Charging in... from Finland

Whilst Tesla is due to imminently diversify into domestic energy storage, its dominant position in aspirational all-electric cars may be under threat from an unlikely place - Finland.

Only a concept car for now, this is the Toroidion 1MW Concept.

The rear light cluster reminds me of the mighty Jaguar XJ220, with the front having elements of a TVR Cerbera/Tamora, Aston Martin DB7, and Jaguar D-Type.  But of course it's what's under the skin that's the really interesting part.

Launched at Top Marques, Monaco 2015 (note: happy to cover the show in person next year), the Toroidion 1MW has:

• 1341 horsepower
• A high-performance and swappable battery (useful for the racetrack at at home)
• 4WD (one electric motor per wheel)

*June 2015 UPDATE* Here's a video of it's first day on the road:

Shanghai Motor Show - Highlights

The Shanghai Motor Show has become increasingly important for western car manufacturers, as they seek to export into China's fast-growing market. Below is a summary of the hybrid cars which are hitting the headlines.  And as a reminder, for UK readers, have a look at my list of hybrid and pure-electric cars available now, with CO2 ≤ 75g/km.

Audi prologue Allroad

A concept car, the third car in the Prologue series from Audi is the four wheel drive, five-door Allroad.

A four litre, V8, twin turbo-charged petrol engine is mated to an electric motor, giving performance of 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds, 724 bhp, yet 117mpg.  A 14.1 kWh lithium-ion battery in the rear provides 33 miles of pure-electric range, with 'Audi Wireless Charging' (AWC), meaning induction charging would be possible.

Audi Prologue Allroad Concept

Audi Q7 e-Tron quattro - Petrol-electric hybrid

At the Geneva Motor Show, earlier this year, Audi introduced the Audi Q7 e-Tron, with a diesel engine.  In Shanghai, and for Asian markets only, they've now mated the electric motor with a (just less than) 2 litre turbocharged engine.  Combined, they give performance of 362bhp, and 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds.  The all-electric range is 32.9 miles, courtesy of 168 fluid-cooled lithium-ion cells, at 17.3kWh capacity.

Audi Q7 e-Tron (petrol-electric)

Audi A6 L e-Tron

Audi A6 L e-Tron

Audi continue to introduce hybrid powertrains into a variety of their models, this time it's the stretched A6, the 'L' version, which will be produced in China.  We see the 2.0 litre TFSI petrol engine mated to a 14.1 kWh capacity lithium-ion battery (104 cells).  The all-electric range is 31.1 miles.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

Seen in the metal for the first time at Shanghai, BMW's first mainstream plug-in hybrid, the X5 xDrive40e was showcased.  More details in my recent New York Auto Show post.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

Citroën Aircross concept

Citroën Aircross concept

Citroen have released the Aircross concept, a petrol-electric hybrid.  A  218bhp 1.6 litre engine is mated to a rear-mounted 95bhp electric motor.  0-62mph is made in 4.5 seconds, and there's an all-electric range of 31 miles.


Peugeot 308 R Hybrid Concept

Aiming to appeal to a slightly different segment that most hybrids, Peugeot's 308 R HYbrid concept mates a 16 litre turbocharged petrol engine with a pair of electric motors to give 4WD driving, a 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds, and 500hp.

Peugeot 308 R Hybrid

New York Motor Show - Highlights

The 2015 New York International Auto Show has introduced a handful of cars which are helping maintain the momentum towards a more sustainable form of personal transport. Predictably for a US auto show, most of the models are at the super-sized end of the spectrum.  Below are the highlights, in alphabetical order.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

Revealed a couple of weeks before New York started, the BMW X5 xDrive40e is a plug-in hybrid, mating a 242bhp 2.0 litre turbo-charged petrol engine with a 111bhp electric motor.

BMW X5 xDrive40e

It has an all-electric range of 19 miles, 85.6mpg fuel consumption and emissions of just 77g/km.  The 9kwH lithium-ion battery takes-up 150 litres of boot space.

Lexus RX

The fourth generation of the Lexus RX was revealed, with the hybrid version, the 450h, with the F Sport trim being available for it, for the first time.

Lexus RX 450h

A 3.5 litre V6 engine will be mated to an electric motor.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 500 e 4MATIC

The GLE 500 e 4MATIC is Mercedes-Benz's first plug-in hybrid SUV.

Mercedes Benz GLE 500 e 4MATIC

A 3 litre V6 twin turbo-charged engine, combined with a single electric motor provide 328 and 114 bhp respectively, and it can run for 18 miles in all-electric mode (one of three driving modes to choose from).

The emissions are 78g/km, with fuel consumption of 85.6mpg, albeit presumably less outside laboratory conditions.

Toyota RAV4

As the pioneers of hybrid technology, everyone takes note when Toyota releases a new model - and they've just done so with the new RAV4.

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2016)

Toyota are mating a 2.5 litre petrol engine with an electric motor for the rear axle.

VW Camper

Volkswagen hinted at ongoing work to potentially bring back the classic VW Camper, but this time, as an all-electric version.  I believe it was at the 2012 Canadian International Auto Show that the VW Bulli concept was released, which may hint at some of the styling we'd see.

VW Bulli Concept (2012)

Geneva Motor Show - highlights

Last week, at the Geneva International Motor Show, as well as the exotica like the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren 675LT being unveiled, there were plenty of announcements which continue to keep the world of sustainable mobility very, very exciting.  Below is a brief summary of the key news, in alphabetical order by manufacturer.

Aston Martin DBX

Catching everyone by surprise, Aston Martin unveiled a 4WD all-electric concept car, the DBX

Aston Martin DBX

Electric motors inboard-of-wheel, powered by lithium sulphur cells, alongside KERS, mean in a decarbonised grid of the future, guilt-free motoring seating four in luxury would be possible.

Audi Q7 e-tron

Audi Q7 e-tron

Back to the here and now, and Audi are launching their 7 seat diesel-electric plug-in hybrid, the Q7 e-tron.  The key stats are compelling:

• CO2 emissions of just 50g/km
• Official consumption figure of 166.2mpg
• Range of 876 miles, and all-electric range of 34 miles

It has 168 individual lithium-ion battery cells, which combine to give 17.3kWh.  It's even got a heat-pump built in, so heat from the electric drive components can efficiently be used to heat the cabin when required.

Audi R8 e-tron

Still at the concept stage, but with 10 production-level cars having being built, an R8 e-tron takes on the R8's new styling, but has two electric motors powering the rear wheels.  

Audi R8 e-tron

It features a 48.6kWh lithium-ion battery, which should deliver a 0-62mph sprint in 4.2 seconds.  A range up to 133.6 miles will be very optimistic for any enthusiasm in driving style, which I'd expect is pretty hard to resist...

Koenigsegg Regera

Sat firmly in the rarified world of exotica, a production run of 80 Koenigsegg Regera will provide the lucky few with a remarkable feat of engineering:

Koenigsegg Regera

This plug-in monster has the patent-pending  Koenigsegg Direct Drive Transmission (KDD), which is different to normal hybrid configurations.  The KDD allows for direct transmission to the wheels from a 5.0 litre V8, without the need for gears, with three electric motors providing additional direct power, as required (one to each rear wheel, and another to the crankshaft).

Another neat feature is BDM (Battery Drain Mode).  This calculates how best to optimise the use of the electric power, based on the car's proximity to destination and driving style, such that the battery is just about drained upon arrival - minimising fuel consumed.

Quant F and QUANTiNO

It's not everyday that swiss-engineering is applied to cars... and to one that's powered by ionic liquids, but that's exactly what we have with the Quant F and QUANTiNO concepts.  They are powered by a nanoFlowcell® battery.

Quant F

The Quant F has a range of up to 800km, can accelerate to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds, and has a top speed of over 300km/h.

QUANTiNO

The all-wheel drive QUANTiNO can travel up to 200km/h and has a fully-electric range of 1000km.

VW Sport Coupe Concept GTE

VW's Sport Coupe Concept GTE is a petrol-electric hybrid, with a 3.0 litre V6 alongside a a 54bhp electric motor powering the front wheels, and an additional 114bhp motor for the rear wheels - 374bhp in total. 

The all-electric range is 31 miles, and 746 using the petrol-electric combination.  Emissions and consumption are claimed to be 46g/km and 141.3mpg.

Public Transport - Charging Ahead

Sustainable mobility innovations take a variety of forms (see my previous posts on hydrogen power, collaborative sharing, electric and hybrid powertrains, and even cycling).  And none of them are science fiction - it's all happening today, as a quick example, Tesla are installing their super-chargers in some Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Public transport is of course a critical part of any transportation system, and various technological solutions to improve their efficiency are being used.  This article will consider pure electric battery solutions, which have the following potential advantages over traditional powertrains:

• No or minimal local/'tailpipe' pollution - ideal in cities, where air pollution legislation is becoming tougher (a recent bus strike in London highlighted the pollution levels correlated to congested traffic)
• Few moving parts in the powertrain should result in lower maintenance costs
• Predictable routes to/from a common place, e.g. a depot, minimise the amount of distributed charging infrastructure required
• Charging batteries off-peak minimises carbon emissions from the electricity grid, e.g. shifting the peak from a traditional electric train which would use electricity whenever it is running, including at peak times

Below, pure electric powertrains are introduced for buses, trains, and even planes!


Battery-powered Bus

In London, there are six pure electric buses running.  Two are from Chinese manufacturer BYD (on the 507 and 521 routes respectively).  They have a range of 150 miles, and the batteries should last 4000 cycles.  The charging time is around 5 hours.

More recently, four electric buses from Optare have been introduced on the H98 route. They have a range of up to 100 miles, and take 5 hours to charge, or 2 if super-charged.

Optare MetroCity electric bus on H98 route (credit: TfL)

Internationally, BYD has continued to gain traction, with both 40 foot and 60 foot vehicles, using their iron-phosphate battery

BYD 60-foot bus

Last year, in Milton Keynes (50 miles North West of London), Arriva, in partnership with Arup-Mitsui JV, have launched a trial of electric buses which supports inductive charging.  This 'opportunity charging' means that the battery charge can be 'topped-up' during the working day, with it temporarily parked above charging plates built into the road.

The inductive charging used in Milton Keynes (credit: Arup)

Here's a video explaining a little bit more about the technology:

Battery-powered Train

Electric-powered trains have been around in the UK since 1883, using either electrified DC lines (the 'third rail', as of 2011, used on about 14% of track ), or overhead AC cabling (25% of lines, the balance being for diesel-powered trains).  As grid decarbonisation continues, electric trains will continue to have lower carbon emissions per passenger km than diesel, but it isn't always possible or cost-effective to install an electric supply infrastructure.  In these cases, Network Rail's prototype of a battery-powered train could provide a glimpse into the future of a solution.

Abellio Greater Anglia Class 379 unit (credit: Network Rail) 

Battery-powered planes

There are various approaches to reducing carbon emissions associated with flight, from use of biofuels, minimising taxi times, increasing angles of ascent and descent and enhanced air traffic control.  But even pure electric aeroplanes have been trialled - and they're a good idea, as the EC's FlightPath 2050 target is for a 75% reduction of aircraft emissions from a baseline year of 2000.  Here's a video outlining the prototype E-Fan from Airbus:

So, with battery performance continuing to improve, the attractiveness of off-peak charging (especially as the grid decarbonises) , there is likely to be an increased proliferation of batteries in public transport.

Detroit NAIAS - a [thunder] Bolt for sustainable mobility?

Today marks the start of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and encouragingly, manufacturers have taken the opportunity to launch new sustainable driving solutions, most as plug-in hybrids.  Here's a quick outline of the highlights so far:

Chevrolet Bolt

First up is an electric-only concept from Chevrolet (part of the GM Group) who introduced their new Bolt:

Chevrolet Bolt Concept Car

The headline figures are a game-changer - $30,000 and a 200 mile range.  That nicely knocks 'range anxiety' out of the minds of anyone considering all but long distance travel.

It's especially encouraging to see that it will support new car sharing models, and will "...Allow ride-sharing management, including reservations, vehicle location, digital key and even payment processing via the smartphone"

PS - does it look like there might have been some inspiration from the BMW i3?

BMW i3

Chevrolet Volt 2

Not content with the game-changing Bolt, Chevrolet also updated their Volt:

Chevrolet Volt 2

The updated version has a 50 mile EV range, and is 12% more efficient and 45kg lighter than its predecessor.

Hyundai Sonata PHEV 2016

Hyundai will release a new Sonata in 2016 in selected markets, which will include an all-electric range of 22 miles, and a charging time as little as 2.5 hours.  A smartphone app will allow charging to be setup as a weekly schedule.

Hyundai Sonata PHEV 2016

Mercedes C350 Plug-in Hybrid

Following the C500 Plug-in hybrid launch last year, Mercedes have just launched the C350:

Mercedes C350 Plug-in Hybrid

Just in case you weren't sure...

It has an electric-only range of 19 miles, and C02 rating of only 48g/km.  5.9 seconds is all it will take to get to 62mph, and only 0.3s slower for the estate version.

Audi Q7 PHEV

Audi are updating their Q7 model, including a 3.0 litre diesel plug-in hybrid, with a 35 mile electric-only range, and 0-62mph in 6.0 seconds

Audi Q7 PHEV

Honda / Acura NSX

The NSX is reborn, and this time, in the form of a high-performance hybrid.

Honda / Acura NSX

Its powerplant is "...a twin-turbocharged 75-degree DOHC V6 engine with a 9-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and three-electric motor Sport Hybrid system".  An electric motor powers each of the front wheels, whilst "...the rear direct-drive electric motor, housed between the engine and transmission, supports acceleration, braking and transmission shifting performance".

Honda / Acura NSX powertrain

N.B. some of the specifications don't translate directly from the US market to Europe, e.g. mpg figures.  Something to do with gallons, and different test cycle conditions...

Mobility for a new generation

Car ownership has been an aspiration for generations of teenagers, but this is changing fast.  The next generation of drivers are less likely to own a car, and a lot more likely to access a car only when they need it.  And you can understand why:

• Car's are not cheap to buy, insure or maintain
• Cars depreciate in value quickly - and this will accelerate as new car technologies render older ones less attractive
• Parking is not readily available for a lot of people
• Congestion and pollution aren't being resolved in cities

For the car industry, this is a problem, as their traditional business model relies on selling volumes of cars to the public, or for fleets.  Car dealers too, will struggle to survive in their current form if cars aren't purchased as often.  Below are outlined some of the new business models being introduced, and the players who are vying to deliver a great experience and win customer loyalty.  It is interesting to note those manufacturers who have embraced these new business models.

Why is this relevant to sustainability?  Well, put simply, car sharing should mean less vehicles on the road.  That means less materials used in manufacture, less congestion, and less emissions.  In fact, a Frost & Sullivan study suggested that each car sharing vehicle available, it was equivalent to 15 privately-owned vehicles.

This blog will consider 5 different business models:

• Car sharing
• Peer-to-peer car sharing
• Lift sharing
• Car Lane Sharing
• Taxi services
• Parking space sharing

Car Sharing

People have been hiring cars for decades, but given the fixed costs of

rental agreement processing, cleaning and maintaining cars, it hasn't been suited to short-term rentals, so was only attractive to holiday-makers and businesses.  Local residents were stuck.  This is no longer the case...

Zipcar

Zipcar was setup in 2000, in Boston, US, merged with Flexcar in 2007, and in 2010, bought London-based Streetcar. In the UK, Zipcar offer a variety of VW/Audi cars/vans (plus Vauxhall Corsas) for hire, on an hourly or daily basis, in one of five cities (London, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford, and Maidstone).

BMW DriveNow 

BMW i, Mini and Sixt have launched DriveNow in eight cities, including London.  In an all-inclusive package, once you have become a member, you can access a fleet of cars, and pay by the minute.  There's no need to return it to the same space it was collected from. 

Here's a promotional video:

Peugeot Mu
 
Peugeot haven't caught the imagination of the car sharing / sustainability media as much as they perhaps deserve.  Peugeot Mu started on the Continent, and was launched in the UK in 2010.  Its service offers a selection of mobility options for short-term rental, including cars, vans, mopeds and vans.

It seems to only operate from five Peugeot dealers in the UK (in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow), so its limited reach may restrict its wider acceptance.

Audi Unite

Audi Unite takes car sharing to a whole new proposition, by making car ownership between a group of people a lot easier.  A smartphone app allows you to locate the vehicle, reserve it, and see how much fuel is available.  And cleverly, the all inclusive running costs are then shared between the members of the circle, based on their respective usage. It's currently only available in Stockholm, so will be interesting to see if it gains further traction.

Car2Go

Car2Go (part of the Daimler AG group) operates in 30 cities across Europe and the US (but no longer in the UK).

 If you'd like to learn more, here's a video explaining the service:

City Car Club

City Car Club was launched in 2005 from Leeds, and offers cars for sharing in 17 locations in the UK.

Peer-to-peer car sharing

Taking the concept of car sharing to the next level, peer-to-peer sharing allows car owners to make their car available to other people, through peer-to-peer sharing.  Of all the collaborative consumption business models that exist, it may prove one of the most difficult, as trusting someone else with ones car is a tough call. One of the early pioneers, WhipCar, unfortunately is no longer in business, but there is at least one organisation still operating this model.

easyCar club

easyCar Club offers peer-to-peer lending, with driver vetting, insurance and RAC roadside assistance all providing peace of mind.

Lift sharing

Another twist to car sharing is offering spare seats to give the driver company for a trip they were already planning.

Lyft

Lyft operate in a large number of cities in the US, with passenger ratings, payments via an app, and additional insurance services.

bla bla Car

Paris-headquarterd bla bla car offer peer-to-peer services in a handful of European countries, including the UK.  

Car Pooling

Munich-based Car Pooling is Europe's largest carpooling community.

Car Lane sharing

Car Lane sharing, or 'High occupancy vehicle' (HOV) sharing gives drivers access to an exclusive lane on a highway, if they share with at least one other participant. The idea is that this not only reduces their journey time, but with less overall cars on the road, it should have a net total benefit.  The reality can be somewhat different, with the non-HOV lanes finding an increase in congestion, and sometimes the HOV lanes very sparsely used.  This is a shame, as it's a great concept which perhaps needs to be more dynamically controlled.

Taxi services

Uber

Uber is a smartphone app which had an impact in every city it's entered, for example the traditional black cab drivers in London staging a protest.  Via a smartphone app, you can book a car with driver to collect you and drive you to your chosen destination.  The passenger can choose the level of car they'd like (e.g. luxury), and the payment is all made via the app.

Parking Space Sharing

JustPark (referral link) allows you to earn money from renting out a parking space you have (e.g. your driveway), to someone that would like to park there (by hour, day, week, month, etc.).  It's so simple, that even I use the service to rent out a space. 

Summary

If a journey can't be made by foot or cycle, ideally public transport should be used to minimise the environmental impact of the journey.  Where this isn't practical, there's no longer a need to own a car - there are a whole host of options available, helping people get to their destination.