The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell all but sweeps aside any argument that electric vehicles can’t be as awesome as their petrol counterparts.

Yes, the E-Cell is frightfully expensive. And yes, range is still an issue. It is an electric vehicle — and a prototype at that — after all, and those two things remain the technology’s Achilles heel. But Mercedes has shown an electric vehicle can, by any measure, be it styling, performance, desirability or exclusivity, compete with the best vehicles currently on the road.

Consider what Mercedes has done: The E-Cell makes 392 kW and 880 N.m of torque and it can accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in four seconds. To be fair, those figures are provided by Mercedes, but they’re firmly in supercar territory.

According to Automobile magazine, the electric SLS rides on the same aluminum space frame as the conventional AMG SLS, and Mercedes was able to place the drivetrain components for optimal weight distribution. The lithium-polymer battery (no size given) sits in front of the firewall, in the center tunnel and behind the seats. That keeps mass low and centralised to improve handling. The motors — one for each wheel — are also down low.

Because there is no exhaust system, Mercedes was able to tweak the front air splitter and rear diffuser to give the car more downforce for better handling at speed. Of course it’s got regenerative braking, and ceramic composite rotors — 470 mm up front, 360 mm at the rear.

No word from either Automobile or Germany’s AutoBild — which has driven the prototype — on the battery’s output, range or recharge time, but AutoBild says it uses 324 cells. Mercedes has already said the car will see production in 2013, and AutoBild says it’ll probably run somewhere around £250 000.

Yes, it will be expensive as hell. And yes, Mercedes will probably build only a handful. But the technology almost certainly will trickle down to the hybrids and electric vehicles the rest of us will one day buy, just as other technology born of supercars — paddle shifters and traction control come to mind — now appear in cars like the Honda CR-Z hybrid.

And by building the AMG SLS E-Cell, Mercedes — like Porsche with the 918, Audi with the e-Tron and, yes, Tesla Motors with the Roadster — is showing we aren’t consigned to a future full of pedestrian EVs like the Nissan Leaf Chevrolet Volt and Coda Automotive’s self titled Coda.

Adapted from WiredAutopia

The first results of a UK-wide electric vehicle trial project have been published today, based on three months of activity by 25 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs.

The CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emissions Vehicle Demonstrators) consortium is responsible for the 25 test vehicles and found that EV drivers used their cars very much like the typical UK driver.

The average daily mileage was 37 kilometres, well within the i-MiEV’s 128 km range, while most journeys were less than 8 kilometres. The report noted that conventional petrol and diesel engines are at their most polluting, and catalytic converters are least effective, when warming up over short distances like those recorded.

The vehicles were parked for 97 percent of the time, and were left plugged in to a power source 20 percent of the time. The batteries were generally charged overnight and during school hours, allowing for substantial charging sessions both at work and at home. The EV drivers were also happy to use the cars’ entire speed range, and did not avoid motorways or high-speed areas.

Project leader of the CABLED consortium, Neil Butcher, said the drivers made an easy transition to electric vehicles. “Vehicles are quick and easy to plug in and this becomes a habit – even if the battery is still mostly full – so vehicles are usually fully charged at the start of the day. With the mass usage of vehicles, we will need to carefully consider how energy tariffs can be used to promote overnight charging and smooth demands on the grid,” Mr Butcher said.

Aston University’s Brian Price, who helped compile the results, said collecting real-world usage data of EVs through satellite mapping and analysis was essential to understanding the actual demands and requirements of EVs for consumers. “The journey data gathered is already showing that the current generation of ultra low carbon vehicles are cheap to run as well as being comparable to petrol and diesel vehicles for speed, ease of use and daily journey distance, using less than 30 percent of total charge in typical daily use. The next phase of the study will allow us to map out an optimal charging point network to further extend range and improve the convenience of electric cars,” Mr Price said.

Lead technologist in low carbon vehicles for the Technology Strategy Board’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator program, Andrew Everett, said it was encouraging to see positive data coming from the early stages of the trials. “Seven other consortia will be collecting the same sort of data from onboard computers in around 340 test vehicles. The information will be available to all and the aim is that the findings help drive innovation and development in low carbon vehicles technology as well as to inform future UK activities related to ultra low carbon vehicles,” Mr Everett said.

CABLED will roll out up to 85 additional electric and low emissions test vehicles throughout 2010, with Mercedes-Benz/Smart, Tata, Jaguar/Land Rover, LTI and Microcab industries all set to add to the fleet.

Adapted from CarAdvice

Car rental company Hertz is no stranger to special edition models, having offered unique versions of the Ford Mustang GT, Chevrolet Corvette and Lotus Elise over the years. The company’s latest fleet model, however, promises to be the greenest yet.

Hertz, the world’s largest car rental company, announced earlier this week that it will be adding the all-electric Nissan Leaf to its rental fleet. The Leaf is expected to be available in the USA later this year, with Hertz expected to add the electric car to its rental lineup in early 2011.

“We expect to have the car available in select American cities next year,” said Paula Rivera, a Hertz spokeswoman. “We’re in the process of finalising the list.”

Given the potential production bottleneck sited by Nissan recently, the initial volume available to Hertz is expected to be low. The first examples of the Leaf rentals will likely be heading to California, although no rental prices have been set.

Nissan predicts that its new 2011 Nissan Leaf will be in short supply within the first three months of sales. The Japanese automaker says that demand will outstrip supply.

Nissan said that sales may be strong due to the company’s claim that the Leaf will be cheaper to buy and operate than its main competitor – the Toyota Prius. Last year the company said they expected to have around 20 000 confirmed orders for their new electric car before it hit showrooms. If recent reports are anything to go by, Nissan was not far off their estimate, considering more than 6 600 people in the U.S. had reserved a Leaf within days after Nissan started taking reservations on April 20.

Refresher: Power for the Nissan Leaf comes from a 80 kW electric-motor that runs on power supplied by lithium-ion cells. On a full-charge, the Nissan Leaf allows for a driving range of 160 kilometers with a top speed of 140 km/h. A full charge takes up to 8 hours on a standard 200-Volt power outlet. Buyers can opt for the DC 50 kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.

Forget black cabs, VW’s latest concept proves the future of taxis is green! Called the Milano Taxi Concept and finished in the traditional green and black colours of Milan cabs, this show car made its debut this week at the Hanover Trade Show in Germany.

Intended as a study into the viability of a mass-market, zero-emissions taxi, the Milano uses a large lithium-ion battery pack mounted on the underside of the vehicle. The result is a power output of 84 kW, but thanks to a relatively low kerbweight of 1 500 kg, a top speed of 120 km/h and a range of 300 kilometres is possible on a single charge. The storage battery can readily be recharged to up to 80 percent of its total capacity in just over one hour.

But it’s not just the powertrain that’s forward thinking. Despite being short and narrow, the Milano can comfortably seat two passengers in the back. The front of the car is taken up with the driver’s seat and alongside that a storage area for bags. An LCD display mounted on the back of the drivers seat allows passengers to see an overview of the chosen route, pay the fare, or adjust the climate control functions in the back.

To promote safety, passengers can only enter and leave the vehicle on the curb side. “One door less is all the more for a taxi,” is what Walter de Silva, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Group remarked about the decision to remove the rear driver’s side door. The design team developed a new hinge mechanism for the passenger door allowing it to swing forward creating a wide and tall opening. The glass paneled roof of the vehicle takes inspiration from the Volkswagen Samba Bus of the 1950’s, although the Milano follows VW’s range of efficient Up! concepts. The open roof provides lots of light in the passenger area during the day and allows for panoramic viewing of urban architecture.

VW has confirmed that its first first all-electric vehicle will go on sale in 2013.

Audi is hopping onto the electric vehicle bandwagon with the announcement of plans for a new range of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric luxury vehicles and sports cars. Following the lead of parent company Volkswagen, Audi is striving to become the leader for alternative-powered vehicles in the luxury segment by the end of the decade.

The information comes directly from Audi’s board member for technical development, Michael Dick, who revealed to that the automaker plans to start off with several hybrid models, followed by more advanced plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles. The first will be the recently revealed Q5 and A8 hybrids, which are set for launch late this year and early 2011, respectively. These will be followed by a hybrid A6 towards the end of 2012 and potentially the automaker’s full lineup could go hybrid by the end of the decade. By 2020, Audi wants to increase the efficiency of its internal combustion engines by 30 percent and wants 5 percent of the brand’s lineup to be electric, Dick said.

After the hybrids will come the all-electric vehicles. Just like the separate Quattro GmbH, Audi has launched a new division solely for the development of its future electric and hybrid vehicles starting in 2012. The name of the division is e-tron, which Audi used for a series of electric vehicle concepts unveiled over the past 12 months, and the first models are destined to be high-performance sports cars.

Adapted from MotorAuthority

Last year Koenigsegg displayed a new 4-seater electrical car concept, this year the Quant is back, but this time at the stand of NLV Solar, the company that will further develop the electric car.

The NLV Quant has a full carbon chassis, carbon body and four electric motors producing 147 kW each. Through the use of lightweight carbon fibre, the car weighs just 1 680 kg’s and despite the heavy batteries, manages to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in a phenomenal 2.8 seconds. The four engines are placed one-per-wheel, with a torque vectoring system between them to aid with stability and agility.

The exterior of the car is covered in a thin film of pyrite, converting sunlight into energy, to supply power to the operating electronics and the battery. According to NLV Solar, the concept can be readied for production and brought to life within the next 12 months.

With 588 kW on tap and a top speed of 377 km/h, the Quant is certainly one of the most exciting concepts at Geneva this year.

Joule, the electric vehicle from South African company Optimal Energy, is on display at the 80th International Motor Show in Geneva in a form tantalisingly close to the planned production version.

Designed by South African-born Keith Helfet – well known for his design of the iconic Jaguar XJ220 – Joule has been developed from a static display model and engineering prototype into a pre-production prototype by Zagato’s Total Design Centre, and Joule deservedly forms the centrepiece of a stand at Geneva shared by Optimal Energy and the iconic Milanese design house.

The Optimal Energy-Zagato-Helfet team has made a number of changes to Joule and the car shown in Geneva is somewhat different, especially at the rear, from the version first unveiled in Paris two years ago. This car was hand-built in Port Elizabeth by Hi-Tech Automotive, which is responsible for building a marketing and test fleet of approximately 100 vehicles. These will double as research and development units, some of which will be on South African roads by the start of the Soccer World Cup in June.

Joule’s mantra is Born Electric. A key strength and differentiator of Optimal Energy is freedom from many of the constraints that affect traditional car companies. As virtually the only automotive manufacturer focused exclusively on electric cars for the mass market, everything Optimal Energy does is directed towards achieving that goal. Not only has this fresh approach led to the creation of a new kind of car, but it will ultimately also lead to a new way of buying a car and a new kind of customer ownership experience.

Full-scale production of Joule will begin at the end of 2012, with cars in showrooms by mid-2013. Key design goals for the finished product include a range of 230 kilometres based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) or 300 km using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS); integration with existing charging infrastructure; a genuine freeway cruising capability; seating for five; a 4-star NCAP safety rating and a retail price of €24 300, or roughly R260 000 at today’s exchange rate.

Optimal Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EDAG, a German automotive full service supplier, to industrialise the Joule. EDAG has built an outstanding reputation working with many well known carmakers over the past 40 years, and in partnering with EDAG, Optimal Energy is ensuring that the best of German automotive engineering will be integrated into the series production Joule.

Optimal Energy has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Energy Innovation Group (EIG), a South Korean lithium battery cell supplier, to explore the potential of setting up a manufacturing facility in South Africa, for the non-exclusive supply of cells to Optimal Energy. The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), as potential investor, is party to this Memorandum. The IDC is currently an investor in Optimal Energy.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of South Africa has just announced its 2010 – 2013 Industrial Policy Action Plan, in which the commercialisation of South Africa’s electric car is specifically addressed. This includes the provision of appropriate support to encourage local manufacture of EV’s and related components, infrastructure roll-out for such EV’s, creation of testing facilities, provision of demand stimulation mechanisms and public education on the use and benefits of alternative energy source vehicles.

These are major steps towards reaching Optimal Energy’s vision of establishing and leading the electric vehicle industry in South Africa and expanding globally.

Via Optimal Energy. Images via @HannesO_CARmag

The Vauxhall Ampera will be unveiled along with Vauxhall Meriva compact MPV at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

The Ampera, which is scheduled for production late next year, is a five-door, four-seater with same design DNA as the latest Astra and Insignia. The Ampera uses extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) technology, or E-REV. This means the Ampera will use electricity as its primary power source, supplemented by a small engine to generate electricity for its motors when electric power runs low. This helps the Ampera overcome the ‘range anxiety’ issues associated with pure electric cars.

Details about the Ampera, such as a proposed range, top speed or charging cycle, have not been disclosed but expect these and other questions to be answered at Geneva in March.

An all-electric version of the new Jaguar XJ has been created in reaction to the emergence of zero-carbon zones in cities across the globe.

A senior insider told UK’s Autocar, that Jaguar Land Rover envisages some of the world’s most important cities gradually introducing zero-emissions and zero-pollution zones. All vehicles unable to run purely on batteries would be banned from the area. According to the insiders, only a self-charging electric car could have sufficient zero-emissions range to be practical transport in such scenarios. Although some conventional hybrids do have the ability to run purely on battery power, their electric-only range is limited to few miles.

It’s thought that the electric XJ will be powered by a 145 kW, 400 N.m electric motor, fuelled by a lithium-ion battery pack. The batteries will be topped up by a 35 kW, 1,2-litre, three-cylinder generator designed by Lotus, specifically for self-charging electric vehicles. This drivetrain is claimed to offer a range of 960 kilometers, plus combined fuel economy of 5.0 l/100km, sub-120g/km of CO2 and a top speed of 179 km/h.

Jaguar sources also say the handling and performance of the electric XJ is likely to surprise people “because of the bulk that’s removed from car when you strip out the conventional drivetrain”. If, as many expect, future Range Rover models are based on the same floor and crash structure as the new X351-series XJ, the same technology could be applied to the company’s SUVs. Jaguar and Lotus are now developing the technology with financial help from the British government’s Technology Strategy Board. Lord Drayson, the Minister of Science, told stated last year that electric cars would play a “huge part in the future of motoring in this country”.

Adapted from AutoCar

According to a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Tesla Motors is planning to raise as much as US$100 Million in capital through the aide of public investors. While the entire auto industry is facing difficult times, Tesla hopes that they will be able to supplement the $465 Million loan from the federal government and claim a lasting stake in the new car market by increasing the public’s awareness about their intent to mass produce electric vehicles for a wide range of consumers.

The California based manufacturer is currently offering a lineup of only two cars, with the $100 000 Tesla Roadster leading the charge and the $60 000 Model S sedan following closely behind. By opening themselves up to public investors with an IPO, the electric car manufacturer is adding another element of uncertainty to their plans in an already unstable new car market. However, Telsa co-founder and CEO, Elon Musk, is no stranger to taking chances.

For example, when he decided to head in a different direction than the competition at Fisker Automotive by opening up a network of owned and operated freestanding dealerships, which gave him more control over the sales and service of his new products. Despite the expansion costs, moving from their California outlets to a host of major US cities and beyond, hasn’t taken a toll on the electric car builder so far.

However, new has recently surfaced that Tesla Motors plans to cease production of their flagship Roadster until 2013. This means the 2012 four door Model S will be left as the sole product to get the automaker through their period of public investment. It is believed that the decision was made due to the fact that Lotus are preparing for the next generation Elise, the vehicle upon which the Tesla Roadster is based, leaving the American manufacturer with a bit of downtime before they come back with an all new Roadster for 2013.

Adapted from TopSpeed

GM will be selling the Chevrolet Volt later this year for a price tag in the low US$30 000’s, and turn a profit on each car, according to chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre, Jr. The large lithium-ion battery packs contribute greatly to the car being a rather expensive one to produce, and had made the starting price a point of concern.

In 2007 vice-chairman Bob Lutz had thrown out a goal of under US$30 000, and that number was later adjusted to reflect a concern of higher production costs. Since that time however, Congress has passed legislation that will give initial Volt buyers a US$7 500 tax credit, and media speculation has thrown out figures as high as US$40k.

Whitacre settled these concerns in a recent interview, as well as the rumor that the first generation will be sold at a loss. “We’re not in business to lose money,…We did enough of that already.” said Whitacre. The Volt “is going to sell in the low 30’s,” he added. “We’ll get a margin on that.”

Adapted from egmCarTech

Green is everywhere this year at the Detroit Auto Show. A sea of hybrids and electric vehicles has flooded the show floor — and every single manufacturer is responsible. This overflow of fuel-efficient automobiles promises big things for the future of mobility. To illustrate the trend, 7 out of our top 10 are either fully electric or hybrid powered vehicles. Here they are the in alphabetical order:

Audi e-tron

Audi executives claim that the “e-tron” name, which will soon designate the brand’s electric vehicles, will become as widely recognized as “quattro” in just a few years. In the meantime, they showcased a second e-tron prototype in the form of a TT-sized two-seater with a pair of 150 kW lithium-ion batteries. The available range is 250 kilometres in optimum conditions. The chassis is made of aluminum, just like the body panels, except for the doors, hood and trunk lid (carbon fibre). With 0-100 km/h times of under 6 seconds, this mean green machine obviously idolizes the R8 supercar.
Will it go into production? Audi say it’ll reach the production lines in 2012, although expect a more “civilized” variant. Read more…

BMW ActiveE

Disguised as a stylish 1-Series coupe, the ActiveE concept uses an electric drive system delivering 125 kilowatt and 249 N.m of torque as soon as you dip the throttle. The car sprints from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.5 seconds and from 0 to 100 in less than 9 seconds. Only three hours are needed for a full charge of the lithium-ion battery, which provides a range of up to 160 kilometres (in gentle driving, of course).
Will it go into production? Later this year, select BMW customers will take delivery of pre-production models for evaluation purposes. By 2015, a first production electric car will hit the market.

BYD e6

The electric crossover van from BYD is not new. Actually, the model made its debut at this very same event a year ago, flashing its exclusive lithium-ion iron phosphate battery.
Will it go into production? Market release is scheduled for late 2010, an ambitious goal for a company that also aspires to become the leading car maker in China within the next 5 years and across the globe within the next 15! Representatives explained that early availability would be limited to a few hundred units. I guess they believe in the old Tibetan proverb which goes something like this: “Slow oxen, patient land”!

Cadillac XTS

Cadillac signals its intention to kill two birds (DTS and STS sedans) with one stone (XTS). This new plug-in hybrid concept using a 3,6-litre, direct-injected V6 makes a bold statement with the brand’s latest design cues and marks a radical departure from your grandfather’s Fleetwood. Of course, a production model based on the XTS would likely do without the fancy 20-inch wheels.
Will it go into production? Yes! Announced as a 2012 model, it will share many similarities with the XTS shown in Detroit. Watch the video…

Chrysler Delta

The Chrysler Delta is nothing more than a marketing ploy to gauge US consumer interest in a large hatchback. In fact, you may want to call it a rebadged Lancia Delta. At least the company didn’t stamp an “Imperial” logo on the trunk of a Maserati Quattroporte! Viva Italia!
Will it go into production? Forget it.

Ford Focus

The next-generation Focus has been designed and engineered in Germany as a true “global” car. Under the bonnet is a 2,0-litre, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine combining advanced direct injection with turbocharging, not to mention a 6-speed, twin-clutch PowerShift transmission. An electric variant is also being developed. What an evolution from the old Tempo!
Will it go into production? Yes. The car will arrive in showrooms in early 2011. Read more…

GMC Granite

GM’s first counter-strike to Toyota’s Scion might not wear a golden bowtie after all. The GMC Granite concept is shorter than the Chevrolet HHR and reportedly rides on a variant of the Cruze’s platform. The side doors swing in opposite directions to provide generous access to the cabin. Young folks should love it!
Will it go into production? GM stays mum for now. Better keep your fingers crossed! Watch the video…

Honda CR-Z

The CR-Z is the first affordable AND roomy hybrid two-seater for the city. It’s also a fun and sporty alternative to the iconic smart fortwo. Fuel economy is a bit lower, though, with a Jazz-derived 1,5-litre engine mated to Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology. A 6-speed manual gearbox and a CVT will be available.
Will it go into production? The CR-Z has already been announced for mid-2010! Read more…

Toyota FT-CH

Here’s what a scaled-down Prius might look like. Such an addition to the Toyota lineup would fall under the “Hybrids-Purely Hybrids” category. The manufacturer claims that hybrid car buyers look to stand out and make a statement with their rides, hence the need for a stand-out car. Penned by Toyota’s French design studio, the FT-CH is both shorter and wider than a Yaris. As for power, the engine bay remains empty… for now.
Will it go into production? Toyota executives say no, but should we believe them? Read more..

Volkswagen NCC

Volkswagen is quickly becoming a master in the fine art of mouth-watering car design. With the NCC (“New Compact Coupe”), the Wolfsburg-based manufacturer gives a small preview of the future Jetta and points to the possible addition of a two-door model. In keeping with the theme of this year’s NAIAS, the NCC relies on a thrifty hybrid powertrain which combines a tiny but spirited 4-cylinder (both supercharged and turbocharged) with a battery-fed electric motor. Total output is rated at 130 kW, enough to reach 100 km/h in just a tad over 8 seconds.
Will it go into production? Let’s hope so. Read more…

Adapted from Auto123

Audi has unveiled yet another version of its e-tron electric über coupé at the Detroit Motor Show. But unlike past events purely showcasing the car, Audi has revealed a production date. 2012 is when they say their Tesla rival will enter production.

The new e-tron functions much like designs on-show at Frankfurt and Los Angeles. For example, the latest e-tron retains the two electric motors delivering a combined 150kW and the 45 kWh li-ion battery pack that Audi claimed will be good for a “realistic” 240 km range. Drive will be sent to all four wheels, with a 60:40 split in favour of the rear. The car’s top speed will be electronically limited to 200 km/h. Apart from the obvious styling changes made to e-tron’s front-end between the various models, the latest car is a whopping 250 kg lighter than before and just over 203 mm shorter than its petrol-powered R8 brother. The improved packaging and diet will see the e-tron hit 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and cover a 60 – 120 km/h sprint in just over five seconds.

Audi has also confirmed that ‘e-tron’ will become a sub-brand eventually filled with a range of alternative models. Ford now though, Audi is keeping quiet about details of what these ‘alteranative models’ could be, as well as the potential price of its 2012 e-tron.

Who says SUV’s have to be gas-guzzlers? Bavarian Porsche tuners, RUF, have turned their hand to the Cayenne to produce an all electric model, known as the Stormster.

The zero-emissions SUV becomes the firm’s second electric model, following their battery powered, 911-based ‘Greenster’ concept, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009.

Both cars share a 266 kW electric motor, but where the lightweight Greenster can reach 100 km/h in 5 seconds, the Stormster’s huge 2 670 kg kerb-weight means the sprint time is double that.

Equally affected is the car’s top speed, which is a very un-RUF 148 km/h .

Performance isn’t the main focus of the Stormster though, and as an electric car the big SUV boasts some impressive figures.

Thanks to its innovative ‘Li-Tec’ battery pack with ceramic storage, the car can be fully charged from a high-output 400V power supply in one hour and will go 200 km before needing to be topped up.

Reports suggest that the electric SUV will be produced in small numbers, available either with the standard Cayenne body or RUF’s more aggressive ‘Stormster grün’ kit, complete with bright green paint and a raft of styling updates.

Given it’s green credentials, the Stormster was fittingly unveiled at the European Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.

Adapted from AutoExpress