Electric vehicles - The Future of Cars

Tesla Roadster

This car has reinvigorated the EV market like no other. Tesla's Roadster is an attention magnet, and every time the car stops, someone wants to know how far it can go on a charge (240 miles, if you drive it very conservatively) or how long it takes to recharge (3.5 hours) or how much it costs ($110,000). As it speeds up, the car starts to whine; it sounds nothing like any car you hear on the roads. It's much more like the Landspeeder from Star Wars. Electric motors are very powerful, and the Tesla's 0 to 60 time is 3.9 seconds.

Lightning GT - The United Kingdom’s answer to Tesla

Electric vehicles have maximum available power at the wheels at any speed, unlike a petrol engine where maximum power is only obtained high up in the rev range. To deliver this power to the road the Lightning will use electronically controlled traction control which negates wheel spin and unbalance in the power being applied. The stunning performance of the Lightning GTS will likely surpass almost all large engine high performance sports cars in the 0-60mph range. The sensation of harnessing power and performance will be felt by the sheer exhilaration of the power pushing you back in your seat as the car accelerates. Because there is no engine, the Lightning has a maintenance-free motor with just a few parts and together with the control electronics and special batteries, will not need anywhere near the servicing of other sports cars. The Lightning's power figures are very impressive - 700 horsepower, and 4 second 0-60mph times to almost rival the Tesla's 3.7 seconds. But it's the GT's revolutionary battery technology that might give it the upper hand: Nanosafe's Li-ion cells using nano titanate structures instead of traditional graphite give the GT an incredible 250-mile range, a full recharge time of only 10 minutes, and a life expectancy of 12 to 20 years, or 15,000 charge cycles before the battery performance drops significantly.

Nissan Leaf electric car

Nissan Leaf designed as a four-to-five seat, front-drive C-segment hatchback, Nissan says the Leaf is not just for use as a specialty urban runabout, but rather, it was designed as an everyday vehicle – a "real car" whose 160-kilometer+ (100 mile) range meets the needs of 70% of the world's motorists. In the case of U.S. consumers, Nissan says that fully 80% of drivers travel less than 100km per day (62 miles), making the Leaf a solid fit for America's motoring majority, even taking into account power-sapping external factors like hilly terrain, accessory draw, and extreme temperatures. Powered by a unique array of thin, laminated lithium ion cells capable of delivering over 90 kW of power, the Leaf's front-mounted electric motor delivers 80 kW (107 horsepower) and a healthy 280 Nm of torque (208 pound-feet), and it promises brisk and silent off-the-line power, with acceleration from a stop comparable to that of the company's Infiniti G35. And the Leaf has a top speed of over 140 km/h (87 mph). More impressive is the battery pack's 50 kW AC fast-charge capability, which is capable of accepting an 80% charge in less than 30 minutes, or an extra 50 km (31 miles) worth of range in about 10 minutes.

GEM electric car

GEM battery-electric vehicles are classified as low-speed vehicles, or neighborhood electric vehicles, and are street legal in nearly all 50 states on public roads posted at 35 mph or less. With a top speed of 25 mph, GEM cars have a range of up to 30 miles on a charge and are great for traveling around city centers, gated communities, resorts, sports stadiums, job sites, or neighborhoods. GEM vehicles are battery-electric, operate on a 72-volt battery system and plug into a standard 110-volt outlet. What makes GEM vehicles so unique is that they can be recharged anytime, anywhere a 110-volt outlet is available and recharge in approximately six to eight hours.

GEM cars are available in a choice of six models: the GEM e2 two-passenger, the GEM e4 four-passenger, the GEM e6 six-passenger, the GEM eS two-passenger with a short-back bed, the GEM eL two-passenger with a long-back bed, and the GEM eL XD two-passenger extra duty with a long-back bed.

From its high profile to its command-style seating the GEM e2 two-passenger vehicle is ideal for those short trips you make every day. Its standard six 12-volt flooded electrolyte batteries provide a range of up to 35 miles on a charge and the many vehicle options offer you great versatility. Visit the Standard Features section for more information on the features that make the GEM e2 a vehicle you will enjoy driving.

Chevrolet Volt

Volt is an electric car that can create its own electricity. Plug it in, let it charge overnight, and it’s ready to run on a pure electric charge for up to 40 miles(3) — gas and emissions free. After that, Volt keeps going, even if you can’t plug it in. Volt uses a range-extending gas generator that produces enough energy to power it for hundreds of miles on a single tank of gas.

Electricity is an extremely affordable way to power a car — the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. If the average American drives less than 40 miles, it will cost about a dollar a day for electricity. That's about the same annual cost as running a common household appliance.

Phoenix SUT

The four-passenger, advanced battery electric, zero-emission SUT that can travel at freeway speed. Equipped with a revolutionary lithium titanate battery, this SUT (sport utility truck) will travel over 100 miles on a single 10-minute charge (Off-Board High-Power 250kW Charger required for 10-minute charge). Designed with a sophisticated chassis and regenerative braking, this fully electric vehicle is not only powerful, it’s practical and really cool. Phoenix is initially selling to fleets because that’s where the math works out. Since it’s a certified EV, the State of California provides some pretty massive incentives...enough to make it possible to sell a vehicle with $75,000 worth of batteries for $45,000

REVA

The NXR's high torque motor delivers a top speed of 104 km/h. The NXR offers both Normal and Fast Charge options. While Normal Charge is ideal for overnight charging, the optional external Fast Charge station gives you 40 km (25 miles) in just 15 minutes. With a range of 160 km, the REVA is good for 97% of all journeys you'll ever make. In addition to mechanical braking, the REVA's regenerative braking, extends your range by putting energy back into your batteries, every time you slow down. For the price of a couple of tanks of petrol, you can commute all year long. Leave fuel costs in the past, where they belong. A proprietary Intelligent Energy Management System with integrated thermal battery management provides enhanced efficiency and reliability. The NXR has a turning radius of just 3.9 meters. Completely automatic, it is just as easy to park as it is to carve through city traffic.

Coda

Coda - a four door, five passenger sedan with an all-electric drive train. The car was originally designed by one Miles Rubin, and he's remaining an integral part of the launch. The electric family car includes enough battery power to travel between 90 and 120 miles on a full charge, and it can regain 40 miles of range with just two hours of charging. It supports energy from any 110 or 220V socket, and a full charge (from 0% to 100%) can be accomplished in as little as six hours. The cost of the car is expected to be around $45,000, but the actual cost of ownership will dip much lower after a $7,500 federal credit along with other incentives. Coda Automotive estimates that it will cost less than $3 (on average) to drive 100 miles, whereas a comparable gas-powered sedan would eat up around $17 in fuel costs to drive that same distance. Amenities are everywhere as well, with the factory list of equipment including navigation, Bluetooth, AM/FM/XM radio, USB connectivity and aluminum wheels. The car's even backed by a 3-year, 36,000 mile warranty.

Venturi Fetish - World's first electric sportscar

The folks at Monaco-based Venturi Automobiles have used two strategies to overcome the problems of producing a high-performance, all-electric luxury sportscar: manufacture only 25 units per year, and charge $400,000 for each one. The Venturi Fetish, described by the company as “the first production electric sports car in automobile history,” can bolt from zero to 60 in 4.3 seconds, and reach a maximum speed of 105 mph. The physics behind this level of performance: 330 horsepower pushing a carbon-fiber vehicle weighing only 2,425 pounds.
When the vehicle’s 100 li-on battery packs are topped off, Venturi claims the Fetish can go 220 miles before needing a recharge. A rapid battery charge is available, yielding about one mile of driving for every minute of juice. Venturi has taken the guesswork out of knowing how much charge is left by teaming up with Intel to create a wireless information system to remotely monitor the energy storage status, as well as other critical data. Before writing a check for a deposit, you might consider that the vehicle has yet to meet U.S. guidelines to become certified for American roads. Customers take delivery in Monaco and are responsible for transport to the United States… or anywhere else, for that matter. Orders are being taken, with a production and delivery timeline of approximately one year.

Tango

The revolutionary Tango combines the speed and agility of a motorcycle with the security of a high-performance sports car.
The Tango's ability to maneuver through traffic is second to none. Being 5" narrower than many motorcycles, it can get through traffic like no other car in history. Where lane splitting is permitted (i.e., driving between lanes of stopped or slow-moving traffic), the advantage can be staggering. In extremely heavy traffic, a Tango or motorcycle can travel in 20 seconds the distance that cars travel in 20 minutes.
The Tango can fit in a 6-foot half-lane with more clearance than a truck has in a full 12-foot freeway lane. This virtual doubling of lane capacity can make the traffic jam a fading memory. It can also park perpendicularly to the curb like a motorcycle, allowing up to four Tangos in one parallel parking space.
With over 1,000 ft-lbs of torque starting at zero rpm and a 600 kW (805 hp) motor controller, the Tango accelerates from 0-60 mph in under four seconds, finishes the standing 1/4 mile in about 12 seconds at over 100 mph, and can reach over 130 mph with no gear shifting.

Range from 40 to 200 miles of freeway driving is available, depending on battery selection and your planned driving habits. It is recommended that, at least twice the range of your typical daily trips between charges be purchased.

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Strange and unusual armoured vehicles and tanks

1915 Sizaire-Berwick "Wind Wagon"

The "Wind Wagon" was a 1915 Admiralty experiment. R.N.A.S. squadrons were being withdrawn from the Western Front and sent to Africa and the Near East, where the terrain wasn't suited to conventional cars. Only one was made, and it was only tested in England.

 

Armored Quadricycle

Armed with Maxim Machine Gun and powered by a small motor. The vehicle is demonstrated here in June 1899 by a Mr. F.R.Simms

Bison 1, Bison 2

The Bison's armor was interesting, a mix of steel reinforced concrete forming a type of mobile pillbox. Bison 2's chassis is unknown, but it is also of steel reinforced concrete. These vehicles were most likely constructed at Concrete Limited's Stourton works in Staffordshire.

NSU Kettenkrad

The Kettenkrad was designed as a small tractor (prime mover) to tow a trailer or a small gun (20 mm AA or 3,7 cm AT).
It carries a crew of three soldiers. The driver and two passengers. The passengers are facing backwards.

Sturmtiger

The Sturmtiger was armed with a short-barreled 38cm Raketenwerfer 61 L/5.4, breech-loading rocket launcher/mortar. The RW 61 launcher fired short-range (4,600 to 6,000 meters, or 2,850 to 3,720 yards) high-explosive rocket-propelled projectiles. The launcher was fitted with a PaK Zielfernrohr 3 x 8 telescopic sight. Each projec-tile was almost 1.5m (five feet) long and weighed 345 to 351kg (759 to 772 pounds). Two types of ammunition were available-high-explosive Raketen Sprenggranate 4581 (with a 125kg, or 275 pound, explosive charge) and shaped-charge Raketen Hohladungsgranate 4582 for use against fortifications. The shaped-charge round could penetrate up 2.5m (8 feet) of reinforced concrete. The Sturmtiger main arma-ment was originally developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig in Dusseldorf from an anti-submarine depth charge launcher developed for the Kriegsmarine.

The main armament could be traversed by hand 10 degrees to the left and right and elevated from 0 to a maximum of 85 degrees. The launcher produced a recoil force of 30 to 40 tons. Perhaps the most unique feature of the launcher was the way rocket exhaust gasses were vented. These gasses could not be allowed to enter the fighting compartment, and the breech was not strong enough to resist them until the rocket left the barrel, so they were channeled through ventilation shafts around the barrel with numerous exit holes surrounding the muzzle. The result was a spectacular flash when the weapon was fired. Because of this, the Sturmtiger had to move after each shot because its position was revealed to the enemy. The launcher barrel was later fitted with a steel ring as a counterweight to improve elevation and aiming.

Sturmtiger could demolish any building or other target with a single shot, but it could carry only 14 rocket projectiles inside the superstructure. Twelve projectiles were stored in two stowage racks, one more in the launcher and another on the load-ing tray. Most vehicles carried only 13 rounds, without the one on the loading tray. The vehicle was equipped with a hand-operated lifting crane mounted on the right rear of the superstructure. This was used to load projectiles into the vehicle and needed the entire crew of five to operate. The crane could be dismantled and stored when not in use. A two-piece rectangular loading hatch was located in the superstruc-ture roof with guide rails below it and a winch to assist in moving rounds into and out of the storage racks and onto the loading tray. The rear section of the loading hatch was hinged at the rear and incorporated a 90mm NbK 39 Nahverteidigungswaffe, which was a breech-loading grenade launcher for close-in defense. This weapon had a 360-degree traverse and was intended for use in all late-war tanks, replacing exter-nally-mounted smoke dischargers and grenade launchers. The round hatch in the rear wall of the superstructure provided crew entry and exit.

Marvin Heemeyer and the Killdozer

After years of enmity with the city council over the construction of a concrete plant near his store, Marvin Heemeyer drove an armored Komatsu D335A bulldozer through downtown Granby, Colorado, pulverizing several buildings before turning a gun on himself. After lobbying unsuccessfully against the construction of the plant, Heemeyer found his muffler shop cut off from the rest of town, his business curtailed.

Heemeyer purchased a bulldozer with the intention of building a road connecting his store to the main road, but city council members rejected his proposal. Over the next two years, he proceeded to fortify the bulldozer, armoring it with concrete sandwiched between half-inch thick steel plates. Thus enclosed, he wired an ingenious network of cameras so  he could see outside on a pair of old televisions. Inside, he mounted powerful fans to blow away dust from the air slits and gun portals, and kept a stock of beverages in a cooler.

On the afternoon of 4 June 2004, Heemeyer decided to put his plan into action, and took the finished killdozer on a long, lumbering joyride through the concrete plant, the town hall, and several businesses and homes before becoming stuck in the rubble of a collapsed warehouse. By that time, the killdozer was surrounded, and a swat team was firing bullet after bullet at the hull of the beast, only to see the shots ricochet off pitifully while Heemeyer, armed with a rifle, returned fire. After a ten minute standoff, the bulldozer went silent.

Police used a series of explosive charges to pierce the killdozer's armor, to no avail. By six o'clock the next morning, workers had finally cut open a hole in the using a torch; inside, they found Heemeyer's lifeless body, dead of a single gunshot to the head. Incredibly, no one else was injured in the rampage.

Type 2 Ka-Mi

As early as 1928, the Imperial Japanese Army had been developing and testing amphibious tanks. They created several experimental amphibious tanks such as the SR-II, the Type 1 Mi-Sha, and the Type 92 A-I-Go. In 1940, the Navy took over development of amphibious vehicles and two years later came up with the Type 2 Ka-Mi. The Type 2 was designed for the navy's Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces for the invasion of Pacific Islands that were bereft of port facilities.

  The Type 2 was based on the Type 95 Ha-Go light tank and was a capable armoured fighting vehicle both on land and at sea. It was capable of attaining speeds of 10km/h in the water with a range of 150km by utulizing two propellers at the rear of the hull which were powered by the tank's main engine. Steering was handled by the commander, who controlled the tank's pair of rudders with cables from the turret. The tank was generally water-tight because of the Type 2's welded armor and rubber seals in the hull. Large hollow pontoons made from steel plates were placed on the glacis plate and rear decking was used to float the tank. The front pontoon was divided into 8 compartments to minimize flood and shell-fire damage. These floatation devices could be jettisoned from inside the tank with pincer-clamps. The Type 2 could also be launched from the deck of submarines.

The Type 2's high-velocity Type 1 37mm gun was able to rotate 360° and a Type 97 machine gun was located in the tank's bow and another co-axially in the turret. Occasionally Type 2's were armed with a pair of naval torpedoes on each side of its hull. The Type 2 had a large crew including a crewman to handle the tank's innovative radio and telephone intercom and an onboard mechanic. Late in the war, the Type 2 was used in a more stationary role as fixed defenses and entrenched pillboxes on various Pacific islands.

From 1942 onward, only 184 Type 2 Ka-Mi's were built due to the tank's complex design. Furthermore, it had to be completely hand-built, which further slowed down the production process.

Guardium UGV (Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle)

Guardium autonomous observation and target intercept system was developed by G-NIUS Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles joint venture company established by Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Systems. The Guardium system employs autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) which can be operated from a command center, carry out routine patrols and quickly respond to evolving emergencies. They can suppress suspicious elements close to the perimeter, and hold them back until manned security forces arrive, or use various forceful means to eliminate the threat, if applicable.

The Guardium UGV uses the TomCar chassis. The vehicle is equipped with an automated tactical positioning system and can operate autonomously on and off road, at speeds up to 80 km/h. The vehicle can carry a payload of up to 300 kg, including light armor shield to protect vital systems. The UGV can carry a wide variety of sensors, including video and thermal cameras, with auto-target acquisition and capture, sensitive microphone, powerful loudspeakers and two way radio. The vehicle can also be equipped with lethal or less than lethal weapons which can be directed and operated from the Main Control Center (MCC). A fleet of Guardium vehicles can be used as sentries, controlled from the MCC, from where they are launched on routine patrols, ambushes or operating in response to events received from an early warning or perimeter defense system. The MCC is also provided with automatic tactical area definition, by terrain, doctrine and intelligence, which assist in preparation of the operational planning and programming for USVs. Each USV can also be manually controlled by remote control.

Following a successful evaluation in 2005 Guardium was selected by the Israel Defense Forces to operate as part of the border security operations. By May 2008 the IDF received the first batch of Guardium UGVs scheduled to enter fully operational service along the countrie's borders by the year's end. In 2008 Israel's Airport Authority conducted an evaluation of the system as part of possible integration of an autonomous UGV as part of its airport security system.

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The 6 spectacular futuristic Cars

Milner AirCar

Just like the flying AMC Matador in the Man With the Golden Gun, in which the villainous Scaramanga escapes from Bond, the Milner AirCar has wings that fold out at the touch of a button - handy if you see a traffic jam building ahead or you're running late for work. In normal use, these wings tuck up beside the car to allow it to drive on public roads, while the interior has full instrumentation for air and road use. You can take along passengers, too, as the AirCar has four doors and five seats. Power comes from two propeller engines that produce up to 296bhp, while a conventional engine for road use produces 39bhp and gives it a ground speed of 85mph.

The AirCar is designed by Milner Motors, who reckon the prototype you see here could be ready in production form by 2010, at a cost of $450,000.

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Rinspeed sQuba

This extraordinary Concept Car created by the famous Swiss Rinspeed Design Company could have come straight out of a James Bond film. Its ability not just to drive along the road – and that on autopilot at the press of a button – but also to continue along its route through water, diving to depths of ten meters, breaks the bounds of the imagination of many people when they think of a car. Its unique bodywork, designed to echo that of the Lotus Elise cult sports car, is being complemented by a whole new world of colorful experience.

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Aptera

The Aptera was designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, and later as an extended range electric vehicle. After building the proof-of-concept Mk-0, we hired the automotive design firm, 'eleven', to help us further develop the concept vehicle. The 'eleven' team, led by Jason Hill and Nathan Armstrong, made great strides in the development of the Aptera's body styling, interior design, and structural engineering. Meanwhile, we refined the Aptera's shape to maximize efficiency using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), developed and built advanced suspension and drivetrain components, and integrated a strong yet lightweight composite shell. Our entire process has been developed in-house exclusively by Aptera for the Aptera Typ-1. Our structural elements have undergone countless revisions of FEA (Finite Element Analysis) to be lightweight, robust, and manufacturable.

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Ford SYNus

The SYNUS is a concept car Ford Motor Company produced under the Ford brand and created by the Spanish designer Jose Parisb (exterior design) and Joe Baker (interior).

The SYNUS shares its powertrain design with the Ford Mondeo. The SYNUS' engine is a diesel powered, 16 valve, turbocharged, 2.0L DOHC 4-cylinder Duratorq TDCi Diesel engine that produces 134 horsepower (100 kW). The SYNUS has a five-speed manual transmission. Its wheels are 18 inches (457 mm) in diameter. It has an IEEE 802.11g compliant wireless LAN hub. The SYNUS débuted at the 2005 North American International Auto Show.

The SYNUS' unique features mimic the modern obsession with safety. The synus has a bullet resistant frame with bulletproof glass windows. Also, it has no rear window, but a large LCD monitor filling the back. Ford claims they built it inspired by bank vaults and that is reflected in its designed, the doors open with a vault-like wheel. Also, when in "lockdown mode" steel shutters close around the front windshield.

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BMW M1 Hommage

It was thirty years ago that BMW first introduced the BMW M1 super car to the world. Now, to celebrate it’s thirty year anniversary, BMW thought it would be fun to tease us all with this updated “concept” version of the original Bavarian bombshell. Originally designed by Paul Bracq and later by famed Italian design house Giugiaro, this BMW M1 Hommage takes a clearly aggressive pose, with retro features mixing it up with very modern elements. From the louvered rear window, to the 80’s style badging on the rear and the conspicuous (for Germans) wheel design, the 80’s are definitely in at BMW’s studios and this latest version if the M1 just might raise enough eyebrows to go into production before the 80s are officially passe.

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Toyota Hi-CT concept

The Hi-CT aims to offer a new "coolness" and new ways to have fun as a departure from conventional vehicles-an edgy, urban vehicle inspired by the thinking and lifestyles of youth.
* Offers a new kind of automotive "cool" and sense of enjoyment.
* Has a new look unconstrained by conventional vehicle size (length 3,330mm x width 1,695mm x height 1,780mm).
* Adopts plug-in hybrid technology, which allows it to charge from an external power source and gives it a greater driving range when running on its battery-powered motor; by placing the battery under the floor, achieves a highly efficient cabin with a higher driver position.
* Comes with an AC100V accessory socket that enables stored electricity-made possible by plug-in hybrid technology-to be used for a variety of applications.
* Features a removable rear trunk and a deck where surfboards, bicycles and other equipment can be loaded.

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Volkswagen "Slipstream" - new two-wheeled car concept

In the year 2057 population centers have become unimaginably dense and the roadways have reached the point of total saturation.Volkswagen's solution is an advanced autonomous vehicle that dynamically adapts to minimize its footprint in the city and its drag coefficient on the highways.When in the city, these two-wheeled, teardrop shaped pods travel in an upright orientation that occupies one fifth the size of a traditional vehicle. When on a special freeway lane called the "Slipstream," it tilts to a horizontal orientation optimizing its aerodynamic shape. Rear fins slide out to allow the rear of the vehicle to float like the tail section of an airplane to achieve speeds in excess of 250 mph.The skin of the vehicle is made of hyper-efficient solar panels that power the vehicle.

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