Renault Twizy, a revolution?

Twizy, an unprecedented urban mobility solution. Sales begin in December, 2011. Twizy is an unprecedented solution for city motoring. Its nimble handling prompts parallels with the world of scooters and motorbikes, yet the standard of safety and comfort it delivers is close to that of a four-wheeled vehicle. Twizy stands out as a symbol of the "Renault 2016 - Drive the Change" plan and is available in a choice of two versions:
- In certain countries, Twizy 45 will not require a driving licence.
- A driving licence will be required to drive Twizy.

Two equipment levels ('Urban' and 'Technic') were revealed in Geneva. A third –'Twizy Color', which highlights Twizy's fun side – will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This version is available in blue, red or green in the form of decals for the roof, sides and inside the car for the upholstery and glovebox. This livery can be rounded off by the fitment of particularly striking, colour-coordinated, diamond-effect aluminium alloy wheels. The cost of the door option – €550 (inclusive of VAT, for customers who reserved their vehicle) – mirrors Twizy's affordable price www.renault-ze.com positioning.

Renault Twizy

| Renault | Images gallery

New Opel Rak E electric to Frankfurt

Opel is staking a strong claim for the title of star-attraction at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show with an all-new battery-powered electric vehicle. The concept opens a new chapter in electric mobility and extends Opel’s pioneering role in alternative propulsion systems. The key figures of the motorway-capable vehicle are 100 kilometers for one euro, one third of the weight of a modern small car, and a maximum speed of 120 km/h.

Inspired by the success of the Ampera, the revolutionary concept creates a new class of lightweight electric vehicle for zero-emission urban mobility.

2011 Opel Rak E

The tandem two-seater has production potential and would also be affordable for younger customers. Sixteen year-olds could even begin driving in a version limited to a maximum speed of 45 km/h. Energy requirements ten times lower than those of a modern small car, and energy costs of only one euro per 100 km, benefit the environment as well the budget.

| Opel | Images gallery

Meet Volkswagen NILS... the future of commuting from Volkswagen

NILS, a single-seat electric concept vehicle that offers a glimpse of a new form of minimalist mobility, has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. This concept car – which features an aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels – has the dynamic performance of a sports car, yet travels silently, and with zero emissions.



The NILS project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, and is designed to be both technically realistic and economically supportable.

Volkswagen Nils

‘NILS anticipates the future. The goal of the NILS project is to research a technically concrete and economically feasible vehicle concept for micromobility which restructures individual transportation to make it more efficient and environmentally compatible based on electric drive technology,’ said Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management and Head of Development for the Volkswagen Brand.



With a range of 65 kilometres (40 miles) and a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) NILS would be the ideal vehicle for the majority of commuters in Germany. According to the German Bureau of Statistics, 73.9 per cent of all commuters residing between Berlin and Munich cover less than 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) on their way to work.



Cars have always been mirrors of their times – their design styles and technological standards reflecting a particular era – and NILS is no different. It uses emissions-reducing electric drive technology to fulfil the specific requirements of commuters. In Germany, for example, about 60 per cent of all commuters travel by car, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics; of these over 90 per cent travel alone. Zero-emissions vehicles like NILS will offer these frequent drivers a new eco-friendly mobility solution.





NILS is a very compact car that requires extremely little space in traffic. It is only 3.04 metres long – making it about 50 cm shorter than the new Volkswagen up! – just 0.39 metres wide from wheel to wheel, and a mere 1.2 metres tall.



NILS has the same basic layout as a Formula 1 race car, with the driver in the middle, the engine in back, and free-standing outboard wheels. The 17-inch alloy wheels are equipped with 115/80 (front) and 125/80 (rear) tyres optimised for low rolling resistance.



Though its inspiration may come from Formula 1, the styling has its origins at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam, Berlin. Designer Thomas Ingenlath, the centre’s director, said: ‘NILS was designed to make a visual statement and transport a vision of the automotive future to the present. I am especially pleased that we managed to implement the concept of the two glass wing doors. This allowed us to create large transparent surfaces and simultaneously to make entering and exiting the vehicle very comfortable, even in the most cramped of parking spaces.’



Because NILS is so compact and lightweight (460 kg), it is a lot of fun to drive. It has a top speed of 130 km/h, and can accelerate to 100 km/h in less than 11 seconds. This is achieved using an electric motor with a reasonably small 15 kW nominal power and short-term peak power of 25 kW. A lithium-ion battery supplies the electric motor with energy. The battery capacity (5.3 kWh) enables driving ranges of up to 65 km, depending on the style of driving. A battery of this size is relatively inexpensive, and can be charged either via a conventional 230-volt electrical outlet (maximum charging time two hours) or at an electric vehicle charging station. The socket is located at the back underneath the rear lighting module.



The centrepiece of the electric drive system is the lightweight 19 kg electric motor together with its transmission and battery. Energy management is via a high-voltage pulse inverter, which – together with the 12-Volt DC/DC converter for the vehicle electrical system and the charger – forms an integral drive unit. All drive unit components are located compactly in an aluminium housing at the rear of NILS; drive is to the rear wheels.



The motor, battery and all other components are so compact that there is still space for a small but practical bootspace. The body-coloured area above the rear lighting module swings upward, revealing space suitable for items such as a case of drinks and a bag.



Optimal weight distribution helps to ensure that NILS allows drivers not only to commute with zero emissions, but also to have fun while doing so. The lightweight NILS drives like a go-kart. The steering is purely mechanical (the low weight means power assistance is unnecessary), while the electric motor produces its maximum torque of 130 Nm from standstill, via a one-speed transmission. Suspension is by double wishbones front and rear; while ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) helps to tame any over-exuberance on the part of the driver.



Safety is of course even more important than fun, and NILS is fitted with an automatic distance control system. This uses radar sensors to scan the space in front of the vehicle over a distance of about 200 metres and uses brake interventions to ensure that the distance to vehicles in traffic in front of the car does not drop below a specified minimum value. The system can even automatically brake the car to a stop, depending on the situation. Not only are the four disc brakes used to brake; electric traction by electric motor and battery regeneration can be used to brake as well. Last but not least, Front Assist is integrated in the automatic distance control system. This continually active system warns the driver of a potential collision; at speeds below 30 km/h (18 mph), automatic braking can avoid a collision under some circumstances.





The instrument cluster is a seven-inch TFT display. The vehicle’s speed is shown digitally in the middle, while energy flow is represented by bars. Another graphic display offers information on the driving range. The second central instrument is a mobile multifunctional device like the one used in the new up!: the Portable Infotainment Device (PID). It is snapped into theA-pillar to the right of the instrument cluster. Via touchscreen, the driver controls functions related to Navigation, Radio, Media, Telephone, Trip computer and – to preconfigure the driving range – ‘Eco. The PID computes the expected driving range, then it not only displays the route on the map display, but also the radius and thereby the destinations that can be reached using the current battery charge.



To save on weight and costs, certain functional elements and controls do without electrical assistance. The side mirrors, for example, are adjusted manually. The heating and ventilation system has full electronic control, and there is seat heating. Located to the right of the steering column is the motor start-stop switch; this round switch is also used to select D, N or R.



The aluminium space frame body was designed to be a highly effective safety cell. The body in white is produced from extruded aluminium, cast aluminium and sheet aluminium. The roof frame together with the door mounts, a roll bar, the bootspace and the front bulkhead consist of high-strength sheet aluminium. Extruded aluminium is used in the side sills, the transverse profiles and the front and rear car sections. The front and rear side body are aluminium. Parts made of high-strength plastic include the bumpers and the trim panels on the side sills.



The frames of the wing doors consist of three main elements: an inner section, a crash reinforcement section and an exterior part. When closed, they offer optimal crash safety. The door windows are made of lightweight, scratch-resistant, layered polycarbonate, while the front window is made of laminated safety glass.



The headlights are striking bi-xenon modules, while the indicator lights and daytime running lights are white and yellow LEDs. In the acrylic glass of the rear lights – integrated in the rear section like small wings – the light generated by LEDs is routed via transparent semiconductors which (appropriately for an electric vehicle) consume minimal amounts of power.



| Volkswagen | Images gallery

Hitachi develops world's smallest compact connectors for use in hybrid and electric cars

Applying a proprietary design, Hitachi Cable announces its success in developing the world's smallest compact connectors for use in power harnesses for hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles.



Recent years have seen strong demand to reduce the environmental impact associated with motor vehicles. Various countries around the word have sought to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to help fight global warming, strengthening fuel consumption requirements and emissions restrictions as part of this effort. Expectations are growing for next-generation electric vehicles that use electric motors in their drive trains, including standard hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that use both engines and electric motors, plug-in HEVs charged from commercial AC power supply, and electric vehicles that run on electric energy alone.





The drive systems of these electric vehicles consist of electric motors, inverters, batteries, and AC and DC harnesses connecting these electrical devices. Given the limited space for wiring and high-temperature conditions inside engine compartments, these harnesses must provide outstanding high-temperature resistance and flexibility. Used in numerous vehicle models, the power harnesses developed by Hitachi Cable include cables made of Fluonlex fluorine resin, a material that confers superior heat resistance and flexibility, and halogen-free, heat-resistant cables offering improved heat resistance (capable of withstanding temperatures up to 150°C) through unique compounding technologies.



As Hitachi Cable's harnesses have accumulated a performance track record, demand has grown for even smaller power harnesses. In response, Hitachi Cable has applied its own unique designs to develop the world's smallest connectors for the power harnesses used in next-generation electric vehicles.



While most traditional connectors are configured so that a male terminal is inserted into each female terminal with a built-in spring, both male and female terminals in the newly developed compact connector are flat. This simple, unique structure allows a single spring to apply surface pressure to multiple terminals and reduces the connector volume by more than 40%, compared to previous Hitachi Cable connectors. In addition, this lineup of connectors includes two variations—one using extending cables and one using a bus bar—allowing customers to choose the type of connection they prefer between the male connector and the electric device.



The connector also uses a structure in which spring force is applied after inserting the connector, facilitating connections and achieving high vibration resistance (181 m/s2 under the ISO 16750-3 standard) through increased spring pressure. This in turn promotes stable electrical performance, even under conditions of severe vehicle vibration.



Combining this newly developed connector with Hitachi Cable's remarkably heat-resistant, flexible cables makes it possible to design harnesses that can be installed in narrow spaces and that are even easier to handle than previous models. The new connector will be compatible with cable conductor sizes ranging from 15 mm2 to 40 mm2.



Hitachi Cable plans to expand this area of its business while pursuing development activities to increase harness performance, thereby contributing to further advances in next-generation electric vehicles.



| Hitachi

Volvo and Siemens launch electric mobility partnership

Volvo Car Corporation and Siemens intend to jointly advance the technical development of electric cars through extensive strategic cooperation.



The focus is on the joint development of electrical drive technology, power electronics and charging technology as well as the integration of those systems into Volvo C30 Electric vehicles.



The first electric cars of this model fitted with Siemens electric motors will be on the test tracks as early as the end of this year. Beginning in late 2012, the Swedish carmaker will deliver a test series of up to 200 vehicles to Siemens, which will then be tested and validated under real-life conditions as part of a Siemens internal test fleet.







Sharpens competitiveness

The two companies' goals and core competencies in electric mobility are perfectly matched.



The partnership gives Siemens the chance to extend its industrial leadership in electric drive technology into the automotive market together with a renowned vehicle manufacturer.



Volvo Car Corporation will be relying on proven and efficient Siemens technology for the electrification of its future vehicles.



"We are very happy to have Siemens as a partner. Their world-leading knowledge and experience will bring the technology in our electric cars up to an entirely new level," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation. He continues: "We are moving ahead quickly in this area. Our aim is to be first with the latest technology within electrification. The partnership reinforces our aim to pursue the fast-growing market for electric cars."



Pioneering electric mobility

Electric powertrain, battery management and charging technology are regarded as key technologies in the development and production of electric cars.



"Co-operation with Volvo is an important milestone in the development of top-quality components and systems for electric cars subsequently intended for series production," says Siegfried Russwurm, Siemens Board member and CEO of the Siemens Industry Sector. "It is our long-term goal to establish Siemens as a global system provider both inside and outside of electric vehicles. We see ourselves as a comprehensive electric mobility pioneer."



Siemens electric motors developed for Volvo have a peak power output of 108 kilowatts with a maximum torque of 220 Nm. The inverter design will be jointly optimised to meet all safety requirements in an automotive application. In addition, Siemens will provide highly efficient and fast on-board and off-board charging systems.



Moving towards series production

Volvo Car Corporation starts small-scale production of the Volvo C30 Electric this year, and next year the company will start selling the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid.



"This means that we are moving from prototypes and small volumes towards series production, starting with the plug-in hybrid. Our upcoming new Scalable Platform Architecture paves the way for electrification throughout our model range," concludes Stefan Jacoby.



| Volvo

Mia Electric to debut at Ecovelocity 2011

A new electric vehicle brand, mia electric, is set to hit UK shores next month when it showcases three variants of its innovative Microbus at this year’s EcoVelocity motor show (8th – 11th September).



Having been one of the highlights at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, this will be the first time these cars have been seen in the UK and the first opportunity for the general public to get behind the wheel and experience mia’s zero-emission urban mobility for themselves.







Head of UK sales at mia, Richard Deslandes, said “We’re delighted to be debuting our cars in the UK. To be launching our innovative approach to 100% electric zero-emission mobility in the shadow of the iconic chimney stacks of Battersea Power Station, in their day one of the largest producers of CO2 in the capital, seems very fitting.



“The mia has been designed with cities like London firmly in mind and we consider the UK as a priority market for us (alongside France and Germany). We’ve been overwhelmed by the response we’ve received since we launched in Geneva and now have 3000 confirmed orders. Production started in June and we will be producing 4000 vehicles this year to meet this initial demand. We hope to ramp up production at our factory in Cerizay, France, to a total capacity of about 14,000 by the end of 2012.”



Designed with UK cities in mind

The cars, which go on sale in the UK in the first quarter of 2012, were designed by the former head of design at Volkswagen, Murat Günak, and come in three configurations – the standard short wheelbase model and two extended models, the mia L and the mia box van.



Thanks to its light-weight design concept, the standard model weighs only 750kg (extended models weighs 759kg) giving it extremely economical power consumption and low running costs (approx £1.30 per 100 kms).



All three vehicles are powered by an 18kW electric motor at the rear of the car that gives a top speed of 68 mph (110km/h). A 120 to 130km range is available from the 12 kWh battery pack that comes as standard and the lithium iron phosphate batteries can be fully charged in five hours. This technically sound battery system is exceptionally safe and helps alleviate range anxiety by allowing “no memory effect” charging. This means the battery can be charged for short top-up periods with absolutely no adverse effect to the life of the battery. (e.g. a ten minute charge will give an extra 6km of range).



The standard short wheelbase mia has three seats in total, while the extended mia L has four. Instead of three back seats, as in the mia L, the mia box van features a cargo capacity of 1,500 litres.



The most conspicuous feature of all three variants of the mia is the central driving position which allows the driver to get in and out of the car on both sides. This seat arrangement provides the driver with a perfect view of the city traffic and the passengers at the back with plenty of legroom. It also gives the cabin a unique office-style layout that features a display with space to mount a tablet computer and iPod.



When discussing the philosophy behind the car, Murat Günak, explains “As a father of four I wanted to pursue a new, sustainable path towards environmentally-friendly mobility of the future. We started with a blank piece of paper and asked ourselves the same question over and over again: What does a customer really want to be mobile in the city? Our conclusion was a compact-yet-spacious microbus that’s well organized and single-mindedly focused on urban transportation.”



David Wilkie, the former design director at Italian styling house Bertone and now design partner at mia, said “Working on the mia project was like reinventing the car itself. It hasn’t been designed to look swoopy and fast, it’s designed to be practical and likeable. A lot of cars are derivatives of mainstream cars but this is all new and perfect for big cities. It will undoubtedly become harder, and maybe even illegal, to drive petrol cars in downtown urban areas, so electric city cars like the mia have enormous potential.”



The purchase price of the cars at £22,000 (after the Government’s £5,000 incentive subsidy) and all variants will be exempt from the congestion charge in London. The car and batteries come with three year warranties, with the option to purchase up to five years.



| Mia Electric

Evcup to unveil iRacer at Ecovelocity

The team behind the EVCUP, the world’s first circuit racing series exclusively featuring zero-emission electric vehicles, has announced it will be unveiling the iRACER, at next month’s EcoVelocity low-carbon motor festival at London’s Battersea Power Station.



The race series organisers will reveal the definitive look and specifications of the iRACER, a track focused electric vehicle, designed and engineered from the ground up as a pure race car, which will compete in the ‘Sports EV’ classification of the series which gets underway in November in California.





The addition of the iRACER will add to the stellar collection of the world’s most head-turning eco-friendly metal which will be on display at the show’s green supercar paddock.



EcoVelocity Event Director, Giles Brown, said: “The EVCUP has already created an enormous stir in the world of motoring since its launch, and we are very pleased to welcome it at EcoVelocity to have EVCUP on board is extremely positive, and highlights the fact that greener motoring is now very much on the motor racing agenda”



EVCUP Managing Director Sylvain Filippi added: “We are very excited at the prospect of unveiling the iRacer and we are delighted to be taking part in EcoVelocity, an event that helps to highlight the importance of driving cleaner, greener cars in our urban environments.”



The EVCUP will kick-off in the United States in November, with two race events in California, the first at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on the 26th November and the second at Auto Club Speedway on the 17th December before a full series launch in 2012.



EcoVelocity will run from September 8-11th at Battersea Power Station and will feature the latest green models, including electric, hybrid and low CO2-emitting cars, as well as providing test drives on a specially-constructed circuit in the shadow of the famous power station.



| Evcup

Bosch opening up new business areas in electromobility segment

An innovative supplier with a 125year history, Bosch is playing a decisive role in paving the way to electromobility. Technologies, components, and systems for electrical drives are now being developed under the double-armature brand, and in some cases already being manufactured. At the Bosch location in Hildesheim, for example, efficient electric motors are being made – for hybrid vehicles and, in a joint venture with Daimler, for electric vehicles. Series production of power electronics components has started in Reutlingen, and SB LiMotive, our joint venture with Samsung SDI, has been producing lithium-ion cells for electric vehicle batteries in Ulsan, South Korea, since 2010.



Some 400 million euros goes into the electrification of automotive drives each year, with 800 Bosch associates around the world working on this issue that is so crucial for the future of mobility. Out of a global total of some 103 million newly produced vehicles in 2020, Bosch expects to see some three million electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, as well as roughly six million hybrid cars. From 2025, electrically driven vehicles will become an increasingly common sight on the world’s roads.





Bosch systems competence as a success factor

As we move toward the all-electric car, hybrid technology in its various forms is an important transitional technology. Bosch is currently focusing on two full hybrid designs that make it possible to travel short distances using purely electrical power: the parallel full hybrid and the axle-split hybrid. Both designs support internal-combustion engines in certain driving situations by way of a boost function. This enables the downsizing of spark-ignition and diesel engines. On the basis of present technology, this means that consumption and CO2 emissions can be reduced by between 25 and 30 percent, without any further changes to the engine itself. In the parallel full hybrid, the electric motor is integrated into the powertrain between the internal-combustion engine and the transmission. The axle-split hybrid features an internal-combustion engine on the front axle and an electrical drive for the rear axle. The positive side-effect of this configuration is four-wheel drive.



Bosch’s systems competence is the basis for controlling the complex interplay of internal-combustion engine, electric motor, and clutch, which results in additional benefits such as coasting and boosting. Coasting means that the internal-combustion engine is stopped and the vehicle coasts along without burning fuel. All safety and comfort systems continue to be fully operational. Boosting is when the internal-combustion engine is briefly supported by the electric motor when there is a need for extra power – when overtaking, for example. Bosch has been supplying the parallel full hybrid technology for the Porsche Cayenne and the Volkswagen Touareg since 2010, and now also for the Porsche Panamera. This year PSA will launch the Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4, the world’s first diesel hybrid, which features Bosch’s innovative axle-split hybrid technology. By 2013, Bosch will have started series production of core components such as electric motors, power electronics, and battery technology for 12 automakers in 20 different projects. Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH are also working to set up a joint venture that will develop and manufacture electric motors. Called EM-motive GmbH, it will supply traction machines for Mercedes-Benz and smart electric vehicles from 2012. Bosch will be responsible for sales of these motors to other automakers.



Plug-in hybrid as a promising solution

The plug-in hybrid is an especially interesting approach. While its design is basically the same as the systems named above, a battery charger allows it to be recharged at any household power socket. In addition, its battery has a greater capacity. As a result, the distance the hybrid vehicle can travel all-electrically increases to some 40 kilometers per battery charge. In conurbations, this means that eco-friendly, all-electric, and locally zero-emission driving is possible for weeks on end. But at the same time, plug-in hybrids can cover long distances too with their internal-combustion engine – for instance when going on vacation.



Cost reduction as the key to success

Technically speaking, it is not a big step from the hybrid to the electric car. Cost-wise, however, there are still some major challenges to overcome. Bosch expects electric vehicles to cost around 45 percent more than comparable vehicles with internal-combustion engines in 2020. One of the most important questions in the further development and production of components for electrical drives is therefore how to reduce their system costs. Moreover, as volumes grow, prices drop, and as prices drop, acceptance grows. This is true of all projects in the field of electromobility: from e-bikes to hybrids and plug-in hybrids to the all-electric vehicle. This is why cost reduction is at the top of Bosch's to-do list.



SB LiMotive: development of the lithium-ion battery is progressing

Battery cost is a decisive factor for the success of electrical drives. SB LiMotive, the Bosch and Samsung SDI joint venture, has set itself the target of 350 euros per kilowatt-hour by 2015, and hopes to bring this down to 250 euros by 2020. Technically as well, lithium-ion cells are becoming increasingly mature. The key parameters, such as energy and power density, are being gradually improved, as are service life and cycle durability. By 2015, a 35 kWh battery made by SB LiMotive will have a range of 200 kilometers and a service life of at least 12 years, as demanded by the automotive industry. In the three years since it was founded, SB LiMotive has succeeded in gaining several major customers, and now has some 850 associates. For example, the company will supply lithium-ion cells for BMW’s i3 and 1 Series ActiveE. Fiat’s all-electric 500 EV will feature a complete SB LiMotive battery system. In addition, a U.S. consortium of Chrysler, GM, and Ford has awarded SB LiMotive a contract worth 8.4 million dollars to develop lithium-ion battery cells and systems. By 2015, SB LiMotive intends to boost annual cell production capacity in Ulsan, South Korea, to a good four gigawatt-hours – enough for some 180,000 electric vehicles. Since more and more European automakers are planning to work with SB LiMotive, a manufacturing facility is likely to be set up in Europe after 2013.



New business areas in the electromobility age

Electromobility holds out great potential for Bosch – not only for its traditional systems and components business, but also when it comes to opening up new business areas. One example is the establishment of charging infrastructure. Bosch Software Innovations GmbH is developing a software platform for charging electric vehicles as well as for reserving charge spots and billing for the energy used. Bosch Software Innovations charge spots interface both with the electricity provider’s grid and with the end user. Since June 2011, the software and charge spots have been in use in a pilot project in Singapore. Bosch Car Service repair shops and the Automotive Aftermarket division are also preparing for the coming market. Bosch supports car repair shops with diagnosis systems for hybrid vehicles and practical training. No other supplier in the field of electromobility has such a broad range of components, systems expertise, and services to offer. As electromobility only makes sense if the energy for it comes from renewable sources, Bosch has made energy conversion its task as well. The Bosch Solar Energy division is one of the major manufacturers of cells and modules for solar arrays. Its other activities in this market of the future include gearboxes for wind turbines and projects for marine power stations.



| Bosch

New twin speed electric vehicle (EV) transmission on its first public demonstration

Transmission engineering and control specialist Vocis will give its novel twin speed electric vehicle (EV) transmission its first public demonstration at LCV2011 (the Low Carbon Vehicle show) on September 7-8, at Rockingham Motor Speedway. Technical specialists from the company will be on hand to provide an insight into the technology and the efficiency, performance and range benefits it offers for the next generation of EVs.



The new transmission will be demonstrated in a prototype electric minibus developed with powertrain supplier Zytek, giving visitors an opportunity to experience first hand the refinement and smooth operation of the system.





Vocis will be exhibiting the latest developments in some of its other technologies too, including a breakthrough in low-cost data logging to provide a cost-effective solution for the monitoring of large fleets. The company will also show its rapid prototyping tool for control system development, now in small batch manufacture, that uses cutting-edge CPUs and highly versatile software tools.



To arrange a demonstration ride in the twin-speed EV or a press interview with one of the Vocis engineers, please use the contact details below.



| Vocis Driveline Controls

Electric vehicle market to rise to 51 million units sold in 2021

The 30.6 million electric vehicles sold in 2011 will rise to 51.3 million in 2021 but the value of the market will grow by far more because larger and more expensive vehicles are now rapidly adopting the technology. Motorcycles, military vehicles, buses and earthmovers are among them. Hybrids will rise from about 50% to about 60% of the value market through the decade. In ten years from now, a far higher percentage of the global output of light industrial vehicles, commercial vehicles and cars will be electric vehicles.

Some 66% of the manufacturers operating in the electric vehicle market in the world are in China. Over 90% of the world's electric vehicles are made in China, mainly for use in China. It has the largest potential electric vehicle market. It mines and controls 95% of the world's rare earth reserves used in the hybrid car batteries, motors and other key components of today's electric vehicles. Of the 420 electric vehicle manufacturers covered in this report, an appropriately high proportion are Chinese. This is particularly true of the chapters on Heavy Industrial, Light Industrial and Commercial, Mobility for the Disabled, Two Wheelers, Golf Cars and Cars, where the Chinese heavily participate.

The new report gives the detail, forecasting, unit value and total electric vehicle market value for each sector with many tables giving subsets of the data and a large number of profiles of current and planned activities of the participants. Detailed forecasts for these vehicle categories by numbers and value and the key components are provided for 2011-2021. The trends, technology and planned vehicles are clarified in 146 figures and 52 tables including historical context.

| Companies & Market

Electric vehicle maker THINK resurfaces

THINK Global AS, a leading manufacturer of pure electric cars, has been purchased by a prominent international technology entrepreneur who is committed to maintaining the company’s key role in global transportation electrification.

A court-appointed trustee selected Mr. Boris G. Zingarevich, whose investment operations are based in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the winning bidder following a bankruptcy proceeding initiated by the Norwegian carmaker last month.

In addition, Mr. Zingarevich has signed a memorandum of understanding with American advanced lithium-ion battery maker Ener1, Inc. and Finnish automobile engineering and manufacturing concern Valmet Automotive, Inc. to cooperate in relaunching THINK.


“Having achieved the position of one of the world’s most highly regarded electric vehicle products, the THINK brand is a valuable asset that deserves to continue its key role in the global shift to electrification,” said Mr. Zingarevich. “With the potential of working with the leading American automotive lithium-ion battery maker and Europe’s top automobile engineering and manufacturing company, I believe we could have exactly the right combination and value chain to ensure that the brand will be increasingly competitive in the worldwide electric vehicle market.”

The assets of wholly owned subsidiaries THINK North America and THINK UK, which have remained going concerns during the bankruptcy proceeding for THINK Global, were also acquired in the transaction. Financial advisory services were provided by LATUM, a specialised investment banking and services company.
Ener1 and Valmet were the senior secured creditors of THINK when the company filed for bankruptcy after failing to raise adequate capital to continue financing operations. Ener1 and Valmet are negotiating stakes in the new company on the basis of a debt restructuring. Mr. Zingarevich has been a major investor in Ener1 since 2002 and provided bridge funding for THINK while the company attempted a reorganisation before filing for bankruptcy.

The name of the new company that will market THINK brand products is Electric Mobility Solutions AS, registered in Norway. A new sales and service structure for THINK will be announced soon. The production restart, with a refined version of the THINK City, is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2012.
Over its 20-year history, THINK achieved the status of the leading dedicated electric vehicle maker in the world. The THINK City has accumulated more than 48 million km of road experience in the several countries where it has been marketed. The current model has a range of 160 km on a single charge and provides one of the most engaging and spirited drives of any car in its class.

| Think

The Audi A1 e-tron wins Silvretta Electric Car Rally

Audi is this year’s overall winner of the second Silvretta Electric Car Rally in Austria’s Montafon region. The 2011 victory of the A1 e-tron follows the R8 e-tron’s win last year. The second Audi in the rally, a
Q5 HFC with a fuel cell finished in sixth place. A total of 32 electric vehicles were evaluated.

After three days, 307 kilometers and a total altitude difference of 11,541 meters, the A1 e-tron bearing the number 206 was named the winner of the second Silvretta Electric Car Rally Montafon. The event took place from July 7-9 as part of the 14th Silvretta Classic. The name Silvretta refers to a group of mountains in the eastern Alps of Austria. The Audi A1 e-tron won against 31 competitors in a rally, that was held on highly taxing mountain roads with inclines up to 15 percent, presenting a special challenge to electric vehicles. The Audi Q5 HFC, which was also entered by Audi, achieved sixth place. This was the best final result of all cars with a fuel cell.



The A1 e-tron contains technology that Audi’s development engineers are using to study the mobility requirements for such a future-oriented concept. The technological basis includes an electric motor with a maximum output of 75 kW that is powered by a lithium-ion battery. The battery features a 12 kWh capacity and can be completely charged in 30 minutes (quick charge), or in less than three hours (standard charge). It offers a range of 50 kilometers. To prevent drivers from being stranded by an empty battery, the A1 e-tron also comes equipped with a combustion engine, which can charge the battery as needed. The one-disc rotary engine (254 cc) is located under the trunk floor; it provides 15 kW of output intended solely to charge the battery, rather than to directly power the wheels.

The A1 e-tron is designed with a local emission-free electric drive system, which is ideally suited for driving in a city.


During the rally the A1 e-tron was driven by Franciscus van Meel, Head of Electromobility Strategy at AUDI AG. Long-time Audi employee Gerhard Gruber took on the important role of co-driver. “Sending an electric car into the Alps is one of the toughest challenges you can present it with. The fact that the A1 e-tron proved so impressive here is especially gratifying to me and it proves we’re on the right track with our electric mobility approach of combining an electric motor with a combustion engine . Many thanks to our dedicated team for making our second overall victory in a row possible,” said van Meel after crossing the finish line.

Van Meel then went on to describe the rally itself: “On the first day we drove cautiously and despite a distance of just over 100 kilometers we finished with a lot of electricity left in the battery. On the second day we were better prepared and we were able to win the day; on day three we came in second, and in the end that was enough to win the overall victory. The car ran flawlessly. We’re now looking forward to the 2012 rally. We already have a few ideas about the kind of concepts we’ll enter with, of course.”




| Audi