GreenCharge app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices for $9.99 – the average cost of charging an electric car for a week.

GreenCharge is a must-have utility for electric car owners and those considering one.

The app provides real time charging information by syncing directly with a compatible electric vehicle such as a Nissan LEAF or Chevrolet Volt. In addition, GreenCharge is the first and only app to connect driving data with local energy pricing to give personalized data about the cost of operating an electric car.

Electric car owners can also see the environmental impact of driving in terms of carbon offset. By providing this information, GreenCharge empowers EV owners and enthusiasts alike to better understand and communicate the advantages of electric vehicles.

With the GreenCharge app, users can:

- Seamlessly sync data from their Nissan LEAF or Chevrolet Volt
- Test out a demonstration vehicle to simulate driving and cost information if considering purchasing an electric car
- Get real time charging, battery, and range information for their electric cars
- See their daily, weekly, and monthly driving broken down by mileage and price
- Share their daily, weekly, and monthly driving information on Twitter and Facebook, or via email
- See how many pounds of CO2 emissions they have offset by driving an electric vehicle instead of a gasoline vehicle
- Compare savings from their electric vehicle to a traditional gasoline vehicle

For more information visit greenchargeapp.com.

The news gets even better as it was announced that the funding for the plug-in car grant has been secured until 2015.

To date, 892 grants have been applied for, covering the majority of the 1082 electric car registrations in 2011, taking just £5.26 million of the £250 million allocated for the consumer incentive.

The plug-in car grant offers 25% – up to £5,000 – off the price of an electric car. The grant for eligible vans totals 20 percent of the vehicle, up to the value of £8,000.

Both plug-in hybrid and full battery electric vans will be able to qualify.

Each van qualifying for the grant must emit less than 75g/km CO2, be capable of at least 60 miles between charges (10 miles in electric mode for hybrid vans), more than 50mph and to ensure safety and meet European Vehicle Type Approval standards.

Announcing the electric van grant, Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Electric vehicles are the arrowhead for a low-carbon revolution in motoring and as more models come to market, we’ll begin to see sales gather pace. Car buyers have had a year to take advantage of our grant and now it’s time for van buyers to get their chance to go electric. This is great news for businesses, given the lower running costs of these vehicles – fleet buyers tell us that this is one of the most important factors influencing their decision on what to buy. It is radical initiatives like these which will allow us to create a transport system that both cuts carbon and is an engine for economic growth.”

Since the launch of its electrical car line-up, PSA Peugeot Citroen has delivered nearly 4,000 electric cars and booked more than 6,000 orders.

PSA Peugeot Citroen was the first carmaker to introduce electric cars in Europe starting in late 2010, with the Peugeot iOn and the Citroen C-ZERO.

The Group’s EV line-up also includes two electric commercial vehicles, the Peugeot Partner Origin and Citroen Berlingo First, which were also brought to market in 2010.

Most initial sales were to B2B customers, with key accounts, multinationals, and national and local government authorities accounting for 90% of sales. The Group has implemented a number of mobility projects with companies that include General Electric, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Kone, Airbus, EDF, GDF Suez, Allianz, Europcar and ChoosEV.

A strong believer in the potential of electric mobility, PSA Peugeot Citroen is planning to extend its customer base to small and medium-size companies and early adopters attracted by the benefits of EVs.

The future of electrical cars also includes the development of solutions like the Mu by Peugeot personalized mobility offering and the Citroen Call Car rental service, which are based on a new vision of mobility.

The electric vehicle is a central tenet of the Group’s strategic commitment to addressing the environmental challenges facing carmakers, communities, businesses and private car owners.

The Group has introduced a number of technological solutions adapted to an array of customer needs and designed to drive powerful breakthroughs in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.

Both electric cars feature advanced lithium polymer battery packs, and the Naimo introduces an all-new and groundbreaking User Centered Driving (UCD) telematics concept which previews future possibilities in safety, media and entertainment in-vehicle technologies.

The UCD Concept, which can be seen as a fully working prototype on the Kia Naimo EV concept, represents the future of vehicle/occupant relationships. Featuring a “glass cockpit” style interface, UCD employs a digital “heads-up” display that replaces the traditional gauge cluster for information including speed, distance and battery life. The display also incorporates augmented reality features such as navigation directions or downloadable applications for parking to make driving an easier, more satisfying experience.

To improve screen visibility and accessibility, the UCD concept increases the touch-screen currently found on Kia’s UVO system from 4.3 inches to 12.3 inches with a resolution of 1280×480 for crystal clear images. This new, larger touch-screen also allows users to use multi-touch interactions such as “swipe” and “flick”.

The UCD concept also takes significant steps in safety, including the integration of the driver-status monitor and Color Night Vision (CNV). Utilizing an infra-red LED and camera to monitor the driver’s face, the system detects changes in eye movement and also recognizes whether the driver’s eyes are opened or closed, examining alertness and safeguarding against an accident caused by the driver falling asleep at the wheel. CNV – which builds off the previously developed black-and-white “Smart Night View” system that assists in identifying potential hazards during dusk or night time by combining two infra-red cameras, an infra-red lamp and a processor to offer a clearer picture of the road – has been enhanced for the UCD concept. Now using two infra-red lamps and a color infra-red camera, the integrated processor is able to distinguish pedestrians in the camera’s field of view, highlights them on the 12.3-inch touch-screen display and triggers a warning sound to alert the driver.

Kia Naimo Electric Vehicle Concept
Taking its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, (pronounced “Neh-mo,” meaning “square shape”), the Naimo EV concept was conceived by Kia’s international design team in Seoul, and is characterized principally by its simple lines and solid, muscular stance.

The third electric vehicle design to be unveiled by Kia Motors Corporation in a year, the 153.5-inch long Naimo concept explores the possibility of introducing a zero-emissions, five-door, four-seater city car into future markets.

The uncomplicated overall design is accentuated by a number of striking key details, including the wraparound windscreen and asymmetric sunroof design, and front and rear dot-style LED headlamps and positioning lamps.

Innovative technology features can be found throughout, giving the car a premium feel and ensuring the car’s exterior remains uncluttered. Naimo has no traditional wiper blade on the windscreen – instead employing a high-intensity air jet at the base of the windscreen that performs an “air wiper” function. Conventional door mirrors have also been replaced with miniature cameras installed in the A-pillars.

Power comes from a PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) electric motor with a maximum output of 107 horsepower and maximum 207 pound-feet of torque, enabling Naimo to reach a top speed of 93 mph. A twin-pack 27 kWh battery is located under the trunk floor and uses innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology that offers numerous advantages over other battery types. Equipped with this battery, Naimo provides a driving range of 124 miles on a single charge. To enhance range, Naimo is fitted with special low-drag 20-inch diameter alloy wheels.

Under the quick recharging cycle (50 kW) the Naimo’s battery can be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity within 25 minutes. Under the normal cycle (3.3 kW), 100 percent power is attained after five and a half hours.

Kia Ray Electric Car
Launched in December, the all-new Ray is the first EV in the world assembled on the same production lines as its regular combustion-engine sibling, and is built exclusively for the domestic Korean market.

Capable of a range up to 86 miles on a single charge, the Ray EV is powered by a 50kW electric motor and high-capacity 16.4 kWh lithium ion polymer battery pack engineered to be capable of a 10-year lifespan and packaged neatly under the rear seat and cabin floor, with the battery only needing six hours to be fully charged using a 220V outlet and just 25 minutes while in “fast charge” mode.

Though slightly heavier than the gasoline-powered Ray, the EV model’s 167 Nm of torque ensure ample power and responsive performance, with a top speed of up to 81 miles per hour. The automatic transmission offers drivers the choice of two modes – “E,” (eco), which optimizes the delivery of torque to achieve minimum battery consumption and maximum driving rage, or “B” (brake), which can be selected when driving downhill, on highways or on mountain roads to maximize braking power.

With the same striking exterior styling as its gasoline sibling, the Ray EV can be distinguished with four small enhancements. A flap in the front radiator grille covers an electricity inlet for a 220V power supply for the “slow charge” mode, while another inlet for the “fast charge” mode is fitted in the same location where the gas cap would be. Special decals can be found on each front door marking “Zero Emissions EV” while sleek 14-inch alloy wheels improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Inside, the Ray EV features a unique instrument cluster, displaying electric motor operation, battery status and distance to recharge. It also is equipped with the first-ever EV-specific navigation system that features a seven-inch screen and provides crucial information for EV drivers such as the nearest locations of slow/fast recharging stations. The display shows a circular-shaped area in which the vehicle can travel with its current level of battery power, so that drivers can see which destinations are reachable without a recharge.

Two-thirds of the executives surveyed believe that combined hybrid and electric-vehicle sales will account for as little as 6 percent of the market in the United States and Western Europe as late as 2025.

But a large majority believes the industry will continue putting larger investments into electric car technology — just in case.

Despite the relatively modest sales projections over the next 15 years, auto execs indicated that a wide range of technologies will be an increased focus for investment.

Over the next two years, 83 percent said that automakers will increase their investment in e-motor production; 81 percent said investment in battery technology will rise; 76 percent expect increased investment in power electronics for the cars; and 65 percent predict increased investment in hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hybrid, battery electric and fuel cell systems are expected to attract the most auto industry investment over the next five years.

Despite the focus on electric platforms, 61 percent of executives said that the optimization, or so-called “downsizing,” of internal combustion engines still offers greater efficiency and CO2 reduction potential than any electric vehicle technology, based on the current energy mix.

No clear-cut winner was identified among e-vehicles for consumer demand until 2025, with 20 percent identifying fuel cell electric vehicles, 16 per cent battery vehicles, 22 percent full hybrids, 21 percent plug-in hybrids, and 18 percent for range-extended electric vehicles.

The Conti.eContract will make its first appearance on the Renault Twizy next year and will be available in sizes 125/80R13 and 145/40R13 from this year.

Developed in co-operation with leading car manufacturers, Conti.eContact will also be available with a larger outer diameter, such as 195/55R20 instead of a traditional 205/55R16. The tyre has new dimensions to reduce rolling resistance. It is narrower than a standard tyre but has a larger outer diameter, which means it can carry the same load.

There is less material in the sidewall which enables more flexibility and ensures that less energy is lost, again helping with rolling resistance.

Tyre noise has been reduced by having a high number of lateral sipes and no lateral grooves.
Continental has also created a ‘BLUECO’ label which will be used to identify its electric vehicles tyres.

Continental is anticipating a big increase in global demand with electric vehicle registrations predicted to increase to 1.5 million in 2016 and 2.8 million in 2020.

Twenty one electric car sites, branded Z.E. Expert, are now live and ready to offer the full range of sales and after-sales services for Renault’s electric car customers, with each one having benefited from a comprehensive sales staff training, site upgrade and infrastructure program.

Each dealership will be able to handle potential EV customer questions, as well as offer advice on making the most of the benefits of running one, including the essential environmental and financial factors to take into account. Trained Z.E. sales specialists, a minimum of two per showroom, will also be on hand to guide interested private and business customers through funding and charging options, as well as battery hire plans to allay any potential concerns over powertrain replacement costs and performance.

All Z.E. Expert sites have a Kangoo Van Z.E. demonstrator, so that members of the public can experience for themselves the smooth, silent and serene feeling of driving an electric car.

On the service side, workshop staff at each site – a service manager and two technicians – have undergone specialist training so that they can address the demands of the new technology and become familiar with the new tools they have been provided with. The dealerships have also purchased specialist ramps and equipment to deal with the service and maintenance of its electric cars, which attract no benefit-in-kind taxation and 100% capital write-down allowance in the first year, as well as being Congestion Charge and VED exempt.

Additionally, Z.E Expert dealers have invested substantially in three new Chargemaster charging points with UK preferred partner, British Gas – one each for the workshop, demonstrator area and car park. The charging point in the car park will be accessible for all customers to use. There will also be a dummy domestic charging point in the showroom to provide demonstrations to customers.

Commenting on the launch of the first set of Renault Z.E. Expert sites, Thierry Sybord, Managing Director, Renault UK, said, “I’m delighted to see so many of our dealers embracing this new era of electric transport. With a full range of four fully-electric models set to launch in the UK in less than one year, we have high hopes for our Z.E. range. I’m sure our Z.E. Expert dealers will reap the rewards on both sales and after-sales and we look forward to charging ahead with them in the months and years ahead as we seek to attract as many electric car buyers as possible.”

Supporting the on-site facilities, Renault has launched a series of other resources to help would-be-EV drivers become fully au-fait with the facts of living with a Z.E. product. Among them are expert Z.E. Live text chat or one-way video, including video guides via www.renault-ze.com, plus a UK freephone service on 08000 72 33 72.

All Renault dealers outside of the 21 specialists have been given a Z.E. induction and will also be able to handle enquiries and refer customers to a suitable member of the Z.E. Expert dealer network.

Its aim is to share the ZE experience with all visitors, in order to convince them of the credibility of Renault’s offering and the relevance of its ambitions in electric cars.

The Renault ZE center is based on the concept of a customer journey: reception; briefing on the electric vehicle ecosystem (comprising the car, battery, charging infrastructure and new services); an educational tour of the showroom; an opportunity to test drive Kangoo ZE, Fluence ZE and Twizy on a test track dedicated to electric cars on Ile Seguin; and last, a discussion session, enabling ZE advisors to take account of customer feedback.

From January 2012, the Center will be open to the general public and to the Renault sales network, which will be able to book test drives online, by phone or directly at the Center’s reception desk.

Aptera Motors CEO Paul Wilbur said in a statement that the company had gained conditional approval for a $150 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, but it was unable to raise the $80 million in private investment needed to close that financing for its first product, a mid-sized sedan.

Wilbur said the company had abandoned work on the 2e and was instead pursuing a more conventional midsize four-door sedan capable of carrying five people. Design studies and test mules were built, he said.

Here is his statement in full:

After years of focused effort to bring our products to the market, Aptera Motors is closing its doors, effective today. This is a difficult time for everyone connected with our company because we have never been closer to realizing our vision. Unfortunately, though, we are out of resources.

The ATVM loan would have provided funding for the development and commercialization of a five-passenger, midsized sedan (similar to a Toyota Camry) that would be base priced at less than $30,000 and deliver more than a 190 mile per gallon equivalent. The concept of this vehicle had been in place since the very beginning of Aptera, and we had been wholly focused on its development for the last year. The last remaining hurdle was finding new funds to match the DOE loan.

We were so optimistic that the company would move forward that we were in discussions to reactivate a mothballed automotive plant in Moraine, Ohio. In the past months we had engaged with the labor union that operated that facility to discuss the hiring of 1,400 new job opportunities. These jobs would have reactivated talented workers who had been dismissed when the facility was closed.

We were well on the way to satisfying the vision of efficiency on which the company was founded and we are confident that with time and capital we could still achieve our goal. The Aptera formula: aerodynamics plus light weight design (through composites) delivered efficiency of 206 EPA miles per gallon in tests at Argonne National Labs. That wasn’t a simulation; it was real measured performance. Despite that promise of efficiency, this challenged market – specifically large private investors – did not have an appetite to lead an investment for the perceived low volume return of our three-wheeled vehicle. So we reprioritized our product plan to four-door sedans, which also cost us time.

Paul Wilbur
President and CEO
Aptera Motors

The newly-developed quick charging unit retains the high performance of the current quick charger manufactured by Nissan, but is nearly half the size (by volume). It offers many safety features for safe charging, such as monitoring against a potential short circuit when the charging unit is interfacing with the EV. It complies with CHAdeMO protocol and is compatible with Nissan EVs as well as EVs manufactured by other companies. The new charger unit’s smaller size will take up less space and enable easier installation.

Thanks to the adoption of new electric circuit technology and by harnessing technology used in Nissan manufacturing and R&D, the new unit features a simple and efficient design that costs 598,500 yen including tax ($7,728 at current exchange rates) for the base grade, which is below half the price of the current unit, but maintains the overall level of quality. Moreover, customers can apply to a government incentive system for charging units to be reimbursed for approximately half the cost (without tax) of a unit. The actual cost is would then be upwards of a very affordable 318,500 yen ($4,112 at current exchange rates).

The company plans to install the new charging units at about 400 of its dealerships nationwide by the end of fiscal year 2011 (March 2012), which will be double the number of units which have already been installed.

Specifications