I’ve seen some weird concept cars writing here, but I think I might have found the (literally!) high-water mark for weird in the Tang Hua Detroit Fish.

Designed as part of what can only be described as an insane quest to create an “iconic” car for China, the Detroit Fish comes standard with a 3.5 kilowatt electric motor and lithium ion battery pack, which allows it to go about seventy five miles and achieve a whopping top speed of roughly 24 miles per hour.  This means, of course, it’s yet another city cruiser--long-range commuters need not apply.

When pressed, its designer had this to say about the enormous yellow nightmare of a car: “There will be no Chinese national cars of significance if the Chinese spirit is absent from their design.”

But you’ve got to give him credit for trying–they were gunning for “distinctiveness” and distinctiveness they got.  Will anyone actually drive this massive fish?  I call it unlikely.

Tags: battery pack, Chinese, chinese car, Electric, lithium ion, Tang Hua Detroit Fish

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It looks like it is all systems go as far as the PHEV is concerned. Green Star Products announced that the final phase of the testing protocols for the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle were successfully completed, perhaps shooting down all doubts with regards to the reliability of this concept car.

Test result highlights:

• The PHEV easily completed the scheduled 100 mile range test in simulated intra-city driving.
• The vehicle consumed 0.70 gallons of gasoline during its test, which equates to 143 miles per gallon (143 mpg).
• The vehicle also consumed about 75 cents worth of electricity that was used to charge the battery pack the previous night.
• At the end of the run, the battery pack still contained approximately 35% of its original charge. This was further confirmed by several high speed laps around the track at the end of the test. One of the final laps clocked its speed within 4.5 seconds off the track record, which not only confirms its power but also its handling ability on the race track.
• The most impressive statistic of this demonstration was the fact that the backup engine and generator were only a 1.6 kW unit. In fact, for those people who are not acquainted with electric power, this energy equates to the consumption of the average hand-held bathroom hair dryer. In effect, the backup generator can be visualized as equivalent to a bathroom hair dryer. This unique high-efficiency mini hybrid system is part of a patent pending complete package.

Mr. Joseph LaStella, President of Green Star, stated that a 5-page, in-depth article was published on June 4, 2009, by the Times Tribune in Kentucky, where the writer of the article illustrated her personal feelings about her test drive of the electric vehicle.

(Source) Press

Tags: backup generator, battery pack, car test, depth article, final laps, final phase, final test, high efficiency, hybrid electric vehicle, hybrid system, impressive statistic, lastella, miles per gallon, patent pending, personal feelings, phev, star products, test one, test result, test series

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Bright Automotive is busy developing their own version of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that will achieve 100 mpg for the average customer. Also, the name has been finally revealed. The car will be called the IDEA. A concept version of the IDEA will be shown to the public for the first time on April 21, 2009 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

“We named our first vehicle the IDEA because of the role it will play in helping revolutionize American transportation and moving the country toward a more secure and sustainable energy future,” said John Waters, CEO and President of Bright Automotive. “We know it is possible to achieve dramatic, breakthrough fuel efficiency and deliver tremendous customer value. This is the compelling idea that drives our company and it is fully captured in our first vehicle.”

Bright Automotive (www.brightautomotive.com) has the most experienced PHEV, hybrid and electric vehicle team in the industry. Waters developed the battery pack for General Motors’ first production electric vehicle, the EV1, and other company executives and engineers have spent years working for major auto manufacturers and suppliers. Bright Automotive will begin high volume production by the end of 2012 – with an annual run rate of 50,000 units. To produce its vehicle, the company plans to create over 5,000 jobs by 2013.

(Source) Press

Tags: american transportation, auto manufacturers, battery pack, capitol hill, customer value, dramatic breakthrough, electric vehicle team, EV1, fuel efficiency, General Motors, high volume, hybrid electric vehicle, john waters, major auto, MPG, phev, sustainable energy future, volume production

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Tesla Motors is reportedly getting orders for its Model S Sedan, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge. This model carries an estimated price of $49,900 and can run up to a 300-mile range and 45-minute quick charge capability.

The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.

The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike and surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.

Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California from the Dept of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.

(Source) Business Wire

Tags: battery pack, gas tank, gasoline car, mountain bike, powertrain, technology vehicle, tesla motors

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We may not feel them now but the electric car industry will soon get its share of maintenance issues such as perhaps demand and need for battery packs. Renault is about to join the electric revolution in a big way. The bright sparks at the French firm are considering not just one electric vehicle, but a full suite of electron-powered models are apparently in the pipeline for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The electric vehicles will be more than just stationary show-stand fillers to give the company a green tinge; Renault is promising the first cars will be drivable before the end of this year.

Renault also looks set to make a dramatic change to the way people buy and operate their EVs. The idea is to make an electric vehicle cheaper than its petrol equivalent. To do this Renault will sell the car without the expensive battery packs included. Under the intriguing Renault plan, owners will then lease battery packs, although details about the projected cost of leasing has not yet been outlined. Special charging stations will be set up, allowing owners to re-charge or even swap a depleted battery pack for a fully-charged one.

(Source) AutoExpress

Tags: battery options, battery pack, bright sparks, car industry, dramatic change, electric car, electric revolution, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, electron, first cars, frankfurt motor show, french firm, maintenance issues, Renault

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One thing about the car industry, if you don’t have a certain car that can compete with the various set lines and models, you are bound to lose. Mitsubishi motors has been very quiet with regards to the development of electric cars while others are busy conceptualizing them.

With the announcement of its new electric car, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), expect a lot of interested car enthusiasts to take note of its features.

Among the features highlighted thus far include:

Zero tailpipe emissions

Accomodation: 4 6 ft adults plus 246 litres of luggage

Tops speed of 87 mph

47 KW electric motor

Battery pack that can run 100 miles without charging

The i-Miev is expected to be released first in the United Kingdom. The purchase price for this vehicle was said to be about 35,000 pounds.

Via Entertainment and Showbiz

Tags: battery pack, car industry, electric car, electric cars, electric vehicle, electrical car, Mitsubishi, mitsubishi motors, tailpipe emissions, united kingdom

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