Fullycharged takes the Nissan Leaf for a spin

In the latest episode of Fullycharged, Robert Llewellyn takes the soon to be released Nissan Leaf for a spin.

Zotye Auto become the first Chinese Co. to sell a Private Battery EV

Few have heard of Zotye Auto or its 5008EV, which is an updated version of the Daihatsu Terios based EV we had a look at back in June 2009. But the company has now gained the distinction of being the first Chinese automaker to launch an all-electric vehicle for individual buyers in China.

Li Ziqiang, a Hangzhou resident, bought the 5008EV from the Zhejiang-based private manufacturer on July 26 after leasing a 2008EV model based on the company's small SUV for six months. In January this year, Zotye had put 100 units of its 2008EV model up for lease in Hangzhou to be tested for daily use.

Li was one of those who paid 2,500 yuan a month to lease the car and made the decision to buy one after he learned about a government subsidy for new-energy vehicles, said a report of Qianjiang Evening News, a local newspaper in Hangzhou.

A source with Zotye Auto told China Daily that the company recently began accepting orders for its electric models but without a uniform price, since various cities have different subsidies for green vehicles.

Shenzhen-based BYD Co, well-known as the electric car pioneer in China, has yet to offer its purely electric model E6 for sale to individual buyers. The company currently has 40 of its E6 models running on the streets of Shenzhen as taxis. In view of the competition from Zotye, BYD has said that the E6 will be sold to individual customers later this year.

Electric vehicles will dominate alternative powertrain market from 2020

Glass’s is predicting that hybrid cars, which combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor, will represent the dominant ‘alternative fuel’ powertrain technology until 2019, after which they will be overtaken by electric vehicle sales.

It seems Glass’s simply can't stop attempting to predict a decade into the future. They forecast UK registrations in 2020 will be just under 2.4 million units. Alternative fuel powertrain technology vehicles will make up 21% of these registrations, with 11% (274,000 units) being electric vehicles (EVs), and 10% (235,000 units) being hybrids.

As part of its report, entitled ‘Alternative Powertrain Vehicles in Europe’ to be published this month, Glass’s predicts that the combined 21% market share for EVs and hybrids in the UK in 2020 will be lower than in Germany (26% of total new car sales) but the same as in France and Italy.

Of the five biggest markets in Europe for car sales, Spain is expected to see the lowest adoption of ‘green’ car technologies by 2020, with a combined market share of 20% for EVs and hybrids.

A key issue for many vehicle manufacturers, who face increasingly tough targets for reduction in their overall CO2 emissions, is the proportion of electric vehicles that make up their overall sales mix.

Andy Carroll, managing director at Glass’s, states the obvious by saying: "One of the central issues for the vehicle manufacturers is encouraging consumer adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, including plug-in hybrids.”

Glass’s recognise the industry is still evolving the best way to deal with predicting the residual value impact of the cost of batteries, the risk of substitution with improved technologies and the end of life disposal / secondary use options.

Carroll said: “Assessing the residual value of an electric vehicle largely depends on its relative total cost of ownership compared with alternatively powered vehicles and the newer models entering the market when it is first sold as a used vehicle – the methodology is, in principle, no different to assessing any other vehicle today.

This statement is quite a departure from the line Carroll used only 2 months ago where he predicted EVs would be "worthless within 5 years"

“To drive adoption, vehicle manufacturers will need to develop strategies to remove most of the residual value risk of the battery from the consumer.”

Glass’s has recommend a number of alternative strategies that could be adopted by the vehicle manufacturers to achieve this, depending on whether the vehicle is being purchased by a consumer or leased:

• Long warranties – Long warranty periods (8 years +) are key. Create a standard for battery quality measurement linked to minimum charge levels (80% certified capacity or replacement).
• Battery Buy Back – Schemes allowing early adopters to swap the battery units to newer technology at a reduced cost.
• Manufacturers leasing the battery – The manufacturer effectively underwriting some of the residual value risk on the battery, though this raises ‘shared ownership’ issues that need to be resolved by the industry.

Carroll said: “The basic framework for dealing with these issues remains pretty much the same, but how the industry responds to the battery residual value issue will be key to consumer confidence and the adoption rate of electric vehicles.”

We really think if Andy Carroll fancies himself as such a Nostradamus he should stick to placing bets at the local track as opposed to publishing reports on what he thinks about the the future of EVs to generate publicity.

GM unit invests $5 million in electric car start-up

Bright Automotive and General Motors Co. announced Tuesday they have agreed to pursue a strategic relationship and that GM has provided funding to the Indiana automaker, the first funding action by the newly formed General Motors Ventures LLC.

The funding will help accelerate Bright’s production of the IDEA, a revolutionary plug-in hybrid commercial vehicle.

“This relationship is an important step forward for Bright, and a strong endorsement of our highly experienced automotive team and our incredible vehicle,” said Reuben Munger, Bright Automotive Chairman and CEO. “With this deal, Bright gets financial support that puts us on the fast track toward mass production of the IDEA. And perhaps just as importantly, we gain a strategic partner that is a world leader in electrification.”

The companies signed a memorandum of understanding in July. GM Ventures provided funding to Bright this week, and the two companies intend to complete the formal agreements later this year. Upon completion of the agreements and other terms, General Motors Ventures would have a minority stake in Bright Automotive and Bright would have access to GM technologies, and advanced engine and transmission systems, for its vehicle.

"Funding early-stage start-up companies is a new way of doing business at GM to accelerate the introduction of innovative technology to support our core automotive business and give us a competitive advantage," said Jon Lauckner, president of GM Ventures. "In this case, our funding of Bright Automotive will accelerate the introduction of advanced propulsion and light-weight technologies in the commercial vehicle market."

“We talked with several leading automakers, but GM clearly had the right vision, the most capable technology, and the closest alignment with our business approach,” said Michael Brylawski, Bright Automotive executive vice president. “We are thrilled to work with GM to create American jobs, stimulate technology development, and build an innovative American vehicle that will help reduce oil dependence and cut costs for businesses.”

In developing the IDEA, Bright started with a clean sheet of paper, listened to customers, and took a novel approach to product development that focused on light-weighting, aerodynamics and a highly efficient drivetrain. The result is a multipurpose vehicle for business fleets — the first designed to be highly efficient and provide a clear economic benefit.

The IDEA delivers a positive total cost of ownership to fleet customers by providing significantly greater fuel efficiency than current fleet vehicles in its class. The IDEA operates in electric mode for 40 miles before switching to an estimated 36-mpg hybrid mode for 100+ mpg potential based on daily driving behavior.

Funding through GM Ventures will allow Bright to begin ramping up the development of the production program for the IDEA in the third quarter of 2010. Bright continues to seek a low-interest loan through the Department of Energy’s ATVM program. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Boeing Propose Electric Hybrid Commercial Airliner

Two Boeing-led teams completed 18-month studies and recently submitted their findings to NASA under a program called N+3, which denotes three generations beyond today's transport fleet.

After examining various subsonic and supersonic concepts, the teams came up with configurations that met the NASA-stated goals for dramatic improvements in operational and environmental performance over today's aircraft.

The Boeing subsonic team, which includes General Electric and Georgia Tech, looked at five concepts. The team's report provides detailed benefits and drawbacks as well as recommendations for further study, but doesn't show favorites. "No single concept met all of the study goals, so we did not pick a preferred concept," said Boeing's Marty Bradley, the team's leader.

However, the team found that one concept known as SUGAR Volt - which includes an electric battery gas turbine hybrid propulsion system - can reduce fuel burn by more than 70 percent and total energy use by 55 percent. This fuel burn reduction and the "greening" of the electrical power grid can greatly reduce emissions of life cycle carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. Hybrid electric propulsion also has the potential to shorten takeoff distance and reduce noise.

The subsonic team's report concludes that hybrid electric engine technology "is a clear winner, because it can potentially improve performance relative to all of the NASA goals."

Boeing and the three other teams providing subsonic aircraft concepts have submitted proposals for a second phase of studies to begin developing the necessary new technologies. This contract award is expected in the next few months.

Meanwhile, the Boeing supersonic team, which includes Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, General Electric, Georgia Tech, Wyle and M4 Engineering, focused on four concepts that include a low fuel burn/low boom swing-wing "arrow" configuration, a low sonic boom concept with a V-tail to shield noise and control the sonic boom, a joined wing alternate concept and an oblique "scissor" wing alternative concept.

Based on conceptual design studies, the team recommended to NASA a fixed wing configuration (nicknamed Icon II) with V-tails and upper surface engines, said Bob Welge, Boeing's leader of this team. The Icon II concept can carry 120 passengers in a two-class, single-aisle interior, and can cruise at Mach 1.6 to Mach 1.8 with a range of about 5,000 nautical miles.

The study acknowledges that supersonic aircraft inherently have less fuel efficiency than subsonic aircraft, but points out they offer offsetting productivity benefits because of speed. The study concludes that advanced technologies can reduce fuel burn enough that a supersonic aircraft could be economically and environmentally viable in multiple markets.

The study also indicates that these efficiencies can be achieved while meeting the same community noise certification limits as subsonic aircraft, with a reduction of the sonic boom noise to 65 to 75 decibels. "That may make it possible for a supersonic transport to operate at maximum cruise speed, even over land," Welge said.
The NASA N+3 supersonic program does not provide the option for a Phase II system study, but Welge said technology development research announcements are anticipated in the near term.



NASA

Audi confirms small electric car

Audi will put an electric city car into production, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler has confirmed.

It has already committed to having an electric sports car on sale in limited numbers by 2012, sold under the e-tron moniker.

However, speaking at the launch of the Audi A7 Sportback in Munich, Stadler admitted for the first time that a mass-market supermini was planned.

It is not clear if this will be an electric version of the Audi A1 or a smaller vehicle, already dubbed the Audi Zero, both for its size and place in the product line up, and its mooted tailpipe emissions.

Notably, Audi is not expected to sell a spin off version of the VW Up city car in the same way brand stablemates Skoda and Seat are.

'Almost certainly, yes, we will have a small electric car. It is being investigated,' Stadler told What Car?

'What we then need are customers willing to pay a premium these vehicles demand.'

Stadler predicted it will be 'three to five' years before the market is ready for such a car.

'What is important is that we believe there will be a time when such vehicles are viable,' said Stadler.

'We are a technical company planning technical solutions, but we are also entrepreneurial, so we are planning for a changing market when customers will be ready.

'Then in 10 years time I see a point where we have clean energy too. Then the situation will be perfect.'

Nissan Leaf Now on sale in Europe

Amid strong global demand for the world's first affordable mass-produced, zero-emission vehicle, Nissan International SA will open order books today for Nissan LEAF in Portugal and the Republic of Ireland.

Nissan's additional lead market for electric vehicles in Europe, the UK, has also confirmed that pre-orders will commence on September 1. The ordering process is a first step in securing a place on the list to receive the ground-breaking Nissan LEAF and means Portuguese, Irish and British customers will be first in line to receive the car in Europe when it launches early next year. Nissan LEAF deliveries begin in Portugal in January, Ireland in February and the UK in March.

"Today's announcement brings zero-emissions motoring one step closer to reality in Europe," said Simon Thomas, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Nissan International SA. "Nissan LEAF will appeal on many levels; it's a completely zero-emission electric car with all of the financial and environmental benefits that will bring, but it is also a practical family size car and fun to drive. That's a powerful combination, and Nissan LEAF is already attracting significant interest from prospective customers."

Since March, nearly 12,000 customers in Europe have signed up for regular updates on Nissan LEAF's introduction, and in the US and Japan pre-orders have exceeded 23,000 units since online reservations began in April.

Such high demand has meant the Nissan LEAF will launch slightly later than planned in the Netherlands. Sales are now expected to start in June 2011, with pre-orders opening to customers in October this year. All other market launch dates remain unchanged.

To make a reservation, customers in the initial launch markets simply need to go to their local Nissan consumer website* and place their order. The quick and easy process requires a fully-refundable deposit of €300 (£257). These 'early adopters' will also be given an opportunity to test-drive Nissan LEAF thoroughly by December, at which point they will need to formally confirm their order. A dedicated call centre for each country has been created to assist customers with questions. Call centre details are available on each website.

The price of Nissan LEAF after government incentives is €30,250 in Portugal, €29,995 in Ireland and £23,990** in the UK including the battery. This means that despite its advanced technology, Nissan LEAF will be no more expensive to buy - and considerably cheaper to run - than a conventional compact family hatchback. Running costs are anticipated at less than €1.05 per 100 km in Portugal, less than €1.20 per 100km in Ireland and less than €1.59 per 100 km in the UK.

Nissan LEAF is fully equipped with features such as air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera. Innovative smart phone connectivity will allow an owner to heat or cool the interior of the car remotely via a mobile phone.

The car's AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of more than 140 km/h (90 mph). The electric motor is 'fuelled' by a laminated lithium-ion battery with a power output of more than 90 kW.

A full charge delivers a potential range of 160 km (100 miles - US LA4 mode) which will satisfy the daily driving demands of most customers. Global research indicates that the average daily mileage for 80 percent of the world's population is under 100 km: the figure in Japan and the UK is under 50 km for 80 percent of the population.