Electric Car Blogging

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Solar, Nissan, Paris Motor Show

We’ve finally got pics of the Nissan Nuvu concept and its, um, interesting. Sporting a very bulbous shape with bug-eye head lights, the Nuvu couldn’t be anything buy a concept. As Nissan promised, there are leaf-shaped solar panels on the roof, integrated into the glass. Also well-integrated are the rear tail lamps, which sit inside a rear window to make for a very airy-looking cockpit. Perhaps to gain some structural integrity, there is a single pillar inside the passenger compartment (Nissan calls it a ‘tree trunk’) leading to that glass-top ceiling. Speaking of which, that’s one ultra clean and futuristic-looking instrument panel, along with a steering wheel that looks like it could come from Nintendo. Perfect for the current crop of kids who grew up with such things.

The powertrain is electric, but Nissan’s not letting too many details of its specs out just yet. We know the motor sits at the rear and drives the rear wheels, and the battery is lithium ion. Nissan says it can hit about 75 miles per hour and travel up to about 80 miles on a charge. The real story, according to the automaker, is that city drivers spend 99-percent of their time with no more than two passengers, so the Nuvu seats three. Expect some of less far-out stuff make it into a future production EV in a year or two. Read the full press release after the break.

[Source: Autoblog]

Continue reading Paris 2008: Nissan Nuvu in the flesh

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Renault, Paris Motor Show

Renault has rolled out a new concept in Paris today that gives a preview of what we might expect when Project Better Place kicks off in a couple of years. The Z.E. Concept is based on the Kangoo Be Bop that is also debuting at the Paris Show. The Z.E. Concept however is propelled purely by electrons coming from a lithium ion battery pack. The front wheels get torque from a 70 kW (94 hp) electric motor. So far, Renault hasn’t revealed the size of the battery pack or what sort range it can provide. Renault has made a major effort to reduce parasitic losses throughout the Z.E. in order to get the most out of the battery. Electrical requirements are reduced by using LEDs for the headlights. Aerodynamic losses were cut by replacing the outside mirrors with small cameras and the draw of the climate control system has been severely cut. The outside of the car is coated in a heat reflecting paint and body panels are insulated. The actual management of interior temperatures has also benefited from efficiency efforts. The ambient interior temperature is maintained at 59 degrees F but warm air is directed at the head, hands and feet as those extremities are where people tend to feel the variations in temperature the most. By focusing the temperature regulated in those places the total climate control load is reduced. There are videos and a press release after the jump.

Continue reading Paris 2008: Renault Z.E. concept

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USA

When you hear the brand “Go-Ped” mentioned it may bring to mind a cool stand-up scooter with a tiny buzzy two-stroke engine powering the rear wheel and that is indeed the type of vehicle that Patmont Motor Werx has been best known for these past 24 years. However, since 2004 they have been producing electric versions of their minimalist transporters that take full advantage of the Go-Ped platform with its unique Cantilevered Independent Dynamic Linkless Indespension (C.I.D.L.I.) suspension system. Although the range of 12 miles with lead-acid batteries is good enough to make some of us at ABG wish one would magically appear in his garage (Mom?), the company has just added a lithium ion battery option that makes they scooters lighter and go much farther.

How much lighter and how much farther? Well, with the 4 li-ion pack option you can get up to 28 miles in economy mode which makes the machine weigh in at 48 lbs. (The lead acid version is 67 lbs.) That’s far enough to get most people to work or school and light enough to fold and carry up a flight of stairs if you have to. Top speed is 20 mph and this baby can climb some hills. If you don’t like standing on your scooter there is a seat available, as well as a basket. For bigger loads they even have a “Go-Wagon” available. Unfortunately, they don’t give them away for free and this made-in-America scooter runs between ,006.88 and ,998 depending on the model and battery option. While not cheap, hopefully they prove the adage, “You get what you pay for.” Bonus video after the break.

[Source: Go-Ped]

Continue reading Go-Ped goes farther with lithium ion battery option

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Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Lexus

Toyota has finally confirmed what’s been rumored for months, that a new hybrid is coming for its upmarket Lexus brand based on the underpinnings of the Toyota Prius. The Prius itself is about to undergo a major reworking, as the third-generation of the iconic hybrid will debut in January at the Detroit Auto Show. According to Lexus officials, the Prius-based Lexus will go on sale in Europe for 2010, and we’re guessing the U.S. will get that model too. A second dedicated hybrid model will reportedly also join the Lexus ranks and be larger than the Prius-based car. We don’t have too many details yet on either of these new Lexuses, except that they will be more performance-oriented than their Prius sibling. A high-luxe Prius, as long as it doesn’t get too pricey, may be just what the doctor ordered for the struggling Lexus brand.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Paris Motor Show, Audi

Audi’s parent company Volkswagen already produces some of the cleanest-burning, most fuel-miserly diesel engines in the world. The Jetta TDI was recently released in the U.S. and has been making waves for its hybrid-like efficiency. So it’s natural that Audi would want to show off its green credentials with a new diesel sedan of its own, and it has done so with the A4 TDI concept e, introduced at the Paris Motor Show. Based on the brand-new A4 platform, the new concept gets a 2.0L four-cylinder common-rail direct-inject turbodiesel derived from the unit powering the Jetta TDI. That mill sees tweaks to its valvetrain and cooling systems, lowering its power output a bit to 120-horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque, but increasing its fuel efficiency a great deal.

Added to the powertrain is a start/stop system that keeps the engine from idling when not needed and regenerative braking, which charges a secondary battery that keeps all your goodies running while the engine’s off. The engine has also had its efficiency-robbing power steering pump removed and the rear brakes are now electrically actuated as well. All of this, plus many other small details, adds up to a remarkable 59 miles per U.S. gallon in EU combined testing! Its 10.5 second run to 60 won’t win any drag races, but considering the cost of fuel and pending eco-legislation in the world’s largest markets, we’d imagine that the technologies on this car will go from concept to production in short order.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Paris 2008: Audi unveils 59-mpg A4 TDI concept e

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Paris Motor Show, Nissan

Nissan wants to reshape the way we make our way around Gotham, and the Nuvu concept is a means to that greener end. Built atop a new platform measuring around three meters long and featuring an electric drivetrain, Nissan claims that the 2+1 concept is the perfect city car for a better tomorrow.

While the bulbous roofline, squat overhangs and oh-so-cheeky leaf-shaped solar panels (leading into a “trunk” to supply power to the batteries) may be a bit over the top, expect to see some of the styling cues make their way to the revised Note in the next decade, along with Nissan’s production EV that’s supposedly hitting Japan and the U.S. in 2010.

Make the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Paris 2008: Nissan Nuvu EV

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Paris Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Honda

The Honda Insight concept took a hushed bow under the lights of Paris today. It’s Prius-esque, but in person the car is less evocative of its Toyota challenger. The Insight’s width and rather low height give it a substantial presence, and there’s a bit of attitude out back with the hatch sliding into a flick of a tail. We imagine some of the more complex elements, such as the headlights reminiscent of shards from Superman’s home planet of Krypton, will not make it to production. We hope the interior, however, is left untouched — it is just the right blend of tech and common currency. The production version will be introduced to the public at the Detroit Auto Show in January and pricing is rumored to be just under ,000 when it goes on sale. In the mean time, enjoy the gallery of high-res photos below, and check out the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Paris 2008: Honda Insight LIVE REVEAL

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Filed under: Concept Cars, Hybrids/Alternative, Paris Motor Show, Hatchbacks, Audi

It’s hard to do battle with MINI in the premium compact segment. The Cooper and its derivatives bring style and nostalgia to the game, proving that consumers are okay with spending some hard-earned scratch on an iconic coupe.

The Audi A1 Sportback - designed to fill the slot left by the discontinued A2 - lacks the MINI’s wistful sensibilities, but it comes packing an extra set of doors, four usable seats, some handsome sheetmetal and an multimedia interface that ties in with the driver’s mobile phone to provide navigation, music and an internet connection. Oh, and it can make calls too.

A 1.4-liter TSI engine equipped with both a turbo and supercharger puts out 150 hp to the front wheels through Audi’s S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox, and a 27 hp (and 111 lb.-ft.) electric motor drawing power from a lithium-ion battery pack can motivate the A1 in start-and-stop traffic. Look for the production A1 to debut early next year, with sales beginning in late 2009.

All the details are in the press release below the fold and check out both our gallery of live images and press shots below.

Continue reading Paris 2008: Audi A1 Sportback

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