Automobiles Review

Tag: electric vehicle

  • ELEXTRA team reveals plans for delivering next-gen electric engines

    2018 Elextra 45 SupercarElextra team is about to reveal a so-called revolutionary electric power unit that would produce large amounts of power output, but at the same time would remain compact and lightweight. Sounds cool, right?

    What engineers are trying to solve is the issue with a voluminous cooling system that usually accompanies the electric engine. ELEXTRA’s idea is to completely remove the need of such a system and find a way to make the engine cool itself. In fact, they have already built one and now it is a matter of time to showcase it to the world. In ELEXTRA’s own words, such a system has already got rid of the limitations of multiple cooling systems and gadgets.

    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar

    Furthermore, the team is about to enter a partnership with a German company for additional aid in constructing these units and installing them in exclusive vehicles. In fact, the engineering of the chassis and bodies of these vehicles will be done in Stuttgard. And just next to the city, a different manufacturer will be dealing with the rest of vehicle parts.

    SEE ALSO: Lexus teases the new 2019 UX machine. It looks as good as it sounds! [VIDEO]

    However, there are some unfortunate news – the first prototype is planned to leave the fabric in 2020. As we think about it, this is not so much time, but yet the wait is present. Hopefully, it will be worth it.

    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar

    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar

    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar
    2018 Elextra 45 Supercar

    Source: Elextra

  • Nissan LEAF Continues the Fight With the Climage Changes

    Nissan LEAF electric vehicleNissan LEAF electric vehicle happens to be one of the most successful in brand’s recent years. Something more, Nissan Motor Ltd. today celebrates the incredible amount of sold units in the UK: more than 10,000. Originally launched in 2011, Nissan LEAF electric vehicle showed that electricity and quality can go hand-to-hand, without any serious problems. Oh, well.. the vehicle itself looks amazingly ugly with its strangely placed headlights and the stupidly smiling low grille, that together form a retarded and un-sexy face, but we are here for the functionality, right? And the environmentally friendly ideas, incorporated in vehicles..right?

    SEE ALSO: Nissan LEAF Range Expands to Fight Global Climate Change

    Nissan LEAF continues the fight

    However, since the last year, the number of LEAF sales is increased greatly. Do you remember, when the Nissan team said they will fight the global climate change? It seems, that they not only took it seriously, but they have some incredible success. Only for the first half of 2015, Nissan sold about 2, 964 LEAF electric vehicle units only in the UK. This means three things: People get more and more aware of what is happening to the Earth’s climate; people try to do something about it and lastly, people will do something about it, even if it means to buy an ugly vehicle. This makes me a proud. Nissan LEAF electric vehicle

    I am proud that the Nissan LEAF has played such a major role in changing perceptions of EV ownership and I am even prouder that the UK is now the number one market for LEAF sales in Europe.

    And to expand even further the LEAF lineup, Nissan recently released Acenta+ model, which offers even wider list of goodies for its owners. There are numerous standard and additional features, as long with new trims. And as you know, Nissan is one of the most trustworthy vehicle manufacturer with more than 17,600 staff operations and about 675,000 units sold across UK, Spain and Russia. These numbers include compact vehicles, crossovers, SUVs, and of course electric vehicles like the LEAF, which is world’s most popular electric vehicle.

    2015 Nissan LEAF Acenta+
    2015 Nissan LEAF Acenta+
    2015 Nissan LEAF Acenta+
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF
    2015 Nissan LEAF

    Source: Nissan

  • Toyota Mirai Has Tasty Offerings For its Future Owners

    toyota miraiToyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is almost here and offers some wonderful energy consumption. In fact, the vehicle can drive a range of about 312 miles with a single fill of the hydrogen galloon. Future is here. Almost. Furthermore, the latest Mirai is the only zero emission electric vehicle, that will go for more than 300 miles with one fill. So, let’s check out some more details.

    Toyota Mirai and what it has to offer

    The Mirai is a four-door sedan, that offers a driving feel, completely different from what a combustion engine offers. You know, if you want experiences never felt before, you should do things, never done before. And Toyota team knows it perfectly. Now the Mirai consumes hydrogen, oxygen and fuel cell and emits only water vapor. Yes, we have already seen such technology, but we haven’t seen it work so well on a vehicle.

    SEE ALSO: Land Cruiser Will Come With New Engine And Additional Gadgets

    And there are even more goodies, that come with the Toyota Mirai. Along with the impressive driving experience, the vehicle also offers impressive ownership features. For example, you get three year’s worth of complimentary fuel; three years of 24/7 call support, Mirai Complimentary Rental Experience for seven days per year. Furthermore, ToyotaCare, which is a sort of a maintenance program, that also has a lot to offer.  For example, you will have no cost maintenance for three years, or 35, 000 miles; 8-year/100,000-mile warranty for the fuel cell unit, along with the FC stack, power control units, hybrid battery pack and ECU.

    toyota mirai

    As you can see, Toyota Mirai really has a lot of things to offer, and the best of all is, that the team encourages customers to try out and ask for all the included warranties and extras, that come with the vehicle. And the even better part is, that Toyota strictly follows the road to better economy, technology and quality. And with the creation of the electric vehicle, the brand will really  set new benchmark in the motorsport industry.

    Source: Toyota

  • Apple Becomes a Car Maker? Yes, First EV to be born in 2020

    What happens when the ultimate producer of top-class electronics decide to become a car maker? The future hits us before the proper time has come! That’s what happens. Now the technological giant Apple Inc. is planning to start a production of an electric car as early as 2020. Originally, a typical timeframe for automakers to create a brand-new car can vary from five to seven years.

    Apple’s goal to present the futuristic electric vehicle by 2020 has been set on the table and it demonstrates sufficient and unquestioned determination. After all it will tease and challenge Tesla, right? This is something that propels the company to work even harder on completing the mission. And maybe, just maybe, the billions and trillions of dollars will contribute a lot to the success of the technology-maker in this sector.

    This kind of unexpected foray into the automobile industry resembles the previous attempts of Apple to dig its way and break into other spheres. We all know that it wasn’t the pioneer that first made a highly efficient smartphone or a personal computer.

    What Apple did, though, was introducing a ground-breaking product which reformed our perceptions regarding these categories. So maybe even this time it will finish the project in a manner that will transform our vision about the fast-progressing automotive world, don’t you think?

    Source: fakti.bg

  • Nissan LEAF Owners to Charge Vehicle for Free in Chicago

    2015-Nissan-LEAF_651

    You may think that electric cars are too expensive while offering a limited driving range but they do come with numerous benefits – quiet operation, excellent acceleration, no harmful emissions and in some places even tax benefits. Now there’s one more reason to buy an electric vehicle, at least when it comes to Nissan – owners of Nissan LEAF cars will be allowed to charge their vehicles for free in Chicago, IL.

    The news comes from Nissan itself. Here’s the deal – by purchasing or leasing a new Nissan LEAF car you get the right to charge the vehicle for free for two years at public locations in Chicago. You must also get the car from a Chicago Nissan dealer. The promotion, called “No Charge to Charge” includes complimentary access to fast chargers that can charge a LEAF battery pack from zero to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.

    “Nissan LEAF is an attractive option for Chicago car buyers for a number of reasons, such as the available Illinois Alternative Fuels Rebate of up to USD 4,000 and significantly lower operating costs than a gas-powered car,” said Brendan Jones, director, Nissan Electric Vehicle Sales and Infrastructure Strategy. “Adding free public fast charging in Chicagoland gives Nissan LEAF an even greater competitive edge over other vehicles, regardless of their fuel source.”

    This is not everything – apart from being able to charge their Nissan LEAF at retail stores, tollway oases and other convenient Chicago locations, owners of LEAF cars will also have the benefit of enjoying free one-hour charging sessions at more than 140 level 2 (240V) charging stations.

    The Nissan “No Charge to Charge” promotion is also offered in other US cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Oregon, Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston and Washington, D.C. In the next year, Nissan plans to offer the “No Charge to Charge” program at LEAF dealers in at least 13 additional U.S. markets.

    “No Charge to Charge” is now available at Nissan LEAF dealers in the Chicago market. LEAF owners who purchased or leased their vehicle on or after November 1, 2014, in the Chicago market will receive entry into the “No Charge to Charge” program retroactively.

    Source: Nissan

  • Skoda Green E Line Development

    Skoda-Green-E-Line-thumbAt Skoda these days are busy developing their not yet ready for production “Green E Line” vehicles – a segment of electric cars based on the Octavia Estate. Right now, a fleet of ten E Lines is undergoing a phase where day to day conditions are recreated so see how the cars behave. The whole green thing is a part of Skoda’s plan to excel in the field of fuel efficiency. Other projects concerned with that often work to optimize the TDI and TSI drivetrains and also various transmissions.

    The gathered data will be of extreme value for fine-tuning to get the most out of the cars. Issues that concern potential customers can also be addressed – being extremely silent in traffic might be a disadvantage for example.

    The whole testing procedure comprises of three phases: the first and the second are ongoing now and deal with in-house (on the Prague airport to be more exact) trials and research of the car’s various systems. The third phase, set to begin in March this year, will put the fleet to the real test as the cars will go to different institutions other than Skoda Auto (government, educational institutions etc.) for further research and testing in real life conditions.

    Skoda Green E Line (Octavia based)
    Skoda Green E Line (Octavia based)

    Because of being based on the Octavia Estate, the Green E Line is ideal for harboring electric car components such as batteries, motors and electronic controllers. Power output stands at 85 kW and generous figure of 270 Nm. (because of being electric, torque tends to be always high and instantly available throughout the whole rev range). A zero to sixty time is said to be around 12 seconds and top speed is as high as 135 kph. On a single charge it is estimated that the E Line will go for 150 km which is more than enough to satisfy various European communities.

    Source: Skoda

  • Nissan LEAF Severe Weather Test [VIDEO]

    Nissan-LEAF-thumbWe have all been there: it’s minus 15 Celsius outside, snow chunks fall down on you like there’s no tomorrow and you can’t call anyone because your cellphone is dead. It wasn’t dead 3 minutes ago. In fact it had 2 lines of battery on the screen but now it’s  over because the reality of the situation is that weather does affect the efficiency of Li-ion batteries. It’s the same frightening story with electric vehicles – what if I run out of juice in the middle of nowhere? Well Nissan are painfully aware of this issue and have gathered members of the media and the public in northern Japan to demonstrate how the LEAF tackles cold weather with a few tricks up it’s sleeve.

    At 230 meters above see level in Shibetsu, Hokkaido the thermometers outside showed minus 9 Celsius. The LEAF was tested out on the snow covered tracks for a while and the battery temperature never dropped bellow 5 Celsius. Under more extreme conditions, like in Sweden or Norway, the LEAF‘s battery packs can be fitted with a warming system to preserve maximum capacity. Chief Vehicle Engineer Hidetoshi Kadota shared some tips with the 350 LEAF owners on how to get the most out of their EV’s. For example, pre-warming the cabin before taking a drive will greatly benefit range and efficiency.

    Motoring journalists however, seemed more interested on how the LEAF would handle on slippery surfaces such as the powdery track in Shibetsu. A pylon slalom was set up and for what might be a surprise for some, the LEAF coped pretty well. The car’s Vehicle Dynamic Control, which monitors driver input and vehicle function is sure to have helped. Also, because of the center of gravity, which is really low (the battery packs are under the cabin), one might argue that on that surface, the LEAF handled better than any other FF or FR car out there.

    Journalist and race driver Takayuki Kinoshita says LEAF proved it’s the one for the road:
    “I think EVs, like the LEAF, will expand in the future. If EVs can only be usable in certain limited conditions, they will not grow. But I was highly impressed by the key message here, that the LEAF can drive normally in hot or cold weather throughout the world.”

    Definitely a point for Nissan there.

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VGu0cfCuTM&feature=player_embedded

    2010 Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF
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    Nissan LEAF
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    Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF
    Nissan LEAF

  • Chevrolet Volt to conquer China in 2012

    Volt at Shanghai Port thumbThe first Chevrolet Volt has made its debut this month in China at the HaiTong Port in Shanghai. The car is part of a 10-vehicle General Motors demonstration fleet which is going to be presented in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai. All of the exhibited electric vehicles will give customers the chance to experience an industry-leading electric vehicle in daily use. Moreover GM will use information taken from the test drives and charging experience in order to understand better the application of electric vehicles in China. Therefore the company will provide consumers with hands on exposure to the extended range vehicle concept. This is very important step that GM will undertake to prepare for an expansion of offerings of vehicles powered by electricity. In addition GM will also work closely with government and industry officials. The aim is to help develop a public vehicle charging infrastructure.

    The award-winning Volt will be sold through thirteen especially selected dealerships in eight substantial cities in the country. To conquer one of the first global markets such as China, Volt provides drivers with no compromises in performance or driving range, having in mind that it is the first extended range electric vehicle. Moreover Volt provides up to 80 kilometers of electric driving. And then after battery consumption it can drive another 490 kilometers using an on-board engine generator! Therefore there will be no fear of being stranded by a spent battery. The car is the best electric vehicle solution for China nowadays, because it is not limited by range or a public charging. More importantly the Volt is also very economical to operate. For instance when it is charged during off-peak hours it costs less than one-tenth of the amount of driving on petrol vehicle alone.

    Volt models for retail sale, priced at RMB 498,000, will arrive in early 2012 at thirteen selected dealerships in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan.

    Chevrolet Volt at Shanghai Port
    Chevrolet Volt at Shanghai Port

    Source: General Motors

  • Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) at the IAA Frankfurt

    Toyota will exhibit the production version of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) at this year’s IAA Frankfurt on 15th September.

    The new Prius Plug-in Hybrid comes with more compact lithium-ion battery. It offers extended range and enables the Prius PHEV to achieve 128.4mpg and CO2 emissions of just 49g/km.

    The idea is simple – extended EV driving range for shorter destinations in town and efficient hybrid petrol engine for longer travelling. Still, the result of the new vehicle is just amazing, practically it is twice efficient than the normal Prius.

    The Prius Plug-in Hybrid represents the latest development of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) system. This trusted and reliable full hybrid technology has a track record earned through worldwide sales of over two million cars and billions of miles of driving.

    In 2012 it will join an expanded Toyota hybrid range consisting of the Prius, the British-built Auris hybrid, the new, seven-seat Prius+ and the new Yaris hybrid, demonstrating Toyota’s commitment to introduce Hybrid Synergy Drive technology to the wider market.

    Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle - PHEV
    Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle – PHEV
    Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle - PHEV
    Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle - PHEV

    Source: Toyota

  • Electric vehicle with I6 or V8 sound? Audi presents the solution

    Electric cars are virtually silent at speeds up to 25 km/h ( 15mph), because of that the risk to others is obvious. This is the reason, why Audi is working on the acoustics of the EVs.

    You will be able to choose between a sound of a six-cylinder engine, which according to us is the best or the silky smooth V8. The sounds of combustion engines are a constant of road traffic that everyone can associate with a car.

    “The obvious approach would be to work on the basis of the familiar sound of a combustion engine,” says Christian Schüller, Head of Brand Development/Corporate Identity. (more…)

  • LUXGEN7 MPV EV – Zero Emission 7-seater

    Luxgen are ready to introduce their MPV EV+, which is absolutely ECO-friendly. It is the wolrd’s first 7-passenger electric vehicle, which generates no carbon emissions and delivers clean power when comparing with other fuel technologies such as LPG and hybrid power.

    The vehicle is developed by R&D and AC Propulsion (ACP), a world-leading electric vehicle pioneer. Luxgen7 MPV EV is powered by 240hp and 265Nm of torque AC induction motor accelerating the vehicle from 0 to 62mph in 8.6 seconds and a top speed of 90mph.

    The lithium-ion battery packs can offer the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ over 200miles cruising range at a fixed speed of 25mp/h on a single charge. This means, that the electric van closed the performance and utility gap between an EV and a fossil fuel powered counterpart.

    Furthermore, the LUXGEN7 MPV EV+ features innovative technologies such as the power management and transformation center, PEU (power electronic unit), which integrates the induction motor, charger, battery management system, and the ability to convert kinetic energy into electricity via a regenerative braking system.

    The high performance lithium-ion battery pack, which provides a high endurance power supply for the entire vehicle through its modularized design, and could discharge excess electricity back into the power grid to balance electricity utilization during peak and off-peak times. The traction induction motor with its maximum power output of 180kW (approx. 240hp), offers LUXGEN 7MPV EV+ unprecedented driving enjoyment.

    The LUXEN7 MPV EV+ strikes an amazing EER performance which is 1.7 times higher than a hybrid and diesel vehicle, and 2 times higher than a gasoline-powered vehicle. Such efficient energy utilization places LUXGEN at the leadership position in offering the best eco-friendly transportation solutions.

    Recently, Luxgen have been creating more and more interesting vehicles at very reasonable prices. Hopefully, they will continue the tradition and bring great ideas and cars wolrdwide.

    LUXGEN7 MPV EV

    LUXGEN7 MPV EV

     

  • Toyota and EDF Energy will test Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Leasing Programme

    Toyota and EDF Energy today launch a three-year leasing programme, which brings extra-low emissions plug-in hybrid vehicle technology to the streets of London.

    Toyota Prius Plug-in will join the vehicle fleets of five businesses and public organisations, where they will demonstrate the fuel efficiency, low emissions, cost savings and everyday practicality their rechargeable hybrid power system can deliver. (more…)