Nissan's all electric Leaf goes into mass production next year.
(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)Automakers tend to agree that the electrification of the car is inevitable, but Nissan is leading the way by readying a mass-market, affordable electric car for production. The Leaf is a midsize hatchback with a range of a little more than 100 miles, according to Nissan. Although Nissan didn't let us drive it, the company brought the Leaf to CNET's headquarters so we could get a close look at what might be the future of driving.
When Nissan first released pictures of the car, commenters found it ugly, with its bulbous headlights giving it a frog-like appearance. But in person, the length of the car mitigates that criticism. And looking over those headlights, we could see that they are longer, and more fin-shape than bulbous. The lights are LEDs, used because of their low power draw. The shape of the headlight casings has an aerodynamic purpose, splitting airflow around the side mirrors.
A hatch in front of the car conceals two plug-in points, one a standardized socket for electric vehicles and the other a proprietary Nissan design that can charge the batteries to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The Nissan plug, which would only work with very specific charging stations, uses DC power so that the onboard inverter doesn't have to convert external AC power for the DC batteries. The standardized plug will work with more sources, taking AC power from the grid and running it through the inverter, lengthening the time it takes to charge the batteries.
Nissan developed the lithium ion batteries for the Leaf in conjunction with NEC. The batteries are flat slabs that fit in the chassis of the car. Weighing about 500 pounds, the battery placement and distribution helps to lower the Leaf's center of gravity. Beyond charging from a plug, the Leaf also incorporates regenerative braking. Similar to the Tesla, as soon as you lift off the accelerator, regenerative braking kicks in, sending juice to the batteries and slowing the car.
The Nissan Leaf goes on sale in December of 2010 as a 2011 model. Nissan is counting on 20,000 preorders for the car, and will initially build them in Japan. By the third model year, the company expects to start producing them from its plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.
The Nissan Land Glider concept solves it's narrow track problem by leaning into the turns to gain traction.
(Credit: Nissan)
If you like what you've been hearing about Nissan's Leaf electric car, but think it looks too much like a futuristic Versa 1.6 for your tastes, then maybe Nissan's other zero-emissions concept will pique your interest.
The Nissan Land Glider concept is a tiny electric vehicle that features a computer controlled steering system that leans the car into the turns. The pilot driver is seated centrally in the cabin with space for a single passenger directly behind in the narrow cabin. At least, it looks like that's where the passenger would sit. Although the photos clearly show a driver's four-point harness, none of the pictures show a rear seat belt.
The steering wheel has been replaced with what looks like a flight yoke. The rear view mirrors have been replaced by cameras and monitors. The dashboard definitely looks like it belongs on a vehicle of the future.
Now THAT is a cockpit!
(Credit: Nissan)
Ultimate speed is not this vehicle's goal.
(Credit: Nissan)Details about the drive train are scarce, but we do know that it will be motivated by all-electric power. Expect the battery technology to be similar to that of the Leaf, albeit on a smaller scale. With its narrow profile and potentially lighter weight, we presume that the Land Glider will get by with less horsepower than the Leaf requires.
The Land Glider will be displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, alongside the Leaf production concept. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge. In the meantime, check out the embedded video of the Land Glider in action after the jump.
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CNET)
Swedish company Koenigsegg, with its CCX supercar, was in contention for fastest production car in the world before it was bested by the Bugatti Veyron. But at the Geneva auto show, the company showed off a different side by launching the Koenigsegg Quant concept, a four-seater electric car. However, the company didn't stray too far from its supercar legacy, as the Quant is expected to hit 62 miles per hour in just 5.2 seconds and hit a top speed of over 170 mph.
Koenigsegg teamed up with NLV Solar AG to build the Quant, using a technology called Flow Accumulator Energy Storage (FAES) in place of traditional batteries and a special paint with photovoltaic properties for extra energy generation. With these technologies, and a relatively light curb weight of just 3,924 pounds, the Quant is expected to achieve a range of 310 miles, and more when the sun is shining.
The Quant uses electric motors at each rear wheel.
(Credit: CNET)The Quant features an aerodynamic design and uses an electric motor at each rear wheel for propulsion. These motors do away with the need for a differential, lessening the weight and complexity of the drivetrain. In addition, all four wheels are equipped with regenerative brakes to enhance range.
For passenger comfort, the Quant has three-zone climate control and three video screens, with one in front and two in back. Although there are four seats, there are only two doors. The doors are extra long and open knife style, so there is no B-pillar. But even with the single doors, Koenigsegg has engineered separate side windows for the front and back.
The real mystery part of the Quant is the FAES system, which isn't detailed in Koenigsegg's press materials, other than referring to its use in the concept as "NLV mobile redox FAES." Koenigsegg claims it can be given a full charge in 15 minutes, and the claimed range would make it truly a breakthrough technology. The vehicle is currently far from production, as the concept shown at the Geneva auto show was mostly a plastic shell.
We covered details of Rinspeed's iChange concept previously, and now have photos to add. The iChange is a new concept for the 2009 Geneva auto show. Electric powered, it sports a different profile depending on whether it is carrying one or three people.
The 2010 Transit Connect for the North American market.
(Credit: Ford Motor Company)If an electric passenger car is good, an electric people mover is even better. Ford Motor Company on Monday announced plans to bring an all-electric version of the 2010 Transit Connect to the North American market in addition to its 2.0 liter gasoline-powered model.
Based on the global Transit Connect platform, the light commercial vehicle will be built in Turkey and imported to the U.S. It will be outfitted by Smith Electric Vehicles.
Details on the vehicles are few. Ford has not announced the type of battery or its supplier. But if Smith Electric Vehicles' Ampere is similar to what the North American market will receive, the Transit Connect is powered by two 24 kWh lithium ion batteries, giving it a top speed of 70 mph and a range of up to 100 miles. ... Read more
Click here to view photos of the Mini E reveal.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)At the 2008 LA Auto Show, Mini unveiled an all electric version of its Mini Cooper. Dubbed the Mini E, this vehicle sacrifices its rear seats to make room for a huge array of lithium ion batteries, giving the tiny EV a range of 156 miles.
Space is about all that the Mini E has sacrificed, as Mini claims that power and handling are on par with the gasoline and diesel variants of the Cooper.
Only 500 examples of the Mini E will be available in the US through a leasing program, focusing on the California, New Jersey, and New York markets.
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Mazda USA)
Chevrolet's Volt hasn't even been released yet and other automakers are already hard at work developing their Volt killers. Sources at Autocar say that Mazda engineers have developed a working Mazda5-based electric vehicle prototype. The prototype is said to use a rotary engine to charge a battery pack that powers an electric motor driving the wheels.
Essentially, the only thing that's keeping Mazda from putting the system into production is the high cost of batteries. Meanwhile, Mazda is said to be concentrating on more conventional green tech, such as engine start-stop technology.
The Smart Ed testing in London.
(Credit: Daimler)Across the pond in London, England, Smart is testing its new Smart Ed, an all-electric version of the tiny Smart ForTwo. While the name, Smart Ed, doesn't make much sense to us, the formula does. Take a small, fuel efficient vehicle, yank out the engine and gas tank, and pop in an electric motor and a heap of batteries.
The Ed is electronically limited to 60 mph and can travel up to 72 miles between 8 hour charges. Smart says that with a midday top-up charge at any three-pin electric socket the range can be extended to 100 miles for an equivalent of 300 mpg.
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Daimler)
Mitsubishi is partnering with California utility companies Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison to bring the oddly named i MiEV electric vehicle to the Golden State. Here's the catch: you won't even be given the option to purchase one. The vehicle, which is based on Mitsubishi's "i" gasoline-powered mini car on sale in Japan, is being imported in limited quantities for testing purposes only and will not be available for public purchase.
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Mitsubishi)
A 330-volt lithium ion battery system, located under the floor deck, powers a permanent magnet electric motor. The 47-kW electric motor offers improved performance and quicker acceleration over the 64-hp gasoline version, even though the two powertrains make about the same amount of power. This is most certainly due to the electric system's lighter weight. However, with only about 100 miles per charge, the gasoline engine still offers better range and utility.
The zero-emissions vehicles will be integrated into the utility companies' fleets to gauge the viability of utilizing all-electric vehicles in its operations and further understand the impact of charging electric vehicles on the electric grid. Similar testing has taken place with seven of Japan's major utility companies, resulting in Mitsubishi's decision to sell the i MiEV to the Japanese public in 2009.
Perhaps if PG&E's and SCE's testing yields good results, we'll see the i MiEV on Mitsubishi showroom floors sooner than we think.
Once again, Aptera, the producer of a three-wheeled electric vehicle, is making big claims.
The Aptera Typ-1, a vehicle that can get 300 miles per gallon, will be available in early 2008 for less than $30,000 in both an electric plugin, and gas electric plugin hybrid version, the company announced Monday.
The vehicle will be able to charge from any stand 110-volt outlet, according to company specs.
The Typ-1 will have a range of 120 miles on electricity alone, with a 600 mile range for the hybrid version when fully fueled. The vehicle seats two in the front, with one seat in the back big enough to fit an infant car seat, according to company specs. With that seat removed and used as a cargo area, it can fit up to 15 bags of groceries or two full-size golf club bags.
The previous prototype of the Aptera had been able to get 230 mpg, according to the company.
The car is street legal, according to Aptera. Like many of the electric vehicles you can buy right now, the vehicle is registered with the Department of Transportation as a motorcycle.
Instead of typical side mirrors, the car has displays fed by embedded cameras that show a 180-degree view of the rear and side area of the car. Its safety features include a front-end crumple zone to protect passengers and air bags.
While it all sounds well and good, we still have yet to see an actual video of the car in action that's not a computer generated promo.
"We have posted some renderings (from CAD data from which the car made (sic)) because it's easier to control the lighting and effects than with real photos," Aptera CEO Steve Fambro said in an e-mail.
"Video of the real Typ-1 is here: http://www.aptera.com/media.php," he said.
(Credit:
Aptera)
(Credit:
Aptera)
