Hasta La Gadget!

Fisker Automotive is certainly no stranger to hold ups, and it turns out they’ve had another: production of the firm’s Karma hybrid has been halted since its sole battery supplier, A123 Systems, filed for bankruptcy in October. Since A123 slowed its battery output after the filing, the automaker has been too short on batteries to continue churning out vehicles. Fisker anticipates resuming production after the ill-fated outfit is auctioned off, but it doesn’t expect to know the outcome of the sale until mid-December. If your Karma’s lithium-ion pack goes kaput in the meantime, there’s still hope. As of now, the company says it has enough batteries in stock for customers who need replacements.

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Source: Reuters, Bloomberg

We already know from our own experience that the Tesla Model S is a driver’s car, with acceleration and handling you wouldn’t expect from a big and quiet luxury sedan. There’s still nothing like a drag race to help settle the matter. Automobile has pitted the upscale EV against one of its more conspicuous rivals, BMW’s M5, with performance results that might surprise those who would expect a 500HP, twin-turbo V8 to regularly come out on top. While we won’t spoil the full results of the showdown video after the break, let’s just say that even the M5’s relatively wide torque band can only do so much when the Model S’ electric motor is always at its peak. BMW’s car may be better overall for those who want to travel long distances outside of certain routes, or to enjoy a burly exhaust note — but there has to be a certain thrill for Tesla drivers who know they can hang with the speed kings while helping the environment.

Continue reading Tesla Model S squares off against BMW M5 in drag race, gives EVs extra street cred (video)

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Tesla Model S squares off against BMW M5 in drag race, gives EVs extra street cred (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At Tesla’s event, CEO Elon Musk has finally taken the wraps off of its Superchargers which it has already set up at six locations in California, pictured in the map after the break. The company plans installations on “high traffic corridors across the US” over the next year, with units heading to Europe and Asia in the second half of 2013. According to Musk, the solar powered systems will put more power back into the grid than the cars use while driving. Oh, and for you Model S owners? You will always be able to charge at any of the stations for free. According to Musk, the economies of scale developed while building the Model S have helped it get costs down on the chargers, although he did not offer specifics.

During the event we also saw video of drivers charging their vehicles at stations today that Tesla apparently constructed in secret. They’re using solar technology from (also owned by Musk) SolarCity, and can charge a Model S with 100 kilowatts good for three hours of driving at 60mph in about 30 minutes. Currently pushing 90kW, they could go as high as 120 in the future for even faster charging. Check the press release embedded after the break or Tesla’s website for more details.

Update: The video replay of the event itself is live, and embedded after the break.

Continue reading Tesla reveals Supercharger network it says will cover the US in two years; Model S fills up for free, always

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Tesla reveals Supercharger network it says will cover the US in two years; Model S fills up for free, always originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 23:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota had said its all-electric RAV4 would be ready to tour the California streets at some point “late summer,” and with the warmest of seasons coming to an end, the Japanese company’s declared September 24th as the date the SUV will go on sale. What’s more, today’s press release reveals the RAV4 EV boasts a brilliant 103-mile range and 78 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent), which, as Autoblog points out, makes this the first non-Tesla-branded EV with an EPA rating of 100-plus miles. If all that is still not enough for you to shell out the $50,000 (not counting rebates and tax credits, of course), Toyota dealers are expected to offer a 36-month lease option for anyone in The Golden State who prefers a shorter-term commitment.

Continue reading Toyota RAV4 EV hits California roads on September 24th with 103-mile range

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Toyota RAV4 EV hits California roads on September 24th with 103-mile range originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Sep 2012 10:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fuji Electric Retail Systems Co. is no stranger to flipping coins for profit, thanks to a robust lineup of vending machines such as the A011. The Japanese company, however, has also branched out from dispensing hot and cold drinks for change by supplementing its offerings with a different kind of juice. Meet the FRCM00CK — the industry’s first coin-operated fast charger for electric vehicles, according to Fuji Electric. The charger measures 300mm wide, 400mm deep, 1,210mm tall and tips the scale at 41 kilograms. It also doesn’t take paper currency, limiting its appetite to coins in ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500 denominations. The machine’s product page doesn’t give specifics about how long it takes to charge vehicles but says it can provide a maximum charging time of 60 minutes. Incidentally, Fuji Electric’s US site states that its FRC series of EV chargers can completely power up a 25 kWh electric vehicle battery in about 60 minutes. The coin-operated charger will cost ¥600,000 or about $7,600 and is slated for a 2012 release. Some may argue that it doesn’t have quite the geek cool of the Roto-A-Matic or the WiFi vending machine. Still, the FRCM00CK is decidedly more electric.

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Fuji Electric releasing first coin-operated EV fast charger, gives electric cars extra life originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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