The RAD e bike is aimed primarily at urban people at a time when e-bikes are predicted to play an increasing role in future integrated urban transport concepts.

It follows Opel’s design philosophy “sculptural artistry meets German precision” and incorporates boomerang design cues that also appear in the award-winning Ampera and the RAK e experimental electric vehicle.

The RAD e name takes its inspiration from “Rad”- the German word for bicycle and wheel.q

It is the first e-bike concept to be designed around automotive manufacturing mass production methods. The RAD e’s pedelec propulsion system is based on a state-of-the art 250 watt electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. At an average speed of 20 kilometers an hour (12 mph) and depending on the electric assist and terrain, the e-bike achieves an electrically supported range of between 60 and 145 kilometers (37 to 90 miles).

In a maximum time of two-and-a-half hours, the battery can be fully charged. The e-bike can also be transported on Opel’s unique FlexFix bicycle carrier and be charged while driving.

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Developed by Tata’s design centers in India, Italy and the UK, the Megapixel is the evolution of last year’s Pixel concept and represents the company’s future design direction.

Tata Megapixe uses four wheel-mounted 10 kW electric motors which can deliver a maximum of 369 pound-feet of torque, with a 13kW lithium-ion battery pack providing the juice. A 325cc single-cylinder gasoline range-extending engine generates 22 kW while charging the lithium ion phosphate battery. The result is a theoretical of 900 km (560 miles) and an electric-only range of 87 km (54 miles).

The Megapixel uses what Tata describes as a ‘Zero Turn’ drive system. The car’s electric drive has four independent electric motors, one at each wheel. When parking, the electric hub motors drive the wheels in opposite directions, while the front wheels are turned at an acute angle, enabling an exceptional 2.8 metre turning radius. The at-home charging system is an innovative induction charging system. The car has simply to be parked over the induction pad for charging to begin.

The innovative features don’t stop there. A double-sliding door system and the car’s B-pillar-less design make entry / exit easy, besides enabling superb visibility. The battery layout and hub motors maximize the interior package.

Tata says there is plenty of space for four adults and their luggage, too.

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With its range of around 130 km (81 miles), the Vito E-Cell crewbus is optimized for deployment on short routes involving numerous stops.

The electric motor (60 kW; max. torque 280 Nm), power electronics, transformer and AC/DC charger are accommodated under the bonnet. The generated power is transmitted to the front wheels. The powerful and robust lithium-ion traction batteries are accommodated under the passenger compartment floor.

The nominal voltage stands at 360 V, with a capacity of 36 kWh. The speed is electronically limited to 89 km/h (55 mph) in the interests of a range of 130 km (New European Driving Cycle, NEDC).

The Vito E-CELL crewbus is well able to hold its own in city traffic with the available battery power. Acceleration from 0 to 50/80 km/h in 6.5/11 seconds ensures that it is a swift mover at all times.

The Vito E-CELL’s batteries are charged from the 380/400 V grid in a maximum of five hours. Charging from the 230 V grid is subsequently possible as necessary. The battery additionally stores recuperated power while the vehicle is in motion.

The Vito E-CELL does not compromise on safety: ESP and driver’s airbag come as standard and a safety belt is integrated in each seat. The batteries are protected by a crash element. In the event of airbag activation, the high-voltage technology will be shut down automatically. The Vito E-CELL has demonstrated its high safety standard in an impressive manner in crash tests.

After its first year in service with customers, the Vito E-CELL has proven its credentials as an ideal vehicle for urban traffic. In all, 230 Vito E-CELL vans are now on the road as part of the promotion schemes currently in operation in Germany. Together, they have so far successfully covered around 650,000 km.

The Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL has won a host of awards from independent juries. Among its titles is “Green Commercial of the Year”. In 2011 the Vito E-CELL won the “Alternative Drives” innovation award in the “KEP-Transporter des Jahres” competition for courier, express and parcel delivery vans, the “Umwelttechnikpreis Baden-Württemberg” for environmental engineering and technology and the Design Award at the Michelin “Challenge Bibendum”, one of the largest forums worldwide on sustainable mobility.

For the first time ever, the transparent model of the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL provides a vivid demonstration of how electric mobility works. Mercedes-Benz is offering clear insights in Geneva into the Vito E-CELL’s mode of functioning: from chargers through voltage transformers, high-voltage control units and the battery to the electric motor.

The model employs high-performance LEDs to visualise the flow of current from the battery via the control electronics to the drive shafts.

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INFINITI EMERG-E is a highly advanced, mid-ship, electric motors powered sports car concept. It projects Infiniti’s already advanced electric vehicle technology deep into the future with a range-extender powertrain that delivers the performance expected of sports car bearing the Infiniti badge.

INFINITI EMERG-E is the ultimate expression of Infiniti’s inspired performance. The EMERG-E is a range-extender electric vehicle, and it is propelled at all times by a pair of 201bhp (150kW) EVO ELECTRIC motors driving the rear wheels. These advanced motors direct their power via a single speed (XTRAC) transmission to create what is effectively an open differential, this arrangement significantly reducing driveline friction losses. A quartet of inverters controls the motors and their energy regeneration role under braking, the recovered power directed to a lithium-ion battery mounted behind the seats. The battery can be recharged from a mains power supply (domestic and fast-charge) and stores sufficient energy to propel the INFINITI EMERG-E for 30 urban miles, at which point the on-board petrol engine starts up to act as a generator. This light, ultra-compact, Lotus-engineered three-cylinder 1.2-liter35kW engine has been purpose-designed for its range-extending role. It operates between crank speeds of 1500-4000 rpm, producing peak power at only 3500 rpm.

This 402bhp (300kW) mid-engined, twin motor, electric motors-powered sports car is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in just four seconds – and from zero to 130 mph in a single, seamless 30-second burst. Yet it also operates as exciting, zero emission urban transport over a 30-mile range. And when the range-extender gasoline engine functions in concert with its twin electric motors, it produces a CO2 output of only 55g/km (NEDC cycle).

INFINITI EMERG-E is physical proof of Infiniti’s intention to produce a bold halo model befitting the brand’s promise of Inspired Performance, and also signals an array of exciting new technologies that the brand will adopt in its quest to build dramatic and sustainable high performance cars. INFINITI EMERG-E also provides a fresh expression of Infiniti’s design language applied to a high performance, mid-ship sports car for the first time.

INFINITI EMERG-E is also significant for being the first Infiniti that has been developed in Europe. More than that, its advanced technology deliberately draws on the knowledge of suppliers beyond Infiniti’s usual base in the quest to uncover the most innovative hardware and the deepest knowledge base.

Within its compact 175.7-inch length the two-seater INFINITI EMERG-E contains a pair of electric motors, a lithium-ion battery pack, four inverters, a three-cylinder range-extending internal combustion engine and a gasoline tank. All this is efficiently wrapped within highly aerodynamic, light bodywork characterized by a design fluency that could only come from Infiniti.

“It is elegant yet dynamic, and has graceful power,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura. “‘Mid-ship cars are usually less refined, but the body of INFINITI EMERG-E is like silk wrapping over the wheels.”

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The votes of the 59 jurors from 23 European countries ranked the Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera first, from a shortlist comprising Citroen DS5, Fiat Panda, Ford Focus, Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt, Range Rover Evoque, Toyota Yaris and Volkswagen Up.

Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt won with 330 votes out of a total 1475 cast, ahead of the Volkswagen Up! with 281 votes and the Ford Focus with 256.

This is the second time when an alternative powertrain vehicle is being named European Car of the Year, after the 2011 edition was won by the all-electric Nissan Leaf.

The European Car of the Year award was established in 1964. This year is the first time the prize is presented at the Geneva Motor Show.

Both, Opel Ampera and Chevrolet Volt are equipped with the ground-breaking Voltec propulsion system that provides instant torque of 370 Nm, enabling zero to 100 km/h acceleration in around 9 seconds.

Ampera and Volt can drive gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free for up to 80 kilometers, powered by a full charge of electricity stored in the 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the battery is depleted, a gasoline powered 1.4L generator kicks in to extend the car’s range to a total of over 500 kilometers. Two large screens provide essential information and help the driver use the Volt’s unique propulsion system as efficiently as possible.

Opel said today it has already received some 7,000 orders for its award-winning Ampera. This latest figure even surpasses Opel’s most optimistic expectations for this point in time. “We are extremely pleased with the continuing demand for our Ampera,” says Enno Fuchs, Opel’s e-mobility launch director. “This news shows us that our sales target of 10,000 units for 2012 is well within reach.”

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The Volkswagen Cross Coupe was previously shown at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, powered with a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain that incorporated a four-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors.

The Cross Coupe TDI Plug-in Hybrid concept is a small all-wheel drive crossover that uses an even more fuel efficient diesel engine in partnership with electric motors coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine offers up 295 pound-feet of torque from just 1,600 rpm. One electric motor, rated for 133 lb-ft of torque, is attached to the front wheels and can propel the car or act as a generator. The second electric motor, rated for 199 lb-ft, is attached to the rear axle and draws power either from a 9.8-kWh lithium-ion battery or from the front electric motor/generator. All up is a combined torque rating of approximately 516 pound-feet.

While on the road, the driver can choose from a total of five driving modes: City (ECO mode with minimal fuel consumption); Sport (high dynamic performance); Off road (continuous all-wheel-drive); E-mode (pure electric drive); and Charging (via the TDI engine). Depending on which mode is selected, different powertrains and axles are operated.

VW says the Cross Coupe TDI Plug-in Hybrid sprints from 0 to 60mph in 6.5 seconds, faster than the gasoline/electric version, with a maximum speed of 75 mph.

Plug-in charging is accomplished via an external 230-volt power source. Pure-electric range is about 28 miles with a maximum speed of 75 mph. A Cross Coupe with a fully charged battery and a fresh tank of fuel is theoretically good for an overall range of 800 miles.

Further information about the Cross Coupe will be available when it makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday 6 March.

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The first image of Hyundai’s new i-oniq concept car has been released today, showcasing new technology and design which present an impression of the company’s future thinking.

The i-oniq is an electric sports hatchback with a range-extending gasoline engine. Intended to convey the latest thinking from Hyundai’s designers and engineers, the i-oniq evolves the company’s fluidic sculpture form language and represents bold ‘New Possibilities’ with its futuristic powertrain.

Hyundai stylists chose dynamic proportions to create i-oniq’s aesthetic and functional body shape.  Its design combines gentle feature lines and muscular surface treatment, conveying both premium and sporty qualities evident in both the exterior and interior of the car.  Further design elements, such as the ‘penthouse roof’ and LED headlights, emphasize the efficiency and advanced technology encased within i-oniq.

At 4.4 meters long, i-oniq has space for four occupants in its driver-oriented cabin.  High-tech equipment in the driver interface and controls reflects contemporary and future premium consumer electronics technology.  Passengers benefit from a lounge-style space designed to optimize comfort, featuring sculpted surfaces inspired by musical instruments to create a positive contrast with the sports-focused driver area.

The i-oniq concept has an innovative powertrain that demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to clean technology.  A 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine is mated, via a generator, to a lithium ion electric motor which produces 109 ps.  In electric-only mode, i-oniq has a range of 120 km (74.5 miles), while with assistance from the petrol engine it can travel up to 700 km (435 miles), producing just 45 g/km of CO2 in the process.

Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth, commented, “The i-oniq concept has been created to reflect the new thinking that runs through the Hyundai brand.  It has a bold design, inside and out, that provokes contemplation on the future of automotive possibilities, and a powertrain that highlights one of the ways in which we could power future products – wrapped in a package that exudes premium qualities.”

The Hyundai i-oniq concept car will be unveiled during Hyundai’s press conference at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show on 6th March at 09:45am (CET).

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The smart BRABUS electric drive will be available from smart centers in 12 countries from the end of this year. In addition to modifications to the exterior and interior styling, its drive has been designed for particularly dynamic and powerful acceleration.

Aerodynamic body styling parts, BRABUS sports suspension and BRABUS Monoblock 16/17 inch alloy wheels add to the sporty appeal.

At the same time the near-series study of the smart BRABUS ebike is celebrating its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. The two-wheeler can reach a speed of up to 45 km/h and offers a further enjoyable way of getting around the city and countryside.

The production version of the smart BRABUS ebike is expected to be available from dealers from the end of 2012.

Dynamic and powerful acceleration: the smart BRABUS electric drive
Zero local emissions but maximum driving fun: the smart BRABUS electric drive proves that cutting-edge urban mobility can be combined with lively agility and a sporty look. The electric motor is based on the state-of-the-art drive technology of the new smart fortwo electric drive and has an output of 60 kW. The smart BRABUS electric drive delivers maximum torque of 135 Nm, which means that it almost always wins when pulling away at the traffic lights. The new BRABUS sports suspension makes a decisive contribution to driving fun by bringing the vehicle approximately ten millimeters closer to the asphalt.

The sporty character is accompanied by a special BRABUS sound to match, generated by a sound module. The smart BRABUS electric drive comes with a BRABUS sports steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift as a standard feature. Recuperation can be regulated with the help of the shift paddles.

The smart BRABUS electric drive has a dynamic look that also signals environmental friendliness: the tridion safety cell and door mirror caps are painted in electric green whilst black dominates on all other body parts – even the front grille. Dark BRABUS headlamps, BRABUS “Monoblock VII” alloy wheels measuring 16″ at the front and 17″ at the rear, and BRABUS Xclusive aerodynamic body styling parts (a front spoiler and a special rear apron insert with double reflectors) round off the sporty look.

In the interior accent trim parts and contrast components also come in electric green. Numerous BRABUS Xclusive components, including the instrument panel and interior door trim in leather look, leather seats, stainless steel sports pedals with rubber nubs, BRABUS hand-brake handle and BRABUS dashboard instruments (cockpit clock and rev counter) lend the interior a dynamic and exclusive look.

Max. speed up to 45 km/h: the smart BRABUS ebike
The smart BRABUS ebike has the features typical of BRABUS – more style, more power and more exclusiveness. It has a dynamic look with the frame and fork in matt black and components such as quick release skewers, pedals and brake callipers in anodised green providing a striking contrast. The saddle and grips come in green leather. A four-piston brake system is fitted on the front wheel. The matt black four-spoke wheels are made of carbon. Further components that distinguish the smart BRABUS ebike from the smart ebike are Sport Contact tyres, weight-optimised cranks and pedals and the carbon seatpost.

With 500 watts the electric motor is twice as powerful as that on the smart ebike. At the same time it was possible to reduce the weight of the ebike by more than ten percent. This makes for agile performance: the two-wheeler that is liable to registration has a top speed of 45 km/h. The rider decides how much assistance to his muscle power he would like from the electric motor with the throttle grip. There is a choice of four power levels with the fourth and highest level providing maximum pushing power.

Successful joint venture: smart BRABUS GmbH
Sporty smarts are called BRABUS – and have been for ten years already. In 2002 smart and the tuning specialist BRABUS from Bottrop founded a joint company. As early as 2003 the first premium models developed by the joint venture smart BRABUS GmbH – the smart fortwo BRABUS coupé and cabrio – were introduced on the market.

The smart BRABUS tailor made individualisation programme has also been received very well by smart fans. With paint finishes in thousands of different colours, leather in 30 basic colours and exclusive design variants, six cabrio soft top colours and the extensive smart BRABUS accessories portfolio it enables creative customers to configure a smart in line with their own personal ideas.

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Opel says that the RAD e will be the first e-bike to be built around automotive construction and production principles, plus that it carries much of Opel’s typical design language such as the boomerang shaped features associated with the Ampera and the RAK e concept car.

Its pedelec technology, with a 250 watt motor, gives the rider motorized support when pedaling and achieves a range of between 37 and 90 miles (60 and 145 kilometers).

The RAD e is unveiled at a time when e-bikes are widely expected to play a key role in future integrated urban transport, linking e-bikes, cars and buses.

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Highlighting the design and technology direction for Honda’s next generation supercar, the NSX Concept features a V6 mid-mounted engine and will employ a range of new technologies including the innovative Sport Hybrid SH-AWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system. It is expected to go on sale within the next three years.

Further underlining Honda’s aim of developing sporty, exciting products, the Honda EV-STER will also make its European debut at the show.

The EV-STER, an electric rear wheel drive two-seater open sports car, features dynamic and innovative styling and excellent environmental performance.

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