2012 Ford Focus Electric

Like Toyota did when it made the first Prius hybrid, Nissan and Chevy chose to invent new names and shapes for their EVs. Ford is taking a different approach with the 2012 Focus Electric, the company’s first all-electric passenger car. Introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the Focus Electric is based on a regular, soon-to-be-familiar, high-volume production car.



Ford seems less concerned with differentiating the Focus Electric from internal-combustion Focus models than it does with beating its competitors for EV bragging rights—even as, it should be noted, those competitors will have beat it to the electric-car market by about a year. The Focus Electric will arrive here at the end of 2011 and will spread internationally a year later.



The Electric’s guts include a 123-hp electric motor that makes 181 lb-ft of torque from 0 rpm—less horsepower but more torque than the 155-hp, 140-lb-ft, 2.0-liter four in the conventional 2012 Focus. The electric car’s single-speed transmission allows for a top speed of 84 mph.



A total of 23 kWh of energy is stored in a battery pack located under and behind the rear seat. The pack is comprised of cells sourced from LG Chem and assembled by a supplier in Michigan. The EV powertrain is installed in the same Wayne, Michigan, plant that assembles non-EV North American Focus models. Aside from the lack of shifting, quieter operation, and additional weight (Ford quotes a curb weight of 3691 pounds, or about 700 pounds heavier than a gas-powered five-door), the company says that the experience will be like that offered by a regular Focus. Since adding that much weight seriously affects ride and handling, what Ford really means is that it will offer the same options in the same five-door wrapper.



Ford expects the Focus Electric to have a better miles-per-gallon-equivalent rating than the Chevrolet Volt’s 93 MPGe, and one comparable to those of other all-electric cars—we assume that refers to the Nissan Leaf, which scores a 99. The Focus Electric’s battery is about the same size as the Leaf’s, which, based on our experience, should be good for about 70 miles on a charge. The Focus’s additional mass means its range will be a bit lower.



Charge time on 240-volt power is pegged at three to four hours, or about half that needed by the Leaf; this is accomplished through the fitment of an on-board charger that is twice as powerful as the Nissan’s: 6.6 kW versus the Leaf’s 3.3. A charge on 120-volt household current will take somewhere between 18 and 20 hours, or about the same as a Leaf. This is because either charger is limited by the amount of juice available from a 120-volt circuit, whereas the Ford charger can better exploit the higher limits of a 240-volt system. Ford will include a 120-volt cord with the Focus, and a Ford-branded 240-volt home charger will be available through Best Buy for approximately $1500, including installation. A “value charging” function times recharging to coincide with the lowest energy rates.

AC Schnitzer Turns All-Electric MINI E into a Police Car

In support of the German Automobile Tuner Association’s “Tune it! Safe!” campaign, AC Schnitzer built the MINI E Police Look Concept, which is being showcased at the 2010 Essen Motor Show. The idea behind the campaign is to create a car that can satisfy tuning aficionados and also meet safety standards.



The BMW Group's MINI E is powered by an electric motor with 204 hp on tap and plenty of low-down torque (maximum is 220 Nm or 162 lb-ft). It completes the standard sprint from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds and has a limited top speed of 152 km/h (95 mph).



AC Schnitzer’s comprehensive tuning package made it even better while the police livery is an interesting take on the “safety” theme.



Finished in the classic Polizei colors, the concept has the latest signaling system from Hella mounted on the roof and special wraps from Foliatec. Modified front and rear bumpers, plus lowered side skirts, improve the car's looks, while bonnet vents and a large roof spoiler complete the bodykit.



The tuner opted for new alloys, too. The 18-inch MI 2 wheels feature an 8-spoke design and are wrapped in high-performance Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tires. Stopping power is provided by an upgraded brake system, boasting 328mm 4-pot caliper (in front) ventilated disks. There is also a complete suspension kit.



Inside, the boys in blue are greeted by aluminum pedals, footrest and handbrake handle.



AC Schnitzer says that most of the tuning accessories shown on the concept model are either already available or will soon be offered for the production MINIs.

Renault Electric DeZir Concept Car -- Paris Motor Show

The Renault DeZir project is the first to have been led by Laurens van den Acker and marks the start of a sequence of concept cars that will provide an insight into Renault Design's new vision for the future. DeZir stands out as an illustration of the brand's commitment to more emotional styling.



The DeZir Electric is a two-seater coupé that Renault says stands out as an illustration of the company’s commitment to more emotional styling. With its sports car looks and ability to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in five seconds, or 0 to 50 km/h in just two seconds, it’s hard to disagree.



Although the DeZir is purely a concept car at this point, Renault is strongly hinting that it shows not only the direction they plan on heading with sports cars in the future, but that it is indicative of a new overarching design and styling philosophy across the entire Renault brand.

The 'Z' in the name DeZir is a direct reference to Renault's Z.E. signature, and several features of its design are suggestive of two qualities readily associated with electric mobility, namely advanced technology and light weight.



DeZir Electric is powered by an electric motor mounted in a mid-rear position to optimize weight distribution over the front and rear wheels. The vertically-mounted 24kW/h lithium-ion battery is located behind the benchseat and provides the car with a range of 160km.

Battery cooling is ensured not only by the air channelled from the front to the back of the car, but also – and above all – by the flow of air that enters through the lateral scoops concealed behind the aluminium panels on either side of the body.



Employing the same principles as the KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) seen in Formula 1, when the car decelerates, kinetic energy is recovered and stored in the battery. This energy can then be employed by the driver to provide a temporary power boost using a button located on the steering wheel. The car can be charged in 8 hours at 240-v, can get to 80% charge in 20 minutes at 4o0-v (3-phase) and will accept battery swapping made possible by the Better Place alliance.



The basic motor is the same as the unit used for Renault's production electric cars, although an evolution has enabled its power and torque to be uprated to 110kW (150ch) and 226Nm respectively. Through the extensive use of lightweight materials such as the Kevlar body, the DeZir Electric tips the scales at just 830kg or 1,830 pounds. According to the French carmaker, the DeZir can go from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 5 seconds and reach a top speed of 180km/h or 112mph.



The DeZir will debut in October at this year's Paris Motor Show, but no date has been set for its full release. According to Fast Company, by the end of 2013 the Renault-Nissan alliance hopes to produce 500,000 electric vehicles globally, including the 2011 Fluence ZE and the 2011 Kangoo ZE electric van.

Nissan LEAF Electric Car - 25 August, 10

Nissan has just unveiled a new zero emissions vehicle that is slated to go on sale in Japan, Europe and the United States next year. Called the LEAF, this C-segment (sub-compact) car is powered by an electric motor and lithium-ion battery packs. Nissan says it will be able to drive 100 miles on a single charge. The batteries will be able to be charged up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes with a special quick charger, or in roughly eight hours through a standard 200V outlet. Nissan says that through extensive research the 100 mile range will be suitable for 70 percent of car buyers.



Output from the lithium-ion battery packs is rated at 80kW/280Nm, (107-hp and 207 ft-lbs of torque), which should make this sub-compact a sporty little car.



Pricing has yet to be released but Nissan aims to give the LEAF an MSRP competitive with well-equipped C-segment cars. That should put it near the $20,000 mark. The car will also qualify for government rebates and tax incentives desigend to help promote the sale of fuel-efficient cars.



“Our car had to be the world’s first, medium-sized, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that’s what we’ve created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility,” said the LEAF product boss Masato Inoue.

The first LEAFs will be built at Nissan’s plant in Oppama, Japan with plans to also start production soon at the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant. The LEAF is the first of three electric vehicles that Nissan plans to launch in the next few years.



”The Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment – one in with all Nissan employees can take great pride,” said Nissan President Carlos Ghosn. “We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality – the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero – not simply reduced – emissions. It’s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey – for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry.”

Venturi Volage Electric Roadster for 2012

Venturi Volage is a fully electric roadster that boasts 295 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque.Venturi Volage is indeed a head-turner with plenty of unbelievable features such as Active Wheel Technology that empowers each wheel with a significant amount of additional control over the vehicle. This Venturi Volage concept is planned for 2012 but because of the impressive looks who doesn’t want to be the driver and master of this unleashed man made wonder.