BMW Active E Prototype Leasing to Start Next Year

BMW offered the Mini E electric vehicle to select individuals on a lease basis for those few selected individuals willing to pay a high monthly fee to essentially test drive a prototype vehicle for an extended period of time. The programs has been ongoing and is utilized by the company to see interest in the vehicle, to determine what buyers expect in a vehicle, and to make changes as it prepares the launch of a production electric vehicle.

Now the company is reported to be close to offering its second prototype electric vehicle for lease and this time it will carry the BMW badge. According to a report on Edmunds.com, BMW plans to offer a limited amount of its Active E electric vehicles for lease in the U.S. soon.

The Active E is based on the 1 Series BMW model and was recently unveiled at the NAIAS. The layout is as such, it's a four seater with li-ion power and a 170hp electric motor. Range is estimated at 100 miles.

BMW board member Klaus Draeger told Automotive News that the company will offer a limited amount of the Active E vehicles for lease in Europe and the U.S. Details on the exact amount of vehicles to be offered was not discussed nor was pricing or terms for the lease.

The success of the Mini E trial led to the company extending the leasing indefinitely for the 450 customers who currently have this vehicle. Additionally, the success of the project has led the company towards another field trial. The BMW version is certainly more advanced as technology has progressed. The BMW Active E should be reaching lease customers next year ahead of the companies launch of a production electric vehicle scheduled for 2014 or 2015.

Ferrari To Unveil First Hybrid at Geneva Auto Show

It's highly unlikely that anyone could have ever guessed that Ferrari would launch a hybrid product, but believe it or not the time is coming. The company will officially show off its first hybrid product at the 2010 Geneva Auto Show in March.

Ferrari and hybrid are two unlikely words to find in the same sentence, but the company's decision to go green does not appear to effect the company's performance image at all. The hybrid to be displayed will be a 599 GTB Fiorano. It is expected to have a rear mount electric motor, a lithium-ion battery source, and a version of the KERS energy recovery system.

Unofficial numbers put the hybrid around 14 miles per gallon, not typical hybrid figures, but the gasoline powered version only returns 9 mpg, so 14 is quite an improvement.

The vehicle will employ Ferrari's famous V12 engine supplemented by the KERS system. The KERS setup captures energy from braking to charge the batteries. The batteries along with the electric motor allow for added power during short stints of high acceleration driving. Additionally, the vehicle is expected to employ engine shut down while not in motion, which will reduce gasoline consumption.

Ferrari discussed the possibility of a hybrid model last summer, but did not disclose much information at the time. Now, the word is official from the company. It will be unveiled in Geneva this March with more information to follow prior to the show.

Fusion Hybrid Tops Edmunds

he Ford Fusion Hybrid is a notable entry in the hybrid segment for several reasons. For starters, the vehicle is the first truly successful hybrid offering from a domestic automakers. Second, the vehicle has won numerous awards for its design, powertrain, and efficiency. Now you can add consumers top pick to the list of reason to consider a Ford Fusion Hybrid.

Edmunds.com ran a poll for the month of December allowing website users to select their favorite gas electric hybrid vehicle and the Ford Fusion came out on top, beating the likes of the perennial favorite the Toyota Prius.

The poll asks users to rank vehicles based on their level of interest in a particular model. The Fusion Hybrid received 26 percent of the top votes for December followed closely by the Toyota Prius at 23 percent.

Other gasoline electric hybrids to make the list in positions 3 through 10 are listed in order below. Honda Insight, Lexus HS 250h, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Saturn Vue Greenline, and the Ford Escape Hybrid.

It appears as though Ford has entered a formidable opponent to Toyota's Prius. The Fusion Hybrid achieves 39 mpg while the Prius is rate at 50mpg. However, the Fusion Hybrid is notably roomier and peppier than the Prius while offering an exterior appearance that differs very little from the traditional gasoline powered version. Here in the U.S. Ford may have found a hybrid solution that fits just right.

Tesla Roadster

According to a report from Wired's Autopia site, the Tesla Roadster that we are familiar with will come to the end of its production run in 2011. A new version of the Roadster will appear in 2013.

Autopia came across the information while perusing through the filings made by Tesla with the Security and Exchange Commission. The filings were necessary as Tesla had to submit paperwork for its IPO. Within the paperwork, Autopia found these statements that appear to verify the future of the Roadster.

"We do not plan to sell our current generation Tesla Roadster after 2011 due to planned tooling changes at a supplier for the Tesla Roadster.... As a result, we anticipate that we may generate limited, if any, revenue from selling electric vehicles after 2011 until the launch of the planned model S..."

The Tesla Roadster is built at the Lotus plant in England. The Roadster shares its underpinnings with the Elise model. It's highly likely that Lotus will be replacing the current Elise with a new version by 2012-2013 which means that Tesla will not have a chassis available for their Roadster as Lotus prepares for the changeover.

One possible problem could crop up at a later date. The Tesla Model S in not due for release until 2012 which leaves a gap with possibly no vehicles for the company to sell from the time that the Roadster exits production until the time that the Model S enters production. Without a model, Tesla could face some financial difficulties. Additionally, any delay in the Model S would become problematic.

The all new Roadster will go on sale in 2013 so those interested in a Tesla offering will have more than one choice by then. Look for additional information about the next generation Roadster soon.

GM Releases Volt

nderstanding the cars of tomorrow is an important steps towards adoption. With the right knowledge, potential buyers may feel confident in trying out new technologies. Since plug-in hybrids and EVs are incredibly different than the traditional gasoline powered vehicle, the buyer must be informed. Informing buyers about new technologies can be a simple as posting a YouTube video as GM has done for the Volt.

This recent release describes the basic operation of the Voltec system. It is indeed very basic and lacks much detail about the cars actual operation, but it does begin to inform the public about how the Volt works and what drivers can expect. GM will certainly release more videos about the Volt before it goes into production. View the video below to see GM's generalized and perhaps overly simplified explanation of the Volt's operation.

Advertising for vehicles has changed dramatically in recent years. The explosion of You Tube allows automakers to reach the masses quickly with new information. GM has taken advantage of this new advertising source and has displayed the Volt numerous times through internet videos. The company hopes that potential buyers can gain knowledge about the vehicle through these videos.

he Honda CR-Z

The North American International Auto Show brings together automotive writers from around the globe. Alongside many of the writers, at least those who attend during public show days, there are interested people. Potential buyers are on scene offering their opinion about a particular vehicle or design trend.

The Associated Press no doubt had many journalists attend this years show and have recapped some of the highlights as well as some of the opinions from eager show goers. The upcoming Honda CR-Z hybrid drew considerable attention at the show. The vehicle received praise for its hybrid efficiency characteristics while maintaining the sporty looks of a traditional vehicles.

The CR-Z is expected to go on sale later this year at a price that has yet to be announced. It's powered by a 122 hp 1.5 liter four cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain. The CR-Z is unique in the hybrid segment because it offers a six speed manual transmission whereas most other hybrids employ a CVT or automatic transmission. The vehicle returns up to 38 mpg in highway driving while offering a sporty driving experience.

AP Automotive writer Tom Krisher had a chance to ask some show-goers how they felt about the CR-Z and responses show an acceptance of the vehicle. Rebecca Lindland of IHS Global Insight said, "It's really going after the performance crowd. That's an issue because most greenies aren't performance oriented." And Sandeep Chelliah, an 18 year old Windsor native said, "This really has a good look to it even though it's a hybrid."

General consensus appears to show the CR-Z has created a new market segment, the performance hybrid segment. This vehicle offers performance better than a Prius at the cost of lower fuel economy. However, the CR-Z still offers better fuel economy that similar sized gasoline powered vehicles. For those who want performance and fuel economy, the CR-Z may be the answer.

Electric Car M7

Model: M7
VOLTAGE (V): 60V
MOTOR (KW): 5kw -6.3kw
RANGE (LOADED)(km): 100-150
MAX SPEED(km/h): 45
CHARING TIME (h): 7
NET WEIGHT(kg): 1320
SIZE: L/W/H(mm): 3855mm*1680mm*1500mm
TYRE SIZE(FRONT/BACK): 1440/1420
100 KM PER ELECRICA COST(kw@h): 8
WHEELBASE(mm): 2425
BODY: STEEL
MIN GROUD CLEARANCE(mm): 200
GEAR CHANGE MECHANISM: GEAR BOX
USUAL LOAD WEIGHT(kg): 260
MAX LOAD WEIGHT(kg): 360
SEATS AND DOORS: 4 SEATS 5 DOORS
20 GP LOAD QTY: 1
40 HQ LOAD QTY: 3
WINDOWS: AUTO
MUSIC PLAYER: RIDIO+ USB
BATTARY TYPE: LEAD ACID
BATTARY CAPACITY(AH): 6V/180AH*10 PCS
BATTARY CHARGING VOLTAGE: 220V OR 110V OR 240V
SPEED METER: LIQUID CRYSTAL NUMBERAL TUBE
PASSENGERS CAPACITY: 4-5 PERSONS