The Taycan represents a new era in the history of Porsche cars as it is brand’s first all-electric sportscar. Unlike its entry into the SUV segment, Porsche has not been slow to develop a fully-electric production sportscar model and not surprisingly, offering pioneering technology to go with the high performance the brand is expected to deliver.
Both inside and out, the Taycan will be truly a car of the electric age and Porsche is now letting the public take a peek at the interior before the sportscar makes it world debut next month. Commenting on the interior design, Ivo van Hulten, Director Interior Design Style Porsche at Porsche AG, said: “The Taycan interior combines design elements typical for the brand with a new type of user experience, and impresses with its simple elegance. Less is more applies here too.”
Typical Porsche cabin
The original 911’s cleanly styled dashboard from 1963 was the inspiration. The stated goal was to bring it into the present day. The cockpit signals the start of a new era with its clear structure and a completely new construction. It is clearly driver-focused, the instrument panel clean and minimalist with an ultra-modern design. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. It is clearly focused towards the driver and ensures that everything that’s needed for driving fast and safely is in view.
The innovative instrument cluster consists of a curved 16.8-inch screen with the rounded look that’s typical of Porsche. A cowl has been omitted, which ensures a slim and modern appearance in the style of high-quality smartphones and tablets. Real glass and a vapour-deposited, polarising filter give anti-reflective properties.
4 display modes
The Classic mode (power meter) evokes the rounded instruments typical of Porsche. This display delivers information that’s clearly arranged, allowing for fast readability. A power meter replaces the rev counter in the middle instrument.
Next is the Map mode which replaces the central power meter with a map layout. Full Map mode, when chosen, intentionally omits the round instruments in favour of a navigation map displayed across the full display. The Pure mode displays only essential driving information such as speed, traffic signs and navigation using a minimalist arrow.
There are also small, touch-control fields at the edges of the screen for operating the light and chassis functions. The instrument cluster is therefore wider than the steering wheel and reminiscent of the iconic original 911.
The steering wheel has a light appearance, with two models to choose from. In addition to the basic version, which can be customised with coloured inserts as part of the accent package, Porsche also offers a GT sports steering wheel option. It has a distinctive design with visible screw heads and features a typical Porsche round mode switch which can be used to select the various driving modes.
The upper and lower sections of the dashboard stretch across the entire width of the vehicle in the shape of a wing. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look, thereby blending in visually with the interior.
All-new user interfaces
All user interfaces have been completely re-designed for the Taycan, possible since it is an entirely new car from the ground up. The number of traditional hardware controls, such as switches and buttons, have been greatly reduced. Instead, control is intelligent and intuitive – via touch operation or a voice control function that responds to the command “Hey Porsche”.
The elevated centre console intensifies the feeling of a low seating position, as you would expect from a Porsche. It features a large 8.4-inch touch panel with haptic feedback. This allows the air-conditioning settings to be altered directly. Integrated handwriting recognition also allows quick address inputs.
Every detail has been reduced to the essentials. Like the 918, the Taycan has a compact direction selector switch in the instrument panel instead of the classic selector lever. This gives the centre console a tidy look and creates storage space.
A reduction to the essentials and a clear approach are also evident for the air vents. These have been fully modernised and can be operated intuitively. Traditional, mechanically-operated louvres belong to the past, as airflows are now controlled both digitally and fully automatically (Virtual Airflow Control).
An optional 4-zone automatic climate control system installs an additional 5.9-inch touch control panel with haptic feedback allows the system to be operated from the rear seats.
Innovative material concepts
The Taycan’s colour and material design allows for individualised equipment, from traditional through to sustainable and modern. A new feature is the fully leather-free interior with state-of-the-art surface textures. ‘Race-Tex’ material is used, a high-quality microfibre material partially consisting of recycled polyester fibres. Its production has 80% less carbon dioxide than traditional materials. The floor covering uses the recycled fibre ‘Econyl’, which is made from, among other things, recycled fishing nets.
Prototype Taycan that was displayed at a Formula E event
Flanked by classic Pininfarina-designed cars and inspired by Pininfarina’s purity of design and engineering elegance, Automobili Pininfarina recently presented the Battista hypercar and the company’s future vision for luxury electric cars at the Monterey Car Week in California.
Besides the presentation by CEO Michael Perschke of the Battista with its enhanced front design and his strategy for the brand moving forward, Design Director Luca Borgogno also treated guests to a preview of the PURA Vision design model. It was an inspirational view of the aesthetics of a future pure-electric Luxury Utility Vehicle from the Italian marque.
PURA Vision shows the future
“PURA Vision blends design themes which Battista Pininfarina himself made famous in creating some of the most revered and beautiful sportscars in history. Yet it is absolutely an insight into our future; a luxury vehicle like no other and once again designed to deliver thrilling EV performance,” said Borgogno.
“89 years of Pininfarina designs and creation of some of the world’s most beautiful cars will inspire everything Automobili Pininfarina offers to clients in the future.”
The Battista joined a parade of iconic Pininfarina-designed cars in a display of automotive beauty unique even to the rarefied atmosphere of Monterey Car Week. Designed and to be hand-built at Pininfarina’s headquarters in Italy, the Battista took its place amongst past classics from the famous carrozzeria during a 4-hour drive from Pebble Beach.
Battista gets refinements
Displaying a new enhanced front end for the first time in North America, recently sculpted following wind tunnel testing and final design refinements, the Battista represented Automobili Pininfarina’s exciting future. Cars led by the legendary Lancia Rally 037 reminded the audience of what Pininfarina has established since 1930: a reputation for designing many of the world’s most desirable and beautiful cars.
The Automobili Pininfarina team now returns to Italy to continue testing and development of the 1,900 ps Battista under the management of Development Driver Nick Heidfeld and Sportscars Director Rene Wollmann. Meanwhile, the Battista show cars head to the UK for the Salon Prive event and to Hong Kong to begin the launch programme for the Asia-Pacific region.
There’s no denying the fact that the future of mobility has its foot firmly planted in electricity and more companies are coming up with their very own versions of the ultimate electric vehicle. One particular start-up company from Silicon Valley called Drako Motors has a slightly different vision in mind with their recently introduced 2020 Drako GTE, an electric four-door sedan with 1,200hp. (more…)
In Britain, there are now more public places to recharge electric vehicle (EVs) than station selling petrol or diesel. In fact, the difference is almost 1,000 – 9,300 EV charging locations compared to 8,400 fuel stations.
This is the finding of Nissan’s UK subsidiary, based on available data and the company says that the crossover actually happened more than a year before Nissan’s 2016 prediction of August 2020. It is believed to be the result of the accelerating adoption of EVs amongst British motorists.
Fuel stations are everywhere
The global fuel station network today is a product of some 100 years of expansion. Places where vehicles can refuel can be found even deep inside the jungles of Africa or the mountain passes of the Himalayas. In Britain, the first fuel station was opened in November 1919 and as the vehicle population grew, so too did the number of stations to meet demand.
However, since 1970, almost 80% of the stations have closed, whilst the number of EV charging locations has increased from a few hundred in 2011 (when the Nissan LEAF went on sale) to more than 9,000 in August 2019.
‘Range anxiety’ can be dismissed
Of these locations, more than 1,600 provide ‘rapid charging’ which can recharge a typical EV battery pack to around 80% capacity in under an hour. According to Zap-Map, two new rapid charge devices came online every day in the last month. Almost all UK motorway service stations now have charging stations installed, the majority of which provide a rapid charge option. So it would be possible for owners of EVs such as the LEAF to travel around the country without ‘range anxiety’.
Transport for London has installed more than 1,000 EV charge points in the last year alone, as supply of fossil fuel within the capital city is becoming scarcer. One of the country’s oldest stations, the Bloomsbury Service Station which had been in operation since 1926, was closed in 2008.
“We’ve moved beyond the early concerns of range anxiety with EVs now exceeding the vast majority of customer’s daily driving needs. The next challenge is for charging infrastructure to keep pace with the number of EVs on the road, and that the experience of recharging is as enjoyable and effortless as that of all-electric driving,“ said Kalyana Sivagnanam, MD of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd.
Since Nissan launched the first mass-market electric vehicle – the LEAF – in 2010, EV technology has continually improved, with the latest models both affordable and practical for the majority of new car buyers. As a result, Britain is experiencing unprecedented growth in the demand for battery-powered personal transport.
The latest LEAF is now also available in Malaysia. Find out more at www.nissan.com.my.
CONNECTIVITY. It’s a term you hear often these days in descriptions of new models. It refers to the seamless integration between advanced technologies for infotainment and the portable devices that the car’s occupants have, as well as connecting to the world outside the car.
The earliest ‘connectivity’ feature would have been the radio, receiving broadcasts of music and news from stations as the car moved along. Then with the advent of the cellular mobilephone, 2-way communications became possible. And with the internet and wireless broadband, connectivity meant being able to connect to the World Wide Web and use the same services and applications you use on your computer or tablet.
Connectivity is becoming very important and sophisticated with the coming era of autonomous cars. Not only must cars communicate with the outside world efficiently and safely but the occupants must also have the best connectivity since they will be involved in the driving less (or not at all).
Benchmark in connectivity features
Honda, like other carmakers, has already many connectivity features in its current models and is developing even more. The new Honda e EV to got on sale in Europe this year sets a new benchmark in this area with connected infotainment which helps the car to integrate with the owner’s lifestyle through sophisticated, easy-to-use technology.
As a result, the driver and passengers – whether the car is driving, parked or charging – can enjoy the same connectivity and comfort with comprehensive connected services accessed through a next-generation full-width digital dashboard.
“Our objective for the Honda e was that the simple exterior style continues inside. The overall interior atmosphere combined with exceptional comfort by using familiar materials such as wood grain and textured fabric, is reminiscent of a modern living room.” explained Kohei Hitomi, Large Project Leader for the Honda e. “In this modern, relaxing environment, occupants can effortlessly engage with advanced connected technology such as the camera mirror system and dual touchscreen display that is highly sophisticated, but incredibly easy to use.”
Full-width digital dashboard
The Honda e’s full-width digital dashboard is designed for effortless usability of connected apps and services. Five integrated high-resolution colour screens together occupy the entire width of the car’s interior.
The Side Camera Mirror System screens are ergonomically placed at either end of the dashboard to ensure a natural feel and vision for the driver, while the Centre Camera Mirror System display relays the image from a central rear-facing camera, further increasing the driver’s field of vision.
An 8.8-inch TFT meter instrument display in front of the driver presents key vehicle information including power and charge status, drive mode selected and safety feature details.
Dual screens display connected services
The largest area of the full-width digital dashboard is occupied by dual 12.3-inch LCD touchscreens. These are the primary infotainment displays, presenting a range of intelligent applications and services. This sophisticated interface is highly intuitive, customisable, and has been designed for ultimate usability to elevate the car beyond being a means of transportation to become fully integrated into the owner’s modern connected life.
The interface features familiar smartphone-style usability, with swipe controls to browse recently used applications. Content can easily be swapped across the two screens, enabling the driver to utilise content on both screens with simplicity and ease. This function allows the passenger to swipe content such as navigation instructions into the driver’s eye line. And because the dual screen set-up allows two applications to be displayed side-by-side, the driver and front passenger can independently select and view separate apps. For example, while the driver follows navigation instructions, the front passenger can search for a music playlist.
AI-powered connectivity
Connected services and applications can also be accessed using voice commands via the Honda Personal Assistant. The intuitive Honda Personal Assistant is a smart artificial intelligence (AI) service that uses unique contextual understanding to create natural conversations and provide access to a range of online services.
The Honda Personal Assistant is activated by saying ‘OK Honda’, followed by the question or instruction. Machine learning enables the technology to develop a greater understanding of individuals’ voice over time, helping it to deliver more accurate responses.
The comprehensive suite of in-built apps can be supplemented by smartphone mirroring, via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. These systems enable users to view social media, music and other internet services on the dual touchscreens. When the car is parked – even when charging – the occupants can also watch video content and access the internet on their own mobile devices using the built-in wifi hotspot.
Prototypes of the all-electric Honda e to go on sale in Europe before the end of 2019
Smartphone application for remote access
Owners can still stay connected to their car remotely through a smartphone application when they step out. The service focusses on the user journey, with easy navigation to access charging functions, detailed vehicle status, climate control, security and location monitoring. Additional connectivity and EV-specific functions include battery charge control and range monitor, while charging station and navigation search results can be sent to the car from a mobile device.
The Honda e is also accessible using a digital key, allowing the car to be locked and unlocked via the app. Safety alerts can notify owners if it moved outside of a set ‘geofence’ zone.
The Honda e is initially intended for sale in European markets. Honda’s plan for the next decade is to have a substantial portion of its vehicle sales made up of battery electric vehicles. Connectivity technologies in the Honda e are likely to be adopted in new models in coming years so the next City or CR-V you buy may have some of the features you just read about.
Visit www.honda.com.my to read about models you can buy in Malaysia today.
7 years ago, Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) began ‘Journey to Zero Emissions’, a campaign to educate the Malaysian public about electric vehicles (EVs) and their benefits. Two years earlier, Nissan had launched the LEAF all-electric car and although it had no plans to offer the innovative new model in this market, ETCM felt that EVs would eventually become mainstream cars. Being associated with these vehicles of the future early could be advantageous later on.
The Japanese carmaker was focussed on more advanced markets like Japan, the USA and Europe where the LEAF was be very well received. Although Nissan did not want to get involved in the campaign, ETCM went ahead using its own money to fund it, a commendable effort.
In 2012, ETCM spent its own money to run a campaign to educate Malaysians about electric vehicles and their benefits, using the first generation LEAF. The company was also the first to set up a public charging station which was located at a shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The timing was right too because around that period, the Malaysian government decided to promote the use of environment-friendly vehicles. As a demonstration of its commitment to reduce the country’s carbon footprint, hybrids and EVs were exempted from import tax and excise duties for 3 years, lowering their prices to attractive levels. This helped ETCM, of course, and benefitted the ‘early adopters’ who were invited to be ‘ambassadors’ for the ‘Journey to Zero Emissions’ campaign.
The re-imposition of the typically high duties on completely built-up (CBU) vehicles bumped the price of the LEAF up by about RM20,000. Sales virtually ended although there were still some people who bought the car at around RM180,000.
ETCM monitored the usage of the first generation to get real-world operation data in Malaysian conditions.
Collecting real-world data on operation
While the period that followed didn’t see more activity from ETCM concerning EVs, the company nevertheless monitored the cars in use. Valuable information on real-world operation was collected, especially the reliability of the components in our weather and motoring conditions. Nissan would have benefitted from this data and used it during the development of the next generation. Issues like high humidity and heavy rainfall would have had the engineers making sure that high-voltage connections and equipment would be sealed properly to prevent electrocution.
Nissan was indeed looking at countries in the Asia & Oceania region to introduce the LEAF, having ‘conquered” the development ones to become the bestselling EV in the world. Findings of a survey in 2017 were encouraging as 37% of respondents were willing to consider an EV as their next car.
So the journey that began as the initiative of one of its longest business partners now resumes with Nissan directly involved and presumably, supporting ETCM (as well as other distributors in the region) in various ways to market and grow sales. While the government won’t fully exempt EVs from duties, it is providing an incentive in the form of lower excise duties of 10% for such vehicles. This has enabled ETCM to price the new second generation LEAF at RM188,888 (excluding insurance).
Greatly improved second generation
In the 9 years since the first generation was on sale, the LEAF and all the technologies related to it have advanced greatly so the second generation is a far better car in all aspects. With more than 400,000 units sold worldwide, Nissan and its suppliers have gained the economies of scale to bring production costs down although the technology is still expensive. Nevertheless, it’s a trade-off: the costs can now be moderated but performance is increased. For instance, battery costs have gone down but the energy storage levels are higher, enabling the LEAF to go further.
The car also embodies Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s approach to changing the way cars are driven, powered and integrated into society. The three key aspects of Nissan Intelligent Mobility exemplified by the new Nissan LEAF are Nissan Intelligent Driving, Nissan Intelligent Power and Nissan Intelligent Integration.
The new powertrain offers improved energy efficiency and now produces 110 kW (about 150 ps), 38% more than before. Torque has been increased 26% to 320 Nm, resulting in improved acceleration that puts the 0 to 100 km/h time at a claimed 7.9 seconds. Typical of electric powertrains, maximum torque is available the moment the car takes off so it is quite an experience! There is another variant with higher power output and longer range but this is not available for the region yet.
More powerful battery pack, longer range
The key issues for EV buyers are range and charging time and the latest LEAF has a new 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack which is said to give a range of 311 kms on a full charge (according to an internationally recognised test procedure). Over 300 kms is plenty for most people unless they travel outstation daily. Incidentally, ETCM has calculated the cost of running at 7 sen per kilometre if you have to pay for the electricity drawn.
As for charging, each new LEAF comes with a 6.6 kW wall box charger that can be installed at home or at the office. This recharges the battery pack fully in around 7 hours, so plugging in overnight – just as you would do with your mobilephone – would be a daily routine. However, installing the wall box may not be easy for everyone, especially those who live in a condominium complex. They will have to get the agreement of the complex management.
Each new LEAF will come with a wall box charger (left) that can be installed at home. In certain places, there will also be quick-chargers (right) which can recharge fully within 1 hour.
As for public charging stations which are common in developed countries and very slowly appearing in Malaysia, there is also the 50 kW CHAdeMO quick-charger which can recharge 100% within an hour. However, this is an expensive unit (about RM80,000 compared to RM8,000 for the wall box) and is only available at certain locations at this initial stage. ETCM is working with various parties to grow the network quickly and in the meantime, also has recharging stations at 17 of its outlets around the country.
With the earlier EVs (not that there were many available), the distance that could be travelled was limited so outstation motoring was out of the question. Going from KL to Melaka for a day trip was not possible as the range was insufficient. With the new LEAF’s 300+ km range, that is now possible as Melaka is about 150 kms away. Nevertheless, having a range of 150 kms remaining is risky so ETCM suggests recharging along the way and there is already a station at the Ayer Keroh R&R to do so. It’s even possible to drive from the Klang Valley to Penang although it would entail an overnight stop in Ipoh to recharge at the ETCM outlet (free of charge).
The point is that ‘range anxiety’ – worrying about how far you can go – is becoming less of a concern for EV owners, particularly those who have a LEAF. In Japan, route navigation systems have the locations of all recharging stations throughout the country so long-distance travellers can plan their journeys to have ample reserve energy in the battery packs and not worry about ‘going dry’.
Inside the LEAF
The dashboard of the first generation was somewhat futuristic, perhaps an attempt to ‘wow’ people as it was a new type of car. Now that the LEAF has become accepted and established, Nissan’s interior designers seem to have reverted to a more familiar appearance although there is much use of a graphic display as the main and comprehensive source of information for the driver.
Those who are driving the LEAF for the first time will need to get used to mode selection with the short knob. It’s almost like driving an automatic except there are less positions to engage and another thing – electric cars don’t make a sound when they are ready to go. You press the button and a light comes on and that’s it. No cranking of a starter motor or the vibrations of an idling engine.
The latest LEAF also comes with an e-Pedal, a Nissan innovation which is standard. It allows the driver to accelerate, decelerate and stop the car by using just the accelerator pedal alone. By simply releasing the accelerator, the LEAF will come to a smooth and complete stop without the need to press the brake pedal. With a deceleration rate of up to 0.2g, the e-Pedal eliminates the need for drivers to constantly move their foot from the accelerator to the brake pedal to slow down or stop. This helps reduce fatigue and increase enjoyment.
Stylish and futuristic exterior
As mentioned earlier, the interior has returned to a more familiar appearance as other Nissan models. But on the outside, the new design is certainly stylish and futuristic, with the option of having the 2-tone theme (black ‘floating’ roof) that was first seen in the current Serena S-HYBRID.
The design of the new LEAF is inspired by the IDS Concept car shown at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The elements of Nissan brand design such as the signature V-Motion grille, the boomerang light signature and the floating roof link this model to the Nissan family.
A clear-blue 3D mesh pattern with a ‘freezing’ motif, on a flush surface inside the V-Motion grille, expresses the LEAF’s uniqueness as an EV (no need for air to cool the engine). The underfloor and a diffuser-type rear bumper combine to reduce drag and prevent lift, resulting in improved vehicle stability. With the more aerodynamic body styling and other details promote smoother airflow, the Cd is now 0.28.
Starting a new era for ETCM
When the founders of Tan Chong brought in the first Nissan cars (then branded as Datsuns), they didn’t know if they could sell them all. So they thought if they couldn’t they would just use the unsold cars themselves. For Christopher Tan, ETCM’s Sales & Marketing Director and grandson of one of the founders, that uncertainty in selling a type of car his grandfather never sold is less evident. In fact, he is encouraged by the pre-launch response and said that he has to start thinking about applying for more APs to get additional stocks.
“Our first batch is 100 units and we have already had interest from many people, especially those who have owned the LEAF before. They love the ‘EV life’ and don’t want any other type of car so now that they can replace it with the next generation, they are keen to do so,” he told PISTON.MY.
Mr. Tan added that they are not looking at big volumes in the short-term. Many who buy the LEAF will be those who use it as a second car but through them, the advantages of the EV can be publicised and in time, more people may be interested to own one.
The LEAF can cross flooded roads (though not recommended) without the electrics failing, and you can also recharge if it is raining, if necessary.
Two options for customers
ETCM offers two options to those who want to have a LEAF. The first is to purchase it outright for RM188,888 and it comes with 3 years (or maximum of 60,000 kms) of free scheduled maintenance, 3 years (or maximum of 100,000 kms) factory warranty and 8 years (or maximum of 160,000 kms) of warranty coverage on the battery pack.
The second option is a leasing approach: pay RM3,500 a month for 3 years to use the car and in the fourth year, you can return it and get a new one and continue the program. You can also renew the deal and will likely get a lower monthly rate. “I think that this may interest corporate buyers who can have a new car every 3 years,” said Mr. Tan.
Although the LEAF has a spacious and expandable cargo area, owners can ask for the loan of a X-Trail, Navara or Serena S-HYBRID if they have special requirements.
Additionally, for all LEAF owners, ETCM is offering a choice of a Navara, X-Trail or Serena S-HYBRID that can be borrowed for up to 23 days each year. “We think this is a useful privilege we can offer LEAF owners who may sometimes have certain requirements which necessitate using such vehicles. For example, an owner may be moving house and need to carry big and heavy items, so he can make use of our highly capable Navara at no charge,” explained Mr. Tan.
Sep Irran will soon have a report on his first driving impressions to share with you. Visit www.nissan.com.my to find out which showrooms will have the new LEAF on display during the weekend of 27/28 July.
Providing ‘Mobility for All‘ is something Toyota Motor Corporation takes seriously. It is demonstrating this in its role as worldwide partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, specifically the one which will take place in Tokyo in 2020.
Besides various forms of transport that it has developed for different groups at the event, it is developing a special new product known as the Accessible People Mover (APM). This is a mobility vehicle designed expressly for use at the Games.
‘Last mile solution’
The APM will offer a ‘last one mile’ solution that helps transport as many people as possible to events and venues. These include athletes and staff related to the Games as well as all types of visitors with accessibility needs such as the elderly, people with impairments, pregnant women, and families with small children, among others. Part of the fleet of APMs, to number around 200 in total, will be used to support relief activities at events/venues during summer.
There will be two versions – a Basic Model and one with Relief specifications. The Basic Model will be for general transportation and feature 3-row seating. Up to 5 passengers can be carried and when used for passengers in wheelchairs, the configuration can be modified by folding the seats to allow the wheelchair rider in the second row.
Safety, comfort and convenience
With safety in mind, the position of the driver’s seat has been elevated and centrally located in order to allow the driver to see passengers and support their individual needs as they enter/exit the vehicle which is about 2 metres high.
The passenger seats are accessible from both sides of the vehicle, and the overall design considers varying customers’ needs, with safety bars on both sides to help passengers while entering and exiting the vehicle, and fitted with wheelchair anchor plates and ramps to enable the optimal access and transportation of wheelchair passengers.
The Relief specification is similar but has more open space to install a stretcher. In addition, to help convey people in a stable, safe way, a stretcher that can be attached/secured in the vehicle will also be equipped. There will also be space to allow 2 relief staff workers to sit immediately adjacent to the stretcher.
Needless to say, the APM – which has dimensions that are similar to a Toyota Avanza – will operate with zero emissions using a battery electric powertrain that should also be quiet. It can travel at a speed up to 19 km/h and a full charge should provide 100 kms of range.
♦ The Evija (pronounced ‘E-vi-ya’) means ‘the first in existence’ or ‘the living one’. Each car will have a starting price of around £1.7 million (equivalent to about RM8.7 million in the UK). To book one, you need to pay a deposit of £250,000 (RM1.27 million).
♦ The first hypercar from Lotus and the company’s first model with an electrified powertrain. It is also the first completely new car to be launched since the 71-year old British company was acquired by the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in June 2017.
♦ Only 130 cars will be built, beginning in 2020. The number pays tribute to the car’s project code, ‘Type 130’. Lotus road and race cars throughout the brand’s seven decades of success have been assigned a Type number, and the Evija is no exception.
♦ This is the first all-electric British hypercar and with a target power output of 2,000 ps (and maximum torque of 1,700 Nm), it lays claim to being the world’s most powerful series production road car. It has more power at each wheel than the total power of any other Lotus road car ever produced.
♦ Ultra-lightweight carbonfibre monocoque construction also makes it the world’s lightest production EV hypercar, at 1,680 kgs. This contributes to the claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of under 3 seconds and a top speed over 320 km/h.
♦ At the heart of the Evija is a 2,000 kW battery pack powering 4 electric motors. That means it’s 8 times more powerful than a Formula E race car and can generate enough electricity to boil water in more than 1,600 kettles. A fully charged battery pack is expected to last 400 kms but the range depends on driving style and conditions.
♦ Using existing charging technology – such as a 350 kW unit, which is currently the most powerful available – the Evija’s charge time will be 12 minutes to 80% and 18 mins to 100%.
♦ The Evija signals the start of a contemporary new design language for Lotus, which will evolve and reappear on future high-performance cars.
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.
Sales of the fully electric vehicles around the world has exponentially increased 23-fold in the past five years and many folks nowadays are seriously considering about getting an EV of their own as their next of even first car. For those who have been misinformed about the ownership of owning EV, Nissan and ETCM (Edaran Tan Chong Motor) are here to help clarify a few things. (more…)
