Ecotricity to attempt electric land speed record

Dale Vince is to attempt to break the current British electric land speed record of 137mph in February in his racing car dubbed Nemesis.

According to The Times, Dale Vince is Britain’s richest green entrepreneur, worth £58 million after he launched Ecotricity, an energy provider which invests profits into wind turbines.

Nemesis, developed by Formula One engineers, cost £400,000 to build. In tests so far, it can reach 60mph in less than four seconds. It can run 150 miles between charges and can be powered in one hour from a high charge or eight hours from the mains supply. Dubbed the ‘first wind-powered car’, Nemesis has been run on purely wind-generated electricity.

Vince told the newspaper he is confident he will break the land speed record set in August 2000 by Don Wales.

Every Londoner Within a Mile of EV Charging by 2015

London mayor Boris Johnson launched a new plan called the Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan for London that will allow all Londoners to be within one mile of an electric vehicle charging station in five years.

The plan calls for the installation of 25,000 charging points at public, residential and commercial spaces by 2015 in order to encourage the addition of 100,000 EVs within the city ASAP. The city government is doing their part by committing to add 1,000 EVs to the Greater London Authority fleet over five years.

This is another aggressive move by the city to clean up their transportation. The city successfully instituted congestion pricing in 2003, added hybrid double-decker buses, converted the Scotland Yard fleet to hybrids and air-powered vehicles and is testing state of the art fuel-efficiency technology.

With its track history, I have little doubt the city will meet its EV goals and can only hope that their ambition will rub off on the rest of the world's major cities (and small cities, and suburbs...).



Map of London

Audi confirm 2011 Q5 Hybrid

Audi has confirmed that it will bring a hybrid Q5 model to market in 2011, the first mass-market hybrid vehicle for the German brand. Audi will offer a hybrid version of its Q5 premium SUV in the US starting in late 2010, says Wolfgang Hatz, head of powertrain development for the Volkswagen group.

If the car is a success in the US, Audi said it may launch it in Europe.

In an interview, Hatz said Audi must offer a hybrid model to compete with rival vehicles that already offer the technology, such as the Lexus RX 400h. The BMW X6 will be offered as a hybrid late this year, and Mercedes-Benz plans to roll out a hybrid in each of its major models starting with the S400 hybrid this year.

Opinion is split on whether Audi will use nickel metal hydride or lithium ion batteries in the Q5 Hybrid. However odds are high that the powertrain will be similar to the 3.0 litre V6 petrol engine and 300Nm electric assistance motor used by the upcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne hybrid, 2010 Porsche Panamera hybrid and 2010 VW Touareg hybrid.

Up until now, Audi has resolutely stuck to clean diesel technology as its answer to emissions reduction.

It remains to be seen whether the automaker will follow up the Q5 Hybrid with more petrol-electric models. Some commentators postulate that the petrol-electric Audi is less about reducing CO2 and more about profiting in the hybrid-friendly US market.

Audi, like its compatriot Mercedes-Benz, favours all-electric powertrains as its long-term answer to reducing environmental impact. The company has revealed that it intends to launch a battery-electric version of its R8 supercar by late 2012, with the technology to eventually work its way down the Audi range.

For now though, the company is keen to demonstrate what it can do with petrol-electric technology. The Audi Q5 Hybrid is due to be officially unveiled in late 2010, most likely at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Ford Plans to Start Electric-Car Tests in Germany Next Month

Ford Motor Co. will start a two-year test program of electric Focus compact cars and Transit vans in Germany on Jan. 4 as the U.S. company prepares to introduce battery-powered models as early as next year.

The 25 vehicles will be driven under normal traffic conditions in Cologne, where Ford’s European division is based, said Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, director of the Center for Automotive Research at Germany’s University of Duisburg-Essen, which is overseeing the 15 million-euro ($22 million) study.

The drivers will include researchers and customers selected by Ford, Dudenhoeffer said today in a telephone interview. Data from the models will be monitored on computers that can simulate testing of more than 10,000 vehicles, he said.

Bernd Meier, a spokesman for Ford in Cologne, said the study is the automaker’s first in mainland Europe. The company is already trying out battery-powered vehicles in London, Meier said.

Ford, the first U.S. automaker to offer a hybrid model, said on Dec. 8 that it may spend $300 million to $500 million on factories in its home state of Michigan to build electric vehicles and batteries. The Dearborn-based company has a target of rolling out an electric-powered version of the Transit Connect commercial van next year, followed by an electric Focus in 2011.

Local utility RheinEnergie AG will supply vehicle-charging stations for the test, which is being financed by the German government’s economic-stimulus package, Dudenhoeffer said.

Toyota Develops Solar Charging Station for Electric Vehicles

Toyota Industries Corp has developed a solar charging station for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The municipal government of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture plans to build 21 such stations at 11 locations such as the municipal office and branch offices. Full operation of the stations will begin in April, with 20 Prius Plug-In Hybrids.

The station is grid connected, and also captures power generated by the 1.9 kW solar panel in an 8.4 kWh storage battery, for subsequent use in charging. Maximum output using grid power is 202VAC/3.2kW. Self-sustained operation using solar power from the battery pack has a maximum output of 101VAC/1.5 kVA.

Excess solar power can be used for facilities in the system, or sold to a utility company. TIC envisions that the station can also provide power to electrical equipment in a disaster.

TIC developed the EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment), which now has a communication function and the maximum 200V/16A/3.2kW output.

TIC has been involved with the development of charging systems for electric vehicles such as charging stands and onboard chargers since the 1990s. TIC launched its current EVSE stands in July 2009. (Earlier post.)

At the 41st Tokyo Motor Show (24 Oct - 4 Nov 2009), TIC displayed newly developed charging stands with communication devices. In addition to the basic functions of the standard charging system, the newly developed stations allow user authentication using IC card technology, and enable the collection of data such as usage conditions of the charging service and amount of power used.

During the press briefing at the show, TIC said that it aimed to increase charging functionality to respond to the needs of the charging infrastructure by developing systems that support electronic billing, and solar charging stations incorporating solar power generation to further reduce the environmental impact.

It is also concurrently, developing smaller onboard chargers with higher efficiency to meet the growing demand for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

TIC has directly a number of components to the Prius, starting with the first generation system, including converters, inverters, and car air conditioning compressors.

China unveils 'world's fastest train link'

China on Saturday unveiled what it billed as the fastest rail link in the world -- a train connecting the modern cities of Guangzhou and Wuhan at an average speed of 350 kilometres (217 miles) an hour.

The super-high-speed train reduces the 1,069 kilometre journey to a three hour ride and cuts the previous journey time by more than seven and a half hours, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Work on the project began in 2005 as part of plans to expand a high-speed network aimed at eventually linking Guangzhou, a business hub in southern China near Hong Kong, with the capital Beijing, Xinhua added.

"The train can go 394.2 kilometres per hour, it's the fastest train in operation in the world," Zhang Shuguang, head of the transport bureau at the railways ministry, told Xinhua.

Test runs for the service began earlier in December and the link officially went into service when the first scheduled train left the eastern metropolis of Wuhan on Saturday.

By comparison, the average for high-speed trains in Japan was 243 kilometres per hour while in France it was 277 kilometres per hour, said Xu Fangliang, general engineer in charge of designing the link, according to Xinhua.

Beijing has an ambitious rail development programme aimed at increasing the national network from the current 86,000 kilometres to 120,000 kilometres, making it the most extensive rail system outside the United States.

China unveiled its first high-speed line at the time of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 -- a service linking the capital with the port city of Tianjin.

In September, officials said they planned to build 42 high-speed lines by 2012 in a massive system overhaul as part of efforts to spur economic growth amid the global downturn.

The network uses technology developed in co-operation with foreign firms such as Siemens, Bombardier and Alstom.

Ford reports 67 percent increase in hybrid sales

In November of this year, overall hybrid sales were up 21 percent, and most manufacturers did better with hybrids than they did in the same month of 2008. Toyota moved 14,473 hybrids, up 16.3 percent from the previous year. Honda sold 1,646, which was a 57.8 gain. Nissan found new homes for 503 Altimas, which was nonetheless a 42.5 percent increase.

Ford was behind only Toyota in hybrid sales, with 2,361 units, up 73.5 percent. Overall, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury sales were down (0.2 percent).

Despite the industry problems, Ford is crowing about its hybrid sales. It sold 31,000 of them through November, beating its previous high in 2007. For the year, Ford’s hybrid sales were up 67 percent, a development it credits to the successful launch of the midsized Fusion and Milan Hybrid twins (41 mpg city/36 highway).

Ford sales analyst George Pipas claims that it is making more “conquest” sales, luring customers from other brands (mostly Toyota and Honda). These shoppers, he said, want fuel-efficient cars and the hybrids, Pipas said, lure “a whole community of customers who might have otherwise never visited a Ford showroom.”

Green concern remains a major factor in hybrid purchase decisions. Bill Casselberry of San Angelo, Texas (who happens to be 91) says he traded in his 2006 Camry on a 2010 Fusion Hybrid because “I’m concerned about all the greenhouse gases we’re putting into the air, and I wanted to do my part to reduce the negative effect on our atmosphere. If we don’t do something now, future generations are not going to have a world to live in.”

Black & Veatch, an engineering, consulting and construction company, has 22 Escape Hybrids, and they didn’t buy them to save money on gas (though that’s a welcome benefit). “Our company is always looking at ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” said Rod Cramer, fleet manager at the company. “The Escape Hybrids also play a major role in showing our employees and clients how serious our commitment is to the environment that we all share.”

Caterpillar Ships First AC electric drive Bulldozer

Caterpillar today presented the keys of the first innovative AC electric drive track-type tractor in the industry to long-time customer, TJ Lambrecht. The revolutionary electric drive system developed for track-type tractors gives the D7E an unmatched combination of power, sustainability, control and maneuverability.

"Our customers are being challenged to do their work more efficiently with less impact on the environment," said Caterpillar Group President, Doug Oberhelman. "The D7E demonstrates Caterpillar's commitment to the industry with a machine that does more work and consumes less fuel and parts, providing customers with lower owning and operating costs." Oberhelman was recently named Caterpillar Vice Chairman effective January 1, 2010.

TJ Lambrecht, headquartered in Joliet, Illinois, is one of the most recognized heavy, civil, and earthmoving contractors in the country, with one of the largest and most current fleets of Caterpillar equipment.

"Caterpillar has been a great partner over the years, and we have a solid relationship with our dealers," said Dan Klingberg, President, TJ Lambrecht. "Case in point was the opportunity to demo the D7E at our O'Hare Modernization Project jobsite this past summer. We think it's going to help us mitigate fluctuations in fuel prices, as well as address the growing scope of emissions regulations. Our whole organization is very excited about it."

The Cat C9.3 ACERT(TM) diesel engine, rated at 235 net horsepower (175 kW) in the D7E, drives a powerful electrical generator that produces AC (alternating current). Current flows through special armored cables and military-grade connectors to a solid-state inverter, then to the propulsion module. Within the propulsion module are two heavy-duty electric motors (using AC current) that drive through common gearing into the differential steering system. Power from the steering system is transferred via axles to mechanical, double-reduction final drives to provide smooth, infinitely variable driving force to the tracks. The engine in the D7E is entirely beltless, eliminating the need for belt maintenance and replacement.

Headquartered in Elmhurst, Illinois, Caterpillar Dealer, Patten Industries, was instrumental in the sale of the D7E.

"This revolutionary design consumes fewer resources over its working life than any other track-type tractor in its class. All major components are engineered to be rebuilt or reused in the future," said Patten Executive General Manager, Larry O'Neill. "Our customers are looking for these kinds of solutions, and we're pleased to provide them with a competitive edge."

World's First Fuel Cell Ship sails into Copenhagen

A bright orange North Sea supply ship from Norway dubbed "Viking Lady" is the first ship in history to employ a fuel cell.

The global trade of manufactured goods between Asia and the West has exploded in resent years with shipping now accounts for 90% of global trade by volume and in international waters ship emissions remains one of the least regulated parts of our global transportation system.

The fuel used in ships is waste oil, basically what is left over after the crude oil refining process. It is the same as asphalt and is so thick that when cold it can be walked upon . It's the cheapest and most polluting fuel available and the world's 90,000 ships chew through an astonishing 7.29 million barrels of it each day, or more than 84% of all exported oil production from Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil exporter.

Shipping is by far the biggest transport polluter in the world. There are 760 million cars in the world today emitting approx 78,599 tons of Sulphur Oxides (SOx) annually. The world's 90,000 vessels burn approx 370 million tons of fuel per year emitting 20 million tons of Sulphur Oxides. That equates to 260 times more Sulphur Oxides being emitted by ships than the worlds entire car fleet. One large ship alone can generate approx 5,200 tonnes of sulphur oxide pollution in a year, meaning that 15 of the largest ships now emit as much SOx as the worlds 760 million cars.

Ships can reduce emmissions while increasing profits, after all, fuel costs for a tanker ship are fully 41 percent of its total operating costs. The 5,900 metric ton Viking Lady owned by Norwegian shipping company Eidesvik has a 320-kilowatt molten carbonate fuel cell installed that operates on liquefied natural gas (and can be reconfigured, if necessary, to run on methanol).

Storage tanks for the hydrogen and carbon dioxide that gets the fuel cell started press up against the stern of the 92.2 meter-long ship (in case of explosion) as do the machines to regasify the fuel. The fuel cell operates at 650 degrees Celsius.

Liquefied natural gas is cheaper than diesel and there are as many as 15 such fueling stations along the Norwegian coast. The Viking Lady gases up once a week and the ship's 220 cubic meter tank can hold roughly 90 metric tons of liquefied natural gas at a time.

The $12 million fuel cell from MTU is only in the testing phase, which will continue until mid-2010, and is not responsible for driving any of the four electric motors or propellers. Onboard combustion turbines directly burn LNG to supply electricity to the propulsion system.

CITROËN BERLINGO First Electric “Powered by Venturi" for La Poste

VENTURI AUTOMOBILES and CITROËN have won the european tender launched by La Poste (french postal services) with their Berlingo First Electric. To provide its postmen with electric vehicles, and following several months of tests held under real conditions, La Poste will have 250 Berlingo First Electric “Powered by Venturi”.

With the Berlingo First Electric “Powered by Venturi”, CITROËN is one of the first manufacturers to commercialise an entirely electric vehicle. “This decision reflects the strategy adopted by the Citroën brand, deliberately oriented towards concrete proposals for sustainable mobility, which will soon be completed by the arrival of the CITROËN C-ZERO,” declared Frédéric BANZET, General Director of Automobiles CITROËN.

A spin-off from the fuel-based version, the Berlingo First Electric offers a charging capacity of 500 kg and charging volume of 3 m3. The electric power train is fully integrated beneath the hood at the front of the vehicle.

Fitted with a three-phase asynchronous engine with maximum power of 42 kW, the Berlingo First Electric offers a range of 100 km and a top speed of 110 km/hr. 80% recharging takes 5 hours. These characteristics make it ideal for users of captive fleets, for whom these features are particularly well-suited.

Delivery of vehicles for La Poste will be made in 2010.

Gildo Pallanca Pastor, President of Venturi Automobiles, is proud to have carried off this european tender : “Our innovation policy in electric vehicles, introduced about ten years ago, now gives us a real edge. Winning this international competition alongside the Groupe PSA Peugeot Citroën is a fine reward which reflects the development of our rapidly growing company.”

Siemens to reduce battery recharging times to 6 minutes

The EDISON consortium, a Denmark-based collaborative aimed at developing an intelligent infrastructure that will make possible the large scale adoption of electric vehicles powered by sustainable energy, includes the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and its Risø-DTU research center, as well as Denmark’s Dong Energy and Østkraft power utilities, the Eurisco research and development center, and IBM. In the EDISON project, various working groups are responsible for developing all the technologies needed for electromobility.

Siemens is mainly responsible for fast-charge and battery replacement systems. "Siemens’ portfolio already contains many components that we are now adapting and reprogramming," says Sven Holthusen, who is responsible for the EDISON project at Siemens’ Energy Sector.

A major obstacle to electromobility is the length of battery recharging times. With this in mind, Holthusen and his colleagues are working on a fast-charge function that operates with much higher voltages and currents—initially with 400 V and 63 A. This provides a 43.5 kw rapid charging connection that would allow fast charges of around 20 minutes. Holthusen’s approach is considered to be realistic since 400v/63A is already a common standard for industrial 3 phase installations and many European households already have a 400-V connection in the basement or other storage areas for electric ranges and other devices.

"We go a great deal further in our tests, however, in order to determine what’s possible," says Holthusen. More specifically, he wants to raise charging power to as much as 300 kW so that batteries can be recharged in six minutes. Electrics would then be on a par with conventional vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries with such fast charging capability are expected to be ready for market launch in the near future. However, new battery technologies will have to be developed if a car is to be charged in as little as three minutes.

Kepler Motion supercar AWD 800 hp hybrid 0-60 in 2.5 sec

Kepler Motors, founded by World Speed Record Holder Russ Wicks, will unveil its MOTION supercar at this year's Dubai International Motor Show.

The MOTION features all-wheel drive Dual Powertrain Technology (DPT) which provides a combined 800 hp. Power comes from a 550 hp, modified Ford EcoBoost twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 driving the rear wheels acting independently of a 250 hp electric motor driving the front wheels.

This unique AWD system launches the MOTION to 60 mph under 2.5 seconds with a top speed over 200 mph.

Toyota Supra HV-R GT hybrid coming to Le Mans

Autocar.co.uk are speculating about a 'return' of Toyota's hybrid Supra HV-R GT racer as part of an assault on the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Without quoting any sources, Autocar speculate that the car - or at least, the hybrid tech that powered it - is still alive, but that Toyota may not announce any official programme until 2012 at the earliest.

We reported in June 2009 on speculation Toyota may be considering a Le Mans return and we suggested the odds of that happening increased substantially in early November the moment Toyota announced their withdrawal from Formula One.

This isn't much of a news story by Autocar but we thought it worth repeating here to add more speculative fuel to the fire. New Hybrid rules at Le Mans in 2010 have the potential to make the 24 hour endurance race a technology showcase for Hybrid / EV technology.

Magna launch $7.2M research facility for lightweight composite electric vehicle parts

A joint partnership between Canada's biggest auto supplier and the federal government will result in a new $7.2-million research facility with the goal of developing lighter-weight, more environmentally friendly auto parts.

The partnership between Magna International Inc. and the National Research Council of Canada announced Friday will create a research centre at an existing Magna facility in Concord, north of Toronto.

Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement said the facility will help create jobs and make Canada's auto parts industry more competitive internationally.

"This ability to build the world's lightest, most durable cars - vehicles that will also be affordable to average Canadians - well, I don't have to tell you how worthy this goal is or how exciting this goal is," Clement said at a news conference.

"I'm passionate about the fact that this NRC-Magna partnership creates the right conditions for a breakthrough in next-generation automotive technology."

The goal of the facility is to give smaller parts companies access to cutting-edge technologies to develop safer, cheaper, environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient auto parts.

"Companies will be able to use the centre to develop their own products using the best technology and talent to support their work," Clement said.

"So in this way, the NRC-Magna partnership will improve Canada's automotive research capacity and, indeed, strengthen Canadian innovation generally."

The centre will bring together auto parts companies as well as NRC researchers from the industrial materials, biotechnology and aerospace sectors to develop auto parts technology using lightweight, composite materials.

"Automotive suppliers and original equipment manufacturers that lead the industry in innovation and productivity know that vehicles of the future will need more composite content in order to provide the fuel economy, utility and safety that consumers demand," said Bob Brownlee, president of Magna Exteriors and Interiors, a subsidy of Magna International that owns the facility in Concord.

"The Magna-NRC Composite Centre of Excellence will help reinforce Magna's position as a supplier of lightweight, cost-effective composite solutions to the global automotive market."

The new facility is expected to open next summer, although project work will begin immediately.

Composite technology brings together different materials, such as thermoplatics, to create strong but lightweight auto parts which help to reduce the mass and increase the fuel-efficiency of vehicles.

Magna is Canada's biggest auto parts company and employs approximately 72,000 people worldwide. It recently tried to acquire a portion of General Motors' European division, Opel, but the automaker scuttled its plans to sell the unit after deciding it could restructure Opel on its own for less money than it would have had to spend under the deal with Magna.

After the Opel deal fell through, Magna said it would turn its attention back to its parts operations, which include 242 manufacturing plants and 86 product development, engineering and sales centres in 25 countries.

Bill looks to invest $2 Billion in electric vehicles for US Postal Service

The U.S. Postal Service would become the guinea pig for testing 20,000 electric vehicles under House legislation introduced Dec. 17.

If approved, the bill would help the Postal Service green its large mail delivery fleet and jumpstart the nation's electric vehicle industry, said Rep. José Serrano, D-N.Y., who introduced the legislation along with five cosponsors.

The bill would provide up to $2 billion for an Energy Department program in which vehicle manufacturers would compete for grants to build electric vehicles for testing by the Postal Service.

USPS has the largest fleet in the world with 220,000 vehicles that consume 121 Million gallons of fuel costing $1.3 Billion annually. Due to the low average speed of these delivery vehicles they achieve only 10.4 MPG. A shift to EVs is expected to reduce the fuel bill by 66%, leading to an annual saving of $860 Million.

"Our nation must become a leader in green technologies and leveraging the enormous assets of the USPS provides us with a direct route toward that goal," said Serrano, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service.

The Postal Service maintains the largest civilian vehicle fleet in the world with about 221,000 vehicles. Although the Postal Service has been purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and testing some electric drive vehicles, it has held off on replacing the bulk of its petroleum-powered fleet until one technology emerges as the leading replacement.

The bill won immediate support from the American Postal Workers Union, the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

"It will be good for the Postal Service, good for the environment and good for the economy," APWU President William Burrus said.

Volvo builds C30 electric test fleet

At the Detroit Motor Show, Volvo Cars is presenting a complete battery electric Volvo C30 with a range of 150 km. The next step forward is to build a test fleet of at least 50 electric Volvo C30s, which will be used in real-life traffic from 2011.

Volvo presented a driveable electric car prototype in September 2009. The C30 now being shown in Detroit takes the company one step further in the development process. It features both a complete interior and full instrumentation, as well as enhanced battery packaging.

"The first prototype helped us identify the main technological challenges, such as battery packaging and safety issues. We have addressed these challenges without compromising the C30's cool and fun-to-drive personality. I am very happy with the result. The electric C30 in Detroit is a much more complete product," says Lennart Stegland, Director of Volvo Cars Special Vehicles.

The next step in 2010 is a factory-built series of test cars. Selected users will drive the test fleet during a two-year trial period in order to provide Volvo Cars with valuable experience. Not just technical but also behavioural. The Swedish Energy Agency is supporting the project by contributing SEK 150 million towards its funding.




Valuable field data

A pure electric car has different characteristics compared to a car with an internal combustion engine. Now Volvo's experts will have the opportunity to study how users handle these differences. "Our test fleet data will be valuable in Volvo Cars' development of electric cars. It will also provide crucial input for the infrastructure planners and help define which services are needed to make rechargeable cars the most attractive choice in the future," says Lennart Stegland.

New instruments and graphics

The electric C30 looks like a regular Volvo C30 and it offers the very same safety, comfort and roominess as the standard car. The most obvious difference inside the car is the new instruments facing the driver. The gauges and graphics are somewhat different to those in a conventional Volvo. The cool and user-friendly combined instrument shows in principle only road speed and energy consumption. However, it also integrates a number of new symbols such as a gauge for battery charge status and other relevant information for this type of vehicle.

The driving experience is also different to that in a conventional car. The electric C30 has no gears and the motor's power is delivered seamlessly, with full power available immediately. "Sailing along virtually without a sound is a very special experience. The power is there instantaneously. We need to spend a lot of time verifying a transmission system that is both comfortable and safe for the driver to handle and at the same time utilizes the battery's capacity optimally at different speeds," says Lennart Stegland.




Like a regular C30 - all the fun but with no emissions

An electric motor uses about one-fourth as much energy as an engine running on fossil fuels. This superior energy efficiency suggests that interest in electric cars will increase as fuel prices rise and demands for low CO2 emissions become increasingly stringent.

The Volvo C30 shown in Detroit is powered by Lithium-Ion batteries that can be recharged via either a regular household power socket or special roadside charging stations. Charging the battery fully takes about eight hours, If the car is recharged with renewable electricity, CO2 emissions could be almost zero in the well-to-wheel perspective.

Top speed with a fully charged battery pack is about 130 km/h (81 mph). Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph takes less than 11 seconds. The car's range is up to 150 km (94 miles). This covers the daily transport needs of more than 90 percent of all motorists in Europe.



As safe as all other Volvos

The electric motor is fitted under the bonnet while the batteries (24 kWh) are installed in the propshaft tunnel and in the space normally occupied by the fuel tank, outside the passenger compartment and away from the deformations zones.

"What is more, they are well encapsulated and the structure around them has been reinforced. Electric cars represent yet another interesting challenge in our dedication to building the world's safest cars. An electrically powered Volvo must be as safe as all other new Volvos. And the very same standards also apply to ownership, driving and protection in the event of an accident," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

Market prospects for electric power

When it comes to electric-only cars, there are several factors that determine their appeal in the future. "The consumers must feel that this type of car is attractive both to drive and own. That is why electric cars have to be as comfortable and safe and offer the same sort of performance as cars with other power sources," says Paul Gustavsson, Director of Electrification Strategy at Volvo Cars. He continues: "We believe in this technology and our field test aims to demonstrate that electric cars have considerable market potential. However, offering an attractive car is not enough. What is also needed initially is a system of subsidies to make the electric car's expensive battery technology financially viable for the car buyers. We hope that the authorities and the rest of the society will follow Volvo Cars in our "Drive Towards Zero" - Volvo Cars' journey towards zero emissions."

Technical specification Electric C30

Car model:
Volvo C30 – full four seater
Main engine:
Electric engine 40/82KW
Power output:
Electric engine 82kW, 111 bhp
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph):
10.5 seconds
Charging duration:
Charging via standard power socket, 230 V, 16 ampere: < 8 hours
Range on electric power:
150 km (NEDC cycle)
Battery energy content:
24 kWh nominal energy, of which 22.7 kWh used to power the car
Battery weight:
280 kg
Carbon dioxide emissions (tailpipe):
none

BMW launch ActiveE all electric 1 series coupe

Introducing the BMW Concept ActiveE, the latest electric vehicle project under BMW Group’s initiative to produce vehicles that explore solutions to minimize environmental impacts while preserving the kinetic driving experience for which BMW has long been known. The BMW Concept ActiveE follows the all-electric MINI E as the second large-scale electric vehicle test program to be conducted in the hands of interested customers.

The BMW Group presents yet another milestone along the way to achieving CO2-free mobility. The BMW Concept ActiveE provides a taste of a purely electrically powered BMW. Focused on the requirements of practical use, the study is based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe and embodies the outstanding agility and characteristic driving pleasure of the 1 Series for the first time as part of an emissions-free drive concept.

With the world premiere of the BMW Concept ActiveE at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2010 in Detroit, the BMW Group is highlighting the continuation of its research and development activities in the field of electro-mobility. The field tests with the MINI E as part of project i in the US and Europe have already provided important insights into the demands required of future production electric vehicles. As a second step, project i has begun development of a second trial fleet of electric vehicles based on the BMW Concept ActiveE. These vehicles are likewise intended for everyday use by private and select fleet customers as part of a large-scale field test. The insights gathered in the process will be fed into the development of an electrically powered serial production vehicle which the BMW Group will put on the market under a sub-brand of BMW in the first half of the next decade.



The BMW Concept ActiveE has allowed BMW to explore new vehicle packaging solutions and components which will be crucial to the success of the Megacity Vehicle. The intelligent integration of drive components within the existing vehicle package of the BMW 1 Series Coupe offers the opportunity to provide four full-size seats and a luggage compartment with a capacity of 200 litres / 7 cu ft. The motor, specially developed for the model and located in the rear axle, delivers 125 kW/170 hp and provides maximum torque of 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft. It accelerates the vehicle in less than 9 seconds from zero to 100 km/h (0-60 mph in approx. 8.5 seconds).

The electric drive system draws its energy from new, advanced lithium-ion battery pack developed jointly by BMW and the co-operation partner SB LiMotive especially for the BMW Concept ActiveE. They enable a range of approx. 160 kilometres (100 miles) in everyday use. An intelligent battery management system helps achieve this range largely independently of external climatic conditions. Additionally, the charging period required for the lithium-ion batteries is very short. On the European power grid, the battery pack can be fully charged in just 3 hours at a wall box with a current of 50 ampere at 230/240 volts. In North America, using a high-current (32 ampere continuous) residential wall box, the charge time is about 4.5 hours.

Innovative technology for sheer driving pleasure without CO2 emissions.
The BMW Concept ActiveE embodies a whole new dimension of purely electrically powered mobility. The dynamic potential and high torque of the drive system, along with the rear-wheel drive which is a hallmark of the brand, guarantees the characteristic sheer driving pleasure which is typical of BMW – but without any CO2 emissions. An impressive range of functions and a high level of suitability for everyday use are additional features of this concept, which defines electro-mobility in true BMW style.



The BMW Group attaches key importance to electro-mobility in the development of future-oriented vehicle concepts and drive systems as part of its EfficientDynamics strategy. In the medium term, BMW Group is developing innovative vehicle concepts for emissions-free mobility in urban areas. This so-called Megacity Vehicle will also be offered with an electrical drivetrain. The BMW Concept ActiveE represents a further step towards the realization of this concept. Components of the vehicle may be developed further for later integration into the Megacity Vehicle.

Electric drive: emissions-free, powerful and compact.
The BMW Concept ActiveE offers the prospect of characteristic BMW driving pleasure without exhaust emissions. The requirements for electro-mobility with characteristic BMW properties are being created based on ongoing development in the powertrain. The latest outcome is a new synchronous electric motor tailored to the BMW Concept ActiveE. It offers a high level of efficiency, power delivery, and compact construction.

The maximum output of the new electric drive is 125 kW/170 hp. The maximum torque of 250 Nm / 184 lb-ft is available from a standstill as is typical for electric motors. The torque remains available over an unusually broad load range. Unlike asynchronous electric motors, the new power unit provides a relatively high level of torque even at higher engine speeds and road speeds; at increased load the torque is not reduced abruptly but decreases gradually. The torque curve at higher engine speeds is therefore much more similar to the pattern familiar from combustion engines.

The vehicle concept and drive system provide the agility and dynamic acceleration performance which are characteristic of the BMW 1 Series Coupe. Based on realistic simulations, a figure of less than 9 seconds was measured for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h (0-60 miles in 8.5 seconds), with the 60 km/h mark being reached after less than
4.5 seconds. The maximum speed of the vehicle is electronically limited at around 145 km/h or 90 mph.
The innovative character of the electric drive is also reflected in the optimized ratio between engine output and space requirements: the compact power package is fully integrated in the rear axle of the BMW Concept ActiveE. Here the drive system occupies the space required in conventional vehicles by the differential, whose function is integrated in the drive system.




Recuperation of energy increases range.

In the purely electric powered BMW, the driver may control deceleration as well as acceleration through the movement of the accelerator pedal. As soon as the driver’s foot is removed from the accelerator, the electric motor performs the function of a generator, converting the vehicle’s kinetic energy into electric power and storing it in the battery pack. Intensive use of this so-called energy recuperation process by the motor increases the range by up to 20%.

At the same time, a brake torque is created which results in effective deceleration of the vehicle. This response enables a very comfortable driving style, especially at medium and constantly varying speeds. In urban traffic, some 75 percent of all deceleration manoeuvres are initiated without the need for the brake pedal. During Brake Energy Regeneration function, the vehicle’s brake lights are illuminated.

This brake effect acts on the rear wheels only. When the driver requires a higher level of deceleration, stepping on the brake pedal engages the conventional hydraulic braking system. If an emergency braking maneuver is required during braking, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system applies selective braking and motor management measures to ensure that safe braking is always guaranteed.

The brake system is fitted with an electric vacuum pump which is activated on demand. Along with the Electric Power Steering (EPS) familiar from the production models of the BMW 1 Series, these features contribute to an increase in the overall efficiency of the vehicle.

Innovative lithium-ion battery pack with its own liquid cooling.

The lithium-ion battery pack specially developed for this vehicle supplies energy to the motor and all other functions of the BMW Concept ActiveE. The high-voltage battery units offer a particularly high storage capacity and durability. For the first time, storage cells are used which were developed especially for use in automobiles by the BMW Group in collaboration with the co-operation partner SB LiMotive. Powerful battery cells are key when it comes to designing production vehicles with electric drive. Through the collaboration of the BMW Group with a joint venture of the companies Bosch and Samsung SDI [SB LiMotive], leading expertise in the area of battery technology and electro-mobility has been brought together. The aim is to use the best available technology in the area of energy storage as part of the development of the Megacity Vehicle.




For some time now, lithium-ion technology has demonstrated its particularly high storage capacity and deep-cycle resistance – for example in mobile phones and laptops. The technological expertise of SB LiMotive ensures that these properties are retained even under the special conditions of use in an automobile and the relevant demands in terms of durability, endurance and safety.

The lithium-ion batteries of the BMW Concept ActiveE have their own liquid cooling system and intelligent battery management system, which are key elements in increasing both the storage capacity and the durability of the battery cells. These systems also ensure that the long range can be maintained largely independent of external climatic conditions. The high storage capacity is the decisive factor in achieving as long a range as possible. The storage system developed for the BMW Concept ActiveE enables a real-world range of about 160 km / 100 miles on a single charge, depending on conditions (FTP72 cycle range is calculated to be 240 km / 150 miles in simulation).

Modular structure, compact construction, space-saving integration.

Another special feature of the battery pack is its outstanding compactness, despite its output and capacity. The arrangement of battery cells, grouped into several modules, is ideal in terms of packaging, functionality and vehicle balance. The battery pack is located where a combustion engine and fuel tank would normally be located. The largest portion of the battery pack in the BMW Concept ActiveE is located where the conventional propshaft and fuel tank would be in the lower section of the vehicle. In addition, a portion of the battery pack is located where the combustion engine would normally reside. Using intelligent lightweight design and the highly-efficient lithium-ion battery cells, vehicle curb weight is limited to about 1800 kg / 3900 lbs.

Characteristic BMW driving experience, space of a BMW 1 Series Coupe.

The positioning of the battery pack shifts the vehicle’s center of gravity downwards. Also, the battery cell layout within the vehicle preserves the near 50-50 weight distribution characteristic of BMW vehicles. In this respect, the BMW Concept ActiveE offers ideal conditions for driving experience characterized by a high level of agility.
In terms of the space available in the interior, the BMW Concept ActiveE has no disadvantage compared to the BMW 1 Series Coupe with conventional combustion engine. It offers four full-size seats with the same measures of head, leg and shoulder space.

The optimum positioning of the power electronics above the motor integrated in the rear axle, for reasons of safety and functionality, results in a reduction of trunk capacity. Nonetheless, the BMW Concept ActiveE still has a luggage compartment which provides considerable versatility in everyday use. With a volume of approx. 200 litres / 7 cu ft, it even exceeds the trunk capacity of the BMW 1 Series Convertible with an open top and can hold two 46-inch golf bags, for example.

Reliable and safe: power electronics control and monitor vehicle functions.
The power electronics of the BMW Concept ActiveE regulate the supply of electrical current to the motor at the required amperage and voltage. It also controls the supply of energy to the vehicle power network. By means of a voltage transformer and an intelligent battery management system, a reliable supply of power to all vehicle functions is ensured, including the comfort and entertainment features familiar from the production model of the BMW 1 Series. Drive components, energy supply, and battery pack comply with the integral safety standards for electric vehicles as defined by the BMW Group.

Central monitoring functions integrated both in the power electronics and the battery pack ensure the continuous monitoring of all components. The driver is immediately informed of malfunctions and if necessary there is an automatic system discharge and shutdown.

Modern charging technology: fresh energy both swiftly and flexibly.
The consistent development of serial production vehicles with electric drive also includes innovative solutions for flexible, user-friendly charging of the energy storage systems in the vehicle in a way which is appropriate to everyday use. The lithium-ion battery pack of the BMW Concept ActiveE can be recharged using a range of different power sources.
This means that the vehicle is not dependent on a specific charging station and energy of varying power levels can be fed into the battery pack according to availability. Any conversion required is taken care of by the high-performance battery control system.

This gives the driver considerably greater flexibility in using the vehicle. In addition to using a high amperage wall box – a supply system installed in the user’s home optimized to reduce charging times– it is also possible to use conventional power outlets or publicly accessible charging stations made available in co-operation with energy suppliers. In this way, stopovers can be used to extend the travel range of the vehicle when needed.

The lithium-ion batteries of the BMW Concept ActiveE set a new benchmark for energy storage systems in electric vehicles. Regardless of the voltage and amperage available, they build up a remarkably high energy capacity within a very short time. On the European power grid, the battery pack can be fully charged in just 3 hours at a wall box with a current of 50 ampere at 230/240 volts. In North America, using a high-current (32 ampere continuous), 220 volts residential wall box, the charge time is about 4.5 hours.

Innovative comfort features: auxiliary heating and auxiliary air conditioning complete with remote control.
In conjunction with the powerful battery technology, the concept of a purely electrically powered vehicle presents additional opportunities for the integration of innovative comfort features. For the BMW Concept ActiveE, a special heating and air conditioning system was developed which is supplied with energy from the high-voltage battery via the vehicle power network. The fact that the heating system and air conditioning compressor are electrically powered means that the desired temperature can be provided inside the vehicle even when it is stationary.

The driver can heat or cool the interior before a trip using the auxiliary heating or air conditioning system – an option which is available when the vehicle is connected to a charging station and the battery is fully charged. This ensures that the range is not reduced by the comfort function, but in fact increased. The reason for this is that the energy required for heating or cooling the vehicle with an existing connection to the power supply does not need to be drawn from the battery during travel.

The climate control systems developed for the BMW Concept ActiveE can also be activated via mobile phone. This option also includes a timer function so the driver can ensure that the vehicle is conveniently pre-cooled or pre-heated before getting into it in the morning, for example. Climatic pre-conditioning optimizes not only ride comfort but also the operating status of the energy storage system in the sense that it maximises the range of the vehicle. The control of the heating and air conditioning system by mobile phone is made available through BMW ConnectedDrive. The BMW Concept ActiveE demonstrates the extensive range of options for using these services with the full integration of a smartphone connection into the vehicle infotainment system.

Specific remote control functions via BMW ConnectedDrive.
In addition to the intelligent remote controlled operation of the auxiliary heating and air conditioning, BMW ConnectedDrive offers additional services specially developed for the BMW Concept ActiveE. The main focus here is on the user-friendly and practically oriented relay of precise information on the condition of the vehicle. No matter how far he is from the vehicle, the driver can obtain details of the charge status of the lithium-ion battery and the range of travel this permits. The remote control functions also provide support in searching for a nearby public charging station.

The configuration of the remote control functions is specifically oriented to use scenarios arising in everyday traffic. For example, the driver can go shopping or eat at a restaurant while the vehicle is supplied with electrical current at a charging station. Within a very short time the driver can obtain information on the current charge status of the batteries by mobile phone. The driver can also determine how much charging time is required for the batteries to achieve sufficient energy capacity for the trip home, thus allowing other activities to be planned. Providing sufficient charge is available, the driver can also activate the heating and air conditioning during an excursion when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is connected to the power supply. In this way a pleasant temperature can be generated inside the car within just a few minutes and in good time before setting off.

Additional trips can also be conveniently prepared using the innovative remote control functions. For example, the driver can check the charge status of the vehicle batteries and the currently available travel range while at his workplace or sitting in a café. This makes it quick and convenient to find out whether an additional trip can be made before driving home before the energy supply runs out. The driver gains additional flexibility in being able to search for public charging stations in the vicinity of any given location. Based on the information relayed to the mobile phone, he can quickly determine whether a spontaneously planned stopover can be used to charge the vehicle batteries.
Design: unmistakably a BMW 1 Series Coupe.

The technology of the BMW Concept ActiveE is highlighted through unique design features. The BMW Concept ActiveE is unmistakably based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe, well-known for its outstanding agility and efficiency. With its powerful proportions, the BMW Concept ActiveE also embodies an especially sporty form. Its side view is dominated by the striking shoulder line and the short overhangs. In addition, the BMW Concept ActiveE boasts striking light alloy wheels which are aerodynamically optimized. The distinctive appearance is partly created by the concept-specific rear apron which is completely closed, demonstrating that the vehicle is entirely emissions-free due to the lack of an exhaust system. There is a recognisable differentiation from the production model of the BMW 1 Series Coupe with the body finish in Liquid White metallic, as well as graphic elements derived from printed circuits in Electric Blue on the hood, doors, roof and trunk lid, as well as the lettering “ActiveE”, “eDrive” and “Efficient Dynamics” on the doors and side panels. The following elements also reflect the special character of this electrically powered vehicle: a blue illuminated charging connection behind a translucent filler cap, a glowing blue roof fin and kidney rods finished in blue. Blue rings on the tyres also make for a visual enlargement of the 18-inch wheels.

In the interior, individual details highlight the distinctive style of the study and are functionally associated with the electric drive. Among other things, the interior of the BMW Concept ActiveE has special leather seats with embossed graphic elements and blue contrasting stitching. The instrument panel and door trim panels have strips in Liquid White. The decor strip in the instrument panel is finished with a three-dimensional rear-lit ActiveE graphic. The blue illuminated start/stop button and the selector lever knob emblem in White/Blue round off the overall graphic concept. What is more, the instrument panel and the central display have been enhanced to monitor the electric drive.

Instead of the tachometer there is a battery capacity display in the instrument panel. The current charge status of the battery pack is shown in percent. There is also a second instrument which shows how much current is being drawn from the battery as well as the amount of energy being fed back into the battery from Brake Energy Regeneration.

In addition to the familiar features, the central information display also has a battery level indicator, an active system status display function and the positions of the nearest electric charging stations.

Inside the trunk, an illuminated plexiglass screen provides a view of the power electronics of the electrical drivetrain. The charge cable is housed conveniently in an additional storage compartment between the left-hand wheel arch and the power electronics.

A future-oriented technology which runs across all brands: electro-mobility as a mainstay of EfficientDynamics.

With the BMW Concept ActiveE, the BMW Group demonstrates the continuation of its project i research and development activities geared towards achieving emissions-free mobility independent of fossil fuels. For the first time, the concept of a purely electrically powered vehicle is combined with the characteristics of a BMW 1 Series Coupe.

The BMW Group is developing electro-mobility as an additional central mainstay of its EfficientDynamics strategy. Electric drive provides an additional option for individual mobility, alongside the ongoing optimization of the pure combustion engine, the market launch of BMW ActiveHybrid technology in production vehicles and the BMW Hydrogen 7 as evidence of the suitability of hydrogen drive for everyday use.

Project i brings together the BMW Group’s activities relating to the development of production vehicles with electric drive. The focus is on the conception of a production Megacity Vehicle which fulfils the requirements of a sustainable mobility solution for urban areas, with one option being electric drive.

With project i, the BMW Group is carrying out a unique worldwide field test in the use of electrically-powered vehicles in everyday traffic. The MINI E, of which some 600 were produced, is currently being used by private customers in the states of California, New York and New Jersey as well as at several European locations. This pilot project aims to gather important insights into user behaviour, the requirements of the vehicle concept, its specifically electric components and the energy supply infrastructure.

The BMW Concept ActiveE creates a basis for the expansion and intensification of this field testing on electro-mobility, oriented towards enabling large-scale production in the future. The aim is to produce a fleet to a scale which will exceed that of the MINI E.

With its extended range of functions, including four seats, an intelligent arrangement of the ActiveE technology and dynamic qualities provided not least by the rear-wheel drive which is so characteristic of BMW, the concept vehicle reflects a new approach while remaining loyal to BMW brand values. The components of the electric drive system have been designed bearing in mind the requirements of a future Megacity Vehicle so as to advance the development of a production vehicle. The BMW Concept ActiveE moves a little closer towards the future of an individual mobility which will combine driving pleasure with CO2-free travel.

A123 Systems and SAIC Motor Form Joint Venture

A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate(TM) lithium ion batteries and systems, today announced that they are entering into a joint venture with SAIC Motor Co. Ltd, a leading automaker in China. The focus of the joint venture is to develop, manufacture and sell complete vehicle traction battery systems for use in hybrid electric and pure electric passenger vehicles and heavy duty truck and bus applications in the People's Republic of China, the largest and fastest growing automotive market in the world.

"We are excited to be partnering with an industry leader such as SAIC Motor to pursue the expanding Chinese market for advanced lithium ion battery technology," said David Vieau, chief executive officer of A123 Systems. "As part of this partnership we look forward to building a team of outstanding employees to develop innovative battery technologies that we expect will be included in some of the highest quality hybrid and electric vehicles anywhere in the world."

The new venture, called Shanghai Advanced Traction Battery Systems Co. (ATBS), will seek to develop business throughout the entire Chinese transportation market and position A123 to strategically gain market share. ATBS will also be the preferential supplier of complete energy storage systems for all hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles manufactured by SAIC Motor and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. A123 Systems will supply the advanced automotive battery cells and work with SAIC Motor to design and develop the integrated battery systems for ATBS.

The venture's ownership will be held 51 percent by SAIC Motor and 49 percent by A123 Systems, with the management duties of the venture being shared equally between the parties.

In concert with this agreement, ATBS has been awarded a contract to supply battery systems for SAIC Motor's plug-in hybrid vehicle program. This program seeks to develop a plug-in hybrid vehicle that meets the growing demand for alternative-energy transportation in China.

SAIC Motor is also developing a broad overall portfolio of "new energy" vehicles. SAIC Motor previously disclosed plans for a hybrid Roewe 750 sedan and a plug-in hybrid version of the Roewe 550, which could cut fuel consumption by 20 percent and 50 percent respectively, in addition to plans for introducing electric vehicles on the market in 2012. The Roewe 550 and 750 will utilize A123 battery cells.

Sydney Australia on electric vehicle fast track

Sydney is one of six cities around the world to take part in a program to speed up the introduction of electric vehicles.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney is part of the program which will fast-track the uptake of electric vehicles by establishing charging stations and converting car fleets.

'The program will facilitate the planning, design and deployment of electricity supply facilities and systems for electric vehicles in collaboration with relevant regional utilities,' Ms Moore said in a statement.

Ms Moore is at the Summit on Climate for Mayors, which is meeting in Copenhagen at the same time as the UN's climate change summit.

She said the City of Sydney Council wanted to set up the first public charging stations before the end of next year.

She said electric vehicles were an important part of more sustainable transport around the city, including light rail, cycling and walking.

About 700,000 cars travel in the Sydney local government area each day and transport currently accounts for about nine per cent of the city's greenhouse gas emissions

Toyota Officially Launches Plug-in Prius Mass Production begins 2011

On Monday Toyota officially announced the launch of the plug-in version of its 3rd generation Prius, calling it the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Leasing will start immediately.

Deliveries of approximately 600 units will take place throughout the first half of 2010 in Europe, the US, and Asia. These will be offered by lease to selected fleet programs, and not consumers.

The car is equipped with a 5.3 kwh lithium-ion battery pack and has an all-electric range of 14.5 miles. Top speed in EV-mode will be 62 MPH.

The car will use its 1.8 L gasoline engine whenever power demands are high right from the start of operation, which is different that the Volt which will use electricity only for all driving needs in its first 40 miles of operation.

Toyota reports the car averages 134 MPG on the extremely conservative Japanese JC08 test cycle, not taking charging into effect.

Toyota plans to use the learnings from the fleet testing to develop a retail production version of the vehicle, and will begin selling and mass producing them in 2011.

According to Toyota’s Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada, Toyota aims to sell “tens of thousands” of plug-in cars globally each year.

Pricing is unknown but Mr. Uchiyamada said it will be “affordable.”

A less expensive smaller pure electric car will also go on sale in 2012.

Toyota’s lithium ion batteries will be made through a joint venture with Panasonic.

Toyota states the car can be recharged from a standard electric outlet.

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Mercedes SLS Electric Supercar more details revealed

What did we say about the Electric Sports Car PR war between Mercedes and Audi? The same day news breaks of Audi's media test drives of the e-tron EV supercar, Mercedes announce they have started on road tests of the electric version of the SLS and are still on target for a 2013 launch.

AMG boss Volker Mornhinweg says that AMG engineers are still confident that the electric SLS will meet all of it's performance objectives: a 0-60mph time of 4.0 seconds with a battery range of around 110 miles.

"We are on target to meet all of our objectives but we obviously have lots of time to fine tune," he said. AMG's boss was also confident that it would be as exciting to drive as the recently launched petrol version.

"Effectively being four-wheel-drive does alter its character, but our torque vectoring systems give us opportunities to make it as good," he said. "It's important to get the emotional level of an EV right and we have some solutions."

However, Mornhinweg denied that Merc was looking at noise generation systems, dismissing them as "too artificial".

The electric SLS is powered by three batteries, which add up to power equatable to 525bhp and 649lb ft of torque. But these will exact a weight penalty on the production car: it will come in at 1900kgs, compared to the 1620kg petrol version.

Merc has also yet to set an estimated price for the electric SLS - offering it as a lease only car is still a possibility.

2012 Audi E-tron TEST DRIVE

A couple of Senior Editor over at Edmunds.com were recently invited to test drive a $2 Million concept prototype of the All Wheel Drive fully electric Audi e-tron. The test drive was limited to 62 mph and lasted only 5 miles but they were allowed on public roads along California's Pacific Coast Highway just north of Malibu at Point Magu flanked by 2 highway patrol cars.

Good to read that Audi has almost come clean on the headline grabbing torque figures they've been announcing for the e-tron. We picked up on this way back when the car was first unveiled in October while the rest of the motoring media have taken a little longer to catch on.



Audi now say the reduction gear ratios for the four in-board wheel motors are 6:1 at the front and 7:1 at the rear. To give you a comparison, the hand wound 3 phase AC Induction motor in the Tesla Roadster Sport puts out 400 Nm of torque at the motor shaft. To calculate torque at the wheels simply multiply that torque figure by the reduction gear ratio, which in the case of the Roadster is 8.27:1. There are fairly significant losses transmitting power through a gearbox but for now we'll ignore those. The result is a theoretical 3308 Nm of torque at the rear wheels.

A more every day example to compare against the Audi is a car like a Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8). These come standard with a 5.7 lt LS1 V8 engine that puts out approx 475 Nm at the flywheel. In first gear this garden variety 4 door family sedan has 4476 Nm at the rear wheels.

Audi are still sticking to their guns by quoting torque output at the wheels instead of the motor shaft but with some minor math we can at lease have an educated guess at the real numbers now.

According to the media test drivers the concept e-tron was unable to keep up with the Dodge Challenger Highway Patrol cars escorting it so we're guessing the demo vehicle was quite a bit short of the 4500 Nm (3,319 ft/lb) claimed in press releases.

Still, what an awesome piece of automotive technology and we can't wait to see what Audi's engineers, the crew that introduced all wheel drive to World Championship rallying and built the S1, can do with the sports cars dynamic performance using torque vectoring across four independent wheel motors!

Read the reviews here and here

Chevy Volt charging to be controllable from an iPhone or BlackBerry

By the time the Chevy Volt rolls out to its first lucky drivers late next year, it'll be iPhone and BlackBerry smart. At the L.A. Auto Show, a Chevy suit flashed the above slide, revealing a BlackBerry displaying the Chevy Volt's battery charge status.

The iPhone and Blackberry apps will start out with the ability to control when the Chevy Volt gets charged, with the Volt letting your cellphone know when it's all juiced up and ready to go. Chevy hinted that other cellphone platforms will eventually be able to converse with the Volt, too.

We'd like to see the Volt transmit lots more data to the iPhone, working like the Garmin EcoRoutes ESP we showed you last month. Its selectable screen shows the inner workings of the car's engine, such as real-time fuel economy, a tachometer, throttle position, intake manifold pressure, coolant temperature, intake air temperature, and emissions.

As a bare minimum, the Volt should be able to receive the iPhone's audio via Bluetooth. But we think the snazzy car will be ultimately capable of much more than that. We'll see exactly what Chevy has planned — the company says it'll reveal more details about these apps soon.

Next-generation Nissan GT-R will go hybrid

We predicted this way back in March with our report on the Infiniti Essence which essentially has a Hybrid version of the GT-R engine installed, but now latest reports from Japan’s Best Car Magazine expect the next-generation of the Nissan GT-R will go hybrid. The next GT-R will come with an electric motor capable to deliver around 160 hp but also with a powerful gasoline engine which will deliver around 440 hp which coincidentally are the same specs as the Essence.

This means that the new car will deliver an impressive 600 hp and promises to be a real punch for the sports cars manufacturers and like the current model it will be a rival for every sports car in the world. Unfortunately this are the only details regarding the new model but we promise that we will find out new things and let you know!

First Australian built hybrid car rolls off line

The first Toyota hybrid has rolled off the production line in Melbourne.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Victorian Premier John Brumby joined Toyota bosses at the car giant's Altona plant for the hybrid launch on Friday. The Hybrid Camry contains a petrol engine and electric drive motor and is touted as Australia's most fuel-efficient locally built car.

Toyota expects the hybrid to use 35 per cent less fuel than other locally built six-cylinder vehicles and produce less than 150 grams of greenhouse gases per kilometer. Ten thousand hybrids will be produced for the domestic market each year, with 300 for export to New Zealand.

Mr Rudd said it was a historic day for the Australian motor industry. "This is the beginning of a whole new era in Australian motoring," he told a crowd of hundreds of officials and workers at the launch. "Today Australia joins only four other countries that can produce a Toyota hybrid car."

The launch comes as world leaders thrash out a climate change plan to tackle emissions in Copenhagen. Mr Rudd said the transport sector contributed 14 per cent of Australia's emissions and producing more fuel efficient vehicles was part of the climate change challenge.

"The hybrid Camry is good for motorists, it's good for the economy, it's good for jobs and it's good for action on climate change," he said. "The Toyota hybrid Camry is an important step in Australia's ability to achieve our domestic emissions targets and to reduce the impacts of climate change. "It's an important practical step towards Australia's lower carbon future."

The hybrid received $35 million in funding through the federal government's $1.3 billion Green Car Innovation Fund. The Victorian government has placed an order for 2000 hybrids. The hybrid Camry is set to hit showroom floors in about two months.