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Saab 9-3 ePower Sportwagon – Saab’s foray into the EV market

September 21, 2010 at 12:03 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Saab

Saab will be bringing their very own electric vehicle to Paris for the upcoming motor show. Based on the current 9-3 Sportswagon, the 9-3 ePower will be a prototype undergoing extensive trails in Sweeden next year.

This will be made up of 70 vehicles in their test fleet, which will be tested under real world driving conditions. The 9-3 will be motivated by a 135 kW/184 hp electric motor linked to a 35.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

Saab says that this accelerates the car to 100km/h in just 8.5 seconds and it allows the vehicle to reach a top speed of 150km/h. They also expect the car to return a respectable 200 kilometres before it needs to be recharged again. This then takes around 3 to 6 hours to a full recharge, depending on the depletion status.

Recharge times can be reduced by using a higher input voltage, as voltage inputs are not limited. The instrument panel has also been modified to accommodate a new display for the battery status, power consumption and driving range, all illuminated in green.

Saab boasts about the 9-3’s battery capabilities as it can operate at full power in temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celcius, which is 10 degrees below current battery packs today. It is also said to be able to withstand the test of time with a charging cycle equivalent to approximately 10 years of average use.

Along with that, the use of air-cooling instead of a liquid cooling system has lowered the weight of the battery pack. Saab seems to be taking the right steps to make itself a relevant brand in the near future. Expect more from the Trollhattan-based company. Look after the jump for a picture gallery.
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Audi e-Tron Spyder rumored to debut in Paris

September 21, 2010 at 9:22 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Audi, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Could this be a leaked sketch of the upcoming Audi e-Tron Spyder? According to Caradisiac it is. They have reported that this car will make a Paris Motor Show debut, likely as a concept. The Spyder is a convertible based on the Audi e-tron concept that was recently previewed at the Detroit Motor Show. According to the publication, only a thousand units will be built in 2012.

No information have been provided on the powertrain running this car, but if it is for real, it will probably feature something similar to the e-Tron concept. This would be four electric motors, creating a total power output of 204hp and 2,650Nm of torque. The original e-tron concept was shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show featuring 313hp and 4,500Nm of torque.

However some are saying that the topless e-tron will be powered by a 3.0 litre V6 TDI paired with two front-mounted electric motors and a dual-clutch transmission. This means that there is a possibility of the e-tron Spyder being a hybrid instead of a pure electric vehicle. All we can do for now is wait for the Paris event to confirm these reports.

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Lotus Elite supercar unveiled – set for 2014 release!

September 21, 2010 at 12:06 am By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Lotus

Lotus has finally revealed it’s plans for the much-anticipated supercar, which will be given the legendary Elite designation. We are not sure if this model is the much-talked about Esprit replacement as the Elite name was used before, both in 1958 and 1974. However the supercar signals the company’s foray into Ferrari and Aston Martin territory. In the press release, the Elite has been described as “ultimate refinement”.

The public will be the judge of that, but no doubt design has progressed slightly, which should help in its quest to compete with the big boys. I must admit that the prototype pictured here does point to a pretty good looking production car.

The 2+2 Elite will be offered with a retractable hard top. It will house a force-inducted 5.0 litre V8 engine (which hasn’t been confirmed whether this will be turbocharged or supercharged) that is set to pump out 612hp and 720Nm of torque. Lotus also mentioned that there will be an optional hybrid system which will be made up by a hybrid gearbox integrated with two electric motors and a Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS).

At the moment it is not certain if the above mentioned power figures take the hybrid system’s output into account, although judging from the high numbers, it is likely that power from the alternative source has been included. Weighing in at about 1,650kg, the car can accelerate to 100km/h in around 3.5 to 3.7 seconds, up to a top speed of 315km/h. This also gives it approximately 215g/km of CO2 emissions output.

“There’s no denying that the Elite is breathtakingly beautiful to look at but it’s so much more than that, it’s a car that over delivers in all other aspects as well. One could say it’s a car of perfect contradictions, it’s compact yet spacious, high performing yet low emitting, lightweight yet still reassuringly solid. It’s a car that we are exceptionally proud of at Lotus and we truly believe that there is nothing else like it out there both in terms of styling and performance,” said Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus.

This front mid -engined, rear wheel drive car will be put into production in early 2014 with a market debut in the second quarter in the same year. Prices are unconfirmed, but is expected to be at around the £115 000 mark. Look for a high-res picture gallery after the jump.

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Hyundai BlueOn: the Korean company’s first full EV

September 18, 2010 at 10:42 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Hyundai, International News

Hyundai has officially unveiled their first fully electric car, called the BlueOn. The company first previewed an electric car concept, which was based on the previous i10 model at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009.

The BlueOn is based on the 2011 Hyundai i10, measuring in at 3,585 mm in length, 1,595 mm in width and 1,540 mm in height. This shell is powered by an 81hp electric motor that generates 210Nm of torque. Power will come from a 16.4kWh Lithium ion polymer battery that is said to have a longer lifespan and storage capacity compared to a nickel metal hydride battery.

Furthermore, the new powertrain gives the BlueOn an acceleration figure of 0 to 100km/h in 13.1 seconds, going on to reach a top speed of 130km/h. The car travels 140km on a single charge. When it runs out of juice, it can be recharged with a 220V household socket in six hours. A 380V power outlet on the other hand, replenishes 80 percent of its power in 25 minutes.

If noiseless electric cars are your worries, Hyundai has fixed that problem by installing a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS) that creates an artificial sound to alert pedestrians of its presence. Hyundai plan to make about 2500 units by the end of 2012 and will be promoted in the next G20 summit. Look for pictures after the jump.
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Mercedes Benz A-Class E-Cell: 500 units to be built

September 18, 2010 at 10:40 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Mercedes Benz

In a bid to be compliant with Euro emission standards, Mercedes has announced that they will be putting the A-Class E-Cell electric car into production.

The car will be powered by a 95hp electric motor that produces a respectable 290Nm of torque, but on average the car gives you about 68hp, with a 0 to 100 figure in 14 seconds. The car has an electronically-limited top speed of 150km/h.

Thanks to two 36 kWh lithium-ion batteries, the car has a range of 200km. This can be recharged in eight hours with the use of a 230-volt home socket for a 120km journey. The figure reduces to 4 hours if using a 400V industrial power point.

As with all modern day electric cars, the A-class will have electric car related tech such as pre-start climate control, unique display unit, COMAND sat nav, infotainment system along with trimmings such as bixenon headlights. A cool feature on the car is the fact that you can check your car charging status over the internet and phone.

The A-Class will have an initial run of 500 units, no doubt to test the waters, which will be available on lease in Europe later this year. Look after the jump for a picture gallery.
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First “factory built” Fisker Karma hybrid to debut in Paris

September 17, 2010 at 4:28 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Remember the Fisker Karma? The California-based startup wheeled out the outlandishly styled Karma plug-in hybrid sports sedan back in 2008, and recently announced that the car will go into production after securing a $528.7 million loan from the US Energy Department. It’s done now and the upcoming Paris show will see Fisker show off their “first factory-built” Karma.

Designed by company co-founder and CEO Henrik Fisker, the four-seat Karma is powered by a 300 kW (403 hp) electric motor that enables 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 200 km/h. The company claims “annual average economy” of 2.4L/100 km and emissions of just 83 g/km. Mr Fisker’s CV is claimed to include sleek designs such as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, DB9 and BMW Z8, which could explain why the Karma looks so sexy.

Fisker has ambitious plans. To support its ultimate goal of producing more than 100,000 cars per year, the company is building a global importer and retail network to market and service its vehicles. In Paris, Fisker will share details about the “prestigious European and Asian groups” that it has managed to lure on board.

In July, Fisker launched the company’s first international marketing campaign entitled “Pure Driving Passion”. It features the work of top fashion photographer Miles Aldridge (Vogue, Cartier, Hugo Boss) and Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Wally Pfister (Inception, The Italian Job, The Dark Knight). The campaign aims to show that eco conscious vehicles can be sexy too. View the images after the jump and see if you agree.
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Audi A1 e-tron with rotary engine range extender!

September 14, 2010 at 9:45 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel

Audi will be unleashing a total of 20 specially prepared Audi A1 e-tron range extender electric cars onto the streets of Munich as part of the “eflott” joint venture pilot project between Audi, E.ON, the Munich municipal utility company Stadtwerke München (SWM) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

The Audi A1 e-tron is powered by a electric motor that delivers an output equivalent of 102 PS, drawing power from a lithium-ion battery mounted within the floor assembly in front of the rear axle of the A1 e-tron. This electric motor can take the A1 e-tron up to a top speed of 81 mph and it can go about 31 miles in city traffic.

But what happens beyond 31 miles? A small combustion engine will be started up to generate power to recharge the batteries, and what’s most interesting is that this small combustion engine is a small single-rotor Wankel rotary engine, with 15 kW of charging output. It would be interesting to find out why exactly Audi chose to use a Wankel rotary engine design for its range extender combustion engine.

Supporting these A1 e-tron cars are a total of 200 newly installed charging stations. These stations will enable experts to address a number of issues, from the data transfer between the driver, vehicle and electric filling station to the power grid and the use of smartphones as the central interface for the driver.

According to a draft standard for the calculation of fuel consumption for range extender vehicles, the A1 e-tron will be able to achieve a fuel economy figure of 148.7mpg and a CO2 output of only 45 g/km.

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DRB-HICOM to manufacture Westfield sports cars in Malaysia, parts and CKD kits to be exported to UK

September 6, 2010 at 2:31 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Local News

DRB-HICOM and Potenza Sports Cars Ltd, owner and manufacturer of Westfield cars, have entered into a joint venture agreement that will result in the production of a new line of eco-friendly and affordable sports cars in Malaysia. The cars, which will include electric and hybrid versions, are to be made in Pekan for the domestic and Asia Pacific region.

This comes after a feasibility study was conducted after both parties signed a MoU in April. Under the new agreement a new JV company will be set up to handle the importing, manufacturing and distribution of the sports cars. The same company will also export knocked down kits and components manufactured in Malaysia to PSC for assembly in the UK. The British built cars will serve the UK and European market.

Westfield is niche British manufacturer that makes lightweight open-top sports cars inspired by the Lotus Seven.

“We expect production to begin by 2012,” said Dato’ Sri Haji Mohd Khamil Jamil, DRB-HICOM Group MD, who added that this is a significant move towards the company developing its own brand. “For DRB-HICOM, this is our giant step towards realising our vision of designing and developing our own brand of vehicles in cooperation with our global partners,” he said.

DRB-HICOM’s Pekan, Pahang facility is set to be a very busy hub. The company recently signed a MoU with Volkswagen in the production of three VW models in Malaysia. If all goes well, the first batch of CKD VW cars will roll out some time in the first quarter of 2011.

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Izaro GT-E – Spain’s answer to the Tesla Roadster

August 28, 2010 at 11:56 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Technology

A new Spanish company by the name of Izaro Motors have announced their plans of developing and constructing Spain’s first eco-friendly supercar.

Called the Izaro GT-E, the press release mentions that the car will be available in an electric and hybrid variant. The EV will use an electric motor producing 495hp and has a range of 250 kilometres, while the hybrid system produces 416hp and will have a range of 690 kilometres. Power from the batteries are said to have a lifespan of between 300,000 to 600,000 miles.

The body is said to employ materials such as aluminum and magnesium for the chassis along with high strength steel from the aerospace industry. This produces a car that weighs in at just over 1000 kilograms. Combined with its powertrain, Izaro promises a sprint time of under 4 seconds to 100km/h and a top speed of 280km/h.

It will be priced at 55,000 Euros, which is cheaper than a Tesla Roadster. The company say that this particular pricetag is possible due to the use of cheap and reusable materials such as basalt fibre, instead of the usual carbon fibre. It remains to be seen whether the car will ever materialise into reality, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from dreaming.

More renderings after the jump.

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New Honda Fit/Jazz Hybrid coming to Paris Motor Show

August 28, 2010 at 11:48 pm By Jacob Alexander Filed Under Cars, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Honda have released images of the Jazz/Fit Hybrid. The company has now confirmed that the hybrid will be available for the European market and will be officially previewed at the upcoming Paris Motor Show.

The new hybrid will employ the same 1.3-litre i-VTEC SOHC aluminum alloy combustion engine and electric motor used in the Insight hybrid. Details are scarce, but the powertrain on its own develops 98 horses.

Outside the car will feature new headlights and revised taillights, while the front grille and bumper is treated to slight modification in design. The Honda Jazz/Fit hybrid will be in Japanese showrooms sometime in October, costing around 1.6 million yen.

This will be the cheapest hybrid Honda offers in Japan as the Insight weighs in at around 1.8 million yen, while the Toyota Prius starts at about 2.05 million yen.

Could the cheaper price tag warrant a jump to Malaysia? The Jazz here is in the odd position of being extremely expensive and an even more expensive hybrid Jazz might not be much cheaper than a Civic Hybrid.

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