Tuesday, November 30, 2010

GM hiring to push electric effort beyond Volt



General Motors said today it would hire 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan over the next two years to develop more electric cars and hybrids as it launched its battery-powered Chevrolet Volt.

"Volt clearly demonstrates that we are well on our way and it is especially true when it comes to the electrification of the automobile," GM Chief Executive Dan Akerson said at a ceremony marking the start of production of the plug-in hybrid.

The Volt, which tops the Toyota Prius for fuel economy, is a first-of-its-kind vehicle that GM has touted as a symbol of its commitment to pushing for gains in fuel efficiency and developing new technology.

Akerson drove on stage in the first commercially made Volt at the ceremony to mark the start of the car's production, three years after the automaker announced the closely watched project.

Akerson said GM wanted to be in the forefront of new vehicle technology--starting with the development of powerful battery packs and electric motors--that promises to reduce oil consumption.

The Volt is designed to run for 35 miles on a full charge of its 400-pound lithium ion battery pack supplied by a unit of Korea's LG Chem.

After that, the car is powered by a 1.4-liter engine that gives drivers an estimated 379 miles of driving range.

Some critics had questioned whether the Volt would survive GM's restructuring in bankruptcy in 2009 because of its high cost and the low profit margin on the first shipments of the $41,000 car.

GM North American chief Mark Reuss compared the development of the Volt to a NASA "moon shot." He said the effort, including more than $700 million in new investment, had "created the new soul of GM."

GM will begin shipping the Volt in limited numbers in December. The automaker plans to expand shipments of the Volt to more markets in 2011 and will also start to export the vehicle, Akerson said.

The Volt, which has won honors as Motor Trend Car of the Year and Green Car of the Year, is the first in a number of electric or partly electric cars to arrive over the next two years.

The growing segment also includes the all-electric Nissan Leaf and upcoming rechargeable cars from Toyota and Ford.

GM introduced a concept version of the Volt at the Detroit auto show in 2007 and started production this month at a plant that straddles Detroit and the city of Hamtramck, Mich.

The automaker started development work on the vehicle that would become the Volt in 2006 at the urging of then product development chief Bob Lutz.

The event to mark the start of Volt production is the first major event for GM since its record-setting $23 billion initial public offering of shares earlier this month.

Michael Schumacher vs. Sebastien Loeb Race of Champions 2010 Tesla Roadster



Michael Schumacher and Sebastien Loeb challenge each other at the Race of Champions 2010 in two Tesla Roadster Sport 2.5 RoC Editions.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Boeing Announces Mass Production Of 39.2% Efficient Solar Cell



The Boeing Company has announced it is commencing mass production of its high efficiency solar cell, the C3MJ+. Boeing claims a conversion efficiency of 39.2 percent, the industry’s highest-efficiency cell.

Don't expect to see these solar cells in regular solar panels though - the C3MJ+ is a concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cell. CPV systems focus sunlight onto a small area of solar photovoltaic materials to generate electricity and are most commonly used in utility scale solar farms.

Spectrolab, a wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, drew on its 50-year history of manufacturing solar cells for space and terrestrial applications to develop the cell. The company set a new world record for efficiency last year with a test solar cell with a peak conversion efficiency of 41.6 percent.

Russ Jones, Spectrolab director of CPV Business Development, says the company is going into production with essentially the same technology and plan to deliver the first of these 39.2 percent efficient C3MJ+ cells in January.

Boeing says Spectrolab has introduced mass production of a new series of solar cells with increased energy-conversion efficiency each year since 2007.

Spectrolab solar products have powered satellites since 1958 and today Spectrolab solar cells power 60 percent of all satellites orbiting the Earth, as well as the International Space Station, NASA's solar powered Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer and the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Spectrolab aims to achieve 40 percent average production efficiency for terrestrial solar cells in 2011.

Mitsubishi set to launch plug-in hybrid SUV in 2013



Mitsubishi’s plug-in hybrid SUV will be launched in 2013, according to Yoshikazu Nakamura, senior executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s global electric vehicle business. He said that the SUV will be similar to the Px-MiEV concept car displayed at the 2009 Tokyo auto show. He indicated that the plug-in hybrid is in its final stages of development. The four-wheel-drive Px-MiEV concept features a 1.6-liter four cylinder partnered to a hybrid system with two electric motors -- one for the front wheels and one for the rear. Back then, Mitsubishi has claimed that the Px-MiEV could be driven up to 30 miles in electric mode before switching to gasoline-electric mode.

Mitsubishi said that it will produce its i-MiEV electric vehicle in only three West Coast states and Hawaii when it starts selling in the US in November 2011. Mitsubishi had also revised the name of the vehicle for the US market. It used to be known as the i-MiEV but it is now called the "i powered by MiEV."

The i will be a 2012 model. Nakamura said that on its first year of sales in the US, 43 Mitsubishi dealers in California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii will sell the i. Nakamura said that Mitsubishi hasn't named its plug-in hybrid SUV, but it will have the "MiEV" moniker. MiEV stands for "Mitsubishi innovative electric vehicle."

Friday, November 26, 2010

Ford Focus Electric Vehicle Spy Shots



Sometime in late 2011, Ford is supposed to start delivering electrified versions of its new Focus to dealerships. While Ford hasn’t given us any “official” pictures of the Focus Electric, these appear to be spyshots of the upcoming electric car.

Due to arrive in late-2011 as a 2012 model, the Focus Electric will use a lithium-ion battery pack sourced from LG Chem. To help keep these batteries cool, the pack will be liquid-cooled to boost both lifespan and performance. Ford is expecting a range of approximately 100 miles, which is on par with the Nissan Leaf electric due soon.


Australian EV to sell for under $10,000



AN AUSTRALIAN-DESIGNED electric car, to be built in China, plans to take on the world with a price under $10,000, an iPad-like dash capable of downloading apps and the promise of never needing liquid fuel.

The Noddy-like EDay hatch, set to debut at July's Melbourne motor show, will arrive next year as 100 lease vehicles, before going on sale in 2012 from $9990 (plus on-road costs). This undercuts petrol-powered competitors by thousands of dollars and is about 14 per cent of the price of the only mass-produced electric car on sale today, Mitsubishi's i-MiEV.

The car, able to travel up to 160 kilometres between charges, has a top speed of just 80km/h and weighs 450 kilograms. It will be the slowest and lightest new car on the market - and the cheapest, something sure to cement its appeal in a segment where shaving a few hundred dollars can boost sales.

The top-secret project is being run by EDay Life, a small Australian company run by former Holden director of innovation and advanced engineering Laurie Sparke and car dealer Robert Lane.

They have formed a team of 20 engineers and are finalising plans to sell the cars in countries as diverse as Malaysia, Hong Kong, Britain and France.

''What we're bringing … is Australian innovative technology,'' Mr Sparke said of the ambitious start-up project. ''We are going to develop the new generation of electric car.''

While the prospect of a start-up taking on the established car makers may seem overly ambitious, Mr Sparke said the size, flexibility and clean-sheet approach had advantages.

Just as fledgling brand Tesla had prompted others to take notice - Toyota has since signed an agreement with the Californian electric car specialist - Mr Sparke predicted a rise of next-generation vehicle makers driven from the IT industry, pointing to the Dell computers business model of lean manufacturing.

He said the new approach allowed engineering flexibility, while Australian ingenuity - often leveraged by US giants Ford and General Motors - and EDay's minuscule size gave it an advantage over established players.

The EDay will also get a touchscreen display to control major functions and the ability to download apps that could include everything from basic vehicle data to vehicle-to-home communications. With production set for a Shanghai plant, with initial capacity of 50,000, EDay plans to sell the cars around the world.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

EPA label for Chevy Volt: 93 MPGe EV Mode, 60 MPG Combined



The 2011 Chevrolet Volt received not one but three different mileage ratings from the U.S. EPA today.

On electricity alone, the Volt achieves the equivalent of 93 mpg.

Powered solely by the gasoline engine, the Volt gets 37 mpg.

Running on a combination of electricity and gasoline, the Volt generates the equivalent of 60 mpg, the EPA determined.

General Motors Co. has been touting the Volt for four years now and often refers to it as a technological showcase. The four-passenger car can travel on battery power alone and offers additional driving range when assisted by a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. The car has already received numerous awards, including Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year. The EPA said the Volt has a 35-mile range on electricity alone and a range of 379 miles with gasoline and electricity. GM had been saying that the Volt had a range of 35-50 miles on one full battery charge.

“We have said that the range is variable on how you drive,” Doug Parks, GM's vehicle line executive in charge of the Volt, said during a conference call today with the press.

The Volt falls into the EPA compact vehicle segment, which includes such vehicles as the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla.The Volt's mpg rating was rated as best in the compact class by the EPA.

Since the Volt is using technology that no other automaker currently offers, a new mileage label was created by the EPA with input from GM.

“The label helps customers understand the uniqueness of the Volt and how it applies to their routine,” said Scott Miller, vehicle performance manager for the Volt.



Label unique to Volt

The Volt is the only 2011 vehicle that will use this label. However, although it has not been determined by the EPA, the label is expected to be used by other automakers that offer similar powertrains, Parks said. The label is not expected to be used for just one model year, discarded and replaced with something different for 2012.

“We are quite pleased with the numbers and the label,” Parks said. “If there was a simpler way, we would have done it.”

The label lists what it calls “charging routines,” essentially estimates for the cost of electricity and gasoline based on the number of miles driven between charges. For example, a Volt owner living in an urban area who travels 30 miles between charges, would use no gasoline, the EPA estimates. The vehicle would consume 10.9 killowatts of electricity for an estimated cost of four cents per mile.

That contrasts with a Volt owner who travels 75 miles between a charge and uses gasoline. The EPA estimates 12.9 killowatts of electricity would be used, in addition to gasoline, for a combined estimated cost of 7 cents per mile. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 69 miles per gallon.

Earlier this month, Tom Stephens, GM's global product chief, said Chevrolet would begin shipping the Volt to dealers as soon as the EPA issued a mileage label for the vehicle. Parks declined to say when shipments would begin, however.

GM's Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant has built Volts for shipment since early November.

The car will go on sale initially in Michigan, California; metropolitan New York; Austin, Tex.; and Washington, D.C. before it is available in the rest of the country by 2012. It has a base price of $41,000, including shipping, before a $7,500 federal tax credit.

The Volt is the most aerodynamic vehicle GM has produced, Stephens said. GM had said the Volt can travel 25 to 50 miles on battery power alone and offer additional driving range of 310 miles when assisted by a 1.4-liter engine with a full tank of gasoline.

Jay Leno Drives the Jaguar C-X75 Concept Car



Jay Leno was lucky enough to be the first person outside of Jaguar to drive the stunning C-X75 concept car.

Green Overdrive: The Electric Volt Is Here! [video]



In this weeks episode of Green Overdrive Katie Fehrenbacher has a chat to a few interesting people on the Chevrolet Volt stand at the LA Auto Show on the eve of GM beginning deliveries of the Volt to customers sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Reaches 5,000 i-MiEVs Produced




Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced that it reached 5,000 units*1 of its i-MiEV new generation electric vehicle (EV) produced at its Mizushima Plant as of November 23rd.

MMC was first in the world to start production of a full-fledged mass production EV with the i-MiEV in June of 2009. The month after that MMC introduced the i-MiEV to the Japanese market, and has sold about 3,000 units to individuals and businesses nationwide (as of end October 2010). MMC also started left-hand drive European-spec i-MiEV production from October 2010, and is steadily proceeding with global rollout of EVs.

Also, in fiscal year 2011, in order to further expand its production scale via starting North American-spec i-MiEV production, MMC plans to transfer production of the i-MiEV from the current commercial vehicle assembly line to the minicar assembly line for cars such as eK Wagon and i.

*1:Does not include EV production for PSA Peugeot Citroën

Renault: ‘150-mile EVs by 2015’


Renault expects the range of its electric vehicles to be up to 150-miles by 2015, an increased range of 30 per cent compared with current figures.

The company estimates that the boost in range should be achievable thanks to a chemical ‘enhancement’ to its lithium-ion battery pack, due in 2015.

Renault’s next step is experimenting with all new chemistry, possibly zinc-air or zinc-silver, due in around 2025, which could boost EV range to 300 miles between charges.

The Renault Zoe, which will make production in 2012, features a lithium-ion battery pack that powers a 79bhp, 164lb ft electric motor to provide a 100-mile range. It can get from 0-62mph in 8.1sec and reach a top speed of 84mph.

Air hybrid system will allow buses to recharge by braking



A regenerative braking concept that uses the energy created when a vehicle decelerates to compress air is being developed for a new breed of lower-cost, fuel-efficient buses and delivery vans.

Engineering researchers from Brunel and Loughborough universities are developing the ‘air hybrid’ concept through a three-year £477,067 EPSRC-funded project. The effort has received industrial support from engine manufacturer Guangxi Yuchai Machinery, which recently signed a technology development and licensing deal with Brunel for its air hybrid technology.

Project investigator Prof Rui Chen, of Loughborough University, explained that the concept effectively runs a four-stroke engine in reverse when a vehicle brakes.

A four-stroke engine intakes fuel and air into a chamber, compresses it and then combusts the mixture to create the motion that propels a vehicle.

Chen said the air hybrid concept uses the force of the vehicle braking to power the engine’s pistons, which compress air. This air would then be stored in a compressed air storage tank already available on buses and delivery vehicles.

Once the vehicle begins to accelerate, the compressed air could be used to supercharge the engine, providing better fuel efficiency and more power, he added.

It could also be used for air-assisted braking and, in the case of buses and delivery vehicles, the operation of pneumatic equipment for opening and closing doors. Currently these operations rely on air produced by an engine-driven compressor.

The most researched and developed hybrid vehicles are currently electric based. But their suitability for commercially viable large-volume production is limited because of the additional cost associated with the engineering complexities of the combined electric and mechanical powertrain.

According to Transport for London, which currently runs 56 hybrid buses in the capital, a double decker fitted with a combined powertrain will generally cost £110,000 more than a conventional diesel version.

For example, a hybrid double-decker bus for London would cost £300,000 compared with £190,000 for the diesel equivalent.

Chen said the advantage of the air hybrid concept is that it can be implemented without adding an additional propulsion system.

The Brunel and Loughborough researchers expect to produce a working prototype of the air hybrid technology by the end of the EPSRC grant in November 2013.

A product could be ready for commercialisation by as early as 2015 following further development work.

Silent flight: Sikorsky's electric helicopter



A team at Sikorsky Innovation, the technology development arm of Sikorsky Aircraft, is attempting to develop the world’s first all-electric, near-silent helicopter in a programme known as ’Project Firefly’. The team’s plan is to validate the benefits of the electric rotorcraft in flight while addressing some of the challenges of making an environmentally friendly helicopter both commercially and technically viable.

’We’ve had electric cars, electric buses and electric street sweepers for a while now, but we really want to understand the unique difficulties associated with integrating electric propulsion into rotorcraft,’ said Jonathan Hartman, a programme manager for Project Firefly. ’In an ideal world, we would want an electric helicopter to compete on a one-to-one basis with your internal combustion aircraft today.’

Despite advances in electric powertrains for automotive applications, progress in aviation has been slow. The industry faces a very different set of challenges due to its high power requirements and Hartman believes that technology development has to begin now

’You can either wait until your technology is fully commercially ready and then just integrate it into your product, or you can get out there ahead of time and start learning about all these issues that will come up during construction. That’s what we’re doing.’

The Firefly team has retrofitted a 50-year-old military S-300C design with an electric motor and digital controller, together weighing in at 180lb. Much of the S-300C’s original design has remained the same to keep costs down, with the main difference being the addition of an interactive LCD monitor in the cockpit. Two battery packs, each made up of 150 individual 45amp-hour (Ah) lithium-ion cells, are the backbone of the energy-storage system. They sit outside the aircraft much like an agricultural spraying kit, and run at 370V to provide enough power for a continuous 15-minute flight.



’That’s obviously not a lot of time,’ said Hartman. ’There is one technology that needs to mature to make this a commercial reality and that is energy-storage distribution. There are projects out there that we are watching. If some of the technologies that are on the bench now can come out and provide the energy-surge capacity they are claiming, we could well see helicopter endurances in the half hour to the hour range instead of just 15 minutes, which is exciting.’

Sikorsky claims it has increased the propulsion efficiency of the helicopter by around 300 per cent from baseline. The use of an electric motor reduces the complexity of the helicopter, cutting down on the number of components and reducing maintenance costs. There is also a reduction in vibrations and associated acoustics with electric propulsion, which could one day lead to a new series of low-observable, optionally manned aircraft for both military and civil applications.

The benefits, however, sit against a long list of challenges. The motor must be air cooled rather than liquid cooled, and has to remain at operating temperature while sitting on the ground. Sikorsky presented this problem to US Hybrid, which came up with an adaptation of a motor it uses for surface-vehicle programmes, such as the electric-powered Humvee for the US Marine Corps. The group provided 40 per cent more power and added a number of control laws to allow the motor to run at a constant high rpm.

While a conventional motor requires time to engage and build up torque, an electric motor can do this straight away so further control laws were added to prevent pilots from taking off and landing too quickly. Feedback from pilots also showed that the lack of noise could affect handling. ’Our toughest challenge was on the human factor side,’ said Hartman.’We have this electric helicopter that produces substantially less noise than a traditional helicopter. All of the pilot cueing is basically gone and that presents some unique difficulties that a pilot never had to worry about before.’

To address this, integrated sensors were added that feed real-time aircraft health information to the pilot through an interactive LCD monitor. Monitoring of health data is done automatically through the flight-control computer and any potentially hazardous conditions are avoided with automatic system re-routing or electric shutdown. As well as providing information to the pilot, the system tracks critical stages of flight in real time allowing the team to rapidly prototype new ideas as it goes through the development programme.

The issue that poses the greatest challenge, however, is weight. ’The helicopter itself weighs empty several hundred pounds more than it did in its legacy configuration,’ said Hartman. ’What we did in the project was take the maximum weight of the aircraft, subtract out the motor, the weight of the cockpit, control and the pilot and fill the rest of it up with batteries. They are not the most weight-efficient batteries that are on the market today, but we went for reliability over weight and selected safe components that we knew would work… If a bus loses charge that’s one thing, but if a helicopter suddenly loses charge then you have a problem.’

Hartman is confident that with improvements in battery technology, weight will be reduced and reliability improved significantly allowing electric helicopters to compete with conventional aircraft. Hartman added that in the shorter term electric helicopters could have some interesting applications using endurances of between half-an-hour and an hour. ’My director has a fantastic vision. He would love to see a helicopter fly on a two-seat tour of the Grand Canyon. You and the pilot, no shaking, you don’t even have to wear headphones - you just enjoy the view. You can imagine something similar for applications in urban transportation.’

The Firefly project is undergoing component bench testing and is scheduled to move to ground testing and first flight early next year. It seems inevitable that at some point full-scale electric rotorcraft will be seen in our skies, but just when that will happen is anyone’s guess. ’I would need a crystal ball to tell you,’ said Hartman. ’But if the trajectory continues as it is, the next five to 10 years are going to be very interesting.’

The specs

Airframe: converted S-300C
System efficiency: 89 per cent during cruise, 91 per cent maximum power efficiency
Power: 190hp permanent magnet electric motor
Endurance: 15min
Lithium-ion battery: 150, 45Ah lithium-ion cells
Maximum velocity: 79knots

Nissan Leaf gets combined EPA rating of 99 MPGe



Nissan has announced the 2011 Leaf will carry an EPA rating of 106 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway.

The figures were calculated using the "EPA's formula of 33.7kW-hrs being equivalent to one gallon of gasoline energy." Furthermore, the EPA label reveals the Leaf will have a range of approximately 73 miles (117 km), a recharging time of seven hours (at 240V), and an annual electrical cost of roughly $561.

This is a considerable reduction from August 2009 when Nissan used EPA Plug-In guidelines and got a figure of 367 MPG for their all electric Leaf.

Based on published data about the Nissan Leaf, a 24 kWh battery that gives 100 miles range, the Leaf can only carry the equivalent of 0.65 gallons of gasoline energy so a more simplified calculation would give the Leaf a rating of 165 MPGe.

The EPA Label for the GM Volt has yet to be issued but we're betting it will be too close to call. Taking into account that the US Federal Government is the largest shareholder in GM, it's not much of a stretch of the imagination to see that EPA labels may have become politicized.

Confirmation of this will be if the Leaf and Volt are both issued 99 MPGe EPA ratings.

Audi aims to be luxury EV leader; plug-in hybrid due in 2014



Audi has big plans for its electric vehicle business.

"By 2020, we want to be the leading premium seller of electric vehicles," Franciscus van Meel, Audi's manager for electric mobility strategy, said at a recent technical workshop at the company's headquarters here.

"We will successively bring out a variety of hybrid models and electric vehicles, such as our first plug-in hybrid in 2014," he said, without sharing more details on the plug-in hybrid.

Audi's alternative powertrain plan includes: full-hybrid versions of the A8 upper-premium sedan and Q5 SUV, both due in late 2011; a hybrid A6 that is likely to arrive in 2012; plus a range of high-priced electric cars starting with the limited-edition battery-powered e-tron version of the R8 supercar in 2012.

Audi set up the e-tron division to develop and produce EVs. The brand's electric-car approach is different from that of rival BMW AG, which is developing the smaller so-called Megacity Vehicle designed for urban commuting. The Megacity Vehicle is due to launch in 2013.

"Today we're assuming that our sales of Audi e-tron electric cars will rise to a six-figure volume by 2020," van Meel said.

By 2020, Audi wants to increase the efficiency of its internal combustion engines by 30 percent and wants 5 percent of the brand's lineup to be electric, Michael Dick, Audi's board member for technology, said earlier this year.

To help it meet that goal, Audi recently opened a 65 million euro (about $89 million), 14,000-square-meter electric-drive development and test center at its headquarters. It plans to hire 840 people to help develop electric powertrains and batteries.

Audi parent Volkswagen AG wants the group to be No. 1 in hybrid and electric cars before the end of the decade, increasing its EV market share to 3 percent of its forecast global sales of 10 million vehicles by 2018.

Globally, VW Group plans to launch a full-electric version of its Up minicar, the E-Up, E-Golf and E-Jetta in 2013. VW recently announced they will invest $71.2 billion focused on hybrids and electric vehicle development over the next 4 years.

Mercedes Electric Vito Taxi wins Future Car Challenge



A seven-seat electric taxi was awarded Most Economic & Environment Friendly Multi-Purpose Electric Vehicle at the Royal Automobile Club's (RAC) Future Car Challenge.

The Mercedes Electric Vito (eVito) Taxi, which was a collaboration between Mercedes Benz, Zytek Automotive, and Valence, is powered by Valence batteries.

The challenge was to produce a concept of a pollution-free fleet vehicle that could be used as taxis during the Olympic games.

The eVito beat out 59 other vehicles by finishing the 57-mile run with about 30 percent of its battery capacity remaining.

"We're very gratified that the eVito outperformed its competition in the challenge, which we hope will further raise awareness of the bright future Valence is enabling for electric fleets," said Robert L. Kanode, president and chief executive officer of Valence Technology.

Fully Charged discussion with Rory Reid



In this weeks episode of Fully Charged Robert Llewellyn goes for a drive with Rory Reid from cnet uk in a Nissan Leaf.

Rory, who wrote a blog post called '10 reasons electric cars still suck', takes the 'con' side of the debate while Robert, as you would expect, takes 'pro'.

Most of the arguments against EVs are usually from those who lack an understanding of the basics.

Naysayers need to comprehend this: The battery pack in a Nissan Leaf holds the energy equivalent of just 0.65 US Gallon of gasoline. There isn't a car in the world that has a fuel tank even close to being that small.

On that small amount of energy, approx 2.5 liters worth of petrol, The Nissan Leaf is able to travel 100 miles (160 kms) at highway speeds.

The Nissan Versa, the ICE version of the Leaf, has an EPA rated combined fuel consumption of 30 MPG (US fleet average is 21.5 MPG). If it had the fuel tank capacity equivalent to a Leaf it's range would be less than 20 miles.

The 2010 Nissan Versa, in fact, has a 13.2 gallon fuel tank. To store the electricity equivalent of 13.2 Gallons of Gasoline in the Leaf would require a 483 kWh battery (it has a 24 kWh battery).

The Versa consumes 20x as much energy to cover just over three times (approx 365 miles) the range of the Leaf. On the energy equivalent of 13 Gallons of Gasoline the Leaf could travel over 2,400 miles (3,864 km) @ 200 wh/mi.

Anyone who would argue that ICE powered cars, that use 6 - 10x as much energy to do the same work, are a better option for an energy efficient future is simply ignorant of the facts &/or is just being belligerent.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Hertz Partners With CODA for EV Fleet in 2011



The Hertz Corporation today announced a joint partnership with CODA Automotive to bring, by the beginning of 2011, its new four-door, five-passenger all-electric CODA Sedans(TM) to Hertz's California locations as part of the Hertz Global EV program.

"Hertz's partnership with CODA Automotive is another element of our long term strategy to provide consumers with electric vehicle access on a global scale," said Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "As we continue to build out our EV and PHEV infrastructure, we get closer to making electric vehicle travel an everyday reality."

As announced in September, Hertz Global EV will be the first company to provide a range of all-electric vehicles and charging stations on a rental and car-sharing basis at global scale. The CODA Sedan will join vehicles from Nissan and other manufacturers as part of Hertz Global EV's diverse fleet. With a range of 90 to 120 miles per charge during all seasons, the CODA Sedan is designed to be plugged straight into a standard household unit, among other charging options, for a seamless experience.

Kevin Czinger, Chief Executive Officer of CODA Automotive said, "CODA Automotive and Hertz share the goal of bringing EV technology to the everyday consumer and making electric-vehicle travel easy and seamless. Hertz has the industry expertise and extensive global network, and we have a revolutionary vehicle and unmatched devotion to the all-electric platform -- together it's a winning combination."

As the world's largest general-use airport car-rental brand, Hertz is uniquely positioned to introduce multiple groups of consumers -- urban drivers, university students, travelers, and corporations -- to the all-electric vehicle.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Oshkosh Diesel Series-Hybrid Tackles 1,000-Mile Off-Road Desert Race



Oshkosh Corporation announced today its Extreme Racing team has completed the 43rd Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race course in Mexico. The Oshkosh Extreme Racing team ran its Light Concept Vehicles (LCV) through the rugged 1,061-mile desert course and one crossed the finish line in La Paz today.

“Off-road racing teams compete in the Baja 1000 to push the limits, and we’re absolutely thrilled to see our vehicle overcome the difficult desert terrain,” said Chris Yakes, Oshkosh Corporation vice president of Advanced Products Engineering and Oshkosh Extreme Racing team leader. “Our team’s performance on this world-renowned course speaks to both the quality of our technologies and the expertise of our drivers and technical crew. I couldn’t be more proud of our team.”

The two Oshkosh Extreme Racing vehicles, numbered M1 and M2 for the race, were driven by members of California Gold Racing (CGR), led by legendary race driver Glenn Harris. M2 reached speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour and completed the course at 4:20 p.m. PST – approximately 6.5 hours over the limit for scoring purposes.

According to Harris, “There are so many unknowns going into the SCORE Baja 1000 race because of the extreme nature of this event. By finishing one of the toughest off-road races, Oshkosh is demonstrating that this new powertrain and suspension technologies are ready for almost anything.”

“Approximately 58 percent of all vehicles that start the race, are able to finish the race,” said Sal Fish, SCORE International’s President and CEO, which has sanctioned and produced the event since 1975. “I know I speak for the entire SCORE staff and race officials when I say we are impressed with how well the Oshkosh Extreme Racing team performed during their inaugural run.”

Oshkosh Extreme Racing ran two vehicles in the 1,061-mile off-road race. The Oshkosh LCV M1 was unable to meet a checkpoint time requirement, causing the vehicle to receive a “did not finish” result.

The LCV includes the next-generation of TAK-4® independent suspension systems. The new system expands on Oshkosh’s patented TAK-4 suspension by increasing off-road mobility, improving vehicle maneuverability and providing a smoother ride. The Oshkosh ProPulse® diesel-electric powertrain design delivers improved fuel economy and can export significant levels of electrical power.

“I’ve been off-road racing for 30 years now, and this was hands down my favorite race,” said Harris. “SCORE put on another great point-to-point run from Ensenada to La Paz. It was extremely challenging and the vehicles out-performed my expectations. This vehicle thrived where most vehicles have the toughest time in the adverse terrain. We didn’t get stuck once – and the LCV cruised over the silt beds and powered through flooded washes that got deeper and deeper with each passing vehicle.”

“Participating in a competitive event like the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 was an amazing experience for our team. The race allowed us to assess the performance of our technologies under extreme conditions and we learned a lot,” Yakes said. “This development milestone was a huge success and our engineers and maintenance experts are eager to apply what we learned to ultimately improve military vehicle fleets for decades to come.”

Supercapacitor Market to Reach $3B in 2016



According to industry analyst firm NanoMarkets, worldwide sales of supercapacitors will grow from around $400 million ($US) in 2010 to reach about $3.0 billion by 2016. This report, "Market Opportunities for Supercapacitors" is part of the ongoing coverage that NanoMarkets provides for novel energy storage applications ranging from thin-film batteries to storage technologies for renewable energy.


In addition to quantifying the supercapacitor market and analyzing its key trends, this report discusses the activities of leading firms including CAP-XX, ESMA, Ioxus, LG, Maxwell, NEC, Nesscap, Nippon Chemi-Con and Panasonic and of some of the growing number of supercapacitors start-ups including Advanced Capacitor, Axion, EEStor, EnerG2, FastCAP, Graphene Energy, Reticle, and Y-Carbon.

Key findings:

According to NanoMarkets’ report, applications for supercapacitors in public transport and private vehicles currently account for almost 60 percent of the supercapacitor market. By 2016, the transportation/vehicular sector’s market share will fall to around 35 percent, as new applications for supercapacitors emerge.

The fastest growing market for supercapacitors will be found in the consumer electronics industry, which is expected to demand more than $725 million in these devices by 2016.

NanoMarkets believes that frequency regulation in next-generation electricity grids will provide $540 million in business for supercapacitor firms in 2016.

NanoMarkets believes that the rapid improvement in performance of supercapacitors in the past five years has dramatically increased the markets that can be addressed by supercapacitors and expects further growth driven by the use of new electrode and electrolyte materials and by further miniaturization of the supercapacitors themselves.

Nanomarkets

Ultra High-Strength Steels Featured in Motor Trend's Car of the Year



As the automotive industry recognizes the Chevy Volt plug-in electric vehicle as Motor Trend's Car of the Year, the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) is celebrating the record use of high-strength steel in the vehicle structure. Motor Trend called the Chevy Volt "some of the most advanced engineering ever seen in an American car," as it announced its selection yesterday on www.motortrend.com.

According to General Motors, the Volt combines advanced steels to help ensure crashworthiness and stiffness. With over 70 percent of its total structure made from high-strength steels, including advanced and ultra high-strength steels, the Volt's steel design provides occupants with added protection. In addition, the Volt features a pressurized steel fuel tank.

"The Chevy Volt utilizes lightweight, advanced high-strength steel technologies that complement its revolutionary steel design and add to its technical appeal as this year's Motor Trend Car of the Year," Ron Krupitzer, vice president, automotive applications for SMDI, said, "GM's innovative use of advanced steels has resulted in a vehicle that is affordable, safe, durable and energy efficient."

Motor Trend's Car of the Year is a week-long process that includes a number of performance, ride and handling, and driving tests. In addition, contenders are evaluated in the following areas: advancement in design; engineering excellence; efficiency; safety; value; and performance of intended function.

Obama pauses at NATO summit to tout new GM hybrid



President Barack Obama took time out from a NATO summit in Lisbon on Saturday to tout a new hybrid electric car which General Motors plans to roll out in Europe next year.

Obama found himself acting as salesman-in-chief for GM Opel's Ampera model just days after he declared in Washington that U.S. taxpayers would get their money back for saving GM in a bailout that was broadly unpopular.

Calling the Ampera an "example of GM technology," Obama said: "This is the future."

"This is a car made in America," he said after inspecting an Ampera at the convention center where he was wrapping up a two-day NATO summit. "We're going to start selling it in Europe."

GM last week was refloated as a public company amid heavy investor demand, and the White House sought to take credit for what it saw as a successful turnaround.

Public anger over the bailout, along with rescue packages for Wall Street banks, contributed to heavy losses for Obama's Democrats in the November 2 congressional election.

But the stock sale capped GM's recovery from near-collapse, thanks to a $50 billion government rescue.

Public Square: Is the gas car a dinosaur?



The Times-Dispatch held its 32nd Public Square at the newspaper's Hanover Production Plant.

The conversation -- Is the Gas Car a Dinosaur? -- began with a panel discussion with four energy and automotive experts.

The wide-ranging exchange was followed by questions and comments from the audience of about 100.

Publisher Tom Silvestri served as moderator.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

VW to invest 51.6bn euros in Electric and Hybrid Vehicles



Volkswagen says it plans to invest 51.6 billion euros ($A71.2 billion) in the next four years to develop new models and attain its objective of becoming the world's top car maker by 2018.

With another 10.6 billion euros ($A14.63 billion) to be invested by its joint ventures in China, the German car maker said it aims to "expand and modernise its entire product line across all of its brands".

The investments, to come from the company's own funds, will focus on hybrids and electric vehicles, where it lags behind Japan's Toyota, which it hopes to unseat as the top global car maker within seven years.

Last year Volkswagen said it planned to invest 25.8 billion euros ($A35.6 billion) between 2010 and 2012.

Volkswagen steered around being significantly damaged by the global crisis, thanks in large part to continued boom the Chinese car market, and was sitting on a cash pile of 19.6 billion euros ($A27.05 billion) at the end of September.

The company, which owns nine brands, is in the process of absorbing a tenth, luxury sports car maker Porsche.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

GM raises $20 billion in IPO



General Motors Co. raised more than $20 billion selling common and preferred stock in an initial public offering that reduced the U.S. government to a minority shareholder.

GM’s owners, including the U.S. Treasury, sold at least $15.8 billion of common shares at $33 each, making it the second-largest U.S. IPO on record after Visa Inc.’s $19.7 billion sale in March 2008, a statement showed. An overallotment option and a sale of preferred shares may boost the total raised to $23.1 billion, more than the $22.1 billion sold by Beijing- based Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. in the largest IPO of common stock in history.

The offering from GM came 16 months after it emerged from bankruptcy and brings Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson closer to his goal of returning the $49.5 billion the automaker received in a taxpayer bailout last year. The Treasury, which is taking a loss on its portion of the sale, will break even only if the shares climb more than 60 percent, Bloomberg data shows.

“It’s pretty hard to be anything but positive,” said Uri Landesman, who helps oversee about $500 million as president of New York-based hedge fund Platinum Partners LLP. The IPO “shows you that there are people who are very enthusiastic. People think that this is a viable company,” he said.

‘Very Patient’

GM’s common shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GM tomorrow, the company statement said. It will trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker GMM.

The Treasury needs to sell all of its GM shares at an average price of $43.67 to break even on its investment, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

“We will only get our money back if we are very patient and if GM performs very well,” said Joe Phillippi, principal of consulting firm AutoTrends Inc. in Short Hills, New Jersey. “GM will really have to hit the ball out of the park in the next couple of years.”

The Treasury offered about 358.5 million shares in the IPO, about 95 million more shares than initially planned, and the United Auto Workers’ retiree health-care trust sold 18 million more, according to GM’s regulatory filings. The overallotment option increased by an additional 14.3 million shares offered by Treasury and 2.7 million by the UAW trust.

Treasury’s Stake

The IPO would lower Treasury’s stake to 37 percent, or 33 percent with the overallotment option, from 61 percent, the filings showed. The UAW trust’s holdings would drop to 14 percent, or 13 percent with the option, from 20 percent.

GM’s IPO “is an important step in the turnaround of the company and for our work to recover taxpayer dollars and exit this investment as soon as practicable,” Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner said in a statement. “It is now widely recognized that the taxpayers’ investment not only helped save jobs during the worst economic crisis in a generation but also gave the auto industry a solid foundation on which to build.”

While the Treasury increased the number of shares it had originally planned to sell, Canada and Ontario left their portion of the offering unchanged. Canada will recover more of its investment in the bailout than if it sold more shares in the IPO if GM shares rise. GM boosted its offering price to as much as $33 on Nov. 16, from $26 to $29.

Relative Value

At $33 a share, GM is valued at 7.8 times this year’s earnings, based on its net income in the first nine months of 2010. Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford Motor Co. trades at 8.1 times analysts’ estimates for 2010 profit, the data show. Ford has been the world’s most profitable automaker this year through September.

GM, which lost $82 billion from 2005 to 2008, was valued at an average of 10.3 times profit from 2000 through 2004, monthly data compiled by Bloomberg show. Ford traded at an average of 13 times earnings in the same period.

GM reported third-quarter net income of $2.16 billion last week, bringing its earnings this year to $4.77 billion. While GM will have positive earnings before interest and taxes in the fourth quarter, they will be “significantly lower” than the first three quarters of the year, Akerson said on a Nov. 10 conference call.

“The way they performed in the third quarter, GM is on a trajectory to reaching a breakeven point for taxpayers,” Anant Sundaram, a professor at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business who studies corporate valuations, said in a telephone interview. “My sense is $36 at the end of the first day is not at all unreasonable” for GM’s shares, he said.

S&P 500 Index

The automaker sold shares after the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index rose to a two-year high this month on speculation that the U.S. economy won’t slip back into a recession. The benchmark gauge for U.S. equities fell for the fourth straight day yesterday, the longest losing streak since August, before closing little changed today.

The Kuwait Investment Authority may buy a stake in GM of 1 percent or less, one person familiar with the deal said yesterday. Shanghai-based SAIC Motor Corp., GM’s partner in China, probably will be among the buyers, three people familiar with the plans said last week.

Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. led the IPO that includes 35 underwriters, according to a GM filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Barclays Plc, Credit Suisse Group AG, Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada were also listed in the prospectus.

‘So Much Money’

General Motors Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on June 1, 2009, after the failure of New York-based Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September 2008 froze credit markets and helped cause the longest recession since the Great Depression.

“Institutional investors are so positive about GM because the industry is primed to make so much money as it recovers,” said Alan Baum, an analyst for Baum & Associates, an industry consultant in West Bloomfield, Michigan. “GM in the past wasn’t well positioned for that. Costs are now down and their products are being well-received.”

--With assistance from Jeffrey McCracken, Cecile Vannucci and Michael Tsang in New York, Jeff Green in Southfield, Michigan, Rebecca Christie in Washington and Greg Quinn in Ottawa. Editors: Daniel Hauck, Kevin Orland.

Williams F1 Team opts for battery KERS in 2011




The Williams Formula One team has made the switch from the flywheel unit it has been developing for the past two years because of the packaging opportunities battery power offers in the wake of the refuelling ban at the end of last season.

The team had previously committed to running KERS in 2011 back in September, but technical director Sam Michael said at the time that both battery and flywheel derivatives remained an option.

Williams co-owner Patrick Head has confirmed that the team has opted for the battery version in 2011, because it is easier to package now F1 cars must carry larger fuel cells than they did two years ago.

"I think it's fairly well known that we're going to be running a battery system," said Head. "Had we run KERS in 2009, it would have been a flywheel-based system.

"The flywheel, by the very nature of what it is, has a cylinder of a certain diameter.

"The weight is actually lighter than a battery for equivalent power and energy storage. But the batteries, because they're made up of lots of little cells, we can make it large and flat, we can make it small and tall. We can put it into any shape.

"Once refuelling was banned in Formula 1, it made it quite difficult to fit a flywheel into a Formula 1 car. Albeit we've got a number of programmes going, including the successful Porsche GT3R hybrid one, where the flywheel is happily fitted into sportscars, and other types of car."

Head has not ruled out Williams introducing its flywheel-based system in the future however and suggested that it might be more suited to the next raft of technical regulation changes expected for F1 in 2013.

"From what we understand, there's likely to be a much higher-power KERS system; 120 kilowatts we hear, a much higher energy storage, a much higher stored energy level - we've heard figures from 2.3 megajoules to 4 megajoules allowance," explained Head. "Whereas at the moment it's 400 kilojoules, so possibly up to a factor of 10 the amount of energy you can store.

"It would be a very different thing. You've still got to harvest that energy, so..."

"None of these figures is fixed yet. If the engine is a four-cylinder turbo engine it may well be that there's a possibility of installing the flywheel. If the design of the cars allows us to install the flywheel, we'll look at it again as a possibility for Formula 1."

Nissan Debuts Ellure Concept Hybrid @ LA Auto Show



If you’ve been wondering what the replacement for the Nissan Altima is going to look like, we think we might have something that will interest you. At the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today, Nissan unveiled its Ellure Concept, a front-wheel drive sedan that hints at future models. It’s probably safe to assume that Nissan wouldn’t have built the Ellure unless they were going to get some kind of production vehicle out of it and the Ellure fits the Altima mold.

The press release for Nissan‘s Ellure concept invokes the name of the sacred Datsun 510, but while the 510 was a diminutive, boxy sports sedan, the Ellure is swoopy and musculer, like a futuristic Maxima.

With a front end supposedly inspired by the formal coat worn by Samurai, Nissan asserts that the Ellure makes no attempt to hide its “sedan-ness”, mentioning that they expect this body style to be the core of their future product lineup.

“When all is said and done, the sedan will always be core to the Nissan product portfolio. Our goal is to rejuvenate the sedan’s attractiveness to buyers who might have migrated to other segments, or who are coming reluctantly into the category,” said Nissan Senior VP Shiro Nakamura. “By respecting its strengths, while recognizing that emotion is as critical as function, Ellure could well be the wave, or more correctly the ‘shock wave,’ of future sedans.”

Naturally, the Ellure is a hybrid that uses a supercharged 2.5L four-cylinder, a CVT transmission and a 25kw electric motor.

Kia unveils Optima Hybrid @ LA Auto Show



Kia Motors Corporation premiered the hybrid version of its new Optima sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Created primarily with the US market in mind, the Kia-developed powertrain delivers an estimated combined cycle fuel economy is 38 mpg US (6.2 L/100km) (city 36.0 mpg, highway 40.0 mpg).

Arriving in Kia dealer showrooms early next year, the 2011 Optima Hybrid is the brand’s first hybrid for North America and uses a full parallel hybrid system to deliver a 40.7% mpg improvement compared with a regular Optima. Acceleration to 62 mph (100 km/h) takes 9.2 seconds, and the top speed is 121 mph (195 km/h).

The 2.4-liter Theta II gasoline engine is mated to a small electric motor and drives the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission without the traditional torque converter. A special clutch is fitted between the engine and motor, enabling the gasoline engine to be de-coupled from the powertrain so that Optima can be operated in zero-emissions, full-electric drive mode from standstill up to 62 mph.

The system’s configuration does not require a high-capacity electric motor and generator, saving weight and cost.

When setting off, the Optima Hybrid operates in Electric Mode. As vehicle speed rises, the Hybrid Starter motor/Generator (HSG) starts the gasoline engine and the clutch is closed, allowing the engine to take over the task of propelling the car. The electric motor switches into hybrid operation and serves as both a secondary engine (during full acceleration and hill-climbing) and a generator to recharge the battery pack as necessary. Whenever the car comes a stop for more than a few seconds, the gasoline engine automatically shuts off to completely eliminate emissions.

When braking, the electric motor converts kinetic energy into electricity for storage in the battery pack. The 8.5 kW HSG also functions as a generator to re-charge the battery pack if the state of charge is low and when the car is stationary. Throughout the entire driving experience, in everyday motoring, under all conditions, the entire hybrid operation is automatic and seamless.

The Optima Hybrid’s 30 kW Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) synchronous electric motor produces 40.7 ps (30 kW) and 205 N·m (151 lb-ft) of torque from 0-to-1,400 rpm in electric mode. The combined (electric motor plus gasoline engine) hybrid powertrain has an output of 209 ps (154 kW) and 265 N·m (195 lb-ft).

Described by Kia engineers as a Transmission-Mounted-Electric-Drive (TMED), the 30 kW IPM electric motor sits within the car’s extended transmission casing (between the gasoline engine and the automatic gearbox) and is an oil-cooled system.

Kia’s Optima Hybrid employs a lithium polymer battery array developed in partnership with LG Chem. The power and energy density of this battery enabled Kia engineers to create a lighter, more compact power pack with a 34 kW output and weighing just 43.6 kg (95.9 lbs) designed to minimize intrusion of the Optima’s trunk space.

The complete hybrid system is controlled by the Optima's Hybrid Control Unit (HCU) which acts as the car’s mastermind and integrates the smooth operation of the engine’s ECU, transmission’s TCU, battery management system (BMS), low voltage converter (LDC). This brain also gives the Optima a Fail-Safe back-up capability and a Limp-home mode.

Optimizing the Theta II gasoline engine. Taking advantage of the instant and continuously available torque from the electric motor, Kia modified its popular 2.4-liter Theta II engine to operate on an Atkinson cycle, raising the compression ratio by 20% to maximize its efficiency and achieving a 10% fuel saving over a regular Theta engine. This cycle generates a little less torque, but the electric motor compensates for any loss and consequently, the Optima Hybrid’s overall power and torque outputs are greater than the regular model.

For the Optima Hybrid, Kia has modified the six-speed automatic transmission found on the conventional Optima for hybrid application. The traditional torque converter is replaced with an electric motor and a high-efficiency oil pump. This new gearbox allows EV mode operation, maximizes regeneration of kinetic energy during braking and also provides a more responsive drive than a CVT system.

To maximize the Optima Hybrid’s performance and minimize its fuel consumption, special attention has been paid to its aerodynamics. The car is lowered by 5 mm and new features include an active air flap in the front grille, smooth underfloor panels, low-drag wheels and low rolling resistance tires. The drag coefficient is lowered to Cd 0.26.

Energy and fuel-saving technologies features in the Optima Hybrid include a regenerative braking system, electric—rather than hydraulic—assisted power steering, and an electric air compressor capable of delivering high air-conditioning performance.

Two independent liquid cooling systems are fitted to the Optima Hybrid powertrain. The standard high-temperature circuit manages engine cooling and passenger compartment heating. The second low-temperature circuit cools the hybrid starter-generator and the power electronics. The trunk-mounted battery pack does not require liquid cooling and its temperature is controlled by a simple ventilation fan beneath the rear parcel shelf.

Mitsubishi Unveils US Version of "i" EV @ LA Auto Show



Building on the company's more than 35 years of involvement in advanced electric vehicle development, Mitsubishi Motors has unveiled its first all-electric production vehicle bound for the North American market.

Based on the very popular gasoline-powered "i" minicar in the Japanese market, this roomy and practical four-door 2012 model serves as the basis for the new 100% battery-powered Mitsubishi "i" for the North American market. The zero tailpipe emission "i" will be the first North American production vehicle to be powered by Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) technology – cutting edge drivetrain engineering that will serve as the basis for future ultra-environmentally-friendly vehicles from the company. Gone are conventional automotive systems including a gasoline engine, transmission and a fuel tank, having been replaced by advanced components including a lithium-ion battery system, electric motor and an efficient battery charging system in the all-new "i". This electric vehicle has already proved itself a viable and reliable form of transportation as Mitsubishi has been selling the car in its home market since the summer of 2009; production has already commenced for the European-spec i-MiEV, with deliveries beginning later this year.

Mitsubishi anticipates an initial roll out of the "i" to its dealership network in the western United States (specifically California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii) in November 2011, with entry into the northeastern market to follow by March 2012 and nationwide availability by the end of 2012. The vehicle's MSRP is expected to be around $30,000, not including Federal and available state financial incentives.

The new production Mitsubishi "i" bound for the North American market further differentiates itself from its Japanese- and European-spec versions with a retooled, larger body to provide even more interior comfort for four adults, along with new North American-spec bumpers front and rear for enhanced protection in the event of a collision. Other noteworthy safety measures on the North American-spec vehicle include airbags that protect passengers and control deployment force, Active Stability Control (ASC) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - all included as standard equipment.

Easier on the Environment

Thanks to its extremely efficient all-electric powertrain, the Mitsubishi "i" produces zero on-road CO2, making it a zero emissions vehicle. What's more, when factoring in the CO2 emissions produced by the power plants that generated the electricity that provides the energy for the "i", this revolutionary Mitsubishi production car only produces about 30% of the CO2 emitted by the 660cc gasoline engine that powers the non-electric-version of the car in its home market. And the reduction in CO2 becomes even more statistically significant considering that the 660cc gasoline engine found in the Japanese market is only about one-third of the displacement of the typical four-cylinder gasoline engine powering cars in the North American market.

Additional energy efficiency can be wrung from the "i" model's electric powertrain thanks to Eco (Economy) and Brake driving modes that supplement the vehicle's standard Drive mode. The Eco mode limits excessive power usage from reaching the motor while the Brake mode increases the resistance of the regenerative braking system (especially when driving downhill) to feed even more energy back into the car's bank of lithium-ion batteries.

Low Cost "Fuel" Source

The operating cost per mile of the electrical-powered Mitsubishi "i" is significantly cheaper than that of a comparable gasoline-powered vehicle. In Japan, the operating cost is only 1/3 that of the 660cc gasoline engine-powered version of the car, and the operating cost can drop even more significantly than that of its internal-combustion sibling by taking advantage of reduced electricity rates by recharging during nighttime or off-peak hours*.

Clever Design = Spacious Accommodations, Outstanding Safety

Thanks to the vehicle's excellent packaging and engineering in relation to its size, this uniquely styled automobile provides an excellent level of safety, ample room for four adults plus handy cargo space.

How can a small car possess such ample interior volume? Mitsubishi engineers have cleverly placed the high-capacity lithium-ion batteries beneath the floor, and the electric motor, inverter and battery charger have been located behind and below the rear passenger area. This setup also has the added benefit of lowering the vehicle's center of gravity. Along with the wheels being placed at the farthest corners of the vehicle, this gives the "i" exceptional stability along with surprisingly agile handling.

Advanced Electric Powertrain

The power system consists of a permanent magnet synchronous electric motor and a high energy density lithium-ion battery pack that consists of 88 cells (22 modules, 4 battery cells per module) for a maximum battery capacity of 16 kWh. The battery modules can be installed either transversely or vertically; this packaging flexibility allows them to be stored underneath the cabin floor. All 88 cells reside within an extremely sturdy stainless steel capsule to provide maximum protection.

The "i" also features a groundbreaking three-way battery charging system that allows the vehicle to be charged using the onboard household charger through either 110V (15A) or 220V (15A) power sources or by a quick-charger system that utilizes a three-phase 220V power supply. The charging times from a very low battery to completely full are approximately 8 hours at 220V and 16 hours at 110V. The three-phase 220V quick-charger can take a low battery all the way up to an 80% battery charge in under a remarkably fast 30 minutes. The three-phase quick-charger makes use of a special outlet that is accessible on the driver's side of the vehicle, while the onboard household charger's outlet is located on the passenger side of the "i".

Strategic Research and Logistical Partners

The Mitsubishi "i" has undergone several years of exhaust testing and evaluation not only internally by the Japanese auto manufacturer but with several other institutions, including seven utility companies in Japan, as well as prototype evaluation programs with major United States utilities Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Portland General Electric and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

And in an effort to help expand and improve the logistical side of the electric vehicle ownership experience, Mitsubishi has teamed with corporate titans including consumer electronics retailer Best Buy and leading power management company Eaton Corporation. Best Buy, through its 20,000-plus strong employees in its Geek Squad division, has partnered to provide site analysis and work to manage installation of a Level 2 Charging Station it will sell through its stores for Mitsubishi "i" owners to use in their own homes. Designed and manufactured by Eaton - a company that has more than 20 years of experience in developing electrical and hybrid power systems for commercial vehicles - this 220V charging station will cut the time it takes to charge the car's batteries in half when compared to a standard 110V electrical outlet.


*Note: Electricity rates can vary by region, supplier and timing.

Mitsubishi "i" specifications

(North American Version)
Overall length
144.8-in.
Overall width
62.4-in.
Overall height
63.6-in.
Track: F/R
55.9 / 54.3-in.
Wheelbase
100.4-in.
Number of passengers
4
Vehicle weight
2584 lbs.
Motor output
63 hp
Motor torque
133 lb.-ft
Battery system
330V lithium-ion
Drive mode
Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive