REVA, an automobile company based in Bangalore, India,  is preparing to launch its own plug-in models, except with a twist.  Shown off at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, and scheduled for production early this year, the NXR, a 3-door, four-seater hatchback, will have a range of about 100 miles and a top speed of 65 mph.  The NXG (shown above) will sport a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 125 miles.     Both of these car models will feature REVive, a reserve-charging technology.

According to key experts in the company, REVA will be adding a unique technology to its plug-in cars, which will be designed to combat ‘range anxiety’.  This phenomenon arises when motorists worry that their car will run out of charge mid-way through their journey — or perhaps on their way to a charging station.  The ‘REVive telematics’ feature will operate like an “invisible reserve fuel tank”,  enabling  drivers to get their reserve battery power remotely activated during an electricity crisis on the road.  In such a situation, drivers would need  to call or text-message REVA for an immediate top-up, however, remotely.

This idea might sound gimmicky at first, however it is meant to address a key issue with plug-in vehicles:  the lack of charging infrastructure.  Knowing that there is “spare fuel” in your vehicle might be an incentive to purchase a plug-in.  However, the actual usefulness of this technology will depend on motorists behavior.  The instant they start thinking of this extra charge as part of their normal battery life, its function will be worthless.  Granted, having to text message your auto manufacturer in order to continue to operate your vehicle, and the embarassment it might cause when others are inside, might be enough of a hassle so the technology is not misused.

Prices for the REVA NXR start at €9,995 for the lead-acid battery version and €14,995 for the lithium-ion version.

About Reva:

REVA Electric Car Company is a Bangalore-based car manufacturer. It is a venture of AEV LLC of California and Maini Group of India, which is supported by tUS investors such as Draper Fisher Jurvetson and the Global Environment Fund.

Launching its 1st electric car in 2001, the company is capable of manufacturing around 30,000 cars in a year at its factory in Bangalore.  They are developing a new plant in Bangalore for an  ‘ultra-low carbon’ motor vehicle. This plant will have the capacity to produce an extra 30,000 units per year.

REVA operates in a country with a population that is becoming more affluent and highly invests in clean-energy vehicles.

Late in 2011, Toyota Motor Corp will launch a hybrid sub-compact and broaden its electric car line-up. The vehicle will be available for 1.5 million yen, or $15,760. Government tax breaks, subsidies on cleaner technology, and an increasing demand for gasoline-electric vehicles have promoted EVs in Japan greatly.  Toyota may have future plans to produce the new hybrid model in France as well, to cater to a European market.

According to a Japanese newspaper, Asahi Shimbun, the new hybrid compact by Toyota will use the platform and engine of the Yaris sub-compact, which is likely to be fully remodeled before launch in order to compete with the fuel efficiency and cost competitiveness of the Prius.

Dominant automakers Honda Motor Company and Toyota have reduced prices on their premier hybrid cars recently. The price of Toyota’s Prius has been lowered to 2.05 million yen and that of Honda’s Insight has been lowered to 1.89 million yen.

The month of April listed Honda’s Insight, the first hybrid car, on top of the best selling cars list. However, in May, Toyota’s new Prius replaced the Insight, and became the No.1 hybrid car in the Japanese market.

The Toyota sub-compact hybrid, which is yet to be launched, would be a tough contender to some of the upcoming small hybrid cars like Honda’s Fit Compact and the Honda CR-Z Hybrid.  It has been reported by The Daily that the automaker is likely to raise its daily production target in Japan. This will increase production to about 13,500 units in September and around 13,700 in October.

Why the sub?

Toyota and Honda have introduced sub-compact hybrid models to introduce a fresh alternative to existing hybrid cars (which were mostly SUVs) in the last couple of years. These SUV hybrids are more fuel-efficient (15 to 20 percent more than their counterparts). However, the mpg of these models ranges from the late teens to the early twenties.

The new subcompact hybrids are likely to be marked high in the fuel economy rankings, possibly at the 50 mpg mark or higher. Moreover, their prices are slated to be comparatively lower than the prices of current hybrid cars.

If the past is any predictor, car enthusiasts and organizations such as CalCars will begin upgrading these new hybrids into plug-in models as soon as they are released.  It remains to be seen, however, if and when they are brought to the American market, whether they will be adopted on a mass scale by an increasingly price-conscious and choosy consumer.

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The Renew America Roadtrip, hosted by the Element Hotel Summerlin, has dual functions: It aims to promote electric cars and public awareness in renewable green technologies.  And, in addition, the event has the intention to raise funds for various charities, such as the Autism Society of America.

Touted as America’s first ever electric coast-to-coast trip, the journey initiated from New York City on Wednesday July 15^th and is scheduled to end in San Francisco on the 31^st. With the aim of attracting local press and the YouTube generation of bloggers, the organizers state on their website that it is “NOT about making another geeky cross-country technology trial, but is rather about a real-life road trip, with real people and a real production vehicle – the Tesla Motor’s Roadster.”

The Roadster arrived as part of the procession early on, showing off its $109,000 pristine white body. More than 40 people welcomed the car along with yet another blue roadster that traveled with it through Pennsylvania. You can see the itinerary of the Renew America Roadtrip below. As part of the exhibition, the organizers are also offering rides to the public for a donation.

Michael Craner, owner of Tesla Motors Roadster and co-founder of Renew America Roadtrip said, “We hope that by driving a production electric vehicle, the Tesla Motor’s Roadster, across the country, we can demonstrate by example that green technologies are here today and do not represent a compromise. At the end of our trip, we plan to auction our Tesla Roadster and distribute the money earned to the different charities that have joined with us during our journey, including the American Lung Association, Parkinson’s Association, and local homeless shelters.”

If you’re interested in seeing close-up shots of the Roadster during the roadtrip, wizzardkitten snapped a few photos.

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The exclusive leasing program of BMW’s all-electric vehicles (Mini Es) has created quite a buzz. After all, only 450 models exist. Now, through a draw in a lottery, 4 lucky Californian municipalities, including Glendora, Diamond Bar, West Covina and Azusa, hit the jackpot as they were selected to participate in BMW’s first ever EV pilot program.

Each township will receive two of the two-seater Mini Cooper look-alikes. Moreover, while other lessees shell out $850/month, the winners will only be paying $10/month per car. Why $10, you might be wondering? Well, it’s not supposed to make sense. Afterwards, they would be expected to provide feedback on the cars, which presumably would perfect the engineering process by the time BMW starts mass-producing the Mini E.

The Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments helped organize the lottery. Michael Cacciotti, the representative of the AQMD Governing Body revealed the fact to the media that around 15 cities had shown interest in acquiring the car; however, only four cities were chosen. Mr. Cacciotti is a representative of the Los Angeles County Eastern Region as well.

Mr. Michael Cacciotti acquired 2 Mini E cars for South Pasadena city a couple of months back, when he met with BMW officials. He was promised six more electric cars during that time. Later, when the production increased, other cities were selected to lease out the cars.

According to engineers at BMW, the Mini E would have a single charge electric range of 150 miles. Its top speed would be 95 miles per hour, with a 0-60 acceleration of about 8.5 seconds. The car’s backseat and part of its trunk would be occupied by a 573-pound lithium-ion battery, which would be used to power a 150kW electric motor. All lessees in the pilot program would be given a free high-voltage wall box, which would reduce the charge time of the battery to 3 hours.

Chris Jeffers, the Glendora City Manager responded positively to the electric car. He said that it would be a ‘win-win situation’ for masses, as the car would enable the city to save about $500 to $800 on gasoline on a yearly basis. He commented, “For us, it shows our green side as we’re trying to be as green as possible. It also allows us to delay purchases for some new vehicles.”

Yup, it was a hard decision to make, but in the end he chose to accept the free BMWs.

Update: BMW has announced plans to produce an electric car specifically geared to meet California’s Zero-Emission-Vehicle statute (ZEVs) by 2012.  The car will be called the BMW City or “Project i”.  There is no way to tell at the moment if they will scrap the Mini E program, or if this model is its natural successor.

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Former race car driver Morris Clement is all set to develop his own electric car. He will be building a low-speed, battery-operated vehicle: a less-exciting, greener approach than the toys he used to play with.  In 1998, the National Traffic Safety Administration classified the cars as neighborhood electric vehicles, or NEVs, and they are certified “eco-friendly”.

As for specifications, Clement said that the car would offer speeds up to 25 miles per hour, therefore making these 4-wheel NEVs not suitable for highways. He stated that the vehicle could drive for 40 miles without recharging and that the battery should be replaced after 5 or 6 years. Interestingly, he asserted that the electric car can be used to drive up a mountain and on snow-clad roads.

Morris Clement was a National Championship race car driver with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). In fact, in May 2008, he built the Cobra 427 SC, which was the first ever COBRA that could travel well over 200 miles per hour. For this, he was featured in the popular Kit Car Magazine.   One year later his 25 mph golf-cart helps earn him a feature on Plug-In.com.

These days, Mr. Clement is the owner of Fastlane Lube Masters at 6280 Grand Avenue, at Gurnee Mills. He said that he was inspired to build electric cars for the general masses so that they could save money and enjoy driving at the same time. According to his wife Mary, the NEVs would be apt for picking up kids from school, buying groceries and are great for short trips.

It was only recently that he received his township’s Special Use Permit allowing him to service and sell these electric cars. Mr. Clement informed the media that states such as Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia, California, Florida and Arizona already permit these cars on the roads.  By 2010, the state of Illinois would also allow it. However, like most vehicles, users must first acquire registration plates, licenses, certificates of title, insurance, and stickers.

Regarding the issue of cost, Morris Clement quoted $20,000 for new cars and $3,500 for used ones.  Thanks to the economic stimulus bill passed in February, owners of his electric NEVs could qualify for a federal tax rebate up to several thousand dollars.

Mr. Clement is fast developing the 1st prototype, which is called the ‘Orange Crate Special’. He is utilizing an E-Z GO frame by the Textron Company, which is the largest producer of utility vehicles and golf carts. Moreover, just like he did with his record-breaking Cobra, Morris is using race car components in this model. He asserts that the car would be sturdy, safe, and offer superior quality,  stating “I’m very picky because I’ve built my own race cars.”

The chances, however, of everyday drivers switching to these NEVs are slim.  They are suitable for only a narrow range of activities and really expose the plug-in’s liability of constantly having to recharge.  Even if the price were brought down to a level where people in 3rd world countries, who require small cars without fast speeds, could afford it, the infrastructure for electricity just does not exist.  It seems that the production of these types of EVs are heavily dependent on the stimulus package to make them enticing.

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The New Mercedes-Benz Supercar

For those with the patience and the pocketbook, a powerful car is about to hit the markets in the year 2015.  Without a doubt, Mercedes-Benz has ambitions to lead several other high-end auto companies, should the race for plug-in automobiles really take off.   To that end, company representatives have announced a  zero-emission supercar, which is a newer version of the SLS AMG,  that will be publicly unveiled on September 15^th of this year.

The development of the car is still a work-in-progress, as revealed by the engineers of AMG. The officials let it be known that the same signature gullwing style doors and aluminum-based lightweight body would be offered for the SLS eDrive. Even the interior of the car would be standard with minor changes in the switchgear in order to accommodate the underlying electric driveline.

According to the head of AMG, “The great thing is we haven’t had to alter the styling in any way.” He also pointed out that “The very nature of the SLS, with its sizeable engine bay, sturdy torque tube running back along the backbone of the car and the mounting point for fuel tank, lends itself perfectly to adaptation for electrification.”

The Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS eDrive will be a modified version of the standard rear-wheel-drive SLS.  It will be driven by a total of 392kW, coming from four 98-kW motors powering each wheel, providing a sturdy 649 lb-ft of torque.  By comparison, the SLS, powered by a modified version of AMG’s 6.2-liter V8 engine, provides 571 hp and 479 lb-ft.  The new zero-emission car would also include a new pushrod front suspension compared with the standard car’s double-wishbone arrangement.

The plug-in vehicle will use lithium-ion batteries. As stated, they would require 8 hours to recharge on standard outlets, and 5-6 hours if hooked up to a high-density power source.  Moreover, the fuel tank space behind the seats would be utilized for further battery capacity in the car.  All this means a range between 93 and 112 miles, supplemented by captured brake-energy.  Wolf Zimmermann, the head of SLS eDrive, asserts that the top speed of the car would be 120 mph and it would be capable of achieving an acceleration of 0-62 mph in under 4 seconds.

In the words of Mornhinweg, the ultimate goal of the car is being sporty along with electrification. He said, “The goal is to redefine the one-dimensional way electric cars drive today.”

“We didn’t want to do another concept car without any real relevance to what we’re doing today. Instead, we decided to bring the future to us by applying advanced technology we’d already been looking at to a car we’re just about to launch. “

With an expected release date of 2015, that advanced technology is sure to change in the meantime.  And with a long charge-time, limited electric range, and the hefty price-tag that is sure to be attached to any Mercedes plug-in model, one will wonder if this announcement is just meant to bring attention to its green-credentials at a time when every car company is flouting them.   On the other hand, it is possible that Mercedes really sees potential in the technology.   Even if it is just a marketing ploy, this announcement is a first step in getting acquainted with the engineering challenges that face every electric-car manufacturer.

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G

• The new Global Battery Systems Lab is located at the Warren Technical Center campus on the outskirts of Detroit. According to information coming from the company, it cost GM $25 million to construct, takes up 33,000 square feet, and employs over 1,000 engineers. The facility will operate 42 thermal chambers and 160 test channels that will expose batteries to real-world driving conditions and test the limits of their design and capacity. Included in the testing are 32 battery “cyclers” that will continuously charge and deplete battery cells for further efficiency studies. The battery headquarters will most likely be utilized by GM and its suppliers, LG Chem and Compact Power, to perfect the sort of lithium-ion batteries in the upcoming Volt and its successors.

While this new facility sounds like a definite step in the right direction to improve the technology and compete with Chinese battery heavyweights, some of the numbers don’t seem to add up. Firstly, $25 million is a very small number for a state-of-the art lab. To put it in perspective, Apple recently announced that it would be spending $1 billion on a server farm. Second, employing a thousand engineers would be very expensive – certainly exceeding the price tag that was given – and appears to be an excessive concentration in one facility. Additionally, the start date of construction was only last August and there is no word yet if more money is needed to operate and expand the center.

In the meantime, GM has plans to create a battery-focused engineering curriculum at the University of Michigan, around which they plan to construct another battery lab.

Amidst these developments, the speculation that the Volt program might be discontinued is probably going to quiet down, perhaps for good.

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The engine will release less than 50 grams/km.  of carbon dioxide emissions (using the NEDC standard).  According to Volvo, this would qualify it for a “super-credit tax incentive band” in several countries.   There is no word yet whether the U.S. will adopt any super incentives.    Another intriguing feature of this car will be the placement of two battery-charging ports on its exterior:  one at the rear for use with public charging stations, and one at the front for use in homes and garages.

The design and introduction of the new model is being accomplished as a joint project between Volvo and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall.    Like the Toyota/EDF Energy relationship, Vattenfall will manage the operational aspects of the charging process, providing the infrastructure as well as supplying the needed electricity.   They are also offering 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.

A demonstration fleet based on the Volvo V70 model will be arriving in the U.S. to promote the technology.   Spokespeople from the company have declared that the base price would be slightly higher than conventional automobiles, but that the range would be “class-leading”.

Unsurprisingly, the battery pack will consist of lithium-ion cells.   The supplier of those cells, at the moment, is unknown.  There are also plans to produce a purely electric car in the future.

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California-based CODA Automotive unveiled a new all-electric sedan that it plans to have ready by the fall of 2010. The little-known company had not issued any prior press releases hinting at an unveiling, and there is not much information about them publically available at the moment. Their website only shows that their management team and Board of Advisors include former finance executives from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, and several engineers from a variety of industries.

Obscure No More

It seems likely that CODA will gain name-recognition quickly. Their plug-in model will arrive earlier than several other major auto manufacturers, and its driving range will have people talking about the benefits of electricity over gasoline once again.

The vehicle’s lithium-ion battery will provide an all-electric range of 90-100 miles, and is supposed to have a charge-time of 6 hours when using a 220V outlet (See here for information on charging times). The batteries will be manufactured by Lishen Battery Co., based in China, and they will come with an 8-year 100,000 mile warranty.

The CODA will sell for a base price of $45,000, which, as every electric manufacturer is keen to emphasize, will be reduced by around $7,500 when factoring in government subsidies. It has a top-speed of 80 mph and a 0-60 acceleration of less than 11 seconds. The GM Volt, by comparison, is priced at $40,000 and provides a range of 40 miles when shutting off its gasoline engine. (More specifications)

Impressions

While its electric-range is impressive and the 2010 release date provides a head start, the CODA might not offer the price and performance that people are looking for. Plenty, of course, will depend on future gasoline prices, and if they are able to offer a 100-mile range automobile with a price below what has been mentioned here, the economics of the situation might change.

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The bankrupt Chrysler has submitted a proposal to the Department of Energy to match the $224 million that it and its partners plan on devoting to the development and production of plug-in automobiles.  The funds would fall under the DOE’s program designed to promote the United States’ electric vehicle infrastructure.

Of the $448 million total allotment, Chrysler plans on using up to $83 million to construct an R&D/manufacturing hub in Michigan. The remaining $365 million would be used towards unveiling a “demonstration” fleet of 365 cars, which a select group of partners would be able to show off and test. The completion date for the construction project is set for 2010, after which they hope to churn out 20,000 vehicles a year.

Not coincidentally, this proposal has come out a day before a judge is set to rule on the company’s plans to sell many of its most valuable assets. The purchasing company is owned by the Canadian and U.S. governments, Italian carmaker Fiat Spa, and Chrysler’s union.

Taking into consideration Chrysler’s continuing financial woes and its competition,  the  20,000 vehicle a year goal is clearly optimistic .   However, the company’s ENVI unit has quietly been working on the underlying battery technology and design for a couple years.   They plan on rolling out several models utilizing an electric platform, including  a Chrysler Town & Country plug-in hybrid, a Dodge Circuit EV (both pictured), and a Jeep Wrangler hybrid.

At least one model is scheduled to be available by 2010.

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The startup entity behind this model is called Better Place, and the man at the helm is Shai Agassi.    Agassi’s ambitious propsal includes installing a network of charging stations where customers can swap the old batteries from their cars with new batteries.  Sophisticated software will allow the company to determine when electricity prices are at their lowest, at which point the old batteries will be recharged.  At peak hours when demand is high, they will be able to sell excess power back into the grid.  The third party to this electricity arbitrage will be the buyer, who according to Better Place will benefit from the low cost of electricity when compared with gasoline.   Additionally, the waiting time to switch batteries will be minimal, as Better Place has engineered a robot capable of performing the task in under a minute.

The whole scheme, and especially the prospect of having a hassle-free battery swap, will require massive standardization.  This is where Better Place’s partners come into play.  Agassi has formed an agreement with Renault-Nissan, who will be spending about $600 million to build electric versions of its existing vehicles.   The expected deployment date is 2011, and in the meantime Better Place, along with several energy companies, will be constructing the electric infrastructure.   Stations are already spring up in Japan and Israel, and investors plan on raising $1 billion (Australian) to construct a similar network in Australia.

We are so used to thinking of our cars as necessary capital expenditures with maintenance costs and a fixed life.  Our mobile phones, on the other hand, are largely subsidized by telecom companies who offer contracts or pay-as-you-go deals.   In the latter scenario, more of the driver’s costs are deferred, and they vary according to his or her needs.

This business model, however, does seem to have its drawbacks.  Consumers will have to adopt the mindset of their car becoming a standarized accessory, rather than a symbol of self-expression.  Additionally, the prospect of having to visit a charging station each time you want to “refuel” is daunting and might be hard to accept — Designing the vehicles with the ability to plug-in at home will go a long way to solving this.   Another problem is basing the pricing model off the distance that the driver travels:  this might create an incentive for customers to “steal” power from their batteries, transferring it out to another battery perhaps, and simply swapping at a station for free.  However, if Better Place were to switch to pricing for the charge in their batteries instead of mileage, it would make it difficult to implement charge-at-home functionality (unless a tamper-proof “meter” were placed in the car).  And finally, the cost of building the infrastructure will be extremely high, yet without plenty of swapping stations available, it would be hard for a driver to justify signing up.

Mr. Agassi and his company already have a lot of believers despite the large hurdles facing them.  Whether his model succeeds or fails, it will have lasting implications for the auto industry.   We will continue to keep an eye out here for the latest related developments.

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Honda had originally sought out to be the leader in manufacturing cars based on hydrogen fuel-cell technology.   They began leasing the FCX Clarity to drivers in California in 2008, the same year they built a manufacturing plant in Japan to support the operation.  The vehicle has a driving range of 280 miles from its hydrogen fuel cells and can reach a top speed of 105 mph.  Mr. Fukui still believes that the technology will be very popular in the next decade, as oil prices are expected to top $100 a barrel once again.

In the meantime, Honda and a partner, GS Yuasa Corp., began building a lithium-ion battery plant to supply components for a hybrid automobile, due out at the end of 2010.   They may now expand on the production.  “We started working with GS Yuasa with just the hybrid application in mind… We are thinking about extending that application to plug-in hybrids,” the president reported.

He did not let on when a pure plug-in can be expected.

With so many auto manufacturers announcing plug-in vehicles, added to government incentives and infrastructure upgrades, it seems only natural that a major company like Honda would turn its attention to this technology.  The costs of battery-cells will likely drop as their supply increases and optimal designs are determined.   More importantly, they would be negligent to miss out on surge of consumer interest that may occur once many of these models hit the road.  Honda may not have given up on its aspirations to be a global leader in hydrogen fuelled transportation, but their executives are more than willing to hedge their bets until that scenario becomes a reality.

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EV Innovations, incorporated in Nevada and with an R&D subsidiary in India, recently showed off two pre-production electric vehicles at the New York Auto Show.   Pictured to the left and below, the Wave and the Inizio EVS are aimed at different market segments and have very different performance profiles.

The Wave is a 2-seater vehicle that offers an electric range of 170 miles on a single charge.   It travels from 0-60 mph in a lumbering 12 seconds and tops out at 80 mph.  EV Innovations claims that its battery packs last through 2,500 charges at the very least, and that the car is set to sell for$34,000.

On the other hand, the Inizio EVS appears built to compete with the Tesla.   It manages a 0-60 mph acceleration in just over 4 seconds and carries a maximum speed of 170 mph.   It is claimed to be able to travel up to 200 miles on a single charge and also lasts a minimum of 2,500 charges  The up-scale Inizio is expected to sell for $139,000.

The technology company’s website states that its ambitions including producing a wide range of lithium-ion products, from mopeds and cars to homes and commercial facilities.    After receiving positive feedback on the Wave following the auto show, EV Innovations recently offered a press release stating that it is speeding up production of its 4-seater version of the vehicle, dubbed the Wave-S4.    This upgraded car is expected to sell for $39,900 and can be seen on their website.  No production dates have yet been announced.

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The new concept car by Bright Automotive is set to be unveiled in a few days in Washington D.C.   Eschewing the design practices of traditional auto makers, the hybrid vehicle will be built with lightweight, aerodynamic engineering as its core concept. This means stearing clear of large steel purchases and focusing on reducing the size and weight of its battery back.

The plug-in car is said to have a 30 mile all-electric range and will be coupled with a small gasoline engine. CEO John Waters expects to have an annual production rate of 50,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2013.

Before realizing this goal, however, the Indiana-based startup has to overcome a significant hurdle along the way: capital raising. Waters has said that his company requires $400 million in Department of Energy Loans before June 1st in order to meet its launch goal.   Any shortfalls would have to be covered by private investors.  The recent freeze up of credit markets makes this a challenging task, and there is a likelihood that the rollout will have to be delayed.   Another sign that a setback might be inevitable is that Bright Automotive is still conducting talks with major battery suppliers around the world.

Media outlets and consumers will be anticipating more information when the concept is rolled out on the 21st.

Update:  Bright’s new hybrid, called the Idea, was unveiled in Washington DC.  Executives from Bright Automotive made speeches in front of the Senate and House, hoping to garner support for a $450 million grant that would allow the company to begin mass production by 2012.

Mr. Waters called the plug-in vehicle the first “purpose-built, highly durable 100-mile-per gallon commercial utility vehicle.”  It has 180 cubic feet of space in its interior and is capable of carrying a payload up to 1 ton.  The Bright Idea can drive up to 30 miles using its electric engine solely.

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At the 2009 Seoul Motor Show (April 2-12), Hyundai released further details of its new hybrid concept.  With a release anticipated towards the end of 2012, this vehicle represents the latest company to catch up with the electric-vehicle movement.

The “BLUE-WILL” is expected to have an electric-only driving distance of 40 miles (64 km). It contains a 1.6L direct-injection gasoline engine providing 152 horsepower coupled with a 100 kw electric-motor.   Like the Fisker Karma, the automobile will carry a panoramic roof fitted with solar cells that help provide power to the cabin’s climate control systems.  Additionally, a thermal generator will recapture energy from the exhaust and use it to power auxiliary systems. The battery pack consists of lithium-ion cells.

Hyundai stated that the dashboard will feature the Eco-Coach, a display that provides continuous feedback on the driver’s fuel-consumption and provides a way to optimize driving habits.   Also included are high-resolution digital gauges in the form of LED displays mounted on the steering-column.

It seems the trend is heading toward plug-in vehicles that possess multiple forms of energy conversion.  With this latest design, and its distinct appearance, Hyundai hopes to provide a modern looking and modern performing option in the consistently growing hybrid market.

Update:  At the New York Auto show, Hyundai showed off a concept car called the Nuvis, which bears a striking resemblance to the BLUE-WILL.   The Nuvis now appears on Hyundai’s official website, and they offer the following specifications:  A 2.4L gasoline engine, 228 horsepower, 6-speed automatic transmission, and a fuel economy of 40 mpg.  A video of the Nuvis Concept is also available.

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EDF, along with its subsidiary, Electricité de Strasbourg, will also be setting up hundreds of charging stations in parking lots, partner locations, public roads, and users’ homes.  A major goal of the Toyota-EDF partnership is to promote awareness and acceptance of a broad roll-out of electric vehicles in the minds of consumers.

Similar projects in Japan, the UK, and the United States are also in the works by the car company.

To read more about the recent announcement at Gizmag, click here.

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Although the company has not committed to a formal timeline, Piaggio Group Americas’ CEO has suggested in interviews that this highway-legal scooter is expected to be on the road relatively soon.

The new plug-in will be a modified version of the company’s Piaggio’s MP3 500. According to CEO Paul Timoni, the plug-in scooter will get up to 140 mpg, have an all-electric range of 40 miles per charge , and will be priced between $8000 and $9000.  There is also a  European version slated to be released later this year.

The design will utilize a 125cc combustion engine combined with an electric motor, and can be expected to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds.  The batery can also be charged on the go through regenerative braking.

The release date of Piaggio’s hybrid scooter would put it ahead of GM’s Chevy Volt by a couple months,  and it might coincide with the release of Toyota’s upcoming plug-in hybrid.

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According to Autocar, the new zC will utilize a hatchback rear-end based on the company’s Racing Lancer as well as raised ground clearance, and it will be built on the GS platform that is currently in use in the Lancer and the Outlander.

Production for the new vehicle will take at least 3 years, putting its launch around the same time that Ford announced the release of its own plug-in hybrid.  Seemingly, by that time the multi-national struggle for EV dominance will be in full swing — and we can be sure other competitors will be entering the fray as well.

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Ford Motor plans to have plug-in electric vehicles in its showrooms by 2012.  Powering these vehicles will be lithium-ion battery cells, manufactured by Johnson Controls-Saft, a U.S.-French joint venture.  Nancy Gioia, Ford’s hybrid chief, indicated that enough battery purchases will be made to produce about 5,000 plug-in vehicles a year.  However, there is no indicated what form such a vehicle will take.

Apparently, the technology will be showcased in a 2009 Escape SUV.  Referring to prices, Gioia stated that gasoline-electric hybrids sell from $2,000 to $4,000 above normal gas-only vehicles, and that “there will be a premium for the plug-in capability.”

To read more about the announcement, and a quick run-down of various company’s electric-vehicle plans, link to the original article.

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Speaking at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, James Lentz, the president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., announced that Toyota would release its version of a plug-in hybrid towards the end of 2009, a year ahead of schedule. This would put its release date ahead of the Chevrolet Volt, perhaps giving it a first-entrant advantage over the American counterpart.

Toyota plans on releasing only about 500 vehicles for commercial customers at the outset, with 150 of those plug-ins destined for the United States.   G.M. plans to release its Volt plug-in to the public at large by the end of 2010.   With this strategy, it is reasonable to speculate that Toyota is looking for real-world feedback from its first consumers, giving the company the opportunity to improve and perfect its product by the time the Chevrolet Volt is released.

The plug-ins will be powered by lithium-ion batteries.

To read more about the announcement, read the original article.

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