Last year saw the world premiere of the “Light Car” which, with its innovative exterior design and novel lighting concept, is an independent design concept for the electric-powered car of the future.

Presented for the first time ever at the 2010 Geneva Show, EGAG has combined the latest in lightweight materials, semi-finished products and advanced joining concepts in a space frame structure. The initial aim was the development of a scaleable platform for small to medium volumes, involving minimal investment costs for tools and manufacturing equipment, and not exceeding an overall weight of 1,200 kg (including a battery pack to cover a range of 150 km or 93 miles).

The Drive System
The drive system of the EDAG Light Car – Open Source consists of two of our open source partner Protean Electric’s wheel hub motors mounted in a double wishbone rear axle. Each weighing 30 kg, the wheel hub motors provide more flexible design options, as they take up less space than the conventional engine and drive train, both of which have been eliminated. An alternative option is a drive system with motors positioned centrally on either the front or rear axle.

The wheel hub motors are powered by 180 Gaia battery cells featuring lithium iron phosphate technology (3.2 V; 122 Wh; 1.5 kg). Compared to lithium-ion battery engineering, this technology offers enhanced safety properties with regard to thermal and mechanical damage. The battery capacity of 22 kWh gives the driver of the EDAG “Light Car – Open Source” a maximum range of 150 kilometers (93 miles) and a top speed of 140 km/h (87mph). Using the charger developed by EDAG and a charging rate of 10 kW, recharging takes approximately 2 hours.

One further specialty the EDAG development team came up with for the “Light Car – Open Source” is active rear axle steering. This type of steering enables the yaw rate amplification factor to be adjusted, making it possible to achieve greater agility at low speeds and improved vehicle stability at higher speeds. In addition, the reduction of the car’s turning radius leads to improved driving comfort.

The Space Frame
A combination of steel, aluminum and fiber composites was selected to construct the space frame structure. This guarantees not only adequate energy absorption by crash-relevant structure components, but also maximum stability at the lowest possible weight, and the best possible protection for passengers and the battery in the event of a collision, according to EDAG.

Laser-welded and partially hardened sections made of extremely high performance steel were used in the floor, door sill, A-pillar and front end areas.

High-strength, thin-walled aluminum structural cast parts produced by Honsel, light metal processing specialists, were used for the structural nodes at the rear and in the B-column of the EDAG Light Car – Open Source.

The need for thin-walled cast steel body components was met through the involvement of CX-Gruppe, a company specializing in casting technology. The application of thin-walled, high-strength cast steel spans the front structural nodes, floor, door sill and the integral suspension strut domes. This means that it might soon be possible to make ribbed and topologically optimized cast parts in high-performance body structures out of steel, something which was previously limited to aluminum cast parts.

The space frame structure is covered with a type of lightweight plastic outer skin panels and already produced by EDAG as Class A-type “HT PU RIM components” for low-volume series. With a minimum of capital expenditure and using polyurethane technology, EDAG says, it is possible to bring about weight-optimized exterior skin components that can be used economically in low-volume series, while providing a high degree of design freedom.

The results meet not only the target weight (limited to a maximum of 1,200 kg), but also all the current requirements of modern car bodies.

[source: EDAG]

Based on the Tata Nano platform, the Nano EV is expected to expand the company’s portfolio of electric vehicles, which has the Tata Indica Vista EV.

The electric Nano is capable of carrying four individuals. It has several design changes to reduce its mass, including a polycarbonate rear-hatch window.

Tata said it will offer a predicted range of up to 160 km (100 miles) and an acceleration of 0-60 km/h (36mph) in less than 10 seconds.

To compare, the Tata Indica Vista EV has a range of up to 200 km (124 miles) and acceleration of 0-60 km/h (36mph) in less than 10 seconds.

Tata continues its approach with the Tata Nano EV, using super polymer lithium ion batteries, as in the Tata Indica Vista EV, which provides superior energy density to conventional batteries.

The company has already displayed the Tata Nano Europa at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, and expects to launch it in select European countries in a couple of years. Meanwhile, in India, the Tata Nano, now being delivered to the first 100,000 chosen customers, has received rave reviews.

The car was originally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last year as a joint project between NLV and Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg.

In order to cut as much weight as possible, the car has used a carbon-fiber monotube backbone chassis and a proprietary power storage system called Flow Accumulator Energy Storage (FAES). The FAES system has been developed by NLV themselves, weighing in a total of about 450 kg.

NLV claims the FAES system can be charged to full capacity in 20 minutes and give the vehicle a range of about 300 miles.

The NLV Quant is coated with a thin film made of pyrite, which converts light into electricity to supply the operating electronics and also help to extend the range.

Power comes from four electric motors (one for each wheel) with some type of torque vectoring software to maximize traction. There are two different power systems on board.

The body of the Quant measures in at 16 feet in length, features a pair of gull-wing doors to provide easy access to all four passengers. Interior features include multiple infotainment display screens, tri-zone climate control, and LED detailing.

Though their current relationship with Koenigsegg is unclear, NLV says they should have a running prototype up this year, with a full production model slated for 2012.

Preliminary Specs

• Power: 600 kW ( 4x 150 kW), 800 bhp
• Rotation speed 12’000 U/min
• Torque: 1500 nm
• 0-100 km/h: 2,8 seconds
• Top speed: 377 km/h
• Curb weight: 1680 kg
• Wheelbase 3102 mm
• Track -  Front: 1730 mm; rear: 1729 mm
• Wheels/tires:  front: 245/35 – 23”; rear: 285/30 – 23” – low friction tires
• Width: 2016 mm incl. rear-view mirrors; length: 4879 mm; height: 1335 mm
• Rear-wheel drive
• Four-wheel brake regeneration
• Minimum 4  airbags, ABS and ESP and torque vectoring
• 2 infotainment panels Adjustable rear seats
• 3 zone Climate Control system
• Generous leg room in the rear
• LED front and rear lights
• Body covered in NLV photovoltaic thin film solar coating
• Accumulator with cooling liquid (weight ca. 500kg)
• Operating voltage 420 V
• Inverter voltage 350 V
• Price: TBD

Features

• NLV Quant has two different battery systems: on the one hand, purely conventional accumulator technology with a transition metal and air mixture, and on the other hand, a pure redox flow cell
• Thin-film photovoltaic coating of car body and windows
• Torque vectoring with 4 electric motors for wheel-specific torque distribution to enhance the vehicle’s agility and stability
• Full Carbon chassis and carbon body
• Minimized running and manufacturing costs thanks to new technology
• Optimized safety
• Unique/functional design, vehicle comfort and loading capacity

The A1 e-tron has a range of more than 31 miles in city traffic, and its peak output of 102PS also makes it fun to drive. A compact internal combustion engine recharges the battery when its energy is depleted.

The powerful front-mounted, transverse electric motor thrusts the A1 e-tron forward with authority. The car sprints from a standstill to 62mph in only 10.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of more than 80mph. The compact MCV is a zero-emissions vehicle for the first 31.07 miles that it is underway, such as in city traffic. The battery comprises a package of lithium-ion modules mounted in the floor assembly in front of the rear axle.
A small, single-rotor Wankel engine is used in this near-series concept vehicle to increase the range in exceptional circumstances. This “range extender” powers a generator that produces 15 kW of charging power. If the range extender is used to recharge the battery, the A1 e-tron can cover an additional 124 miles of range. According to a draft standard for the computation of fuel consumption for range extender vehicles, this represents a fuel consumption of 148.7mpg – a CO2 equivalent of only 45 g/km.

The e-tron model family from Audi is just a few months old, but it already has a number of members, for each of which Audi has chosen a different drive technology. The first e-tron, which debuted at the 2009 IAA in Frankfurt, is a near-series high-performance sports car with electric motors for all four wheels. The study shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2010 is a lightweight, compact two-seater with two electric motors on the rear axle.

The A1 e-tron now presents another approach – a compact electric car in the premium class. The four-passenger, two-door MCV city car was designed specifically for use in the metropolitan areas of Europe and North America and in the rapidly growing megacities of Asia and South America. The Audi A1 e-tron always drives on electric power; its internal combustion engine is only used to recharge the battery in isolated cases.

The synchronous electric motor of the Audi A1 e-tron is mounted transversely at the front of the car. Its low mounting position has a positive effect on the vehicle’s centre of gravity. Continuous output is rated at 61PS, with peak power of 102PS available in short bursts. 150 Nm (110.63 lb-ft) of torque is continuously available, and peak torque is 240 Nm (177.01 lb-ft).

The electric motor sends its power to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. The elegant, retractable selector lever on the console of the centre tunnel used to choose between “Drive,” “Reverse,” and “Neutral” was taken from the first Audi e-tron.

The power electronics are mounted in the engine compartment above the electric motor. The most important components are the pulse-controlled inverter, which serves as the controller between the electric motor and the battery; the DC converter, which connects the high-voltage network with the 14 volt electrical system; a breaker unit to protect the high-voltage components; and the charging module. The socket for the standard charging plug is located behind the rings in the single-frame grille of the Audi A1 e-tron. A fully depleted battery can be recharged in approximately three hours from the 380 volt grid. A display immediately adjacent to the plug-in connection shows the current charge status and the charging time remaining.

The battery pack: a compact T arranged below the floor
The energy storage unit is arranged below the floor, where it is ideal for the centre of gravity and weight distribution. The battery pack is shaped like a T, with the short “transverse beam” filling the rear section of the centre tunnel and the “cross-beam” filling that area in front of the rear axle where the fuel tank is otherwise located. The 380 volt lithium-ion rechargeable battery has a nominal energy content of 12 kilowatt hours. It comprises 96 prismatic cells and weighs less than 150 kilograms (330.69 lb).

The Audi A1 e-tron can drive 31 miles emission-free in city traffic on the powerful battery. On longer trips, the battery is recharged by a particularly compact internal combustion engine mounted below the luggage compartment.

The range extender
The A1 e-tron concept car has a Wankel engine as a range extender, but other compact concepts are also possible. The small single-rotor Wankel has a chamber volume of 254 cc and runs at a constant 5,000 rpm in its peak efficiency window. The electronics also consider navigation data such as the destination and route profile to automatically activate the range extender as needed. The driver can also turn the range extender on and off as necessary with the push of a button. The fuel tank holds 12 liters.

The great strengths of the Wankel engine are the nearly vibration-free and quiet operation, the small dimensions, and the extremely low weight. Together with the generator, which is powered by the Wankel engine and produces 15 kW of electric power, the complete assembly weighs only around 70 kilograms. This weight also includes the special power electronics, the intake, exhaust, and cooling unit, plus the insulation and the subframe.

Driving experience
The first defining impression that the driver of the Audi A1 e-tron gets is that of nearly total silence. Even the Wankel engine in the back can barely be heard when it is running.

The second characteristic perception is the power of the electric motor, nearly all of which is available instantly and thrusts the Audi A1 e-tron forward with authority. The innovative Mega City Vehicle, which despite its complex drive technology weighs only 1,190 kilograms delivers zero-emission driving fun in a modern and sophisticated manner. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 10.2 seconds and has a top speed of more than 80mph.

The Audi A1 e-tron can also cover longer distances if the range extender charges the battery. The extra range, which is intended primarily for interurban driving, is 124 miles.

According to the draft standard, the two different operating modes yield a fuel economy figure of 148.7mpg, which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 45 g/km. In electric mode, there are zero local CO2 emissions – the compact A1 e-tron is thus ecological and economical.

The third impression that the A1 e-tron makes is that of a larger car. The compact two-door boasts all of the strengths of the new A1 model series – the carefully tuned, sporty chassis with specially designed 18 inch alloy wheels and 215/35 R18 tyres; the generous, “grown-up” interior; the excellent fit and finish; and a multitude of high-end equipment.

The dark shade “ebony” dominates the interior. The seats – with stone gray seams – and the headliner are in “Alabaster White.”

The Venga EV concept car is identical to the regular Venga B-segment MPV but features an electric motor producing 80 kW and maximum torque of 280 Nm.

Venga EV is capable of accelerating from standstill to 62mph in 11.8 seconds, and reaching a top speed of 87 mph.

Venga EV includes a twin-pack 24 kWh battery using innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology that offers numerous advantages over other battery types, and provides a driving range of 112 miles on a single charge.

Under the quick recharging cycle (50 kW) the battery can be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity within 20 minutes.  Under the normal cycle (3.3 kW), 100 percent power is attained after eight hours.

Venga EV is a front-wheel drive vehicle with the electric powertrain placed within the existing engine bay.  The battery pack is located under the boot floor.

As an all-electric, zero-emissions vehicle that is solely powered by electric energy stored inside its battery, Venga EV will contribute to increased environmental protection.

Venga EV represents Kia Motors’ continuing commitment to earth-positive R&D and marks an additional dimension in the company’s development of eco-friendly vehicles.

The SEAT IBE is 3.78 meters long – making it more than 25 centimeters shorter than an Ibiza – but its unusual breadth of 1.80 meters and overall height of just 122 centimeters lend it classic sports car proportions.

Classically sporty features of the two-door layout include its extremely low bonnet and long roof line.  The short front overhang and muscular rear end work together with the arch-filling 19-inch wheels to underscore the car’s powerful, compact look.

Visual highlights include the full LED headlamps, trademark Arrow Design nose, elongated and flattened V-shaped bonnet (made possible thanks to use of a full electric motor), broad ‘shoulders’ and sculpted flanks.  At the back, the rear light clusters again feature LED light guide technology and once again display the ‘arrow’ thematic.

Tightly cut as a 2+2, the IBE is conceived for youthful lifestyles and while it has plenty of space for a couple, there is also the possibility of carrying up to four.

The SEAT IBE’s motor is found beneath the extremely flat bonnet, with the lithium-ion battery positioned in the car’s very short rear.  With a maximum output of 75 kW (102 PS) and 200 Nm of torque, the power unit delivers exactly the kind of dynamic driving fun you might expect of a car that looks so sporty.  The typical ‘city dash’ from 0 to 50 km/h takes only 3.4 seconds; within 6.3 seconds the IBE has reached 80 km/h and, after only 9.4 seconds, it arrives at 100 km/h.

The 1,000 kg car’s continuous power rating is limited to 50 kW (68 PS), with the top speed pegged at 160 km/h – more than enough to cut an impressive dash even on urban motorways.

Battery capacity is 18 kWh, which is plenty to cover all the daily mobility requirements of city life.

It goes without saying, of course, that the SEAT IBE is equipped with the latest safety and communication systems and, in particular, is prepared for car-to-x communication. Anticipating the information network of the future, the car is even capable of exchanging data about its status or safety alerts directly with other vehicles or the traffic infrastructure.

At the end of 2012 Audi will launch the e-tron electric car that was seen last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). A small series will be built, and will be the first electric car to reach the market.

Audi will be expanding its “e-tron” model family step by step: the A1 e-tron design study that the company is exhibiting at the Geneva Motor Show is an innovative Mega City Vehicle (MCV). Like the sports cars in the same family, it is electrically propelled and has a range of more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) in city traffic. With a peak power output of 75 kW (102 hp), the A1 e-tron is also fun to drive.

When the battery’s energy supply is exhausted, it is recharged by an exceptionally compact “range extender” consisting of a single-rotor Wankel engine and an electrical generator with a charge rating of up to 15 kW.

This device gives the A1 e-tron an additional range of 200 kilometers (124 miles). According to the draft standard for determining the fuel consumption of range-extender vehicles, the mean fuel consumption is 1.9 liters per 100 kilometers (123.8 US mpg), equivalent to CO2 emissions of only 45 g/km (72.42 g/mile).

The three-seat electric car has been designed primarily as an ecologically-acceptable vehicle for use in urban areas. It is 2.8 meters long, 1.7 meters wide and 1.6 meters high.

Powered by 32 KWh lithium – iron – phosphate batteries, DOK-ING XD promises to travel 250km (155 miles) on a single two-hour charge. It is equipped with a regenerative braking system enabling it to recharge during braking.

Two permanent 50 kW/65 HP new generation electromotors controlled by the DOK-ING manufactured electronics will be mounted onto the front wheels. 300 Nm torque guarantees exceptional acceleration while the maximum 130 km/h (80mph) as optimal speed and according to DOK-ING it can be adjusted according to customers’ requirements.

Safety features include 360 degree airbags, an integrated safety system for electric stability, and ABS brakes. Other features include power steering, and the ability to choose sport and economy drive modes to increase efficiency.

The Evora 414E Hybrid is so named because it offers 414PS (306kW, 408hp) of power. Lotus Engineering developed a drivetrain system consisting of two electric motors — one delivering 204 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to each rear wheel, resulting in a 0-60 time in less than 4 seconds and range over 300 miles.

To improve the driving sensation, the concept also includes a sport mode that simulates a seven-speed transmission.

Electrical power is stored in a lithium polymer battery pack optimized for energy density, efficiency and high power demand, mounted in the centre of the vehicle for stability and safety. Additional range is provided by the Lotus Range Extender engine, an optimized 47-horsepower, 1.2 liter, three-cylinder engine, designed specifically for series hybrid vehicles. The drivetrain is designed to combine astonishing performance with efficient, low emissions driving.

The Evora 414E can travel 35 miles on battery power alone. After that point, the engine becomes a generator, supplying the motors with electricity and topping off the lithium polymer battery pack that sits in the middle of the chassis. Charging is an overnight affair, and the socket hides under the rear license plate.

The Evora 414E also features Lotus’ HALOsonic Internal and External Electronic Sound Synthesis, a system designed to improve pedestrian safety outside the vehicle through an external sound system. In addition to proving an audible warning to those outside the car, the system also simulates four engine sounds for the driver, including a V6, V12 and a futuristic propulsion sound.

The 3-RC electric three-wheeler shows what a future minimal urban transport vehicle for one person might look like, Honda said. The battery electric drivetrain is mounted low in the three wheeled chassis, therefore keeping the centre of gravity low and thus improving stability.

The 3R-C has a clear canopy that covers the driver’s seat while it is parked and not in use. When 3R-C vehicle is in motion, the canopy becomes an enveloping wind-shield that provides the pilot, who sits low in the vehicle, with significant protection from the bodywork and doors.

The high sides of the safety shell seat give greater safety to the occupant, reducing the threat from side impacts and improving weather protection. In front of the driver is a lockable boot area, which gives significant secure storage for luggage or other items. The 3R-C’s designers created a flexible cover that surrounds the upper torso to reduce exposure to bad weather and improving comfort.

The 3R-C study was created by European designers working at Honda’s Research and Design facility in Milan.

Also on display will be the EV-N concept, previously shown at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The EV-N shows the potential application of battery technology in a small, stylish city car.

A design study that evokes the spirit of the diminutive 1967 N360 city car, the EV-N features Honda’s own solar panels in the roof, which could charge the car while it is parked. Two of Honda’s U3-X, electric personal mobility devices are attached to the inside of each door. The two-door EV-N concept is envisioned with a Lithium ion battery pack, and small electric motor for predominantly urban use.