Docking XD Fully electric car from Croatia

Electric cars are becoming more popular mostly because they are clean, quiet and owners do not need to go to the gas stations. Every time when the electric car need to be refueled, the proud owners can just plug in the car in the wall and the next morning they can have the full autonomy. In the recent years the time for the recharging dropped to 3 hours for full charge.

One of the recent designs with a charging up to 3 hours and the autonomy of 250 kilometers is the new Croatian design of electric car. The code name of this electric car is Docking XD, where X stands for the x-shaped rear lights and D is for the name of the company – Docking.

Electric cars are becoming more popular mostly because they are clean, quiet and owners do not need to go to the gas stations. Every time when the electric car need to be refueled, the proud owners can just plug in the car in the wall and the next morning they can have the full autonomy. In the recent years the time for the recharging dropped to 3 hours for full charge.



One of the recent designs with a charging up to 3 hours and the autonomy of 250 kilometers is the new Croatian design of electric car. The code name of this electric car is Docking XD, where X stands for the x-shaped rear lights and D is for the name of the company – Docking.

Docking is the company from Zagreb, Croatia and is famous for the extended family of demining electric vehicles. In the last couple of years, Mr. Vjekoslav Majetic, the owner of this small but vibrant company was turning his eyes toward the auto industry. He was thinking how to use the company experience and knowledge for an electric drive of the demining vehicles. The answer was the new electric car which is still on the drawing board, but there are some serious simulations and 3D models.

On the development of Docking XD electric car also is working Igor Juric, an industrial designer with experience in development and design from the projects for Opel, Porsche and Mercedes. Mr. Igor Juric is also an owner of the few patents which use can significantly shorten the design and construction time, but also the expenses connected to the research and development of the new electric car.

Power: Docking XD electric car will be fitted with two electro motors with a combined power of 90 kW. These electric motors will be placed inside the front wheels and will deliver 600Nm of torque. The top speed of this electric car will be 120 km per hour. Batteries will be the most expensive part of Docking XD so the future buyers can choose to have lead batteries which will be cheaper but also will offer less autonomy or the state of the art lithium ferrous phosphate LiFePO4 batteries which offer 250 Km autonomy.

Exterior: Docking XD is 260 cm long electric car with a 3 doors and all glass rooftop. In the future the glass roof can be replaced by classic roof for the customers who would like safer car.

Interior: Interior of Docking XD is not finished yet but it is for sure that will have steering wheel which can be placed on the left, right or in the middle of the vehicle. The seats for this electric vehicle will be custom developed and will add a note of exclusivity.

Price: The estimated price is set on 10.000 euro for the vehicle with lithium ferrous phosphate LiFePO4 batteries.

Future plans: The future plan of the Docking Company is development of sport two-seater which design code name is Sisak and is very similar to design of the Bugatti Veyron.



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XR3 Three-Wheel Hybrid: Is the spiel for real?

Vehicle designer Robert Riley first made his XR3 Personal Transit Vehicle available strictly by way of plans sold over the internet, requiring the buyer to undertake the ultimate vehicle DIY project in his garage.

Now, Riley intends to turn the XR3 Hybrid into a production vehicle.

Specs:

• Type: 2-passenger PHEV
• Class: Motorcycle
• Manufacturer: XR3 Motors LLC
• Propulsion: 23hp Kubota D902 tractor engine; advanced DC 8-inch motor
• Top Speed: 80 mph (129 km/h)
• Vehicle range: 40 miles on battery; combined 440 miles
• Fuel(s): Diesel fuel, electricity
• Fuel efficiency: 125 MPG on diesel, 225 MPGe on diesel and electric
• Battery system: Optional
• Time to full battery recharge: Contingent on battery pack
• Tailpipe emissions: Yes
• Price: Plans cost $100-$200
• Production price: $10,000-$25,000
• Availability: Sure

The Manufacturer says

"Everyone knows that driving little econobox cars would help save fuel. But those are not the kinds of vehicles that consumers want to own. No one wants to drive a dorky little car - even if it costs less - in order to save the planet or help ease the transfer of wealth to the folks who own all the oil."

"This is one of the best manufacturer's quotes we've ever featured."

Overview

Active since the 1970s, vehicle designer and writer Robert Riley first made his XR3 Personal Transit Vehicle (PTV) available strictly by way of plans sold over the internet, requiring the buyer to undertake the ultimate vehicle DIY project in his garage. Now, Riley intends to turn the XR3 Hybrid into a production vehicle. No production or market dates have yet been announced.XR3 Motors claims it will make available complete knockdown (CKD) kits before the mass-production vehicle hits the market. Existing plans, they say, could "become a collector's item over the long term," a claim that seems like a stretch.

What we like

The weight. Robert Riley's super-fuel-economy design philosophy is founded on reducing mass as low as possible, and he's certainly done this with the XR3, which has a curb weight of 1480 lbs (671 kg).

The choice of operational modes. The XR3 promises a choice among three operational modes: diesel-only, electric-only, and hybrid. The diesel engine powers the XR3's two front wheels, while the electric motor powers the single rear wheel. Nothing connects these independent power systems; rather, Riley claims to have installed a '$10 throttle integrator mechanism' and some dashboard switches to make switching modes both easy and within the driver's control, unlike hybrid platforms currently on the market.

Customization. The builder can customize performance and styling. For instance, the builder could opt out of the 550-lb electric power train, replace the 3 gallon diesel engine tank with a 9 gallon one and, according to the web site, achieve a ridiculous 1,000 mile vehicle range on a single tank. Furthermore, the builder could leave off the diesel powertrain, add more batteries and achieve an electric range of 100 miles or more.

In matters of style, the clam-shell canopy is removable, allowing you to install a windshield that can give the vehicle an open-air roadster effect. In fact, the front clip (front body section) is also removable and open to restyling, for example if you wanted to install a larger engine.
The safety. Designs for the XR3 call for a side-supported steering wheel that should break away in a frontal collision, and a composite roll bar and a tubular steel perimeter frame to protect the occupants from injury in a rollover. Furthermore, part of the front clip is filled with foam to absorb frontal impacts.

What we don’t

The website. I hate single-page, eternal-scroll websites like the one for the XR3 right now, ones loaded with twenty different fonts in ten different sizes. They scream 'unprofessional.'

The designation. I've said it before, I do NOT like all the many acronyms in this industry. I especially dislike two: the NEV and what the XR3 calls itself, a PTV. Recall that the Chimp calls itself a PTV as well. C'mon, either drop the acronyms altogether or find a method to standardize them.

Conclusions

The real question here is what Riley will ask for his production version. He's already given away what the vehicle costs to make in your own garage; how much extra will be tack on in the name of overhead, of manufacturing costs, of profit and more? This, perhaps more than anything except one factor, will determine the success of the XR3. What is that one factor? The 3-wheel platform. Plenty of 3-wheeled vehicles have been announced or are in development, but we have yet to see whether the public will accept them or not. Furthermore, there are only a couple US states that don’t require a helmet when operating a designated 'motorcycle', whether it's a car or not. This is why so many are built and sold in California. XR3 Motors intends to build the vehicle in Cleveland.











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Reva NXR - Range Against the Machine

Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Company boasts that they are the most successful electric vehicle maker in the world, with more EV's on the road than any other manufacturer.

• Type: Dedicated electric vehicle
• Class: 4-seat hatchback
• Manufacturer: Reva
• Top Speed: 65 mph (104 km/h)
• Vehicle range: 100 miles (160 km)
• Fuel(s): Electric
• Battery pack: Lithium ion phosphate
• Time to full battery recharge: Eight hours (1.5 with fast charge)
• Price: $6,100 - $8,000
• Availability: Late 2010

The manufacturer says

"In a squeeze, a phone call puts more juice in your batteries."

Overview

Unveiled at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show on 16 September 2009, the Reva NXR is a 3-door, 4-seat electric hatchback that Reva plans to put into production in 2010. The company is offering two models: the NXR City with a lead-acid battery pack and a shorter range, and the NXR Intercity (the specs of which are provided above). Reva is currently looking for a factory location in the US to build the NXR.

Bangalore-based Reva Electric Car Company boasts that they are the most successful electric maker in the world, with more EV's on the road than any other manufacturer. This is unproven, and likely very hard to prove. What's certain is that they do sell a reasonable amount of EVs and that they have never sold an attractive one.

What we like

The Eco-Check. This feature is one of many that Reva has included in the sales pitch of their latest model. With Eco-Check, you get a monthly report emailed to you detailing your driving habits, including "tips on how you can improve your efficiency." There's a touch of Big Brother going on here, but what do I care? I'm not buying this squatty little nightmare. With arrogant American drivers there's the chance these emails won't even be read, or if they are, they'll just piss them off.
So this electric vehicle feature has a slim chance of doing something EVs can't do: backfire.

REVive Telematics Technology. Here's Reva's answer to a term that's gaining in popularity and credibility even though few can possibly claim to have suffered from it in real life: Range anxiety, the feeling that your EV will run out of electricity and leave you stranded. My feeling is that there are more outlets in the world than there are gas stations, we just haven't looked hard enough. At any rate, according to Reva, "If you ever were to run low or out of charge, simply call or text our call center and the advanced telematics feature will remotely activate a reserve, that'll let you continue on your way."
How about just including a switch? Otherwise the buyer is forever beholden to Reva for this feature.

What we don’t

The hatchback. Hatchbacks are generally hideous. The Reva NXR is no exception.

The design. Sure it's a little more uppity than previous models, but that's what we expect when a car maker is trying to improve upon a theme. And don't try to tell me four adults can fit comfortably in that car. Sure they can fit, but India is home to a billion people, and they all fit. Do you suppose they're all comfortable too?

Conclusions

Reva came to Frankfurt with two cars, the Reva NXR and the "sporty" NXG, a two-seat EV with a targa top that was designed by "Dilip Chhabria of the internationally renowned automotive design company DC Design", a point Reva can't seem to stop making. Reva is getting closer to pinpointing a location in the US to start building the Reva NXR, with a New York State locale allegedly leading the pack. If that price point stays where it is, there is some hope for this thing; in fact it could do very well, especially against other green cars that come with more bells, whistles, and a bigger price tag.

Reva NXR


Reva NXR


Reva NXR


Reva NXR


Reva NXR



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Audi RSQ Robotic Concept Car

The futuristic film car Audi RSQ was presented to the public for the first time on April 7, 2004 at the New York International Automobile Show. Audi tackles its most ambitious product placement project ever: For the epic event motion picture „I, ROBOT“, Audi Design developed the spectacular vehicle, which helps leading actor Will Smith – a homicide detective in the year 2035 – solve a mystery that could have grave consequences for the human race. Fox releases “I, ROBOT“ in the U.S. on July 16; the film arrives in Germany in August.

In the near future, technology and robots are a trusted part of everyday life. In „I, ROBOT“, that trust is broken and one man, alone against the system, sees it coming. The film employs spectacular visual effects innovations beyond any ever put on screen, to bring a world of robots to life. The film is directed
by Alex Proyas (Dark City, The Crow) and is set in a world created by famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov in his short story collection “I, ROBOT“.

For the first time ever, Audi developed a car specifically for a major Hollywood motion picture. Audi engineers created a car for „I, ROBOT’s” incredible world of 2035.

Audi RSQ Robotic


Audi RSQ Robotic

Save the Planet, and Your Skin, With Renault’s Spa Car (Renault’s Zoe Z.E)

If there’s anything the French hate more than gas-guzzling Family Trucksters, it’s bad skin. It is therefore with much amusement but little surprise that we learned the interior Renault’s Zoe Z.E. electric car concept was designed with help from cosmetics manufacturer Biotherm.

Hinting at a production vehicle that officially debuts in 2012, we first saw the Zoe Z.E. at the Frankfurt auto show earlier this year. It’s hard to miss, since it’s a 13-foot-long bubble with 20-inch rims and gullwing doors. That exterior is coated in a thick polyurethane gel that protects it from minor scrapes and bruises — much like a good foundation masks crow’s feet and laugh lines.

Renault says the Zoe is ideal “for men and women who want to take care of the environment while taking care of themselves – even behind the wheel.” Since unsightly blemishes and wrinkles are as much an anathema to French sensibilities as Velveeta and Wonderbread, the automaker made the interior a spa-like experience.

According to Renault, the Zoe’s climate control system is worthy of installation in one of Paris’ finest spas. Air conditioning can really dry out skin, which is why Biotherm redesigned the Zoe’s AC to focus on keeping air cool and hydrated. If you get stuck behind a bus belching diesel fumes, the on-board toxicity sensor closes the car’s air vents before free radicals destroy your healthy complexion.

In addition to looking good, the Zoe can help you feel good. With an electric diffuser built into the climate control system, the car can emit “essential oils.” We had a Renault Medallion in the ’80s that emitted most of its essential oils from the rear main seal, but that’s a whole other story. The Zoe uses specially developed scent oils from Biotherm that, according to Renault, are “exclusive active substances adapted to the needs of the driver: dynamic in the morning, relaxing coming home from work, and awakening vigilance while driving at night.”

Spa features aside, the minicar can be charged in 4 to 8 hours from a conventional European outlet, 20 minutes at a “quick charge” station. If that doesn’t work, you can always swap the battery in less than 3 minutes. Additionally, solar cells that cover the roof provide a trickle charge on sunny days — the sort of days when any self-respecting Parisian would be wearing SPF 50 sunscreen.

Future Cars: Renault’s Zoe Z.E


Future Cars: Renault’s Zoe Z.E


Future Cars: Renault’s Zoe Z.E


Future Cars: Renault’s Zoe Z.E


Future Cars: Renault’s Zoe Z.E

GM And Segway Making P.U.M.A. 'Car', Looks Suspiciously Like A Motorized Wheelchair

General Motors and Segway have teamed up to produce what might very well be a slightly modified Hoveround. It's self-balancing like a Segway, but with the style and quality you've come to expect from GM. And as you can see, they do come with the Gob Bluth seal of excitement.

The self-balancing Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility Project (P.U.M.A.) can reach top speeds of 35 MPH, has a lithium battery that lasts up to 35 miles with a single charge, and features vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication for potentially reducing the number of accidents. No word on when or if this'll actually go into production but it's expected to be priced at just 25% that of a regular automobile.

Wow, that is one vehicle (in addition to a seatless bicycle) I can safely say I have absolutely no interest in driving. My God -- could you imagine getting T-boned in that thing? *BOOM* Porterhoused!

GM and Segway's P.U.M.A. unveiled and no, this isn't a joke [engadget]

Thanks to Julian, who successfully rode a Segway down a flight of stairs but then got hit by a bicycle messenger at the bottom and lost a tooth. It was never found.

Hinterland Electric Car : Designed for a Sustainable Green Future!

There is no doubt that emission-free cars are the way to go into future, and electric vehicles may not be the final solution to the problem of finding the green way to automobile world. While many believe that hydrogen is the ultimate fuel and generating it from water by using solar power for electrolysis will be the perfect green way to power the cars, that is pretty far away from reality right now. That is exactly why electric vehicles are the intermediate part of the big solution—and the next couple of decades belong to them.

The Hinterland project is a vehicle design, development and production project, national in scope and using innovative technology to market an affordable yet environmentally friendly car that meets the needs of the people. The design fostered does not rest on obsolescence; it is not subject to replacement for aesthetic reasons but is rather based on clean, innovative lines that will never go out of style. In addition, the design allows for exceptional aerodynamics combining the convenience of a car with an aeronautical fuselage.

Hinterland Electric Car


Hinterland Electric Car


Hinterland Electric Car


Hinterland Electric Car

Future Cars Bentley SenseS

The Beast:
Bentley SenseS is a futuristic car concept that aims to integrate the driver and his vehicle as one with the help of genetic engineering, biotechnology and artificial intelligence. The concept car is unique and special and is custom crafted to match the needs of each individual user. The car grows and learns along with its driver and becomes a machine that recognizes the needs, emotion and feelings of its driver without any external assistance.

The Machine:
Designed by Arturo Peralta, this concept Bentley of the future roads portrays a flowing design and a wonderful aerodynamic body that reduces the wastage of energy. The SenseS attempts to make a connection with its driver and in course of time recognize him and understand all his feelings and emotions. Rather than being a car, it acts more like your loyal steed and becomes a part of your daily drive.

Future Cars Bentley SenseS


Future Cars Bentley SenseS


Future Cars Bentley SenseS


Future Cars Bentley SenseS


Future Cars Bentley SenseS