2010 Tesla Roadster gets upgrades

While owners of the current Tesla Roadster get the benefit of driving their bad ass electric vehicle today, people who are on the list for a 2010 model will get a few benefits that make 2009 owners jealous. Tesla Motors Club member DrComputer wrote about "a conversation with Ted at corporate" that revealed some improvements to the new cars. A tipster sent in a similar list of upgrades.


The upgrades include:

* New power electronics module
* Better cooling for the power electronics
* Improved AC with variable speed fans
* Built in WiFi cards that connect the Roadster to the Internet (unless you turn the feature off) and gives Tesla the ability to interact with the car remotely. Also, this could open the door to mobile phone apps that talk to the car.
* Glove box locks when you lock the car (to leave it out with the top down)


Both sources mention the ability to switch vehicle performance modes – from Range to Standard or Performance (but not back to Range) – with the key instead of needing to change modes via the screen. There has been no official confirmation about these upgrades, but none of them would surprise us if they were true. Thanks to Dan for the tip!


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2010 Toyota Prius ditches Incredible Shrinking Gas Tank for conventional unit

Since its introduction back in 2001, Toyota has equipped the Prius with a synthetic fuel tank bladder that collapsed as gasoline was slowly pumped out of the tank and into the engine.


Due to complaints that the last-gen car wasn't able to take its full 11.9 gallon fuel allotment whenever the temperature was below 70-degrees, the third-generation Prius comes equipped with a more conventional rigid fuel tank made from lightweight resin. In order to retain its coveted low-emissions rating in California, the latest Prius also reportedly features an improved vapor-recovery system that will help reduce hydrocarbon emissions.


Ever notice that you your bladder seems to shrink when its cold outside? Apparently, the Toyota Prius feels your pain, and while we don't have any good solutions to report for your own personal problems, Toyota has found an easy fix for its hybrid. Unlike previous generations of Toyota's fuel saver, the new 2010 model won't have an underperforming bladder when it's cold outside.
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Compact hybrid Range Rover LRX gets green light

According to the report, Land Rover will borrow liberally from corporate partner Jaguar's hardware stable, which is rumored to soon include both hybrid and extended-range EV options. Land Rover's innovative electric drive rear axle is supposedly on the LRX menu, which would work along with the automaker's well-known and highly-effective Terrain Response System to put power to the ground wherever possible.


If there's any truth to these rumors, we shouldn't expect Land Rover to have the hybrid LRX in production until at least two years have passed. In the meantime, the British-built, Indian-owned automaker is set to debut stop/start and regenerative braking on all of its models to improve their environmental performance.


Automakers that hope to continue doing business over the next few years need to be increasingly aware of their fuel consumption, emissions and environmental credibility. In deference to this fact, Auto Express in the U.K. is reporting that Land Rover is moving forward with plans to launch the new LRX compact hybrid 'ute, possibly with a bit of help from the U.K. government.


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Toyota's hybrid Supra successor on track for 2011

With all the rumors and anticipation surrounding Toyota's joint venture with Subaru to produce a front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe, the automaker's Supra successor has been put on the news cycle's back-burner.


However, according to a report by Best Car, development has continued in earnest since the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Car Concept debuted at the Detroit Auto Show in 2007 and a prototype will supposedly begin making the rounds later this year.


While details are still limited, several sources are suggesting the rear-wheel drive sports car will be offered with a 3.5-liter V6 and the Lexus GS450h's 2GR-VSE 3.5-liter V6 which will be paired with the Toyota's Crown hybrid system. While the current 3.5-liter V6 only produces 268 hp and 248 lb-ft or torque, the Crown's hybrid system could enable the Lexus' V6 to produce more than 400 hp.


If Best Car's report is to be believed, we could see the next iteration of the FT-HS concept at the Tokyo Motor Show this November, with the production model debuting sometime in 2010 before its on-sale date the following year.


via autoblog

Fortwo 4 Less: Smart offers first incentives in U.S.

So far this year, Smart USA has sold just 7,451 Fortwos, which is down nearly 16% over the first five months of 2008. May sales, though, were down an alarming 56.6% to 1,169 units. To stem the rushing tide of order cancellations and slow sales, Penske has decided to offer its first-ever incentives on the Fortwo. From now until the end of July, buyers may qualify for 4.2% financing through Daimler Financial Services for the purchase of a new 2009 Smart Fortwo.


Penske Automotive Group, distributors of the Smart Fortwo here in the United States, recorded an impressive 24,622 total sales of the diminutive city car in 2008 and dealers widely reported that they could have sold even more had they been available. With that in mind, the nascent company set what seemed at the time like a realistic sales target for 25,000 units in 2009. That may have been a bit optimistic.


If this incentive has a positive impact on sales, expect it to be extended a bit longer. Further, Penske is considering making it possible for dealerships to order new cars without accepting the refundable $99 reservation from a customer that's currently required, which could have the desirable effect of placing more new vehicles on dealer lots for buyers to choose from.
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Initial photos for Mercedes ESF 2009 S400 Hybrid

Mercedes announced today they have built the first Experimental Safety Vehicle since 1974 - the Mercedes ESF 2009 S400 Hybrid. The Mercedes S400 Hybrid ESF 2009 will be presented between 23 June 2009 and 16th of August in an exhibition in the company's Museum's Fascination of Technology section.


Existing features such as side impact bars could be inflated by pressures of between 10 and 20 bar, saving weight when they are deflated and allowing for other safety measures to be fitted in the saved space.


One of the most interesting systems is an auxiliary brake fitted into the floor of the car. The braking bag inflates when the car senses an imminent crash, creating friction and increasing deceleration. It also lifts the font of the car by up to 80mm, compensating for dive.


The interior, along with standard air bag and restraint systems is fitted with seat bolsters that shift the passengers about 50mm into the centre of the cabin should the car sense that a side impact is about to take place. The other safety features of interest arereflective tyres and air bags installed inside a seatbelts.


via zercustoms

Mysterious Bentley Continental GT Spied in Spain: Could it be a Hybrid Prototype?

To be completely honest, we were quite hesitant to post these photos of a mysterious Bentley Continental GT coupe that was snapped by one of our spy photographers in western Spain, close to the borders with Portugal. Our man claimed that the Continental GT was equipped with some sort of electric motor / battery pack, visible from the rear window. While it looks like there's something present in the trunk, unfortunately, the photos aren't clear enough for us make a positive ID.

So why did we decide to post these photographs then? Well, thing is that we have been hearing rumors about a gasoline -or diesel- electric hybrid model from Bentley for quite some time now. So even though the positioning of the electric motor/ battery pack (whatever that is in the photos) might seem weird, it could be a prototype model used to test the system.
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Toyota to lease 500 Prius plug-in hybrids this year, 150 coming to U.S.

It's important to have a broad perspective in the auto business - tunnel-vision has been one of the biggest criticism of the American automakers. But seeing beyond the trees of economic meltdown to view the forest of the future industry is easier said than done. Toyota, however, is demonstrating its green-thinking by accelerating plans to start global trials of 500 plug-in hybrids by the end of the year.


Emissions rules, fuel pricing and technology cost are all pointing toward hybrid success in the future, says Arashima, but surprisingly Toyota itself doubts the widespread acceptance of plug-in hybrids. Furthermore, some are arguing plug-in hybrids may be too expensive to justify, though Toyota's tack seems to be headed in the right direction.


The cars will be leased to government and commercial fleets, with 200 set to stay in Japan, a further 150 headed to Europe and the final 150 reserved for the U.S. market. The Prius plug-in hybrids are already averaging 65mpg in the combined cycle during initial testing - that's a 30% improvement over the standard 2010 Prius, recently certified as the most efficient hybrid in America.


"We have to look beyond the current financial crisis. We have to focus on R&D for today and the future," Toyota Europe CEO Tadashi Aarashima told Automotive News.


via:motorauthority

Volvo Releases initials details for new plug-in hybrid due in 2012

　
Volvo is teaming up with Swedish energy utility Vattenfall to create a new plug-in hybrid. The automaker claims a new diesel/electric vehicle will emerge from the partnership and hit the market in 2012.

The two companies began working together over two years ago to explore the technology that makes plug-in vehicles a reality. In conducting research, the two companies agree that these autos are not only better for the environment, but have the potential to create many new jobs with the introduction of a supporting infrastructure.












Source:Volvo via World Car Fans


Press Release

Unique co-operation on environmental cars

Volvo Cars and Vattenfall to develop new plug-in hybrid

A Volvo that can be fuelled with electricity from a standard wall socket will be a reality in 2012. Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation are launching an industrial joint venture partnership to introduce plug-in hybrids on the market. The ground-breaking technology will considerably lower the environmental impact from traffic. In addition, owning a plug-in hybrid vehicle will be convenient since you can fuel up at home and fuel costs are significantly lower.

In January 2007, the Volvo Car Corporation and Vattenfall launched a joint project with the aim of testing and developing plug-in technology. Now their cooperation is being taken to the next level.

"We are investing in an industrial joint venture to series-produce plug-in hybrid cars in Sweden in 2012, cars that can be powered by both electricity and diesel. This is an important business development for us and our partnership with Vattenfall allows us to take a giant step toward offering our customers cars with an even smaller environmental footprint," says Stephen Odell, President and CEO of the Volvo Car Corporation.

Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation believe that series production of plug-in hybrid cars and the development of infrastructure can generate new jobs and help Sweden maintain its position at the cutting edge of advanced pro-environmental technology.

The car can be charged at home

One of the major benefits of plug-in hybrids is that they can be charged from a regular household wall socket.

"We want to reinforce electricity's importance in society and its key role in solving climate issues. Through this cooperation we hope to be able to speed up the introduction of electric cars. Together we are developing the next-generation technology based on plug-in cars and various charging alternatives," says Lars G Josefsson, President and CEO of Vattenfall.

The development of the cars is being carried out and financed jointly by the two companies. The Volvo Car Corporation will manufacture the cars and Vattenfall will develop charging systems and supply the cars with electricity.

Innovative environmental technology

Electricity is very well-suited as a power source for cars. An electric motor has a high efficiency rating and consumes roughly one-fifth the energy needed to power an engine that runs on fossil fuels. The purchase price of the plug-in hybrids will be higher than that of cars with conventional technology. Batteries are still expensive but with the car running on electricity, its fuel costs will be cut to roughly one-third compared with diesel power.

Vattenfall will offer customers the opportunity to sign an agreement for renewable electricity sourced specifically from windpower or hydropower, as an alternative to the regular mix of electricity sources. Lars G Josefsson sees many benefits from chargeable plug-in hybrids, even in cases where the electricity does not come from renewable energy sources.

"Through electric power, we avoid the emissions from each individual car. Instead of petrol or diesel, the energy is derived from a few large power sources and Vattenfall is working hard to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from all electricity production. In Sweden, virtually all Vattenfall's electricity production is emission-free," explains Lars G Josefsson.

The plug-in hybrid cars will be driven by a powerful electric motor fuelled by a lithium-ion battery. The battery takes about five hours to charge from a standard wall socket, and the battery is also charged every time the car's brakes are applied.

"Most car journeys are short trips, for instance to and from work. We will be able to offer a product that fulfils this transportation need. In order to cover longer distances as well, the car will also be equipped with one of Volvo's fuel-efficient diesel engines," says Stephen Odell.

Demonstration cars on show this summer

In the summer of 2009, three Volvo V70 demonstration cars will be presented. The demonstration cars will be used to gather information about the wishes and demands that drivers may have on the new technology, to determine their driving habits and to establish how they want to charge their cars. Vattenfall will, among other things, test various concepts for high-speed home charging and also for charging stations in public places, where owners pay to fuel with electricity instead of petrol or diesel. The cars that are planned to go into series production in 2012 will feature somewhat different technology, but the launch of the demonstration vehicles is a step towards series-producing plug-in hybrid cars specifically tailored to market needs.

Detailed Photos for Ferrari's 4x4 hybrid plans leak

Ferrari has applied for a patent to cover their own version of a hybrid platform, reports Autocar. In their application, they have introduced six different layout options. Each of these has one common thread: an electric motor powers two wheels, with the combustion engine powering the other two.


Ferrari has submitted six different layouts for the patent. In all of them the engine drives a motor/generator, which in turn drives one pair of wheels via electricity provided by an on-board battery.


The magazine quoted the application as saying, "The aim of the present invention is to provide a four-wheel-drive vehicle with hybrid propulsion…and being at the same time easy and inexpensive to produce."


According to application, “The four-wheel drive that can be engaged enables the driver of the automobile to decide whether to use the rear drive or the four-wheel drive; in this way, the driver can use the rear drive in optimal conditions of adherence and can use the four- wheel drive in poor conditions of adherence”.


The electric drivetrain should also allow the car to pull away from a standing start using only electric power. Starting the engine only when the car is travelling at 10mph+, will also reduce the level of pollutants produced by the engine.


Autocar speculates that Ferrari would use the system in tandem with a start/stop, almost guaranteeing an improvement in fuel economy. However, installing this system could have the unintended consequence of eliminating a Ferrari hallmark: the roaring sound of the engine heard when a driver takes off from a standstill. One way around this might be to install a start/stop that the driver can switch on when there is nobody around to impress.


Onboard rain and temperature sensors could also be used to automatically activate four-wheel drive running in bad weather. Information from the car’s chassis electronics could also bring the 4x4 system into play when the driver is pushing the car hard.


via:World Car Fans