Aug 31

Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video)

Posted in: electric car, ElectricCar, ev, germany, Today's Chili, video

Last week, Toyota’s racing team set out to break the current EV record on the Nordschleife track, part of Germany’s infamous Nürburgring — and they’ve done it, clocking a swift 7:47.79 seconds with the P001 electric racing car. The Peugeot EX1 EV’s previous 9:01.338 record seems like a distant memory as the new contender shaved more than a minute off the time, giving even gasoline-powered vehicles a run for their money. Toyota’s car is no slouch as it can reach 260km/h (174mph), with a track time that rivals the Radical SR8 LM’s record breaking time of 6:48. Beating its predicted goal of eight minutes, Toyota hopes the victory will bring new awareness to electric racing and perhaps to help sell custom race cars in the future — yes, you too might be able to cop a car with the same guts (albeit different body and chassis) as a Radical Sportscar some day. Check out the full PR after the jump.

Continue reading Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video)

Toyota smashes EV record on Nurburgring, speed rivals gas-powered cars (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 30

Nissan Leaf mod offers more accurate battery status, less streamlined interior

Posted in: electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, mod, Today's Chili
Car mods come in many forms — including, even, a piece of cardboard with some switches and an LED display. The car being modded in this case is the Nissan Leaf, and the mod in question (still in its temporary form here, thankfully) is a simple but important one. It’s a homebrew device that plugs into the Leaf’s OBD-II diagnostics port and displays the battery’s exact state of charge, as opposed to the somewhat less specific bars that are displayed on the main dashboard display. Absolutely necessary? Not exactly, but the mod seems to be catching on with a growing contingent of DIY-minded Leaf forum members. Hit the source link below for a few more examples and some additional details for building your own.

[Image credit: mwalsh / My Nissan Leaf Forum]

Nissan Leaf mod offers more accurate battery status, less streamlined interior originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 30

Ford’s Evos concept is the cloud-connected hybrid EV of our future (video)

Posted in: car, concept, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, Ford, hybrid, Today's Chili, video
Not ready for the future? Too bad, it’s here — well, at least in concept form. Debuting soon at Frankfurt’s international auto show is Ford’s Evos, a cloud-connected hybrid EV that serves as a preview of the kinds of smart and hyper-connected vehicles Dearborn eventually wants to build. Details on what powers it are scant, but we do know it’ll rock the gasoline-electric drivetrain from the upcoming C-Max Energi. And when you’ve exhausted the combined 500 mile range, you can top up that lithium-ion pack by plugging in or wirelessly through inductive charging.

With gratuitous access to data you’ve slung into the cloud, the Evos is deeply intertwined with your daily routine. It’ll change your alarm clock if your morning meeting is canceled, continue music playback from other devices where you’ve left off and even suggest alternative routes based on your schedule and past driving history. Oh and it’ll monitor your heart rate too. Don’t believe us? Proof of that and more reside in the video after the break, which’ll hopefully tide you over til September — when we get to see if it lives up to the hype in person.

Continue reading Ford’s Evos concept is the cloud-connected hybrid EV of our future (video)

Ford’s Evos concept is the cloud-connected hybrid EV of our future (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 28

Nichicon lays claim to the world’s smallest EV chargers with NGQ-202, NGQ-203 models

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

Although it’ll still be hard to misplace in your pile of electronics, a company called Nichicon has launched what it says is the world’s smallest chargers for electric vehicles, the NGQ-A202 and the NGQ-A302. By using what the company calls advanced module technology, it was able to shrink its EV charger down by 50 percent to around 59 x 13.8 x 23.6 inches, also reducing the weight by up to 66 percent. Compatible with the ChAdeMO standard, these 20-30kW chargers will work with electric vehicles like Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf, taking between 35 and 60 minutes to fully power your whip. Charging doesn’t come cheap, however, as the batteries are said to retail between $24,600 and $27,000 when they launch sometime in October. Next step — cutting the cord and going wireless, perhaps? Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Nichicon lays claim to the world’s smallest EV chargers with NGQ-202, NGQ-203 models

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Nichicon lays claim to the world’s smallest EV chargers with NGQ-202, NGQ-203 models originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 06:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 26

Nissan’s Leaf rollout speeds up in Chicago this fall

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

Oprah may have left town and packed up her “You get a car!” philanthropic ways, but that’s not stopping Nissan from injecting the windy city with a little auto excitement. Responding to an overwhelming customer demand for its all-electric Leaf vehicles, the Japanese car maker is accelerating the line’s rollout to Chicago residents, with the first models to be available this fall. The launch will be bolstered by a planned 280 EV charging stations, funded in part by a pledged $1 million from the state and an additional $1 million grant. If you’re living in the second city to our north and haven’t yet hitched your ride to the electric hatchback caravan, now might be the time.

Continue reading Nissan’s Leaf rollout speeds up in Chicago this fall

Nissan’s Leaf rollout speeds up in Chicago this fall originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 23

Toyota to take on Nurburgring without a sound, aims to beat EV record

Posted in: electric car, ElectricCar, ev, Today's Chili, Toyota

All bets are on as Toyota hits up the Nürburgring next week, hoping to shatter the existing EV speed record over all 12.9 miles of the Nordschleife, affectionately nicknamed “green hell.” To break the current nine minute, 1.388 second world best, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) is unleashing an electric race car with two motors and a top speed of 260kmph (174mph) without emissions. The Radical-based car is similar to the one used by the Racing Green Endurance team on its epic 16,000 mile road trip, only lighter thanks to lithium-ceramic batteries. The company hopes breaking the record will show racing fans just how far electric cars have come, with GM Ludwig Zeller saying, “Many people are still dreaming of an electric future for motorsport; at TMG we believe this is much closer than some think.” Full details are in the PR after the break, or you can just take a detour to the Black Forest next week and check it out yourself.

Continue reading Toyota to take on Nurburgring without a sound, aims to beat EV record

Toyota to take on Nurburgring without a sound, aims to beat EV record originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 19

Engadget’s back to school guide 2011: fun stuff!

Posted in: education, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, flash drive, FlashDrive, Gadgets, tesla, Today's Chili

Welcome to Engadget’s Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we’re here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Since the weekend is finally upon us, we figured now’s as good a time as any to sit back, relax, and have some fun. Play along with our fun stuff picks — and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they’re added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back — at the end of the month we’ll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides — and hit up the hub page right here!


It’s Friday, and that can only mean one thing: two days of parties, sleeping in, and seeing your campus transform from a vehicle of intense education to a spring break-like haven of drunken delight. We’ve rounded up a few toys to help you relax before you head back to class — a memory card reader that doubles as a pocket mirror, an Arduino-powered car that can stream video from the dorm hall, and an electric-powered sports car that can drive you and a friend far from campus for a pricey weekend getaway — so kick off the shoes and prepare to embrace these 48 hours of freedom. And when it’s time to get back to the books, we have the gear for that too — and we’re giving it away! Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details.

Continue reading Engadget’s back to school guide 2011: fun stuff!

Engadget’s back to school guide 2011: fun stuff! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 18

Cadillac Converj hits production as ELR, escapes concept purgatory

Posted in: electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, green, hybrid, Today's Chili
Cadillac Converj hits production as ELR, escapes concept purgatory

If you’re not already familiar with the story of the Cadillac Converj, take this quick primer: the Converj is the Chevy Volt’s luxurious, canceled cousin. The up-and-coming concept suffered an early death shortly after its debut at the 2009 Detroit auto show. Now it’s back, returning to development under the name Cadillac ELR. The new electric caddy is said to feature an updated version of the Voltec powertrain, complete with a Chevy Volt-like range-extending generator. Detroit promises that pricing and availability will be released “later,” but you can cruise past the break right now for some extra classy PR.

Continue reading Cadillac Converj hits production as ELR, escapes concept purgatory

Cadillac Converj hits production as ELR, escapes concept purgatory originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 17

Third generation Smart Fortwo ditches Tesla powertrain, gains two wheeled cousin

Posted in: bike, Cars, electric car, electric vehicle, ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, ev, Today's Chili
Time and tide wait for no man, folks. Nearly nine months after delivering the first electric Fortwos to snuggie-toting yanks, Daimler’s gone and announced its faster and longer-lasting successor. It’s not an entirely new car mind you, rather an extensive under the hood nip and tuck that replaces the Tesla powertrain with a more potent unit sourced from EM-motive. Up 34 horses from the previous model, the 74 horsepower EV now scoots from 0-60 in a “lively” 13 seconds — a vast improvement over the 23.4 second (!) time of its predecessor. It’s got a larger 17.6kWh battery pack too, which increases range a smidge to 87 miles. And this isn’t another EV trial: it’ll be produced in volume and sold (not leased) in 30 countries at an undisclosed price.

Joining the revised city dweller is the matching Smart Ebike. The electrically assisted bicycle gives meat bags a choice of four levels of laziness as it propels them 60 miles between charges. At €2,900 (or around $4,000) it’s no bargain, but you didn’t think transportational color coordination came cheap, did you? Expect more on both come September when they are officially unveiled at IAA Frankfurt, but our friends at Autoblog Green have plenty of pics for your perusal at the source below.

Continue reading Third generation Smart Fortwo ditches Tesla powertrain, gains two wheeled cousin

Third generation Smart Fortwo ditches Tesla powertrain, gains two wheeled cousin originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 14

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric airplanes, CO2-storing bricks and solar-powered bags

Posted in: electric, ev, green, solar, solar power, SolarPower, 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.

This week green architecture boldly went where no buildings have gone before as Inhabitat reported on Jordan’s plans for a $1.5 billion Star Trek theme park that will be powered by alternative energy. We also showcased plans for a spiraling self-sufficient skyscraper that generates its own water, food, and power, and we took a first look at a shimmering office complex in India crowned with a digital eye. Meanwhile, GE launched a shining solar-powered carousel in Manhattan and a team of researchers developed a new breed of CO2-storing bricks that are 2.5 times stronger than concrete.

In other news, high-flying green vehicles charted the horizon as Pipistrel introduced the world’s most powerful electric airplane and an incredible human-powered helicopter broke a world record. We also saw Ohio State unveil plans for the 400 MPH Buckeye Bullet 3 and we showcased designs for a stunning concept car with a segmented transforming skin. Autonomous vehicles were a hot topic as well — London’s Heathrow airport rolled out a set of electric personal transportation pods, and China’s Hongqui unveiled a driverless car to compete with Google’s vehicle (which crashed this week).

It was also a big week for wearable technology as researchers developed new breed of stick-on tattoos that can track body functions and we took a look at a sonic fabric bag made from recycled audio tapes. Finally, we got set for the start of the academic year by bringing you six of the best solar-powered bags, an innovative new breed of e-paper that doesn’t require electricity, and we launched a blowout back to school contest where you could win $1155 in green school supplies — including a photovoltaic backpack and a HP Pavilion laptop.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: electric airplanes, CO2-storing bricks and solar-powered bags originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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