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- Report: VW still planning hybrid powertrain for next-gen Beetle
Filed under: Hybrid, Volkswagen, Detroit Auto Show, Green Daily
2005 Volkswagen Ragster concept - Click above for high-res image galleryWhile the all-new Volkswagen Beetle isn't officially scheduled to make its debut until next year's Detroit Auto Show, information has trickled down the pipeline providing hints of what we can expect. Reports suggest that the vehicle will feature a radically different design and a host of new powertrains that will likely include a hybrid setup similar to that found on the company's New Compact Coupe (NCC) concept, which debuted at last year's show in the Motor City.
Though we aren't exactly certain how VW plans to apply design cues to the next-gen Beetle to make it radically different from the current model, we are fairly confident that the hybrid powertrain from the NCC will carry over pretty much intact. On stage in Detroit, the NCC was motivated by a 1.4-liter TSI inline-four, pumping out 150 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque. Couple that with a 20-kilowatt electric motor with a li-ion battery pack and output is boosted by 27 hp to reach a total of 177 ponies. VW estimates that the NCC concept would average 45 miles per gallon, so we'd expect the hybrid Beetle to at least match that number. Of course, we'll have the full story this January when the next-gen vehicle debuts in Detroit, but in the meantime, you can feast your eyes on renderings of the upcoming Beetle found here, here and here.
[Source: Autocar]Report: VW still planning hybrid powertrain for next-gen Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - At Witz' End - Electric vehicles: past, present and future
Filed under: AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show, At Witz End
Six months after the NAIAS (Detroit Auto Show), I finally found my notes from some very interesting sessions there. Okay, I didn't just find them. I just now found time to review them. It's been a busy year.
The good news is that looking at the notes a half-year after the fact gives us a chance to put them into context a little. Here we go.
The first event of note was a panel discussion, pro and con, on global warming provocatively called "Climategate." The second was a panel discussion on "EVs: Past, Present and Future." Third was a Center for Automotive Research session on "Vehicle Electrification." All were lightly attended, so I doubt whether AutoblogGreen readers have heard or read much about them. Let's look at the second one first, and we do so after the jump.
Continue reading At Witz' End - Electric vehicles: past, present and future
At Witz' End - Electric vehicles: past, present and future originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Quick Spin: Driving an Amp Sky shows there's real potential here
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, GM, Saturn, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show, Green Daily, Automotive X-Prize, Amp Electric Vehicles
Amp Sky - Click above for high-res image gallery
What you see in the picture above is not a Saturn Sky. Well, OK, it is a Sky, but it's a Sky that has been converted to all-electric drive by Amp Electric Vehicles, a conversion company based in Cincinnati, OH. A while back, during the Detroit Auto Show, we got a chance to spend a few minutes behind the wheel of the electrified Amp Sky and realized that, while the prototype version we steered was not exactly ready for prime time, there is a lot of potential here, both for Amp and plug-in vehicle fans who want an EV from the heartland of America (with Chinese batteries).
The all-electric Sky is, unsurprisingly, considering its heritage, not the best performer on snow and we had a ridiculously difficult time navigating the streets of downtown Detroit at anything more than 40 miles per hour. Of course, the day we drove it the weather was uncooperative, and no one else was going any faster than we were, even on our brief jaunt on the highway. We can't blame the converters for the lack of traction and limited speeds we were able to test out. Still, we got to enough time driving the Sky to get a feel for what Amp is up to here. Read on after the jump to see what the drive is like.
Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Quick Spin: Driving an Amp Sky shows there's real potential here
Quick Spin: Driving an Amp Sky shows there's real potential here originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - At Witz' End - Detroit 2010: Detroit recovers, Lutz pontificates
Filed under: GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show, At Witz End
Bob Lutz speaking at the 2009 LA Auto Show
Attending the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, my first as a journalist in 15 years, I was stunned by the excitement and optimism of the people involved and the depth and breadth of the product on display. "This is the Golden Age of the Automobile," I thought.
That atmosphere prevailed until 2009, when the economy, the auto market and (many feared) the entire U.S. industry seemed to be crashing down around everyone's ears. The product was there, but the trappings were sparse and the aura decidedly glum. Now we've seen the 2010 Detroit show, which was subdued but cautiously optimistic. There was a strong emphasis on "green" - small-car introductions, hybrid and EV concepts, a plethora of neighborhood EVs on "Electric Avenue" and a lushly wooded drive course for volt-powered vehicles - plus the usual new family, luxury, utility and performance-car debuts.
The night before press days, ageless, outspoken, oft-controversial General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told a Society of Automotive Analysts meeting that GM is well on its way to recovery. While fleet sales were (intentionally) way down, December retail sales were up 13 percent with four brands vs. eight the year before, its fourth-quarter retail market share was up a full two points from the previous quarter, and its newest products - the Chevrolet Camaro and Equinox, Buick LaCrosse, GMC Terrain and Cadillac SRX - were, he said, "smash hits." Read more after the jump.Continue reading At Witz' End - Detroit 2010: Detroit recovers, Lutz pontificates
At Witz' End - Detroit 2010: Detroit recovers, Lutz pontificates originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Automakers' biggest green car challenge just might be education
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Detroit Auto Show
CT&T C Squared - Click above for high-res image gallery
Regular readers can probably list a dozen differences, small and large, between the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota's plug-in Prius. But what about your more average car buyer? What do they know about plug-in vehicles? The Detroit Free Press spent some time at the Detroit Auto Show's Electric Avenue during the public days talking to people who were there just to see what's new with cars these days. There are some good quotes in the article (read the whole thing here), but here's the one that stands out:
An anecdote doesn't accurately describe an entire customer market, we know, but this just goes to show that there's a lot of education work still to be done. Got any great tips on how to make people less afraid of getting off gasoline?I know where to buy gas right now and I know where to take my car for maintenance. I have no idea where I would plug in a car or how to take care of a hybrid.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]Automakers' biggest green car challenge just might be education originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Toyota's 2011 plug-in Prius release date is "aggressive" target
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota, Detroit Auto Show
Toyota Prius PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Bill Reinert is nothing if not an outspoken promoter of the Toyota brand. When we saw him at the Detroit Auto Show, we knew we needed to say hello and find out what is up with the plug-in Prius project and other environmental issues that the automaker is working on. Reinert take a broad view of the eco-car segment. He sees cleaner fuels playing a role in reducing emissions, he's not worried about arriving a bit late to the plug-in party and he's still skeptical of pure plug-ins. Part of his skepticism comes from worries about who will buy the first batch of cars, and that they all might be neighbors
These issues have to be addressed by the cities, utilities and by the charging companies, not necessarily by Toyota, he said, since it's Toyota's job to make the cars. Reinert said he was skeptical of claims by utilities that they would be able to upgrade transformers ahead of the curve of EV adoption rates.We know for sure that [plug-in car] will cluster. They are going to cluster by zip code. The Prius has, all hybrids cluster by ZIP code and you can assume that EVs will cluster by ZIP code. They tend to cluster in affluent neighborhoods and a lof of these neighborhoods, like in LA, are older neighborhoods and a lot of them have undersized transformers. When you start looking at this - and this is not me saying it, it's Pacific Gas and Electric - you can have a situation where you have three electric cars on the same transformer and all start charging at the same time on Level 2, 220-volt charging and you can bring down the transformer.
Reinert also said that Toyota's targeted 2011-2012 release date for the plug-in Prius is "aggressive" and he's not worried at all about the Chevrolet Volt or the Nissan Leaf making it to market this year and stealing sales from Toyota. In fact, he said, "There are a lot of players in the market and there are a lot of estimates about the market size," he said, adding that there is even a possibility of there being an oversupply of electric vehicles on the market soon.
Another angle that Toyota sees as a way to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions is to continue to improve the standard hybrid system and to introduce lower-carbon fuels - basically better gasoline, e.g. synfuel blended into gasoline - into the national fuel supply. Maybe there's a long life left for the standard Prius, after all.Detroit 2010: Toyota's 2011 plug-in Prius release date is "aggressive" target originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Green Vehicles presents Electric Avenue with upgraded Triac
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Detroit Auto Show
The last time we saw the Triac from Green Vehicles, Inc., we were not exactly impressed. Perhaps we should've tried to get a ride in the new 2010 version that the company unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. While we still don't think we've got $25,000 to spend on one of these, we would like to see what the updates have done to this unusual three-wheeler.
People who did buy the 2009 edition of the Triac trike told Green Vehicles what they did and didn't like about that car, and the company made a lot of changes to the new version. One of those changes was upping the "real-world range of 80 to 100+ miles" by an additional 20 miles, a mighty impressive increase. We don't know how the upgrade was accomplished, but the press release (available after the jump) talks about improvements to the "non-traditional electric drive-train" and "next-generation energy storage and power systems." So, good on 'em if all this is true. The 2010 Triac should be available in October.
[Source: Green Vehicles, Inc.]
Continue reading Detroit 2010: Green Vehicles presents Electric Avenue with upgraded Triac
Detroit 2010: Green Vehicles presents Electric Avenue with upgraded Triac originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Smart USA's Jill Lajdziak says lifestyle message can boost sales
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, SMART, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Detroit Auto Show, New York Auto Show
During the blur of the Detroit Auto Show this week, we checked in with fresh Smart USA president Jill Lajdziak to see what the boss has to say about her new job, sales of the fortwo in the U.S. and what's up with the all-electric Smart Ed. Lajdziak only recently joined up with Penske Automotive and Smart after spending time as general manager at Saturn. She was named to the top post just last week.
Lajdziak's main message was that the Smart brand is just getting started in the U.S. Even though sales took a serious nosedive in late 2009, "The car has more potential than we are realizing," Lajdziak told AutoblogGreen. She cited the decrease in fuel prices as one reason for the drop in sales - adding that efficiency and/or miles per gallon won't be the main focus of the brand's 2010 advertising campaign. Instead, the lifestyle of the Smart car driver will be highlighted. "We need to make sure the marketing is as innovative as the car," she said.
What does that mean? Having a dealer footprint of just 77 stores allows Smart to do some creative things to get people's attention, like short-term stores in urban areas, Lajdziak said. But some drivers really want the most efficient Fortwo possible, and that means EV. Lajdziak said that some current Fortwo owners have contacting Smart to see if there is a waiting list to get an electric version. There isn't any such list, we were promised more information in the second quarter of 2010 (think New York Auto Show in late March/early April).
Even though Lajdziak has not yet driven the Smart Ed, she said that, "it's really a natural for electric technology to come to this brand and this car, and we certainly look forward to doing that later this year." Before the car makes its arrival here, Daimler engineers are working on a lot of enhancements following all of the test fleet programs and the early test drives that are providing feedback.
Back home, Smart USA will be getting people behind the wheel of a Fortwo through the Car2go car sharing program, coming soon to Austin, TX. Smart USA has not yet discussed putting any Smart Eds into the Car2go program, but we think pairing electric drive with car sharing is a pretty brilliant option for city dwellers.
Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Detroit 2010: Smart USA's Jill Lajdziak says lifestyle message can boost sales originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Edison2's Very Light Car scoffs at Electric Avenue
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Automotive X-Prize, Lightweight
One of the vehicles on display in the Progressive Automotive X Prize booth at the Detroit Auto Show is the Very Light Car, an entry we hadn't seen before. Taking a similar attitude as the Rocky Mountain Institute about stripping away weight and complexity, the team behind the Very Light Car is doing everything possible to maximize the efficiency of the internal combustion engine hidden inside this poor man's Aptera. Yes, it's kind of ironic that an ICE vehicle is sitting on the show's "Electric Avenue," but that's the reality this year.
The Edison2 engineering team originally considered using a hybrid drivetrain in the VLC, but, "realized that light weight and low aerodynamic drag are two absolute virtues for auto efficiency, and that low weight and batteries are mutually exclusive," we learned in a statement. Now that the simpler drivetrain has been chosen for the VLC, Edison2 says that, "Only a few teams have a realistic chance of winning the X Prize, and our team is one of them." We have just nine months to find out if this confidence is warranted.
Detroit 2010: Edison2's Very Light Car scoffs at Electric Avenue originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Caption Contest - What the heck are Bob Lutz and Elon Musk talking about?
Filed under: GM, Tesla Motors, Detroit Auto Show
Bob Lutz has been an important guy in the auto industry since before most of us were born. Elon Musk is the reason your eBay transactions go so smoothly (he was the co-creator of PayPal). Together, they don't seem to make much of a team. Well, they wouldn't make much of a match if Musk weren't the CEO of Tesla Motors. Elon makes electric cars. Bob wants to make electric cars. Both are (*ahem*) outspoken and give good soundbites. Upon further review, it makes perfect sense that the two men were hanging out at the Detroit Auto Show. But what were they talking about?
We have some ideas, but they probably aren't as creative as yours. We'll get you started with some appetizers, but we're really just looking for you to provide the main course:
Help us out with some better captions by leaving some tender verbal vittles in Comments.Lutz to Musk: "You think you're nervous right now, but you really just have range anxiety"
Musk to Lutz: "We have more batteries in one car than you have in 500 Volts"
Lutz to Musk: "$500 million? $50 billion!"Detroit 2010: Caption Contest - What the heck are Bob Lutz and Elon Musk talking about? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based) X-Prize
Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Automotive X-Prize, Racing
The Progressive Automotive X-Prize has lost a lot of potential and participating teams over the course of the past few years, and today it lost a dozen cities. See, in early 2008, the AXP asked for bids to host trial events around the U.S. and at least 14 said they were interested. Yesterday, Peter Diamandis, the chairman and CEO of the X Prize Foundation, announced that nearly all of the actual on-the-road events will be held in Michigan. Make that the on-the-track events.
Yes, the actual competition for the AXP will take place almost exclusively in Michigan, with the Michigan International Speedway hosting the Shakedown and Knockout races starting in April (see a full schedule and more information after the jump). Once the field is whittled down to the top teams, final vehicle testing will be done at the EPA Labs in Ann Arbor, MI and Argonne National Labs in Chicago, IL. These tests will verify the on-track emission and performance figures and then the final awards ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C. this coming September.
There are 51 vehicles from 41 teams left in the contest, and a handful were on hand in Detroit. You can see them in the gallery below and click past the jump for much, much more, including an interview with the AXP's Eric Cahill.
Photos by Sebastian Blanco / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Automotive X Prize]Continue reading Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based) X-Prize
Detroit 2010: Automotive X-Prize now pretty much the Michigan (based) X-Prize originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: 1,000 Tesla Roadsters have been built, Model S still over two years away
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Detroit Auto Show
Tesla's press conference at the Detroit Auto Show yesterday was refreshingly short and consisted of nothing more than CEO Elon Musk talking in front of the red Model S. He said that his company has now built 1,000 Roadsters (a year ago, it was just 150), negotiated a lease for the Model S plant (but he wouldn't say where it was) and that the 1,000th Roadster will be auctioned off for charity. Musk then took questions, but didn't exactly answer them.
Musk told the journalists that Roadster sales are doing "pretty well," adding that he hopes annual sales come in at around 700 to 1,000 a year. Once the Model S hits the market for around $50,000, Tesla hopes to sell 20,000 per year. The third Tesla model that's still a few years away? That $30,000 car should sell 200,000 a year, Musk said.
Even though $50,000 for the Model S sounds like a lot, Musk said that, if gas is $4.50 a gallon, then the difference in running costs between his electric sedan and a standard ICE vehicle mean the Model S can be thought of as a $35,000 car. The Model S is still at least two years away, and more likely two-and-a-half years, Musk said. Daimler has been a "benign and benevolent" partner thus far, and Tesla's main benefit right now is that they can use the Daimler supply chain and get advice to make sure they aren't making any mistakes as the Model S moves to production. Today, there are two running prototypes, but Tesla hopes to have around 20 by the end of the year.
Detroit 2010: 1,000 Tesla Roadsters have been built, Model S still over two years away originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Audi e-tron Detroit Concept presages production R4
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, Detroit Auto Show
Audi e-tron Detroit Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you're wondering what the likelihood of Audi building a production version of its new e-tron Detroit Concept Car (yes, that's really its official designation), our sources at Audi indicate that a version of the coupe is likely to go into serial production as the oft-rumored R4.
The German automaker is apparently looking to design a smaller modular platform leveraging the expertise it used to develop the front-engine sedan platform that underpins the new A8 and forthcoming A7, among others. The new mid-engine architecture will likely find homes in a number of Volkswagen Group properties, including a production version of the Concept BlueSport, and perhaps even the next-generation Porsche Boxster/Cayman.
While the e-tron show car is a battery-powered electric vehicle, the production model is likely to be available with either an electric motor or conventional internal-combustion four-cylinder variants.
Given the fact that VW intimated last year that a production BlueSport could be produced at around $25,000, we're anticipating that the Audi R4 will slot in under the TT in the low-$30,000 range, as the 2010 TT presently starts at $37,800.
Detroit 2010: Audi e-tron Detroit Concept presages production R4 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: CT&T debuts three models, including Multi Amphibious Vehicle
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Detroit Auto Show
CT&T Multi Amphibious Vehicle - Click above for high-res image gallery
CT&T is a Korean company that makes tiny electric cars. You may have read about them before. And if you did read about about CT&T's current products, you will know that we don't think very much of them. The truth, or a close approximation of it? They strike us as all-weather golf carts.
However, three new CT&T cars just got themselves debuted here at the Detroit Auto Show and we gotta be honest, we're mostly smitten with what we're seeing. First up is the C Squared - though the name might actually be "C Square" - we'll let you know. Anywho, the C Squared is a "creative electric sport [sic] car" that comes with a folding hard top as well as the ability to hit 95 mph. Sure, the nose is rather tragic looking but the back end's pretty good. Our biggest gripe? The $50,000 asking price.
Next up is the E-Zone Plus... and, uh, yeah. It has three-doors, will eventually have five-doors, and as the press release says, "headlights." No, really. That's what it says. Moving on.
Multi Amphibious Vehicle FTW! Now you're talking our language. Seriously, can you think of anything wrong with a six-wheeled, four-passenger electric amphibious car that goes 40 mph on land and 95 mph on the water? Neither can we! Now, some of you party-pooper types might be shaking your heads and saying "95 mph on the water? No frackin' way!" But rather than face reality we'll just stick to what we get accused of - regurgitating press releases. Says 95 mph in black and white. Also, check out how excellent this is, "...letting you enjoy all-around activities in resorts, fields, etc."
Detroit 2010: CT&T debuts three models, including Multi Amphibious Vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: BYD's plans to bring the all-electric E6 to the U.S. slightly detailed
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Detroit Auto Show, BYD
BYD E6 - Click above for high-res image gallery
The all-electric E6 took center stage at BYD's press conference today at the Detroit Auto Show. This is an ambitious car from an ambitious automaker, and that internal push means that the E6 is scheduled to arrive in the U.S. later this year. Plans for Europe will be announced later and U.S. pricing for the E6 might be released in late spring.
Over in China, the E6 electric vehicle has passed all crash tests, but that's one hurdle that will need to be jumped here in the U.S. before it arrives. Another change - the switch to a J1772 connector - will be easy to accomplish, Fred Ni, the general manager of BYD Motors America, told AutoblogGreen. BYD executives are not disclosing the cost of the E6's battery, but they are claiming it will last for ten years. The thing weighs 800 kilograms and packs around 60 kWh, which BYD says is good enough to move the car 205 miles on a single charge.
Ni said that BYD wants to be able to respond to market demand. Therefore, if the car is an American hit, BYD could build it in the U.S. someday. If BYD does build cars here, they would probably be both battery-powered and standard ICE powertrain models, he said.
As for the long-term ambition, BYD is looking to the top. While BYD has been around as a battery maker since 1995, the automotive division was established in 2003. The company is now the fourth-largest automaker in China, but that's not enough. BYD's goal is to be the biggest automaker in China by 2015 and, get this, the biggest in the world by 2025. For 2010, the company hopes to sell 800,000 units. How many of them will be E6s to Yankees? We'll find out soon enough.
Detroit 2010: BYD's plans to bring the all-electric E6 to the U.S. slightly detailed originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Revenge Verde Supercar adds mean to its green
Filed under: Ethanol, Hybrid, Detroit Auto Show
Revenge Verde Supercar - Click above for high-res image gallery
U.S.-based Revenge used the 2010 Detroit Auto Show to introduce the world to its Verde Supercar, and we were there with cameras in hand to capture the event onfilmmemory cards. Honestly, we were impressed with the Verde's outer appearance, though we couldn't get close enough to see the interior or the car's underpinnings.
Speaking of which, Revenge claims that the Verde shares a good portion of its aluminum chassis with the dearly departed Ford GT. Powertrain options are, shall we say... interesting. We're certainly not complaining about the Roush-sourced Ford Racing V8 with 605 horsepower or the supercharged GM LS9 with 638 horses. It's the Hp2g Hybrid drivetrain option that we're a wee bit leery of... not that we wouldn't love to believe that the V8 engine puts out 400 horsepower while running on E85 and returning upwards of 100 miles per gallon, it's just that we need to see it for ourselves before we believe it.
Moving on, the bodywork is fashioned from aluminum and carbon fiber, which allows for a weight of 3,500 pounds. Performance estimates put the 0-60 time at between three and five seconds, depending on the powertrain chosen. Top speed will reportedly be over 200 miles per hour, with optional gearing that could potentially allow the Verde to hit 240 mph. Pricing is set at $190,000 and Revenge says it's planning to put cars in paying customer's hands later this year. We'll see.
Detroit 2010: Revenge Verde Supercar adds mean to its green originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Detroit 2010: Volvo C30 EV silently motors into the Motor City
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volvo, Detroit Auto Show
Volvo C30 EV Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
As expected, Volvo brought along an all-electric C30 hatchback concept to the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. While this isn't a production vehicle at this point, Volvo says the car is a fully drivable prototype with a complete interior, full instrumentation, and enhanced battery packaging.
We made our way down to Volvo's area here at Cobo in Detroit to check the battery-electric C30 out for ourselves, and honestly we came away impressed. As Volvo says, the C30 EV is a complete package with little evidence that it's not a production model. See for yourself in our high-res gallery of live images below.
Detroit 2010: Volvo C30 EV silently motors into the Motor City originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Ford bringing battery and hybrid transmission development in-house
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Ford, Detroit Auto Show
Next-gen Ford Focus live unveiling - Click above for high-res image gallery
After unveiling the new Focus Monday, Ford made another announcement at the Detroit Auto Show about its battery plans. Like General Motors and other automakers, Ford has decided that battery technology (not necessarily including cell chemistry) needs to be one of its core competencies going forward. To that end, it will officially take over responsibility for development and production of battery packs and management systems for its electric and hybrid vehicles. Ford will also bring the hybrid transmission development and production in-house, starting with the next-generation hybrid launch in 2012.
This is a major change for Ford, which has previously relied on companies like Aisin for transmissions for the Fusion and Escape and Delphi for battery packs. Ford will invest $450 million in engineering and manufacturing and create 1,000 new jobs in Michigan. The new hybrid transmissions will be built at the Van Dyke transmission plant north of Detroit. Ford hasn't yet announced where the battery packs would be built.
The shift should help Ford alleviate the supply limitations it has experienced over the last several years with transmissions and batteries. A new hybrid and plug-in hybrid will be built at the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, MI, but vice president of powertrain development Barb Samardzich told ABG that it will not be the new Kuga-based Escape successor. It will be based on the Focus platform but could be an entirely different body style that we haven't seen yet. The press release is after the jump.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Ford]Continue reading Ford bringing battery and hybrid transmission development in-house
Ford bringing battery and hybrid transmission development in-house originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Honda CEO Takanobu Ito announces that Acura will add a hybrid
Filed under: Hybrid, Acura, Honda, Detroit Auto Show
While speaking at the Detroit Auto Show yesterday to unveil the production version of the new CR-Z coupe, Honda CEO Takanobu Ito announced that Acura will be adding hybrid models. Ito gave no further insights as to timing or which vehicles would get the hybrid drivetrains, but we're going to guess that the TSX and TL sedans would be the first recipients of the new system. However, when we spoke to Ito last fall in Japan, he did say that Honda was developing a hybrid system suitable for larger vehicles. It's not clear how much it will differ from the architecture of the current IMA mild hybrid system used in the Civic, Insight and CR-Z. We do expect that it will use lithium ion batteries from the joint venture that Honda has with GS Yuasa. A copy of Ito's remarks is after the jump.
[Source: Honda]Continue reading Honda CEO Takanobu Ito announces that Acura will add a hybrid
Honda CEO Takanobu Ito announces that Acura will add a hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Report: Production BMW EfficientDynamics sports car in 2013, along with M version?
Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, BMW, Frankfurt Motor Show
2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
A production sports car based on last year's BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept will reportedly debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and come to market by 2013. According to Germany's AutoBild, the car which they refer to as the I100 (as part of BMW's project I which is also spawning the MegaCity EV) will be powered by a hybrid powertrain much like the one in the concept.
A 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (possibly a diesel) paired with an electric motor based on the architecture of BMW's mild hybrid 7 Series would drive the rear wheels, while a second motor would drive the front wheels. A lithium ion battery pack is earmarked to provide electrical energy storage, although it's not clear if the plug-in capability of the concept would be retained.
According to Autobild, it's also possible that we'll see an M variant of this car using the 450 horsepower twin-turbo inline-six from the next generation M3 along with set of supercapacitors instead of a lithium battery pack.
[Source: AutoBild]Report: Production BMW EfficientDynamics sports car in 2013, along with M version? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Rumormill: BMW working on 'green' M1 supercar to rival Audi R8
Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, BMW, Frankfurt Motor Show
BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Will the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept that BMW debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month spawn a production eco-friendly supercar from the German automaker? According to Auto Express, the answer is yes, and the U.K.-based publication is projecting that the new green M1 will be ready for sale in 2012.
Naturally, the heart of this rumor-spec supercar is a hybrid powertrain similar to the one shown off in Frankfurt. A turbocharged three-cylinder diesel engine displacing 1.5 liters would be used in conjunction with a pair of electric motors providing all-wheel drive capabilities. The run to 60 mph would theoretically take less than five seconds and top speed would reportedly be capped at 155 mph.
Other unique bits that were introduced on the Vision Concept that could potentially make it into production include active aerodynamic elements that allow for an excellent .22 coefficient of drag. An unknown source tells AE that the car's hybrid powertrain, dual clutch gearbox and aluminum-intensive chassis are all "ready for the road."
If there's any truth to this rumor, the new eco-friendly M1 successor would be marketed as a rival to the Audi R8 and would potentially hit the market with a price well north of $100,000. We'll see.
[Source: Auto Express]Rumormill: BMW working on 'green' M1 supercar to rival Audi R8 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Tesla plus Brabus equals Ultimate High Voltage
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART, Tesla Motors, Frankfurt Motor Show, Green Daily
Brabus High Voltage - Click above for high-res image gallery
In addition to the Tailor Made concepts that Brabus trotted out for the Frankfurt Motor Show, the German tuning firm also showed off a new version of its electric Smart Fortwo called the Unlimited High Voltage. This new model is an updated version of the company's electric Smart ED concept and it features a lithium ion battery pack supplied by Tesla Motors, Daimler's electric vehicle partner.
A rear-mounted electric motor was also developed by Tesla and offers up 82 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque, which is sufficient to push the little electric runabout to 60 mph in under 10 seconds. Interesting touches include aerodynamic wheels with clear plexiglass covers and wider side skirts to improve airflow. Inside, white leather seats with yellow stitching join a console-mounted monitor that displays the remaining state of charge.
The single most intriguing bit of tech, though, would have to be the sound generator. This little unit will reportedly allow the diminutive electric machine to sound like a honkin' V8-powered racecar... should the owner feel so inclined, naturally. Check out the high-res image gallery below.
Frankfurt 2009: Tesla plus Brabus equals Ultimate High Voltage originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Reader's poll: Best in show Frankfurt 2009
Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show
The 2009 Frankfort Motor Show was truly significant for the number of low-carbon cars on display. There were over 50 electric and hybrid cars in the haus, with more than a couple dozen of them naked for the first time before the glare of public scrutiny. After gazing upon so many a fresh model, the difficult part has arrived; choosing a favorite. This is where you come in.
Check out the galleries below and choose an electric and a hybrid which, money being no object, you would most love to have take up residence in your driveway. Step 2, boogie past the break and vote for your favorite visions of automotive Venus-ness Step 3,ProfitRant and rave to your heart's content in the comment section.
Continue reading Reader's poll: Best in show Frankfurt 2009
Reader's poll: Best in show Frankfurt 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: German goverment plugs in for EVs
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Frankfurt Motor Show, Germany
Before the Frankfurt Motor Show brought us the latest models and concepts from automakers, it was opened by German Chancelor Angela Merkel. The inauguration speech by the Chancellor included describing her country's support for electric vehicles: Germany expects that there will be up to seven million EVs, including plug-ins, and about 18 million hybrid cars in 2020. These figures would account for a third of the expected cars on German roads at that time. Merkel's speech divided the expansion of EVs into three phases. The first one, from 2012 to 2014 would aim to get EV sales up to 30,000 cars per year, and would include €5,000 subvention or tax breaks from the German Federal Government, similar to 17 other European countries. During the second phase, from 2015 to 2018, the market would be mature enough to have about 100,000 sales per year, which would be incentived with about €2,000 and special measures such as parking rights and exclusive lanes. All of this leads to the third phase, in 2019 and 2020, where Merkel said she hopes for 250,000 sales per year.
[Source: Auto News]Frankfurt 2009: German goverment plugs in for EVs originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Electric Trabant nT concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Frankfurt Motor Show
New Trabant - Click above for high-res image gallery
True to its promise, Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH - a scale model car maker from Germany - brought a concept car to the Frankfurt Motor Show called the New Trabant. We applaud the effort, 'cause is couldn't have been cheap or easy. According to Herpa, the baby blue EV has a 64-horsepower electric motor that's capable of propelling the hatchback to speeds of up to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) with a range of up to 155 miles (250 kilometers).
A lithium ion battery pack of unknown size sits in between the car's rear axle and transmission tunnel. Of course, all of the development work for this project will be extremely expensive, and if the company has any real hope of putting a car into production by 2012 (its own stated goal), a dedicated investor is needed. Good luck. Click past the break for the official press release.
[Source: Herpa Miniaturmodelle GmbH]
Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Electric Trabant nT concept
Frankfurt 2009: Electric Trabant nT concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - REPORT: Mercedes-Benz plans to lease 100 hydrogen F-Cell cars in U.S.
Filed under: Hydrogen, Mercedes Benz, Frankfurt Motor Show, USA
Mercedes-Benz F-Cell - Click above for high-res image gallery
Mercedes-Benz officially introduced the world to its latest hydrogen fuel cell-powered car this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and it's wasting little time getting the F-Cell into limited-scale production. In this case, "limited-scale" means 200 vehicles, and Daimler R&D chief Thomas Weber tells Automotive News (sub. req'd) about half of those cars are headed to the United States to be leased by the public.
Naturally, those hundred F-Cell drivers are going to need a place to refuel their hydrogen cars, and there's currently a woeful lack of fueling stations here in the States. This being the case, it's not surprising that Mercedes-Benz plans to send the majority of its F-Cell hatchbacks to California, the state with the most widespread hydrogen infrastructure.
According to Mercedes-Benz, a three-minute refuel will allow its F-Cell to travel for 250 miles. Check out our live shots of the Mercedes-Benz F-Cell below.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]REPORT: Mercedes-Benz plans to lease 100 hydrogen F-Cell cars in U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Volvo reveals battery-powered C30 [w/VIDEO]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volvo, Frankfurt Motor Show
Volvo C30 BEV prototype - click above for high res image gallery
We were already aware that Volvo has been working on a plug-in hybrid version of its compact C30 for some time with the intent of introducing a production model in 2012. In Frankfurt this week, Ford's Swedish outpost also showed off a full battery electric version of the hatchback. Volvo has apparently been testing several prototypes already this year. The 24 kWh lithium ion battery pack is installed in the center tunnel of the car. The electric motor and electronics remain in the standard engine compartment. Volvo claims the C30 BEV can go 93 miles on a full battery charge. The pack takes about 8 hours to charge from a 230 V 16 A outlet that is standard in Europe.
It's not clear if Volvo is collaborating with the Ford engineers working on the 2011 Focus-based BEV or following its own path. The C30 is built on the current European Focus platform. Volvo states that it will focus on PHEVs for the larger cars in its lineup, but hasn't decided whether to proceed with a production BEV.
[Source: Volvo]
Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Volvo reveals battery-powered C30 [w/VIDEO]
Frankfurt 2009: Volvo reveals battery-powered C30 [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept needs a shorter name
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Frankfurt Motor Show
Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
And now for your viewing pleasure, we bring you these live shots of the Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept (seriously, could Toyota have come up with a longer name?). Technically, the vehicle shown in our image gallery below is listed as a concept car, but every indication is that it's not all that different than what will be rolling out of the Burnaston factory in England sometime during the second half of 2010.
We wouldn't necessarily count on the dash-mounted solar panels that feature trays to recharge your electronics - though, how cool would that be? - but the rooftop cells may make it into production to help keep the cabin cool on sunny days as a similar system already is optional on the 2010 Prius. In any case, Toyota's 1.8-liter four cylinder and Hybrid Synergy Drive ought to ensure stellar fuel economy and carbon emissions of below 100 g/km - both important considerations across the pond where gas is especially pricey and taxes are high.
Hit the jump to reread the press release and refresh your memory on all the little concept-appropriate details.
Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept needs a shorter name
Frankfurt 2009: Toyota Auris HSD Full Hybrid Concept needs a shorter name originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell rids the show floor of tailpipe emissions
Filed under: Hydrogen, Mercedes Benz, Frankfurt Motor Show
Mercedes-Benz F-Cell - Click above for high-res image gallery
As promised, Mercedes-Benz trotted its hydrogen fuel cell-powered F-Cell in front of the crowds at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and we were on hand to snap off a series of images. It's easy to spot the B-Class sheetmetal and underpinnings of the compact hatch, which goes to show how well the German automaker was able to integrate its space-age hydrogen drivetrain.
A 100 kW electric motor provides motive force to the front wheels, and MB claims the F-Cell will have similar performance to a 2.0 liter gas engine while returning the equivalent of 86.6 mpg on the European combined cycle. Mercedes has promised to begin leasing its new hydrogen-powered five-door hatchback in early 2010, and it's reportedly coming to America to fulfill all our zero-emission fantasies. Now, if we could just get that pesky hydrogen infrastructure problem sorted out...
Frankfurt 2009: Mercedes-Benz F-Cell rids the show floor of tailpipe emissions originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Renault goes Twizy (with Zoe and Fluence and Kangoo)
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Renault, Frankfurt Motor Show, Better Place
Renault Zero Emission line-up - Click for high-res image gallery
The more we see of Renault's all-electric line-up that is on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the more we want to hang out at company cocktail parties. Something delicious and potent must be on tap there. From the elegant and unexpected lines of the Zoe (above, note the recycle logo) to the buggy quirkiness of the Twizy, Renault is displaying some truly fun-looking electric cars here. Now if only these things were available to drive off the lot today, we'd really be getting somewhere. As we said yesterday when we got Renault's official pics, these cars demand a second look in high-res. Have at it in the gallery below. While you do, we'll hunt down more information on Renault's Quickdrop battery exchange station and what role Better Place has with the technology.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.
Frankfurt 2009: Renault goes Twizy (with Zoe and Fluence and Kangoo) originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Reva NXG looks ready to stomp, NXR is ready for order
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Frankfurt Motor Show
Reva NXG - Click above for high res image gallery
The REVA Electric Car Company announced the price of the REVA NXR - which starts at 9,995 euros for the lead acid version with leased batteries - in Frankfurt today and also took the wraps off of the NXG (above), the company's next electric vehicle that is due as a 2011 model.
The NXR (which stands for NeXr Reva, perhaps as a way to move away from some of the negative associations that the company's G-Wiz has) is scheduled to go into production early 2010 and has a top speed of 65 mph and can go 100 miles on a charge. Standard charging takes eight hours, but the car can accept a quick charge in 90 minutes. The hatch can seat four, Reva says, and comes with Reva's REVive remote emergency charge (i.e., a way for Reva to use the car's telematics to temporarily access more of the battery's capacity than is usually available). Reva's pricing structure for the NXR is flexible, with both purchase and lease options for the lead acid (called the NXR CIty) or lithium-ion batteries (NXT Intercity). Details are available after the jump.
As for the NXG (NeXt Generation), it steps up where the NXR stops with a 125 mile range, an 80 mph top speed and REVive. Pricing is expected to start at 23,000 euros. Interested customers can sign up at REVA's new website and put down a refundable 500 euro claim on either model today.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonny Lieberman / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: REVA Electric Car Company]Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Reva NXG looks ready to stomp, NXR is ready for order
Frankfurt 2009: Reva NXG looks ready to stomp, NXR is ready for order originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Hyundai ix-Metro concept is all white by us
Filed under: Hybrid, Hyundai, Frankfurt Motor Show
Hyundai ix-Metro concept - Click above for high-res image galleryHyundai returned to Frankfurt a far bigger player than it was two years prior. The Korean company has leapt up the sales standings to become the world's fourth largest automaker, eclipsing such major players as Ford and Honda. And its product line has long since expanded from diminutive hatchbacks to include crossovers and luxury sedans. What better way, then, to mark its newfound stature than to unveil... a diminutive hatchback/crossover thing?
Of course, Hyundai also unveiled the new ix35 Tucson, but presented along side was the automaker's vision for a compact hybrid. Called the ix Metro, it may be about the same size as the Geo that once bore the same name, but packs more curves and creases into the same plot of real estate than a linen mill. Curiously, Hyundai hasn't provided any details on the electric component of the hybrid drivetrain, but the conventional side of the equation boasts direct injection, variable valve timing and a turbocharger in a tiny 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine, driving through a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The interior looks like something straight out of Star Trek, but don't take our word for it, check it out for yourself in the gallery below.
Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Hyundai ix-Metro concept is all white by us
Frankfurt 2009: Hyundai ix-Metro concept is all white by us originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Ford Focus ECOnetic gets down to 99 g/km of CO2
Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Ford, Frankfurt Motor Show
2010 Ford Focus ECOnetic - click above for high res image gallery
Ford has been offering a low CO2 ECOnetic version of the European Focus for over a year now, but a newly-refreshed version is being unveiled in Frankfurt this week. The main upgrade from the existing car is the addition of a new auto-start-stop system that helps drive down fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions from the already low 104 g/km to just 99 g/km. The consumption rate for diesel fuel is 61.8 mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined driving cycle. The Focus is the first Ford-badged car to get the start stop system which, like other auto start stop systems, can be disabled. The car's 109 hp 1.6-liter DuraTorq diesel is retained as is the diesel particulate filter.
The new Focus also keeps the ECOnetic aerodynamic tweaks including the smoother wheels, the low rolling resistance tires and the upshift indicator light. The existing model without the start stop system remains available as well.
[Source: Ford]
Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Ford Focus ECOnetic gets down to 99 g/km of CO2
Frankfurt 2009: Ford Focus ECOnetic gets down to 99 g/km of CO2 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Citroen REVOLTe is... exactly that
Filed under: Hybrid, Citroen, Frankfurt Motor Show
Citroen REVOLTe - Click above for high-res image gallery
Between storming the Bastille and a national rejection of the Venus razor, the French certainly know the meaning of the word "revolt". Interesting, then, that Citroen knowingly used the word - albeit Francofied with a superfluous E for its hybrid electric drivetrain - for its latest concept car.
The REVOLTe concept is a throwback to the 2CV of yore, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. But while the Tata Nano might carry the flame of the bare-bones four-wheeled transport today, the REVOLTe simply borrows the basic shape of its forbearer and gives it a modern twist. That bit comes courtesy of an unspecified "small-capacity conventional combustion engine combined with an electric motor and a battery re-charging function." Measuring just twelve feet long, the REVOLTe seats three - one offset up front and two in the back - accessed by suicide doors. We could go on, but Citroen has waxed poetic enough in its press release after the jump, so we'll let them pontificate and have you skip straight to the photos below.
Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Citroen REVOLTe is... exactly that
Frankfurt 2009: Citroen REVOLTe is... exactly that originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: BMW ActiveHybrid X6 throws down
Filed under: Hybrid, Frankfurt Motor Show, Green Daily
BMW ActiveHybrid X6 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Your dilemma: you have a burning desire for a 5,000 pound, four-passenger truck that accelerates as fast as your Dodge Challenger, but you want to use as little gasoline as possible while doing so. BMW feels your pain, and they have a solution for you. Ladies and germs, meet the ActiveHybrid X6, BMW's first full-hybrid. Here's the great part: engine-wise you get both the 4.4-liter twin-turbo humdinger of a V8 and two electric motors for a total combined output of 485 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. Just to refresh your memory, the X6 M, which our own Lavrinc called a "highrider GT-R," makes just 500 lb-ft (though 550 psycho horsepower).
Ah, but it's a hybrid. So it gets almost 24 mpg. Unlike the X6 M, which... doesn't. Unlike the ActiveHybrid 7 Series, which uses a lightweight, hella-pricey lithium-ion battery, the X6 makes do with a plain old nickel metal hydride power pack. But hey, it's already 2.5 tons, what's a couple of hundred more pounds? BMW also employs a bit of electronic black wizardry, that let's one motor act as a generator to gather up kinetic energy from the brakes (or simply coming off the throttle) to feed into the battery while the other electric motor keeps the car moving. Nifty, no doubt. Also, the ActiveHybrid X6 can travel up to 37 miles per hour in pure electric mode before that dirty ICE kicks on.
Like a lot of vehicles coming out of BMW these days, the X6 is a love it or hate it proposition. Admittedly, the Autoblog staff here at Frankfurt is split right down the middle. Forgetting about the haters, the pro-X6 side thinks that a torque-monster hybrid "Sports Activity Coupe" is just fine. Really, can you say no to 575 lb-ft of twist? All we really hate is the name.
Frankfurt 2009: BMW ActiveHybrid X6 throws down originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: Renault's all-electric four-car attack includes Twizy, the quirkiest car of the IAA
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Renault, Frankfurt Motor Show
Renault Zero Emission line-up - Click for high-res image gallery
If nothing else, Renault knows how to make a ca-razy-looking concept car. At the Frankfurt Motor Show today, the company took the wraps off of the Twizy Z.E. (Zero Emission) as part of the four-car line-up of all-electric vehicles at the expo. We saw the top-down teaser last week, but the actual design of the open-air cabin is nothing we could have predicted. The flat lines at the bottom of the wheel covers are particularly mindbending. The other cars in the line-up are (left to right) the Fluence Z.E., the Kangoo Z.E. and the Zoe Z.E.
The Twizy Z.E. looks like a single-seat vehicle, but Renault is calling it a 1+1, so there's got to be a baby seat or something in there. Renault even describes the 2.3 meter-long car as "barely larger than a scooter." Underhood, the Twizy uses a 20 hp, 15 kW motor to reach a top speed of 47 mph. The Zoe Z.E. supermini has a 70 kW motor and a 100-mile range. But lots of cars have that; the Zoe also has a " personalisable avatar for driving information, mood lighting and futuristic 'hydrate, detox and active scent' climate control." So, take that, every car that doesn't. The Fluence and Kangoo we've seen before. To top it all off, Renault is calling their rapid battery exchange stations "Quickdrop,"and doesn't mention Better Place once in the initial press release. Hmmm. UPDATE: Actually, they do. It just escaped my notice. Apologies.
Find the press release after the jump. We expect to get more details and pictures of these vehicles at the day continues, but for now check out the design lines in the gallery - really worth it in high-res.
[Source: Renault]
Frankfurt 2009: Renault's all-electric four-car attack includes Twizy, the quirkiest car of the IAA originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Frankfurt 2009: all plugs and hybrids, no hydrogen
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Frankfurt Motor Show
Audi e-tron concept -- Click above for high-res image gallery
It's probable that, somewhere in the Frankfurt Messe this week, there are hydrogen-powered concept vehicles. From the headlines, though, it's clear that the world's automakers showing off their wares at the Frankfurt Motors Show are taking some time off from promoting the hydrogen fuel cell car and are putting all of their energy into the idea of a car with a plug. Even Audi, where an executive recently called electric cars "idiotic," made a big splash with their overwhelming e-tron concept. Perhaps we'll see more H2 cars when the auto show season moves back to the U.S., but for now, the lack of fuel cell concepts and the tiny scraps thrown to biofuels are really, really obvious. Just saying.
In any case, if you're headed to Frankfurt and want to print out a list of which plug-in and hybrid cars are where, you can get a PDF listing the cars from Drive Solar.
Frankfurt 2009: all plugs and hybrids, no hydrogen originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - REPORT: Tesla gets $82.5 million investment; delivers 700th Roadster
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Frankfurt Motor Show
Go to Frankfurt, get $82.5 million. That's sort of what happened to Tesla Motors, which is at the big auto show this week and received the "opportunistic" equity investment from a group led by Fjord Capital Partners. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that his company was "not looking for money," but did not turn down the offer. FCM's slogan is "clean energy investments for a low carbon world." Bloomberg reports that the FCM money might be used for expanding Tesla's retail stores around the world. Earlier this year, Daimler invested in the electric car start-up.
Also in Frankfurt, Tesla delivered the 700th Roadster to 24-year-old German law student Lennart Hennig. The young man didn't just opt for the standard Roadster, either. Henning is now the proud owner of an electric blue Roadster Sport.
UPDATE: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated the investment was from Fjord Capital Management.
[Source: Bloomberg]REPORT: Tesla gets $82.5 million investment; delivers 700th Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Hyundai's diesel-powered i40 to offer "class-leading CO2 emissions"
Filed under: Diesel, Hyundai, Geneva Motor Show, Green Daily
2011 Hyundai Sonata GLS - Click above for high-res image gallery
While many vehicles offered for sale outside of the U.S. would fail to meet the demands of stateside buyers, the diesel-powered Hyundai i40 wagon appears to have all the goods to please. Of course, we're not thrilled to let you know that the diesel-powered i40 will not be offered here, but nevertheless we feel obliged to fill you in on the potentially great vehicle that we're all going to miss out on.
Hyundai will launch the i40 wagon at next year's Geneva Motor Show, with the sedan version slated for debut next summer. The launch engine will be a downsized 1.7-liter diesel mill available with several power outputs. Hyundai claims that the i40 wagon, a model loosely based on the current Hyundai Sonata, will offer "class leading style, equipment and CO2 emissions." For now, Hyundai offers up a claimed CO2 emissions in "the low 100s" but we'd expect the tested numbers to come in really close to the century mark. Hyundai initially considered a 2.0-liter diesel for the i40, but deemed it too large for the application and choose the puny 1.7-liter instead. The company has not released mileage estimates, but a ballpark figure of 50 miles per gallon sounds about right to us. With numbers like that, we'll take two - if we could. How about you?
[Source: Autocar]Hyundai's diesel-powered i40 to offer "class-leading CO2 emissions" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Report: Mini to debut city car concept in Geneva next March
Filed under: MPG, MINI, Geneva Motor Show, Green Daily, Lightweight
1997 Mini Spiritual city car concept
While the current crop of Minis aren't exactly mini anymore, the company's upcoming city car concept - described as a Smart ForTwo rival - should help fill the void. Mini is putting a heavy emphasis on the word rival, otherwise, we might think Mini would actually set out to build something comparable to the ForTwo and that's far from true. Though Mini's city car concept may take years to reach showroom floors, its big-stage debut is a little over a half-year away.
As Autocar reports, we can expect Mini to unveil the city car concept at the Geneva Motor Show next March. The city car concept fits into BMW's Project I mobility initiative. Autocar reports that engineers involved in the development of the Mini city car have revealed that the vehicle's layout makes it next to impossible to offer seating for four within the tight confines. This indicates that we should expect to see either a two- or three-seat configuration when the vehicle debuts in Geneva. Mini intends to gauge the overall reaction to its city car and proceed with development after the vehicle hits the stage.
[Source: Autocar]Report: Mini to debut city car concept in Geneva next March originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Lotus and Fagor Ederlan Group to produce range-extender engine
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Lotus, Geneva Motor Show
Lotus Engineering has reached an agreement with the Spanish Fagor Ederlan Group to develop and produce a small engine for use as a range extender in electric vehicles - a system similar to that found in the Chevrolet Volt. Lotus first showed its 1.2-liter inline-three engine at the Geneva Motor Show in the Evora 414E and Proton Emas concepts.
Both cars used a similar series hybrid powertrain architecture, where an electric motor provides the drive torque and the engine only drives a generator to sustain the battery after the plug-in charge has been depleted.
Because this new engine is designed specifically for use as a range extender rather than a primary power source, Lotus has been able to optimize the efficiency and reduce the weight. An adapted off-the-shelf engine like the one in the Volt is still designed to hold accessories like the alternator, air-conditioning compressor and power steering pump. Lotus has left out these structures for a lower cost and mass.
Lotus and Fagor Ederlan will take the 47 horsepower engine to production and offer it up to any automaker that wants to build an extended range electric vehicle, but no production timing or customers have been announced yet.
[Source: Lotus]Continue reading Lotus and Fagor Ederlan Group to produce range-extender engine
Lotus and Fagor Ederlan Group to produce range-extender engine originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Valmet presents their all-electric Eva concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show
Valmet Automotive Eva concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Today marks the conclusion of the 80th edition of the Geneva Motor Show but we could not let this remarkable episode end without mention of one final electric city car: the Eva concept by Valmet Automotive. The contract constructor, whose Finnish facility fabricates the Th!nk City, the genteel Garia golfcart and will soon furnish Fisker with the Karma, took it upon themselves to engineer their own vehicle as a way of exhibiting their expertise in this area as well.
What they've come up with is an attractive 2+2 built on an advanced aluminum space frame (like the Karma's) with modularity that allows it to be adapted to other vehicle types. The drivetrain boasts a high-efficiency axial flux induction motor from Axco Motors featuring direct drive that can bring the Eva up to 120 km/h (75 miles per hour). Its Nokia smartphone technology allows the handset's apps to be accessed through the infotainment system and also capture performance and other vehicle data. Its NAVTEQ-supplied navigation computer can take terrain into account and plan the most efficient route, lead you to the nearest charging station and warn you as you approach "point of no return" of its 100 mile (160 kilometers) range. The only thing this city car concept doesn't seem to do is iron and fold your laundry. It's even had its own charger unit which can be activated via SMS.
Although the company won't be offering their automotive opus for sale, at least not directly, we still may have a chance to see it operating on the road. Valmet president Ilpo Korhonen referred to the Eva as "a car for driving not only for showing." Hey, after all that effort, we hope so. Hit the jump for the full press release as well as bonus video of the vehicle's unveiling.
[Source: Valmet Automotive]Continue reading Geneva 2010: Valmet presents their all-electric Eva concept
Geneva 2010: Valmet presents their all-electric Eva concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Report: Hyundai i-flow concept could become Euro i40 in 2011
Filed under: Hybrid, Hyundai, Geneva Motor Show
Hyundai i-Flow Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Hyundai's Geneva Motor Show concept, the plug-in hybrid i-Flow, is expected to spawn a new production car for the European market called the i40 in early 2011. The i40 will be a D-segment model meant to compete with the likes of the Ford Mondeo and Opel Insignia. Oddly, that puts it in the same size segment as the recently launched Sonata. It's not clear if the i40 will be sold instead of the Sonata in Europe or alongside it. Since Hyundai hasn't released dimensions of the i-Flow (at least not that we have seen) it could also be a replacement for the slightly larger Azera.
The production i40 is expected to debut with an estate/station wagon body style followed later by a sedan. It's not known if the diesel-hybrid (or the gas hybrid of the Sonata) powertrain of the concept will make it to production, but automatic start-stop will be there.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Autocar]Report: Hyundai i-flow concept could become Euro i40 in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Report: Porsche intent on building 918, if it's profitable
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Porsche, Geneva Motor Show
Porsche 918 Spyder concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
With all the leaks ahead of auto shows these days, it's not often that we get a real surprise anymore. There was one such event at this year's Geneva Motor Show, though: the Porsche 918 concept. The compact and powerful plug-in hybrid roadster was also the biggest hit of this year's show. There's even better news, though. Porsche CEO Michael Macht told Autocar magazine that the company is intent on producing the 918.
The key is that the car has to be profitable. Porsche won't build the 918 as a loss leader just to get it out there. It's not clear if Porsche would build the 918 with the same powertrain shown on the concept or a more conventional system. In all likelihood the hybrid system will be retained in order to demonstrate that a supercar can be built that meets modern emissions and fuel consumption demands. If the 918 happens, it could appear within five years.
[Source: Autocar]Report: Porsche intent on building 918, if it's profitable originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Kia, Geneva Motor Show
Kia Venga EV concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Apparently our Geneva Motor Show crew overlooked a one of the cars at the Kia stand this week. The Korean company showed off a battery electric version of its new Venga B-segment tall wagon. Like the rest of the Kia and Hyundai hybrids and plug-in concepts either in production or recently shown, the Venga EV uses lithium polymer batteries, likely sourced from LG Chem. The battery pack is stored under the floorpan of the electric vehicle (EV).
The Venga EV contains 24 kilowatt-hours of battery capacity. The front wheels are driven by an 80 kilowatt motor with 206 pound-feet of torque. The concept has about 112 miles of driving range and a 50 kW fast charge can provide an 80 percent recharge in 20 minutes. A full charge at normal power levels takes about eight hours.
[Source: Kia]Continue reading Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV
Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Peugeot Eco-Cup drivers get 66-75 mpg from Paris to Geneva
Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Peugeot, Geneva Motor Show
About a month before the Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot announced a hyper-miling competition for up to 72 drivers to see how little fuel they could use getting from Paris to Geneva. After evaluating all the written entries, Peugeot selected the drivers and set them up last weekend in four different diesel-powered models.
Over the course of the two-day, 622-mile drive, the competitors put up some pretty impressive numbers. The top overall result came in a C-segment 308 hatchback with an overall average of 74.9 miles per gallon (U.S.). Next up was the smaller 207 HDi 90 with 72.5 mpg. Particularly impressive were the 5008 MPV with 70.6 mpg and the new 3008 crossover with 65.9 mpg. Part of the competition included a prescribed time window based on the speed limits along the route to make sure that drivers didn't simply drive at excessively slow speeds. Peugeot hasn't published the names of the drivers but each of the class winners are getting a brand new Peugeot.
[Source: Peugeot]Continue reading Peugeot Eco-Cup drivers get 66-75 mpg from Paris to Geneva
Peugeot Eco-Cup drivers get 66-75 mpg from Paris to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: SEAT IBEconcept is stylin' [w/VIDEO]
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show, Europe/EU, SEAT
SEAT IBEconcept - Click above for high-res image gallery
While the Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo (or "SEAT" as it's known in popular parlance) may not have a lot of soul-stirring designs in its stable, a little electric coupé on display at the 80th Geneva Motor Show may presage a pleasing shift. The IB^E concept presents as a sweet styling study with an emissions-free drivetrain that should provide clues as to the future direction of the Volkswagen subsidiary.
Looking at the low-slung 4-seater whose glowing LED lights seem to suggest evil intent, we can only wish there was a snowball's chance in Suriname it was heading toward production. At least, that is, if it offered the performance its sporty look implies. Not that its 9.4 second 0-60 time is totally snail-like but a sub-six performance would be so much more satisfying. As currently constructed, it holds a 75 kW (100 horsepower) motor under its hood powered by an 18 kWh lithium pack located at the rear of the mean-looking machine. Although the small pack wouldn't allow for an amazing range, it does keep its total weight to just 1000 kilograms (2,205 pounds). Hit the jump for the official press release and watch it do its little turn on the catwalk in the accompanying video.
[Source: SEAT]Continue reading Geneva 2010: SEAT IBEconcept is stylin' [w/VIDEO]
Geneva 2010: SEAT IBEconcept is stylin' [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: IED Tesla EYE Concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Geneva Motor Show
IED Tesla EYE concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
The gaping openings on the front of the EYE design study vehicle from the Istituto Europeo di Design of Turin (IED) that is on display at the Geneva Motor Show this week would cause troublesome impacts on airflow if they were on a real electric car, we think. In the fantasyland of the auto show floor, though, they give the concept vehicle a menacing, moose-like nose (wait, does that make sense?). At least we can hope that the 11 transportation design master course students from IED who worked with Tesla Motors' chief designer Franz von Holzhausen on the project enjoyed the process.
Considering there's almost no chance we'll ever see the EYE concept cruising the streets, we'll just have to enjoy the car for what it is: a good-looking show car with a Tesla badge. Sure, we can imagine putting an electric powertrain in there and showing up at the soccer game in one of these, but for now we'll just have to click through the gallery below and ask ourselves if the IED students managed to create a new status symbol with the EYE, something they said they were shooting for.
Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Geneva 2010: IED Tesla EYE Concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Lumeneo Smera Concept is a lean(ing), possibly hyper-mean, electric machine
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show
Lumeneo Smera Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
If there's one overriding theme at this year's Geneva Motor Show, it's the electrification of the automobile. Long story short, even scorched earth king Ferrari showed a hybrid. The show floor was littered with dozens of electric contraptions of all shapes and sizes, but we're taking a moment or so to tell you about the Lumeneo Smera because it made us smile. Here's why.
For the ten minutes or so we spent photographing the Smera, half a dozen people managed to squeeze themselves inside its tiny body. And the second the door shut, everyone of them burst out laughing, especially the poor schmucks who took the plunge and shoehorned into the back seat. That's right, the Smera is an inline two-seater. Even cooler than that, the Smera does that cool leany thing going around corners, just like the now defunct Carver.
But that's not all - France's Lumeneo Smera might be of great interest to you enthusiast types. Lumeneo claims that it's 15-kilowatt electric motor produces - we hope you're sitting down - 737 pound-feet or torque, a figure that would give the little-bitty 992-pound pod a power-to-weight ratio of something approximating Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime. Are they using e-tron math? Probably, but that's the story they're telling to the world. We'll believe it when it forces our eyeballs back into our skulls.
Geneva 2010: Lumeneo Smera Concept is a lean(ing), possibly hyper-mean, electric machine originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Tesla trots out tri-color Tag Heuer Roadster
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, Geneva Motor Show, Green Daily
TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster - Click above for high-res image gallery
The connection between high-end sports cars and high-end watchmakers has been solidified for decades, and this newest partnership is a clear indication that the union is alive and well into the 21st century. Here in Geneva, Tesla has teamed up with Tag Heuer to create a limited edition run of Roadsters created in conjunction with the automaker's chief designer Franz on Holzhausen and the Swiss time piece purveyors.
Not only does the slate grey Roadster sport custom graphics and contrasting colors (one side has red mirrors, calipers and matching wheel rings, while the other side has the same kit colored green), but the interior houses a one-fifth second Heuer limited edition stopwatch, a Meridiist mobile phone and will come equipped with a concept watch due to be unveiled at the Baselworld expo later this month. If a custom time piece and a custom electric vehicle is your thing, hit the jump for the full details and check out the high-res images below.
Continue reading Geneva 2010: Tesla trots out tri-color Tag Heuer Roadster
Geneva 2010: Tesla trots out tri-color Tag Heuer Roadster originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Rinspeed UC? asks a lot of questions
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show
Rinspeed UC? - Click above for high-res image gallery
Despite what your eyes may be telling you, the car you see above is not a Pygmy Fiat 500. It is, in fact, the questionably named Rinspeed UC? (pun intended - get it, questionably named... ha!), which the company says is short for both Urban Commuter and the phrase, "You See?". In person, the latest concept from the quirky design house appears much more green and iridescent than it does in the press photos, as you can see from our live image gallery below.
Buried underneath that flashy clothing you'll find a lithium ion battery pack from LiTec that sends power to an electric motor with 95 pound-feet of torque that pushes the little urban runabout to a top speed of 68 miles per hour. A full charge is said to be sufficient for a range of about 75 miles.
Also take note that there's not a single scratch on the UC?, though that wouldn't really be a problem since the car comes with StickerFix, "a modern, high quality adhesive DIY repair system that uses patented AkzoNobel paint technology in combination with a specially developed vinyl sticker." Clever, no?
Geneva 2010: Rinspeed UC? asks a lot of questions originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Audi A8 Hybrid a concept in name only
Filed under: Hybrid, Audi, Geneva Motor Show
Audi A8 Hybrid Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
In the Them's Big Words department, Audi is calling its A8 Hybrid "the efficiency standard." And it's not exactly untrue since the top-of-the-peak, 211-horsepower 2.0-liter sedan boosted by a 45-hp electric motor has more power than an A3 TDI and a faster 0-60 sprint, yet the gas mileage comparison isn't unfavorable: the A3 gets 34 miles per gallon combined, the A8 Hybrid does 38 mpg. And you get all that A8 size and panache. And 21-inch rims. Responsibly.
All these features are certain to cost you come negotiating time: It remains a concept so Audi hasn't released a price, but when you're talking about getting the moon, it's safe to figure it'll cost you a few stars. You can have a look at another glimpse of that expensive future in the gallery of high-res photos below.
Continue reading Geneva 2010: Audi A8 Hybrid a concept in name only
Geneva 2010: Audi A8 Hybrid a concept in name only originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: I.DE.A Institute Sofia concept inspired by the female form
Filed under: Hybrid, Geneva Motor Show
I.DE.A Institute Sofia - Click above for high-res image gallery
What's the one thing that would fix the automotive industry today? Fresh ideas, you say? Well, this isn't quite that. In fact, auto shows these days - Geneva particularly - have become packed with legions of swoopy, stylish four-door hybrid concepts. What this is, though, is one of the more attractive ones we've seen to date.
Created by the quizzically-abbreviated I.DE.A. Institute, the Sofia's hourglass shape is (according to the press release after the jump, at least) inspired by the female form. And we don't have much trouble believing that line, curvaceous as it is. The hybrid part, though, is pure fantasy. Because like many design studies, the I.DE.A. Sofia is an empty body shell. It's got no interior, but more to the point, it has no mechanicals inside. Its creators say it could theoretically accommodate a V8 engine, with or without the assistance of an electric motor, driving either the front wheels or the rear.
Like it? Don't get too excited by the prospect of production. The I.DE.A Institute claims to have contributed to designs for numerous major automakers, but in its 30-year history has produced more household appliances and furniture. For the next upstart looking to join the likes of Fisker and Tesla, though, the sumptuous shape could be just the ticket. Don't take our word for it; have a closer look for yourself in the galleries below.
Photos by Noah Joseph / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Geneva 2010: I.DE.A Institute Sofia concept inspired by the female form
Geneva 2010: I.DE.A Institute Sofia concept inspired by the female form originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Nissan Micra is easy being green
Filed under: MPG, Nissan, Geneva Motor Show
2010 Nissan Micra - Click above for high-res image gallery
The more charming - if that's even possible - Nissan Micra has been tweaked to bring smiles to consumers in 160 countries where it will go on sale. To keep them smiling once things get under way, a brand new 1.2-liter, supercharged three-cylinder gas engine gets down with 80 horsepower and 144 pound-feet.
Believe it or not, the bounty doesn't stop there, with a suspension combining "agility, refinement and poise" also included as standard equipment. We'll let most readers decide for themselves. Those of you in the U.S., though, will have to make due with the press release after the jump and a gallery of high-res photos below, since we probably won't get ever see the Micra here.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Geneva 2010: Nissan Micra is easy being green
Geneva 2010: Nissan Micra is easy being green originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Westfield iRACER exposed sporting spandex, not embarrassed
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show, UK, Racing
Westfield iRACER - Click above for high-res image gallery
When the wraps came off the Westfield iRACER at the Geneva Motor Show, the bright lights found the EV Cup contender wearing the tightest of spandex without the faintest hint of a blush creeping across its anthropomorphic cheeks. Unlike certain human fashion-criminals, it had no reason to feel abashed as the polyurethane-polyurea copolymer stretched across its angular aluminum frame serves as a strong yet lightweight covering for the lean body of the purpose-built machine. Indeed, onlookers likely had more on their minds as they took in the covered wheels and dual downforce-inducing wings on the design. According to Westfield's managing director Julian Turner, "The look is bold, and is 99 percent representative of the final production vehicle."
Created in conjunction with project partners Potenza Technology, Delta Motorsport, RDM Automotive and Coventry University, the iRACER has a 40 kilowatt YASA motor directly turning each rear wheel, which together are said to be good for 200 horsepower at peak output and provide 737 pound feet of torque (1000 Newton meters). Race range is thought to be 50 to 60 miles. As well as a bit of wind tunnel tuning, the team plans to develop independent power delivery to the wheels in an effort to improve performance on the track. Perhaps more controversially, they also intend to devise a new noise generation system that might "give the iRACER aural drama to match both its looks and performance."
[Source: Westfield]Geneva 2010: Westfield iRACER exposed sporting spandex, not embarrassed originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Tata debuts Nano EV concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Geneva Motor Show, Tata
2011 Tata Nano EV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Tata Motors just debuted an electrified version of their Nano today at the 80th Geneva Motor Show, promising no compromises in the way it drives compared to the regular 600cc Nano. The Tata Nano Electric Vehicle (EV) will be built on the existing Nano platform, and still seats four adults, but adds "super polymer lithium ion batteries" to the mix. No word on power, but Tata does promise a range of 160 kilometers (99 miles) and acceleration of 0-60 kilometers per hour in under 10 seconds. Notice that's 60 km/h, not 60 miles per hour, so the Nano EV isn't going to be one of those instant torque EV drag racers like the Tesla Roadster.
Tata plans to put the Nano EV into production and sell it alongside their already-launched Indica Vista EV, which goes on sale in Europe later this year. The company has already begun development on their Nano Europa, set to go on sale in Europe in a couple of years, so perhaps the Nano EV could join it in showrooms at launch. No word on pricing yet ether, although we're guessing it will be somewhere between the bargain basement price of the regular Nano in India and the DC Designs Nano we showed you a little while ago. There is a press release after the jump with even more details about the EV as well as Tata's other vehicles on display in Geneva. Plus, enjoy a live gallery from the show floor below.
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Geneva 2010: Tata debuts Nano EV concept
Geneva 2010: Tata debuts Nano EV concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Geneva 2010: Peugeot announces 3008 Hybrid4 plug-in for 2012
Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Peugeot, Geneva Motor Show
At the Geneva Motor Show, Peugeot has announced that one year after it introduces its first diesel hybrid based on the 3008 crossover, it will launch a plug-in version of the same vehicle. The 3008 will be the first vehicle to use the PSA-developed Hybrid4 system and, unless someone like Mercedes pulls a surprise later this year, it may be the first production diesel hybrid if it launches as scheduled early next year.
Hybrid4 is a through the road hybrid system with the front wheels driven by a conventional diesel engine and transmission and the rears by an electric motor. There is no power split system and no mechanical connection front to rear. The plug-in version will use a higher-capacity battery and Peugeot is aiming for fuel consumption of under 2 liters per 100 kilometers (117.6 miles per gallon, U.S.) and less than 50 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
[Source: Peugeot]Continue reading Geneva 2010: Peugeot announces 3008 Hybrid4 plug-in for 2012
Geneva 2010: Peugeot announces 3008 Hybrid4 plug-in for 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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- Lexus shows off new hybrid concept... bicycle?
Filed under: Etc., Hybrid, Transportation Alternatives, Lexus, Tokyo Motor Show
Lexus hybrid bicycle concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
When we think of the term hybrid, we tend to conjure up images of cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. The "hybrid" part of these machines is their dual powertrains, most often consisting of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor and battery.
Really, though, a hybrid could be any vehicle that gets its motive force through multiple sources... no matter what those sources may be. Hence, Lexus' newest hybrid concept proudly carries its moniker despite the complete lack of an engine. It does, however, have a 240-Watt electric motor powered by a 25.9-volt lithium battery pack, along with... pedals?
That's right. Though it managed to escape our attention up to this point, Lexus actually displayed a duo of hybrid electric bicycles at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, and the Japanese automaker is now touting the bike as part of its sponsorship of the Great British Bike Ride.
According to Lexus, the frame is constructed of carbon fiber (the same composite that makes up Valentino Rossi's MotoGP bike, gushes Lexus) and uses an eight-speed internal gear system sourced from Shimano, in reference to the LS 600h's eight-speed automatic. There are no plans to put the bike into production. Want to know more? Check out the high-res image gallery below and see the press release after the jump.
[Source: Lexus]Continue reading Lexus shows off new hybrid concept... bicycle?
Lexus shows off new hybrid concept... bicycle? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Honda designers talk about EV concepts from Tokyo
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show
Honda EV-N Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Honda made a pretty big splash at the Tokyo Motor Show a few weeks back by showing off a number of eco-friendly concepts, though many of them were decidedly short on actual details. The automaker finally seems ready to talk a bit about the EV-N, EV-Cub, EV-MONPAL and U3-X and how they fit into its vision for the future. According to the automaker:
Sounds all warm and fuzzy, no? We happen to be particularly fond of the cute-as-a-button EV-N and the EV-Cub, which takes Honda's original nonthreatening two-wheeler and readies it for duty in today's environmentally-conscious society. Click here for the full story from Honda.The EV-Cub is a nimble, approachable motorcycle that invites people to enjoy riding on a daily basis. EV-N is a cute but very promising car that suggests the possibility of true friendship between person and automobile. EV-Monpal is a helpful and friendly vehicle that assists people with special needs. The U3-X operates in harmony with people and suggests a future full of wonder. Designed to be enjoyable to ride, pleasant just to have around and easy to imagine in the scenes of one's life, these products create a picture of a future that's bright, and are kind both to people and to the environment.
[Source: Honda]Honda designers talk about EV concepts from Tokyo originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Yamaha EC-f channels Xbox, blurs definitions
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show
Yamaha EC-f - Click above for high-res image gallery
It's certainly not a motorcycle, and we'd have a tough time convincing ourselves that it's a scooter, too. Regardless, we think the Yamaha EC-f, which is currently on display at the Tokyo Motor Show, sports a distinctive look and plenty of cool features. According to Yamaha, the lack of "exhaust parts" is what inspired its "bold" and "sculptural" design.
Sadly, there isn't much in the way of actual hard data about the conceptual electric scooter, other than the fact that it sports some sort of lithium ion battery pack and .6 kW (just under one horsepower) of power from its electric motor. So, a speed demon the EC-f is not - we'd guess it should be able to maintain moped-like velocities of about 30 miles per hour.
Take a look at our image gallery of live photos of the green and white Xbox-esque Yamaha EC-f in from Tokyo below. Also note just how much more sinister the EC-fs looks in its silver and black scheme. As much as we'd love to see something this interesting in production... well, don't count on it.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Chris Paukert / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Yamaha EC-f channels Xbox, blurs definitions originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Tokyo Motor Show, Japan
Thirty years of the Japan Car of the Year - Click above for high-res image gallery
For the past 30 years, Japan has declared a car of the year, an award given to newly-released or redesigned vehicles released from November 1st of the previous year to October 1st of the current year. More than 60 jurors composed of Japanese journalists receive an allocation of votes, and the car with the most votes comes away with the crown.
This year, the Toyota Prius narrowly edged out the Honda Insight, continuing the recent trend of environmentally-friendly winners. Other notable winners included the new Volkswagen Golf, which was named the Import Car of the Year, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which was declared to have the Most Advanced Technology. The Nissan Fairlady Z won the category of Most Fun, and finally the Subaru Legacy took top honors for Best Value.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the award, the Tokyo Motor Show also organized a display of past winners, starting with the Mazda Familia 3-door Hatch Back in 1980-1981 and finishing with last year's winner, the Toyota IQ. We've included the winners from every year (some cars on display won alternate categories, like the Toyota Supra from 1993-1994) in the high-res gallery below.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Toyota Prius claims Japan Car of the Year title originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Honda rolls out the EV-Cub, we pray for a production model
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show
Honda EV-Cub Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
You meet the greenest people on a Honda. Well, maybe not quite yet... but the World's Largest Motorcycle Manufacturer has signaled its intent to usher in a new era of electrically-powered two-wheelers, and a modern-day Cub seems like an excellent way to do just that.
Honda is showing a conceptual electric Cub as we speak at the Tokyo Motor Show, but strangely isn't letting out very much information about the machine. We know there's an electric motor powering each wheel and some kind of battery pack sitting in between somewhere in the frame rails, but that's about it.
Regardless of how little we know about the EV-Cub, it's a concept we wholeheartedly approve of. We're big fans of the original gas-powered 50cc model, which has been known to return well over 200 miles per gallon in daily use, and a thoroughly modern drivetrain seems like a fitting way to inject some new life into the old Cub. See our high-res image gallery of live shots below.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Honda rolls out the EV-Cub, we pray for a production model originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Toyota FT-EV II concept
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Toyota, Tokyo Motor Show
Toyota FT-EV II concept - click above for high-res image gallery
Toyota revealed their latest plug-in electric concept car here in Tokyo as the FT-EV II. This one is a followup to the iQ-based FT-EV that we saw in Detroit but appears to be a ground-up design that takes advantage of the electric drive architecture. The iQ is promoted as a 3+1 layout because the presence of the steering column and instrument cluster force the driver's seat to be further back limiting the already small rear seat behind it.
The new concept uses a complete fly-by-wire system with joystick-like controls that feature a steam-punk design motif. The result is wide open space in the front and the very thin shell seats result in decent room. The car also has sliding doors on both sides. It's not known if this concept represents a design direction for an urban BEV that Toyota will likely build to meet ZEV mandates in the next five years, but it would make sense to do a custom design.
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Toyota FT-EV II concept originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Suzuki, Tokyo Motor Show
Suzuki Swift PHEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Beside the SX4 FCV on display at the Tokyo Motor Show, Suzuki is showing off a plug-in hybrid version of the Swift. The Swift PHEV concept pairs a 660 cc engine to a set of li-ion batteries that live between the front seats and send energy to a 54 kW motor that powers the front wheels. With Suzuki's strong place in the Japanese market - and considering all of the make and model badges that the Swift has worn over the years - seeing a plug-in powertrain in this little car could portend good things.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.
Tokyo 2009: Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Suzuki SX4-FCV takes a break from testing
Filed under: Hydrogen, Suzuki, Tokyo Motor Show
Suzuki SX4 Fuel Cell Vehicle - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Suzuki SX4-FCV (Fuel-Cell Vehicle) isn't a new vehicle - they've been used for testing on Japanese streets since last year - but the colors and stickers on the model on display at the Tokyo Motor Show meant we needed to get some fresh pics to share with you. Under the new look, the SX4 FCV is the same as before, with an 80 kW hydrogen fuel cell stack from GM and a high-pressure 70 MPa (10,000 psi) hydrogen storage tank. The car reportedly can go up to 75 mph and has a 155-mile range using a 68 kW electric motor and a lightweight capacitor. The capacitor is used to not only regulate the flow of electrons to the wheels but also to retain energy collected from the regenerative brakes on the SX4 FCV. Suzuki says it wants to commercialize the technology someday, but for now is happy with the "ongoing development."
Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Suzuki SX4-FCV takes a break from testing originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices
Filed under: Transportation Alternatives, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show, First Drive
Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star tries out the U3-X - click above for high res-image gallery
If there is one thing people love, it's personal mobility. After all, what other species regularly harness other creatures for the sole purpose of getting around. The auto industry is all about personal mobility. Since the dawn of the car in the late 19th century, it has been adopted world-wide as one of the preferred means of getting around.
Mobility, of course, is about a lot more than just driving. Just moving around is important and when people find themselves unable to move or having difficulty, It plays havoc with the psyche. As populations in many countries get older, reduced mobility is an increasing problem. A number of automakers are researching ways to expand mobility beyond the automobile and the result is projects like GM's Puma and Toyota's Winglet. Honda, too, is studying the problem and while we were in Japan for the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda took us to their R&D center to check out a few of their recent projects. Read on for a first hand account of what we saw.
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Tokyo 2009: We sample Honda's quirky U3-X, stride management assist and bodyweight assist devices originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Honda CEO: People will embrace fuel cells when they realize battery limits
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show
Here at the Tokyo Motor Show, Honda introduced its first plug-in vehicle concept in many years in the shape of the EV-N. However, during the press conference, new CEO Takanobu Ito shared the main stage with only two cars, the FCX Clarity and the new CR-Z concept. The EV-N and a plug-in Cub scooter were off on a smaller side stage. During a Q&A session with media this evening, Ito explained the company's strategy on electric vehicles.
According to Ito, who assumed the top post at the company last June, hydrogen fuel cells are still the best long term strategy for vehicles. The only reason Honda is developing a plug-in vehicle right now is to meet California zero-emission vehicle mandates coming up in about five years. Because there appears to be little movement on establishing additional hydrogen filling stations in the U.S. right now, the company would be unable to meet the standards with a fuel cell vehicle. Thus a small urban commuter BEV is the best option for the short term.
Asked what it would take to get a hydrogen filling network going, especially with a current administration that is openly hostile, Ito responded "I wish I knew" but that hydrogen must be promoted to governments and "we must be patient." He went on to say that while batteries are evolving, he didn't believe they would ever get to a stage where their performance would be acceptable as the primary energy carrier. Instead he said that "people would become more aware of the limits of BEVs" and come back to hydrogen fuel cells.
[Source: Honda]Honda CEO: People will embrace fuel cells when they realize battery limits originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Nissan Fuga hybrid arrives in Japan fall 2010, to U.S. in 2011
Filed under: Hybrid, Infiniti, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show
2010 Nissan Fuga Hybrid - click above for high-res image gallery
After several years of selling small volumes of its Altima sedan using Toyota's hybrid drive system, Nissan is finally ready to roll out its first gas-electric model using technology developed in-house. The first model to be so equipped will be the new Fuga sedan, a car sold in North America as the Infiniti M.
Unlike the electronic CVT systems used by Toyota, Ford and General Motors, Nissan has opted to configure their system using a conventional automatic transmission - in this case, a seven-speed unit. The electric drive is provided by a single motor sandwiched between the engine and the transmission. A pair of electronically controlled clutches sit on either side of the motor allowing the engine or the engine/motor combination to be completely de-coupled from the transmission.
According to Nissan, the motor has an output of 50 kW (67 horsepower) and 270 Nm (200 pound-feet) of torque and the system is able to propel the Fuga/M electrically at speeds of up 62 mph. The engine is a 3.5-liter version of Nissan's renowned VQ V6 modified to run with an Atkinson cycle for greater efficiency.
Koichi Hayasaki, senior manager of Nissan's hybrid program tells us that the final numbers on the engine output as well as the net combined output won't be released until sometime in 2010. As is the way these days, energy storage needs are handled by a lithium ion battery pack using the same kind of modules that are going into the LEAF EV.
The Infiniti M hybrid is expected to arrive in the U.S. sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Nissan Fuga hybrid arrives in Japan fall 2010, to U.S. in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Honda CR-Z coming to America next fall with six-speed manual!
Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show
Honda CR-Z concept 2009 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Honda fans of all sorts have cause to celebrate today with the reveal of the 2009 iteration of the CR-Z coupe. In typical Honda fashion, this CR-Z remains a concept in name and detail only. What you see here is essentially the production coupe that will go on sale in Japan next February and then arrive in North America in the Fall.
The cool scoop-like grille from the original 2007 concept has been largely carried over, with the biggest changes being a somewhat taller roof and a more upright windshield with blacked out A-pillars - concessions to the fact that real people will have to fit into the production car. On the exterior, the only elements likely to change once it hits the assembly line are the side mirrors, which will probably be a bit larger, along with the internals of the light clusters.
The good news for fans of the much-loved 1983-1991 Civic CR-X is that the CR-Z should have significantly better performance than the disappointing new Insight, a car that is geared more toward fuel economy than performance. In any case, the CR-Z coupe gets a bump in displacement up to 1.5-liter and - wait for it - a six-speed manual gearbox! This will be the first hybrid with a row-it-yourself six-speed.
Unfortunately, we probably won't hear any official numbers on the drivetrain's output or its mileage until closer to the Japanese launch, but color us excited - and you can share some of our joy by checking out the high-res image gallery below.
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Tokyo 2009: Honda CR-Z coming to America next fall with six-speed manual!
Tokyo 2009: Honda CR-Z coming to America next fall with six-speed manual! originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept combines future drive with retro style
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show
Honda EV-N concept - click above for high-res image gallery
Honda's new CEO, Takanobu Ito, started off his tenure at the head of the company today by unveiling a new plug-in battery electric concept. The EV-N showcar hides its futuristic electron pumping powertrain in a decidedly retro bodystyle thanks to a design reminiscent of the subcompact 600N of the Sixties.
Honda has yet to reveal much in the way of technical details about the diminutive hatch, but we do know it uses lithium-ion batteries and the electric motor drives the front wheels. The car can be started with a fob called the Loop that incorporates a display showing the battery pack's state of charge.
Not enough pint-size fun for you? Each of the EV-N's doors features a pocket that holds one of Honda's gyro controlled, omnidirectional U3-X unicycles.
Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.Tokyo 2009: Honda EV-N concept combines future drive with retro style originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: hybrid-only, Japan-only Toyota Sai unveiled
Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Tokyo Motor Show
As expected, Toyota has taken the wraps off of its new dedicated hybrid model, the Sai. The Sai medium-sized hybrid will only be sold in Japan, starting in early December (a bit later than expected). Toyota says that the Sai shows how committed the company is to expanding its hybrid technology. Compared to the Prius, the Sai is bigger, uses a larger engine (2.4 liters compared to 1.8) and costs more. The Sai will start at around $37,500, whereas the Prius base model is around $22,000 in Japan. The Sai also gets great fuel economy of about 54 mpg (U.S.) on the optimistic Japanese cycle.
While the Sai is a bit more in most regards than the Prius, it is a bit below another hybrid in the Toyota family. The Sai shares some structure and looks with the Lexus HS 250h, but costs less.
Toyota hopes to sell 3,000 Sai units per month. There's a video (in Japanese and Danish) after the jump. Stay tuned for more pictures from Tokyo. Thanks to Dan F. for the tip!
[Source: ABC News, JPtv]Tokyo 2009: hybrid-only, Japan-only Toyota Sai unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV shows its more conventional face
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Mitsubishi, Tokyo Motor Show
Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Mitsubishi has put its plug-in hybrid Concept PX-MiEV crossover concept on a pedestal here at the Tokyo Motor Show, touting the CUV's "environmental and on-road performance," as well as its serial and parallel modes and wireless charging capabilities.
The crossover's design language represents another refinement for Mitsubishi, and although it's markedly less provocative than the newly re-shnozzed 2010 Outlander, it presents a pleasing collection of shapes and could point the way for a future iteration of the softroader. Inside is typical concept car fare for "linking man and car interactively" - which means it's far too cool for us to actually get on the road - but hey, where else are you going to find a cocochi interior with a yoke-style steering wheel?
The real story here is arguably the drivetrain, where Mitsu has combined a 1.6-liter gas engine and a hybrid system with lithium-ion batteries.
In any case, you can check out the PR info after the jump, and visuals in the gallery of high-res images below.
Photos copyright (C)2009 Jonathon Ramsey / Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Tokyo 2009: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV shows its more conventional face
Tokyo 2009: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV shows its more conventional face originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo 2009: Nissan confirms three EVs for production, including Infiniti
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show
Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn with Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery
We're here at the Tokyo Motor Show, where CEO Carlos Ghosn has just confirmed that Nissan, Renault's Japanese alliance partner, will boast a lineup of at least three electric vehicles in the next few years - and a fourth vehicle is also possible. We already know about the Leaf hatchback (above) that was unveiled back in August. In addition, Nissan will build an electric version of the NV200 light commercial van that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show. For the first time, Ghosn also confirmed that Infiniti will get a compact four-passenger sedan powered only by batteries.
No other information was available on this car, but Ghosn did say that it would be unveiled in the near future. In all likelihood, the Infiniti will be based on the Leaf platform that is designed for purely electric drive. The fourth model that is being considered for production is the Land Glider concept that was shown publicly for the first time here this morning.
Tokyo 2009: Nissan confirms three EVs for production, including Infiniti originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - REPORT: Honda considering electric car launch in major markets, CEO says
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, Tokyo Motor Show, Europe/EU, Japan, USA
Honda EV-N Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Hybrids and fuel cells. That's where Honda seems to have put the vast majority of its engineering resources over the last decade or so, first with the two-seat Insight - the first hybrid sold here in the States, beating the much more successful Toyota Prius to market by a few months - and later the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle. According to company CEO Takanobu Ito, though, a new wind may be blowing into a town near you, and it's electric.
While the Japanese automaker sees hydrogen as the real solution to our dependence on petroleum, the fact that it's taking so long for a real hydrogen infrastructure to be built up around the world means that Honda is considering launching a fully electric automobile in major markets in Europe, Japan and the United States. Whether or not it will look anything like the EV-N concept from the Tokyo Motor Show remains to be seen... but we're hoping.
[Source: Reuters]REPORT: Honda considering electric car launch in major markets, CEO says originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Tokyo Preview: Honda to show off all-electric Cub
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Honda, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show
Honda EV-Cub concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Honda's little Cub motorbike has been nothing if not successful for the Japanese company, with literally tens of millions of the fuel-efficient small-bore machines have rolling out of Honda factories all around the world. Perhaps, then, it's time for Honda to refine the formula that turned the Cub into such a success story? And if so, what should power the next Cub?
We know that Honda is investigating electric motorcycle technology with plans to launch its first such machine before 2011, so it's not terribly surprising to see the motorcycle manufacturer showing off an electric version of the Cub at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Details are decidedly scarce, but it appears there may be electric hub motors powering both the front and rear wheels. Honda will also be showing off solar panels that are capable of charging the batteries of the electric vehicles on display.
[Source: Honda]Continue reading Tokyo Preview: Honda to show off all-electric Cub
Tokyo Preview: Honda to show off all-electric Cub originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - REPORT: Nissan Land Glider could come to the States as an Infiniti
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, On Two Wheels, Tokyo Motor Show, Green Daily
Nissan Land Glider Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery
Concept cars tend to push the boundaries of what is and isn't possible with a four-wheeled vehicle. Such is the case with the Nissan Land Glider, which is going on display this week at the Tokyo Motor Show. Usually, such far-out-there concepts make the auto show circuit before being abandoned somewhere in the corner of a dark, dingy warehouse, but perhaps not this one.
The machine is sort of a cross between a motorcycle and a car, with an enclosed cabin and four wheels along with a glass canopy and rider compartment that leans into turns for added stability - which is of utmost importance in a car that measures just 47-inches across.
According to Automotive News (sub. req'd), there are some inside the Japanese automaker that suggest the fully electric car could slot into the company's upmarket Infiniti lineup, possibly even making it to the United States. If that happens, the Land Glider may be a single-seater, as the concept's single rear passenger perch may not make it through safety testing.
We'd be pretty surprised to see a production Infiniti Land Glider that keeps the concept's unique layout, but it certainly wouldn't be the only strange-looking eco-friendly automobile to hit the market. We'll see.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]REPORT: Nissan Land Glider could come to the States as an Infiniti originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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