Feb 22, 2016 - 09:41 am

BYD, Lexus, Tesla, Terra Motors, Mercedes.

BYD’s new Song: BYD will bring an all-electric and a plug-in version of their SUV Song to market this year – one out of ten new alternative energy cars in the pipelines for 2016. An all-electric Qin and PHEV Yuan will also hit the road. Moreover, BYD is to invest in a new battery production line in Shenzhen, China, which will officially open its doors in 2018.
autonews.com

Fuel cell Lexus: Lexus will show the LF-FC (Lexus Future-Flagship Car/Fuel Cell) Concept in Geneva next week. It is said to preview the hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain vehicle planned for 2020, and also shows Lexus’ commitment to follow in the footsteps of parent company Toyota in including FCVs in their line-up.
automotiveworld.com, autoexpress.co.uk

Duty free imports: The Malaysian government will allow for the duty free import of 100 Tesla Model S, with hopes of promoting electric cars in the country. However, the imported cars will be used solely for demonstrations, and purchase may be restricted to government-linked companies.
nst.com

— Textanzeige —
Charging infrastructure without roaming is hardly conceivable nowadays. The new protocol OCPI makes roaming independent and flexible. The direct connection of all roaming partners reduces costs while maintaining a high reliability. Wiedergrün provides a test system to greatly simplify your implementation of OCPI: www.wiedergruen.com

The latest from Terra: Terra Motors has unveiled their newest e-rickshaw model, the Y4 Alfa. It seats up to five people and is outfitted with Terra’s self-developed battery. The latter has a lifespan of 18 months and can travel up to 100 km on one charge.
economictimes.com

Tesla gets domain name: Tesla finally gets to use tesla.com, a domain name that was registered in 1992—but even not by the EV maker. The company’s webpage can currently be found at teslamotors.com, but since Tesla is branching out into fields like home energy storage, being able to use the more general domain name had been a priority for years.
insideevs.com

E Class spotted: The upcoming Mercedes E Class has been spotted nearly undisguised, as only some plastic sheet was used to cover the rear. The sedan will go on sale in September, possibly also as a plug-in hybrid. The system would boast a combined 279 hp and allow for an all-electric range of 18.6 miles.
worldcarfans.com

Jun 19, 2015 - 08:51 am

Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Terra Motors, Yuba & Currie, BMW.

Meet the Mercedes GLC: Mercedes-Benz unveiled the second generation of its mid-range SUV GLC (formerly the GLK), which will hit the stores this September. It will also be available as a plug-in hybrid named GLC 350 e 4Matic. This version has a system output of 327 hp and goes electrically for up to 34 kilometres. Prices for the PHEV are hitherto unknown.
greencarcongress.com, bloomberg.com, daimler.com

Facelifted Outlander for Japan: After it has just been caught undisguised, Mitsubishi now officially presented the updated Outlander for its domestic market. The facelift bears the new ‘Dynamic Shield’ design while the plug-in hybrid has a newly optimised drive which is said to enable 60.8 kilometres of all-electric range. It is also surprisingly cheap as the PHEV starts at 3,596,400 yen (29,000 dollars).
paultan.org, carscoops.com

Three-wheeled expansion: Japanese Terra Motors is to expand to India where it plans to open 80 outlets by the end of next year to sell e-rickshaws. The company has over 1,000 dealers and 3,000 service networks in Japan and has production plants in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Japan.
rtn.asia

— 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

The pick up truck amongst cargo bikes is the electric Spicy Curry model by Yuba Bicycles. Together with Currie Technologies, this electric cargo bike has been developed for the U.S. market. With its versatility and payload of 136 kilos, it targets families and businesses alike. It is powered by the TranzX M07HC central drive with 350 Watt and costs 4,500 dollars.
e-bike-finder.com (in German), yubabikes.com (product page)

BMW X5 xDrive40e review: Motoring has tested BMW’s only plug-in hybrid without an “i” in its name. Being a full-size SUV, fuel economy or electric range were not the developer’s priority but still one can save at the push of a button – more or less.
motoring.com.au

Mar 20, 2015 - 09:56 am

Tesla, BMW i, Kia, Mini, BYD, Terra Motors.

Tesla software update 6.2: The promised end for range anxiety is basically a combination of optimised routing and a range alarm. The new software stays connected to Tesla’s charging infrastructure and warns the driver, when range drops below what is needed to get to the next Supercharger or Destination Charger. Things like elevation changes, weather and occupied chargers are taken into account.
transportevolved.com, insideevs.com, jalopnik.com

BMW i future: German Manager Magazin reports that the BMW i9 could become available by around 2020. Before, BMW i will introduce the next-gen i3 with a 300+ kilometre range. In subsequent years, every middle and large sized BMW model will be offered as plug-in or all-electric variant.
manager-magazin.de (in German)

Kia shows new Optima: The Koreans have released first design sketches of their new Optima, which will be presented at the New York Auto Show in April. The new Optima will also be available as a station wagon, previewed in Geneva earlier this month. A hybrid and a new plug-in hybrid powertrain is likely.
motorauthority.com

Electric Mini in the pipeline: Head of the Mini brand Peter Schwarzenbauer confirmed that an all-electric Mini is the works, but did not give any further details yet. He also made clear that there will be no Mini Minor and that a production version of the Superleggera is not certain yet.
motoring.com.au, motorauthority.com

BYD teams up in Thailand: Trading company Loxley will be selling electric cars and buses under the BYD brand in Thailand, starting with the K9 bus and e6 passenger car. Loxley plans on selling a combined 200 units within two years and is eyeing the possibility of setting up an assembly plant for EVs.
thaivisa.com, bangkokpost.com

Terra Motors reveals e-bike: The company presented its S750, which is said to be the first e-bike designed by a Japanese company. The e-bike has a top speed of roughly 25 mph and a 31-mile range.
electricvehiclesresearch.com, digitaltrends.com

Jan 7, 2015 - 09:36 am

Toyota, Detroit Electric, Hyundai, Terra Motors, BMW i, Geely, Yema.

Toyota follows Tesla’s example as the Japanese corporation announced at the CES to share its 5,680 patents relating to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies with the whole industry. According to Bob Carter, Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations at Toyota Motor Sales USA, patents related to fuel cell vehicles will be available for royalty-free licenses until the end of 2020, while patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration.
greencarcongress.com, hybridcars.com, theverge.com

SP:01 production version: Detroit Electric revealed how its e-roadster will look like when going into production in early 2015. When hitting the market in 2016, the SP:01 is said to deliver 210 kW, a top speed of 155 mph and a 0-60 mph sprint time of 3.9 seconds. Customers can already place orders, with early pricing information indicating a starting cost of around 100,500 pounds (159,000 dollars).
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com

Hyundai reloads: The Korean carmaker has announced to invest about 81 trillion won (73 billion dollars) over the next four years. The money will go into expanding and building facilities while almost a third will be spend on R&D activities with a focus on electric vehicles.
globaltimes.cn, koreaherald.com

2,000-dollar e-scooter: Terra Motors presented its A2000 electric scooter which shares the design with the A4000i but comes at a more competitive price of around 2,000 dollars. The low cost is bought at the price of the environment as the A2000 uses a Lead-acid batteries. Terra Motors hopes to offer its latest model in 10-15 countries this summer, starting with Vietnam in January.
bikeland.org

i8 to launch in India: BMW will enter the Indian market with its i-brand this February, ZigWheels reports. The i8 will hit India in limited numbers and could cost as much as INR 2 crores (about 315,000 dollars).
zigwheels.com via indianautosblog.com

New Chinese EVs: Geely will launch its all-electric EC7-EV on the Chinese market this quarter. While the sedan has a range of 150 km (93 miles), the new Yema T70 EV is said to go much further as the electric estate car claims a 400 km (248 miles) range and is set to launch in April.
carnewschina.com (Geely), carnewschina.com (Yema)

Dec 19, 2014 - 09:42 am

CO2, Terra Motors, Spyker, Akia Ultra, BYD, Tesla.

CO2 comparison: Transport and Environment has analysed average new car emissions in European countries. The Netherlands is the first country to bring CO2 emissions below 110 g/km and its average of 109,1 g/km is the lowest in the EU. Germany’s 136,1 g/km places it among the highest carbon emitters together with Sweden, Poland and Finland. The report further found that taxation if differentiated by CO2 makes a huge difference.
automotive-business-review.com, evfleetworld.co.uk, transportenvironment.org

Electric rickshaws for India: Japanese Terra Motors presents its electric three-wheeler R6 set to launch in India from 2015. Another two versions are to follow and Terra Motors believes it could sell up to 10,000 electric rickshaws in the first year already.
techinasia.com, autocarpro.in

Spyker bankrupt: A Dutch court spoke its final verdict and sent the sports carmaker into bankruptcy. However, Spyker is determined to stick to its restructuring plan and to merge with an American electric aircraft manufacturer and develop electric sports cars (we reported).
jalopnik.com

Iranian-Chinese e-bus cooperation? Akia Ultra, Iran’s largest bus maker, plans to visit Chinese BYD next month to talk about a possible partnership for electric buses. While BYD is looking to increase its business to meet growing demand, Akia Ultra offers production capabilities for 1,500 buses annually.
just-auto.com, chinadaily.com.cn

Tesla to sell in Indonesia: The Model S could become available in the archipelago by January 2015. It would be sold through an existing luxury car dealership rather than Tesla Stores as demand is expected to be low initially.
techinasia.com

Oct 23, 2014 - 08:28 am

Tesla-Fighter, Terra Motors, Geely, Daimler & MV Agusta, Acura.

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

Aug 21, 2014 - 08:31 am

Saab, Hyundai, Ferrari, Terra Motors, Tern, Tucson.

Electric Saab prototype: Despite the crisis at Saab owner NEVS, the company presented a prototype of the electrified 9-3 EV. The batteries are placed under the floor and have a said range of 200 kilometres. If the EV will ever go into serial production remains to be seen.
greencarcongress.com, cision.com

Prius fighter from Hyundai? The Korean carmaker is working on a new hybrid model which could take on Toyota’s hybrid bestseller, Autoguide reports. The portal spotted four different cars being tested so its guess is that there is more than one new hybrid in the making.
autoguide.com

Concept Ferrari F80: What could be the successor of the LaFerrari only exists on paper so far. Designer Adriano Raeli dreamed up a car with 1,200 hp and a top speed of 500 kph, which would be powered by a twin-turbo V8 and a 300-hp KERS system.
racingnewsnetwork.com, boldride.com

Terra in Tehran: Terra Motors has started selling its electric scooter A4000i in Iran due to favourable new EV policies in the country. The company that is based in Japan, plans to roll out global sales of the e-scooter later this year and is looking for distribution partners.
greencarcongress.com

Electric folder: Tern will present its first electric folding pedelec at the Eurobike in Germany next week. The ‘eLink’ is driven by a 250 W Bafang mid-motor and a 374 Wh battery that offers a range of up to 50 kilometres. Its weight has not been specified yet.
bike-eu.com

Early adopter backed off: Michael Goldstein took his time to decide if to go for a Hyundai Tucson FCV. First, he had to convince his wife, then the logistics sorted out and find a dealer. Just when he was just about to buy the car, the price tag put him off, esp. as you would expect a company trying to please rather than to squeeze its early adopters.
green.autoblog.com

Jul 1, 2014 - 08:21 am

Toyota Prius, Mazda2, Terra Motors, Mitsubishi.

Next generation Prius delayed six months: Toyota pushed back start of production from spring to December 2015. Though reasons for the delay have not been confirmed, rumour has it that engineers need more time to optimise fuel efficiency, tweaking body and chassis issues. Moreover, Automotive News reports that the Prius will “be a test bed of critical new technologies, including Toyota’s modularised vehicle architecture and next-generation hybrid system.”
autonews.com, hybridcars.com, autoevolution.com

3rd gen Mazda2 to be hybridised: The carmaker will most likely offer the upcoming model as a PHEV, including the rotary-powered range-extender technology used in the current prototype. The news was reported by an Australian source, in which the author notes that Mazda is sure to not introduce its electrified vehicles Down Under as long as the country does not offer subsidies. Instead, the upcoming Mazda2 will most likely only be available in Japan.
motoring.com.au

BIZMO II hits the road: As of today, Japanese company Terra Motors offers its commercial motorcycle with a range of 150 kilometres. That is three times as much as current competitors. The BIZMO II can carry a load of up to 33 kilos, making it especially attractive for delivery business and costs only one-tenth of what it costs to operate a petrol-fuelled motorcycle.
techinasia.com

Double win for Mitsubishi at Pikes Peak: The carmaker took home first and second place in the Electric Modified Division of the 2014 edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, as well as finishing second and third overall. Drivers Greg Tracy and Hiroshi Masuoka both started in an iMiEV Evolution III all-electric racecar, featuring a 50 kWh battery. The race is, however, overshadowed by the unfortunate death of Bobby Goodin, who crashed his motorcycle just after crossing the finish line.
greencarcongress.com (Mitsubishi), gas2.org (Goodin)

May 19, 2014 - 08:25 am

Mitsubishi, BMW, Hyundai, Terra Motors, Tesla.

Ready for Russia: The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has successfully managed eight weeks of very cold weather testing (-30°C) in Russia. Now, everything is ready for the market launch set for the end of August at the Moscow Motor Show.
electriccarsreport.com

No bigger battery, yet: After an unspecified battery option on the Spanish i3 configuration page had nurtured hopes of a bigger battery to be introduced (we reported), BMW now clarified that this was just about a 12 V battery. However, a bigger battery for the EV is in the making, the German carmaker said.
focus.de (in German)

Hyundai hybrid in Middle America: The South Korean company announced it would start selling the hybrid Sonata in Ecuador this month. It will then be made available to other countries too, like Chile and Colombia and the Bahamas later this year.
english.chosun.com

— Text Ad —
NEW MOBILITY DESIGN CONGRESS 2014: What will mobility user interfaces look and feel like in the future? How can virtual and artificial intelligence influence the interior of a vehicle? These and other design challenges of a new mobile world will be discussed on June 5th, 2014. More information under www.kreativ.region-stuttgart.de/nemo

Terra Motors to expand: The Japanese two-wheeler specialist has successfully raised 10 million dollars. The investment will be used to expand further into Asian markets, namely India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Taiwan.
electricvehiclesresearch.com

Right-hand drive Model S: Tesla will deliver its first electric car with a right-hand drive to the UK on 7th June with more to come. In Britain, the Model S costs up to 98,000 pounds (165,000 dollars) and its uptake has been rather low compared to other European markets.
thegreencarwebsite.co.uk

Feb 12, 2014 - 09:32 am

Hybrid Tech, Centro, Terra Motors, Volkswagen, Mahindra, China.

Hybrid Tech bolsters bid: In preparation for a possible Fisker restart after this today’s auction, Hybrid Tech Holding has hired former Ford executive Martin Leach. This might be interpreted as a try to counteract arguments of the other bidder, Wanxiang, being better equipped for reviving bankrupt Fisker.
reuters.com (Hybrid Tech), green.autoblog.com (auction)

Electric utility vehicle: Centro Motor Corporation announced to soon unveil the KOMBI. The all-electric utility vehicle is claimed to be the first electric vehicle of its class in the US. Equipped with a 6.2 kWh lithium battery from Samsung, the micro van will have a range of over 50 miles on a single charge.
electriccarsreport.com

Two Terra Motors concepts: At Indian Auto Expo, the Japanese unveiled the electric A4000i scooter and the T4 e-rickshaw. The latter uses a lead battery which supplies a range of 80 kilometres. The e-scooter is powered by a li-ion battery with a range of 65 km and uses a smartphone to display details such as the speed, charge status and range.
indianautosblog.com

VW XL1 in South Korea: Volkswagen has started a tour of test drives and showcases of its ultra-efficient XL1 across South Korea. But mobile coupons and miniature models will be all Koreans get as the 250 units of the diesel plug-in hybrid will be produced and sold in Europe only.
eco-business.com

Maxximo electric: Mahindra showed an all-electric version of its mini-van at the Auto Expo in India. Now some more details are public: The Maxximo electric is said to have a range of 90 kilometres at a top speed of 55 kph and weighs 2,165 kilos.
indianautosblog.com

China’s EV promotions: While China plans to extend EV subsidiaries beyond 2015 (we reported), its finance ministry now announced changes to incentives currently in place. Previously planned reductions of subsidies by 10% in 2014 and 20% in 2015 have now been halved to 5% and 10% respectively.
eco-business.com

Feb 3, 2014 - 10:00 am

Mahindra, Terra Motors, Mini, Renault, Saleen, Audi.

Mahindra’s many EVs: The company has now announced to exhibit a new electric sports car concept called HALO along with its Formula E racing car at the upcoming Auto Expo in India. Furthermore, Mahindra will have a fast-charging version of the e2o (photo), the new Verito electric sedan and Maxximo electric light truck on display. The latter two are set for commercialisation at the end of this year.
indianautosblog.com

Zero S copy? The electric super-bike presented by Terra Motors as the Kiwami a few days ago in India (we reported), seems to be a re-badged Zero S from California. When asked, Zero Motorcycles said that it does not have any licensing agreement with Terra Motors and plans on seeking “legal remedy.”
green.autoblog.com

Electric Mini in the making: Peter Schwarzenbauer, BMW’s board member in charge of Mini, said to German Wirtschaftswoche, that the electric drive is essential for a city car like the Mini. First prototypes are already being built but a decision on the final design has yet to be made.
wiwo.de (In German)

Drive less, pay less: Renault offers a new Zoe deal for its UK customers. Based on a three year contract with 3,000 miles per annum, the battery hire price goes down to 45 pounds (74 dollars). So far, the cheapest option was priced at 70 GBP (115 USD) with 7,500 mi per year. A 7 kW wall charger is complimentary for all Zoe buyers.
thegreencarwebsite.co.uk, electriccarsreport.com

Tuning Tesla: Californian tuning specialist, Saleen Automotive, has set eyes on electric cars and is currently drafting a high-performance Model S. While details are yet unknown, it is expected that Saleen might twist the suspension and come up with some stylish bodywork.
motorauthority.com, greencarreports.com, electriccarsreport.com

Sport Quattro Concept review: Georg Kacher got hold of Audi’s latest hybrid concept and put it to the test against its ancestor, the “Ur Quattro,” as he calls it. Even though he could only drive a pre-prototype, Kacher found out it “is much further down the road to production than the PRs would have us believe” and calls on all “bean counters” (on the Audi board) to just “drive it” if still in doubt…
carmagazine.co.uk

Jan 29, 2014 - 09:29 am

BMW, Terra Motors, Toyota, Honda, NHTSA.

Strong demand for BMW i3: Since its launch at the end of November 2013, BMW received 11,000 orders leading to waiting periods of up to six months. Curiously enough, eight of ten buyers are new to the brand or even to the idea of owning a car, sales and marketing chief Ian Robertson said. Still, BMW has no plans to expand its electric i-range just yet, nor will it produce in China in the near future.
reuters.com, ecomento.com, automobilwoche.de (Orginal german source)

All-electric super-bike: Terra has now launched its electric motorcycle ‘Kiwami’ in India. The hand-built machine costs 1,8m rupee which is about 29,000 dollars. Its electric motor delivers 13 hp and the Kiwami is said to have a range of 200 kilometres while a full charge takes about six hours.
indianautosblog.com, thehindu.com

All new Prius: The fourth generation of Toyota’s best-selling hybrid is due in about a year. It will be based on a new platform, the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), with a lower centre of gravity for sportier handling. At last, the nickel-metal-hydride batteries will be replaced by batteries with lithium-ion cells.
greencarreports.com, hybridcars.com

2015 Jazz Hybrid tested: An updated version of the hybrid Honda has recently been introduced in Japan and the U.S. (where it is known as Honda Fit). In this review the new ‘Sport Hybrid i-DCD’ engine “sets the tone” with added torque and features like the sport mode or an all-electric top speed of 75 kph.
technologicvehicles.com, automobile-magazine.fr (Original source in French)

NHTSA examines Camry: The American safety watchdog might bring the hybrid Toyota Camry to an emergency stop, as 59 customers reported decreased braking power. The now opened preliminary evaluation could ultimately lead to a recall of about 30,000 Camry built in 2007/08.
greencarcongress.com, puregreencars.com

Jan 24, 2014 - 09:59 am

Terra Motors, Formula E, Infineon, Tesla, Arcimoto.

Welcome to a new edition of “electrive.com today”, the fresh industry service for electric mobility – made in Germany! Our newsletter is published every workday, delivering you all the latest global emobility news – short, to the point, and free of charge. Here are today’s top stories and innovations:

– Brands + News –

Premium e-motorbike: Terra Motors will present its Terra Kiwami at the Auto Expo in India. All we know is that Kiwami means ‘Extreme’ in Japanese and it will be a ‘premium’ motorbike. Terra Motors is best known for its A4000i electric scooter, which turns the riders’ iPhone into a dashboard screen to display details such as the speed, charge status and range.
indianautosblog.com

Formula E to build HQ in UK: The electric racing series has started constructions on its new premises close to Donington Park Racing Circuit. From May this year, facilities for each of the ten Formula E teams, together with offices, stores and workshops for about 150 Formula E employees will spread across an area of 44,000 ft² (4,088 m²).
thegreencarwebsite.co.uk

Infineon eyes e-mobility: Jochen Hanebec, responsible for the automotive division at Infineon, predicts that profits from semiconductors used in electric cars could increase by factor ten until 2020. However, this would require the electric mobility to have its breakthrough. EVs like the BMW i3 are already using almost double as much chip and conductor technology than regular vehicles.
faz.net (In German), techfieber.de (In German)

Much ado about less: Contrary to what ‘China Car Times’ reported yesterday, Tesla will not charge its fans in China an extra-high price. Instead, the Model S with 85 kWh will start from 734,000 yuan (121,400 dollars) and is therefore rather competitively priced.
teslamotors.com, hybridcars.com, chinacartimes.com

Arcimoto e-trike: The Oregon-based start-up has been around since 2009 and just recently updated its electric trike. The new Arcimoto has an alloy chassis, is build on a modular platform and will feature a swappable battery pack.
green.autoblog.com