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Report: Inventor’s electric vehicle charger triggers bomb scare in Denmark

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Government/Legal, Technology, Electric

A project manager and director for Swedish Television had parts of Copenhagen locked down for three hours on August 6, when his electric car invention scared passersby in an underground parking lot into thinking it was a bomb, Perth Now reports. Copper pipes and wire poking out from underneath a car and other odd equipment caused the panic, but a bomb squad cleared the car after realizing it was some kind of scientific experiment.

The inventor, Dan Zethraeus, reportedly confirmed that the crude device is, in fact, part of an experiment to develop a new way to power electric cars directly from the road. He didn’t give any other details on the device, citing his lack of a patent for the technology.

The scare happened when Zethraeus was on vacation in the Danish capital – he had decided to travel without removing the suspicious equipment. In the future, he says, he will remove the equipment before embarking on road trips. Sounds like a pretty good idea, no?

Inventor’s electric vehicle charger triggers bomb scare in Denmark originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Aug 2013 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Smart Fortwo Electric Drive lease now $139/mo

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Budget, Smart, Electric

Electric cars seem to be getting more affordable by the day, and the latest to get a price drop is the 2013 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. With sales currently limited to only a handful of states, the Smart Fortwo ED is preparing for its nationwide rollout by offering a 36-month lease of the Fortwo ED Coupe for as low as $139 per month – or the same price as the non-electric Fortwo. The previous Fortwo ED leases started at $199 a month.

Available until September 3, conditions of this lease include a down payment of $1,999 and signing up for the Battery Assurance Plus battery-lease program, which is a separate lease for the battery at $80 per month. This means that lessees are actually driving the Fortwo ED for just $59 each month, although a mileage cap is set at 30,000 miles. There has been no price drop for those interested in purchasing a 2013 Fortwo ED, however, as has been the case with rival EVs like the Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf and, most recently, the Chevy Volt.

As an added bonus, Smart is also giving its dealers a $2,000 incentive on the Fortwo, which can be used in any way the dealer wishes – local advertising, lowering the asking price for consumers, etc. AutoblogGreen‘s Sebastian Blanco has put together quite a bit more info on the Smart Fortwo ED lease, click thru to read more.

Smart Fortwo Electric Drive lease now $139/mo originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Aug 2013 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Land Rover tests electric Defender with impressive results

Filed under: SUV, Technology, Work, Land Rover, UK, Electric, Off-Road

Land Rover sent its first Electric Defender to be tested at the Eden Project.

Unveiled at this year’s Geneva Auto Show, six Land Rover Electric Defenders were produced to research the electrification of all-terrain vehicles in real-world test scenarios. The first Electric Defender to receive a test assignment, a four-wheel-drive 110 Pick Up, was sent to the Eden Project in Cornwall, England, to pull the four-carriage road train that transports visitors around the environmentally friendly plant research site. The SUV has no problem pulling up to 12 tons up a six-percent incline.

The Electric Defender in its original, single-battery configuration can operate for up to 50 miles, with a little over 12 miles in reserve. Functioning at low speeds, it can pull the carriages around the site for about eight hours before it needs a recharge, Land Rover states, but the recent addition of a second lithium-ion battery should lengthen the Defender’s run time while helping to even out out the truck’s weight distribution for better stability. Amazingly, the truck is able to pull the road train with one electric motor that produces 94 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque.

One of the new technologies the Electric Defender is testing is a hill-descent function linked to the regenerative braking system. Up to 80 percent of the batteries’ power can be regenerated in this way. During each downhill trip made at the Eden Project, the SUV regenerates up to 30 kilowatts of power.

We don’t know where the other Electric Defenders will be sent for testing, but we’ll let you know as soon as we find out. Meanwhile, you can take a look at the full press release below.

Continue reading Land Rover tests electric Defender with impressive results

Land Rover tests electric Defender with impressive results originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Drayson will shoot for FIA electric-vehicle land-speed record on June 25

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, UK, Racing

Drayson Racing's EV

It’s pretty impressive when an automotive speed record stands for almost four decades, but UK-based Drayson Racing Technologies will take a shot at one next week. The company, led by Lord Paul Drayson (whose company is partnering with Michelin on the effort), will look to break the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on June 25 at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, England.

Mr. Drayson himself will be driving a modified 2,200-pound Lola B19 69/EV down a nearly two-mile runway during his attempt. The car gets 850 horsepower from its 30 kWh battery. Drayson is looking to break the 1974 record of 175 miles per hour by Battery Box General Electric.

BBC posted a video in March on Drayson and his team, and Formula E Holdings earlier this year tapped Drayson Racing as its first team for an all-electric racing tour set to start next year in Rome.

Check out Drayson’s press release below.

Continue reading Drayson will shoot for FIA electric-vehicle land-speed record on June 25

Drayson will shoot for FIA electric-vehicle land-speed record on June 25 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 24 Jun 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Nissan shows off Le Mans Prototype, says it’s world’s fastest electric racer [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Nissan, Electric, Racing

Nissan ZEOD RC Le Mans prototype - front three-quarter dynamic view

Nissan has announced plans and details around its upcoming all-electric racing car, the ZEOD RC. The Zero Emission On Demand Racing car is said to be capable of a top speed in excess of 300 kilometers per hour (186.4 miles per hour), is shaped a bit like the closed-cockpit version of the DeltaWing (albeit, to our eyes, better looking) and will make its debut in 2014 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This weekend, visitors to the race will have the opportunity to view the prototype near the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Nissan’s ZEOD RC has been invited by Le Mans organizers to compete as the Garage 56 entry in next year’s race; that’s essentially a spot on the grid held for vehicles with new and/or cutting edge technology.

Short of announcing a partnership with Michelin to develop tires for the EV racecar, however, Nissan is mum on any kind of battery or motor specification for the ZEOD. The press release (below) offers a sense that the Nissan and Nismo teams have still got a lot of work to do before the 2014 race. Ben Bowlby, designer of the ZEOD RC, says “We have many options to consider and test. The test program is part of a longer term goal of developing a system and a set of rules for this type of technology in partnership with the ACO that would be best suited to competing at the highest level of this sport.”

The ultimate goal of the ZEOD RC program, in terms of racing at least, is to sort out the feasibility of a LM P1 all-electric class for future Le Mans racing. Continue on below for more information, as well as a video about the ZEOD RC project.

Continue reading Nissan shows off Le Mans Prototype, says it’s world’s fastest electric racer [w/video]

Nissan shows off Le Mans Prototype, says it’s world’s fastest electric racer [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jun 2013 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Electric motorcycles from Brammo and Zero mix it up in the dirt

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle, Electric

Trevor Doniak vs Kris Keefer at AMA Mini Moto SX

Brammo and Zero electric motorcycles at AMA Mini Moto SX – Click above to watch video after the jump

Both Brammo and Zero locked horns in a little friendly competition during last Friday’s AMA Mini Moto SX race in Las Vegas. Brammo pulled the sheets off of a new electric mini bike called the Brammo Encite as well as a full-scale Brammo Engage dirt bike. Fortunately enough for those of us who live far, far away from Sin City, Trevor Doniak was kind enough to strap a camera to his noggin when he hopped in the saddle of his Zero MX. How’d it go? Let’s just say that the electric bikes had no trouble overtaking the much slower internal combustion racers that started ahead of the battery-operated field.

Doniak suffered his fair share of falls during the quick race, including more than one tie-up with a Brammo rider. There’s even some buzz that he was intentionally trying to unseat Kris Keefer from his Brammo steed in order to ensure that a Zero machine held all three spots on the podium.

Is it true? We can’t say either way, but you can check out the video after the jump to decide for yourself.

Continue reading Electric motorcycles from Brammo and Zero mix it up in the dirt

Electric motorcycles from Brammo and Zero mix it up in the dirt originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 May 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear crew makes pit stop, has trouble charging electric cars [w/video]

Filed under: Nissan, Peugeot, Celebrities, Humor, Electric

Jeremy Clarkson gets a push in a Nissan Leaf

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson gets a push in a Nissan Leaf – Click above to watch the video after the break

It would seem that the guys from Top Gear are back to giving electric vehicles the what-for. According to The Lincolnite, James May and Jeremy Clarkson were respectively spotted piloting a Peugeot iOn and a Nissan Leaf through England during a cross-country trek (which is exactly what electric cars are for, right?).

The duo stopped by Lincolnshire County to ask about the nearest place to charge their alternative-fuel steeds, only to find that the entire municipality is bereft of chargers. Apparently May and Clarkson then set about driving around the city until their vehicles died and they were forced to get a tow.

If this all sounds familiar, that’s because Top Gear rustled up a mess of snakes the last time Clarkson jumped behind the wheel of an EV. After depicting the Tesla Roadster as suffering a brake failure and running out of power, Tesla shot back refuting what happened as pure fiction. That little dust-up has yet to settle.

The truth is that the vast majority of people come to Top Gear to be entertained, and most viewers probably realize that there’s plenty of editing that goes into each segment. We seriously doubt that most EV buyers use the UK show as a go-to resource, but that doesn’t stop the constant ragging on alternative fuels from growing trite.

Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Top Gear crew makes pit stop, has trouble charging electric cars [w/video]

Top Gear crew makes pit stop, has trouble charging electric cars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 May 2011 20:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All-electric Mercedes-Benz S-Class being considered

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Jaguar built an electric XJ last year, Rolls-Royce showed off an electric Phantom this year, now Autocar reports that Mercedes is open to considering an electric offering. To be precise, Autocar said such an S-Class “is not being ruled out” and that Mercedes’ technical head Thomas Weber said, “We are looking at customer demand.” All that really means is that it’s on the table, probably alongside a whole lot of other things that might or might not ever happen.

However, Mercedes is part-way there with its S400 Hybrid, and the next S-Class due in 2013 will add a plug-in hybrid option. Until then it’ll be up to Fisker to – eventually – bring ionized motoring to the luxury sedan masses.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

All-electric Mercedes-Benz S-Class being considered originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 May 2011 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi interested in electric Formula 1 series

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Mitsubishi, Electric, Racing

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi has expressed serious interest in FIA president Jean Todt’s proposed electric F1 series. The idea is in its infancy, and there is long way to go before silent F1 cars are zipping around the world’s best racing circuits, but interest from the brand gives the idea a bit of a boost.

Over the last two years, Mitsubishi has significantly reduced its motorsports participation, beginning with its withdrawal from the 2009 Dakar Rally. That, coupled with the recent controversy surrounding the future of the Lancer Evolution, has elicited criticism that the Mitsubishi is moving in an anti-motorsports direction.

Company brass say that isn’t true. Mitsubishi claims it’s very interested in electric-vehicle racing as a way to speed up EV technology development and make advancements in its future road vehicles. Still, we’d wager it’ll be years before an electric Evo hits the streets.

[Source: Mainichi Daily News]

Mitsubishi interested in electric Formula 1 series originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot EX1 sets fastest electric car lap at the ‘Ring

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Peugeot, Electric

2010 Peugeot EX1 Concept

2010 Peugeot EX1 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Peugeot EX1 has whirred its way into the record books by lapping the 12-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife with a 9:01.338-minute run. According to Peugeot, that shatters the previous electric vehicle record at the track by an impressive 50 seconds.

The fully-electric Pug, which debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, averaged 85 mph on its record-setting run. Peugeot has promised to release photos and video of the EX1 at the Nordschleife, but for now we’ll have to wait.

The lightweight, four-wheel drive EX1 was created to celebrate Peugeot’s 200th birthday, and packs a pair of electric motors (one on each axle) totaling 340 horsepower. As for production, don’t hold your breath, though the technologies on display in the EX1 and lessons learned during its development will likely influence future models.

Gallery: Peugeot EX1 concept

[Source: World Car Fans]

Peugeot EX1 sets fastest electric car lap at the ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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