General Motors presents a Chevrolet Bolt equipped with its fourth generation of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology. Surprise, surprise: The autonomous EV comes without steering wheel and pedals.
Weiterlesen
In the course of General Motor’s presentation of its electric mobility strategy in New York an interesting picture appeared: Most probably, it shows the carmaker’s upcoming all-electric crossover that is based on the Chevrolet Bolt.
WeiterlesenReading tip: The U.S. will see a new rallycross series this year that will use EVs only. The E/Racing will kick off on October 31st in Las Vegas and features electric cars from Austrian company STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development). Other planned stops are LA and New York.
motorsport.com
Video tip: Chevy released a series of videos about the Bolt, providing more technical details. They focus on the subjects of Electronic Precision Shift, cargo room, one-pedal driving, the My Chevrolet app, EPA range, charging, regen on demand and the surround vision.
youtube.com via insideevs.com
Another electric VW bus: VW unveiled its new electric concept car, the I.D. Buzz at the Detroit Motor Show. The minibus takes after the iconic VW bus and is slightly bigger than the BUDD-e, presented at CES last year (we reported). It is powered by two electric motors with a total output of 275 kW, while the 111-kWh battery pack allows for up to 270 miles of range (EPA) or 600 km (NECD). It is not clear when the I.D. Buzz will hit the road, but most likely not before the I.D. and an electric SUV, which VW will unveil in Shanghai.
greencarcongress.com, autonews.com, autocar.co.uk
Tiny e-car for the city: Start-up Eli Electric Vehicles presented its EV Zero in Las Vegas. The small electric car has some similarity with the Renault Twizy, bus has a closes cockpit and real doors. Its top speed is limited to 40 kph, while it can go 100 km on one charge. Zero will launch in Europe and the U.S. at the end of the year and will sell for around 10,000 dollars.
autoexpress.co.uk
eRace hits track in Vegas: The first virtual eRace took place in Las Vegas over the weekend. Faraday Future Dragon Racing pilot Bono Huis took the crown, winning 200,000 dollars. Technically, Mahindra driver Olli Pahkala was the fastest, but only because he used a FanBoost incorrectly, activating it for six rounds and not six seconds. He therefore got a 12 second penalty and lost the top spot.
motorsport.com, cnn.com
Electric two-seater by Jaguar? Auto Express reports that Jaguar may be working on a narrow two-seater electric city car, where the passengers would be seated behind the driver. The tiny EV could become available at the beginning of the next decade and would be built by company Magna in Graz (Austria).
autoexpress.co.uk
EV crowned: Automotive journalists have cured the Chevy Bolt as “North American Car of the Year 2017.” It is the first time that an electric car has taken home the award. The Bolt is said to have won out mainly because it is believed to be a game changer in the automotive sector, as it offers more than 200 miles of range, while still being affordable.
usatoday.com, electrek.co, insideevs.com
Ikea ChargeLounge: Ikea Germany has its first ChargeLounge that has been developed together with Fraunhofer IAO. It has been installed at a parking lot at the furniture store in Ludwigsburg. Customers can charge with AC or DC while the lounge is a modular box that can serve as showroom or café.
idw-online.de
Fuel cell deal: Ballard Power Systems signed a Long-Term Sales Agreement (LTSA) with Polish Solaris for the sale and supply of fuel cell modules. An initial order is for ten 85 kW FCveloCity-HD fuel cell modules, with deliveries planned to start in 2017.
greencarcongress.com
When in Rome promote electric vehicles. Nissan teamed up with Italian football club AS Roma to showcase its EV offering. Apart from the Leaf, the e-NV200 Evalia will serve as shuttle at the stadium. At the Trigoria training centre, another Leaf and e-NV-200 vehicles will transport people and goods.
carscoops.com
NYC stands behind the Bolt: New York City signed a deal with GM to supply the Chevy Bolt. The order will help the city to reach its 1,000 EVs by 2017 target, which has been laid out in the NYC Clean Fleet scheme. The Bolt is to play a “pivotal role” according to NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, who did not go into further detail. 50 Bolt have however been ordered to take part in a shared fleet initiative and are expected to arrive in spring 2017.
einnews.com, uaw.org
Mapping charging demand: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) collaborated with researchers at the PHEV Research Center at the University of California, Davis and developed best practices for siting DC fast chargers. The findings were applied to feed an interactive map.
businesswire.com, pge.com (map, log in required)
Mercedes secures Formula E entry option: After Audi and BMW, Mercedes could be the next German carmaker to enter the all-electric racing series. A newly signed contract gives the company the option to fill one of the spots for newcomers, which will be offered from season five to expand the number of Formula E teams.
electricautosport.com, daimler.com
H2 off-roader for deployment: As previously reported, GM will fit its Chevy Colorado with a fuel cell for the U.S. military, which can also deliver power for activities outside the vehicle. The army will test the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 under extreme conditions next year.
greencarcongress.com, autoblog.com
Electric motorbike with Leaf battery: Night Shift Bikes used existing components to build an all-electric retro style motorbike. And it’s not named Leafy Savage without a reason. Next to using batteries from a Nissan Leaf, the bike frame comes from a Suzuki Savage.
wired.de, averagejoes.co.uk
Battery development: Sion Power and BASF achieved an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and 700 Wh/kg, as well as 350 charging cycles with its battery system Licerion-Ion and Licerion-Sulfur. The partners are targeting 500 Wh/kg, 1000 Wh/L and 1000 cycles.
greencarcongress.com
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No VW battery plant: VW CEO Matthias Müller snubbed the possibility of setting up a VW battery production plant, telling German Handelsblatt that they would not do something “that foolish.” Cell production is highly automated and would therefore only create few jobs, while costing “an arm and a leg.”
handelsblatt.com
Yes to Samsung battery plant: Samsung SDI meanwhile decided to set up shop in Hungary. It will invest some 358m dollars in a battery plant, said to churn out battery packs for some 50,000 EVs per year. The factory near Budapest is said to open its doors in the second half of 2018.
reuters.com, koreaherald.com
In the army now: GM is working with the U.S. army on the development of fuel-cell-powered Chevrolet Colorado for military purposes. A first prototype of the H2 pick-up is said to be unveiled in October.
freep.com, thedetroitbureau.com
Non-flammable electrolytes: Cornell University spin-out NOHMs Technologies has collected 5m dollars in funds to commercialize its non-flammable electric vehicle (EV) battery electrolyte technology. The NanoLyte Electrolytes contain ionic liquids, making them more resistant without compromising battery power.
greencarcongress.com
Tesla increased production to 2,000 vehicles per week, according to Eletrek. That means about 104,000 EVs would roll off production lines every year and that the EV maker has a real shot at meeting its own goal of delivering 80,000 t0 90,000 EVs in 2016.
electrek.co
Faraday’s future: Electric car start-up Faraday Future has officially broken ground on its 1bn dollar, 900-acre facility in Nevada that should generate some 4,500 jobs. FF expects to have full prototypes by the end of the year, and is building both mechanical and software systems. Their first EV will be “at the premium end of the segment.”
businessinsider.de, faradayfuture.com
Tesla surprise: Tesla has introduced a 75 kWh Model X, up from 70 kWh. That changes the range from 220 miles to 237, though it is reported to have a lower top speed, at 130 mph. The base price will also increase from 80,000 dollars to 83,000 dollars.
insidedevs.com
Setbacks in Germany: German political parties met last night to discuss several topics and have, again, failed to come to a consensus on electric car incentives. Though auto leaders have been pressing for incentives to help push the electric vehicle market forward, a decision is not expected until late April.
reuters.com
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Electromobility powered by Siemens – Siemens präsentiert Lösungen für den Antriebsstrang von Hybrid- und Elektrofahrzeugen auf der “Fahrzeugschau Elektromobilität” in Bad Neustadt a.d.S. am kommenden Wochenende (16. und 17. April) auf dem Festplatz der Modellstadt für Elektromobilität. Besuchen Sie uns und überzeugen Sie sich von den neuesten Innovationen.
www.siemens.de/electriccar
Overnight testing: Chevrolet intends to offer overnight testing for the Volt and Bolt, hoping that cutting out the requirement to visit a dealership will boost interest and buys. Shoppers will be able to experience and test the vehicles from their own home.
insidedevs.com
Green light Korea: The Renault Twizy had previously not been allowed in South Korea because it did not fall into any of the country’s automobile categories. Now, the ministry decided to create a new category for compact electric vehicles, so the Twizy will finally be allowed on their roadways.
businesskorea.co.kr
Falling emissions: Emissions from new cars sold in Europe last year fell three percent, and are expected to reach the target goal of 95 grams of CO2 per km by 2021. Those figures, however, come from data based on outdated tests that tend to report emissions at 30 to 40% lower than real world driving conditions.
theguardian.com
Click tip: Details on the 2017 Chevy Bolt are here, paired with ample images, specs and a detailed look at the battery pack. The car boasts a 60 kWh battery and expected 200 miles of EPA and is expected to make waves as an option for inexpensive long range driving – and for those who may not want to wait for the Tesla Model 3.
insidedevs.com
Click tip II: Big Limos claims to be building the first Tesla Model S stretch limousine. Though little more is known about the project, there is footage of a Model S being cut in half in preparation.
electrek.co
Video tip I: Chevrolet sends Tesla some love as it starts pilot production of the Bolt EV just a week before the Model 3 launch. While the economy Tesla will not see the light of the day before late 2017, GM’s affordable electric model is to hit the stores this autumn.
youtube.com via forbes.com
Video tip II: The term drag race takes on a whole new meaning in this Alfa Romeo vs. Tesla Model X. The Italian is literally dragged along as it towers on a trailer towed by the Tesla that competes with another Alfa Romeo 4C at the same time.
insideevs.com
Reading tip: British journalist Jess Shanahan will go for some soul searching this April. Driving over 2,500 miles in a Kia Soul EV, she shall show that electric cars can go the long distance and along 57 must-see sights of the isles over 20 days.
nextgreencar.com
Events for the upcoming week: EKOnova Rally Slovenia (March 30-April 02; Slovenia and Austria) ++ FIA Formula E, Round 6 (April 02; Long Beach, USA)
You can find a complete list of upcoming industry events at electrive.com/calendar
Chrysler plug-in minivan: NAIAS saw the debut of Chrysler’s Van Pacifica. The plug-in hybrid variant will be able to drive about 30 miles all-electric, powered by its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery. The PHEV is expected to arrive in the second half of this year.
electriccarsreport.com, greencarcongress.com, forbes.com
Bolt EV specs: Chevrolet has released more details of its 200-mile electric car. The Bolt’s lithium-ion battery pack holds 60 kWh, while the electric motor powers the front wheels with up to 150 kW for a top speed of 91 mph. A full recharge might take up to 9 hours, but Chevy claims the built-in 7.2-kW charger is able to charge 50 miles in less than 2 hours.
detroitnews.com, greencarreports.com, insideevs.com
Bigger battery for e-Golf? New cells are to increase the range of Volkswagen’s electric classic by 30 percent, Volkmar Tanneberger, head of electronic development, said at CES. The current e-Golf has a range of 83 miles, while the new power pack would push it to 108 miles, well in range of the new Nissan Leaf. No word yet on when the update is due.
autoblog.com
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Volvo S90 Hybrid debut: The Swedes in Chinese hands launched their 2017 S90 in Detroit. All variants will be available from the get go, including the plug-in hybrid version. It features the same drivetrain as the XC90 SUV.
carscoops.com
Mercedes E-Class on display: Daimler presented its new E-Class in Detroit. The now even bigger sedan will become available as a diesel and petrol variant from April, with the PHEV E 350e to follow shortly after. The hybrid Mercedes is expected to have an electric range of 19 miles.
autocar.co.uk, insideevs.com
Hyundai Ioniq update: Hyundai has released first images of its Ioniq, which will be available as an EV and a hybrid with and without plug. The hybrid will be powered by a 1.6 litre and 105 hp petrol engine, combined with a 32 kW electric motor. Pricing in South Korea is said to start at just 22.9m won (19,127 USD). The Hyundai will premier in Geneva and New York in March.
autocar.co.uk, indianautosblog.com
Chevy Bolt overview: Following the unveiling of Chevrolet’s new EV at the CES in Las Vegas yesterday, here are the official presentation video, specs and more pictures to scroll through. The Bolt will go on sale at the end of the year and will feature lots of driving assistants and maximum connectivity to appeal to younger generations.
youtube.com (official video), chevrolet.com (official website), forbes.com (photos)
Mellow Boards gets cash injection: The Hamburg-based start-up (we reported) has received 1.5m euros from TQ Systems, securing enough financing until the start of production. Mellow Boards says it will most likely be able to stay on schedule, with deliveries said to start in September.
Source: info per mail
Mini with plug? According to German Auto Motor und Sport, the new Mini Countryman will be available from the end of the year. A plug-in variant is to follow at a later date, but will have an all-electric range of a mere 34 km.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)
Baojun E100 spy shots: The small city EV said to premier at the Beijing Auto Show in April, was caught on camera. The Baojun E100 will then launch in China in October, have a range of 100 km an top speed of 100 kph. And it apparently comes with a takeout tablet on the dashboard.
carnewschina.com
EV batteries for India: The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) are working together to develop an affordable EV battery for Indian manufacturers. The goal is to reduce the cost to about one tenth of currently imported battery prices. A first prototype is to be revealed in about a year.
indiatimes.com, thehindubusinessline.com
Faraday departure ahead of premiere: Even before the California start-up could show off its futuristic EV, it lost a vital part of its core team. The from SpaceX headhunted battery architect Porter Harris has left the company.
bloomberg.com, manager-magazin.de
S-class recall: Mercedes is calling 52 units of the S550 plug-in hybrid back to the shop in the United States. There seems to a be a problem with the onboard charger.
electriccarsreport.com
Camaro with plug: Ohio State University’s EcoCar team is turning a Chevrolet Camaro into a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of up to 40 miles. This is the third year that teams from 16 universities are going head to head in retrofitting cars with electric powertrains. Ohio State has won the EcoCar competition for the past two years.
dispatch.com
Prius sales target lowered: Toyota fears that sales of its 4th-gen Prius hybrid could drop due to low petrol prices. Toyota is now targeting average global annual sales of 300,000-350,000, the lower end of the 300,000-400,000 annual sales target for the previous model. Moreover, the AWD variant may not be offered in the U.S. for now, as demand for all-wheel drive cars there actually is decreasing.
reuters.com, autoblog.com, autonews.com (AWD)
BAIC starts new e-car project: The Chinese manufacturer and Californian company Atieva plan to develop a range of electric cars to be offered for sale globally. BAIC is helping the start-up financially, as well as with expertise through its new electric vehicle technical centre in the Silicon Valley. The first “breakthrough electric car” is said to be unveiled at the 2016 Beijing motor show.
autocar.co.uk, atieva.com
Faraday Future takes Las Vegas: The Californian start-up will open its EV factory in North Las Vegas, Nevada to kick off production by 2017. Meanwhile, Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting confirmed that he is backing the company financially.
jalopnik.com, reviewjournal.com, forbes.com
Jaguar to take part in Formula E? According to Sky News, Jaguar Land Rover will announce plans to launch a team in the Formula E electric car-racing series at a press conference next Tuesday. The event is expected to include a commitment to launch an all-electric (street) car, but without setting a formal timetable. An electric Jaguar, built by Magna Steyr in Austria, has long been making headlines.
sky.com
Tesla opens shop in Mexico: The store in Mexico City is the first in the Central American region. Ricardo Blanco, previously brand and communications manager in South America for Google, has been hired to further develop the Mexican market.
electrek.co
Chevy Malibu Hybrid priced: The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid will be available from 28,645 dollars in the U.S., including a 875 dollar destination charge and will go on sale in spring. Its drivetrain unit is based on the powertrain from the second-gen Chevrolet Volt, allowing for as much as 48 mpg.
freep.com, hybridcars.com
Toyota fast forwards the electrification of its fleet as it plans to decrease its average new-vehicle CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2050. This means combustion engines will become a thing of the past for the Japanese carmaker, who looks to strengthen the future instead. Some 30,000 fuel cell vehicles and 1.5m hybrids shall be sold annually by 2020. Also, Toyota plans to sell H2 buses by 2017. In terms of R&D, better batteries such as solid-state technology move even higher up the agenda. This is what we call a bright “mirai” (future).
greencarcongress.com, toyota.co.jp, toyota-global.com (The Environmental Action Plan)
Tesla cashes in: The latest software update is available from today. That much we knew. What Elon Musk failed to announce was the 2,500 dollars Tesla charges those who like to get all the autopilot functions “included” in version 7, Fortune reports. Usually, Tesla updates are free of charge.
fortune.com
Nationwide Volt rollout: The order books for the 2017 Chevrolet Volt will open this December in all North American states. Production of the 2017 version starts in February 2017 with first deliveries to commence in spring. The 2016 Volt will only be available in selected states and Canada (we reported).
insideevs.com
Mahindra goes Britain: The Indian manufacturer further clarified its plan to enter the European market with a four-door version of its electric e2o that is to land in Great Britain. In order to do so, Mahindra will set up a dedicated distribution centre on the Isles.
business-standard.com
Bugatti Chiron saved: Volkswagen’s budget cuts do not concern the planned hybrid sports car, according to Jalopnik. The prestige project Bugatti Chiron will thus be presented in Geneva next year.
jalopnik.com
Audi made in Belgium: The German carmaker will build its Q6 E-tron in Brussels starting in 2018, Belgian De Morgen learned. The electric SUV is to sit between the Audi Q5 and Q7.
reuters.com, demorgen.be (original source in Dutch)
The eX electric crossover is Mitsubishi’s latest concept due to appear at the Tokyo Motor Show for the first time. The all-electric SUV with 400 km of electric range looks pretty dynamic to say the least and will give rise to more electric Mitsubishi’s to come – hopefully.
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com, worldcarfans.com
Fuel cell reloaded: The FCV Plus is Toyota’s vision of a future fuelled by hydrogen and will be presented late this month at the Tokyo Motor Show. The fuel cell stacks does not only power the car but also serves as an external energy source if connected to a (smart) grid or home.
autoblog.com, electriccarsreport.com
Battery rush: Tesla is pushing completion of its Gigafactory in Nevada. Already, works on the interior and data centre are underway and rumour has it that production could start in as little as four months.
rgj.com via insideevs.com
Talking about interior, new pictures of Chevrolet’s Bolt reveal insights on the inside. The next GM EV will feature a big centre touch screen (hello Tesla) and a shifter that reminds of those known from BMW.
autoblog.com
Accessible: Kenguru, the wheelchair-accessible EV, has launched its new reservation system as it prepares for a 1,000-unit production run next year. Recently acquired by KLD Energy Technologies, the Kenguru will be on display at the Rehacare show in Dusseldorf (Oct 14-17).
prweb.com, kenguru.com (reservation page)
Porsche PHEV reviewed: The Porsche Cayenne SE-Hybrid is taking a bit of a backseat in this review as it initially only served as a backdrop for a photoshoot with ultra-fashionable Moti Ankari. Still, Hannah Elliot got to take a few rounds in the hybrid and was intrigued, by the interior in particular.
bloomberg.com
An European EV battery plant will be build by LG Chem. The South Korean company is looking for a suitable location. A most likely site is Polish Wroclaw, where LG Electronics, LG Display and LG Innotek already have branches. Planned annual production capacity is 50,000 batteries. It looks like European companies are ultimately too late to join the game.
chosun.com, insideevs.com
Autonomous Chevy Volt: GM is to deploy a fleet of self-driving Volts at its Warren Technical Center in late 2016. The Volts with Super Cruise control will be available for rent by employees to get around campus. GM will also launch a ride-sharing program in New York but did not say if it will be electric.
autoblog.com, insideevs.com
New battery lab: The University of Michigan opened the ‘Battery Fabrication and Characterization User Facility.’ The battery lab is funded with 2m dollars from U-M, 5m dollars come from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and another 2.1m dollars from Ford. The facility has open access.
ns.umich.edu
EV print facility: Local Motors is putting the finishing touches on its micro-factory in Knoxville, Tennessee. Here, the company is to 3D-print components for its Reload Swim and Sport EV models. Orders can be placed via Indiegogo from next month (we reported).
knoxnews.com
Most clicked link on Monday was GM’s confirmation that the Bolt EV would indeed arrive next year and with cheaper batteries than ever – 145 dollars/kWh was the word on the conference.
insideevs.com
Mirai offspring on the way? The Toyota Mirai could be just the start of a whole fuel cell vehicle family, according to chief engineer Yoshikazu Tanaka. Autocar reports there are already plans for estate, hatchback, MPV and SUV models with Mirai technology in Toyota’s drawer. In the U.S., Toyota already received some 1,900 order requests for the Mirai within only two months after its launch.
autocar.co.uk (FCV family), leftlanenews.com (order requests)
Tesla Q3 outlook: Tesla has delivered 11,580 vehicles in the third quarter of 2015, including the first Model X handovers. That’s around the same number as that of the second quarter, but 49 percent up from the same period last year. Meanwhile, U.S. customers can now upgrade their Model S for 7,500 dollars from “Insane” to “Ludicrous” mode for an even speedier acceleration.
forbes.com, teslamotors.com (deliveries), insideevs.com (upgrade)
BYD’s big investment plans: The Chinese car and battery manufacturer is planning to generate 15 billion Yuan (2.36 billion dollars) through the issue of new shares. The raised capital is set to be used, among other things, for the production of improved batteries and the development of electrified cars.
wantchinatimes.com
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Hybrid patent trial: Hyundai and Kia lost a patent trial and were ordered to pay 28.9 million dollars. A U.S. federal jury found the carmakers guilty of using hybrid engine technology patented by Paice LLC in their vehicles. The Korean companies pledged to appeal.
bloomberg.com, autoblog.com, yonhapnews.co.kr
Orange expands: Orange EV, a U.S. manufacturer of commercial EVs, announced it will move to a larger facility and hire more staff due to high demand. Moreover, the Missouri Technology Corporation is investing 150,000 dollars in Orange EV.
truckinginfo.com
New Volt drive review: Sebastian Blanco tested the new Chevy Volt and calls it a “no-compromise EV”. The plug-in hybrid will become available in eleven U.S. states this autumn and starts at 33,995 dollars. It now seats five instead of four passengers and is more fuel efficient.
autoblog.com
Video tip 1: Chevrolet is kicking off its marketing campaign for the new Volt with two advertising videos. Chevy is poking fun at perceived weaknesses of competitors, such as range anxiety (Nissan Leaf) and outdated battery technology (Toyota Prius).
youtube.com (Leaf), youtube.com (Prius)
Video tip 2: Ford released a very short ad spot for the Focus Electric targeted at the U.S. market, where the Motor City carmaker sells less than 200 of these all-electric vehicles per month.
youtube.com via insideevs.com
400-km range Leaf in Tokyo: Nissan will present the Leaf II Concept at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, Motoring reports, quoting insiders. Featuring better batteries, an improved drivetrain and alloy body parts to make it lighter, the next-gen EV is to boast 400 km of range. The technology will then be transferred to an electric Nissan SUV and an Infiniti sedan. Those will be presented in Tokyo in 2017, and might already go up to 500 km on one charge.
motoring.com.au
Chevy Volt delayed: GM’s new Volt will see a later nationwide rollout than initially planned, a graphic for dealers reveals. While the Volt will arrive in 11 states that adhere to emissions rules set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) this year already, all others will have to wait until February, but will then receive model year 2017 cars.
hybridcars.com
Peugeot 3008 in the spotlight: Pictures show a heavily camouflaged crossover by the French carmaker. But not a solely gas-savouring one, as German Auto Motor Sport reports. The diesel hybrid is being replaced with a petrol plug-in, which is said to drive 50 kilometres electrically.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German), autoexpress.co.uk
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Optimised production of battery casings: The new project of the leading edge cluster Electric Mobility South-West “OptiFeLio” is dedicated to reducing production costs in the manufacturing of cell casings for pouch and prism cells. Already existing production methods are being upgraded. e-mobilbw-sw.de
All-electric Volvo bus premiere: The Swedish manufacturer will unveil its 7900 Electric bus at the Busworld show in Kortrijk, Belgium, this October. It is the brand’s first serially electric bus. It feature regenerative breaking technology and is charged at bus stops. Six minutes of charging provide 10 km range.
volvobuses.com
Daimler Bus is also electrifying, says head of the division Hartmut Schick. The bus will be presented in 2018 and will quickly move on into serial production, especially as Daimler Bus can implement technology already used across the corporation, including fuel cells.
stuttgarter-nachrichten.de (in German)
The ‘Future’ Down Under: Toyota will introduce the Mirai FCV in Australia from the 6th World Hydrogen Technologies Convention in Sydney in early October. However, the right-hand drive version will not be available to Australians anytime soon.
motoring.com.au
Go for Tesla Model X: The carmaker opened up the online configurator for the first buyers of the ‘Signature Series,’ including colour and spec’ed options. The limited edition featuring a 90 kWh battery and 240 mile range will start from 132,000 dollars. Those who want the speedier option (ludicrous mode) will need to add another 10,000 dollars to the price tag. Other options include autopilot, ventilated leather seats and air suspension.
insideevs.com, bloomberg.com, forbes.com
New Toyota hybrids in Frankfurt: On top of the next-generation Prius, Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid will celebrate its European premiere at the IAA. Both vehicles now feature Pedestrian Recognition and Adaptive Cruise Control. The second Toyota C-HR Concept hybrid crossover will also be shown.
greencarcongress.com
Chevy Volt available: The 2016 model can now be ordered in ten more states in the U.S., including Oregon, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. According to Inside EVs, the first delivery will happen any day now, though GM has not announced a specific date.
insideevs.com
E-scooter from India: Mahindra will begin offering its city scooter GenZE in California, Oregon and Michigan from this autumn. Pricing starts at 2,999 dollars. The two-wheeler could also become available in other U.S. states as well as Europe. So far, Mahindra had only sold tractors in the United States.
startribune.com
IAA preview: Bugatti took the wraps off its Vision Gran Turismo, which it will present at the Frankfurt Motor Show in less than two weeks. The design is said to hint at Bugatti’s future design language, meaning it could feature elements from the Chiron. The latter hypercar will be unveiled in Geneva next year and could cost 2.2m euros.
autoblog.com, theverge.com (Vision Gran Turismo), carmagazine.co.uk (Chiron)
NextEV finds backers: Chinese internet companies are financing NextEV, a previously secret project said to rival Tesla, for which former Ford manager Martin Leach has begun hiring engineers (we reported). Experts from Tesla, BMW and Volkswagen are already said to be on board. An electric sportscar with more than 1,000 hp will arrive in 2016, followed by a series of high-performance family EVs.
reuters.com
Peugeot to present electric coupé: The all-electric Peugeot Fractal concept will make its debut in Frankfurt later this month. The car features is powered by two electric motors (front and rear) with 101 hp each. Thanks to a 30 kWh Li-ion battery, range is said to be at 450 km (280 mi). The Fractal also has variable ground clearance, ranging from 70 to 110 mm.
carscoops.com, motoring.com.au, carmagazine.co.uk
Ciaz SHVS goes on sale in India: Maruti Suzuki’s mild hybrid is now available from 823,000 rupees (12,446 dollars). The car features a Suzuki Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS) and mild hybrid system. With 28 km/l, Maruti says that it is the most fuel-efficient car in India.
indiatimes.com, indianautosblog.com
Mercedes GLA with plug? According to German Auto Bild (and picked up by Indian Auto Blog), the new Mercedes GLA will arrive in 2019. It is said to offer more head- and legroom and will also be available as a plug-in hybrid variant.
indianautosblog.com
Driving the Chevy Volt: Alex Davies from Wired got behind the wheel of the next generation Chevy Volt, saying the 2016 model is definitely an improvement. He especially noticed the increased electric range of now 53 mi and lighter engine. Still, Davies is not sure that GM has done enough to make the Volt compare with other EVs and PHEVs.
wired.com
FAST: LG Electronics is among the first suppliers selected by Volkswagen to take part in the joint “Future Automotive Supply Tracks” initiative (FAST). The strategy is to ensure speedy supply and quick implementation of innovation designed to keep VW ahead of the pack.
greencarcongress.com
Battery race is on: Renovo Motors joins the race to become the Formula E’s next sole battery supplier. The Californian start-up thus competes with Croatian Rimac and British William’s (we reported). Renovo might team up with Mahindra to get their foot in the door.
motorsport.com
Patenting progress: While the number of conventional engines stagnates, electric and hybrid engines made for 85 percent of patents filled last year, says the Center of Automotive Management (CAM). About 6,000 of the 13,300 patented innovations are hybrid, another 4,000 electric. Toyota applied for most patents (26%), followed by Honda and GM.
autozeitung.de (in German)
Locate, unlock, and steal: A hacker has devised a tool that overrides GM’s OnStar system, making it possible to find, unlock and even start a car like the Chevy Volt. Driving still requires a key, but clearly the mockingly named “OwnStar” app poses a security risk that GM is now working to fix.
wired.com, venturebeat.com
Great Wall electrifies: The Chinese manufacturer wants to invest heavily in electric and hybrid vehicles. 11.8 billion yuan (1.9 billion USD) will flow into research and development, as well as the production of gearboxes, electric motors and battery systems. Great Wall says it plans to electrify its current best-selling models and introduce first PHEVs by 2017.
shanghaidaily.com, ecns.cn
Peugeot power hybrid coming soon? The Peugeot 308 R hybrid concept boasting 500 hp may go into production. Head of the Brand Maxime Picat posted pictures of PSA boss Carlos Tavares personally test driving the powerful hybrid and wrote that details will be released at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
chroniclelive.co.uk, twitter.com
Chevrolet outlook: Automotive News looks at Chevrolet’s plans for the coming year, reporting that the new Chevy Volt will go into production in autumn, followed by the all-electric Bolt in the last quarter of 2016. From spring 2016, the carmaker will offer a hybrid variant of the new Malibu, and the Chevy Equinox could be hybridised as well.
autonews.com (registration required)
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e-mobilbw-sw.de
Next billion tour: Following Tesla reaching one billion miles driven worldwide, the EV maker aims to hit the next billion. To promote the Model S, Tesla will offer test drives in nearly 30 cities across the U.S. until the end of August. The events will also feature “experience stations” to inform about the technology, charging, and service.
automotiveworld.com, teslamotors.com
Mirai coming to UK in September: According to Paul Van der Burgh president and managing director of Toyota, UK sales of the Mirai hydrogen fuel cell model will commence in September. In California, order books for the Toyota Mirai opened yesterday.
just-auto.com (UK), electriccarsreport.com (California)
Scooters India needs electrification: In order not to be sold off, the state-owned manufacturer needs to restructure and look into sales of electric three- and four wheelers. The electric tricycle Vikram EV is currently being tested in Delhi and Lucknow.
mydigitalfc.com
A Volt drove 247,585 miles – that is further than the moon is from earth – in a little over three years. The Ohio driver of the range-extended Chevy drove 35 percent of those miles electrically, and says, his vehicle is holding together beautifully.
hybridcars.com
Different outlooks on battery sales: While Tesla predicts a 50% annual sales growth over the next four years, its battery supplier Panasonic has publicized a more cautious outlook of just 16.5% for its automotive battery business in the same period. Despite the promised introduction of the Tesla Model X this year, Panasonic only forecasts an 11% growth in the next 12 months.
seekingalpha.com
Sneak peak at the PP03: Drive eO’s 1020 kW electric race car will take a shot at first place at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb next weekend, challenging the Tajima Rimac E-Runner Concept_One. The Drive eO PP03 features 2160 Nm of peak torque and a top speed of 260 km/h.
electricautosport.com
Chevy slims down: The 2016 model of the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid will weigh 136 kilos less than its predecessor. About 54 kilos were saved using a stronger body structure and lighter components on both the in- and outside. The new 1.5-litre turbo engine also shed about 39 kilos.
greencarcongress.com
New electric one-wheeler: Even though the all-electric scooter Moto Pogo only has one wheel, the driver can take a seat and move forward by pushing the handlebars, as they would with a Segway. The 500 watt motor allows for a top speed of 25 kph, while the scooter has a range of up to 30 km. Entrepreneur Carl Dagenais is currently collecting funds for production on Kickstarter.
gizmag.com, kickstarter.com
New 7 series unveiled: BMW has now officially presented its new luxury flagship, which will hit the market this October. The wait for the plug-in hybrid version 740e will be a little longer as it is only expected by mid-2016. Then, it will be also offered in long-wheelbase BMW 740Le form and as 740Le xDrive with all-wheel drive. The 7 series PHEV will produce a total system output of 326 hp and BMW says it can be driven electrically at speeds of up to 120 km/h and with a range of up to 40 kilometers.
electriccarsreport.com, greencarcongress.com
Chevy Bolt caught testing: Spy shots show a heavily camouflaged Chevrolet Bolt EV which apparently is getting ever more production-ready. However, the Bolt might need a new name as GM has been running into issues with the Bolt trademark nameplate.
autoblog.com
Thailand electrified: The South-East Asian country plans to become the region’s leader when it comes to solarpower and electric vehicles within the next ten years. 100,000 houses are to get solar panelled roofs within the next five years. Furthermore, the ‘Electric Vehicles Promotion Scheme’ is to boost the Thai market for electric vehicles and EV production.
eco-business.com
BMW fuel cell racer? BMW is to return to Le Mans in 2018 with a brand new hydrogen race car, which might take a spot in the ‘Garage 56,’ Drive reports. It may also precede a production ready fuel cell vehicle which could go serial by 2020. Apparently, a fleet of fuel cell prototypes is already being tested.
drive.com.au
Chinese electric vans: Two new electric vans are scheduled for China by 2016. The Oushang EV by Changan will cost 150,000 yuan (about 24,000 dollars) including incentives and has a claimed range of 200 kilometres. The EG10 by the SAIC subsidiary Maxus will cost 230,000 yuan (37,000 dollars) and features a strong 150-kW electric motor.
carnewschina.com (Changan), carnewschina.com (Maxus)
Audi to build EVs in Belgium? The Audi plant in Brussels might be transformed into a global competence centre for electric mobility, reports Automobil Produktion quoting company insiders. This would become possible because the production of the A1 is to move from Brussels to Spanish Martorell.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
What is the Prius Prime? No one knows yet, but Toyota has trademarked that name and speculations are already running high. Is it a new Prius model to come or a new name for the plug-in variant or maybe just a designator of a new trim? Only Toyota knows.
greencarreports.com, kaizen-factor.com
Turkish electric bus: Temsa from Turkey has presented an all-electric bus at the UTIP in Milan. The MD 9 ElectriCITY has a 160-kWh battery pack which last for about 150 kilometres on one charge.
temsaglobal.com
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Bye-bye Tesla, says its Chief Financial Officer Deepak Ahuja as he is to resign from his post at the end of this year. While he described his time at the electric carmaker as an “adrenaline rush” he is now ready to pursue “other life goals,” he said.
hybridcars.com
Electric Fiat recall: Again, Fiat has to ask the 500e to return to the garage. This time, 3,975 of the cute electric cars are affected as their cruise control software needs an urgent update. The current one might misread torque levels causing the motor to shift into neutral rather unexpectedly.
hybridcars.com, edmunds.com, chrysler.com
Chevy Volt sparked: At a Californian dealership, four Chevrolet Volts burned, with two of the Volts being fully consumed by the fire. While the cause has yet to be confirmed by officials, arson is being suspected.
insideevs.com
Chevy Bolt might need a new name: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has again suspended GM’s claim for the Bolt trademark. The name is already registered by Yamaha since 2012, however the two companies had come to an agreement. This time round, it is a company called Bolt Custom Trucks that stands in the way of baptising GM’s new EV.
hybridcars.com, autoblog.com
Jeep rival by SsangYong? The Korean brand is thinking about issueing a Jeep Wrangler rival based on the XAV Concept shown at the Seoul motor show this April, insiders told Autocar. A production version could use the concept’s plug-in hybrid system. SsangYong is aiming to enter the US market.
autocar.co.uk
Kia Niro spotted: Kia´s Niro has been filmed testing at the Nürburgring. Heavy camouflage makes it hard to guess what is under the hood but the Niro is believed to come as a hybrid-only model before also being offered as a plug-in. More substantial revelations are expected to follow in 2016.
autoevolution.com
Model X close to Nissan Leaf? At least in this recently surfaced spy shots which show Tesla’s new model next to the Japanese EV. The two of them do display a few similarities indeed, although it is hard to make out if their size is similar due to changing perspectives.
hybridcars.com, insideevs.com
Lexus LS facelift: After just trademarking the LS500h, a Japanese magazine shows a covered-up prototype of the car. It is believed the shown model is basically a preview of a facelifted 2017 Lexus LS, which could thus receive a new hybrid variant between the LS460 and LS600h.
indianautosblog.com
Selected Sonata reviews: Brad Berman has scanned the web to gather first drive experiences of Hyundai’s latest plug-in hybrid. His effort results in a mixed portrait of the Sonata PHEV with reviewers differing on how smooth the switch from electric to gas-driven power actually is.
plugincars.com