Peugeot EX1 sets electric car record on the Nürburgring

EX1 concept racer took just over 9 minutes to lap the 20.8 km track of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife

The Peugeot EX1 Concept has set a new record for an electric car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Driver Stéphane Caillet took just 9:01.338 seconds to lap the electric racer around the 20.8 km (12 mile) Nordschleife track. The car clocked an average speed of 138,324 km/h (85.9 mph) on the run.

The feat beats the previous record for an electric vehicle on the Nordschleife track by over 50 seconds.

For comparison, the record for fastest four-door production saloon around the Nurburgring, a 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX driven by Tommi Mäkinen, set a time of 7 minutes and 55 seconds.

Peugeot is promising photos and a video will be available soon, so stay tuned.

BYD Announces EV Fleet Results at Anniversary of Green-Taxi Project

Today marks the one year anniversary of the world’s largest all-electric vehicle Taxi fleet, manufactured by BYD. In conjunction with this anniversary, BYD announced results of several of its electric vehicle pilots – the F3DM, e6 and eBUS-12 which are in fleet testing across the world. Fifty of BYD’s e6, five-seat crossover vehicles, each with a range of over 160 miles (up to 300 Km) and a top speed of 88 mph (140km/h), have been in service at Shenzhen-based Pengcheng Electric Taxi Company since April 29, 2010.

The Shenzhen e6 Taxi fleet has now accumulated ~1,730,000 all-electric miles (or 2.77 million kilometers). The distance traveled for single fleet vehicles has reached ~63,000 miles each (>100,000 km). “This fleet of 50 e6 taxis has survived the very harsh operating conditions of hot Shenzhen summers and a very cold winter this year, and drivers and passengers alike have been extremely satisfied with their ride experience,” according to Stella Li, Senior Vice President. 250 more eTaxis are being delivered to the International University in Shenzhen before August this year. According to collected data, the per-car-fuel-savings is over $1167 per-Taxi-per-month (driving an average of 400Km per day). BYD’s all-electric Taxis are expected to help Shenzhen avoid about 133 lbs (or 60.4Kg) of carbon-dioxide pollution per day per Taxi. This is an equivalent of 2,425,060 lbs (or 1.1M kg) of carbon-dioxide pollution saved by this fleet in the first year.

The most important finding in the e6 fleet testing was that there has been no noticeable energy drop – both driving range and battery performance has been stable in rapid-charging conditions over the 1.73M miles tested – a breakthrough in EV rapid-charging. BYD has been challenged by the media about its claims of long-range electric vehicles and superior battery longevity in rapid-charging regimes since launching its first dual-mode, electric and plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles in December 2008. With the results of the e6 fleet, which was continuously rapid charged in 20- 30 minutes, BYD now has a proven track record for its Iron-Phosphate battery technology. The data is there to show vehicle charging efficiencies, consumption efficiencies, and EV ranges over time-- all with rapid-charging regimes.

BYD also reported on its F3DM fleet which BYD launched in its first US tests at the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA). The F3DM can travel over 40 miles all-electric but can be engaged to act as a Hybrid-Electric (HEV) to extend its range up to 300 miles. The HACLA fleet has now accumulated ~10,430 miles all-electric and 14,430 total miles (4,000 fuel-driven miles when extended range was necessary). The fleet is achieving an equivalent of 88 mpg and BYD estimates the per-car-savings---even netting out EV charging and electricity costs-- is ~70%. BYD’s dual-mode cars are expected to save HACLA about 37 lbs of carbon-dioxide per-day-per-auto when driven to the EV range.

In China, BYD launched an all-electric bus fleet with the eBUS-12 (click for video link) in Shenzhen and Changsha, China in January 2011. These fleets have already accumulated 28,802 all-electric miles (46,380 Km) while undergoing a 3-hour-charge of the 324 Kwh FE battery. An example of the per-eBUS-savings for Shenzhen’s Bus Line 202 (driving only 200Km per day) is about $2833 monthly per eBUS. 300 more buses will be delivered to Shenzhen in August of this year. BYD’s all-electric eBUSes save about 708 lbs (or 322Kg) in carbon-dioxide emissions per eBUS per day.

In total, BYD EVs have accumulated over 1.769 million all-electric miles and have seen no diminished range or capacity due to rapid-charging. BYD vehicles are estimated to have already saved $360,000 in fuel costs and over 2.776 million lbs of carbon-dioxide. BYD launched consumer sales of the F3DM in September 2010 and anticipates very good demand for the BYD e6 and all electric vehicles in China, fueled in part by government incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. “Consumers that purchase pure electric vehicles will also enjoy the special privilege of "license-plate-lottery-free, no traffic restrictions and tax-free exemptions (paid by the government)."

JD Power Sees 4X Growth in Green Car Market by 2016

The J.D. Power and Associates 2011 US Green Automotive Study indicates major growth in consumer interest in green cars—including hybrids, clean diesel, plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars. The market research firm expects as much as 10 percent of sales to come from vehicles with these fuel-efficient technologies by 2016. That would represent a four-fold increase in the sales numbers for green cars compared to 2010.

J.D. Power’s primary research included a study of more than 4,000 consumers who indicate they will be in the market for a new vehicle within the next one to five years. The study was fielded in February 2011, prior to the steepest rise in gas prices this year—which has increased interest in fuel-efficient alternatives.

Interest in the alternatives is unequivocal. More than half of the respondents said they would either definitely or probably consider a hybrid gas-electric car. Approximately one in three said the same for a diesel engine or plug-in hybrid car. There was similar high interest in battery electric vehicles, with more than one in four participants saying they would either definitely or probably consider an EV.

Carmakers appear ready to supply the growing demand. By the end of 2016, J.D. Power and Associates expects there will be 159 hybrid and electric vehicle models available for purchase in the US market—a significant increase from 31 hybrid and electric models in 2009.

The J.D. Power press release states, “Overall, the study reveals interest in alternative powertrain vehicles among a majority of consumers, with perceptions of green vehicles being largely positive.”

The study also states that improvements in the technology, improved infrastructure (for electric cars) and reduced costs—all anticipated in the near future—will help to overcome any obstacles and myths about these technologies.

“It is the financial issues that most often resonate with consumers, whether it is the higher price of the vehicle itself, the cost to fuel or charge the vehicle, or the fear of higher maintenance costs,” said Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. Yet, public education campaigns and other efforts to familiarize consumers could help inform them that the upfront costs of the most fuel-efficient green vehicles are recouped in fuel-saving during the first few years of ownership.

Other respondents expressed concern about increased maintenance costs and compromised vehicle performance of electric-drive and diesel vehicles—apparently not realizing that many of these cars have faster acceleration than conventional models, while offering reduced maintenance costs on many components.

The study revealed growing recognition about how these vehicles can reduce the sting at the gas pumps. For example, 75 percent of consumers who indicate they would consider a hybrid electric vehicle cite lower fuel costs as a main benefit. In contrast, 50 percent cite “better for the environment” as the reason to buy a hybrid.

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Mitsubishi keen on F1-style electric car series

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi has revealed its interest in F1 governing body the FIA’s plans to create a global racing series for electric cars.

Recent reports said FIA president Jean Todt, who thinks the new category can be set up for 2013 and be run on formula one circuits, has been asked to create the series by the European Commission.

There is some resistance within F1 to the sport’s own greener initiatives including smaller engines and hybrid technology, but Japan Today quoted president Osamu Masuko as saying Mitsubishi Motors is “very interested” in the electric series.

“Our employees are saying that we should definitely do it,” he added.

“The development costs for electric vehicles seem much lower than for gasoline cars and it would also contribute to the technological development of cars that are already on the market,” said Masuko.

Mitsubishi’s motor sport heritage has been predominantly in rallying, but it withdrew from its main focus – the off-road Dakar rally – two years ago.

Said Masuko: “I’m said to be unenthusiastic about motor sports but with electric vehicles, I want to promote them.”

Age of cheap fuel is over: IEA

One major indicator of inflation is the price of petrol and the latest information from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows it will only get more expensive.

Oil is deeply embedded in the economy, with the cost reflected not only at the petrol bowser but in food and clothing products.

The IEA is an independent, multi-government agency formed out of the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. It forecasts oil production, monitors the international oil market and other energy sectors.

Only five years ago it confidently stated that oil production was set to rise to 120 million barrels a day by 2030.

But IEA chief economist Fatih Birol says the world's crude oil production peaked in 2006.

He says oil prices are likely to rise 30 per cent over the next three years.

"The existing fields are declining so sharply that in order to stay where we are in terms of production levels in the next 25 years, we have to find and develop four new Saudi Arabias," he said.

"It is a huge, huge challenge that we continue to underline."

Dr Birol says although peak crude oil production is already behind us, liquid natural gases may provide a viable alternative.

But he says one of the conclusions the IEA has come to is that the age of cheap oil is over. At the height of the global financial crisis in 2008, oil spiked to $148 a barrel.

Dr Birol says the impact of both a financial crisis in Europe and global instability in oil-rich regions means crude oil will only get more expensive.

"The amount of increase in the oil input bill in Europe is equal to the government budget deficit of Greece plus Portugal put together," he said.

"It is only the increase value of $90. If it increases further ... we believe [it] will increase at least 20, 30 per cent higher in the next few years to come and this would mean additional pressure on the financing of many governments who are the oil importers."

Dr Birol says the oil reserves might be there but the access is not.

He also says it could be in the best interest of producers if crude oil is not always flooding the market.

"The producers, intentionally or unintentionally, may not bring the oil under the reserves to the markets," he said.

"For some producers, it is better that oil doesn't come to market so they would like to see perhaps higher prices as a result of tightness in the markets."

The IEA says governments around the world need to rethink their reliance on oil.

Luxgen's Neora EV sedan concept unveiled @ Shanghai Auto Show

Taiwan’s first and only domestic car brand, Luxgen, used the Auto Shanghai show to premiere its electric-powered Neora four-door premium sedan concept, featuring sprightly acceleration and a 400km battery range.

Luxgen says the Neora weighs 1600kg (slightly more than a Nissan Leaf), and that its 48kWh lithium-ion battery pack – twice the size of the Leaf’s – enables a claimed maximum range of 400km from a full charge, comfortably beating the Leaf’s 160km.

The Taiwanese brand says the Neora’s batteries can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in one hour. The Leaf’s smaller battery takes 26 minutes on fast-charge or eight hours from a household outlet.

The Neora’s 180kW electric induction motor sends 100kW more power to the front wheels than a Leaf does. As a result, Luxgen says its electric sedan concept can achieve the sprint from rest to 100km/h in a Golf GTI-shaming 6.5 seconds, topping out at 250km/h – matching the electronically-limited top speed of many high-performance European cars.

The Neora’s design, with its front-end reminiscent of what a car customiser might do to a Honda Insight, and its side profile dropping hints of Hyundai i45, is said to incorporate design cues that signal the future styling direction of Luxgen products.

What appears to be a big front grille is just for show as Luxgen claims the Neora’s “minimum intake area decreases the drag coefficient and achieves both aesthetics and efficiency”.

Look beyond the fancy lighting effects of the Neora’s exterior and you see a thinly-disguised concept car that looks close to production. The same goes for the interior – for all its translucent surfaces and blue lighting, it looks realistic, especially when one considers that the interior of Luxgen’s existing product line-up are adorned with multiple screens and high-tech gadgets.

Like the new Mercedes SLK, the Neora’s panoramic glass sunroof uses polymer dispersed liquid crystals to electronically vary the amount of light entering the cabin and a fully-digital LED instrument panel is complemented by a head-up display and nine-inch colour screen for the infotainment system.

In keeping with the eco-friendly powertrain, the Neora’s interior features recycled wood and the leather upholstery is finished in “earth tone colours”. Other interior materials originate from unprocessed raw materials in their natural colour.

Luxgen says: “A natural pure innocence is expressed through the interior design. While using the eco-friendly trims, the combination of the materials and colours carries a clean green future, to which Luxgen and Neora are both committed.”

If Luxgen can bring its performance and battery range claims for the Neora concept to reality in a conventional sedan-shaped car, it will represent a significant step forward in the challenge to bring electric vehicles into the mainstream.

Luxgen was established in 2008, with its first launch outside Taiwan at the Dubai motor show in December 2009. The brand’s first model was a luxury people-mover named the Luxgen7 MPV, which was later joined by the Luxgen7 SUV.

The Taiwanese brand later launched what it claimed to be the world’s first seven-seat electric vehicle, the MPV EV+, which offered the same 180kW peak power output as the Neora concept but with a battery range of 300km – at a constant 40km/h.