Venturi
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Antartica’s only EV had to be redesigned because of climate change
The only EV operating in Antarctica needed an upgrade because of climate change — it's just too warm.
Venturi announces 300HP, €300K America all-terrain EV, coming in 2014
If you feel the need to rapidly hit the great outdoors without despoiling it, Venturi just may have your ride -- provided you have about $400,000 to spare. The company just launched the America EV at the Paris Auto Show, packing a 300HP powerplant, 53 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and projected 200 mile range to go along with the breathtaking price tag. Venturi's touting the car as more than just a smooth pavement flyer though, saying that it has a go-anywhere attitude with its high stance, generous clearance and tough carbon-fiber chassis. Still, if you want to go fast, the car can hit a top speed of 120 mph, and once you've burned off all the volts, can be fast charged in four hours, or ten from a 230V socket. Despite its off-road gumption, the rear-driver has considerable competition for sports EV dollars -- and a smooth road to its 2014 availability target is no given.
OSU Buckeye Bullet 2 sets new battery-powered speed record
Ohio State's Buckeye Bullet 2 has just set a new battery-powered vehicle record after hitting a speed of 291 mph averaged over two separate runs done back-to-back in opposite directions. Yes, it's technically slower than the two-way land speed record of 300.992 mph the original Bullet set back in 2009, but that car was powered by hydrogen fuel cells. This year's model instead was developed in partnership with boutique Monaco-based electric car manufacturer Venturi and replaced the fuel cells with lithium-ion batteries from A123 Systems. It's also apparently a testing prototype for a new car that's coming in 2011. Will that car hit these kind of world record speeds? Probably not, but we're not letting that dash our newly formed geek fantasy of seeing it drag against a Tesla.
Michelin's e-wheel eliminates gearboxes, drive shaft, and really boss rims
Electric car development is prompting a rethink in virtually every aspect of the automobile, from the size of the vehicle to the number of wheels and beyond. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the newest collab between Valeo and Michelin. The companies have agreed to collaborate on "electric and rechargeable hybrid vehicle systems such as the drive train, engine and battery cooling management, climate control, lighting, energy management and tires," beginning with the e-wheel. Using Michelin's Active Wheel Technology, this new device puts two electric wheels inside the hub -- one for motive power, one for active suspension -- a design that negates the need for gearboxes, drive shafts, and conventional suspension assemblies. The design has previously been tested in the Venturi Volage concept car, and the companies are currently looking to get involved with a mass-market auto maker to take this project to the next level. So if you're a large auto maker, give these guys a call -- and tell 'em Engadget sent you. Another image after the break.
Venturi intros CREW vn740 DMB-equipped GPS unit
We haven't heard much from the Venturi that makes solar/wind-powered vehicles lately, but the Venturi that makes generic PMPs and GPS devices still seems to be kickin' it, with it now showing off its new CREW vn740 model. While there's nothing too stand-out here, the device should certainly handle all your in-car distractions quite nicely, with it boasting a large 7-inch touchscreen, along with some DMB TV capabilities, a PIP function, and an integrated FM transmitter, among other standard features. No word on how much it'll set you back, but only those in Korea will have to worry about that little detail.[Via Navigadget]
Venturi's PMP does DMB too!
Just when you thought the humble PMP couldn't get any more functional, along comes Korean manufacturer Venturi (no relation to the makers of that Eclectic solar / wind-powered car) and -- get this -- squeezes a whole freakin' DMB tuner inside its new, cryptically-named unit. Actually, it's pretty difficult to find a PMP coming out of Korea these days that doesn't sport a digital OTA tuner, and with this model (its name is a series of Korean characters that we never learned) omitting GPS and subsequently the acronym triumvirate we expect from these devices, there's really not much here to hold our interest. Making matters worse, the source page containing specs incorporates all of the words into an untranslatable graphic, so all we know is that the latest Venturi sports a 4.3-inch touchscreen and SD slot for expansion. Processor speed? Couldn't tell ya. Built-in memory? If there is any, we sure don't know how much. Compatible codecs? Ok, now you're just being silly. What we do know is that this presumably a real product that will go on sale somewhere, at some time, for some undisclosed sum of money.[Via PMP Today, thanks Voland]
Venturi readies the launch of its solar / wind-powered Eclectic vehicle
Leave it to the makers of the first "solar shuttle" to actually hit its production schedule, as Venturi Automobiles is officially readying its Eclectic vehicle for a June 2007 launch. The "world's first" commercially available autonomous vehicle sports a "stylish, urban design," room for three, and never needs to get friendly with an AC outlet (although it can, if necessary) or fuel pump. This puppy is powered and recharged completely by renewable energy, be it sunlight or wind, as it houses a bevy of NiMH (NIV-7) liquid-cooled batteries that can be juiced up from the 2.5 square meters of photovoltaic cells atop its roof or a set of wind turbines that can be fixed to the vehicle while parked. Right on target, the company plans to launch a "limited run" of 200 in June, which will be white in color and demand around €24,000 ($31,421). As the learning curve kicks in and production costs sink, the vehicle price should ring up closer to €15,000 ($19,638) when it goes full scale in 2009, while a "single-seat utilitarian version" will compliment the flagship unit sometime in the future. So if you're thinking about ditching the whole "fill your car up" thing, you may still have time to get in on the pre-orders now being accepted for the first 20, but if history proves anything, it's doubtful. [Warning: PDF link][Via AutoblogGreen]
