Mobility’s Trifecta: The Autonomous, Electric and Shared Vehicles of Our (Near) Future

Only a few decades ago, cup holders, heated seats and airbags were the niftiest new automotive features. Today, cars are being equipped with features that could fundamentally change how people get around.

Some experts call the convergence of autonomous, electric and shared technologies "mobility's trifecta" -- a three-part solution for many of the world's biggest transportation-related issues.

Most passenger vehicles sit idle for 90 percent of their lives. When they are moving, these cars typically carry a single passenger, and the extra cars with empty seats add to traffic congestion. Congestion, in turn, leads to greater greenhouse gas pollution.

While driving deaths have declined in recent years, the U.S. still sees more than 30,000 people killed in auto accidents every year. Most accidents stem from human error.

The trifecta addresses these issues by reducing the number of vehicles on the road, eliminating tailpipe emissions and taking the human error out of driving. A recent study by McKinsey & Company concluded that autonomous vehicles could reduce deaths on the road by 90 percent.

"The benefit of the trifecta is really the maximum utilization of the vehicle in a safe, efficient way," said Nissan Motors' Rachel Nguyen, who spoke this fall at GreenBiz's Verge event. Nguyen is the executive director of Nissan's Future Lab, the Japanese automaker's office tasked with looking a decade ahead to identify potential issues and opportunities for the business.

Fully autonomous and electric vehicles equipped for sharing are still another 10 years out, according to Nguyen and other experts. But pieces of the trifecta are already falling into place, with several developments announced in recent weeks.

Nissan, for instance, unveiled the IDS concept car this fall at the Tokyo Auto Show. The IDS is an electric vehicle with a battery twice the size of the Nissan Leaf, the company's all-electric commuter car that can travel 84 miles on a single charge.

The IDS, which stands for "intelligent driving system," also has fully autonomous driving capability. At the press of a button, the seats pull back, the steering wheel transforms into a touch-screen tablet and the car takes over.

While Nissan currently doesn't have plans to commercialize the IDS, some of the technology could end up in future vehicles. CEO Carlos Ghosn has already said the company will release several models of self-driving vehicles worldwide by 2020. 

Daimler has also been developing autonomous vehicle technology, and not only for passenger cars. Earlier this year, the German automaker premiered the world's first autonomous semi-truck licensed to drive on public roads, called the Freightliner Inspiration. The truck was unveiled at the Hoover Dam, where Daimler put on a record-setting light show.

At the other end of the vehicle spectrum, Daimler offers the Smart Fortwo, which is available with an electric powertrain and is used exclusively in Daimler's car-sharing program Car2Go. The service is now in 14 cities in the U.S. and a total of 30 cities around the world.

Daimler was one of the first auto manufacturers to launch a car-sharing business. It could prove to be a wise move as more drivers look to avoid the hassle and expense of ownership.

There are still cultural barriers to overcome with car sharing, said Mike Mikos, director of strategic development at Daimler. But most of these barriers aren't there with younger generations.

"People are getting in cars now with strangers, with no problem," he said, speaking at Verge. "Three years ago, who would have known?"

American automakers are also working on the trifecta.

General Motors, which already offers the Volt plug-in hybrid and the all-electric Spark, is planning to unveil the production version of its long-range EV -- the Bolt -- in January. Next year, the company will also launch the Cadillac CT6 with "Super Cruise," which will allow for hands-free driving.

This fall, GM made a move into car sharing with the launch of Let's Drive NYC, a program that treats vehicle access like any other apartment-building amenity.

"None of these things were possible 30 years ago," said Peter Kosak, GM's executive director of urban mobility, in a recent interview. "All of it is driven by connectivity."

Car sharing isn't possible without connectivity, because no one is going to make phone calls and use spreadsheets to orchestrate it -- people need maps and apps. Electrification requires analytics to understand trip patterns and facilitate charging. And while autonomous vehicles rely heavily on hardware like cameras, radar and sensors, connected vehicle technology plays a critical role in enabling the exchange of information between the driver and the car, and between the car and its surroundings.

The overlap makes it easy to see why autonomous vehicles are a natural fit for Google.

"Everything requires data and analytics right now," said Kosak. "That's the fuel for innovation."

In a recent tweet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company is going all-in on autopilot: "We are looking for hardcore software engineers. No prior experience with cars required."

"I should mention that I will be interviewing people personally and Autopilot reports directly to me. This is super high priority," he tweeted in a follow-up.

Tesla, which only makes electric vehicles, launched its autopilot last month wirelessly.

Tesla hasn't announced any plans on car sharing. But Travis Kalanick, the CEO of the popular ride-sharing company Uber, said that if Tesla vehicles are autonomous by 2020, he would buy up to half a million of them to serve in his company's taxi network.

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas published an investor note on Tesla in June, arguing that shared mobility and autonomous cars could help to drive EV growth, which has been modest to date.

"If run by a business as a taxi service, the autonomous car can be generating revenue for as much as 40 percent of a 24-hour day in our simulations…nearly 10 hours/day on average. Some days more, some days less," he wrote. "The higher utilization means expensive EV tech can be far cheaper on a per-mile basis."

Tesla is currently targeting the premium performance car market, where cost isn't much of a concern. But mobility's trifecta will be key to Tesla's longer-term mission to democratize electric transport, argued Jonas.

"While today's Tesla customers enjoy a high level of human driving pleasure and performance, we see the future Tesla customer enjoying mobility as a service in a model nearly unrecognizable to what we have known for the past 100 years of our relationship with the automobile," he wrote. 

Source: Mobility's Trifecta: The Autonomous, Electric and Shared Vehicles of Our (Near) Future

Tesla wants to make fully self-driving cars happen way ahead of schedule

Thomson Reuters See Also Elon Musk just said he's ramping up Tesla's Autopilot team to 'achieve full autonomy' Elon Musk says Tesla's fully autonomous cars will hit the road in 3 years Elon Musk has figured out the perfect balance between humans driving and self-driving cars

A week and a half ago, we learned that Tesla is on a quest to hire more engineers to accelerate the development of its self-driving car technologies.

Tesla was already no slouch in the autonomous-vehicle world, having released its Autopilot feature into the wild just over a month ago.

We sampled Autopilot as soon as it hit the streets and were quite impressed, to put it mildly.

But evidently, Tesla's CEO isn't impressed enough. So he put out a call via Twitter for "hardcore" software engineers to take Autopilot from where it is now — semiautonomous driving under certain circumstances, such as on highways — to the mythical full autonomy of the "Minority Report" type: cars that can drive themselves 100% of the time.

This is a hugely important development for Tesla and the auto industry. Regardless of how one feels about how Tesla got to where it is now and where it may wind up in the future, the company has provided tremendous leadership for startup automakers, electric vehicles, and autonomous driving.

But while Tesla was actually a bit late to the game, it has caught up rapidly. It now sits squarely in the middle of an industry consensus about self-driving vehicles. The view is that autonomy will evolve over the next 10 years, with major carmakers gradually adding features to their fleets. Consumers will move slowly and steadily from the "super" cruise-control features that are now appearing in cars to full autonomy.

A faster future

Tesla was part of that consensus. The more out-there ideas about self-driving cars were being explored by Google, which with its Google Car is trying to take the human driver completely out of the picture from the get go. The pace at which Tesla introduced Autopilot more or less mirrored what General Motors has been doing, just with a more aggressive go-to-market plan.

Until Autopilot actually wound up in Tesla vehicles.

Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

It was clearly a burning-bush moment for Musk. This is how it goes sometimes: You don't see the future until some small aspect of it appears in the present.

Musk isn't one to waste time, so little more than a month after he saw Autopilot in action, he was ready to double down on the technology. The fastest way to effect massive technological change in the early 21st century is through software. Tesla already has plenty of experience with this, effectively making its cars almost new in their capabilities through over-the-air software updates.

Model S sedan owners, for example, went to sleep with cars that drove dumb and woke up with cars that could drive themselves. Software did that.

Theoretically, Tesla vehicles are already equipped with enough cameras and sensors to drive themselves much of the time. It's simply a matter of orchestrating the data. And that is the challenge, so Musk has now made it his personal responsibility to tackle — the forthcoming Tesla self-driving Seal team is going to report directly to the CEO.

YouTube/TeslaHow Autopilot sees other cars in traffic.

Everyone I've spoken with in the auto industry thinks that full autonomy will probably happen, but they also know that in order to achieve full autonomy, massive amounts of data will have to be crunched and lots of money will have to be invested in upgraded the tech that currently allows cars to manage the cruise-control plus autonomy we now enjoy on a limited basis.

Musk hears that, sees how Tesla Autopilot has performed so far, and concludes that there must be a cheaper, faster solution.

The solution

What does he have to do to pursue it?

Well, he doesn't need to construct a factory or develop an entirely new platform. He just needs to hire some programmers, set them down in front of laptops, and hover over them like a ruthless taskmaster. I hope these people know what they're signing up for. Faster and cheaper doesn't mean easier.

Fortunately, Tesla has a big advantage over, say, a new entrant to the automotive game that also wants to offer disruptive autopiloting. Tesla has a fleet of some 90,000 cars, roughly, on the road right now that it can use as a vast test platform.

OnInnovation/Flickr

Every Autopilot-enabled Tesla is already feeding data back to the mother ship, providing a basis for tweaking the technology for future updates. Tesla's vehicles are quite literally learning the roads that they drive on and are enriching the company's overall mapping efforts. This is something of a secret weapon for Tesla autonomous-driving initiatives: Its entire fleet can learn to drive itself.

The bet on software

If Musk is right about betting on software, then he could advance the timetable on full autonomy by half a decade. Big leaps in automotive technology are held back by hardware. In essence, cars are about as good as they can get, having been steadily improved over a century. Future progress on the hardware side will be incremental, even for Tesla.

That leaves the software side for game-changing innovations.

Musk knows this. That's why he isn't wasting any time, and I wouldn't bet against him. He's used software to alter the banking system (PayPal), drastically improve the automobile (Tesla), and provide a cheaper way to get rockets into space.

That's an impressive track record. A month ago, electric cars didn't naturally lead to autonomous driving, but now they do. Get ready to experience Tesla's vision of the future — a lot sooner than expected.

SEE ALSO: We tried Tesla's incredible self-driving Autopilot system NOW WATCH: Drone footage will make you want to book a trip to the Scottish Highlands Please enable Javascript to watch this video
Source: Tesla wants to make fully self-driving cars happen way ahead of schedule

Car review: VW's all-electric e-Golf is as zippy and roomy as gas version

In light of the still-widening diesel emissions scandal, it's no surprise that Volkswagen came to the Los Angeles Auto Show promoting an electric car.

The German car company brought a fleet of the sporty e-Golf battery electric vehicles to the show, eagerly throwing the keys to anyone willing to take a test drive.

The car is worth promoting. The VW e-Golf is a spirited runabout that deserves its place in the popular Golf family. In going electric, it makes almost no compromises in terms of performance, comfort or cargo space. It looks like a Golf, and it runs like a Golf.

And like most battery electric vehicles, it costs too much, takes too long to recharge, and has too little range.

Volkswagen, though seemingly late to the battery electric game, has been testing fully electric prototypes since the 1980s. Introducing the e-Golf as a model year 2015 car, it's now entering a crowded field. I count more than a dozen contenders, among them league leaders Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf.

Other than the Tesla — which can drive three times farther than any other BEV but also costs at least three times more — electric cars on the market include the Fiat 500e, BMW i3, Chevy Spark, Ford Focus, Kia Soul, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Smart EV and Mercedes B-Class.

The e-Golf lands near the top in terms of range, a promised 83 miles between charges — not far behind 93 for the Kia, 87 for the Fiat, 85 for the Mercedes and 84 for the Leaf — and in the middle in terms of price, less than the BMW or Mercedes, about the same as the Fiat and the Kia, and well above the Ford or Chevy.

The base SE model starts at $29,815, and the SEL Premium at $36,415, before gove rnment incentives. But leasing is often a better option for electric cars because of their uncertain resale value and often attractive deals from automakers and dealers.

Volkswagen has been rocked by federal investigations, consumer outrage and class-action lawsuits since admitting that it installed illegal software "defeat devices" designed to fool U.S. emissions tests. The software was installed in about 11 million cars worldwide and 482,000 in the U.S.

In the wake of the scandal, which will cost VW billions of dollars, the company said it would spend at least $100 million in 2016 to push further into electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains.

The e-Golf gives some insight into the company's ability to deliver on electric powertrains. VW executives have said they didn't want to come to market with an electric car that didn't perform well. They wanted, said product manager Mike Klopotowski, "an electric Golf that drives like a Golf, not like an electric car."

That meant it had to go fast, handle well and accommodate five passengers and some luggage. It had to appeal to younger early adopters who wanted a zero-emission car, as well as aging baby boomers and empty-nesters, who didn't want something that screamed EV.

"It couldn't look like a spaceship," Klopotowski said. "The older buyers don't want something too futuristic."

After a week in the e-Golf, I'd say Klopotowski and company have succeeded. The car is zippy and fun to drive. Like all electric cars, it's extremely quiet and vibration free. It's just as comfortable as its fellow Golfs, with a pleasantly firm ride and all the key dashboard components visible and all the important functions in easy reach. It has excellent visibility.

Importantly, it drives much more like a sports car with 115 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque than something designed to save the planet. In "B" regenerative braking mode, particularly, the accelerator response is instantaneous , making the car quick to dash forward and aggressive to brake.

Unlike some of its smaller competitors — ciao, Fiat! — the e-Golf has full-size back seats for full-size adults. The fit and finish, front and back, is up to German standards. It is reasonable to assume the electric Golf will stand the wear and tear of American roads as durably as its gasoline and diesel versions have done.

The e-Golf comes in two trim levels — the SE and the SEL Premium, the model I drove. The higher-cost version includes higher-grade navigation and infotainment — a $395 Driver Assistance Package includes some extra safety features — plus on-board hardware that will allow the SEL to take advantage of the DC fast-charging system, which cuts the recharge time from about 10 hours on a 120-volt plug, or four hours with 240 volts, to around 30 minutes on a fast charger.

But despite their popularity with the motoring press, strong performance and heavy subsidies, the pure electric s don't sell well.

Sales of all cars with batteries — including popular hybrids, such as the Prius — represented only 3.4% of U.S. car transaction sales in 2014, according to the Electric Drive Transportation Assn. (That percentage is down to about 3% so far this year.) And cars running only on batteries — with no gas engine — represented less than a fifth of those sales.

Most drivers report "range anxiety" and the recharging time as the reasons they wouldn't go fully electric — no matter the brand. (Hybrids don't need recharging, though plug-in hybrids allow charging and have some electric-only range.) That's why hopes are high for Tesla's promised Model 3 and Chevy's Bolt, both of which promise much longer driving ranges.

The e-Golf promises 83 miles of "real world" driving range, meaning the car doesn't have to be babied along to get the most out of a charge. After a week in the vehicle, I'd say that's about right. I live in a hilly area and drove the car to maximize its sporty feel, and I was on target to run out of juice somewhere above 80 miles.

That doesn't mean I didn't experience range anxiety. The e-Golf has three range estimators — a gas gauge-style dial showing charge level, a range number next to the gas pump icon on the dash, and a second range number inside the infotainment screen.

These last two numbers were always different. I started with 83 miles in the tank. After a few days' commuting back and forth to work, I found I had 63 miles' range left, on one gauge — but only 41 on the other.

Studies have shown that almost all Americans could commute quite comfortably with 83 miles of range. But not all of us have plug-in parking spaces at work, and apartment dwellers may not have easy access to plug-in spots at home. And there's still that lurking question in many drivers' minds: What if I wanted to just take off for Vegas?

But VW says most e-Golf buyers already own something different for their weekend excursions.

Klopotowski also said an increasing number of e-Golf buyers arrived at the dealerships looking at gasoline-powered Golfs, and left with the electric versions.

Is 83 a big enough number to persuade other drivers to convert? In the first year on offer, VW sales numbers shot past all but three other brands — behind only Tesla, Nissan and Fiat.

For those who do choose to plug in, the e-Golf should make an attractive daily driver. And VW, given its diesel scandal, could use more sales of cars without tailpipes.

charles.fleming@latimes.com

Source: Car review: VW's all-electric e-Golf is as zippy and roomy as gas version

Faraday Future Electric Car Concept Coming To 2016 CES

Teaser for Faraday Future concept car debuting at 2016 Consumer Electronics Show

Enlarge Photo

Mysterious electric-car startup Faraday Future will unveil a concept car at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this January.

This will be the first substantial clue as to what the electric car Faraday Future plans to launch in 2017 will be like.

Earlier this month Faraday (which prefers you call it "FF") issued a press release saying it would spend $1 billion on a U.S. factory for this production car.

DON'T MISS: Faraday Future Plans $1 Billion Electric-Car Factory, Site TBD

That seems like a daunting challenge for a company whose existence was only revealed earlier this year.

More recently, we learned that Faraday is back by Chinese entrepreneur Jia Yueting.

He founded Leshi Internet Information & Technology, and is listed by Forbes as China's 17th richest person, with a fortune estimated at $7 billion.

Faraday's incorporation papers reveal ties to LeTV, the Chinese media company operated by Jia.

He previously discussed building and marketing an electric car through LeTV, but only recently has the connection to Faraday emerged.

The company now has roughly 400 employees, and operates out of a former Nissan research facility south of Los Angeles.

ALSO SEE: More Faraday Info: Chinese Billionaire Backer, Ex-Tesla Staff For Electric-Car Startup

The fact that many of these employees were drawn from car companies seems to be the basis for most claims about Faraday's credibility.

That list of employees includes Nick Sampson, who ran the vehicle and chassis engineering program for the Tesla Model S before decamping for Faraday in 2012; he's also worked at British sports-car firm Lotus.

Sampson was joined by Dag Reckhorn, a former Tesla senior manufacturing executive, and employees with backgrounds at BMW, General Motors, and other global carmakers.

As for the car itself, little has been revealed. It may turn out to be the first of many models from Faraday.

The company is also expected to emphasize connectivity, and may embrace other emerging technologies and practices as it looks to distinguish itself from other carmakers--including Tesla.

Faraday may distribute its cars using a subscription model that allows customers to request different vehicles for different uses, Sampson said in a recent interview with The Verge.

MORE: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV: Production Version To Appear At CES

Customers could select one vehicle for a family road trip, and another for commuting, he suggested.

Sampson also suggested that Faraday's electric cars could be autonomous.

Meanwhile, Faraday must still select a manufacturing site. It previously said it was evaluating sites in California, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

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Source: Faraday Future Electric Car Concept Coming To 2016 CES

Dewa adds 8 electric cars to fleet

Dubai: The drive to make Dubai green continues with the introduction of eight electric cars to the fleet of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, officials said on Wednesday.

The electric cars run exclusively on battery power and will be topped up at new electrical charging stations across the emirate.

The move is part of the Dubai Green Transport initiative and encourages the use of sustainable transportation with hybrid and electric vehicles, which will cut total carbon emissions in Dubai.

Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa, said offsetting carbon fuels with renewable energy is critical for Dubai to reduce its impact on the environment.

"In line with the strategy to reduce carbon emissions in Dubai by 16 per cent by 2021, we take pride in being the first government organisation to add high-performance electric cars to its fleet. This move supports Dubai's ambition to achieve a 10 per cent increase in the total number of hybrid and electric cars in use by 2030. Dewa is the first public utility to make this ambition a reality," said Al Tayer. "The Green Charger initiative will hugely and effectively contribute to boosting the spread of electric cars in Dubai, which will decrease the carbon footprint of the Emirate," added Al Tayer.

Dewa opened the first charging station in February and installed 16 Green Charger stations for public use to recharge its electric cars. Twelve stations were built at Dewa offices, and they can charge 24 cars at once. Four charging stations have been installed at the Dubai Silicon Oasis and Dubai Design District (D3).

Dewa is setting up three types of charging stations. Fast-charging stations that take 20-40 minutes will be installed at petrol stations. Medium-charging stations that take 2-4 hours and will be installed in shopping malls, parks, and offices, and home charging stations, which take 6-8 hours to charge.

Electric vehicle owners can visit any o f Dewa's customer service centres to register and get the Green Charger card. The documents required for registration are the user's Emirates ID card, driver's licence and vehicle registration. Customers receive the Green Charger bills via email, which they can settle using any of Dewa's payment channels.

Source: Dewa adds 8 electric cars to fleet

Bentley To Build A 500HP All-Electric Sports Car?

Not all concepts gain unanimous approval, but the EXP 10 Speed 6 coupe that was displayed last March in Geneva falls in the "build it now" category. Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer is certainly very aware of this: "The customer response was phenomenal, and we want to build it and make it a reality".

Since Bentley is already known to be evaluating a coupe that would sit below the Continental GT in its range, the EXP 10 Speed 6 would make for a very good candidate indeed.

It's what Dürheimer told Top Gear next that caught us by surprise: "This would be a truly exciting direction for Bentley to go in, and we are seriously considering alternative powertrains. Maybe even full electric."

An all-electric Bentley? Why, with "400 to 500bhp" it would fit the bill perfectly. Plus, it makes much more sense than the insult large SUV that is the Bentayga or the smaller one that's the second candidate for a future model in the company's line-up.

Electrification is going to be the next big thing within the VW Group, to which the British brand belongs. Audi is already putting the finishing touches to the Q6 – plus, after Dieselgate, EVs could help it in reconstructing its tarnished image.

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Source: Bentley To Build A 500HP All-Electric Sports Car?

Renault Electric Car Sales Up 27% In October (Nearly 1,850 ZOE Sold)

57 mins ago by Mark Kane

Renault's Lineup Of Pure Electric Cars – Fluence Z.E., Twizy, Kangoo Z.E. and ZOE

Renault ZOE

Renault electric car sales grew last month by 27% (year-over-year – including the inclusion of the Twizy).

In total, Renault delivered about 2,200 cars and nearly 290 Twizy (all numbers preliminary).

Growth is fueled by Renault ZOE, which at nearly 1,850 sales not only represents about 84% of Renault's all-electric car sales, but is moving up fast at up over 39% from over the 1,300 moved a year ago.

Average monthly sales of ZOE this year are over 1,360, which is a decent number, especially considering that sales are almost entirely limited to Europe.

So far this year, the French manufacturer already sold a record ≈16,800 electric cars (all-time record for Renault) and ≈2,000 Twizy.

Renault BEV car sales (without Twizy) – October 2015

Tags: renault, Renault Zoe, sales

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Source: Renault Electric Car Sales Up 27% In October (Nearly 1,850 ZOE Sold)

5 Of The Most Amazing Bits Of Car Tech Created By Startups

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With cars becoming more technically advanced, it's not just the standard professions that are called on to work on our vehicles. Electronics and related technology are a huge automotive development area, and some companies operating in other arenas – such as consumer electronics – are entering automotive development.

Similarly, specialist startups are focusing on specifics of car tech and are responsible for several innovations that can greatly enhance our driving experience.

Here are five examples.

Self-driving technology (Cruise Automotive)

Cruise Automotive can install an autopilot system to a car for around £6,000. It's not quite the full self-driving solution that Google is at the forefront of, but neither is it the 'inch by inch' approach currently in the marketplace.

Radars and cameras sit in a sensor pod on the roof and transmit data to a small computer in the boot which in turn controls actuators under pedals and in the steering wheel.

GPS based diagnostics, navigation and driving (Zubie)

By connecting your car to the Internet, this app provides a whole raft of motoring-related functions. Items include engine diagnostics, trip tracking and navigation, monitoring driving habits for safety and information, accessing help easily such as roadside assistance and creating a mobile Wi-Fi environment in the car.

It's a whole 'car communication' system all on your phone.

Smart screen display (Navdy)

Another piece of tech working in conjunction with a smartphone, this uses a small pod mounted on the dashboard to display information on the windscreen glass. It's similar to existing heads up displays, and the driver doesn't have to glance away from the road to their phone screen.

Electric cars (Tesla)

Not one single piece of car tech, but this Californian-based firm is at the vanguard of the rush to produce an electric car with its Model S. Tesla started up by developing an electric car with an impressive range of more than 200 miles per battery charge.

Their goal was to fully commercialize electric cars; the first step was the Tesla Roadster between 2008 and 2012 and followed by the Model S. The next phase is the introduction of other mainstream models such as a SUV.

Tesla's success in developing electric power technology shows how a small, new manufacturer can compete with the multi-nationals in bringing a new technology to the market. While the market is new, opportunities exist and Tesla's technology is a good example of this.

Preventing drink driving (Sober Steering)

Breathalyser units have been widely available for personal use for some while, but this remarkable innovation from Sober Steering detects through your physical contact with the steering wheel if you've had too much to drink.

Sounding like something from a science fiction film, biosensors installed in the steering wheel detect gases containing alcohol given off through the skin. The car is immobilised for a short while to give someone else a chance to take over behind the wheel.

For fleet management purposes, it will link to dispatch centres to inform them a vehicle cannot be driven because the driver has too much alcohol in their bloodstream.

Many of the above examples are related to technology already in existence. For example, the drink-drive prevention system is related to sensor technology that detects when drivers may be tired behind the wheel, but it just shows how niche products and systems can be developed by smaller concerns.

All of these things are fresh, but all have the capacity to become mainstream quickly. It's not hard to imagine that the process of learning to drive could soon include the need to master much of these pieces of technology, alongside steps to memorise the rules of the road when taking on the theory test. After all, a trial involving sat nav systems is already underway.

There's no doubt that driving is changing but the importance of it isn't. Our reliance on our vehicles and our love of technology are creating the perfect environment for advancements in this field and that's something that has been fully embraced by start-ups.

Source: 5 Of The Most Amazing Bits Of Car Tech Created By Startups

Toyota’s fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai, comes to Calif.

Dana Hull, Bloomberg News 12:12 a.m. EST November 22, 2015

The Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle(Photo: Jordan Strauss / Invision for Toyota)

Toyota Motor Corp. is making a huge bet with its Mirai fuel-cell sedan that hydrogen-powered vehicles — not battery-electric cars — will be the real future of clean transportation. It's starting with very small numbers.

Toyota sold 34 of them last month in California, the only state in the U.S. where it is currently available for sale or lease, and plans to deliver 100 this year at a price of $58,335. The car qualifies for a $5,000 rebate from the state of California and the coveted, white carpool-lane sticker.

Toyota argues that hydrogen-powered vehicles have a big advantage over battery-electric cars and are a better long-term solution to clean-air regulations. The trapezoid-shaped Mirai can go 312 miles on a full tank of hydrogen and takes three to five minutes to refuel, which is closer to what consumers experience with gasoline-powered cars. No plug-in electric car on the market can go that far on a single charge.

The world's largest automaker is making about three Mirais each day at a plant in Toyota City, the company's headquarters city in Japan. It plans to produce 2,000 of the cars next year and 3,000 in 2017 before accelerating production even faster.

"Our goal is to produce 30,000 units annually by 2020," said Yoshikazu Tanaka, the Mirai's chief engineer. "Further cost reduction is necessary to make the technology affordable and accessible."

Toyota isn't alone. Honda Motor Co. is working on a reboot of its fuel-cell model, and Seoul-based Hyundai Motor Co. started selling a hydrogen-powered Tucson SUV last year. Neither sells battery-EV in the U.S.

California is helping Toyota's hydrogen play in a big way. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger started talking about a "hydrogen highway" back in 2004. The state's ambitious zero- emission vehicle goal calls for at least 1.5 million hydrogen, electric and plug-in vehicles to be on the roads by 2025. To jump-start the infrastructure needed to support consumer adoption, the state is spending $200 million to build 100 hydrogen refueling stations, many of them clustered in Los Angeles and around the Bay Area.

Toyota is introducing the Mirai very slowly. Only eight Toyota dealerships — four in northern California and four in southern California — are designated "launch dealers." Owners must live near one of those dealerships and in proximity to a hydrogen fueling station. Consumers don't have a lot of options and can choose between four colors: blue, white, silver and black.

The perks Toyota is throwing in for initial owners are plentiful, including three years of complimentary fuel and roadside assistance, and seven days with a free rental car annually.

"We're just now starting to deliver the first Mirais in California," said Toyota spokesman John Hanson. "But we believe that hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, more than battery electric vehicles, will become mainstream vehicles more quickly."

Toyota sees battery-electric vehicles filling a niche for short commutes, but thinks that fuel cell vehicles, or FCVs, have the greatest potential for long distance driving and for use in buses and trucks.

Like electricity, hydrogen can be produced in several ways; most is made from natural gas. Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity from the chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with water vapor as the only exhaust product. A fuel cell vehicle is refueled instead of recharged.

Fuel cells like the Mirai, which means "future" in Japanese, have been questioned by competitors. Tesla Motors Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has been among the loudest, calling them "fool cells" and telling analysts last year that the technology is inefficient and that "success is not one of the possible outcomes."

"I'm bewildered that Elon Musk is denying fuel cells," said Tanaka, who spoke through an interpreter during an interview in San Francisco. "But if Elon Musk says fuel cell technology is stupid, in a sense this is true: We are just at the beginning. It was just born and has huge potential."

Toyota was an early partner with Tesla, investing $50 million in the Palo Alto, California-based company and cooperating on the RAV4EV, which produced roughly 2,500 vehicles. But Toyota is now firmly focused on fuel cells, and has invested in FirstElement Fuel Inc., a startup that is creating a hydrogen fueling network. The Japanese automaker has stopped making the RAV4 EV.

"The question isn't Do we need fuel cells or plug-in vehicles?"' said David Reichmuth, a senior engineer in the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "We need both. Fuel cells are not competing with plug-in EVs; they are teammates. The main difference between them is how they store the energy."

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Source: Toyota's fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai, comes to Calif.

Connecticut International Auto Show Opens With Focus On Electric Cars

HARTFORD — Electric and hybrid vehicles will take center stage at the Connecticut International Auto Show, which opens Friday and runs through the weekend.

The annual auto show at the Connecticut Convention Center comes as the state has announced additional funding for a program that offers a cash rebate of up to $3,000 for residents and $15,000 for municipalities purchasing an eligible electric vehicle under the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate Program. The program is the first of its kind in the nation.

The car show is "the perfect time to focus attention on the advantages" of electric vehicles, said Commissioner Robert Klee of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. "Putting more Connecticut drivers behind the wheel of an [electric vehicle] is what it will take to drive down harmful carbon emissions linked to climate change, reduce conventional pollutants that threaten our air quality and public health, and help motorists reduce the cost of owning and operating a car.''

"We're doing just that by making an additional $1 million in funding available for a rebate program ... and making another $1 million in grants available to state agencies and cities and towns who want to purchase electric vehicles for their fleets and install charging stations for public use,'' he said.

Jim Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association, said the rebate program is a model for the nation.

"We want to highlight these electric vehicles,'' Fleming said. "I've been to meetings all around the country and every time I go to a meeting people are asking us about the cheaper rebate program, so states are trying to duplicate what Connecticut is already doing."

Among the vehicles on display will be the Toyota Mirai, powered by hydrogen fuel cell and the Audi A3 e-tron, a plug-in hybrid. Others include the Chevrolet Volt, Kia Soul EV, Hyundai Sonata Plug In, Nissan Leaf and the Volkswagen E-Golf.

"The transportation sector is responsible for about 40 percent of the carbon emissions in Connecticut and we must address that challenge if we are going to meet the state's aggressive climate change target of reducing emissions 80 percent from 2001 levels by 2050," Klee said. "In addition, motor vehicles fueled by gasoline and diesel are the primary source of pollutants that create smog – which causes illness, especially among infants, senior citizens and those prone to respiratory ailments."

Klee also said the expanded consumer rebate initiative and new grant program for cities and towns and state agencies will help Connecticut meet its goals as part of an eight-state effort to put 3.3 million zero emission vehicles on the road by 2025.

There are 134 publicly available charging stations for electric vehicles across the state. These stations are part of a network of 187 publicly available charging stations with 419 plugs across in Connecticut.

Tickets for the auto show are $10 with roughly 30,000 to 40,000 people to come through over the course of the weekend.

Source: Connecticut International Auto Show Opens With Focus On Electric Cars

Automotive Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Market Report 2015-2025

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. WorldNow and this Station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you have any questions or comments about this page please contact pressreleases@worldnow.com.

SOURCE Visiongain

LONDON, November 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Top Companies, Car Sales Forecasts & Charging Station (EVCS) Infrastructure Forecasts

The latest report from business intelligence provider visiongain offers comprehensive analysis of the global Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) market. Visiongain assesses that the BEV market will generate revenues of $46.3bn in 2015.

Now: "Consumers have largely shunned electric vehicles because of their high price tags and limited driving range, as well as the scarcity of charging stations, though many analysts predict sales will rise sharply by the end of the decade," 14th of September 2015, UK Reuters.

This is an example of the business critical headline that you need to know about - and more importantly, you need to read visiongain's objective analysis of how this will impact your company and the automotive industry more broadly. How are you and your company reacting to this news? Are you sufficiently informed?

How this report will benefit youRead on to discover how you can exploit the future business opportunities emerging in the BEV sector. Visiongain's new study tells you and tells you NOW.

In this brand new report you find 268 in-depth tables, charts and graphs PLUS 6 EXCLUSIVE interviews - all unavailable elsewhere.

The 264 page report provides clear detailed insight into the global Battery Electric Vehicle market. Discover the key drivers and challenges affecting the market.

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Report Scope• Global Battery Electric Vehicle unit sales and revenue forecasts from 2015-2025• Regional Battery Electric Vehicle unit sales and revenue market forecasts from 2015-2025 covering 5 US states and the whole of the US, 11 European Countries: France, Germany, UK, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and the whole of Europe, Japan, China and RoW 

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com

• The Row includes further analysis of Brazil, Russia, India and South Korea• Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) deployment for Africa/ Middle East, Asia Pacific, 4 European Countries and the whole of Europe, Latin America, 5 US states and the whole US market,• Examination of the key cost factors that influence the deployment of EVCS for two scenarios• Analysis of the key factors driving growth in the global, regional and country level Battery Electric Vehicle markets from 2015-2025• Forecasting of Tesla Model S and new Tesla Model X sales for 2016• Sales analysis and revealing market share for the most bought brands in each country

• 10 detailed tables containing financial analysis but also forecasting for future brand sales• Profiles of the leading 8 OEM's and 4 Aftermarkets companies involved with BEV in 2015 with revealing regional market share data.- Tesla- BMW Group- Porsche AG Group- Dubuc Motors- Rinspeed- Lighting Car Company- Nissan Group- Commuter Cars- A123 Systems- Liberty Plugins- ChargeMaster PLC- ClipperCreek• 6 Interviews with key opinion leaders informing and underpinning the analysis- Dubuc Motors- Rinspeed- Liberty Plugins- Lightning Car Company- Commuter Cars- ClipperCreek

How will you benefit from this report?• Keep your BEV knowledge base up to speed. Don't get left behind• Reinforce your strategic decision-making with definitive and reliable BEV market data• Learn how to exploit new technological trends• Realise your company's full potential within the BEV market• Understand the BEV competitive landscape and identify potential new business opportunities & partnerships

Who should read this report?• Anyone within the BEV value chain & supply chain.• CEO's• COO's• CIO's• Business development managers• Marketing managers• Technologists• Suppliers• Investors• Banks• Government agencies• Contractors

Visiongain's study is intended for anyone requiring commercial analyses for the Battery Electric Vehicle market and leading companies. You find data, trends and predictions.

Buy our report today Automotive Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Market Report 2015-2025; Top Companies, Car Sales Forecasts & Charging Station (EVCS) Infrastructure Forecasts. Avoid missing out by staying informed - get our report now.

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com

Companies ListedA123 Systems LLCAC PropulsionAixamAixam Mega LtdAker Wade Power TechnologiesAltair Nanotechnologies Inc.AMGAsdaAshok LeylandAT&TAudiAutomotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC)AvtoVAZAxeda Corporation.Azure DynamicsBaicBAKBaker ElectricBaker Motor VehicleBMW GroupBolloreBoulder Electric VehicleBurbank Water and Power (BWP)BYDCarCharging GroupChargemaster PLCCheryChevroletChilectraCitroenCleanovaClipperCreekControl Module industriesCoulomb TechnologiesDaihatsuDaimlerDassaultDelta-q TechnologiesDetroit ElectricDKB GroupDow KokamDubuc MotorsDuke EnergyEatonEcotricityEDF EnergyEEtrex Inc.ElectrovayaElektromotiveEltekEndesaEnelEner1Enova InternationalENVIAEpyonEviEVTraxerFedExFiatFiskerFordGeelyGeneral Motors (GM)Gigawave Europe LtdGlobal Electric Motorcars, LLC (GEM)GO smartGoupilGRIDbotGridPoint Energy ManagementGS Yuasa CorporationGurgel SAGWL Power Group Technology SolutionsHenney KilowattHeuliezHinduja Group.HitachiHitachi GroupHondaHybrids Plus, Inc.,Hydro-Qué becHyundaii4wifi a.sIndianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL)International BatteryITOCHU CorporationItronJohnson ControlsK2 EnergyKandi Technologies Group IncKiaLeviton Manufacturing Inc.LG Chem Ltd.Liberty PluginsLighting Car CompanyLishenLumeneo SmeraMadison Gas and Electric (MGE)Mahindra & MahindraMahindra Reva Electric Vehicle Private LimitedMazdaMelexMercedes - BenzMia electricMiles Electric VehiclesMit. MinicabMitsubishi CorporationMM NmGMobileyeModecNavistarNEC CorporationNEC Energy Devices, LtdNissan Motor Co, LtdNissan GroupNovaTorque, Inc.Oka Auto USAOpelOptareOptimization Technologies, Inc.PEP StationsPeugeotPiaggioPorsche AG GroupPorsche Latin AmericaPrimearth EV Energy Co.Progress EnergyProterra, Inc.PSA Peugeot CitroenRenaultRenault - Nissanrimac-automobiliRinspeedRWE AGSAFTSainsbury'sSakti3SakuraSB LimotiveSchneider ElectricSeatService USAShorepowerSinautecSion PowerSmartSmith Electric VehiclesSmith Electric Vehicles US Corp (SEV US Corp)SolarCitySPX Corporatio nSSC North AmericaSSC Ultimate AeroSunpods IncSuzukiThe Tanfield Group Plc,Tesla MotorsTH!NK CityThunder Sky Group (China)ToyotaToyota Motor CorpTwikeUniversal Electric VehicleValenceVauxhallVentureOneVenturi AutomobilesVolkswagenVoltaWaitroseWanxiang AmericaWanxiang Group CorporationZAP CorporationZENNZigBeeZotye

Government Agencies & Other Organisations Mentioned in This ReportAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment ActCouncil for EV and Charging StationsDubai Electricity and Water AuthorityEnvironment CommitteeEnvironmental Protection AgencyEuropean ParliamentEuropean Standardisation OrganisationsEuropean UnionFederal and State RegulatorsInstitute of Transportation and StudiesJapan Automobile Importers AssociationJapanese GovernmentNational Association of Automobile Manufacturers In BrazilNational Electric Vehicle Safety Standards SummitNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNatural Resources CanadaSacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)Société de Véhicules Electriques (SVE)State Council of ChinaUS Department of Energy

To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com

To request an exec summary of this report please email Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongainglobal.com or call Tel: +44(0)20-7336-6100

Or click on https://www.visiongain.com/Report/1523/Automotive-Battery-Electric-Vehicle-(BEV)-Market-Report-2015-2025

©2015 PR Newswire. All Rights Reserved.

Source: Automotive Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Market Report 2015-2025

Yes, EVs are Cleaner than Gasoline-Powered Cars

EVs are far cleaner, says UCS

It's the trick question that has left many of us stumped: from the earliest stages of manufacture to the years driving on the road until they are sent to the junkyard, are conventional automobiles or electric cars cleaner for the environment? While acknowledging that electric vehicles (EVs) emit no emissions when running on our streets and highways, many have assumed that those pesky rare earth metals in their massive batteries and the emissions associated with producing the power canceled out any environmental benefits that their drivers enjoyed.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), a two-year study has provided the answer. The EV is the cleaner option, hands down.

In order to reach that conclusion, UCS researchers evaluated the entire life cycle of an EV based on the two most popular models sold in the United States—the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. Looking at the raw materials needed to make a car, the assembly and manufacturing processes, driving, disposal and recycling, the UCS team compared the emissions of EVs to a similarly sized gasoline-powered automobile, with examples including the Ford Focus, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback, Kia Forte5 and Volkswagen Golf.

When emissions are measured during the early manufacturing phases, UCS found that the manufacture of EVs at first were less clean than that of conventionally fueled cars. But within anywhere from six to 16 months after both cars have been driven, those early emissions are quickly offset by their cleaner driving. So when comparing these cars' respective environmental performance over their lifetime, UCS' researchers concluded that an EV will generate less than half of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to those of a gasoline-powered car. For a smaller EV, only 4,900 miles of driving will offset those higher emissions from that vehicle's manufacture; in the case of a full-sized, long-range EV, those earlier emissions are canceled out after approximately 19,000 miles of driving.

UCS based its assumptions on the fact that both cars would have a 15-year life cycle, with 135,000 miles driven and a weight of approximately 3,000 pounds. The researchers also assumed that in comparison for this study, the average gasoline-powered car would have an average fuel economy of 29 miles to the gallon.

UCS insists that EVs will become even more efficient and therefore, cleaner in the coming years. These cars' environmental benefits will increase as additional sources of cleaner energy fuel the national grid. In regions of the U.S. where much of the grid is still reliant on coal energy, driving an electric car is currently about as efficient as a gasoline-powered automobile that scores 35 to 40 miles per gallon. And in areas where the electricity grid uses cleaner sources of energy (as on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts), EVs' equivalent miles per gallon rates spike even higher. Overall, according to UCS, driving an EV in the U.S. on average produces greenhouse gas emissions equal to driving a gasoline-powered car with a mileage of 68 miles per gallon. To put all these statistics into context, UCS has an online tool that allows users to see how an EV's environmental performance would measure within their zip code.

More needs to be done, however, before EVs can truly make a difference in reducing the U.S.'s carbon emissions. EVs have got to contribute a larger share of vehicle sales than they do now—at the moment they account for less than one percent of sales nationwide. The grid has got to become cleaner and greener as well, though UCS does point out that even in a region dominated by coal-fired power plants, an EV reliant on such power at worst offers a fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon.

Overall UCS is sanguine about the future of EVs, consumer doubt and low oil prices notwithstanding. The convergence of better EV performance, cleaner electricity generation, optimized battery technology and improved battery recycling can help EVs reduce American oil consumption significantly in the coming decades–and of course, less time at the pump.

Image credit: Markus Mayer, Wikipedia

Source: Yes, EVs are Cleaner than Gasoline-Powered Cars

Bosch, GKN prepare for tomorrow’s (electric) powertrains today

Most people assume that auto manufacturers make all the components of their cars themselves. In fact, there are many Tier 1 suppliers behind the scenes who manufacture whole systems, not just individual components. Bosch and GKN are two of the largest, supplying critical components to companies like Volkswagen, Audi, BMW and Porsche.

New technology always starts at the top of the market and works its way down as economies of scale drive costs lower. All of the important developments in internal combustion cars were first introduced on premium models. The electric self-starter, automatic transmission and engines with overhead camshafts were all first introduced on top of the line cars. Today, they are available on the even the least expensive models.

Senior engineers at Bosch and GKN say a similar progression will occur for electric and plug-in hybrid cars, as new battery technology lowers the cost of electric cars. Lower prices will mean more people can afford to drive electric cars and that will trigger even lower costs. Peter Moelgg, head of technology at GKN, expects 50% of all cars will have some electric drive components by 2025.

Bosch and GKN are both developing electric drive components for those cars. Both will be able to offer manufacturers complete drive units that can be simply bolted to a car's chassis during the assembly process. Whether those powertrains turn the front wheels, rear wheels or all 4 will make no difference.

Torque vectoring will be an integral part of all electric drivetrains, according to both companies. Electronic controls will be able to vary the amount of torque going to each wheel from 0 to 100%. That will help cars negotiate tight corners and manage roads made slippery by rain, snow, or ice. It may also make it possible for tomorrow's cars to make emergency maneuvers to avoid a collision — maneuvers that most ordinary drivers do not have the skill to perform.

The internal combustion engine is not a thing of the past — not quite yet. Bosch is working on electric turbochargers that provide instant torque. Ordinary turbochargers need to get up to speed before they are effective. By using an electric supercharger, an internal combustion engine can make more power at lower rpm. That increases fuel economy and decreases exhaust emissions.

In the age of the gasoline engine, each auto maker built its own engines. Its cars were defined by what was under the hood. Today, most of the pieces that move the car forward are made by independent suppliers like Bosch and GKN. Manufacturers don't make their own batteries, they buy them from LG Chem, Panasonic, or Samsung. Companies like Bosch and GKN will become increasingly more important to the future of automobiles as time goes on.

Source: Bosch, GKN prepare for tomorrow's (electric) powertrains today

2050 Motors, Inc. Announces Arrival Of Carbon Fiber Electric Vehicle In USA

November 17, 2015 09:40 ET | Source: 2050 Motors, Inc.

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Nov. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via PRWEB - Company's e-Go Electric Vehicle To Be Showcased In Las Vegas; Electric Luxury Sedan To Follow

2050 Motors, Inc. (OTCQB: ETFM), an emerging company in the carbon fiber vehicle industry, announced today that the first all carbon fiber electric vehicle, the e-Go Electric Vehicle (EV), arrived in the United States last week. The e-Go, due to its lightweight carbon fiber body and all aluminum space age racing frame, has the pedigree to become the world's most efficient automobile weighing under 1,500 lbs including its battery pack. The e-Go's big brother, the Ibis, a full size luxury sedan, is expected arrive soon. The styling of the all carbon fiber Ibis rivals the best European high-end sedans.

Both electric vehicles are to be showcased in Las Vegas to a private industry audience, and then opened to the general public for viewing. Both vehicles will carry impressive warranty items including a 10-year (unlimited mileage) warranty on their lithium battery packs.

"Earlier this year, both the e-Go EV and the Ibis received rave reviews when they revealed the manufacturing facilities for the e-Go EV to a Chinese audience," stated Michael Hu, President of 2050 Motors. "The China manufacturing plant features the most modern robotic machines and carbon fiber manufacturing tooling, and the unveiling was covered by national TV news media and many publications. We are excited to make our entrance into the American market, and anticipate another successful event." A sequential video to the grand opening of the facility can be viewed at http://youtu.be/wih8_xxZNgA To see pictures of both vehicles that were showcased at the Shanghai Auto Show visit http://www.2050motors.com/shanghaishow.html

About 2050 Motors, Inc.

2050 Motors, Inc. (http://www.2050motors.com and http://www.etfm.com), is a publicly traded company incorporated in Nevada in 2012. 2050 Motors was founded to import, market, and sell electric and gas powered carbon fiber vehicles engineered and designed in Italy and China. 2050 Motors also has the rights to assemble these vehicles in the United States as a future enterprise. 2050 Motors has entered into an agreement with Jiangsu Aoxin New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., located in Jiangsu, China, for the distribution in the United States of a new electric automobile, known as the e-GO EV (electric vehicle). The e-Go EV is a revolutionary new concept in the ever evolving world of electric vehicles. It will be the only production line electric car with a carbon fiber body and parts manufactured by a new process using robotic machines which significantly reduces the fabrication time and cost of carbon fiber components. The e-Go EV will seat five passengers, have a long battery life, an d high energy efficiency rating up to 150+ MPG-E energy equivalent in urban driving due to the light weight of the vehicle. The company is fully reporting under the SEC EDGAR system.

Disclosure Statement 

Statements in this press release about our future expectations, including without limitation, the likelihood that 2050 Motors will be able to leverage capital markets to execute its growth strategy, meet US DOT requirements, meet minimum sales expectations, will be successful and profitable in the US market, and will bring significant value to 2050 Motors' stockholders, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, and our actual results could differ materially from expected results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipa ted events, except as required by law.

Contact:George HedrickVP North American Operations2050 Motors, Inc.Tel. (702) 591-6029

This article was originally distributed on PRWeb. For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/11/prweb13086191.htm

2050 Motors George Hedrick +1 7025916029

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other press releases by 2050 Motors, Inc.
Source: 2050 Motors, Inc. Announces Arrival Of Carbon Fiber Electric Vehicle In USA

Hydrogenics Signs Broad Supply Agreements With Chinese Vehicle Integrators

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Nov. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrogenics Corporation (NASDAQ:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation technology and hydrogen fuel cell power modules, today announced that it has signed separate supply agreements with several Chinese electric vehicle integrators to bring its fuel cell and fueling station technology to China as part of the country's strategy to solve prevalent air quality issues. The agreements were signed in Beijing on Friday, November 13, at ceremonies attended by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and trade commission delegates, along with local and state officials. Hydrogenics has worked closely with a number of Chinese companies throughout the past year – already delivering over 30 propulsion systems for buses and other vehicle platforms from leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as Futian and Volvo. The largest bus OEM in China, Yutong, is one of the key suppliers seeking to bring fu el cell technology into the urban transit mainstream.

The deals signed Friday cover more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of the next 3-5 years. Staged rollouts will follow typical engineering milestones from prototyping, manufacturing, vehicle certification and infrastructure build-out. Included in the agreements are heavy-duty fuel cells, fueling stations, and assessments for converting wind energy and other forms of surplus electricity to hydrogen using Hydrogenics' Power-to-Gas energy storage technology. Hydrogenics anticipates that, during the next twelve months, $10 million or more of revenue could be realized, after which product deliveries should accelerate. Based on Chinese proposals, vehicle fuel cell requirements alone over a five year period are forecast to be above $100 million.

Hydrogenics CEO Daryl Wilson stated, "We are thrilled to have been chosen by Chinese OEMs for our industry-leading hydrogen technology. These agreements demonstrate China's commitment to tackling air quality, driving an urgent need for zero-emission transportation. Hydrogenics is the clear choice in this regard due to the compelling and unique advantages of our heavy-duty fuel cells versus the competition, and Hydrogenics is the only 'one stop shop' providing the full scope of technology to meet China's needs – from Power-to-Gas applications to fueling stations and vehicle propulsion systems. It is believed over 2,000 buses and other zero-emission vehicles will be launched over the next five years in China, resulting in a significant revenue opportunity for the Company." 

In China today there are over 250,000 electric vehicles in operation – one of the largest deployments of zero-emission transportation worldwide – and vehicle integration companies have begun to seek ways to improve the limited range these vehicles provide. Hydrogen fuel cells provide such range. In addition, China's vast deployed wind and solar power systems offer unprecedented potential for the generation of green hydrogen fuel through Power-to-Gas energy storage. Hydrogenics has already demonstrated the commercial viability of multi-megawatt systems for converting renewable energy to high purity hydrogen.

About Hydrogenics

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

Forward-looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and under applicable Canadian securities law. These statements are based on management's current expectations and actual results may differ from these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including: our inability to increase our revenues or raise additional funding to continue operations, execute our business plan, or to grow our business; inability to address a slow return to economic growth, and its impact on our business, results of operations and consolidated financial condition; our limited operating history; inability to implement our business strategy; fluctuations in our quarterly results; failure to maintain our customer base that generates the majority of our revenues; currency fluctuations; failure to maintain sufficient insurance coverage; changes in value of our goodwill; failure of a significant market to develop for our products; failure of hydrogen being readily available on a cost-effective basis; changes in government policies and regulations; failure of uniform codes and standards for hydrogen fuelled vehicles and related infrastructure to develop; liability for environmental damages resulting from our research, development or manufacturing operations; failure to compete with other developers and manufacturers of products in our industry; failure to compete with developers and manufacturers of traditional and alternative technologies; failure to develop partnerships with original equipment manufacturers, governments, systems integrators and other third parties; inability to obtain sufficient materials and components for our products from suppliers; failure to manage expansion of our operations; failure to manage foreign sales and operations; failure to recruit, train and retain key management personnel; inability to integrate acquisitions; failure to develop adequate manufacturing processes and capabilities; failure to complete the development of commercially viable products; failure to produce cost-competitive products; failure or delay in field testing of our products; failure to produce products free of defects or errors; inability to adapt to technological advances or new codes and standards; failure to protect our intellectual property; our involvement in intellectual property litigation; exposure to product liability claims; failure to meet rules regarding passive foreign investment companies; actions of our significant and principal shareholders; dilution as a result of significant issuances of our common shares and preferred shares; inability of US investors to enforce US civil liability judgments against us; volatility of our common share price; and dilution as a result of the exercise of options; and failure to meet continued listing requirements of Nasdaq. Readers should not place undue reliance on Hydrogenics' forward-looking stateme nts. Investors are encouraged to review the section captioned "Risk Factors" in Hydrogenics' regulatory filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of factors that could affect Hydrogenics' future performance. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this release, and Hydrogenics undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release, unless otherwise required by law. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are expressly qualified by this.

CONTACT: For further information, contact: Bob Motz, Chief Financial Officer Hydrogenics Corporation (905) 361-3660 investors@hydrogenics.com Chris Witty Hydrogenics Investor Relations (646) 438-9385 cwitty@darrowir.com

 

Source: Hydrogenics Signs Broad Supply Agreements With Chinese Vehicle Integrators

Prediction: Plug-In Electric Car Sales In North America Will Total 7.4 Million From 2015 To 2024

The report, titled "Light Duty Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales in North America Are Expected to Total Nearly 7.4 Million from 2015 to 2024," suggests exactly what the titles states:

Light Duty Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales in North America Are Expected to Total Nearly 7.4 Million from 2015 to 2024

Plug-in electric vehicle sales are mostly concentrated in states that offer generous government incentives for both drivers and automakers, report finds

A recent report from Navigant Research analyzes the North American market for light duty plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), including detailed geographic forecasts of PEV sales by U.S. state, metropolitan statistical area (MSA), Canadian province, Canadian city, and selected U.S. utility service area.

North America is currently the world's largest market for PEVs, with more than 133,000 sold in 2014, and the majority of vehicles concentrated in California. State incentives, such as the Zero Emissions Vehicle Program, are expected to push more widespread adoption into other U.S. states and throughout Canada, as well.  According to a recent report from Navigant Research, light duty (LD) PEV sales in North America are expected to total nearly 7.4 million from 2015 to 2024.

"The increasing availability of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), or charging stations, is one factor that is helping to drive the PEV market in North America," says Scott Shepard, research analyst with Navigant Research. "Expansion of EVSE infrastructure to intra-city locations will make PEVs more attractive to drivers initially concerned about being unable to charge their vehicle during longer trips."

To date, PEV sales have been concentrated in areas where lucrative government incentives have been offered for both drivers and vehicle manufacturers, according to the report. In the United States, automakers are reaping incentive benefits from PEVs that comply with federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and in turn are offering generous lease terms to drivers.The report, Electric Vehicle Geographic Forecasts, provides data and forecasts for LD PEV sales in North America, including U.S. states, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), and utility service territories and Canadian provinces and cities. The study estimates the number of vehicles that will be in use in specific geographic locations and assesses the potential impacts of anticipated PEV penetration in the most active PEV markets. Market forecasts for LD PEV sales and vehicles in use, segmented by scenario and geographic area, extend through 2024. The study also provides analysis of Navigant Research's EV Consumer Survey, which was used to develop the PEV demographic profile. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the Navigant Research website.

Source: Prediction: Plug-In Electric Car Sales In North America Will Total 7.4 Million From 2015 To 2024

Porsche Says 911 Hybrid Will Happen, Ditching The Flat-Six And Going All-Electric Won't

It took some time but Tesla demonstrated all-electric vehicles are now not just emissions-free; they are also equal or better in all aspects to their rivals using combustion engines. Porsche is no stranger to electrification of its vehicles, though it hasn't gone all-electric yet. With the Cayenne and Panamera being offered as hybrids, a pure EV version of either, or both, isn't far down the road.

The 911, on the other hand, is a different proposition. "The challenge in a sports car is weight", Porsche's director of boxer engines, Thomas Wasserbach, told Car Advice. "Naturally we want high electric power, but we don't want many batteries because of the high weight. So, at the moment we are thinking about what could be the next step to hybrid. In Le Mans with the 919, it has lightweight battery system but it's too expensive, so we have to work around it and get these requirements to the 911."

The current platform is not designed to accommodate such features, thus a hybrid 911 will reportedly be launched at some point in the next generation's life cycle, which should give Porsche some time to figure out a solution for the weight vs pric e equation.

Pairing the flat-six with batteries and electric motors is one thing – but ditching it altogether is not going to happen, said Wasserbach. "

"We think a 911 needs a flat six engine, a full electric variant, we do not see it at the moment. If the regulations some time say no way [to internal combustion engines] then… but we want to go as long as we can with a flat six engine. It's typical for this model, it has a long history and we think our clients want this."

You bet they do. They have tolerated the water-cooling, got along with the switch from hydraulic to electric steering, made some noise about the GT3 being PDK-only and still trying to figure out whether turbocharging has tainted the 911 or not. Losing the flat-six hang out at the back is unthinkable, it wouldn't be a proper 911! Then again, the same applied to all of the former until, and sometimes even after, they were introduced...

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Source: Porsche Says 911 Hybrid Will Happen, Ditching The Flat-Six And Going All-Electric Won't

Karma Automotive (Nee Fisker) To Use BMW Electric-Car Powertrains

2012 Fisker Karma from the Rogers' Classic Car Museum collection

Enlarge Photo

Karma Automotive--the carmaker formerly known as Fisker Automotive--says it will use BMW powertrain components in upcoming production models.

BMW will supply high-voltage battery charging systems and "a wide range of hybrid and EV systems" for the Karma luxury sedan, which the company expects to relaunch in 2016.

Karma did not say whether BMW would also supply the car's range-extending gasoline engine, which was previously provided by General Motors.

DON'T MISS: Fisker Becomes Karma Automotive, To Relaunch In 2016

All Karmas that were part of the original 2012 production run used a 260-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder, which turned a generator to provide electric power.

Actual propulsion came from two 150-kilowatt (200-hp) electric motors--one per axle--and a 20-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

The components supplied by BMW could come from a few potential sources.

Some powertrain bits could come from the i8 plug-in hybrid coupe, which uses a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with an electric motor and 7.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

At its Innovation Days event in 2014, BMW also unveiled a plug-in hybrid test mule--based on the 5 Series Gran Turismo--designed to maximize electric running.

It used a 200-kW (268-hp) electric motor to drive the rear wheels, with a 150-kW (201-hp) driving the front wheels with some assistance from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

ALSO SEE: New Fisker Targets Mid-2016 For U.S. Production Of Luxury Plug-In Hybrid

Both of these vehicles have somewhat different powertrain configurations to the Karma, but some of their components could find their way into the sedan.

Before Fisker's 2012 bankruptcy, there were rumors that BMW would supply engines for a second Fisker model, called the Atlantic.

The Atlantic was a sedan smaller than the Karma, but had similar styling and also used an extended-range electric powertrain.

BMW 5-Series GT development prototype for Power eDrive plug-in hybrid system, Nov 2014

Enlarge Photo New powertrain components for the Karma will be part of needed updates for the car, which is a fairly old design by industry standards.

While all previous Karmas were built under contract by Valmet Automotive in Finland, Karma Automotive plans to move production to the U.S.

MORE: Fisker Karma Plant In Southern California: More Details Emerge

It is building a factory in Moreno Valley, California--not far from its headquarters in Costa Mesa.

Previous plans to use a former General Motors factory in Delaware have been put on hold.

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Source: Karma Automotive (Nee Fisker) To Use BMW Electric-Car Powertrains

BMW Unveils S1000RR Electric Super Bike: “eRR”

The BMW eRR "Experimental Vehicle"

The BMW Motorrad Group announced the "experimental vehicle eRR" electric supersport motorcycle the other day via press release (full text below), and sparked a frenzy of speculation in the EV community.

Sparked.  Did you see what we did there?  And what's with "eRR"?  Doesn't "err" in German translate to, well, "err"?

No tech details are released, nor are plans to produce it divulged, but lots of pretty pictures were forthcoming.  Apparently, it's a rideable bike.

err… Graphics!

err…. rear quarter

Front control detail

What's that? That little lever?  See it, up there?

errrrrrrr…. butt rest

…other side rear

Was ist das hebel , jungs?

Being the complete geeks we are, that thing that looks like a clutch lever is fascinating us, and a few notable nerds in the business.  Could it be a regen lever, you know, like the Zero owners community has been crying for?  Is it something else entirely?  When, oh when will we find out for sure?  Oh those coy Germans.

Everybody has an opinion on this bike, but probably one of the more interesting is from Sean MacDonald over at Jalopnik, who apparently talked to our old buddy Wes Siler, now camping-with-dog-whisperer-dude, for a reality check, where he's somewhat concerned that this may be an overgrown scooter adapting aBMW S1000RR chassis rather than a ground-up build designed specifically for an electric drivetrain.  There's merit in that concern, and yes, we'd hope that this is a bike that can take the Energica EGO and EVA to task, but we can only wait and see.

We will, however, weigh in and say that the motor drive mount looks pretty raw – sheet steel, possibly integrated with the battery compartment, and not milled, or hinting at a motor housing.  See here:

Motor, drive detail, left side

Motor, drive detail, right side

Without being able to see the motor in person, we're going to hazard a guess that it's very narrow, and a fairly large diameter affair…  you know.  Something like an EMRAX?  Oh my.

EMRAX 268

The press release:

Munich. BMW Motorrad has a long tradition in pointing out new ways and thoughts for the topic „mobility on two wheels". For that, again and again many studies were presented in the past giving views to the future. The experimental vehicle eRR, created as a project with the Technical University of Munich, embodies an idea of an electric powered supersport motorcycle made by BMW Motorrad.

Already a couple of years ago, BMW i showed the BMW Group's visionary and sustainable approach with the vehicles BMW i3 and i8 and their revolutionary design principles (aluminum chassis and passenger cabin made from carbon fibre) and BMW Motorrad's C evolution proved, that zero emission, riding fun and practicability do not exclude themselves.

With presenting the experimental vehicle eRR BMW Motorrad goes one step forward and shows the possibilities of an all-electric drive in a supersport motorcycle. Regarding design and chassis technology the eRR leans on the supersport motorcycle S 1000 RR, however using an all-electric drive.

Stephan Schaller, Head of BMW Motorrad, emphasizes: „Since their market launch, the RR is giving the creeps to motorsport athletes. If acceleration, handling or topspeed – the RR is setting standards. However, if acceleration on the first metres, up to 50, 60 kph, is the point, the RR's 199 bhp have to admit defeat by another BMW product: the C evolution with its electric drive.

We asked ourselves: What happens when combining a sport motorcycle and an electric drive? The experimental vehicle eRR brings the topic zero emission and electric drive on a new, more fascinating level."

BMW Motorrad will announce technical details of the eRR at a later date.

Details about the BMW Group:

BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world's leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 30 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2014, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.118 million cars and 123,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2014 was approximately € 8.71 billion on revenues amounting to € 80.40 billion. As of 31 December 2014, the BMW Group had a workforce of 116,324 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

Source: BMW Unveils S1000RR Electric Super Bike: "eRR"

Is There A Mystery Car Company Chasing Tesla?

It has the makings of a speculative fiction about a genius in a cave building machines with his robot, Crankshaft. A mysterious electric car company is building a billion-dollar manufacturing plant and, apparently, stealing some auto world geniuses. It is called, with fictive aplomb, Faraday Future, a clear salvo against Tesla, as Faraday was, like Nicolai Tesla, an physicist. The company now has more than 400 employees, and is said to be hiring 10 staffers per week, among whom are who's who types.

Source: Is There A Mystery Car Company Chasing Tesla?