Toyota reveals iQ-based FT-EV Concept

Toyota has announced that it will display its new FT-EV concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, while also confirming that it will launch an urban commuter ‘battery-electric vehicle’ (BEV) by 2012. The carmaker also revealed that it will start consumer trials of a fleet of 150 plug-in hybrids towards the end of this year and launch as many as ten new petrol-electric hybrid vehicles next year.

This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota's intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development.

The all-electric FT-EV concept shares its platform with the iQ urban commuter vehicle, and can drive up to 50 miles on a single charge.

Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota's sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, also set for this month’s Detroit event, is considered Toyota's long-term core powertrain technology. Additionally, Toyota plans to showcase a brand new Lexus dedicated hybrid called the HS250h.

Towards the end of the year, Toyota will start global delivery of 500 Prius plug-in hybrids powered by lithium-ion batteries. Of these initial vehicles, 150 will be placed with U.S. lease-fleet customers. The cars will be used for market and engineering analysis. Lease–fleet customers will monitor the performance and durability of the first-generation lithium-ion battery, while offering real world feedback on how future customers might respond to the plug-in process.

Fisker to debut Karma S 'Sunset' Concept at Detroit

Fisker's Karma plug-in hybrid sedan may be one of the most attractive designs to take electricity to four wheels, and it's soon to get a stablemate. The company released information today that they will be debuting a new concept that bears the name Karma S at the Detroit Auto Show, with the S standing for Sunset.

Nothing else about the car is yet known, however. The photo reveals very little, showing only a front fender and door line that appears to resemble the Karma very closely. A lack of B-pillar and a generally bright look to the interior hints that this might be a convertible, which works well with the Sunset theme.

A flashy new door insert that looks as if it could also double as some sort of engine bay vent extends a swooping flare down the side of the car as well. The split-spoke alloy wheels are also of a different type than those of the Karma, though they do share a sort of familial look.

Via: Autoblog Green

700hp Lightning GT EV on track for 2010 launch

Following its debut at the London Motor Show earlier this year, Britain's answer to the Tesla Roadster, the Lightning GT electric sports car, is expected to move to the next stage of development in 2009. The team behind the Lightning GT has announced that they will be producing two prototypes by the second quarter of 2009, with a view to start the first customer deliveries in early 2010.

Information at this point is scarce, and currently the car's exact specifications have not yet been finalized. Meanwhile, the company behind the project is still seeking capital from investors and an exact location for production is also still uncertain, which all means that the promised delivery date may need to be pushed back.

Some of the details we know about include a 700hp (522kW) electric powertrain featuring nano-titanate battery technology, which is enough to propel the car from 0-60mph in a flat four seconds and take it a top speed of about 130mph.

The electric drive system, dubbed Hi-Pa Drive, packs four permanent magnet brushless motors with one in each wheel. The system also allows for full traction control and regenerative braking on all four wheels independently. Due to power being developed separately in each wheel, there are no gearboxes, differentials, axles, drive shafts or propshafts in the Lightning sports car.

One of the key benefits of electric vehicles is that they have maximum available power at the wheels at any speed, unlike a petrol engine where maximum power is only obtained high up in the rev range. Officials claim charging the batteries for just ten minutes will provide up to 250 miles of driving, and at current prices driving one mile will cost just 2.5 cents.

To save weight, the car’s body is made from carbon fibre and Kevlar, and even with the full array of batteries on board the GT has a near ideal weight distribution of 48/52 front to rear. The car is also available with luxury items such as air-conditioning, satnav, and full leather trim.

Aptera updates design for Typ-1 plug-in hybrid

In March, Aptera announced it had done all the development necessary to head to production, and that all it needed was to move into acquiring the right equipment and workforce to do so. Soon after the company revealed that a new infusion of $24 million in cash had been acquired, and now Aptera has revealed an updated design for the original Typ-1 called the 2e.

The latest design features a lower profile and a new front wheel brace. If everything goes according to plan, Aptera will begin production of the airplane-like Typ-1 electric vehicle (EV) early next year, with the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version to follow soon after. The car will only be available in California upon launch, with pricing to range from the mid-$20,000 to mid-$40,000.

The EV version is claimed to have a range of 120miles (192km) on a single charge, with a full charge expected to cost only about $3 in electricity. This equates to better than 160mpg (1.47L/100km) on a dollar-for-dollar basis at current fuel prices.

About a year after the Typ-1 EV goes into production, the Typ-1 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will become the second Aptera model. It is designed with a 40mile (64km) electric-only range, beyond which it relies on a range-extending engine as a generator for the batteries. It therefore can provide identical fuel economy to the EV model for trips up to 40mi, but as trips go beyond that mark, fuel efficiency diminishes until at about 350-400mi (560-640km) it has fallen to the equivalent of about 130mpg (1.8L/100km).

All of this will depend on the production and development process going perfectly to plan, however - something nearly unheard of in the electric and hybrid automotive business. Nonetheless, the prospect of an attractive, futuristic and highly efficient electric or plug-in vehicle for a reasonable price is something to keep an eye on.

Via: AutoblogGreen

New details on U.S. Smart ForTwo EV testing

In July last year Smart unveiled three new concept versions of its second-generation ForTwo minicar, all based around an ultra-efficient electric drivetrain. The trio included a regular petrol-electric hybrid, a diesel-electric hybrid and a zero-emissions electric vehicle.

This third concept, the all-electric ForTwo, featured a 40hp (30kW) motor powered by a sodium-nickel-chloride battery and could drive up to 71mi (115km) on a single charge. Testing of a similar vehicle, set to begin in the U.S. and Europe next year, will involve the installation hundreds of power stations at test locations, with Italian firm Enel building 400 for one test location, reports Auto Motor & Sport.

The power stations will be constructed in huge numbers in all of the major test sites - Berlin alone will get 500 of the stations by the end of 2009. The widespread availability of the electrical grid and the relatively small footprint of the 'pumps' where the cars interface with the electrical charging cord make such rapid and numerous expansions possible.

Since early 2008, Smart has been conducting official tests of the electric ForTwo in the UK, and the car will be headed to California and will commence U.S. testing next year. Initial U.S. testing will involve about 100 of the cars.

The U.S. version is expected to feature a second-generation electric drive system with lighter and more efficient lithium-ion batteries. Consuming just 12kw-hours per 100km, the average cost of running the car is around two and a half cents per mile and it takes just 5.7 seconds to accelerate from rest to a reasonable driving pace of 60km/h.

If the tests prove successful, Smart exec Anders Jensen says the zero-emissions vehicle could enter production very quickly.