Ford has partnered with German specialist Schaeffler to build the Fiesta eWheelDrive EV with electric motors in the rear wheel hubs as a research vehicle. Car makers haven’t entirely given up on the idea of the electric car, although they do seem to be starting to move to the point where the EV is seen as an urban […]
Tesla Model S outselling Chevrolet Volt & Nissan LEAF
It seems Elon Musk has a real success on his hands with the Tesla Model S, with reports claiming it outsold both the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF in the first quarter of 2013. Tesla never managed to make any money out of their electric Lotus – the Tesla Roadster – but it does look […]
Toyota ME.WE Concept: It’s an egalitarian EV
The Toyota ME.WE Concept is a utilitarian, compact electric car from Toyota with interchangeable body panels created with Jean-Marie Massaud. Jean-Marie Massaud is a French designer and architect who’s creations tend to be on the minimalist side. So if he’s playing at concept cars with Toyota, you’d expect the result to be a bit short on luxuries and equipment. And […]
Electric Fiat 500e costs the same as 500 Pop – in the US
The Fiat 500e – Fiat’s electric 500 – has gone on sale in the US with the same monthly lease payments as the 500 Pop – just £130 a month. The Fiat 500e – the electric version of the 500 – is a car Fiat had to build, but not one they wanted to. Sergio […]
New 2013 Nissan LEAF goes the ‘Battery Lease’ route UPDATED
The new 2013 Nissan LEAF EV has been revealed with a raft of improvements, new price structure and a low headline price thanks to a battery lease option. Update: We asked Nissan if owners of a LEAF who opt for a one year deal on the battery lease (which can cost up to £129 a […]
Renault Twin’Z Concept previews 2014 Renault Twingo
The Renault Twin’Z Concept, designed by British designer Ross Lovegrove, is an electric city car previewing the 2014 Renault Twingo. Yes, it’s yet another electric car concept from the, perhaps only, mainstream car maker still wedded to the idea that the electric car is the future – Renault-Nissan. The Renault Twin’Z Concept is a small, just 3623mm long, […]
CAP call on Renault to include battery in Zoe price – when it would cost £25k
CAP has called on Renault to include the battery cost in the list price of the Renault Zoe EV, otherwise it won’t be able to set residual values. We reported recently on the price of the Renault Zoe EV – which starts at £18k – and were surprised to find that Renault weren’t including battery costs in […]
Tesla ‘drops’ entry-level Model S. But was it ever going to be available?
The 40kWh version of the Tesla Model S is being dropped by Tesla in the US, but we do wonder if Tesla ever had any intention of delivering it in the first place. Tesla’s big claim ahead of the arrival of the, very impressive, Model S – and a seemingly vital part of the US taxpayer funding […]
Electric cars produce MORE CO2 than petrol or diesel cars
Rather than offering a low CO2 alternative to the internal combustion engine, it seems electric cars start their life with an extra 40,000 miles worth of CO2 already on the clock. Despite bribes from governments around the world to get car buyers to buy in to electric cars, they’ve been a flop. But that’s not surprising. Electric […]
Renault Zoe EV: Price from £18k plus £70 a month battery lease
Price and specifications revealed for the Renault Zoe EV which will start at £18k for the Zoe Expression plus an extra £70 a month for battery lease. The Nissan LEAF may be the best-selling electric car in the world, but it’s still an insignificant speck on the car sales landscape. But Nissan hope sales of […]