Mercedes-Benz has opened a new plant capable of reclaiming 96% of the raw materials used in its electric car batteries. The new facility in Küppenheim, southern Germany, will recover materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel from existing electric car batteries so that they can be used in the production of brand-new cells. Mercedes’ process mechanically… Continue reading New Mercedes plant can recycle 96% of a battery’s raw materials
Author: Autocar Magazine UK
When F1 was full to bursting with terrible teams
Andretti is one of the world’s top motorsport firms, has attracted star technical staff, promises to bring along General Motors as its engine supplier and is prepared to stump up the $200 million entry fee – so naturally Formula 1’s response to its application has been ‘jog on’. It’s a situation that has stupefied outsiders,… Continue reading When F1 was full to bursting with terrible teams
Peugeot embraces futuristic design as rivals go retro
Hossann said: “What we are showing today, for example, with the Inception is that Peugeot is one of the oldest car brands in the world, in fact, but at the same time, we are really future- and forward-looking. “When we design a Peugeot as a team, we say ‘let’s really invent the future’, but at… Continue reading Peugeot embraces futuristic design as rivals go retro
Answered: the electric car questions you’ve been afraid to ask
Electric cars have been around since the 1830s. Sure, they might have disappeared for a bit, but they came back with avengence in the 2010s. A decade ago they were pretty much the reserve of the well-heeled environmentalist, but the electric car’s viability has skyrocketed because of huge gains in electric range, and serious cuts… Continue reading Answered: the electric car questions you’ve been afraid to ask
Mainstream car TV’s future is perilous in a way it hasn’t been before
And on that bombshell, Amazon’s motoring show has come to an end. Which means there’s no The Grand Tour or Top Gear to watch, nor a clear prospect of either returning, for the first time in yonks. There have been times we’ve been without either show in the past two decades, but this time feels… Continue reading Mainstream car TV’s future is perilous in a way it hasn’t been before
Ex-demo cars slash up to 54% off cost of new EVs
Dealers are offering discounts of more than 50% on ex-demonstrator electric cars as they battle slowing demand. The incentives mean that low-mileage examples of EVs such as the Nissan Leaf and Vauxhall Mokka Electric can be bought for less than their nearest petrol-powered equivalents with similar mileage. They are being offered in part to ensure the… Continue reading Ex-demo cars slash up to 54% off cost of new EVs
Why in-wheel motors are the next big thing for electric cars
In-wheel motors (IWMs) have been around since the world got serious about electric propulsion. GM’s Autonomy of 2002 concept was an FCEV with a skateboard chassis propelled by IWMs. GM had working demonstrators, including a Chevrolet S-10 pick-up with IWMs driving the rear wheels plus a single motor at the front. For the past 15… Continue reading Why in-wheel motors are the next big thing for electric cars
Alpine’s tri-motor tech to create ‘perceived lightness’ in heavy EVs
Alpine will use innovative power management software in its electric cars to ensure that a feeling of “perceived lightness” counteracts the added bulk of an EV powertrain and enables true sports car handling. The firm’s sole current model, the 1100kg A110, is one of the lightest cars in series production – a key component in… Continue reading Alpine’s tri-motor tech to create ‘perceived lightness’ in heavy EVs
Electric brand recognition pales in comparison with historic names
Covid, semiconductor chip shortages, the cost of living crisis, the threat of fines for failing to sell electric cars when the demand is not there: any one of these feels like a once-in-a-decade shock, yet the fact that these events have all come on top of each other has removed any semblance of normality in… Continue reading Electric brand recognition pales in comparison with historic names
Ferrari F80 succeeds LaFerrari with 1184bhp F1 V6 powertrain
All in, the powertrain sends a combined 1184bhp to all four wheels for a claimed 0-62mph in 2.15sec and 0-124mph in just 5.75sec. This trumps both the McLaren W1 and the Mercedes-AMG One. Different modes offer varying power levels, with Hybrid, Performance and Qualify selectable via the eManettino switch on the steering wheel. There is… Continue reading Ferrari F80 succeeds LaFerrari with 1184bhp F1 V6 powertrain