Dodge Circuit EV

Many of my previous posts have covered new electric cars and hybrids.....it appears that the electric revolution has started. There are two trends that are influencing electric car development, the first is the price of fuel, which is anticipated to increase substantially, the second is global warming.

Since, automobiles contribute substantially to global warming the smart idea to to eliminate the by products of the internal combustion engine. So, an electric car substantially reduces both major issues.....today's post covers a new electric car by Chrysler the Dodge Circuit.

Chrysler has lagged behind in the development of green vehicles but Chrysler executives said the day is coming when the whole Chrysler fleet has electric powertrains. "The goal is to achieve fundamental technology, get economies of scale, improve our ability to make the future generations more robust, less cost, smaller, more powerful, better performance," according to Bill Press V.P & President. "Ultimately it will lead to a transformation of our entire fleet that will be in some manner electric drive."

The Dodge Circuit EV sports car, is a two-passenger, rear wheel drive, all electric sports car that combines a lithium-ion battery pack with a 200-kilowatt motor, capable of generating 268 horsepower. The 0-60 mph. time is less than 5 seconds and with a top speed of approximately 120 mph (190 km/h). This car is built by cooperation with Lotus Motors and is almost identical to the Tesla Roadster.

The Circuit is based on the European Lotus Europa S...it includes a 268 horsepower electric motor as well as an advanced lithium-ion battery. Chrysler indicates that the Circuit has a range of 150 to 200 miles, which is similar to the Tesla Roadster.

Pricing has not been announced but the base price of a European spec Lotus Europa S is £33,000 $54,120 USD. That price does not include the changes to electrify the vehicle....the similar Tesla Roadster starts at $109,000 UDS.


SUMMARY:

Tesla started this new paradigm of using another manufacturers vehicle shell then adding the electric systems. This is substantially cheaper way to manufacture a car without starting from the ground up. It is another salvo in the beginning of the electric revolution!

Tesla...The Future Has Arrived!

Everyone that reads my blog is aware that I am an incredible fan of the Tesla Motor Co. Three things have truly impressed me about this company. The incredible vision by the pioneers of this electric vehicle (EV) company.....GM had the lead, money and engineering staff.... but lacked the vision. The second thing that impressed me is the incredible engineering..... GM, Toyota, Ford, Nissan etc have substantially larger engineering staffs than Tesla but have not been able to match Tesla yet.

All this has been done on a shoestring budget for a few million dollars. Yet, they have developed the new electric vehicle technology with the Tesla Roadster that is incredibly fast 3.9 seconds 0-60 mph, the incredible Ferrari F430 is 3.6 seconds. Actually, the Tesla Roadster is the first electric vehicle on the roads of the U.S. and Europe.

Tesla unveiled the Model S on March 26, the all-electric family sedan that carries up to seven people and travels up to 300 miles per charge. Reservations immediately began streaming in online and at showrooms in California. This historic vehicle is likely to be the world's first mass-produced, highway-capable electric vehicle when production begins in late 2011. The surge of reservations already proves that there's pent-up demand for a car that doesn't compromise on performance, utility or efficiency.

The Model S does 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity means you can listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check the car's state of charge remotely on your iPhone. The Model S can be recharged from any 120V, 208V or 240V outlet or quick-charged from an external direct current supply in only 45 minutes.

The anticipated base price of the Model S is $57,400, a US federal tax credit will reduce the cost $7,500. The reservation fee of $5,000 is refundable. Three battery pack choices will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge. The company has not released for pricing for options and higher mileage battery packs. If you account for the cost advantage over the life of the car vs. an equivalent internal combustion engine car at a cost of $4.25 per gallon (a likely future cost in the United States, and a bargain right now in many parts of Europe), the Model S is equivalent to a gas guzzler with a sticker price of about $35,000. Importantly, those savings are realized immediately if you lease a Model S, so there is no need to wait years to earn back the price difference.

Tesla also is taking reservations for the Model S Signature Edition with a $40,000 reservation fee, which is also refundable. Tesla will produce only 2,000 Signature Edition cars, which will be the first built and have unique interior and exterior features. Signature Edition cars will be evenly split between US and European customers.

The Tesla Roadster is more than twice as enercy efficient as a Toyota Prius and delivers approximately 244 miles per charge. Tesla delivered over 100 Roadsters to customers in March, marking the first triple-digit delivery month in the company's history. Tesla delivered over 170 cars in the first quarter – more than the total delivered in 2008. Tesla has delivered about 330 Roadsters so far. The base price of the Roadster is $101,500 after a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Le Rallye Monte Carlo Late last month, the Roadster set another impressive a feat of 241 miles on a single charge of the Le Rallye Monte Carlo d'Energies Alternatives. And the Roadster still had an estimated 38 miles left on the charge! This appears to be an absolute record for a production EV.The challenging course, sponsored by l'Automobile Club de Monaco, went from Valence, France, to the Principality of Monaco. Terrain was mixed and included high-speed driving on highways, urban streets and up and single-carriageway roads that wind through the Alps.The Roadster was the only car to finish the rally after a modified Porsche 911 dropped out.

Tesla's is opening a regional sales and service center in London's popular Knightsbridge district. This will be the first of three European stores that they plan to launch this year. The London facility will open this spring at 49-51 Cheval Place, formerly the Segrave Supercar Club. The location is approximate to Harrod's department store and close to Heathrow Airport.

London Mayor Boris Johnson, a sports car buff and a fan of the Tesla Roadster, announced this week a plan to introduce 100,000 EVs and to build 25,000 charging stations in the capital. Prime Minister Gordon Brown said EVs would be one cornerstone of his economic recovery plan.

Information via Tesla Motors!

Electric Car Races?

Electric cars are now becoming a reality! The Tesla Roadster is in production, the Chevrolet Volt will be out next year, Nissan, Chrysler, Ford, Smart, Lotus, and Mitsubishi are all coming out with their versions of an electric car.

It appears that putting those cars into racing is the next step! The Monte Carlo Rally For Alternative Energy Vehicles is where this is starting!

The Tesla Roadster actually won the event in the electric car category. It completed the 241 miles of the rally with 38 miles of range left in the batteries.

Ford captured the 1st, 2nd and 4th in the fossil fuel category with some Ford Fiesta Econetic diesels. The Ford Fiesta diesels averaged 59 mpg in the race. The Ford Fiesta is currently produced in Europe and will be manufactured in the U.S. starting in 2010. Many of the auto writers would like the diesel versions brought to the U.S. due to the high fuel efficiency .

For more information on the Monte Carlo Rally for Alternative Energy Vehicles see the Wired Blog!

2011 Tesla Model S

This is really really BIG NEWS! Tesla Motors announced the Model S will be available for sale in 2011, they have started taking orders. Most people that read my blog are familiar with the Tesla Roadster. Tesla is a U.S. company that is at the forefront of automotive technology. During the current economic difficulties they have a backlog of orders for their high technology vehicles. Actually, they are producing the cars of the future now! Click here to go to the Tesla Model S website!

The Model S is a four door sedan but it can carry seven people and travels 300 miles per charge. Also, Tesla indicates that the Model S can carry more cargo than many SUVs. Apparently, the powertrain is in the floor, which gives the Model S a substantial amount of cargo room, the space under the hood is used as a second trunk.

Actually, it might be the worlds first mass produced highway capable electric vehicle! That is as long as it beats General Motors Chevy Volt or the Toyota Prius plug in to the market first. The Model S is strictly battery powered, it does not have an engine. Production will be at a new plant in Hawthorne, California, which is close to the LA International Airport.

Here comes the best part! The Model S carries a charger on board, and the vehicle can be charged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet. Using the 480V outlet charges the batteries in forty five minutes. Tesla indicates that the vehicle can be driven across country similar to a regular gasoline car.

The 0-60 time is under six seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. Pricing for the Model S starts at $57,400, a $7,500 federal tax credit helps to reduce the cost. Three different battery options will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles.

Tesla is planning to come out with a model that costs $30,000. "Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility -- it’s truly the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.” Tesla is planning to open showrooms in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington D.C. and Munich sometime this year.

My take on the Model S is this a game changer! It shows that a small company can produce a state of the art product with limited financing in an extremely difficult economic climate. This company will become a household name within the next couple of years. I will take mine in black!

New American Car Company - Tesla Motors

Most people are unfamiliar with Tesla Motors, they are an American auto manufacturer. They produce an electric car the Tesla Roadster which is one of my favorites. Actually, while most of the auto industry is in the dole drums due to the bad economy. This company has 1000 back orders on their production thru November and will be sold out thru 2009 shortly.

The Tesla Roadster is an exotic car and sells for $109,000. The Roadster is assembled in England by Lotus Motor. European deliveries of the Roadster and Roadster Sport will start in late June, and we will announce the location of our first European showroom (in London, UK) in the next few weeks

The company is also developing a four door sedan called the Model S. The department of Energy informed Tesla that they will disburse $350 million for their Model S within the next few months. The Obama administration has made it a high priority to move quickly on the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan program.

Elon Mush, Chairman of the Board, Product Architect and CEO wrote this in his blog "I expect sales demand to strengthen further as this awareness grows. After all, what’s the point of driving another exotic sports car when it is slower than a Tesla and damages the environment? Already, the Tesla Roadster is the car of choice among the technology, business and Hollywood A lists – this year’s Academy Awards will be a lineup of Teslas – and we have never had to give a discount to anyone". See the Tesla Blog for more information!

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