Tesla Model S Unveiled - Fantastic!

It's finally been unveiled.

The claimed numbers are impressive, with a pre-tax credit base price of about $57k and a base range of 160 miles. It also seats 7 (2 kids in the third row), and does 0-60 mph in 5.5 to 6.0 seconds. It features a single speed drivetrain. Guess they gave up on multiple speeds. Total weight is roughly 4,400 lbs including 1,200 lbs or batteries. Plans call for production to commence in late 2011.

The car is beautiful, and has a resemblance to the Fisker Karma as well as certain Aston-Martin designs (some also done by Henrik Fisker). It's not hard to see how the legal dispute arose between Tesla and Fisker. At least it seems they've been able to resolve their differences and get back to focusing on the cars. The Tesla is all electric while the Fisker is a series hybrid.

If it gets into production as intended this will be a landmark automobile.

More info here: http://www.teslamotors.com/models/index.php

EV Flashback

Speaking of General Motors, a quick glance down memory lane to the February 1994 issue of Automobile Magazine reveals a test of a prototype of the GM Impact electric car. One reason it was developed was because of California’s optimistic requirement from the early 1990’s that 2% of each major manufacturers’ vehicle sales in the state would be made up of Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEVs) by 1998.

Looking back the Impact had amazing specifications for its time: Drag coefficient of 0.19, a 70 gasoline mpg equivalent range on the EPA cycle, regenerative braking, a top speed of 80 mph, 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds, and a curb weight of 2,910 lbs. That’s including 1,100 lbs of lead acid batteries, and functional air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, and airbags.

The magazine praised the car’s handling, developed with the help of former Lotus engineers, despite the low-rolling resistance tires that were inflated to 50 psi. GM estimated that with volume production the price would be $24k, though more like $17.5k with tax incentives.

Granted the batteries were hoped to last 1,000 charge cycles and last four years, about 20k to 30k miles, but the idea was brilliant. If they had the will to stick with it, GM would be leading the electric car segment today, and it would probably be a lot bigger than it is.

‘90s Automobile Flashback

Lots of the great ideas being worked on today have been around for some time but generally haven’t seen the light of day due to lack of competitiveness, necessity and consumer interest. That is until fuel prices skyrocketed.

Here are some examples I found while perusing some issues of Automobile Magazine in my collection.

July 1991 (p. 13) - Mid-engine, electric hybrid concept from Audi featuring an aluminum body, 4 wheel steer, all wheel drive, and a twin clutch (PDK via Porsche) transmission described as “the world’s first ecologically relevant sports car.

December 1991 (p. 41) – David E. Davis on the Frankfurt auto show. There were a lot of electric cars present, mostly of the boring commuter type. A lot has changed since then (no available alternative to lead acid battery) but in some ways the challenges remain the same (limited range, battery environmental issues, California pushing legislative mandates). IAD displayed the LA301 a “range extended” vehicle.

Davis quotes Don Runkle (GM VP of Advanced Engineering at the time) as saying the IC engine will be a better deal than electric until gasoline prices nation-wide were at least $1.60. ($2.54 in 2008 adjusted for inflation). Energy density was very low. The GM Impact had 870 pounds of batteries.

In hindsight we see the political compromise resulting in today’s vehicles. CARB’s vision very clearly did not happen by Y2K but we did get hybrids and are now beginning to have choice of a few electric cars on the market.

In the same issue (p. 45) Robert Cumberford covers the Honda Beat, a $10,000 mid-engine, Japanese-market two seat roadster with a 656 cc engine capable of 38 mpg.

Seems like just yesterday.

BMW Mini E Announced

BMW will launch an electric version of the Mini at next month's LA Auto Show. There will be a limited run of 500 units for the US market. The quick stats are that it has a 150 mile range (probably with a lightfoot), has a one speed transmission, and is limited to a top speed of 95 mph.

This is a pure electric. There is no engine. It's also a two seater since the backseat of the gasonline version has given way to a large lithium ion battery pack. The car also gained about 600 to 700 lbs in the conversion from gasoline power, now weighing about 3,200 lbs.

Seems like an interesting city car. Also, it'll come with a quick charging station for home garages which will enable a quick 2.5 hour full charge.

More info here:

http://jalopnik.com/5065786/electric-mini-e-officially-revealed-bringing-204+hp-li+ion-battery-pack-to-la-auto-show

Mobile Battery Charging

Some thoughts on the issue of charging batteries quickly. It seems to be the second biggest stumbling block with electric vehicles, the first being range. Right now, as far as I know, there are two main ways of storing electrical energy.

One is with batteries, the other is with capacitors. Capacitors charge and discharge very quickly but aren’t suited for slow discharges. Also, they have lower energy density than batteries. It takes multiple capacitor charges to equal the energy in a battery of comparable size.

What if there was a way to increase the energy of a capacitor to match that of a battery, and then find a way to charge batteries on-board a vehicle while it is in motion with a capacitor that’s quickly charged while stationary?

AFS Trinity Recycles Stillborn Bugatti?

Stopped by to have a look at the AFS Trinity exhibit about their PHEV conversions and technology (see my previous entry here)

Lo and behold another one of their show cars is (I believe) intended to hint at their own design. But not so. Take a look and you’ll see it’s a disguised prototype Bugatti EB112 from circa 1993-1994. Different headlights, wheels, hood, grill, and rear window but it leaves little doubt that it’s the same car.

See the Bugatti EB112 pics here and decide for yourself:
http://www.supercars.net/cars/256.html

The Future Is Electric

Tomorrow’s cars and trucks will be powered by electricity. Why electricity? Because electricity is a common denominator, a form of energy that all others can be converted to and stored in a battery, whether it’s petroleum, coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, solar, wind, or nuclear. That standardizes the infrastructure and puts all sources on even footing, allowing them to be compared to one another on the same basis in terms of cost, emissions, and efficiency. Plus electric vehicles are quiet, don’t idle, and can easily capture otherwise wasted energy with regenerative braking.

There will be many interim solutions between now and then. Parallel hybrids were the first step. These were cars like the Toyota Prius which used a convention internal combustion engine (ICE) augmented by battery electric power. Next we have the PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) which lets owners plug into an electrical outlet charge the batteries, as well as drive them in pure electric mode for short trips.

Next we’ll see series hybrids such as the forthcoming Chevrolet Volt. Not only is it a PHEV but it’s also a series hybrid in the sense that that ICE is only used as a generator to charge the batteries.

Electric isn’t the only means of energy storage used in hybrids either. Hydraulic pressure is one alternative being used on larger vehicles such as refuse trucks and delivery vans. Hydrogen and fuel cell development continues.

But ultimately it seems the most direct (and final) solution is pure electric vehicles with batteries that are capable of providing performance, range, and recharging comparable to today’s vehicles equipped with ICE engines.