Charged with Electric Vehicle News and Views
Brammo's Brian Wismann dissect the high-tech inner workings of the award winning Brammo Empulse electric motorcycle!
From Battery cells to electronic controllers to a powerful electric motor. Check out this unique technical overview using a "cut-away" of the 2013 Empulse as seen at CES!
Better late than never - recorded summer of 2013, the Drayson B12 sets out to break the electric car land speed record.
Toyota are testing their Yaris WRC car this week. The Toyota Yaris WRC prototype, powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine (as dictated by world rallying’s rules), built at Toyota Motorsport in Cologne, Germany will begin testing in Tuscany.
It is thought that the test car is based on a Yaris chassis but the final WRC car will be based around a new model which has yet to be launched.
Toyota wants to use hybrid technology in the World Rally Championship if it returns to the series and although the Japanese car giant has expressed an interest in returning to the WRC – in which it won four drivers’ titles and three constructors’ crowns with the Celica GT-Four and the Corolla WRC during the 1990s – it has so far stopped short of committing to a competitive return.
Cars.com review the recently launched VW e-Golf.
The Volkswagen e-Golf, the electric version of the extremely popular VW Golf, has now hit the UK market. After the government’s £5000 Plug-In Car Grant (PICG), the price comes to £25,845. That’s still a bit higher than the Nissan Leaf, which sells for £20,990, but may not be too far off for those who prefer VW and the e-Golf.
The California company Simbol Materials is building a plant that will use a novel extraction process, in the hopes that it can provide the lithium needed for the batteries in Tesla’s cars. Grant Thomas provides a 30 minute review of the BEV version of a right hand drive, UK delivered, BMW i3.
At approx 17:28 there is a demonstration of the i3's autonomous Active Cruise Control feature which doubles as a stop & go traffic jam assist and collision avoidance brake system.
Drayson Racing Technologies took their Drayson B12/69 EV to Silverstone in February for winter testing.
Comparative motor cooling testing and new traction control options were successfully tested in 'damp' conditions.
Arnold Schwarzenegger uses his M47 Patton battle tank to raise money for charity; companies express interest in buying Cars.com.