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Apr 21

Nissan recovering from quake, ramps up Leaf deliveries

Posted in: availability, car, Cars, electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, Japan, roadmap, schedule, Today's Chili

We have some good news from the Land of the Rising Sun — a fresh batch of Leafs are on their way to American shores. At the New York Auto show, Nissan announced that the first shipments of post earthquake-produced EVs should be in the hands of American consumers by April 27th. The company still expects to fulfill current orders by the end of summer and on May 1st will begin accepting new reservations for vehicles in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Buyers in the southeastern US will be able to join the plug-in parade this fall, to be followed by a nationwide launch in 2012. Now that the auto manufacturing plants are getting back to business as usual following the tsunami that ravaged Japan, we can only hope the rest of the country isn’t too far behind. PR after the break.

Continue reading Nissan recovering from quake, ramps up Leaf deliveries

Nissan recovering from quake, ramps up Leaf deliveries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 20

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC all-electric race car eyes-on

Posted in: electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, new-york, Today's Chili

When Nissan announced the Leaf RC we, naturally, were expecting a little radio controlled version of the battery-electric sedan that’s making its way to driveways now — slowly. We certainly didn’t expect a race version of the thing, but that’s what Nissan created, and now here it is at the New York International Auto Show, sitting on a turntable and spinning away. In fact you could envision that spinning stretching it out. It’s rather… longer than the stock Leaf. In fact, it really looks nothing at all like the stock car, but if it did it’d be all the more strange on the track than this long, low, spread-out, carbon fiber wedge. They are at least both pure electrics and both painted blue, though under the cerulean lights here just about everything is looking decidedly cool. Okay, so 107HP, a top speed of 93MPH, and a maximum duration of just 20 minutes on the track will hardly see this winning any WTCC races, but with a weight of just 2,068 pounds (some 700 less than a Tesla Roadster) we’d certainly take one for a spin — even if it were a short one.

Gallery: Nissan Leaf Nismo RC

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC all-electric race car eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 20

Fisker Karma production slowly ramping up, first deliveries expected in June or July

Posted in: electric, electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, Today's Chili

The company is insisting it can’t “really be interpreted as a delay” given that it’s gone from prototype to production in just 37 months, but Fisker is now saying that the first all-electric Karma luxury vehicles will delivered to their owners sometime in June or July — which you’ll notice is neither late 2010 nor the first quarter of 2011, as had been promised. Fisker’s Roger Ormisher also points out that the company did begin “limited series production” at the end of March as planned, and he says the company is “ramping up slowly to ensure absolute quality.” Is it worth the nearly $100k price tag? It certainly seems to be if you’ve got the cash to spare.

Fisker Karma production slowly ramping up, first deliveries expected in June or July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 19

Philippines launches electric tricycles, reignites your infatuation with Big Wheels

Posted in: electric, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, Today's Chili

The lowly tricycle: occupying some hazy middle ground between car and bicycle, all too often it’s dismissed as a novelty, a lark suitable only for children and dedicated iconoclasts – see, for example, T3 Motion’s R3. But some places recognize the tricycle’s usefulness, and one of those places is the Philippines, where the three-wheeled wonders are a keystone of public transit. Now the country is taking another step forward by upgrading its gasoline-powered trikes to electric. Obviously not designed to compete with, say, electric motorcycles on speed or style, they do have a certain yellow-school-bus charm. More important than aesthetic concerns, the new electric models will have one-quarter the carbon footprint of their gas-burning predecessors; in a nation where tricycles burn nearly five billion dollars worth of fuel each year, emitting ten million tons of carbon dioxide, that’s a huge impact. The government also hopes to save tens of millions of dollars by upgrading; it’s already committed to 20,000 trikes for the capital, with more to follow nationwide. If electric tricycles succeed in the Philippines, maybe we’ll all be one step closer to eliminating the stigma of the third wheel – at least when it comes to transportation.

Philippines launches electric tricycles, reignites your infatuation with Big Wheels originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source PhysOrg | Email this | Comments

Apr 18

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC swaps basic comforts for a carbon fiber body and some racing good looks

Posted in: car, concept, electric, electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, new-york, prototype, Today's Chili

Electric vehicles may have that instant torque thing going for them, but they’re still a bit behind when it comes to giving heart palpitations to those diehard petrolheads. Hoping to change that perception, Nissan is setting up to unveil a brand new concept vehicle, dubbed the Leaf Nismo RC (that stands for Racing Competition, not “radio-controlled”), which strips the one-size-fits-all Leaf down to its constituent elements. The drivetrain is still 100 percent electric, however it’s now powering the rear wheels instead of the front, while things like the rear seats, trunk, audio system, carpeting, and navigation have been completely removed. A carbon fiber chassis helps the Nismo RC keep weight down to 2,068 pounds (938kg), equivalent to just 60 percent of the original Leaf’s heft. Yes, the Leaf is now lighter! In performance terms, you’re looking at a car that can hit 62mph within 6.85 seconds, max out the speedometer at 93mph, and last a terrifying 20 minutes under racing conditions. This prototype vehicle will debut at the upcoming New York Auto Show and will thereafter help Nissan research better aerodynamics and, presumably, slightly better energy efficiency.

Continue reading Nissan Leaf Nismo RC swaps basic comforts for a carbon fiber body and some racing good looks

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC swaps basic comforts for a carbon fiber body and some racing good looks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 07:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 17

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: crazy concept cars, the Milan Furniture Fair, and new solar technology

Posted in: electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, hybrid, solar, Today's Chili

Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week’s most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us — it’s the Week in Green.

The world of renewable energy received a jolt of innovation this week as Inhabitat reported on a groundbreaking new solar technology that could render photovoltaics obsolete — see Engadget’s take right here — and a plan to use common oven rust to generate immense amounts of cheap energy. We also saw green power projects pick up steam around the world as Pakistan announced it will build its first on-grid solar system, Chevron kicked off plans to invest in wind power for Kazakhstan, and Eriksson Architects unveiled an energy-efficient geodesic gemstone city for China.

Green transportation tech blasted off as we took a look at the insane 23-passenger electric superbus that can hit 155MPH and the Phoenix roadster – the world’s first biodegradable car. Volkswagen also turned heads as it unveiled an all-electric concept version of the classic VW Bus, and we saw sustainable transportation set sail as Zyvex unveiled the nanotech Piranha boat, which is 75% lighter, 40% stronger, and 400% more fuel-efficient than aluminum vessels. Finally, we showcased several hot new green vehicles as the Shanghai auto show began to rev up — Luxgen’s all-electric Neora concept car and Peugeot’s Hybrid SXC.

In other news, this week we brought you the best and brightest green products from the 2011 Milan Furniture Fair – from an energy-absorbing lamp that never needs to be plugged in to the world’s first color-changing OLED panels to a stunning pendant light made entirely from recycled drink cartons. We also showcased several designs for greener electronics – a revolutionary paper alloy that could enclose the gadgets of tomorrow and a gorgeous bamboo MacBook case – and we shared 7 ways to get your kid excited about photography.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: crazy concept cars, the Milan Furniture Fair, and new solar technology originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 15

T3 Motion’s three-wheeled R3 is real, has in-dash Galaxy Tab (video)

Posted in: car, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, galaxy, GalaxyTab, ipad, samsung, tablet, Today's Chili, Transportation, video

Since 2009, T3 Motion has been waving computer-created images of three-wheeled electric vehicles in our face and taunting us with the idea of a dashboard built around an iPad. Now, it seems the company is finally ready to deliver a real product, and you can pre-order yours now for a $500 deposit. Besides existing in the really real world, the big difference between the R3 and previous concepts is that the in-dash iPad has been replaced with a Galaxy Tab. When it finally hits the market, T3 Motion claims this three-wheeled EV will have a range of between 80 and 100 miles, a top speed of 70MPH, and that it will be classified as a motorcycle. Unfortunately, it will also have a rather hefty price tag of at least $25,000 — an awful lot to pay for the luxury of riding in the carpool lane, even if your ride looks like a cross between a Nissan GT-R, a Mini, and Batman’s tank-like Tumbler. PR and video after the break.

Continue reading T3 Motion’s three-wheeled R3 is real, has in-dash Galaxy Tab (video)

T3 Motion’s three-wheeled R3 is real, has in-dash Galaxy Tab (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 15

Kenneth Cobonpue’s biodegradable car: time to ditch the Gremlin rusting in your yard

Posted in: Cars, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, nano, tesla, Today's Chili

Is there any sadder sight than a 1958 Plymouth Fury rotting in the woods, Christine-style, its dead headlights staring into the gloaming? We don’t think so. That’s why we’re downright giddy over Kenneth Cobonpue’s Phoenix roadster, a biodegradable concept car made from bamboo, rattan, steel and nylon. Style wise, it’s propped somewhere between Tata’s Nano and Tesla’s Roadster, and there’s no word yet on what might go under the hood — presumably a smallish electric engine… or a stardust-powered unicorn, perhaps. That funky-looking body should last the average length of ownership; after five years (or even longer, depending on the composition), it can be replaced or naturally returned to the Ma Earth. One potential downside of biodegradable vehicles? No more “dead car” Flickr albums. Also, no warranties.

Kenneth Cobonpue’s biodegradable car: time to ditch the Gremlin rusting in your yard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 14

Hertz launches hourly EV rentals in London, self-satisfaction comes free

Posted in: car, electric, electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, green, london, Today's Chili, Transportation

Contract-free cellphones, declining marriage rates and car-sharing services all tell us you’re a bunch of commitmentphobes. Lucky for you the world is willing to oblige your wishy-washy ways, and for those who also happen to have a bit of a green streak, Connect by Hertz offers hourly rentals on electric cars. After launching its EV rental program here in New York last year, Hertz promised to expand to several other cities and countries by the end of 2011, with London being the next to go online this Friday. British urbanites averse to car ownership will be able to pick from a fleet of vehicles including the iMieV, Nissan LEAF and Renault Kangoo, range anxiety diminished thanks to the city’s 16 charging stations. It’s not exactly the Jetsons, but if this is the future of transportation, we’re ok with that — we’re thinking Mother Earth is too.

Hertz launches hourly EV rentals in London, self-satisfaction comes free originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 14

Trexa’s EV platform comes out of its shell, reveals its true torque-tube nature

Posted in: car, Cars, electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, green, Today's Chili

We liked what we saw when we first set eyes upon Trexa’s EV platform, but the company decided to ditch the skateboard façade for a slimmer, cylindrical form factor. After stripping away that somewhat chunky exterior, Trexa used a torque tube (where the center tube is the main load-bearing structure for the suspension and drivetrain) to create an egalitarian EV platform suitable for any road going application. The Entertube chassis’s both flexible (2WD or 4WD) and scalable — from a nine-inch diameter tube with seven kWh of juice in an eight-foot wheelbase to an 18-inch diameter tunnel with a massive 90kWh power pack crammed in a 180-inch wheelbase. That means there’s an EV for for every occasion, from small cars to semi-trucks and anything in between. What you see is a production prototype, but it’s being commercialized as we speak, so it won’t be too long until Enertube-powered EVs are ready for the open road. Until then, you’ll have to settle for the plethora of pics below and press release after the break.

Gallery: Trexa Enertube EV Chassis