IAA 2009: Renault Twizy Z.E. Concept Electric Car Has Cartoon Look

Topic:

French Renault went a bit overboard with the Renault Twizy Z.E. Concept car. The Twizy looks like it has square wheels, this only works in cartoons.
If you look closer though there is a round wheel hidden behind the square shaped front - I think.
The funny looking Twizy is ultra-compact 1+1 zero-emission city car, with 15kW motor (20hp) and footprint barely larger than a scooter (2.3m long, 1.13m wide and turning circle of 3m). It has a top speed of 47mph, with acceleration comparable to 125cc motorbike. Read more

Posted on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:24:10 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Warren Buffett invests in Chinese Electric Car Maker BYD

Topic:

Ueber Investor Warren Buffett goes green by investing in Chinese BYD, a dynamic company making products from cell phone batteries to electric cars.
BYD is set to introduce two full electric cars later this year with the BYD E3 and BYD E6 in China.
BYD is already selling a plug-in hybrid dubbed F3DM. Read more

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Opel Ampera Electric Car unveiled

Topic:

GM owned German Auto maker Opel is set to unveil the Opel Ampera, their first electric car at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 on March 5th.
The Opel Ampera electric car promises 500km (~300 miles) reach. For trips up to 60 km, the five-door, four-seat hatchback runs on electricity stored in the 16 kWh, lithium-ion battery, and emits zero CO2. When the battery’s energy is depleted, electricity from an on-board engine-generator extends the Ampera’s range to more than 500 km Read more

Posted on Mon, 2 Mar 2009 08:46:53 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Toyota FT-EV Electric Car unveiled at Detroit Auto Show 2009

Topic:

The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS 2009) in Detroit is underway. This year there is almost no fancy high powered car to be in the spotlight. The Detroit Auto Show 2009 is all about low fuel consumption, small cars and electric cars.
Toyota for instance unveiled the Toyota FT-EV concept, a fully electric commuter car that is supposed to be in stores in 2012 in the United States.
The Toyota FT-EV is a so called BEV (battery-electric vehicle). The FT-EV concept shares its platform with the Toyota iQ urban commuter vehicle. Already a huge hit in Japan, the iQ is lightweight and seats four passengers in comfort and security, while delivering exceptional mileage, sporty performance, unique refinements and a fun, youthful image. Read more

Posted on Sun, 11 Jan 2009 13:53:03 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Mini E Electric Car is official

Topic:

The BMW Group officially announces the Mini E electric car we reported about in July the first time. The MINI E will be powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions.
Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 240 kilometers, or 150 miles. The MINI E will initially be made available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey. The MINI E will give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008. Read more

Posted on Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:15:53 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

TH!NK Electric Car is 95% recyclable

Topic:

The New York Times Magazine has a big feature article about green technology and the Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Headlining is a small car from Norway dubbed THINK. Kleiner Perkins has invested in the company to bring the TH!NK City car to the United States.
The TH!NK City is an environmental vehicle, emission free and 95% recyclable. It reaches a top speed of 100 km (65 miles) per hour and can drive up to 180 km (110 miles) on a single charge. TH!NK City meets all European and US federal motor vehicle safety requirements. Read more

Posted on Sun, 5 Oct 2008 09:58:30 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Subaru R1e Plug-in Electric Car

Topic:

Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd) introduces a tiny plug-in electric car in the United States.

At the 2008 New York Auto Show Subaru announced that the New York Power Authority would test the Subaru R1e.

Tests of the R1e are already going on in Japan and also in the UK. Read more

Posted on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Loremo plans E-Loremo Electric Car

Topic:

German car start-up Loremo made a big splash back in 2006 with the unveiling of their ultra-efficient 157MPG Diesel powered car called Loremo.

Now the company says that along side the Diesel Loremo they also will release an electric Loremo dubbed E-Loremo at launch in 2010. Read more

Posted on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:42:49 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

IAA 2007: Nissan Mixim Electric Car Concept

Topic:

Nissan will show a new electric concept car dubbed Mixim at the IAA 2007 in Frankfurt.

The Nissan Mixim is a futuristic styled compact car powered by Nissan's 'Super Motor' electric motor/generator and using compact lithium-ion batteries.

Design elements of the all-wheel drive Mixim include wrap around windscreen and LED driving lights. Read more

Posted on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 11:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

192 Panasonic AA Batteries power 100km/h Electric Car

Topic:

In the Panasonic OXYRIDE SPEED CHALLENGE in Japan a soapbox type car reached top speeds of 122km/h using 192 AA batteries.

The AA powered car is now in the Guinness Book of Records listed as the world's fastest car using standard dry cell batteries.

The aerodynamic vehicle measures 3,3m in length and 0.78m in width and 0.56m in height. Read more

Posted on Mon, 6 Aug 2007 14:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Lightning GT 700hp Electric Car hits 60mph in under 4sec

Topic:

We have drooled over the pics of the sweet looking and fast Tesla Roadster her at I4U before. Now we can drool over a new electric sports car from the UK from Lightning Car company called the GT.

One glance at this car and it looks British; I see reminders of the Jag E type in the front fenders and headlights for sure. This is a great looking car and from the looks, you might expect a massive V8 or even a V12 to be the power plant. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:26:52 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Tesla Motors Electric Car Range Adjusted

Topic:

Tesla Motors had to revise the range of their $100,000 electric car from 250 miles down to about 200 miles.

Tesla sent out a media brief and informed the first customers of the change. The new lower range was the result of the latest testing of a validation prototype. Read more

Posted on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 10:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

GM Volt Electric Car at Detroit Auto Show 2007

Topic:

Hurting GM presented the Volt electric car concept as answer to the successful Asian hybrid cars at the NAIAS 2007 in Detroit.

The Chevrolet Volt Concept features GM's new E-flex electric propulsion system. You can charge the Volt via normal 110V power outlet in 6-6.5 hours.
The electric engine has a 40 mile range. The Volt has a so called range extender which is a 3 cylinder turbo charged gas engine. The top speed of the Volt is 120 mph.
If you stick below 40 miles per day you actually do not use fuel at all. If you drive 60 miles you get 150 mpg.
Now just bring the Chevrolet Volt to the market and your future looks bright. Read more

Posted on Mon, 8 Jan 2007 07:30:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Gadget Shop sells $108,000 Electric Car

Topic:

Gadget shop Hammacher and Schlemmer offers an electric car that is able to go 120mph.

The so called “120-M.P.H. Electric Car” accelerates from 0-60mph in 4 seconds. This electric car runs on two electric motors and is not much wider than a motorcycle. The passenger seat is behind the driver seat.
The range is 40-80 miles on a single battery charge.

Even that the cars chassis is made of stainless steel, and the chrome moly roll cage meets Sports Car Club of America racing standards for safety, I am not sure if I want to go 120mph with this small vehicle.
The price of $108,000.00 keeps me anyway from owning this electric car. Read more

Posted on Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

CES 2006: Nikki Cash Reports about the ZAP Electric Car

Topic:

If you cannot afford a Prius, but still want to protect the environment, than the ZAP Electric Car might be your choice.

Nikki Cash reports from an outside CES show area where ZAP (maker of the Zappy Scooter) presents its new small electric cars, like the ZAP Zebra. This 3 wheel commuter car has an MSRP of under $9,000 and shipment starts in February says the California based company.
Watch the Video Report. Read more

Posted on Fri, 6 Jan 2006 17:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Matsushita Introduces Adaptive Electric Carpet

Topic:

Matsushita Electric announces a new electric carpet that adjusts temperature according to the movement of people.

As far as I understand the Japanese press-release the carpet adjusts the room temperature and the temperature on the carpet where the person is sitting. It uses a IR sensor placed next to the carpet to detect the presence of a person. The carpets are tatami mat suitable. So I guess Japanese people make their bed on the electric carpet to keep them cozy.
The sensory features are all about saving energy.
More details in this Matsushita press-release.

Read more

Posted on Tue, 19 Jul 2005 07:40:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Eliica Electric Car accelerates faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo

Topic:

Professor Hiroshi Shimizu, of Japan's Keio University developed a 8 wheel electric car that accelerates faster than a Porsche 911 Turbo.

The 600kW Electric muscle car makes the 0-100km/h in four seconds and a 0-160km/h in seven seconds. Proven top speed is 370km/h. The Eliica (Electric Lithium-Ion battery Car) looks a bit like the old Citroen DS that Fantomas used in those old french movies.
More details on Drive.com.au and on Eliica.com (Japanese).

Read more

Posted on Mon, 22 Nov 2004 12:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

CES 2003: ZAP's New Electric Cars

Topic:

ZAP, the Northern California pioneer in electric bicycles and scooters, announced today its subsidiary Voltage Vehicles has signed an agreement for a new ZAP brand of electric automobile.

ZAP expects to unveil the new electric cars on January 9, 2003 at the International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, the world's largest consumer technologies event with more than 100,000 annual attendees.Voltage Vehicles, a subsidiary of ZAP, has signed an exclusive agreement with a European-based group of companies involved in the design and manufacturing of electric automobiles. The group has started production on several different types of light electric utility vehicles for urban transportation and commercial use, including a 25 MPH neighborhood electric car that is now available. A representative from the European group, Riccardo Coles, says they are working with ZAP to launch their initial sales in North America. Full Press Release


Read more

Posted on Wed, 11 Dec 2002 16:32:14 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr