Car2go Brings First All-Electric Car-Sharing Service To The U.S.

BY Ariel Schwartz
From:  http://www.fastcompany.com/

Get ready for the newest way to grab some wheels when you need them. The service, launching in November in San Diego, is gunning for Zipcar by making it easier to pay for and drop off your borrowed car.

Zipcar has long dominated the city car-sharing space. But Car2go, a program from Daimler AG that allows users to rent Smart cars by the minute, recently popped up in Austin, Texas to challenge the larger company's dominance. Now Car2go is set to gain even more attention as it launches the country's first large-scale electric car-sharing program in San Diego.

It makes sense on a number of levels to start an all-electric service in San Diego, explains Car2go CEO Nicholas Cole. "It's a bit of a tech hub, and one of the great things is that ECOtality and the EV Project are in the process of installing 1,000 charging stations in the city by the end of the fourth quarter in 2011. Car2go will have direct access."

Car2go's model is simpler than competitors like Zipcar. Whereas Zipcar requires members to pick up and return cars from the same location, make reservations to rent vehicles in advance, and pay by the hour, Car2go members can rent vehicles by the minute without reservations--and drop off the vehicles at designated points throughout the city.

If members in the San Diego program discover that their electric vehicle has a low charge, they will be asked to drop it off at a charge station. Car2go will also have a third-party maintenance fleet to move the vehicles to charge points at the end of the day so that they can juice up overnight.

Cole is confident that members won't run out of charge on their journeys. "We took a hard look at our current model from a use standpoint in Austin. We see the average trip is less than five miles for our members, and the Smart Fortwo is rated at 84 miles per charge," he says. "We're confident that we'll be able to shift that charging burden to evenings." Members will also be able to see how much charge each vehicle has using the Car2go website and iPhone app. That way, users can opt to take fully charged vehicles if they know they will be taking longer trips.

The San Diego program, which will feature 300 electric Smart Fortwo vehicles when it launches in November, is Car2go's second announced all-electric fleet--the company is also launching an electric car-sharing service in Amsterdam later this year. The company's other programs in Hamburg, Germany, and Austin use gasoline-powered cars.

Car2go doesn't have any plans to expand the all-electric car-sharing model to other U.S. cities--yet. "Our expansion focus is on identifying markets for combustion engines," says Cole. "But if a city determines the investment [in an EV infrastructure] is worthwhile, that could change over the coming months."
[Image: Daimler]

Nissan works on recharging Leaf with solar power

By YURI KAGEYAMA - AP Business Writer | AP

from http://news.yahoo.com/

• Nissan Motor Co. chief vehicle engineer Hidetoshi Kadota demonstrates a quick charge …
  
• 
  A man stands by a monitor screens displaying operating conditions of the Nissan Motor …

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Japanese automaker Nissan is testing a super-green way to recharge its Leaf electric vehicle using solar power, part of a broader drive to improve electricity storage systems.

Nissan's Leaf went on sale late last year, but the automaker is looking ahead to about five years time when aging Leaf vehicles may offer alternative business opportunities in using their lithium-ion batteries as a storage place for electricity.

Nissan Motor Corp. acknowledges that, once the Leaf catches on, a flood of used batteries could result as the life span of a battery is longer than an electric vehicle's.

Electricity generation and storage are drawing attention in Japan after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami caused massive blackouts in the country's northeast. A nuclear power plant that went into meltdown, Fukushima Dai-ichi, after backup generators were destroyed by the tsunami, is also renewing fears about a power crunch.

In the new charging system, demonstrated to reporters Monday, electricity is generated through 488 solar cells installed on the roof of the Nissan headquarters building in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo.

Four batteries from the Leaf had been placed in a box in a cellar-like part of the building, and store the electricity generated from the solar cells, which is enough to fully charge 1,800 Leaf vehicles a year, according to Nissan.

Although interest is growing in renewable energy such as solar and wind power, a major challenge is the storage of electricity, which remains expensive without a breakthrough in battery technology.

Such interest is likely to keep growing in Japan because of fears about the safety of nuclear power. The Hamaoka nuclear plant is being shut down because of such concerns, and more may follow.

Other Japanese automakers, such as Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., are working on similar projects, such as linking hybrids with solar-equipped homes as part of energy-efficient communities called "smart grids."

Electric vehicles produce no pollution or global-warming gases but need electricity, whose production mostly relies on polluting oil or gas.

Even after a Leaf is ready to be scrapped, its battery is likely to have 80 percent of its capacity. On the plus side, the Leaf with its high-capacity battery can store the equivalent of two days of household electricity use, Nissan said.

"What's important for Nissan is to show solutions through EVs, step by step," said Corporate Vice President Hideaki Watanabe.

A joint venture with Sumitomo Corp. called 4R Energy Corp. plans to offer eletricity storage systems like the one at Nissan headquarters for business and public facilities as a commercial product by 2016.

Nissan also hopes to start selling such storage systems for regular homes by the fiscal year starting in April 2012. It will carry out field tests from December, 4R Energy President Takashi Sakagami said.

___

Yuri Kageyama can be reached at http://twitter.com/yurikageyama

High on Electric Cars: Canada's Cannabis Cruiser

by Jessica Root - Brooklyn, NY
from: http://www.treehugger.com/

Image via: CBC News

Hemp isn't only TreeHugger approved. It's won this green yogini over in the health department with its number of nutritional benefits. It's an animal-free source of essential fatty acid omegas, proteins and amino acids--all-important for heart, brain and skin health.

Who knew that a spoonful of hemp powder wouldn't only find its way into my morning smoothie, or its fibers in my cute Sanuk sidewalk surfers, but possibly built into a future set of electric wheels?

Let's introduce Canada's non-smokable (industrial hemp produces very little THC) though totally cool, Kestrel electric hemp vehicle...

Hemp-bodied cars aren't new. The famous Henry Ford started experimenting with hemp and resin-based fibers way back in the day. The exploration of hemp ended however when other energy-heavy car body materials like steel and more recently, fiberglass and carbon fiber were favored for their lightness.

High on Hemp
We 'Huggers should be happy hemp is back on the scene. Unlike glass or carbon, which requires intense heating and chemical processes, hemp can grow in the sun with minimal water and pesticide use.

Three cheers to Project Eve who is spearheading the hemp-shelled car project, and to the polytechnic schools in Alberta, Quebec and Toronto who will actually build the compact, 4-passenger cars. And ten cheers to Canada for waking up and permitting the cultivation of hemp. Most of the hemp products we enjoy come from Canada or Asia.

Let's hope US follows suit and that these cars look cute! (The car's complete design will be released after Vancouver's EV 2010 VÉ Conference and Trade Show in September.)

Europe's first commercial fast-charging station officially opens to public

by Eric Loveday

from http://green.autoblog.com/

Late last week, Epyon unveiled Europe's first commercial electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging station at a fueling depot in the Netherlands. The Epyon system is capable of delivering 50 kilowatts of juice, which the company claims can charge a nine-person taxi-van or a Nissan Leaf in as little as 30 minutes. Taxi Kijlstra, the nation's largest taxi company, recently converted a couple of its vans over to electric power and will utilize the charger during the work day.

The Epyon charging system is somewhat unusual because it features several outlets, allowing multiple vehicles to charge up simultaneously. The fast-charger supports the 400-volt CHAdeMO-standard, though it should be noted that no official standards exist for fast-charging systems. The charger also features remote configuration and Internet-based communications which allows the Dutch utility company Essent to bill customers for usage. Though it's Europe's first fast-charger, it certainly won't be the last. We imagine demand for EV charging that takes mere minutes is sure to grow.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Toyota and Tesla Partner to Build Electric Cars Near San Francisco

by Jerry James Stone

From: http://www.treehugger.com/

Tesla Motors, Inc and Toyota Motor Corp have officially announced a partnership in next-gen technology for electric cars that begins with a $50 million investment from Toyota. The collaboration involves not just electric cars but also parts, production and engineering support.

Governor Schwarzenegger had first leaked the news during a visit to Google's headquarters in Mountain View. It's safe to say that this was not good news for everyone. Telsa had been in talks to build their electric car plant in a former NASA manufacturing complex located in Downey City.

"We are shocked, upset and betrayed. We can see why the public is so upset with corporate America," said Downey City Councilman Mario Guerra, adding that Tesla had told the city it would sign the lease for the Downey plant on Friday.

The thousand-plus jobs the operation is expected to create will remain closer to Tesla's home-base of San Carlos, CA. The automakers are re-opening the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., or NUMM, assembly line across the San Francisco Bay in Fremont. NUMMI--which primarily existed as a joint effort between Toyota and General Motors--had officially stopped operating in April when GM ended the 25-year partnership. A decision that cost about 4,700 workers their jobs.

No wonder NUMMI is trending on Twitter.

The official announcement came was made at 5:00 pm today when Schwarzenegger joined President and CEO of Toyota Akio Toyoda, Co-Founder and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk to announce the historic partnership. "Toyota is a company founded on innovation, quality, and commitment to sustainable mobility. It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Toyota would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla," said Musk.

Governor Schwarzenegger added that "We love our cars in California and California loves cars! But we also love our environment and the coastline." He went on to explain that "This all happened because we created tax incentives for this company and this partnership," Schwarzenegger said.

The first car to roll of the production line will be Tesla's Model S electric sedan which costs around $57,400. While Tesla will still be late to the game when compared to the LEAF or the Volt, this amps up the company's reputation ten-fold. For a recent study just named Toyota as one of the top three companies consumers would buy an EV from.

Musk also noted that several former employees of the NUMMI plant have already been rehired.

More on Tesla Motors
Motor Trend: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport vs. 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder (Video)
Tesla to Start Leasing Electric Roadster, Roadster Sport, Model S

More on Electric Cars
LEAF Pre-Orders Exceed Production Capacity Months Before Launch
Norwegian Electric Car Maker Think Raises $40 Million to Bring Its EVs to U.S.

Good Vibrations: Electric Car Uses Bumps to Charge Battery

From: http://gajitz.com/

This odd-looking car is an interesting concept from industrial designer Jung-Hoon Kim and was an entry in the 2010 Michelin Challenge Design competition. Unlike other electric cars that rely on special charging stations or an extension cord plugged into an outlet at home, the P-Eco relies on four piezoelectric devices to charge the car’s battery as it moves.

Kim’s idea behind the P-Eco was that cars waste a great deal of energy that could be harvested for good use. Every moment that a car is moving, it’s bouncing and vibrating…and those movements could be harnessed by piezoelectric devices to generate electricity that could recharge the battery. With piezoelectric devices located on both sides of each passenger seat, this concept car could keep itself running efficiently with no additional expenditures for electricity or gasoline.

The car would obviously need another source of energy as a back-up, especially when it sits idle for a while. But it would be easy enough to simply charge the battery from grid electricity at home, then let the motion of the car keep it charged while you’re on the road. The entire concept relies on the future efficiency of piezoelectric devices, making it somewhat unreasonable for production today – but some day, those bumps in the road could actually be a good thing.

BMW will offer up to 700 urbanites an electric 1 series lease

by Sebastian Blanco

from http://green.autoblog.com/


BMW ActiveE concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW said recently that participants in the Mini E lease program were "Delighted with [the] Electric Vehicle Experience." The Mini E, though, will probably seem totally lame compared to the production version of the BMW ActiveE concept (an all-electric 1 Series). After all, who doesn't like a rear seat? Oh, and the 100 mile range per charge and a 90 mile per hour top speed aren't bad, either.

There are around 450-500 copies of the Mini E out and about, and BMW is reportedly going to offering up a few more units of the all-electric 1 Series when it becomes available some time in the next year. BMW's board member for sales and marketing, Ian Robertson, told Automotive News that between 600 and 700 units will be leased to selected customers in major global cities. Robertson said the leases will be divvied up with 200 destined for the U.S. and between 300 and 400 driving around in Europe. As for the other hundred or so, maybe those will be demonstration or fleet or test units?

Gallery: BMW Concept ActiveE

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Tesla officially calls Chicago home

from: http://green.autoblog.com/

by Domenick Yoney

Tesla Motors Chicago store – Click above for high-res image gallery

It appears Tesla Motors has truly sweetened up their Chicago home and officially opened its Windy City doors. Although they have already been conducting some small amount of business from the location, Thursday night saw a gathering of current Roadster owners, Model S reservation holders, investors and other VIPs gathering at the new 1053 W Grand Ave. location for a little celebratory shindig.

The new retail outlet will not only serve as a showroom but also a regional hub for their house-call-making "Tesla Rangers." Of course, like their other locations, they have service bays onsite in case you want to browse the brand's schwag while you get your oil tires changed.

As well as the federal $7,500 tax credit, Illinois buyers can also lessen the financial sting slightly by taking advantage of that state's $4,000 Alternate Fuels Rebate Program. If, alas, you don't live within visiting distance of the new location you can check out the renovated digs in the gallery below.

Gallery: Tesla Motors Chicago store

[Source: Tesla Motors]

PRESS RELEASE


Tesla Motors Opens Chicago Store

Test-Drives of the Electric Car Available Starting January 21st at Tesla's Chicago Store

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tesla Motors, the only automaker producing highway-capable EVs will celebrate the opening of its Chicago store on Thursday and offer test drives throughout the weekend of the world's most exciting electric vehicle, the Tesla Roadster.

The City of Chicago, in collaboration with Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition and Gas Technology Institute, was a recipient of a US Department of Energy 2009 Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Technologies grant. The award aims to reduce vehicle emissions, displace 3.08 million gasoline gallon equivalents of petroleum every year, deploy 554 alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles and install 149 alternative-fuel fueling and electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Chicago region.

"With over 50 Roadster owners in the area, Chicago is an important market and strategic base for Tesla," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

US Roadster customers get a $7,500 federal tax credit and the Illinois Alternate Fuels Rebate Program provides a rebate of $4,000.

Tesla's Chicago store, located at 1053 W Grand Ave., is also the newest regional hub for Tesla's pioneering mobile service squad. Professional technicians known as Tesla Rangers will travel to customers' homes and perform annual inspections, firmware upgrades and other services. Tesla uniquely offers "house calls" so all customers can enjoy service from their home or office.

Tesla's house-call approach is an innovative initiative to give customers peace of mind – whether they live in Chicago, Indianapolis or Iowa City. The Chicago facility will be the service hub for customers throughout Illinois and the Midwestern United States.

The Roadster Sport, with an acceleration of 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, consumes no gasoline. Owners simply charge the Roadster overnight and wake up to the equivalent of a full tank – roughly 240 miles of driving. The Roadster requires less routine maintenance than conventional cars. It does not need regular oil changes or exhaust system work. Roadsters have no spark plugs, pistons, hoses, belts or clutches to replace. Zero tailpipe emission means no smog checks.

About Tesla

Tesla's goal is to produce increasingly affordable cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla sells cars online and has delivered nearly 900 Roadsters to customers in North America and Europe. In addition to South Florida, Tesla has showrooms in California's Silicon Valley and Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Boulder, South Florida, London, Munich and Monaco.

The Tesla Roadster is faster than many sports cars yet more efficient than a Hybrid. With an EPA-estimated range of 244 miles per charge, it costs less than $5 to charge.

Early EVs Won't Need Many Public Charge Points, Says NYC

By John Voelcker Car Expert

From: http://www.greencarreports.com

January 21st, 2010 New York City often startles people, and it stayed true to form in a recent analysis done by McKinsey & Company for the city's PlaNYC planning group, "Exploring Electric Vehicle Adoption in New York City." In particular, one of the report's conclusions may come as a shock to many electric-vehicle advocates: It turns out you really don't need very many public charging points to get people to use EVs. Over the next five years, the likely early adopters will simply adapt their behavior to the limitations of the EVs: Early adopters do not appear to need a high-density public charging network. While the availability of charging at retail and curbside locations may be reassuring to the average driver concerned about range limitations, the study suggests that the earliest consumers will be willing to change their driving behavior and parking location, given their strong desire to purchase EVs. Thus, a dense public charging network will not be a strong priority for early adopters. Needed: easier installation Instead, it makes more sense to help those early adopters by streamlining the process for installing charging equipment in their homes, apartment buildings, or local garages: Given the likely strong demand among early adopters and the limited short-term supply of vehicles, initial actions would be most effective if they focused on helping early adopters enter the EV market. Survey respondents ... voiced a desire to have a convenient and easy-to-understand process to install necessary charging equipment, at home or in a commercial garage. "Range anxiety" This counterintuitive conclusion flies in the face of the received wisdom, which says drivers will avoid using electric cars unless they can be sure there are public quick-charge stations available wherever they may need them, because "range anxiety" makes them nervous that they'll run out of juice and be left stranded. But at least some EV advocates and urban planners who are now sketching out local and regional networks of EV infrastructure think the report is right on target. People quickly learn their electric car's range, they say, and pick the appropriate vehicle for the day's travel. In multi-car households, many drivers will take a compact car to deliver a kid to school or commute to work. But if there's sports practice after school that requires hauling six teenagers, they'll take the family minivan instead. For "compact car," substitute "electric vehicle," and you see how it works. 100 miles enough Sure, things come up unexpectedly. But in cities and suburbs, it's very rare that short local hops suddenly change to trips of more than 100 miles--the stated range of the upcoming all-electric 2012 Nissan Leaf, to pick one example. And the "range anxiety" concern is only relevant for battery-electric vehicles; both extended-range EVs like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and plug-in hybrids like the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In offer hundreds of miles of range, using their gasoline engines for longer distances. Demand exceeds supply 'til 2015 Among the report's other conclusions: A large group of early adopters will change their behavior to accommodate the limits of early electric vehicles; The number of those early adopters is greater than the likely supply of EVs until at least 2015; It won't be necessary to provide tax incentives or other subsidies to these early adopters, but they would like to be recognized; Charging electric vehicles poses no threat to the stability of the electric grid as long as it's mostly done off-peak (at night); and Collaboration among the City of New York, electric utilities, and automakers will be required to make it all happen. The full 24-page report, prepared under the auspices of the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning & Sustainabilityi, can be downloaded from the PlaNYC 2030 section of New York City's website. [NYC.gov]

 Public Charging Station for electric cars, courtesy Mitsubishi Motors
Enlarge Photo

New York City often startles people, and it stayed true to form in a recent analysis done by McKinsey & Company for the city's PlaNYC planning group, "Exploring Electric Vehicle Adoption in New York City."
In particular, one of the report's conclusions may come as a shock to many electric-vehicle advocates: It turns out you really don't need very many public charging points to get people to use EVs.
Over the next five years, the likely early adopters will simply adapt their behavior to the limitations of the EVs:
Early adopters do not appear to need a high-density public charging network. While the availability of charging at retail and curbside locations may be reassuring to the average driver concerned about range limitations, the study suggests that the earliest consumers will be willing to change their driving behavior and parking location, given their strong desire to purchase EVs.
Thus, a dense public charging network will not be a strong priority for early adopters.

 2012 Nissan Leaf, Electric Avenue, 2010 Detroit Auto Show
Enlarge Photo

 Nissan LEAF Charging Port
Enlarge Photo

 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car at quick charging station
Enlarge Photo

 PlaNYC: Exploring Electric Vehicle Adoption in New York City, January 2010, report cover
Enlarge Photo

Needed: easier installation
Instead, it makes more sense to help those early adopters by streamlining the process for installing charging equipment in their homes, apartment buildings, or local garages:
Given the likely strong demand among early adopters and the limited short-term supply of vehicles, initial actions would be most effective if they focused on helping early adopters enter the EV market.
Survey respondents ... voiced a desire to have a convenient and easy-to-understand process to install necessary charging equipment, at home or in a commercial garage.
"Range anxiety"
This counterintuitive conclusion flies in the face of the received wisdom, which says drivers will avoid using electric cars unless they can be sure there are public quick-charge stations available wherever they may need them, because "range anxiety" makes them nervous that they'll run out of juice and be left stranded.
But at least some EV advocates and urban planners who are now sketching out local and regional networks of EV infrastructure think the report is right on target. People quickly learn their electric car's range, they say, and pick the appropriate vehicle for the day's travel.
In multi-car households, many drivers will take a compact car to deliver a kid to school or commute to work. But if there's sports practice after school that requires hauling six teenagers, they'll take the family minivan instead.
For "compact car," substitute "electric vehicle," and you see how it works.
100 miles enough
Sure, things come up unexpectedly. But in cities and suburbs, it's very rare that short local hops suddenly change to trips of more than 100 miles--the stated range of the upcoming all-electric 2012 Nissan Leaf, to pick one example.
And the "range anxiety" concern is only relevant for battery-electric vehicles; both extended-range EVs like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt and plug-in hybrids like the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In offer hundreds of miles of range, using their gasoline engines for longer distances.
Demand exceeds supply 'til 2015
Among the report's other conclusions:

• A large group of early adopters will change their behavior to accommodate the limits of early electric vehicles;
• The number of those early adopters is greater than the likely supply of EVs until at least 2015;
• It won't be necessary to provide tax incentives or other subsidies to these early adopters, but they would like to be recognized;
• Charging electric vehicles poses no threat to the stability of the electric grid as long as it's mostly done off-peak (at night); and
• Collaboration among the City of New York, electric utilities, and automakers will be required to make it all happen.

The full 24-page report, prepared under the auspices of the Mayor's Office of Long-Term Planning & Sustainabilityi, can be downloaded from the PlaNYC 2030 section of New York City's website.
[NYC.gov]

Tesla Roadster runs 313 miles on a charge in Global Green Challenge

by Sam Abuelsamid

Simon Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas with the record setting Roadster - click above for high-res image gallery

It's no secret that how you drive has as much – or more – influence on a vehicle's efficiency than any technology. Case in point is this week's Global Green Challenge in Australia. Simon Hackett shipped his 2008 Tesla Roadster down under for the event and proceeded to set a new world record for a production battery-powered vehicle. Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas managed to squeeze 313 miles out of the lithium ion battery pack of the Roadster.

As the drivers crossed the finish, approximately three miles was left on the charge at the end of the run south from Alice Springs. That easily topped the 241-mile run by another Roadster earlier this year in the Rallye Monte Carlo d'Energies Alternatives and the 244 miles the car achieves on the EPA test cycle.

Of course achieving those kinds of range numbers means completely forgoing the performance capabilities of the Roadster, just as it would in any other sports car. The 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and 244 mile range is an either/or choice, you sadly can't have both. Tesla's press release is after the jump.

Gallery: Global Green Challenge Tesla Roadster goes 313 miles

[Source: Tesla]

PRESS RELEASE:

Tesla Roadster travels 313 miles on a single charge in what appears to be new world record

Competing in Australia's Global Green Challenge, Customer Simon Hackett's red Roadster goes from Alice Springs to Coober Pedy with 3 miles left on the charge.

Coober Pedy, South Australia -- (Oct. 27, 2009) – Tesla Roadster owner Simon Hackett and co-driver Emilis Prelgauskas completed 313 miles (501 km) in a Tesla Roadster on a single charge – a distance that appears to set a new record for a production electric vehicle.

Hackett and Prelgauskas are driving Hackett's red 2008 Roadster as part of the 10th annual Global Green Challenge, one of the most high-profile rallies worldwide for alternative fuel cars. Hackett is providing updates in real time on his blog.

The pair drove from Alice Springs, in the Australian Northern Territory, to the finish marker at a point 183 km north of Coober Pedy, in South Australia. They had an estimated 3 miles left on the charge at the finish marker.

The previous distance record for an electric vehicle was set in April, when another Roadster was the only vehicle to complete the entire, 241-mile Rallye Monte Carlo d'Energies Alternatives. It had an estimated 38 miles left on the charge.

The Tesla Roadster is the first production automobile to use lithium-ion battery cells and the first production EV with a range greater than 200 miles (320 km) per charge. Tesla has delivered about 900 Roadsters to customers so far.

Hackett sent Tesla the following note before going to bed last night:

"Emilis and I have decades of experience flying gliders competitively and we applied the same energy conservation techniques to our driving, with significant results! The car had about 3 miles of range left when the drive was completed. We travelled 501km on a single charge. Let that sink in for a minute.

"The security seal was applied to the charge port door when we started the journey. As this is being done as part of the Global Green Challenge, we have a full set of official verifiers here who will attest to the results and to achieving the outcome. We were followed along the journey by our support crew and a documentary film crew - so we have it on film.

"It's late here and we have another 541k to drive (with an intermediate charge stop) tomorrow - and another two days of the event left after that. When we're done, we will have driven over 3000 km's in the Roadster over the course of only six days, from Darwin to Adelaide.

About Tesla

Tesla Motors' goal is to produce increasingly affordable cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs. San Carlos, Calif.-based Tesla sells cars online and has delivered about 900 Roadsters to customers. Tesla operates galleries in California's Silicon Valley and Los Angeles; New York; Seattle; Boulder, Colorado; London and Munich.

Tesla achieved overall corporate profitability in July, thanks to strong demand for the Roadster. The all-electric sports car is faster than Porsche 911 or Audi R8 yet is six times as efficient as conventional sports cars. Tesla services cars in its galleries and through "house calls" so owners can enjoy hassle-free service without leaving their home or office.

Peugeot draws inspiration from the 1940s for its latest quirky electric car design

By Philip Case

It may not give you 'The Drive of Your Life', as its makers Peugeot may try to claim, but the latest micro electric car is creating huge excitement in the automotive industry.

The Peugeot BB1, a cross between a scooter and a car, is powered by two electric motors which are mounted in the rear wheels.

A silver prototype BB1had residents and tourists stopping to take a closer peak when a prototype version rolled into Paris today.

Inspired by Peugeot’s electric VLV from the 1940s, the new all-electric BB1 represents the car firm’s view for the future of electrical-based urban mobility.

The Peugeot BB1, a cross between a scooter and a car, is powered by two electric motors which are mounted in the rear wheels

Back to the future: Peugeot has based the design of the BB1 on its VLV from the 1940s

At just 2.5m long, the bubble-shaped BB1 can amazingly seat four people in saddle-like seats and its packaging miracle is achieved by rethinking the driving task.

There are no pedals so the driver sits more upright with the rear passenger's legs around the driver's torso, motorbike pillion-style.

There is no room for a steering wheel either and the driver uses handlebars to control the mini vehicle, which is undoubtedly a real head-turner.

Peugeot sought inspiration from quad bikes when planning the BB1's electric propulsion system, co-developed with tyre manufacturer Michelin.

And the rear-wheel driven car is powered by two electric engines which give it plenty of poke.

It can reach 0 to 19 mph in 2.8 seconds and 19 to 37 mph in an impressive four seconds, with a top speed of around 65mph.

The power for the vehicle is provided by two lithium-ion battery packs supplying energy to the respective electric motors located under the right and left-hand rear seats, with a comfortable range of 75 miles.

Future's bright: The Peugeot BB1 could revolutionise the electric car industry if if it makes it to production

Peugeot says the BB1 is a logical addition to a vehicle line-up that incorporates bicycles and scooters, as well as cars.

Access to the vehicle is gained via the reverse opening doors, while the load area access is through an innovative tailgate design.

The body is made up of a very light carbon fibre structure, designed to wrap around the passenger compartment.

Inside, the car has an extensive range of interactive technologies, including a colour multi-function display and audio system with telephone, navigation, Internet access, radio, MP3, USB connector and 12V power socket if necessary.

Peugeot’s keeping mum about whether it will actually put the BB1 into production.

Electric dreams: A cameraman films the Peugeot BB1 prototype, styled on a 1940s design, while it is parked outside a Parisian cafe

C'est chic: French business people flock around the new Peugeot BB1

Explore more:

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/motoring/article-1219666/Peugeot-draws-inspiration-1940s-latest-quirky-electric-car-design.html#ixzz0TqAKWYNH

Nissan Unveils Electric Car, to Be Available Next Year...The Leaf

Itsuo Inouye/Associated Press

Nissan plans to start selling a new battery-powered all-electric car, the Leaf, next year in Japan, Europe and the United States.

By REUTERS

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) — Nissan, Japan’s third-largest automaker, took the wraps off its much-awaited electric car on Sunday, naming the hatchback the Leaf.

Nissan and its French partner, Renault, have been aggressive proponents of pure electric vehicles with no emissions, announcing plans to mass-market the clean but expensive cars globally in 2012.

Nissan will begin selling the first Leaf cars in the United States, Japan and Europe toward the end of 2010, adding two more models soon after. It expects production to start with about 200,000 units a year.

Coordinating the car’s introduction with the inauguration of Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, the chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, drove up to the stage in a sky-blue Leaf prototype. Nissan is returning to the port city of Yokohama, where it was founded in 1933, after being based in Tokyo’s high-end Ginza shopping district for 41 years.

Hurt by sliding vehicle sales worldwide since the financial crisis hit last year, Nissan has suspended its goals set under a midterm business plan, with the exception of its aggressive push into electric cars.

With oil prices topping $60 even in a recession and environmental regulations tightening all the time, Mr. Ghosn said he was optimistic about electric vehicles entering the mainstream, expecting them to represent one in 10 new cars globally by 2020.

Other automakers like Toyota and Volkswagen have announced plans to start producing electric cars, but they say it could take decades for the vehicles to spread because of their high cost, limited driving range and long charging times with the current battery technology.

Nissan did not announce pricing for the five-seater Leaf, but Mr. Ghosn said the price, without the expensive lithium-ion battery that Nissan is considering leasing, would be within the range of a comparable gasoline-engine car.

The Leaf has a top speed of more than 76 miles an hour and a cruising range of at least 100 miles — a distance that covers the needs of 80 percent of drivers, Nissan said.

The carmaker has lagged its domestic rivals Toyota and Honda in offering hybrid cars, which have taken the Japanese market by storm this year with the help of government stimulus steps.

For years, Mr. Ghosn has played down the importance of hybrid cars — both for consumers hoping to save money at the pump and for manufacturers looking to make profit. But in what could signal a shift in strategy, Mr. Ghosn said Nissan would reserve the option of offering hybrid vehicles if the market demanded it.

More Articles in Automobiles » A version of this article appeared in print on August 3, 2009, on page B2 of the New York edition.

Los Angeles Sheriffs Getting Electric Mini Coopers

Written by Jerry James Stone

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LA County Sheriffs stuck driving Crown Vics are about to be left feeling tragically un-hip. Their Board of Sups just approved a deal with BMW to lease 17 fully electric MINI Coopers.

Approved on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will lease the MINI Es for only $10 a month. With a market lease rate of $850, automaker BMW offered up the bargain price in exchange for deputy’s feedback.

Um, BMW, I too will give you feedback for $10 MINI E lease.

I’m sure the MINI’s will sport the standard police flare, but my vote is for the pimped out–and unrelated–version above by Agent Provocateur. Not that the 60’s style isn’t cool too.

BMW wants feedback for how the MINI Es drive and handle on Los Angeles County road conditions, Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said. You know, like can they chase Ford Broncos and stuff like that.

On top of the discount price–which constitutes a gift to the county–MINI USA will also be installing charging stations and handling all vehicle maintenance and repairs. The MINI Es will be accompanying the police force’s full size Crown Vics, Caprice Classics, and more recently Dodge Chargers.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the gift as it supports the county’s strategic goal of promoting environmental responsibility. The cars will be used for administrative, recruitment, volunteers, and other specialized units.

“It’s clean-energy, it’s cost-effective and it could prove to be a boon for the county,” Whitmore said.

The MINI E model is currently only available to drivers in the U.S. as part of a field trial. And only 23 of the 450 Mini E prototypes have been delivered thus far.

While here in the States a MINI cop car might sound a bit ridiculous, it’s not that odd of an idea. The Cooper has a long history of being a police vehicle. Even Oregon’s Tualatin Police Department has one!

Here are some MINI cop cars, both real and fake:

Source: AllCarsElectric

Photos: AROnline, MalaysiaMiniLover, Classic Vehicles on Flickr, CincinnatiMINI, PoliceMINICooper, ForBunk on Flickr