Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype Previewed

The world of electric vehicles has just appointed a new ambassador, as Mercedes has presented the prototype of the electric SLS AMG supercar, dubbed SLS AMG E-Cell. AMG’s aluminum spaceframe has remain unchanged, but now it includes completely different internal organs.
The vehicle is powered by four electric motors, two for each axle. The units are not mounted on the wheel hubs, but they are situated low and close to each wheel. The positioning of the front motors required that the double wishbone suspension of the gas-powered SLS was replaced with a multi-link setup that uses push-rod dampers.

The 12,000 rpm motors offer a combined output of 526 hp and a maximum torque of 649 lb-ft, allowing the vehicle to reach 60 mph in a sharp four seconds.

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Electric vehicle charging points set for green light

Electric car charging points will be provided at Cambridge car parks later this year – and motorists probably won’t have to pay for the power.

Special bays will be reserved at two multi-storey car parks for electric or hybrid vehicles, with special plugs provided so drivers can top up their batteries.

It looks likely the charging period will be limited to three hours, but there will be no cost beyond the usual parking fee.

At first there will be two spaces at Queen Anne Terrace car park, and another pair at Grafton East.

Cllr Clare Blair, Cambridge City Council’s climate change chief, said: “We have a commitment to reducing carbon emissions in the city centre and encouraging people to use more sustainable transport, including electric cars.

“The proposal is to impose normal car parking charges and to give drivers the electricity free of charge, and that’s a very generous offer in these days of rising electricity prices.”

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Electrics, hybrids grab Concept Vehicle Awards

Electric vehicles and hybrids swept the 2010 North American Concept Vehicle Awards. The Nissan Leaf, Audi E-tron and BMW Vision EfficientDynamics won the awards, which recognized the most significant concept vehicles automakers introduced at the top auto shows in North America.

The 2010 awards also mark the first time no U.S.-based automakers won any of the awards. Chrysler and General Motors cut back sharply on the number of concept vehicles they created as they went through bankruptcy reorganization last year.
The global economic meltdown led automakers all over the world to create fewer concepts in 2009, leading the jury to reduce the number of awards from five to three.

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Work begins on $322m electric vehicle battery factory in Michigan

The first phase of the facility will see a 400,000 square foot production plant built, starting up in 2012

Construction work officially began yesterday for a new manufacturing facility in Michigan, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles.

Vice President Joe Biden and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm attended a ground breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of work at the advanced battery facility in Midland.
The facility is being build by Dow Kokam, a joint venture between the Dow Chemical Company and battery specialist TK Advanced Battery.
When complete, the 800,000 square foot facility is set to build 1.2 billion watt-hours of lithium-ion batteries each year – enough batteries for 60,000 fully electric of hybrid vehicles a year.
The facility is being built in two phases, with the first $322 million phase supported by a $161 million federal grant from the Recovery Act.
Some 320 jobs will be created by the first phase, set to begin operations by 2012, while the completed plant is expected to require nearly 800 workers from 2015.

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Cash Back Rebates for New Electric Vehicles

The Ontario government has introduced a cash rebate program that will reward the first 10,000 applicants that buy or lease a new plug-in hybrid electric or battery electric vehicle after July 1, 2010.

Persons, businesses and organizations are eligible to apply for an electric vehicle cash rebate.

The cash back rebate amounts range from $5,000 to $8,500.

Critics argue that the cost of an electric vehicle can be prohibitive, so the cash rebates will likely have limited impact on increasing the sales of these fuel-efficient and environment-friendly automobiles.

Prices for Buying Electric Vehicles

The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric automobile with zero emissions. The Leaf is set to be introduced in the Canadian market late in 2011.

The estimated sticker price for the Leaf will be roughly $35,000 (in Canadian currency). According to a report from Metro Canada’s Ben Knight, the electric car currently sells in the United States for $32,700 (in American currency).

Travel Range for Electric Vehicles

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Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid

This is a Prius like no other – a plug-in electric Hybrid which Toyota claims will do an astonishing 108.6mpg and emit just 59g/km of C02.  

The biggest difference between this car and the regular third-generation Prius is in it’s electric power source. The Plug-in version uses Lithium-ion batteries for the first time in a Toyota. They can carry more energy and recharge faster (a full charge now takes just 90 minutes) than the smaller nickel-metal hydride units fitted to the current Auris and Prius hybrids.   

Although they add an extra 130kg to the kerbweight, the new batteries increase the all-electric range from two miles to a much more useful 12.5, while the top-speed in EV mode is now 62mph. That means that during most town driving, the 1.8-litre petrol engine remains firmly off, only stirring into life if the throttle is pushed right to the floor.  

During our test the engine only cut in once, and the transition between the two power deliveries is completely seamless. The Prius is eerily quiet, but still performs reasonably well - the electric motor providing enough power and torque to easily keep up with traffic.


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Recent Articles on Electric vehicles published in http://www.evhub. in

Recent Articles on Electric vehicles published in http://www.evhub. in  

India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr. Ananth , M.M. Technologies , Mysore @ http://www.evhub. in/content/ india-ready- for-electric- vehicles/

India Ready for Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr.Ananth part 2 @ http://www.evhub. in/content/ india-ready- for-electric- vehicles- by-mrananth- --2/

Brushless DC Motors - Technology For Future Transportation. Read this article @ http://www.evhub. in/content/ brushless- dc-motors- --technology- for-future- transportation/

How About Creating An Electric Vehicle Platform For Individuals Businesses And Like Minded People @ http://www.evhub. in/content/ how-about- creating- an-electric- vehicle-platform -for-individuals -businesses- and-like- minded-people/

An Esoteric Presentation On Electric Bikes In India @ http://www.evhub. in/content/ an-esoteric- presentation- on-electric- bikes-in- india/

An Esoteric Presentation On Electric Bikes In India

This Article was shared by one of EVHUB's esteemed visitors Mr. G.Raghavan via email. 

"Just like food and water, personnel mobility is a necessity of human existence
Poor and developing nations like India depend largely on I/C engine for 2wheeler for the mobility of it's working n middle class .As a result of this India has emerged as the largest manufacturer of 2 W bikes/scooters in the world (even over taking china-incidentally 12 provinces of china has banned the use of I/c engine)

Basically I/C engine vehicle offers convenience, low cost; range also does not require grid power, the fall out of this

a)      Many players have emerged as manufacturers

b)      Created well established service net work

c)      Development of component suppliers

d)      Created skill jobs locally

The negatives:-

a)      Energy conversion in I/C engines is only 20% on calorific value

b)      Spews large quantities of carbon di oxide an environment threat

c)      Huge noise pollution

d)     Under dense city traffic wastage of fuel at signals due to idling

The futility of depending on "Fossil Fuels" has been an impetus to look for alternate solutions and energy.

On the solution side a paradigm shift towards usage of electric vehicle/ battery operated transport mechanism is on the horizon, this has brought about a lot of R&D work and demonstrable benefits (more of it later), on the energy side Renewable energy like wind, solar etc are making inroads into the established methods of power generation with evident benefits of green energy.

Hence the alternate to personnel transport could be an electrically powered vehicle

The main constraints associated with E-Bike/Scooters are

1. Cost along with battery
2. Range
3. Inconvenience
4. After sale service
5. Power requirements

Dwelling on each of the above issues

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Articles collections related “ Electric bikes in India “ @ http://www.evhub.in/topic/electric-bikes-in-india/

Articles collections related “ Electric Vehicle Technology “ @ http://www.evhub.in/topic/technology/

What people say about Electric vehicle business @ http://www.evhub.in/topic/interviews/

How About Creating An Electric Vehicle Platform For Individuals Businesses And Like Minded People

The below email was sent by Mr. M.N.Ananth, MM Technologies., Sm-160, 3rd Main, Hebbal Industrial Estate, Mysore-570 016

A proposal to create an electric vehicle platform with like minded people who are into this field. Members can be individuals, companies, researchers or any EV enthusiasts. Please go through the below message and do comment on requirement of a "Common platform for electric vehicles" and why ? 

Join EVHUB Forums to start your discussions and share your views on it. 

Attention Mr.Murali/EVHUB

There are lot of individuals, industries, experts and technocrats in our country well versed with sound knowledge of electric vehicles and its components and spares.

It is a fact that major industries in any part of the universe are dependant on small scale industries, it is very clear that the big industries or the major industries they depend on the expertise and infrastructure of the small scale industries for supplies or the technology and components.

You must have seen in some of the exhibitions Mr.Ahmad of Bangalore displaying his own technological invention of 3wheeler auto-rickshaw., and he has also been honoured by several state governments, but what has happened to him., he is unable to make his dream come true, the simple reason that, there are no industries or individual to support him financially.  Even in my case everything is ready.,  you are aware that we have indigenized the electrical cycle to the maximum, even though we have a very good market feed back, we are lagging behind because of the financial reasons.  There are manufacturers of BLDC motors in our country, and they are unable to leap further. One or the other reasons many of us are forced to under go through the bad patch of the finance matter.

Hence I suggest that, as already you have made a platform as EVHUB, I suggest that you can invite the like minded individuals or the companies or the groups and involve everyone in the discussions. 


Read full article @ http://www.evhub.in/content/how-about-creating-an-electric-vehicle-platform-for-individuals-businesses-and-like-minded-people/

Brushless DC Motors - Technology For Future Transportation

Now a days world is plagued with global issues like fuel shortage, global warming. No doubt Electric Vehicles are the solution for fighting against these issues. As convectional vehicles has fuel as energy source and engine as prime mover, Electric vehicles uses battery as energy source and electric motor as the prime mover to drive. The various options available for driving electric vehicle are DC motor, induction motor, and Brushless DC motors. 

In Electric Vehicle, there should a portable power supply. Hence we can use Battery to power the vehicles and DC is the default power supply. 

DC Motors: These motors constitutes of Brushes and commutator which will act as a mechanical position sensor on rotor and supplies the power supply to corresponding stator winding so that there will be a forward torque produced in the motor. Advantage of this motor is its constant torque characteristics at various rotor positions. But  following are the disadvantages of this motor  

• The Brushes will be wear out due to constant contact between rotation and stationary portions of motor.
• The commutator segments might get shorted due to the burned carbon precipitated in between which might result in unbalancing of the motor operation.
• Low operating efficiency

Hence, a DC motor needs a periodic maintenance to prevent it from permanent damage. 



Read full article @ http://www.evhub.in/content/brushless-dc-motors---technology-for-future-transportation/

Related articles at EVHUB.IN 

Articles on " Electric Bikes in India " @ http://www.evhub.in/topic/electric-bikes-in-india/

India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr. Ananth , M.M. Technologies , Mysore @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles/

India Ready for Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr.Ananth part 2 @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles-by-mrananth---2/

More electric vehicles will change electricity markets

19 de junio de 2010

Ford Motor Co. has announced it expects up to one-fourth of its fleet to be electric vehicles by 2020, only a decade from now.

Stories in USA Today and the Detroit Free Press note that of those electrified vehicles, 70% will be hybrids, 20% to 25% plug-in hybrids, the rest pure electric cars. 

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Ontario to offer rebates on electric, hybrid cars

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty sits behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Volt during a press conference in Toronto on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 to announce support for Ontarians buying electric vehicles. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese)

Updated: Fri Jun. 18 2010 6:00:47 PM

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — The Ontario government will offer consumers a rebate of between $5,000 and $8,500 if they buy a new plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicle after July 1.
But the rebates will only be offered to the first 10,000 applicants who qualify, the government said Friday.
Details of eligibility for the rebate were not immediately available, but the government said it would provide full criteria and application forms on the Ministry of Transportation's website beginning July 1.

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Federal grants fund thousands more electric vehicle charging stations

With six months before the release of major new electric car models from the likes of Nissan, Chevrolet and Ford, thousands of new public and home-based recharging systems are being installed.

The new infrastructure is initially focused on certain urban areas seen as key markets for new electric vehicles.

ECOtality, which began developing its plan for 12,000 new charging stations under its EV Project in October, said this week it is extending the program to Los Angeles and Washington DC thanks to an extended federal grant.

It will also extend its offer of free charging systems to include new owners of the Chevrolet Volt, and 1,000 more Nissan LEAF customers.

Another recharging company, Coulomb Technologies, which started installing 4,600 charging stations under its $37 million ChargePoint America program this month (see this BrighterEnergy.org story), will now also be providing 1,800 home charging points to Chevy Volt customers.

Chevrolet – one of General Motors’ brands – is the only motor manufacturer to be funding recharging infrastructure under both the EV Project and ChargePoint America schemes.

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Electric Vehicles- The Clever Ten Year Strategies

The electric vehicle business is over $33 billion today at ex factory prices but cars are less than half of that. As the market nearly quintuples over the next ten years, cars will rise to nearly 55% of the business but the devil is in the detail. Last year, Mitsubishi expected to make its electric car business profitable by 2013 but then Nissan warned that governments may cut back subsidies for electric cars due to the ongoing global financial meltdown and profits may slip far into the future. Certainly, most of the profits in electric vehicles will remain beyond mainstream electric cars for the next ten years. In 2020, the car manufacturers will still be slogging it out to see which three end up with secure, profitable growing electric car businesses of tens of billions of dollars in the decade after that, when growth eases.

Many profitable electric vehicle manufacturers

By contrast, today there are already many profitable electric vehicle manufacturers with other strategies, including Linde in electric forklifts, Kongsberg in Autonomous Underwater Vehicles AUVs, Jinangsu Xinri Electric Vehicle Company in e-bikes, Pride Mobility in electric mobility vehicles for the disabled and Tesla in designer sports cars. Little wonder that more and more of them are expanding into several other, carefully chosen multi billion dollar EV sectors.

Profitable traction batteries

Much the same picture pertains with traction batteries, the largest single driver of cost and performance of most of these vehicles. Here there is even more horizontal selling but the savvy players choose their targets carefully. For example, Electrovaya of Canada recently showed its first profit of $549,000. A manufacturer of battery operated healthcare products, its entry into traction batteries has been in specialist vehicles such as the Hummer military vehicle, the Dodge Ram pickup truck and the Canadian Maya low speed car, Tata and Hero. Its batteries are the safer lithium polymer type.

 

The new IDTechEx report "Vehicle Traction Batteries 2010-2020" looks at all traction batteries and the winning strategies. The rapidly growing market for traction batteries will exceed $55 billion in only ten years. However, that spans battery sets up to $500,000 each with great sophistication needed for military, marine and solar aircraft use. Huge numbers of low cost batteries are being used for e-bikes but even here several new technologies are appearing. The largest traction battery replacement market is for e-bikes today and the value market for replacement batteries will not be dominated by cars when their batteries last the life of the car - something likely to happen within ten years. The trends are therefore complex and that is why IDTechEx has analysed them with great care.

 

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Time to Plug In Electric Cars

It's fair to say that President Barack Obama's speech to the nation on the oil spill this week didn't exactly get rave reviews. It was variously described as flat and vague—and that was by his friends.

And maybe there was just nothing he could say at this moment of helplessness in the face of the gushing oil that could have made it otherwise.

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Mitsubishi to cut price of electric cars

Company says aims to cut prices but gives no time frame

CYCLICAL CONSUMER GOODS

* Mitsubishi Motors shares outperform broader auto sector (Adds company comment, share prices)

(Reuters) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp (7211.T) aims to cut the price of its electric vehicles to 2 million yen ($21,890) by fiscal 2012 -- down 30 percent -- to capitalise on the growing popularity of hybrids in that price range, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Mass production of lithium ion batteries, the most expensive component in an electric vehicle, will lower costs sharply, the Nikkei said.

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Tata Motors charts green drive for JLR

Mumbai, June 17

Tata Motors is charting a strategy for a 25 per cent carbon dioxide reduction in its Jaguar and Land Rover models.

The company has taken into account volatile fuel pricing, continuing legislation on emission and taxing while focusing on its green initiatives.

In a recent presentation to analysts, Tata Motors said to build JLR's competitiveness it is aiming for a “strong technology strategy for a low carbon world by 2014”. This involves developing technologies targeting a 25 per cent reduction in the joint fleet average tailpipe CO2 emissions. The company banks on two ongoing research projects — Limo Green and Range-e.

Jaguar has already displayed the Limo Green concept, a hybrid XJ equipped with a 145 kW, 295 full-load motor torque electric motor, and a 1.2-litre petrol engine. This gasoline-electric hybrid claims a fuel economy of 57 miles per gallon (10 km/litre) and less than 120 g/km CO2 emission at its top speed of 112 miles per hour.

Range-e uses a plug-in parallel diesel hybrid system to offer a premium SUV that can run as a pure electric vehicle minimising emissions.

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Electric Mini car trial 'is a success'

Peter McManners said he had learned to live with the car's limitations

A Berkshire motorist interested in green issues has said his trial of a new electric car was "a success".

Peter McManners, from Pangbourne, has been driving the Oxford-built Mini E car to test the electric car's suitability to everyday motoring.
He was one of 20 drivers in the trial, run by a consortium led by the car's manufacturer BMW.
Mr McManners said: "I've enjoyed having it but we've had to fit around its limitations, like its lack of range."
The left-hand drive, two-seater prototype is like a conventional Mini car, but its rear seats have been removed to make room for lithium-ion batteries.
Product development

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Bellevue gets ready for electric cars

Electric cars are coming, and Bellevue aims to be ready.

Earlier this week, the Bellevue City Council discussed ways the city can be prepared when the first wave of highway-ready plug-in vehicles hits the state late this year.

The greater Seattle area is one of seven regions that's been chosen to participate in the rollout of the Nissan Leaf, a fully electric car that will arrive in December. About 1,500 Washington residents have pre-ordered the car, expected to run about $25,000 after substantial federal discounts. A prototype of the Nissan Leaf was on display in Bellevue last year.

As part of the rollout, a federally-funded project called The EV Project will deliver nearly 15,000 residential and commercial chargers to 13 cities in five states and the District of Columbia.

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Lear ready for electric vehicles

Southfield -- Lear Corp. is embracing electric vehicles, and expects that making parts for this growing market will be lucrative -- quickly.

The Southfield-based supplier expects sales of components and systems for hybrids and electric vehicles to grow to approximately 7 percent of its electric systems business by 2012 -- from zero percent in 2009, said Raymond Scott, president of Lear's Global Electrical and Electronic Systems.

The sales target is $250 million in this new area. Lear's total global sales last year were about $2.3 billion.

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Lear anticipated the growth of electric vehicles, so it invested in a new power lab at its Global Center for Excellence in Southfield in September 2008. But Scott said Tuesday he's shocked by the speed at which the technology is being embraced.

"I've never seen anything like this," he said.

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India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr. Ananth , M.M. Technologies , Mysore @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles/

India Ready for Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr.Ananth part 2 @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles-by-mrananth---2/

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