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As part of the late night comedian Jay Leno’s newfound power with his own prime time television show appropriately named the "Jay Leno Show" the automotive enthusiast is using that newfound fame to promote environmentaly friendly vehicles with a Green Car Challenge. The bit is very much like the BBC’s Top Gear segment, "star in a reasonably priced car" except that the American show will feature an environmentally friendly vehicle, in this case an Electric Orange Ford Focus battery electric vehicle.
As we learned a few days ago, actress Drew Barrymore will be the first famous person to lap the specially designed track inside of the NBC compound inside a zero emissions vehicle. The show airs tonight, so check you local listing for the time and channel in your area.
The Green Car Focus features a sophisticated electric power train that delivers almost as much torque to the wheels as a V6 powered 2010 Ford Mustang and is capable of storing enough energy to power an average household for an entire 24 hours. Thanks in part to the design team’s attention to detail, the Ford Focus BEV has a nearly 50/50 weight distribution due to the battery’s placement and a set of front springs and dampers from a Ford Focus RS as well as a unique rear suspension make this the perfect Focus to see constant time on the track.
More information after the jump.
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Fresh off of the release of the all new Volvo C30 hatchback, the safety conscious Swedish automaker is also planning on producing an electric vehicle version of the new car. The electric Volvo will be known as the C30 Battery Electric Vehicle and will be powered exclusively by batteries feeding electric motors which will result in absolutely zero emissions and give the Volvo C30 BEV a range of up to 150 kilometers.
Volvo has already built a handful of the BEVs in order to conduct internal testing with the electric vehicles and advance their development of a plug in hybrid Volvo that is set to debut sometime in 2012. The Volvo C30 BEV is currently powered by a highly efficient Lithium-ion battery that can be recharged through a regular A/C power outlet, and after eight hours of storing juice is ready to travel up to 150 kilometers, perfect for the everyday commute to work or even a quiet and carefree Sunday drive. The C30 BEV is limited to 130 km/h and sprints from 0 to 60 MPH in less than 11 seconds.
Volvo feels that electricity is the fuel of the future and that zero emissions highways are what the next generation of new car buyers will be looking for. By combining an environmentally friendly power train with a stylish hatchback body, the Swedish automaker feels that the 2010 Volvo C30 BEV is the car of the future.
Press release after the jump.
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The French automaker Renault has just unveiled the the Kangoo Z.E. Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the third of Renault’s four electric vehicles that accoding to the company will go into production by 2011, and the the Kangoo Z.E. Concept is the one intended for everyday use.
The concept is powered by a 70 kilowatt motor delivering a maximum of 226 Nm of torque. Power is derived from a lithium-ion battery, that with a full recharge have an autonomy of four to eight hours, while a 20-minute quick charge you can take a short trip around the house.
With a weight of only 1520 kilos, the Kangoo ZE can hit a top speed of 130 km/h.
Press release after the jump.
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Most car manufacturers who go to the Frankfurt Motor Show probably have one thing on their minds: make an impression with your new cars. While that is, of course, what the purpose of auto shows are, sometimes, a car brand is fortunate enough to leave Frankfurt with something more than they expected. Take the case of Tesla, for example.
The California-based electric sports car brand came to Frankfurt without the faintest idea that they would find a company willing to spend $82.5 million to become an equity investor in Tesla. But that’s exactly what happened after a group led by Fjord Capital Partners approached Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk with regards to purchasing equities in the brand.
Not one to turn a good deal down, Musk accepted the offer, saying that “It was an opportunistic investment. We were not looking for money.”
Now armed with a sweet sum of $82.5 million, Musk plans to use the ‘added finances’ to expand the brand’s global retail stores.
We don’t know about you, but we believe that things happen for a reason – whether it’s pre-determined or just by sheer luck – and Tesla’s appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show ended up with the company becoming $82.5 million dollars richer.
The second of the four electric concepts unveiled by Renault in Frankfurt is the Zoe Z.E. - a perfect car for school or work run, or shopping trips. The Zoe ZE is powered by an electric motor that delivers 95 HP and 166 lb-ft of torque. With this motor, the Renault Zoe ZE can reach a top speed of 87 MPH.
With a length of 4,10 meters, the Zoe Z.E. features rather large 21 inch wheels and large body panels, a retractable spoiler deploys at speeds in excess of 55 MPH to make a further contribution to Zoe ZE Concept’s aerodynamic efficiency and also serves as one of the car’s brake lights.
The Zoe Z.E. concept’s dashboard is covered with an intelligent, mineral like membrane and the lightest of touches calls up a range of touchscreen controls while the wide TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen is housed in a glass bubble. This is the central information point for Zoe ZE Concept and serves to display navigation data, the charge indicator and remaining range.
Press release after the jump.
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Renault wants to prove that electric cars don’t have to be boring at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The automaker’s range of four electric concepts revealed today provide a preview of what we can expect from the French car builder to release starting in 2011.
The Fluence Z.E. Concept is a four-door electric sedan that can travel up to 160 kilometers on a single charge. Renault has incorporated a few interesting charging methods including a 20 minute recharge and the very fast 3 minute quick charge options that will allow you to travel from 4 to 8 hours depending on the power outlet’s voltage.
Fluence ZE Concept is powered exclusively by an electric motor located near the front axle that is powered by a lithium-ion battery positioned between the rear seats and the trunk. The concept rides on 21 inch wheels and the interior features video screens and a triple-zone climate control while LED lights on both the front and rear of the vehicle add to the concept’s Atmosphere Blue body color.
Press release after the jump.
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The French automaker Citroen has just unveiled the Revolte concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Revolte is a compact city car that combines the upmost luxury with a touch of fashionable fun. The Revolte concept is not very big in size, measuring in at 3.68 meters long, 1.73 meters wide and 1.35 meters tall and features a three seater cabin design.
The Revolte is powered by a rechargeable hybrid drivetrain that consists if a small displacement conventional combustion engine combined with an electric motor, with a battery supplying the electric motor with juice and both power plants able to drive the wheels. The French concept has no CO2 emission and also features a practical and quiet ride with a high level of driving comfort.
The Revolte is all about extreme colors and interesting materials, like: woven black leather, thick crimson velvet and gleaming aluminum. Inside of the Revolte you won’t find the conventional materials like the traditional wood offerings and ordinary colors. The cabin incorporates a very contemporary meridian sofa whose flowing lines cover the entire rear area of the concept as well as the space that is typically reserved for the front seat passenger. In this case, the passenger sitting in the third seat can stretch his or her legs and enjoy the sensations offered by the cosy, luxurious ambiance.
Press release after the jump.
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If earlier today Audi showed us the Spider version of the R8 V10 version, now is time to see how an electric R8 would work. The new E-tron concept is powered by a purely electric drive system made up of four motors – two at the front and two more at the rear axle. The total output of this electric drive system is 313 HP and 3,319.03 lb-ft of torque, meaning that the car can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 4.8 seconds, and from 60 to 120 km/h (37.28 – 74.56 mph) in 4.1. Who ever said that electric can’t be fun?
Even if it is based on the R8 super car, the E-tron concept features an unique and distinctive design, like a trapezoidal single-frame grille, two large air intakes, special headlamps that adjust the light depending on weather conditions and a large 19 inch wheel and tire combination. The concept has a weight of only 3,527.40 lb, with 58% of the weight pressing down of the rear axle.
The E-Tron’s top speed is limited to 124.27 MPH, as the amount of energy required by the electric motors increases disproportionately to speed. The range in the NECD combined cycle is approximately 154 miles. This impressive value is made possible by the integrated concept: technology specially configured for the electric drive system combined with state-of-the-art battery technology. The battery block has a total energy content of roughly 53 kilowatt hours, with the usable portion thereof restricted to 42.4 kWh in the interest of service life. In order to keep such high tech equipment from over heating, Audi uses liquid cooling for the batteries.
Full details in the press release after the jump.
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Volkswagen has just unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show the electric version of the now famous Up! Concept. The new Volkswagen E-Up! concept is believed to make it to production by 2020.
The E-Up! concept is powered by an electric motor with a peak power output of 60 kW supplied by by a lithium ion battery. Fully charged the batteries offer the E-Up! a range of 130 kilometers. The motor of the front-wheel drive car, which is mounted up front and develops a maximum torque of 155 lb-ft from rest. The driver activates forward or reverse gear via a rotary knob in the center console. The fact that the E-Up! will also quite clearly offer driving enjoyment is demonstrated by a look at the car’s classic 0 to 60 MPH sprint of 11.3 seconds. The E-Up! develops even greater responsiveness in the intermediate sprint from 0 to 50 km/h in city driving: 3.5 seconds.
According to Volkswagen the E-Up! concept is the Beetle for the 21st Century: headlights with their facet-like lenses – cut like diamond, the fog lights configured as C-shaped, chrome-trimmed elements in the headlight housings, a circular pattern in the bumper.
Press release after the jump.
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The Frankfurt Motor Show has given the creative French automaker Peugeot the opportunity to unveil the innovative BB1 concept - a "full electric vehicle that reinvents the automobile in every way: architecture, style, interior design, drive, connectivity – while all the time respecting the environment."
Despite its rather small appearance, the BB1 is only 2.5 meters long, it can accommodate up to 4 passengers. The driver takes control of the BB! in a new more upright driving position, made possible through the absence of floor pedals. The rear passengers are then seated in tandem behind the driver. On the right-hand side, front and rear passengers adopt a similar position.
The BB1 is powered by an electric motor placed inside the rear wheels, designed in association with Michelin the unit delivers 20 HP and accelerates the BB1 from 0 to 30 KPH in 2.8 seconds, and from 30-60 KPH in 4. The power needed to turn the electric motor is provided by a lithium-ion battery pack that gives the passenger car an autonomy of 120 km.
Thanks to its electric propulsion, the BB1 is an environmentally friendly vehicle emitting no loud noises outside the vehicle as well as zero emissions. The lack of pollutant emissions is due to the fact that it consumes no fossil fuels at all. However this eco-responsibility isn’t limited to just wasting gas, the BB1 is so efficient that at a standstill, the passenger compartment is continuously ventilated thanks to the solar panels placed on the roof of the vehicle.
Press release after the jump.
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