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Toyota Introduces Production Version of RAV4 EV, Prices Start at $49,800

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Senin, 07 Mei 2012 | 13.12

Toyota chose the second day of the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles to present the world premiere of the production RAV4 EV featuring a pure-electric driveline developed by Tesla Motors.

While based on the current RAV4, the Japanese automaker is commanding almost twice the price of the popular SUV's top trim-level (Limited: $25,530) for the electric model that will begin arriving in select showrooms this summer with an MSRP of $49,800 before any state and federal incentives.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Kamis, 03 Mei 2012 | 10.37

The ascent of electric vehicles has posed the question of how they will be charged as each automaker had developed its own technique, but that is the equivalent of having different fuel ports on gasoline-powered models.

One of the answers to this question comes from eight major automakers from the United States and Germany that have agreed upon a common fast-charging technology for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Rabu, 02 Mei 2012 | 09.36

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is expanding its ongoing electric car project called 'Visio.M' in its quest to create the ideal EV for today's mega-cities.

The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research is funding 10.8 million euros (US$14.2 million) into the project, while big players from the domestic auto industry such as the BMW Group, Daimler, Siemens and TUV SUD, will also take part in TUM's efforts.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Selasa, 01 Mei 2012 | 10.10

Rimac may be a brand new entry in the supercar segment but the Croatian startup is sure aiming for the top – at least when it comes to power and pricing.

Following the world premiere of its first creation named the Concept_One at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, Rimac displayed the electric-powered coupe at Top Marques Monaco where it announced pricing.

The Croatian company plans to build 88 examples of the Concept_One, each carrying a base price of €750,000 or about US$990,000 at today's exchange rates.

While other competitors in this price range go for gasoline-powered engines, Rimac fitted the Concept_One with a complex electric driveline that includes four sub-systems, each consisting of one motor, inverter and reduction gearbox. Each of the four systems powers a wheel. The electric powetrain's combined output is 1,073hp (1,088PS) and 1,600Nm (1,180 lb-ft).

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Senin, 30 April 2012 | 09.45

The production version of the pure electric Toyota RAV4 that we first saw in prototype guise at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show will make its world premiere at the 26th edition of the International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26), which takes place on Monday, May 7 in the City of Angels, the Japanese automaker announced today.

The new RAV4 EV has been developed in cooperation with Tesla that provides the electric driveline including the battery, motor, transmission and power electronics. Tesla will build the e-powertrains at its production plant in Palo Alto, California and then ship them to Toyota's Canadian facility for final assembly into the RAV4.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Kamis, 26 April 2012 | 14.43

Audi is putting the finishing touches to the most revolutionary edition of its R8 sports car ever, the pure electric e-Tron. From what we hear, the production R8 e-Tron will make its first public outing at the Paris Motor Show this September.

Our spies caught up with an undisguised prototype in production trim silently testing on the Nürburgring. The only thing missing from the test car are the chrome bars on the side vents under the barely noticeable modified LED headlamps, while the production car will also get a different set of wheels.

The prototype is fitted with a six-point grille that will also make its appearance on the soon-to-be-revealed facelifted 2013 R8. The e-Tron version can be identified by the special black cover that replaces the regular model's window, the deep scoop on the hood and the absence of exhaust pipes on the modified rear apron.

Following an announcement earlier this month, Ford officially revealed the 2012 Focus EV that will become the first all-electric pace car to field a NASCAR race at this weekend's Richmond 400.

Ford showed the two Focus Electric pace cars at the Richmond International Raceway. Aside from the prominent decals wrapped around the car and the safety lights on the roof, there is nothing else different from the stock electric Focus.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Selasa, 24 April 2012 | 11.06

Visitors to the 2012 Beijing International Auto Show will no doubt take notice of CH-Auto's Lithia sports car concept.

The sharply styled prototype that comes with a hint of Audi R8 on its profile makes use of an electric motor fed by a set of lithium-ion batteries, said to offer a maximum driving range of around 150 kilometers (93 miles).

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Senin, 23 April 2012 | 14.40

Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler and China's BYD (Build Your Dreams) marked the first appearance of their new joint venture brand Denza at a motor show with the world premiere of a new concept model that outlines a production vehicle that will launch in early 2013.

The Denza brand will focus exclusively on pure electric vehicles. Under the deal, the German automaker provides its knowledge in vehicle architecture, safety systems and production, while BYD contributes the batteries and the e-drive system to the joint venture.

The "A6 technological study" that Audi told us it will debut at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing turned out to be a plug-in hybrid version of the domestic market long-wheelbase A6 with the e-tron moniker.

The concept model borrows the driveline found on the production A8 Hybrid, which brings together a 2.0-liter TFSI petrol that produces 208hp (211PS) and an electric motor with a peak output of 70kW (94hp/95PS).

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Rabu, 18 April 2012 | 05.55

Chinese carmaker BYD is pretty busy these days as it's preparing to display a host of new production and concept models at next week's 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

Aside from launching the new Denza brand, which is a joint venture for the production of EVs between Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler and BYD, the Chinese automaker will reveal its own pure electric concept model named the Qin.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Senin, 16 April 2012 | 13.31

Over the years, we have heard countless rumors about the BMW Group reinventing its bubbly Isetta microcar from the mid-1950s and early-1960s to compete against Daimler's Smart Fortwo, though all of them have been just that: rumors.

All the same, Tony Weichselbraun, a recent graduate of the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, wanted to re-create the tiny Isetta and bring it into the 21st century.

In a new marketing effort to promote its pure-electric Focus, Ford says it will make history this month, as the battery-powered version of its compact hatchback will become the first all-electric pace car to lead the pack at a NASCAR race.

The new Focus Electric, which rolled off the production line in December at the company's Michigan Assembly Plant, will perform all pace care duties for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the Richmond International Raceway on April 28.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Jumat, 13 April 2012 | 14.48

Renault has never been the one to shy away from eccentric creations (remember the Avantime?) but the new Twizy certainly takes quirkiness one-step further as it looks like the odd pairing of a golf kart with a motorcycle offering seating for two in a tandem layout while riding on four wheels.

Revealed as a concept for the first time at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault surprised us a year later with the presentation of the production model in Paris. Now, the Twizy is available in European showrooms including Britain where it went on sale today.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Rabu, 11 April 2012 | 15.11

The explosion that occurred on Wednesday morning at the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, near Detroit, and which we first told you about earlier today, resulted in the injury of five employees, one of which seriously, according to an official statement from the company.

"We are aware of five employees being evaluated on scene by medical personal and only one employee is being further treated," said GM.

A company official told the Detroit News that the employee who was seriously injured and hospitalized is expected to make a full recovery and that the injuries are non-life threatening.

One of the main problems of owning an electric car or a plug-in hybrid is where and how to recharge its batteries. Ford of Canada promises to offer a simple solution to owners with a home charging station, which will be supplied and installed by Best Buy Canada.

The 240-volt home charging station is suitable for the all-new Focus Electric battery electric vehicle as well as Ford's upcoming plug-in hybrid models in Canada. Best Buy said it will supply the charging station and offer complete consultation and installation services through its Geek Squad and third-party licensed electrical contractors.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Selasa, 10 April 2012 | 11.17

The new plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota Prius will arrive in UK showrooms at a slightly higher price than what the Japanese automaker originally estimated.

Back in September of 2011, Toyota had said that the Prius Plug-in would cost less than £31,000 and under £26,000 if you include the £5,000 government subsidy. Today we learn that the final on-the-road price for the plug-in model is £32,895, which falls to £27,895 with the £5,000 Government grant available on new vehicle purchases through the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Kamis, 05 April 2012 | 08.38

This is the Infiniti LE Concept that made its world debut today at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The LE is a pure-electric, four-door family sedan mechanically related to the Leaf EV.

While this is the first time we see the concept in the flesh, Infiniti has been talking about the LE since the 2010 Paris Motor Show as it intends to put the car in production within the next two years.

"As a ‘production intent’ concept, most of what you see in the LE Concept will become a reality, including its zero emission powertrain, advanced telematics, cutting-edge design, advanced connected services and premium appointments," said Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore.

As a more upmarket model than the Leaf, the larger LE features a more stylish exterior design full of waves and creases, while also sporting Infiniti's new signature double-arch grille and crescent-cut rear-pillar. The sedan model has a rather low coefficient of drag of 0.25.

We've already had the chance to see the first images of BMW's i8 Spyder concept in advance of its world premiere at the Beijing Auto Show, where it will be presented alongside the new local market 3-Series LWB model, but if you'd like to watch the study on the move, we've just added three new videos that you can check out right past the break.

Written By Ishimaru Kaito on Rabu, 04 April 2012 | 16.46

The first images of Infiniti's LE Concept have made their appearance online, shortly after Nissan and Infiniti CEO Carlos Ghosn gave journalists a sneak peak of the electric-powered model at the brand's New York Auto Show stand.

Infiniti had revealed its intentions to launch a pure electric family car at the 2010 Paris Motor Show having released a second teaser image on the sidelines of last year's Frankfurt Motor Show.

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