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Starting in 2020, it’s going to be much easier to buy an EV
For the first time ever, buying an electric or hybrid car from most of the big automakers is a viable option. But these electrified vehicles are still a small part of the entire automotive world. At the Frankfurt auto show in Germany, many car companies either finally pledged or reiterated earlier promises to increase the number of electrified cars to their lineups by 2030.
Segway's electric scooter offers a ride from your car to your desk
A year ago, CityGo Urban raised over $300,000 for its successful concept: an electric scooter that would zoom commuters to work. Today, it's finally re-emerged in the news -- but as a part of a newly-envisioned "Last Mile" system developed by Segway, which bought CityGo shortly after its Indiegogo campaign ended.
Mercedes-Benz aims to take hydrogen fuel-cells mainstream
General Motors' confidence in hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) vehicles seems to be sparking something of a renaissance among other automakers. In April, Toyota announced it was testing a HFC semi truck, and now Mercedes has announced a hybrid crossover utility vehicle that combines the pricey alternative-fuel tech with something a little less exotic: a battery-powered electric vehicle. The GLC F-Cell will carry 4.4 kilograms of hydrogen onboard, in addition to its 147 kilowatt lithium-ion battery. The automaker says that the the F-Cell's range can hit 437 kilometers (roughly 271 miles) with a governed top speed of 99 MPH, and that it'll charge in about 1.5 hours.
Audi wants autonomous cars to run errands while you're at work
Audi laid out its plans for autonomous vehicles and how it intends to use AI to us back in July, and now the automaker is ready to show off what it's been working on. At this year's IAA auto show in Frankfurt, Audi debuted the AIcon and ElAIne (above and below), a pair of cars capable of Level 4 autonomy (conditional, but fully automated driving) that it claims are empathetic to their drivers' needs. "They will be able to continually interact with their surroundings and passengers, and thus adapt themselves in a better way than ever before to the requirements of those on board," Audi wrote in a lengthy press release.
Mini shows off its pure-electric concept car
We've seen the fancy 3D renders; now here it is in real life: the Mini Electric Concept. Shown off on the first day of the Frankfurt auto show, the small EV is expected to hit production in 2019.
Jaguar plans a production EV racing series for 2018
To date, watching a full-fledged EV racing series has meant watching custom-built Formula E race cars. They're great to watch, but not exactly reflective of what you can drive on the road. Jaguar aims to fix that. It's launching the first production-based electric vehicle race series, the I-Pace eTrophy, as a support series for Formula E in late 2018. It'll run on the same tracks as Formula E, but it'll rely on (what else?) a track-optimized version of the upcoming I-Pace SUV. Up to 20 drivers will take part in each race in an "arrive and drive" package -- they'll need an international racing license, but Jaguar and the FIA will take care of vehicles and support.
Honda’s Urban EV Concept is a throwback to the old Civic
Some cars are timeless. The first-generation Honda CVCC is one of those vehicles. With its tiny frame, it bucked against the large American cars of the 1970s and became an instant classic. So it's no surprise that the automaker looked back at its heritage as it brings a new small electric vehicle to market.
Audi's Aicon concept car is all about autonomous luxury
At the Frankfurt auto show, Audi unveiled its fully autonomous Aicon concept car. The "design study" showcases the automaker's vision of a world without steering wheels, pedals or the stress of driving.
Volkswagen's electric Crozz SUV gets closer to reality
Volkswagen continues to push its electric road map. At the Frankfurt auto show, it dropped a newer version of the pure electric ID Crozz Crossover. Initially unveiled in Shanghai, the crossover is the third vehicle with the ID brand, along with the microbus Buzz and the four-door ID. All three vehicles will be built on the company's upcoming Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB).
BMW unveils the zippy i Vision Dynamics electric concept car
At the Frankfurt auto show, BMW showed off the latest addition to its i Series: the four-door i Vision Dynamics coupe concept car. With a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour and a zero-to-100 kilometers (64 miles per hour) launch of four seconds, it sits squarely between the bubble-esque i3 and the supercar i8.
Mercedes puts Formula One tech in an electric hypercar
More and more supercars from the likes of Ferrari and Porsche are using electric motors to juice their torque. Mercedes-Benz wasn't about to be left out. It's just introduced the 1,000-horsepower AMG Project One ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show. The vehicle was built with the cooperation of Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Formula One team.
Mercedes’ Smart Vision EQ is a tiny urban autonomous concept
During a series of song-and-dance numbers, Mercedes-Benz introduced its Smart Vision EQ concept vehicle. The pure electric, completely autonomous car is built for personalization without actual ownership. Based on the Smart Fortwo, the car is the company's vision of mobility and EVs.
