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EVPlus - March 2013 News

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Aluminium-air battery can power EVs for 1,600km 
Added by admin 28/03/13

Phinergy, an Israeli developer of metal-air energy systems, has demonstrated a new type of aluminum-air battery that is capable of providing enough energy to power an electric vehicle (EV) for up to 1000 miles at a time—with occasional stops to take on more water. The company claims they have developed new technology that prevents carbon dioxide from entering the system, which in the past, has led to breakdowns of the materials used in such batteries.
Metal-air batteries get their energy via interaction between oxygen and metals. In this new battery system, the aluminum serves as the anode and the oxygen in the air as a cathode. The system is made up of aluminum plates that give up their energy and must eventually be replaced (via recycling, the company says)...

                            Photo courtesy lenta.ru and story and more courtesy: Electric Vehicle News

 

Mercedes and Tesla team up on electric car 
Added by admin 27/03/13

The all-new 2014 model year Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive makes its world debut at the New York International Auto Show. The Electric Drive shows off a dynamic design, high-quality interior and a high-torque electric motor for completely emission-free driving. This makes for a lively drive with an estimated range of around 115 miles (200 km). In addition, the B-Class Electric Drive is digitally networked. Thanks to its connectivity, it can be conveniently checked and configured via the internet. As a true Mercedes it also sets high standards in terms of comfort, quality and safety. The B-Class Electric Drive will have its global launch in the USA in early 2014 and be the first luxury battery electric car from Mercedes-Benz in the market.
The 2014 B-Class Electric Drive surprises with a particularly dynamic driving experience, delivering decidedly brisk acceleration while gliding along the road in near perfect silence. The driver and passengers in this new electric Mercedes will enjoy the familiar comfort of a well designed, high-quality interior offering generous space. The B-Class Electric Drive offers driving pleasure with zero local emissions – in short, electric driving at the premium level...

              Photo courtesy autoevolution.com and story and more courtesy: Electric Vehicle News
                                                                                  Video available courtesy: cnnmoney

 

VW e-Up revealed 
Added by admin 15/03/13

The Volkswagen e-Up has been revealed ahead of its public debut at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show in September. It's an electric version of the Up city car that will go on sale in the UK in early 2014.
The e-Up has an electric motor that develops 155lb ft of torque and peak power of 81bhp. It's powered by a lithium-ion battery that's mounted under the car's floor.
Volkswagen quotes a maximum range of 150km (93 miles), and says that the e-Up can be recharged to up to 80 per cent of its energy storage within 30 minutes...

                                                               Story and photo courtesy and more: The Telegraph

 

iRACER: The world's first build at home electric racing car kit 
Added by admin 12/03/13

In what might seem like an odd pairing, Birmingham City University and Westfield Sportscars have joined forces to develop the world’s first build at home electric race car kit. The iRACER is an all-electric vehicle designed to educate and excite, while also supporting the growing forces urging the sport of racing to go local-emissions-free.
The iRACER was conceived from the start to be a pure racing vehicle – there is no version suited to or equipped for public roads. It will race in the sports EV class of the EV Cup series.
The specs of the iRACER are reasonably close to those of wingless sprint cars. At 3.6 meters (11.8-ft) in length and 1.635 meters (5.4-ft) in width, the iRACER is short, but not narrow in the manner of midget racers. With a curb weight of 770 kg (1700 lb), the iRACER is heavier than a Formula One car – a natural result of having to carry 200 kg (440 lb) of lithium iron phosphate batteries. The batteries have an energy capacity of 23 kWh, which should power about 25 minutes of racing...

                                                               Story and photo courtesy and more: gizmag.com

 

Exagon's 155 mph Furtive-eGT electric supercar 
Added by admin 11/03/13

Electric cars haven’t exactly stolen the limelight at this year's Geneva Motor Show, but Exagon Motors is bucking the trend with the highly customizable, “haute couture” Furtive-eGT electric sports car.
Previously shown at the Paris Motor Show, the Furtive-eGT, Exagon hopes to bring back the days of the 1930s when car makers displayed a high degree of customization. Then, it was common for customers to buy a chassis and engine from one company and have another design and construct the body. Since for Exagon this means adjusting some 6,000 components to suit customer desires, the company only makes about 100 hand-assembled Furtive-eGTs per year.
At first glance, the Furtive-eGT seems a pretty modest machine for an electric GT, seeming little more than a wedge with a curiously pursed snout marked by a tiny grille. It isn't until the eye runs along the profile that the distinct “double bubble” roof and splaying side wings stand out. The 124 kilograms (273 lb) body is a carbon fiber honeycomb monocoque with a carbon fiber floor designed to hold the battery and provide a low center of gravity. Sitting centrally in respect to the wheels, this is aimed at ensuring greater stability and in turn, better cornering and braking...

                                                               Story and photo courtesy and more: gizmag.com

 

Qualcomm Halo wireless electric vehicle charging trialled in London 
Added by admin 11/03/13

Doing away with the cord presents obvious advantages when it comes to the challenge of keeping electric vehicles juiced-up and Qualcomm is among those putting wireless charging platforms through real-world tests to prove the technology. The company has been trialing its Qualcomm Halo Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology in London with a fleet of 50 vehicles including the Delta Motorsport Delta E4 Coupé and Renault's Fluence ZE EV.
WEVC uses inductive charging technology whereby energy is transferred between components in the ground and under the vehicle. “Simply put, WEVC works in the same way as an electric tooth brush, only on a larger scale," says Qualcomm’s marketing director Joe Barrett. "Basically we use a copper coil in a pad on the ground under the car and a second pad on the vehicle. Using the magnetic field, we transfer energy from the ground based pad to the vehicle based pad."....

                                                               Story and photo courtesy and more: gizmag.com

 

F1-inspired McLaren P1 revealed 
Added by admin 6/03/13

The carbon-fibre-bodied McLaren P1 is powered by a reworked version of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8 engine used in the McLaren MP4-12C and McLaren MP4-12C Spider, and adds even more grunt as it’s teamed to an electric motor.
The mid-mounted petrol V8 produces 543kW, with the electric motor producing 131kW. In hybrid mode, the P1 pushes out 674kWm - a whopping 233kW more than the MP4-12C - and torque is rated at 900Nm.
McLaren has released some performance figures for the new P1. It says the car will sprint from 0-100km/h in "less than 3.0 seconds"; 0-200km/h in "less than 7.0 seconds"; and, amazingly, 0-300km/h in "less than 17.0 seconds" - or a full five seconds faster than the original iconic McLaren F1 model. The new McLaren P1 was revealed at the 2013 Geneva motor show in March...

                                             Photo courtesy Wikipedia & story courtesy and more: Drive

 

Ferrari unveils fastest-ever electric hybrid supercar 
Added by admin 5/03/13

Ferrari has revealed its first ever hybrid at the 2013 Geneva motor show, and it's called LaFerrari.
The new car is powered by a 950bhp petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than 3sec, from 0-124mph in less than 7sec and from 0-186mph in less than 15sec. Top speed is 220 mph and production is limited to just 499 models.
The battery compartment is integrated into the chassis (the batteries and engine are mid-mounted) to improve stiffness, while the electric drive itself consists of two motors, one with 161bhp to power the rear wheels and another for the ancillaries. The batteries weigh 60kg and can be charged either under braking or via any excess torque produced by the engine, which is diverted from the rear wheels...

                                      Photo & story courtesy and more + video: Electric Vehicle News

 

Toyota shows the i-Road – a fully-enclosed, tilting, electric three-wheeled competitor for the motorcycle 
Added by admin 4/03/13

Toyota rocked the automotive world a few hours ago with full details of a new form of transport it will exhibit at the Geneva Motor Show which begins tomorrow. Toyota's i-ROAD is a fully-enclosed, two-seater, three-wheeled, fully-electric, Personal Mobility Vehicle (PMV).
The i-ROAD incorporates what Toyota is calling Toyota ‘Active Lean’ technology, which "automatically balances the vehicle when cornering or traveling over stepped surfaces" according to the press statement...
                                                          Photo & story courtesy and more: gizmag.com

 

Mitsubishi unveil 300 km Range CA-MiEV Concept 
Added by admin 4/03/13

Mitsubishi has recently pulled the wraps off one of its latest creations, the CA-MiEV Concept, ahead of the model’s official debut scheduled for the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

According to the car manufacturer, the Mitsubishi CA-MiEV Concept is previewing a production version which will be the successor of the current i-MiEV. The Mitsubishi CA-MiEV is an all-electric vehicle with a 300 km range, which has a totally different design and, most importantly, looks significantly bigger than the current i-MiEV...
 

                                                  Photo & story courtesy and more: Electric Vehicle News  

 

Volkswagen Unveil E-Co-Motion Delivery Van Concept
Added by admin 3/03/13

At the Geneva International Motor Show, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will be showing a transporter concept vehicle: the e-Co-Motion.
Despite its large cargo capacity it is compact and maneuverable. Eight hundred kilograms of payload, yet zero emissions on the road thanks to an electric drive system...


                                                  Photo & story courtesy and more: Electric Vehicle News  

 

   
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