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Posts tagged zero emission
Seat’s new plug-ins: Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive
Nov 11th
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, SEAT
Seat hasn’t exactly been at the forefront of the plug-in vehicle movement, but the company has just unveiled two new vehicles that show it won’t be left completely in the zero-emission dust. Until now, the Volkswagen brand has been happy to focus on reducing CO2 emissions from its vehicles through its Ecomotive line. That has now changed to include cars with plugs in addition to more efficient liquid fuel vehicles.
The two models are the Altea XL Electric Ecomotive and the Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive, a plug-in hybrid. The EV has an estimated range of 84 miles and a “limited top speed” of 84 miles per hour. The powertrain puts out 115 horsepower (85 kW) and 270 Newton-meters of torque. Throw in some roor-mounted solar panels to keep the cabin cool on hot, sunny days and you’ve got yourself a car similar to those shown by other automakers for years now. Matthias Rabe, Seat’s executive vice president for R&D, said in a statement that the company has just been keeping quiet about how advanced its plug-in cars are: “Seat has its electric future assured. With the electric Altea XL we are showing just how mature our technology is.”
The Leon TwinDrive, on the other hand, goes around 32 miles on electric power before the gasoline engine kicks in. If both power sources are engaged, the expected consumption rate is 1.7 liters or 18.5 kWh per 100 km (or around 138 mpge). Seat says this is “the equivalent of a rock-bottom 39 g/km of CO2,” and that number is, indeed, darn low. Seat used to get excited about 99 g/km.
The two prototypes will be tested by governmental institutions in Catalonia and Madrid in the coming months, with an eye towards actually building them by the middle of the decade. Seat says it could start making the plug-in hybrid Leon TwinDrive at its solar-powered Martorell plant starting in 2015, with the all-electric Altea coming some time after that.
Continue reading Seat’s new plug-ins: Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive
Seat’s new plug-ins: Altea XL Electric Ecomotive, Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nissan’s showing off the Pivo 3, another EV-concept we wish it’d sell us (video)
Nov 9th
Nissan’s unveiled the Pivo 3, the latest version in the formerly egg-shaped Pivo line of Concept EVs. Ditching the spherical, independently moving cabin for a boxier, sharper look, the zero-emission car retains the roomy 1+2 configuration of it’s forebears (all the better to pretend you’re driving a McClaren F1) and motors mounted on each of the wheels. It’s designed for the urban environment, with a tiny four-meter turning circle and automatic parking (it’ll also come to you if you summon it with a smartphone). As much as we want one of these on our driveway, the company is still pondering putting it into production, and if it does arrive, it won’t be until 2017 at the earliest, by which point we’ll all be riding Rynos. Watch footage of the car in action, including it’s snapping turning abilities at the video we’ve got for you after the break.
Continue reading Nissan’s showing off the Pivo 3, another EV-concept we wish it’d sell us (video)
Nissan’s showing off the Pivo 3, another EV-concept we wish it’d sell us (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nissan shows off Pivo3′s new angles, considering quirky EV for production
Nov 8th
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Tokyo Motor Show
Sometimes, even concept cars evolve. Take the Nissan Pivo, an ungainly, all-electric bubble on wheels that first appeared in 2005 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The first version was pretty round, but the Pivo 2 somehow managed to add extra curves around the wheels. For the Pivo 3, unveiled today in advance of this year’s Tokyo show, Nissan is keeping some of the quirkiness of the first two Pivos but has scrapped most of the supple round curves of the original two models. Instead, the new Pivo gets some artistic angles to go with its city functionality. Whether this is an improvement or not is in the eye of the beholder.
The changes don’t mean that the Pivo is ready for sale quite yet, but Nissan does say that the third-gen Pivo is “what Nissan envisions to be a more ‘realistic’ EV of the near future.” Aside from the zero-emission powertrain (note the “e” logo, as also seen on the Leaf) and in-wheel motors, what’s notable about the Pivo 3 is that has got a lot of automated parking capability. In “specially-equipped parking lots,” you can even let the car park and recharge itself using “Automated Valet Parking.” Even better, you can have the Pivo 3 come to you using your smartphone and the car’s autonomous driving skills. Bruce Wayne’s got nothing on Pivo. When you are driving, the center-located driver’s seat and ultra-tight (two-meter) turning radius.
As you can see in the video after the jump, Nissan is considering putting the Pivo – or something like the Pivo – into production. Francois Bancon, Nissan’s deputy division general manager of product strategy and product planning division, said in a statement that nothing has been decided, but:
We are now considering the next step of the EV after LEAF and Infiniti EV and an LCV EV. We are going to have many ways to propose to the market what seems radically different, it must be an EV signature [model], if you will.
So, while PIVO 3 is one of the candidates, this is not the only one. If you remember, we made years ago, a kind of compact sports EV. We have a lot of investigation into what kind of category we should go – what kind of body type, what kind of story we are going to tell to the people with this car. So I would say, PIVO 3 at this stage is one of the candidates. If we do this, we should do this after the first wave of product, LEAF, NV200 EV and the Infiniti EV. So let’s say, we talk about something in 2016 or 2017 or about then.
Would you buy one?
Continue reading Nissan shows off Pivo3′s new angles, considering quirky EV for production
Nissan shows off Pivo3′s new angles, considering quirky EV for production originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Official: Nissan shows off Pivo 3′s new angles, considering quirky EV for production [w/video]
Nov 8th
Filed under: Concept Cars, Japan, Tokyo Motor Show, Electric
Sometimes, even concept cars evolve. Take the Nissan Pivo, an ungainly, all-electric bubble-on-wheels that first appeared in 2005 at the Tokyo Motor Show. The first version was pretty round, but the Pivo 2 somehow managed to add extra curves around the wheels. For the Pivo 3, unveiled today in advance of this year’s Tokyo show, Nissan is keeping some of the quirkiness of the first two Pivos but has scrapped most of the supple round curves. Instead, the new Pivo gets some artistic angles to go with its city functionality. Whether this is an improvement or not is in the eye of the beholder.
The changes don’t mean that the Pivo is ready for sale quite yet, but Nissan does say that the third-gen Pivo is “what Nissan envisions to be a more ‘realistic’ EV of the near future.” Aside from the zero-emission powertrain (note the “e” logo, as also seen on the Leaf) and in-wheel motors, what’s notable about the Pivo 3 is that has got a lot of automated parking capability. In “specially equipped parking lots,” you can even let the car park and recharge itself using “Automated Valet Parking.” Even better, you can have the Pivo 3 come to you using your smartphone and the car’s autonomous driving skills. Bruce Wayne’s got nothing on Pivo. When you are driving, the center-located driver’s seat and ultra-tight (two-meter) turning radius.
As you can see in the video after the jump, Nissan is considering putting the Pivo – of something like the Pivo – into production. Would you buy one? Sound off in the Comments.
Nissan shows off Pivo 3′s new angles, considering quirky EV for production [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AltCar 2011: Electric Mobile Cars is all crunked up with three fleet models
Oct 4th
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, ZENN
It’s been a while since an all-electric truck has been for sale in the U.S. (RIP, Ford Ranger EV), so perhaps a zero-emission crunk is just what the market is waiting for. Electric Mobile Cars will soon find out, now that it is taking orders (fleets only) for its converted E36T (pictured).
EMC will sell three all-electric models, all with similar names: a passenger wagon (the E36, which sells for $39,300), a utility vehicle (the $38,300 E36V) and the E36T ($37,300). The truck is a converted Renault/Dacia Logan Pickup, which was introduced in Romania in 2008.
EMC says all three have a top speed of over 75 mph and a range of “up to 200 miles” using the company’s EVBX-1 powertrain. This all-electric propulsion system is powered by 57-kWh worth of adapted ZEBRA batteries, and we have to say that these numbers are awful impressive. EMC’s David Taylor told AutoblogGreen at the 2011 AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, CA, this weekend that the low-cost, long-range secret is the car’s battery management system. The details are proprietary, but Taylor said the general idea is that the system can accept a higher regenerative brake energy level than other packs and the battery is able to recoup a “minute” amount of the heat expelled from the battery when it is in use. Will all this bear out on the road? We’ll be watching.
Bill Williams, who used to be vice president of sales of ZENN, is now director of West Coast sales for EMC, and told AutoblogGreen that EMC is dedicating its efforts to fleet sales because that is how it can provide better service. All three models are available now, and Taylor said that the first deliveries are due by the end of October. The vehicles are available to fleets nationwide and the prices listed above are GSA pricing.
AltCar 2011: Electric Mobile Cars is all crunked up with three fleet models originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tesla Model S to get faster Sport edition, leave sedan in the dust
Oct 3rd
Tesla looks set to offer another slightly more aggressive, slightly faster model alongside its Model S sedan [pictured]. The high-performance, zero-emission (and tentatively-named) Model S Sport packs a larger battery, extending its single-charge range to 300 miles. Green Car Reports adds that it’ll even get optional aerodynamic wheels adding another 20 miles to the car’s range. Acceleration has also been boosted, with 0 to 60MPH cut to under 4.6 seconds in the sporty upgrade. This should be the perfect vehicle for evading capture in the gasoline-poor robopocalyptic future. The Sport is reportedly set to launch alongside the standard Model S next year.
Tesla Model S to get faster Sport edition, leave sedan in the dust originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nissan VP: Electric vehicle infrastructure is not as simple as "if you build it, they will come"
Sep 12th
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan
Nissan executive vice-president Andy Palmer is one chatty man. Late last week, Palmer headed a Q&A session with Nissan Global Media Center. While much of the discussion focused on electric vehicles, it’s Palmer’s answer to question number nine that piqued our curiosity:
Q9: Let’s talk about infrastructure. Nissan wants to be a leader in the EV space but it’s a little different to “if you build it, they will come”. You need partners to make sure that infrastructure will be available. How do you perceive the roll out of things like chargers and battery production?A9. That’s been the challenge of the Zero-Emission strategy, because you can’t just put a car out there and expect it to sell. The advantage of being the real leader at the vanguard of zero emissions is that you’re out there and you promote the brand. The downside is that you have to do all the hard work associated with the infrastructure. …
It’s certainly a different type of business. The onus is on us as a leader to try and put the infrastructure in place. During the summer vacation, I was involved with a big debate with Top Gear about there being no infrastructure in the United Kingdom [Ed: see here and here]. The point is that we’re the first point of contact when it comes to talking about Zero Emission. The fact that we’re criticized in Top Gear, for example, is good. They come to us, we engage them in debate, and we raise awareness of the infrastructure issue.
Palmer claims that Nissan’s in-house quick-charger – when it launches in a couple of years – could take the industry by storm at a price of $3,000 to $4,000, down from the $40,000 that most quick-charge stations sell for today. At that sub-$4,000 price point, Palmer says Nissan’s quick-charge unit could change the plug-in vehicle paradigm completely. The just-announced sub-$10,000 quick charger is a good start.
Nissan VP: Electric vehicle infrastructure is not as simple as “if you build it, they will come” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Brabus rocks EV, hybrid Mercedes-Benz conversions in Frankfurt
Sep 12th
Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, Frankfurt Motor Show
Don’t get your EV lust receptors too excited. Brabus is indeed bringing two mean-looking Mercedes-Benz concepts to the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this week, but there’s a small disclaimer at the bottom of the press releases detailing these beasts: Prototype not for sale.
Still, we can take a peek at what Brabus imagines a Mercedes hybrid and an all electric, all-wheel drive machine. The Hybrid, based on an E 220 CDI BlueEfficiency model, adds Protean two electric wheel hub motors in the Monoblock Q 19-inch rear wheels in addition to the diesel powertrain. The car uses an 18.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack to run in all-electric more (with a range of up to 75 miles), but that oil-burning engine means that the name of the Brabus division that created the concept – the Zero Emission business division – is slightly mis-named. Let’s not quibble.
The other prototype is the High Performance 4WD Full Electric. Based on the E-Class sedan, this monster packs a 56 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to offer a range of 217 miles. That’s not quite Tesla Roadster territory, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Again, the car uses Protean in-wheel motors – this time four of them – and offers a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph) and can make the jump to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 parsecs seconds.
You can find the full technical details on both vehicles after the jump. Even though these concepts are not going to be sold, the release does say that the hybrid “has been developed to small-series-production maturity,” so at least there’s hope.
Continue reading Brabus rocks EV, hybrid Mercedes-Benz conversions in Frankfurt
Brabus rocks EV, hybrid Mercedes-Benz conversions in Frankfurt originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 12 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Honda FCX Clarity hard at work at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport
Sep 6th
Filed under: Hydrogen, Honda, Japan
Honda is looking to test out its fuel cell FCX Clarity by putting casual users in its passenger seats with an experiment at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport. According to the automaker, an undisclosed amount of FCX Clarity sedans are now in motion at and around Narita Airport. The fuel cell vehicles will be used to chauffeur passengers from the airport to downtown Tokyo, a distance of around 45 miles.
At the request of HySUT (The Research Association of Hydrogen Supply/Utilization Technology), the Honda FCXs swung into action at Narita Airport on September 5. The vehicles will be evaluated under real-world driving conditions along roadways that range from free-flowing expressways to congested, stoplight-riddled city streets. Narita Airport says the FCXs will see constant use, meaning that Honda techs should gain useful data from this extensive real-world trial of the technology behind “the ultimate zero-emission car.”
Honda FCX Clarity hard at work at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nissan launches video game-like "The Planet Zero" site
Aug 1st
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Nissan
In the wee hours of the morning, Nissan opened the portal to its video game-like promotional website, “The Planet Zero,” where gamers visitors can experience a virtual zero-emissions society in an “understandable way.” The site was launched as part of the automaker’s comprehensive strategy that calls for a world that doesn’t run on gas.
Nissan says the site is “targeted at people from a wide range of ages,” but zeroes in on high school and college students. The Plant Zero is a game-style site that makes users “enjoy learning a zero-emission society,” but after tinkering around on the site for a bit, we came to the conclusion that “enjoy” is not the word we’d used to describe it.
Yes, there are some unique characters designed to look like solar power and wind power generation systems. And there’s “Plug,” the zero-emissions mobility character, but the site lacks guidance and it’s “neo-futuristic” design is crude. Perhaps The Planet Zero will get charged up when Nissan adds more stages – something the automaker says it will do in the future – but for now, the four initial stages just didn’t comes across as enjoyable. Click here to explore Planet Zero on your own.
[Source: Nissan]
Continue reading Nissan launches video game-like “The Planet Zero” site
Nissan launches video game-like “The Planet Zero” site originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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