How Mate Rimac is supercharging electric cars

Not for nothing is Mate Rimac sometimes called “Europe’s Elon Musk”. Both run groundbreaking electric carmakers that have claimed speed records and won plaudits. Both have unconventional manufacturing locations — Tesla in California, Rimac Automobili on the outskirts of Zagreb in Croatia. When Tesla launched its first car, the Roadster, in 2008, Elon Musk was… Continue reading How Mate Rimac is supercharging electric cars

Limited edition cars named after F1 drivers – Part 2

Top 5 / Top 10 11   //    21 Nov 2018, 10:31 IST SHARE Share Options × Facebook Twitter Flipboard Reddit Google+ Email Fittipaldi EF7 Vision Gran Turismo Part 1 of the two-part series on the list of limited edition cars named after Formula one drivers featured 5 cars : [1] Sir Jack Brabham Holden… Continue reading Limited edition cars named after F1 drivers – Part 2

VinFast unveils prices for first car models

Its five-seat sedan Lux A2.0 and seven-seat SUV Lux SA 2.0, which had already been revealed to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show last month, cost VND800 million ($34,305) and VND1.136 billion ($48,709) respectively. The smaller hatchback Fadil, presented for the very first time, costs VND336 million ($14,410). These prices… Continue reading VinFast unveils prices for first car models

VinFast car prices fail to convince Vietnamese consumers

VinFast presented three models and their prices at its maiden show in Hanoi Tuesday afternoon. Its five-seat sedan Lux A2.0 and seven-seat SUV Lux SA 2.0, which had already been revealed to the public for the first time at the Paris Motor Show last month, cost VND800 million ($34,305) and VND1.136 billion ($48,709) respectively. The… Continue reading VinFast car prices fail to convince Vietnamese consumers

Nedcar drink and drugs test results ‘a reflection of society at large’

A production line at the Nedcar car plant in 2015 Random drink and drugs tests at the VDL Nedcar plant in Limburg resulted in a high proportion of positive tests, local broadcaster L1 said on Friday. Some 300 of the 7,000-strong workforce were tested 150 were found to have traces of alcohol and/or drugs in… Continue reading Nedcar drink and drugs test results ‘a reflection of society at large’

Heliox To Build Charging Infrastructure For EV Buses In Oslo

5 H BY MARK KANE Heliox to supply 9.8 MW infrastructure to charge buses in Oslo. Heliox received another big order for the electric bus charging infrastructure in Europe. This time it’s from Oslo, Norway, which next summer will have 115 electric buses, including 76 articulated. The company will supply the charging system fa or fleet… Continue reading Heliox To Build Charging Infrastructure For EV Buses In Oslo

The rebirth of Italdesign: £1.5m Zerouno hypercar driven

True, it was Italdesign that created, in the original Golf, the car that saved VW, but this prolific company has also produced any number of landmark Fiats including the Panda, Uno and Punto, as well as beautiful Alfa Romeos, Maseratis, the BMW M1, the Lotus Esprit and countless concept cars, many of them highly influential.… Continue reading The rebirth of Italdesign: £1.5m Zerouno hypercar driven

Austria to let drivers of electric cars go faster

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2019 Jaguar I-Pace S
Austria is offering would-be electric-car owners (and current ones) a tempting incentive to go tailpipe-emissions-free: permission to drive faster than those with gasoline, diesel, or hybrid vehicles.

Under a recently approved amendment to the country’s speed limits, aimed at rewarding those who choose electric vehicles, they will be given a legal exemption. Owners of EVs will be allowed to go 81 mph (130 km/h), versus 62 mph (100 km/h), in a particular speed region that includes 273 miles (440 km) of roadways.

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Electric vehicles currently comprise 2.5 percent of new-vehicle registrations in Austria; that’s more than Germany, according to Austria’s Federal Ministry of Transport. The Jaguar I-Pace, the first long-range electric vehicle from an established luxury brand, is built in Graz, Austria.

Although the idea would likely result in more shoppers making the leap to fully electric vehicles, it’s not without some concerns—and tradeoffs.

CHECK OUT: Germany, Austria electric-car charging networks improve, fast

Higher speeds and wider speed differentials generally correspond to higher highway fatality rates; and the vehicles themselves won’t be as efficient and will, as a result, contribute to more upstream emissions.

Highway Lights from Drive Change consumer survey

In 1996, an EPA memo cited data finding that just increasing urban interstates from 55 to 65 would produce a net increase in vehicle emissions of 20.7 percent more carbon monoxide and 1.3 percent more nitrogen oxides.

Anecdotally, the efficiency and range of most of the electric vehicles Green Car Reports has driven has been significantly lower at 80 mph than at 60 mph. So electric-car drivers who take advantage of the higher speed limits won't be able to do it for as long.

READ MORE: Teslas will start paying to drive in L.A.'s “Lexus lanes”

Allowing electric vehicles to drive faster on the highway might also put more pressure on DC fast-charging network infrastructure, because they'll need to charge more often.

The new policy, which so far lacks an enforcement strategy, also encourages cities and municipalities to provide free parking to electric vehicles.

The move is in accord with the EU’s 2030 climate targets and the Paris Climate Agreement, with aims to cut Austria’s transport-sector carbon-dioxide emissions by 7.9 million U.S. tons.

Magna Invests in Advanced Motion-control Software by Acquiring Haptronik GmbH

“Haptronik develops algorithms to enhance the control and feel of power systemsCutting-edge technology will strengthen Magna’s leadership in mechatronicsDeal will help Magna take power doors and liftgates to new levels of excellenceAURORA, Ontario, Oct. 25, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Drivers and passengers will enjoy a more intuitive experience thanks to technology which relies on motion… Continue reading Magna Invests in Advanced Motion-control Software by Acquiring Haptronik GmbH

BMW Group enlists KPIT and TTTech as software development partners for autonomous driving. Strong partnerships serve as enablers for Autonomous Driving Platform.

In teaming up with KPIT and TTTech, the BMW Group has chosen software partners with a global footprint and proven expertise in the development of both software platforms and autonomous driving technologies. The partners will be able to assist with rolling out the software stack within the Autonomous Driving Platform to third parties, thereby facilitating… Continue reading BMW Group enlists KPIT and TTTech as software development partners for autonomous driving. Strong partnerships serve as enablers for Autonomous Driving Platform.