubishi has a track record in this area as well, including the minicar-based i-MiEV released in 2009. They plan to co-produce the new car and work together to procure such key components as lithium-ion batteries.

The i-MiEV is the cheapest electric passenger car on the Japanese market, starting at $26,440. When government subsidies of up to $7,760 are included, it can be purchased for as little as $18,680.

By basing the new EV on a minicar, Nissan and Mitsubishi expect to sell it for around $15,000 including subsidies, the lowest price among major automakers and similar to gas-fueled compacts.

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Bosch Launches Next Generation E-Bike Systems [VIDEO]

Bosch eBike Systems is introducing two new drive systems which will be available next to the existing Classic+ line. The newcomers are called Active Line and Performance Line. Both Lines have a new mid-motor developed by Bosch which is smaller and lighter than the current one. It's also not possible to mount it upside down at 220º as the Classic+ one. Thanks to its design the new drive unit of both Active and Performance lines offer even for the sportive segment enough ground clearance.

While the Classic+ drive system is offered in both up to 25 km/h and up to 45 km/h versions, the new agile Active Line comes only in a 25 km/h version and stands for "carefree enjoyment". The more dynamic and powerful Performance Line offers next to a 25 km/h also a 45 km/h version for derailleur-equipped bicycles. Also new is that the Active Line offers a version for coaster brake bikes.

Also new at the Active and Performance Lines are 'drivetrains'. Bosch means by that a drive concept ensuring optimal coordination by relying on three sensors for force, cadence, and speed. According to Bosch there are now, "1,000 sensor measurements per second and more powerful electronics with a modern 32-bit processor." Also new: gear shift detection for derailleur systems. "During shifting, the torque is reduced at precisely at the right moment and then increased, resulting in a smooth shifting process which reduces stress on the components and cuts down on wear."

Not only the mid drive unit and rear carriers that hold the battery pack are tuned, but also the Intuvia onboard computer that comes with the Bosch e-bike kit. More functions are available as well as more modes: eco, tour, sport, turbo, and off. Both Active and Performance e-bike kits weigh less than four kilograms (Classic+: 4.1 kilos).

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Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-In Hybrid goes on sale

The Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID can be ordered for prices from 108,944.50 euros[1]. The S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID blends an ultramodern hybrid drive configuration with the unique innovations and the luxurious equipment and appointments of the S-Class. The luxury saloon with a long wheelbase impresses with unique dynamism and efficiency. Thanks to standard pre-entry climate control it also offers unique climate comfort. In September the first certified three-litre luxury saloon in the world will be arriving at the dealers - a further milestone on the road to emission-free mobility.

"The new S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID offers our customers the entire range of innovations that make our new S-Class so successful, and thanks to its intelligent operating strategy ensures outstanding driving pleasure and dynamism combined with the highest efficiency. Moreover, it allows completely emission-free driving for up to 33 km," says Ola Källenius, Executive Vice-President for Sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars.

"The S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID is the first luxury saloon with the performance of a V8 and the fuel consumption of a compact model. The greatest challenge in this is to translate highest efficiency into superior performance. In this respect there is a highly interesting parallel with our successful Formula 1 racing car, which likewise has a turbocharged V6 engine and hybrid drive," says Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler AG Executive Board responsible for corporate research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development.

The Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID offers a system output of 325 kW and 650 Nm torque, and in just 5.2 seconds sprints from 0 to 100 km/h and can drive up to 33 km purely electrically. The certified consumption is 2.8 litres/100 km, which corresponds to 65 g CO2/km emissions. Key elements of this impressive output are the V6 biturbo and the intelligent hybrid drive. Following the S 400 HYBRID and S 300 BlueTEC HYBRID the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID is the third hybrid model in the new S-class. Its new high-voltage lithium-ion battery can be externally recharged via the charging socket in the right side of the rear bumper.

In order to strengthen the customers' trust in the new, innovative PLUG-IN HYBRID drive system, for the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID Mercedes-Benz is for the first time issuing a certificate and thus a promise to perform for the high-voltage battery and PLUG-IN HYBRID components (e.g. e-machine and power electronics). This ensures that every technical malfunction within a period of six years after initial delivery or registration, or up to a mileage of 100,000 kilometres, is corrected by Mercedes-Benz.

The technical data at a glance:
Model
S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID
Internal combustion engine:
Number of cylinders/arrangement
6/V
Mixture formation
High-pressure injection, 2 turbochargers
Displacement (cc)
2996
Rated output (kW/hp at rpm)
245/333 at 5250-6000
Rated torque (Nm at rpm)
480 at 1600-4000
Electric motor:
Output (kW)
85
Torque (Nm)
340
System output (kW/hp)
325/442
System torque (Nm)1
650
Consumption combined from (l/100 km)2
2.8
CO2 emissions combined from (g/km)2
65
Efficiency class
A+
Electric range (km)
33
Charge time 20%-100% (400 V/16 A – 230 V/8 A)3(h)
2 – 4.1
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s)
5.2
Top speed (km/h)1
250
Top speed electric (km/h)1
140
Price (euros)4
108,944.50
1 Electronically limited, 2 In accordance with NEDC, 3 Charge time at 230 V/8 A e.g. at a commercially available socket. Through settings on the control element of the charging cable shorter charge times can be realised (standard setting: 8 A), provided that the power supply system is designed for this. Charge time at 400 V/16 A e.g. at a wallbox. The voltage and current ratings indicated refer to the power supply infrastructure and can be limited by the car. 4 Sales price in Germany, incl. 19 percent VAT
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Audi planning to challenge Tesla with 500-700 km range EVs

Audi this week proudly launched their first plug-in hybrid, the A3 Sportback e-tron, a full 17 years after the Prius.

Auto Bild has revealed Audi plans to catch-up with the competition in automotive electrification with two purely electric Audi SUV, the A2Q and Q6 expected around 2017/18.

A2Q with up to 500 km electric range

If the expected advances in battery technology are true, the compact A2Q, expected in 2016, will have 500 km battery range. Seen as a competitor against BMW's i3, Audi will not develop a completely new electric platform but uses the familiar MQB modular architecture of Golf/A3.

Audi Q6 as Tesla competitor

The Q6, internally designated within Audi as the Tesla Fighter, is expected to be a coupe-like offshoot of the Q5 and come with 700 km battery range with a launch date around 2017. A larger battery powered Q7/8 is also expected around 2017.