Monthly Archives: October 2014

Test Drive: BMW i3

October 11, 2014Blog, BMW, Electric Cars, i3Guest

Today my Wife and I headed off to the Specialist Cars BMW dealership in Stevenage for a pre-booked test drive in the new BMW i3 electric plug-in.

We arrived to a professional welcome, and after a few minutes we were ready to drive. I had driven an i3 before, and so this was to convince my wife that electric cars work.

We took off like a rocket. The quiet and responsiveness of electric cars is uncanny, and the i3, as a lightweight 4 seater, is particularly nippy. We are used to automatics, but with petrol cars there is always a bit of a lag for automatics to kick in – not so for an electric. High torque delivered straight to the road makes for an exhilarating ride, and the low centre of mass from the underslung batteries gives marvellous handling.

BMW i3 Test Drive: Interior (Image: T. Larkum)

The car is a little small for our family, so we shall look at alternatives, but I was delighted that, having driven an all-electric plug-in for the first time, my wife could clearly see that this was a real car which could really work and save us money. Next stop is the Nissan Leaf.

Tesla Model S P85D: 5 best features of Elon Musk’s new electric car

October 10, 2014Autonomous Driving, Electric Cars, Model S, News, Reviews and Comment, TeslaTrevor Larkum

The new Tesla electric car, unveiled yesterday by the company’s wunderkind CEO Elon Musk, is the by far its fastest model, and has a range of new smart functions.

Some were left disappointed that The D – which is actually called Model S P85D – is essentially an upgraded version of Model S electric sedan.

Rumours of a self-driving car may have been a little off the mark, but The Model D does introduce certain autonomous vehicle capabilities.

Here are the five best reasons to be excited for Tesla’s new supercar.

It’s really fast

This is Tesla’s fastest car ever, and actually one of the fastest sedans ever, electric or otherwise. The Model D’s dual motors enable it to hit 60 miles per hour in just 3.2 seconds.

That acceleration is as fast as a McLaren F1, and even faster than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP640.

Tesla has built an honest-to-god electric sports car. Elon Musk told USA Today:

“It’s like having your own personal roller coaster.”

Safety first

Autopilot, as Tesla have quite succinctly named it, is the Model D’s brain.

It uses a forward mounted radar, a camera and 12 sensors with a sight range of 16 feet all of which are connected to the streering, brake and GPS.

This Model D brain improves safety, as well as giving the driver some treats that we’ll get into shortly.

The car can detect and avoid pedestrians, and will also brake to avoid collisions with vehicles up in front.

Musk said the sensors can “see a small child, or even a dog” even when it’s at full speed.

VW Presents New Passat GTE with Plug-in Hybrid System

October 9, 2014Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Passat GTE, VolkswagenTrevor Larkum

Volkswagen is presenting four new models at the Paris Motor Show which begins today (2 October). Along with the XL Sport concept car – a highlight in terms of its drive system, efficiency and aerodynamics – the new Passat GTE makes its debut in Paris with a plug-in hybrid system. Rounding out the Volkswagen presence at the motor show are the world premieres of the Golf Alltrack with all-wheel drive and a distinctive off-road look and the new extremely sporty Polo GTI.

As a follow-up to the Golf GTE2, Volkswagen is now presenting the Passat GTE3 in Paris. The plug-in hybrid comes with a 1.4-litre TSI engine (115 kW / 156 PS) combined with an electric motor (85 kW / 115 PS) which is supplied with energy by a lithium-ion battery. Fusion of the two drive units generates a system power of 160 kW / 218 PS and enables a driving range of over 1,000 km.

In all-electric driving, it can cover over 50 km. The plug-in hybrid drive has a maximum torque of 400 Nm. The car’s eco-friendly and efficient NEDC fuel consumption is 2.0 l/100 km and 13.0 kWh/100 km – CO2 emissions are less than 45 g/km. The front-wheel drive car with a 6-speed dual clutch gearbox accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 8.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of over 220 km/h. In its all-electric driving mode, a top speed of 130 km/h is possible. The Passat GTE can be ordered in the Estate or Saloon version.

Source: VW via VW Vortex

New 2015 Volvo XC90 revealed in Paris

October 8, 2014Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Volvo, XC90 PHEVTrevor Larkum

The all-new Volvo XC90 has made its Paris Motor Show debut.

The first Volvo XC90 was launched way back in 2002, but now Volvo has finally taken the wraps off the all-new XC90 model. The large premium SUV is due on sale in the UK in spring 2015 with a starting price of £45,785 for the D5 AWD Momentum model.

On display at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, the second-generation SUV is dripping with the Swedish manufacturer’s technological know-how and will become of one the safest, most hi-tech and most economical SUVs on the market when first customer deliveries begin in April.

With longer, taller and lower dimensions than the current model, the new Volvo XC90 will be the first all-new car to emerge under the brand’s current Chinese ownership. It faces off against rival premium SUVs like the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg and Mercedes M-Class.

A new 390bhp plug-in hybrid powertrain will also be offered in the XC90, which combines the 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor. Despite being the most powerful variant it’s also the most efficient thanks to CO2 emission of only 60g/km. Its closest rival, the Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid, only manages 79g/km.

Hillside Leisure to launch all-electric powered camper van

October 7, 2014e-NV200, e-NV200 Camper Van, Electric Motorhomes, Electric Vans, News, Reviews and Comment, NissanTrevor Larkum

Nissan e-NV200 Electric Motorhome exterior (Image: Hillside Leisure)

A DERBY motorhome firm is set to launch what it believes will be the world’s first all-electric powered camper van.

Hillside Leisure UK, based in Chequers Lane, has devised and built the vehicle, which is based on the Nissan e-NV200 electric van. The firm is now set to unveil the machine, which it says is the first commercially available camper van of its kind, at the Motorhome and Caravan Show 2014 this month.

Hillside is launching the vehicle in response to the growing demand for more environmentally-friendly vehicles that produce zero emissions. According to figures compiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, sales of electric cars in the UK have recently topped 10,000. They are popular because they are cheaper to run, both in terms of fuel and maintenance costs.

This year, commercial electric vans have hit the market – including the e-NV200, the van which HiIllside has chosen to convert. It has packed its van with all mod cons, including a cooker, fridge, water tank and lighting. It can provide one to four berths, with the rear seat converting to a bed.

Nissan e-NV200 Electric Motorhome interior (Image: Hillside Leisure)

Mark Cross, director of Hillside Leisure, said:

“We believe this conversion will be a first in the industry, indeed in the world, and the start of the electric revolution in our market.

“We went to great lengths to ensure delivery of the new Nissan e-NV200 electric van, which is the first one in the country, and we’ve used our in-house team of highly skilled craftsmen to create our unique camper van conversion.

“We can’t wait to unveil it at the show and look forward to putting it into full production next year.”

With an improving network of charging points around the UK, the company believes the time is right for an all-electric camper van.

Its model has a 106-mile range and a top speed of 76mph.

BMW accelerates electric powertrain production

October 6, 2014BMW, Electric Cars, i3, i8, News, Reviews and Comment, X5 eDriveTrevor Larkum

Following the successful launch of the ‘i’ sub-brand, BMW is now expanding production capabilities in anticipation of electrifying its conventional fleet of vehicles.

Two new production lines building electric motors and the lithium-ion battery packs that supply them with energy have been commissioned for the German carmaker’s Dingolfing plant. More than 200 additional staff are expected to operate the lines, which are said to cost “a high double-digit million euro amount” over the next five years.

It’s an essential expense for BMW, which has plans to offer plug-in hybrid versions of models ranging from the 7 Series limousine to the X5 SUV to the humble 3 Series, its best-selling car. The company has expertise in building electric hardware for the i3 and i8 in-house; the next step is to integrate the technology in its high-volume vehicles.

The technology will arrive under the ‘eDrive’ banner, with electric motors mated to highly efficient turbocharged gasoline engines, delviering outstanding overall fuel economy and the ability to travel reasonable distances solely using electric power. BMW’s incipient plug-in hybrids are also likely to be fast, developing in excess of 250 hp from their two power sources.

While the BMW i8 supercar (review) was BMW’s first plug-in hybrid, at $136,000 it is exclusive. Standard ‘eDrive’ plug-in hybrids will be more affordable, and although a slight premium is expected, they will broadly match gasoline-only models in price. Hardware for both the ‘i’ and ‘eDrive’ models will be built on the same lines, with the X5 eDrive the first of the new breed to arrive in 2015.

BMW is well placed to capitalize from consumers who are increasingly aware of the benefits of plug-in hybrid technology and are already loyal to the brand. It will, however, face competition from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, all of whom are preparing for widespread electrification of the their model lines.

Source: EcoMento

The Paris auto show: Heading into the Age of the Plug-in Hybrid

October 5, 2014Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, OpinionTrevor Larkum

So analysts and car company leaders see a steady decline for sales of diesels here in Europe – diesels that have commanded half of the new-vehicle market for decades. We are heading into the age of the hybrid and the plug-in hybrid. That realization in Paris was without question, surreal.

Climate Change: An Age-Old Argument

October 4, 2014Energy and Climate Change, OpinionTrevor Larkum

Source: Skeptical Science

2015 Volvo XC90 T8 TwinEngine Plug-in

October 3, 2014Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, Volvo, XC90 PHEVTrevor Larkum

The most important new Volvo in quite some time has made its first auto show appearance, with the second-generation XC90 debuting at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

The new XC90 remains a three-row crossover for 2015, although it ditches the first-gen model’s top-end, turbocharged six-cylinder in favor of a single twin-charged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. By pairing that with a plug-in-electric powertrain, the king of the XC90 range, the T8 TwinEngine, will offer up 400 horsepower. So yeah, performance should be brisk.

Also appearing on 2015 XC90 will be an entirely new, Apple CarPlay-compatible infotainment system with a big, vertical touchscreen display at its heart. Based on the videos we’ve seen, the new system looks responsive, feature-laden and quite attractive.

See more: Autoblog

Audi R8 e-tron confirmed with 250-mile range

October 2, 2014Audi, Electric Cars, News, Reviews and Comment, R8 e-tronTrevor Larkum

Audi R8 e-tron plug-in hybrid (Image: Poblete)

Audi R&D boss confirms all-electric version of new 2015 R8, plus plug-in hybrid model is possible, too

Audi’s head of technical development, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, has confirmed that the new R8 supercar, due next year, will be offered as an all-electric e-tron model with a range of 250 miles. A plug-in hybrid variant, using a development of the powertrain from the Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4, is also under consideration.

The new R8 will use a slightly stretched version of the Lamborghini Huracan’s aluminium and carbon-fibre chassis, and come with a choice of V8 and V10 engines. However, the e-tron version has been a pet project of Hackenberg’s ever since he took over his new role in June 2013.

The first R8 e-tron concept appeared in 2009, and was originally slated for a 2013 launch, but the project was canned by Hackenberg’s predecessor Wolfgang Durheimer. Hackenberg revived the project and set a target of 400km (250 miles) before it could be sold to the public. Clearly, that target has now been reached.

And his plans don’t stop there, as a version of the Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4’s plug-in hybrid powertrain could also be fitted to the new R8. The Lambo’s system uses a V10 engine and three electric motors to produce 897bhp, power all four wheels and deliver a pure electric range of 30 miles.

Hackenberg told us:

“You can make it with less power, too. The [Asterion] chassis isn’t the same as the R8, but the powertrain fits, so a plug-in hybrid is definitely a possibility. The hybrid system is an engine, gearbox, electric motors and power electronics. It’s a package; it’s just a case of making it fit.”

Source: Auto Express