Electric Vehicle - 4 German EVs Head-to-Head

Nothing as exciting as a little competition, especially between electric vehicles. This nice post linked below summarizes and compares four German EVs to see what they have in common and what the differences are.

Which of these four would you pick? I think I'd go for the BMW i3 here, I'm a big fan of the work BMW is doing with their i3 and i8. 

German Electric Car Battle: Audi A2 v BMW i3 v Benz B-Class E-Cell v VW Golf Blue eMotion
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1066009_german-electric-car-battle-audi-a2-v-bmw-i3-v-benz-b-class-e-cell-v-vw-golf-blue-emotion

One very clear message: German carmakers are taking electric cars seriously. Finally.

Both Audi and BMW unveiled electric-car concepts that are thinly disguised versions of models that will go into production in 2013 and 2014. Mercedes-Benz showed a range-extended electric version of its new B-Class compact hatchback, and Volkswagen again showed its Golf Blue eMotion prototype electric car.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - Nissan handing out 400 Quick Chargers in Europe

Quick Charging is seen as one of the viable solutions to allow longer trips with an electric vehicle in a reasonable time. To promote their Leafs, Nissan is providing a quick charge solution and giving 400 of them in Europe to strategic partners. A great example which will probably lead to more quick chargers being installed, enabling cross European trips in your EV.

I'm a little surprised to see it will be an AC/DC Quick Charger, though it is understandably to facilitate for Renaults vehicles from their alliance point of view. The only other reason I can think of is to be ready for whichever technology will become the standard in the future. Also looking at the current discussions on the SAE standards, the 'Tesla-plug' and the technologies applied in the rest of the world (where CHAdeMO is dominating in my opinion), it might be smart for Nissan to be able to bet on more than one option.

Nissan accelerating rollout of EV quick charge network in Europe by giving away 400 stations
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/11/nissanqc-20111108.html

The QC stations are also ‘AC-ready’ to support the arrival of EVs from Alliance partner Renault designed to 43kW AC quick charge standards. The Renault-Nissan Alliance is promoting infrastructure deployment based on AC-DC Mix Quick Charger strategy.

The move follows an agreement between Nissan and five of Europe’s leading utility and EV infrastructure supply companies to speed up the provision of the latest quick chargers developed by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., which are less expensive—up to half the previous price—and smaller than before. The target is to have a network of quick charge stations across Europe with several thousand units in place by the end of 2012 and tens of thousands by 2015.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - The 800-1600km EV Battery is in the Lab

For all the money being poured into the electric vehicle industry, the most is going to develop better batteries. With a current range averaging around 160 km on a full charge, the latest developments in the lab show a hint of the Lithium-Air technology enabling a 800-1600 km range on a full charge. While the technology is still in full development and not ready to be applied to a commercially available vehicle, it will make the question of range anxiety obsolete.

Though I would not recommend driving the 800 km in one go, having such a battery available does raise the question if you would want to charge it along your trips. With such a huge capacity you could use a current state fast charger to regain roughly 20% of your capacity during one of your regular breaks on such a long trip.

The Lithium Air UltraBattery Makes Progress
http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes.blogspot.com/2011/11/lithium-air-battery-makes-progress.html

Metal air batteries are at this date, the mountain top goal of energy density. At a low of 5 times the energy of an equivalent standard lithium battery, a point needs made. Many will surmise that the battery at market would be 1/5th the size. That would suggest the same number of cycles in a time period. But if costs are down for an air battery such that the capacity is 5 times then the cycles would be 1/5th as often – making the lifetime 5 times longer as well. The choices aren’t going to get easier, but they are getting simpler.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - 700 BMW Active E for lease

The second stage of the BMW electric vehicle program is on its way; the first stage was the Mini E, now is the BMW 1 Series converted to the Active E. A good looking car with a nice set of specs, and some promising statistics, also be sure to check out the 'swooshing' video below.

The only pity I think is it will only be available in the USA to my knowledge, if you happen to know of any EU pilots being done, I'd love to hear about it. Feel free to contact me on Twitter, Linked In or via the comments, your help is much appreciated.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/B1vof6y5MAY

The queue starts for 700 BMW Active E leases [video]
http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes.blogspot.com/2011/10/queue-starts-for-700-bmw-active-e.html

The first such trial was for the electric Mini Cooper, the Mini E, which leased for $850 per month. Those Minis provided key development information and most have since been returned to BMW.

The Active E lease will be available for a limited number of customers in the metropolitan areas surrounding Boston, Hartford, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento.

(via Instapaper)

Have a good weekend!

- Roelof

Drive safe, drive sustainable

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Electric Vehicle - Tesla Model S - For Sold Out?

The Model S Tesla was revealed and everybody is positive about this electric wonder on wheels (or a "unicorn" as Tesla's Elon Musk has also referred to it). This electric vehicle boasts many impressive specs; it can seat 7, has an impressive speed and acceleration and great handling. The super-sized iPad in the front allaws for a myriad of functions for entertainment and vehcle control purposes.

The only thing that is not to be liked about it? It is already sold out! In another interview Elon Musk has mentioned that the production of next year (about 6500) have all been sold already in advance. 

Hard not to be impressed with the Tesla Model S
http://www.hybridcarblog.com/hard-not-to-be-impressed-with-the-tesla-model-s/

I mean what kind of station wagon offers a coefficient of drag of just .22? That’s just unbelievably brilliant, especially for an EV that is going to offer twice the EV range — 160 miles – of today’s plug-ins, as its base model. The high end model will offer a whopping 320 miles. That’s just ridiculous.

(via Instapaper)

Tesla's Musk Says Model S Sold Out

Always good to see Elon talk so enthusiasticly about my passion; electric vehicles. Go check this out and try the (free) Bloomberg TV+ for iPad app while you're at it.

Sent from Bloomberg TV+ for iPad

Watch this http://mobile.bloomberg.com/share/video/00MHF4MjqOBzgLUZfJ4m9F91kjdGzwMQ

Tesla's Musk Says Model S Sold Out
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, says the electric car maker will turn a profit in 2013

Download the FREE Bloomberg TV+ iPad app from http://itunes.apple.com/app/bloomberg-tv/id460459302&mt=8

Article: 50 Companies Team to Create Open Source EV

An open source electric vehicle is not something I read about everyday. This one was constructed with a total of 50 different industry and science partners, a great feat in itself to come up with such a vehicle with so many participants in just 12 months. 

Congratulations to all who are involved on this job well done, hope to see this go to larger scale production and hit the streets.

50 Companies Team to Create Open Source EV
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/10/meet-the-one-modular-ev-created-by-fifty-companies/

The StreetScooter is a $7,000 EV with a 74 mph top speed and an 80-mile range. It relies on leased batteries and uses a heat pump for heating and air conditioning, and shipping company DHL has already ordered 3,500 of them — but the most interesting thing about the vehicle is how it came to be.

(via Instapaper)

- Roelof

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