Bee Four revives BRM brand, reveals in-wheel motor source

It's been announced that the electric race car we were telling you about from Bee Automobiles Ltd will now contend for the British Speed Hill Climb Championship in 2010 as the BRM Bee Four ERV.

This revives the BRM (British Racing Motors) brand that was born 60 years ago and has a rich and proud history. This also delays the original plan by a year, but should give them the necessary time to introduce a car that is fully tested and ready to win. There is hope that we'll see it before then as it is rumored that it may make some cameos at events this year.
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$50K Smart Electric Vehicle set for Limited Production Run - powered by Tesla

In a recent statement, Daimler AG announced, "The next generation prototype of the smart fortwo electric drive is being presented in the US for the first time during the NAIAS Autoshow. At the End of 2009, smart will start the production of the smart fortwo electric drive with a lithium-ion battery. The company is exploring opportunities for the United States market."


These Smart cars should cost US$49,900 when they go on sale this year according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk who confirmed the existence of this business relationship between his company and Daimler AG.


Tesla had been struggling to meet its financial obligations until late 2008 when it announced it had received business financing to the tune of $40 million from investors. The Smart car order should help its balance sheet pick up even more.

Tesla Motors is going to be supplying Mercedes-Benz with 1,000 EV battery packs and chargers. The power packs are to be installed in Smart electric cars as part of a cooperation between the electric car maker and Daimler AG, the parent company of Smart and the Mercedes-Benz Group.
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BYD release F3DM hybrid and E6 electric vehicles for U.S. market in 2011
Detroit auto show highlights energy saving amid economic downturn
Detroit Auto Show: Fisker to Show New Concept & Unveil Karma ...

BYD release F3DM hybrid and E6 electric vehicles for U.S. market in 2011

Chinese automaker BYD Auto has announced it is planning to enter the US market in 2011 and will be then launching a product line of plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles.


BYD claims its Fe battery technology has a quick-charge capacity to 50 percent power in only 10 minutes. The battery also has a life cycle of more than 10 years.


The first two models BYD plans on introducing are the F3DM, the world's first mass-produced plug-in hybrid sedan and the e6, a battery-powered mid-sized crossover with a single-charge range of 250 miles (400 km).


Lending confidence to BYD's prospects in the US market is legendary billionaire investor Warren Buffett. Last year the energy division of his investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, MidAmerican Energy Holdings, acquired a 10 percent stake in BYD Auto.


The Fe battery will also be used in BYD's mid-size F6DM sedan, a plug-in hybrid. Plug-in hybrids can run on pure electrical power until the battery runs out when a gasoline engine kicks in and acts as a generator to create more power for the battery.


Speaking ambitiously on the floor of the Detroit auto show, Wang Chuanfu, President and Chariman of BYD Auto, said that the company would also be setting up manufacturing in the US "when it is appropriate".
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Detroit Auto Show: Fisker to Show New Concept & Unveil Karma Production Model

Fisker Automotive’s First Production Vehicle, the Fisker
Karma, to be Showcased at the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS)

IRVINE, CA. Dec. 2, 2008: Fisker Automotive, Inc., a green American
premium sports car company, today announced that its first production car,
the Fisker Karma, will be showcased at the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS). With only minor design enhancements made to the
exterior of the vehicle, the production Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid retains the
extreme proportions and beautiful sculpture of the January 2008 Karma show
car.
more detail. ...



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Detroit Auto Show: Ford Announces Aggressive New Electric Vehicle Plan

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company today launched an aggressive plan to bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.


The plan, unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, signals the next phase in Ford's commitment to deliver the best or among the best fuel efficiency with every new vehicle it introduces and to make fuel efficiency solutions affordable for millions of customers.
more detail. ...
via:World Car Fans


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Dodge Circuit EV Unveiled in Detroit

As suspected from some recent spy photos Chrysler's ENVI group has continued to work on the car that first appeared last fall as the DodgeEV. The car that was nothing more than a Lotus Europa with an electric powertrain and Dodge badges now at least looks kind of like it belongs in a Dodge dealership.


The front fascia now sports the traditional Dodge cross-hair grille while the posterior gets cleaner look with a small diffuser. New wheels and a coat of orange paint that Chrysler's press release dubbs"Tangoreen" round out the visual changes.


As near as we can tell from that same press release the only real functional change to the car that is now called the Circuit EV is the positioning of the plug. The original car had the plug on the right side of the car, which would be the driver's side over in the UK where this car was built.


The Circuit now has the plug socket on the left flank where it would be more convenient to charge in this country. The A123 battery pack and 200 kW motor remain from the original iteration.
Source: autobloggreen



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Video: 2009 Toyota FT-EV Concept

The new FT-EV concept shares its platform with the new iQ urban vehicle that was launched last year at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Toyota says that the four-passenger FT-EV Concept imagines an urban minicar that can travel up to 50 miles on a single charge. Now, we’re pretty certain that the new urban commuter will be a BEV version of the Toyota iQ when it hits markets in 2012.
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Mitsubishi to supply i Miev EV to Peugeot starting in 2010

The i MiEV system is based on the concept of a plug-in electric vehicle that's powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Mitsubishi's own version, said to have a range of about 160km (100 miles) when fully charged, will debut in Japan this summer.


As part of its Step Up 2010 plan, Mitsubishi Motors is going to be supplying electric-powered vehicles to the PSA Peugeot Citroen Group from as early as 2010. The cars will be based on Mitsubishi's i MiEV (In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle) passenger car product line. As many as 10,000 units a year could find their way into the PSA lot by 2011.


PSA wants to move quickly on the electric vehicle deal since the French government is giving subsidies of up to €5,000 and tax breaks to people who purchase electric cars. The deal would be on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis. Speculated pricing for the i MiEV in Japan is about 2 million Yen (€16,000).

Meanwhile Japanese rival Nissan is busy developing its own electric cars alongside France's second-biggest, the Renault SA Group.
via:World Car Fans



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Eliica 8-wheeler EV Pursues Speed Record and Production

The thought that the Eliica pulls off like a pregnant snail because of its size would be a gross underestimation. Considering that each of the 8 wheels contains an electric motor that produces 60kW (80hp), you begin to understand how the Eliica is capable of 0 - 60mph time of under 4 seconds, a top speed of 250mph (402km/h) and a range of 200 miles (321 km). However, no details on its cornering ability were forthcoming.


Could one say an eight-wheel car is twice the car any normal one is? A team of Japanese engineers seems to think so. Dr.


Hiroshi Shimizu and his team have built this monster of a four-door called Eliica which runs on lithium-ion batteries.


Shimizu-san initially developed the car in 2003. Two examples of the four-seater Eliica currently exist as the team attempts to get sponsorship to build more.


That may happen as the Japanese government's interest in electric vehicles grows. If and when that happens, 200 units will be made for a price of around USD $255,000.
via:World Car Fans



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