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Mercedes-Benz's F-CELL Roadster is chock-full of win
Mercedes-Benz has been toying with alternative-energy prototype vehicles for awhile now, but we're fairly certain this little gem is amongst the most bodacious. The obviously conceptual F-CELL Roadster hearkens back to M-B vehicles of old, though the engine is far from retro. Controlled with drive-by-wire technology and utilizing a joystick rather than a conventional steering wheel, this whip is (theoretically, at least) powered by a 1.2kW emission-free fuel cell system located at the rear. We're told that it could reach an enviable top speed of 15.5mph, and the 217 mile operating range definitely has us salivating. Frankly, this one's all about the design, and we can't implore you enough to give the read link a visit for lots more high-res action.
Tesla Model S priced just under $50K, rest of car still shrouded in mystery
While much of the Tesla Model S is still a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in an inconvenient white cloth, the company has revealed the EV will list for $57,400, which after the $7,500 federal tax credit puts the final price at just a Benjamin under $50,000. That's almost $40,000 less than the Fisher Karma and $10,000 more than the estimated price of Chevy Volt. Of course, we still haven't actually seen the thing, but at least we won't have to wait much longer for that -- the grand unveiling is set for this Thursday at Tesla's design studio.[Via NPR; thanks, mitchell]
E-Traction's in-wheel motor sportin' hybrid electric bus
We've seen in-wheel motors in the past, but implementing the technology is not without its share of challenges. On one hand, it's difficult to coordinate motors that have no mechanical connection to each other, while on the other hand electric motors are designed to spin much faster than the wheels, in order to generate the desired power -- adding complexity while decreasing efficiency. A company in the Netherlands called e-Traction may have those problems licked, and now they've developed a diesel-electric hybrid bus that they say offers fifty percent better fuel economy over existing diesel buses. The vehicle also employs a GPS-based system that switches off the diesel engine entirely while operating in areas with dense traffic, reducing emissions. The company has been awarded contracts to retrofit seven commercial buses with the technology, and hopes to branch out soon into garbage trucks -- because nothing says 'green' like hauling junk off to a landfill.
$2.4 billion US electric vehicle plan revealed, jetpack solution ignored again
You asked for it, now here comes the change... $2.4 billion dollars of it stuffed into giant sacks for those hoping to produce electric vehicles in the US. The plan unveiled by president Obama Thursday allocates $1.5B to US manufacturers to produce batteries, $400M to evaluate plug-in hybrids and to implement the infrastructure (e.g., charging stations, technician training, etc) required to support them, and another $500M for related components. As for you, the plan (now law under the $787 billion stimulus package) allocates a $7,500 tax credit to people who buy plug-in hybrid vehicles. The goal is to help the US catch up to foreign competition with regards to electric vehicle technology and to put a million "environmentally friendly" vehicles onto US roads by 2015. As Obama puts it, "The nation that leads on energy will be the nation that leads the world in the 21st century." That's why we're investing all our dough in a sure thing like Steorn.[Original Image courtesy of Cammeraydave]
EVI debuts road-ready commercial transport electric vehicles
Tired of being hit upside the noggin' with tiny electric car after tiny electric car? Yeah, so are the burly men and women running the show at Electric Vehicles International. Said outfit has just announced that it will soon be showcasing the industry's first "road-ready" commercial electric vehicles at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The company currently has two commercial truck models (the eviLightTruck and the eviRoute 1500), both of which are "customizable" and can be ordered in electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) form. Don't lie -- you just thought about how awesome it'd be to roll up to the office in one of these bad boys.
Electric TH!NK FROST concept vehicle makes snowmobiles cringe
Look, we love taking off through the snow-covered trails of Grand Teton National Park as much as anyone, but we can't say with a straight face that we'd rather take a snowmobile through there than one of these critters. Designed by Anders Gloslie, the TH!NK FROST is an electric vehicle crafted specifically to operate in arctic environments. Based on current drawings, the all-wheel drive contraption can lug two Eskimos around at a time, though there's no mention of a hybrid version for those looking to take long range excursions. Commercialization, please?[Via DVICE]
MIT's quick charging batteries could revolutionize the world, maybe
Okay, so maybe the headline is a tad on the sensational side, but seriously, this has sensational written all over it. A team of brilliant MIT engineers have conjured up a beltway of sorts that allows for "rapid transit of electrical energy through a well-known battery material," something that could usher in smaller and lighter cells that could recharge in moments versus hours. There's even talk that this technology could be adapted for use in automobiles, and honestly, it doesn't take an electrical engineer to understand how rapid charge / discharge batteries could "induce lifestyle changes." Hey, laptop battery makers -- could you guys look into getting these ready to go in machines by CES 2010? That'd be swell, thanks.[Via BBC, thanks Simon]
RTEV begins taking orders for Wheego Whip electric car
If you're the type of Earth-loving individual who ain't got nowhere to go in a hurry, RTEV's ready and willing to take your order a brand new Wheego Whip. The company's first street electric LSV (low speed vehicle) will begin shipping to early adopters in May, and it's primed to carry up to two individuals and a few empty cola bottles anywhere you need to go -- so long as there's an AC outlet waiting at Point B. It's retailing for under $19,000 and includes an MP3 stereo system, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and a sweet 10 percent Federal Tax credit. Of note, RTEV has plans to eventually produce a higher speed model of this very car, and there's a trade-in program available (with terms that aren't half bad) for those interested. For all the fine print, give that read link a tap.
EDAG's Light Car EV is open source, doused in OLEDs
We're pretty comfortable with the idea of open source software running on computers and mobile phone -- heck, even guitars -- but cars? That one we're still warming up to, but this concept vehicle from EDAG definitely helps. As its name implies, the Light Car - Open Source lets developers modify and / or improve upon the auto's technologies -- or at least put a SNES emulator on the back. The lithium ion-powered bubble car also sports an OLED-infused exterior for lights and signals that are supposedly useful both to the driver and other nearby motorists, but in actuality we suspect it'd just scare anyone tailing behind. No information on the interior, but we imagine a decked out dashboard and some futuristic chairs. It's currently being shown off at the Geneva Motor Show; hit up the read link for more pics.
GM's Opel Ampera plug-in hybrid hits the carpet in Geneva
As expected, GM just officially unwrapped its new Opel Ampera, the European rebadge of its Voltec-powered Chevy Volt. It's looking pretty "fit," as they say overseas, and will go into production late 2011. Internals are just what we're used to with the Volt, with a 16kWh lithium-ion battery that takes the car 60km (about 37 miles) and a gas powered generator for recharging the battery once depleted, that can extend the range to more than 500km (about 311 miles). Videos galore are after the break.%Gallery-46220%
$25 billion in electric vehicle loans still waiting for perfect beggars
While the Big 3 seem to be visiting Washington on an all-too-regular basis trying to secure funding for future success, $25 billion in loans set aside to promote electric car usage in America has been sitting untouched for nearly two years. As the story goes, the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program was established in 2007, but administrations have been toying with ideas about how to use it until present day. Some 75 applications from hopeful companies have been whittled down to 25, but there's no telling how long it'll be before we hear who's getting the cash (and when). Many are irate that this dough is still sitting idle, but we tend to agree with the "let's wait until we find truly remarkably beggars" approach before it's just handed out to those without a viable plan. The takeaway? Electric vehicles may still end up progressing as planned despite the current economy, but only if brilliant plans can cut through miles of red tape.
Pininfarina delays prototype showing of B0 electric car
You know things are rough in the auto industry when even an electric car company is struggling to carry on, but that's exactly what seems to be happening with Pininfarina. After showcasing its rather cute B0 electric car at the Paris Motor Show last year, the company was slated to debut a prototype with a working engine at next week's show in Geneva. Instead, it'll be hosting up that same B0 shell as before, with an undisclosed inside source noting that lingering debt problems were forcing the delay. Unfortunately, the mole failed to elaborate on the matter, so we're left with absolutely no indication of when the company may switch gears and forge ahead with production. In other words, don't bank on this being your next ride -- unless you plan on lending the designing company a few hundred million to clear a path forward, of course.[Via Register Hardware]
Rinspeed's iChange EV is an iPhone-integrated shape shifter
While not nearly as outrageous as its sQuba submarine car, Rinspeed's shape-shifting iChange all-electric concept car, debuting at this year's Geneva Motor Show, has more than its fair share of eccentricities. As the name not so gracefully suggests, it sports iPhone integration that lets you dock the mobile and control the headlights and turn signals, among other functions -- no steering capabilities, unfortunately. The phone can also adjust the height of the bubble roof to make room for two passengers in the back. Left to its own devices, the bubble adjusts dynamically to maximize fuel efficiency. As for the specs, it's got a 150 kilowatt motor, top speed of about 137MPH, solar panel roofing to power the A/C, a Harman/Kardon infotainment system with GPS navigation, goes 0 to 62MPH in under four seconds, and is all powered by lithium ion batteries available in two different stack configurations optimized for short and long trips, respectively. See it for yourself in the video after the break -- soundtrack not included, so be sure to add your own techno beats. %Gallery-45659%[Via The College Driver]
All-electric Wheego Whip hitting America in May... slowly
You can probably tell from the image above that the Wheego Whip isn't the fastest automobile to ever hit the streets, but it'll still be getting Americans from point A to point B before most of those other "concepts" will. The company is currently looking to score dealers that will sell its "electric LSVs (Low Speed Vehicles)," the first of which is obviously the Whip. If all goes to plan, it'll have 50 dealers across America by May, and given that this is "the best affordable electric car in the world" (that's the words of RTEV CEO Mike McQuary), we'd say all 50 should be brimming with customers. Unfortunately, we're not told just how fast slow this thing actually goes nor how expensive cheap it'll be, but hey, May's just a few months out, anyway.
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.
Aptera 2e gets taken for a test drive
Aptera only just unveiled the complete specs for its Aptera 2e all-electric vehicle a little over a week ago, but the folks at Road & Track Magazine have already managed to talk their way into a test drive, and they've naturally shared their impressions for those of us still stuck in our non-space age vehicles. While there's obviously still a bit of refining to do before the final production model, the magazine nonetheless seems to be pretty impressed with the head-turner, saying that it seems far quicker than it actually is due to its go-kart-like handing and aircraft-style windshield, which gives the driver an up close view of the pavement ahead. They do say that the not-quite-gullwing doors will take some getting used to, however, but once inside there's apparently plenty of room, even for someone with a 6-foot-3-inch frame. Be sure to hit up the read link below for a video and plenty more pics, including a glimpse at the development process.
Toyota's hydrogen-powered FCHV gets inspected
Just in case you haven't heard enough in regard to green automobiles today, Toyota's FCHV has been broken down good fashion and photographed by our pals at AutoblogGreen. The hydrogen-powered SUV sports a pretty sophisticated get-up-and-go system, which is comprised of four separate storage tanks in order to keep the hydrogen compressed to 10,000psi. Once the compressed gas leaves those tanks, it passes through regulators that "reduce the pressure to something the PEM fuel cell stack can process." The bottom line? This thing can traverse some 350 miles on a fresh fill. If your ears just perked up, give the read link a visit to get yourself more acquainted.
Volkswagen and Toshiba to link up on electric drive systems
Volkswagen sure is talking tough about going green, but we've yet to actually see any of these long-teased concepts hit the show floor. In case a plug-in Twin Drive hybrid just wasn't enough to look forward to, the suits in Wolfsburg have just inked a letter of intent with Toshiba in order to form a collaborative agreement that will see the two working together in the development of "electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen's planned New Small Family." If rumors prove accurate, the NSF crew will mimic that Up! concept we've been drooling over for ages, and if you were wondering where the batteries would be coming from, this here arrangement suggests that it'll be from within the partnership. Oh, and you want a launch date, don't you? How about "forever from now," or as VW's Dr. Martin Winterkorn put it: "A considerable amount of research and development work still has to be carried out until we can produce the electric vehicle."
Zero-emission i MiEV begins testing in New Zealand
Slowly but surely, the i MiEV is making its way out to test fields around the globe. Just months after a smattering of the zero-emission vehicles hit the west coast of America, we're now being told that a new crew of guinea pigs have waltzed into New Zealand. Over a hundred government representatives and key stakeholders were invited to drive Mitsubishi Motors' oddest, greenest vehicle, and of course, to talk business about how this bean could fit into the nation's transportation system. As it stands, Mitsu is still looking to launch the vehicle for consumer use this summer in Japan, though no word was mentioned on when it would arrive Down Under, across the pond or on US soil.
Tesla tidbits: new retail stores, Model S prototype, extended warranty
Last we heard, Tesla was reevaluating some business decisions as it sought to become a thriving, profitable enterprise in 2009. In a lengthy newsletter sent out to over 60,000 subscribers today, CEO Elon Musk has laid out a torrent of news. Most notable are the imminent openings of retail locations in Chicago and London's Knightsbridge district, with four other locations slated to open before the year's end. Additionally, a street-drivable prototype of the Model S four door sedan will be unveiled on March 26th, with production scheduled for 2011. We're also informed of updates on the Smart car / Daimler partnership, a few new interior options for the Roadster, a battery replacement program and the new extended warranty. Chances are, Tesla owners have already digested all of this, but those looking in from the outside should certainly have a peek at the full letter just after the break.
