VIDEO: ECO + Dodge Challenger R/T Hybrid with Separate Electric Drive

You'd think that the Dodge Challenger R/T with its 376HP 5.7-liter V8 Hemi would be one of the least obvious candidates for an electric drivetrain. We mean, it's a damn muscle car - if you want economy, go fiddle around with a Prius or a 20 year old Honda Civic. Nonetheless, there is some logic behind this project that is featured on a type of advertising microsite for Popular Mechanics. See, the ECO + Challenger R/T uses a separate electric drivetrain for everyday driving and a modified V8 Hemi that's equipped with a nitrous system when the driver calls for performance.

"With inexpensive aerodynamic aids, a state-of-the-art electric drive system and some other helpful bits, we'll turn our potent Challenger into a parallel hybrid plug-in/solar/electric that burns no fuel at all in everyday driving," say the creators of the ECO + Challenger R/T. "We think this is a spectacular way to please both environmentalists and enthusiasts. Eco+Muscle. What's not to like?"

Before the addition of the electric drivetrain, the modified Challenger R/T ran the 0 to 60mph (96km/h) sprint in 3.95 seconds and the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds at 114 mph. That's compared to the stock Challenger R/T's 5.5 seconds and 13.9 seconds at 103 mph respectively. Other upgrades include a sport suspension, Brembo brakes and 20-inch alloys wrapped in Michelin rubber.

The electric drivetrain consists of an 125HP and 176 lb-ft of torque electric motor, 28 batteries that replace the rear seat bench, a fuel cell system and a separate, aircraft-like hand throttle to control the electric motor. The Hemi V8 is controlled by the stock foot pedal.

The creators haven't disclosed acceleration numbers for the electric drivetrain, but they say it can provide a top speed of up to 100mph (160km/h) and a range of around 40miles (60km). In theory, the driver could use both drivetrains to accelerate but that of course would mean he'd have to handle both throttles.

The dual-powered Eco + Challenger R/T will be on display at the NASCAR Pocono 500 race in June, at the San Bernardino Route 66 Rendezvous in September and at the Las Vegas SEMA Show in November. According to the site, it will be auctioned off in Scottsdale next January.

Source: ECO , Via: Insideline

GM: Volt to hit the Market as Scheduled in November 2010, One More Brand to get Plug-in Hybrid

Despite the looming bankruptcy and the other serious issues facing the company, General Motors' global product development chief, Tom Stephens told journalists on the sidelines of an event at the University of Michigan that the American automaker is on plan with the development of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. "At this point in time, I know of no reason why we can't be in production by November of 2010," Stephens said.

Stephens, who replaced Bob Lutz as GM's vice chairman of global product development on April 1st, 2009, also told reporters that the automaker has not made a decision yet on which of the remaining three brands (Cadillac, Buick and GMC) after the axing of Pontiac and the sale of Saturn and Saab would get a vehicle based on the Volt's plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

"It's best utilized in urban vehicles," said Stephens. "We have to consider what is the usage of the person buying the vehicle. For a commuter who drives 40 miles a day and takes it shopping on weekend, it's the perfect application.".

That said, we reckon that that one of the most obvious and less inexpensive options in terms of development costs would be a Buick model based on the small sedan that the company is currently working on as it uses the same Delta platform as the Volt (as well as the new Astra and Chevy Cruze).

Carscoop's spy photographers recently captured a camouflaged prototype of the Astra/Cruze/Volt-based small sedan during testing in Germany, however it's not clear if the sedan is designed only for the Chinese market or if it will also head to the States.

Via: Autonews (Sub. Req.)

New Kangoo Be Bop ZE Plug-In EV Previews Tech to be Used on 2010 Nissan and 2011 Renault EVs

Renault took advantage of the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders today in Paris, France, to unwrap a more production-like version of its Kangoo Be Bop Z.E. concept that was first seen at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. What's really significant about this new prototype is that it features technology very similar to what will be used on the first all-electric Nissan vehicle due to be launched in the USA and Japan in 2010 and the rest of the world from 2012, as well as the equivalent Renault EVs in 2011, beginning with a family saloon in Israel, and a utility version of New Kangoo in Europe.

Derived from the production Kangoo Be Bop, the Z.E. (short for Zero Emissions) is powered solely by a 44kW (60HP) electric motor that revs to 12,000rpm and is coupled to a reducer which replaces the traditional gearbox.

The system deploys a set of lightweight and compact-sized lithium-ion batteries produced by AESC (Automotive Electric Supply Corporation), a Nissan-NEC joint venture which was founded in April 2007. Thanks to their compact size, the batteries can be positioned in various places in the car. In the case of the Be Bop, the batteries are located underneath the dashboard. Renault claims that the AESC battery pack is expected to deliver between 80 and 100 per cent of its original capacity for a duration of six years.

In the Kangoo prototype, the 15kWh battery delivers a range of approximately 100km or 62miles, but the French automaker supports that when released, the production Renault and Nissan electric vehicles will profit from an evolution to their battery technology which will take their real-world range to 160km or about 100 miles.

The batteries are charged through socket located behind a flap at the front of the vehicle alongside the right-hand headlamp. The cable plug allows two different battery-charging modes, a conventional charge via a household mains supply (10A or 16A 220V) that takes between six to eight hours and the so-called quick charge using a 32A 400V three phase socket, enabling up to 80 per cent charge in around 30 minutes.

However, Renault said that it is also working with the German group RWE to develop a universal standard, three phase plug that can be used with a 400V supply and will enable a complete charge in just 20 minutes.

To further improve the Kangoo's efficiency, the latest Be Bop Z.E. prototype benefits from a series of measures that include reworked aerodynamics with the ground clearance lowered by 20mm compared to the standard model. Unique features on the prototype include linear displays on the exterior part of the doors that show how much charge is left in the battery while inside, a gauge to the left of the instrument panel provides the driver with a permanent indication of how much battery charge remains.

All-Electric Citroen C1 ev'ie Launched in Britain

A new, pure electric version of Citroen's C1 minicar has gone on sale in the U.K. Dubbed C1 ev'ie, the zero-emission four-seater is the work of Electric Car Corporation Plc. (EEC), a British firm that converts standard C1s into electric-powered vehicles. The only difference between Citroen's standard C1 and EEC's plug-in C1 ev'ie concerns the replacement of the combustion engine with a 30kw electric motor that is powered by a set of lithium-ion batteries positioned under the bonnet as well as in the place where the fuel tank used to be.

The C1 ev'ie can reach a top speed of 60mph (96km/h) and has a range between 60 and 75 miles (100 - 120km) on a full charge. According to EEC's claims, the C1 ev'ie can be fully charged in 6-7 hours from a domestic 13 amp socket at a cost of around 90p (about a US$1.20).

ECC said that it expects to produce around 500 C1 ev'ies over the next 12 months, rising to between 2,000 and 4,000 units in 2010, dependent upon "demand and government support".

Available in both three-door and five-door trims, the C1 ev'ie is priced at a steep £16,850 or about the equivalent of $25,000 U.S. That's more than double the price of the standard C1 with a 68HP 1.0-liter engine that returns an average of 62.8mpg UK (52.3mpg US or 4.5lt/100km) and has an OTR of £7,795 or with Citroen UK's existing offer, £6,395.

Chrysler Reveals Electric Minivan for Postal Service, Asks Gov. Money to Create Demo Fleet...

Those 'jolly old' folks down at Chrysler never cease to amuse us with their government loan tactics. Today, Chrysler LLC showed off four all-electric Town & Country minivan concepts to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as part of the USPS Earth Day celebration. The catch? Well, Chrysler said that in conjunction with the USPS and select energy service providers, it intends to apply for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE) Transportation Electrification stimulus program for a federal grant.

According to Chrysler LLC, the grant (feel free to call it taxpayers money) would be used to establish a nationwide demonstration fleet of zero-emission electric minivans that could -and we repeat, could- be used by the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery. In other words, you pay for it, Chrysler takes the credit for creating a useless fleet of electric demo cars slapped with its logos. Wonder what they'll come up with next...

Brilliance Reveals All-Electric Concept Study in Shanghai

One of the most interesting concept cars unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show was the all-electric Brilliance EV. BMW Group's Chinese partner said that the EV is equipped with two electric motors and a set of lithium-ion batteries. The first electric motor that produces the equivalent of 30HP allows the EV to travel a distance of 130km or 80 miles with a top speed of 40km/h or 25mph. When the second motor kicks in, the EV's output more than doubles while in this case, it can reach a top speed of 130m/h or 80mph.

Most will have already noticed that the EV's design bears a 'few' similarities with the Volkswagen Space-Up! Concept that was revealed at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. But unlike the VW's rear suicide doors, the EV features a set of fancy-pancy electric operated doors that slide outwards. Inside, Brilliance's designers adorned the four-seater EV with a futuristic dashboard and the usual high-tech gizmos.

UK Government Announces £2000 - £5000 Electric and Hybrid Car Incentives

Motorists in the UK could receive financial incentives between £2,000 and £5,000 to buy electric and plug-in hybrid cars from 2011, the Government has announced as it attempts to 'kick start' the green car industry over the next five years. The strategy also includes plans to provide £20 million for charging points and related infrastructure to help develop a network of 'electric car cities' throughout the UK and an expansion of an electric and ultra-low carbon car demonstration project on the UK's roads.

"The scale of incentives we're announcing today will mean that an electric car is a real option for motorists as well as helping to make the UK a world leader in low carbon transport," said Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon.

"Cutting road transport CO₂ emissions is a key element to tackling climate change. Less than 0.1% of the UK's 26 million cars are electric, so there is a huge untapped potential to reduce emissions," he concluded.

Subaru STELLA Plug-in Electric Vehicle to begin test runs in Japan

Having completed the development of the Plug-in STELLA electric vehicle (EV) prototype model, Subaru has announced that it is ready to test its eco-friendly microcar in real life conditions by providing fifteen units to Japan's Ministry of Environment this summer. Based on the production STELLA, the plug-in EV is equipped with an electric motor that produces 47kW (up from 40kW on the initial prototypes).

Subaru also said that, compared with the first prototypes, it has further enhanced the EV's efficiency by lightening the body weight and fine-tuning output management as well as optimizing and downsizing the battery pack design.

FEV to Show Dodge Caliber Hybrid with 1.0-Liter Engine at SAE Congress

The proposals for extended-range electric vehicles just keep coming in. The latest company to announce new developments in the field of hybrid cars is FEV, a powertrain and vehicle engineering firm headquarted in Aachen, Germany. The firm announced that it will show a range-extended electric vehicle (ReEV) with plug-in capability based on the Dodge Caliber platform at the 2009 SAE World Congress in Detroit (April 20-23, 2009).

The Caliber ReEV's propulsion system employs a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder, 4 valve engine mated to a UQM PP75 generator that provides 41kW of continuous power in extended-range mode, with a peak power of 75kW.

The energy generated is stored in a 20 kW-h liquid-cooled Lithium Ion battery pack that operates at 346V, with a Delphi DC/DC converter. FEV said that the batteries provide enough power for the car to cover a distance of 40 miles or 64 kilometers which seems to be the magic number for most vehicles of the sort... The Caliber ReEV can accelerate from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of 84mph or 135 km/h.

For the record, the Caliber pictured above is a standard model as FEV has not releases any photos of the ReEV prototype.

Video Humor: Hitler has had it with Tesla and the EV Industry

Using a classic scene from the 2004 German movie 'Der Untergang'" (The Downfall) that depicted the final twelve days of Adolf Hitler in his Berlin bunker and Nazi Germany in 1945, the folks over at EVCast created a short parody with Hitler blowing a fuse on Tesla and the rest of electric-car industry. If you're looking for a quick laugh, then just hit the jump and enjoy.

Via: Autoblog Green , Source: EVCast

Mitsubishi says yes to U.S. market launch of all-electric i MiEV RWD microcar

Ending the speculative rumors that had been circulating for quite a while now, Mitsubishi officially confirmed at its New York Auto Show press conference that the fully-electric i MiEV microcar will be arriving on U.S. shores. The pure electric, four-passenger i MiEV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan this July with Europe following suit in 2010 and the U.S. shortly after that. The tiny i MiEV, which is slightly smaller than a Fiat 500 measuring 3.395mm or 133.6-in. in length, is based on the Japanese market, rear-engined 'i' minicar.

The electric version replaces the i's conventional gasoline engine, transmission and fuel tank with a lithium-ion battery system, electric motor and onboard charging system. However, it retains the standard i's rear mid-ship architecture which allowed Mitsubishi to integrate the new components under the seats, luggage compartment and floor deck.

The i MiEV's battery pack can be charged either from an 110v outlet - which takes around 12 to 14 hours - or half that time on a 220v. Additionally, there is a fast charge connector that allows the battery to reach 80 percent of capacity in just 30 minutes.

We're not aware of the exact specifications of the U.S. market model, but it is most likely that the vehicle will undergo certain changes to 'fit' (feel free to share your thoughts on this one...) the needs of the American market.

Raser to unveil 100MPG Full-Size Hybrid SUV at SAE Congress in Detroit

The good news with Raser Technologies' full size SUV plug-in hybrid which will be revealed at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) World Congress in Detroit (April 20-23, 2009), is that it promises to deliver an estimated 100mpg. The bad news is that Raser Technologies doesn't exactly explain how it came up with this impressive fuel economy figure for its four-wheel drive Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV).

In fact, the only piece of information that the Utah-based company handed out to the press is that the E-REV has been designed to achieve over 100 mpg in "typical local daily driving" with near zero emissions by going up to 40 miles per day in all-electric mode.

Raser Technologies' hybrid drivetrain is similar to the one fitted on the Chevrolet Volt, meaning that it combines an electric motor with a fuel efficient four-cylinder combustion engine. The vehicle is propelled solely by the 200kW electric motor with the combustion engine used only to generate electricity to recharge the lithium-ion battery when needed.

Up until now, we've seen Raser Technologies' E-REV system being used on a prototype Hummer, but we're not sure if this will be the vehicle that will be unveiled at the SAE Congress in Detroit.

"We are excited to be able to demonstrate an electric powertrain for larger vehicles such as trucks and SUVs," said James Spellman, Vice President, of Transportation for Raser Technologies. "These are the best selling vehicles in America and can benefit the most from increased fuel economy and reduced emissions. We are also pleased to be exhibiting with our development partner FEV."

GM and Segway Team up to Create Two-Wheeler P.U.M.A. Project

In a surprising move, General Motors and Segway announced that they have joined forces to create an electrically powered, two-seat prototype vehicle with two wheels. Referred to as the Project P.U.M.A. which stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, the two-wheeler is still far away from production with the prototype models lacking any type of bodywork.

"Project P.U.M.A. represents a unique solution to moving about and interacting in cities, where more than half of the world's people live," said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development, and strategic planning.

Among the various technologies demonstrated on the Project P.U.M.A. are the electric drive and batteries, dynamic stabilization (two-wheel balancing), all-electronic acceleration, steering and braking, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and autonomous driving and parking.

The prototype vehicle can travel at speeds up to 35mph or 56 km/h, with a range of up to 35 miles or 56 km)between recharges. The two-wheeler will make its debut (as a prototype of course) at this week's New York Auto Show.