Plugs and Cars

FEBRUARY 2, 2009

Ford has done it's share of electric cars, including the Ranger EV and Th!nk The surprise appearance at the Detroit Auto Show last month of an electric Focus may be evidence of a new day (again) at Ford. As with the BMW MINI E , what is stunning, if not surprising, is how quickly a decent fully electric vehicle can be put on the road.

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Ford Mini E Detroit Obama 100

Creative Greenius

AUGUST 5, 2009

I have seen the future and it is a new car electric car from Nissan. Nissan is about to drink GM’s milkshake with a breakthrough, affordable, next generation electric car that will be beat the Chevy Volt to market, cost half as much and work twice as well. Plus it looks ten times cooler. Might as well just make the Pinto-hybrid.

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Plug-in Plug Re-Charge Chrysler 191

Green Cars News

SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

MINI is on the hunt for willing test drivers to drive its electric MINI cars as part of a Government-backed scheme to get electric cars on the roads. Pioneering drivers are wanted to partake in MINI E UK research project. Each MINI E will be available to lease for six months from December this year.

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Mini E Electric Electrical Guinea 36

Green Car Congress

JUNE 24, 2009

The majority of the vehicles are electric, with a small number being plug-in gasoline-electric hybrids. Modern electric cars offer power and bucket loads of torque. The consortium will develop and demonstrate 110 road-worthy vehicles to be trialed in the two cities over 12 months, 40 of which will be smart electric vehicles.

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Carbon Electric Vehicles Vehicles London 150

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 14, 2009

Components of the MINI E powertrain. BMW handed over forty electric MINI E cars to their test drivers on Sunday—all members of the public—in the start of two consecutive six-month field trial periods which will evaluate the psychological, social and technical aspects of living with an electric car.

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Mini E BMW Li-ion Cars 199

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 7, 2014

The car continues along the predetermined target line, but does not attempt to maintain a preset speed under all circumstances. The programmable electronic steering required to make this possible carries out targeted, rapid adjustments, and is fitted as standard on all current BMW cars.

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BMW Connect Connected Future 218

Green Cars News

APRIL 17, 2009

Both ministers drove a MINI E electric car at the event as they announced plans to support motorists by providing help worth £2000-£5000 towards buying their first electric or plug-in hybrid car when they hit the showrooms. And what better time to do this than in the year we celebrate the 50th birthday of MINI.

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Mini E Electric Vehicles Vehicles Lithium Ion 39

Green Cars News

JULY 28, 2009

Last week, Nissan announced plans to make electric car batteries at its plant in Sunderland, creating 350 new jobs in the process (see ‘ Nissan to make electric car batteries at Sunderland plant ’). It has also outlined targets for the National Grid to increase the amount of electricity that comes from purely renewable sources.

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Green Cars Green Land Rover G-Wiz 44

Green Car Congress

JULY 29, 2011

BMW unveiled the i3 and i8 Concepts in Frankfurt, providing a look at first electrically powered production cars from the new BMW i sub-brand, due to be launched as the BMW i3 in 2013 and the i8 in 2014. If the BMW i3 is run on electricity from renewable sources, the figures improve by well over 50%. Earlier post.). Click to enlarge.

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BMW Concept PHEV Gasoline-Electric 231

Green Car Congress

JUNE 29, 2011

At an event held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London Gordon Murray Design unveiled its latest ultra-compact electric city vehicle, the T.27 27 electric vehicle program, Zytek released more details regarding the electric drivetrain developed for use in this lightweight vehicle. 27 was a £9-million (US$14.4

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Zytek Li-ion Low Cost Design 218

Green Car Congress

JULY 2, 2010

At BMW Group’s Innovation Days: Mobility of the Future briefing in Munich, the company outlined its plans for the upcoming electric Megacity Vehicle (MCV), due onto the market in 2013 ( earlier post ), as well as the new LifeDrive architecture upon which the MCV is based. BMW Group Megacity Vehicle Design Sketch. Click to enlarge.

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BMW Design Carbon Fiber Vehicles 247

Creative Greenius

AUGUST 13, 2009

At least GM sent this nifty printed banner explaining all about the new J1772 industry standard recharging plug. Same truth of engineers who have actually talked to real drivers is in evidence with the BMW Mini-E. Their chargers were all over the exhibit floor charging every EV there. How's that for an endorsement?

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i-MiEV 2009 Plug-in Volt 170

Plugs and Cars

APRIL 24, 2009

I write a monthly column for the Electric Auto Association newsletter, Current EVents. At the same time, the value to the economy and environment of a major push for plug-in cars as part of the recovery hasn’t sunk in at the top. Obama should take extraordinary steps to empower the electric upstarts to prove their mettle.

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GM Companies Electric Vehicles Obama 100