Nissan-Renault chooses AXA for EV Assistance in Europe

Renault and Nissan are readying to launch a range of new services to ensure the mobility and peace of mind of their future electric vehicle customers. AXA vehicle assistance is the first step in this global approach to preparing for the wide-scale launch of electric vehicles.

Renault and Nissan will bring customers a full set of innovative services specific to the new market, alongside conventional roadside breakdown assistance and towing. Enabling customers to get from A to B as quickly and smoothly as possible, these services will initially be available in the 21 following European countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

Vehicle assistance accounts for a full 40% of AXA Assistance's business worldwide, with some 4 million cases. The company has prepared extensively for the opening of this promising market, both by getting its breakdown assistance partners involved and by adapting the service at its assistance platforms. Working with a specialized international body, AXA has organized dedicated training courses at its assistance platforms and with service providers.

The new market is vital for the image of AXA Assistance at a number of levels. Presence in the emerging, high-potential sector of electric vehicles fully involves the company in a policy of technological innovation and sustainable development at pan-European level.

Customer deliveries of the Alliance's first 100% electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF have begun in December in the United States and Japan to be followed by selected markets in Europe. Renault will launch its first three electric models - Kangoo Express Z.E., Fluence Z.E. and Twizy - in the second half of 2011.

Electric Bluebird to attempt land speed record in 2011

Don Wales - holder of the UK Land Speed Record for an electric car - will attempt to go even faster in a fresh attempt next year.

He will also aim to exceed the land speed record set by his grandfather - Sir Malcolm Campbell - in 1925.

"I have held the record for over 10 years and it's now looking very vulnerable," said Mr Wales. "I want to set the UK record well beyond 150mph, the speed Sir Malcolm clocked in 1925. Ideally I'd like to match his record of 1927 - 175mph."

Don Wales and the Bluebird Electric Team set the current UK electric record of 139mph in August 2000 at Pendine Sands in Wales. Project Director Martin Rees said: "Don's ambition to be the fastest in the world is a goal we are all working hard to achieve and his recent speed record breaking exploits, and those we achieved in the electric Bluebird 10 years ago, are testament to his undoubted dedication and commitment to excellence. Taking the car back to Pendine next Spring with improved drive and bodywork will be another chapter in the Campbell and Wales and Pendine story."

The attempt, at Pendine Sands in Wales (also the venue for Sir Malcolm's successful record attempts in the 1920s) is part of the Campbell family's celebrations of the centenary of Campbell first christening a car Bluebird at the Brooklands racing circuit, in 1911.

Eventually, says Mr Wales, he hopes to go even faster. He plans to attempt a new world land speed record for an electric car with his sights set on 500mph in 2012, and is currently evaluating several design options. His world attempt will take place in a Gulf state or at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the US, where there is a nine-mile course. Pendine offers only four miles, insufficient for an attempt on the world record.

He added: "At last the world is making real progress with electric vehicles as a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine. Ten years ago electric vehicles were unheard of in the news and people couldn't understand the importance of electric car technology. Now there is a whole new generation of electric road cars in production."

Don Wales - the nephew of Donald Campbell - another famous record breaker, appears to have inherited the quest for speed. In May this year he twice broke the world land speed record for a lawnmower, setting it at 87.833mph. He also holds the world record for a steam powered car (148mph) as a member of Charles Burnett III's British Steam car team at Edwards Airforce base, in August 2009.

The World Electric Land Speed Record stands at 321.834 mph set by the same team with the Buckeye Bullet in 2004.


Bluebird

Valeo and BAIC Developed New Electric Demo Car

Valeo and BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation) presented to the Beijing Governor today an electric demo car equipped with a complete Valeo electric powertrain system, demonstrating the Group's expertise in systems that reduce electric vehicles' energy consumption.

By using a synchronous permanent magnet motor with a large operating speed range, Valeo's electric powertrain is able to deliver both good acceleration at low and medium speeds and a high top vehicle speed all with a single gear transmission.

Developed by Valeo and its partners Leroy Somer and GKN, this system includes an electric motor, an inverter, a transmission, a charger, a supervisor and a DC/DC converter.

The partnership between Valeo and BAIC started in early 2010 with the intent to bring an electric vehicle to series production in 2011. This demo car is the first concrete achievement of this partnership.

Jacques Aschenbroich, Valeo's Chief Executive Officer, declared: "The development of this vehicle with our partner BAIC demonstrates Valeo's expertise in powertrain systems designed to reduce vehicle CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency. It also confirms our know-how in electric and hybrid vehicle technology worldwide."

Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for the automotive industry, mainly for CO2 emissions reduction. Valeo ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 110 plants, 21 Research centers, 40 Development centers, 10 distribution platforms and employs 57,300 people in 27 countries worldwide.

Cadillac working on luxury plug-in hybrid

General Motors has leaked news they are working on a plug-in hybrid crossover utility vehicle based on its Cadillac SRX to Reuters

The new model would share some of the same Voltec technology that GM has developed for the Chevy Volt, which would allow the automaker to reduce the cost of its emerging electric-car offerings, one of the sources said.

The project would mark the first luxury electric car from the top U.S. automaker by volume after it dropped a plan to build the Converj plug-in hybrid, a Cadillac variant of the Volt that GM debuted at the Detroit Auto Show last January.

The current SRX made its debut at the Detroit auto show in 2008 as a concept car that GM said could carry a fuel-cell and electric powertrain in the future.

Lotus and Proton to build Supermini Hybrid City Car in 2013

Lotus, in collaboration with parent company Proton and an undisclosed third automaker, will bring a supermini hybrid car to the Asian and European markets in October 2013, Lotus CEO Dany Bahar has told CAR magazine.

Drawing power from a hybrid system that combines a 53 kilowatt electric motor with the range-extending 1.2-liter three-cylinder flex-fuel (methanol, ethanol and gasoline) motor found in the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid concept, the Lotus City Car has a claimed top speed of 102 miles per hour and can reportedly reach 60 MPH in 9 seconds flat.

The concept can travel about 39 miles in electric mode only but with the on-board gasoline generator can go an additional 288 miles before refueling is required.

The little concept appeared on the Lotus platform at the recent Paris Auto Show, but was mostly overlooked by the presence of five larger, more exciting sports cars.

Car Magazine

Ford Focus Electric spied

Spies over at Auto express have just captured this Focus Electric mule undergoing testing, and it’s the first we’ve seen that uses the new mkIII Focus bodyshell.

Along with the blanked-off rear bumper, the car features disguises over the area where the fuel filler cap is on both sides, which could mean that the Focus Electric will feature plug sockets on both side of the car, making recharging easier.

Ford began its Focus Electric project with the launch of a number of prototypes based on the current generation car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Called the Focus BEV, it had boot-mounted 23kWh lithium-ion batteries which powered a 134bhp electric motor. The range is 100 miles and top speed is 85mph.

At this year’s Geneva show, Blue Oval bosses confirmed that the Focus Electric will be based on the new Focus, and will go on sale in the US in 2011, before arriving in the UK in 2012.

Expect the production Focus Electric to feature similar specs to the BEV prototype, which will put it on a par with the Nissan Leaf for range and performance. The electric Ford will join an electric version of the Transit Connect, and is followed by two next-generation petrol hybrid-electric vehicles and a C-MAX plug-in hybrid in 2013.

Honda to Start Electric Vehicle Testing Program in Japan

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced its plan to start its Electric Vehicle Testing Program with Saitama Prefecture for its next-generation personal mobility products, including electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters, and electric carts. The specifics of the testing program, testing vehicles, and solar-powered charging stations made their public debut in Japan.

Conducted in real-world urban transportation environments, the program will focus on motorcycles, automobiles and power products based on electromotive technologies. The comprehensive program will also use advanced communications & telematics and solar-powered charging technologies to explore future forms of personal mobility and their potential of CO2 emissions reduction.

Major objectives of the Electric Vehicle Testing Program

• In March 2009, Honda and Saitama Prefecture concluded an agreement to collaborate on environmental issues. Based on this agreement, Honda will start an Electric Vehicle Testing Program in the cities of Saitama, Kumagaya and Chichibu that features advanced electromotive technology and communications & telematics to realize a low-carbon mobility society in the future. The program will study the following:
• The practicality and convenience of electromotive technology featured on next-generation personal mobility products, including Honda's EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the EV-neo electric scooter and the Monpal ML200 4-wheel electric cart.
• The effectiveness of solar power generation and other renewable energy sources in helping to realize a low-carbon mobility society.
• The effectiveness of advanced communications & telematics to enhance customer convenience and product usability.

Based on the results of the program, Honda plans to further advance its electromotive technologies for personal mobility products. In combination with Honda's strong position in solar panels, cogeneration systems and other energy-generating products, these electromotive technologies will help Honda work together with customers to achieve the goal of "Total Energy Management", a system that supplies households and communities with energy for personal use, while supporting a comfortable, low-carbon lifestyle.

Earlier on December 15, 2010, Honda announced this Electric Vehicle Testing Program in the United States (Torrance, California). In addition to Japan and the United States, Honda is considering the possibility of conducting a similar program in China.

Press Release