2014 brings electric power train into main stream - new BMW i3

photo credit: bmw.com

One of the most awaited cars in the recent past has been the i series from BMW. This series represents visionary electric vehicles and inspiring design which is sure to attract a lot of eye balls. The BMW i3 comes with a noise free engine and zero emissions. The engine will be powered by an electric motor and lithium-ion high voltage batteries with an expected range of 130-160 kms, which should be ideal for a day’s usage. The engine provides an output of 125 kW/ 170 hp with a torque of 250 Nm. It has also been said that most of the materials used in this vehicle are eco-friendly. The car goes reaches 62 mph in around 7.2 seconds with a high end speed of around 93 mph when in fully electric mode. 

via http://wallstreetsectorselector.com/2013/10/cars-will-move-world-2014/

photo credit: bmw.com

photo credit: bmw.com

photo credit: bmw.com

New Mariner 7 - tops of the pops!

Looks great, feels great, drives great!

Meet the newest addition to the ProdecoTech Mariner family. The Mariner 7 offers riders an 8 speed drive train and a powerful 300 watt, free-spinning, front-mount motor, which delivers 500 watts at peak, that reaches speeds of up to 18 mph. 

The propulsion system is a ‘power-on-demand’ variable throttle which is simple to operate: just twist and go, or if you feel like getting some exercise, pedal like you would on a regular bicycle, the motor only powers on when you want it to. The SRAM X7 Twist 8-speed shifter offers quick and smooth transitioning between gears. 

The high-capacity, 36 volt 9 amp hour advanced lithium ion battery (LiFePO4) has the long distance range of 25-35 miles per charge. 

You will appreciate the stopping control of the Avid BB5 disc brakes (front and rear) and Avid 180mm HS1 heat-shedding rotors. 

The BB5 adjustment knobs make quick work out of setting the perfect distance between the pads and rotor. The KMC X8.93 chain is a strong, lightweight chain that is built to allow for smooth and fast shifting. 

The Mariner 7 smooth ride is supported by suspension in the seat post and the fork, and most of all, it is easy to ride. 

With its pure white gloss appearance and 20-inch rim frames of aircraft-grade aluminum, the impressive Mariner 7 is one of the most appealing, most compact folding e-bikes in its class.

Pure White Gloss Finish

• Folding Aluminum 20” Rim Frame
• ½ Twist Throttle
• Avid  BB5 Disc Brakes Front and Rear and Avid 180mm HS1 Rotors
• SRAM X7 Twist 8 Speed Shifter
• SRAM X5 8 Speed Mid Derailleur
• KMC X8.93 8 Speed Chain
• HTI Folding Aluminum/Nylon Pedals
• 38.4V 9Ah LiFePO4 24 Cell Battery
• Front FSG 36V 300W Motor
• 18 mph Speed
• 25-35 Mile Distance
• Folded Dimensions: 42″ x 30″ x 22″
• 46 lbs
  
  
  
  
  

text and photos via http://prodecotech.com

Greyp Bike G12 - New high performance e-bike

London, September 4th, 2013. 

Greyp G12 - Test Ride Video

– Salon Prive will host the world premiere of the Greyp G12, the new high
performance electric bicycle coming from the minds behind the fastest electric supercar. Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac Automobili and Greyp Bikes said: „Our goal was to make the experience for our cutting-edge technology, developed primarily for supercars, accessible for a wider range of customers.”

The Greyp G12 is designed from the ground up to combine the best of both worlds – motorcycles and bicycles. It is a bicycle when you want it, or a motorcycle when you need it. With stunning performance for an electric bike - 65 km/h top speed and a range of up to 120km without pedalling, you will enjoy riding with Greyp. It can easily be recharged from 0 to 100 percent in only 80 minutes – from a standard 220V outlet. The G12 has a special mode to comply with the regulations for road vehicles – which limits the speed and power. Still, the top-speed is just a tap on the touch-screen away when you need it. One more special feature is that you don't have to worry about the key, the G 12 is fingerprint activated. You can choose that a certain finger starts the bike in a certain mode. Your thumb can lead you the Street Mode, while your middle-finger will activate the speed-mode.

A state-of-the art battery-pack, designed and manufactured by Rimac Automobili, is providing 1,3 kWh of juice for the G12. The G-12 is equipped with Lithium-Nanophosphate battery-cells manufactured by A123 Systems. These cells are considered as the best high-performance battery-cells currently in existence.

You can pedal if you want, assist the motor or drive the G12 like a motorcycle. It will reach 65 km/h without any assistance by the rider. You never need to sweat riding up a hill again and when you go downhill, the motor can recharge the battery with up to 2 kW of power while braking. Most of the time you - won't even need the mechanical brakes – regen braking will do all the work.

The idea of Greyp came to life when Zvonimir Sučić, a well-known designer of high-performance electric bicycles and motorcycles, joined Rimac Automobili as a mechanical engineer in 2010. Zvonimir developed and built electric bikes since 2001. in his garage with the help of a couple of friends as a hobby. His first production-bike, the Greyborg, was delivered to 27 countries but still remained an after-work hobby for Zvonimir. Mate Rimac liked Zvonimir's creations, but he didn't like the technology under the skin so he decided to design a bike after his standards and present the idea to Adriano – the man that designed the Concept_One. With the help od 6 Rimac Automobili engineers Zvonimir, Mate and Adriano started to design the first Greyp from ground up – this was the 12th bike in Zvonimir’s bike- designer career. The G12.

via www.rimac-automobili.com

Volkswagen XL1 - promising green car of the future

Volkswagen XL1

                                 Photo credits: http://media.vw.com

Exceptional, slick design, 12 years of prototyping, logical choice for hybrid with combination of diesel and electric powertrain and the right timing are big pluses for this new ecologically friendly car from VW which stole lot's of attention on Geneva 2013 Auto Show.

Green Motion Planet

  Photo credits: http://media.vw.com

"The Volkswagen 1-litre car is a two-person concept car produced by Volkswagen. The 1-litre car was designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel fuel (280 mpg-imp; 240 mpg-US), while being both roadworthy and practical. To achieve such economy, it is produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. The concept car was modified first in 2009 as the and again in 2011 as the XL1, with limited production of the XL1 slated to begin by late 2013.

                               Photo credits: http://media.vw.com


As with the 2011 concept XL1, it is powered by a 800 cm3 two-cylinder diesel engine with 35 kW (48 PS; 47 bhp) and a 20 kW (27 PS; 27 bhp) electric motor, delivering power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The drag coefficient has increased slightly from 0.186 to 0.189.[19] The production version is expected to deliver an all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi) and the plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.[20] 250 examples will be built."

Source: Wikipedia

 Photo credits: http://media.vw.com

Rimac Automobili with Spanish partner creates new electric supercar

Rimac Automobili with Spanish partner creates new electric supercar with company Applus+ Idiada which is presented on raceway Catalunya near Barcelona.

GreenMotionPlanet

Croatia Breaks EV Speed Records With 1984 BMW

   Photo: Rimac Automobili

Every descriptor for this car should translate to “slow”: Croation, electric, with a body that’s 28 years old. But no. This clapped-out Bimmer has broken a string of FIA-sanctioned acceleration records.

The Zagreb-based automaker Rimac Automobili – primarily known for its outlandish supercar concept – has overhauled a 1984 BMW E30 and created the fastest-accelerating electric vehicle in two classes.

The E30 they call the “Green Monster” coaxes 600 horsepower and a bit over 650 pound-foot of torque from a 441 kWh motor. It goes from zero to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds and has a top speed of about 174 mph, which according to FIA regulations, makes the Green Monster the fastest-accelerating electric vehicle in the Category A, Group VIII, and Class 3 sections. Allow us to translate. That means this green meanie takes the cake for electric vehicle acceleration and for vehicles weighing in above 1,000 kg. The Rimac Automobili team set the record at a mile-long military runway near Zagreb last year, but the stats are only now being made public.

In the year since that run, Rimac set to work building the pre-production Concept_One, a carbon fiber-bodied electric supercar. Rimac says that it “can beat the e-M3, by far,” and if their hypothetical statistics are correct, it should be easy.

The Concept_One pumps out 1,088 horsepower and goes zero to 62 mph in 2.8 seconds. It has a 300-plus mile range with its 91 kWh battery pack – quite a bit more than the E30′s 24 kWh of stored energy. Four motors – one for each wheel – produce 250 kW of peak power, and the whole carbon fiber and aluminum setup adds up to a portly 4,300 pounds. Damn batteries….

But if you’re looking to get your own BMW converted to electric-spec, you’re out of luck – Rimac explicitly says they’re not in the business of converting gas cars to EVs for customers.

• BY ALEXANDER GEORGE VIA WIRED.COM

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