Electric cars
Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle also in Sunderland, UK
Nissan’s electric Leaf production in Japan will start end of this year. Production in US will start in 2012 and in addition this zero-emissions electric car will be produced at the company’s Sunderland plant in the UK in 2013.
The Sunderland plant will have a capacity of 50,000 LEAF units per annum. That is surely a big change towards electric future in the auto industry.
Valmet Automotive introduces all-electric Eva concept
Valmet Automotive is mainly known for building Porsche Boxster and Cayman. They are also going to build the upcoming plug-in hybrid Fisker Karma and are currently building the Th!nk City and Garia golf cart.
For the Geneva Motor Show Valmet Automotive has developed an innovative electric concept vehicle called “Eva” to illustrate its capabilities in concept car development and complete car engineering.
Atomik 500 - electric city car based on Fiat 500 Abarth
Atomik Cars will introduce a powerful zero-emission vehicle next month at the Top Marques Monaco show. Atomic 500 is based on the 500 Abarth.
There are not many details yet, but reportedly its AC brushless synchronous motors have a total output of 300 horsepower. Power is sent to all four wheels, 0-100 km/h(0-62 mph) comes in just 5.6 seconds. Not bad for a small city car.
Geneva 2010: Kia Venga EV concept car
Kia Venga EV concept car has the same size as the regular Venga B-segment MPV now on sale in Europe. Venga EV features an electric motor within the existing engine bay with 80 kW and maximum torque of 280 Nm.
Venga EV includes a twin-pack 24 kWh battery using Lithium Ion Polymer technology under the trunk floor, that provides a driving range of 180 km on a single charge.
Geneva 2010: Tata Motors displays Tata Nano EV
Tata Motors has unveiled a Tata Nano Electric Vehicle (EV), based on the Tata Nano platform at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.
According to Tata Motors, when launched, it will expand the company’s electric vehicles portfolio, which already comprises the Tata Indica Vista EV. Tata Nano will have a predicted range of up to 160 km and an acceleration of 0-60 km/h in under 10 seconds. Power will come from polymer lithium ion batteries.
Geneva 2010: Rinspeed UC?, new small electric city car concept
Swiss tuner/design studio Rinspeed has released details about a new concept called UC?, which will make its world debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show.
This electrically powered city car looks like a mix between the Fiat 500 and the even smaller smart ForTwo. UC? stands for “Urban Commuter”, and measures less than 2.60 meters in length and is intended to help avoid gridlock in the inner cities.
Protoscar unveils its electric sports car prototype LAMPO2
LAMPO2 is an electric demonstration sports car conceived by Protoscar, a Swiss company which has been developing CleanCar projects for 23 years including consulting of OEMs, power utilities and governments.
Public debut of the LAMPO” prototype is next month at the Geneva Motor Show. After just 10 minutes charging time it gets up to a 100 km range.
Tesla launches right-hand-drive Roadster
So far Tesla’s all electric Roadster has been available only with left-hand-drive, now Tesla Motors has announced production of the right-hand-drive version of its iconic Roadster sports car.
First cars are on display at Tesla’s showroom in London where prospective customers and media may test-drive it. The 2010 right-hand-drive Roadster includes a suite of unique noise-reduction materials, an upgraded sound system and other enhancements that make it ideal for daily commuting or weekend drives.
GM to be first major U.S. automaker to manufacture electric motors
Currently GM buys electric motors from suppliers, but as the company will be using more and more electric motors in the near future(both electric vehicles and hybrids) it makes absolutely sense to start designing and manufacturing electric motors in house.
By doing so, GM will lower costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by controlling design, materials selection and production processes.
GM unveils 2011 e-Spark at the Auto Expo in New Delhi
e-Spark is GM India’s first move into the electric vehicles and will be India’s first 4 door passenger EV. This new EV is a local initiative of GM India in collaboration with Reva Electric Car Company.
According to GM, the e-Spark will be one of the leading platforms of GM India in its Drive to Green initiative. Based on the existing Chevrolet Spark architecture it will be powered by the RECC EV powertrain.
Westfield Sportscars working on an electric race car, the iRACER (Video)
Westfield is mainly known for building the Lotus 7, but looks like even they can’t stay off the electric car race. Their iRACER is a track focused electric vehicle with a target total weight of 600 kg, powered by two motors delivering 80kW, the final vehicle will have a sub 5 second 0-60mph time, with an electronically limited top speed of 110mph.
Batteries will be stored under the floor to lower the centre of gravity. For a greater range and for better weight distribution, additional batteries can also be positioned towards the front of the vehicle.
Geneva preview: Protoscar all-electric Lampo2
At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Protoscar unveiled an all-electric Lampo concept, that is a full size sport cabriolet powered by two electric BRUSA motors(one rear and one front mounted) that generate 268 horsepower!
Protoscar will bring a new model called Lampo2 to the next Geneva Motor Show. New concept comes with improved aerodynamics, less weight and four charging modes.
Detroit preview: Volvo C30 electric vehicle
Next month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volvo will show an all-electric C30 prototype. This is a complete battery electric car with a range of 150 km (93 miles).
Volvo’s next step forward is to build a test fleet of at least 50 electric C30s, which will be used in real-life traffic from 2011.
Myers Motors’ two-passenger electric vehicle now available for pre-order
Myers Motors’ NMG2 (or just referred as two-passenger electric vehicle) is now available for pre-order in the US. This little three-wheel electric city car is also highway capable as it has a top speed of 75 mph and a range of 60 miles from a li-ion battery pack.
Myers Motors has announced that the base price is $29,995 but, if at least thousand people drop $250 on a pre-order, the price for everyone will drop by $5,000.
Porsche tuner RUF introduces the first SUV with electric powertrain
Specialty car manufacturer and tuner RUF is the first company to introduce an electric SUV dubbed eRUF Stormster. Based on the Porsche Cayenne it uses a Siemens electric motor with 270 kW.
Weight of the car is 2,670 kg and it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 10 seconds, top speed is 150 km/h and range from one charge is 200 km.
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