A letter of intent was signed today in Flins between the Renault-Nissan Alliance, the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and the French Strategic Investment Fund (FSI) to set-up a joint venture company that would develop and manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, under the patronage of Christian Estrosi, the French Minister for Industry.
Renault, Nissan and the CEA would bring technical expertise and infrastructure support in addition to an equity investment. Consistent with its mission making long-term investments in companies in order to boost French competitiveness, the FSI will contribute 125 million euros to the project. In order to complete the financing of the project, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is considering a loan of up to 50% of the 280 million Euro debt financing.
Companies will evaluate Chinese feedstocks for the production of green diesel and green jet fuels, evaluate installation of units to produce renewable fuels and improve ethanol energy efficiency
UOP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced today that it signed a memorandum of understanding with China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC) under which the two companies will collaborate on a range of biofuels technologies and projects in China.
Renault has decided to produce its future zero-emission electric city car at the Flins plant in the Paris region. Zoé Z.E. Concept, presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is a forerunner of this new vehicle.
Renault has chosen Flins to produce this future electric vehicle (EV) owing to the plant’s expertise and performance. The site was selected because it is specialized in the production of B segment cars (Clio Campus and New Clio). The Flins choice is also based on Renault’s objective to produce cars as close as possible to the markets in which they will be sold, namely Europe, to optimize logistics flows. The Flins site will thus become a central hub in Renault’s EV activity, producing the company’s core-range electric model as well as manufacturing and recycling batteries.
Staples is amoung the first customers to receive the all electric vehicle.
Launched in the UK in 2006, the Smith Newton is the world’s largest road-going electric truck. Three models are available in Europe, with gross vehicle weights of 7,500 – 12,000kg. The Newton has a restricted top speed of 50mph (80km/h) and its lithium-ion batteries deliver a range of up to 100 miles (160km) on a single charge. A full recharge takes 6-8 hours.
SEV US Corp owns the license to assemble and sell the Newton in North America. All design and product development work is conducted by Smith Electric Vehicles in the UK.
Zytek has been working with Mercedes High Performance Engines since 2007 to develop the motor and power electronics for a hybrid drive system for Formula 1, addressing substantial challenges that include designing subsystems that will withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical environment of one of the world’s most demanding race series, that are exceptionally light, and which can be integrated within a system that does not affect the aerodynamics or handling of the car. Validation of this intensive development came when Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix on in July 2009, driving a McLaren fitted with the Mercedes HPE system.
This success was mirrored in the ALMS series, for which Zytek has developed a hybrid drive system in partnership with Continental (which supplies the lithium battery pack), when Corsa Motorsports made the podium at Lime Rock (USA) with its Ginetta-Zytek GZ09HS LMP1 car.
The market for electric vehicles has become the new avenue for carmakers to show off their artistic as well as their scientific innovation capabilities. This is evidenced by the latest new release below from Renault who has partnered with Biotherm to produce an electric “spa” vehicle for the city dweller, named ZOE. Continue reading Electric Car Market Combines Science and Art:Renault’s New ZOE Electric “Spa” Car
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO), a world leader in battery technology, has announced that the company will supply the nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to PSA Peugeot Citroën, one of the largest car manufacturers in Europe. PSA Peugeot Citroën will equip these battery systems to its Hybrid Diesel Technology – Hybrid4 – that will be factory fitted first on the crossover “Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4” and on the “Citroen DS5 Hybrid4”, to be manufactured in 2011.
L’Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées is presenting a special exhibition dedicated to electric vehicles starting on Friday November 6. For the first time in France, the four electric concept cars that preview Renault’s range of zero-emission vehicles, set for launch in 2011, will be revealed to the general public.
Unveiled in a world first at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Twizy Z.E, Zoe Z.E., Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. are making an exceptional 10-day appearance at L’Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées.
The US Department of Energy is providing up to $5.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the X PRIZE Foundation’s work to inspire a new generation of energy efficient vehicles. As part of the Automotive X PRIZE competition, teams design innovative, commercially-viable, high-efficiency vehicles that will help break our dependence on oil and stem the effects of climate change. The funding announced today, which builds on a partnership with the X PRIZE Foundation that began in 2008, will provide technical assistance and expand national education and outreach efforts for the competition. The award also supports President Obama’s Strategy for American Innovation, which calls on federal agencies to increase their use of prizes as a tool for promoting technological advances.
The Cincinnati Police Department will soon be adding a pair of Highlander Hybrid SUVs, a vehicle renowned for its fuel efficiency, power and spaciousness.
The 270-horsepower Highlanders will be converted into K-9 units, supporting bomb-sniffing dogs and counter-terrorism specialists. With the addition of these SUVs, the Cincinnati Police Department will have a total of eight Highlander Hybrids in its vehicle fleet.
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Staples is amoung the first customers to receive the all electric vehicle.
Zytek has been working with Mercedes High Performance Engines since 2007 to develop the motor and power electronics for a hybrid drive system for Formula 1, addressing substantial challenges that include designing subsystems that will withstand the harsh thermal and mechanical environment of one of the world’s most demanding race series, that are exceptionally light, and which can be integrated within a system that does not affect the aerodynamics or handling of the car. Validation of this intensive development came when Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix on in July 2009, driving a McLaren fitted with the Mercedes HPE system.
The Cincinnati Police Department will soon be adding a pair of Highlander Hybrid SUVs, a vehicle renowned for its fuel efficiency, power and spaciousness.
