Electric cars Archives

MG4 and MGZS EV Officially Launched in Malaysia

Last month SAIC Motor Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. introduced the specifications and pricing details for its highly anticipated MG models – the all-new MG4 and MG ZS EV. Bookings were also opened. Today, both cars have officially been launched!

The MG4 Standard model is priced at RM103,999, offering a balance of features and affordability. For those seeking enhanced luxury, the MG4 Lux variant is available at RM128,999, providing additional comfort and premium amenities. Stepping up further, the MG4 Extended Range edition, priced at RM148,999, offers an extended driving range along with luxurious features. For enthusiasts seeking heightened performance, the MG4 XPOWER model comes in at RM158,999, delivering an exhilarating driving experience coupled with advanced technology and dynamic styling.

The MG4 is engineered with precision to optimise battery efficiency, guaranteeing adaptable range and performance to meet diverse customer requirements. Offering battery capacities spanning from 51kWh to 77kWh, the MG4 achieves an impressive range of 350km to 520km on the WLTP cycle. The maximum power output for the standard model is rated at 170PS with a torque of 250Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds and utilises a Rear Wheel Drive system with a Single Motor.

The MG4 Lux has a power output of 203PS and a torque of 350Nm, it accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 7.7 seconds. The MG4 Lux features an All-Wheel Drive system with a Dual Motor configuration.

The MG4 Lux Extended Range has a power output of 245PS and no specified torque figure, it accelerates from 0 to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds.

The MG4 XPOWER has a maximum power output of 435PS and a torque of 600Nm and it sprints from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds. The MG4 XPOWER features an All-Wheel Drive system with a Dual Motor configuration.

The MG4 is offered in seven vibrant colours, including Volcano Orange, Holborn Blue, Dynamic Red, Arctic White, Camden Grey, Black Pearl, Monument Silver, and an exclusive matte option of Racing Green for the MG4 XPOWER. Lux and Extended Range variants also offer a two-tone black roof option.

The MG ZS EV is available from an estimated price of RM125,999. Equipped with a 51.1 kWh Li-Ion battery, the MG ZS EV Lux variant offers a driving range of 320km based on the WLTP cycle. The MG ZS EV’s electric motor offers exhilarating performance, delivering a maximum output of 176PS and 280Nm of torque. It accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 8 seconds.

The MG ZS EV will be available in four vibrant colours which are Dynamic Red, Arctic White, Black Pearl, and Monument Silver

Those who place their booking from today up to the 30th of April 2024 will get early bird advantages. For the MG ZS EV and MG4 Standard, a free 7kW wallbox charger with installation will be given. For the MG4 Luxury, a free 11kW wallbox charger with installation and for the MG4 Extended Range and XPOWER, customers will be given free 1,000 Charging Credits with DC Handal and JomCharge.

Both the models come with a 7-year or 150,000km warranty on the car and an 8-year or 180,000km warranty on the battery. For more detailed information about the MG4 EV, click here and for the MG ZS EV, click here.

Eksekutif Automotif Mula Mengaku Kenderaan Elektrik Bukan Pilihan Masa Depan

Dalam tanda-tanda inventori yang semakin meningkat dan penjualan yang melambat, eksekutif industri automotif mengakui minggu lepas bahawa rancangan kereta elektrik yang ambisius sekarang berada dalam keadaan bahaya, setidaknya dalam jangka masa terdekat.

Beberapa pemimpin dalam industri automotif yang besar minggu ini mengungkapkan kebimbangan baru tentang pertumbuhan pasaran kereta elektrik dengan kebimbangan tentang kebolehlaksanaan kereta-kereta ini yang meletakkan strategi elektrifikasi berbilion dolar mereka dalam risiko.

Salah seorang yang mengejutkan dengan kebimbangan ini adalah Mary Barra dari General Motors (GM), yang sebelum ini merupakan salah satu CEO dalam industri automotif yang paling optimis tentang masa depan kereta elektrik. GM merupakan pionir dalam pasaran kereta elektrik, menjual Chevrolet Bolt selama tujuh tahun dan membuat klaim berani tentang masa depan sepenuhnya elektrik bagi syarikat mereka jauh sebelum pesaing mereka menyertainya.

Namun, minggu ini semasa panggilan hasil GM bagi suku ketiga tahun ini, Barra dan GM mengambil nada yang lebih realistik. Syarikat tersebut mengumumkan dengan hasil suku tahunan mereka bahawa mereka membatalkan matlamat mereka untuk membina 100,000 kereta elektrik dalam separuh kedua tahun ini dan lagi 400,000 pada separuh pertama 2024. GM tidak tahu lagi bila mereka akan mencapai matlamat tersebut.

“Apabila kita semakin melibatkan diri dalam transformasi ke kereta elektrik, ia agak bergelincir,” katanya.

Tesla Motors Ceo Elon Musk Reveals The Tesla Energy Powerwall Home Battery During An Event In Hawthorne, California — Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk reveals the Tesla Energy Powerwall Home Battery during an event in Hawthorne, California April 30, 2015. Tesla Motors Inc unveiled Tesla Energy – a suite of batteries for homes, businesses and utilities – a highly-anticipated plan to expand its business beyond electric vehicles. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon – RTX1B282

Walaupun perubahan pendirian GM mengejutkan para pelabur, syarikat kereta dari Detroit ini tidak seorang diri dalam pandangan baru tentang masa depan kereta elektrik. Elon Musk dari Tesla telah juga memberi amaran dalam panggilan hasil baru-baru ini bahawa kebimbangan ekonomi akan menyebabkan permintaan kereta berkurangan, malah untuk pemimpin pasaran kereta elektrik yang lama.

Sementara itu, Mercedes-Benz, yang terpaksa memberikan diskaun beribu-ribu dolar untuk mendapatkan kereta elektrik mereka kepada pelanggan, tidak menutup mulut tentang keadaan pasaran kereta elektrik.

“Ini adalah pasaran yang cukup brutal,” kata CFO Harald Wilhelm dalam panggilan analis. “Saya hampir tidak dapat membayangkan bahawa status quo sekarang ini adalah berkelangsungan penuh untuk semua orang.”

Kesukaran dalam menjual kereta elektrik
Namun Mercedes bukan satu-satunya yang menghadapi masalah ini; hampir semua produk kereta elektrik sekarang ini dijual dengan harga di bawah harga runcit, dan di atas itu, beberapa kereta elektrik mendapat insentif hampir 10%.

Ini berlaku semasa inventori menumpuk di agen-agen kereta, yang tidak senang dengannya. Walaupun pembeli kereta beruntung jika mencari penawaran pada kereta elektrik, eksekutif mendapati bahawa diskaun dan potongan harga yang signifikan pun tidak mencukupi. Kereta-kereta ini mengambil masa yang lebih lama untuk dijual berbanding kereta berasaskan petrol kerana golongan pembeli seterusnya lebih memikirkan kos, cabaran infrastruktur, dan halangan gaya hidup dalam menerima teknologi elektrik.

Hanya beberapa bulan selepas agen-agen mula memberi amaran tentang permintaan kereta elektrik yang melambat, pengeluar-pengeluar mula menyedari realiti ini. Ford adalah yang pertama melaksanakannya selepas agen-agen mula menolak alokasi Mach-E.

Pada bulan Julai, syarikat tersebut memanjangkan tarikh akhir yang ditetapkan sendiri untuk mencapai pengeluaran kereta elektrik tahunan sebanyak 600,000 selama satu tahun dan menggugurkan matlamat 2026 untuk membina 2 juta kereta elektrik.

Apabila merancang dengan GM untuk mengembangkan kereta elektrik kurang daripada $30,000, CEO Honda, Toshihiro Mibe, mengatakan bahawa persekitaran kereta elektrik yang berubah-ubah ini sukar untuk dinilai.

“Setelah mempelajari ini selama setahun, kami memutuskan bahawa ini akan menjadi sesuatu yang sukar dalam perniagaan, jadi buat masa ini kami menghentikan pembangunan kereta elektrik yang berharga berpatutan,” kata Mibe dalam temu ramah dengan Bloomberg minggu ini.

Bagi sesetengah orang, penarikan diri ini tidak mengejutkan.

“Orang-orang akhirnya melihat realiti,” kata Pengerusi Toyota Motor, Akio Toyoda, di Japan Mobility Show, seperti yang dilaporkan oleh Wall Street Journal. Toyoda selama ini skeptikal terhadap rancangan kereta elektrik yang murni dari rakan-rakan sejawatnya.

Permintaan Kenderaan Elektrik Sedunia Merosot Akibat Perubahan Ekonomi

Pasaran kenderaan elektrik (EV) global mengalami penurunan permintaan yang ketara, dengan beberapa faktor yang berkaitan menyumbang kepada perubahan ini. Walaupun jualan kenderaan masih berada dalam arah yang meningkat, minat yang membara terhadap EV tidak sejajar dengan jangkaan awal yang ditetapkan oleh industri automotif. Mari kita lihat dengan lebih terperinci elemen-elemen utama yang mempengaruhi pasaran EV antarabangsa:

Faedah Pinjaman Kenderaan Mengubah Keutamaan
Salah satu sebab utama di sebalik penurunan permintaan EV ini adalah daya tarikan semakin meningkat bagi faedah pinjaman kenderaan dalam ekonomi maju. Insentif kewangan ini bertujuan untuk menangani kadar inflasi dalam landskap ekonomi pasca-pandemik. Walaupun kenderaan masih dibeli, insentif-insentif ini kini menggiurkan pembeli berpotensi ke arah kenderaan enjin pembakaran dalam (ICE) konvensional.

Pertumbuhan Pasaran Tidak Memenuhi Jangkaan
Pemimpin industri mempunyai harapan tinggi terhadap pertumbuhan eksponensial dalam pasaran EV. Walau bagaimanapun, permintaan terhadap kenderaan elektrik tidak mencapai jangkaan awal, membangkitkan kebimbangan di kalangan pembuat kereta di seluruh dunia.

Honda Motorcycle: Carbon Neutrality Through Electrification

Pembatalan Kolaborasi Meningkatkan Ketidakpastian
Pembatalan baru-baru ini kerjasama bernilai $5 bilion antara GM dan Honda lebih memburukkan ketidakpastian mengenai masa depan industri ini. Kolaborasi ini bertujuan untuk menyederhanakan pengeluaran EV yang berkos efektif, tetapi pembatalannya yang mendadak telah menimbulkan soalan mengenai halatuju pembangunan EV dan perkongsian yang berpotensi.

Amaran daripada Pengeluar Bateri
Perkembangan penting datang daripada LG Energy Solution, pengeluar bateri utama dari Korea, yang telah mengeluarkan amaran. Menurut laporan mereka, ketidakpastian ekonomi global boleh menyebabkan permintaan EV jatuh di bawah jangkaan awal dalam tahun yang akan datang.

Sentimen Pelabur Menyimbangkan Ketidakpastian Pasaran
Pelabur dalam sektor EV mencerminkan sentimen yang serupa. Nilai saham syarikat-syarikat yang berkaitan dengan EV mengalami penurunan, menunjukkan rasa ragu dan ketidakselamatan dalam pasaran.

Penangguhan Elon Musk
Dalam pusingan yang mengejutkan, CEO Tesla, Elon Musk, baru-baru ini mengumumkan penangguhan pembinaan Gigafactory di Mexico. Keputusan ini disebabkan oleh kadar faedah pinjaman kenderaan yang meningkat dan persekitaran ekonomi global yang rumit.

Walau bagaimanapun, penting untuk mengakui bahawa pasaran EV telah menunjukkan pertumbuhan dalam pelbagai kawasan:

Amerika Syarikat: Di Amerika Syarikat, jualan EV pada suku ketiga tahun ini mencapai 300,000 unit, mencatat pencapaian penting dalam pasaran EV Amerika.
Kesatuan Eropah: Kesatuan Eropah telah menyaksikan peningkatan jualan EV sebanyak 14.3 peratus, menekankan komitmennya kepada pengangkutan lestari.
China: Sebagai pemimpin global dalam penggunaan EV, China melaporkan peningkatan jualan EV sebanyak 22 peratus, memperkuatkan kedudukannya dalam sektor kenderaan elektrik.

Dalam negara-negara Kesatuan Negara-negara Asia Tenggara (ASEAN), termasuk Malaysia, insentif kerajaan telah merangsang pertumbuhan jualan EV. Walau bagaimanapun, pergeseran dasar yang berpotensi, seperti penarikan insentif cukai EV (termasuk pengecualian cukai import), boleh mempengaruhi harga EV, mendedahkan permintaan sebenar untuk kenderaan elektrik di kawasan ini.

Semasa pasaran EV mengharungi cabaran ini, adalah penting bagi pembuat kenderaan dan pembuat dasar untuk memantau dengan rapat sentimen pengguna, menyesuaikan diri dengan dinamik ekonomi yang berubah, dan berterus-terang dalam memajukan penyelesaian mobiliti lestari. Walaupun keadaan pasaran semasa mungkin menguji air, komitmen jangka panjang terhadap kenderaan elektrik tetap teguh.

Rolls-Royce founders experienced electrified vehicles even in the early 20th century

Just as SUVs eventually reached the highest levels of the car market with the Rolls-Royce Cullinan being Introduced, the process of electrification will also ascend to the ‘summit’ of the industry before this decade ends. Rolls-Royce has already indicated on various occasions that it will offer an electrically-powered car in future and it confirms that this will be fully electric, without a hybrid powertrain.

The company is not intending to rush into launching the new product and says it will do so ‘when the time is right’. In the meantime, its engineers and designers are ensuring that every element meets Rolls-Royce’s technical, aesthetic and performance superlative standards.

Understanding that there is considerable interest and speculation surrounding the development of a totally different type of Rolls-Royce for the future, the company offers some perspectives in its transition to electric power.

*Both founders of Rolls-Royce – Charles Rolls (above) and Henry Royce (below) – had personal experiences of using electrically-powered cars in the early 20th century.*

Henry Royce was an electrical engineer
Interestingly, Henry Royce, one of the founders of the company, was one of the world’s first electrical engineers. Having developed an interest in electrical power, he joined the Electric Light & Power Generating Company (EL&PG) in Southwark, London. Eventually, he was made Chief Electrician at one of the company’s subsidiaries but when the company closed down, Royce chose his own path forward.

He established F. H. Royce & Co, initially producing small electrical appliances such as doorbells, lamps, fuses and switches. The business thrived, and was soon producing larger, more complex devices such as dynamos, electric motors and winches. In 1902, Royce supplied electric motors for Pritchett & Gold, a London-based battery-maker that had diversified into building electric cars (yes, there were already electric cars over 100 years ago).

Though Royce himself never built or owned an electric car, he created internal combustion engines with strong torque, silent running and smoothness… qualities which can also be found in electric powertrains.

Electrically-powered cars existed alongside cars with internal combustion engines during the early part of the 20th century. However, their extremely limited range and the absence of a charging infrastructure, as well as bulky batteries, made them less popular as time went on and the petrol and diesel engines became the default powerplants.

Charles Rolls owned an electric car
The other founder of Rolls-Royce, Charles Rolls, acquired an electric-powered car while still an engineering student at Cambridge. It was an American-made vehicle called The Columbia Electric Carriage, and described as a ‘City & Suburban’ car. That car made a strong impression on Rolls who said: “The electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable – at least for many years to come.”

Rolls made his own small contribution to solving the problem, by providing a battery-charging station at his car showroom for the private or rentable electric Broughams that were popular in London at the time. In 1904, he was to have become an agent for the Contal Electromobile electric car but after meeting Royce and seeing his new car, he didn’t go ahead with that venture.

Phantom Experimental Electric (102EX)
In the spirit of the founding figures, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars aims to be an electrification pioneer in the years to come. It has already been hard at work carrying out research and development for the new model. Some of its Ideas have already been shown to the world in concept models such as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), codenamed 102EX, of 2011. This was a fully operational and road-legal battery-electric car – never intended for production – but serving as a working test-bed for clients, VIPs, the media and enthusiasts to experience electric propulsion. Rolls-Royce designers and engineers spoke to all who tried the Phantom EE to help them in their work and understand Issues as well as expectations.

The car’s 6.75-litre V12 petrol engine and gearbox were replaced with a lithium-ion battery pack and two electric motors mounted on the rear subframe, connected to a single-speed transmission with integrated differential. This system gave a maximum power output of 290 kW and torque of 800 Nm, compared to 338 kW and maximum torque of 720 Nm for the V12 Phantom of the time.

VISION NEXT 100 (103EX)
The VISION NEXT 100 (103EX), presented in 2016, was a radically innovative concept car set out to define the marque’s long-term vision of luxury mobility. Its coachbuilt bodywork allowed clients to commission a car reflecting their personal vision and its size and scale – 5.9 metres long and 1.6 metres high – the car ensured a Grand Arrival on reaching its destination. The EX-suffix confirmed that 103EX was a purely experimental electric car. Following its debut in London, the car embarked on a 3-year world tour, returning to the factory in 2019.

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SuperCharge – another new all-electric motorsport series coming in 2022

Following in the emission-free trail of single-seater Formula E and off-road Extreme E championships is SuperCharge, an all-new global motorsport series to be based on electric crossover road cars. With the aim of providing spectacular entertainment and ultimately promote electric cars, SuperCharge will start in 2022 with eight events around the world.

Designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, SuperCharge has been created, in consultation with some of the world’s leading car manufacturers, as a new racing concept to showcase next-generation electrically-powered road cars. These would be in the volume and growth part of the market – compact SUVs and crossovers – as well as leading-edge battery technologies.

New appeal in motorsport
Resetting the relevance, appeal and value of motorsport, the new racing series aims to be located in bustling urban environments based around an access all areas, fun, informative, festival-style atmosphere.

“Motorsport is at a crossroads,” said SuperCharge Managing Director and co-founder Rob Armstrong. “Alejandro Agag and Jean Todt have done a great job pioneering electric motorsport. With many countries and cities already announcing plans to ban internal combustion-engine cars in the coming years, the need for road car-based electric motorsport is becoming more and more compelling. We believe it is only a matter of time before there are more electric motorsport series. Given this rapidly increasing EV momentum, we believe the timing and appeal of SuperCharge is ideal and see a clear space for it as the road car-relevant motorsport series.”

“We have carefully conceived SuperCharge to take account into these societal changes and to consider the needs of car companies, fans, commercial parties and venues in order to make a truly sustainable and commercially viable new series. SuperCharge takes motorsport into a new and hugely relevant arena and we can’t wait to spark the series into life across the globe,” he said.

Informing, educating and promoting
The planning and development of SuperCharge over the past 18 months has been carefully undertaken to ensure it is fully relevant, cost-effective and incubates technological advancements. At the same time, the new series offers clear technical and commercial benefits for car manufacturers.

The concept will attract new audiences for electric vehicles as well as give manufacturers the scope to develop, test and hone electric car battery technology innovations (including smart energy management systems) and relevant software in real-world racing.

Manufacturer-focused
As a manufacturer-focused series, SuperCharge is based on cars recognisable on the outside as electric road cars which the public can, or will be able to, buy. Nevertheless, the SuperCharge race cars, codenamed SC01, will offer extreme performance with similar acceleration to a Formula 1 car. They will have electric drivetrains on the front and rear axles, generating peak power from the battery of up to 500 kW (equivalent to around 670 bhp) and rocket to 100 km/h from standstill in just 2.5 seconds.

Teams will be able to adapt the standard specification car in two ways. The first is the car’s bodywork, so the public have a clear visual link between the striking racing car on the track and the one they can enjoy on the road. The second is battery technology system development, that can in turn enhance the underlying battery performance of road-going EVs.

To reflect the full electric ecosystem on public roads, the SuperCharge race car will also be designed to use roadside fast charging systems and connectors. And to ensure racing is extremely competitive and entertaining, the technical regulations of the series mean the only ways of gaining improved on-track performance come from a combination of driver skill (driver aids including launch control, traction control, brake-by-wire are explicitly outlawed), mechanical set-up (including suspension and differential adjustment) and team development of battery technology systems.

The circuits
Each circuit will use an ‘amphitheatre’ concept which can be adapted to suit a variety of urban venue settings from parks, street circuits or existing racetracks. Extensive views of the fast-paced-action will be assured through various viewing platforms.

Every SuperCharge racetrack will feature unique characteristics. One will be a 2.5-metre ramp that could project the cars up to 10 metres on every lap. Able to accommodate two or more cars abreast, it will be an integral racing element and core circuit feature, enabling drivers to utilise different jump entry and exit tactics.

A second feature of the circuit will be low-friction zones that will allow the cars to slide, drift and touch, increasing the drama and proximity of the close-quarter racing. Every SuperTrack will also feature a water gantry, adding yet another dimension to the circuit to test driver skill by creating a dry/wet/dry surface transition.

Centre-stage in the SuperCharge paddock concept is a charging zone that adopts regular road car connectors and roadside fast charging to inform the public around the whole EV ownership experience.

Consistent with the ethos of the series, the footprint and costs of SuperCharge events have also been structured to be environmentally and financially sustainable. Among the measures being incorporated are the use of existing city racing infrastructure wherever possible, as well as sea and road freight.

SuperCharge is working closely with both the British Automobile Racing Club and Motorsport UK as it seeks to apply to become an FIA International Series. The 8 events for the inaugural series will be in cities from the Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and the USA.

After Formula E, Extreme E will take electric cars into off-road competition

After Formula E, Extreme E will take electric cars into off-road competition

Following the success of the Formula E all-electric single-seater championship that began in 2014, plans are underway for another all-electric racing series and this one will be off-road. To be called ‘Extreme E’, testing began earlier this month at the Chateau de Lastours off-road proving grounds in the south of France.

How well the car and tyres are working together was one of the questions looked into during the test runs but the testers were also looking for any potential weaknesses in the electric race car’s physical and technical design, and not least in its motor. The tests lasted several days and were run by Continental tyres and Spark Racing Technology.

“The off-road conditions here are perfect and the entire team can’t wait to get out there and finally put the cars through their paces,” said Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky, who had a very specific role in the initial test phase in this remote corner of southern France. The Swede comes from a family of successful racing drivers and is the only woman to have won a race in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship.

At the proving ground, her role was to test Continental’s new high-performance tyres. “The tests will show how close we are to achieving our vision of an off-road electric racing series in some of the remotest locations in the world,” she said. “Overall, I’m pretty confident that the results will be positive.”

Locations around the planet
Continental became an Official Partner of the Extreme E off-road electric racing series in January 2019. The races will take place all over the world in locations – rainforest, desert, the freezing Arctic, high altitude and ocean islands – that have been chosen to raise awareness of the environmental issues facing humanity. Promoters Formula E Holdings Ltd. expects 10 teams to take part in the first season, which is scheduled to begin in December 2020. The first two locations have been confirmed as Greenland and Brazil.

Continental is already a Founding Partner of the series and will become a Premium Partner in 2021. The technology company will also be equipping all the vehicles involved in the races with tyres for the diverse and extremely demanding conditions that they will encounter.

Raising awareness of climate change
One of the main goals shared by Extreme E’s founders, partners and participants is to raise awareness among spectators of the challenges facing society as a whole, such as climate change, humankind’s interaction with the environment and the protection of threatened animal and plant species.

According to Continental’s Extreme E project leader, Sandra Roslan, “This new racing format is an opportunity for us to show that our high-performance tyres keep delivering even under extreme conditions. But Extreme E is also a radical new initiative for raising awareness of the challenges facing the modern world. It is this unconventional mix of adrenaline, entertainment and sustainability that makes this series so exciting. That is why we became Founding Partners and sponsors of the series in January and why we are really looking forward to the test phase.”

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Manufacturers must make their electric cars noisy

As the era of the electric car dawns and more such cars will be on the roads, safety issues are beginning to get increasing attention. The fact that cars with only electric motors run almost silently may be good for the environment but can be a danger to pedestrians. It’s already bad enough that there are pedestrians who are walk around with earphones blocking out ambient noises that they do not realise a car is approaching them. With electric cars, even pedestrians who can hear may not know a car is coming up behind them.

For the past few years, safety authorities in some countries have begun to introduce new regulations that require electric vehicles to ‘make noise’ as a safety measure. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for example, added such a requirement for all new hybrid and electric light-duty vehicles sold in the USA. The new federal safety standard is intended to help pedestrians who are blind, have low vision, and other pedestrians detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are traveling at low speeds.

*Special acoustic chambers are used to conduct tests on noise generated by vehicles.*

Under the new rule, to come into effect in September this year, all hybrid and electric light vehicles with 4 wheels and a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds (4,545 kgs) or less will be required to make audible noise when traveling in reverse or forward at speeds up to 30 km/h. At higher speeds, the sound alert is not required because other factors, such as tyre and wind noise, provide adequate audible warning to pedestrians.

New EU directive to make noise
Since the beginning of July 2019, a new EU directive has made it mandatory to install a warning sound generator in electric cars in Europe. This stipulates that initially in newly certificated hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles – also trucks and buses – an Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) must be installed for the protection of other road users.

The warning is mandatory up to a speed of 20 km/h and the Directive formulates the parameters for how an AVAS warning may and may not sound in great detail. This applies for example to the minimum and maximum sound volume, and to certain sound components.

How manufacturers are meeting the requirement
It is subject to these and many other regulations that the sound experts of the acoustic test facility at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre in Germany are working on giving a ‘voice’ to the electrified Mercedes-Benz models. Special microphones in the exterior sound testing facilities are used to develop an individually configured e-sound for each electric model.

Simulations, measurements, evaluations and detailed improvements continue until the result is perfect. During the subsequent test drives, there is a particularly sensitive passenger on board – the artificial head. This registers the tiniest noises, and comes impressively close to human hearing.

The Mercedes-Benz AVAS sound differs only slightly for the EU, Japan and China. There are other requirements for the USA, for example concerning the sound volume. Furthermore, the stationary vehicle must already generate a sound when a gear is engaged, becoming louder up to 30 km/h. Switching off the AVAS by the customer is prohibited in almost all countries.

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2019 NY Auto Show – Hyundai Kona Electric Achieves 400km Of Estimated Range

Hyundai has unveiled the U.S.-market version of its convention-breaking Kona Electric crossover at the New York Auto Show. Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform and is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Kona Electric’s exterior styling features voluminous, aggressive body styling complemented by a low and wide stance for great looks and confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments.

It joins Hyundai’s successful new Kona, Tucson and Santa Fe in a full line-up of Hyundai crossovers for the U.S. market. 2019 Kona Electric models will be produced in Ulsan, Korea and available in the fourth quarter of 2018, with initial availability in California and subsequently in the ZEV-focused states in the western and northeastern regions of the U.S. market.

“Our new Kona Electric crossover is a stylish and efficient compact CUV, tailored to the needs of customers who pursue eco-focused active lifestyles requiring generous range,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America.

“We’re confident it will set new standards for the electric-propelled compact CUV segment, with outstanding range flexibility, appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features.” he added.

2019 Kona Electric Highlights

Compact electric CUV segment-leading 250-mile estimated range
Bold, fresh design elements with extroverted color options
- LED headlight, taillight and daytime running light illumination signature
High-efficiency 201 horsepower (150 kW), 291 lb.-ft. electric motor powertrain
High-voltage 64 kWh lithium-ion battery
Standard floating touchscreen with Apple CarPlay™/Android Auto™ capability
Hyundai Smart Sense (HSS):
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection
- Driver Attention Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- High Beam Assist
Premium technology availability:
- 8-inch Navigation System
- Shift-by-wire center console drive controls with additional lower storage
- Next generation Blue Link® connected car system
- Heads-up Display (with active pop-up display screen)
- Rain-sensing Wipers
- Qi Wireless-device charging

Kona Electric offers a powerful, efficient electric drivetrain and a stylish, roomy interior. A whole host of advanced safety features are also available including Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Distance Warning and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection.

For the full press release on the Hyundai Kona, click here: 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Recalibratesco CUV Formula with an Impressive 250 Miles of Estimated Range

Honda and Hitachi join forces to build electric motors

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. have announced the establishment of a joint venture company that will develop and manufacture electric motors for vehicles. The company will use Hitachi Automotive Systems’ premises in Hitachinaka-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture.

Prior to the establishment of the company, both companies were engaged in various discussions based on a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed February 3rd. It will receive a financial grant from Ibaraki Prefecture as it has been recognized as a relevant project that “promotes the establishment of corporate head office functions” within the prefecture.

This joint venture will allow Honda better access to electric motor technology as well as give the company a head start at being a mass producer of EV motors. The advent of practical electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S has managed to convince many that EV vehicles can be a practical mode of transportation.

Unlike the old days, newer ones are able to travel longer before needing to be recharged and are fitted with batteries that last over time. Automakers have also increased the warranty period on these batteries as well as initiated programmes that make it easier for owners to have their tired batteries replaced at a fraction of the actual costs.

Mass production of electrical components such as battery packs and motors, should drive down costs of buying and owning an EV, which in turn will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Honda should benefit from this quiet a bit, especially if it manages to convince large automakers to buy Honda motors rather than build their own from scratch.

Piston.my

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MG4 and MGZS EV Officially Launched in Malaysia

Eksekutif Automotif Mula Mengaku Kenderaan Elektrik Bukan Pilihan Masa Depan

Permintaan Kenderaan Elektrik Sedunia Merosot Akibat Perubahan Ekonomi

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Honda and Hitachi join forces to build electric motors

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