Electric Vehicle News

White Hell

That’s not the name for the snowy season that’s upon some of us. Rather, it’s the nickname for the location where Nokian Tyres conducts all winter-tire testing.

Nokian just released a video of winter tire testing on a Tesla Model S. Though the clip is short and sweet, it does provide us with a look at what proper tires can do.

Though the cold of winter impacts range, there’s often a larger negative impact from the snow on the ground. Of course, we can’t avoid what Mother Nature tosses our way. However, as drivers, we can prepare for the conditions.

One of the best additions to any car, regardless if its front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive, is a proper set of winter tires. These proper tires provide you with the ability to accelerate in the slick stuff. More importantly, stopping distances reduce dramatically in snow & ice with winter tires. And that’s important from a safety perspective.

Check out the brief clip above to see how the Tesla Model S with Nokian winter tires bites in with the conditions are slick.

Video description:

Our tires are tested on various different vehicles, including electric cars, to make sure they work for all drivers.

We do our winter tire testing in White Hell, our testing center situated in the heart of Lapland. The result is safe, reliable and comfortable product in all conditions.

The Ivalo Testing Center “White Hell” is where Nokian Tyres, the northernmost tire manufacturer in the world, tests its winter tires rigorously on snow, ice and slush. Experienced test drivers put the tires’ performance to the limit in uncompromising tests in order to find the best tires out of the good ones. If a tire works under the world’s most demanding conditions, it will work reliably everywhere.

Source: Electric Vehicle News

Check out this Tesla Model 3 Performance test drive from LA to Vegas.

Paul Maric from Australia-based automotive publication Car Advice welcomed the opportunity to come to the states and get in the driver’s seat of an all-new Tesla Model 3 Performance. He drove the car from Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada to get some solid time with it and utilize the Tesla Supercharger Network. After his time with the EV, he awarded it with a score of 8.8 out of 10.

Maric took the opportunity to work the Model 3 over and report on all the fine details. Interestingly, his first observation had nothing to do with the car itself, but rather the Supercharger Network. Australia doesn’t offer such a substantial network, so it was refreshing for Paul.

Primary takeaways via CarAdvice:

Pros

• Explosive acceleration at any speed
• Class-leading in-car technology and driver assistance systems
• Easy to drive with established charging infrastructure availability

Cons

• Charging infrastructure in Australia lags behind the USA
• Some build quality issues
• Handling not quite as sharp as we expected

Ratings Breakdown

• Performance: 9.2
• Ride Quality: 7.8
• Handling and Dynamics: 7.1
• Driver Technology: 9.1
• Interior Comfort and Packaging: 7.8
• Infotainment and Connectivity 8.6
• Fuel Efficiency: 10.0
• Safety: 10.0
• Current Price Not Available: N/A
• Fit For Purpose: 9.2

Maric has a significant amount to share in the video, as well as in his extensive written review, which is linked below. Check it all out and let us know your thoughts in the comment section.

Video Description via CarAdvice.com on YouTube:

2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance: Review and 0-100

The Tesla Model 3 is taking the USA by storm and it’ll hit Australia by mid-late 2019. Paul Maric jumps behind the wheel of the Model 3 Performance for a road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to see how well an electric car performs in a market with dedicated EV infrastructure.

To read Paul’s entire story, visit CarAdvice.com.

TESLA MODEL 3 PERFORMANCE

10 photos

Source: Electric Vehicle News

HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO KEEP YOUR ELECTRIC VEHICLE FULLY CHARGED AND READY TO ROLL.

With the nation’s network of public electric vehicle charging facilities still relatively thin, most EV owners charge their rides at home. This can be as easy to accomplish as plugging the car into a wall outlet or as complex as having solar panels installed to replenish an EV’s battery.

All EVs come with a means to be connected to the power grid. Technically speaking, the charging station that converts AC house current into DC electricity is built into the vehicle. Most models include a basic 110-volt charging unit that plugs into a standard electric outlet via a conventional three-prong plug.

This is called Level 1 charging, and assuming you already have basic electric service in your garage, it’s the cheapest way to go. Unfortunately, it’s also the slowest. Depending on the vehicle and its battery capacity, it can take anywhere from eight to nearly 24 hours to bring its power cells up to a full charge.

A better choice is to spend a few hundred dollars to have an electrician install a dedicated 240-volt circuit – like those used for an electric clothes dryer – to take advantage of what’s called Level 2 charging. This can replenish a depleted battery in around four hours. You’ll also need to purchase an external Level 2 charging unit, which is also called the electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE).

Level 2 charging systems come in two basic varieties, plug-in portable and wall-mounted units that are hard-wired directly to a home’s electric service. If you don’t have a closed garage and you’ll be charging the vehicle outside, local codes may require a fixed-mount unit. Otherwise a portable charger requires no professional installation, assuming you’ve added the 240-volt service line. This type can come in handy if you own two homes or will be staying with friends or family in another town and want to take the unit along for charging at your destination.

A good quality EVSE can cost between $300 and around $1,200. If you’re choosing a wall-mounted unit, expect to pay another several hundred dollars for installation, depending on local labor rates and permit costs.

If you’re buying an EV, make sure the power outlet or wall-mounted charging station will be located within close proximity to your vehicle’s connecting port. Charger cables usually run from around 15 to 25 feet in length, but that may not be sufficient or desirable if the car’s port is located on the opposite end of the garage from the available power source. You may have to have an electrician extend the service closer to your car’s charging port if that’s the case.

SHOULD YOU GO SOLAR?

It’s possible to use solar power to charge an EV, usually via panels mounted to the garage roof, but this can cost upwards of $7,000 per installation. And that doesn’t include having a storage battery installed to capture power during daylight hours for overnight charging, which could double the cost.

Solar charging becomes more cost effective, however, if you’re tapping into a full-house power system. Sources suggest a properly sized whole-house solar system can pay for itself in around seven years, depending on the size of the installation, local labor rates, component costs, and other variables. The national average for a 6-kW home solar power system is reportedly close to $19,000. Fortunately there’s a 30 percent federal tax credit with no limit available to help offset the costs. Unfortunately, the solar-power credit is scheduled to drop to 26 percent in 2020, 22 percent in 2021, and will be discontinued altogether in 2022.

CHOOSING A CHARGING STATION

Popular brands of EVSEs include ClipperCreek (one of the first companies to get into the home changing business), Siemens, JuiceBox, AeroVironment, and ChargePoint, among others. An online search can help you find a unit that comes with the features and power output that meets both your needs and budget. To make matters easier, you can purchase either of three popular ClipperCreek charging units directly from MyEV.com. Coming in both portable and hard-wired configurations, they’re priced between $379 and $565. Each of our EV for sale listings features them under a “shop for chargers” tab, or can check them out via this link.

Experts suggest buying an EVSE that can produce at least 30 amps of power. Generally speaking this type of unit would be able to add around 30 miles of operating range to a given battery pack per hour. Some EVs can get along with fewer amps, but buying more capability than you may need today makes the installation “future proof” should you eventually trade in the vehicle for a model that can handle the added capacity. However, if you’re planning on using a 30-amp unit you may need to upgrade the line’s circuit breaker to one that’s rated for at least 40 amps.

As with many other types of electronic devices these days, you can buy a “smart” EV charging unit that includes Wi-Fi connectivity. While this adds cost and complexity to what’s otherwise a plug-and-play device, choosing a smart charger adds a layer of convenience. These units allow an owner to use his or her smartphone to monitor charging, and how much energy the vehicle is using to help gauge running costs. Some smart chargers can communicate with your power company to only charge at off-peak times for discounted rates, and even receive commands via Amazon’s Alexa virtual assistant.

Finally, only consider charging units that have been tested and certified for safety by an independent source like Underwriters Laboratory (UL). And if you’re having a charger installed outdoors, make sure it’s rated for that purpose.

Source: MYEV.com

Source: Electric Vehicle News

Amsterdam is electrifying its bus fleet faster than any other capital in Europe

VDL Bus & Coach secured another significant electric bus order in Amsterdam, which once hinted at a plan to replace all diesel buses by 2025. The capital of the Netherlands already has a three-digit number of electric buses including a massive fleet for Schiphol Airport.

The latest order is for 31 VDL Citea Electric (9 Citeas SLF-120 Electric and 22 articulated Citeas SLFA-180 Electric) for BVG (the public transport company for Amsterdam), with the option for 69 more. VDL is also responsible to supply fast-charging stations. The project should be completed in 2020.

The SLF-120 has 31 seats and is equipped with a 216 kWh battery, while the longer SLFA-180 has 47 seats and is equipped with 288 kWh battery. Both types will recharge using roof pantograph at Sloterdijk station with seven parallel stalls and overnight using 31 lower-power chargers at GVB’s Garage West location. Only green electricity is to be used for charging.

“From 2020 the electric Citeas will be in service on lines 15, 22 and 36, all with start and end points at Sloterdijk station. They will replace part of the current diesel fleet. The series of 31 electric buses consists of 9 Citeas SLF-120 Electric and 22 articulated Citeas SLFA-180 Electric. Both types of vehicle have a similar design and meet the requirements set by GVB for efficient bus operation in the city centre.”

President and Chairman of the Board Willem van der Leegte of VDL Groep said:

VDL Citea SLF-120 Electric for GVB

“We are very proud that through the delivery of our electric public transport buses we will contribute to further CO2 reduction in the city and thus a cleaner Amsterdam. GVB’s ambitions to provide electric service are perfectly aligned with those of VDL to make a significant contribution to the electrification of bus transport in the Netherlands. It is, of course, especially pleasing to be supplying electric buses to our capital city. This renewed cooperation with GVB symbolizes the mutual trust between our organizations.”

Alexandra van Huffelen, managing director GVB, said:

“This is the first step towards making our bus fleet more sustainable. I am proud that our first 31 electric buses from VDL will now be arriving. As an urban transport operator, taking this step means we are contributing to cleaner air in Amsterdam and the reduction of our own CO2 emissions. In the coming years we will replace our entire bus fleet, some 200 vehicles, with zero emission buses that we can use to transport our passengers comfortably and cleanly.”

Source: Electric Vehicle News

HERE’S A POTENTIAL HACK TO REDUCE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING TIME [VIDEO]

Electric vehicles aren’t as good as gas-burners – when it comes to performance, comfort and total cost of ownership, they’re far better. However, one area in which EVs still fall short is refueling time. Even at a Tesla Supercharger, you can expect to wait much longer than the couple of minutes it takes to jerk some dinosaur juice into a legacy rattler.

*This article comes to us courtesy of EVANNEX (which also makes aftermarket Tesla accessories). Authored by Charles Morris. The opinions expressed in these articles are not necessarily our own at InsideEVs.

Source: Zapinamo

Chargers with much higher power levels are already being installed in the US and Europe, but they’ll be playing a game of catch-up as the battery capacities of next-gen EVs increase. Furthermore, faster charging means more power consumption, and that often means expensive upgrades to a location’s electrical supply. What if there were some way to charge a vehicle faster without drawing more juice from the local service?

That’s the vision of EVSE manufacturer Zapinamo. The Coventry-based firm has developed a new charging system that uses battery storage to “power boost” a domestic electric grid connection and reduce charging time.

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Youtube: Knowledge Transfer Network

According to Zapinamo, a typical home charger adds 4 miles of charge in 30 minutes, whereas the company’s new Hubz unit can add 50 miles in 30 minutes.

The Hubz product range is a modular system, designed to expand its capabilities as typical charging power levels increase.

The Hubz base unit can use a “community energy model” to distribute energy among several chargers.

The Streethubz unit is designed for commercial depots, where its energy storage capability can boost charging rates without the need for costly substation upgrades.

Source: Zapinamo

The Parkhubz unit is ergonomically designed to fit into the corner of a parking spot, taking up a minimal amount of space.===Written by: Charles Morris. This article originally appeared in Charged. 

*Editor’s Note: EVANNEX, which also sells aftermarket gear for Teslas, has kindly allowed us to share some of its content with our readers, free of charge. Our thanks go out to EVANNEX. Check out the site here.

Source: Electric Vehicle News

Almost 3,000 in November alone in South Korea is a strong sign.

Awaiting the global sales results of the Hyundai Kona Electric, we take a look at the South Korean market, which in November brings us a new record of Kona Electric sales.

As it turns out, some 2,906 Kona Electric were sold (over 400 more than in October), which translates to more than 10,000 total sold since its introduction in May.

The sales increase in South Korea encourages us that on the global level Hyundai will set a new record, hopefully beyond 5,000 per month.

The Kona Electric accounted for more than half of total Kona sales (5,558) and 4.5% of total Hyundai car sales for the month of November in South Korea.

Hyundai Kona Electric sales – November 2018

Source: Electric Vehicle News

Nissan to present LEAF Nismo RC and IMx KURO

Nissan confirmed its presence at the upcoming 2019 CES in January with several EVs. The display is entitled “See the Invisible” 60 kWh LEAF and there is a chance that we will finally see the LEAF e-Plus as Nissan lists a “New vehicle introduction”.

The Japanese manufacturer will present the latest LEAF Nismo RC, which recently debuted in Japan, and the IMx KURO concept unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show (as a second version of the IMx from 2017 Tokyo Motor Show). There will be Nissan Energy demonstrations and more.

In January Infiniti intends to present a new electric crossover concept, however, that’s at the NAIAS in Detroit.

Source: Electric Vehicle News

The lineup is shaping up nicely.

Earlier this year, California-based Fly Free unveiled the first of three models in its Smarts electric urban motorcycles, the Desert. As you may have guessed, the  Desert draws inspiration from off-roading and is one of the most successful iterations of a scrambler out there. The brand has now officially unveiled its second model. What’s a good follow up to a scrambler? A café racer of course!

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Fly Free is all in on the retro trend and is not afraid of playing the stereotypes. The Smart Classic has the typical 50s café racer look with the flat tuck and roll saddle, the front and end cowls that round off the edges, as well as, of course, the clip ons. It shares the same tubular frame as the Desert which makes production easy and, hopefully, will keep the price appealing.

The company is clearly banking on great style rather than world-changing technology to gain momentum. Just like the Desert, the Smart Classic is fitted with a battery that offers a range of up to 50 miles, teamed with a 3000w motor capable of propelling the bike at up to 50 mph. An extra battery pack can be added to double the range.

The retro design clashes with modern technology with the integration of a big push start button on the “tank” and an blue-lit LCD speedometer gauge. The bike is also equipped with a USB outlet. Thanks to a variety of color schemes and accessories, the company claims it offers up to 80 possible combinations for a truly personalized look. Just like for the Desert, pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed by Fly Free for either models.

Maybe it will wait to have its full lineup out before talking numbers? The brand has one last model to unveil: the Smart Old. What silhouette might we expect? If the Desert and the Classic are any indications, we could possibly expect a classic bobber or maybe an early 20th Century look à la Harley? To be continued…

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Source: Fly Free

Source: Electric Vehicle News