Aggressor Diesel-Electric Hybrid Prototype: The Army Gets Eco-Friendly

It was bound to happen; after winning the hearts of thousands of civilian drivers, hybrids are a just a step away from conquering the hearts of the military personnel. Take the Aggressor prototype for example. An off-road Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) that specializes in military ground exploration and scouting missions equipped with a battery-dominant, hybrid-electric drivetrain with a diesel engine-generator. All developed by the US Army’s auto research arm -part of the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). -Continued below

Spec-wise, the Aggressor accelerates from 0 to 40mph (64 km/h) in 4,0 sec while it can reach a top speed of 80mph (128 km/h). In addition, thanks to its battery-only operation, the Aggressor can switch into "silent mode" with a reduced thermal signature thus making it extremely hard to detect.

Could the Aggressor be the beginning of a whole "army" of hybrid military/security vehicles in the near future? According to Popularmechanics, yes, as there have been internal discussions about the benefits of hybrid drivetrains for other commercial applications, including homeland security and border patrol. Somehow, though, the terms "eco-friendly" and "military/security-vehicle" don’t seem to fit very well in our books. Via: PopularMechanics

U.E.V. Electrum Spyder: All-electric Roadster for $70,000

Universal Electric Vehicle or U.E.V. for short is a California based company that specializes in designing, engineering, and manufacturing alternative fuel vehicles like the $70.000 (€51.000) Electrum Spyder, an all-electric two-seater roadster with a removable hard top. According to the Green Autobloggers, following last December’s presentation of the prototype Spyder at The Alternative Car and Transportation Expo in Santa Monica, U.E.V. issued an updated spec sheet and handful of high-res images. Briefly, the Electrum Spyder is powered by a 300 vdc system and it has an effective range of up to 150 miles / 242km on a full charge using nickel zinc batteries, while with the extra Lithium Ion batteries its range is doubled. -Continued after the jump

Electrum Spyder

The Electrum Spyder is an exciting two passenger convertible all electric freeway flier that is available in a limited production, the Spyder provides an effective range of up to 150 miles at a top speed of approximately 100 miles per hour on a full charge using Nickel Metal Hydride batteries, standard in all of our vehicles. As with all of our Electrum series, the Spyder can be upgraded to lithium ion batteries with a range of up to 250 miles on a single charge.

Equipment

• Removable hardtop

• Tinted glass

• Electric heater/defroster

• A/C

• Alloy wheels

• Tilt steering wheel

• Rack & pinion steering

• Electric windows

• Optional Touch screen navigation, CD, DVD, XM

Electrical Systems

• Propulsion batteries (nickel zinc batteries / optional (nickel metal hydride, lithium ion)

• On-board high frequency battery charger (240v or 120v charger), approximate charge time 1-6 hr. Depending on usage and discharge.

• 300 VDC

Safety Features

• Layered composite construction

• Large front and rear crunch zone

• Enclosed battery safety containers

• Inertia switch (cuts power automatically in case of an accident)

• Four wheel disk brakes

• Coil over shocks

• Redundant interlocks (will not allow car to power up unless driver is in the driver's seat)

(Specifications are subject to change without notice)

Via: AutoblogGreen

Technorati: U.E.V.+Electrum+Spyder, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

GM to unveil next iteration of the Chevrolet Volt and a new Buick concept at the 2007 Shanghai Show

Logical isn’t it – I mean China has the world's second largest car market in the world, just behind the US and ahead of Japan. Leaving aside the next iteration of the well-received, battery-powered Volta, I have to admit that it sounds kinda weird when GM says that the new Buick concept which was developed at PATAC in Shanghai is “a precursor of future global Buick design language”. Chinese designers drawing the future for Buick? On the other hand, how bad could it be judging from Buick’s current products? We’ll just have to wait till the 22nd of April when the Auto Shanghai 2007 begins to find out. -Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release

PRESS RELEASE: GM to Unveil Two Global Concepts at Auto Shanghai 2007

Shanghai, China – For the first time ever, General Motors Corp. and its Chinese joint ventures will unveil two new global concepts in China at Auto Shanghai 2007.

The two concepts – the next iteration of the flexible Chevrolet Volt architecture, GM's extended-range electric passenger vehicle, and a stunning new Buick hinting at possible future directions for the brand worldwide – will showcase GM’s latest achievements in automotive research and design in the world’s fastest-growing vehicle market.

They will be appearing on the 4,500-square-meter stand of GM China and its Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling joint ventures. The GM family in China will be displaying a total of 40 production and concept vehicles at Auto Shanghai 2007, which begins on April 22 and runs through April 28.

“This is a year of milestones for General Motors in China, with our Shanghai GM and Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) joint ventures celebrating their 10th anniversary and SAIC-GM-Wuling celebrating its fifth anniversary,” said GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin E. Wale. “Our exhibit at Auto Shanghai 2007 will demonstrate our commitment to working with our partners and joint ventures in order to expand our offering of products featuring the latest technology.”

A highlight will be the Chevrolet Volt, which received tremendous acclaim upon its introduction at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January. “That GM would choose Shanghai as the location to introduce the next iteration of the Volt is a reflection of how GM is contributing to the industry’s long-term sustainable development by sharing its latest achievements and technologies with its friends and partners in China,” Wale said.

The Buick concept car was developed to communicate the global design vocabulary of one of GM’s most distinguished brands. A precursor of future global Buick design language, it was developed at PATAC in Shanghai, underscoring the automotive engineering and design center’s growing capability and role within GM’s engineering and design network.

Making their Asia debut at Auto Shanghai 2007 will be two models from GM’s Opel brand from Germany: the Astra GTC with Panorama windshield and the Astra TwinTop. Shanghai GM will be showcasing additional products from Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Saab, while SAIC-GM-Wuling will display several products from its mini-vehicle lineup.

Technorati Tags: GM, Chevrolet, Buick, Auto+Shanghai+2007, China, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Detroit Auto Show: Chevrolet Volt Concept

Yep you guessed it, this is another one of those “I am definitely the future” concepts that we see by the dozens in every major Auto Show. Chevrolet’s Volta concept is a battery-powered 4door-coupe passenger vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity. The technology behind the Volt concept, GM’s E-flex System, allows electricity to be produced from gasoline, ethanol, bio-diesel or hydrogen.-Continued: Click “Read More…” below

According to GM, the Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, or revolutions per minute (rpm), to create electricity and replenish the battery.

The engine runs on E85 (a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline). Using E85, fuel economy of 150 mpg would translate into more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon. The Volt can get 50 mpg by using the engine to convert gasoline into electricity and extending its range up to 640 miles.

Technorati: Chevrolet+Volta, GM, Concept, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images, Detroit+Auto+Show, NAIAS

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept – Detroit preview for +400Hp Hybrid Supra

I know you want to go straight to point so we’ll cut the crap. This is a 2+2 rear-wheel drive sports car with a partially retractable roof powered by a 400-horsepower hybrid powertrain that consists of a 3.5 V6 petrol engine and an electric motor –most probably based on Lexus GS450h powertrain. And yes the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept could very well base the next gen Supra.

Don’t believe us? Listen to what Kevin Hunter, vice president of Toyota’s Calty Design Research had to say about it: "We feel there's a hole in our lineup. Toyota hasn't had a sports car since the Supra was dropped in 1997. We need some emotional punch in our lineup, a halo product." Hunter added that "It's a new kind of sports car for the 21st century. Eco and emotion in a sports car concept with a performance target of 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds and a price tag in the mid-$30,000 range."

So what do we think about a product version? In Europe, however good the Supra is, I highly doubt that it will convince consumers even if it’s priced much lower than a Porsche Cayman, but I think that it can serve Toyota as a “halo car”.

The US though is a different story. Even if some will be hasty to consider a V6 powered sports car not being up to standards, we remind you among others, that the highly respected Porsche 911 / 911 Turbo and the Nissan Skyline GT-R both carry 6cylinder motors. But the magic word here is “hybrid powerplant” which will translate to many as “I own an eco-friendly supercar”. In my opinion, even if that’s not 100% true, showing that you’re “politically correct” is reason enough for plenty of people to buy the car. Pics via: Jalopnik

Technorati: Toyota+Supra, Toyota++FT-HS+hybrid+Sports+Concept, Scoops, Autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, pictures, images, Detroit+Motor+Show, NAIAS

HuoYun Electromobile : Yes, it's a Chinese Smart Fortwo clone!

Stop rubbing your eyes and start cracking up a smile on your lips, cause this is no photoshop, it's a copyshop! Once again, the Chinese automakers are doing their best to amaze us with there ingenuity ! This time the victim is the Smart Fortwo and the victimizer is Shandong Huoyun, a subsidiary of the Qilu Petrochemical Corporation.

As Autobild reported, Smart boss Ulrich Walker was caught completely off guard when the magazine contacted him about the Chinese plagiarism. While the exterior looks of the car a complete knockoff, the interior and the mechanical parts are different -guess that makes it ok for the Chinese...

Anyway, instead of having a petrol motor, as its name implicates, the HuoYun Electromobile gets an electric motor that's good enough according to the Chinese to give it a max range of 120 km / 75 miles and a top speed of 50 km/h / 31 mph.

OFFICIAL SPECIFICATIONS

Passenger capacity : 2 people
Range (loaded) : 120 km
Max. speed : 55 km/h
Power : 6.5kw
Wheel base : 1.800 mm
Wheel track : 1235/1320 mm
Minimum turning radius : 4 m
Max. climbing ability (loaded) : 30%
Overall dimensions : 2.510 x 1.515 x 1.530 mm
Max. loading weight: 500 kg
No-load weight : 1.000 kg

Technorati: Smart+Fortwo, HuoYun, Electromobile, China, Germany, green+cars, ecology, electric+cars, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles