Electric vehicles – Page 9300 – I wish I had more to offer

Audi in November: Deliveries remain down on last year due to exceptional situation

Global deliveries of the Four Rings in November fell by 16.7 percent year-on-year to around 132,650 automobiles. In Europe, extraordinary effects due to the switch to the WLTP test cycle along with the challenging phase-in and phase-out scenario as part of the Audi model initiative continue to affect sales. As a result, the company delivered… Continue reading Audi in November: Deliveries remain down on last year due to exceptional situation

Real life safety: the Mercedes-Benz EQC and safety: Proven to be safe – the new Mercedes-Benz EQC

11.

December 2018

Stuttgart

combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures [1]Stuttgart. The new Mercedes-Benz EQC (combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures)[1] is also a genuine Mercedes when it comes to passive safety. In addition to the usual, extensive programme of crash tests, the brand applies stringent safety standards to the battery and all component parts carrying electrical current. In many cases these standards exceed legal requirements.
Mercedes-Benz's extensive experience of high-voltage drive systems has led to a special safety concept. The EQC's accident safety was validated at the Mercedes-Benz technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS), the most advanced crash test centre in the world. Here vehicles, including prototypes with large electric batteries, have been tested under harsh crash conditions. The result is a whole array of constructive measures which deliver the EQC's high level of crash safety:
A new subframe surrounds the drive components located in the front section, and this unit is supported by the usual mounting points. The battery is surrounded by a robust frame with an integral crash structure. Deformation elements are installed between the frame and the battery, and these are able to absorb additional forces in the event of a severe side impact. A battery guard in the front area of the battery is able to prevent the energy storage unit from being pierced by foreign objects. The high-voltage system can also be shut down automatically in a crash, depending on its severity. A distinction is made between a reversible and an irreversible cut-off. When it is shut down the voltage in the high-voltage system outside of the battery reduces to below the safety-relevant voltage limit in a very short time. Another feature of the comprehensive high-voltage safety concept is that the charging process is automatically curtailed if an impact is detected when stationary at a quick-charging station (DC charging). There are also shutdown points where emergency teams can deactivate the high-voltage system manually. In addition to assessing the occupant values during a crash, the battery's accident safety was also tested at the development centre of Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, a wholly-owned Daimler subsidiary. Test criteria included the battery's behaviour under impact and when penetrated by foreign bodies, with overheating and overloading also simulated. Beyond the structural safety and the battery protection concept, the model's specially adapted restraint systems are particularly important for the occupants in the event of an accident.
Three-point seat belts with pyrotechnical belt tensioners and belt force limiters are installed for the driver, front passenger and passengers on the outer rear seats (normal three-point seat belt in the centre at the rear). i-Size (Europe) and ISOFIX (other countries) child seat attachment points for securely attaching appropriate child seats on the outer rear seats Window airbags in the roof area between the A, B and C-pillars for the head area of the driver, front passenger and passengers on the outer rear seats Combined thorax/pelvis side impact airbags for driver and front passenger. Additional optional side impact airbags for the outer rear seats. Airbags for driver and front passenger in the event of a severe frontal impact, with dual-stage, time-delayed deployment on the passenger side Knee airbag for the driver Numerous measures help to ensure that when Mercedes-Benz vehicles suffer an accident, consequential damage is reduced and rescue of the occupants is assisted. As soon as a protective system (e.g. belt tensioner and airbag) is triggered, an emergency call or a service call is made or a breakdown is detected, the following measures can be initiated depending on the accident type and severity:
Automatic activation of Mercedes-Benz emergency call to notify emergency services of the location and emergency situation and initiate rescue. Shutdown of the high-voltage system Activation of the hazard warning system to warn other road users Interior lighting switched on Front side windows lowered for ventilation in the event of airbag deployment Central locking system unlocked Lifting of the electrically adjustable steering column Notification of a detected breakdown or accident situation to Car-to-X communication and to the Mercedes-Benz service centre A rescue sticker provides a direct link to the vehicle's rescue data sheet. Corresponding stickers are affixed to the charging flap and to the opposite B-pillar of the vehicle for this purpose. In the aftermath of an accident, rescue services can scan the QR code with a smartphone or tablet PC for fast and reliable access to the rescue data sheet for the specific vehicle concerned, thus facilitating rescue operations. Alongside the rescue data sheets, the Rescue Assist App for smartphones and tablets also has three-dimensional views of the vehicle – now also offline in case there is no mobile network available at the accident scene. Video impressions from the EQC's crash testing can be found here.
[1] Figures for power consumption and CO2 emissions are provisional and were determined by the Technical Service. The range figures are also provisional. EC type approval and a certificate of conformity with official figures are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.

Press Contact

Sarah Widmann

Intelligent Drive & Passive Safety

sarah.widmann@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-97729

Fax: +49 711 17-79094388

Wolfgang Würth

Manager Communications EQ

wolfgang.wuerth@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-46508

Fax: +49 711 17-79016071

Koert Groeneveld

Head of International Product & Technology Communications

koert.groeneveld@daimler.com

Tel: +49 711 17-92311

Fax: +49 711 17-94365

Press Contact Overview

Media

Download

Pictures (14)

Videos (2)

Documents (1)

Media Contact (3)

Filter

Show thumbnails
Show list
Slideshow

Zoom

Preview

Details

Do you really want to delete the data record?

Please wait a moment …

18C1051_001

18C1051_003

18C1051_002

18C1051_004

18C1051_005

18C1051_006

18C1051_007

18C1051_008

18C1051_009

18C1051_010

18C1051_013

18C1051_011

18C1051_012

18C1051_014

UPDATE 2-China car sales drop at steepest pace in almost seven years

* Nov car sales drop 13.9 pct y/y; NEV sales up 37.6 pct * Fifth straight monthly drop, steepest since 2012 * 2018 FY sales set to drop 3 pct – industry body * Industry going through a painful period – official (Adds officials’ comments, graphic, sales forecasts) By Yilei Sun and Adam Jourdan BEIJING/SHANGHAI,… Continue reading UPDATE 2-China car sales drop at steepest pace in almost seven years

Toyota Prius AWD-e: Going light on the rear motor helps it hit 50 mpg

Follow Bengt

Add to circle

2019 Toyota Prius
The all-wheel drive version of the Toyota Prius introduced last week at the LA Auto Show earns an astoundingly good EPA fuel economy rating of 50 mpg combined—nearly as good as the 52 mpg earned by much of the Prius lineup (LE, XLE and Limited).

But the system isn’t nearly as capable as the one you might encounter in Toyota’s utility vehicles, such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid or Highlander Hybrid, because its all-wheel drive system was conceived for getting out of snowy driveways, not necessarily for hauling the family up the mountain for a ski weekend.

DON’T MISS: 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid aims for 50 mpg—Prius tech meets frugal mainstream

The layout of the system—which adds a tiny 7-hp (5.3-kw) electric motor that can deliver 41 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels—and the rationale behind it is mostly carried over from the Prius E-four, a model that has been sold in Japan for many years.

As Prius chief engineer Shoichi Kaneko explained to us last week at the LA Auto Show, it snows a lot in Japan. For snowy roads, front-wheel-drive vehicles have the hardest time with launch on an incline. So the first priority was to support a confident launch in stop-and-go traffic, uphill, on slippery roads.

In the Prius AWD-e, as with the E-four, the motor powers the rear wheels at up to 6 mph to help with launch, and it pitches in when needed at up to 43 mph.

CHECK OUT: 2019 Toyota Prius AWD-e priced at $27,300

Maintaining that 50-mpg mileage was a priority. Kaneko underscored that if you make it more of a full-time system, the amount of energy consumption increases. After going through some thorough optimization tests, Toyota found that the Prius got the best all-around efficiency by going with a lightweight, magnet-less (wound) motor—claimed to be a Toyota first—and skipping regeneration from the back wheels entirely.

2019 Toyota Prius

The benefits of having a true “coast mode” for the rear motor when it wasn’t being used outweighed any brake-regeneration gains that might have potentially been made with a rear permanent-magnet motor, Kaneko said.

For its U.S. rollout, it’s been reassessed and revamped to include new controls and Toyota’s latest version of its hybrid system.

READ MORE: Toyota Prius AWD-e earns 50 mpg with all-weather treads

Toyota has no plans to offer the AWD-e system on the Prius Prime, said Kaneko. Although when asked about the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, which uses Toyota’s hybrid transmission, fitted to a fully capable, even off-road capable all-wheel-drive system, Kaneko said that it reflects Subaru’s development priorities—and some efficiency decisions Toyota wouldn’t have made.

But with Toyota continuing its work on electric vehicles, it’s likely that the automaker soon will find a way to show that full-time all-wheel drive and top efficiency aren’t mutually exclusive.

SoftBank invests in parking startup ParkJockey pushing valuation to $1 billion

SoftBank continues to invest in the future of transportation — this time in ParkJockey, a startup that has built a technology platform aimed at monetizing parking lots. And ParkJockey, which was founded in 2013, is already using that capital to scale up. Along with the SoftBank investment news, ParkJockey also announced that it was acquiring two… Continue reading SoftBank invests in parking startup ParkJockey pushing valuation to $1 billion

BATTERY SWAP

Pubblicato il 10 December 2018 Picchio has developed a battery swap station that takes about 2 minutes to replace the battery, which is even lower than a normal refueling.The station does not use significant electrical power, it can be connected to photovoltaic systems and it can constitute an accumulation point for bidirectional energy exchanges for… Continue reading BATTERY SWAP

The BMW iFE.18 drivetrain: Unprecedented teamwork between motorsport and production development.

Munich. On 15th December, the new BMW iFE.18 and the BMW i Andretti Motorsport Team will contest their first race in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in Ad Diriyah (KSA). At the heart of the car, which was developed for Season 5, lies the drivetrain: The Racing eDrive01. It brings together the pioneering spirit,… Continue reading The BMW iFE.18 drivetrain: Unprecedented teamwork between motorsport and production development.

Musk suggests Tesla’s new chairwoman won’t rein him in

Musk suggests Tesla’s new chairwoman won’t rein him inNew York – Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissed the idea that the company’s new chairwoman can exert control over his behavior.
Robyn Denholm, an Australian telecommunications executive, was appointed chairwoman of Tesla’s board last month, replacing Musk as part of as part of a securities fraud settlement with U.S. government regulators.
But Musk said “it’s not realistic” to expect Denholm to watch over his actions because he remains the electric car company’s largest shareholder.
“It’s not realistic in the sense that I am the largest shareholder in the company,” Musk said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” broadcast Sunday evening. “I can just call for a shareholder vote and get anything done that I want.”
Musk, who owns about 20 percent of Tesla, gave up the chairman role under a settlement with the Securities Exchange Commission, which had charged the CEO with misleading investors in August with a tweet that said he had “funding secured” for taking the company private.
The SEC settlement also required the company to vet Musk’s tweets and other comments about the company before they are released to the public. Musk also shrugged off that provision, saying none of his tweets have been censored so far and the company does not review his posts to determine beforehand whether they could potentially affect the company’s stock price.
“I guess we might make some mistakes. Who knows?” Musk said.
Musk said he does not respect the SEC, but when asked if he would obey the settlement, he said: “Because I respect the justice system.”
Denholm’s appointment in November drew a mixed response from corporate governance experts, who praised her financial expertise but questioned her ability to carve out an independent path for a board that has been dominated by Musk.
Denholm has been on Tesla’s board for five years. She is the chief financial officer and strategy head at Telstra Corp. Ltd., Australia’s largest telecommunications company, but will step down from that company after a six-month notice period and work at Tesla full-time.
Musk told “60 Minutes” interviewer Lesley Stahl that he had hand-picked Denholm.
The SEC settlement would allow Musk to return as chairman after three years, subject to shareholder approval. Musk said he would not be interested.
“I actually prefer to have no titles at all,” Musk said.
Amid its CEO’s erratic behavior, Tesla delivered on promises to accelerate production of its pivotal Model 3 sedan, progress seen as essential to the company’s ability to repay $1.3 billion in debt due within the next six months.
The company also fulfilled a pledge to make money during the third quarter, and Musk has said he expects the company to remain profitable. He said Tesla would consider buying any plant that rival GM closes as part of a restructuring plan that could cost up to 14,000 jobs.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2018/12/10/elon-musk-new-tesla-chairwoman/38708891/

Electric cars could spell end of front-wheel drive, VW exec says

Volkswagen ID Crozz concept
First it was Tesla, now Volkswagen.

Ever since British designer and engineer Alec Issigonis developed the original Mini Cooper for 1959, front-wheel-drive vehicles have been consolidating their hegemony on the car market.

Volkswagen itself was one of the main champions of front-wheel drive when it switched from the rear-wheel-drive Beetle to the front-wheel-drive Golf as its mainstream car in the 1970s.

DON'T MISS: Volkswagen details the foundation for 10 million electric vehicles

As it begins its transition to electric cars, Volkswagen's head of e-mobility in North America, Matthew Renna, said at a round-table discussion with journalists at the LA auto show last month that electric cars will mark the end of FWD, according to a report in Motor Trend.

Not that a front-wheel-drive electric car is inherently bad. Most electric cars today are FWD, including the VW e-Golf and the Nissan Leaf.

The advantages of FWD for gas cars included better space efficiency, less weight, lower cost, and better foul-weather traction with the weight of the engine over the drive wheels.

READ THIS: VW’s new U.S. CEO: The tipping point on EVs is already here

The relatively small motor in an electric car doesn't bring such a space or cost penalty and is easy to mount in the front or back or both for all-wheel drive. With AWD, electric motors give automakers more direct control of power or brake torque at individual wheels, which can be even more effective for snow or ice traction than focusing weight on one end of the car or the other.

With no compelling reason to put the motor in the front of the car and drive the front wheels, Renna said, “With the improved dynamics of rear-wheel drive, that lends itself to being a bit better for a rear-drive platform. If it's the same efficiency and the same cost, dynamics would prevail.”

CHECK OUT: Track Mode released to make more of Tesla Model 3 Performance

Furthermore, in an electric car with relatively even weight distribution (because it doesn't have a heavy engine hanging off one end or the other), the rear is where you want power to go, because that's where the body weight transfers when the driver accelerates.

The other reality is that in an electric car, batteries are the most expensive component, not motors. Adding a second motor up front to deliver all-wheel drive is likely to make all-wheel-drive cars more affordable than ever before.

Tesla patent application: GPS should be more precise with cameras and cars

Tesla wants with cameras, image recognition and the data of other cars as a reference the positioning accuracy of the Global Positioning System for autonomous driving. December 10, 2018, 9:20 am, Andreas Donath Tesla dashboard (Image: Stephen Pace/CC-BY 2.0) Where am I? Autonomous cars want to know this very well, but with conventional GPS data,… Continue reading Tesla patent application: GPS should be more precise with cameras and cars