AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/green.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Motorsports: Formula E touts Renault relationship with new car design, adds Bangkok to calender]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/formula-e-touts-renault-relationship-adds-bangkok/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/formula-e-touts-renault-relationship-adds-bangkok/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/formula-e-touts-renault-relationship-adds-bangkok/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The Formulec EF01 is a pretty sweet all-electric race car, but it's really been just a place holder for the vehicles that will eventually form the FIA Formula E Championship grid. Along with an announcement that Renault will be a technical partner, the budding series has just released images of what we can expect the actual cars to look like when they take to the starting line. Think less Formula 3, and more Formula 1.

As it has been presented, the poetically-named Spark-Renault SRT 01E is a mix of mirror-like polished aluminum body work and carbon fiber struts and wings. Its aerodynamic package not only has the traditional elements that provide downforce and keep the wheels planted through the turns, but it also features a few touches like partially faired wheels to help keep the slipstream free of energy-robbing turbulence.

The collaboration is more than skin deep, too. According to Managing Director of Renault Sport Technologies Patrice Ratti, the French automaker will call on expertise derived from its experience in Formula 1 and its production of road-going EVs to keep the electrons in the drivetrain flowing properly. And we quote,

"Engineers from Renault Sport F1 and Renault Sport Technologies will collaborate with Spark Racing Technology team to optimize the electric and electronic layout and performance of the powertrain."

Besides the big partnership news, Formula E has also revealed that Bangkok, Thailand has been chosen as the ninth of ten cities that will host a race. Although it has a burgeoning auto-making industry, the Asian country lacks an international motorsport presence. This event should help raise that country's automotive profile and give the electric racing series one of its more interesting backdrops.

You can read the two official press releases by scrolling below, as well as view a clip of Formula E Holdings CEO Alejandro Agag discussing the concept of the series in a recent interview with the Financial Times.

Continue reading Formula E touts Renault relationship with new car design, adds Bangkok to calender

Formula E touts Renault relationship with new car design, adds Bangkok to calender originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 19 May 2013 09:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bangkokelectric vehicle racingformula espark renault srt 01ethailandSun, 19 May 2013 09:13:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20572574/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20572574/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/19/formula-e-touts-renault-relationship-adds-bangkok/20572574/article-detail.xml 20572574 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/spark-renault-formula-e-car-cgi-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/spark-renault-formula-e-car-cgi-628.jpg <![CDATA[Two Wheels: Mission Motors unbreaks our hearts, teases street-legal electric motorcycle]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/mission-motors-teases-street-legal-electric-motorcycle/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/mission-motors-teases-street-legal-electric-motorcycle/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/mission-motors-teases-street-legal-electric-motorcycle/#commentsFiled under: , ,



You know the feeling you get when the hottie you have a big crush on starts dating someone else, which breaks your heart, but then that relationship suddenly ends and your petit chou fleur is romantically-available again and your heart becomes unbroken? (Just indulge us and say, "Yes.") Well, that's kind of how we feel about the appearance of the above teaser from Mission Motors promising the most advanced, "highest performing street-legal electric vehicle ever made."

The truth was, the Mission One design was dead, and the company would soon change its business model.

The Mission Motors story is packed with more twists and turns than any Californian canyon road. It burst onto the scene four years ago with the radically-designed, but super-powerful (and super-expensive) Mission One. A year later, it announced a production delay but the truth was, this design was dead, and the company would soon change its business model to one that focused on selling components to OEMs instead of motorcycles to the public. Our hearts were a little bit broken.

The startup then unveiled the fabulously-fabulous Mission R superbike and raced it in exactly one TTXGP event, where it won and set the EV-lap record at Laguna Seca (1:31.376, which stands to this day). Later, Mission fashioned the R into a street legal machine, handing it off to the likes of Jay Leno and the odd motorcycle journalist, and getting high marks for the two-wheeled effort. Still, no production plans were forthcoming.

Despite their successes, the company looked like it was in trouble last Fall as it laid off a significant number of staff - the end, it seemed, was near. Instead of final repose though, the San Francisco concern is jolting back to life. It started looking for new employees again back in February and this latest teaser would indicate that it's reversed its business-model reversal and is going back, at least in part, to its original plan of selling its own electric motorcycles.

When the lights come up on the promised production bike June 3rd, we expect to see a machine based on the Mission R, but featuring further refinement and, perhaps, higher performance. Truly, spring has returned, the dream is once again alive. Our hearts, they are unbroken.

Mission Motors unbreaks our hearts, teases street-legal electric motorcycle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 08 May 2013 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric motorcycleelectric superbikemission motorsmission onemission rWed, 08 May 2013 13:52:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20560994/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20560994/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/08/mission-motors-teases-street-legal-electric-motorcycle/20560994/article-detail.xml 20560994 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/mission-motors-2013-tease_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/mission-motors-2013-tease.jpg <![CDATA[Two Wheels: FIM announces 'first ever' electric motocross race, E-MX, forgets own previous event]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/fim-first-ever-electric-motocross-race-e-mx/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/fim-first-ever-electric-motocross-race-e-mx/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/fim-first-ever-electric-motocross-race-e-mx/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Institutional memory can be a funny thing. Sometimes short, sometimes selective, it always makes us wonder just how much effort was put in looking backwards before sending out press releases trumpeting a "first ever" product or event.

Case in point, the FIM has just announced the "first ever race for electric motocross bikes": the E-MX. While we can understand the desire to unremember unaffiliated happenings, such as the MiniMoto SX and, perhaps, Zero Motorcycles' 24 Hours of Electricross, it puzzles us how it manages to forget its own pioneering Ride Green Eco Enduro. It all just distracts from what could be a very significant bit of news - which we will now focus on, now that we feel better after getting that off our chests.

A significant hole in the electric motorcycle racing continuum might be about to be filled as the first E-MX event kicks off this week in at Circuit Zolder in Belgium, part of CleanWeek 2020. The contest will feature about a dozen riders, who will be split into two groups for sets of sessions for practice, qualifying and a semi-final. The top three riders from each group will then take to the track and face off in a five-lap final.

A varied assortment of riders includes the likes of 10-time world MX champion Stefan Everts and, interestingly, BMX Olympian Arnaud Dubois. Instead of his pedal bike, Dubois, and the rest of the riders, will compete using a small fleet of not-yet-for-sale-to-the-public KTM Freeride E motocross bikes. There will also be some representation from other manufacturers, as Zero Motorcycles and Quantya (now Vrone) bikes will be used for some "test runs" before the qualifying begins.

It's not clear whether the FIM E-MX, as it is called, will be an annual event or perhaps the beginning of a proper series. We, of course, hope it is the latter since motocross is the most popular form of motorcycle racing and the use of electric propulsion would help demonstrate to a wider audience the advantages of a quiet, yet powerful drivetrain. Scroll down for video from last September's original announcement which includes some getting-dirty demonstration footage, along with the official press release. If you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of Zolder Circuit on Thursday, definitely go check it out. Admission is free.

Continue reading FIM announces 'first ever' electric motocross race, E-MX, forgets own previous event

FIM announces 'first ever' electric motocross race, E-MX, forgets own previous event originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 01 May 2013 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Motors has just revealed the latest edition of it 5-part announcement trilogy. Whereas the previous first installment had to do with the company's new leasing program, this episode is all about service and warranty, comes gift-wrapped in the glittery descriptor of "World's Best," and is accompanied by hints of a future battery upgrade.

The new plan improves on the California automaker's service program by adding a valet service that brings you a top-spec Model S Performance - or a Tesla Roadster, if you prefer - to temporarily replace your personal vehicle while it's being serviced. CEO Elon Musk states that this fleet of Model S service vehicles, which will initially number about 100, will ideally be less than three months old and also be available for immediate sale. Like your loaner more than your own car? You can keep it, paying "a price that is lower by 1% per month of age and $1 per mile" for your new ride and taking, likely, a similar hit on your trade-in.

Musk hinted that a 500-mile battery would not be an unreasonable thing to expect in four or five years.

Not only should the purchase scheme keep the loaner fleet nice and fresh, it may also create a cache of certified pre-owned inventory for buyers who are looking for a deal on a Tesla that starts at $69,900 from the factory, or who would rather not wait a couple months for a new, made-to-order car.

As well as no-travel hassle, Tesla has also made its $600 annual service optional without effecting the standard 5-year/50,000-mile warranty. The company has also made the battery portion of the warranty unconditional, meaning that, if you manage to somehow turn it into a useless brick (something that should be quite difficult to accomplish with the Model S), you will get a replacement unit of equal capacity free of charge.

Speaking of battery capacity, during the media call, Mr. Musk also offered some hope for those anxious for packs that hold more energy than the current EPA-estimated 265-mile/85 kilowatt-hour packs now available. In response to a question about upcoming technology improvements, he hinted that a 500-mile battery would not be an unreasonable thing to expect in four or five years. He then added that, eventually, Tesla would likely offer owners the opportunity to upgrade their vehicles with longer-range capabilities.

It all sounds pretty good to us, and we can't help but think if this upstart company keeps it up, surpassing sales of the Chevy Volt might seem a minor accomplishment. For more details on this newest warranty arrangement, you can get more details in a blog post on the Tesla website.

Tesla announces 'World's Best Service and Warranty Program,' hints at future 500-mile battery originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500-mile batteryelon muskteslatesla model svalet servicewarrantyFri, 26 Apr 2013 19:14:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20550097/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20550097/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/26/tesla-worlds-best-service-warranty-program-500-mile-battery/20550097/article-detail.xml 20550097 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/19-2012-tesla-model-s-fd-1347336782-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/19-2012-tesla-model-s-fd-1347336782-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Motorsports: Chip Yates to defend Pikes Peak title with Lightning Motorcycles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/chip-yates-to-defend-pikes-peak-title-with-lightning-motorcycles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/chip-yates-to-defend-pikes-peak-title-with-lightning-motorcycles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/chip-yates-to-defend-pikes-peak-title-with-lightning-motorcycles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chip Yates rides his electric superbike up Pikes Peak

There's nothing like conflict to make a story more compelling, and in the man-against-nature drama that is the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, we can add-man-against-man to the electric motorcycle portion of the event.

Putting his battery-powered trans-Atlantic airplane endeavors momentarily on hold, Chip Yates is coming back to the race to the clouds to defend his 2011 electric motorcycle record. With his own custom machine now in residence at the Peterson Automotive Museum, his steed of choice will be sourced from the stables of Lightning Motorcycles; builders of the fastest two-wheeled destroyer of electrons.

His main competition is to come from Greg Tracy, someone with more than a passing knowledge of the super-twisty 12.42-miile course. With six Pikes Peak wins aboard various gas-powered motorcycles, Tracy is now going to try his hand at kicking amps aboard the Amarok P1A.

The Lightning Motorcycles superbike is all about more, while the machine from the Canadian upstarts is all about less.

What makes this match-up perhaps even more interesting is the completely opposite approaches of the two efforts. The Lightning Motorcycles superbike is all about more, while the machine from the Canadian upstarts is all about less. The Amorak relies on fewer than 100 ponies from a pair of DC air-cooled Agni motors within its super-light monocoque aluminum chassis while Yates will be astride a much heavier AC-powered beast with about double the power.

No doubt the P1A will prove more nimble through the 156 turns up the now fully-paved Pikes Peak, but will that advantage be enough to keep it ahead of the wheelie-prone Lightning? We'll find out June 30th when the event is live-streamed on Redbull.tv.

If neither of these bikes manage to somehow not make it to the finish line, it won't mean an electric motorcycle won't complete the course. Hollywood Electrics and Zero Motorcycles are also teaming up to send six riders astride various Zero models in search of hill-climbing glory including the Electric Cowboy, Brandon Nozaki Miller and TTXGP competitor Jeremiah Johnson.

Scroll down for the official press releases from the both Chip Yates and Amarok Racing.

Continue reading Chip Yates to defend Pikes Peak title with Lightning Motorcycles

Chip Yates to defend Pikes Peak title with Lightning Motorcycles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amarokamarok p1achip yateselectric motorcycle racinggreg tracylightning motorcycleslightning motorspikes peakpikes peak international hill climbzero motorcyclesWed, 24 Apr 2013 15:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545341/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545341/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/24/chip-yates-to-defend-pikes-peak-title-with-lightning-motorcycles/20545341/article-detail.xml 20545341 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/chip-yates2011-pikes-peak1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/chip-yates2011-pikes-peak1.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Watch Formula E test driver Lucas di Grassi do electric doughnuts on the streets of LA]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/watch-formula-e-driver-lucas-di-grassi-electric-doughnuts/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/watch-formula-e-driver-lucas-di-grassi-electric-doughnuts/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/24/watch-formula-e-driver-lucas-di-grassi-electric-doughnuts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

formula e lucas di grassi electric donuts

Doughnuts. They're not just those delicious disks of deep-fried delight sometimes stuffed with custard or jelly, and perhaps lightly dusted with confectioners sugar (mmmm... doughnuts). No, they are also a time-honored, tire-smoking way of demonstrating automotive power and virility.

Since many people's familiarity with electric vehicle performance begins and ends with golf carts, it seems only natural that a publicity tour for the upcoming FIA Formula E racing series employ the stunt on the very same Los Angeles streets on which it intends to race in 2014. With former Formula One driver Lucas di Grassi spinning the Momo steering wheel of the prototype machine - the actual cars used next season are being prepared by Spark Racing Technology with help from the likes of McLaren - many scorched-rubber circles were served up for the enjoyment of the onlooking crowd this past Earth Day.

You can find an assortment of photos from the promotional visit in the gallery above, then scroll down for video of the electric doughnut making mayhem along with the official press release for the event.

Continue reading Watch Formula E test driver Lucas di Grassi do electric doughnuts on the streets of LA

Watch Formula E test driver Lucas di Grassi do electric doughnuts on the streets of LA originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>doughnutselectric race carelectric vehicleelectric vehicle racingformula elos angeleslucas di grassivillaraigosaWed, 24 Apr 2013 11:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20548109/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20548109/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/24/watch-formula-e-driver-lucas-di-grassi-electric-doughnuts/20548109/article-detail.xml 20548109 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/formula-e-la-doughnuts-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/formula-e-la-doughnuts-628.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Tesla loses court battle with former exec, faces further class action]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/tesla-loses-court-battle-former-exec-faces-further-class-action/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/tesla-loses-court-battle-former-exec-faces-further-class-action/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/tesla-loses-court-battle-former-exec-faces-further-class-action/#commentsFiled under: ,

David VespremiThe wheels of justice grind exceedingly slow and fine, but, if you're demonstrably in the right, and have (a lot) of patience and a capable lawyer, good things can happen. An example of this might be a particular David versus Goliath Tesla case that has just been resolved.

David Vespremi, former director of communications for the California automaker (and new Epic Torq owner) was part of a mass firing, which ousted Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard called, at the time, a "Stealth Bloodbath" in which 26 employees were let go at once without advance warning. Unwilling to take what seemed like a wrongful dismissal lying down, Vespremi and his legal representative Yosef Peretz took his case to the courts. A similar situation is playing itself out over at Fisker Automotive, where recent sudden layoffs have triggered a federal lawsuit over alleged violations of the US Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which mandates a 60-day notification period before mass layoffs.

In any case, after five long litigious years, Vesprimi has just received word that the court has found in his favor as regards to his entitlement to 10,000 shares of stock options. This translates to $207,000 in cold, hard cash.

While Tesla will certainly be happy to put this case behind it - the company has, no doubt, already spent far more than the final award on the proceedings - it still faces further fallout from the decision.

With the principles of its obligations to former employees vis-à-vis stock options now established, it faces a further class action suit filed on behalf 99 other former workers with carbon-copy claims. While that may add up to a significant out lay for Tesla, it might find comfort in the fact that at least some of that money may very well find its way back in the form of orders for more of its Model S.

We have asked Tesla for a comment on the situation, but did not get a response before publication. We will update this post when we hear back.

*UPDATE: Tesla says, "We don't comment on pending litigation."

Tesla loses court battle with former exec, faces further class action originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class action lawsuitdavid vespremilawsuitstock optionsteslawarn actWed, 17 Apr 2013 14:14:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542698/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20542698/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/17/tesla-loses-court-battle-former-exec-faces-further-class-action/20542698/article-detail.xml 20542698 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/david-vespremi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/david-vespremi.jpg <![CDATA[Official: Epic EV delivers first Torq Roadster to former Tesla exec]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/epic-ev-delivers-first-torq-roadster-former-tesla-exec/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/epic-ev-delivers-first-torq-roadster-former-tesla-exec/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/epic-ev-delivers-first-torq-roadster-former-tesla-exec/#commentsFiled under: , ,

torq roadster delivery

Finally, success! Chris Anthony has been trying to launch a three-wheeled electric vehicle for years now - first, with the ill-fated Aptera Motors, which he co-founded, and now with his own Epic EV. Last Saturday, all that effort came together in a triumphant event that saw the Torq Roadster introduced to David Vespremi, former Tesla Director of Communications and first official customer.

For Vespremi, getting the Torq is also the fulfillment of a dream. While he enjoys driving high-performance vehicles (he has a Toyota MR2 with a few hundred horses), the low reliability factor and outrageous noise that's an integral part of the gasoline-powered experience has long lost its luster. Of course, the Roadster built by his former employer would likely quench his thirst for speed, but its price tag was almost double that of his new topless track toy and is now out of production.

The Torq is just a tick less quick than the Tesla, but promises that visceral open-driving feel of an Ariel Atom or KTM X-Bow that is unavailable to drivers in the US. Yes, there is that whole 3-wheel thing, but a test drive convinced our pioneering protagonist that the configuration "didn't kill the handling." It also allows for street-legal homologation.

We're looking forward to hearing more about this latest electric sports car from a customer's perspective, which David says he'll provide in a few weeks (with video, please). In the mean time, he's written a blog post that tells the back story about his purchase.

Feel free to peruse the gallery of pics from the official launch (more here) and scroll on down for the official press release.

Continue reading Epic EV delivers first Torq Roadster to former Tesla exec

Epic EV delivers first Torq Roadster to former Tesla exec originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sim-Drive continues to move towards its goal of evolving the gloriously fantastical all-electric eight-wheeled Eliica into a mass-produced passenger vehicle by 2015. Introducing the SIM-CEL (Cool Energy Link), the third iteration in the Sim series of prototypes.

At first blush, this latest creation would seem to be taking a few steps backward - it only seats two and its range is given as 324 km (201 miles) on the JC-08 cycle, 17 fewer miles than its predecessor. However, a closer look at the numbers, and the car itself (pictured above), reveals the progress; this thing is amazingly aerodynamic. It boasts a slippery drag coefficient of 0.199. Combined with its four direct drive in-wheel 65-kW (87-horsepower) electric motors, it is now said to achieve an efficiency of 91.2Wh/km (again, on the JC-08 cycle). That's rather impressive.

What makes the SIM-CEL even more remarkable, and helps it stand out from other super-sleek efficient contenders, is the fact that it can also move with a quickness. Its 0-to-100 km/h (62 miles per hour) time is given as 4.2 seconds, which puts in the same class as a Tesla Model S Performance. How now, VW XL1?

Another big difference in this latest vehicle is its construction. While its 1580-kg (3483-lb) weight is identical to that of the previous SIM_WIL, despite having a smaller, 29.6-kWh battery, its dimensions are significantly larger in every direction. (Click here to see a photo of all three Sim-Drive vehicles parked adjacent each other.) To accomplish this, the CEL retains the space-frame substructure of its siblings but uses CFRP (carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer) for its exterior shell.

The high tech incorporated into this prototype doesn't stop there, though. Included in the package are laser-driven high beams that work with LED headlights to illuminate the night 1.5 times as far as the previous lights.

Scroll down for a short clip of SIM-CEL in motion. While the quick blast of acceleration doesn't translate impressively to video, it does give us a chance to check out that unique body work.

Continue reading Sim-CEL has Tesla-quick performance, lasers for high beams

Sim-CEL has Tesla-quick performance, lasers for high beams originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerodynamicselectric vehiclein-wheel motorsim-celsim-drivetesla-quickThu, 04 Apr 2013 18:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20522399/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20522399/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/04/sim-cel-has-tesla-quick-performance-lasers-for-high-beams/20522399/article-detail.xml 20522399 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/sim-drive-sim-cel-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/sim-drive-sim-cel-628.jpg <![CDATA[Two Wheels: KTM E-Speed brings slice-and-dice sexy to electric scooters]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/ktm-e-speed-brings-slice-and-dice-sexy-to-electric-scooters/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/ktm-e-speed-brings-slice-and-dice-sexy-to-electric-scooters/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/26/ktm-e-speed-brings-slice-and-dice-sexy-to-electric-scooters/#commentsFiled under: , ,

ktm e-speed

Quick. If we say, "electric scooter," what springs to mind? A retro-styled off-brand offering from China? A plush maxi-sized conveyance for mature riders? Anything except, we imagine, the E-Speed concept from KTM that was just revealed at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show.

This sexy little beastie could very well be the butterfly knife of electric scooters: fun to play with, but deadly serious about slicing and dicing city traffic (*Disclaimer: Don't play with knives. You can put an eye out.) Built lean, with its aluminum battery enclosure doubling as the main chassis component, it doesn't just look sporty, it embodies it.

The E-Speed concept is quiet enough to not interfere with the sweet nothings it whispers to your inner hoon.

Packing an 11-kW (14.75 horsepower) liquid-cooled motor, the E-Speed offers 26.5 pound-feet of twist to help it reach its 85 kilometer-per-hour (53 mile-per-hour) top speed quickly, and in a fashion quiet enough to not interfere with the sweet nothings it whispers to your inner hoon. Quality flex bits from WP Suspension attached to the swingarm and front fork - both single-sided - should keep things well planted and allow for sharp handling. Luckily, it also features ABS brakes to reel you in if you get too close to the edge.

Range-wise, the 4.36-kWh lithium battery, running at over 300 volts, can carry passengers 60 km (37.28 miles) and charge to full in two hours. The 576 individual 18650-type cells are said to be good for 1,000 full cycles.

The question remains, though: will KTM build it? The official press release makes all kinds of happy noises about electric motivation, quoting CEO Stefan Pierer as saying, "We at KTM are completely convinced of electric mobility as a perfect complement to conventional powertrains." However, this is the same man that earlier this month told Italian website Motociclismo that lithium batteries were too expensive and dangerous to use.

Hopefully Mr. Pierer, after a long talk with some battery engineers and a spin around the block will come to his senses and figure out how to commercialize this concept. In the meantime, you can check it out from all angles in the gallery. Scroll on down for the official press release and full specifications.

Continue reading KTM E-Speed brings slice-and-dice sexy to electric scooters

KTM E-Speed brings slice-and-dice sexy to electric scooters originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austriaelectric scooterktmktm e-speedtokyo motorcycle showTue, 26 Mar 2013 09:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20517263/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20517263/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/26/ktm-e-speed-brings-slice-and-dice-sexy-to-electric-scooters/20517263/article-detail.xml 20517263 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ktm-e-speed-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/ktm-e-speed-628.jpg <![CDATA[Epic EV throwing a Torq launch party with free rides]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/epic-ev-torq-launch-party/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/epic-ev-torq-launch-party/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/21/epic-ev-torq-launch-party/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Epic EV Torq in black and white paint

The journey of the Torq roadster from Epic EV has been pretty low key for a three-wheeled bullhorn of a car that screams, "LOOK AT ME!!!" with its volume stuck at 11. There hasn't been a flood of press releases calling attention to the effort and there are no bizarre long-form commercials featuring giant wasps. Yes, the company did bring the finalized production version to SEMA 2012, but it was relegated to the parking lot as part of the Dub Show Tour and seemed to go mostly unnoticed.

That might be all about to change. Epic EV has announced it's having a coming out party for its unique all-electric Torq on the 6th of April at its R&D facility in Vista, CA. Along with delivering the first example to a paying customer, the company also is promising some Ride and Drive action and the release of the full specs and accessory pricing. The Torq Roadster's base price is $65,000.

The Torq has undergone some major re-engineering since we first spotted the original prototype back in 2010. With help from the good folks at Palatov Motorsports, the chassis and suspension underlying the topless machine has been sorted and balanced for optimal performance, while the exterior design has been touched by Designs By 11 and Motive Industries.

Now, three-wheel vehicles haven't received a lot of American love in the past, but Epic is betting that four-second, battery-powered jaunts from 0-to-60 and over a G's worth of lateral acceleration might win people over. Indeed, they hope to build over 50 cars this year and many more in 2014. Scroll down to check out the official press release and let us know if you'd take that bet in the comments.

Continue reading Epic EV throwing a Torq launch party with free rides

Epic EV throwing a Torq launch party with free rides originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleepic electric vehiclesepic evepic ev torqthree wheelerThu, 21 Mar 2013 07:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20510524/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20510524/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/21/epic-ev-torq-launch-party/20510524/article-detail.xml 20510524 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/epic-ev-torq-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/epic-ev-torq-628.jpg <![CDATA[Motorsports: Formula E electric racing coming to Miami, Los Angeles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/19/formula-e-electric-racing-coming-to-miami-los-angeles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/19/formula-e-electric-racing-coming-to-miami-los-angeles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/19/formula-e-electric-racing-coming-to-miami-los-angeles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

formula e race car

The Formula E all-electric racing series continues to make all kinds of happy announcements ahead of its inaugural 2014 season. This time, the good news is the publication of a provisional calender with eight of the ten eventual locations.

The US will be bi-coastally blessed when the racing action starts, with one event planned for Miami and another for Los Angeles. In addition to the Rio de Janeiro and Rome races previously revealed, the schedule also includes Beijing, London, Buenos Aires and Malaysia's Putrajaya. The final two cities are still unknown, though organizers have expressed an interest in events in both Africa and Australia.

When cars do eventually line up on a starting grid, the Drayson Racing Technologies entry will, at the very least, have competition from China Racing. With previous experience in A1GP, Superleague Formula and FIA GT1, it should prove a formidable foe. It is hoped that, in all, ten teams will be ready to roll by the time the green flag drops for real.

Scroll on down for the official press release and let us know which two cities should pick up the remaining pair of open spots.

Continue reading Formula E electric racing coming to Miami, Los Angeles

Formula E electric racing coming to Miami, Los Angeles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>china racingelectric vehicle racingev racingformula elos angelesmiamiTue, 19 Mar 2013 07:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20482221/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20482221/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/19/formula-e-electric-racing-coming-to-miami-los-angeles/20482221/article-detail.xml 20482221 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/formula-e-china-racing-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/formula-e-china-racing-628.jpg <![CDATA[New Applus Volar-E is an electric supercar with Rimac roots, courts controversy [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/new-applus-volar-e-is-an-electric-supercar-with-rimac-roots-cou/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/new-applus-volar-e-is-an-electric-supercar-with-rimac-roots-cou/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/06/new-applus-volar-e-is-an-electric-supercar-with-rimac-roots-cou/#commentsFiled under: , ,

applus volar-e video

A new electric supercar is born. Sort of. Mostly.

Applus Idiada recently lifted the sheet from the very slick all-electric Volar-E at the Circuit de Catalunya to reveal a vehicle that has the fingerprints of Rimac Automobili all over it. Indeed, it appears to be the exact same unit that the Croatian company announced delivery of, while keeping its appearance and customer details under wraps. This collaboration, however, has made the project somewhat controversial.

The Volar-E is the result of a tender put out by the European Commission that sought a company to "complete construction of an electric car designed for competition" that demonstrates that electric propulsion doesn't have to be slow and unexciting. Boasting 1,000 horsepower and 1,000 Nm (738 pound-feet) of torque from four electric motors, the Volar-E would certainly seem able to fulfill that requirement. However, it seems some doubts are being raised as to whether the Applus followed the letter of the agreement and completed enough of the work itself to be in compliance with the conditions of the tender.

After the demonstration event, Quimera Chairman Javier de Rocafort - who, we assume, also had eyes on the original contract that covered half of the cost of construction - tweeted about the situation, "quite depressing..." and "...the winner doesn't deserve it". Later tweets contain language that indicate his organization has plans to contest the award of the tender. And we quote (in part), "...we're preparing a new "surprise" to the bad guys."

While we'll have to wait and see how that situation plays out, we should note that in speaking with Motorpasion Futuro, Applus Idiada stated that its car only shares about five percent of its components with the Rimac Concept_One. Although it certainly looks similar to that electric antecedent, there are significant differences.

Whereas the original is slightly larger in every dimension and sports a monocoque chassis, the Volar-E has a skeleton comprised of steel and chrome molybdenum tubes. With only 38 kWh of energy available from the battery pack, it would also seem to lack the range of its big brother.

Scroll below to watch video of its public track debut and get more details from the official press release.

Continue reading New Applus Volar-E is an electric supercar with Rimac roots, courts controversy [w/video]

New Applus Volar-E is an electric supercar with Rimac roots, courts controversy [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applusapplus idiadaapplus idiada volar-erimacrimac automobilivolar-eWed, 06 Mar 2013 10:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20483468/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20483468/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/06/new-applus-volar-e-is-an-electric-supercar-with-rimac-roots-cou/20483468/article-detail.xml 20483468 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volar-e-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/volar-e-628.jpg <![CDATA[Two Wheels: Zero Motorcycles releases app for electric bikes in iOS, Android flavors]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/zero-motorcycles-app-electric-bikes-ios-android/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/zero-motorcycles-app-electric-bikes-ios-android/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/zero-motorcycles-app-electric-bikes-ios-android/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Zero app displayed on iPhone and Android device

Now this is way cool. Not only are the 2013 Zero Motorcycles starting to trickle out of the factory, but the company has also just released an app in both iOS and Android flavors to pair up with any of its new electric bikes. In late-night infomercial terms, this thing chops, slices, dices, deep fries and fricassees.

Not only does it give owners rafts of real-time information about their machines - everything from time left to charge to the average watt-hours used per mile - but it can also be used to fine tune eco-mode performance characteristics. Want to boost the regenerative braking or increase available torque? No problem. Limit top speed? Easy peasy.

But wait, there's more. It also features a riding mode that allows the display of five different variables on the screen of your device while the bike's in motion. You can monitor the motor, controller, and battery temperatures, as well as the current state of charge. How about a trip odometer and the time of day? Yes, please. In all, there are 12 different settings to choose from and you can configure their position on the screen.

If you act now and download the app for yourself, you may discover features that could prove handy in the event your Zero suffers some sort of malfunction. Along with links to online and phone support, it also has the ability to pull the bike's logs and email them directly to the company for analysis. Did we mention this app is way cool? We did? Good. Because this is waaaaaay cool.

Now, we don't have any of the new Zero electric motorcycles sitting in the AutoblogGreen garage at the moment to try this fancy bit of software out on, but we are somewhat consoled that we could still download and check it out in demo mode. And, what we couldn't configure, we could read about on the Zero website. Still, there's nothing like the real thing and we're looking forward to trying this out on an actual bike.

Zero Motorcycles releases app for electric bikes in iOS, Android flavors originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappselectric motorcycle appmotorcycle appzerozero motorcyclesFri, 01 Mar 2013 16:11:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20472890/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20472890/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/01/zero-motorcycles-app-electric-bikes-ios-android/20472890/article-detail.xml 20472890 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/zero-motorcycles-app_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/zero-motorcycles-app.jpg <![CDATA[Official: Tesla CEO Elon Musk on high cost of building Model S: "I wanted to punch myself in the face"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/teslsa-ceo-elon-musk-on-high-cost-of-building-model-s-i-wanted/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/teslsa-ceo-elon-musk-on-high-cost-of-building-model-s-i-wanted/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/23/teslsa-ceo-elon-musk-on-high-cost-of-building-model-s-i-wanted/#commentsFiled under: ,

tesla model s

Tesla Motors has been spending way too much money building each Model S. That reality, and how the company is remedying the situation, was one of the main talking points during a conference call that followed the release of the automaker's fourth-quarter letter to investors and financial results. The discussion offered a great look inside a company that is moving from its start-up stage to becoming a full-blown, car-building, money-making operation.

Tesla could bump up production to 500 Model S EVs a week, but will focus on reducing costs first.

To achieve the first-quarter profitability target that CEO Elon Musk says he expects to hit, Tesla is focusing on improving production efficiency and increasing gross margin, rather than just increasing the rate at which they turn out cars. Tesla could build as many as 500 Model S vehicles per week - instead of the current 400 - but wants to reduce the cost per car before it turns up the production volume. Musk reiterated the precise goal during the call, saying, "I'm highly confident that we'll be above 25 percent gross margin, without considering zero-emission credits, by the end of this year"

"The amount of overtime required to achieve 400 cars per week was pretty extreme."

There are several ways to pursue that target, one of which is reducing the man-hours required to pump out each Model S. In December, at the height of its efforts to achieve a 20,000-vehicle annualized production rate, workers were averaging something like 68 hours a week, Musk said (and also participated in). Obviously, that's expensive in terms of paying additional overtime wages, and can lead to employee burn out if sustained. "The amount of overtime required to achieve 400 cars per week was pretty extreme. That has improved pretty dramatically," Musk said. That number is now down to about 50 hours a week and should drop to the mid-40's sometime next month, Musk said. At the same time, the company is working to greatly reduce the number of temporary workers it employs and increasing, somewhat, the ranks of its full-time team.

Continue reading Tesla CEO Elon Musk on high cost of building Model S: "I wanted to punch myself in the face"

Tesla CEO Elon Musk on high cost of building Model S: "I wanted to punch myself in the face" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cost reductionselectric vehicleelon muskmodel steslatslaSat, 23 Feb 2013 15:52:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20472480/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20472480/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/23/teslsa-ceo-elon-musk-on-high-cost-of-building-model-s-i-wanted/20472480/article-detail.xml 20472480 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/tesla-model-s-sunset-1361479960_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/tesla-model-s-sunset-1361479960.jpg <![CDATA[Official: Tesla delivered 2,650 Model S EVs last year, Musk confident of profit in Q1 and beyond]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/tesla-delivered-2-650-model-s-evs-last-year-musk-confident-of-p/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/tesla-delivered-2-650-model-s-evs-last-year-musk-confident-of-p/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/tesla-delivered-2-650-model-s-evs-last-year-musk-confident-of-p/#commentsFiled under: ,

tesla model s

All eyes have been on Tesla Motors this past week as it disputed the veracity of an account of a long distance drive by The New York Times reporter John Broder. While it was somewhat amusing to watch NYT counter the original accusation of fakery made by CEO Elon Musk, only to be then publicly slapped with a handful of revelatory vehicle logs, today's release of Tesla's shareholder letter and fourth quarter financial results are certainly more relevant to the company's future. And, if Tesla manages to keep performing as it has these past few months, that future looks bright.

According to the letter, the California automaker ramped up its production to 400 units per week, building a total of 2,750 Model S sedans last quarter, bringing its yearly total to 3,100 vehicles. Of course, building cars is one thing and delivering quite another. The delivery process (in most States) involves buyers meeting with a specialist who explains the intricacies of owning and operating the car. The tricky logistics go some way to explain why Tesla delivered 2,400 units (100 units less than its target) for the quarter and around 2,650 for 2013. The next few months will see that number increase significantly with 4,500 deliveries planned for the 1st quarter of 2013.

"I'm quite certain we will deliver more than 20,000 cars this year."

Continuing at its current production rate, the company expects to build 20,000 all-electric machines in 2013, and CEO Elon Musk said on a conference call with analysts today that those are already sold. "I'm quite certain we will deliver more than 20,000 cars this year," he said, adding that if Tesla shut down all its stores and stopped taking orders, they'd still sell out for 2013. Tesla received an additional 6,000 new reservations in the 4th quarter of 2012, putting its net reservations - discounting deliveries and cancellations - at year end in excess of 15,000. Musk is happy about this, naturally, but is focused on figuring out, "how do we exceed the 20,000 number next year?"

Financially speaking, the numbers also look pretty positive. Tesla's quarterly loss shrunk to $90 million from $110 million in the third quarter, while revenue dramatically increased over 500 percent from the previous quarter to $306 million. That income was derived not only from Model S and a few Roadster sales, but also benefited - to the tune of $12 million - from its work on the Mercedes B-Class EV program and drivetrain shipments for the Toyota RAV4 EV.

"I don't want to be overconfident. I do think we'll be profitable in Q2, and subsequent quarters, too."

Perhaps the most interesting piece of the financial puzzle came in a prediction in the investor letter, and we quote, "... we expect to be slightly profitable (excluding only non-cash option and warrant-related expenses) in Q1 2013." Later, during the call, Musk expanded on that point saying that the only thing that could stop Q1 profitability is a "force majeure" event, like an earthquake. He is "cautiously optimistic" about Q2, but is waiting to see how things develop before he makes as bold a claim as he is with the Q1 prediction saying, "I don't want to be overconfident. I do think we'll be profitable in Q2, and subsequent quarters, too."

You can read the investor letter and financial results for yourselves below. We'll have more from the analyst call, including information on leasing in North America and a snazzy new "awesome red" color for the Model S soon.

Continue reading Tesla delivered 2,650 Model S EVs last year, Musk confident of profit in Q1 and beyond

Tesla delivered 2,650 Model S EVs last year, Musk confident of profit in Q1 and beyond originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012earningselectric vehicleelon muskfinancial resultsmodel steslaWed, 20 Feb 2013 18:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20470342/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20470342/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/20/tesla-delivered-2-650-model-s-evs-last-year-musk-confident-of-p/20470342/article-detail.xml 20470342 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/2012-tesla-model-s-front-three-quarter_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/2012-tesla-model-s-front-three-quarter.jpg <![CDATA[Two Wheels: New electric motorcycle racing series springs up in SoCal; cheap for you to enter]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/new-electric-motorcycle-racing-series-springs-up-in-socal-cheap/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/new-electric-motorcycle-racing-series-springs-up-in-socal-cheap/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/14/new-electric-motorcycle-racing-series-springs-up-in-socal-cheap/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Have you ever wanted to get in on a bit of electric two-wheeled racetrack action but aren't quite ready for a top-level series? Well, this might be for you. Zero Motorcycles dealer Hollywood Electrics has teamed up with M1GP to create a new 10-round series in Southern California.

The races are open to any electric motorcycle - brand-name or homebrew - and, best of all, it's inexpensive. A mere $120 gives you a full season membership and also (for Zero riders only and beginning at the second round) makes you eligible for Hollywood Electric store credits in the amounts of $500, $250 and $100 for placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively. They'll also reimburse that original fee if you compete in four events.

Race lengths are under 10 miles and charging is available onsite. Riders get track time for practice and qualifying as well as the main event. The rubber meets the road course this weekend at Willow Springs International Motorsports Park where, if you make it onto the grid, you'll find yourself lined up against one Brandon Nozaki Miller (pictured).

While this type of racing might not push the technology forward as quickly as some other series, it certainly raises the profile of modern battery-powered bikes at a grass-roots level, and just might convince some traditional riders to give it a go. Especially when they see quicker lap times. Check out the official press release below more details.

Continue reading New electric motorcycle racing series springs up in SoCal; cheap for you to enter

New electric motorcycle racing series springs up in SoCal; cheap for you to enter originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric motorcycle racingelectric vehiclehollywood electricsm1gpzero motorcyclesThu, 14 Feb 2013 11:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20460695/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20460695/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/14/new-electric-motorcycle-racing-series-springs-up-in-socal-cheap/20460695/article-detail.xml 20460695 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/brandon-willow-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/brandon-willow-628.jpg <![CDATA[Two Wheels: Zero Motorcycles starts shipping 2013 bikes, teases us with video]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/zero-motorcycles-starts-shipping-2013-bikes-teases-us-with-vide/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/zero-motorcycles-starts-shipping-2013-bikes-teases-us-with-vide/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/06/zero-motorcycles-starts-shipping-2013-bikes-teases-us-with-vide/#commentsFiled under: ,

Zero FX electric motorcycle in a cloud of tire smoke

We got pretty excited when Zero Motorcycles announced its new and highly-improved 2013 lineup in October and have spent a good deal of time since looking at the pictures, poring over awesome numbers (54 horsepower, 68 pound-feet of torque and 11.4 killowatt-hours!) and daydreaming about excellent electric adventures. Now that it's actually 2013 however, we want more.

We want to see more pictures and video of the machines in action, we want to try them out for ourselves and, most importantly, we want to see them in stores available for customers. Well, two out of three ain't bad. While we've yet to throw a leg over any of its battery-powered bikes this year, Zero has come through on the other counts.

With the launch of its new website, the California company is providing plenty of visual candy to further fuel our electric motorcycle desires. Besides action-packed footage of all its models - in both natural sound and music-enhanced versions - it's also put together a number of engaging customer testimonials, including a pair from record-setters Terry Hershner and Brandon Nozaki Miller (AKA the Electric Cowboy).

Best of all, though, customers are starting to receive bikes. Hollywood Electrics, Zero's top dealer for the past two years, has posted pictures on its Facebook page of its first two 2013-model year customers and we understand that production at its Scotts Valley headquarters is in full swing.

Scroll down for the "natural sound" version of videos featuring each of the five Zero Motorcycle models and let us know which one (or two) you'd like to have in your garage. We lean towards the DS, ourselves.

Continue reading Zero Motorcycles starts shipping 2013 bikes, teases us with video

Zero Motorcycles starts shipping 2013 bikes, teases us with video originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric motorcycleelectric vehiclezerozero dszero fxzero motorcycleszero mxzero szero xuWed, 06 Feb 2013 18:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20449572/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20449572/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/06/zero-motorcycles-starts-shipping-2013-bikes-teases-us-with-vide/20449572/article-detail.xml 20449572 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/zero-fx-tire-smoke-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/zero-fx-tire-smoke-628.jpg <![CDATA[Rimac Automobili delivers first electric supercar, can't let us see it]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/31/rimac-automobili-delivers-first-electric-supercar-wont-let-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/31/rimac-automobili-delivers-first-electric-supercar-wont-let-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/31/rimac-automobili-delivers-first-electric-supercar-wont-let-us/#commentsFiled under:



Rimac Automobili has just accomplished what all startups in the electric vehicle space promise, but mostly never deliver on: Job One. That's right, the Croatian company has completed its very first all-electric supercar for a paying customer. There's just one problem: we can't see it yet.

According to a Facebook update released by the company, its customer "...wished to control what will be published about the project." So, all we know for now is that it should offer similar, if not better, tire-blistering performance as the original Rimac Concept_One but will look somewhat different as it not a copy of that prototype, but rather, a separate one-off design. Judging by the shrouded silhouette in the photo above, the proportions are similar to the Concept_One, but the bodywork has been significantly massaged.

The project took about four months to complete and was complicated by the lack of automotive-sector infrastructure in the company's Balkan homeland. With no pool of engineers to hire from and no supplier base from which to source parts, the team Rimac team had to be inventive and self-reliant whilst operating on a tight budget. The lessons learned should help them move forward with future production, though.

While we look forward to seeing what lies beneath the sheet in both high-definition stills and moving pictures, this is probably the perfect time to applaud Mr. Rimac for reaching this momentous milestone. Congratulations, sir.

Rimac Automobili delivers first electric supercar, can't let us see it originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concept onecroatiacustom electric supercarelectric supercarrimacrimac automobiliThu, 31 Jan 2013 12:40:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20441082/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20441082/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/31/rimac-automobili-delivers-first-electric-supercar-wont-let-us/20441082/article-detail.xml 20441082 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/rimac-automobili-job-one_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/rimac-automobili-job-one.jpg <![CDATA[Video: Tesla Model S set to sizzle the drag strip, warms up the street [w/video]]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/tesla-model-s-set-to-sizzle-the-drag-strip-warms-up-the-street/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/tesla-model-s-set-to-sizzle-the-drag-strip-warms-up-the-street/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/tesla-model-s-set-to-sizzle-the-drag-strip-warms-up-the-street/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

tesla model s street race

Members of the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) are getting ready to sizzle away the seasonal blahs at their Winter Florida Nationals this coming Sunday at the Palm Beach International Raceway. This year the event has been folded into a day of street racing set up by Brooks Weisblat, the man behind DragTimes.

It just so happens that this particular website-owning speed addict is also a Tesla Motors customer and has just received his 2013 Tesla Model S Performance. Naturally, he will be bringing it along to see if he can get results similar to those that the Motor Trend crew achieved last summer and possibly surpass the Tesla Roadster's record time (12.582 seconds) for a spot in the official record books.

He'll be joined on the track by the Lawless EV Racing crew with "Lemon Juice," a '94 Chevy S-10, billed as the "World's Quickest Street Legal EV." It uses four 7.5-inch GE motors chained together to rip down the strip in as little as 9.957 seconds. We should also see Miramar High School's Black Pearl, a converted Porsche 944, as well as an electrified 1987 TVR 280i and an AC Propulsion eBox.

We expect to see great things in electric drag racing later this year, so a couple new records here would certainly be a nice way of getting a good start. Speaking of good starts, it appears someone's new Model S isn't waiting until Sunday to take on some competition. A video has surfaced of it engaging with a 2012 E63 AMG BiTurbo on the street, and you can see the result by simply scrolling below.

Continue reading Tesla Model S set to sizzle the drag strip, warms up the street [w/video]

Tesla Model S set to sizzle the drag strip, warms up the street [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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