Tag Archives: EV
Peugeot Has No Plans For Dedicated EV
Peugeot CEO Jean-Phillipe Imparato made a surprising claim recently when he said that the brand has no plans of creating a dedicated EV anytime soon. This statement was made at a time when every car manufacturer, from Kia to Ferrari, is working on EV concepts and dedicating a team to produce them faster.
Imparato is confident that Peugeot will reach its carbon dioxide emissions target for 2021. Car manufacturers in Europe are mandated to keep a check on emissions produced by their vehicles in an aim to lessen CO2 emissions by 2021. The Peugeot head said the brand does not need to launch an electric vehicle and take a hit to reach the target. To protect the operation of the French automaker, Imparato said there are plans to launch a mix of powertrains.
However, this does not mean that the company is anti-EV. While Imparato sees no need for a dedicated EV for now, he did say that he wants Peugeot to lead the way for electrification. By 2019, 8% of Peugeot’s model lineup will be electrified. By 2020, that number will be 50%. He believes that the transition to electrified vehicles should not be done in the future. It should be today.
Imparato is not closing Peugeot’s door on EV. He did say that he would want a dedicated EV for the brand in the coming 10 years. For now, though, what they can offer is a “modular platform” that will cover all markets—electric, hybrid, petrol, and diesel.
Peugeot’s clear plans should be trusted, considering that it reported a sales growth of 10.4% in the previous year. Its siblings, the Citroen and DS, reported negative growth. Imparato said the export of vehicles helped Peugeot grow exponentially. However, China and Germany and many other countries will ban Internal Combustion Engines by 2025. Let’s see how Peugeot will play through this.
Hyundai Kona Electric Showcases Powertrain Versatility
The Hyundai Kona Electric was introduced last week at the New York Auto Show, marking another level of versatility that the brand is bringing to its US utility lineup.
The Kona Electric is a pure EV subcompact crossover that go an estimated 250 miles on a single charge. It’s part of the series of announcements that Hyundai made to introduce an all-new lineup. Last February, the South Korean automaker said that the redesigned Santa Fe will have a diesel option in 2019, which marks Hyundai’s first diesel in the US market. The fuel-powered Nexo will also continue to be around to build on the brand’s “hydrogen legacy.”
The Kona Electric will be rolled out to targeted markets only. Hyundai said that the EV subcompact crossover will be produced in Ulsan, Korea, and will be initially available in California. Later on, other states with California’s zero-emission vehicle regulations will follow the launch. The availability will start in the fourth quarter of 2018.
What the Kona EV brings to the table is “peace of mind” and “flexibility,” according to Hyundai Motor America COO Brian Smith. Why? The 250-mile range is father than the capability of EVs before the Kona EV. Previous EVs can only muster up around 100 or 150 miles.
The closest competitor of the Kona EV is the Chevy Bolt, a hatchback that has the capacity of 238 miles in a single charge. Though Tesla Model 3 has a 220-mile range, it is a sedan and does not fall under the same category as the Kona.
A lot of cross-shopping will happen, Smith claims, as customers who want EVs suddenly have the option of buying a CUV because it’s out in the market now. The 250-mile range will also allow many people to go two to three days without charging, and that’s a big factor to consider.
The Kona EV gets 19.2 cubic feet of rear cargo space, which is the same as the gasoline version of the crossover. Pricing details have not been announced yet.
MW Motors Luka EV Ready To Be Launched
MW Motors announced that its Luka EV, an electric vehicle, is ready to be introduced to the world. The team just started testing its first prototype after we first heard about its conceptualization in 2015.
The goal of the Luka EV is to reach 186 miles and a weight of 1,650 pounds for an affordable price of less than €20,000. The goal has been met as the two-seater Luka EV uses four 12.5-kW in-wheel electric motors that produce a total of 66 horsepower. That could push the car to 62 miles per hour from a complete stop. This can be reached at just 9.6 seconds. Top speed is 90 mph.
Luka EV is a bit heavier compared to the target of 1,650 pounds, but it’s still okay at 1,800 pounds, thanks to an aluminum alloy chassis and fiber-reinforced plastic body. It can go 186 miles on a single charge because of the 21.9-kWh NiCoMn battery pack.
The Luka EV has a retro look on the outside, looking a bit like the Mini Cooper. But don’t be fooled by the retro-inspired styling on the exterior. The cabin packs a whole lot of tech and modern features. The seats are upholstered in leather, and there’s air conditioning, power windows, infotainment and navigation will also come standard to the model.
According to MW Motors, the Luka EV will be highway legal in the European Union, but there are no details yet whether it will be available in North America. There are a lot of EV startups in the market these days, but there are only a few lightweight, stylish, and affordable options. So, the Luka EV will be a welcome option in a market that is slowly growing and becoming increasingly relevant to society.
No other details are available, including the prices for the Luka EV, so stay tuned for that.
Photos
Check out the official photos of the Luka EV here:
A Four-Door Coupe Is In The Works For Next EV From Bentley
The plan of Bentley to produce a vehicle under Porsche Mission E’s J1 platform could be in the form of a four-door coupe. This was after Bentley decided to scratch immediate future plans for an all-electric SUV. The news came from Bentley’s Design Director, Stefan Sielaff.
The reason is because Sielaff wants the next EV to be sleek, elegant, and sporty at the same time. That could not be achieved with a vehicle that is raised high like an SUV. Sielaff himself said that the next EV using the Porsche platform should have a “certain coupe style or sportivity” that is not something the SUV could deliver.
As you well know, there have been suggestions for an all-electric Bentley based on the J1 architecture for many months now. In November last year, there were actually reports that Bentley wants to build a more luxurious variant of the Mission E. The potential name was Barnato. No actual plans came out of these rumors, though.
The news and plans of the next EV being a coupe first came out last September 2017 when Bentley confirmed it wants to build an electric sports car instead of a smaller SUV. This was done to compliment the Bentayga. Bentley also showed the EXP 12 Speed 6e concept back at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show. This might and might not be a preview of an electric sports car from the luxury brand.
The concept was a convertible, and Porsche already confirmed that using the J1 platform for the EXP 12 Speed 6e will support additional body styles, including a convertible.
This upcoming electric car will be a flagship mode. Sielaff said that they want to make sure the new vehicle will stand out on its own, and will not be a simple reiteration of the other models in the lineup. What he did reveal is that there will be more than two seats. That rules out the EXP 12 Speed 6e as the new EV because that one is a two-seater vehicle.
Ford And Mahindra To Come Out With New Crossover And EV
Something is finally coming out of the partnership between Ford and Mahindra that was inked way back in September 2017.
According to reports, the two brands are partnering to come up with a crossover and an electric vehicle. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that the planned crossover has anything to do with Ford’s plans in the same segment. Simply put, Ford wants to put its mark in the Indian auto market.
What we now understand about the agreement on the SUV is that Ford will be doing majority of the work using Mahindra’s equipment, which interestingly included the platform on which the SUV will be built on. This means that Mahindra, even as a partner to Ford, will stay out of the plans in producing the 2020 Bronco.
Aside from the SUV crossover, the two companies are also producing an electric vehicle to compete with the likes of Tesla. Although details are still unknown, this could be a huge stepping stone for Mahindra to finally sink its teeth on the US market, either under its own name or the sub-brand Pininfarina. Mahindra already has headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, so the first step has already been casted.
Mahinda previously reiterated its plan to make its presence known in the US market. An EV made in collaboration with a beloved American company, Ford, could be the linchpin that will make that happen.
Ford and Mahindra are working on a lot more than a crossover and EV. Those two are just part of the grand scheme of things, which include developing new initiatives and technologies that could open the door for future projects in the US and in India.
Jim Farley, Ford’s executive vice president and president of Global Markets, said that his company’s aim is to offer the best vehicles that will fit the lifestyles of the Indian market.
2019 Jaguar I-Pace Giving Tesla A Run For Its Money
Oh, there’s nothing much here except Jaguar revealed that its all-electric I-Pace is due to be released and distributed next year. That only means one thing: Tesla’s monopoly of the EV market is done and over. For years, whenever some rich dude wanted a cool, sexy, functional, and reliable electric vehicle, all he has to choose from are Tesla products. That’s about to change now.
If there’s anything we learned from Tesla regarding EVs it’s that an electric car must have a long driving range and the recharging of battery must be convenient. Now that luxury automakers like Jaguar dipped their well-engineered minds into the market, Tesla will have serious competitions in this market. The new 2019 Jaguar I-Pace is the first luxury EV to roll into distributorship.
Two e-Machines
According to reports, the I-Pace is going to be powered by two electric motors, or e-machines in Jaguar jargon. The first one is responsible for driving the front wheels and the second one will be driving the rear wheels through concentric drive transmissions. The I-Pace is a pure electric five-passenger luxury crossover SUV with a standard all-wheel drive.
Everything is developed in-house at Jaguar, including the permanent magnet motors, the battery concept and design, and the software that controls the powertrain and manages the battery. There’s no confirmation from the luxury automaker about the outputs for the I-Pace, but Patel confirmed that it will have an output of 400 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It will also have a range of 300 miles before a recharge is needed.
There are no details yet about the pricing, but Jaguar said that it will release the list on March 6, 2018, which isn’t really too far from where we are now. Once it goes on sale, the I-Pace will be offered in three trim levels: S, SE, and HSE. There’s, of course, a limited production First Edition version that will be priced higher than the actual production model.
Navya Unveils Its Self-Driving Car
France-based tech firm Navya just revealed its self-driving car. What makes the vehicle unique is that it ditches the driver’s seat, steering and pedals. It features full autonomy on the road.
Lately, we have been witnessing a gradual shift in the main targets of automakers. Many of them are now transitioning to the production of electric cars, thanks to the rapid advancement of technology and the cheaper means to acquire batteries with better capacity and longer electric range. The developments in computers and sensors have also paved the way for companies to enter into the race to produce self-driving cars. Navya has been taking advantage of the new landscape by not only producing their own EVs but they have even tapped into the self-driving car race.
It should be noted though that the company is not a new player in the industry. In 2015, the French firm has already showcased its autonomous vehicle called the Autonom Shuttle. So far, it has successfully demonstrated its self-driving features in real-life traffic conditions and it sold 50 of its units in different countries. Basically, the product provides mobility solutions to commuters.
From the lessons it learned along the way, they were able to make the Autonom Cab. As its name implies, it is a cab capable of autonomous driving.
Unlike the Autonom Shuttle that can only run at an average joggers pace, the Autonom Cab can reach speeds up to 55 mph. It will be worth 250,000 euros and it is targeted to enter the market by 2018 after its successful public testing.
The self-driving car aims to make its public testing at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2018. The planned areas for its initial on-the-road demo will be in France and U.S.
Unlike the traditional cars of today, the Navya self-driving car will not have a steering wheel of pedals. It is just a proof of how confident they are in their autonomous tech. However, for the meantime, the testings will be overseen by a Navya employee with a joystick that can take control of the vehicle when needed.
Do Electric Cars Really Serve as Cleaner Alternatives?
There is a popular belief that electric cars are environment-friendly because of their zero emission values. However, Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is not buying it.
Ferrari has shown us their hybrid car concept for the 599 back in 2010, their latest hybrid Ferrari LaFerrari, and their Formula One cars are now using a hybrid powertrain that is proving to be a major challenge for the reigning champion, Mercedes. Despite that, it seems electric cars do not sit well with Ferrari executives. The fans of the brand share the same sentiment too. After all, the brand has been known for its powerful cars ran by combustion engines.
Marchionne pointed out in an interview with CNBC that electric cars may not be as clean as they seem. He said that the full environmental impact of electric vehicles or EVs must be analyzed thoroughly. He recommended a full examination on the origin of the electric power, where it comes from, the manufacture of its batteries, cost in terms of carbon dioxide and its environmental impact.
The CEO pointed out that if they are using nuclear power in the production of such, then he has no issue about it as he thinks that is the right thing. He explained that if companies are still using fossil fuel to produce EVs, there is a bigger issue regarding the matter.
The report claimed that as of now, Ferrari has no public plans to develop EVs. Ferrari execs and fans defended their stance with the fact that electric cars would not fit in the brand’s image. However, the source stated that their position might change due to the strong push of governments worldwide for electrification in order to curb pollution.
It should be noted that Fiat Chrysler does have its own electric models as well, but Marchionne revealed that the company is losing as much as $20,000 for every electric model of the Fiat 500.
Dyson Electric Car Prepares to Challenge Tesla
A Dyson electric car is in the works. Last week, the company revealed its plan on rivaling major automakers in the electric vehicle (EV) market and poises itself as a challenger to the supremacy of Tesla in the segment.
Max Conze, the CEO of Dyson, revealed in an interview with Wired that they are gearing to enter into the car market. He said that they plan to launch their very first EV by 2020.
The move is a huge leap from the company that is known for producing home appliances, including the best vacuum cleaners in the market today. It could prove as a big challenge for them. However, Conze boldly stated that they are preparing to make their own auto all by themselves without the need for a partner.
Critics have expressed their concern over the decision of Dyson to tap the EV market, but the company claimed that they have the means to produce them. Then Conze added that making their own car platform will allow them to smoothly integrate their in-house technology with their vehicles.
Conze pointed out that through the utilization of their expertise with batteries, energy-efficient motors and air flow system to autos, they will significantly improve the existing electric range of EVs by 50 to 100 percent. It should be recalled that the Tesla Model S is capable of reaching 315 miles at full charge. The report noted that the company has hired 400 engineers for the project and has allotted £2 billion for the program.
Although Dyson already uses advanced artificial intelligence for their robot vacuums, they are not looking to make self-driving cars. Only basic semi-autonomous features like lane-keeping assistance will likely be installed in their future vehicles. Furthermore, Conze said they will not be focusing on building their own charging infrastructure as EVs with greater range don’t have to be recharged often.
4 Things To Know About The Honda Urban EV Concept Retro Design
The Honda City garnered a cult following because it was cute and functional. Can we fault Honda for wanting to maximize the potential of the City? At the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, Honda unveiled a new concept called the Honda Urban EV. It is basically a City, but fitted with a retro design that we all adore.
1. City with Retro Touches
Think of the City, but with more compact dimensions, round headlights, rectangular grille, and a hood decal reminiscent of City’s previous generations. To complete the look, there’s also an upright tail with square taillights. Overall, the car looks every bit the compact sedan Honda has been updating every year, but with funkier exteriors and interiors.
The suicide doors all the more emphasize the concept’s retro design. The driver and passengers will enter through it and sit on a pair of benches. At their front is perhaps one of the largest displays ever to be fitted on a car. They should be able to view conventional information that shows infotainment details and everything related to the car’s all-electric powertrain.
2. Power Manager to Take Care of the Drivetrain
There is no word yet on the powertrain, but Honda has been vocal about the Power Manager, which debuted alongside the Urban EV concept. The new technology will be able to transfer energy between a vehicle, a home, and the broader energy grid. If you are familiar with Tesla’s Power Wall, wherein owners can store renewable energy and upload it to the grid, the Power Manager sounds a lot like it.
3. Modern Touches Can Be Found Too
Sure, the retro design will make the Urban EV Concept stand out, but there are modern touches, too. There’s a blue backlighting in the Honda grille badge, a programmable display screen between the headlights, and a display screen between the taillights that shows the charge status. Aside from those, there’s also the huge multi-spoke wheels.
4. Concept to Go Into Production
The Honda Urban EV Concept will not remain a concept. It will go into production for European markets in 2019. There is no word yet if this will cross the shore to the United States, but let’s hope that it will since the retro design is too cute for words.
Photo Source: CarBuzz