Saturday, August 22, 2009
BYD to Sell Electric Car in US by 2010
BYD is finalizing plans for an all-electric battery car that would be sold in the U.S. next year, one year ahead of schedule. BYD wants to build up its brand name in the U.S. by offering one of its most advanced cars, the five-seat e6, before eventually expanding its offerings.
The e6 is a 5 seater MPV with similar styling to the Honda Odyssey with 400 km battery range. Priced at around $40,000, after US government rebate $32,500, the e6 will be in the same price bracket as the Chevy Volt. BYD hopes to enter Europe with a similar strategy in 2011 or later.
Listed in Hong Kong, BYD plans to sell up to 100 million new shares in mainland China ahead of a listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as early as next year. The offering, which still needs government approval, could raise up to $500 million based on current prices.
BYD already sells a plug-in hybrid car with a small gasoline engine to charge batteries that is called the F3DM. BYD began selling it late last year to fleet customers but hasn't made it available for consumers in China yet. BYD is waiting for government incentives for private buyers in China to buy "new energy cars."
Honda to launch electric car in US by 2015
Honda plans to develop an electric car to debut in the U.S. market by around 2015 as tighter environmental regulations push demand for zero-emission vehicles, the Nikkei newspaper said on Saturday.
Honda, Japan's No. 2 automaker, has started developing a prototype of the car to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, the business daily reported, without citing sources.
The vehicle is expected to be around the size of a minicar, it added.
Other automakers such as Toyota and Volkswagen have also announced plans to launch electric cars in the next few years.
But they say it could take decades for the vehicles to spread due to their high cost, limited driving range and long charging times with the current battery technology.
Nissan, Japan's third biggest automaker, unveiled its electric car "Leaf" earlier this month with plans to begin selling it in the United States, Japan and Europe towards the end of 2010.
Holden doesn't rule out making electric car
Holden says it would be an "enormous leap", but it hasn't ruled out building the Volt electric car at its Australian assembly operations in Adelaide.
The company said it remained committed to bringing the US-made version of the car to the Australian market in 2012, before considering local production.
The Volt shared its Delta platform with the Cruze, the four-cylinder car Holden will build in SA from next year.
"Having the same platform certainly gives us a first step in terms of future development opportunities but anything involving electric vehicles would be an enormous leap," Holden spokesman Scott Whiffin said.
"We've only just launched the imported Cruze and are working towards a range of locally-built, fuel-efficient models on petrol and diesel. We'll get this piece right then look at potential alternatives including E85, LPG, stop-start hybrids and other powertrains.
"We plan to bring Volt to market as an imported vehicle in 2012 and we'll look at the market reaction to it before considering any further moves on that front."
The company's comments followed calls from South Australian Premier Mike Rann for the company to build an electric version of the Cruze in Adelaide.
Mr Rann met the head of General Motors Fritz Henderson in the US overnight and was also given a test ride in the Volt.
"Because the Cruze has the same architectural base as GM's new Volt, it is technologically possible to ultimately have an electric version of the Cruze manufactured on the new car production line at Elizabeth," Mr Rann said.
"While the Cruze will be a fuel-efficient car, I would like to see the Elizabeth plant manufacturing the same model but with an even greater fuel efficiency in the future as the technology develops.
"Developing and adapting this new Holden four-cylinder to even lower carbon emission standards will further entrench our car manufacturing industry."
Mr Whiffin said the Premier was clearly impressed by the Volt, judging by his comments.
"Premier Rann is a great advocate for Holden and the Australian car industry and we're delighted he had the chance to meet Fritz Henderson in Detroit," he said.
"We're also pleased that senior Volt engineers were able to give him an understanding of what is an incredibly important vehicle for us."
Friday, August 21, 2009
OPEC’s greed will herald the end of the oil age
The TIMES ONLINE have published a story by guest columnist and former editor of The Economist Bill Emmott on why, despite the barest of financial green shoots following the largest financial correction in a generation, OPEC are still restricting oil supply in an effort to raise the price of oil. Even with demand still down significantly the price of oil has doubled in the last 6 months and is seven times higher than just a decade ago.
We have previously reported that OPEC has made their intensions clear that they will not raise production until oil returns to $100 a barrel. The oil producers’ cartel has deliberately cut production by nearly five million barrels a day, which is more than the drop in global demand, to keep prices high.
Mr Emmott explains that if the cartel continues to over play it's hand the oil age will end, not because they run out of oil but because oil consumers run out of patience with greedy oil producers, and develop substitutes instead. We tend to think that this trend is already well under way, gathered significant momentum in September 2001, and is basically already unstoppable.
Kansas introduce lane hogging law
This news has nothing to do with EVs but is a subject close to most drivers hearts. Showing uncommon good sense, state authorities in Kansas have introduced a law making it illegal to hog the fast lane on multi lane roads.
Under the new law, drivers may only drive in the left lane of these highways when:
*Overtaking and passing another vehicle;
*Preparing to make a proper left turn;
*Otherwise directed by official traffic-control devices; or
*Otherwise required by other provisions of law.
The law applies to multi-lane roads, outside of any city, to travel in the right lane of traffic whenever two or more lanes are moving in the same direction. In the same law making session they also introduced a 'Move It' law for all those brain dead motorist who don't have the common sense to move their vehicles to a safe location (shoulder, nearest exit ramp) after crashing into another vehicle on a multi lane road.
It's one thing to make a law, it's quite another to have drivers aware of and obey it. Witness the large number of learner drivers, who are prohibited from expressways, seen driving down motorways, instructed to do so by supposedly experienced drivers.
What most good drivers consider common sense and courtesy now has to be made law to protect idiots from their own stupidity and rudeness. In the UK, trucks are prohibited from the outside lane on three lane motorways and many countries already have 'keep right unless overtaking' laws with regular sign posting but they are rarely, if ever, enforced.
Unfortunately we doubt a driver IQ test will ever be considered and mandatory or even optional advanced driver training seems as politically unlikely as ever. Perhaps Kansas may set an example there too.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
NEW Tesla Model S TEST DRIVE shots
Just days after Fisker grabbed a few headlines with their Karma hybrid doing a slow demo lap around Laguna Seca, Telsa feels the need to release new 'action' pics of their solitary Model S. No further technical details about the 'S' have been released and no pre-production plans have been announced to date.
Click on any of these pictures to see it in High Resolution.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
German government: 1 million electric cars by 2020
Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet aims Wednesday to finalize a plan that envisions one million electric cars zipping along the nation's famed autobahns by 2020.
The plan calls for "financial incentives" starting in 2012 to support the sale of electric cars. Specifics on the finances are to be discussed in the next legislature period in the fall.
"The program is aimed at having a positive impact on investment decisions, give producers security and support the sale of electric cars," according to a copy of the plan, obtained by The Associated Press.
Germany's car companies have scrambled to catch up to their Asian competitors in electric technology. Volkswagen has said it hopes to introduce its first electric cars on the market in 2013, while Daimler AG is working together with California-based electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. on developing better battery and electric drive systems for vehicles destined for the consumer market.
Already the opposition Greens have criticized the plan for being too narrow in focusing only on electric automobiles, insisting that all cars running on renewable energy should be eligible. Earlier this month, President Barack Obama announced $2.4 billion in federal grants to develop next-generation electric vehicles and batteries in the United States.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Toyota to buy hybrid batteries from Sanyo
As previously reported, Toyota's Prius is currently the number one selling car in Japan with a sales volume up 400% compared with the same period last year, not including the 10 month waiting list, as a result Toyota are outselling their battery supply. Toyota and Sanyo Electric are now discussing the possibility of the auto maker buying batteries for hybrid vehicles from Sanyo, a person familiar with the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, the Nikkei reported that Toyota will begin buying lithium ion batteries for hybrid cars from Sanyo in 2011, as Toyota's battery joint venture with Panasonic Corp. can't keep up with demand.
Both Toyota and Sanyo declined to comment on whether the firms are in talks over the supply of batteries.
Sanyo, who already supply NiMH batteries for the Ford Fusion Hybrid, is expected to become a subsidiary of Panasonic, with a tender offer likely to take place once regulatory hurdles are cleared,
A Toyota spokeswoman said the company's battery joint venture, Panasonic EV Energy Co., plans to raise its annual production capacity for nickel hydrogen batteries to more than 1 million units next year from the current 500,000 units. In addition, the joint venture will start mass producing lithium ion batteries from next year.
"We are ensuring a stable supply of batteries as we plan to sell more hybrid cars," the spokeswoman said.
Toyota holds a 60% stake in Panasonic EV Energy, while Panasonic holds 40%.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Korean researchers develop Electric Cars without batteries
Researchers at the Korea advanced institute of science and technology (KAIST) have developed a revolutionary electric vehicle that takes its power from cables beneath the road rather than relying on batteries.
The OLEV (online electric vehicle) project is to develop an entirely new concept: the electric vehicle picks up power from underground power supplier lines through the non-contact magnetic charging method, while either running or standing.
The system seems is a cross between inductive charging technology while the vehicle is parked that various companies including Nissan are looking to introduce and the Linear Motor EV Superhighway concept. Researchers have proved that up to 80 percent transmission efficiency is possible through a gap of 1 centimeter from the power line to the receiver on the vehicle and in July they successfully supplied power to a bus - up to 60 percent across a 12 cm gap from the power line embedded in the ground. Using power supply and pick-up devices they developed. In this process, KAIST has secured the core technologies for maximizing power efficiency and minimizing the cost of installing the non-contact power supply system.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Suzuki to Sell Hybrid Car in US by 2011
Suzuki Motor will start selling a hybrid version of the new mid-size Kizashi sedan in North America in 2011.
The Kizashi is an all-wheel-drive sedan equipped with a 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine connected to a six-speed manual transmission. A Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) is optional.
The sedan is equipped with a next-generation hybrid system jointly developed with General Motors Corp that uses small but high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. The planned vehicle will get about 20% better mileage than comparable gasoline-driven cars.
Fisker Karma Debuts at Laguna Seca (w/Video)
The Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle made its public driving debut this weekend at the annual Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Laguna Seca Raceway in California. Eye witness accounts say the Karma did one demonstration lap of the track before returning to the infield to be surrounded by an admiring crowd.
According to the company, the car is on schedule to be available for sale in May of 2010, with over 1,000 pre-orders already taken. The car is currently scheduled for official U.S. Government crash testing in the coming weeks. The Fisker Karma, which produces more torque than a $492,000 SL 65 AMG V12 BITURBO, is expected to carry a sticker price of $90,000 and the company expect to make 15,000 of the plug-in hybrids per year.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Why are the VOLT and LEAF EVs measured in Miles Per Gallon?
Only a month ago the benchmark for fuel efficient vehicles was the Toyota Prius hybrid at 51 MPG. Now the rules have changed and GM, using EPA guidelines for Plug-In vehicles, is the undisputed winner in the hybrid miles-per-gallon race with a claimed 230 MPG for the Volt.
Not to be out done in the ever escalating EV PR wars Nissan used the same EPA Plug-In guidelines and got a figure of 367 MPG for their all electric Leaf. The obvious question is – how is an electric car rated with miles-per-gallon when, in an electric vehicle or a hybrid's electric-only mode, the miles per gallon are infinite and have no meaning since no gasoline is being consumed.
Before the major auto makers started all their MPG marketing guff, EVs were rated by watt hours per mile (Wh/mi). For example, the legendary General Motors EV1 was rated at 179 wh/mi, while something with more 'conventional' aerodynamics like the RAV4 EV uses around 250 wh/mi. To convert these figures to equivalent MPG is fairly straight forward but it is only a theoretical comparison because no gasoline is actually being used.
Surprisingly we haven't found a calculator on Google for this, but we're sure there will be one soon. The base figure needed for this calculation is the number of watt hours of energy in a gallon of gasoline, that being 33,705 wh/gallon. Using this figure we can easily calculate that the EV1 got the equivalent of 188 MPG and the RAV4 EV gets 134.8 MPG (the same as the Volt, but more on that later). Surely the Nissan Leaf has to fall within that range somewhere, not 367 MPG as stated?
Where these calculations go off the rails is when a plug in hybrid is combined with a part time duty cycle Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to extend an EVs range. GM says the EPA will weight plug-in electric vehicles as traveling more city miles than highway miles on only electricity, presumably figuring that people buy electric cars primarily for local driving. GM expects the Volt to consume 25 kilowatt hours per 100 miles of city driving (that's 250 wh/mi in the old numbers). At the U.S. average cost of electricity (approximately 10 cents per kWh), a typical Volt driver would pay about $2.50 for enough electricity to travel 100 miles, or 2.5 cents per mile. (Conversely, a gasoline-powered car that gets 20 MPG, for which the driver pays $3 per gallon, has a per-mile fuel cost of 15 cents or $15.00 per 100 miles.)
Based on the Volts 250 wh/mi energy use in EV mode (the same as a RAV4 EV) it's MPG compared to the energy content of gasoline is 134.82 MPG so HOW do the EPA guidelines allow GM to come up with 230 MPG?
Apparently the EPA used a traffic survey that was done in 2001 to create a composite to take into account the distance traveled in EV mode and the fuel economy after the charge is depleted. This is mated to an aggregate sample of the population and how far they drive in a day. With this data they created a 'utility factor'
Fudge Factor
This 'utility factor' or 'Driving Pattern Factor' is just one variable in what the DoE/EPA officially call the 'petroleum-equivalency factor' (PEF) which has been on the books since July 2000. The background is that Congress wanted to allow auto manufactures to quote high equivalent 'fuel economy' for electric vehicles as an incentive to help accelerate the commercialization of electric vehicles. While the formula is based on the actual energy consumption of the vehicle it also includes correction factors that take into account 'upstream' factors such as national average electricity generation and transmission efficiencies, the need for national energy conservation in all forms, and an EV driving pattern factor.
The Petroleum Equivalency Factor starts with PEF = Eg * 1/0.15 * AF * DPF
1) Eg = Gasoline-equivalent energy content of electricity factor
2) 1/0.15 = the 'Fuel content' factor
3) AF = Petroleum-fueled accessory factor
4) DPF = Driving pattern factor
The basics are, the DoE has created a formula to balance the up stream efficiencies of both EVs and ICEs. On the EV side the formula includes fossil fueled power plant efficiency at 32.8% and electricity transmission efficiency at 92.4%. On the ICE side Petroleum refining and distribution efficiency is included at 83%. The result is a Gasoline-Equivalent Energy Content of Electricity Factor (Eg) of 12,307 wh/gal. That number is then divided by a 'Fuel content' factor of 0.15 (gasoline vehicle efficiency of 15% at the wheels??) to give 82,046 wh/gal.
To keep a very long story short (you can read the full EPA explanation here) after further calculations the GM and Nissan EV mode MPG numbers are based on an equivalency number of 81,407 Wh/gal instead of the true 33,705 Wh/gal which doesn't compensate for anything 'upstream'.
Based on this knowledge and presuming the accessory and driving pattern factor don't get included in the Nissan Leaf calculations because it's a 100% EV we can use a simple desktop calculator to figure out how Nissan arrived at 367 MPG. Divide 81,407 by 367 gives the Leaf an energy consumption of approx 221 Wh/mi in the old money. The uncompensated figure for the Nissan Leaf becomes 152.5 MPG, less than half the EPA adjusted number. Feel free to visit the EPA site and calculate the full duty cycle for the GM Volt figure yourself.
So to answer the question why are EVs rated in MPG, at the moment it's a government instituted incentive that allows auto makers who start making plug-in EVs to claim huge MPG bragging rights compared to non Plug-In EV auto makers. As EVs grow to become a significant percentage of the road fleet we may see a return to energy rating formats like Wh/mi.
For now watt hour/mile will remain a 'technical' term that tells you how much it costs to run an EV while the purely 'marketing' MPG term tells you how much you might save compared to the old ICE clunker you're thinking of trading in.
Friday, August 14, 2009
GM volt pre-production Test Drive
GM is running a fleet of about 80 pre-production Volts, are producing 10 a week now, which are meeting initial targets. They are undergoing rigorous tests, and they're getting very positive results.
Actual production for the consumer will start in November of 2010. Then will hit full scale mass production in 2011, and then ramp that even more in 2012.
Price hasn't been decided yet, somewhere in the vicinity of $40,000, hopefully a little less. on the assumption they charge $40,000, minus the $7,500 from the federal government means the car would cost around $32,500 which is not much more than a normal medium-sized car.
GM volt pre-production Assembly
GM is running a fleet of about 80 pre-production Volts, are producing 10 a week now, which are meeting initial targets. They are undergoing rigorous tests, and they're getting very positive results.
Actual production for the consumer will start in November of 2010. Then will hit full scale mass production in 2011, and then ramp that even more in 2012.
Price hasn't been decided yet, somewhere in the vicinity of $40,000, hopefully a little less. on the assumption they charge $40,000, minus the $7,500 from the federal government means the car would cost around $32,500 which is not much more than a normal medium-sized car
GM volt pre-production Stamping
GM is running a fleet of about 80 pre-production Volts, are producing 10 a week now, which are meeting initial targets. They are undergoing rigorous tests, and they're getting very positive results.
And actual production for the consumer will start in November of 2010. Then will hit full scale mass production in 2011, and then ramp that even more in 2012.
Price hasn't been decided yet, somewhere in the vicinity of $40,000, hopefully a little less. on the assumption they charge $40,000, minus the $7,500 from the federal government means the car would cost around $32,500 which is not much more than a normal medium-sized car.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Single wheeled EV Superbike concept
Earlier this week we published details of a one wheeled self balancing Segway concept named Orbis. Taking the mono wheel concept one step further is the Audi A M (mono wheel) designed by Shaun Stevens.
The dimensions of the concept looks to be based around the rear wheel of a conventional super bike. The Mono cycle is electrically powered with the idea being that by removing a wheel the vehicles rolling resistance is cut in half compared to a two wheeled bike.
Utilizing a rim mounted outer rotor wheel motor, as odd as the bike looks at first glance, the gyro stabalizing systems used in Segway type EV scooters could actually make this work. While we have seen DIY Unicycles built for $1500, adding a powerful wheel motor will obviously dramatically increase the speed of the almost inevitable accident.
No attempt has been made to provide specs and we are left to imagine the size and location of the battery pack, but we're sure this is technically feasible.
Taxi co asks council to shut down electric vehicles
In Tampa Florida a company that has been running free, advertising supported, taxi service around downtown Tampa, Hyde Park and Ybor City is out of business, at least temporarily.
Following complaints from lawyers representing local taxi operators, Hillsborough County's Public Transportation Commission voted to shut down operation of neighborhood electric vehicles. The NEV companies face citations if they don't park the slow-moving, open-air carts.
Commission member and Tampa Councilman Joe Caetano. "Safety was the big issue, we're waiting for an accident to happen." Despite the fact the NEVs are perfectly road legal! The commission basically wants to get the same permit revenue from the NEV operators as they do from other vehciles for hire such as taxis, tow trucks and limousines.
Operators of the electric vehicles argued they don't fall under the commission's purview because they don't charge for rides. Drivers accept tips and the companies make money by putting advertising on the carts.
The company, Green-Go's Tampa Inc, will go to court to overturn the commission's decision, which would require operators of the electric cars to get permits and drivers to get special licenses.
The 4 and 6 seater NEV manufactured by Global Electric Motorcars, a company owned by Chrysler, have become increasingly popular as shuttle vehicles. At the G8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy 33 GEM e4 were used as the official shuttles for the Summit’s attending heads of state. Hey, if it's good enough for world leaders!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
BMW claim X6 Worlds most powerful Hybrid
According to information leaked ahead of its official unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the BMW X6 SUV is equipped with a hybrid drivetrain which pairs up a V8 gasoline engine with two electric motors that tops a combined 480 hp.
Reported combined output is 350 kw (480 hp) and 778.71 Nm (575 ft-lb) with a quoted 0-62mph of 5.6. BMW claims that the X6 ActiveHybrid, which can run on pure electric power for only 1.6 miles or 2.5 km at speeds of up to 37 mph or 60 km/h, has a combined fuel economy rating of 28.5 mpg.
While the standard X6 SUV comes with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 300kW (407 hp) and 600Nm the X6 Hybrid adds a pair of electric motors to it's four wheel drive transmission with 91hp 260 Nm (192 ft-lb) front and 86 hp 278 Nm (206 ft-lb) rear. We are left to guess if the twin turbos are used on the Hybrid version.
The extra weight of the hybrid drivetrain and battery adds 180 kg (400 lb) in addition to the standard vehicle's 2267 kg (5,000 lb) curb weight. Pictures released show an interesting shot of a wheel which looks like it may have a wheel motor inside it, just a tease before more details are released at the Frankfurt Show.
The X6 Hybrids output doesn't top Nissans Infiniti Essence hybrid which, while only a show car, claims to have a total of 600 horsepower combined output from its Nissan GTR sourced V6 twin turbo and electric motor
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Chevy Volt To Get 230 MPG - Nissan LEAF 367 MPG
General Motors Co. said Tuesday that its new Chevrolet Volt electric car is expected to get 230 miles per gallon in city driving, as the auto maker outlined a raft of vehicles headed to the U.S. market.
The Volt is at the forefront of GM's efforts to reinvigorate a lineup that has lost market share in the U.S., with 25 new vehicles due to be launched by 2011.
GM hopes the Volt's launch in 2010 will boost efforts to cultivate its environmental image, a key element of the company's restructuring efforts.
The gas consumption pledge promises to start a miles-per-gallon battle among global auto makers as they rush to deliver electric cars, a segment that some executives believe could account for 10% of sales within four years.
"Having a car that gets triple-digit fuel economy can and will be a game- changer for us," said Fritz Henderson, GM's chief executive, at a media event.
He said he is confident the Volt's expected combined city and highway mileage will remain in the triple digits. The company said the car will use 25 kilowatt hours per every 100 miles driven.
The Volt's mileage and range guidance, released for the first time, reflect new guidelines for electric cars being finalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Nissan Motor Co. this month unveiled the LEAF, an all-electric plug-in hatchback. On Tuesday it responded to the Volt news with a reminder that the LEAF would get a 367 miles-per-gallon rating under the EPA guidelines.
Henderson acknowledged that the Volt's high price tag, expected to be around $ 40,000, and lack of available public outlets are potential challenges. Buyers would be eligible for a $7,500 tax credit.
The Volt will be unprofitable for GM at launch because of the high battery and development costs. GM is counting on mass sales and economies of scale down the road to make the vehicle profitable.
Henderson said Tuesday that GM remains on track to have positive net cash flow next year and report a net profit by 2011. It also intends to increase production amid improving domestic demand following the launch of a scrappage incentive scheme.
The new GM board has said it will drive management to accelerate bringing products to market. The new lineup includes a slew of new vehicles, including new high-end compact cars for Buick and Cadillac, a convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro and revamped version of the subcompact Chevrolet Aveo.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Ford Hybrid's sets monthly sales record up 323%
Total Ford sales were up 2.3% across the range to 165,279 vehicles for all of its brands in July, its first year-over-year monthly sales increase since November 2007. Ford’s hybrid vehicles (Fusion, Milan, Escape and Mariner) posted combined sales of 5,353, a record for any month and up 323 percent versus a year ago.
While Ford's Hybrid volume is down compared to Toyota's Prius sales of 19,193 units sold in July 2009, demand for Ford’s fuel-efficient vehicles coupled with the U.S. government’s Car Allowance Rebate System (“Cash for Clunkers”) enabled Ford to post the first sales increase of any major US manufacturer in 2009. The U.S. House of Representatives has approved an additional $2 billion for the “Cash for Clunkers” program.
Automakers sold about 13.2 million light vehicles in the United States in 2008, a sharp decline from more than 16 million sold in 2007, but sales rates plunged further in the first half of 2009 to an annualized rate as low as 9.1 million in February
In a similar situation to Toyota battery supplier Panasonic, Ford's battery supplier Sanyo has also recently announced an increase in production capacity by 250% to meet increasing demand for Hybrids.
Volvo to show C30 EV concept at Frankfurt
According to Autocar Volvo has confirmed it is working an all-electric C30, although it currently has no plans to put it into production.
The Swedish firm will demonstrate a fully operational version of the all-electric C30 as part of its Innovation for Life event, which will be held shortly after the Frankfurt Auto Show.
The C30 formed the basis of the Recharge concept shown a few years ago but the wheel motor supplier PML late last year fell into administration (bankrupt) with the wheel motor side of the business splitting off. It is not known if Volvo are still working with PML or Proteanelectric as they are now called.
Volvo say they are using the C30 EV as an evaluation concept. Volvo has pledged to bring a diesel plug-in electric hybrid V70 to market by 2012, and an all-electric C30 is seen as an extension of this project.
Linear Motor EV Super Highway concept
Here's an interesting idea. German designer Christian Förg has fleshed out his concept for extended range electric vehicles, without carrying an on-board generator. Put the motor itself in the road. While the vehicle concept may not be to everyone taste, this concept could in fact work with any electric vehicle.
Förg calls it a Speedway Transport System concept. The idea is, around town a car has it's own EV powertrain including motor, inverter and battery, a standard EV. When on the highway the power source is a linear induction motor embedded into the road surface. When the EV is on the linear motor road system the entire powertrain in the EV can either shut down or remain on stand by.
Förg says the linear motor can also charge an electric car’s battery so it’s ready for urban travel. “Only highways for long range distances will need to be upgraded,” he says “But even with this upgrade, the streets still can be used by conventional cars.”
We've seen linear motor systems before, the most successful being the German Maglev train running at 420 km/h in China and also as high powered launch systems for roller coasters. The main factor holding back the widespread adoption of super fast and efficient Maglev trains has been the construction costs of building the track.
A Maglev linear motor track is the world largest electric motor as the stator and motor windings cover the entire length of track. If the Maglev track is 100 km long, then the linear motors stator is 100 km long. With the levitation magnets on the train flying at 400+ km/h (250 mph) just 10 cm away from the motor windings in the track a major expense in constructing Maglevs is the extra engineering required to build and maintain track precision to extremely small tolerances to avoid high speed train to track contact.
In a roadway based propulsion only system with no levitation component this precision requirement in not needed and entirely new structures do not need to be built as the motor is burried in existing roads.
In combination with automated braking, steering and parking technologies already making their way into production cars, this concept could also form the back bone of an automated highway system. With current genertion Maglevs in routine service at 431 km/h (268 mph), able to cruise at up to 580 km/h (362 mph) in testing and with proposed enclosed systems where air resistance is removed being capable of up to 3,500 km/h the future potential is for this type of propulsion system is enormous.
Electric cars to power a new charging industry
As makers from Tesla to Nissan Motor Co jockey to dominate the next generation electric-powered cars, a fight on which companies will control the lucrative market to fuel them is just getting started.
U.S. President Barack Obama aims to put a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 as part of the new U.S. effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming.
Cars are sexier than gas pumps or charging stations, but as the history of the oil industry shows, fuel is big business. A million electric cars will need a lot of power and a complex system to make sure the grid is not overwhelmed.
"Your head starts spinning when you think of what the possibilities and opportunities are but also the complexity," said Bill Nicholson, who leads the electric vehicle initiative at Portland General Electric in Oregon.
He does not expect utilities to be big players in setting up charging stations although they will provide the power.
"There will be some pretty large players in the charging station infrastructure business who will then partner with some pretty large players in the information side of this, the IBMs of the world and others that do nationwide deployment of standardized charging stations," he predicted.
Politics are sure to shape the economics of the industry. The Climate Change bill that has passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is being considered by the Senate requires utilities to draw up plans for charging electric vehicles. It also sets financial incentives to set up charging stations and subsidies for people buying electric cars.
Many wonder if electric vehicle sales will take off. Automakers sold only about 160,000 hybrids, or 2.8 percent of total sales, in the U.S. this year through July, according to Autodata.
Plug-in hybrids, which are part of Obama's goal of having one million electric cars on the roads by 2015, may account for 25 percent of auto sales by 2020, according to separate studies by the Department of Energy and environmental groups.
CHEAP TO RUN
Electric cars can be smooth, quiet and environmentally friendly. But they must deliver clear operating savings, since their price tag may initially be higher than conventional vehicles. Nissan roughly sees their operating cost equivalent to $1.10 per gallon of gasoline.
Skeptics say charging stations won't be a viable business because drivers will top off batteries at home, except on long trips, and won't want to pay a premium for electricity.
"We've found that about 90 percent of our customers' charging happens at home," said JB Straubel, Chief Technology Officer of Tesla Motors, maker of a $100,000-plus electric sports car whose 300-mile range is triple that of mass market vehicles from other makers due to enter the market late next year.
Proponents counter that charge stations will proliferate once there are a million or more electric cars on the roads. Most charging will be done at home, but some cars don't even have a garage.
"If you live in San Francisco, 51 percent of all cars are parked curbside at night," said Richard Lowenthal, founder and CEO of Coulomb Technologies, which aims to sell about a thousand charging stations this year at $2,000-plus each.
"I ship a station, I keep $1,000," said Lowenthal. He expects five times as many sales next year. But he says electric charge stations will offer a lot more than a plug.
Company founders included former executives of Internet equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc, and Coulomb sees services such as finding a free charge spot by cell phone as key to its potential success.
A University of California, Berkeley study says as much as $320 billion will be spent on charging infrastructure over the next couple of decades. The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded $2.4 billion in electric-vehicle related grants.
QUICKER CHARGES
Technology being developed by the industry will cut the time it takes to charge a car battery from hours to between 10 and 45 minutes. That won't be possible in most homes, but it should make long trips much easier.
"That's kind of a game changer because then you can do fast charging and it's competitive with gasoline," said Jeff Kim, president of privately held Shorepower Technologies, which already has charging stations at truck stops to run air conditioners on big rigs while drivers sleep.
A big roll-out of charging stations could come in about six months said, Kristen Helsel, director of electric vehicles at AeroVironment Inc.
"What's really important is we go in before the cars, but not a whole lot before the cars," she said.
Views about who could own the stations are all over the map. Equipment makers could deploy stations themselves, parking garage and restaurant owners could buy them for their properties, and larger networks might be set up by independent operators or companies who see charging as part of a bigger business of providing services to electric car owners.
Lowenthal has sold chargers to a McDonald's restaurant and his own landlord. Both hope to attract 'green' clients, he said. He's also had interest from financiers.
Entrepreneur Ron Percival, of PowerUp Systems Inc., is buying Shorepower stations and plans a network of 'e-Stations' in Vancouver, Seattle and Toronto in time for the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympics. If successful he will expand in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
A big question is whether municipalities and utilities will take on charging. Better Place, a California company with $300 million in funding and plans to build networks from Australia to the San Francisco Bay Area, says cities and power companies won't do more than set up 'seed' stations.
"For real adoption you need to have real numbers. You can't have people driving around looking for a charge spot because it won't work," said Sidney Goodman, vice-president of Automotive Alliances at Better Place.
Better Place plans to lease batteries to drivers along with charging facilities. Motorists will be able to swap spent batteries at its stations and the company will develop a computer network to make the process easier.
The company has not yet raised the money it will need to begin operations in the United States, but it has started investing an expected $150 million to $200 million into deploying 100,000 charging spots and stations to swap out depleted batteries in its first deployment, Israel.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Orbis: a one wheeled Segway type electric vehicle
We have seen one wheeled self balancing DIY projects before in the form of the notoriously hard to ride unicycle. The Orbis is more like a one wheeled Segway in that it has handlebars making learning to ride the device significantly easier.
The Orbis is a compact, electric vehicle concept that is an alternative to driving/walking in an urban area. Orbis will be able to be transport its user with little effort while being compact enough to fit inside a carry bag. Orbis will be gyroscopically self balancing on only one wheel and will be powered by a rechargable lithium ion battery.
Orbis was initially developed as a two-wheeled vehicle however, through research it was discovered that a self balancing vehicle could function on a singular wheel and therefore be light enough to be carried. To save space the vehicle will be made able to be compacted into as small a form as possible when not in use. The wheel itself can not be folded therefore all of the vehicles components fold around it.
Through further research it was determined that polycarbonate components and an aluminum frame would be the lightest materials for the project. Powered by an internal hub motor and a lithium ion battery, Orbis would weigh in at approximately 25 lbs (11 kg) and travel at a top speed of 13 mph (22km/h).
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Australian company launches Prius PHEV kit for $995
An Australian engineering firm called Enginer has launched a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) kit to suit Toyota Prius at the Hybridfest Green Drive Expo held in Madison Wisconsin. The battery conversion kit from Enginer comes in three versions, a 2 kWh version which costs $1,995 and a 4 kWh version which sells for $2,995 and a DIY kit without batteries for $995.
As a benchmark comparison the Hymotion PHEV kit from A123 systems consists of a 5 kWh (3.6 kWh usable) battery pack and costs between $9,995 - $14,500.
The 2 kWh pack will give an EV only range of 10 mile to your Prius while the 4 kWh pack give 20 miles EV mode range. The kits use Lithium Phosphate batteries similar to those sold by Thundersky and BYD with all parts sourced in China.
The Enginer kit is sold in the US by Detroit based Automation Tech Inc. and the first PHEV Conversion Kit suit both Gen 1 & Gen 2 Prius. The proprietary technology is designed for simplicity, no hacking into the computer and force the battery into electric mode is required. Instead they focus on supplementing and charging the standard NiMH battery stack, resulting in only 5 wires integrated into the car and an installation time of 2-3 hours. Because this is a supplemental battery pack it can also be installed in most other Hybrids.
We have seen some Prius drivers with the Hymotion Plug-In conversion achieve up 300 MPG so depending on driving patterns these PHEV kits can pay for themselves in a short time.
More Specs.
* Sixteen 3.2V Cells in Series (48V Nominal)
* Capacity: 2KWH
* Weight: 75 lbs
* Dimension: 22 in x 34 in x 8 in
* Warranty: 2 Years
* Battery Life Cycle: >2000 Times (80DOD%) > 3000 Times(70DOD%)
* Low Battery Protection
* Automatic Cell Balancing
* Fit in compartment between spare tire and trunk floor. Preserve trunk space.
* Charge Time: 3 Hours
* Range: 10 Miles (Low Speed EV Mode), 20 Miles (Plugin Hybrid Mode) per charge. Switch back to normal mode after.
This Conversion Kit Includes
* Sixteen 40AH LiFePO4 Battery Cells
* 48V 15A charger
* Two 8-cell Battery Balancers / Monitors
* 100A Circuit Breaker
* On/Off Switch with Power and Battery Low Indicators
* 120VAC Bumper Plug
* Battery Enclosure
* Smart DC/DC Converter and Controller
* 4KWH (32 Cells) option is available with additional $999
Friday, August 7, 2009
Nissan say LEAF EV could outsell Toyota's Prius
Nissan's upcoming all-electric car could outsell hybrids like Toyota's Prius a senior executive said Thursday.
That's because, unlike more expensive hybrids, owners of the zero-emission Leaf will be able to save money while saving the environment, said Larry Dominique, Nissan North America's vice president for product planning.
"Hybrids won't get you there, range extended (plug-in hybrids) won't get you there," Dominique told reporters on the sidelines of an automotive conference in Traverse City, Michigan.
"They're good technologies, but for the mass market appeal, they have much bigger obstacles, especially on upfront cost."
Hybrids currently account for about two percent of global auto sales. Nissan expects electric vehicles to swallow ten percent of the global market by 2016 to 2020.
"We are very confident that Leaf will give you a lower cost to ownership," Dominique said on the margins of the CAR Management Briefing Seminar.
Nissan plans to sell the midsized Leaf hatchback for somewhere in the 25,000- to 33,000-dollar range.
That's slightly more than the current price of the Prius but up to 20,000 dollars less than the expected cost of the Volt, General Motors' plug-in hybrid.
The savings also come in the cost of refueling: even in the most expensive electricity markets, most drivers should be able to charge their Leaf at home for less than a dollar.
And even in the extremely unlikely event that gasoline prices were to fall below 1.10 a gallon, most vehicles would still cost more to fuel than the Leaf, Dominique said.
Nissan will introduce the Leaf to business and government fleet customers in the United States, Japan and Europe next year.
It is also working with a number of utility companies and local governments to set up public recharging stations so the Leaf can be sold to consumers as soon as late 2010. The Leaf is targeted for a mass market release in 2012.
Owners will be able to recharge the battery at home through the domestic power supply in about eight hours, or top it up to 80 percent capacity in around 30 minutes at planned electric recharging stations.
Among other features, drivers will be able to use their mobile telephones to turn on the air conditioning and set the battery charging functions.
If they need help finding the nearest charging station, the navigation system will point the way.
Nissan, Japan's third largest automaker, was slower than Toyota and Honda to embrace fuel-sipping petrol-electric hybrids, but it is determined to steal a march on its larger competitors in zero-emission cars.
Technological breakthroughs in the development of long-lasting lithium-ion batteries have significantly increased the range and lowered the cost of electric vehicles.
Prius Sales Jump 400% in Japan in July
Dispite a shortage of batteries, Toyota’s Prius was the top-seller in Japan in July for the third month straight. The Prius sold 27,712 units, almost four times more than the 7,058 units sold in July 2008.
For the first seven months of the year, Prius sales in Japan total 79,122 units. Hybrids, including the Honda Insight, have been the top seller in Japan for the last 4 months with a 10 month waiting list!
The Fit was a distant second to Prius in July, with 17,003 units sold, followed by the Toyota Vitz (12,366 units) and the Honda Insight (10,210 units), according to data from the Japan Automotive Dealers Association.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Ultracapacitors used in Japaneses ports to achieve 40% fuel saving
Energy storage technology is a key element in harvesting the kinetic energy that is wasted whenever vehicles or large machinery must be slowed or stopped. Although batteries have been successfully used in light-duty vehicles, hybrid systems in trucks and buses require storage and delivery of much higher currents than can be handled easily by a battery. Unlike batteries, electrochemical capacitors or super/ultracapacitors can operate at high charge and discharge rates over an almost unlimited number of cycles and enable energy recovery in heavier duty systems.
The worlds largest manufacture of aluminium electrolytic capacitors, NIPPON CHEMI-CON, who have been developing ultracapacitors since 1995, have installed their DLCAP energy storage modules on seaport gantry cranes in Japan. Energy that would normally be wasted as heat by a braking resistor when lowering a shipping container can now be stored and re-used to assist the lifting of the next container. Reported energy savings from using the DLCAP energy storage system are 40% over a conventional system. Similar levels of savings have been achieved with other industrial equipment having repetitive back and forth or up and down motion.
A hybrid energy system, which consists of a diesel-engine generator and a ultracapacitor, allows a large engine generator to be replaced by the much smaller one, because the ultracapacitor reduces high power demands.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Nissan Says Electric Cars to Be 10% of Demand by 2020
Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn said electric cars will make up at least 10 percent of global vehicle demand by 2020, depending on conditions.
“Ten percent by 2020 is very reasonable,” Ghosn said, referring to research by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Demand estimates are based on Nissan’s assessment of rising energy prices and tougher environmental regulations, Ghosn said at a news conference today after the opening of the automaker’s new headquarters in Yokohama, south of Tokyo.
Nissan, Japan’s third-largest carmaker, today unveiled an electric car able to travel 100 miles (160 kilometers) on a full charge, saying it plans to start sales in the U.S., Europe and Japan next year. Nissan spent 17 years developing the car’s lithium-ion battery, which it expects to help make the automaker the biggest supplier of electric vehicles.
“It’s an aggressive number but I think it’s achievable as the number of eco-conscious people will grow,” said Yasuhiro Matsumoto, senior analyst at Shinsei Securities Co. Ghosn gave that forecast partly to urge governments, manufacturers and his company’s partners to cooperate in promoting electric cars, Matsumoto added.
The price of the five-passenger electric Leaf will be “competitive,” Ghosn said at the unveiling. Excluding battery, it will cost about the same as an equivalent gasoline-powered car, he said.
‘Mass Market’
“We are going to go for mass market,” Ghosn said. “The car will be reasonable for consumers with zero emissions, and that is just a cherry on the cake.”
The compact Leaf is modified from the platform used for Nissan’s Tiida hatchback, sold in the U.S. as the Versa.
The car’s lithium-ion battery pack can be fully recharged at a 200-volt outlet in eight hours, or in less than 30 minutes from a so-called fast-charge station, according to Nissan. The automaker is preparing to produce about 350,000 electric vehicles a year globally.
Nissan aims to use a $1.6 billion U.S. loan to retool a factory in Tennessee so battery-powered cars can be made on the same line that currently produces hybrids and other models. The automaker will also receive grants and loans from the U.K. and Portugal to build factories for lithium-ion batteries. The company hasn’t disclosed the amount of aid it will receive.
The Japanese automaker has said it will have the capacity to produce 200,000 electric vehicles in the U.S., 100,000 in Europe and 50,000 in Japan. Nissan and partner Renault SA plan to offer electric vehicles in the U.S. and Japan starting in 2010 and globally in 2012.
Hybrids
Automakers have begun to develop gasoline-electric hybrid models as higher fuel prices and rising environmental concerns spur demand. Toyota’s Prius hybrid was the best-selling vehicle in Japan last month, while Honda’s Insight ranked fourth, excluding minicars.
Ghosn has said Nissan didn’t have the financial resources to develop gasoline-electric hybrid technology in the late 1990’s. The automaker is planning to deploy electric powertrains in compact cars and hybrids for bigger and luxury models.
Nissan aims to sell a hybrid car using its own system in fiscal 2010 in Japan and the U.S. Currently, the automaker’s sole hybrid, the Altima, uses Toyota technology and is only available in the U.S.
Toyota Prius outselling battery supply
Toyota's third generation Prius has proved so popular that the cars battery supplier, Panasonic simply can’t match demand and as a result customer waiting lists now extend up to 10 months world wide.
Yesterday at the company's quarterly earnings announcement Takahiko Ijichi, Toyota senior managing director, said "Unfortunately, the batteries are not catching up with demand. Production of the batteries needs to be increased in order for our production to go up."
Toyota has production capacity to build 500,000 Prius hybrids per year, which Panasonic EV Energy can supply, but with booming demand for the new Prius, Toyota is hampered by the inability of the battery supplier to quickly increase production.
Last summer Toyota said it would begin to build the Prius at its Tupelo, Miss., factory in late 2010, but that plan is currently on indefinite hold. Ijichi says Toyota won't invest to expand Prius production until it is assured of an adequate battery supply.
Panasonic believes it will be able to match demand in a few months as it doubles EV battery production capacity to one million batteries per year by 2010.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Honda to launch Electric Motorcycle in 2010
Honda Motor Co., the world’s biggest maker of motorcycles, plans to debut an battery powered electric motorbike in Japan next year.
The motorcycle will be powered by a lithium-ion battery, and Honda will target sales to corporate customers, Tatsuhiro Ohyama, head of Honda’s motorcycle operations, told reporters today at a test-drive event at the Motegi race track north of Tokyo.
The moped will be built as a zero CO2 emissions alternative to a petrol-powered 50cc moped, with a lightweight aluminium chassis.
Honda says that the prototype retains some of the storage space that makes traditional scooters popular with commuters, and sees the motorcycle being used by businesses as well as commuters. Buyers may include Japan Post and companies offering home delivery, such as pizza restaurants.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Bosch Samsung JV to supply battery for BMW's city e-car
A joint venture between Bosch and Samsung will supply lithium-ion battery cells for BMW's city car project, an electric vehicle due in the first half of the next decade.
"The decision is a major milestone along the way to serial production of the Megacity Vehicle. The battery is a key component in any electric vehicle - it determines the range and performance of the car," BMW Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer said in a statement on Monday.
"With SB LiMotive we have selected a supplier who offers the best available technology, combining leading German automotive expertise with future-oriented Korean battery know-how."
The Megacity car is an offshoot from BMW's 'Project i', which was tasked to develop new mobility concepts for cities with more than 10 million inhabitants.
SB LiMotive, which recently acquired General Motors [GM.UL] hybrid battery supplier Cobasys, is a 50-50 joint venture between Bosch, the world's largest car parts maker, and a South Korean lithium-ion battery supplier that specialises in consumer electronics applications.
Integration of lithium-ion battery cells in a car requires higher standards in terms of durability, operational stability and safety, which is where Bosch's century-long experience in the auto industry comes into play.
"Our foremost objective is to supply BMW with the best battery technology available in terms of performance, range, and safety. At the same time, we want to establish SB LiMotive lithium-ion battery cells as a sustainable product which, after being used in the car, can be reused in other areas or recycled," Samsung SDI CEO Soon Taek Kim said in the statement.
BMW last week announced it would pull out of the Formula One circuit at the end of this season, after management decided to focus its efforts on sustainability issues and reducing carbon emissions.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Nissan's EV to be named LEAF
Nissan has officially won the EV PR wars! The first global auto manufacturer to launch a mass production EV only model. We've been drip fed just about every detail about the Nissan EV over the last few months so none of the specifications are news. The only details they left to reveal today with the official launch of their EV were the body panels and the name.
Both the styling and the name are, unfortunately, a bit questionable but there's no need to panic. The name of the car is at least pronounceable compared to many other Nissan models, even if fairly cheezy. As the EV powertrain is a conventional front wheel drive layout, it can be quickly spread across virtually all Nissan small car model ranges.
Nissan are currently building production capacity to comfortably supply 200,000 EVs per year with excess capacity for up to 350,000. If the long waiting lists for the Insight and Prius are any indication the Nissan factories will be maxed out from the day sales begin.
Nissan will begin selling the first Leaf cars in the United States and Japan in the latter half of 2010, adding more EV models in rapid succession. With torque output equal to a V6 from zero rpm and running costs of 1/10th that of a petrol combustion engined car, not to mention the lack of vehicle maintenance required due to the elimination of heat stress from the ICE, we're sure Nissan has a hit on it's hands here!
NISSAN LEAF Specs
Dimensions
Length: 4445 mm / 175.0 in.
Width: 1770 mm / 69.7 in.
Height : 1550 mm / 61.0 in.
Wheelbase: 2700 mm / 106.3 in.
Performance
Driving range over: 160km/100miles (US LA4 mode)
Max speed (km/h): over 140 (over 87 mph)
Motor
Type: BLDC 3 Phase PM motor
Max power: 80 Kw
Max torque: 280 Nm
Battery
Type: laminated lithium-ion battery
Total capacity (kWh): 24
Power output (kW): over 90
Energy density (Wh/kg): 140
Power density (kW/kg): 2.5
Number of modules: 48
Charging times: quick charger DC 50kW (0 to 80%): less than 30 min; home-use AC200V charger: less than 8 hrs
Battery layout: Under seat & floor
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.
NISSAN LEAF
Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility - the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissan's radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.
"Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment - one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality - the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero - not simply reduced - emissions. It's the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey - for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry."
Key characteristics of the LEAF include:
1. Zero-emission power train and platform
2. Affordable pricing
3. Distinctive design
4. Real-world range autonomy - 160km (100 miles)
5. Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system
The "LEAF" name is a significant statement about the car itself. Just as leaves purify the air in nature, so Nissan LEAF purifies mobility by taking emissions out of the driving experience. Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales in late 2010; however, the company expects the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle. Additionally, Nissan LEAF is expected to qualify for an array of significant local, regional and national tax breaks and incentives in markets around the world. As an added benefit, because the vehicle has less mechanical complexity than a traditional gasoline-powered car, Nissan LEAF is designed to be friendly to the wallet as well as to the environment.
ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY
Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.
Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF's power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF's regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge*. (*US LA4 mode)
Extensive consumer research demonstrates that this range satisfies the daily driving requirements of more than 70% of the world's consumers who drive cars.
And, Nissan's approach makes charging easy and convenient. Nissan LEAF can be charged up to 80% of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours - ample time to enable an overnight refresh for consumer and car alike.
REAL-WORLD CAR
The engineers and designers behind Nissan LEAF worked to create a competitively priced real-world car that would enable Nissan to lead mobility into the zero-emission era. To ensure comfort, spaciousness and cargo capacity, Nissan LEAF employs a completely new chassis and body layout.
"Our car had to be the world's first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that's what we've created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility," said Masato INOUE, Product Chief Designer.
DISTINCTIVE DESIGN
Even the smallest details can yield tremendous effect.
Nissan LEAF's frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design that announces, "This car is special." But the headlights do more than make a statement. They are also designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. And, the headlights provide yet one more benefit in that they consume just 10 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps, which helps Nissan LEAF to achieve its world-class range autonomy.
Through bright trim colors inside, Nissan LEAF creates a pleasing and stylish cabin environment. An environmentally friendly "blue earth" color theme originates from the Aqua Globe body color of Nissan LEAF's introductory model. This theme is carried into the interior through blue dashboard highlights and instrument illumination.
CONNECTED MOBILITY IT SYSTEM
Nissan LEAF employs an exclusive advanced IT system. Connected to a global data center, the system can provide support, information, and entertainment for drivers 24 hours a day.
The dash-mounted monitor displays Nissan LEAF's remaining power - or "reachable area" - in addition to showing a selection of nearby charging stations.
Another state-of-the-art feature is the ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions - even when Nissan LEAF is powered down. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.
"The IT system is a critical advantage," says Tooru ABE, Chief Product Specialist. "We wanted this vehicle to be a partner for the driver and an enhancement for the passengers. We also wanted this vehicle to help create a zero-emission community, and these IT features will help make that possible."
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY AND ECO-FRIENDLY INNOVATION
Nissan LEAF is a critical first step in establishing the era of zero-emission mobility; however, Nissan recognizes that internal-combustion engine (ICE) technologies will play a vital role in global transportation for decades to come. Because of this, Nissan is implementing its zero-emission vision through a holistic approach, which provides consumers a comprehensive range of eco-friendly technologies from which to choose.
For some consumers, Nissan LEAF will be the perfect match, and the only car they will ever need. For others, Nissan LEAF will be a logical addition to the family fleet - the optimal choice for the daily commute, for example.
While zero-emission is the ultimate goal, the company is committed to ongoing innovation in eco-friendly technologies that increase efficiency and reduce emissions. As a result, Nissan offers a comprehensive suite of automotive technologies, including CVT, Idle Stop, HEV, Clean Diesel, and ongoing research and investment in FCV technology.
WORLDWIDE PARTNERS
Zero-emission mobility programs under the banner of the Renault-Nissan Alliance include partnerships with countries such as the UK and Portugal, local governments in the Japan and the USA, and other sectors, for a total of nearly 30 partnerships worldwide.
In these partnerships major efforts focus on three areas:
1) Development of a comprehensive charging infrastructure through public and private investment,
2) Incentives and subsidies from local, regional, and national governments, and
3) Public education on the individual and societal benefits of zero-emissions mobility.
ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE PRODUCTION
Nissan LEAF is the first in the company's forthcoming line of EVs and is a major milestone in the realization of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's vision for zero-emission mobility. The first of Nissan's EVs will be manufactured at Oppama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for Smyrna, Tennessee, USA. Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries are being produced in Zama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for the USA, the UK and Portugal, and other sites for investment are under study around the world.
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