204-hp electric MINI E to debut at LA Auto Show

Late last spring, MINI’s parent company BMW announced plans to build and lease a fleet of 500 MINI Cooper-based electric vehicles starting in the spring of 2009.

After many months of highly secretive R&D, BMW has released photos and full specifications on the MINI E, the company’s first pure-electric vehicle.

Based on the 2009 Mini Cooper, the Mini E ditches the stock 1.6-liter 118 horsepower DOHC four for an electric motor producing 204 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque.

Inside, the rear seat has been displaced by an air-cooled bank of lithium-ion batteries with a total storage capacity of 35 kilowatt-hours, enough to cover about 150 miles on a full charge.

The tradeoffs don’t stop there; as you might expect, the batteries impose a penalty when it comes to weight. Whereas the flyweight MINI Cooper comes in at a scant 2700 pounds, the electric MINI E tips the scales to more than 3,200.

MINI stresses that the MINI E has been designed to preserve the Cooper’s unparalleled agility. The MINI E uses unique dampers and springs tuned to compensate for the extra weight. Also, the E’s battery pack was intentionally moved to the rear seat in order to concentrate the car’s mass near the center of the wheelbase. Even with the batteries for ballast, the MINI E can scoot quite well. MINI quotes a 0-62 mph time of 8.5 seconds, roughly on par with the naturally-aspirated MINI Cooper.

The E uses a single-speed transmission in lieu of the Cooper’s six-speed box, a decision made to simply production. Since electric motors produce maximum torque at zero rpm, the added gears are superfluous for a city car. Accelerating is simply a matter of stomping on the “gas” pedal and steering.

While the MINI E features regenerative braking to help sustain the batteries, the car doesn’t have an on-board generator. Once the batteries are depleted, the car must be recharged by plugging into a wall socket.

Those who lease the MINI E next spring will also receive a high-current charging station to speed the recharging process. Using the station, MINI claims it can fully recharge the MINI E’s battery pack in two and one-half hours.

Instantly a MINI, yet unmistakably unique
From the outside, the MINI E carries all the visual cues to associate it with it’s petrol-burning brothers. A small stylized “E” badge is mounted to the front grille. Where the standard Cooper features ornamental grilles on each front fender, the MINI E receives a pair of numbered plaques.

All MINI E will wear the show car’s metallic Dark Silver paint, offset by the roof, which is painted in Pure Silver.

Most of the iconic MINI design cues remain inside as well. The most readily apparent change is the E’s exclusive yellow interior trim. A large battery charge and regenerative braking gauge replaces the standard Cooper’s steering column-mounted tachometer.

Both the speedometer and charge / regen meter use yellow lettering on a charcoal grey background. Even with the battery back replacing the rear seat, the E still offers a generous amount of space for cargo.

500 MINI E up for lease in Spring 2009
Production of the E fleet has already begun.

500 MINI E’s will begin life on the main MINI production line in Oxford, England. There, the Es will be fully assembled aside from their engines, transmissions and related wiring. Each E will then be whisked away to a special assembly line at the BMW plant in Munich, Germany, where they will receive their electric motor, transmission and battery pack and drivetrain wiring.

And starting early next year in California, New York and New Jersey, BMW will start leasing the fleet of 500 MINI Es to the public through the MINI dealer network.

Lessees will be asked to provide feedback to BMW on a regular basis to gauge real-world performance and driver satisfaction. In addition to making a capital investment in gas-free motoring, BMW is using the MINI E program to learn more about future electric vehicles and how driver behavior will influence their design.

In each market, BMW will establish a set of specially-staffed and custom-equipped service centers to handle maintenance on the MINI E, which includes an early inspection at 3,000 miles and a battery (pardon the pun) of tests once the customer's lease term is up. We'll have more details on the lease term and cost as they become available. Stay tuned.

2009 MINI E: FULL SPECS
Type: Three door, two seat compact hatchback
Length: 3.714 mm (146.2")
Width: 1.683 mm (66.3")
Height: 1.407 mm (55.4")
Curb weight: 3,230 lbs
Weight dist. F/R: 1,651 lbs/ 1,575 lbs

Wheelbase: 97.1"
Track F/R: 57.2" / 57.5"
Turning circle: 35.1 feet

Suspension
Front: Single-joint McPherson spring strut axle with anti-dive control
Rear: Longitudinal link with centrally mounted control arms.
Steering: Rack and pinion with electric power steering assist, total ratio 14.1:1

Brakes:
Front: Vented disc, 11.6" dia.
Rear: Solid Disc, 10.2" dia.

Drivetrain
Asynchronous electric motor: 204 hp, 162 lb-ft @ 0 rpm; 12,500 rpm maximum speed.
Transmission: Single-stage helical gearbox, derived from the Cooper S helical gearbox

Electrical System
Battery: Lithium ion, 5,088 cells. Air cooled via temperature-, load- and speed-sensitive fans
Peak current: 900A
Battery capacity: 35kWh
Battery weight: 573 lbs
Charge time: 2.9h @ 240V/48A

Performance
Power-to-weight ratio: 9.76 kg/kW
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 8.5s
Top speed: 152 km/h (95 mph)
Range: 240 km (150 miles)

Energy use: 0.12kWh/km (0.19 kWh/mls)
CO2 Emissions: 0 g/km

[BMW USA]

VIDEO: Mitsubishi CEO discusses plans for i-MiEV electric car

When current president Osamu Masuko took the helm of Mitsubishi Motor Corporation, the company had very nearly run aground.

In the 18 months prior to Masuko-san's arrival, the company had become embroiled in scandal over their efforts to cover up vehicle defects amidst voluntary recalls. A financing program designed to lure young buyers to the brand had backfired and DaimerChrysler — then the majority shareholder — dumped their shares, backing out of a $4 billion bailout package in the process.

Three years on, Masuko has lead the company back to solvency. MMC is on course for a record sales year in Russia, capitalizing on the emerging SUV market with the new Pajero Sport, which premiered at the Moscow Motor Show this week.

As NMM reported last month, Mitsubishi is aiming to be the first Japanese car maker to mass-produce an electric vehicle with the launch of the i-MiEV electric car in Japan in 2009. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Masuko said that while an exact start date for US sales hasn't been set, the i-MiEV will begin production in left-hand-drive by 2010.

Masuko offered more details on the forthcoming EV as well. On a single seven-hour 110-volt charge, the car will travel about 100 miles. Price is still up in the air; for the Japanese market, the car will likely sell for 3 million yen (about $27,600), including a government subsidy. As the economies of scale begin to take hold, the company expects the price to drop to about 2 million to 2.5 million yen.

For the full scoop, check out the video below:



[Source & Video Credit - WSJ.com]

Paolo Pininfarina named CEO, restructuring plan to continue

In the wake of last week's accident which took the life of CEO Andrea Pininfarina, the future of the eponymous Italian design firm was in doubt.

Today, the company announced that Paolo Pininfarina has been chosen to succeed his brother as CEO.
Pininfarina reiterated that the restructuring plan set in motion by Andrea will continue.

The design firm expects to raise nearly 100 million euros this year by selling additional shares of common stock to the company's major shareholders -- among them, Tata Motors of India.

The founding family (of the same name) also aims to reduce its stake to about 30 percent from 55 percent by means of a capital increase that will allow a select group of investors to become shareholders.

Proceeds from the sale of stock will go toward a joint venture with Bollore, a French thermoplastics supplier. Together, the two companies plan to produce an electric powered city car by 2013; the project is considered by many to be pivotal to Pininfarina's revival.

Photo Credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images
[Source: AN via Reuters]

Tesla sets new record CAFE rating: 244 mpg

With the run-up in gas prices earlier this year, fuel economy became the top concern for buyers. In the latest report by the Department of Energy, the average fuel economy for all cars and trucks sold this year will rise by two-tenths of a mile per gallon to 26.8 mpg.

But an astounding number was buried in this otherwise banal report.

Tesla Motors of San Carlos, California — best known for their electric roadster — received a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) rating of 244 mpg. The current federal standard for CAFE is 27.5 mpg.

The new record high rating raises debate over whether the current formula fairly reflects the environmental impact of an electric vehicle compared to one powered by gasoline.

At the heart of the issue is where and how the electricity is generated.

California owners could feasibly recharge future electric vehicles by solar power alone, drivers in less sunny climes would have to rely on power from the grid. There's a major environmental difference between a kilowatt of solar power versus one generated by burning coal.

But in the short term, the high CAFE rating will mean cold cash for Tesla. When CAFE credit trading begins, the automaker will have a large annual surplus to sell.

[Source]

Indolent pedestrians rejoice! Toyota Winglet scooter to rival Segway

Toyota has moved society one step closer to complete indolence with the introduction of the Winglet electric scooter concept.

Smaller, lighter and (likely) much cheaper than the Segway, the 22 pound two-wheeler promises to whisk us about in footstep-free nirvana. It won't be long till our shoes — if not our legs — become redundant.
Or atrophied.

(Source: Reuters)

New Zealand firm announces hybrid retrofit kit

As gas prices continue to soar, the waiting lists for nearly every hybrid on the market have grown ever longer. Many would-be buyers are coming from SUVs and light trucks, both of which are being hammered on resale value as new inventory stalls on dealer lots.

Now there's an alternative.

Octafuel - a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells - has developed a regenerative braking system that can be retrofitted to nearly any vehicle.

“Regenerative braking is about recovering energy when drivers put their foot on the brake – which reduces fuel costs,”said Fresnel in a release announcing the new systems.

Using standardized battery packs and electric motors, each application is customized to fit the specific vehicle and work with the car's original gasoline or diesel drivetrain.

“The technology is well-proven, having been fitted to more than a million motor cars worldwide over a variety of operating conditions, and now OctaFuel has taken the essence of that technology and made it affordable for everyday people," said Fresnel.

Fresnel is mum about the wattage or storage capacity, but notes that the Octafuel retrofit will pay itself back much faster than an all-new hybrid car.

Prices range between NZ$1,247 for the entry level system suited for commuter cars to NZ$5947 for the commercial grade system better suited to large cars and light trucks.

[Link]