Electric car

Detroit Auto Show: Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell

Mercedes Benz is among the German luxe cars that loves clean diesel, but it is also getting serious about electric sports cars as well.

At this week's North American International Auto show, the Stuttgart-based Mercedes showed the SLS AMG E-Cell, which is powered by four synchronous electric motors at each wheel. Those motors produce 525 horsepower and 649 pound-feet of torque.

Though Mercedes is mum about some of the performance numbers, we hear that the SLS AMG E-Cell can do 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. The energy comes from Lithium-ion batteries, and regenerative braking helps keep the cells from draining too fast. There is a the temperature management system to make sure that charging and discharging occurs in the best environment possible.

Expected range was not part of the announcement, nor would the good folks at Mercedes commit to putting the car into production. But there is desire by Mercedes to offer it next year.

Mercedes is a share holder in Tesla Motors, the California company known for its electric roadster. Tesla has been sorting out the electrification of smart cars (Mercedes owns smart) but we venture a guess that the intellectual property sharing goes to sports cars, and specifically this baby, as well.

Tags: Electric car, Mercedes benz, North American International Auto Show, Tesla, tesla motors

Fisker prices Karma Plug-In Hybrid Sedan Starting at $95,900

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

The Fisker Karma electric luxury sedan was supposed to be priced under $90,000 when it debuts in March 2011. But the company now says the starting price is $95,900.

Base MSRPs are now $95,900 for the standard Karma, $103,900 for the Eco Sport version and $108,900 for the high-line Eco Chic model. The price guidance the company had previously given was a starting price of $87,900.

Government tax incentives for the purchase of a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid will lower the bottom line. Tesla Motors' electric Roadster, Fisker's main competitor, is priced at $101,500.

Tags: chevy volt, Electric car, Fisker karma, tesla roadster

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Porsche 918 Spyder Makes Its Driving Debut [video]

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

This past Thursday, the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid – which could become the world's most expensive production Porsche – made its driving debut on a closed road in Monterey, California, just days prior to its North American debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. After being shipped over from Germany by private plane, engineers handed the keys of the new 918 Spyder, dubbed the world's first true hybrid supercar, to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car drove superbly under its own power, which comes from the mid-mounted 3.4 liter V8 engine out of the RS Spyder as well as an all electric mode which powers just the front wheels. That's good news for the 2,000 prospective buyers willing to fork out an estimated $630,000 to get their hands on one.

Tags: California, electric car, Germany, hybrid, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Porsche, Porsche 918 Spyder, supercar

Bugatti Working on Electric Supercar to Succeed the Veyron?

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Wondering what will come next from Bugatti now that the Veyron is nearing the end of its production run? According to emerging reports, it could be a very different kind of vehicle altogether.

Rumor has it that Bugatti is developing an electric vehicle, based on the Continental GT from sister company Bentley. The vehicle is said to be powered exclusively by electric motors and an advanced battery pack, delivering the equivalent of 800 horsepower and 1600 lb-ft of torque.

Whether the electric supercar will make it to market – or if it even exists at the moment – remains the subject of much speculation, but stay tuned and we'll be sure to bring you more as the picture becomes clearer.

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Tags: bugatti, bugatti veyron, electric bugatti, Electric car, electric cars

2020 Lamborghini Minotauro Concept

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

There's something about Lamborghini that inspires design students to try and improve what is already one of the world's most exotic supercars. Witness the Badall, Insecta and Conquisto concepts we've written about in the past. Now Italian designer Andrei Avarvarii has come up with a vision for what a Lamborghini could look like in the year 2020. Avarvarii, a master's candidate at Milan's Scuola Politecnica di Design, drew up plans for an eye-popping electric supercar with help from Lamborghini's head of design Filippo Perini. His 2020 Minotauro concept employs four separate electric motors splitting the power 70% to the rear wheels and 30% to the front via a KERS system and Li-Tec flat-cell battery in back of the vehicle. That leaves room for a central seating position for a third passenger in the rear. Triangular exhausts meanwhile not only cool the batteries but also "act like the tubes of a subwoofer, channeling the sound of the electric motors placed behind them."

Gallery: 2020 Lamborghini Minotauro Concept

Tags: car design, concept car, electric car, Italy, Lamborghini, supercars

German E-Wolf Electric Supercar Concept

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

At the moment it's only in the planning stages, but German firm E-Wolf's e-2 electric supercar concept (above) will be a real game-changer when it goes into production. The carbon fiber composite vehicle is the result of a collaboration between E-Wolf, the Saxony Lightweight Center and the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology at the Technical University of Dresden in Germany. The e-2, due in 2011, will feature four electric motors, one in each wheel, delivering a combined output of 544 hp and 737-lb.-ft. of torque in a chassis that is expected to weigh in at just 2,000 lbs., enabling it to hit a top speed of 155 mph - all without using a drop of gasoline.

Tags: carbon fiber, CarbonFiber, concept car, ConceptCar, E-Wolf, electric car, ElectricCar, Germany, supercar

Audi Tipped to Put E-TRON Concept Into Production

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

If you still think that electric cars have to be small, weird, uncouth modes of transportation for tree-hugging hippies, may we suggest you look to Germany's latest. At the recently-concluded Frankfurt auto show, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all took the wraps off exotic supercars that will at some point arrive on the market with electric power.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept, unveiled in Frankfurt, is tipped to give birth to a new hybrid sportscar from the Bavarian automaker. The new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, also unveiled in Frankfurt, is confirmed to breed an electric version. And the Audi e-tron concept, debuted in – you guessed it – Frankfurt – showed the way for what an all-electric version of the company's popular R8 sportscar could look like.

Now reports indicate that Audi is preparing to put the e-tron into production, with working prototypes expected to begin testing within the next two years. Packing four electric motors and a lithium-ion battery, the electric R8 produces a modest 313 horsepower but an absolutely bonkers 3,319 lb-ft of torque, firmly leaving those little electric city cars in its clean wake.

Gallery: Audi e-tron concept

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Tags: audi e-tron, audi e-tron concept, audi r8, AudiE-tron, AudiE-tronConcept, AudiR8, electric, electric car, ElectricCar

Luxury Goes Green: Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom Under Development

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Yes, an electric Rolls-Royce. And why not? The torque curve of an electric motor – making maximum pulling power right at zero RPM – would seem to suit the RR mission perfectly, as would the distinct lack of noise, vibration and harshness. Sounds like a match made in heaven, no?

Well, of course there are issues to overcome, not the least of which is sourcing a suitably large battery for the three-ton Phantom sedan. According to Auto Express in the U.K., that battery pack would feature lithium ion cells, which happens to be the same technology used by parent company BMW in its electric Mini E.

These rumors aren't exactly new – we last heard of an electric Roller about a year ago – but this time the addition of a possible range extender is mentioned for the first time. Such a configuration is featured in both the upcoming Chevy Volt and the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept BMW just showed off at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The unnamed spokesperson cited by Auto Express doesn't offer any sort of timetable as to when we might see an electric Phantom, but we're not exactly holding our breath.

[Source: Auto Express]

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Tags: electric car, electric cars, electric rolls, electric rolls royce, electric rolls-royce, ElectricCar, ElectricCars, ElectricRolls, ElectricRolls-royce, ElectricRollsRoyce, rolls royce, rolls royce phantom, rolls-royce, rolls-royce phantom, Rolls-roycePhantom, RollsRoyce, RollsRoycePhantom

Tesla Finally Shows Off Real Images of Roadster Sport

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Tesla Roadster Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been seven months since Tesla first announced its intentions to build the Roadster Sport, a higher performing version of its standard electric sportscar, and the Silicon Valley-based automaker has finally offered up some real high-res images of the EV along with a bevy of details on what makes the Sport extra special.

First and foremost, the Sport's hand-wound electric motor adds a bit more oomph to the already quick Roadster, taking off two-tenths of a second on the rush to 60 at 3.7 seconds. Also included are bare carbon fiber hood louvers and rear spoiler, a push-button transmission selector to replace the aluminum shift knob and a central touch screen that displays estimated range along with the total number of oil barrels saved over a fossil-fueled automobile. That last tidbit is worth the $20K price increase itself, as far as we're concerned.

Gallery: Tesla Roadster Sport

[Source: Tesla via World Car Fans]

Tags: electric car, electric cars, electric sports car, electric sportscar, ElectricCar, ElectricCars, ElectricSportsCar, tesla, tesla motors, tesla roadster, tesla roadster sport, tesla roadster sport gallery, tesla sport, tesla sports car, TeslaMotors, TeslaRoadster, TeslaRoadsterSport, TeslaRoadsterSportGallery, TeslaSport, TeslaSportsCar

Mercedes Announces All-Electric Version of Upcoming SLS Gullwing Supercar

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

There's been a horsepower war being waged between German automakers for years, and Mercedes has been one of the biggest armies on the front line. An endless succession of big V8 and twin-turbo V12 engines have seen to Benz's dominance, housed in everything from station wagons to sportscars. Following the likes of the SLR McLaren and SL65 Black Series, the latest of the latter is almost here. But while the SLS "gullwing" will shout the battle cry of the horsepower wars with typical zeal, confirmed reports now indicate that it will also offer a more peaceful solution in the form of an all-electric version.

While the conventional SLS will be powered by a 6.3-liter V8 producing 563 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, the electric version will produce the equivalent of 526hp and 649 lb-ft, offering potential buyers no excuse for sticking to the fossil-fuel-burning version once the electric model makes its debut. The electric Mercedes supercar promises to accelerate to sixty in four seconds flat, that motivation being delivered courtesy of four individual electric motors and a 48 kWh lithium ion battery pack. Given Mercedes parent company Daimler's recent investment of $50 million in Tesla, it's safe to say that the California startup will be helping out in the development, but while a launch date for the electric SLS hasn't been revealed, sources expect to see it on the road by 2015.

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Tags: AMG, Benz, edrive sls, EdriveSls, electric car, electric cars, electric sls, electric sports car, electric sportscar, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, ElectricCar, ElectricCars, ElectricSls, ElectricSportsCar, ElectricVehicle, ElectricVehicles, Gullwing, mercedes, mercedes benz, mercedes benz sls, mercedes benz sls edrive, Mercedes SLS, mercedes-benz, mercedesbenz, MercedesBenzSls, MercedesBenzSlsEdrive, MercedesSls, tesla, tesla motors, TeslaMotors

Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Events, Green

Looking for a fun and free Father's Day event in the Los Angeles area? On June 21 the 2009 Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance will take place in Beverly Hills featuring more than 100 exotic cars on display lining Rodeo Drive north of Wilshire Boulevard. "In addition to our traditional and classic collector cars featured at the Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance, this year we are also proud to showcase a unique selection of alternative energy vehicles, micro and electric cars, and solar vehicles, amongst others," notes Bruce Meyer, co-chair of the Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance. "From the display of luxurious, cutting-edge automobiles to the world-renowned fashion boutiques, Rodeo Drive offers something for everyone to enjoy on Father's Day."

Tags: Beverly Hills, BeverlyHills, classic cars, ClassicCars, electric car, ElectricCar, Fathers Day, FathersDay, Los Angeles, LosAngeles, Rodeo Drive, Rodeo Drive Concours dElegance, RodeoDrive, RodeoDriveConcoursDelegance

Raser 100 MPG Hybrid Hummer

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

At the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress (SAE) in Detroit Utah-based Raser Technologies just unveiled its hybrid version of the Hummer H3 which they claim gets 100 miles to the gallon. The range-extended eco vehicle has an all-electric range of 40 miles with a hybrid 200 kW electric motor / 100 kW gasoline-powered engine. With a 90 mph top speed, off-road capability and a lithium ion-battery that's rechargeable in as little as three hours, the SUV maintains its acceleration, towing and off-road capacities. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a longtime Hummer enthusiast, praised the vehicle during a visit to the exhibition.

Tags: Arnold Schwarzenegger, ArnoldSchwarzenegger, Detroit, electric car, ElectricCar, Hummer, hybrid, SUV

Will Rolls-Royce Make An Electric Phantom?

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

It looks very likely that in the near future Rolls fans will have the option of owning an all-electric version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Tom Purves, the Rolls-Royce CEO, has revealed that he'd not only like to build an electric Phantom but thinks it would fit in perfectly with what a lot of Rolls customers are looking for. Thanks to the technology used in the new BMW Mini-E the hard part of developing an electric engine that measures up is already done -- it's really just about refinement and tweaking a few technology details.

No word yet on when an electric Phantom can be expected but it sounds like it could be as soon as the next few years.

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Tags: auto, autos, bmw, car, cars, eco-friendly, electric, electric car, ElectricCar, green, mini cooper, mini e, MiniCooper, MiniE, phantom, rolls royce, rolls royce phantom, rolls-royce, RollsRoyce, RollsRoycePhantom, wheels

Fisker Karma

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Green

Our friends at Autoblog are at the Detroit Auto Show this week and one of the cars there that is drawing a lot of attention is the Fisker Karma. The Karma, designed by Henrik Fisher, is a premium hybrid sedan. Autoblog reports it is powered by the Q-DRIVE, a system from Quantum Technologies in which a four-cylinder engine powers a generator to move the car. It can do the zero to 60 hop in 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph. It can run on just electricity or in sports mode which uses the four-cylinder engine. Luxury features of the four-door sedan include a navigation system and DVD player with headrest-mounted displays. The first 99 will be signed by the designer. The cars won't be available until 2009 and sell for $80,000.

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Tags: car, electric car, fisker, hybrid, karma, luxury

Hammacher Schlemmer Selling Six-Figure Electric Car

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

One common complaint about electric cars is that they are a bit pokey. You won't find that problem with the new electric car being sold by Hammacher Schlemmer. It does the zero-to-60 hop in four seconds and zips up to a top speed of 120 mph in one gear. The car has two electric motors that work together The car is just 39" wide and the driver and passenger sit in tandem front and back seats. It can park perpendicular to a curb without the need for a full space. The zippy little machine operates from a set of lead-acid batteries that can recharge using any service up to 50 amps, providing enough power for a range of 40-80 miles. It sells for $108,000, a hell of a price for something smaller than a Smart Car.

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Tags: autoblog, electric car, hammacher schlemmer, HammacherSchlemmer