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Smart ForTwo Electric Drive to go on sale in early 2012

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Hatchback, Smart, Electric

Smart Fortwo Electric Drive

Smart ED – Click above for high-res image gallery

The second-generation Smart Fortwo Electric Drive (ED) is a limited (250 units available in the U.S.) test program model that Daimler will use to gauge consumer interest in battery-powered vehicles. Leasing the electrified Fortwo is costly, with payments ringing in at $599 a month for 48 months, plus $2,500 due at signing. Technically, the 2011 Smart ED is offered under the lease-only plan detailed above, but the automaker has listed its MSRP at $44,387.

Truth be told, we’re not shocked by the Smart ED’s lofty sticker price, nor are we put off by its astronomical lease rate. You see, this Fortwo ED is a limited run model and not a production electric vehicle.

But come January of 2012, the third-generation Fortwo electric, a production model, should hit the streets. By then, we’d hope that the automaker adjusts its pricing structure and offers the pint-sized electric at a more reasonable rate and, according to a report on Kicking Tires, a price drop seems to be part of Smart’s plans.

Lessees of the second-gen Fortwo ED will be eligible to upgrade to Smart’s electrified third-gen Fortwo when it hits the market and, unlike the automaker’s current battery-powered hatch, the upcoming model will be offered for both lease and purchase.

Gallery: Smart ED

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Smart ForTwo Electric Drive to go on sale in early 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Electric

Translogic drives the Z-Kart

Translogic tours the neighborhood on the all-electric Z-Kart – Click above to watch video

What’s the best way to get your motoring kicks for less while consuming zero fuel and emitting only adrenaline? Riding a Zero motorcycle sounds like a lot of fun, until you get to that part about it only having two wheels. A golf cart is only amusing when it’s gas-powered and you’ve stuck a tee in the governor. The answer lies somewhere in between, and George Fortin from San Clemente, California, has put together his own version of the solution.

Our friends at Translogic paid Fortin a visit because he’s the proud owner and creator of the Z-Kart. It’s an all-electric go-kart that rides on a quartet of motorcycle tires and is powered by a DC motor and four lead-acid batteries. The frame is built from recycled polyethylene, and Fortin built it himself from scratch. Total charge time for the Z-Kart is just three hours from a 110v outlet.

According to Fortin, the Z-Kart is capable of exceeding 50 miles per hour. However, he changed the gearing to bring it back down to a more-reasonable 40 mph. The differential in the Z-Kart was taken from a small off-road buggy, and the engine feeds juice to the wheels via a chain drive and jack shaft.

Translogic’s Bradley Hasemeyer chats with George about his creation before taking the Z-Kart out for a spin. Check out the electric action in the video after the jump.

Gallery: George Fortin’s all-electric Z-Kart Build Process

[Source: Translogic]

Continue reading Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin

Video: Translogic takes the all-electric Z-Kart for a spin originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: BMW ActiveE looking to become the Ultimate Electric Driving Machine

Filed under: Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, BMW, Electric

BMW ActiveE at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

BMW ActiveE – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW showed us the ActiveE Concept back at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Now the automaker is using the Geneva Motor Show floor to roll out the latest version of its electrified 1-Series. The BMW ActiveE, following in the footsteps of the Mini E before it, will begin rolling out to select markets in the Fall of 2011.

Mini utilized a fleet of 600 electric Coopers for field tests, but BMW is upping the ante by producing 1,000 vehicles. The ActiveE will make its North American debut at the New York Auto Show in April. After that, it will roll its way into the driveways and garages of residents in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, New York, Boston and parts of Connecticut.

Powering the BMW ActiveE are a plethora of liquid-cooled SB LiMotive batteries. They provide enough juice to generate 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The ActiveE uses that energy to run from 0-60 miles per hour in about nine seconds and the juiced-up 1-Series has a range of 100 miles. Check it out in the galleries below and read more about the car in BMW’s official release after the jump.

Gallery: BMW ActiveE: Geneva 2011

Gallery: BMW ActiveE

Continue reading Geneva 2011: BMW ActiveE looking to become the Ultimate Electric Driving Machine

Geneva 2011: BMW ActiveE looking to become the Ultimate Electric Driving Machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept is going to rock down to Electric Avenue

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Technology, Rolls-Royce, Electric, Luxury

Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept

Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The electric car has come of age. How do we know? Well, see for yourself. Rolls-Royce, perhaps the most iconic of classic luxury marques, has stepped firmly into the EV waters with the 102EX Concept. According to CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, this machine was created to help the company “[seek] clarity on which technology may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.”

We’d imagine a nice big diesel engine (perhaps fueled with a biodiesel blend) would work just fine and dandy, but electric drive is certainly a workable option, as well. Apparently, the 102EX, which is apparently also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric, will be used throughout 2011 as a test bed to shuttle… well, whomever Rolls-Royce deems worthy of transport. It won’t, however, be made into a production vehicle.

The Phantom Experimental Electric started life as a run-of-the-mill Rolls-Royce Phantom from which the 6.75-liter engine and six-speed automatic gearbox were removed and replaced with a pair of electric motors putting out 145 kilowatts each. That thrust is sufficient to send the 6,000-pound EV to 60 miles per hour in “under eight seconds.”

More impressive is the battery pack, which is comprised of 96 individual cells assembled (on purpose, we gather) to resemble the shape of the original engine and transmission. Rolls-Royce believes its 338-volt, 71-kWh unit is the largest battery ever fitted to a road car. Also of note is the inductive charging technology that eschews an actual plug in favor of a charging mat on the ground and an inductive mat on the underside of the vehicle that wirelessly recharges the battery. A plug also exists where the fuel filler normally resides.

Naturally, there’s an exhaustive press release pasted after the break. Be sure to check out our high-res image gallery of live photos below, and pay special attention to the clear Spirit of Ecstasy that is illuminated in blue light.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept: Geneva 2011

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept is going to rock down to Electric Avenue

Geneva 2011: Rolls-Royce 102EX Concept is going to rock down to Electric Avenue originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche CEO: We are “almost over the initial hype” of electric cars

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Porsche, Electric

Porsche logo Automotive News recently got the chance to sit down with Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller to go over the company’s plans for the future, and one of the juiciest tidbits to crop up from the interview came from a discussion on the possibility of a fully-electric Porsche. When asked about a battery-operated sports car, Mueller said that while some estimates say that 20 percent of all vehicles on the road will be electric by 2020, he believes that figure will likely sit closer to three to five percent. He finished up by saying “We are now almost over the initial hype before business really gets started.”

However the electric/internal combustion mix plays out in nine years, Mueller said that he believes Porsche will be a player in that market. That means that if 20 percent of the car market is electrified, you can expect 20 percent of Porsche vehicles to be the same.

The interview also touched on everything from a new model above the 911 to future variation on the Panamera. Head over to Automotive News to catch the full piece.

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Porsche CEO: We are “almost over the initial hype” of electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric to debut in Geneva

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce, Electric, Luxury

Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric

Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric – Click above for high-res image gallery

Of all the automakers in the industry, Rolls-Royce doesn’t exactly have the “greenest” image. Its vehicles are heavy and ponderous, equipped with enormous engines and swathed with more dead cows than a beef processing plant. But its parent company BMW has been pushing into the green space with its EfficientDynamics initiative, and it’s looking to bring the Goodwood division along for the electrified ride… one way or another.

Call this another, then: the Rolls-Royce 102EX. It’s an electric version of the Phantom Rolls has been testing for the better part of a year, and now it’s set tomake its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Few details were confirmed in Rolls’ announcement, but after taking its curtain call in Geneva, the Phantom Experimental Electric will go on a world tour to gauge how the public feels about the possibility of a battery-powered Roller. Follow the jump for the official release and keep an eye on electricluxury.com, which is set to launch this week as the program’s online base.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric

[Source: Rolls-Royce]

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Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom Experimental Electric to debut in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: How apartment dwellers can charge their electric vehicles

EV charging for apartment dwellers is a challenge. Click above to watch video after the jump.

Recently, we got an email from a reader named Bernadine asking about apartment dwellers charging their plug-in cars. She wrote:

I would like to see Autoblog contact, address, and consider how would apartment dwellers fit in the scheme of things by the manufacturers of “green” vehicles. I am quite sure there are others, like myself, who would love to purchase or get in line to order such vehicles. However, we do not have garages or nearby outlets that we can access to charge our vehicles, once purchased. Are there any projects in place that will address the needs of apartment dwellers? Will our local gas stations be transformed into electric stations?

Turns out, Bernadine isn’t the only one thinking about this particular issue. We covered it in some depth about a year ago in this Greenlings article, which noted that, in 2009, Mitsubishi helped develop an electric vehicle charging system for apartment buildings in Japan. More recently, our friend Paul Scott and Santa Monica Nissan did a presentation very subject at a local library. The panelists included people with deep knowledge of EVSEs, permitting and other related issues. You can watch a well-edited video of that event provided by Plug In America after the jump.

Lastly, we have some news about charging for people without a garage or a dedicated parking space. A company called 350Green is bringing a fast EV charging station network to the U.S. that is designed specifically for this type of plug-in driver. The network is made up of DC fast chargers that will be installed at “select, high-traffic retail locations” in six cities in the Bay Area. Find more details in the press release on the other side of the jump.

[Sources: Plug In America, 350Green]

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Video: How apartment dwellers can charge their electric vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TGMY’s Mitsuoka Himiko goes electric, gets 340-mile range

TGMY electric conversion of the Mitsuoka Himiko – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The Mitsuoka Himiko roadster has received an electric makeover that adds green cred to its retro-style allure. TGMY, the company responsible for the conversion, debuted the car at the 2011 Japan EV show, and the two-seater got at least as much attention for how far it could go – the stated range is 341.8 miles – as it did for its looks.

Typically, the Himiko comes with the running gear found in the Mazda Miata that it’s based on, but instead of a 2.0 liter DOHC gas engine and a 6-speed manual, TGMY’s version features an AC induction motor and controller from Azure Dynamics mated to a 2-speed gearbox from Shigehara Inc. The batteries that give the electric Himiko its industry-leading range are lithium polymer.

Orders are expected to be taken during the second half 2011. Hopefully by then we’ll have more details regarding specs, performance and pricing. For now, though, hit the jump for video of the car being presented by company president Takashi Ashida. Thanks to David for the tip!

[Source: Diginfo / TGMY]

Continue reading TGMY’s Mitsuoka Himiko goes electric, gets 340-mile range

TGMY’s Mitsuoka Himiko goes electric, gets 340-mile range originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota confirms Yaris HSD concept gas-electric for Geneva

Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Etc., Europe, Technology, Hatchback

2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris – Click above for image gallery

Toyota has big plans to wade into the hybridized B-segment in Europe, and it looks like we may get a peek at the automaker’s first effort in that department at the Geneva Motor Show. The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed that it will unveil its Yaris HSD Concept in March. The company is keeping the details of the concept to itself for the time being, so there’s little information on what kind of powertrain or fuel economy the car will boast when it takes a bow next month. Toyota did say that the Yaris HSD Concept will wear some very hybrid-specific design cues, so expect more than a little Prius influence outside.

While the B-segment is one of the hottest auto markets in Europe, Toyota may be facing a bit of an uphill battle with the notion of a hybrid Yaris. Buyers in the Old Country have been notoriously cold toward gasoline hybrids due to the popularity of high-efficiency diesel engines. Combine that hurdle with the difficulty of making a hybrid drivetrain affordable and Toyota will have to pull some pretty impressive tricks to make this car a viable competitor in Europe. That doesn’t mean we can’t wait to see it on the stage in Geneva, though. Hit the jump for the press release.

Gallery: 2012 Toyota Vitz/Yaris

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota confirms Yaris HSD concept gas-electric for Geneva

Toyota confirms Yaris HSD concept gas-electric for Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Electric, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz brought along a fleet of green-leaning vehicles to this year’s Detroit Auto Show. While the German automaker displayed its hydrogen B-Class F-Cell alongside a flotilla of BlueTec diesels, the SLS AMG E-Cell stole the stage. Aside from wearing the world’s most eye-searing matte-yellow paint, the electrified supercar boasts 525 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque thanks to four synchronous electric motors. The SLS AMG E-Cell wears its motors close to each wheel, skipping the unsprung mass problem of hub-mount configurations to help protect the car’s handling prowess.

Word has it that the SLS AMG E-Cell can do the 0-60 mph dance in a scant 3.7 seconds. Lithium-ion batteries handle energy storage, and regenerative braking helps keep the cells topped off between charges. Speaking of the batteries, the electric Silver Arrow wears a temperature management system just for the battery array to make sure that charging and discharging occurs in the best environment possible. Mercedes-Benz isn’t saying exactly what kind of range drivers could expect if the SLS AMG E-Cell were in production, nor do we know exactly how long it would take to charge the electric supercar. Hit the jump for the press release and get ready to order your own sometime next year.

Gallery: 2011 Detroit: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness

Detroit 2011: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is the color of electric hotness originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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