Tag Archives: electric car

Fisker EMotion

New Video and Pictures of the Fisker EMotion

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Fisker Inc. recently released some new pictures and videos of their $130,000 fully electric sports car, the Fisker EMotion. The EMotion will feature a 400+ mile range, 9 minute fast-charging time for 125 additional miles, LIDAR for full autonomy, and all wheel drive.  No information yet on the 0-60 mph time but the all wheel drive and battery capacity should propel it in under 5 seconds. The EMotion’s top speed is 161 mph.

According to Henrik Fisker’s official Instagram, the EMotion will utilize a flat, solid state, LG battery pack beneath the cabin.

The car looks very nice from the back, although the front end is a little too snake-like.  It looks like a literal cobra, not a Shelby Cobra, the car has snake eyes and a tongue sticking out of the faux grill.

Fsiker EMotion

The California company, Fisker Inc. has a partnership with Hybrid Shop and their nationwide network of service and maintenance for all hybrid (HEV) and electric vehicles (EV).  This is good, as the earlier range extended hybrid from Fisker, the Fisker Karma, was plagued with maintenance problems. Hopefully Fisker’s first foray into the full battery electric vehicle will simplify things and reduce the amount of problems.Fisker EMotion Side
Fisker Emotion Back

You can reserve a Fisker EMotion for $2000 down and deliveries are expected to start mid-2019.

Lucid Air

Without Electronic Limiter, Lucid Air Hits 235 mph Top Speed

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The Lucid Air Alpha Speed Car, was first tested at the large oval track of the Transportation Research Center of Ohio in April 2017. The car was given aerodynamic aids and a parachute to slow the car abruptly in case the straights didn’t prove long enough to reach desired speeds and slow down sufficiently for the next turn. For the first test, the top speed was software limited to 217 mph (350 km/h).

This July. the Lucid team recently returned to the Transportation Research Center facility for the next round of testing with the Lucid Air Alpha Speed Car. The Lucid team tackled the high-speed oval again, this time with the software speed limit removed so they could evaluate performance at even higher speeds, up to 235 mph.

That morning there was a rain delay, but it was clear to the spotters standing hundreds of meters away that the car was moving faster coming off the banking than during the last test. And they were right. This time the Air came off the high banking at 215 mph and reached an ultimate GPS confirmed speed of 235.44 mph.

The Lucid team made a few adjustments based on what they learned to improve upon their first time. The air suspension required a software update to improve responsiveness when loaded heavily. The front motor required updates to coolant flow and ventilation. New, aerodynamically efficient wheels were fitted. Finally, they removed the speed limiter to see what a Lucid Air alpha prototype was capable of achieving.

Lucid Motors intends to start production of the Lucid Air by 2018, with a base model priced at between $50,000-$60,000 dollars.

Features of the base Lucid Air include:

  • 240-mile range
  • 400 horsepower (rear-wheel drive)
  • All hardware necessary for autonomous driving
  • Huge interior space in an efficient package
  • Two trunks, one in the front and one in the rear, with a combined storage capacity of over 32 cubic feet (similar to the volume of a 4-person hot tub)
  • 12-way power front seats
  • LED multi-lens array headlights
  • Four screens, with interactive-touch surfaces on three
  • 5-seat configuration with a rear bench seat
  • 10 advanced airbags
  • Aluminum roof
  • 19-inch wheels
  • 10-speaker audio system
  • Over-the-air software updates

The price of a fully loaded Lucid Air will likely be above $100,000.

Features of the fully loaded Lucid Air include:

  • 315-mile and 400-mile-range battery options
  • Up to 1,000-horsepower twin-motor configuration, with all-wheel drive
  • Fully active suspension, delivering a world-class ride
  • Glass-canopy roof
  • Rear executive seats that recline up to 55 degrees
  • 22-way power front seats with heating, ventilation, dynamic bolsters, and massage
  • 21-inch Lucid-design wheels
  • 29-speaker audio system with active noise cancellation
  • Expanded leather trim with corresponding material upgrades
Chevy Bolt

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Review and Road Test

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America’s largest automaker, GM, is manufacturing its most affordable, consumer friendly electric vehicle since the GM EV1. Better equipped than the Nissan Leaf and cheaper than the BMW i3, the 2017 Chevy Bolt packs a 60 kilowatt hour lithium ion battery that has an EPA estimated range of 238 miles on a charge. While Car and Driver observed a 190 mile highway range, that should still be more than enough for anybody’s expected and unexpected daily driving needs. This tiny four door hatchback has the type of mass appeal that GM hopes will make it a major player in the electric automotive market. The Bolt will have to compete with the highly anticipated Tesla Model 3, Elon Musk’s “Model T” of sorts, an affordable Tesla for Joe Sixpack, and Jill Sixpack.


The Bolt starts at $37,495, but a $7500 federal tax credit will put the price under $30,000. Further, climate minded municipalities might have extra incentives to push that price down as well. If you want all the trimmings, you can get the Bolt Premier with a starting price of $41,780. It adds leather, heated front and rear seats, roof rails, a 360-degree-view camera system, a rearview camera mirror, rear parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. Options included an upgraded Bose stereo, wireless phone charging, and two USB ports in the rear for $485, and a Driver Assistance package with forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beams for $495.

The Bolt has a lot of pop on the road. The instant electric torque accelerates the Bolt from zero to 60 mph in 6.5 sec. The top speed is limited to 93 mph.

Other than that the Chevy Bolt is very similar to your average compact hatchback. Test drivers have mentioned it is quite cramped inside, with a lot of plastic trim. But you do get a state of the art infotainment system and heads up display, which adds to the futuristic experience. Overall, if you are really inclined to get of petroleum for your transportation needs, the Bolt is a great option that is now in the feasibility price range for many of us.

Nio Eve

Nio Unveils the Electric Autonomous Eve

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In our fast paced ADD laden society, the simple joy of driving is falling by the wayside to texting, browsing Reddit, and YouTube and Netflix binges.  Of course, you could also be reading, learning a new language, or catching up on your work emails, but life is too short for arduous productivity.  The technology of the near future will give us more free time, make us more productive, and hopefully help us live healthier lives.

At the 2017 SXSW in Austin, Texas, a new player in the electric automotive game, Nio, unveiled the Eve, a fully autonomous, electric vehicle.  In fact, the Eve doesnt even seem to feature a steering wheel.  Not sure if they will add that feature later, in 2020, when the startup plans to roll out the model.  The Eve is basically a comfortable living space for you to spend your newfound free time while the car takes you to your destination.

Imagine having your own taxi on call without the Marlboro smelling operator at the wheel. Eve will feature Nomi, an interactive AI system that will allow you to interface with the car.  Hopefully, in 2020 it will be more precise than Siri is when you are trying to order pizza.  The Eve will also feature active glass, so you can learn constellations while you ride, an innocent example included in the promotional video.
The Eve also features sliding passenger doors and hopefully a 600 mile range.  Nio thinks by 2020, this will be possible with a charging rate of 200 miles per 10 minutes.  While Nio debuted the NIO EP9 late last year, the “fastest electric vehicle” with a 0-60 mph of 2.7 seconds, they have yet to manufacture the car. Their autonomous concept is still very much in the ether until we get closer to 2020.

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What are the Pros and Cons of Buying an Electric Car?

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Buying an electric car can be a great move, but there is a lot to consider. There are cons as well as pros, so read on to find out more.

Pros

Electric cars are becoming popular for many reasons. The main reason for people buying them is the fact that they’re clean and don’t pollute the Earth as much as ordinary fuel cars. And not being reliant on gas also has its financial perks. One of the biggest costs attached to owning a car is the amount of money you spend each month on fuel. By driving an electric car, you cut out that cost entirely. So, you’ll be able to feel good about your environmentally friendly approach to driving and save some cash at the same time.

The fuel savings aren’t the only savings you’ll make by driving an electric car either. The starting costs of a decent electric car are surprisingly low, and many are cheaper than similar fuel reliant alternatives. Retailers like Imperial Car Supermarket stock hundreds of used cars and models like the Nissan Leaf can be found in good condition at decent prices. And then there’s the road tax and insurance to consider. Electric cars are often exempt from road tax and also tend to be very cheap to insure.

The drive you get is incredible too. You’ll be surprised at how satisfying it is to drive an electric car if you’ve never done it before. The electric engine is near silent, and the road has never felt smoother! They’re a joy to drive.

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Cons

Charging the battery of the car uses electricity, and a lot of people forget that this isn’t a clean energy source. Yes, it is better than releasing large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere via your car every day. But CO2 is released by the energy companies that provide you with you electricity. This means there’s still a long way to go before we reach the point at which electric cars are a truly clean way of driving. Electricity isn’t free either, so you will be paying for running your car, albeit less than a fuel car.

Because electric cars are still in the vast minority, it can also be difficult to find a place to charge them. You’ll have a charging point installed at your home, but there might not be too many other around, especially if you live outside of the city. So, you could get stranded if your battery runs out and there’s no charging point nearby. This will mean that you might be a little reluctant to travel far from home.

You won’t reach very high speeds in an electric car because of the power of the battery. As yet, not many of these cars haven’t been built for speed, but that shouldn’t be an issue if you’re driving on ordinary roads. The final worry to think about is the issue of space. The battery can take up a lot of space that then eats into your internal space as manufacturers like to keep the cars small and light.

There’s a lot to think about before buying an electric car. Make sure you weigh up these pros and cons and think about how they’ll affect you before coming to a conclusion.

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The Best Things About Buying an Electric Car

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If you’re considering buying a car these days, you might want to think about buying electric. Electric cars are a greener way of driving, and they represent the future of cars. There are an awful lot of advantages to buying an electric car. Here are just some of the best things about them. These should encourage you to go out and buy one.

Cheaper

You’ll find that electric cars often end up being cheaper than a lot of regular cars. They’ll be cheaper to buy in some cases. But the main way in which you’re going to save money is that they are cheaper to run. You see electric cars don’t require petrol to run, and instead run on electricity. All you have to do is charge your car at an electricity port overnight, and you’re good to go. You will save so much money by using an electric car that it will more than make up for if you paid more to get one. It’s also convenient as it means you don’t have to pull over on journey’s to fill your car up with petrol. As the cost of petrol increases, it’s becoming less and less affordable. Going electric certainly makes sense in this capacity.

Preparing for the Future

When you buy an electric car, you’ll be helping the environment. But just as important as that you’ll be preparing for the future. There will come a time soon when electric cars will reign supreme. It might be quite a way off at this point, but it can’t hurt to prepare. Indeed, many car manufacturers are already taking steps to prepare, with the release of hybrids. In fact, it won’t be long before you’ll b e able to visit the GK Group and find hybrids alongside their vast selection of used cars. Hybrid cars symbolise the fact that many manufacturers know electric cars will shape the future. They want to try to integrate the green ethos of electric vehicles with their designs.

Greener

One of the best things about buying electric cars is the fact that they are eco-friendly. These days it’s important to look towards greener living. We need to look after the planet and take steps in our daily lives that will benefit the environment. One of the big ways to do this is through buying an electric car. Regular cars produce harmful CO2 emissions that are bad for the environment and pollute the ozone layer. Electric cars produce nothing of the sort. They run on electricity, not petrol and thus have no emissions. They can just be charged when they run low on electricity, so they make for a much more environmentally sound car.

Less Maintenance

A great advantage of an electric car over a regular one is the lack of maintenance. Electric cars contain fewer parts than regular cars. As a result, they are less prone to problems than normal cars are. What you look for in a car is reliability, and electric cars are reliable. They run on a charge so are less susceptible to poor conditions. With an electric car, you’ll likely find yourself in the service garage much less than you would with a regular car.