CEO Winterkorn: expect first VW electric vehicle in 2013

2007 Volkswagen Space up! Blue concept - click above for high res image gallery

Volkswagen CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn delivered a speech in Münich on Friday where he announced that the German giant would release its first electric car in 2013. Among the points that Winterkorn emphasized was the race to electrification would be a marathon not a sprint. He also acknowledged that electrics alone won’t be enough to meet all needs so VW is following a number of different technology paths. Winterkorn also warns against “electro-hype” which could raise unreasonably high expectations among consumers. Even in Germany, where consumers are considered to be better informed than in the U.S., surveys indicate that one in eight buyers think EVs are already here.

Winterkorn says that current battery technology is inadequate for the task. Referring to the 150 lb, 1.7 kWh NiMH battery for the upcoming Touareg hybrid, it has the energy equivalent of just 1.86 fl.oz of gasoline. Even lithium batteries still need work to get the cost and weight to a production viable point.

The first VW EV that arrives in 2013 will be based on the “New Small Family” derived from the up! concepts of 2007. As the decade wears on, VW plans to have a range of affordable EVs in its lineup. In addition to the EVs, Volkswagen will be introducing hybrids with and without plugs and Winterkorn expects gas and diesel engines to continue to be developed for another 15-20 years. Read Winterkorn’s Google-translated speech after the jump.

Gallery: LA 2007: Volkswagen space up! blue

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading CEO Winterkorn: expect first VW electric vehicle in 2013

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volkswagen

CEO Winterkorn: expect first VW electric vehicle in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barefoot Motors officially opens doors for business

Having just recently returned home from the TTXGP at the Isle of Man, where its race bike managed a very respectable second-place finish in its class, Barefoot Motors has officially opened its doors. The event, complete with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony, took place June 25th in Ashland, Oregon.

Barefoot Motors’ new $12,000 Model One electric Earth Utility Vehicle was present and accounted for, and initial ride reports have been highly favorable. According to the company, its machine makes 40 horsepower and can hit speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.

With enough capacity from its lithium iron phosphate batteries to travel for up to 40 miles, which translates into roughly four hours of constant use or eight hours of intermittent use, the Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Barefoot Motors believes its new EUV should be a hit with farmers and vineyard growers.

[Source: Barefoot Motors]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA

Barefoot Motors officially opens doors for business originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Controversial Dublin car ban on its way

A car ban will be in place in Dublin city’s College Green within four weeks - and it is proving hugely controversial.

The peak-time prohibition will be brought into effect on July 27 by the city council’s Transport 21 office. The ban means that only buses and taxis will be allowed to pass through the College Green area from 7am-10am and from 4pm-7pm from Monday-Friday. Drivers of private cars will have to find alternative routes.

The concept was given the nod when councillors voted 15 to 12 in favour of the proposals back in May. It is expected that the council will distribute information leaflets on the 24 public car parks in the area including a map of the city centre and alternative routes motorists can take.

However, the move is causing controversy not just because of the potential inconvenience, but because of the impact it could have on shopping in the city centre. One estimate has put job losses at 2,500 and predicted a loss of revenues in the region of €200million.

Chief executive of Dublin’s Chamber of Commerce Gina Quinn has also criticised the initiative stating that it was “due to happen as part of an overall plan for the build out of Metro North and the joining of the two Luas lines in the city centre”.

However, these measures have not been put into place yet.

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Henrik Fisker distances his company from Tesla, GM

Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery

Considering the two fledgling automaker’s past history, it’s not terribly surprising that Henrik Fisker would want to distance his company from Tesla Motors. Recall that Fisker had originally been tasked with penning the design for the Tesla S electric sedan but later unveiled the Karma after being dismissed by the Silicon Valley automaker. There was a lawsuit, which was ruled in Fisker’s favor by an arbitration court.

Speaking at a meeting of the Western Automotive Journalists Assoction, Fisker said, “The full-electric car [like the Tesla Roadster] is a niche market. Plug-in hybrids have a much bigger market.” Of course, not everyone agrees that PHEVs are the way to go. Fisker goes on to say that his company’s latest business plan will lead to profits at just 5,000 annual sales, though the goal remains 15,000 sales per year.

What about the Chevy Volt, which uses a similar range-extended electric architecture as the Fisker Karma? Somewhat disparingly, Fisker suggests that GM’s future EV won’t really be competition for the Fisker, saying only, “It’s a Chevy.” He’s got a point, though, as the Volt is likely to cost about half what Fisker plans to ask for the Karma and surely won’t fit into the same luxury category as Fisker’s green machine.

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Hybrid Cars]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid

Henrik Fisker distances his company from Tesla, GM originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lightning Car Company plans three more electric cars

Lightning Car Company GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in February, the UK-based Lightning Car Company announced that it still intends to begin building and selling its Lightning GT by 2010. The £120,000 electric sportscar will be powered by one 120kW electric motor per wheel - assuming the fledgling automaker is still able to use hub motors from bankrupt PML Flightlink - that will get their electrons from 36kW of Altairnano NanoSafe lithium titanite batteries. According to its maker, the car should be able to accelerate its carbon fiber and Kevlar self to 60 mph in just four seconds and sport a range of up to 180 miles.

Despite the fact that the company has yet to ship its first automobile, Lightning Car Company chairman Ian Sanderson has said the company intends to also offer “a high-end chauffeur-driven car with electric power.” Also on the menu will be an SUV and a smaller sportscar, all powered by variations of the GT’s electric drivetrain. Ambitious, no?

Gallery: Lightning Car Company GT

[Source: Autocar]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, UK

Lightning Car Company plans three more electric cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenlings: How can I pimp green my ride?

Driving a car that’s had more than a few birthdays and wish you could make it greener? Whether your concern is centered on air quality, climate change or just saving a few bucks as fuel prices rise, there are many ways you can accomplish this goal using your common sense or perhaps a little modern technology. We’ve compiled some of these for your perusal below the fold but since we have some pretty astute readers, we hope you’ll leave your own suggestions in the comments section as well.

Photo by Joe Thorn. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Continue reading Greenlings: How can I pimp green my ride?

Filed under: Greenlings

Greenlings: How can I pimp green my ride? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai boosted by early hybrid success

The world’s first production hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by a liquefied petroleum injected (LPI) engine has proven an instant sales success for its manufacturer.

Hyundai Motor Corporation has received more than 1,000 pre-sale orders for the Avente/Elantra LPI hybrid since June 17 ahead of the car going on sale in South Korea on July 8.

The vehicle, which is powered by an LPI Gamma engine that displaces 1.6 litres, includes a 15kW permanent magnet synchronous motor as well as a continually variable transmission. It has some eye-catching environmental credentials emitting just 99g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2) - that’s 90 per cent fewer emissions than the equivalent petrol-powered Elantra.

The LPI Hybrid qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle and has a fuel economy rating of 17.8km/l (42mpg) - the petrol equivalent fuel economy is 51mpg. Overall, this is a 47 per cent improvement compared to the conventional 1.6l Elantra.

So far the car is only available in the manufacturer’s domestic market - a strategy meant to see it compete with the hybrid models from various Japanese manufacturers. LPG vehicles are already successful in the country with LPG only half the price of petrol.

Hyundai now hopes to sell around 8,000 hybrids in the country by the end of the year.

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