Tesla gets 500+ Model S bookings in first week
Apr 3, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies, Social Initiatives, Startups
A week after unveiling the all electric Model S sedan, Tesla says that 520 customers have shelled out $5,000 each for reserving the car which is scheduled to be on roads in 2011.
The base price for the Model S, which will be available starting in 2010, is $57400, before a federal tax credit of $7,500 in US, a bargain compared to the Roadster’s $105000 price tag. A limited edition of the Model S is also available for a $40,000 reservation fee.
The base Model S will do 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds (compared to the Roadster’s 3.9 seconds) and has an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. The car will be available with a variety of battery options with upto 300 miles per charge.
Tesla Model S prices revealed
Mar 24, 2009 Auto Tech, Green Technologies
Model S
Tesla has just announced some details about the pricing of its upcoming Model S sedan. The base version will reportedly cost $57400 when it goes into production sometime probably in 2011. In US, buyers will get a $7500 government tax credit, so the effective price will be less than $50000. Compare this with the almost $90000 price tag of the Fisker Karma and the reportedly $40000 price of the Chevrolet Volt, both of which are range extended electric vehicles (i.e. a petrol motor acting as a generator along with the electric motor powering the wheels), compared to the all electric Model S.
Tesla plans to show the Model S to the public for the first time in California on March 26, 2009. Thats just a couple of days from now!
Tesla also said that it has delivered its 250th Roadster.
Tags: Fisker, General Motors, Tesla
Nissan to bring diesel electric hybrid sports saloon to Europe
Mar 7, 2009 Auto Tech
Nissan Infinity Essence
There is always a debate going on whether hybrids are really leagues ahead in efficiency stakes compared to modern turbodiesels. Are they worth the extra costs in battery and complex management of the two motors?
Now Nissan has decided to put an end to the debate by plonking a diesel engine in its upcoming Infiniti Essence concept car on show in Geneva, which may go on sale in Europe from next year.
The concept car on display at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show had a twin-turbo, direct-injection 3.7-liter V6 with 434 bhp and a new electric drive design dubbed “3D Motor” contributing a further 158 bhp and backed by lithium ion batteries, giving a combined 592 bhp. But a Nissan spokeswoman said that the European market may get a production version with a V6 diesel hybrid system.
Rinspeed iChange coming to blow you away
Feb 24, 2009 Auto Tech
Rinspeed iChange
What if your car had a cockpit style opening instead of doors? What if you could dock your IPhone to the car dashboard and use it to start the car and operate the headlight and turn signals? And what if the car had an electric motor that helped it accelerate to 100 kmph from standstill in under 4 seconds? Surely you would not complain about not being able to steer the car by shaking the Iphone and using its inbuilt accelerometer?
Thought so! Move over Tesla and Fisker! Hail the Rinspeed iChange! (Video at the end of the story.) Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: electric vehicle, Fisker, IChange, Rinspeed, Tesla
VW-Toshiba to collaborate on EV tech
Feb 14, 2009 Auto Tech
Volkswagen UP!
VW and Toshiba have just teamed up to develop electric drive systems and power electronics together. So, sometime in future, near or distant, you may find these electric drive systems being used in battery-powered versions of the New Small Family (NSF) cars, the production variant of the Up! series of concepts first seen in 2007.
Volkswagen has been planning to use the Up! derivatives for global small car platform under its different brands (and in different countries, including India) and an electric motor may be one of the powerplant options. It remains to be seen if Volkswagen, which gave the world the Beetle, the original “People’s Car” can rework its magic in the electric vehicle market by coming up with an affordable yet practical EV.
Startups like Better Place and Coulomb Tech are already putting in place public electric vehicle charging stations in anticipation of EV and plug-in hybrids’ rollout. And Tesla and Fisker are challenging the conventional carmaking giants with their own products, the Roadster, Model S and the Karma.
Tesla Model S teaser shots released
Feb 13, 2009 Auto Tech
Tesla Model S
Tesla has just released this teaser shot of the upcoming Model S sedan, that will break cover on March 26. From what little can be gleamed, there are hints of the BMWesque flame surfacing on sides and eagle eye like headlights. won’t you say? The compactness of the electric motor will mean that it can boast of larger passenger compartment in a shorter overall length.
Tesla plans to start selling the Model S from 2011, but a lot depends on it securing a $350 million dollar loan from the US government.
Tags: Fisker, Tesla, Tesla Model S, Tesla Roadster
Tesla Model S coming in March
Jan 29, 2009 Auto Tech
Tesla held meetings with groups of disgruntled customers to explain the recent price hikes of its Roadster. Speaking at these, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, let it slip out that the company may show a drivable prototype of its sedan, codenamed Model S for the first time on March 5 in Los Angeles. Production may start from 2011. There was also news on a 440V charger that would facilitate 45-minute charges is in the works, possibly for 2010.
As Tesla navigates its financial and technological challenges, more and more competitors are coming up from other non-traditional manufacturers. Tesla would have to duel it out with Fisker, SSC and others in the coming years. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Fisker, Tesla Motors
Fisker debuts Karma S : a cabriolet with folding hardtop
Jan 13, 2009 Auto Tech
Fisker Karma S
Fisker Automotive unveiled the Fisker Karma S concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS aka Detroit Motor Show).
The four-seat, plug-in hybrid hardtop convertible shares its aluminum spaceframe architecture and hybrid Q-DRIVE powertrain with the Fisker Karma sedan. Q-DRIVE provides 50 miles on a single charge to its lithium-ion battery pack, and up to 403hp from two electric motors. The power retractable hard top glides neatly into the trunk when you are ready to soak up the sun (S presumably stands for Sunset).
The market for extended range electric vehicles, where a petrol engine is used to recharge the batteries instead of directly driving the wheels is hotting up. Chrysler unveiled a few concepts, Lotus is thinking of making one and we all are awaiting the launch of the Chevrolet Volt. This may seem like a tacit admission by the automakers of the fact that battery technologies are not mature enough today for a versatile and practical everyday all-electric car. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Detroit Motor Show, Fisker, Fisker Karma S, hybrid sports car
Fisker unveils more details about Karma hybrid sedan
Dec 3, 2008 Auto Tech
Fisker Karma
More juicy details have emerged from Fisker about its upcoming sports sedan, the Karma. First is a new rear image, which looks great. It is clean and classy, much better looking than other 4 door coupes like Mercedes CLS or Porsche Panamera.Next, as reported here earlier, the powertrain comes from GM.It is a 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder engine which develops 260 HP. This will be paired with a “Q-Drive” hybrid system which features two electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. The Karma will have enough battery storage onboard to power the vehicle 50 miles on battery power alone. Total power of the Ecotec engine combined with the two electric motors will be an impressive 408 HP. Enough for 5.8 second 0-100 kmph sprint and a (conservative in my opinion) top speed of 205 kmph.
Pricing for the Fisker Karma is set at $87,900 for the base model. According to Fisker, the first deliveries of the sedan will take place in November 2009. The pricing looks attractive, considering the looks and the technology. I just hope Fisker is more punctual than Tesla Motors, an electric car startup, that has been skidding from one problem to another (and which recently lost an arbitration against Fisker, where it had accussed Fisker with stealing its secrets). With a timely launch, the Karma could pip the Chevrolet Volt and get all the press coverage.
With the power output and torque figures disclosed, it should give the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide a run for their monies. Read the link to know more!
Tags: Fisker, Fisker Karma, hybrid