Category: Electric Car News

Posted on

BMW i3 Spied Ahead Of Reveal This Month

Our spies captured the BMW i3 testing without most of its camouflage, prior to a full reveal scheduled for July 29.

The two prototypes were spotted somewhere in Southern Germany while undergoing some last-minute testing. Closely mirroring the concept's looks, the production version will certainly be an interesting appearance on public roads once it hits the market later this year.

The EV is expected to come with a rear-mounted electric motor producing 170 bhp (127 kW) and 184 lb-ft (249 Nm). It should provide a range between 88 miles (130 km) and 99 miles (160 km). The range-extending model is said to make use of a two-cylinder, 0.65-liter motorcycle engine acting as a generator. In this configuration range should be of around 186 miles (300 km).

Posted on

Volkswagen XL1 and e-up! to run @ Silvretta E-Car Rally

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

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.

Posted on

ELMOFO Electric Radical SR8 Shakedown [VIDEO]

This is the first run of the ELMOFO Radical SR8 at Eastern Creek Raceway. The video is under 3/4 throttle reaching a top speed of 220 KM/H (137 MPH) not bad for a first run. Next week the team at Electro Motive Force Racing plan to turn it up to full noise.

The drive system incorporates:

  • AMR Prototype Dual-Inline Stack AC Motors
  • Rinehart Motion Systems PM150 Motor Controllers
  • ELMOFO Liquid Cooled Battery Modules

    • Posted on

    2014 Formula One exhaust energy recovery system explained

    In an effort to reduce fuel consumption in Formula One by up to 35% the FIA have introduced wholesale changes to the technical regulations to significantly increased energy harvesting for the 2014 season.

    In addition to doubling to power of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), first introduced in 2009, from 60 kw to 120 kw and increasing kinetic energy storage by five times from 0.4 MJ/lap to Max 2MJ/lap, a new method of heat-based Energy Recovery System has been introduced.

    The regulations refer to the two devices as the ‘Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic’ (MGU-K) and ‘Motor Generator Unit – Heat’ (MGU-H). The latter uses heat energy from the turbo to generate electrical energy.

    The MGU-H unit captures waste heat as it is dispelled from the exhaust turbocharger via an electric generator attached to the turbocharger shaft. This waste heat energy is stored as an electrical charge adding an additional 2MJ/lap to KERS resulting in 10x - 4MJ compared to 400 kJ - as much electric power boost per lap compared to 2013 KERS.

    2014 V6 Engine Q & A with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS

    What can you tell us about the 2014 engine?

    First of all, let’s mention the rules rather than the engine. For 2014, the rules specify a maximum race fuel allowance of 100 kg – compared to a typical race fuel load of around 150 kg today, although that’s not fixed by the rules.

    That means we have one third less fuel to complete the same race distance with – and we want to do it at the same speed. So we need a powertrain that’s 30% more energy efficient.

    And that’s where the new engine comes in?

    Well, it’s not really just an engine any more. Without getting too technical, Article 1.22 of the Technical Regulations now refers to what’s called a ‘Power Unit’. This comprises an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), an ERS (Energy Recovery System) and all the ancillaries needed to make them work.

    But why a Power Unit? Well, today’s V8 essentially features a “bolt-on” KERS Hybrid system that was added during the engine’s life. The 2014 Power Unit has been designed with integrated hybrid systems from the very beginning.

    Interesting. F1 loves jargon, so ICE and ERS sound just perfect. What do they mean?

    The ICE is the traditional engine in the Power Unit package. 1.6 litre capacity, turbocharged, and with direct fuel injection at a pressure of up to 100 bar. Where the current engines rev to 18,000 rpm, the ICE is limited to 15,000 rpm from 2014.

    As for ERS, it’s like KERS on steroids: not only can we still harvest energy from and deploy energy to the rear axle, we can now do the same from the turbocharger; the kinetic machine is called MGUK (Motor Generator Unit Kinetic) and the machine on the turbo an MGUH (‘h’ for heat).

    In total, we are allowed to harvest and deploy energy at twice the power to the rear axle – so 161 hp compared to 80.5 hp today. And we are allowed to deploy ten times as much energy – 4MJ compared to 400 kJ. Simply put, that means a bigger power boost for a higher percentage of the lap.

    And that’s what helps improve the efficiency?

    Exactly. Part of the efficiency gain comes from the ICE, which runs at lower speeds with fewer moving parts than the V8 and the benefit of turbocharging; but the other part is to be found in the ERS.

    Today, the fuel energy we combust in the engine then has one possible energy journey to improve system efficiency, via the KERS system.

    In 2014, there will be up to seven possible energy journeys to keep energy within the vehicle rather than wasting it through the exhausts and brakes.

    Sound pretty impressive. Will it be exciting for the fans?

    We believe so. The target is to achieve the same power output of around 750 hp but to do so using around 30% less fuel.

    In terms of sound, the engine note is not as loud as the current V8 because of two factors: the lower engine speed and the fact that the turbocharger sits in the exhaust flow, recovering energy from it that would otherwise be lost as heat and sound.

    But because of the mechanical balance of a V6 engine, it also sounds sweeter. And we’re confident that fans will find it pretty exciting when they hear it at the track.

    What impact will it have on the racing?

    First of all, the engine is going to produce a lot more torque than the current V8 and over a wider power band.

    That means the car is going to be grip limited on corner exit, in technical terms; in layman’s terms, they’re going to be a handful for the drivers.

    The next point is that it will reward the most intelligent drivers - the fastest way to finish a race will not always be straightforward and the cleverest drivers will probably adapt fastest to the new challenges.

    So will we see F1 turned into an economy run – or cars running out of fuel in the latter stages?

    Unlikely. Managing fuel consumption is already a critical part of F1 and it will remain so in 2014; for example, did you know that our V8 can complete a race distance today using 11.6% less fuel than it did in 2006?

    Today, teams are very good at monitoring fuel consumption: we track each injection of fuel into each cylinder so we know exactly how much fuel is being used. And there are over five million injections in an average race!

    Ultimately, the smartest driver in the quickest car will be successful in 2014, which remains true to the fundamental challenge of Formula One. What we’re really doing is putting the ‘motor’ back into ‘motorsport’.

    Posted on

    Cadillac ELR suspension and steering systems in detail [VIDEO]

    Drivers expect hybrid and electric cars to have advanced battery and drive systems that make smart use of energy. Cadillac’s upcoming electrified luxury coupe, the 2014 ELR, is designed to exceed those expectations by also providing engaging, responsive driving dynamics enabled by advanced suspension and steering systems.

    The technologies include front HiPer Strut suspension, rear compound crank with Watt’s link suspension, a premium ZF electric power steering system and ZF-Sachs continuous damping control.

    “ELR’s methodical use of advanced suspension and steering technologies front and rear has resulted in the quiet cabin, agile handling and superior ride that Cadillac customers have come to expect,” said Chris Thomason, ELR vehicle chief engineer. “ELR will redefine for many people what the electric car driving experience is all about. Not only does it make smart use of energy, it makes energy-efficient driving fun and luxurious.”

    ELR’s industry-leading Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) propulsion system delivers 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of instantly available torque. In driver-selectable Sport mode, the reconfigured accelerator pedal provides quicker torque application and more sensitive feedback through altered suspension and steering settings. ELR also offers Tour, Hold and Mountain driving modes.

    With so much torque available, engineers relied on a HiPer Strut front suspension to eliminate torque steer and increase front axle grip while cornering due to optimized tire contact with the road. The HiPer Strut also contributes to ELR’s precise, communicative and linear steering feel, and reduces unwanted steering system disturbances over rough roads and bumps for an overall smoother ride.

    In its rear suspension, ELR uses a Watt’s link design to center the car’s rear axle during turns to provide a more balanced driving experience. When cornering, the Watt’s link provides greater lateral stiffness that results in more positive vehicle response to steering inputs and helps keep the rear suspension aligned with the front suspension. When the ELR is traveling on a straightaway, the Watt’s link allows the suspension to travel up and down freely to make the ride more comfortable.

    ELR’s premium electric power steering system is designed to provide excellent feedback while saving fuel. The rack-mounted, dual-pinion system – one for steering and one for power assist – consumes energy only when the vehicle is actively steered. A combined electric motor and sensing unit monitors steering angle and delivers appropriate assist to the steering gear at all times, correcting for crowned road surfaces and cross-winds. This helps reduce driver fatigue.

    In driver-selectable Sport mode, ELR’s steering gear provides increased on-center sharpness and steering sensitivity for dynamic steering. In the more relaxed Tour mode, it allows precise control with less driver steering efforts.

    ELR’s continuous damping control monitors sensors throughout the vehicle, vehicle speed and the driver’s input, and adjusts damping accordingly for each 20-inch wheel every two milliseconds to maintain optimal vehicle ride control over varying road surfaces and profiles. This reduces and controls vehicle roll, pitch and vertical motions for a flat “sky-hook” ride performance, and instantly responds to cornering maneuvers by automatically adjusting the dampers to a firmer level for superior handling and stability. When driving on smooth roads, the dampers are automatically adjusted to the softest setting to provide increased isolation and ride comfort.

    An isolated four-mount front cradle contributes to the ELR’s overall quietness, noise and vibration performance, and ride-and-handling dynamics. Specifically tuned mounts are tailored to the engine’s inherent torque axis, decreasing the transfer of vibration and noise into the cabin.

    Now in its final months of pre-launch engineering testing, the ELR is slated to reach showrooms in the U.S. by early 2014. ELR is the first car by a full-line luxury brand to offer Extended Range Electric Vehicle technology. The EREV propulsion technology provides full driving range exceeding 300 miles (480 km), combining pure electric driving and an efficient, range-extending generator.