Honda and LG Energy Solution have entered into an agreement to establish a joint venture for the production of batteries in the USA. The batteries will be used in Honda and Acura electric models in the North American market.
Honda’s Acura subsidiary brand announces its first all-electric model. The electric SUV will be called Acura ZDX and is scheduled for market launch in 2024. Acura provides a preview of the electric vehicle in the form of the Precision EV Concept.
Honda’s first all-electric model based on General Motors’ Ultium platform for North America will be called Prologue and will be launched in early 2024. This has now been officially announced by Honda. Further details on the Prologue electric SUV are to be published in the coming months.
Further details have now emerged about the North American auto alliance announced by General Motors and Honda involving among other things, vehicle platforms including those for electric cars. An insider report from the US claims there are already concrete schedules and plants for the electric Honda models.
Siemens to mass produce Uniti: Swedish start-up Uniti has just become serious about building its biodegradable compact EV as Siemens jumped on board. The initially crowdfunded company that received 1.2m euros, thus enters the realm of mass production that may start as early as next year, when 50,000 LEV could roll off the lines to be delivered by 2019. In order to do so, a fully automated factory will be build in either Malmö or Landskrona and Siemens has invested 3m euros in the company to date. The L7e vehicle weighs just 400 kilos and is planned with a range of either 150 or 300 km at a price from 200,000 kronas (21,000 euros). Battery options are 11 or 22 kWh while speed is capped at 90 to 120 kph – just in line with the speed limits on Swedish highways. nordic.businessinsider.com, digital.di.se (in Swedish), youtube.com (Uniti video update)
Renault-Nissan to form LCV unit: The alliance has created a new business unit to combine its light commercial vehicle activities, including those of Mitsubishi. As partners, they will leverage complementary markets and products while maintaining their own brand identity. Two electric vans exist already with the Nissan e-NV200 and Renault Kangoo Z.E., plus Renault said it would electrify the Master model within this year reportedly. commercialfleet.org, alliance-renault-nissan.com
First drive: Get a taste of the Jaguar I-Pace with this review by Matt Saunders. He found the electric SUV concept “stunning” and is delighted the team is working on a production version as they prototype. autocar.co.uk
— Text Ad — OEMs and Tier 1s discuss electrification in Europe – over 70 experts will explore key issues at Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Tech Conference, such as 48V architectures, from the initial development of 48V drive systems to designing the optimum 48V energy storage system. Speakers include Daimler, BMW, Ford, and BorgWarner – view the agenda here.
VW’s redemption starts: CARB has received the first 200m dollar instalment from Volkswagen as part of a plan on how to spend the money to serve ZEV. About 120m dollars shall be spend in California on EV charging infrastructure over the next 30 months following the diesel fraud, the rest is for EV demonstration purposes according to the plan, which the regulators have to accept first. greencarcongress.com, arb.ca.gov (investment plan, pdf)
The ecological onslaught of the Trump administration continues as it seeks to roll back fuel economy regulations. This is welcomed by carmakers, who had lobbied against EPA rules under President Obama, but feared by environmentalists. The move to reopen the review has yet to be made officially. bloomberg.com
Acura hybrid: There is a new hybrid out there, the 2017 Acura MDX Sport Hybrid. It uses a V6 engine and three electric motors to produce a total system output of 321 hp. Prices start from 51,960 dollars. carscoops.com
Click tip I: You can now buy your Tesla at the U.S. department store Nordstrom (we reported). Here are some first pictures. The Tesla section is conveniently located next to the men’s suit department. electrek.co
Click tip II: First images of the new all-electric Acura NSX concept have been released. It features four electric motors and will enter this year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb (we reported). mashable.com, autocar.co.uk
Dyson’s secret EV: The hoover manufacturer is building an electric car, The Guardian has learned, quoting internal government documents. Dyson’s endeavour will be funded with 174m pounds from the government and could create as many as 500 jobs in British Malmesbury. Just a few days ago, Dyson CEO Max Conze announced that the company wants to invest 1m pounds in battery production by 2020. theguardian.com
Genesis from Hyundai: The latest concept for Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis has been unveiled in New York. The 242 hp hybrid sports sedan is equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder and could give a glimpse of the future of the G70, a possible 3-series rival. greencarcongress
Upcoming Range Rover: Details of the upcoming Range Rover are being kept largely under wraps. The “Sports Coupé” will share the alloy chassis of the Jaguar F-Pace and Autocar speculates that it will include an all-electric powertrain, which Jaguar previously developed for the I-Pace, as well as a hybrid option. The vehicle will be priced at around 90,000 pounds. autocar.co.uk
Renault recalls: Bad news for Renault owners. 10,649 Zoe are being recalled due to rupturing brake fluid hoses. There are, as of yet, no confirmations that the faulty hoses have led to any accidents on the road. Nonetheless, those cars built between 2012 and 2014 are being thoroughly checked. reuters.com
Acura MDX: Honda’s luxury brand took the wrap of the 2017 MDX in New York. The MDX Sport Hybrid features not one, but three electric motors and a 3.5-litre V6 engine with a combined output of 325 hp. The 2017 variant will go on sale this summer, with the Sport Hybrid to follow soon thereafter. worldcarfans.com
Lexus extended: A three-row variant of the Lexus RX is on its way for late 2017, possibly early 2018. According to Autonews, Lexus recently trademarked the names RX 350L and RX 450hL, leading many to speculate the new car will be offered both with a standard V6 engine and as a hybrid. However, apart from the extra seats, styling will stay true to the original. worldcarfans.com, autonews.com
Citroën DS with new sportscar concept in Geneva: The French will lift the veil of all-electric E-TENSE at the Geneva Motor Show, releasing first images and a teaser video ahead of the show. The sports coupé features two electric motors with a combined 296 kW and a 53 kWh Li-ion battery pack, allowing for a maximum range of 360 km. greencarcongress.com, autoblog.com, youtube.com (video)
Six times electric: According to insider George Kracher, the Volkswagen Group is considering six new electric models in addition to the upcoming Audi Q6 e-tron, Porsche Mission E and new VW e-Golf. That includes an electric New Beetle and Audi Q4 e-tron (we reported). On the more luxurious side, an Audi A9 or second electric Bentley SUV could be in the pipelines. automobilemag.com
EV incentives: According to German magazine Der Spiegel, German ministers have agreed on a 5,000 euro bonus for purchasing an EV from July 1st. Businesses can qualify for a 3,000 cash incentive. The so-called ‘environmental bonus’ will run out by 2020 and will be reduced 500 euros per year until then. On the table at a next meeting in April are also the installation of 15,000 charging points, subsidizing R&D of batteries, and the implementation of a quota for newly purchased cars for government fleets. reuters.com; spiegel.de (in German)
New Acura NSX: After a ten-year absence, Acura opened the order books for its all news 2017 NSX. The combined V6 engine and three electric motors provide a total of 573 hp. Acura does not intend to stop there, and is already looking into a more powerful, more extreme Type-R. thedetroitbureau.com
Fresh off the line: Detroit Electric has handed off their first SP:01 vehicle. The car is headed to China where it will be used as a demonstration car for potential customers. The carmaker hopes to pursue the Asian market further and to soon announce a distributor for Japan. carscoops.com
Leaked Toyota: First photos of a production version Toyota C-HR have been made public ahead of the Geneva Motor Show. In line with Toyota’s recent developments, the vehicle will be available as a hybrid. worldcarfans.com, autocar.co.uk
Tesla updates: All Roadster versions finally benefit from the latest battery upgrade as Tesla expands it to include early Roadster 1.5 models. Elon Musk also clarified that production in China would only happen a year after the introduction of the Model 3, if at all. The same goes for Europe, but domestic production would still remain, the Tesla CEO assured. insideevs.com (Roadster), teslarati.com (production)
Electric Honda sports car: Based on the Pikes Peak CR-Z, the Japanese carmaker plans to introduce an all-electric racer for the road. A prototype boasts a motor in each wheel, which can also all be steered individually, and a 16kwh lithium-ion battery. The targeted range is 250 miles at a desired power output of 350 hp. No date has been given for production yet. autoexpress.co.uk
Honda revealed details of its Acura NSX Hybrid: Three electric motors and a 3.5-liter V6 deliver a total power output of 573 hp. While the “Quiet” mode enables electric driving at lower speeds, the system can get up to speeds of 191 mph. The latter is best reached in “Track” mode, optimised for circuit driving. automobiliemag.com, carscoops.com, worldcarfans.com
Indian super hybrid update: Mean Metal Motors’ initial plans for the M-Zero sports car take shape. Carbo-flax has been named as the material of choice and is said to be lighter than carbon fibre. With a system output of at least 500 hp, the lightweight plug-in hybrid aims at a top speed of 200 mph. A close-to-production concept is scheduled for the Paris Motor Show 2016. digitaltrends.com
Shockwave Motors progresses with the Defiant EV, too. The electric three-wheeler that looks like a 1930 Batmobil is ready to go into production next year. Those that pay extra on top of the 24,950-dollars base price can get a bigger battery for a range of 175 miles at a top speed of 70 mph. gizmag.com (with video)
Bentley spy shots: A long-wheelbased Bentley Mulsanne has been spotted. Its introduction will fall together with an update of Bentley’s Mulsanne range, which will then most likely also include a plug-in hybrid model. After all, the brand belongs to VW and plans a PHEV version of the Bentayga, too. motorauthority.com
Video tip 1: In this episode of Fully Charged, Robert Llewellyn compares a battery-powered lawnmower to a petrol mower to figure out how much work you can get out of equal amounts of energy. As you might guess, the electric mower is far more energy efficient. And indeed, the difference is impressive! youtube.com
Video tip 2: Seyth Miersma got behind the wheel of the 2016 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid with three electric motors and recorded his impressions. He sums up that “from the way that it looks to the way that it goes down the road it’s just a different approach to building an automobile.” autoblog.com
Increased stock offering: Tesla plans to raise about 642.5 million dollars through a share sale, above the 500 million the electric car maker announced last week. The company will actually offer 2.7 million instead of 2,1 million shares to raise additional cash for the ongoing work on the Gigafactory and the development of its Model 3. Elon Musk plans to invest 20 million of his own money in the stock offering. reuters.com
NSX production delayed again: Originally scheduled to start production this fall, Acura revealed that production of its hybrid supercar NSX is now scheduled to begin in spring 2016, although “trial production” has already started. Automobile reports that the main reason for the delay is the decision to add two turbochargers to the V6, which was made midway through development. automobilemag.com, autoblog.com
Skoda SUV takes shape: The Czech carmaker is planning to launch its SUV model next year, German Auto Bild reports. The Skoda Snowman will be set on VW´s MQB platform and will be offered with five or seven seats. According to the report, Skoda also plans to launch a plug-in hybrid version. autobild.de (in German)
Iranian EV subsidies? After the lifting of sanctions, Iran plans to invest in green technologies. Iranian Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar indicated that the country may introduce subsidies for purchases of electric and hybrid cars and create areas in major city centers where only eco-cars are allowed. In addition, Iran wants to attract especially Japanese automakers to build plants in the country. japantimes.co.jp
Bugatti Chiron spied: The hybrid Bugatti Veyron successor Chiron, which is said to come with 1,500 hp, was recently spotted at the Los Angeles International Airport. Meanhwhile, the production-spec body of Bentley’s SUV Bentayga has been leaked online as a scale model ahead of its official debut at next month’s Frankfurt Auto Show. A plug-in hybrid variant of the Bentayga has been confirmed for 2017. motoring.com.au (Bugatti), motorauthority.com (Bentley)
Bintelli expands: Bintelli, manufacturer of citEcar electric vehicles as well as exclusive U.S. distributor for Bintelli and Adly Scooters, recently opened its new headquarters in Charleston, South Carolina. The new facilities include Bintelli’s production lines, R&D, sales team and warehouse. prnewswire.com
Model S updates: Tesla now offers a new basic version of its Model S in the single motor version for 70,000 dollars. It comes with a 70 kWh battery pack and is 5,000 dollars cheaper than its all-wheel-drive counterpart. Tesla is also offering a battery pack upgrade from 85 to 90 kWh for 3,000 dollars and introduced the new “ludicrous” mode, which will take the Model S P85D from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. And – starting in 2019, Tesla also plans to offer a new Roadster! forbes.com, autoblog.com, teslamotors.com
Two versions of the SP:01: Detroit Electric has released full specifications of its electric roadster SP:01. The “pure” variant comes with an electric motor producing 150 kW, while the “performance” version will deliver 210 kW. Both versions feature 37 kWh battery packs and are said to go 288 km on one charge. The SP:01 is being built in Warwickshire, UK, and will go on sale before the end of this year. worldcarfans.com, topspeed.com
Electric sports EV from China: Shanghai-based Youxia Motors will present the prototype of its all-electric sportscar “One” on July 26. The car is said to hit a top speed of 300 km/h and have a range of 250 km. Youxia will collect funds for the production of the first five cars via a crowdfunding campaign. carnewschina.com, worldcarfans.com
Acura NSX undisguised: Videos and pictures of the seemingly final design of the 2016 Acura NSX have emerged on the web. The hybrid sportscar will feature a V6 combustion engine and three electric motors with a combined output of more than 550 hp. autoguide.com, motorward.com, hybridcars.com (videos)
Volvo XC90 T8 qualifies for the UK Plug-in Car Grant. The hybrid is therefore available from 54,955 pounds. It is Volvo’s first petrol plug-in hybrid to qualify and companies choosing the SUV will be able to write down 100% of the cost against their income tax liability. am-online.com, carsuk.net
New 7 Series to be unveiled next week: No need to wait until the Frankfurt Motor Show, as BMW will take the wraps off its new 7-series on June 10th. BMW’s new flagship car is said to also become available as a plug-in hybrid called 740e. A teaser video has already been posted online. bmwblog.com, caradvice.com.au, youtube.com (video)
German wake-up call: Hoping to increase sales of electric cars in Germany, 14 lawmakers from the ruling parties sent a letter to the country’s finance minister calling for subsidies for corporate purchasers of EVs, German paper Handelsblatt reports. And they might be successful: Coalition sources said that Chancellor Angela Merkel will back demands for a range of measures to support the EV market. In addition to the tax writedown, these may include more money to build up charging stations and for research and development — at a total cost of 3 billion euros. More details could be announced at a meeting of the German National Platform for Electric Mobility (NPE) in mid-June. handelsblatt.com
New Peugeot goes British: The Peugeot Partner can now be ordered in the UK in all its variants, meaning also as a purely-electric vehicle. The Panel Van EV has a range of 106 miles and is especially suited for multi-drop businesses. Pricing for the electric version starts at 21,300 pounds (32,680 dollars). commercialfleet.org
— Text Ad — Join Frost & Sullivan’s annual workshop on Urban Mobility on 1st and 2nd of July, 2015, a showcase of innovation and thought leadership on future mobility trends. Key areas of discussion – New Mobility business models and trends, Autonomous Vehicles, Connected Car, Big Data, Cyber Security, E-commerce platforms. www.frost.com
Silent rescuer: BMW will present the first i3 emergency vehicle at the “Interschutz” trade show in Hanover later this month. The fire command vehicle is obviously fitted with sirens and emergency lights, but will otherwise not make a sound. autoevolution.com, bmwblog.com (photos)
Acura RLX Sport Hybrid hits U.S. market: Starting today, the 2016 model will be available at dealerships across the United States. The car has a three-motor hybrid system with a combined output of 377 hp and comes with a number of driving assistance features, such as a Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) and Blind Spot Information (BSI). puregreencars.com
NEL acquires H2 Logic: The Norwegian electrolyser company takes over Danish H2 Logic, a hydrogen refuelling station company. Through the acquisition, NEL aims to take a key role in the development of supply infrastructure for FCEVs. newsweb.no
Tesla opponent from Stuttgart? According to Manager Magazin, Daimler and Porsche are each planning to develop an electric vehicle with a range of at least 400 kilometres, ready to go head to head with the Model S. The Porsche is said to be a smaller version of the Panamera, scheduled for no earlier than 2018. The electric Mercedes could resemble an E- or S-class, but not before 2021. manager-magazin.de, handelsblatt.com (articles in German)
Terra ready for Europe: Terra Motors is preparing for its EU debut and will present its e-scooter A4000i at the EICMA Show in Milan, Italy, in November. The scooter will be available for sale first in Italy and later in three to five other European countries. Even producing it on European ground is a possibility. cnbc.com
Geely´s hybrid plans: The Chinese manufacturer announced plans to bring a hybrid version of its Emgrand 7 midsize sedan on the market mid-next year. The hybrid technology will later be applied to other models as well. economictimes.indiatimes.com
— Text Ad — eCarTec 2014: Under Voltage! Visit TÜV SÜD in hall B4, booth 421. We support you with services for battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and their infrastructures. More information…
Is Daimler eyeing MV Agusta? According to media reports, Daimler is looking to get on board with the Italian motorcycle manufacturer. A possible reason is that the carmaker may be interested in MV Agusta’s high-performance three-cylinder engines for its own hybrid systems. reuters.com
End nears for Acura hybrid: Honda’s luxury brand Acura will present a new ILX at the LA Auto Show in November. But because the manufacturer sold only 3,000 hybrid versions since the ILX became available in 2013, the new model will be petrol driven only. autotrends.org
Mazda recalls Tribute Hybrids in the U.S.: A total of 7,814 units, built between October 2006 and May 2008, have to go back to the lot. A problem with the coolant pump for the hybrid system can cause the latter to overheat and possibly shut down the power train. puregreencars.com
VW Passat Plug-in Hybrid: For the Paris Auto Show, the eighth generation of VW’s sedan adopts the plug-in hybrid technology already seen in the Golf GTE but with a little more power. The Passat will have a combined output of 218 hp and torque of 400 nm. The electric range is 50 km thanks to a 9.9 kWh battery and the car will be offered both in sedan and wagon versions. carscoops.com, caradvice.com
ELR gets a makeover: According to a Cadillac spokesperson, the “improved version” of the ELR will include “engineering enhancements.” More details have not yet been revealed. The updated version of the plug-in hybrid will premier at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. edmunds.com
Getting the i3 off the lot: One California car dealer offers a discount on five of its BMW i3 in stock. REx models or models with extended options are not part of the deal. It is a first sign that the initial hype is over and dealers will “have to work a little harder” to sell the EV. greencarreports.com
— Text Ad — URBAN FUTURE Global Conference 2014 – the premier smart city conference in Central Europe in cooperation with the United Nations | Nov 18-19, 2014 | Graz, Austria | 140+ high-level international speakers, 1,000+ delegates from 50 countries and 4 conference tracks: Mobility, Living & City Planning, Communications, Energy. Read more >>
Kia Soul EV gets price tag in Canada: The basic model will go for 34,995 Canadian dollars (31,373 USD), while the luxury trim will cost 37,995 CAD (34,062 USD). The latter comes with a heat pump that reduces energy consumption by about 27 percent. theglobeandmail.com
The Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD is now available in the United States. Pricing ranges from 59,950 dollars for the Technology Package to 65,950 dollars for the Advance Package. Honda’s hybrid comes with a 35 kW front and two 27 kW rear electric motors. puregreencars.com, leftlanenews.com, honda.com
New Ford hybrid line-up? Apparently, the American carmaker is working on a new hybrid model, Reuters reports. Project ‘C240’ is said to hit the market by 2018 and might come with several body styles. It would be Ford’s first purpose-built hybrid. reuters.com, hybridcars.com
Chinese-French cooperation: PSA’s joint venture in China, Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën, is reportedly in negotiations to intensify the partnership. Together, the companies want to develop new technologies for micro hybrids, plug-in hybrids as well as pure electric vehicles for the Chinese market. gasgoo.com
More range for E2o: Mahindra Reva is now offering a premium version of its electric model in India. The upgraded E2o has a range of 120 kilometres, or 50% more, as well as electric power steering. For next year, electric and hybrid variants of the company’s Verito and Maxximo are in the pipeline. indiatimes.com, business-standard.com
Supercharged hybrid: Honda offers a supercharger kit for its CR-Z hybrid, which will raise the base 130 hp to 192 hp. The kit was developed by Honda Performance Development and is sold for 5,495 dollars. hybridcars.com, puregreencars.com
Prius Taxi: Toyota is hoping to strengthen its hybrid sales in Korea by offering the a taxi version of the Prius. It would be the first foreign company to break into the Korean taxi market, and also the first to offer a hybrid while most cabs in the country run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). blogs.wsj.com
Honda Civic Review: Jeff Cobb drove the updated version of the hybrid sedan. The 2014 Civic comes with a Li-ion battery and a renewed hybrid system that offers some EV-only operation. Still, Cobb thinks that the Fit/ Jazz hybrid system would be more efficient if adapted to the new Civic. hybridcars.com
The Acura RLX Hybrid could be the most sophisticated hybrid yet, says Anthony Ingram, who did a review of three-motor hybrid. One is mainly feeding the system with energy from braking, while the remaining two work at the rear, with 27 kW each but independently, thus making the “Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive” live up to its name. greencarreports.com
Tuned Model S presented: Saleen has unveiled its ‘FourSixteen’ as promised. This altered Model S looks even more sportive, features an optimised gear box, stronger brakes and better cooling. Pricing starts at 152,000 Dollar while all upgrades are available to retrofit any Model S individually. greencarreports.com, topgear.com
Most exclusive super hybrid: McLaren presented the design of its P1 GTR at Pebble Beach. This super hybrid costs almost two million pounds (3.34m dollars) and will only be build 30 times. Exclusively reserved for previous P1 customers, the 1,000-hp car is to be driven on race courses. hybridcars.com, autovolt-magazine.com
Will there be an VW XL2? Volkswagen is working on a four-seat model based on its super efficient XL1, Autocar reports. What would possibly called the XL2 might already hit the market by 2015 and is said to come with more battery capacity and power while still being as efficient as the original two-seater. autocar.co.uk
Delayed Acura coming soon: Honda’s subsidiary initially planned to release its RLX Hybrid sedan already this spring. Technical issues concerning the battery and electric motor have now been solved and sales are set to start very soon. The drivetrain is similar to that of the upcoming NSX of which a prototype had recently burned down at the Nürnburgring (we reported). wardsauto.com
BMW delivers first i8: At the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, the German carmaker has handed over the first units of its hybrid sports car to its American customers. A total of seven production i8s were delivered to an exclusive circle of owners. transportevolved.com, greencarreports.com
The Honda Accord Hybrid is in short supply in the States, where dealers and customers currently do not know when they can get their hybrid car. According to the carmaker, the Ohio-based production of the hybrid Honda is suffering from “component supply constraints.” greencarreports.com
Daimler to drive hybridisation: From 2017, the Mercedes GLA will be build on a new platform on which the compact SUV will also be offered as plug-in hybrid. Furthermore, AMG CEO Tobias Moers has hinted that Mercedes sports car subsidiary will become more hybrid in the future. automobil-produktion.de (GLA, in German), auto-motor-und-sport.de (AMG, in German)
Super small EV from China: Dongfeng has rolled out production of its electric micro car Aeolus E30. Its top speed is limited to 80 kph, like on other micro EVs as the Renault Twizy, but the Aeolus is said to reach a range of 160 kilometres. Furthermore, the company has announced a stretched version called Aeolus E30L. technologicvehicles.com
Acura recall: Honda’s luxury division is asking all 2013 and 2014 Acura ILX Hybrid sedans into the workshop due a problem with the headlamps, which under certain conditions will overheat to the point of smoke. They will be replaced free of charge. greencarreports.com
– Job-Ad – SK Continental E-motion is looking for a Sales Manager (m/f) to manage the acquisition process including proposal management and contract negotiations. You will also represent our company at trade shows and customer seminars. Generating business forecasts and onducting product or product-group specific market research belongs to your area of responsibility. We look forward to receiving your application. More information >> (PDF)
China biggest e-bike market: Almost 37 million e-bikes were sold last year in China, an increase of 5.4 percent compared to 2012. That makes it a total of 181 million e-bikes on Chinese streets. Moreover, China delivered 71,387 e-bikes to the States in 2013 while this year’s exports to the U.S. already stand at 41,765 units. bike-eu.com
The Tesla of motorcycles is what Hannah Elliot calls the Zero SR Streetfighter in her review of the electric motorcycle. She has been riding the sport bike for two weeks in New York City and often felt like “in a futuristic video game” as the bike not only rides well but integrates seamlessly with iOS and Android systems. forbes.com