All posts tagged electric
Audi E-Tron to enter production
The Audi E-Tron will go into production, according to an interview with Audi America president Johan de Nysschen. An electric vehicle based on the E-Tron will appear in the US in two to three years time, and hear’s hoping it will take on the Quattro technology in electronic form.
Like the E-Tron concept, based originally on the R8, this would involve an electric motor on each of the four wheels, producing 313 hp and 4,500 Nm of torque. It will not be the first electric technology from Audi to reach the market, with the Q5 hybrid crossover set to appear in 2011. I really wanted to write, bring it on! in the first sentence, as that is, frankly, our sentiment over here regarding a production version of the exciting E-Tron concept.
Source | Autoweek
Renault electric concepts from Frankfurt
The Renault electric concept vehicles presented at Frankfurt were Twizy, Zoe, Fluence and the Z.E previously seen at Paris. The company has ambitious plans for its range of electric vehicles, stating that they will be widespread in the future. If things go according to plan, the Z.E cars, currently in concept form, will be available on the market in 2011, in a comprehensive range of European zero emissions vehicles.
The problem with most car companies committing to electric vehicles is, as always, the lack of infrastructure and articulated plans by government and industry to make infrastructure available. And so, Renault will be building its electric vehicles with a standard recharge time of between four and eight hours. The Z.E cars will all be equipped with external recharge points, and will even be fitted with a ‘Quickdrop’ system meaning the entire battery package can be substituted in three minutes.
The claims of “widespread” dominance of the market probably won’t happen with the Renault Twizy, the most original of the four prototypes. We find it hard to see how this car, based on motorcycle concepts (and, lets face it, motorcycle comfort, too). Despite this, it has a 2012 debut planned, with its 15kW motor. We think it may not see the light, but the market, and the car itself, may change in that time.
Opel to make electric city car family from 2012
General Motors‘ European president Carl-Peter Foster has apparently said the Opel will build a compact electric car at an affordable price for the city car segment of the market, as reported by German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
The new Opel city electric would be built from an all-new platform which would be the basis of future compact cars to follow suit. The aim is to create a new family of compact cars, starting with the electric vehicle to debut in 2012.
Apparently GM Europe is investing 250 million euros in the project, so we can assume they’re serious. Watch this space for future developments.
Source | Autoblog.it
Audi E-Tron teaser videos: electric R8 to be presented at Frankfurt
Audi has released these viral videos as a teaser to the Frankfurt show premiere of its new electric car. While the videos show nothing of the car, they’re a lot of fun and are about introducing the theme of “untamed” electricity.
The Audi electric concept car to be presented at Frankfurt will be a kind of coupe electric R8 and is clearly competing with the launch of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept. See the dedicated Audi E-Tron site for more details.
Honda electric at Tokyo motor show
According to reports, an electric Honda will be presented in October at the Tokyo Motor Show as a preview to an electric model that will be ready by 2015. Honda has already delved into hybrid and hydrogen technologies with its CR-Z, Jazz and FCX Clarity vehicles.
While Honda will make a choice between lithium ion and fuel cell technology for its car, the new Honda electric will debut in city car form. The race is now on among the Japanese car manufacturers for the crown of best electric car.
Source | EGM CarTech
Tesla Roadster Sport first pics
The Tesla Roadster Sport first pics have been released of the new version, 15 percent more powerful than the original, which it resembles. The new version is more expensive than the previous, costing around 112,000 euros compared to 99,000 euros for the Roadster.
The bodywork has been slightly modified with the rear spoiler made of carbon fibre and coloured to specifications, while the main updates occur with the interior. It now features new sports seats, with a redesigned central console with info screen. New adjustable suspension is available, while the transmission has been transferred to pared-back buttons.
The Tesla Roadster Sport reaches 100 km/hr in 3.7 seconds, while the electric motor will run to 14,000 rpm.
Video: Nissan EV platform demonstrated
Here’s a video of the Nissan EV in action. The Electric Vehicle will be the new platform for Nissan’s development of electric cars, and we get to see a few features including the iPhone remote control application and indications on range and recharge stations on the road.
We also get a look at the wireless recharge technology, where the car is parked over a plate, rather than being plugged in. This technology means that recharge is totally automatic. The video is a bit weird, but it gives us an idea of the investment in this technology and just how serious some companies are about developing zero emissions cars. I’m impressed.
Mercedes to develop electric SLS AMG
Mercedes is set to produce an electric version of the AMG SLS supercar. The gullwing car will appear at the Frankfurt motor show in September, while an electric prototype should also appear some time after.
The SLS is currently equipped with a V8 engine at 563 hp, while the electric version will run off four batteries, each powering one wheel, and together producing 526 hp. Reports say that the intention is get the electric SLS into production.
The four motors mean the SLS would have all wheel drive, and will have enough power to produce 35 percent more torque than the petrol version. This means that already impressive AMG SLS supercar could reach 100 km/hr in just four seconds.
Source | Car Magazine
Lotus electric city car in development
While we can’t imagine James Bond getting about in an electric Lotus, we applaud the company for its apparent investment in electric cars. Lotus Engineering is said to be developing an electric citycar, to engage with the future of environmental motoring.
The Lotus citycar will be equipped with an electric motor at 50 hp and will have a similar size to the Smart ForTwo. The vehicle will have lithium ion batteries placed under the floor, which can be recharged in 3.5 hours. The Lotus electric range will be approximately 50 km and the speed will be 105 km/hr.
Lotus is working on a design that would seat four people, and the chassis would be built from alluminium. While Lotus Engineering is behind the design, it is unlikely that the car will appear under this brand name, with Lotus providing the expertise.
Source | Motorionline via Autoblog
First Nissan electric car to appear in 2010
Production of the first Nissan electric car will start at the end of 2010, as revealed by Nissan president Carlos Ghosn. In the initial phase, 50,000 vehicles are expected to be manufactured in the first year, and only from 2012 will that number significantly increase.
The Nissan electric car will be seen next year, to be revealed at the inauguration of the new Nissan Centre in Yokohama at the beginning of August. The car should be a development on the Nuvu Concept presented at the Paris motor show in 2008.
Fundamental characteristics will be its city car dimensions (with a length of about 300 cm), and a range of 120 km. It will be similar to the Renault Twingo ZE in both style and market position. In the gallery is the Nissan Nuvu concept.
Continue reading: First Nissan electric car to appear in 2010
Smart ForTwo electric enters production
Smart has confirmed the production of the ForTwo electric version. The Smart ForTwo ED was successful during road testing in the UK and will appear on the market soon, initially as a limited series. It’s arrival in Europe will start at the beginning of 2010.
After 18 months of testing, the Smart electric car is taking the last step into production, possibly proving itself the most ecological car on the market. The city car will have 41 hp and will reach 50 km/hr in 6.5 seconds.
These performance figures should vastly improve with the second generation of the ForTwo ED, which will also have shorter recharge time and longer range. The Daimler Group will start testing this newer version soon, as well.
Source | Automocionblog
Norway to ban petrol cars: road to complete ecology from 2015
In an incredible move, Norway is planning a full overhaul of the car market, putting a stop to all sales of petrol, diesel and gas car models. The plan shows that willingly, the world could shake its dependence on oil supplies, and the laws are set to go into effect in 2015.
The drastic limitation is not the fruit of utopian environmentalists, but a concrete proposal from the Ministry of Finance and a realistic consideration of the market. When the current economic crisis is over, the idea is that the world will have to seriously start tackling the climate crisis, including placing our efforts on hybrid and electric models.
Given the low sales in the Norwegian car market, it could be tempting to think that there is not enough offer in the market to satisfy such rigid and severe restrictions. But given the developments that car manufacturers are investing in, and future cars that are already more modern, ecological and cleaner, it could be a reality. Norway can act independently of the EU, and looks to be seriously trail blazing on this front, without the same lobbying and vested interests from the automobile industry.
Source | ilSole24ore.com
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