Mercedes wants to give people some time to ease into the silence of an electric car. Their latest clip advertising the arrival of their first EQ concept comes with a rather unique ICE soundtrack – not from an artificial but most organic source.
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The silent approach of electric vehicles is seen as a danger by some and so hybrid and electric vehicles must emit artificial noises sounding their approach. The “Quiet Car Rule” was to take effect in the States next year but has now been delayed until 2020.
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Camouflaged Tesla-fighter: Lucid Motors (formerly Atieva) has released a first official image of its still camouflaged electric sedan Atvus. The EV is said to debut in some form at the Los Angeles Motor Show and boasts an output of 100 kW and 300+ km of range, going head to head with the Tesla Model S when it hits the road in 2018.
carscoops.com, electrek.co
Make some noise: The U.S. now requires all electric and hybrid vehicles produced after September 1st, 2019, to emit a warning sound when driving under 30 kph. As automakers will need to implement waterproof speakers to comply, they will be stuck with a 39m dollar bill per year. However, and more importantly, it will prevent some 2,400 injuries annually by warning pedestrians and bikers.
reuters.com, insideevs.com
Construction stop: Contractor AECOM told Jalopnik that it has stopped working on the Faraday Future plant in Nevada, apparently because of unpaid bills. But the company is certain to be able to continue early 2017. Meanwhile, LeEco, itself a FF investor, has collected 600m dollars – half of which have been earmarked for the automotive branch.
jalopnik.com (AECOM), forbes.com (LeEco)
Will Magna Steyr build the I-Pace? Jaguar just unveiled its first electric model, but the question about its production site remains. According to German Automobil Production, everything points to Magna Steyr in Austria. The company is already constructing two production halls for the Brits, where two models will roll off the lines from 2017.
automobil-produktion.de (in German)
Pacifica PHEV priced and tested: Chrysler will offer the new plug-in family van from 41,995 dollars in the U.S., where the car is eligible for 7,500 dollars in subsidies. Its 16 kWh battery pack allows for an all-electric range of 50 km, and following a short test drive – pricing and technology seem to be on point.
cnet.com, digitaltrends.com
CT6 PHEV arrives earls 2017: Chrysler will also kick off production of its CT6 premium sedan with plug-in technology. Here, too, the battery allows for 50 km of electric driving, while the car is propelled forward by a total of 250 kW. With a 75,095-dollar price tag, it will however have to compete with Tesla and co.
automotiveworld.com, detroitnews.com
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UN makes noise: A new regulation by the UN’s World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations requires hybrid and electric vehicles to audibly indicate their otherwise silent approach. At speeds of up to 10 kph, a noise with 50db is obligatory, sounds of 56db signal speeds of up to 20 kph and 47db are the norm for when in reverse. The suggested tone is a retro-futuristic humming.
carbuyer.co.uk, unece.org, unece.org (sound suggestion, audio file)
Third electric Audi? The German carmaker plans an electric trio, as the Q6 and Q4 e-tron will be joined by the C e-tron, reporter Georg Kacher suggests. The coupé will sit above the Audi A8 and will thus be rather luxurious. Market entry is supposedly set for the end of the decade.
autobild.de (in German)
Chinese electric SUV: Zhiche Auto presented a state-of-the-art SUV. The yet to be named EV is connected, drives automatically, and features wing doors, as well as a bumper grill that can display simple messages (digital bumper stickers). Market entry in limited numbers is set for 2017 in China.
carnewschina.com
Subaru sports hybrid: A new hybrid sports coupé is in the making at Subaru, Car & Driver reports quoting insiders. Two electric front drives coupled with a mid-engine will allegedly boast a combined 330 hp. Everything is still at the prototype stage, which is why no more details are known.
caranddriver.com
EV incentives: Liechtenstein launched a scheme that grants 3,000 CHF (3,045 dollars) to those wishing to buy a purely electric vehicle. The programme will initially support the purchase of 50 EVs (which are also exempt from vehicle tax) and can be extended if demand takes off. The scheme was launched by LIFE Climate Foundation and Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke.
liechtenstein-business.li
Honda FCV home launch: Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell is on sale in Japan. Prices start at 7.66m yen (about 68,000 dollars). Honda targets companies and authorities to lease the FCV and hopes to sell about 200 units of the 750-km-range car in 2016. A very limited number of vehicles is destined for export.
electriccarsreport.com, worldcarfans.com
