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Toyota Motorsport EV P001 sets a new Nürburgring lap record for an electric vehicle: 7 mins 47.794 secs

September 5, 2011 at 2:15 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Toyota

Toyota Motorsport now holds the lap record for an electric vehicle at the Nürburgring. The German-based operation’s TMG EV P001 broke the old record by a convincing margin last week when the car, with a 100% electric powertrain and Jochen Krumbach at the wheel, covered the 20.8km Nordschleife in 7 mins 47.794 secs to best the existing time of 9 mins 1.338 secs.

The TMG EV P001 is based on a Radical chassis, modified by TMG for e-WOLF. With two EVO Electric motors, the vehicle has a 260 kph top speed. Combined with 800 Nm of torque, this allowed the car to achieve impressive speeds on the extremely challenging Nordschleife.

The company’s target prior to the record run was to become the first electric vehicle to break the eight-minute barrier, and this was achieved comfortably on a day when the notoriously changeable Nürburgring weather stayed fine, with relatively low track temperatures.

The new lap record was completed on road-legal tyres, using the complete track, and verified by independent lap timing. Spurred on by this achievement, TMG is looking to begin commercial sales of the technology in 2012

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Westfield iRACER – 260 hp, 660 Nm track-bound electric

August 25, 2011 at 11:34 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News


Click to enlarge.

This is the Westfield iRACER, a track focused electric vehicle set to take part in the EVCUP, the world’s first circuit racing series exclusively featuring zero-emission electric vehicles.

Designed and engineered from the ground up as a pure race car, the 3.6m long iRACER is a collaborative project between Westfield Sportscars and Niche Vehicle Network partners Potenza Technology, Delta Motorsport, RDM Automotive and Coventry University.

Styled by Elliot Hawkins from the Royal College of Arts, the 770 kg vehicle features rear-wheel drive and a 50:50 weight distribution, and is powered by two Oxford Yasa 60 kW motors direct driven to the rear wheels, with adjustable torque biasing control present and a 23 kWh lithium iron phospate battery in attendance.

The system offers the iRACER a 260 hp max output (with boost) and 660 Nm of torque. Performance specs for the vehicle, which can be configured as a single or two-seater, are a sub-five seconds 0-100 kph sprint time, a 185 kph top speed and around 25 minutes of race time.

The EVCUP is set to kick-off in the US in November, with two race events in California, the first at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on November 26 and the second at Auto Club Speedway on December 17, before a full series launch in 2012

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2012 Audi A8 Hybrid powered by 2.0L TFSI inline-4

August 25, 2011 at 2:20 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Audi, Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel

Audi will add a hybrid variant to its flagship Audi A8 for production 2012, using a hybrid drivetrain that mates Audi’s 2.0 litre TFSI engine to a disc-shaped electric motor.

The inline-4 turbo engine (modified for hybrid use) makes 211 PS and 350Nm of torque on its own, but with the help of the 40kW and 210Nm electric motor, the Audi A8 Hybrid makes a total combined output of 245 PS and 480Nm, which is less horsepower but more torque than the A8 3.0 TFSI’s 290hp and 420Nm supercharged V6.

The hybrid system’s disc-shaped motor basically replaces the Audi A8 automatic gearbox’s torque converter and sits in between the engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission. A multi-plate clutch that operates in an oil bath connects or disconnects the electric motor and the TFSI engine, and does so ultra-precisely and gently in all situations.

The electric motor is powered by a 36.7kg lithium-ion battery located in a crash-proofed area in the boot, providing 1.3 kWh of nominal energy and up to 40 kW of power. The battery is air-cooled two different ways depending on need. Air is either blown from the passenger compartment by a fan or via a separate cooling circuit coupled to the automatic air conditioning system. The electric motor itself and the control electronics are water cooled.

According to the provisional figures generated by early-stage tests, the 2012 Audi A8 Hybrid will be able to reach 100km/h in 7.7 seconds and continue to a top speed of 235km/h while consuming less than 6.42 litres per 100km in the EU combined cycle test, along with CO2 emissions of less than 148 g/km.

The hybrid luxury sedan will be able to hit 100km/h on electric power alone, and can cruise on electric power for up to 3km at a constant 60km/h. The driver can choose between three modes – an EV mode which tries to run on electric power as often as possible, a D option which allows the car to automatically choose when to use what power source, and an S mode which emphasizes on the best possible acceleration.

Of course, if the fact that your A8 Hybrid can silently roll into a hotel lobby with nary a sound isn’t enough to let people know you’re not driving any regular A8, Audi has also given the A8 Hybrid some unique identification externally – turbine blade 18 or 19 inch wheels, hybrid badging and an exclusive Arctic Silver paint.

You know what’s the most interesting thing about this A8 Hybrid in Malaysian context? Because the internal combustion engine component of the hybrid system has an engine displacement of less than 2,000cc – it actually fulfills the engine displacement rule of hybrid car tax exemptions in Malaysia! BMW and Mercedes-Benz have hybrid cars but the electric motors are all paired with giant engines. This is sort of the first German hybrid luxury sedan with an engine size that actually makes sense.

Wonder if Euromobil will use this to their advantage and bring the Audi A8 Hybrid in. In terms of luxury brands, Porsche already has the Cayenne Hybrid and customers are paying full tax on that as it doesn’t qualify for exemptions. Lexus has three hybrid cars for sale and only one – the CT 200h – qualifies for the tax exemption.

But then again bear in mind the tax exemptions are due to expire by the end of this year and there has been no word from the government so far on whether the exemptions will be extended.

Look after the jump for some photos of the new A8 Hybrid.
[Read more...]

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Nissan LEAF now able to supply electricity to homes

August 4, 2011 at 11:08 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Nissan

Nissan has unveiled a new power supply system that enables electricity to be supplied to homes from the lithium-ion batteries installed in its LEAF electric vehicle. The new system was unveiled at Kan-kan-kyo, a house built by Japanese firm Sekisui House and located in front of the Nissan Global Headquarters in Yokohama.

The Power Control System, as it’s called, is a sinusoidal PWM system with a 6kW rating, and runs on a 200 volt single-phase. three-wire configuration. Through it, electricity stored in the LEAF can be supplied to a house by connecting the car to the house’s electricity distribution panel using a connector linked to the LEAF’s quick charging port. The connector complies with the CHAdeMO Association’s protocol for quick chargers, which are adopted globally.

As such, the LEAF can be used as an electricity storage device for houses in preparation for power outages and/or shortages. The lithium-ion batteries can store up to 24 kWh of electricity, sufficient to power an average Japanese household for about two days.

The system, the company says, will allow households to be supplied with a stable amount of electricity throughout the day, and charge and store electricity back in the car with electricity generated at night or through methods such as solar power. The PCS allows both electricity supply to be drawn from the vehicle as well as for the charging of the vehicle.

Current LEAF owners will also be able to use the system, though there is a need for some adaptation to be carried out. The company aims to commercialise the system somtime later this year.

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Mitsubishi i-MiEV – two new trim levels, extended range

July 7, 2011 at 2:44 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Mitsubishi

In Japan, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced that its i-MiEV electric vehicle is now available in two trim variant levels, these being the entry-level M and higher-spec G.

Both versions are powered by a similar Y4F1 motor drive system but differ in their max outputs – the M offers 30kW, or 41 PS, while the G has 47 kW, or 64 PS – and battery rated capacities, in this case 10.5 kWh for the M and 16 kWh for the G. As a result, the cruising range per charge also differs, with the M offering 120 km of travel and the G, 180 km. In the case of the latter, this is a 20% improvement over the original i-MiEV.

Besides the extended cruising range, the G version will be equipped with more comprehensive equipment and a higher trim specification. It will feature LED headlamps and rear combination lamps, 15-inch alloy road wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel/shifter knob, a 7-inch navigation system and heated seats (driver and front passenger) as standard, all thrown in at a price lower than that of the original i-MiEV.

There’s also a factory-fitted option called MiEV Remote System for the variant, which allows the owner to set the time he wants battery charging to start and finish and to pre-activate the climate control system before entering the car.

In terms of charge times, with a 200V AC current, the M can be fully charged in 4.5 hours, while the G takes seven hours, and on quick charge (to 80% capacity) it takes just 15 minutes for the M, and double that duration for the G.

The cruising range per charge has been extended by linking brake pedal usage to the regenerative braking system, while Active Stability Control (ASC) is now fitted as standard. The M model makes its domestic debut on July 25, while the G arrives in August, with seven body colours available for the two trim level variants.

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Suzuki to debut Swift-based plug-in hybrid in 2013

June 13, 2011 at 2:32 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Suzuki

Looks like the Suzuki Swift will be going electric – the Nikkei reports that the automaker is set to introduce a home-rechargeable plug-in hybrid version of the hatchback sometime in 2013.

The vehicle, which will be a remodeled version of the Swift, will have a lithium-ion battery – offering it a 30 km range on a full charge – as well as a petrol engine, the displacement of which wasn’t mentioned in the report.

The hybrid is likely to cost 500,000 yen higher than the gas-powered Swift, but its pricing will not exceed 2 million yen. While initial deployment will be for the domestic market, the company is looking at exporting the model as it goes along.

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Volvo C30 Electric production begins – first deliveries to leasing customers start in August

June 9, 2011 at 7:26 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Volvo

Volvo has begun production of its C30 Electric, and initial deliveries to leasing customers, mainly companies, authorities and governmental bodies is expected to begin from August.

The car, which will be delivered to leasing customers throughout Europe including those in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway – is built on the regular assembly line in the Ghent factory and then transported to Goteborg for installation of the motor, batteries and other model specific electronics.

The C30 Electric has an operating range of up to 150 kilometres per full charge – charging can be done via a regular household power socket, with a full recharge taking about seven hours. The car has a 130 kph top speed and does the 0-100 kph sprint in 10.9 seconds.

Tests on a fleet of about 50 cars have been conducted since September 2010, mainly internally at the Volvo Car Corporation. In terms of production, about 250 cars will be built by end 2012, possibly more if market interest takes off, the company says.

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New Chinese-Vietnamese JV to build low-cost EVs

June 9, 2011 at 11:56 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

With electric vehicles being the next big thing, seems that everyone and their uncle wants in on the genre, and the idea of making them mucho affordable in a region like Southeast Asia promises the sound of a cash register going off continuously, big time.

It looks like the Chinese can clearly hear those bells – the Nikkei reports that Chinese business owners are set to form a joint venture with a Vietnamese trading firm to make low-cost electric vehicles in northern Vietnam, at an estimated initial cost of US$50 million. Chinese businessman Zeng Fanyu and other company owners will have a 90% stake in the venture, with a Vietnamese trading company holding the remaining 10%.

The new company, which would be the first electric vehicle maker in Southeast Asia, recently started laying the groundwork for a factory in a special economic zone in Lang Son province in the country – the plant is slated for completion by the end of this year, with a view to being operational in 2012. In the meantime, the JV has started building a distribution network in southern China and northern Vietnam, and plans to procure components, materials, assembly line facilities and machine tools from electric vehicle ventures in China.

The report adds that the company will take advantage of cheap local labour to build two- to seven-seaters that will sell for an average price of 200 million dong (RM30,000), and supply these low-cost EVs to China and three countries in Southeast Asia. The countries were unnamed in the report.

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In the future, cars to be a power source for the home?

June 8, 2011 at 12:51 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Technology

Over in Japan, automakers are looking at turning electric and hybrid vehicles into external power sources for the home, aiming to turn them into a type of rolling battery, the Nikkei reports. The push has been strengthened by such assistance provided by these green cars, which helped supply emergency power in areas during the March earthquake that hit Japan, the report says.

Nissan says that electric vehicles can be used as storage batteries and supplementary power sources, and the company is working to equip its Leaf EV with the ability to feed power into homes. The car can for example be used as an emergency power source during a power outage, utilising the electricity stored in its battery overnight to be used in the house during the day. Fully charged, the Leaf’s 24 kwh lithium-ion battery can power the average house for about two days.

Mitsubishi Motors, meanwhile, plans to market an optional device that will enable its EVs to supply electricity to rice cookers and other home appliances. It plans to make the device compatible with all its eco-friendly vehicles, including the i-MiEV and eight new EV and plug-in hybrids it is planning to introduce over the next five years.

And Toyota is mulling over the inclusion of a power supply function on its future eco cars, including the Prius hybrid and the upcoming plug-in hybrid it is launching next year. Conversely, there’s already a home battery system – the Smart Energy Veus – that can be used to power a Prius, with some conversion work.

Elsewhere, Honda and the city of Saitama have embarked on the E-KIZUNA Project, and as part of this will construct a house to test its Honda Smart Home System, which will feature electricity generated from solar panels, storing the power in an EV and using it in combination with electricity supplied off the grid. It will also explore the system’s potential to independently produce electricity for the household in the event of a disaster.

There’s still a fair way to go before such practice becomes the norm – utilising electricity from EVs and hybrids to power homes will require utilities to modify their power lines, and new legislation concerning electrical equipment will also be required.

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Nissan Leaf set to take on Pikes Peak

June 8, 2011 at 12:06 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Nissan

More adventures for the Nissan Leaf, this time going up a hill. In this case, no less than Pikes Peak – the Leaf is set to challenge convention further this June 26 when it competes in the 89th version of the international hill climb, with veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord at the wheel.

The Leaf is set to compete in the Production Class for electric vehicles and, other than the removal of some interior parts like seats and carpets to make room for safety equipment (such as a roll cage, racing seats and safety harnesses), the Pikes Peak Leaf will be very close to the way it left the factory.

The car will be powered by, like every Leaf, a lithium-ion battery composed of 48 compact modules and a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor offering 107 hp and 280 Nm of torque. Undoubtedly, the Pikes Peak car will certainly be dressed up for the occasion, but will it look anything like the purpose-built Leaf Nismo RC race car (pictured above), which is set to do two demo runs at the Le Mans Vers Le Futur support event at this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, one wonders.

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