Jaguar C-X75 is said to equipped with 4 electric motors

British carmaker, Jaguar displays its electrifying C-X75 electric hybrid concept at 2010 LA Auto Show. Said to be powered by four electric individual motors zaps the car from 0-to-60 in less than 4 secs, Has a Top speed of more than 200 miles per hour with no emissions under electric mode.

Each electric motor has 195-horsepower, so (4*195) 780 total electric horsepower for the electric beast.

This concept has a range of 68 miles with the help of 20 kWh battery pack .

Designers said to had used two lightweight micro-gas-turbines. The turbines are used either to extend driving range when the batteries are depleted, or for high-speed driving, giving extra boost.

Src: [Plugincars]

Jaguar C-X75 is said to equipped with 4 electric motors

British carmaker, Jaguar displays its electrifying C-X75 electric hybrid concept at 2010 LA Auto Show. Said to be powered by four electric individual motors zaps the car from 0-to-60 in less than 4 secs, Has a Top speed of more than 200 miles per hour with no emissions under electric mode.

Each electric motor has 195-horsepower, so (4*195) 780 total electric horsepower for the electric beast.

This concept has a range of 68 miles with the help of 20 kWh battery pack .

Designers said to had used two lightweight micro-gas-turbines. The turbines are used either to extend driving range when the batteries are depleted, or for high-speed driving, giving extra boost.

Src: [Plugincars]

GMs Chevrolet's Volts gets official EPA ratings, Comparison between all electric and all gasoline.

Finally the U.S. government has rated the much hyped GM's electric baby Chevrolet Volt.

Though the EPA fuel economy label is going to look a little different from the ones used on other cars since, it can run on electricity, gasoline, or a combination of both.

Because of the complexity of how the Volt operates, the fuel economy label will contain a host of other numbers so consumers can at least try to figure out what their own fuel economy will actually be.

The Volt, according to a preliminary Environmental Protection Agency label presented by GM, will get an estimated 93 miles per "gallon-equivalent" when driving under electric power only, 37 miles per gallon when burning gasoline and, over the long term, is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving.

According to the EPA label, the Volt can drive an estimated 35 miles on electricity stored in its battery before a gasoline engine comes on.

The 60 mpg figure, however, combines the miles-per-gallon figure, when running on only gasoline, and miles-per "gallon equivalent" number, when running on only electricity. Depending on how and how much they drive, consumers could actually be using considerably less gasoline than the 60 mpg figure would indicate.

GM executives said the label that will appear on early versions of the Chevrolet Volt is preliminary. The way the figures are displayed on the label may change in the future.

Src: [CNN]

Kia Pop concept electric car get showcased at Paris Motor Show

Korean Automakers has showcased their all-electric Kia Pop concept car at the Paris Motor Show.

This futuristic looking car named Pop is a three-meter long three seater featuring a number of futuristic design and new concept like rear-view cameras in each door, a full length glass roof, and transparent OLED panel that displays all your instrument only when the car is running.

A second touch panel to the right of the steering wheel controls the vehicle's other functions including audio, sat-nav, and climate.


Kia's Pop is powered by a 60-ps, 190-Nm motor lithium polymer gel batteries capable of charging in just six hours. It is said to be having a top speed of 87mph (140kph) and 100-mile (160-km) range.

Kia's PRESS RELEASE:

Electric Kia POP concept debuts at Paris Show

Seoul September 30, 2010 -- Kia Motors celebrated the world premiere of its all-new, eye-catching, compact and unique electric POP concept car at the 106th Mondial de l'Automobile today (Thursday) in Paris, France.

Spotlighting Kia's increasing focus on striking design and new technologies, the chrome-coloured, three-metre-long three-seater POP with its electric drivetrain, oblong-shaped side windows and front-hinged doors took centre stage on Kia's Paris Show stand.

Unconventional features of POP – the striking side-window design, the high-tech feel of the dot-pattern head and taillights, back-lit front grille, rear-view cameras in each door, full-length glass roof, and the simplistic look of the wheels – all point to inspiration from outside the usual automotive spheres, such as gliders and high-speed bicycles.

Inside, the purple colour scheme creates a calm and peaceful environment within the space-ship like cabin. Facing the driver, a small piece of plexi-glass in front of the steering wheel shows a Transparent Organic LED (TOLED) display for speed, battery charge, and the other main readouts, when the car is running. At other times it is totally transparent.

To the right of the steering wheel, a sculpted, chrome-look panel features only one button, with every other function (audio, sat-nav, climate control, etc) controlled via an animated touch screen.

The front seat is a sculpted bench, with interesting, flowing lines, while the rear seat is positioned at an offset angle, resulting in remarkable legroom for a 1,740 mm wide car with a wheelbase of just 2,055 mm. Designed to accommodate a single passenger, this seat is a two-part affair, with a base that flips up when not in use and a backrest and a headrestraint integrated into the headlining.

POP is also in fact a fully-electric, zero-emissions car with a 60 ps, 190 Nm motor. It's powered by highly efficient, compact lithium polymer gel batteries and is fully rechargeable in just six hours. Top speed is 140 kph, with a maximum range of 160 km on a single charge.

The POP concept was designed by Kia's European design team under the direction of Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer, and Gregory Guillaume, Kia Europe's Chief Designer.

"A concept car like the POP could only have come from Kia," explains Guillaume. "Designers very rarely have the opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper and it's great to be in a position to operate with such freedom."

New European versions for Sportage and Optima

In addition to POP, Kia is hosting the European debuts of the all-new Kia Optima sedan and new versions of the Kia Sportage at the Paris Show – production models which reinforce the company's commitment to developing its design language – and putting this into practice with real-world models.

Embodying what Peter Schreyer calls "a bold, athletic and visual sporting energy", the Kia Optima sedans on display feature Europe-specific high-tech powertrains and introduce Kia's new 'U2' 1.7-litre VGT diesel engine (136 ps*) and the all-new technically-advanced 'Nu' 2.0-litre CVVL (continuously variable valve lift) gasoline engine (170 ps*).

Building on the immensely positive response of media and public to the new Kia Sportage, the model line-up is being expanded to offer two smaller capacity engines with fuel-stretching technology and exclusively matched to 2WD drivetrains and six-speed manual transmissions. For Sportage, Kia's new 1.7-litre 'U2' diesel engine is tuned to generate 115 ps, while the 1.6-litre 'Gamma' gasoline engine delivers 135 ps.

Both new engines will offer emissions and running costs that are among the very best in class.

Demonstrating Kia's ongoing commitment to minimising its vehicles' impact on the environment, the manufacturer's Paris stand also features three environmentally-focused vehicles in a special 'green zone'. The Kia cee'd and Venga low emissions future production models, and an innovative mild-hybrid Kia Sportage concept – have an average CO2 figure of just 108 g/km.
News Source: Kia Motors Corporation
Web Site: http://www.kia.co.kr

Swedish Automaker SAAB to come out with its first Electrical Car at Paris Auto Expo.

SAAB, Swedish car manufacturer owned by Dutch automobile manufacturer Spyker Cars NV to come up with its first-ever electric car which it will showcasing at the Paris motor show Sept. 30.

The car is named as ePower, a converted Saab 9-3 SportsCombi wagon, is equipped with a 184-HP electric motor.

ePower can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, have a top speed of 93 mph and have a range of about 124 miles on a single charge, says SAAB.

ePower has a lithium-ion battery pack. This battery packs are placed at normal car's exhaust and fuel systems.

The batteries can be recharged in three to six hours, Saab says.

SAAB plans to build 70 ePowers and to start testing in Sweden, beginning next spring.

Ford advances EV battery testing with wireless monitoring systems.

Ford has ambitious plans for several upcoming zero-emission vehicle fleet launches including the Transit Connect Electric, in North America in late 2010 and in Europe in 2011, and the Focus Electric passenger car in North America in 2011 and Europe in 2012.

In an effort to make the new electric fleets more efficient, the company today said it is using the Internet and wireless technology to test advanced lithium ion battery systems, collect real-time performance data and make software updates.

Engineers use two monitoring methods to collect data from batteries in the lab and in the field via a secure Internet server, and wirelessly update system software. These methods have reduced test-fleet downtime and allowed Ford to more than double its battery lab-testing capability, the company said in a news release.


Ford researchers are conducting rigorous lifecycle tests of new lithium ion battery systems to evaluate the technology's ability to recharge under a broad range of environmental conditions, including state of charge (from empty to full), battery age (from new to old) and environmental temperatures (from freezing cold to scorching hot). As engineers learn how lithium ion's material properties perform under extreme conditions, they can better create control algorithms that will assist in charging the batteries without decreasing the life if the batteries.

"Remote monitoring allows us to access real-time data and make continuous improvements very quickly," said Sherif Marakby, Ford director, Electrification Program and Engineering. "This degree of efficiency would have been unthinkable a few years ago and will help Ford bring more fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicles to market more quickly than ever before."

Source: Cnet

San Francisco Bay Area to install over 5,000 EV charging stations

US Department of Energy had announced on wednesday that it is release sum of $5 Million to install EV charging stations at the San Francisco Bay Area for charging Electrical Vehicles.

The $5 million will cover the installation of 50 fast-charging EV stations along highways, 2,000 public stations for public parking lots and participating company-owned parking lots, and 3,000 residential charging stations.

Approval for the funds came through last week from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, a panel that oversees air quality concerns for the nine counties that make up the Bay Area. The funds will be distributed as grant money as part of its "Spare the Air" program.

"In the Bay Area, the transportation sector accounts for more than 50 percent of air pollution. Significant emission reductions from the transportation sector will help the Bay Area attain and maintain state and national air quality standards," the board said in a statement.

Mercedes-Benz all set ready for the launch of B-Class Electric Cars.

With the latest collaboration with BYD, Mercedes-Benz is going to manufacture electric cars on the outgoing B-class.

A lightly modified version of the car’s front-wheel drive platform will be used, according to insiders involved in the early stages of its conception.

It is said to be sold exclusively in BYD’s domestic Chinese market, the new zero-emissions hatchback will be marketed under an as-yet-undisclosed brand.

Benz is going to take advantage of the B-class’s layout, Mercedes and BYD plan to use the soon-to-be-superseded model’s flat-floor structure for the stowage of lithium ion batteries.

The floor was originally designed for that purpose, but was never utilised in series production.

Placing the batteries low down within the platform provides for a lower centre of gravity than in more conventional applications, where they are usually mounted beneath the rear seat and boot floor.

The underfloor space taken up by the standard B-class’s petrol and diesel engines will be dedicated to an electric motor that will be used to power the front wheels.

Evatran powers brings the concept of wireless recharging of cars.

The future of wireless recharging of cars soon to be real. The concept of  Evatran  "hands free" electric-vehicle charging station from Evatran powers nearby vehicles wirelessly, eliminating the need to recharge your cars manually.

The Plugless Power charging station, introduced this week at the Plug-In 2010 conference in San Jose, Calif., uses electromagnetic induction to deliver power to an electric vehicle's battery within its proximity. The station consists of a model-specific vehicle adapter that's mounted onto the car and a charging station with a floor-mounted magnetic charging block close to where the driver parks.

The wireless charging station is about 10 percent less efficient than charging stations that deliver power the old fashioned way with cords, Evatran says, but it charges in the same amount of time. To compensate for the increased energy loss during transfer, the Plugless Power uses slightly more energy.

But it is said to be cost effective. Evatran recently began customer trials near its headquarters in Wytheville, Va., and one participant who drives a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (an electric vehicle that doesn't travel at speeds higher than 25 or 35 mph) rang up a $1.43 bill to charge a Zenn.

Evatran plans to begin producing the Plugless Power by early 2011.

Nissan Announces Roll-Out Plan for Zero-Emission Nissan LEAF at the Plug-in 2010 Conference in San Jose

At the Plug-in 2010 Conference in San Jose, CA today, North America's Nissan  xecutive vice president, Carlos Tavares, announced that the Leaf's battery pack will be covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty similar to that of what Chevrolet is offering on the Volt pack. He said that feedback from people interested in the Leaf was important in setting these levels, so that explains why Leaf hand-raisers received email surveys about the topic recently.

Nissan has also announced its official rollout plans. Nissan LEAF will first launch in December, in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. Firm orders from these five states, which make up the so-called EV Project, will begin in August.

Following that initial wave, the machine will be sent to Texas and Hawaii in January 2011. Next up will be North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama in April 2011. The rest of the nation will see their Leafs beginning in the fall of 2011 with availability in all markets nationwide by the end of that year.

Src : Nissan Press Release Via autoblog

PRESS RELEASE

Nissan Announces National Market Roll-Out Plan for Zero-Emission Nissan LEAF

- More than half of 17,000 reservations located in initial launch markets -

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, nearly 17,000 future Nissan LEAF drivers are learning when the world's first affordable all-electric, zero-emission vehicle will be available in their markets. Consumers who have placed reservations for the Nissan LEAF received a communication today regarding market timing and next steps in ordering the all-electric vehicle.

Nissan LEAF first will be available to consumers in December, in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. These areas are home to The EV Project – the largest electric vehicle and infrastructure deployment ever undertaken. The EV Project is a result of a partnership with charging infrastructure provider ECOtality and partially funded by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Energy. Customers in these first five launch states, who represent more than 55 percent of total Nissan LEAF reservations, will be able to place firm orders for the Nissan LEAF starting in August.

Nissan LEAF will be introduced to Texas and Hawaii shortly thereafter, in January 2011; North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina and Alabama follow in April 2011; and be rolled-out to the balance of the nation beginning in Fall 2011 with availability in all markets nationwide by the end of that year.

"We are pleased to see so many people making a choice for a zero-emission future by placing reservations for the Nissan LEAF," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Nissan North America. "Consumer feedback and market readiness have been key drivers in developing our phased rollout. Nissan is able to target areas of customer demand for early launch, while continuing to work in future markets to ensure the continued success of electric vehicles."

Nissan North America also is informing its consumers that the lithium-ion battery pack that powers the Nissan LEAF will carry a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles – matching U.S. market competitive conditions.

Consumers who have reserved the Nissan LEAF online will be invited to place orders through their dealer for the vehicle in advance of market roll-out timing, allowing time for consumers to select a dealer and assess home charging needs. Nissan is continuing to take reservations for the Nissan LEAF through its website, www.NissanUSA.com. Interested consumers are encouraged to place a reservation, which entails a $99 fully refundable fee to secure a spot on the list to place an order.

The reservations process has educated Nissan about more than just geographic distribution. Some information we've learned about future Nissan LEAF drivers includes:

• Favorite color: The favorite color of Nissan LEAF owners is blue. More than 30 percent of reservations are for blue Nissan LEAF electric cars. Silver is a close second, at about 26 percent. The remaining reservations are close to evenly split among red, black and white.
• Trim level: About 75 percent of Nissan LEAF orders are for the SL trim level, which adds a rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.
• Home and Parking: About 75 percent of people who placed reservations own a single-family home. About 68 percent have attached garages, while an additional 18 percent have detached garages or carports. Home ownership and dedicated parking are important factors for Nissan LEAF drivers who plan to charge their vehicles at home.
• Purchase time: About 67 percent of Nissan LEAF reservations holders have indicated that they'd be ready to purchase or lease a Nissan LEAF within one year of placing the reservation. An additional 24 percent indicated they would be ready in one to two years.
• Interests: Several primary interests are inspiring people to order a Nissan LEAF. Cited interests include energy independence (35 percent); environmental consciousness (34 percent); and cost/fuel economy (20 percent).

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com.

Computer Driven Robot vans begins its 8k miles, Italy to China journey.

Now we can see the concept of Driven without human.Self-driving electric vans powered by VisLabs have begun an epic journey from Italy to China to demonstrate autonomous driving technology which will passing through extereme climate conditions of that of cold Siberia and the hot Gobi Desert.

The VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge began in front of the Milan Cathedral on Tuesday with a goal of traveling 8,000 miles to Shanghai by the end of October.

The two heavily modified Piaggio Porter Electric vans will play various roles en route to Shanghai. Both, however, carry technicians who take control when needed.

Team members will take control of the lead vehicle "every time a decision on the road has to be taken," according to the organizers, but it drives autonomously most of the time. The main function of the lead vehicle is to navigate, since there are no maps for some parts of the route.

The lead vehicle will send out GPS locations via radio that will be picked up by the follower van, which also uses its cameras and laser scanners to aid navigation and avoid obstacles like cars and people . Drivers will take control in emergency situations.

The vans are topped with solar panels that power the computer processors, sensors, and driving actuators, but not the vans themselves, which retain their original electric power systems.

The vans have a top speed of 37 mph and are expected to drive only four hours a day due to recharging needs; the engineers will use gasoline generators if they can't find a power outlet in remote regions. A truck carrying alternate vans is part of the convoy.

Funded by a $2.3 million grant from the European Research Council, engineers at VisLab, part of the University of Parma, are leading the odyssey to determine conditions that cause autonomous driving technology to fail.

A recent demonstration in which the vans entered a congested traffic circle resulted in a communication breakdown between the vehicles, forcing manual driving, according to an Associated Press article.

The expedition is expected to collect about 100 terabytes of data on vehicle performance. The organizers want to test self-driving vehicles in more complex and extreme environments than those used in the DARPA Grand Challenge of 2005 and the DARPA Urban Challenge of 2007. VisLab participated in both through the TerraMax autonomous trucks.

Some of the tech developed from the trek to China could go into self-driving farming and mining vehicles under cooperation between VisLab and heavy machinery maker Caterpillar.

To my chagrin, it seems VisLab director Alberto Broggi believes driverless vehicles are still 20 years away. I'm still waiting for that day when I can play a car racing video game while cruising down the highway in my robot car. I saw it once on "Knight Rider."

You can track the vehicle progress here.

Src: [Cars-Cnet]

Honda announces plans to sell plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle by 2012

At a news conference on Tuesday in Japan, Honda chief executive officer Takanobu Ito unveiled the company's future plans to roll out advanced technology vehicles.

Among them, Takanobu revealed Honda will introduce both a mid-size plug-in hybrid and an electric commuter vehicle in the U.S. and Japan by the end of 2012. As part of the company's global push to develop more-efficient vehicles, Honda will also introduce a small diesel-powered car in Europe around the same time that its battery-powered vehicles hit our shores.

Honda will also begin testing "next-generation electric personal mobility products, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts" in the Kumamoto and Saitama regions in Japan before the end of 2010.

The purpose of the tests is to verify "the effectiveness of next-generation personal mobility products with electromotive technologies," i.e., plug-in vehicles and how to best use renewable energy (solar) with these vehicles. Honda will test all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in the U.S. once the Japan tests are underway.

U.S.-based participants include Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, CA. Torrance will get a plug-in hybrid electric test vehicle by the end of this year. Honda said its first hybrid to get a lithium-ion battery will be the next-generation Civic Hybrid, coming in 2011.

Src: Honda Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Summary of Honda Announcements Regarding New Advanced Environmental Technologies

Honda will introduce new advanced environmental technology vehicles, including a battery-electric vehicle and a new plug-in hybrid vehicle, to the U.S. market in 2012, the company announced today in the mid-year address by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., President & CEO Takanobu Ito, in Tokyo, Japan. Ito also announced application of a lithium-ion battery in the next-generation Civic Hybrid in 2011.

The announcement outlined Honda's commitment to developing advanced environmental technologies for application across all of Honda's global operations. Highlights specifically related to the U.S. market include:

• By the end of 2010 and continuing through 2011, Honda will roll out a battery-electric vehicle demonstration program in the U.S. with participants, including: Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, Calif.
• The City of Torrance will receive a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle for evaluation by the end of 2010.
• A battery-electric commuter vehicle will be introduced in the U.S. market in 2012.
• A new plug-in hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles will be introduced in the U.S. market in 2012.
• Honda's first hybrid application of a lithium-ion battery will debut in the next- generation Civic Hybrid to be introduced in 2011. The lithium-ion battery was developed through the Honda and GS Yuasa joint-venture company, Blue Energy Co., Ltd.

Honda to Begin Demonstration Tests of Next-Generation Personal Mobility before the End of the Year in Kumamoto and Saitama

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced plans to begin real-world demonstration testing before the end of this year of next-generation electric personal mobility products, including electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts. The demonstration program will be conducted jointly with Kumamoto and Saitama regions in Japan.

In a comprehensive approach unique to Honda to be conducted in collaboration with the two municipalities, Honda's electromotive technologies for motorcycles, automobiles and power products, together with information and communication technologies, a solar-powered energy station and other technologies will be utilised under the real-world urban transportation environment to address the following two agendas:

• Verification of the effectiveness of next-generation personal mobility products with electromotive technologies, specifically electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, electric scooters and electric carts, along with utilisation of sustainable energy such as solar power for the realisation of a low-carbon society in the future.
• Study of how future personal mobility and the urban transportation system should be designed to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life (QOL*) of local residents.

By partnering with Kumamoto and Saitama regions, where Honda operations including manufacturing plants are located and collaborative relationships already exist in various areas, Honda will strive to effectively conduct verification testing and make further contributions to both communities.

Honda is planning to conduct this demonstration first in Japan and then in regions outside Japan such as the U.S., mostly in the area of automobiles. In the U.S., starting by the end of this year, Honda will begin demonstration testing of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles with participants including Stanford University, Google Inc. and the City of Torrance, California under the Advanced Technology Demonstration Program.

*QOL (Quality of Life): A concept to measure to what extent people are living their lives in a humane manner and feeling not only physical but spiritual richness and happiness.

Concept of the next-generation personal mobility experiment

Outline of the experiment: Kumamoto region

Honda will verify the effectiveness of its electromotive technologies and information and communication technologies to realise a low-carbon mobility society and to improve the QOL of local residents in the face of an aging society. Prior to the start of the experiment, Honda and Kumamoto region will sign a framework agreement on the experiment of the next-generation personal mobility.

• Using experimental models of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as the EV-neo electric scooter, Honda will verify the effectiveness of such personal mobility to realise low-carbon mobility within the region.
• By monitoring the positional and operational information of participating Monpal ML200 electric carts, Honda will verify how such personal mobility will contribute to the QOL, especially the quality of the daily life and health of local residents in the face of an aging society.
• By establishing and utilising recharging stations that use thin-film solar cells manufactured by Honda Soltec, Honda will verify the effectiveness of the system which reduces CO2 from the energy-supply phase.

Utilising the function of InterNavi Pr emium Club, Honda's original interactive information network service for automobiles, Honda will provide information related to the recharging of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles as well as information to support eco-driving.