EV Archives

Piston.my

EV

DHL Express Takes First Step To Electrify Its Vehicle Fleet in Malaysia

The vehicle fleets of logistics companies travel non-stop delivering goods and as most are powered by internal combustion engines (ICE), they obviously generate a lot of CO₂ (carbon dioxide) which has been identified as the gas causing global warming and climate change. While the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers have done a lot to make engines run cleaner, it’s clear that there needs to be a shift to zero emissions electric powertrains soon.

Understanding that its vehicles contribute large amounts of CO₂ around the world. DHL, the logistics company, has set a goal that by 2030, 60% of its vehicles involved in ‘last-mile’ deliveries (from depot to customer’s location) will be electrified. This is part of its commitment to have sustainable business practices with the ultimate goal of zero emissions logistics by 2050.

(more…)

X44 Vida Carbon Racing Wins Extreme E Round At Copper Mine In Chile

The Extreme E electric off-road racing series headed down will end its second season in South America, with the second last round held recently in Chile as the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix. As with every round of Extreme E, the location for this round was chosen to highlight challenging climate issues that this region is facing. In this case, it was the Atacama Desert which is the driest (non-polar) region in the world.

Extreme E’s decision to race in this part of Chile was to shine a spotlight on the copper industry, and its importance to electric vehicles (EVs), like those racing in the event. As EVs rely heavily on copper not only for production but also for battery charging, Extreme E aims to highlight the development of sustainable alternatives.

(more…)

Volkswagen GEN.TRAVEL Design Study Offers Maximum Vehicle Autonomy

In the future (probably quite distant), people will travel in vehicles which can operate completely without human control or management. This will be when Level 5 autonomy is possible, at which time the question will be whether we can regard the vehicle as the ‘car’ we drive today.

At Chantilly Arts & Elegance event being held in France this weekend, the Volkswagen Group will present an innovative design study that will show what a Level 5 autonomous vehicle might be like, with a realistic outlook for the mobility of the coming decade.

For obtaining customer response
The prototype, known as the GEN.TRAVEL, is an Innovation Experience Vehicle (IEV) to test the concept and new functionalities for customer response. Based on the study results, individual features may later be transferred to production vehicles.

(more…)

Thai Section Of Shell High Performance Charging Station Network To Be Operational in 2023

For a long time now, it has been possible to drive from Singapore on the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia all the way to Bangkok (and beyond) – a distance of around 2,200 kms. And the highway/road network had many petrol stations along the way so there’s no fear of not having enough fuel to make the journey.

However, with electric vehicles (EVs), it’s a different matter because the ‘fuel’ that such vehicles need is not readily available along the way. Unlike the petrol station network which is the product of over 100 years of development, the network of recharging stations in the region is only just being established.

By the first half of 2023, owners of EVs will be able to embark on road journeys between Bangkok and Singapore with the assurance that they can ‘fuel’ along the way when necessary. This will be possible with the establishment of recharging points at 11 Shell stations in Thailand.

(more…)

Renault R5 Turbo 3E – The Born Drifter

The Renault 5 might never have been born as it never started as an official project of the company. It was an idea which a designer worked on during his own free time and when top management saw it, they were impressed with its concept and wanted it put into production.

Though starting life as a humble little car, the Renault 5 would become an icon today and on the 50^th anniversary of the model, Renault has created the R5 TURBO 3E as an all-electric showcar which pays tribute to the most celebrated sports versions: the Renault 5 Turbo and Turbo 2. It has logically been named R5 TURBO 3E, ‘3’ because it follows the Turbo 2, with ‘E’ being for electric.

(more…)

GMC HUMMER EV To Join ‘Call Of Duty’ (w/VIDEO)

The original HUMMER is well known as a civilian version of the HUMVEE (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) used by military forces, mainly American. The HUMVEE is the spiritual successor of the jeep used in earlier wars.

GMC has developed an all-new 21^st century HUMMER (the last one was discontinued in 2010) which lays claim to being the world’s first fully electric supertruck. Its powertrain will produce an estimated 1,000 horsepower and 15,590 Nm of torque, giving a 0 – 97 km/ time that will be around 3 seconds. Designed and engineered to cross the roughest type of terrain, it has 330 mm of suspension travel to give exceptional off-road capability.

(more…)

Peugeot to increase EV range with e-308 and e-308 SW in 2023

Continuing with its electrification drive forward, Peugeot has added battery electric versions of the latest 308 generation to its line-up. To be available in 2023 in Europe in hatchback and stationwagon bodystyles, the e-308 and e-308 SW join the plug-in hybrid versions already available. The e-308 SW is one of the first fully electric stationwagons from a European carmaker.

The new cars have the latest Peugeot design language with the brand’s new badge proudly displayed in the centre of the grille. However, the bonnet is longer, with fang-shaped light signature framing the Matrix LED headlamps and the 3-claw LED lights at the rear to identify the models as part of the Peugeot family.

(more…)

Jeep To Start Selling Fully Electric SUVs From 2023

Jeep, which began as the name for a military vehicle before becoming a brand name, will go fully electric by the end of this decade. Although it already has some electrified (hybrid powertrains) models, it will only introduce battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by the end of 2025.

As part of its ‘Dare Forward 2030’ long-term strategic plan, 100% of European sales will be BEV models by the end of 2030, while 50% of Jeep brand sales in the USA will be fully electric by then. All four new BEV models will be SUVs.

Jeep recently released the first images of two pf the forthcoming BEVs – the new Recon and new Wagoneer (codename Wagoneer S), while confirming that the all-new Avenger will go on sale launch in Europe early next year.

Currently, Jeep has been enjoying success with its 4xe plug-in hybrid models – the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee – and are drawing on the technology for the BEVs being developed. The electrification plan will also expand the Wagoneer portfolio which will have powertrains targeted to give up to 500 kms of range. The Wagoneer S will be a global BEV model and production will start in 2024 in North America.

(more…)

Volkswagen ID. XTREME Concept Shows High-Performance Potential Of MEB

With the ID.4 GTX that Volkswagen launched in May last year, the company showed that ‘performance’ can also be associated with battery electric vehicles (BEVs), just as combustion engine models have performance variants. A member of the brand’s BEV range, it is the first fully electric high-performance model that is said to add a new dimension to sportiness and dynamics. Just as ‘GTI’ has been used to identify Volkswagen’s performance models, ‘GTX’ will do likewise with the electric vehicles.

To show that there is still much potential to extend the performance envelope, Volkswagen has come out with the ID. XTREME concept car based on the ID.4 GTX. This is the most powerful ID model yet revealed and shows the performance potential and versatility of the modular electric drive matrix (MEB).

Equipped with all-wheel drive, the ID. XTREME combines the strengths of a modern SUV with the sense of adventure embodied by a rugged off-road vehicle. It was created by the team of Andreas Reckewerth (Head of overall vehicle) in the Volkswagen Development department.

(more…)

PRO-NET Established To Handle Proton’s New Energy Vehicle Business

Following the signing of its General Distributorship Agreement (GDA) with smart last month, Proton has established a new subsidiary company to handle sales and distributorship for the smart vehicles which are available only with battery electric powertrains.

The new company, known as Proton New Energy Technology Sdn. Bhd. (PRO-NET), will also be responsible for Proton’s own future new energy vehicle (NEV) offerings. ‘NEV’ is a term which originated in China around 2010 and refers to vehicles which are electrified (including plug-in hybrids). The category was created to facilitate the provision of incentives to boost development and sales of electrified vehicles.