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Fuel cell prices expected to drop considerably, says Daimler

January 31, 2011 at 10:38 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Mercedes Benz

According to a report, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler predicts that the cost of EV batteries and fuel cell cars will drop significantly in the next few years, especially for the latter, paving the way for closer parity against conventional offerings.

The company’s e-drive and future mobility boss Herbert Kohler said that while a few years ago, the price was at about 1,500 euros per kilowatt hour for a lithium ion battery, the price should drop to around 400 euros in the midterm, according to the ANE report.

He added that the expectations are for an even bigger price decrease for fuel cells, with the belief that EVs could be more expensive than fuel cells in less than five years. By 2015, the company beleives that a fuel cell car won’t cost more than a four-cylinder diesel hybrid meeting the Euro 6 emissions standard, according to Kohler.

The company has already been doing running trials on a fleet of its B-class fuel cells cars, with the second-generation of the form based on its new MFA front-wheel drive architecture expected – along with its A-class sibling – around 2013 or 2014, and is aggressively pursuing a target of getting 1,000 fuel cell mules on the road in the next three years.

Kohler added he expected that there would be a network of 1,000 fuel-stations in Germany alone by mid-term, effectively having a fueling-station for a fuel cell vehicle within an every 30 km distance.

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Audi to debut Auto Union Type C prototype at toy fair – and does anyone fancy a sleek Audi foosball table?

January 27, 2011 at 1:14 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Audi, Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Alright, so the Auto Union bit would have been a giveaway, as would have the toy fair debut. The debutant in question is an all-electric, 1:2 scale version of the 1936 Auto Union Type C Grand Prix car, Audi’s latest e-tron concept study.

The electrically-propelled reworking of the ’30s racing classic will make its debut at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg next month. It’s a half-size model, based on the limited edition pedal car.

In partnership with a lithium-ion battery, the electric motor on this one – which drives the rear wheels – develops a staggering 1.5 hp as well as up to 60 Nm of torque for short periods, and the car has a whopping top speed of 30 kph.

Not quite the sprightliest Audi ever made, but it can cover up to 24 km on just two hours of battery charge time from a standard 230V household socket. Oh, and the Type C prototype is also equipped with a reverse gear.

The body is hand-finished, and is made from aluminium and carbon-effect material, and at 2.32 m long and 97 cm wide, it’s just 1.12m shorter than the A1, which makes it suitable for children and adults up to 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) tall. Unfortunately, the company has no plans for series production with this one.

Elsewhere, if foosball is more your thing, then the Audi Design table football table, which also goes on show in Nuremberg, looks like the perfect spot. Besides the sleek styling, features include a high-quality finish in aluminium and high-strength plastic.

Only 20 tables will be built initially, and this one can be bought, and though you’ll have to part with RM62,600 for one, it’s surely a small price to pay for an Audi …

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BMW and Brilliance to develop 5-Series based EV

January 24, 2011 at 12:50 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, China, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel

BMW and its Chinese JV partner Brilliance China Automotive Holdings have agreed to team up to develop an electric vehicle for the Chinese market based on the platform of the BMW 5-Series, and a concept version of the new large EV will be displayed at one of the big auto shows in China this year.

There are no further details yet as of now, and BMW’s own EV efforts has so far been contained to smaller vehicles like the MINI EV, with its large vehicles mostly using hybrid technology instead of a pure EV solution. Brilliance has also dabbled with EVs in the past – shown in this story are two EV concepts that Brilliance has exhibited in the past in its own capacity without anything to do with BMW. We also don’t know for sure if the new BMW 5-Series based EV will be sold as a BMW or as a separate brand.

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Tesla to introduce Tesla Model X SUV later this year

January 22, 2011 at 8:02 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Tesla Model S

Tesla’s model portfolio will be expanded with the addition of a third electric vehicle called the Tesla Model X, which will be an SUV. The Model X joins the existing Tesla Roadster as well as the yet to be released Tesla Model S sedan, which is itself still about 2 years from production.

The Tesla Model X SUV will be revealed later this year, and CEO Elon Musk promises it will be way “cooler” than any SUV or minivan. It only makes sense to sell an SUV model alongside the Model S sedan as it would be quite easy to develop a crossover SUV body on a sedan’s platform, and Americans as you know are mad about the SUV bodystyle.

Why hasn’t anyone hasn’t put the Lotus APX into production as some kind of EV SUV yet?

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Lexus CT 200h – RM168,000 OTR, without insurance!

January 19, 2011 at 8:29 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Lexus, Local News

If you’ve been thinking of owning a new Lexus for under 200 grand, well, here’s some cheery news. The soon-to-arrive Lexus CT 200h hybrid will go for just RM168,000, on the road without insurance, according to the Lexus Malaysia website, which has put up the pricing for the hatchback. That’s for the standard CT 200h, with a Luxury version slated to pop in as well at RM196,500, also OTR without insurance.

The vehicle – in either guise – is powered by the same powertrain combination as found on the ZVW30 Prius: the 2ZR-FXE 1.8 litre Atkinson cycle petrol block – which develops 98 hp at 5,200 rpm and 142 Nm at 4,000 rpm – and permanent magnet synchronous motor/168-cell NiMh electric drivetrain, which offers 80 hp and 207 Nm, together offering a combined total output of 134 hp.

Specifications-wise, common to the two CT 200h variants coming into Malaysia are perforated leather seats (with seat heaters), dual-zone air conditioning, cruise control as well as a six-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system for the basic and a 10-speaker one for the Luxury model, among other things.

There’s also the usual host of safety assist kit, these being ABS, BA, VSC, TRC and EBD, along with eight airbags and rear seat Isofix points, and the car will come wearing 16-inch wheels with 205/55 series tyres.

In what might be an effort to get the price to where it’s at, there’s a bit of fare that’s been omitted in the stock CT 200h – the headlamps are halogen units (the Luxury gets LED lamps), and the driver and passenger seat adjustment is of the manual variety (the driver’s seat on the Luxury is powered).

Elsewhere, there’s no smart entry, Electro Multi Vision (EMV) screen, rain sensing wipers or rear reverse camera on the basic CT 200h, all of which are of course to be found on the Luxury variant, and the additional RM28,500 for the latter also bags you a Lexus navigation system and remote touch controller on top of the above items.

Nonetheless, it’s an achievement, a Lexus for that price in its standard guise. More when the car is launched, undoubtedly, but one can sense some hamsters running already.

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Plans afoot to turbocharge the ailing Honda CR-Z?

January 18, 2011 at 1:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Honda, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News


Click to enlarge

According to a report, it seems Honda is in the midst of doing something bold to help resurrect its ailing CR-Z, which seems to be doing, to put it mildly, not too well in terms of domestic sales – the company, it seems, is planning to go the forced induction route with the coupe.

Autocar says that Japanese sources have intimated that the car is likely to be given a shot in the arm in the form of a 1.6 litre turbocharged pot, in two output forms, 160 hp and 200 hp. Right now, it’s only available as a hybrid, in a 1.5 litre petrol engine and 14 hp electric motor combination, which of course doesn’t sound very sexy, even if it’s doing its bit to save the planet.

Now, the vehicle you see above isn’t the claimed car, but is actually the TS-1X that made its debut at the recent Tokyo Auto Salon over the weekend. It’s a test study model based on the CR-Z, developed by Honda Access Corporation, a subsidiary specialising in genuine Honda aftermarket parts and accessories.

The front’s been reworked, with plenty of extensions elsewhere, and the car’s been slapped with a healthy dollop of matte black paint. Sure, it’s a test bed study, but mayhaps also provides some intimations of what is to be? You never know.

Supposedly, it’s speculated that the souped-up CR-Z might come about as a production-ready model by the time the Tokyo Motor Show arrives towards the end of this year. Oh well, if it saves the day, then it can’t be such a bad move. Strike one on the car’s first attempt, as well as against the go green brigade …

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Sunswift IVy – the fastest solar-only car in the world!

January 14, 2011 at 11:14 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

This is the Sunswift IVy, and it just recently broke the Guiness world land speed record for solar-powered vehicles on January 7, beating GM’s Sunraycer to the top spot. GM’s Sunraycer previously clocked 78 kph back in 1988 using 1,500 watts of solar power, while the Sunswift IVy managed to hit 88 kph using just 1,050 watts.

The IVy is shaped like an airplane wing, which is basically the shape of a teardrop, which is the most efficient aerodynamic shape for minimizing drag. The IVy’s shape is designed for minimum lift and minimum drag. Hard to imagine, but it can fit one very small person.

Its footprint is about the same size of an average sedan but it’s only half the height and 10% of the weight of an average car. It’s powered solely by solar energy, and by calculations, the Sunswift IVy should technically have been able to achieve 115 kph at peak power (Sunswift says equivalent to what’s needed to toast two slices of bread) and an estimated average speed of 85 kph. However, during the test day, the clouds didn’t allow peak energy to be reached.

Its chassis is monocoque and made of carbon fibre, while the suspension uses a double wishbone at the front and a trailing arm at the rear. Steering is rack and pinion. It uses only three carbon fibre wheels, wrapped with Dunlop Solarma tyres. Solar power charges a lithium polymer battery weighing about 24.75 kg, which in turn powers a brushless CSIRO three-phase 1,800 watt 98% efficiency DC motor.

The whole program cost about US$280,000 and took 18 months to complete. Look after the jump for a couple more photos of the IVy.
[Read more...]

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Swigz electric superbike makes sensational racing debut

January 14, 2011 at 12:53 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Bikes, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

The Swigz Racing all-electric superbike has made history in its global racing debut, powering to two podium spots in two races at the Auto Club Speedway in California last weekend.

Despite only six laps of pre-race testing from Saturday’s practice session and a cold and overcast day, the privately owned and developed machine managed to live up to its promise to match gasoline-powered bike lap times on Sunday.

Swigz Racing owner and bike rider Chip Yates achieved third place in the premier WERA Heavyweight Twins Superbike race, having started on the third row of the grid, and unbelievably went one better in the WERA Heavyweight Twins Superstock race to finish second and post the fastest lap of the race at a 1:39.792. The bike was recorded at 254 kph on the straight.

“This was an absolutely epic race weekend for our team; we had to overcome some technical difficulties on Saturday but we fixed everything and came back Sunday to score two podiums, a huge top speed, and post competitive gasoline bike lap times with no further technical issues to slow us down,” Yates said.

“We are a small and entirely self-funded team, and together with a small group of very loyal sponsors, are solely responsible for the development, patenting and building of this superbike. What a humbling experience for our small team to develop and build a machine that can beat gasoline bikes from the top manufacturers on their own terms – I was nearly brought to tears as I crossed the finish line both times!”

No more calling an electric bike a wuss, at least not this one.

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Mercedes-Benz confirms SLS AMG E-Cell series production

January 12, 2011 at 10:48 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News, Mercedes Benz

Just about everything is going down the electric path, commercially speaking – the next up to bat is the SLS AMG E-Cell. Mercedes-Benz confirmed in Detroit that it would be putting the car into series production, though it’ll be a little while before the car hits the showrooms – it’s due out only in 2013.

The battery-electric drive super sports car, powered by an electric motor at each wheel and a 400-volt, 48 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, develops 526 hp and 880 Nm of torque, and does the 0-100 kph sprint in 4.0 secs, not far off the petrol 563 hp V8 SLS’ 3.7 secs.

Among the changes from the petrol variant, besides the power and drive trains, are improved aerodynamics and a multi-link suspension with push-rod dampers in place of the double wishbones of the former, due to space constraints brought about by the motors.

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Johnson Controls ie:3 – showing off tomorrow’s tech today

January 11, 2011 at 10:43 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Concept Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, International News

Detroit isn’t just about new cars – there’s plenty of working-in-the-background technology as well as future ideas and solutions to be found, though many a time they’re presented in such an unglamorous manner they tend to be easily overlooked.

So it’s nice to see something like Johnson Controls’ ie:3 concept vehicle, which was unveiled at the NAIAS. The ie:3 is a mockup of a fully electric vehicle based on a small car segment platform, and the automotive supplier is using it to showcase a host of interior (telematics, storage, fabrics) and battery-based solutions for the coming future. It’s a great way to get noticed, and a great way to show off the tech.

Primarily, the ie:3 is the chosen platform to debut Johnson Controls-Saft’s next-generation, low-profile lithium-ion battery pack, a unique, self-contained system that’s integrated easily into the vehicle in a small space under the floor as a complete system, enabling a target 160 km range per charge. The new prismatic format cell achieves greater packaging efficiency and uses less space in the vehicle.

The improved spaciousness enabled by the packaging of the battery offers designers and engineers a flat floor that provides additional options to enhance overall flexibility in the vehicle.

For example, the ie:3 features stadium seating – deployed in the front row, it offers enough space to stow a suitcase, and the rear seats easily fold flat to the floor, creating even more storage options. A center console is spacious enough to accommodate a large handbag. The seat pads are made from natural fibers that are easier to recycle.

Elsewhere, there’s an innovative and alternative lightweight sound system – this one features a headliner with an integrated six transducer audio system, freeing up storage space on the door panels.

The ‘car’ also showcases unique LED lighting that enhances the overall interior ambience, as well as a comprehensive driver information system featuring a 6.5-inch “transflective” cluster display – which improves visibility even with the glare of sunlight – and a transparent, integrated heads up display.

Also on the ie:3: a wireless charging system called E-Bin located in the centre console, which allows for the recharging of handphones and other electronic gadgets.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

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