National Drive Electric Week already up to 122 scheduled events

National Drive Electric Week

The basis of National Drive Electric Week is that the enthusiastic owners of electric vehicles are EV's best advocates and the key to gaining widespread adoption. Some states created early incentives or benefited from federal programs that have helped drive EV ownership. In those states, we tend to have strong EV owner communities and participation in National Drive Electric Week.

In other states, it's both more of a challenge and a tremendous opportunity to kick start outreach and build EV momentum. This month, we'd like to recognize some of the National Drive Electric Week events that are taking place in states that are just getting started with EV ownership.

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, as of 2013, California led the nation with one plug-in electric vehicle for every 181 registered vehicles, Hawaii was in second place with 1 in 237 and Washington rounded out the top three with 1 in 295.

In Kansa s, only 1 in 1921 registered vehicles is electric, yet Al Pugsley is organizing two events in the Kansas City area Overland Park and Prairie Village and Shawn Schmidt is getting an event started in Wichita.

In South Carolina, with just 1 in 2228 vehicles having plugs, James Haberberger is leading an event in Bluffton, Richard Williams an event in Charleston, and Phillip Washington in Columbia.

Idaho has 1 EV for every 2304 vehicles and an event in Boise led by Edwina Allen.

In Oklahoma (1 in 2368), John Gallagher put Oklahoma City on the event map.

Kentucky (1 in 2991) has two events going in Jeffersontown. James Maddox is leading one on September 13th and Jon Tyson has a three-day event going at the Gaslight Festival the following weekend.

In Alabama (1 in 3069), Jeff Baker is organizing a Huntsville event in the Redstone Energy Demonstration Park.

Louisiana, with just 1 EV for every 4121 vehicles, has the lowest EV adoption rate of all the state s that (so far) have a 2015 National Drive Electric Week event, and they have two events! Michael Epper is organizing an event in Shreveport and Lauren Lambert-Tompkins is getting an event started in Baton Rouge.

The organizers listed above can use the support of the existing electric vehicle drivers and supporters in their area. Please consider bringing your electric vehicle or your enthusiasm to these events. You can volunteer on the event page for any of the events.

We currently have events organized or being planned in 31 states. The states that don't have events range from Connecticut with 1 electric vehicle in 822 vehicles to Mississippi with just 1 in 5563. Check out the event map. If your state doesn't yet have an event, there's still time to organize one!

Source: National Drive Electric Week already up to 122 scheduled events

Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Ferry For Bay Area, Electric Ferry In Norway

Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are beginning to hit California roads in small numbers, and soon one or more will be traversing its waters too.

Sandia National Laboratories and the Red and White Fleet ferry company plan to operate a "high-speed" hydrogen fuel-cell ferry boat in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The project will also require the world's largest hydrogen fueling station, the partners say.

DON'T MISS: Electric Boats: As In Cars, Battery Power Offers Advantages On The Water (Aug 2014)

Called the SF BREEZE--for "San Francisco Bay Renewable Energy Electric vessel with Zero Emissions"--the boat will be purpose built, rather than converted from an existing vessel.

It was determined that modifying an existing passenger ferry would not be practical.

The fuel cells and hydrogen storage tanks that will be used will be heavier than a comparable internal-combustion propulsion system, so one of the project's goals will be to create a suitable design to accommodate them.

The boat will also be fast--all the better to compete with cars, public transportation, and other ferries.

Funding for a feasibility study will be furnished by the U.S. Maritime Administration, while naval architecture firm Elliot Bay Design Group will design the vessel, with input from the U.S. Coast Guard and Bureau of Ships.

All of the entities involved believe fuel cells have a place on the waves.

ALSO SEE: Zillion-Dollar Super-Luxury 270-Foot Mega-Yachts Now Run Hybrid Too

They claim fuel-cell ships will not only reduce air pollution, but also lessen the risk of environmental contamination from fuel spills.

Of course, like fuel cell cars, a fuel-cell ferry will need a source of hydrogen.

The SF BREEZE will consume an estimated 1,000 kilograms (2,204 pounds) of hydrogen per day, and will be supported by a station that can dispense 1,500 kilograms (3,306 pounds) per day.

That will make this station about twice the size of the current largest hydrogen fueling station in the world, officials say. It will also be the first of its kind to support both land and marine use.

Program backers hope the economy of scale from dispensing such large amounts of hydrogen will lower overall prices on the local market, too.

Once an initial feasibility study is completed, design and construction of the ferry boat and fueling station will start.

The parties involved did not discuss a timeline for the launch of hydrogen-powered ferry service, but noted that they will need to secure additional funding for it to proceed.

Source: Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Ferry For Bay Area, Electric Ferry In Norway

This High-Performance Electric Vehicle Kit Can Be Built in a Week

Photo by Sam Euston

What started as an idea to produce our own simple, fun, affordable electric vehicle has evolved into a DIY project easily assembled by nearly anyone. The Switch defines a new class of auto — a lightweight, high-capacity, versatile electric vehicle (EV) that requires minimal resources to construct, assemble, and drive. It can be built in a single-car garage on jack stands, or even in a classroom — all you need is a small box of tools and a 6½-foot door, so it can drive out.

The Switch Lab

3-phase AC motor attached to swing arm. Photo by Sam Euston.

Get Switched On—Specs and Options—DIY kit $14,000–$30,000 complete, depending on performance and range options; $6,950 without electrical componentsSporty rack-and-pinion steering; center, left-, or right-hand driver positionAccepts wide range of DC and AC motors3-wheel disc brakes, independent front and rearRegenerative braking (with AC motor option)Batteries: Lead-acid or lithium-ion, 10kWh–30kWhRange: 45–135 miles (depending on battery option)Charge time: 2.25 hours per 45 miles, for about $1 (220V 30A power outlet)Gas mileage equivalent: 151 mpgeTop speed: Over 100mph (with AC motor option)Acceleration: 0–60mph in 9 seconds (or faster with gearing options)Turn radius: 38′ or lessWeight: 1,350lbs (3-seater option)Chain drive standard, belt drive optionalStreet legal, registered as a motorcycle — but doesn't require helmet or motorcycle driver's license!

It all starts in The Switch Lab — a complete DIY kit and education system consisting of workshops, written and video instructions, detailed plans, and all the parts. This all-inclusive package enables individuals, schools, or businesses to assemble their own version of the EV. (Skilled builders can go it alone with just a DIY kit.)

The Switch Lab workshops help educators and builders gain the confidence and understanding to complete the project. Teachers appreciate how our workshops break a complex technology into clear step-by-step modules. They're also pleased with the optional curriculum — a classroom and lab in a box. "It's really plug and play," said Roger Pressley of Central Academy of Technology and Arts in Monroe, North Carolina. "Any school can do this, regardless of the tools or shop facility. You can start with any space."

Students seem invigorated by the course, and some are asking if they can build the Switch as a business. Whether they become Makers, welders, or engineers, the hands-on learning gives them lifelong lessons, building self-confidence and real-world skills. "It's not just a high school class, it's something you take with you," commented a student from Venture Academy in California.

The Driving Experience

Under the dash: dual brake pedals, steering linkages, and accelerator — step on it, but don't call it a gas pedal. Photo by Sam Euston.

The Switch drives like a Formula One car, hugging the ground and protecting you with a NASCAR-style roll cage. The open cockpit provides an exhilarating experience and excellent visibility for safety. Separate front and rear braking systems enable advanced sport driving techniques.

And, incredibly, you can build it in a week! The chassis is laser-cut, welded tubular steel, and the wiring is professionally terminated, numbered, and color-coded — all ready to be assembled.

Customizing the Switch

Imagine bolting on a pickup bed, camper shell, or racks. Select a custom seating arrangement from one to four. Choose from various DC or AC motors for performance options defining power, speed, and regenerative braking. Pick your battery system — budget lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion, from 10kWh to 30kWh battery packs. Adjust the suspension for low, road-hugging traction, or set it high and firm for hauling loads. There are so many options, and you get to decide.

Driving Into the Future

In January 2015, 12 teachers completed training at our facility, where they assembled two vehicles in one week. Photo by Peter Oliver.

We imagine Makers taking the Switch Lab process into global markets via micro-manufacturing, tailored to local needs and fueled by regional green power sources. The manufacturing model deepens as regional economies develop, starting with a fully welded chassis kit and expanding into welding or laser-cutting parts to spec as the market grows.

The Switch is designed to move people into another world, a world of voluntary simplicity, respect for the environment and the needs of others. It helps start the transition conversation.

And it's truly a Maker vehicle, ready for the full range of builders. Computer programmers, carpenters, men, women, high school and college students — even auto mechanics — have successfully assembled and understand the Switch. There's no other EV that starts as an affordable project and becomes a sporty utility or off-road transport that you make yourself.

For more information about the Switch EV and the Switch Lab, visit theswitchlab.com.

Peter Oliver

Peter is a co-founder of Switch Vehicles. He taught college students how to convert gas cars to electric, and converted many classic vehicles with his company Make Mine Electric.

Jim McGreen

Jim is a co-founder of Switch Vehicles. He started Electrathon racing in the early '90s and founded ZAP (Zero Air Pollution), the first electric bike company in 1991. Jim also invented the Zappy micro scooter which sold more than 30,000 units.

Source: This High-Performance Electric Vehicle Kit Can Be Built in a Week

Mahindra Reva Unveils All-Electric Mahindra e2o: Company prices the vehicle at INR 5.59 lakh

The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme envisages providing demand incentives to electric and hybrid vehicles -- from two-wheeler to buses -- in range of INR 1,800 to INR 66 lakh. In addition, the customer has to pay a fixed monthly e2o care protection plan of INR 2,999 for 5 years which is valid for 50,000 kms, he said.

"It is our humble effort to make electric vehicles more accessible and easy to use for our customers in this city. We will keep our innovation quotient high to create an entire ecosystem to sustain a clean and green environment for a better tomorrow," he said.

Also, the timely intervention of the Central Government through the FAME scheme was a definitive boost to the EV industry in India and has put into motion better affordability for electric vehicles, he said. Refusing to elaborate on the operational break-even, he said the company is currently selling about 100 units a month.

PTI

Source: Mahindra Reva Unveils All-Electric Mahindra e2o: Company prices the vehicle at INR 5.59 lakh

Electric Car Sales Accelerate in Beijing

BAIC BJEV, which has a 66-percent of the electric vehicle market in Beijing, sold 6,223 electric cars in the first half of 2015. The company shifted 5,510 electric cars in the whole of last year.

The government has made electric cars more appealing by offering subsidies. In the lotteries through which many Chinese cities allocate number plates, drivers also have a far better chance of getting a plate for an electric car than for a regular vehicle.

One major electric vehicle store said customers need to wait a month after down payment to get the popular EV200 model.

Tesla, which already has 10 stores in China, told Xinhua it would open at least one more before the end of this year.

Regulators and carmakers are also pushing to build more charging stations for electric cars. BAIC is planning to build charging stations in SINOPEC petrol stations in Beijing. The charging process should take about three minutes, it said.

Xu Heyi, chairman of BAIC Group, has forecast that China will become the world's biggest electric car market in 2016, or probably this year, Xinhua reported.

Source: Electric Car Sales Accelerate in Beijing

AWD Electric Car Beats Tesla P90D Acceleration, Built By German Student Team (Video)

Electric-car advocates know that a seamless rush of maximum torque from 0 rpm is one of the secret advantages of using an electric motor to power a vehicle.

And that fact--most publicly shown off by the Tesla Model S P85D performance model, and now by its even faster successor, the P90D--has pretty much eradicated those tedious "slow nerdy golf cart" comments from public discussions of electric cars.

DON'T MISS: Tesla Model S P85D 'Insane' Mode: NSFW Video Shows How Fast It Really Is

So what does it take to build an electric car with even better acceleration than a Tesla P90D?

One way to do it is to eliminate four of the five seating positions and most of the bodywork, but hang onto the all-wheel drive that lets all four wheels deliver maximum traction to the ground.

2015 Tesla Model S P85D vs Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG at drag strip [photo: George Parrott]

Enlarge Photo

As a team of students from Germany's University of Stuttgart shows, all it takes is a powerful motor, a battery pack that can deliver maximum current for less than a minute, and ... voila ... you can build a Tesla beater.

Specifically, the Green Team Formula single-seat drag racing car can cover 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (0 to 62 miles per hour) in a mere 1.779 seconds.

ALSO SEE: Too Much Electric-Car Torque: Tesla Model S P85D Breaks Dynamometer (Video)

That's equal to and probably slightly better than the fastest of today's Formula 1 cars.

And it's better, as Motor Authority notes, than the 0-to-60-mph times for the skeletal V8-powered Ariel Atom (2.3 seconds) and the plug-in hybrid Porsche 918 Spyder supercar (2.5 seconds). As for the new Tesla Model S P90D, it takes an agonizingly long 2.8 seconds.

To be fair, it would appear that the Green Team Formula drag racer isn't street-legal, and probably couldn't do more than a few miles even at a more normal rate of speed.

A Top Fuel dragster can do 0-to-60-mph in something like half a second, but they're even more single-purpose than the electric drag racer (and far heavier: the German car comes in at a mere 350 pounds).

That degree of acceleration requires a carefully constructed seating position to brace the driver against G-forces significantly higher than the force of gravity.

MORE: Tesla Model S Owner Laps 'Ring In A Respectable 9:01: Video

The only in-class competitor we can think of, in fact, is the notorious White Zombie. That's an old Datsun 1200 economy car re-engineered as an all-electric drag racer.

Its best 0-to-60-mph time thus far is about 1.8 seconds.

Let the games begin.

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Source: AWD Electric Car Beats Tesla P90D Acceleration, Built By German Student Team (Video)

Eagle County lets electric cars strut their stuff at Tesla test drive

EAGLE — There are lots of good reasons to drive a Tesla, ranging from thumbing our collective noses at terrorist states who've vowed to bomb us back to the Stone Age (where they currently live) to loving our planet with a great big squishy hug.

Also, it's really fast, and that's the most American reason.

America, the country that invented the V-8 engine, rock 'n' roll and the electric guitar, is perfecting the electric car.

At the Eagle County Building this week, you had the opportunity to drive a Tesla. Relax, it won't be your last opportunity.

It's Tesla time

Monday's confab was two-pronged.

County officials wanted to show off their new Chevy Volt. They bought it with a grant from the state energy department and turned it over to the county's department of Child, Family and Adult Services for a pilot program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g03mLL1oMBw&feature=youtu.be

The grant also covered the cost of a charging station at the Eagle County Building.

When the Volt is gone, which is most of the day, the public is welcome to use the charging station, said John Gitchell, head Eagle County's Actively Green Team.

The Volt goes about 40 miles on a battery charge, and since they do lots of short trips to check on their people, it's working out fine, Gitchell said. Occasionally they have to go to Denver, and one case takes them to Utah. The gas generator kicks in with its 11 gallon tank, and it gets about 55 mpg with a range of about 400 miles, Gitchell said.

The Volt is essentially a gas-powered small SUV with electric motors added on. Those of us who remember the Carter administration will recall environmental gear shoe-horned into American cars, sort of the same way the electric drive gear is part of the Chevy Volt and Toyota Priuses. The county has 20 of those.

Ludicrous mode

The Volt and the Priuses get a nice participation ribbon for playing on the electric car team.

The Tesla, though, is an honest-to-eyeball popping super car.

We got in the Tesla Model PS85D with Michael Horvath, an engineer with the county, and Steffan Rowe, a Tesla sales guy who put us behind the wheel and let the car sell itself. The PS has gotta stand for "pretty spectacular."

Teslas are sporting new and better batteries, manufactured in their new Reno, Nevada, battery plant. It's 6,000 jobs in a plant that's completely solar powered — off the grid.

It goes about 270 miles on a charge, but here's the better part:

The PS85D now has three power modes.

Sport mode gets you 525 horsepower.

Insane mode generates 691 horsepower.

There's now a Ludicrous mode that generates 768 horsepower. It'll go from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds … fast enough to outrun most good intentions.

"Why?" we hear you ask. Because they like tinkering with stuff, and it wasn't all that complicated. They invented a fuse about the size of your thumb and changed the battery contacts. That's it.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that in Ludicrous mode, the car will accelerate in a straight line at 1.1 g, which is more force than you'd feel when falling.

Brush Creek butt kickin'

We took it out Brush Creek Road at well above the posted speed limit. The road looks sort of like a well-paved can of malaria germs — the perfect place to flog the Tesla.

The battery is really 7,000 batteries located under the floor. It keeps the weight low in the car and makes the handling supercar good.

You put it on a curve and it sticks like it's on rails. No drift, no body roll.

It runs at the speed of smiles.

There are only 24 moving parts in the drivetrain. The first major motor maintenance is at 500,000 miles.

"We expect these to go millions of miles," Rowe said.

Musk says he has "no clue" if these technology updates will boost sales. "We're just trying to make awesome cars," he said.

Tesla is bringing out a cheaper Model S. The 70-kWh version of the Model S is rear-wheel drive and sells for $5,000 less than the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive 70D, the previous base model. It's $70,000 before incentives. You can spend up to $125,000.

Colorado gives you a $6,500 rebate. The federal government gives you a tax break of around $7,000, depending on how much you owe.

"Electric motors use energy more efficiently than internal combustion engines and have zero tail-pipe emissions," Gitchell said. "While gasoline comes from oil, electricity comes from many sources including natural gas, coal and renewable solar, wind and hydroelectric."

Two things are true about gasoline.

1. It's going to keep getting more expensive.

2. We're going to keep buying it as long as we have to.

Which leads us back to electric cars. New power plants using renewable energy are being built, and generating electricity is becoming even more efficient, Gitchell said.

"The efficiency, quiet operation and low emissions of electric vehicles can help to improve the quality of our local environment," Gitchell said.

Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 and rwyrick@vaildaily.com.

Source: Eagle County lets electric cars strut their stuff at Tesla test drive

Startup car company teases a futuristic, connected electric car

Beyond having four wheels, Faraday Future's first vehicle may have very little in common with the average automobile on the streets today. At least that's what the California-based tech startup is promising as it drums up interest for an electric car it intends to launch in 2017. It is designing that car behind a vision of "clean, connected, smart mobility for all."

Faraday Future wants the world to call it "FF", but that's just way too close to Ferrari's shooting-brake, so we'll keep referring to it as Faraday Future or Faraday. The company teased its first car this month and is making bold proclamations of an auto industry shakeup comparable in scale to the introduction of the internet. "The greatest leaps in evolution require revolution," its website reads. We'll reserve our excitement for the day when Faraday offers up actual details about what type of car it's designing.

What we do know is that it promises to introduce an all-electric car in 2017. Beyond that, the startup is sticking to generalities like "fully connected" and "personalized in ways you've never even considered possible." Based upon those vague descriptors and the general direction the auto industry is going, we're expecting to see some serious automated technology inside and out, along with a powerful electric drive system. That's assuming we see anything at all.

It's usually easy to dismiss startups with bold proclamations of revolution, or at least put them on a permanent back burner until they've actually revealed something of substance. Faraday Future is raising eyebrows, however, thanks to the team it's developed since its founding last year. Two former Lotus employees created the vision, and Faraday claims to have pulled together a hundreds-strong team with all kinds of experience in the technology and automotive sectors. According to Motor Trend, its employees have previously worked on projects like the Tesla Model S, Chevy Volt and BMW i.

Putting the right employees together is a great start, but that in no way guarantees success. Henrik Fisker was a highly esteemed car designer with experience at Aston Martin and BMW prior to founding his ill-fated green car company. There have been plenty of other electric-car failures, and even industry darling Tesla went years without sniffing a profit. Maybe Faraday Future will lead an automotive revolution, but it's just likely to disappear without so much as carving its name into a wooden bench.

At the very least, Faraday should provide a nice rendered and/or modeled concept car. Its initial sketches promise a rather futuristic design with rounded glasshouse and large wheels. The company doesn't hint at whether it'll reveal more information before 2017, but you can sign up to its mailing list on its website.

Given the LA Auto Show's proximity and focus on green tech, it seems like a good venue for a concept car debut, perhaps this year or in 2016. Or maybe Faraday will follow Tesla in making an announcement outside of the major auto shows. Or maybe we'll never hear another peep about its groundbreaking connected, electric car ever again.

Source: Faraday Future

Source: Startup car company teases a futuristic, connected electric car

Norway Leads The World's Market For Electric Vehicles [Infographic]

Norway is leading the world's electric vehicle market, having registered its 50,000th electric car in April of this year. In the first quarter of 2015, 8,112 plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were sold in Norway, accounting for a third of the country's total vehicle registrations, according to IHS Automotive. 

Compared to other countries, that is quite an achievement. The Netherlands sold 5,760 electric vehicles in Q1, and these accounted for a 5.7 percent share of all registrations, some distance behind Norway's 33.1 percent. In the United States and France, electric cars had a 0.8 percent share of registrations.

For Norway, the positive sales are actually turning out to be a little bit too positive. The government has offered a number of tax cuts and benefits as an incentive, including exemptions from tolls and parking fees in some cases. However, the subsidy-driven sales boom has actually created a tax shortfall of 2 billion crowns ($267.79 million), according to Reuters. 

Norway is now reviewing its policy of tax breaks for electric car buyers amid the shortfall in state revenue, though the government has stressed that benefits will remain in place to ensure the success continues. Even though electric vehicles enjoyed that 33 percent sales share in Q1, they account for a mere 2 percent of all cars on Norway's roads. Still, in most other countries, they only account for a fraction of a percent.

*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)

Source: Norway Leads The World's Market For Electric Vehicles [Infographic]

Apple hires ex-Chrysler quality chief, triggers more Apple Car speculation

Apple recently hired a high-ranking official from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), triggering renewed speculation about the tech giant's rumored electric-car project.

Doug Betts is the former head of global quality, but now works for Apple, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is an expert in automotive manufacturing, according to Automotive News. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which noted that it is unclear whether Betts will work on anything car-related, or on an existing product line instead.

Betts' LinkedIn profile shows that he joined Apple this month, but only says that he is involved in "operations." He spent about 35 years in the auto industry, working for Nissan and Toyota before coming to Chrysler.

Earlier this year, Apple also hired Paul Furgale, a Swiss autonomous-vehicle researcher. Frugal previously led the Autonomous Systems Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), as well as a European Commission project to develop self-parking vehicles. He is reportedly recruiting students and researchers to work with him at Apple.

A trail of hirings is the most visible evidence of Apple's mysterious car research, known as "Project Titan." Earlier this year, battery maker A123 Systems filed a suit against Apple, accusing the Silicon Valley company of poaching key employees. A123 previously supplied batteries to Fisker Automotive, and makes electric-car batteries for the Chinese market.

Of course, Apple hasn't confirmed any plans to build an electric car publicly, or even hinted officially at any interest in the car business. That hasn't stopped legions of analysts and tech fans from dreaming about the possibilities, though.

With no confirmation from Apple that "Project Titan" is a go, it's hard to say exactly what an Apple Car would be like, how it would be different from the scores of other models already available, and whether people will actually want it if an when it actually appears.

Source: Apple hires ex-Chrysler quality chief, triggers more Apple Car speculation

Apple Hires Former Chrysler Exec As Electric Car Rumors Heat Up

If Apple wants to quell speculation about its rumored efforts to develop an electric car, the consumer electronics behemoth is going about it the wrong way. Apple hired quality manager Doug Betts from Fiat Chrysler this month and is keeping mum about his role in the company. This comes after Apple hired a key researcher from Mercedes-Benz earlier this year. 

Apple is working on a car-related project known as CarPlay, but the industry has been awash in speculation that the company is working on more than just a complex entertainment system for your vehicle. The rumored car project is believed to be called "Titan."

Apple appears to have hired a number of auto-industry experts and is rumored to have created a team of 200 or more to develop its electric car. On top of that, a battery maker in Massachusetts sued Apple at the beginning of the year, alleging that Apple was poaching employees in an effort to build an in-house battery development operation. Such a battery program would be a major component of any effort on Apple's part to build an electric car. 

The field for long-range electric cars isn't particularly crowded, but the main players have years of experience in comparison to Apple, who is likely still a few years out from truly entering the market – if it is, in fact, seeking to build a car. Companies like Elon Musk's Tesla Motors, Chevy and Ford. Apple and Tesla have a history of poaching employees from each other, with Musk contending that his company has been winning the battle of wooing talent. 

Apple's hiring of Betts will be an interesting one for th ose who hope Apple is really developing an electric car. The former Fiat executive was responsible for quality and had wide-ranging authority in the company for the past six years. At Apple, it seems likely that he'd be overseeing the launch of another vehicle. 

Source: Apple Hires Former Chrysler Exec As Electric Car Rumors Heat Up

Renault: In June, 3,900 Renault Electric Cars Were Sold

2 hours ago by Eric Loveday

Renault Tweet

According to Renault, 3,900 of its plug-in electric cars were sold in June 2015.

For Renault, this figure represents the highest single-month volume of all time for electric car sales for the automaker.

The vast majority of Renault's plug-in sales come courtesy of ZOE, which is now available with or without that battery pack in most countries.

For more info on Renault's strong year of plug-in electric car sales, click here.

Tags: renault, renault sales

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Source: Renault: In June, 3,900 Renault Electric Cars Were Sold

7 Hybrid Vehicles That Get 40 MPG Or Better Without A Plug

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NEW YORK (MainStreet) –- When you can plug in and recharge can batteries and do without gas altogether, it's easy to lose sight of just how efficient the hybrid engine has become.

Once the lauded, eco-friendly mileage king of dealer lots, the hybrid electric-combustion engine is losing some of its luster. Tesla actively targets Toyota Prius drivers and is getting closer to the Prius's price after announcing a Model 3 that will sell $35,000 when it's finally finished. That doesn't factor in $7,500 in federal electric vehicle incentives, which drop its price closer to $27,500, but that's still a lot more affordable than Tesla's Model S and its starting price of nearly $70,000.

General Motors, meanwhile, is revamping its quiet-but-underwhelming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and announced the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle at this year's Detroit Auto Show. GM claims the latter will offer 200 miles of electric range for $30,000 after incentives. That's actually 65 miles less than the Tesla Model S, but it's also considerably less expensive than Tesla's only offering -- which won't be followed up by the Model X until later this year or by the Model 3 until 2016 at the earliest. It's also more than double the range of the current fleet of non-Tesla electric vehicles, which is led by Toyota's Rav 4 EV crossover and its nearly $50,000 price tag.

This is all making hybrid vehicles look like stopgap measures, which isn't too far from the truth. Consider that the revived Mitsubishi Mirage gets 44 miles per gallon on the highway and combined 40.5 miles per gallon from a combustion engine alone. The most efficient plug-free hybrid gets 53 miles per gallon and 50 mpg combined, which means either the hybrids have to get more efficient or automakers have to find electric alternatives.

Why? because the Environmental Protection Agency says vehicle fuel efficiency standards have to reach a combined 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 for entire corporate fleets. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that cars and light trucks built during the 2013 model year, the last year for which such data was available, got an average of 24.1 miles to the gallon. That's still less than halfway to the EPA and Department of Transportation's goal that it set back in 2012, but all the changes are pulling the auto industry closer to that mileage number. As it stands, there are more than 30 new vehicles in the U.S. achieving more than 40 miles per gallon in combined mileage. However, low-priced hybrid vehicles are making up a larger portion of that group each year. In fact, the EPA counts at least 15 plug-free hybrids with more than 40 miles per gallon of combined mileage.

We checked in with the EPA and found nine original-recipe hybrids offering better than 40 miles per gallon. We've ranked them by combined mileage, which places them in five separate tiers. If you aren't ready to make the jump to electric and don't see much point in plugging in a hybrid for a handful of extra miles, here are the hybrid vehicles that give you the most mileage for your money:

1 of 8
Source: 7 Hybrid Vehicles That Get 40 MPG Or Better Without A Plug

Ludicrous Mode’? Tesla Motors adds power to already-fast Model S electric car

Tesla Motors says it's adding a new "Ludicrous Mode" to high-performance versions of its Model S electric car. CEO Elon Musk said Friday that the upgrade will cost $10,000 for new buyers of the Model S, whose base price is $70,000.

Current Model S owners will be able to get the upgrade for $5,000 plus the cost of installation in the next six months. It will allow the car to go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds. Tesla had referred to a previous package as "Insane Mode."

Musk also said Tesla will upgrade the battery pack of the Model S to improve its range, something it plans to do every year. The upgrade will cost about $3,000, and it will give the car a range of about 300 miles on the highway on a single battery charge, about 15 miles more than the current version.

The company also announced a rear-wheel drive version of the Model S that will cost about $5,000 less than the standard model.

Earlier this month Tesla said its deliveries grew 52 percent to more than 11,000 in the second quarter.

Shares of the Palo Alto, California-based company rose $6.52, or 2.4 percent, to $273.20 in afternoon trading.

The name "ludicrous mode" comes from Mel Brooks' 1987 "Star Wars" spoof "Spaceballs," where a spaceship is able to surpass light speed – traveling so fast it turns plaid. Tesla said the next version of its Roadster car will have a "maximum plaid" speed, but that Roadster won't be available for another four years.

First Published on July 18, 2015 7:17 pm

Source: Ludicrous Mode'? Tesla Motors adds power to already-fast Model S electric car

2016 Detroit Electric SP:01

Have you ever heard of Detroit Electric? If you answered in the affirmative, you get a cookie, but we'll probably have to mash it up and feed it to you with a spoon because the automaker kicked the bucket way back in 1939. Now, however, Detroit Electric is back, and it's bringing with it a new all-electric sports car. It's called the SP:01, and it's based on a Lotus, bears loads of the latest EV technology, runs a 0-to-60 time under four seconds, and a boasts a very feathery curb weight.

Here's a bit of background for those of you still left in the dark. Back in the early 1900s, the ICE-powered vehicle was far less popular than it is now. EVs were the preferred choice over the noisy, polluting, gas-powered alternatives. It was at this time that Detroit Electric thrived, with up to 2,000 electric cars sold annually by 1910.

However, over time, cheap gas and inventions like the electric starter and muffler pushed the EV to the sidelines, eventually unplugging it altogether.

But in case you didn't notice, the electric vehicle is back, and in a big way. Now, five years after rising from the ashes, Detroit Electric is getting ready to unleash a sports car that the company hopes will "spearhead a diverse family of all-electric productions cars" for the future.

But times have changed a bit since 1910, which begs the question – how will the SP:01 shape up alongside rivals in the increasingly competitive modern EV marketplace?

Updated 07/16/2015: Detroit Electric finally revealed full specifications on its new SP:01. Read on for the details.

Continue reading to find out more about the Detroit Electric SP:01.

Exterior

One glance at the SP:01, and you'd be forgiven for thinking you were looking at some defunct Lotus project car. That's because the thing has deep roots in the famed British sports car manufacturer, even beyond the obvious Elise underpinnings and recycled architecture.

In order to build each SP:01, Detroit Electric must first take delivery of a complete Elise rolling chassis from Lotus, including the fully independent front and rear suspension assemblies and bonded-aluminum chassis.

As it turns out, Detroit Electric's new boss, Albert Lam, was at one time the CEO of Lotus Engineering Group and the executive director of Lotus Cars of England. In fact, in order to build each SP:01, Detroit Electric must first take delivery of a complete Elise rolling chassis from Lotus, including the fully independent front and rear suspension assemblies and bonded-aluminum chassis.

That means you can rest assured the car starts from a very good place mechanically, with a low curb weight and high rigidity.

On top of these world-class sports-car bones is custom carbon-fiber body panels, as penned by Detroit Electric's Head of Design, Jerry Chung. Detroit Electric claims the shape saw some tweaking for aerodynamic stability at speed.

All told, it's hard to not see a lot of Lotus in this thing, with its short, pointed nose, curvaceous fenders, long sweeping roofline, and tasteful rear spoiler. And that's not a bad thing by any means – Lotus makes some very pretty cars, and I believe the old "if it ain't broke" adage would be appropriate here. In my opinion, it's just different enough to give the impression of being unique, but not too far from the mark originally supplied by Britain.

Dimensionally, the SP:01 is almost identical to the Exige and Elise, with a 3,880-mm (152.76-inch) length, 1,751-mm (68.94-inch) width and 1,117-mm (43.98-inch) height.

There are seven paint options to choose from, including blue, white, silver, black, red, orange and green. There are also five lightweight wheel designs available, all of which are interesting. These include the 10-spoke Graphite Pro in gloss palladium grey, 12-spoke Silver Pro in sparkle silver, the funky looking Anderson Diamond in two-tone black-and-aluminum look, 12-spoke Anderson Satin in satin black, and a wavy-looking 8-spoke Anderson Gloss finished in gloss gold.

Options include a graphite textile carbon-fiber finish for the rear spoiler, battery cover, and rear diffuser element. Both hard top and soft top iterations will be available.

You can create your own custom SP:01 with the online configurator here (just click the "Configurator" link at the top, then hit "Get Started").

Exterior Dimensions

GalleryWild Ride-Girl/Car Adult Long Sleeve T-Shirt: Apparel Interior

Much like the exterior, the SP:01's interior will have roughly the same layout and look as a Lotus Elise and Exige, down to the shape and placement of the gauge cluster and climate control vents. It's not terribly elaborate or exciting, but it gets the job done.

The SP:01 comes with bolstered sports seats that are finished in either leather or Alcantara upholstery.

But whereas the Lotus models come with a cabin space that could be considered a bit spartan, eschewing creature comforts and high-tech in favor of a lower curb weight, the SP:01 adds a few nice features that cater to both well-coddled backsides and nerdy predilections.

First, the materials. The SP:01 comes with bolstered sports seats that are finished in either leather or Alcantara upholstery. The color scheme includes both one- and two-tone designs, while the door trim, dashboard trim and doorsills are all customized. Aluminum is also used for the trim. However, this is still a sports car we're talking about, so don't expect exorbitant levels of luxury.

Next, the tech. Detroit Electric is particularly vocal about its new Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment system, or SAMI for short. This setup allows drivers and passengers access to features like music players and satellite navigation while also providing data on vehicle systems like battery level, range and recharge time. You can tweak the interior lighting and view key status points for the vehicle's operation, all via swipes and taps on the centrally mounted touchscreen. SAMI will also allow owners to locate the vehicle in a crowded parking lot and remotely operate the climate control.

To top off the battery pack, the SP:01 comes with a smart charging system that draws power at a rate of 8-kW (32-amps at 240-VAC). What's more, it's equipped with something called "bi-directional charge and discharge capability" via a 360-Powerback unit, which basically means that if you have enough juice on board, the car can be used as a mobile battery, charging anything you want. That includes providing electricity to individual devices, a home, and even other EVs. The system is quite clever too – if, for example, the car detects a power failure in the local grid while plugged in at your house, SAMI will provide the user with the option to restore power using the onboard stored energy.

A vehicle tracking system is an available option. Both right- and left-hand-drive configurations will be produced.

Drivetrain

Considering it has underpinnings from Lotus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the SP:01 is a RWD, mid-engine sports car. Detroit Electric will offer two separate iterations: the entry-level Pure model and a higher-spec Performance model.

Making the go on both is a 120-kW motor hooked up to a 37-kWh battery. Instead of a traditional cogs-and-gears transmission, the Pure model has only a single speed, while the Performance has manual mode selector, presumably offering sharper response.

Top speed is rated at 106 mph in the Pure and 155 mph in the Performance, while both have a NEDC-rated range of 179 miles.

Both models lay down 207 pound-feet of torque, while the Pure model has 204 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Performance model sees output jump to 286 horsepower.

That might seem like a pittance next to the nearly 700 horsepower laid out by the top-spec 2015 Tesla Model S P85D, but here's the thing – each Tesla weighs almost as much as a small moon, while the SP:01 is based on a Lotus. That means all that carbon fiber and aluminum in the SP:01 goes a long way towards shedding mass, with the final curb weight looking like 2,546 pounds for the Pure model and a slightly beefier 2,590 pounds for the Performance model. For an electric car, complete with battery packs and a sense of eco-friendly smugness, that' s quite impressive indeed.

That low weight translates into respectable performance figures despite the relatively low output, with a 0-to-60 run taking 5.3 seconds in the Pure model and 3.7 seconds in the Performance model. Top speed is rated at 106 mph in the Pure and 155 mph in the Performance, while both have a NEDC-rated range of 179 miles.

Detroit Electric says it wants the SP:01 to be a stellar handler as well. To that end, the wheels are staggered front to back, with 16-inchers up front and 17-inchers in the rear. Rubber is sized at 195/50 fore and 225/45 aft. And considering the thing only weighs about 2,500 pounds and comes with the bones of a Lotus, it shouldn't be a total pig in the corners.

On paper, it's a nice package for a sports car, electrified or no. But Detroit Electric has very lofty ambitions, once saying it wanted the SP:01 to be the fastest pure-electric production car in the world, a claim that Tesla may take issue with.

Drivetrain Specifications

Prices

There's no easy way of putting this, so I'll just come out with it: the SP:01 will start at $135,000, a number that could very well increase with options and local taxes. It's unclear whether that figure will be attached to the entry-level Pure model or the higher-spec Performance model, but either way, this thing won't be cheap.

At least Detroit Electric will also offer a 3-year, 30,000-mile warranty with an optional extension to cover the battery for five years or 50,000 miles.

Standard equipment for the Performance model includes the following: the iCAR communications package (exact details currently unavailable), Bluetooth/WiFi connectivity, a navigation system, 8.4-inch touchscreen, five-speed driving mode selector, a front bumper charge indicator light, limited-edition numbering plate, custom embroidered door mats, a black leather console, LED front daytime running lamps, LED taillights, driver and passenger airbags, blue brake calipers, ABS and climate control.

Standard features for the Pure model are currently unavailable.

For those who absolutely must have those bespoke features, Detroit Electric claims that local dealers can help customers with "anything else" they'd like specifically configured on their SP:01.

Detroit Electric will build just 999 units. Production will take place in Warwickshire in the U.K., with sales beginning by the end of this year in North America, the U.K., Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Competition 2015 Tesla Model S P85D

Ah yes, the standard, go-to all-electric sports car, the preeminent herald of lightening-bolt-powered performance, the flagship of Tesla and one of the most talked about cars of the decade. This is what the SP:01 will be butting heads with when it finally hits dealerships, and placed side-by-side, it's hard to not give the nod to the Tesla. Sure, it's a big heavy sedan, but for almost half the price, you get more range and nearly as much acceleration. It'll also probably be more comfortable and come with more standard features. For about $25,000 less than a SP:01, you can opt for the top-spec P85D Tesla , which will simply demolish the SP:01 in a straight line. The only real question that remains is what happens when the road gets twisty.

Read our full review here.

2016 Audi R8 e-tron

We've been waiting for Audi to offer an all-electric version of the R8 for six years now, and finally, it looks like it may actually happen. The latest news pins this EV as bearing rear-mounted electric motors that spin the back wheels with 456 horsepower and 679 pound-feet of torque, enabling a 0-to-60 time under four seconds and a top speed of at least 155 mph. Advanced torque vectoring technologies will help it turn, while materials like carbon fiber will keep weight low. Unfortunately, Audi won't offer this R8 to U.S. customers, but deliveries s hould begin elsewhere sometime next year.

Read our full review here.

Conclusion

Detroit Electric likes to tout the slogan "Pure Electric Performance," and looking at the SP:01 on paper, I'd say mission accomplished. It looks good, has the right parts to be a decent little speed machine, and most impressively, weighs just 2,500 pounds. I also really like how the car will literally power your house in a blackout.

I also really like how the car will literally power your house in a blackout.

It's all cool, modern stuff. But once you start digging, the problems rear their ugly heads.

First, there's the problem of Tesla. The Model S is well established as the vehicle to beat in the electric car market, and at $130,000, I don't really know how the SP:01 will win. Perhaps those looking for a more traditional sports car platform (that is, a lightweight, 2-door, 2-seater coupe) could be drawn away from their local Tesla dealership, but when it comes down to it, the Model S is simply a better car, even if it is a sedan.

Next, it's hard not to consider this as much more than a Tesla Roadster reboot. In case you were unaware, Tesla's first model also saw an electric motor stuffed into a Lotus shell. Sure, it did a lot of things right, but I struggle to see the point in springing for the Detroit Electric version, even if it is newer.

As the first commercial product offering of many, this model is exceedingly important for Detroit Electric, which might explain the company's unwillingness to take excessive risks (like, I don't know, bless it with 500 horsepower and Le Mans-style aerodynamics). Hopefully, that won't mean the SP:01 gets lost in Tesla's long, dark shadow.

My suggestion? Put this thing on a track, and let's see what a 2,500-pound all-electric sports car is really capable of.

LOVE IT

Looks like a Lotus

Very lightweight

Good performance specs

Cool technology

Not another Model S

LEAVE IT

Very expensive

Difficult to justify next to a Tesla Model S

Hard to see as too much more than a Tesla Roadster reboot

Updated History

Updated 10/27/2014: Detroit Electric revealed the final exterior design for its new SP:01 sports car set to be put on sale in 2015. Unlike the prototype unveiled in 2013, the production form will feature a new fastback configuration and will feature a large rear wing to reduce lift and improve downforce at higher speeds. Click past the jump for the full details.

Press Release

Emissions-free motoring has a new high-performance champion following the unveiling today of the Detroit Electric SP:01, a limited-edition, two-seat pure-electric sports car that sets new standards for performance and handling in the electric vehicle (EV) segment. Boasting an impressive 155 mph (249 km/h) top speed and covering the 0-62mph (0-100km/h) sprint in a blistering 3.7 seconds, the SP:01 is the world‟s fastest pure-electric production car.

The new SP:01 was launched under the brand‟s mantra of „Pure Electric Excitement‟ and was revealed at Detroit Electric‟s new headquarters in the Fisher Building in downtown Detroit. Just 999 examples will be built at Detroit Electric‟s new production facility in Wayne County, Michigan, with cars sold worldwide through a network of specialist retail partners.

The SP:01‟s exceptional performance is owed in large part to its excellent power-to- weight ratio. The rear-wheel-drive SP:01 features a compact, mid-mounted 201 bhp electric motor (delivering 166 lb ft of torque), a lightweight, purpose-designed battery pack and all-new carbon-fibre bodywork. Total weight is just 2,354 lb, contributing to the SP:01‟s superior driving dynamics and class-leading handling.

The vehicle is based on a strong yet lightweight aluminium platform, and is being launched following a five-year development and road-test programme. As well as the all-new carbon-fibre bodywork, similar to that used in Formula 1 vehicle chassis, the SP:01 also features specialised performance-tuned suspension, steering and brake systems to provide class-leading ride and handling characteristics.

To deliver instantaneous torque for breath-taking acceleration, the SP:01‟s innovative powertrain creates an electromagnetic field around the rotor shaft, which then spins at varying speeds to drive the wheels. Drivers can select one of four gear ratios for optimal acceleration, but unlike a manual shift in a conventional car, there is little need to change gear regularly to ensure brisk progress.

With an impressive energy storage capacity of 37 kWh, the battery gives the SP:01 a range of almost 190 miles between recharges, when tested to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard. Detroit Electric‟s home charging unit will enable drivers to charge their SP:01, with full charge achieved in 4.3 hours. Rigorously tested by Detroit Electric for use in the SP:01, the battery technology also has been deployed successfully in other highly demanding applications, notably in helicopters and submarines.

"The SP:01 will be exclusive, luxurious and technologically advanced," said Albert Lam, Detroit Electric‟s Chairman and Group CEO. "It is a milestone in the history of the Detroit Electric brand, but also a significant development for the international EV sector. The car will allow us to demonstrate to the world our ability to build an exciting and innovative product, one that displays outstanding performance coupled with strong green credentials, and which delivers an exhilarating driving experience."

Emotive design

The SP:01‟s bespoke bodywork is constructed entirely of carbon fibre. Styled by Detroit Electric‟s Head of Design, Jerry Chung, the SP:01‟s angular lines and muscular stance give the car a bold, imposing design while also optimising aerodynamic efficiency.

The one-piece front panel features a sharply contoured bonnet and angular front fenders with imposing air-intakes to emphasise the car‟s power and prowess. The compact rear light cluster is reminiscent of high-performance American sports cars of the past, while the integrated side cooling ducts enhance the car‟s distinctive profile. To accentuate the SP:01‟s pure electric credentials, a transparent inspection window displays the vehicle‟s impressive battery technology.

The interior of the vehicle hints at the essence of the Detroit Electric brand by combining luxurious refinement with advanced technology – highlighted through the use of carbon- fibre and specially selected leather finishes.

Unique SAMI infotainment system

The cabin of the SP:01 is packed with innovation, being the first to use smartphone applications to manage the complete in-car infotainment system. Named „SAMI‟ (Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment system), SAMI provides access to a wide range of functions, including music player, satellite navigation, interior lighting adjust and vehicle systems status – such as the level of battery charge, range to recharge and other vehicle telemetry. It can, of course, also be used to make mobile phone calls.

The inspiration does not just stop here. SAMI can also act as a remote control unit (via GSM), enabling the user to locate the vehicle, turn on the climate control system and check the charge status.

More than just a sports car

"Our research engineers at Detroit Electric have taken steps to break the mould," adds Mr Lam. "SP:01 is more than just a sports car, it is a mobile energy unit, allowing the user to use its stored battery energy to power not just the car but even an entire home. SP:01 is equipped with bi-directional charge and discharge capability, allowing it to release its stored electrical energy to power a home."

The SP:01‟s bi-directional charge and discharge feature is made possible through the patented Detroit Electric home charging and power back-up unit, named „360 Powerback‟. It is a smart home-charging and power back-up unit that enables the SP:01‟s battery to be charged at the rate of 8 kWh (240V@32A). This smart unit can also detect any power failure of the grid and provide the option to the user – via SAMI and the GSM network – to instruct the vehicle to restore power to the home using its stored energy. "360 Powerback is the next level of innovation and shows our determination to provide additional value proposition through our EVs, uniquely elevating us from others in the segment," added Mr Lam.

Power preserved

An all-disc braking system, coupled with ABS (anti-lock braking) and ESP (Electronic Stability Control) is fitted as standard, ensuring excellent stopping power. But it is the SP:01‟s Regenerative Braking technology that sets the car apart, underpinning superb stopping performance while ensuring greater energy efficiency. The car‟s energy recovery mechanism uses the motor as a generator, recovering kinetic energy when acceleration is interrupted and using it to recharge the vehicle‟s battery packs, while imitating the retardation characteristics of a gasoline engine.

Production and pedigree

The SP:01 sports car is the first production vehicle to be marketed under the Detroit Electric brand since 1939. On sale in many of Detroit Electric‟s target markets by end of August, the SP:01 will herald a new family of all-electric production cars, including two other high-performance models that will enter production by the end of 2014.

The price of SP:01 starts at $135,000 USD, and will vary according to specification and local taxes.

Each SP:01 will come with a three-year, 30,000-mile warranty with an optional extension for the battery to five years and 50,000 miles.

The SP:01 will be produced at the new Detroit Electric production site in Wayne Country, Michigan. The dedicated facility will have an annual capacity of 2,500 vehicles and create over 180 manufacturing and sales-related jobs over the next year.

The original electric car innovators, Detroit Electric began life in 1906 and established itself as the market leader and most prolific manufacturer of electric cars. Detroit Electric went on to make some 13,000 vehicles by 1939 and holds the electric vehicle production world record for the twentieth century.

Press Release - October 27, 2014

The final exterior design of Detroit Electric's all-new, pure electric two-seater sports car, the SP:01, is revealed today as the company gears up for production.

The lightweight, limited-edition SP:01 will be the world's fastest production electric sports car when it goes on sale in Asia, Europe and North America, starting in 2015. Revealed as a prototype at the 2013 Shanghai Motor Show, the design of SP:01 has been subtly updated to further improve the vehicle's aerodynamic performance, ahead of the start of production at a new facility in the UK later this year.

The most striking element of the design is the bold new fastback configuration, which replaces the prototype's flying buttresses on either side of the rear window. The exterior design has been optimised using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to provide enhanced airflow and reduce turbulence, for maximum performance and stability.

A large sculptural rear wing and an under-body diffuser have been incorporated to reduce lift and improve downforce at higher speeds. The changes to the production vehicle's aerodynamics are intended to deliver improved on-the-limit road-holding and ensure rewarding and accessible dynamics.

A host of aesthetic and functional enhancements to the exterior design accompany the aerodynamic enhancements. For example, the front air intake and outlet ducts on the bonnet have been reshaped to optimise airflow to the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system.

The vehicle's innovative battery packs have been clad in a protective composite casing which forms an integral part of the vehicle's structure. This improves the SP:01's torsional rigidity and provides an extremely robust barrier to protect the batteries from punctures in the event of an accident.

Jerry Chung, Head of Design at Detroit Electric, said: "The final design of SP:01 incorporates signature Detroit Electric design DNA, carried over from the prototype model we revealed last year. Coupled with many motorsport visual cues, the new fastback design, bold face and sharp contours evoke the company's vision of pure electric performance."

The changes to SP:01's design ensure that it will deliver on its promise to set new standards for performance and handling in the EV segment. Its high-power electric motor will propel the car to an impressive 155 mph (249 km/h) top speed and a 0-60mph time of just 3.7 seconds.

Source: 2016 Detroit Electric SP:01

Nissan to Consider LG Batteries for Electric Cars

July 16, 2015 9:06 a.m. ET

TOKYO-— Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, said Thursday that Nissan Motor Co. NSANY -0.74 % is considering using batteries made by LG Chem Ltd. 051910 -0.19 % of South Korea in future electric vehicles, signaling a possible shift that could further roil the French-Japanese partnership's delicate balance of power.

Battery supply is one of several issues that have shaken up the alliance of late, following the French government's move this year to increase its influence at Renault SA RNO 2.38 % .

Nissan already has a battery-making partnership with NEC Corp. NIPNF -6.06 % , known as Automotive Energy Supply Corp., which makes batteries for Nissan's flagship electric car, the Leaf.

Any decision to reduce the supply of batteries from the Nissan-NEC partnership could heighten Japanese concerns about Nissan's standing in the 16-year alliance.

But Leaf sales have been disappointing, and Nissan wants to improve performance and reduce costs of electric vehicles to speed consumer acceptance of the technology. Mr. Ghosn said consumers consider electric cars too expensive.

"We have opened to competition our battery business in order to make sure we have the best batteries," Mr. Ghosn said in an interview. "For the moment, we consider that the best battery maker is LG."

Nissan's alliance partner, Renault, is one of several global auto makers using LG Chem's batteries in their electric vehicles, along with General Motors Co. GM -2.78 % Renault and LG Chem work together on battery development.

Renault-Nissan said last month that it had sold 250,000 electric vehicles to date, but Mr. Ghosn has deferred an alliance goal of selling 1.5 million by 2016. Mr. Ghosn said Renault-Nissan was working on expanding the number of charging stations.

Nissan and other makers of electric cars are also trying to address "range anxiety"––the concern that these vehicles might run out of charge before drivers reach their destinations. The Leaf can travel 84 miles on a single charge, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but the car maker hopes to increase that substantially with the next generation of vehicles.

Mr. Ghosn said the decision on a battery supplier for an overhauled Leaf, expected in a few years' time, would come down to which battery performs better.

"There is no guarantee for anybody that you're going to get the business without performance," he said.

An LG Chem spokesman said, "We're open to all possibilities."

Analyst firm Lux Research said in a report published in May that the Nissan-NEC partnership "risks falling behind" electric-vehicle competitors such as Tesla Motors Inc. TSLA 0.52 % in the push to lower battery costs, "unless it changes technologies and production strategies." Tesla, which is cooperating with Panasonic Corp. PCRFY -1.16 % on battery development, is on track to cut prices of lithium-ion battery packs by more than a third by 2025, Lux said.

A Nissan spokesman said it was "hypothetical" to consider how a decision by the Japanese car maker to embrace LG Chem batteries might affect Nissan's venture with NEC, in which the two companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars. Automotive Energy Supply batteries are made at three factories, in Japan, Britain and Tennessee.

Renault holds a 43% stake in Nissan, while the Japanese company owns 15% of Renault—equal to the French government's share in Renault before the battle over voting rights heated up. Paris, one of the two biggest shareholders in Renault, alongside Nissan, in April prevailed over Mr. Ghosn's objections in a bid to double its voting rights in the French auto maker.

Yet Nissan is larger and more profitable than its French partner, selling 5.3 million vehicles last year, compared with 2.7 million for Renault.

Mr. Ghosn, who also serves as chief executive of each of the two companies, said he saw no reason for Nissan to try to raise its shareholding in Renault. He also played down tensions at the alliance, saying the two companies were deepening their cooperation on operational matters such as vehicle platforms and purchasing.

"We are not in a power play, we are in a partnership," he said. "I am discouraging anything that would jeopardize the spirit of partnership."

The alliance this month said the partnership generated €3.8 billion (about $4.2 billion) in cost savings, revenue increases and other financial benefits of working together in 2014, up from €2.87 billion a year earlier.

The boardroom jockeying in Paris followed passage of a law in France last year that gives double voting rights to investors who hold shares for at least two years. Mr. Ghosn said he hoped to find "common ground" with Paris.

But Mr. Ghosn also sought to smooth ruffled feathers in Yokohama, where Nissan is based, saying he aimed to suggest to the car maker's board that it should name a Japanese executive to succeed him as Nissan chief executive.

"I would prefer to propose a Japanese person because we have a lot of Japanese talent," he said. "I could propose a foreigner, but I will propose a Japanese."

Write to Eric Pfanner at eric.pfanner@wsj.com and Peter Landers at peter.landers@wsj.com

Source: Nissan to Consider LG Batteries for Electric Cars

NV Energy partners with Nevada on electric vehicle highway program

Dive Brief:

NV Energy and the State of Nevada are partnering on a new electric vehicle charging project along U.S. 95 from Reno to Las Vegas, the Reno Gazette Journal reports.

The utility and state government are soliciting interest from businesses and other entities along the route to host EV chargers. The hope is that expanded access to charging infrastructure between the state's two major urban centers will decrease range anxiety associated with EV ownership and lead to its fuller adoption.

NV Energy says the Nevada Electric Highway joint initiative, as the program is called, is the next phase in expanding its four year effort to expand EV infrastructure. Currently, most EV chargers are located in the state's most densely populated areas. 

Dive Insight:

Utilities are uniquely positioned to assist the buildout in electric vehicle infrastructure, and NV Energy's partnership with Nevada is another example of how they are increasingly partnering with the public sector and other businesses to stimulate EV adoption. 

The utility and state say they are now accepting applications for businesses, government entities, and other institutions that would like to host charging stations along the highway from Las Vegas to Reno. Once selected, the entity would have one fast charger and two slower, "level 2" chargers installed on their premises. The Governor's Office of Energy will develop a program to reduce demand charges from those institutions chosen to host chargers. 

Widespread adoption of electric vehicles could be a huge boon for electric utilities across the nation, many of which have been struggling with stagnant or sluggish load growth since the 2008 recession. Speaking at a recent conference for investor-owned utilities, Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk predicted that electric demand could double or even triple in some places as EVs are more widely adopted throughout the century. They key, he and utility executives told the audience, will be power companies acting quickly to build out charging infrastructure, lest it be lost to a third-party provider.

Utility partnerships with the public sector are becoming more common. At the same conference as the Nevada announcement, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz announced a memorandum of understanding between his department and the utility industry committing themselves to collaboration on EV charging expansion and widespread adoption.

Recommended Reading

Reno Gazette Journal: Electric highway will link state with charging stations

Source: NV Energy partners with Nevada on electric vehicle highway program

High-Performance, 100%-Electric Corvette Almost Here

Concept Cars

Published on July 14th, 2015 | by Zachary Shahan

Unfortunately, it's not "almost here" in the way that we have any actual photos to share, but Genovation Cars tells us that it is almost done with the prototype of a high-performance, 100%-electric Corvette it is calling the Genovation Extreme Electric (GXE).

A 2006 Z06 Corvette.

For the gearhead-gone-electrichead among you, I imagine you just drooled on your shirt. Keep the mouth shut until we have some actual pictures, eh?

The GXE prototype will reportedly be completed by the end of this month, then it will be tested for 3 weeks, then it will be taken to some raceways to strut its stuff, and then it will be given to Gas2 for our great service to society (I wish).

If you thought "high-performance" and "Extreme Electric" were shameless attempts at hyperbole, maybe reconsider. The Genovation team aims to set lap records for a street-legal electric car — something not at all easy to do these days. In the fall, the team wants to set a record for highest top speed by a street-legal electric car. The current record, set last summer by a prototype electric car out of Finland, is 177 mph (285 km/h).

If the GXE survives all of that, it will be on display in Michigan in September at the Electric Vehicle Technology Expo (note that sister sites EV Obsession and CleanTechnica are media partners for that).

"The GXE is based on a 2006 Z06 Corvette," Genovation notes. "The car will have a range of 150 miles during normal driving operation and will have a near 50/50 weight distribution while being optimized for a low center of gravity."

"We are using state of the art inverters, batteries and electric motors that will produce in excess of 700-hp and 600 lb-ft of torque," said Genovation CEO Andrew Saul. "We expect the car to achieve 0-60 mph in around three seconds and have a top speed of over 200 mph. And, most of the parts are designed and built in America."

I certainly wouldn't call this a "Tesla fighter," and imagine it won't really compete with any Tesla models on cost and the built-in tech package (if it ever gets to market), but it'll be awesome to see another street-legal electric car out there with such a high level of performance. And I imagine it will excite many a Corvette fan.

Image via Super Chevy

Tags: 2006 Z06 Corvette, corvette, Genovation Cars, Genovation Extreme Electric, GXE

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Zachary Shahan is the director of CleanTechnica, the most popular cleantech-focused website in the world, and Planetsave, a world-leading green and science news site. He has been covering green news of various sorts since 2008, and he has been especially focused on solar energy, electric vehicles, and wind energy since 2009. Aside from his work on CleanTechnica and Planetsave, he's the founder and director of Solar Love, EV Obsession, and Bikocity. To connect with Zach on some of your favorite social networks, go to ZacharyShahan.com and click on the relevant buttons.

Source: High-Performance, 100%-Electric Corvette Almost Here

For Electric Car Standards, China And U.S. Work Together On Regulations

Automotive standards--the explicitly detailed regulations that specify how a car must operate, what equipment it must or must not have, and a whole lot more--govern the design of vehicles sold around the world.

And different countries and regions often have long-established standards that directly conflict with each other.

In the U.S., for example, airbags must protected unbelted occupants in crashes, while in the European Union, it's assumed that the bag only has to protect an occupant wearing a seatbelt.

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That means that airbags fitted to European cars can be smaller, lighter, and less expensive compared to the U.S. versions.

It also means that automakers must design two versions of a car's interior, one for each market, to accommodate the differently shaped and sized safety equipment. (There are other differing rules at play there as well.)

While the world's carmakers would dearly love the standards to be "harmonized" among major markets, or globally, there's little practical chance of that happening.

European regulators, where cars are smaller and lighter, see no need to adopt U.S. standards when the current bags protect occupants who take the perfectly rational step of fastening their seat belts.

No U.S. elected official, on the other hand, would ever back adopting the European standard due to the threat of a headline screaming, "Politician Proposes European Safety Standard That Could Kill More Americans In Deadly Car Crashes."

Luckily, there are a few rays of light on the horizon in regard to plug-in electric cars.

ALSO SEE: China Built 25,000 Electric Cars & Plug-In Hybrids In June Alone

The agreement came from the US-China Standards and Conformance Cooperation Program (SCCP), which held the workshop in early June, jointly hosted by various Chinese and U.S. government agencies.

The gathering was covered on Green Car Congress (via ChargedEVs) a couple of weeks ago.

"The overarching focus of the workshop," as Green Car Congress wrote, "was cooperation on standards, conformance, and training programs among industry and government stakeholders."

Volkswagen e-Golf electric car using Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast charging

Enlarge Photo

Specific standards questions included efforts to harmonize present and future regulations on vehicle and battery safety, safety and interoperability of charging infrastructure, wireless charging, and emergency response and fire protection.

It's worth noting that several years ago, China instituted its own unique charging hardware and protocols for electric cars sold in that country.

That standard has been slow to gain adoption, meaning that electric-car charging infrastructure across China is presently a hodge-podge of different connectors and protocols.

Automakers say privately that they view the Chinese action as a delaying tactic against global makers, requiring them to re-engineer their plug-in cars' charging systems--potentially using Chinese-made parts--and helping domestic makers catch up.

It's not at all clear that the workshop will lead to a common charging standard, nor is that necessarily a primary goal, since few buyers ship their cars from one continent to another.

But standards for the less-visible parts of the car--examples might be identification of high-voltage components, which now use bright-orange wrapping on their cables, or the location and function of electrical kill switches--would reduce re-engineering efforts and save money for all carmakers.

And that can only be good for electric cars as a group, if it happens.

The workshop itself was the fourth of 20 to be held over four years on various different technical topics, only a few of them automotive.

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Source: For Electric Car Standards, China And U.S. Work Together On Regulations

2017 Electric Car Investment Guide

By Jeff Siegel

The car world is obsessed with Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA)...

And for good reason.

After all, in the world of vehicle design and alternative fuels, no one has taken this disruptive technology further than Elon Musk and Tesla Motors.

The days of glorified golf carts are long gone. And although few can actually afford an $80,000 Model S, Tesla isn't the only game in town.

In fact, Nissan (OTCBB: NSANY), which makes the all-electric LEAF, recently announced that after four years, its alliance with Renault has officially sold 250,000 electric cars.

That may not sound like much, especially when you compare that to the Ford Fusion, which sold about the same number of cars in a single year in 2014. But in the scheme of things, this is a very big deal.

After all, five years ago, only 17,000 electric cars were sold in the U.S. Nissan's cut came in at 9,674 units.

Today, the Nissan-Renault alliance has sold a quarter of a million electric cars worldwide.

To put that in perspective, the very first hybrid vehicle to hit the market was the Honda Insight. To date, it hasn't even broken 100,000 units.

Of course, the real superstar in the world of conventional hybrids is the Toyota Prius.

Folks, it took six years for Toyota to sell 228,000 units of the Prius.

If you combine Honda Insight sales and Toyota Prius sales, it took both manufacturers six years to sell what the Nissan-Renault has sold in electric cars in just four years.

So when we speak about growth, this is what we're talking about.

In the passenger vehicle space, you will find no greater growth story than the electric car. And that, dear reader, is why smart investors have a keen interest in the electric car trend.

The Front-Runners

In the world of conventional hybrids, it didn't take long for Toyota to lead the pack with the Prius.

Bottom line: The Prius has always delivered better fuel economy and a better all-around ride than its competitors. Priced competitively, it's no wonder Toyota continues to run this show

But when it comes to electric cars, the jury's still out as to which manufacturer will become the mainstay of electrics.

The most common electric cars on the road today are the Tesla Model S, the Chevy Volt, and the Nissan LEAF. But between small production levels of compliance cars and new entries designed to compete with the front-runners, there are now more than a dozen electric vehicles from which to choose.

Which will reign supreme is still anyone's guess.

However, we do know that a number of these manufacturers are upping the ante in major way for future releases. And the two main sticking points for consumers are range and price.

So let's take a look at the specs of what'll soon be hitting the showrooms...

Tesla Model 3

All-electric range: 250 miles

Retail cost: $35,000 without federal tax incentive/$27,500 with federal tax incentive

Launch date: 2017

Chevy Bolt

All-electric range: 200 miles

Retail cost: $37,500 without federal tax incentive/$30,000 with federal tax incentive

Launch date: 2017

Nissan LEAF

All-electric range: 250 miles (estimated)

Retail cost: $30,000 (est.) without federal tax incentive/$22,500 (est.) with federal tax incentive

Launch date: 2017

Both BMW and Audi have new electric offerings coming too, yet specs on these models are still somewhat under wraps.

I'm not sure how many more Fiat 500es will be made either, but Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has criticized the vehicle from day one, actually telling customers not to buy it. Apparently it continues to have software problems, too.

This will really never be more than a compliance car, and quite frankly, it's not even worth considering in terms of the big technological disruptions in the coming years. As far as I know, there are no future plans to offer a better version.

Also not coming soon are newer versions of the Chevy Spark EV — which is actually a cool little car that comes with a pretty decent price tag. Sure, it'll only give you about 70 miles on a charge, but for a city car or a car that'll take you to and from work every day, it's not a bad deal.

Charge times are as little as 20 minutes (for an 80% charge), and with the federal tax credit, you can get one for about $18,500. And if you live in a state that offers its own incentives, you could pay even less.

In Maryland, with both state and federal tax incentives, I could pick one up for about $16,000. Not bad for a car that'll never need a drop of gasoline, a single oil change, or a pricey emissions test.

Admittedly, it's not quite as comfortable or as stylish as a Tesla Model S — but for the price, you can't beat it.

In any event, from an investor's point of view, the three manufacturers to watch are Tesla, Nissan, and GM (NYSE: GM).

Obviously Tesla is the pure play here. Whether or not you want to take a position in Tesla is really based on how much faith you have in Elon Musk and his ability sell the company's next-generation Model 3. And don't forget the energy storage business Musk is running as well.

Certainly I wouldn't invest in GM or Nissan to get a piece of the electric vehicle market. But continue to watch for new developments in battery chemistries, software designs, and next-generation, lightweight materials that could offer a backdoor way to play the booming electric vehicle market.

Because rest assured, the age of electric transportation is here to stay. And getting a piece of this action today is like getting a piece of Ford (NYSE: F) right before the first Model T rolled off the line.

We're definitely off to the races, my friend. And electric cars are in the pole position.

To a new way of life and a new generation of wealth...

 

Jeff Siegel is Editor of Energy and Capital, where this article was first published.  @JeffSiegel on Twitter
Source: 2017 Electric Car Investment Guide