The Japanese carmaker Nissan has announced that it will invest 500 million US dollars in its Canton assembly plant in the US state of Mississippi. Two electric models for Nissan and Infiniti as well as battery packs for them are to be produced there from 2025. Nissan is also planning a battery cell factory in […]
Read more
Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), the Chinese joint venture of Dongfeng and Nissan, plans to introduce at least 17 electrified models of the Dongfeng, Nissan, Venucia and Infiniti brands by 2023.
Read more
The German car industry has “decided” to recognise Tesla’s achievements. VW congratulated Tesla in a newspaper ad on its choice of Model 3 as “Swiss Car of the Year 2020” but promises that the competition will become stronger next year with the ID.3.
Read more- ADVERTISEMENT -
Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti has published some more details about its electrification strategy under the motto “One platform, two powertrains”. In addition to electric cars, these include “petrol-powered EV models”.
Read more
Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti will withdraw from Western Europe at the beginning of 2020. According to the manufacturer, it intends to focus instead on growth markets, particularly China and North America. Western Europe will therefore no longer play a role in the brand’s planned electrical offensive.
Read more
British vacuum-cleaner firm Dyson has hired former BMW and Infiniti manager Roland Krüger to head their electric car project. The company already announced they will be manufacturing their EVs in Singapore.
Read more- ADVERTISEMENT -
Infiniti is accelerating their electrification plans. Nissan’s luxury brand will sell 100% electric and hybrid cars, starting in 2025 rather than going it halfway. Infiniti is previewing said electric future in Detroit, where the QX Inspiration Concept is currently in the limelight.
Read more
Infiniti has presented a new fully electric concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance named the Prototype 10. This will be Infiniti’s first fully electric vehicle.
Read more
Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti has stated that they wish to develop a completely new electrified vehicle platform, which will be based on the Q Inspiration concept presented earlier this year. The first vehicle based on the new architecture will be an electric sedan.
Read more
Infiniti is planning to increase their sales in China in the next five years to about 150,000 vehicles per year, which is triple their current rate. Electrification plays a central role in this endeavor for Nissans premium brand.
Read more
Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi have made their 12 planned BEVs a little more concrete. Nissan will have four fully electric vehicles under their brand, while Infiniti will run another two before 2022.
Read more
The Japanese carmaker wants to bring its range extender tech to the States, where it shall help to power rather big hybrid models, according to chief planner Philippe Klein. In Japan, the tech is known to feed Nissan’s small car Note.
Read more
Nissan wants to electrify the line-up of its premium brand Infiniti by 2021. All new models will be either all-electric or bear Nissan’s e-Power-Technologie, Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa told the industry in Detroit.
Read moreDedicated EV by Infiniti: Nissan got electrification in its veins and it will pump up its premium arm by 2019 when Infiniti plans to launch its first electric model. Rather than building on an existing one or even on a Nissan platform though, it shall be an all new model and a sleek and powerful one on top. Debut is set for Detroit next year. Infiniti showed an electric concept back in 2012 and also electrified Pebble Beach this year (we reported).
autocar.co.uk
EV brand by Mahindra and Pininfarina? The Indian conglomerate may engage its Pininfarina subsidiary in setting up an all-electric label to target the premium segment. Multiple models could emerge over the next 3 – 5 years, effectively turning the design house that used to sign responsible for Ferrari into an EV manufacturer to catch up with Tesla.
ndtv.com
Volvo presents XC40: The new compact SUV has made it into the Swedes’ line-up and is the first to utilise the CMA platform, which builds the base for all following 40 series Volvo. This includes the plug-in versions although these are not offered at this initial launch of the XC40. Volvo has not given a precise on-sale date for the EV and PHEV in Europe but it is certain, they will come. Fancy stuff like a smartphone compartment with inductive charging is included in all variants.
carscoops.com, autonews.com, volvocars.com
— Text Ad —
Ecomobiel 2017 – Ecomobiel has grown to become the biggest platform for sustainable mobility and mobility management in Holland. Take advantage of opportunities like new contacts, cooperations and participation in workshops and debates on different segments. Charging, infrastructure, Smart Mobility and LEV to name just a few. Visit Ecomobiel 2017.
www.ecomobiel.nl
Toyota pushes for performance and has created a new label called GR for Gazoo Racing. The first GR versions will hit Japan before they reach European markets at a later date. As Toyota announced recently, its wants to offer its hybrod bestsellers in two variants, one efficient the other powerful, so expect to see a Prius GR soon.
autoexpress.co.uk, japantimes.co.jp
Electric motorbike from Italy: Tacita has brought its T-Cruise to the AIMExpo in the States. The electric motorcycle is offered in three battery variants (7.5 – 27 kWh) with the highest lasting for a cruise of up 270 km. Prices start at 11,000 dollars in the USA.
tacita.it
Tesla understatement: The EPA has rated the long range version of the Model 3 and attests 537 km, more than the manufacturer’s estimate of 500 km. Tesla may have understated the range on purpose in order to distinguish the economy model more clearly from the Model S.
teslarati.com
Tesla truck platoon: The next Tesla revelation is around the corner and this time it will be a semi-truck capable of self-driving and platooning, that is a line of trucks automatically following a lead vehicle. The EV maker said they are close to testing a prototype and Reuters named Nevada and California as the most likely candidates for such trials. Tesla declined to comment.
reuters.com
New classic by Infiniti: Nissan’s luxury division prepared a retro-style race car concept for Pebble Beach. The Morgan-esque open-cockpit single-seater simply called Infiniti retro prototype is the brand’s take on what could have been hidden in a barn somewhere in Japan in the 70ies.
autocar.co.uk, autoblog.com, infinitinews.com
BMW brings its C Evolution to the States, where prices for the big electric scooter start at 13,750 dollars. It will first hit California but its launch in other states will follow later.
motorcycle.com
— Text Ad–
New conference Powering Mobility on September, 28 in Enschede: Not problems but solutions for the future of transport are the focus at “Powering Mobility”. The conference will enable you to experience multiple Best Practices from both the Netherlands and Germany. Subscribers of electrive.com benefit from preferential rates for tickets. (Promotional code: electrive1578) Infos and registration: poweringmobility.nl/tickets
BMW offers diesel scrappage: Following a similar campaign in Germany, BMW now offers Britons 2,000 pounds if they swap their old diesel for a BMW with emissions below 130 g/km, so that includes the i3 and PHEV models such as the Mini Countryman. The BMW ‘Lower Emissions Allowance’ includes clients that have owned their car for at least a year and the carmaker trust dealers will give a “suitable average price” for the trade-in.
motoringresearch.com, carsuk.net, bmw.co.uk
Volkswagen is in the process to offer similar incentives and has begun to do so already in Germany. For the UK, a spokesperson said “We’re at an early stage at the moment but each of the Volkswagen Group UK brands will be considering the benefits of such a scheme in the UK.”
autocar.co.uk
British electric bus distribution: German E-VADE has been chosen by British bus maker Mellor to become the sole distributor for Germany and Austria, where it is to offer the Orion E bus first. Other Mellor models like the Strata shall be included in the deal at a later date.
mellor-coachcraft.co.uk
Three Audi EV by 2020: The electric SUV due in 2018 will be just the start for Audi’s electric line-up. Two more electric cars are planned, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told Auto Express. Following on from the SUV, Audi will most likely launch an electric sports car and lastly a compact electric car which is expected to share some technology with the VW I.D. once it arrives in 2020.
autoexpress.co.uk
900 kW racer: Rimac brought an update of its Concept_One to Geneva. Performance increased by 100 kW to now 900 kW, while the battery received another 8 kWh and now stands at a total of 90 kWh. Moreover, the Croatian company has won over three new distributors. Manhattan Motorcars will be the to go partner in the U.S., PACE Germany took responsibility for Europe and the Alzarooni Group is to sell the hyper cars in the United Arab Emirates.
electrek.co, carscoops.com, rimac-automobili.com
Clarity triple: Honda will present two more variants of its Clarity FCV at the New York Auto Show, where a battery-electric as well as a plug-in hybrid model are set for display. Details on technology or a possible launch date have not been revealed.
electriccarsreport.com, carscoops.com, hondanews.com
— Text Ad —
Scan&Charge enables ad-hoc charging via QR code, without the need to register with a service provider. Scan&Charge is free-of-charge for all Charging Point Operators. EV drivers simply need to scan the image and select a payment method to start charging. Billing can be done by the minute or kWh. Get ad-hoc charging on your network for free today!
www.plugsurfing.com
Infiniti Q60 in Black S: Developed with Renault’s F1 team, the concept Q60 Black S is now live in Geneva as expected. The hybrid coupe has 400 hp and features an energy recovery system said to increase performance by 25 percent.
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com, greencarcongress.com, infinitinews.com
More affordable EVs come from Mahindra as the Indian carmaker plans to build three to four electric models costing less than 1m rupees, about 14,000 euros. Mahindra reasons that in order for EVs to help clean the air they need to be “mass affordable” and not a luxury niche segment or even SUVs, which the firm sees as “image” rather than breadwinner.
indiatimes.com, financialexpress.com
Affordable exclusivity: Cezeta is for Eastern Europeans what the Vespa is to Italians (and Germans) – cult. The torpedo-formed scooter is about to be reissued and this time it is electric. The Czech company celebrates its 60th jubilee with a limited edition of 600 Cezeta 506 that can be customised online with two motor and battery options (for 150 – 250 km range) and of course colours. Prices start from 7,640 euros if one leases the battery and orders will be taken until the end of this month.
scooterlab.uk, ots.at, cezeta.com
Project Parker is a V2G study in Denmark that follows on from two other such projects. Nissan, Mitsubishi, PSA and Enel all take part as they plan to develop universal grid integration for electric vehicles by mid-2018. Ultimately, the Danish experiment shall drive V2G systems globally through the definition of technical capabilities and a proposal for a Grid Integrated Vehicle (GIV) certificate.
parker-project.com
Smart car park: In the UK Cenex is looking into V2G integration, too as it is part of a scheme to turn a Solihull car park into a battery to provide power on demand. The 1 year project seeks to develop a data management platform that collects, aggregates and optimises energy collected by multiple grid-connected EV batteries at a single location.
itsinternational.com, fleetnews.co.uk
Infiniti Q60 Black S revealed: Pictures show a high performance hybrid concept that is expected to have about 500 hp. That is thanks to F1 technology under the hood (we reported). Its powertrain was developed by Renault and Infiniti engineers together at Renault’s F1 engine base at French Viry-Chatillon. The streamlined body was shaped by Infiniti at its new design studio in London Paddington. If the Black S will make it into production is unclear at this stage.
autocar.co.uk
Recyclable electric car: Students at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand have come up with an EV that is recyclable as it is made made entirely from thermoformed plastic sheets. The team will compete in the Shell Eco-marathon in Singapore this March.
stuff.co.nz, scoop.co.nz, comsdev.canterbury.ac.nz
Audi Q8 Concept premiered: The concept SUV, which is being presented at the NAIAS in Detroit, gives an outlook on the upcoming Audi Q8 that will launch 2018. It will be fitted with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that combines a petrol engine and 100 kW electric motor. The total output is listed as 330 kW (448 hp). The 17.9 kWh battery pack allows for an all-electric range of 37 miles (60 km).
greencarcongress.com, autocar.co.uk, electriccarsreport.com
Honda hybrid: The carmaker confirmed that it will offer a dedicated hybrid from 2018. The name is still unknown, but it will use the same drivetrain as the Honda Accord Hybrid and be built in the U.S. Honda also says it will electrify half of its model range in the coming years, as well as offer a battery-electric and plug-in variant of its Clarity Fuel Cell before the end of the year.
greencarcongress.com, autoblog.com, carscoops.com
Electric Infiniti: Nissan’s luxury brand will add a purely electric vehicle to its portfolio in the next three years, Autocar reports citing CEO Roland Krüger. A prototype is apparently already in the pipelines. All that is known, is that it will be a dedicated model, while technical details have not yet been released.
autocar.co.uk
No victory lab for Polaris: The company is shutting down its Victory Motorcycles brand, but says that the electric Victory Empulse could be made available under a new name. Polaris also confirmed that all “All Brammo patents, technology, intellectual property and Polaris enhancements remain the property of Polaris and will be applied to other product and business units.”
carscoops.com
Camry, take eight: Toyota showed the eighth generation of it Camry in Detroit. Just as the new Prius, the car is built on the Toyota New Global Platform (TNGP) and will be offered with the new THS II hybrid system later this summer.
greencarcongress.com, hybridcars.com
Price tag: The plug-in hybrid variant of BMW new 5-series has now been priced in the U.S. The 530e will be available from 51,400 dollars later this spring.
greencarcongress.com, electriccarsreport.com
Norway to go 100% electric: The path-breaking Nordic country presented its National Transport Plan for 2018 – 2029, which calls for massive electrification. By 2025, all new cars, light utility vehicles and buses shall be emission free. The same goes for 50 percent of all new trucks, although they have until 2030. Looks like it is time to issue some models that can actually fulfil the to be expected demand.
evfleetworld.co.uk, hybridcars.com
Range extended i-series: BMW says it will offer an optional range extender for all i-series models, just like it does with the i3. Even though it is rather a “psychological thing,” BMWi head of product Henrik Wenders told Car and Driver. Also, all i-models including the upcoming i5 will keep the carbon chassis.
caranddriver.com
More Mitsubishi EVs: The Japanese manufacturer concretises its plug-in path. It will launch five new SUV models by 2021, all with hybrid or electric drivetrains. That includes an all-electric production version of the eX concept shown in Geneva, which will hit the road by 2020. Also, Mitsubishi will offer a new all-electric Mirage from next year.
carmagazine.co.uk, autoexpress.co.uk
— Text Ad —
8th International Conference Advanced Battery Power on 26 and 27 April 2016 in Münster/Germany: The conference is a great opportunity to get informed about recent developments in battery research with 60 lectures and more than 190 scientific posters. Approximately 650 participants are expected. The versatile agenda comprises the entire battery supply chain from raw materials to the battery cell, from individual cells to entire battery systems for mobile and stationary applications. Conference language is English. Read more …
Definite pricing: Infiniti issued pricing for the new Q50 in the U.S., where the Hybrid Premium variant will start at 47,050 dollars. It couples last year’s electric drivetrain with a 3.5-liter V6 for a combined output of 360 hp (about 270 kW).
carscoops.com, worldcarfans.com
Honda FCV debuts in Europe: The hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell is on display in Geneva. From there it will arrive at UK shores this September. However, Honda expects to sell no more than 10 units for about 60,000 pounds on the isles by 2017.
carmagazine.co.uk
Electric motorcycle for UK: Italian Energica will start trading its electric motorcycles like the latest Ego and Eva in Great Britain. British Moto Corsa is to be the official dealer on the isles.
lastampa.it (in Italian)
Tesla clone: 2050 Motors now offers the Chinese Ibis EV in the U.S. While the all-electric sedan has previously been accused of being a Tesla copy, 2050 Motors stresses the differences. The Aoxin Ibis is made of carbon fibre, featuring a 72 kWh battery. At 59,000 dollars, it is also cheaper than a Tesla. Still, it looks like a squashed version of the Californian bestseller.
globenewswire.com, 2050motorsinc.com (photos and video)
Extended BMW X1? Spy shots show a long version of the X1. The pictures also reveal a charge port, letting on that BMW is preparing a plug-in hybrid version. The “hybrid test vehicle” sits seven people. It will be exclusively sold in China and built by the BMW joint venture Brilliance.
worldcarfans.com
Outdoor Outlander concepts: Mitsubishi will show two new versions of its PHEV at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Both the Active Camper and Gear Concept feature colourful highlights and come with outdoor advancements, such as a better suspension and a bike rack on the roof.
worldcarfans.com, carscoops.com
Recall: BMW is calling 16 hybrid i8 back to garages in the U.S. due to a problem with stability control that might lead to braking and balance errors. The vehicles in question were produced between May 29th and June 5th of last year.
electriccarsreport.com, autoblog.com
Fusion pricing: Ford has facelifted its Fusion series, cutting prices at the same time. The Fusion Energi SE Luxury plug-in version is priced at 33,995 dollars, 780 dollars less than before. If opting for the Titanium model, it becomes even 1,610 dollars cheaper. Prices for the 2017 hybrid Fusion will remain at 26,550 dollars.
carsdirect.com
Infiniti pricing: Nissan’s luxurious sister priced its Q70 in the U.S., saying the hybrid will start at 55,900 dollars. Options for the hybrid are limited, as it is neither available as AWD nor as longwheel base.
carscoops.com
The Ioniq arrives: Hyundai presented its first dedicated hybrid. Its power pack is strictly lithium-ion and the sedan can be operated fully electrically at speeds of up to 120 kph. A plug-in hybrid, as well as an electric version will be presented in Geneva in March. The hybrid Ioniq is now on sale in South Korea and Hyundai aims to sell 30,000 units worldwide this year. By 2017, it expects to push sales to 70,000.
english.yonhapnews.co.kr, insideevs.com, indianautosblog.com, youtube.com
Mercedes confirms Tesla-fighter: Board members Thomas Weber and Ola Kallenius confirmed that a Tesla-fighter is set to arrive by 2018. Weber went even further, saying the industry must “be prepared for more to come later.” We are certainly ready if Daimler is.
wheelsmag.com.au
Cadillac PHEV built in China: The CT6 PHEV will be produced in China, despite also being destined for the U.S., Cadillac announced. The combustion engine variant will continue to be manufactured domestically. GM expects the market for plug-in vehicles to grow stronger in China rather than in the U.S.
bloomberg.com, chinabusinessnews.com, hybridcars.com
Model X production: If Tesla kept up its production rhythm over the holidays, the first regular Model X should now be rolling off production lines. The EV maker had started with 1,000 units of its Signature series and will now have to work through the backlog of over 22,000 Model X reservations.
electrek.co
Luxury Lexus extended: Toyota’s shiny sister unveiled its latest coupé in Detroit. The LC 500 is based on the LC-LF concept which will reportedly soon be available as a hybrid version called LC 500h.
thedetroitbureau.com, motorauthority.com
Infiniti update: The Japanese brand updated both the Q50 and QX60. Rather than giving them a facelift, Infiniti increased motor efficiency. The new Q50 comes with a 360 hp hybrid powertrain and an one-motor, two-clutch control, while the QX60 is now available with a hybrid set-up.
carscoops.com (Q50), carscoops.com (QX60)
Infiniti plugs in: According to an unnamed Nissan insider, Infiniti is working a plug-in hybrid flagship model, which will take on the likes of the Mercedes S500 plug-in hybrid and Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid. The PHEV will most likely be based on the Q80 Inspiration concept, shown in Paris last year.
autonews.com, hybridcars.com, leftlanenews.com
Electric Audi confirmed: According to Auto Express, the German carmaker confirmed the all-electric Audi Q6 e-tron for early 2018 at the Future Performance Days. The final version will look very similar to the SUV concept shown at the IAA in September and have a 310 mile range.
autoexpress.co.uk
Farady Future update: The money for the mysterious start-up seems to come from the Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting. He is also the founder of LeTV, which has ambitious EV plans of its own. The latter already invested in a driving service and a charging infrastructure start-up.
greencarreports.com, autoblog.com
Under funded? According to Bloomberg, BYD is having trouble selling its shares, as Chinese officials have put the approval on ice. The manufacturer is hoping to raise 15m yuan to increase battery production and to further invest in research and development.
bloomberg.com
Emission scandals run deep: Following the VW emission scandal, Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) says it tested higher than reported emissions at other manufacturers as well. It has not announced any details and will first approach the carmakers and other governing authorities.
wiwo.de, spiegel.de (in German)
Audi Q7 e-tron reviewed: Australian motoring.com.au and Cars Guide are big fans of the Audi plug-in hybrid. Both point out, that the Q7 diesel-electric drivetrain is “more a thinker, than a servant” and that it will figure out the best mix of electricity and diesel along a route. Just the assumed price tag Down Under could be an issue.
motoring.com.au, carsguide.com.au
Reading tip: FIA’s Lars Österlind may be pushing a plan to get motor racing into the Olympics. According to Österlind, Formula E would be the optimal racing series to support this plan, which could be translated into action at the Olympics 2020 in Tokio.
autoweek.com; f1-insider.com (in German)
Video tip: Infiniti showcases how a modern Formula One car harvests kinetic energy for enhanced performance on-track and how this technology is used in Infinti´s Q50 Hybrid for enhanced driving performance.
youtube.com
Aussie bus powered by Germany: ZF is the driving force behind Australia’s first electric bus. Manufacturer Bustech uses ZF’s electric drive axle AVE 130. Initially developed for hybrid buses, the technology can also be used in all-electric buses. Bustech is also Malaysia’s partner of choice (we reported).
electric-vehiclenews.com
GT-R technology might be road instead of race ready, and may find its way into a new Infiniti limousine by 2018, Motoring learned from inside sources. It will then be powered by a de-tuned version of the racers V6 hybrid system.
motoring.com.au
On a quest for transparency: Researchers from Yale and MIT use Raman spectroscopy to get a better understanding of Li-air batteries. They believe the laser analysis method to be particularly well-suited as it allows for real-time observations to be made.
yale.edu
Stability through separation: A team from the University of Maryland has developed a separator coated with boron-nitride nanosheets. It is said to improve the stability of Li-metal anodes.
greencarcongress.com
China slows down EV subsidies: China is to roll back EV and PHEV incentives faster than initially planned, the Chinese Ministry of Finance announced. In 2017 and 2018, scalebacks of 20 percent are due, followed by a 40-percent reduction in 2019 and 2020. In the original draft, two 10-percent reductions had been outlined until 2020.
reuters.com, bloomberg.com
Reality clash: Infiniti showed its hybrid racer Concept Vision Gran Turismo as a real model at the Auto Shanghai. The car made its first appearance in the virtual world as a racecar for Playstation’s Gran Turismo 6. If it will make it from the show (and screen) onto the street, remains to be seen.
nydailynews.com
Golf GTE in Ireland: Order books for Volkswagen’s plug-in Golf are now open in Ireland as the bestseller is due to launch there by July. Prices start at about 38,500 euros in the green republic.
sundayworld.com, independent.ie
Indian electrification: India’s EV scheme FAME already bears fruit it seems as manufacturers are gearing up electrically. Lohia Auto now announced its plans to build two new electric two-wheeler models, two more variants of electric rickshaws and a new electric three-wheeler for its domestic market.
business-standard.com
Coming earlier and longer: A longer range option for the current generation 2016 Nissan Leaf can be expected already this autumn, Inside EVs believes. Their assumption is based on minutely gathered data on everything about the 2016 Leaf that has been published to date.
insideevs.com
Micro EVs to share: Nissan just started a new trial with its New Mobility Concept two-seater. Residents of Sakonyama Danchi district in Yokohama can now share the mini EVs which are part of a study. The one-year project is run together with the semipublic housing agency Urban Renaissance (UR).
automotive-business-review.com, nissan-global.com
Infiniti chauffeur service: Officials at the Chinese Development Forum could get around at the congress using 20 hybrid SUVs by Infiniti. Toyota’s premium brand took the job away from Audi which supplied vehicles last year. Looks like green is the new status.
ecns.cn
BMW to test mega EV: Together with logistics company Scherm, BMW will deploy an all-electric 40-ton truck by Terberg this summer for material transport between Scherm and BMW’s Munich plant. If the electric truck turns out to be fit for the job, the project might be expanded.
autocarpro.in, autovolt-magazine.com
Charge & work: Freudenberg-NOK is planning to install four charging stations at its offices in Michigan, where they will join two EV stations already installed. The initiative is part of the Workplace Charging Challenge by the DoE and the company plans to allow access for the public.
automotive-business-review.com
This review by Tom Moloughney looks at a somewhat underlying topic of EVs which is not often discussed: the charging equipment. In this case, it is the JLong extension cable (we reported) that circumvents the ICEing problem rather elegantly.
insideevs.com
— Text Ad —
Industry Studies and Papers for Electric Mobility: Stay up to date on the latest research and check out our industry studies section, where we catalog new publications by and for the electric mobility sector. If you want to find out more, just click here: electrive.com/industry-studies
New Kia concept: The Korean carmaker will show an off-road concept at the Chicago Auto Show next week, that bears quite a bit of resemblance with the Soul. According to Kia, the car will be powered by an electric all-wheel drive (e-AWD), a term often used to describe adding an electric motor to the otherwise unpowered axle of an internal-combustion car. So the car will most likely be a hybrid.
greencarreports.com, hybridcars.com, autovolt-magazine.com
Tesla SUV caught on tape: The Tesla Model X was filmed during a test drive, accelerating and braking on the spot. Still sporting a camouflaged exterior, the SUV will become available towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, Tesla announced that it is looking into building a regional centre in San Antonio, Texas, even though it is barred for selling its vehicles there.
youtube.com (test drive) via greencarreports.com, hybridcars.com (regional centre)
New Toyota spotted: The recently introduced Vellfire MPV has been sighted in Japan. The minivan comes with seven or eight seats and will also be available with a four-wheel drive hybrid drivetrain, but will probably only be sold in Japan.
indianautosblog.com, livedoor.jp
Infiniti Q70 Hybrid priced in the UK: The premium edition starts at 42,500 pounds (64,000 dollars), while the premium tech edition sells for at least 46,600 pounds (70,200 USD). The latter features Infiniti’s Dynamic Safety Shield, which includes intelligent cruise control, lane departure prevention and blind-spot intervention.
autovolt-magazine.com
Driving the Porsche Cayenne: Sean Carson writes that the 2015 Cayenne S E-Hybrid is “incredibly efficient”, but “just doesn’t feel like a Porsche” – it´s “premium enough to be a Porsche”, but dynamically “feels more like it emanated from the Audi stables as opposed to emerging a Porsche thoroughbred”.
motoringresearch.com
Electric Porsche in 2018/19: According to German magazine auto motor und sport, Porsche has cancelled the Pajun, a smaller version of the Panamera originally planned for 2016. Instead, it will release the car as a pure-electric model two or three years later to take on Tesla. Porsche hopes that by then, the range can be increased to at least 350 to 400 kilometers with better batteries.
auto-motor-und-sport.de (in German)
China gets new JV for EVs: Carmaker Geely and manufacturer of micro electric cars Xindayang are forming a joint venture to focus on the production of all-electric sedans. A total of 161 million dollars will be invested and the partners hope to turn out 50,000 to 100,000 EVs this year. In 2013, Geely had already formed a joint venture with Kandi for the production of small electric buses.
wantchinatimes.com, just-auto.com
Prius-fighter spyshots: As previously reported, Hyundai is working on a new hybrid-only model to challenge the Toyota Prius. Now, pictures have been posted online, allegedly showing the upcoming Prius-fighter from South Korea.
paultan.org
No Infiniti EV? While the carmaker has not openly said that it is putting its LE Concept on ice, rumour has it that Infiniti is doing exactly that since there has been no update after the car was first presented in 2012. Others think the manufacturer will wait until the next-gen Nissan Leaf hits the road in 2017.
hybridcars.com, greencarreports.com
Luxury Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Focusing more on the company car market, the Japanese carmaker will offer a new trim level of its plug-in hybrid SUV. The decked out GX5hs variant will include leather seats, low level mood lighting, an optimised sound system and multiple USB charging ports.
autovolt-magazine.com, fleetnews.co.uk
Hyundai hybrids revealed: At the NAIAS, the Koreans presented the new Sonata Hybrid as well as the PHEV version. The latter has a said electric range of 22 miles due to its larger battery pack (9.8 kWh). The 2016 Sonata Hybrid is set to go to market this summer with the plug-in to follow in fall.
hybridcars.com, greencarreports.com
Audi R8 e-tron debut in March: Audi’s head of technology, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, said the R8 and its all-electric version will be presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The R8 e-tron serves foremost as a “technology presenter” for different drive technologies like a plug-in hybrid, Hackenberg added.
drive.com.au
Q7 world premiere: The new Audi SUV debuted in Detroit and will also be offered as a plug-in hybrid as expected. The Q7 e-Tron Quattro combines a 258-hp diesel engine with a 94-kW electric motor. Almost 35 miles of electric range is Audi’s promise for the PHEV to be launched “shortly after” the gas Q7.
insideevs.com, greencarcongress.com, detroitnews.com
Seoul to clear the air: As the South Korean capital suffers from fine dust pollution, the Ministry of Environment was asked to tighten regulations. Seoul considers to introduce so-called Clean Zones in the city centre where only electric and hybrid cars would be allowed to enter. Additionally, the municipal government is looking to collaborate with other local governments to jointly invest in electric cars.
koreajoongangdaily.com
New Infiniti concept: Nissan’s luxurious subsidy showcases the Q60 Concept at the NAIAS which might become a production coupé in 2016. A hybrid version is likely but has not yet been confirmed.
forbes.com, indianautosblog.com
Bentley SUV baptised: The first SUV of the British brand will be called Bentayga when it hits the market in 2016. A plug-in hybrid is expected a year later while the SUV could premier at the 2015 IAA.
indianautosblog.com, youtube.com
Mirai on sale: Toyota began selling its fuel-cell car Mirai in Japan yesterday. About 400 pre-orders have been taken so far, according to the company. Toyota will mainly sell the “future” in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka, where hydrogen stations are expected to be built.
japantimes.co.jp, blogs.wsj.com
New Infiniti concept: A first teaser image shows the latest concept by Nissan’s luxury brand. The Q60 Concept will debut at the Detroit Auto Show and give an outlook on what might become a sports coupé in the future. Infiniti has not given any information on drivetrain options yet.
autoblog.com, motorauthority.com
BMW 3-series PHEV details: BMW’s plug-in hybrid 3-series is set to go to market by early 2016. The production model will then combine a 180-hp combustion engine with a 70 kW electric motor. Pricing is said to start at around 39,000 euros (about 50,000 dollars).
sueddeutsche.de (in German)
EV initiative on the Philippines: The Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) is asking the government for an exemption from value-added tax (VAT) and excise tax for EVs until 2020 to get the industry off the ground. EVAP is claiming that the State got nothing to lose but much to gain.
bworldonline.com
Driving experience B-Class ED: CleanTechnica reader Kyle Field in his guest contribution details his very first month with the 2014 Mercedes B-Class ED. Switching from gas to electric offered a few learnings on home charging (recommended), public charging (mostly overrated), and a powerful regen mode that equals out the somewhat heavy weight and perceived low range (87 miles) of the B-Class.
cleantechnica.com
