Electric Vehicle - VW Bulli : Start the presses!

The recently revealed new electric vehicle from Volkswagen, the famous Microbus inspired Bulli, is slowly moving from concept to potential production.

Slowly, but not there yet. It is said that the Bulli was originally designed to house a petrol engine, instead of the electric drive train that is fitted now. The Bulli has a bit reduced speed when compared to other electric vehicle models, but an increased range is bound to make up for a lovely road trip experience. Watch this space for updates.

Volkswagen Bulli concept likely for production: report
http://www.caradvice.com.au/109423/volkswagen-bulli-concept-likely-for-production-report/

Dr Hackenberg did not set a timeline on the Bulli concept production project.

The Bulli concept shown at last week’s Geneva Motor Show was a fresh take on the 2001 Volkswagen Microbus concept, which itself was a modernised version of the traditional Kombi van that was launched more than 60 years ago.

The Bulli concept is an all-electric vehicle powered by a lithium-ion battery pack driving an 85kW/270Nm electric motor.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

Hybrid Vehicle - Hydrogen Honda FCX Clarity as IndyCar Pace Car

With most of the buzz currently going on is about electric vehicles, the hybrid vehicle is also making nice progress and not just because of the oil price. The Honda FCX Clarity, the Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered hybrid is making its debut as the IndyCar Pace Car at the race in St Petersburg late March.

A nice demo of the speed of this car and a lot less polluting than the other cars on the track too. When will they all be electric or fuel cell vehicles?

H2 Racer: Honda FCX Clarity Will Serve as IndyCar Pace Car
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/h2-racer-honda-fcx-clarity-will-serve-indycar-pace-car-23029.html

Roughly 50 Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are presently in the hands of select consumers in the U.S., but one example will apparently be called to motorsports service. Honda announced today that a FCX Clarity will serve as the official pace car for the 2011 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in late March.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

Electric Vehicle - You want some chocolates with that?

In Japan owners of an electric vehicle can charge up their vehicle  while they visit a vending machine, for a beverage, or some candy. 

The Japanese vendor will install charging points near their current vending machines.

Japan vending machines to charge electric cars
http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes.blogspot.com/2011/03/japan-vending-machines-to-charge.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FpEcq+%28Electric+Vehicles%29

Ten Japanese companies said Monday they plan to install electric vehicle chargers at the sites of beverage vending machines across Japan in a cost-cutting tie-up.

The consortium includes Forking Co., a major vending machine operator, and Panasonic Electric Works which will develop and produce electric vehicle chargers with rivals.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

Electric Vehicle - Have you Given your car a name?

Some people name their cars, but it seems that you will be naming your electric vehicle, even if just out of politeness. Ford is launching its Sync system, first to be launched in the European Focus electric. The Sync system lets you control functions of for example the GPS, or your phone, by using voice commands. With the added amount of gadgets around, this will allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. When will other manufacturers follow this example?

Ford’s Future: Voice-Activated Gadgets in Electric Cars
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/03/fords-future-voice-activated-gadgets-in-electric-cars/

“You already do many things while driving — having a conversation, thinking, talking and figuring things out — while mobile devices, infotainment systems and telephones are moving attention away from the driving experience, ripping your eyes off the road and the hands off the wheel,” Mulally said. “Voice is absolutely safer, so Ford’s fundamental approach is to reduce the distractions and push hard on voice communication, which allows you to keep doing such things but prevents being distracted.”

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

Electric Vehicle - Renault Stays With Removable-Battery Plan for 2012 Zoe EV

More news on the Zoe, the electric vehicle from Renault. Scheduled launch date is second half of 2012 and they still seem to hold on to their replacable battery concept so as to remain compatible with Better Place's battery swapping stations. It will also take out the price for purchasing a battery, it will be on lease.

Renault Stays With Removable-Battery Plan for 2012 Zoe EV
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2011/03/renault-stays-with-removable-battery-plan-for-2012-zoe-ev.html

The French automaker will start selling the Zoe in the second half of 2012 and will price it at about 15,000 euros ($20,700), or roughly half the price of a Nissan Leaf in Europe. The Zoe price doesn’t include the leasing rate for the battery, but with Renault charging 72 euros a month to lease batteries to Kangoo Express battery electric utility vehicle owners, with a cap of about 10,000 miles a year, expect Zoe batteries to lease for the equivalent of about $100 a month.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

Electric Vehicle - Renault Stays With Removable-Battery Plan for 2012 Zoe EV

More news on the Zoe, the electric vehicle from Renault. Scheduled launch date is second half of 2012 and they still seem to hold on to their replacable battery concept so as to remain compatible with Better Place's battery swapping stations. It will also take out the price for purchasing a battery, it will be on lease.

Renault Stays With Removable-Battery Plan for 2012 Zoe EV
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2011/03/renault-stays-with-removable-battery-plan-for-2012-zoe-ev.html

The French automaker will start selling the Zoe in the second half of 2012 and will price it at about 15,000 euros ($20,700), or roughly half the price of a Nissan Leaf in Europe. The Zoe price doesn’t include the leasing rate for the battery, but with Renault charging 72 euros a month to lease batteries to Kangoo Express battery electric utility vehicle owners, with a cap of about 10,000 miles a year, expect Zoe batteries to lease for the equivalent of about $100 a month.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

Electric Vehicle - VW Bulli Concept is a Microbus

Another announcement from Volkswagen concerning a fully electric vehicle, an electric remake inspired by the old VW T1 van. The van has a nice long range of close to 300 km, though it is not exactly fast. The old T1 van has a bit of a hippy image here in the Netherlands, but the new name rings a different bell to me: VW Bulli. I couldn't help but think of the famous restaurant El Bulli in Spain.

The new VW Bulli

A more related thing I came across more recently was a converted VW T1, a fully electric van here in the Netherlandsby The New Motion.

Link: http://www.thenewmotion.com/2011/01/project-freedom/

The van for Project Freedom by The New Motion

Volkswagen Bulli Concept is a Microbus redux for Geneva
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/28/volkswagen-bulli-concept-is-a-microbus-redux-for-geneva/

Now, a decade later, VW is trying out the concept again at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. This time it’s called the Volkswagen Bulli, and like its 2001 ancestor, this one is designed to carry on the legacy of the brand’s famous Microbus. This Geneva concept packs a 113-horsepower electric motor drawing power from a lithium-ion battery pack. At full charge, the Bulli is said to be theoretically good for 186 miles before a recharge. When it’s time for more juice, VW says the Bulli can be fully charged in less than an hour.

(via Instapaper)

Great stuff, but let's see what VW will reveal in Geneva.

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable