EV News — Model X Pics, BMW i3 Battery Leadership, EVs For US Bureau Of Reclamation…
If you haven’t had enough electric vehicle news this past week, here’s a big helping of more.
Tesla
Retrieved from scouring the pages of the Tesla Motors Club forum (and particularly this thread), below are new (or relatively new) pictures of the Tesla Model X. I’ll group by color for you, with a section at the end for interior shots.
My Thoughts On/Suggestions For Autopilot (which I use a lot)
You wouldn’t think I’d get to use AP much since I live about 3 miles from work, however I do use it almost every day, although admittedly mostly on streets it isn’t supposed to be used on. All I can say it is works fabulously well and 99% of the time I’m very impressed by how well it does.
Tesla Model S P90D vs. Heffner Ford GT (w/ Video)
This just never gets old! Here we see the Ludicrous speed Tesla Model S P90D line up alongside Ford’s premier supercar, the LeMans-inspired Ford.
Is 37 More Miles Worth $13,000?
Like many of you, I’ve been waiting years for the X. Now it is finally within my grasp. I received my email to configure the X. My quandary is to go for the 70 or 90. The money miser side is of me is saying it’s not worth $13,000 to get an extra 37 miles of range. I realize that the air suspension is included in that price, but if I had a choice I’d pass on the air suspension… it would be rarely used! So if I go for the 70, I’d save a bunch of money and have to wait ANOTHER 6 months!!! Or do I bite the bullet and pay more so I can get it sooner with more range. What are people’s thoughts about the extra money for the extra range?
Step-By-Step Buying A Used Tesla
Finally, after two years of talking and test drives my dream becomes reality. I want to share my experience step by step, hoping to help others.
Other Electric Car Manufacturers
BMW EV Infrastructure Discussions From The LA Auto Show, Part 1
A few weeks ago at the LA Auto Show, BMW made news by announcing a partnership with NRG’s EVgo to install an additional 500 DC Fast Charge stations in 25 major US markets. The project is called the DC Fast Charge Expansion and is actually the second phase of a program started in 2014, which brought 100 DC fast charge stations to select California areas. I was there at the show for Press Preview days, and had the opportunity to sit down with basically all of the top EV infrastructure managers at BMW of North America. Seated at the table were Robert Healey, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Manager, Idine Ghoreishian, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Specialist, and Cliff Fietzek, Manager of Connected eMobility.
How BMW and LG Chem Surpass Tesla’s Battery Thermal Management System
We saw in a previous article that Tesla and General Motors use glycol liquid cooling to shed battery heat, and ended by saying there was room for improvement. Why? Better cooling will be needed as electric cars go to higher charging rates. These liquid cooled systems do now work OK during charging and vehicle operation, but they have a serious drawback: low heat transfer rates because of the poor heat transfer characteristics of liquid glycol.
Taking a note from Tesla’s playbook, BMW recently launched a new online sales site allowing potential customers to purchase the German company’s offerings online, according to recent reports. The new online service — which has been dubbed “Retail Online” — allows customers access to all aspects of the purchase process.
Why Would Apple Sell An Electric Car? Former Exec Jean-Louis Gassee Explains
Even with all of the ongoing discussion concerning the persistent rumors about an autonomous electric car from Apple, the question of why exactly the company might choose to release such a product has perhaps not been explored enough.
70+ EV Range In A 2016 Chevy Volt
I’ve had my Gen2 for six weeks now. And slowly my EV range has been increasing. I assume it is a combination of my learning how best to drive, tires wearing in and possibly car breaking in. ???
Mitsubishi i-MiEV To Be Dropped From US Lineup
Mitsubishi CEO Osamu Masuko is focusing the company’s efforts to its strengths in the US. “We are strong in SUVs and four wheel drives,” he says. “And that is what we would like to focus on as core models in the U.S. market. We have changed direction. We are going to allocate more resources to the areas where we are strong in the U.S.” That statement went along with the announcement that the oft delayed Outlander PHEV would finally make it to America in 2016. Mitsibishi also says it will bring a new electric SUV to the US in 2017.
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Nearing New Sales Record In Japan
The Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in hybrid is now set to achieve a new sales record in Japan from the looks of it — with 2016’s cumulative sales now being set to almost definitely eclipse 2015’s cumulative sales.
The JAC iEV5 is an all-electric car that launched in the Chinese market back in 2014, with sales beginning in earnest just earlier this year (2015) — mostly in the manufacturer’s home province of Anhui, China.
Nissan Brings “No Charge to Charge” Program To Minneapolis-St Paul
The “No Charge To Charge” promotion that’s been slowly rolled out through the US over the past few years by Nissan has now made its way to the Twin Cities, going by a new press release.
Mercedes In No Hurry To Make An Electric Car
The automotive universe is abuzz with reports that one manufacturer or another is hard at work on a “Tesla killer” — an electric car that will challenge the Model S and Model X head to head and win. Apple, Faraday Future, Atieva, and many other startups are supposedly designing such cars. Audi is readying its electric SUV, the Q6 e-tron, for production in 2017. BMW has its mysterious i5 in the works. What about Mercedes? Where is its “Tesla killer?”
Porsche Kicks Off Mission Eventually
A press release from Porsche says it has decided to chase Tesla, the company that Porsche knew nothing about until a few months ago, with a project dubbed Mission Eventually. Mark your 2020 calendar.
New 2017 Volvo S90 Sedan is No Swedish Meatball
The Volvo S90 sedan is built on the same chassis as the XC90 and comes with a 407 horsepower supercharged turbo engine, 4 wd, and hybrid powertrain.
Audi’s e-Tron Quattro To Possess “New Standard For Vehicle Handling”
Audi’s upcoming e-Tron Quattro SUV (the production version) will reportedly deliver a “new standard for vehicle handling” — thereby distinguishing itself from amongst the electric SUV market of predicted release time (2018) — according to recent reports.
Bolt Sets Low Bar For Model III
Seems the Chevy Bolt is just the latest example of wimpy-assed dilution from concept to production. Sigh. The casual observer might mistake the Bolt for a Honda Fit, or Ford Focus hatch, or Hyundai Elantra hatch, or many other stalwarts of Mundane Motoring. TeslaMondo repeatedly says, and will say again: At this stage of the game, any EV that seeks equality with gas cars lacks ambition.
Bollore Electric Car Sharing Service Beginning In London
Bollore Group will begin a new electric car sharing service in London in January. Starting with 10 cars, it plans to expand its fleet o 100 cars in 2016.
Google Awarded 2 New Patents For Self Driving Car Technology
Two new patents were recently awarded to Google that are related to its autonomous car technology, according to recent reports. The two new patents are for: interior design elements, and for external screens and speakers. The first patent pertains mostly to the sorts of design changes that are necessary if one is to remove the interior steering wheel; and the second one pertains mostly to the sorts of systems that will be needed to improve pedestrian/bicyclist awareness of the car.
Electric Tuk Tuk Makes It To The Paris Climate Conference, Following A 20,000 Kilometer Journey
The electric “Tuk Tuk” piloted by the Pilgreens — a group of French and German students campaigning to show the value of electric vehicles — recently finally made it to the COP21 climate talks in Paris, following on a 20,000 kilometer journey from Bangkok.
Other EV Stuff
While lithium-ion batteries will remain the dominant modality for at least the next decade, alternative battery technologies — lithium sulfur (Li-S), Solid-State, etc — will rapidly grow in importance over that period of time, according to a new report from Lux Research.
Carwatt Showcasing New Automotive Application For Second-Life EV Batteries
What do you do with electric vehicle batteries once they’ve been diminished to the point that they should (possibly) be replaced? Possibly use them for/as energy storage systems? What about reusing them for other electric vehicle applications?
The SEPARION P20 — a new, thinner flexible ceramic separator for lithium-ion batteries used in utility-scale and electric vehicle applications — was recently introduced by Electrovaya Inc and its wholly owned subsidiary, Litarion GmbH, according to recent reports.
Open Charge Alliance Standardizing Open Charge Point Protocol At Oasis
The electric vehicle infrastructure consortium the Open Charge Alliance has revealed that it’s decided to standardize the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) at the open standards development organization OASIS, according to recent reports.
West Hill House Bed & Breakfast In Vermont Goes 100% Solar & Installs Tesla Charging Station
Tesla owners on the lookout for a bed & breakfast with an electric vehicle charger in Vermont may be interested to hear that the West Hill House B&B in Warren, Vermont, has gone 100% solar and also possesses a Tesla charging station (not a supercharger of course, but rather a destination charger).
Advanced Vehicle Testing Data (Idaho National Laboratory)
I just discovered a trove of EV data from the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, Advanced Vehicle Testing Data, by the DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory. Some really nice testing of EV’s, especially the i3 and LEAF. Sorry, no Tesla data.
Kalmar, part of Cargotec, will introduce the first fast charging solution for electric powered shuttle and straddle carriers. The Kalmar FastCharge solution is locally emission free and can be applied to both automated and manual operation.
Williams Advanced Engineering Wins Formula E Battery Award
Williams Advanced Engineering has won several awards for its innovative Formula E battery. It has only one failure in the first season in 440 race starts.
Jay Leno Gets A Charge Out of Vintage Electric Bicycle
Jay Leno tried a Vintage Electric bicycle recently and loved it. Workmanship is first class. It is a cruiser style machines with about 30 miles of range.
US Bureau Of Reclamation Purchases Fleet Of EVs
A fleet of 27 brand new electric utility vehicles was recently purchased by the US Bureau of Reclamation as a means of providing transportation for federal employees working at Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington state, according to recent reports.
Jaguar Joins Formula E, Trulli Team Withdraws
Jaguar will announce next week that it is fielding a team in Formula E in cooperation with Williams Advanced Engineering. The Trulli team will withdraw.
Other Clean Transport
Uber is trying something new in Seattle. Instead of an individual rider linking up with an individual driver, users of the recently introduced UberHOP will walk to a specified location, wait patiently with others for their Uber ride to arrive, then all pile in and be driven along a specific route to one of several predetermined destinations.
What Gets Danes Biking, Anyway? This New Study Actually Asked Them
99% of the Danish population view themselves as cyclists – many without actually cycling daily. Even a Dane had to get on a bike for the first time. Compared to the rest of the rich world, the difference is that people in Denmark are much more likely to start riding and keep it up. Why?
Friday Fun: Two Maps Use Data to Help Cyclists Navigate Cities
Cycling in cities, especially in areas you’re unfamiliar with, can be a stressful experience. One of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of cycling is ambiguity; it can be difficult to tell what areas of the cities have designed bike lanes, where cyclists are forced to mingle with cars, or where cyclists simply aren’t allowed. Moreover, it can be nearly impossible to anticipate where a bike rack or space to park your bicycle might be—leaving some to either get creative with their locks, or leave their bikes unprotected. Not knowing cycling routes or where one can safely lock-up a bicycle is especially daunting, since cyclists are some of the most vulnerable users of the road.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
Latest CleanTechnica.TV Video
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
