Mercedes-Benz will nearly double its investment in batteries and fuel-saving engines as part of an effort to offer electric vehicles, Daimler AG development chief Thomas Weber said this week.

The Daimler luxury car unit will spend $1.4 billion in each of the next two years to develop electric-vehicle technology, Weber said in an interview with a Bloomberg reporter at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show. The company spent just $769 million annually for the past three years.

Weber said the company was working on batteries that could last at least 10 years and handle driving in extreme conditions. The company also announced this week that it will develop electric cars for China with BYD Co. and that Daimler will produce lithium-ion batteries at a new factory by 2012.

“Mercedes wants to be there first,” Weber said. “We’re attacking; we want to be on the top position and can’t wait until someone delivers a commodity.”

The move comes as BMW, the luxury car leader, announced plans to debut an electric-powered vehicle by 2015. Mercedes’ approach differs because it is working on developing batteries rather than engines.

Weber said that as cars become more electrified, batteries will be a more important component. Daimler could also supply batteries to other automakers, according to Chief Environmental Officer Herbert Kohler.

Source: http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/03/mercedes-to-double-investment-in-electric-car-technology-daimler-rd-chief-says.html

FACT: One-in-four American adults say they would likely consider a reasonably priced plug-in car the next time they purchase, according to Consumer Reports.
FACT: Currently, 96% of U.S. transportation is fueled by petroleum.
FACT: For the rest of 2010, home charging station installation costs get a federal tax credit of 50-percent up to a $2,000 max.
FACT: InterPark Garages in Chicago are the first in the city to be installing charging stations at multiple facilities.
FACT: There will be “No Charge to Charge” for the rest of 2010 at an InterPark downtown Chicago facility that has a charging station.

To kick off the salute to green effort, InterPark is starting a campaign with a two year lease of a Tesla Roadster 2.5 grand prize; a three-year lease of a Toyota Prius; a pair of Trek bikes, and many days/hours of free parking at its various locations.

Starting on August 31, pedestrians along Michigan Avenue and the Loop area will soon be offered scratch-off cards that double as entry cards to win the Tesla. Winners will be announced on or around November 15, 2010.

WHERE: InterPark Traders Garage, Rooftop Level Enter at 329 South Franklin, Chicago
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2010
WHO: Marshall Peck, CEO of InterPark is available
FOOD: Media will be treated to great crepes, bagels, pastries and coffee

For more information, visit interparkgreen.com

SOURCE: InterPark

for InterPark Chris Hester/Gigi Lubin 773-549-0000, extension 102 708-268-9222

The all-new Ford Focus Electric, which debuts in the U.S. late next year and in Europe in 2012, will be powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery that utilizes heated and cooled liquid to help maximize battery life and gas-free driving range.

Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of all-electric vehicles because extreme temperatures can affect performance, reliability, safety and durability. Ford has chosen an advanced active liquid-cooling and heating system to regulate the temperature of its lithium-ion battery packs, which are designed to operate under a range of ambient conditions.

“All-electric vehicles do not have a conventional engine on board, so it is critical we maximize the performance of the battery under various operating temperatures,” said Sherif Marakby, Ford director, Electrification Program and Engineering. “Active liquid systems are more effective than air systems at regulating lithium-ion battery temperature. As a result, the active liquid system on Focus Electric will play a key role in providing our customers with the best performance possible.”

The active liquid cooling and heating system also enables the Focus Electric to automatically precondition the battery pack temperature during daily recharging. When the vehicle is plugged in to the power grid, the vehicle system will be able to warm up the battery on cold days and cool it down on hot days.

The Focus Electric will be built at Ford’s retooled Michigan Assembly Plant and will be available in late 2011. The vehicle will have an expected range of up to 100 miles and use no gasoline at all.

Battery thermal management in action

While air-cooling methods work well for many of today’s smaller car battery systems, the larger, more complex lithium-ion battery technology powering Ford’s all-electric vehicles calls for an aggressive thermal management system.

An active liquid system heats or chills a coolant before pumping it through the battery cooling system. This loop regulates temperature throughout the system against external conditions.

On hot days, chilled water absorbs heat from the batteries, dispersing it through a radiator before pumping it through the chiller again. On cold days, heated water warms the batteries, gradually bringing the system’s temperature to a level that allows it to efficiently accept charge energy and provide enough discharge power for expected vehicle performance.

“Extreme temperatures impact a battery’s life and performance, making it crucial to have an effective cooling and heating system to regulate temperature for these demanding applications,” said Anand Sankaran, Ford executive technical leader, Energy Storage and HV Systems.

The liquid cooling system also plays a role in charging the vehicle. When the all-electric Focus is plugged in to recharge, the vehicle control system will automatically precondition the battery, if needed, to the optimal temperature before accepting charge. If the battery is already at the optimal temperature, the system will automatically accept charge and maintain an optimal temperature.

“We are working closely with our technology partners to accelerate the development of our lithium-ion battery systems to help our future EV customers get the most out of their vehicles,” Marakby said. “Our goal is to build an electric vehicle that delivers on the quality and performance customers have come to expect from Ford.”

Focus Electric is one of five electrified vehicles Ford will release over the next three years. In addition to the Focus Electric, the Ford Transit Connect Electric small commercial van arrives in late 2010, followed by two next-generation hybrid electric vehicles, as well as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in North America in 2012 and Europe in 2013.

Electrified vehicles are one part of Ford’s broader strategy to offer a wide range of environmentally friendly, advanced technology solutions to improve fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions affordably for customers around the world.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The 3.4 litre V8 engine (500 hp/370 kW) is a development of the engine used in the RS Spyder Le Mans Prototype racing car. This is supplemented by three electric motors delivering an additional 218 horsepower (163 kW). The transmission is a 7-speed gearbox coupled to Porsche’s own (PDK) double clutch system delivering power to the rear axle. Two electric motors drive the front wheels directly through a fixed ratio while a third electric motor is connected to the transmission and gives additional power to the rear wheels.

This gives the 918 Spyder a 0–100 km/h time in just under 3.2 seconds and a top speed of over 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph). The energy storage system is a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery positioned behind the passenger cell. In addition to the plug-in recharge the batteries can also be charged by regenerative braking and by excess output from the engine when the car is coasting. CO2 emissions are 70 g/km and fuel consumption is 3 L/100 km (94 imperial mpg/78 us mpg). The 918 Spyder offers 4 different running modes: E-Drive allows the car to run under battery power alone, using the rear electric motor only, giving a range of 16 miles (26 km). Three hybrid modes (Hybrid, Sport and Race) use both the engine and electric motors to provide the desired levels of economy and performance. In Race mode a push-to-pass button is available to deliver additional electrical power.

The chassis is a carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic monocoque. Magnesium and aluminium are extensively used in the construction of the car which helps keep the 918 Spyder’s weight down to 1,490 kilograms (3,300 lb).

On July 28, 2010, after 2000 declarations of interest, the Supervisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, gave the green light for series development of the Porsche 918 Spyder. The 918 will be produced in a limited series. It will be developed in Weissach and assembled in Zuffenhausen.

The Hyundai Blue-Will concept isn’t entirely new; it first appeared last April at the Seoul Motor Show. However, it is making its North American debut next week in Detroit. What makes the Blue-Will special is that it is Hyundai’s first ever plug-in hybrid (PHEV). The hybrid powertrain is based on the same Blue Drive architecture that Hyundai unveiled at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. This is a strong parallel hybrid system, meaning it’s capable of driving the vehicle under electric power alone, use the internal combustion or a combination of both. The first production applications will find their way into the Korean market Elantra LPI hybrid and the Sonata hybrid that debuts late this year.

For the PHEV version, the electric motor/generator is increased in size from 30 kW on the Sonata to 100 kW, which should allow it to operate under electric power pretty much throughout its operating range. Hyundai doesn’t say how big the lithium ion polymer battery pack is, however, the automaker claims the Blue-Will can go 40 miles on an single electric charge.

In addition to the hybrid hardware, which can provide start-stop capability for the engine and regenerative braking, the concept also features a thermal electric generator. This is designed to convert the heat energy of the exhaust gases into electrical energy to be stored in the battery. The engine is a direct injected version of Hyundai’s 1.6-liter Gamma inline-four with 152 horsepower.

The concept has the same 106.3 inch wheelbase as the current Elantra Touring, but the overall length is seven inches shorter. According to Hyundai this concept “may” also provide a preview of a future dedicated hybrid to compete with the Toyota Prius, and if that happens, expect it to arrive sometime late next year.

Automakers will sell a total of 3.24 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles worldwide between 2010 and 2015, according to a report released Wednesday.

It will be Chinese and U.S. drivers buying most of these vehicles, Pike Research says in its report, “Plug-in Electric Vehicles.” Cars in these categories include the plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt, the battery electric Ford Focus, and a number of vehicles from China’s BYD Auto.

Over the five-year period, Chinese consumers are expected to purchase about 888,000 plug-in and battery electric vehicles combined, accounting for 27 percent of worldwide sales, while U.S. consumers are expected to purchase about 841,000 such vehicles, or 26 percent.

Plug-in cars and light-duty trucks are expected to gain in popularity due to their “improved fuel economy, lower emissions, and a quieter ride than comparable traditionally powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles,” according to Pike Research.

However, U.S. consumers are still skittish about the initial cost of the vehicles despite the promise of long-term fuel savings. They also remain worried that the number of miles between charges a plug-in all-electric vehicle can manage–the vehicle range,–may not be enough to meet their needs.

Manufacturers are well aware of consumers’ concerns over range and cost, which is why their smaller models will be the first to carry the new technology.

“Electric vehicles will follow the lead of hybrids and will be launched in the small car segment for consumer markets initially, with the small SUV segment close behind. Because of their low weight and good aerodynamics, smaller vehicles are far more efficient to better extend the electrically powered driving range, and the smaller vehicle segments also allow the use of a smaller, less expensive battery,” Dave Hurst, senior analyst at Pike Research, said in a statement.

Candace Lombardi, a freelance journalist based in the Boston area, focuses on the evolution of green and otherwise cutting-edge technologies, from robots to cars to scientific innovation. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not a current employee of CNET. E-mail Candace.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20015278-54.html?tag=cnetRiver#ixzz0yIPgVL3y

REVA, an automobile company based in Bangalore, India, is preparing to launch its own plug-in models, except with a twist. Shown off at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and scheduled for production early this year, the NXR, a 3-door, four-seater hatchback, will have a range of about 100 miles and a top speed of 65 mph.

The NXG (shown above) will sport a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 125 miles. Both of these car models will feature REVive, a reserve-charging technology.

According to key experts in the company, REVA will be adding a unique technology to its plug-in cars, which will be designed to combat ‘range anxiety’. This phenomenon arises when motorists worry that their car will run out of charge mid-way through their journey — or perhaps on their way to a charging station.

The ‘REVive telematics’ feature will operate like an “invisible reserve fuel tank”, enabling drivers to get their reserve battery power remotely activated during an electricity crisis on the road. In such a situation, drivers would need to call or text-message REVA for an immediate top-up, however, remotely.

This idea might sound gimmicky at first, however it is meant to address a key issue with plug-in vehicles: the lack of charging infrastructure. Knowing that there is “spare fuel” in your vehicle might be an incentive to purchase a plug-in. However, the actual usefulness of this technology will depend on motorists behavior. The instant they start thinking of this extra charge as part of their normal battery life, its function will be worthless. Granted, having to text message your auto manufacturer in order to continue to operate your vehicle, and the embarassment it might cause when others are inside, might be enough of a hassle so the technology is not misused.

Prices for the REVA NXR start at €9,995 for the lead-acid battery version and €14,995 for the lithium-ion version.

About Reva:

REVA Electric Car Company is a Bangalore-based car manufacturer. It is a venture of AEV LLC of California and Maini Group of India, which is supported by tUS investors such as Draper Fisher Jurvetson and the Global Environment Fund. Launching its 1st electric car in 2001, the company is capable of manufacturing around 30,000 cars in a year at its factory in Bangalore. They are developing a new plant in Bangalore for an ‘ultra-low carbon’ motor vehicle. This plant will have the capacity to produce an extra 30,000 units per year. REVA operates in a country with a population that is becoming more affluent and highly invests in clean-energy vehicles.

So old chargers are, in effect, “stranded assets,” and there are a lot of them around. For instance the big-box retailer Costco ( COST – news – people )in 2006 had 90 charging stations at 64 locations (mostly in California, but also in Arizona, New York and Georgia). Some of them go back much further, dating to when first-generation cars like the GM EV1, Toyota ( TM – news – people ) RAV4 and Honda ( HMC – news – people ) EV Plus were still on the road.

Costco was the first big box to see the value of electric vehicle early adopters coming by, plugging in their paddles, then “heading into the warehouse.” But the timing was off–there just weren’t any cars on the road in 2006, or now, for that matter. It’s all coming later this year and in 2011. Costco’s Richard Galanti declined a golden opportunity to tell me what it plans to do with its old chargers, but they’d presumably need updating.

Costco and its ilk are in luck, because the state of California has just approved $1.9 million for a company called EV Connect, working with the longtime charging supplier Clipper Creek, to update approximately 600 of the old inductive chargers used to plug in such venerable campaigners as the Ford Ranger EV and the Honda EVPlus.

“We felt we made a solid offer to the state, considering that many of the existing units were ones we installed in the 1990s,” said ClipperCreek CEO Jason France. Installation of the new units is really low-hanging fruit, because in many cases the new units (which will meet the national J1772 standard set by the Society of Automotive Engineers) will slot right into the old holes.

Installation of the new units is expected to take about a year, said Tom Dowling, the charging infrastructure manager for California’s Electric Auto Association, which dates back to 1967 (and is materially supported by California-based Hewlett-Packard ( HPQ – news – people )). Dowling knows just where the bodies are buried, because he maintains EVChargerNews.com, which has maps to all of the state’s existing stations (with notes on their condition).

According to Dowling, Clipper Creek hasn’t had any more luck talking to Costco than I have, but about half of the company’s “legacy chargers” are inductive and eligible for the state replacement program. It would be nice to know what this pioneering retailer thinks about the whole thing.

California is really going all-out on electric vehicle charging. Replacing legacy chargers is just a small part of a total assault that includes far more installation projects than exists anywhere else in the U.S. Both The EV Project and ChargePoint America are installing Department of Energy-supported free chargers in California, and several small retail chains have, too. The big gun is Best Buy ( BBY – news – people ), which operates a small fleet of Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric cars for the Geek Squad, and has pledged to install public charging, initially only in California.

I’ve estimated that as much as 50% of the early adopter electric vehicle sales and leases will be in California, and I see no reason to alter that opinion. Nearly all of the coming EVs (Leaf, Volt, Smart, Coda, Wheego, Fisker) are targeting California, even if they’re only in a few markets.

I can predict with confidence that anyone buying an electric vehicle between San Diego and San Francisco not only will have no problem finding up-to-date public charging, but that they’ll also get an incredible deal (thanks to state and federal subsidies) and win the admiration of friends and family.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/30/electric-cars-ipod-technology-costco.html?partner=technology_newsletter

Jim Motavalli blogs about the auto industry for the New York Times and the Mother Nature Network.

The federal agencies released two new labels that officials expect to be finalized early next year and used in 2012 model year cars. The published labels will be available for public comment for 60 days.

The changed label, mandated by the 2007 energy law, includes the same information on city and highway miles per gallon and estimated driving costs based on 15,000 miles a year now available.

But the new labels add more comparative information, rating cars on mileage, greenhouse gas contribution, and other air pollutants from tailpipe emissions. That means that consumers can look at a label to see how one vehicle compares to all available vehicles, rather than only cars in a specific class.

One label proposes grades, ranging from and A plus to a D. There are no failing grades, since vehicles need to comply with the Clean Air Act.

“The idea of the grade is to give a single metric that combines greenhouse gases and fuel economy into one metric,” said EPA assistant administrator Gina McCarthy. “We will have information underlying those grades available to consumers when the labels are in place.”

The proposed labels address one of the outstanding problems of rating the fuel efficiency with vehicles that don’t use gasoline as a fuel source.

General Motors brought the issue into the public spotlight last year, when it said it expected to get a fuel economy rating of 230 miles per gallon for the electric Chevy Volt. As of now, however, the mileage rating for the Volt and the all-electric Nissan Leaf still are not yet certified.

EPA and DOT officials did say plug-in vehicles will have different labels than gasoline-only cars, which will include a miles-per-gallon equivalent number. The electric-car label also includes the anticipated driving range and efficiency expressed in kilowatt-hours per 100 miles.

Making the grade

During a media briefing on Monday, McCarthy said the median grade for passenger cars will be a B-minus which equates to mileage between 20 and 23 miles per gallon.

Electric vehicles that run entirely off of batteries, such as the Leaf, will have a rating of A-plus. Plug-in hybrid vehicles will have a grade of A, which a miles per gallon equivalent of between 59 and 116.

The EPA has modeled where existing cars will fall along the grading bell curve. Hybrids such as the Ford Fusion, Honda Civic, and Toyota Prius will get an A-minus, which a MPG rating between 40 and 58. Fuel-efficient cars such as the Nissan Altima, Toyota Corolla, and Volkswagen Golf will be given a B-plus for mileage between 30 and 30 miles per gallon. (Click PDF to see the full list of mileage and grades.)

Grades for midsize sedans will range from A-minus to D, and those for SUVs will range from B-plus to D, McCarthy said. High-performance sports and luxury cars, such as Ferraris will get a D rating, where mileage is 12 miles per gallon or lower.

The fuel economy ratings address only tailpipe emissions, and not the “upstream” energy use and pollution related to generation of electricity or oil refining, officials said.

There are also ratings for compressed natural gas vehicles, diesels, and different types of plug-in hybrids, including both the extended-range electric vehicle of the Chevy Volt and Fisker Karma, and plug-in versions of conventional hybrids. (Click PDF of all labels.)

By the time the labels are finalized, the EPA and DOT hope to have a Web site available where consumers could get more information at the point of sale on a smartphone. For example, a person could get an accurate idea of the car’s environmental impact, or the cost associated from using electricity to fuel it.

The agencies are seeking consumer feedback through the e-mail newlabels@epa.gov.

In reaction to the announcement, both General Motors and Ford said they are evaluating the label designs and will continue to work with the EPA and Department of Transportation to provide meaningful labels for consumers.

“Because the Volt under most circumstances does not use gasoline, the challenge at hand for consumers, automakers and government agencies will be to think beyond the conventional ‘miles per gallon’ standard,” GM said in a statement.

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20015069-54.html#ixzz0yCOHQ4ol

Sit down and take a deep breath, EV fans. The Nissan Leaf electric car will cost $32,780 when it rolls into showrooms in December. Add in the federal EV tax credit, and the bottom line is $25,280, a price that makes the Leaf competitive with the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius.

Nissan announced the price today and said it starts taking reservations for the Leaf electric car April 20. The five-passenger hatchback sports a 23 kilowatt-hour lithium-manganese battery that’s good for a claimed 100 miles and recharges in eight hours. The Japanese automaker plans to crank out 50,000 Leafs in 2011. With some 85,000 “hand-raisers” expressing interest in getting one, some EV advocates believe Nissan’s priced the car so competitively it could have trouble meeting demand.

“I think it’s an excellent price,” said Paul Scott, a founder and board member of the EV advocacy group Plug-In America. “I think Nissan is going to have a hard time keeping them on the showroom floor, especially in states that have additional tax credits. In California, it’s going to be a hell of a bargain at $20,028. They’ve really nailed it. It’s very, very affordable.”

We must note that these prices are for the United States only, and Nissan is offering the Leaf for sale or lease only as a complete package. It is not leasing the battery separately from the car here in the United States, though it might do so elsewhere.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has been among the loudest EV evangelists and is determined to make Nissan a player in the field. The company almost certainly is taking a loss on the Leaf, just as Toyota did with the Prius, in a bid to grab as big a chunk of the market as possible before cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Ford Focus EV appear, Scott said.

“They’re probably banking on battery costs coming down,” Scott said. “And they will come down.”

MSRP is but one part of the equation. Operating cost is the other variable, and on that score Honda and Toyota should be worried. Nissan’s priced the Leaf cheaper than the Civic and Prius once you’ve figured in energy costs.

“Lifecycle ownership costs of the Leaf over five years is $28,180 versus a Civic at $28,338 and the Prius at $29,358,” said Trisha Jung, chief marketing manager for the Leaf. “That’s the cost of the vehicle, the cost of the charging station and the cost of the electricity.”

A word on the math: Nissan figured electricity costs at 11.64 cents per kilowatt-hour and gasoline at $2.94 a gallon and assumes you drive 12,000 miles a year. The purchase price come down further if you include the tax credits or rebates several states offer. California and Georgia, for example, offer a $5,000 tax credit.

Nissan says the numbers work out in the Leaf’s favor if you lease one, too. Although Nissan gets the federal EV tax credit because it actually owns the car, it will pass it along to consumers as an incentive. Sign a 36-month lease and put $1,999 down, and your monthly payment will be $349.

“If you include the energy costs, it works out to $408 a month for the Leaf, $414 a month for the Civic and $389 a month for the Prius,” Jung said.

That’s for the base “SL” model, which includes, among other features, a navigation system that identifies local charging stations and smartphone connectivity that lets you activate and monitor charging and other functions remotely. Another $940 gets you the “SL” model that adds, among other things, a backup camera and a solar panel on the rear spoiler that trickle-charges the battery running the radio and other accessories.

The 220-volt charging station you’ll need to keep the car going will cost you about $2,200, but that includes the installation. A federal tax credit will cover half the cost, said Dave Mingle, Nissan’s senior director for customer management and business strategy. Later this summer, customers who reserve a Leaf through the Leaf website can schedule an in-home assessment. EV infrastructure company Aerovironment will send an electrician to your house to provide an estimate, line up the permits and install the charger.

“We expect the average cost to be $2,200,” Mingle said. “That’s all in — it includes the charging station and full installation.”

If you live along the Interstate 5 corridor in Oregon or in Seattle, San Diego, Phoenix-Tuscon or east-central Tennessee, you could get a free charger. The Department of Energy has awarded Etec a grant to install as many as 1,200 charging stations in each of those five markets through a program called the EV Project. Of course, you’ll have to share your charging data with the the feds to help plan a broader charging infrastructure.

Nissan starts taking reservations for the Leaf on April 20. Paying $99 (refundable if you change your mind) buys you a place in line when Nissan starts building the cars in September. The first cars roll into showrooms in December and will be available in the five markets of the EV Project plus the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. Nissan plans to offer the car nationwide by the end of 2011.

Source: Jon Snyder / Wired.com

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/nissan-leaf-ev-price/