2017 Nissan Leaf specs: all 30-kwh batteries, otherwise unchanged

2017 Nissan LeafIt'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...

2017 Chevy Spark Activ: fake crossover jacks up minicar into SUV wannabe

2017 Chevrolet Spark ActivGeneral Motors insists on calling its 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV a crossover utility vehicle. That's despite the fact that its award-winning 238-mile electric car isn't available with all-wheel drive, and has no more ground clearance than an average passenger car. But hey, if the Bolt EV can be an SUV, then why not the Chevy Spark subcompact hatchback...

Jaguar I-Pace EV concept with AWD and 500 km range

Jaguar Land Rover, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors, have unveiled their first electric vehicle the I-Pace SUV. On sale in 2018, the all-wheel-drive EV will have 300+ mile range and run 0-60mph in around 4 seconds.

The I-PACE Concept features 2x compact electric motors designed by Jaguar Land Rover. Integrated into the front and rear axles, they offer a combined power output of 400PS and 700Nm of torque, which is exactly the same torque rating as the F-TYPE SVR. Together they also enable all-wheel drive, improving dynamics and traction on all surfaces and in all weathers. “Electric motors provide immediate response with no lag, no gearshifts and no interruptions,” says Ian Hoban, Vehicle Line Director at Jaguar Land Rover.

“Their superior torque delivery compared to internal combustion engines transforms the driving experience. With 700Nm and the traction benefits of all-wheel drive, the I-PACE Concept accelerates from 0-60mph in around four seconds.”

The I-PACE Concept’s electric motors and Lithium-Ion battery are designed to deliver the best possible performance and range. The I-PACE Concept delivers a range of more than 500 kilometres on the NEDC cycle and, using 50kW DC charging, achieves zero-to-full charging capability in just over two hours; 80 per cent charge capacity is reached in just 90 minutes.

With this kind of range and efficiency, there’s no doubt the I-PACE Concept is an electric vehicle that will perform in the real world and compete with vehicles powered by the best internal combustion engines.

BMW Group puts another 40t battery-electric truck into service

BMW and transport and logistics service provider Elflein today put a battery-powered truck into operation in Leipzig. The BMW Group is the first automotive manufacturer in Europe to use a 40-tonne electric truck for material transports on public roads since 2015 to supply the Munich plant. Following this successful pilot phase, the next phase will be followed by the commissioning of an electric truck for the Leipzig plant.

The vehicle built by Dutch manufacturer Terberg is used by the logistics service provider Elflein and commutes daily in the two-shift operation over a 5 kilometer distant between logistics center and the BMW group factory in Leipzig. Different vehicle components are transported, which are required for the assembly of the BMW i3 and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid car. The electric truck is charged exclusively with electricity from renewable sources. Compared to a diesel-engined truck, the electric truck will save up to 21 tonnes of CO2 annually. Charging the truck battery takes three hours. Fully charged, the vehicle has a range of up to 80 kilometers. This means that the electric truck can complete a complete production day without additional charging.

"With our electric car BMW i3, we not only pay attention to the product, but have also aligned the entire value chain to environmental protection and sustainability right from the start. For example, we need 70% less water, 50% less energy, and 100% renewable resources to produce a BMW i3 compared to a conventional vehicle. That is why it is only logical that we now also rely on emission-free trucks in logistics and transport, "said Markus Grüneisl, Head of Logistics and Production Control at the BMW Group's Leipzig plant.

Jaguar i-Pace electric SUV concept breaks cover at LA Auto Show

Jaguar I-Pace Concept, 2016 Los Angeles Auto ShowLuxury electric cars: seems like everyone's doing them, doesn't it? The latest to join the growing pool of pricey battery-electric sedans and crossover utilities is the Jaguar i-Pace, revealed tonight as a concept at a splashy event before the Los Angeles Auto Show. A quick look at the specs reveals 220 miles of electric range courtesy of a a...

2018 Ford EcoSport unveiled at 2016 Los Angeles auto show

2018 Ford EcoSportLike most things at Ford that don't have GT or RS in their name these days, the new Ford EcoSport is about 90% hype and 10% car. Fortunately, underneath all that ad-speak, it's a cute little thing, with some cool features. If Ford can deliver it with the right driving experience, for the right price, those in the market for a fun and functional...

2016 Los Angeles Auto Show green-car preview

2016 Los Angeles auto showThe 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show gets underway this week, and a few notable green cars are expected to debut there. The current popularity of crossover utility vehicles is evident in the numerous new or redesigned crossover models lined for the L.A. show. A smattering of other models will debut as well, but crossovers could very well represent the...

NJ dedicates all gas tax revenue to transportation infrastructure

BMW ActiveE electric car in front of old gas pumps, Belvidere, NJ   [photo: Tom Moloughney]Critics of electric cars often use the argument that, because electric-car drivers don't pay gas taxes, they don't contribute their fair share of road-maintenance costs. But state gas-tax revenue don't necessarily go toward funding infrastructure, or at least not all of it. In last Tuesday's election, voters in one state ensured that their...