Electric Plugin Vehicles
Electric plugin vehicles are the way of the future. Bio fuels and hybrid vehicles are just an interim solution for personal passenger transportation. The good news, they're here already. We'll look at the vehicles you can buy today and some that are on the drawing board or being demonstrated.
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Nissan Leaf & Land Glider
Nissan introduced their 5 seater sedan, called LEAF EV which will be avilable in select markets in 2010 and full worldwide production in 2012. This vehicle will go 160 kms (100 miles) between charges, to cover the vast majority of trips.
At the same time, Nissan has introduce a 2 seater, commuter EV called the Land Glider. This vehicle will "lean" up to 17 degrees as it travels around corners.
Renault ZE - Zero Emissions
Renault has announce a "line" of electric-only vehicles for 2011/12. They include a small 2 seater city car (Twizy), a van-like vehcile based on their existing Kangoo model, ZOE is thier compact model and FLUENCE, a family sedan. The vehicles will recharge in 6-8 hours with a standard plug, in 20 minutes with a quick charger and will also support battery swapping.
Range : 160 Km before recharge - (100 miles)
Top Speed : 87 mph
Other:Recharge with standard circiut in 6-8 hours. Fast charge in 20 minutes. Battery swap in 5 minutes
Website: Renault UK
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CityZENN
ZENN, standing for Zero Emissions No Noise, has a low speed electric vehicle on the market today, with plans to release a highway version in the Fall (Fall 2009). The highway version, call the CityZENN, will use the new battery technology from EEStor, which will allow the car to recharge in just minutes, after traveling 400 km (250 miles) on a single charge.
Range : 400 Km before recharge - (250 miles)
Top Speed : 125 km/h - (80 mph)
Other: EEStor battery system will recharge in only 5 minutes
Website: ZENN Cars
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Pininfarina Bluecar
The Pininfarina BLUECAR, on show at the Geneva Motor Show on the Véhicules Électriques Pininfarina-Bolloré stand, is not a mere concept car but a forerunner of the vehicle which will go into production in Italy at Pininfarina starting from 2010 with the first units. Production on an industrial scale will take place between 2011 and 2017, with forecast output by 2015 being about 60,000.
Range : 250 Km before recharge - (150 miles)
Top Speed : 130 km/h - (80 mph)
Seating : 4 adults
Other: Supercapacitor will take vehicle 30 km on charge of only a few minutes
Website: Pininfarina Bluecar
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Venturi Volage
Previewed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the Venturi Volage is the result of a collaboration between Venturi Automobiles and Michelin. It's a 2 seater sports car, powered by Michelin's Active In-wheel Motor system. Top speed is 150 km/hr and range is 320 km traveling at 90 km/hr.And of course it does 0 to 100 km/hr in less than 5 seconds!
Website: Venturi Volage
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Chrysler EV's
On September 23rd, 2008, Chrysler announced 3 electric vehicles, one of which they plan to produce for delivery at the end of 2010 (same time as the GM Volt).
One vehicle, the Dodge EV sports car, would be fully electric with a top speed of 120 mph and a range between 150-200 miles. Recharge time is 8 hours at 110 volts or 4 hours at 220v.
The Jeep and Minivan models are both Range Extended Electric Vehicles (REEV) with a small gas motor used to recharge the batteries when the initial charge is drained., similar to the Chevy Volt. These REEV would be able to travel about 40 miles before the gas motor kicks in. No word of which of the 3 is likely to be produced first.
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Chevy Volt
As per pictures leaked on our site September 10th, the Chevy Volt by General Motors is getting a bit closer to reality. Scheduled for the 2011 season, which means a Fall 2010 release, this is another Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV).
Top speed will be around 100 mph. The batteries will take the Volt up to 40 miles before the small gas motor starts to recharge the system. Recarhe time is 8 hours at 110v or 3 hours at 220v. Cost is likely to be around $35,000 though nothing has officially been announced.
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ZAP-X and more 
In February of 2007 ZAP Electric Cars announced a Tesla-like sports car called the ZAP-X, capable of traveling 155 mph with a range in the area of 350 miles. Their combination of lithium-ion batteries and “supercapacitor” technology, claims that a recharge can take as little as 10 minutes.
ZAP EV has several vehicles in the offering, based on a 3 wheel, motorcycle model. They have recently announced the Alias model which will use much of the technology proposed for the ZAP-X, but will be available sooner and at a better price. Tops Speed is 100 mph and range is 100+ miles. MSRP is $32,500 and they are taking deposits for a 2009 delivery.
Website: ZAP Electric Vehicles
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Oscar
Not in production, this car was designed by Felix von Borck of Akasol and a group of students at the Technical University of Darmstadt. VW have reportedly taken an interest in this vehicle... we'll see if that leads to something more.
Update: see next item under VW 1-litre. While their 1-litre vehicle is powered by diesel, not electricity, can the electric model be far behind?
Range : 100 - 300 Km before recharge (60 - 180 miles)
Top Speed : 130 km/h (80 mph)
Seating : 2 tall adults or 1 adult & 2 children. Sit one in front of the other.
Power Consumption : 6 kwh/100 km - equivalent to 1 ltr/100 km or 235 miles per gallon
More information :
1 page folder of the Oscar, with technical data
2 page poster of Oscar, with car and drive train
1 page poster with invitation to partner with the University to build 1,000 Oscars
Oscar Homepage in English - very little translated from German
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Volkswagen One-Litre Diesel
True, it's not an electric vehicle, but the mileage is impressive!
Volkswagen have relaunched their one-litre (1 litre of diesel per 100 kilometers = 282 mpg) to be available in 2010.
Like the OSCAR, it holds two people who sit one in front of the other.
The production model will be powered by a small diesel engine and get 282 MPG. Hopefully a VW fully electric vehicle is not far behind.
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Volkswagen L1 One-Litre Diesel- Electric Hybrid
Yes, still following this story of the 1 litre diesel. As of September 2009, it's now an elect ic-diesel hybrid. When it goes into production in 2013, it will be the most aerodynamic car in the world and, at just 840lb, the lightest.
It is built of the most exotic materials, with slippery carbon-fibre coachwork, a fighter aircraft’s cockpit canopy and rear-view television cameras instead of wing mirrors.
Its tiny, 800cc engine is one half of a VW 1.6-litre TDI turbodiesel unit, which delivers maximum power of 29 brake horsepower together with a 14 horse power electric motor to provide extra oomph for overtaking.
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Think City
March 12, 2009 Update: TH!NK announces plans to build a US based manufacturing plant. Fleet vehicles ready in 2010, with full production for consumers in 2011. Read the press release: TH!NK in North America
The Norwegian automaker THINK GLOBAL, will manufacture their THINK CITY electric car in the USA.
The Think City will cost under $25,000 USD before local rebates. The car has sodium batteries and is 95% recyclable. Of primary interest to fleet operations, a battery leasing option may be offered, reducing the initial price and removing hesitation around new battery technologies.
Range : 170 Km before recharge - (100 miles)
Top Speed : 105 km/h - (64 mph)
Seating : 2 adults, side by side
More Information: Think Global's Homepage
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Aptera Motors
Manufactured in California and available only in California, Aptera Motors have set the price at US$26 900 for the all-electric Aptera Local, and US$29 900 for the plug-in hybrid Aptera Everywhere.
They are taking orders now, with production scheduled for late 2008.
Range : 120 miles for all-electric model
Top Speed : 85 mph
Seating : 2 adults plus a child seat - will hold 2 full golf bags or 17 grocery bags
More Information: Aptera Motors Homepage
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Mitsubishi's i MiEV Electric Car
Mitsubishi has be working on fully electric vehicles for years. Their MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) was released in Japan in June 2009, a full year earlier than expected.
SEPT 04,2009 PARIS - PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. have agreed to launch an electric car in Europe by the end of 2010, the companies said Friday.
The as-yet unnamed vehicle will be based on Mitsubishi's i-MieV, which was launched on the Japanese market in June 2009. The car will be built in Japan and the carmakers target eventual annual global sales of 50,000 vehicles, PSA Peugeot Citroen spokesman Jean-Marc Sarret said.
The car will be able to drive for 130 kilometers (81 miles) between charges, with a battery that can be fully recharged in six hours, Sarret said.
Range : 81 miles or 130 kms
Top Speed : 81 mph or 130 kph
Cost : $28,000 USD
More Information: Mitsubishi MiEV in New York
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Tesla Motors
Electric Vehicles for the Rich & Famous.... the Tesla EV is truly a marvel if you can just forget about the price tag. With an acceleration of 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, this is an on-street racecar.
Production is in very low volumes with long backlogs in orders. As of July 2008, first units have started to ship to customers.
A second model is under development that will seat 5 and cost somewhere in the $60,000 range.... still aimed at the very top of the market.
Range : 220 Miles before recharge - (400 kms)
Mileage : 256mpg equivalent - 2 cents per mile
Seating : 2 adults
Cost : $$$$ - too much for you and me
More Information: Tesla Motors
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Miles Electric Vehicles - XS500
Miles Electric Vehicles already makes low speed vehicles for fleets and in late 2009 will start to deliver their first highway speed sedan, the XS500.
Final assembly is in China, with large scale production planned - true consumer market.
Range : 120 Miles before recharge - (216 kms)
Mileage : 159 mpg equivalent
Top Speed: 80+ mph
Seating : 5 adults
Cost : $35,000-$39,000 estimated
More Information: Miles Electric Vehicles
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Wondering just how much carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse gases is produced when you make 1 kwh of electricity? Check here for a state by state, or province, listing of the pounds of CO2 produced per kwh of electricity generated. Greenhouse Gases to Produce Electricity
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