Items tagged with Electric Vehicle
Tesla arguably kicked off the electric vehicle revolution with the original Roadster, and really kicked things into high gear with the release of the Model S. The success of the Model S, and later the Model X has encouraged other automakers both large and small to dabble in the EV realm. The latest boutique manufacturer to flex its muscle is Drako Motors, which has unveiled the GTE. Let's get the important stuff out of the way first. The GTE has a total of four permanent magnet electric motors -- one for each wheel -- that each have their own direct-drive gearbox. That translates into a staggering 1,200 horsepower and a mind-blowing 6,500 lb-ft of torque. While Drako hasn't commented yet on acceleration...
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Electric vehicles are growing in popularity, and it certainly helps that some of the newest designs carry the same aggressive looks and performance (at times) as their gas guzzling brethren. Some EVs are even ultra-sporty. That seems to be what Ford is after with an all-electric vehicle in the making, one that takes its inspiration from the company's iconic Mustang. Ford teased the upcoming EV by releasing a sketch of the rear end, and boy is it a beauty. In fact, it would be easy to mistake the sketch, as shown above, for a Mustang. That is precisely the point—Darren Palmer, product development director of Ford's Team Edison division, stated in no uncertain terms that the all-new, fully-electric...
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Jaguar has certainly made some very cool cars over the years and its most iconic and recognizable design is definitely the E-Type. Jaguar Classic has announced that it will be building zero-emissions versions of the E-Type replacing the classic car's gas engine with an electric drivetrain. The concept car officially made an appearance in the U.S. at Monterey Car Week in California after a world debut at the Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest in September of last year. The electric E-Type wraps Jag's classic sports car up with technology from the modern I-PACE electric crossover SUV to create a car that will be sold directly via Jaguar Classic. The EV construction will take place alongside E-Type...
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Tesla has made a big name for itself in a relatively brief time as the go-to company for high-tech and long-range electric vehicles. Tesla's cars look very good on the outside, but what about the parts under the skin that we can’t see? Engineering company Munro & Associates has taken Tesla's latest car, the Model 3, and torn the car apart to see how well it is built. According to the engineering firm, where Tesla truly excels is in the battery pack and related power electronics. Munro & Associates went so far as to say that it was "shocked" by the advanced techniques that Tesla used in integrating the battery and electronics. This sort of electronics and battery excellence...
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We've been talking about Apple's secret automotive project for what feels like forever, and despite all that's been reported up to this point, the company has stuck to its guns and remains quiet on the matter. At this point, though, we must imagine that Apple has just about given up on trying to keep things a secret, as it seems we can't go a single day without seeing more proof of it. The latest bit of "proof" comes from Daimler's CEO Dieter Zetsche who recently paid a visit to Silicon Valley with other senior management members. In talking to German weekly Welt am Sonntag, Zetsche said that during his visit, he was surprised at the sheer amount of progress both Apple and Google have made with...
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Despite certain states trying to block the direct sale of its electric vehicles, Tesla Motors continues to impress the consumers that do manage to get their hands on a Model S. According to a recent Consumer Reports buyer survey, Tesla drivers were more likely to say that they would purchase their cars again than Porsche owners, which came in second, or anyone else for that matter. For a second year in a row, the Tesla Model S luxury electric sedan was at the top of the U.S. survey. The Model S scored 98 out of 100, down from its score of 99 last year, with Porsche coming in second place with a score of 87. Overall, the average satisfaction score of all 280 vehicles surveyed was 70. “Not only...
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As electric vehicles continue to make their way to consumers, the issue of range and being able to conveniently recharge tend to come up. While there are gas stations aplenty, charging stations for electric vehicles are another matter. But that will change for travelers driving through one section of Route 66, as a new $1 million investment will help establish a series of charging stations along the highway through the state of Illinois. “We are building a 21st century infrastructure across Illinois and we need to make sure that it is sustainable for future generations,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “This new project exemplifies Illinois’ place as the innovation capital of the Midwest,...
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It seems we're constantly hearing about breakthroughs in battery technology, and though some of today's laptops and tablets boast all-day battery life, we're still waiting for the killer technology that will enable days, if not weeks and months of run time. A new lithium-ion battery developed by German scientists won't get us any closer to that goal, but it could be a big deal for electric vehicles. Using materials that exclusively originate from German companies, scientists at Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW, from here on out) created a Li-ion battery that retains most of its capacity after 10,000 recharge cycles. "After 10,000 complete charging...
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California owners of Priuses and other hybrids are about to get a rude awakening: as of July 1, 2011, they will no longer be eligible for the HOV lane with their yellow stickers. Those who want to get into that lane again are stuck looking for white sticker vehicles, including the Nissan Leaf, but that all-electric vehicle is severely limited in range (Nissan claims 100 miles, but search for "range anxiety" and you'll see real-life is not the same). [Green stickers will begin being issued for plug-in hybrids in January 2012.] For those who want an EV, not a CNG vehicle, the question is: what to do, what to do? The answer for some may be the Tesla Model S. The Tesla Model S is the new model that...
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Best Buy: it's the place you go when you need a new GPU, a new HDD, a new stick of RAM or a new notebook when time is tight and you can't bother to shop around. Soon, however, it'll be the go-to place for electric vehicles. You read right, electric vehicles.As the big box retailer looks to broaden its horizons, it will soon begin offering "green vehicles" in select stores. In fact, it has already started the program up in a few locations, with 19 stores in west coast states (Oregon, Washington and California) offering up electric scooters, electric bicycles and Segway transporters. Things are set to get even more serious this summer with the introduction of the Brammo Enertia, an $11,995 electric...
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