Alex Grant
Chargemaster to acquire Elektromotive for £8.5m
The acquisition will form one of Europe’s largest joint charging networks, with Elektromotive’s strong sales bases in Belgium and Ireland complementing Chargemaster’s coverage in France, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Elektromotive has 15 … Read More »
Endesa begins 12-month SEAT EV trial
The battery-electric Altea XL Electric Ecomotive and plug-in hybrid Leon TwinDrive will be used by eight participating drivers, each for three months, with SEAT noting feedback to inform the development of a mass-production electric … Read More »
Holden Volt helps Telstra improve its fleet efficiency
The cars will be the first time Telstra has had plug-in vehicles on its fleet, and all are wrapped in environmentally-friendly decals made with latex inks and vinyl. National manager of Telstra fleet, Brendan … Read More »
Fisker to open Technical Centre in Midwest
The centre will be located close to key component suppliers and technical expertise, as well as bringing the company closer to its planned production facility in Delaware, where the Atlantic is likely to be … Read More »
Stakeholders meet in Brussels to discuss EV component standardisation
Held in Brussels, the meeting pulled together technical experts from the automotive industry, government and stakeholders in the electromobility market. Discussions centred on setting priorities for which systems should be standardised first to avoid … Read More »
US Volt owners cover 65% of mileage on electricity
The data is collected in real-time via the Volt’s built-in OnStar telematics system and shown as a live counter Chevrolet’s website. This reveals that an average owner spends 65% of their time travelling with … Read More »
Asian markets to lead fuel cell adoption
Industry analysts Frost and Sullivan studied the market for fuel cell electric vehicles in 2011, and said Japanese and South Korean manufacturers were readying the technology for commercial release. By 2020, fuel cell vehicles … Read More »
First Drive: Toyota Auris Hybrid
So while there are few clues alluding to it, most of the platform and drivetrain are left unchanged here. Toyota got running costs, practicality and reliability right the first time. Instead, the new Auris … Read More »
Renault launches Twizy sharing service in France
Open on weekdays between midday and 7pm, the store will allow customers to subscribe to the service and collect their badge. Designed to be as flexible as possible, the shared vehicles can be left … Read More »
GM adds Spark to electric vehicle market
Unveiled at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, the Spark EV uses a GM-developed 130bhp electric motor and lithium ion battery pack designed based on knowledge gained from the Volt. It will also be … Read More »
Tesla to establish European fleet team
Developed entirely in-house, the Model S offers performance on par with large executive sports saloons and a choice of three battery options offering ranges of up to 500km. Importation costs will lift prices higher … Read More »
GM announces ambitious electromobility plans
Mary Barra, senior vice president of global product development told media attending the GM Electrification Experience in San Francisco: ‘The plug-in offers a unique opportunity to change the way people commute/ Plug-based solutions will … Read More »
Ampera reaches 2,000 European fleet orders
Some fleets have ordered up to 20 vehicles, the manufacturers claim, with many including the Ampera in choice lists alongside conventional petrol and diesel models. The Association of Car Fleet Operators has also named … Read More »
Fisker reports first UK sale for Karma EV
Fisker Europe is based in Munich and began deliveries in February, with all European-market Karmas built in Finland by contract manufacturer Valmet. Customers in France, Italy and Germany have all had cars delivered, while … Read More »
Less weight, more choice for 2013 LEAF
The upgrades are available on Japanese-market LEAFs at the moment, bringing the model line-up to three trim levels. Leather upholstery, new alloy wheels and Nissan's Around View Monitor camera-based parking assistance system have all … Read More »
Chevrolet Volt batteries could get second life
The demonstration unit used five Volt batteries to provide power to lighting and audiovisual equipment during the carmaker’s Electrification Experience. Units such as this are claimed to be able to supply three to five … Read More »
First Drive: BMW ActiveHybrid 7
BMW had a go at introducing a 7 Series Hybrid a few years ago, based on the 4.4-litre V8 from the 750i. It was a technological first for the carmaker, and very powerful too. … Read More »
Fiat reveals electric 500
The 500e uses a 111bhp battery-electric drivetrain which can be charged in under four hours to offer an 80-mile estimated range, rising to 110 miles in town. Fiat has used a revised chassis setup … Read More »
Jetta Hybrid hints at European plug-in Golf
The Jetta Hybrid is the first North American market vehicle to use the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, which combined with its electric motor offers a combined 170bhp and 184lb.ft. It can be driven on … Read More »
