At the Los Angeles Auto Show, an Industry Ponders Its Digital Future
Automakers promoted their high-tech bona fides and environmentally friendly conscience at the AutoMobility LA conference.
2017 VW e-Golf, Tesla software update, FCA diesel lawsuit: Today’s Car News
Today, the updated 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf electric car debuts at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Elon Musk promises a software update for the Tesla Model S P100D that will make it quicker, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and engine supplier Cummins face a lawsuit over Dodge Ram diesel pickup-truck emissions. All this and more on Green Car... BMW crosses sales of 100,000 plug-in electric cars
Almost exactly three years after the European launch of the i3 electric car in November 2013, BMW has reached a notable milestone in its electrification efforts. The German automaker says it has delivered 100,000 plug-in cars over the past three years. That figure encompasses both battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids. DON'T MISS: New 2017... FCA sued over emissions of 2007-2012 Dodge Ram diesel pickups with Cummins engines
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and engine supplier Cummins are the latest companies to be accused of hiding excess diesel-exhaust emissions. A class-action lawsuit filed against the two companies Monday accuses them of conspiring to conceal illegally-high levels of emissions in Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 diesel pickup trucks manufactured between... Tesla Model S P100D to get 0-60 time of 2.4 seconds via software update: Musk
Tesla Motors ignores the standard product-development cycles used by other automakers. Rather than waiting for conventional model years to unveil new features, the Silicon Valley automaker simply pushes them out when they're ready, often in the form of over-the-air software updates. Tesla's latest software update will make the Model S... 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid: 30 miles of electric range, $76,000 base price
The 2017 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid was first announced last year, but it won't go on sale until early in 2017. As that launch date draws nearer, we've learned more important details about the plug-in hybrid luxury sedan. When it arrives in the U.S. in Spring 2017, the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid will start at $76,090 (including destination). DON'T MISS... BorgWarner Launch Integrated Electric Drive Module for the EV Market
BorgWarner will launch its electric drive module (eDM) with integrated eGearDrive® transmission in two pure electric vehicles from a major Chinese automaker. Production is expected to begin in summer 2017.
"BorgWarner's new eDM combines our know-how in eGearDrive transmissions, first launched in 2009, with our newly acquired expertise in electric motor technology from the former REMY business," said Dr. Stefan Demmerle, President and General Manager, BorgWarner PowerDrive Systems. "Our first application of this integrated world-class propulsion solution will be produced locally in China."
BorgWarner's eDM provides primary or secondary propulsion for pure electric or P4-type hybrid vehicles. The integrated design of the electric motor and transmission enables weight, cost and space savings. Since both functions are combined into one housing, installation is also easier. Based on the vehicle manufacturer's desired propulsion characteristics, performance is optimized with various available gear ratios to provide a completely tailored solution. Featuring patented high voltage hairpin (HVH) technology and optional power electronics, BorgWarner's HVH 250 electric motor delivers superior performance with over 95 percent efficiency. Through its high-efficiency gear train and compact, low-weight design, the eGearDrive transmission contributes to extended battery-powered driving range, which in turn reduces the battery capacity required. An electronically actuated park lock system is also available.
BorgWarner's comprehensive product portfolio also includes numerous other leading technologies for hybrid and electric vehicles, such as the eBooster® electrically driven compressor, cabin heaters and auxiliary thermal coolant pumps. All of these technologies support automakers around the world in designing the clean and efficient vehicles of tomorrow.
2017 Volkswagen e-Golf: 124 miles of range, more motor power, LA Auto Show debut
Later this morning, the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf will be unveiled at the second of two Los Angeles Auto Show media preview days. Along with the many updates made to other models in the 2017 Golf lineup, VW's electric car gets a 50-percent boost in battery capacity and a more powerful electric motor. The battery rises from 24.2 kilowatt-hours to 35.8... Mazda diesel to arrive fall 2017, it says, in new CX-5 crossover
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover is an entirely new design, Mazda says, although you might not see it at first glance. The small Japanese maker unveiled the new generation just four years after it launched the vehicle that now represents fully one-quarter of its global sales volume. But the company also confirmed a rumor first reported three... Trump & electric cars, mandatory-noise rule, 200-mile Hyundai Ioniq: Today’s Car News
Today, we look at how Donald Trump's presidency could affect electric cars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues noise-making rules for electric cars and hybrids, and a Hyundai official claims the Ioniq Electric hatchback will get a 200-mile range "soon." All this and more on Green Car Reports. The Hyundai Ioniq... Is Trump presidency the real market test for electric cars?
One week ago this morning, the U.S. and the world woke up to learn that Donald Trump would be the next president of the United States. The shockwaves of that election are still reverberating, and will do so for quite some time to come. Among the groups concerned are environmentalists, clean-energy advocates, and electric-car proponents. DON'T... Feds issue mandatory-noise rule for new electric, hybrid cars
The U.S. government finally issued its long-debated rules for noise-making devices in so-called "quiet cars." They require all new hybrid and plug-in electric cars to emit noises that alert pedestrians to their presence. Because these cars operate near-silently on electric power, regulators have expressed concerns that they constitute a greater... Battery-electric cars cheaper, better at cutting emissions than fuel cells: Stanford study
There's been considerable debate among advocates of battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell cars over which technology is better for the environment. While neither vehicle type produces any tailpipe emissions, their overall emissions vary depending on the fuels and processes used to generate electricity or produce hydrogen. A new study indicates... Start-stop systems to soar in number over next decade
Plug-in electric cars are slowly becoming more common, but internal-combustion engines will remain a significant presence on the world's roads for decades to come yet. That means automakers will continue trying to squeeze ever-greater efficiency out of these engines, making them more complex in the process. This will almost certainly include a... Hyundai Ioniq Electric car to get 200 miles of range ‘soon’
Hyundai's product planners seem to have a bit of an issue on their hands. The South Korean automaker is set to launch an all-electric version of its Ioniq hatchback, alongside the conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of that model. Called the Ioniq Electric, it has an estimated driving range of 110 miles. DON'T MISS: 2017 Hyundai Ioniq... Scientists develop new lithium-sulphur battery that offers up to 5x the energy density of Li-ion
Scientists have developed a new prototype battery inspired by human anatomy. The prototype – which offers up to 5x the energy density of the lithium-ion batteries – uses a lithium-sulphur cell with an intestine-mimicking design that could finally make these energy-dense batteries long-lasting enough for commercial use.
Headed by the University of Cambridge, this research has managed to overcome one of the major drawbacks to lithium-sulphur cells: the fact that they disintegrate very quickly, despite their superior energy density to lithium ions.
When a lithium-sulphur battery discharges, sulphur in the cathode absorbs lithium from the anode. This interaction causes the sulphur molecules to transform into chain-like structures called poly-sulphides.
After the battery goes through numerous charge-discharge cycles, the reaction starts to stress the cathode, leading to bits of the poly-sulphides breaking off and entering the battery's electrolyte, which joins the two electrodes.
When this happens, the battery starts to degrade, as it loses its active material.
Here is where bio-mimicry comes in. Our gut is lined with tiny protrusions called villi, which absorb nutrients during digestion. The villi increase the surface area of the intestines by 30x. Scientists have now developed a nano-structure made of zinc oxides which resembles and act like the villi. These prototype villi will absorb the polysulphides in the electrolyte, slowing down the degradation process of the lithium-sulphur cell.
In testing, after 200 cycles at 1C, the prototype nanostructure saw only 0.05% average capacity loss per cycle, making it almost as stable as lithium-ion – which ranges between 0.025 to 0.048 percent average capacity loss per cycle.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: first drive of plug-in hybrid minivan
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid wraps a number of firsts into one innovative package. The Pacifica minivan, launched this year, has received positive reviews for its combination of stylish design, comfortable interior, easy-to-use infotainment, and capacious carrying capacity for up to eight adults and their goods. Despite its name, the Pacifica... Jaguar i-Pace, 2018 Ford EcoSport, 2017 Nissan Leaf: Today’s Car News
Today, we have details on the Jaguar i-Pace electric SUV concept and 2018 Ford EcoSport from the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, as well as specs for the 2017 Nissan Leaf, which moves into the new model year mostly unchanged. All this and more on Green Car Reports. The 2018 Ford EcoSport crossover is unveiled at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto show well... EPA gas-mileage labels accurate, helpful, unlike 2005: Consumer Reports
Car buyers remain aware that the real-world fuel economy of new vehicles may not match the ratings on their window stickers. The year-old Volkswagen diesel scandal has also shown the vulnerability of laboratory emissions tests to deliberate cheating by manufacturers. But the news isn't entirely bad. DON'T MISS: EPA reports show automakers meeting... 2017 Nissan Leaf specs: all 30-kwh batteries, otherwise unchanged
It's been almost six years since the Nissan Leaf electric car debuted in December 2010, as a 2011 model. That makes the current-generation Leaf fairly old by industry standards. Nonetheless, the Leaf rolls into the 2017 model year all but unchanged as Nissan prepares a redesigned second-generation model for launch at some future date. DON'T MISS...