The LA Auto Shows’ curtains lifted last night at the Convention Centre revealing a new trend of automakers who are turning previous promises of an electric future into a reality. Companies, big and small, presented models tailored for every need, and wallet.
GM’s vice chairman Bob Lutz started the LA Auto Show with a keynote speech in which he highlighted the GM’s long term goals lay with the ‘unprecedented focus’ on green technology. Within this context he mentioned GM’s international partnerships with Indian company Reva to build electric vehicles for the market. GM’s champion product at the show was the Chevrolet Volt, a plug in electric with an extended-range that is designed to go as far as 40 miles per charge of its 16 kW/hour lithium ion battery pack. It's coupled with a small, gas-powered engine that can add 200 to 300 miles to the Volt's operational capacity.
Lutz reassured the audience that production was on schedule with full production underway by 2011. Chevrolet announced that it would begin its market penetration with the Volt in California given the States’ reputation as "leaders in adopting groundbreaking new technologies”.
Automobile giants BMW, Toyota and Volkswagen presented Plug-Ins
Toyota used the LA Auto Show as an opportunity to announce that it will begin testing the Prius-Plug in in early 2010 on European, Japanese and US roads. The rechargeable Prius Plug-In will provide up to 13 miles of all-electric travel at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour before the battery charge is depleted and reverts to a 50-mpg conventional hybrid.
Volkswagen unveiled the UP! Lite, a gas electric hybrid. An updated variation from the two cylinder TDI power train of the L1 concept this newly designed five seat concept 0.8TDI two cylinder turbo-diesel will deliver power of 38kW. The UP! Lite incorporates an electric motor that reduces the load of the TDI and provides additional propulsion while working to recover kinetic energy through regenerative braking. The direct injection engine achieves 120Nm of torque between 1,800 and 2,250rpm. Although not a plug in yet Volkswagen plans to make the sufficient changes soon.
Plug In Super Cars: Fisker and CMT
Electric super car industry made a few key announcements in Los Angeles. Fisker, with its revolutionary plug –in hybrid car announced that its Karmas would enter showrooms in September 2010. The Karma, which operates on the same basic power-train principle as the Chevy Volt, is currently one of the only plug-in hybrid super cars ready for the market. Fisker promises it can run 50 miles on electric power supplied by its lithium ion battery pack. Switching to a gasoline engine charges the batteries and extends the Karma's range by 250 miles.
Capstone Turbine Corporation used the opportunity to exhibit its high performance hybrid electric car, the CMT – 380. The car features a 30kW microturbine that extends the range of its traditional EV batteries. The CMT-380, still in its test phase, reaches 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, has a top speed of 150mph, and a range of up to 500 miles on a single tank of fuel - all with ultra-low exhaust emissions that rival any hybrid on the market today.
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