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FCCC and Morgan Olson Introduce All-Electric Walk-In Van |
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Freightliner Customer Chassis Corp (FCCC) and Morgan Olson have launched a next-generation all-electric walk-in van (WIV) at the Hybrid Truck Users Forum. The delivery van is based on the FCCC all-electric walk-in chassis shown earlier this year as the MT-EV, but with a new, more aerodynamic body and lightweight design.
Morgon Olson’s new body style provides several new benefits to the electric walk-in van with both interior and exterior improvements and lighter-weight technologies.
Building on the MT-EV chassis with Enova Systems’ 120kW all-electric drive system and batteries from Tesla Motors, the body is made up of lightweight, durable composites that are 100% recyclable. The interior features a more car-style layout to better accommodate driver comfort and productivity.
The batteries provide up to 100 miles per charge and take about six to eight hours to recharge when fully depleted. The charging system is fully built-in, so no exterior charging stations are required, meaning the Morgan MT-EV can be plugged into any standard outlet.
The chassis is a 14,000 to 19,500 pound chassis suitable for walk-in delivery applications (packages, retail, etc). The walk-in body includes a curb-side exit, rear access doors, cab-to-cargo area access, and more.
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Most Connecticut EV's to be in fleets |
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 The majority alternative fuel vehicles in Connecticut and other emerging electric car markets will be part of fleets - and not owned individually - as automakers try to make plug-ins mainstream, according to a report by a clean energy firm.
Next year, Connecticut will be one of the first four markets to receive the Chevrolet Volt, a win for the state that has been prepping to become a forerunner in the electric vehicle industry. Gov. M. Jodi Rell and the state's electric utilities have been working to install infrastructure throughout the state to ready for plug-in vehicles.
Despite all this prep work, the majority of electric vehicle charging stations will be idle as most individually owned electric vehicles will be charged at home, according to a December report by energy consultant Pike Research entitled "Electric Vehicles: 10 predictions for 2011." Charging stations won't emerge as a business for some time, the report states, as the only ones that could be busy are those adjacent to where people leave their cars for extended periods of time, such as work.
Other findings of the report include that most plug-ins will operate as part of rental car, taxi or car share fleets, with few people actually owning a plug-in. The automakers will experience a pushback from the individual plug-in owners over how long it takes to charge the vehicle, since the Volt and the Nissan Leaf both need more than eight hours from a standard socket.
 Stop-start vehicles - modified gasoline cars with technology that cuts the engine when not needed - will arrive in the United States from Europe in small numbers next year, the report finds. Also fuel cell cars - vehicles powered by hydrogen - will start to be sold in to fleets in small numbers next year, as the market for those cars emerges over the next five years.
Proton Energy Systems in Wallingford this year started building a fleet of fuel cell vehicles, as the company is installing technology up and down the East Coast to build fueling stations for fuel cell vehicles.
The Pike Research report finds that concern over the range of electric vehicles will be more myth than fact, as most drivers can drive their daily amount with only a portion of electric car's battery. The report also says the media will overreact to someone having a bad experience with an electric vehicle.
Companies specializing in research and development of better batteries for electric cars will start merging in 2011, the report says. Also, companies specializing in battery charging equipment will give way to larger companies such as Fairfield giant General Electric that are making better and cheaper products.
The final item from Pike Research's "Electric Vehicles: 10 Predictions for 2011" is that the best-selling electric vehicles will be bicycles, scooters and motorcycles. Two-wheeled vehicles have the advantage of removable battery packs, and they do not require charging infrastructure. |
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GMP to Install Public EV-Charging-Stations |
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 COLCHESTER, VT--(Marketwire - December 29, 2010) - Green Mountain Power has announced plans to install three public charging stations for electric cars in 2011. The charging stations will use state of the art technology, powered by the sun and will be ready for public use by spring 2011.
"Electric vehicles are part of Vermont's energy future," says Mary Powell, President and CEO of Green Mountain Power. "Transportation currently represents a significant percent of Vermont's carbon emissions and electric vehicles need to be part of a cost-effective strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. These new charging stations will help highlight the environmental benefits of fueling more vehicles with electricity." As part of the project, the company plans to install solar panels to produce renewable energy equal to the amount used by each charging station.
"One of the barriers to switching to all-electric vehicles is the concern about finding a place to charge up away from home," says Powell. "GMP is installing these charging stations to help jump start the development of the infrastructure needed to make electric vehicles convenient to operate."
The locations of the charging stations have not yet been confirmed. Green Mountain Power is considering populated locations with easy access and high visibility in Chittenden, Washington and Addison counties.
Each charging station will have two chargers. The Level One charger will use 110 volt household current, and will be compatible with hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius that have been converted to "plug-in" technology. The Level Two charger will use 220-240 current, and will be compatible with the new electric vehicles entering the market, such as the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power (http://www.greenmountainpower.com/) generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in the State of Vermont. It serves more than 175,000 people and businesses. |
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Audi to Invest €11.6B in Green Cars and Technologies |
German luxury car maker Audi AG plans to invest about €11.6 billion (US$15.3 billion) between 2011 and 2015, primarily in green cars and technologies, as well as in upgrading its sites.
About 80 percent of all investment – more than € 9.5 billion – will go to developing new products and to technologies of the future such as electric and hybrid drive systems.
 One example is the Audi R8 e-tron, the first electric sports car from Audi, which the company wants to begin selling in late 2012.
Audi will introduce numerous new models in 2011, including the new Audi A6 and the Audi Q5 Hybrid, the first full hybrid from the carmaker.
In launching the new Audi Q3, which is manufactured in Martorell, Spain, Audi is occupying the midsize premium SUV segment for the first time.
The foundation for the future is also being laid at the company’s German sites: more than € 5 billion is to be invested in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm between 2011 and 2015. |
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Detroit Auto Show : Toyota will Introduce Prius MPV |
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Toyota is expanding its family of Prius hybrid vehicles by unveiling an all-new Prius MPV at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.
The Prius MPV will join the current third-generation Prius and upcoming Prius Plug-In Vehicle, along with a new Prius concept vehicle.
The Prius MPV should have similar in size to the Toyota Venza, with the silhouette of the standard Prius and with 50 percent more cargo room.
The Prius concept is expected to be smaller than the current Prius. A smaller Prius shown to dealers at the October dealer meeting was called the Prius-C.
Toyota released a short video sneak peek (featuring pro skateboarder Bob Burnquist) that shows a very brief shot of the front of the Prius MPV, as well as with the hatch up. |
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AC Propulsion awarded $300,000 for EV-Conversions |
Southern California-based AC Propulsion, suppliers of electric-drive systems for the automotive industry, was granted $300,000 by the California South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to outfit gasoline-fueled service vans that operate in the SoCal area with its advanced electric-drive technology. AC Propulsion will tackle the van conversions like this:
The first phase of the project will include the conversion of three vehicles that will be evaluated by several service industry partners. The first vehicle will be a developmental prototype, the second vehicle will be utilized for safety and crash testing and the third will go to in-use testing. The first conversion vehicle is slated for road testing in early summer 2011.
Though the grant only covers the costs of converting three vehicles, AC Propulsion hopes to develop an electric-drive system that can be easily integrated into practically any commercial van used by service fleets across the nation. In this way, the AQMD grant could have a profound impact that extends far beyond the trio of vehicles coming soon to the SoCal area.
[Source: AC Propulsion] |
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Green Car Vision Award 2011 finalists include five pure EV's |
The 2010 Green Car Vision Award winner, the Nissan Leaf
The Washington Auto Show is known for its focus on policy, but it is also the site of the annual Green Car Vision Awards, the future counterpoint to Green Car Journal's Green Car Vision Award. The 2011 finalists were announced today, and the list includes:
- Ford Focus Electric
- Honda Fit EV
- Mitsubishi i electric vehicle
- Toyota RAV4 EV
- Volvo C30 DRIVe
One thing to note is that all five of this year's finalists are pure electric vehicles. EVs have been on the list before – the Focus BEV makes a second appearance on the finalists list and the Mitsubishi i was previously represented by the i-MiEV in 2009 – but they've always shared the list with fuel cell or vehicles with a partial gas powertrain (i.e., the Chevy Volt). This year, only the Volvo C30 DRIVe burns any sort of liquid fuel, and that's just for heat. This list is a good representation of where the auto industry is in 2011 and, well, the future.
You can see all of the 2010 finalists here (the Nissan Leaf won) and the 2009 finalists here (the Volt won). The 2011 winner will be announced on January 27.
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AXA sign Europe-wide roadside service contract for EV's with Renault-Nissan |
THE RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE CHOOSES AXA ASSISTANCE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE
ASSISTANCE IN EUROPE
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has selected AXA Assistance to provide roadside assistance
for its electric vehicles in Europe following a call for tender launched in early 2010.
Renault and Nissan are readying to launch a range of new services to ensure the mobility and
peace of mind of their future electric vehicle customers. AXA vehicle assistance is the first step in
this global approach to preparing for the wide-scale launch of electric vehicles.
 Renault and Nissan will bring customers a full set of innovative services specific to the new
market, alongside conventional roadside breakdown assistance and towing. Enabling customers to get from A to B as quickly and smoothly as possible, these services will initially available in the 21 following European countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.
Vehicle assistance accounts for a full 40% of AXA Assistance's business worldwide, with some 4million cases. The company has prepared extensively for the opening of this promising market,both by getting its breakdown assistance partners involved and by adapting the service at itsassistance platforms. Working with a specialized international body, AXA has organizeddedicated training courses at its assistance platforms and with service providers.
The new market is vital for the image of AXA Assistance at a number of levels. Presence in the
emerging, high-potential sector of electric vehicles fully involves the company in a policy of
technological innovation and sustainable development at pan-European level.
Customer deliveries of the Alliance's first 100% electric vehicle, the Nissan LEAF have begun in
December in the United States and Japan to be followed by selected markets in Europe. Renault
will launch its first three electric models – Kangoo Express Z.E., Fluence Z.E. and Twizy – in the
second half of 2011.
About AXA Assistance
 With a turnover of 880 million euros in 2009, 8 million cases handled per year and more than
6,000 employees in more than 30 countries on five continents, AXA Assistance is one of today's
world leaders in assistance with four main activities: Automobile, Travel, Home and Health. A
longstanding player in vehicle assistance, AXA Assistance is broadening its offer with an
exclusive and innovative service.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance
 The Renault-Nissan Alliance aims to become the global leader of zero-emission mobility.* It is
working on collaborative projects with institutions, governments, municipalities and businesses, to
which it contributes its automotive expertise. More than 80 partnerships have thus far been
formed worldwide, aimed at developing electric vehicles for as early as 2010 and mass marketing
these vehicles widely from 2012.
* zero-emission in use
[ Source Renault - Nissan] |
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EPA certification for Wheego Whip Life |
 Wheego Electric Cars, a U.S.-based automaker, wheeled out its highway-capable electric car, the Whip LiFe, at the Los Angeles Auto Show back in November. With a price of $32,995 – or, only $25,495 after a $7,500 tax credit – the LiFe is a relatively cheap battery-powered ride and, now that it's EPA-certified, Wheego's electric is one step closer to landing in the driveways of reservation holders.
Yesterday, Wheego contacted reservation holders to pass along news that its diminutive electric has received the EPA's badge of approval. The automaker also released this brief statement detailing the LiFe's current status:
We're now awaiting final approval from National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to begin shipping cars to our reservation holders and dealers. We've passed the tests and submitted the paperwork - just waiting for the 'OK.'
Production of the Wheego LiFe has been underway for some time now and the automaker had hoped to deliver some of its electric hatches to dealers by month's end. However, with December nearly over, it now looks like deliveries will start in 2011. |
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Tesla pushing Toyota to be faster, better when it comes to EV's |
 Apparently, you can teach an old dog new tricks. You'd think that in a partnership between an industry veteran and a relative newcomer, the latter would typically learn from the former. However, while working together to create the second-generation all-electric RAV4 EV, it seems that Toyota, the long established Japanese automaker is surprisingly adopting some of the ways of its American collaborator, Tesla. According to Greg Bernas, Toyota's chief engineer for the joint RAV4 venture, "We are learning from each other... Hopefully we can collaborate to improve our (development) process in the future (by adopting the flexibility of Tesla)."
Toyota Technical Center USA president Shigeki Terashi was very impressed with Tesla's quick work pace – the first prototype RAV4 EV was developed in a mere three weeks. According to The Sacramento Bee, Tesla engineers have a wide range of authority and so are able to reach important decisions quite quickly. On the other hand, the Toyota engineers' responsibilities are very compartmentalized, which causes them to come to decisions much slower. This is something Toyota is now trying to change as a result of their experience working with Tesla. Another approach Tesla has shown Toyota in order to get results faster is to jump right into development and working out the kinks as they go along rather than creating detailed plans before development is even begun. Toyota's willingness to stray from its traditional workflow will give the RAV4 EV a chance to compete for a piece of the EV market share against the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf. The RAV4 EV is expected to arrive at U.S. dealerships in 2012 |
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