My Perfect Automobile » Plug-In Cars

Ford Fusion Energi Gets Five Stars for Safety

Larry Bell — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:17 +0000

Ford Fusion Energi

Ford Motor Company’s plug-in hybrid Fusion Energi scored a powerful double play in safety, earning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) highest rating, as well as being named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. NHTSA tests frontal, side and rollover impact, and then calculates an overall rating based on those three scores. The Fusion Energi plug-in scored a perfect five stars in each of the three crash categories.

Ford Fusion Energi: Video

The video footage above shows NHTSA frontal crash testing on a Ford C-Max Hybrid. The meticulous documentation of the controlled crash is typical of the organization’s thoroughness. Results of the frontal tests showed the C-Max scoring four out of five stars, while the vehicle notched a full five stars in the side testing. Rollover results came in at four stars, giving the C-Max an overall four-star safety rating. The Ford Fusion Energi scored a perfect five-star safety rating in its most recent testing. NHTSA crash simulations are scientifically designed to mimic real world conditions, and have been perfected over several decades. Carmakers spend huge sums of money in an effort to earn four- or five-star safety results. Marketing surveys show that at least half of all car buyers purchase a vehicle based at least partly on its safety ratings, from NHTSA and others.

Ford Fusion Energi

Concerning the NHTSA ranking for Fusion Energi, a Ford spokesperson noted that the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, along with its top-ranked safety performance in the testing, are the two factors that modern day car buyers look for when considering a purchase. Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is EPA-rated at 100 MPG-equivalent.

For more about Ford Motor Co., and the Fusion Energi in particular, see the official corporate sites below:
http://www.ford.com
http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

EV Car Sales: Second-Generation Volt by 2016

Larry Bell — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:36:19 +0000

EV Car Sales (Pictured: Chevy Volt)

Amid a flurry of plug-in car sales announcements late last week, GM CEO Dan Akerson said Chevrolet Volt would unveil a second-generation model not later than 2016. The Chevy Volt, Nissan’s all-electric Leaf, and the Tesla Model S electric sedan all jockeyed for top sales spot in April. While Volt’s sales were down compared to April 2012, the model did manage a 3 percent increase for the first four months of 2013, compared to the same period last year. April marked the second month in a row that Volt was slightly outsold by the Nissan Leaf, as Tesla Motors appears to have beaten both those cars in the monthly sales derby.

EV Car Sales: Video

The video clip above contains the sort of footage that electric car enthusiasts live for, a Formula-E burnout on the streets of L.A. It is all quite legal of course, as the demo was under the auspices of city officials there to promote alternative fuels. Notice the odd lack of noise compared to combustion car burnouts, where decibel levels are almost deafening. Some hardcore-racing fans claim a race is not a race without noise. Formula-E followers, on the other hand, love the hum and rev of the smooth-running electric motor. The good news is, you still get the burnout.

EV Car Sales

Tesla Motors does not reveal monthly sales data, but analysts estimate that the luxury electric sedan topped the much less expensive Volt and Leaf in April sales. As gasoline prices have leveled off, one company official at Chevrolet noted that competition between GM’s Chevy Volt, Nissan’s Leaf and Tesla’s Model S will become more competitive. Volt ruled the roost for a number of months, but now that Nissan has gone into full domestic production with its Leaf, and cut its price by $6,000, the battle of the plug-ins is getting underway. For its part, Tesla Motors expects to sell 20,000 Model S cars by the end of 2013.

For more about the carmakers mentioned above, see their official websites:
http://www.chevrolet.com
http://www.nissanusa.com
http://www.teslamotors.com

Larry Bell

Wireless Plug-In for Buick Riviera Concept

Larry Bell — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:04:58 +0000

Buick Riviera wireless plug-in concept

GM unveiled its Buick wireless plug-in concept at a special showing in Detroit, just hours before the vehicle’s official debut at the Shanghai Auto Show. Not destined for production, the concept’s shocking color, gull-wing doors, and wireless charging system are considered hints of Buick’s future design language. GM Shanghai president Ye Yongming said of the concept, “By seamlessly integrating advanced technologies, flexible functions and contemporary aesthetics, the new Riviera heralds the start of a new chapter for the 110-year-old Buick brand.”

Buick Riviera Concept: Video

Buick used the Shanghai Auto Show to officially debut the car that marks what its makers call, “the start of a new chapter” for Buick. That, according to Shanghai GM President Ye Yongming, is what the newest plug-in version of Riviera is all about. The stunning vehicle, shown in the video clip above, features a package of high-tech components including wireless plug-in capability, intelligent four-wheel steering, and electro-magnetic suspension. The automaker refers to these functions collectively as BIP, or Buick Intelligent Performance. The Buick Riviera Concept electric car is the fourth concept vehicle from the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) and GM Shanghai. The car’s charging unit is positioned inside the Buick porthole design.

Buick Riviera

According to GM, the new Riviera’s design was inspired by the well-known Chinese adage, “The greatest good is like water.” One of the vehicle’s features is a green “eco mode,” that allows for sports car-like performance even while functioning in hybrid drive. GM and its joint venture partners look to show more than 50 new vehicles at the Shanghai show, several of which are the product of joint venture efforts. Buick sold just over 700,000 cars in China last year and was part of the overall GM strategy to increase sales in what is becoming the most important auto market in the world.

For more information, see the official Buick corporate website:
http://www.buick.com

Larry Bell

Prius Plug-In Test Reveals Surprising Data

Larry Bell — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:13:32 +0000

Toyota Prius Plug-In

Results of a three-year trial show that plug-in hybrid cars can have a significant impact on fuel economy, perhaps causing as much as a 45 percent drop in fuel usage overall. Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid cars were given to city employees in Strasbourg, France, in order to collect detailed data about usage, fuel consumption, personal driving habits, and other relevant behaviors. Study participants covered about 2,500,000 miles during the three-year period and used 145 different charge points to replenish the cars’ batteries.

Prius Plug-In: Video

For a fun look at hybrid car enthusiasts doing something positive to help their fellow citizens, and enjoying themselves in the process, view the hilarious video clip above. An official production of Toyota Motor Corp., the clip highlights how the Toyota Positive campaign works. Those with helpful, fun ideas can submit them to Toyota. If the company likes the pitch, it will back the plan and offer the use of a Prius car. According to official Toyota literature, the idea should, “…combine the good-natured public spirit with the positive power of our new Prius Plug-in Hybrid. Submit your positive ideas and we could give you one of our pioneering hybrid cars to bring it to life. Let’s spread some positivity.”

Prius Plug-In Test

The drivers charged their vehicles an average of 1.1 times per day. One interesting fact from the study is that frequent charging is directly related to low fuel usage. While 60 percent of recharging sessions took place at work, the other 40 percent were done at drivers’ homes.

For more about Toyota, maker of the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle, see the Japanese automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.toyota.com

To learn more about the Toyota Positive competition, and to see how you can join the fun, visit the company’s instructional link about the event:
http://www.youtube.com/toyotapositive/

Larry Bell

World Green Car of the Year: The Nominees

Larry Bell — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:28:09 +0000

World Green Car of the Year (Pictured: The 2012 winner, Mercedes-Benz S250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY)

By the time you read this, you may already know who the winner is. In any case, it never hurts to know who made the finals, and why. The nominees for 2013 World Green Car of the Year are:

The Tesla Model S
Renault Zoe
The Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid

The winner will be announced on Thursday at the New York Auto Show amid a series of other Car of the Year winners in various categories. In order to make the finals, a car must be for sale on at least two continents and be a production model, not a concept vehicle. Though the Zoe is not familiar to U.S. consumers, the other two entrants are. The judging panel is well aware of each car’s pros and cons, and has extensive experience in making comparisons among engine types, performance parameters and reliability.

World Green Car of the Year: Video

For a closer look at one of this year’s award nominees, take a video test drive (above) in the Renault Zoe. Judging everything from looks and handling to performance and acceleration, the narrator puts the Zoe to the test, and just happened to face a very rainy day. The 2013 finalists consist of a pair of battery-electric cars and one plug-in hybrid, so it should be revealing to see how the judges compare these rather different models. One of the highlights of the New York Auto Show each year is the announcement of the World Car of the Year awards.

World Green Car of the Year

Ford, Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz faced off in last year’s green award competition, with the German carmaker’s S 250 CDI coming out on top. Second and third place trophies went to the Focus Electric and Peugeot’s 3008.

For more about the World Car of the Year awards, and to see how the system works, visit the official website for the WCOTY organization:
http://www.wcoty.com/web/

Larry Bell

BMW Plug-In Ready for NY Show

Larry Bell — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:35:07 +0000

BMW Plug-In Concept Active Tourer

BMW will pull the curtain on its Concept Active Tourer hybrid plug-in at the upcoming New York Auto Show. The 3-cylinder hybrid joins two other BMW vehicles that will be front and center at the New York event, namely the GT and the 328d diesel, which will be making its world debut at the show. The automaker’s 3 Series family includes several compact cars in its lineup. The 328d joins two other fresh faces, a hatchback and a wagon, in the 3 Series category. The New York International Auto Show runs from Mar. 29 through April 7.

BMW: Video

See the short video clip above for some up-close photos of the BMW Concept Active Tourer, from its recent display duties at the Paris Auto Show. Looking somewhat similar to the automaker’s SUVs in design, the entire look is more akin to the BMW 3 Series cars. The front-wheel-drive Active Tourer reaches 62 mph in less than eight seconds and features a 190-horsepower engine system with a top speed of 124 mph. Early reports indicate that the hybrid Tourer will achieve a 94 mpg rating.

BMW

Since 2004, the 1 Series has been BMW’s smallest vehicle, while the company’s largest cars are the 7 Series models. According to a long-standing BMW engineering tradition, the automaker uses the 7 Series to introduce new features and technological components. Hydrogen power and the iDrive system found their way into the BMW family via the 7 Series lineup.
BMW began producing motorcycles in the early 1920s. It wasn’t until the end of that decade, in 1929, that the company ventured into the automotive manufacturing business, offering its first car, the Dixi, a reworked British Austin that BMW had licensed.
For more about BMW automobiles see the company’s official website:
http://www.bmw.com

Larry Bell

Meineke to Offer Hybrid Conversions

Larry Bell — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:19:00 +0000

Meineke to Offer Hybrid Conversions

Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. and Echo Automotive Inc. have signed an agreement whereby Meineke will offer nationwide service for Echo’s fleet conversion platform, which turns combustion vehicles into plug-in hybrids. Echo’s chairman and president, Jason Plotke, pointed out that Meineke’s national reputation and geographic coverage will be a catalyst for the introduction of the conversion processes. With over 900 global locations in more than a half-dozen nations, Meineke will be a key component in Echo’s corporate goal of bringing fleet conversion services to cities and corporations all over the world. The past decade has witnessed a trend on the part of businesses and regional governments toward switching from oil-based fuels to renewable energy sources, like electricity.

Hybrid Conversions: Video

Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard tests an EchoDrive hybrid in the short video clip below. Created by Echo Automotive, the EchoDrive platform is a low-cost way to convert combustion fleet vehicles to hybrid drive. Fleet owners can recoup the conversion expense in less than three years in most cases, which means cities and corporate fleets can cut fuel costs virtually overnight. In the film, Ballard discusses the advantages of hybrid vehicles with an Echo Automotive rep as they wend their way through the busy streets of downtown Indianapolis. Echo Automotive’s main office is in Anderson, Indiana. The EchoDrive platform converts fleet cars into plug-in hybrids, and can help fleets reduce fuel usage by up to 50 percent.

Meineke Hybrid Conversions

For 20 years now, boxer George Foreman, aka The Heywood Giant, has been the spokesman for Meineke, which is a huge international company under the Driven Brands, Inc. ownership label. In fact, Driven owns not only Meineke, but also Econo Lube ‘N Tune and Maaco. Originally known as Meineke Mufflers, the company later morphed into Meineke Discount Mufflers, and since 2003 has been officially called Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc.
For more about Meineke, see the company’s official website:
http://www.meineke.com

For more about Echo Automotive, see the company’s official website:
http://www.echoautomotive.com

Larry Bell

Audi A3 Plug-In Headed to Geneva

Larry Bell — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 11:31:22 +0000

Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid car

Audi will show an electric-hybrid plug-in car at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show. No word on production plans, price, or proposed market coverage, but the company has revealed some preliminary specs on the A3 plug-in. Equipped with a 204-horsepower engine system, the vehicle can reach a maximum speed of 138 mph, and does the zero-to-60 run in 7.5 seconds. Like several EV models already on the market worldwide, the A3 plug-in can travel just over 30 miles on electricity, and reach 81 mph on battery power alone.

Audi A3: Video

For an interesting look at the Audi A3, and to hear directly from the company why they think an electric Audi is positioned better than similar cars in the market, view the short video clip below. “It’s the wrapper,” notes the Audi company spokesperson, who points out that consumers will, in the long run, drift toward the best product among many. While several large automakers already have competitive electric vehicles in showrooms, Audi is being careful to roll out the A3 e-tron, then a higher-end A8 electric, and hopes to have plug-in hybrid Audi in showrooms within two years.

Audi A3

Last year, Audi began a small pilot project using all-electric A3s in the U.S., and has been continually evaluating the data to better lay out a marketing strategy for its soon-to-be EV lineup. For the time being, it appears the German carmaker will begin its electrical quest with a plug-in hybrid, which will almost certainly bear a striking resemblance to the A3 headed to Geneva. From the looks of things, Audi appears to be setting the stage for a sales duel between itself and GM in the plug-in hybrid niche. Though the Chevy Volt has had an enormous head start, the next few years will determine how the competition shakes out.

For more about Audi vehicles, see the automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.audiusa.com

Larry Bell

German Co. Offers New Way to Charge Electric Cars

Larry Bell — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:48:32 +0000

Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid

German manufacturer Ubitricity will make at least 1,000 portable car-charging devices as a first production run. The new unit, which is capable of acting as a mobile charging station, could have a significant impact on the current state of electric vehicle infrastructure. Rather than using a large, expensive charging unit to deliver electricity to an EV, the Ubitricity unit would allow any driver to hook up to one of the company’s special outlets and be billed automatically.

Germany’s Ubitricity: Video

“Rethinking infrastructure for electric vehicles,” intones the narrator in the informational clip below, as she explains exactly how the Ubitricity system works via graphics and animation. The idea takes a bit of time to sink in, but essentially, it operates as though any electric car could plug into any socket, or in this case specifically designed sockets. Leaping past the concept of charging stations completely, the Ubitricity plan is for car owners to purchase the units and carry them in the trunk, enabling billing and charging from any proprietary outlet. As long as an EV driver is plugged into one of the unobtrusive Ubriticity outlets, billing and charging take place at the same time, and seamlessly deliver metered power to the car. Unique in its simplicity and application, the Ubitricity charging method might just eliminate the need for conventional charging stations.

German Company Ubitricity

The company says that the sockets would be as easy to install as standard electrical outlets, which could enable building owners, municipalities, and homeowners to put sockets wherever needed, all for a fraction of the expense of a full-blown charging station. In many ways, a system such as Ubitricity’s would create instant infrastructure for all electric vehicles.

For more about the German company that has developed the portable charging unit, see the official website:
http://www.ubitricity.com/

Larry Bell

Honda Accord is Canada’s Car of the Year

Larry Bell — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:13:40 +0000

Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid

A group of Canada’s top automotive journalists named Honda Accord the 2013 Car of the Year. A team of 80 industry writers looked at 180 vehicles and chose winners in each category. To net the top prize, Car of the Year, a vehicle had to have already won its specific category. Ford’s Fusion Hybrid won for Best New Family Car (over $30,000), while the Mazda3 SkyACTIV sedan took home honors for Best New Small Car (under $21,000). GM of Canada won the Best Technology award for its center-front airbag.

Honda Accord: Video

“It’s a plug-in hybrid without compromise, because that’s how it should be when you choose efficiency,” intones the narrator toward the conclusion of the short ad for the new Honda Accord Hybrid Plug-In. In less than two minutes, the succinct infomercial runs through dozens of features, options, and scientific wonders on the car, without missing a beat, and without having to exaggerate. Sleek, good-looking, and highly efficient, the plug-in boasts all the features of the standard model.

Honda Accord

The current generation of the Honda Accord has been called one of the best feats of automotive engineering in decades. The big win at the Canadian show marks another accolade for Honda’s popular line. The plug-in version for 2014 will no doubt draw on much of that goodwill. The sticker for the hybrid plug-in is slightly over $40,000 and is currently available in just two places in the U.S., namely California and New York. The car’s mpg-e is 115, a number that was revealed at the recent LA Auto Show. For those who want to drive in electric mode, the range is 13 miles. Accord Plug-In’s 4-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine offers rather impressive mileage all by itself, at 47 mpg in the city and 46 mpg on the highway.

For all things Honda, see the Japanese auto giant’s official corporate website:
http://www.honda.com

Larry Bell

Mitsubishi to Show Green Concepts in Geneva

Larry Bell — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:39:33 +0000

Mitsubishi GR-HEV concept vehicle

Mitsubishi will show off two of its newest concept cars at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show in March. The Japanese automaker will bring out a diesel hybrid SUV called GR-HEV, as well as an all-electric concept dubbed CA-MiEV, which can travel 186 miles between charges. Lacking specific powertrain data and marketing schedules, the vehicles appear to be pure concept for the present moment, both being described in official company literature as “next generation.” The limited visual representations of the vehicles point toward early-stage concept designs that will certainly garner plenty of media attention at the Geneva event.

Mitsubishi Concept Cars: Video

The video clip below is a long-form corporate ad for the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. A large, impressive plug-in hybrid, the Outlander offers both power and performance for city or highway driving. With enough computerized controls and settings to satisfy even the most devoted techie, the Outlander plug-in is Mitsubishi’s answer to several other automakers’ entries for this market, notably Ford’s C-Max Energi and Fusion Energi plug-ins. Already on sale in Japan, the vehicle sports a sticker price between $40,000 and $50,000. If and when the Outlander PHEV goes on sale in the U.S., look for prices in the mid-$40,000 range before federal and state incentives, which could knock the sticker price down to the mid-$30,000 neighborhood.

Mitsubishi PHEV Cars

Outlander PHEV will be offered in the U.S. and Europe after spending some time in its domestic debut market of Japan. The plug-in operates a bit differently than some others. It features three modes, one of which is all-electric. Another is a series hybrid mode, and a third is a parallel hybrid mode. In addition, the Outlander has a “battery charge” mode, which uses the gasoline engine to charge the electric battery while driving.

For more about Mitsubishi vehicles, see the Japanese automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/

Larry Bell

Momentum Dynamics Charges Chevy Volt Inductively

Larry Bell — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:17:36 +0000

Momentum Dynamics charger ready for work

Momentum Dynamics Corporation has developed an inductive charging system that can completely fill the battery of a Chevy Volt hybrid-electric vehicle. MDC’s system is capable of delivering more than 20,000 watts via a transmitting pad on the ground, which sends power to a receiving pad on the underside of the vehicle. Even a Level 2 charging system that plugs into a socket is only able to convey about one-sixth as much energy.

Inductive Charging: Video

As the narrator says, “Where we’re going, we don’t need wires.” And he is absolutely right, since he was in fact headed to a Qualcomm media event that featured dozens of electric cars with inductive plates. A few myths are dispelled along the way, namely about the amount of power loss during inductive charging. In fact, there is no more loss of electricity than during a convention plug in charging session, which is about 96 percent efficient. People often ask about metal objects or even cats that might get in the way of the plate during operation. If the inductive plate detects interference of any kind, it shuts down automatically and notifies the user. No danger to the cat or the metal plate!

Momentum Dynamics

Momentum’s CEO, and co-inventor of the technology, Andy Daga, commented on the difference between inductive and plug-in charging systems, saying, “Momentum Dynamics has surprised many people in the industry by the amount of power that can be safely delivered without the use of cables, and by its low cost relative to plug-in chargers.” In addition, wireless chargers are vandal-proof because they are under the ground, and are able to operate in all weather conditions, unlike plug-in systems. Inductive chargers also work automatically because they are able to sense when a car is above them.

For more about Momentum Dynamics, see the company’s official corporate website:
http://www.momentumdynamics.com

Larry Bell