The Electric Production Car Series (EPCS) race that will kick off with tuned Tesla Model S this November has released a roadmap for the next 5 years. Expect iterations from season 2 while other carmakers may enter the competition earliest in season 4.
The planned electric vehicle race allowing for tuned Teslas exclusively will be allowed to proceed. After safety requirements set forth by the FIA have been satisfied, the race is scheduled to begin this year.
EV-only Opel to go through? GM’s European brand may indeed go all-electric as planned even if sold to PSA, Manager Magazin reports. GM would licence its electric car tech to the French group, at least for the Ampera-e. So it is possible PSA will put the idea Opel had been working on into practice. autonews.com, manager-magazin.de (original source)
Kia Niro fully electric by 2018: Like Hyundai with the Ioniq, Kia is to electrify the Niro successively. Already this year, the hybrid crossover will get a plug and by 2018, there will be a Niro EV, COO Michael Cole announced. The E-Niro will utilise the Ioniq Electric’s motor. autorai.nl via carscoops.com, greencarreports.com
Schaeffler completed the acquisition of Compact Dynamics as planned. With the integration of the expert for electric drives, Schaeffler strengthens its e-mobility activities. schaeffler.de
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Electric GT to kick off in England: The world’s first electric GT racing series, which uses remodelled Tesla Model S P100D, will launch at the UK Silverstone Circuit on August, 12. More races will take place in the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal Spain and France until November. autocar.co.uk
Land Rover Defender inspired: Chemical company Ineos plans to build a hybrid and/or entirely electric 4×4 that takes inspiration from the Defender, Autocar reports. 2020 is set as production start and the firm plans to produce up to 15,000 units annually. autocar.co.uk
Toyota pushes hybrids in India,where it just launched the Camry Hybrid as well as the new Prius. The Japanese see India as a “crucial” market for green technology. Also, Indian carmaker Mahindra Electric wants to scale up production at its Karnataka facility from 2,000 to 5,000 units by next year. businessinsider.in (Toyota), business-standard.com (Mahindra)
Click tip: Attention football fans! Nissan could win Barcelona’s Andrés Iniesta as an ambassador for the Nissan Leaf. The football star says he’s excited about starring in commercials to push electric mobility. sportsbusinessdaily.com
Video tip: Two new teaser videos of the Electric GT racing series show the Tesla race car in action. Though you have to be quick to look as the electric race car speeds past the camera. youtube.com, youtube.com
Fire control: Researchers at Stanford University have developed a “smart” sheet of tiny fibres containing flame retardant, said to help prevent Li-ion batteries from going up in flames. Each fibre consists of a plastic shell that will melt when the battery heats up and therefore release the flame retardant. sciencenews.org, wowscience.io
Tesla hits the track: The new electric racing series Electric GT now unveiled the second version of its Tesla racer, which is based on the Model S P100D. The GT variant is said to be around 500 kg lighter than the original and can go from 0 to 100 kph in just 2.1 seconds (or from 0 to 60 mph in 2 seconds). insideevs.com, electrek.co
Final destination: For the third time, company Acciona took part in the Dakar Rally in an electric car. But this is the first time, the team actually made it across the finish line. It completed the 9,000-km journey as the first of “18,000 vehicles in the history of the Dakar Rally to complete the event without consuming a drop of fuel or emitting a single molecule of CO2.” electrek.co, electricautosport.com
Lion E-Mobility announced that its German subsidiary Lion Smart received approval for a public grant of more than 300,000 euros from the Bavarian government. The money will be allocated as part of the electric aviation research project BatSys (Battery systems for hybrid-electric aviation drivetrains). Lion Smart will focus on BMS design and a BMS demonstrator for safe energy storage for aviation. lionemobility.de
Rinspeed shows rolling oasis: Swiss company Rinspeed already announced a new EV concept for the CES 2017, showing first pictures. The two-seater Oasis features large glass and solar panels, while its interior is said to have a living room feel to it. The front windscreen doubles as screen for virtual reality, while a small patch of green allows for drivers to plant flowers or radishes. The future has wheels. automotiveit.com, rinspeed.eu
Detroit Electric goes to China: The U.S. manufacturer says it is talking with Chinese authorities about setting up shop there and that it found 120 potential buyers for its SP:01. In Hong Kong, the electric roadster can already be ordered. Detroit Electric wants to build a total of 950 units by the end of the year. scmp.com
EPA rated: The U.S. agency has rated the all-electric range of the Toyota Prius Prime at 25 miles (around 40 km), while average fuel consumption is 133 mpg. The figures were released by Toyota in a press release and mean that fuel consumption of 2017 model is 26 percent better, than that of its predecessor. hybridcars.com
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New Mahindra EV: Mahindra has launched the electric variant of its small transporter Supro in India. The e-Supro is available for about 12,500 dollars. A version fit for passenger transport costs around 450 dollars more. indianautosblog.com, indiatimes.com
GT drivers get ready: The Electric GT racing series that will launch next year, has named its first drivers. Next to Stefan Wilson, Vicky Piria and Dani Clos, Leilani Münter, herself a Tesla owner and environmental activist, will get behind the wheel. The series is the first of its kind and features modified Tesla Model S. electrek.co, motorauthority.com
Two-wheeled Rimac: The Croatian company presented its power e-bike Geryp G12H. Able to go 150 miles on one charge, it has double the range of its predecessor, the Greyp G12S. Details about a release date or pricing were not announced. ubergizmo.com