Most people are aware that Velozzi is a promising participant in the Progressive Automotive X Prize. The team intends to enter two vehicles, the Velozzi and the Velozzi X1. Both will be plug-in hybrid electric vehicles that can use multiple fuels such as ethanol, bio-diesel, and traditional gasoline. The Velozzi is pictured above, but the X1 is yet to be unveiled. However, they do hint that the X1 will be more of a mainstream, attractive vehicle for the masses. The Velozzi team keeps most of the details of their work private, as they are taking the Automotive X competition very seriously. Recently, they announced Bayer MaterialScience will be joining their already acclaimed team to aid in their long-term goal of mass producing electric vehicles for the international market. The press release is posted below for more details.
VELOZZI
March 31, 2009
News Release
________________________________________________________________________
Velozzi team expands to include Bayer MaterialScience for the commercialization of Alternative Energy Vehicles
Los Angeles, March 31, 2009 — Velozzi and Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS) are off to the races to deliver commercially viable eco-friendly alternative energy vehicles (AEV) for the global market. The Velozzi team will participate in the Progressive Automotive X Prize, but its main goal is and will be the mass production of the Velozzi vehicles for the international market.
The intent of Velozzi is to design, develop, and build an environmentally friendly, affordable, lightweight and efficient plug-in flex fuel hybrid electric crossover vehicle, capable of achieving one hundred miles per gallon or its equivalent and a super hybrid electric vehicle with similar characteristics. Additionally, Velozzi intends to create a new and more efficient, environmentally friendly, way of mass-producing vehicles, using modularity and lightweight materials. Velozzi has expertise in hybrid systems, automotive design and construction. The Velozzi team has world-class experience in traction controls (SAMINCO), transmissions (Weismann R&D), batteries/hybrid systems (NASA) and now Velozzi intends to use BMS materials for the construction of its vehicles; BMS is the latest addition to an already impressive and talented Velozzi team. BMS is one of the world leaders in material science and, as such, brings to the project extensive know how, materials, and automotive applications engineering experience.
“Working with BMS brings us a world of possibilities on the road to consumer acceptance,” said Roberto Velozzi, Velozzi CEO. “With the broad selection of innovative materials and technologies BMS offers, we can produce a vehicle that not only appeals to consumers’ desire for fuel economy, but also their sense of style.” Velozzi added that incorporation of many BMS materials requires only a low initial capital investment, making the move into mass production cost effective.
“BMS is committed to the AEV market and has a deep understanding of the role innovative materials play from concept through commercialization,” said David Loren, market lead, PCS, BMS LLC. “We are actively seeking collaborations with suppliers and OEMs, such as Velozzi, to help them navigate through complex AEV challenges such as vehicle weight and manufacturability,” Loren added.
Velozzi, based in Los Angeles, California, is a company comprised of world-class scientists, engineers, car builders, and designers dedicated to develop environmental transportation technology to address issues concerning climate change, the dependency on volatile foreign oil prices/supply, and the inefficient way vehicles are being manufactured today. Velozzi is dedicated to designing, manufacturing & marketing environmentally friendly vehicles that can be powerful, beautiful and practical. Velozzi is the culmination of decades of R&D into the latest technological advancements tied to a ground-up approach ensuring delivery on a worldwide scale.
For more information about BMS materials, call 1-800-662-2927, e-mail naftainfo@bayerbms.com or visit www.bayermaterialsciencenafta.com.
For more information about Velozzi, visit www.velozzi.org or e-mail velozzi@velozzi.org.
Edmunds Inside Line recently posted this neat video on Youtube. Not only do you get to see Tesla Motors finally pull the sheet off this gorgeous ride, but there is also some footage of the 7-passenger sedan in action on the road.
Jalopnik has a great article on the Tesla Model S unveiling today. They also took several photos of the electric family sedan at the event. These are the most current car specs as well as production and release dates:
Via Jalopnik: Tesla claims the Model S sedan will be produced at a rate of 20,000 units per year, with an expected 3rd quarter of 2011 start of production and an expectation of mid-2012 for when they hope to hit that 20,000-per-year number.
The Tesla Model S Sedan will supposedly have a 300 mile range from its floor pan-located, easily removable battery pack which Tesla claims will have a quick-charged capability allowing it to partially charge in just 45 minutes. The company is considering renting customers a long range battery pack for long trips. The regular batteries are available for lease and are expected to last from 7 to 10 years depending on use, but expect closer to 10 for normal use. The entire car will be covered under a warranty, the length of which is expected to be between 3 and 4 years.
The interior features 2 LCD screens, one displaying the gauges and one mounted centrally featuring a full touch screen.
Sport and AWD models are being planned, but the stock model can run 0-60 MPH in 5.5 seconds using its single-speed transmission.
The Tesla Model S will be built in Southern California, while the drive train is manufactured in San Jose. Although we initially believed they might be using a Mercedes platform, but we’re now told personally by Tesla’s Elon Musk the platform is their own design and they plan on manufacturing it themselves. Where they’ll come up with the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to accomplish that is anyone’s guess.
Digg founder Kevin Rose has evidently uploaded full shots of the Tesla Model S to his flickr account moments before Tesla was going to unveil the car later today. Thanks to the $7,500 federal tax credit you can own this electric sport sedan for under $50,000. And I must say, early rumors were true, the Tesla Model S looks very much like the Aston Martin Rapide. The photos are posted below, for your viewing pleasure:
Tesla Model STesla Model S
For our complete coverage of the Tesla Model S click here.
