Jaguar C-X75 is said to equipped with 4 electric motors

British carmaker, Jaguar displays its electrifying C-X75 electric hybrid concept at 2010 LA Auto Show. Said to be powered by four electric individual motors zaps the car from 0-to-60 in less than 4 secs, Has a Top speed of more than 200 miles per hour with no emissions under electric mode.

Each electric motor has 195-horsepower, so (4*195) 780 total electric horsepower for the electric beast.

This concept has a range of 68 miles with the help of 20 kWh battery pack .

Designers said to had used two lightweight micro-gas-turbines. The turbines are used either to extend driving range when the batteries are depleted, or for high-speed driving, giving extra boost.

Src: [Plugincars]

GMs Chevrolet's Volts gets official EPA ratings, Comparison between all electric and all gasoline.

Finally the U.S. government has rated the much hyped GM's electric baby Chevrolet Volt.

Though the EPA fuel economy label is going to look a little different from the ones used on other cars since, it can run on electricity, gasoline, or a combination of both.

Because of the complexity of how the Volt operates, the fuel economy label will contain a host of other numbers so consumers can at least try to figure out what their own fuel economy will actually be.

The Volt, according to a preliminary Environmental Protection Agency label presented by GM, will get an estimated 93 miles per "gallon-equivalent" when driving under electric power only, 37 miles per gallon when burning gasoline and, over the long term, is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving.

According to the EPA label, the Volt can drive an estimated 35 miles on electricity stored in its battery before a gasoline engine comes on.

The 60 mpg figure, however, combines the miles-per-gallon figure, when running on only gasoline, and miles-per "gallon equivalent" number, when running on only electricity. Depending on how and how much they drive, consumers could actually be using considerably less gasoline than the 60 mpg figure would indicate.

GM executives said the label that will appear on early versions of the Chevrolet Volt is preliminary. The way the figures are displayed on the label may change in the future.

Src: [CNN]

Kia Pop concept electric car get showcased at Paris Motor Show

Korean Automakers has showcased their all-electric Kia Pop concept car at the Paris Motor Show.

This futuristic looking car named Pop is a three-meter long three seater featuring a number of futuristic design and new concept like rear-view cameras in each door, a full length glass roof, and transparent OLED panel that displays all your instrument only when the car is running.

A second touch panel to the right of the steering wheel controls the vehicle's other functions including audio, sat-nav, and climate.


Kia's Pop is powered by a 60-ps, 190-Nm motor lithium polymer gel batteries capable of charging in just six hours. It is said to be having a top speed of 87mph (140kph) and 100-mile (160-km) range.

Kia's PRESS RELEASE:

Electric Kia POP concept debuts at Paris Show

Seoul September 30, 2010 -- Kia Motors celebrated the world premiere of its all-new, eye-catching, compact and unique electric POP concept car at the 106th Mondial de l'Automobile today (Thursday) in Paris, France.

Spotlighting Kia's increasing focus on striking design and new technologies, the chrome-coloured, three-metre-long three-seater POP with its electric drivetrain, oblong-shaped side windows and front-hinged doors took centre stage on Kia's Paris Show stand.

Unconventional features of POP – the striking side-window design, the high-tech feel of the dot-pattern head and taillights, back-lit front grille, rear-view cameras in each door, full-length glass roof, and the simplistic look of the wheels – all point to inspiration from outside the usual automotive spheres, such as gliders and high-speed bicycles.

Inside, the purple colour scheme creates a calm and peaceful environment within the space-ship like cabin. Facing the driver, a small piece of plexi-glass in front of the steering wheel shows a Transparent Organic LED (TOLED) display for speed, battery charge, and the other main readouts, when the car is running. At other times it is totally transparent.

To the right of the steering wheel, a sculpted, chrome-look panel features only one button, with every other function (audio, sat-nav, climate control, etc) controlled via an animated touch screen.

The front seat is a sculpted bench, with interesting, flowing lines, while the rear seat is positioned at an offset angle, resulting in remarkable legroom for a 1,740 mm wide car with a wheelbase of just 2,055 mm. Designed to accommodate a single passenger, this seat is a two-part affair, with a base that flips up when not in use and a backrest and a headrestraint integrated into the headlining.

POP is also in fact a fully-electric, zero-emissions car with a 60 ps, 190 Nm motor. It's powered by highly efficient, compact lithium polymer gel batteries and is fully rechargeable in just six hours. Top speed is 140 kph, with a maximum range of 160 km on a single charge.

The POP concept was designed by Kia's European design team under the direction of Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer, and Gregory Guillaume, Kia Europe's Chief Designer.

"A concept car like the POP could only have come from Kia," explains Guillaume. "Designers very rarely have the opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper and it's great to be in a position to operate with such freedom."

New European versions for Sportage and Optima

In addition to POP, Kia is hosting the European debuts of the all-new Kia Optima sedan and new versions of the Kia Sportage at the Paris Show – production models which reinforce the company's commitment to developing its design language – and putting this into practice with real-world models.

Embodying what Peter Schreyer calls "a bold, athletic and visual sporting energy", the Kia Optima sedans on display feature Europe-specific high-tech powertrains and introduce Kia's new 'U2' 1.7-litre VGT diesel engine (136 ps*) and the all-new technically-advanced 'Nu' 2.0-litre CVVL (continuously variable valve lift) gasoline engine (170 ps*).

Building on the immensely positive response of media and public to the new Kia Sportage, the model line-up is being expanded to offer two smaller capacity engines with fuel-stretching technology and exclusively matched to 2WD drivetrains and six-speed manual transmissions. For Sportage, Kia's new 1.7-litre 'U2' diesel engine is tuned to generate 115 ps, while the 1.6-litre 'Gamma' gasoline engine delivers 135 ps.

Both new engines will offer emissions and running costs that are among the very best in class.

Demonstrating Kia's ongoing commitment to minimising its vehicles' impact on the environment, the manufacturer's Paris stand also features three environmentally-focused vehicles in a special 'green zone'. The Kia cee'd and Venga low emissions future production models, and an innovative mild-hybrid Kia Sportage concept – have an average CO2 figure of just 108 g/km.
News Source: Kia Motors Corporation
Web Site: http://www.kia.co.kr

Swedish Automaker SAAB to come out with its first Electrical Car at Paris Auto Expo.

SAAB, Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Spyker Cars NV to come up with its first-ever electric car which it will showcasing at the Paris motor show Sept. 30.

The car is named as ePower, a converted Saab 9-3 SportsCombi wagon, is equipped with a 184-HP electric motor.

ePower can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, have a top speed of 93 mph and have a range of about 124 miles on a single charge, says SAAB.

ePower has a lithium-ion battery pack. This battery packs are placed at normal car's exhaust and fuel systems.

The batteries can be recharged in three to six hours, Saab says.

SAAB plans to build 70 ePowers and to start testing in Sweden, beginning next spring.

Ford advances EV battery testing with wireless monitoring systems.

Ford has ambitious plans for several upcoming zero-emission vehicle fleet launches including the Transit Connect Electric, in North America in late 2010 and in Europe in 2011, and the Focus Electric passenger car in North America in 2011 and Europe in 2012.

In an effort to make the new electric fleets more efficient, the company today said it is using the Internet and wireless technology to test advanced lithium ion battery systems, collect real-time performance data and make software updates.

Engineers use two monitoring methods to collect data from batteries in the lab and in the field via a secure Internet server, and wirelessly update system software. These methods have reduced test-fleet downtime and allowed Ford to more than double its battery lab-testing capability, the company said in a news release.


Ford researchers are conducting rigorous lifecycle tests of new lithium ion battery systems to evaluate the technology's ability to recharge under a broad range of environmental conditions, including state of charge (from empty to full), battery age (from new to old) and environmental temperatures (from freezing cold to scorching hot). As engineers learn how lithium ion's material properties perform under extreme conditions, they can better create control algorithms that will assist in charging the batteries without decreasing the life if the batteries.

"Remote monitoring allows us to access real-time data and make continuous improvements very quickly," said Sherif Marakby, Ford director, Electrification Program and Engineering. "This degree of efficiency would have been unthinkable a few years ago and will help Ford bring more fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles to market more quickly than ever before."

Source: Cnet

San Francisco Bay Area to install over 5,000 EV charging stations

US Department of Energy had announced on wednesday that it is release sum of $5 Million to install EV charging stations at the San Francisco Bay Area for charging Electrical Vehicles.

The $5 million will cover the installation of 50 fast-charging EV stations along highways, 2,000 public stations for public parking lots and participating company-owned parking lots, and 3,000 residential charging stations.

Approval for the funds came through last week from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, a panel that oversees air quality concerns for the nine counties that make up the Bay Area. The funds will be distributed as grant money as part of its "Spare the Air" program.

"In the Bay Area, the transportation sector accounts for more than 50 percent of air pollution. Significant emission reductions from the transportation sector will help the Bay Area attain and maintain state and national air quality standards," the board said in a statement.

Mercedes-Benz all set ready for the launch of B-Class Electric Cars.

With the latest collaboration with BYD, Mercedes-Benz is going to manufacture electric cars on the outgoing B-class.

A lightly modified version of the car’s front-wheel drive platform will be used, according to insiders involved in the early stages of its conception.

It is said to be sold exclusively in BYD’s domestic Chinese market, the new zero-emissions hatchback will be marketed under an as-yet-undisclosed brand.

Benz is going to take advantage of the B-class’s layout, Mercedes and BYD plan to use the soon-to-be-superseded model’s flat-floor structure for the stowage of lithium ion batteries.

The floor was originally designed for that purpose, but was never utilised in series production.

Placing the batteries low down within the platform provides for a lower centre of gravity than in more conventional applications, where they are usually mounted beneath the rear seat and boot floor.

The underfloor space taken up by the standard B-class’s petrol and diesel engines will be dedicated to an electric motor that will be used to power the front wheels.

Evatran powers brings the concept of wireless recharging of cars.

The future of wireless recharging of cars soon to be real. The concept of  Evatran  "hands free" electric-vehicle charging station from Evatran powers nearby vehicles wirelessly, eliminating the need to recharge your cars manually.

The Plugless Power charging station, introduced this week at the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, Calif., uses electromagnetic induction to deliver power to an electric vehicle's battery within its proximity. The station consists of a model-specific vehicle adapter that's mounted onto the car and a charging station with a floor-mounted magnetic charging block close to where the driver parks.

The wireless charging station is about 10 percent less efficient than charging stations that deliver power the old fashioned way with cords, Evatran says, but it charges in the same amount of time. To compensate for the increased energy loss during transfer, the Plugless Power uses slightly more energy.

But it is said to be cost effective. Evatran recently began customer trials near its headquarters in Wytheville, Va., and one participant who drives a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (an electric vehicle that doesn't travel at speeds higher than 25 or 35 mph) rang up a $1.43 bill to charge a Zenn.

Evatran plans to begin producing the Plugless Power by early 2011.

Nissan Announces Roll-Out Plan for Zero-Emission Nissan LEAF at the Plug-in 2010 Conference in San Jose

At the Plug-in 2010 Conference in San Jose, CA today, North America's Nissan  xecutive vice president, Carlos Tavares, announced that the Leaf's battery pack will be covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty similar to that of what Chevrolet is offering on the Volt pack. He said that feedback from people interested in the Leaf was important in setting these levels, so that explains why Leaf hand-raisers received email surveys about the topic recently.

Nissan has also announced its official rollout plans. Nissan LEAF will first launch in December, in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. Firm orders from these five states, which make up the so-called EV Project, will begin in August.

Following that initial wave, the machine will be sent to Texas and Hawaii in January 2011. Next up will be North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama in April 2011. The rest of the nation will see their Leafs beginning in the fall of 2011 with availability in all markets nationwide by the end of that year.

Src : Nissan Press Release Via autoblog

PRESS RELEASE

Nissan Announces National Market Roll-Out Plan for Zero-Emission Nissan LEAF

- More than half of 17,000 reservations located in initial launch markets -

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, nearly 17,000 future Nissan LEAF drivers are learning when the world's first affordable all-electric, zero-emission vehicle will be available in their markets. Consumers who have placed reservations for the Nissan LEAF received a communication today regarding market timing and next steps in ordering the all-electric vehicle.

Nissan LEAF first will be available to consumers in December, in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. These areas are home to The EV Project – the largest electric vehicle and infrastructure deployment ever undertaken. The EV Project is a result of a partnership with charging infrastructure provider ECOtality and partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy. Customers in these first five launch states, who represent more than 55 percent of total Nissan LEAF reservations, will be able to place firm orders for the Nissan LEAF starting in August.

Nissan LEAF will be introduced to Texas and Hawaii shortly thereafter, in January 2011; North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama follow in April 2011; and be rolled-out to the balance of the nation beginning in Fall 2011 with availability in all markets nationwide by the end of that year.

"We are pleased to see so many people making a choice for a zero-emission future by placing reservations for the Nissan LEAF," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. "Consumer feedback and market readiness have been key drivers in developing our phased rollout. Nissan is able to target areas of customer demand for early launch, while continuing to work in future markets to ensure the continued success of electric vehicles."

Nissan North America also is informing its consumers that the lithium-ion battery pack that powers the Nissan LEAF will carry a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles – matching U.S. market competitive conditions.

Consumers who have reserved the Nissan LEAF online will be invited to place orders through their dealer for the vehicle in advance of market roll-out timing, allowing time for consumers to select a dealer and assess home charging needs. Nissan is continuing to take reservations for the Nissan LEAF through its website, www.NissanUSA.com. Interested consumers are encouraged to place a reservation, which entails a $99 fully refundable fee to secure a spot on the list to place an order.

The reservations process has educated Nissan about more than just geographic distribution. Some information we've learned about future Nissan LEAF drivers includes:

• Favorite color: The favorite color of Nissan LEAF owners is blue. More than 30 percent of reservations are for blue Nissan LEAF electric cars. Silver is a close second, at about 26 percent. The remaining reservations are close to evenly split among red, black and white.
• Trim level: About 75 percent of Nissan LEAF orders are for the SL trim level, which adds a rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.
• Home and Parking: About 75 percent of people who placed reservations own a single-family home. About 68 percent have attached garages, while an additional 18 percent have detached garages or carports. Home ownership and dedicated parking are important factors for Nissan LEAF drivers who plan to charge their vehicles at home.
• Purchase time: About 67 percent of Nissan LEAF reservations holders have indicated that they'd be ready to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF within one year of placing the reservation. An additional 24 percent indicated they would be ready in one to two years.
• Interests: Several primary interests are inspiring people to order a Nissan LEAF. Cited interests include energy independence (35 percent); environmental consciousness (34 percent); and cost/fuel economy (20 percent).

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

Computer Driven Robot vans begins its 8k miles, Italy to China journey.

Now we can see the concept of Driven without human.Self-driving electric vans powered by VisLabs have begun an epic journey from Italy to China to demonstrate autonomous driving technology which will passing through extereme climate conditions of that of cold Siberia and the hot Gobi Desert.

The VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge began in front of the Milan Cathedral on Tuesday with a goal of traveling 8,000 miles to Shanghai by the end of October.

The two heavily modified Piaggio Porter Electric vans will play various roles en route to Shanghai. Both, however, carry technicians who take control when needed.

Team members will take control of the lead vehicle "every time a decision on the road has to be taken," according to the organizers, but it drives autonomously most of the time. The main function of the lead vehicle is to navigate, since there are no maps for some parts of the route.

The lead vehicle will send out GPS locations via radio that will be picked up by the follower van, which also uses its cameras and laser scanners to aid navigation and avoid obstacles like cars and people . Drivers will take control in emergency situations.

The vans are topped with solar panels that power the computer processors, sensors, and driving actuators, but not the vans themselves, which retain their original electric power systems.

The vans have a top speed of 37 mph and are expected to drive only four hours a day due to recharging needs; the engineers will use gasoline generators if they can't find a power outlet in remote regions. A truck carrying alternate vans is part of the convoy.

Funded by a $2.3 million grant from the European Research Council, engineers at VisLab, part of the University of Parma, are leading the odyssey to determine conditions that cause autonomous driving technology to fail.

A recent demonstration in which the vans entered a congested traffic circle resulted in a communication breakdown between the vehicles, forcing manual driving, according to an Associated Press article.

The expedition is expected to collect about 100 terabytes of data on vehicle performance. The organizers want to test self-driving vehicles in more complex and extreme environments than those used in the DARPA Grand Challenge of 2005 and the DARPA Urban Challenge of 2007. VisLab participated in both through the TerraMax autonomous trucks.

Some of the tech developed from the trek to China could go into self-driving farming and mining vehicles under cooperation between VisLab and heavy machinery maker Caterpillar.

To my chagrin, it seems VisLab director Alberto Broggi believes driverless vehicles are still 20 years away. I'm still waiting for that day when I can play a car racing video game while cruising down the highway in my robot car. I saw it once on "Knight Rider."

You can track the vehicle progress here.

Src: [Cars-Cnet]

Honda announces plans to sell plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle by 2012

At a news conference on Tuesday in Japan, Honda chief executive officer Takanobu Ito unveiled the company's future plans to roll out advanced technology vehicles.

Among them, Takanobu revealed Honda will introduce both a mid-size plug-in hybrid and an electric commuter vehicle in the U.S. and Japan by the end of 2012. As part of the company's global push to develop more-efficient vehicles, Honda will also introduce a small diesel-powered car in Europe around the same time that its battery-powered vehicles hit our shores.

Honda will also begin testing "next-generation electric personal mobility products, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts" in the Kumamoto and Saitama regions in Japan before the end of 2010.

The purpose of the tests is to verify "the effectiveness of next-generation personal mobility products with electromotive technologies," i.e., plug-in vehicles and how to best use renewable energy (solar) with these vehicles. Honda will test all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. once the Japan tests are underway.

U.S.-based participants include Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, CA. Torrance will get a plug-in hybrid electric test vehicle by the end of this year. Honda said its first hybrid to get a lithium-ion battery will be the next-generation Civic Hybrid, coming in 2011.

Src: Honda Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Summary of Honda Announcements Regarding New Advanced Environmental Technologies

Honda will introduce new advanced environmental technology vehicles, including a battery-electric vehicle and a new plug-in hybrid vehicle, to the U.S. market in 2012, the company announced today in the mid-year address by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., President & CEO Takanobu Ito, in Tokyo, Japan. Ito also announced application of a lithium-ion battery in the next-generation Civic Hybrid in 2011.

The announcement outlined Honda's commitment to developing advanced environmental technologies for application across all of Honda's global operations. Highlights specifically related to the U.S. market include:

• By the end of 2010 and continuing through 2011, Honda will roll out a battery-electric vehicle demonstration program in the U.S. with participants, including: Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, Calif.
• The City of Torrance will receive a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for evaluation by the end of 2010.
• A battery-electric commuter vehicle will be introduced in the U.S. market in 2012.
• A new plug-in hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles will be introduced in the U.S. market in 2012.
• Honda's first hybrid application of a lithium-ion battery will debut in the next- generation Civic Hybrid to be introduced in 2011. The lithium-ion battery was developed through the Honda and GS Yuasa joint-venture company, Blue Energy Co., Ltd.

Honda to Begin Demonstration Tests of Next-Generation Personal Mobility before the End of the Year in Kumamoto and Saitama

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to begin real-world demonstration testing before the end of this year of next-generation electric personal mobility products, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts. The demonstration program will be conducted jointly with Kumamoto and Saitama regions in Japan.

In a comprehensive approach unique to Honda to be conducted in collaboration with the two municipalities, Honda's electromotive technologies for motorcycles, automobiles and power products, together with information and communication technologies, a solar-powered energy station and other technologies will be utilised under the real-world urban transportation environment to address the following two agendas:

• Verification of the effectiveness of next-generation personal mobility products with electromotive technologies, specifically electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts, along with utilisation of sustainable energy such as solar power for the realisation of a low-carbon society in the future.
• Study of how future personal mobility and the urban transportation system should be designed to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life (QOL*) of local residents.

By partnering with Kumamoto and Saitama regions, where Honda operations including manufacturing plants are located and collaborative relationships already exist in various areas, Honda will strive to effectively conduct verification testing and make further contributions to both communities.

Honda is planning to conduct this demonstration first in Japan and then in regions outside Japan such as the U.S., mostly in the area of automobiles. In the U.S., starting by the end of this year, Honda will begin demonstration testing of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with participants including Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, California under the Advanced Technology Demonstration Program.

*QOL (Quality of Life): A concept to measure to what extent people are living their lives in a humane manner and feeling not only physical but spiritual richness and happiness.

Concept of the next-generation personal mobility experiment

Outline of the experiment: Kumamoto region

Honda will verify the effectiveness of its electromotive technologies and information and communication technologies to realise a low-carbon mobility society and to improve the QOL of local residents in the face of an aging society. Prior to the start of the experiment, Honda and Kumamoto region will sign a framework agreement on the experiment of the next-generation personal mobility.

• Using experimental models of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as the EV-neo electric scooter, Honda will verify the effectiveness of such personal mobility to realise low-carbon mobility within the region.
• By monitoring the positional and operational information of participating Monpal ML200 electric carts, Honda will verify how such personal mobility will contribute to the QOL, especially the quality of the daily life and health of local residents in the face of an aging society.
• By establishing and utilising recharging stations that use thin-film solar cells manufactured by Honda Soltec, Honda will verify the effectiveness of the system which reduces CO2 from the energy-supply phase.

Utilising the function of InterNavi Pr emium Club, Honda's original interactive information network service for automobiles, Honda will provide information related to the recharging of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as information to support eco-driving.

Citroen planning for the Electrical Survolt Concept Production?

The superbly designed Citroen Survolt was first unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, the concept car is powered by dual electric motors that convert electric power into a combined 300 horsepower which produces enough force i.e., 738 pound-feet, to be exact to let Survolt zap to 62 mph in less than five seconds and onward to a reported top speed of 162mph.

The concept's twin 31 kW lithium ion batteries is said to have a range of 124 miles between two hour charging cycles with a vehicle specific high-output charger (or a 10-hour charge from a 220-volt appliance outlet). The most interesting part is that you might get one if you are lucky as Citroen is reportedly considering producing the electric racecar, albeit in limited quantities.

This can be confirmed by UK publication Autocar quotes a source at Citroen stating "It's still our intention to put the Survolt into low-volume production, and we're pursuing the idea of a one-make race series."

Obama gets hands on Chevy Volt.

On Thursday,  US President Barack Obama  had a chance to check out the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle during a visit to the Compact Power battery plant in Holland, Mich. LG Chem, the parent of Compact Power, is making the battery cells for the Volt.

The Volt has claimed that it has a range of about 340 miles and is powered with electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt is powered solely by electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, using no fuel and producing no emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles on a full tank of gas.

The Volt battery pack will be assembled in Brownstown Township, Mich., and shipped to the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly Plant for mating with the Volt. Chevrolet announced on Wednesday the Volt battery will have a standard eight-year/100,000 mile warranty.

Photo: Getty Images

First public EV charging station opens in NYC

Coulomb Technologies installed its first public electric charging station in New York on Wednesday. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the unveiling of the ChargePoint charging station, which is located in a public parking lot near Port Authority.

It's the first installation of Coulomb Technologies' $37 million project, funded in part by a $15 million grant administered by the Department of Energy, the Associated Press reported. The company will install thousands of public charging stations in nine U.S. regions: Austin, Texas; Detroit; Los Angeles; New York; Orlando, Fla.; Sacramento, Calif.; the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area; Redmond, Wash. and Washington, D.C.

The Campbell, Calif.-based company began testing its pay-per-use charging stations in San Jose two years ago. By September 2011, Coulomb Technologies plans to install 4,600 chargers to recharge the new mass-production EVs that will join the Tesla Roadster on the streets later this year. The Chevrolet Volt, Ford Transit Connect Electric, and Smart ForTwo Electric Drive will be available at the end of 2010. The Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric should debut in 2011.

Charging times will vary for each vehicle depending on the size of the battery, the amount of recharge needed, and the charging level of the station. But completely drained batteries should take approximately 4 hours to reach a full charge using ChargePoint's Level 2 chargers. Instructions for how to use these new charging stations can be found on the company's Web site.

Another perk of this new technology is that this ChargePoint station may also serve as some of the cheapest parking near Midtown: the first month will be free to customers. After that, the owner of the station will determine the rates. Users can sign up to use the station through the ChargePoint Web site.

Src: [Car Tech]

Ford Focus electric cars to be powered by Compact Power Inc. (CPI)

Ford Motor Co. has selected LG Chem's U.S. unit Compact Power Inc. to supply battery packs for an electric Focus compact car for U.S. production starting in 2011, the automaker said today.

Compact Power will begin assembling lithium-ion battery packs from cells for the Focus electric car at a site to be determined, Ford said.

General Motors Co. also chose Compact Power to supply batteries to its Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle.

The first cells for the Focus electric battery will be produced by LG Chem in South Korea, Ford said. Cells will be produced later at a new site in Holland, Mich., it said.

U.S. production of the Focus electric vehicle is scheduled for Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant where the automaker also plans to produce the next gasoline-powered Focus car. The plant is being converted from SUV production.

"We are very excited to be partnering with Ford on their new battery electric-powered Ford Focus," said Prabhakar Patil, CEO of CPI. "It tells us we are on track in developing high-power and high-energy lithium ion batteries that the industry needs as it moves toward the electrification of vehicles that lessen our dependence on foreign oil."

Ford has committed $550 million to transform the Michigan Assembly Plant from a large SUV factory to a modern car plant to build the new Focus and Focus Electric. The plant will also produce a next-generation hybrid and a plug-in hybrid in 2012.

- Reuters Inputs.

'Electrical Alliance', Tesla and Toyota join to produce Electrical Vehicles.

Toyota, the world's largest seller of hybrid autos, in May said it would invest $50 million in Tesla and jointly develop electric models with the U.S. startup. Both prototypes are modified Toyota vehicles, said JB Straubel, Tesla's chief technology officer.

Tesla Motors Inc. said it will deliver two rechargeable prototype electric cars to Toyota Motor Corp. this month as a first step in their alliance.

“Since our announcement in May, Toyota and Tesla engineering teams have made a lot of progress in a short amount of time, and it is exciting to start seeing some initial results,” Straubel said in an e-mail message. Tesla has signed an agreement to deliver two prototypes to Toyota by the end of July, he said.

Toyota's partnership with Tesla, maker of the $109,000 electric Roadster sports car, is the first of more such alliances the Japanese company wants to pursue in advanced auto technologies, President Akio Toyoda told reporters Friday in Nagoya, Japan. Carmakers including Toyota are under pressure in the United States and other markets to develop models that consume little or no petroleum and emit fewer gasses linked to global warming.


The project with Tesla, of Palo Alto, Calif., is separate from a previously announced electric car Toyota plans to sell by 2012, Toyoda said. Toyota has said it's working on a two-passenger “urban commuter” electric car that will likely have range of 50 miles or less per charge.

The prototypes Tesla is preparing are based on two current Toyota vehicles that are being fitted with Tesla battery packs and motors, Straubel said, without elaborating.

Ricardo Reyes, a Tesla spokesman, declined to provide details of the two models.

Toyota is pursuing a multidirectional strategy for future vehicles that includes autos powered by hydrogen, batteries and other alternative fuels, Toyoda told reporters yesterday.

“We're building a prototype which is equipped with an electric vehicle unit,” Toyoda said. Toyota will provide updates “at each stage of development,” he said, without elaborating.

Tesla raised $260 million in an initial public offering last month. Unlike Toyota, Nissan Motor Co. and other companies planning battery models, Tesla vehicles use thousands of the same type of small lithium-ion battery cells that power laptop computers.

Toyota wants to study that approach to see if it offers advantages over using larger types of battery cells, Toyota Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki said.

The development program with Tesla will be led by Toyota's U.S. engineering group, said Masami Doi.

Tesla is also working with Germany's Daimler AG on electric vehicles and has supplied battery packs for use in Daimler's Smart minicars. Daimler has also invested at least $50 million in Tesla.

Src: Bloomberg News

Electric Cars in US might cause Electricity Shortage.

Temperatures reached a record 103 degrees in New York City on Tuesday. The heat also strained the electric grid all over the country, with utilities reporting scattered outages.

Some observers see possible trouble ahead. “In a situation like New York is in right now, charging electric vehicles could add to the burden pretty significantly,” said Jack Nerad, an executive market analyst at Kelley Blue Book. He said the load would be considerably less if electric cars are charged overnight, “but there’s no guarantee of that.”

Phil Gott, managing director of automotive consulting for IHS Automotive and the author of reports on E.V. adoption, said it’s likely that utilities will “see the added load coming and will add capacity where necessary.” But, he added, “If they elect not to take it seriously, then yes, we’ll have issues.”

A January 2010 report for Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC estimates that New York could have tens of thousands of electric vehicles (including plug-in hybrids) by 2015. These include the electric drive Smart and the Chevrolet Volt, both of which have recently announced that New York will be among their early markets.

The PlaNYC report concludes that the expected adoption rate “should not threaten the stability of the electric grid as long as most chargers are ‘smart,” allowing charging to take place during off-peak hours.” That’s by no means assured, however, because high-tech smart grids are still embryonic in many areas.

One solution, proposed by energy companies, such as DTE Energy in southeastern Michigan, is to encourage electric car owners to charge at night. Scott Simons, a spokesman for DTE Energy, said the utility was developing an incentive to offer one-third price reduction during off-peak hours.

Branko Terzic, a former commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission who is regulatory policy leader in energy and resources at Deloitte, said that such time-of-day rates can be put into effect even with “a dumb grid.” He said that some utilities had delayed making smart grid improvements because they were a capital cost with benefits in the future.

Jeff Seidel, chief strategy officer at Ener1, which supplies batteries to Think and Volvo electric cars, said that mobile electricity storage could provide a partial solution to the summer overload problem. His company is working with the utility Portland General Electric on one-megawatt battery storage units that could be moved from trouble spot to trouble spot on a tractor trailer and provide emergency power for periods of up to a few hours.

Src: [nytimes]

Nissan aims to double mileage for its First Hybrid.

Nissan Motor Co. said it aims to significantly improve and nearly double the mileage on its first hybrid car developed compared with the gasoline-engine version, while keeping costs down with a simple, single-motor system.

Japan's No. 3 automaker is due to launch a gasoline-electric Infiniti M sedan, called Fuga in Japan, late this year.

While admitting to the late start, Nissan said its one-motor, two-clutch system would achieve far better fuel economy, at a much lower technical cost compared with hybrid leader Toyota's complex, two-motor system.

"Typically, carmakers say the fuel economy improvement on their cars using a 'strong' or 'full' hybrid system is roughly 30 percent, while for 'mild' hybrids (like Honda's), it's 15 percent," said Koichi Hayasaki, chief engineer of Nissan's rear-wheel-drive hybrid system.

"We're aiming for an improvement of 60 to 90 percent," he said, adding that the hybrid Infiniti M would have mileage comparable to that of a compact car.

Nissan's hybrid system has a structure similar to that of Volkswagen AG's, mounting an extra clutch that separates the electric motor from the engine to allow for driving using only electric power when the battery is charged.


By having fewer components, Hayasaki said, Nissan's hybrid system was roughly 30 kg (66 lb) lighter than Toyota's series parallel system, which mounts two electric motors and two inverters, which make up the bulk of a hybrid system's cost.

As part of its drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its cars, Nissan is planning to also launch fuel-efficient three- and four-cylinder gasoline engines and stop-and-start technology this business year.

The new March, due for launch in Japan this month, will be the first to use the stop-start feature, which automatically shuts down the engine when the car comes to a brief stop. Nissan, held 43 percent by France's Renault SA, is due to start selling the Leaf full-electric car in Europe starting in December. Its sole hybrid model now is the Altima sedan, which uses Toyota's hybrid system.

Former F1 engineer unveils new Efficient City Car

The former Formula One engineer who created the iconic McLaren F1 supercar has officially unveiled the T.25 -- his idea for a new class of city car.

Murray and his team based in Shalford, south east England, have been working on the design for the past three years and, until now, have kept the exact details of the car firmly under wraps.

The car made its first public appearance on Monday at the UK's Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment in Oxford.

At less than eight feet long and a little over four feet wide, the T.25 is smaller than Daimler AG's popular Smart car, and a petrol engine model will retail for around $9,000.

The centralized driving position -- also a feature of Murray's McLaren F1 -- and central instrumentation and controls are perhaps its most obvious traits borrowed from Formula One.


Others might not be so easy to spot, but they are no less important to the overall design.

The T.25 is light, weighing in at just 550 kilograms, helping it achieve a fuel efficiency of around 74 miles per gallon.

A chassis design based on "Formula One derived materials, philosophy and technology" provides an "immensely strong structure," says Murray and body panels are also easier to replace in the event of damage.

A flat under-floor design also improves overall aerodynamics.

One thing the car most definitely does not share with an F1 car is its turning circle, which at six-meters a Smart car's is nearly nine meters, a BMW Mini's over ten makes it highly maneuverable in an urban setting.

The T.25's also has an electric cousin, the T.27, which Murray says will have a range of 80-100 miles and cost around $18,000.

Chevrolet Volt owners could get free home charging stations but only for the first 4400 owners.

U.S. Department of Energy will help out by providing free 240-volt home chargers for 4,400 early buyers.

The chargers are made either by ECOtality (which will install 2,600 Volt chargers) or Coulomb Technologies (1,800 chargers). In all, the DOE is helping to fit around 15,000 plug-in vehicle chargers across America. Of course, 'free' might be a relative term here. That's what the headline says, but Tony DiSalle, product and marketing director for the Chevrolet Volt, said in a statement that,

"For Volt owners who want to install a faster 240-volt charge station, we expect the Department of Energy project to save $1,000 and $2,000."

These chargers might cost around $2,000.

PRESS RELEASE

4,400 Chevrolet Volt Owners to be Eligible for Free Home Charging Stations

2010-06-17

* When the Volt goes on sale later this year, buyers will be eligible for a 240-volt charge station, and home installation in some cases
* Part of Department of Energy project to install approximately 15,000 240-volt home charge stations across the U.S.
* Data collected from the charge stations will be analyzed by the Department of Energy to understand what is required for widespread electric vehicle use

DETROIT – The first buyers of the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability will be eligible for one of 4,400 free home charging stations. The program will provide Volt owners with a 240-volt charge station from either ECOtality, Inc. or Coulomb Technologies. In many cases, it will include the cost of home installation. The projects are made possible with a grant of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds from the Transportation Electrification Initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

"Many owners will plug their Volt into a normal 120-volt electrical outlet, charge overnight and drive to work in the morning using only battery power," said Tony DiSalle, Product and Marketing Director for the Chevrolet Volt. "For Volt owners who want to install a faster 240-volt charge station, we expect the Department of Energy project to save $1,000 and $2,000."

The U.S. Department of Energy projects were established with two objectives: installing charging stations in residential, workplace and public areas to encourage consumers to purchase electric vehicles; and studying electric vehicle usage to optimize future electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

To encourage consumer purchases of electric vehicles, federal grants and other funds have been awarded to install more than 15,000 home charge stations. That total includes 4,400 home charge stations for Volt owners; 2,600 as part of The EV Project from ECOtality, and 1,800 as part of the ChargePoint America project from Coulomb Technologies.

To study electric vehicle usage, the programs will collect data such as average charge time, energy usage and the starting and ending time of the charging process. This data will be analyzed by the U.S. Department of Energy to understand how electric vehicles are driven, how and when they are charged, and ultimately what is required for widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

"In addition to saving money, these projects offer Volt owners an opportunity to play a role in developing our collective understating of electric vehicles in the market," DiSalle said.

At the time of purchase, Volt buyers will receive a portable 120-volt charge cord, and will have the option of installing a 240-volt charge station available from Chevrolet. Volt buyers that live within the program cities may apply for a free 240-volt home charging station through the Coulomb or ECOtality programs if they are willing to share their charging information. Additional consumer information on eligibility requirements and the application process will be available when the Volt goes on sale later this year.

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with extended range capability, designed to drive up to 350 miles without stopping to recharge or refuel. For the first 40 miles, Volt is powered by pure electricity, without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery is depleted, a gasoline-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 300 miles.

# # #

About Chevrolet

Chevrolet is a global automotive brand, with annual sales of about 3.5 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. In the U.S., the Chevrolet portfolio includes: iconic performance cars, such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long lasting pickups and SUVs, such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers, such as Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly" solutions, such as the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco model that is expected to deliver up to an estimated 40 mpg highway, and 2011 Chevrolet Volt that will offer up to 40 miles of electric driving and an additional 300 miles of extended range with the onboard generator (based on GM testing). Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security, and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response, and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models, fuel solutions, and OnStar availability can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About ECOtality, Inc.

ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, is a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. Through innovation, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ECOtality accelerates the market applicability of advanced electric technologies to replace carbon-based fuels. For more information about ECOtality, Inc., please visit www.ecotality.com. For more information about The EV Project, the world's largest electriv vehicle infrastructure deployment program, please visit www.theevproject.com.

About Coulomb Technologies, Inc.

Coulomb Technologies is the leader in electric vehicle charging station infrastructure with networked charging stations installed in municipalities and organizations worldwide. Coulomb provides a vehicle-charging infrastructure, with an open system driver network: the ChargePoint Network (www.mychargepoint.net) provides multiple web-based portals for Hosts, Fleet managers, Drivers, and Utilities, and ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations ranging in capability from 120 Volt to 240 Volt AC charging and up to 500 Volt DC charging. For more information, follow Coulomb on Twitter at twitter.com/coulombevi. To request a charging station in your area, visit http://www.mychargepoint.net/request-station.php. To download the ChargePoint iPhone App, click here.

[Source: General Motors]