Renault COO Pelata resigns over spy case [video]

Renault SA accepted Patrick Pelata's resignation as chief operating officer over a botched espionage investigation that led to the wrongful dismissal of three senior managers.

Pelata, 55, who was Ghosn's right-hand man, will stay on temporarily pending a reorganization of the automaker's executive committee before moving to a role within the carmaker's alliance with Nissan Motor Co., the French carmaker said today.

Renault's board of directors also agreed at an emergency meeting on the departure of Laurence Dors, the company's general secretary, human resources manager Jean-Yves Coudriou, legal director Christian Husson and director of security Remi Pagnie.

Renault admitted last month it was hoaxed into wrongfully firing upstream development chief Michel Balthazard and two other executives after a company investigation incorrectly concluded they had received payments from Chinese companies via foreign accounts.

Renault security manager Dominique Gevrey, who had obtained more than 300,000 euros ($434,000) from the carmaker to pay an anonymous source for the information, was arrested on fraud charges after the espionage claims unraveled.

Renault fired the three executives in January on suspicion of industrial espionage, all of whom denied wrongdoing from the start. Renault last month apologized to the three falsely accused executives and offered to reinstate or compensate them.

Pelata offered his resignation at that time of the apology, but Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn refused to accept it, saying he did not want to add one crisis to another. Instead, Ghosn and Pelata pledged to forgo their 2010 bonuses and profits from 2011 stock options.

Earlier on Monday a Renault spokesman said a report by French TV channel iTele that Pelata's resignation had been accepted at a special board meeting on Monday was not correct.

Morgan Stanley analyst Stuart Pearson said Pelata's departure was a loss to Renault, although investors would not be surprised, and the fact that Carlos Ghosn was staying on as CEO would limit the impact on shares.

"Pelata as COO did a solid job of guiding Renault through the last few years," Pearson said, adding that his departure could hamper the new strategic plan Renault unveiled in February. "It does call into question the execution of the strategic plan that has only just been announced - Pelata would have been a key architect of that. It's not immediately obvious who could replace him."

Audit shows 'serious dysfunctions'

French Industry Minister Eric Besson said an external audit on the industrial espionage affair reveals "serious dysfunctions within the company's management."

Besson would not identify those responsible for the dysfunctions, adding that they were named in the audit report.

After the collapse of the espionage case, Ghosn was criticized by ministers of the French government, which owns 15 percent of the automaker, but the government later eased pressure on the CEO, saying it was important to have stability at the top of the company.

Last month, Ghosn said he had refused to accept the resignation of Pelata over the "sorry episode," as he "did not want to add one crisis to another."

Pelata helped Nissan rescue

Pelata graduated from France's elite Ecole Polytechnique in the same 1974 class as Ghosn, before joining Renault as head of bodywork assembly at the carmaker's plant in Flins, west of Paris.

In 1999, when Ghosn was sent by then-CEO Louis Schweitzer to rescue Japanese affiliate Nissan Motor Co. from near-bankruptcy, he took Pelata with him and the two have worked closely together ever since. Pelata took over day-to-day control at Renault from Ghosn in 2008.

Ghosn and Pelata are close allies but have different styles. Pelata, with his sharp suits and rectangular-framed glasses, is soft spoken, while Ghosn's oratorical style shows he relishes the reputation as a car industry guru that he earned by transforming Nissan from a money-loser into a success story.

Renault and Nissan aim to become the leader in electric cars and from 2015 the alliance will have a global EV production of 500,000 units. Renault is due to launch two EVs, the Fluence sedan and Kangoo small van, in the second half of this year. The Zoe subcompact and the two-seat Twizy are due to follow in 2012.

Team to enter 2012 Dakar with the EV rally raid off-roader [video]

The OSCar eO project involves participation at the 2012 edition of the Dakar, the most demanding endurance event in the world, with the goal of completing the distance and win the category for alternative energy vehicles.

OSCar eO will be entered in a special car category that was introduced in the technical regulations a few years ago but has not attracted any competitors since. When meeting the French company A.S.O. which is in charge of organizing the Dakar rally, Rally Raid Team Latvia received an enthusiastic welcome and was granted a wide scope of support. Dambis and Saukans were quick in assuring A.S.O. that the project offers new and original engineering and sporting opportunities that also bear relevance to environmental protection.

One of the main components of the new OSCar eO is batteries. These will be exclusively supplied by Winston Battery from the People's Republic of China. Dambis states, “They are one of the leading electric vehicle battery manufacturers in the world and we could not have wished for a better product for the eO vehicle.”

Two powerful permanent magnet electric motors of combined power of 180 kW will allow OSCar eO to develop top speed of 140 km/h. While that might not be much, eO does not aim to compete against the conventional vehicles entered by manufacturers and private teams. Dambis gives more details, “The motors will be able to output up to 315 kW for brief periods of time which will allow us to negotiate particularly steep sand dunes that you find in Atacama Desert in Chile.

Project engineers expect a fully charged battery pack to provide up to 150 km driving range across the most difficult rally terrain and up to 300 km in less demanding conditions. As Dakar stages are normally several times this distance, OSCar eO will be fitted with an electric generator that will be driven by a petrol internal combustion engine. Dambis clarifies, “We can not do without it. The only alternative is to pack another set of batteries in the car but there are plenty of them already.

In fact, we will even sit on some of them as floor area proved to be a practical mounting site.” The engineer continues, “We have selected a race-proven Nissan engine to generate the remainder of the energy required.” The petrol engine will be fed from its own 200 litre fuel tank. “Yet the propulsion will be 100% electric. The petrol unit will be mounted in the rear of the car and coupled only to the electric generator.”

The Nissan engine for electricity generation will be sourced with help from Skandi Motors, official importer of Nissan in Latvia. Electrical systems of OSCar eO will be verified on a Nissan Navara test mule, due to be completed in three months from now.

Regenerative dampers from official partner Donerre Suspension

Project’s technical partner Donerre Suspension was founded in 1994 by Pierre de Frenne following 20 years of experience in competition suspension systems. The company has always focused on innovation and as of today holds nearly 10 patents, demonstrating engineering excellence in a variety of disciplines. Donerre takes part in the ambitious OSCar eO project by offering a solution for harnessing electrical energy from the oscillatory movement of shock absorbers and thereby providing additional means for battery recharge.

Marathon rally Dakar 2012 will take place from January 1st to 15th, 2012. The route will cover Argentina, Chile and, for the first time, Peru. Competitors will need to tackle more than 9000 km of particularly challenging terrain. Rally Raid Team Latvia will enter the rally with the electric OSCar eO, an on-route support vehicle OSCar O3, and technical assistance trucks.

OSCar eo

Green Overdrive: Wrightspeed Digital Drive System [video]

Green Overdrive caught up with Ian Wright, founder of Wrightspeed, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for his new factory, where he shows Katie a mock up of the company’s digital drive system that will be used to build hybrid electric truck retro fit kits.

We speculated back in August 2010 that Wright may be sourcing parts of his power train system from a UK company called Evo Electric. Instead of going for Axial Flux motors, Wright intends to use a much more conventional motor configuration for his technology demonstrator, which he says will be running by Sept 2011, using a pair of geared motors that more closely resemble the one found in the back of a Tesla Roadster.

The interview poses almost as many questions as it answers. The electric motors, according to Wright, will have "four times the power density" compared to motors shipped today. This was the hint that seemed to suggest Axial Flux motors were part of the plan. Instead, the motor shown on the bench looks to be approx the same dimensions as those manufactured by Tesla, with approx the same power output (250 hp) so we wonder what is he talking about?

The truck 'kit' will feature 2 stage gear reduction. A typical single speed reduction gearbox will be attached to the motor plus what Wright says will be a second reduction gear set to provide the kind of torque needed for truck use. The second gear set will be mounted in the hub with the two gearboxes connected by a drive shaft. The appropriate gear ratio won't fit inside a single gearbox?

The 1000 hp AWD supercar based on this powertrain, that Wright claims to already have a customer signed up for, will not see the light of day for "a couple of years".

SKF Electromagnetic Regenerative Active Suspension System [video]

SKF and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) engineers have jointly developed computer controlled electromagnetic suspension that can also regenerate energy.

The Eindhoven suspension as it is called is not only electronic but also active, it is connected to a variety of sensors and accelerometers via an onboard computer which adjusts the suspension as per the road conditions within a fraction of a second.

We have reported on a number of regenerative suspension systems based on both electric motors and hydraulic systems. Eindhoven researchers say hydraulics cant match the speed of an electromagnetic system.

About the same size as a conventional shock absorber, the system consists of a passive spring, a tubular linear actuator, a control unit and batteries.

Unlike in a similar system developed by Bose, the spring provides springing action, while linear stepper motors provide active control. If the batteries should fail, the system will still work as a purely mechanical suspension.

With a peak consumption of 500 watts, the suspension uses about a quarter of the power of hydraulic systems. It also stretches its battery life by using road vibrations to generate electricity.

The company has tested the system on a simulator and claims that it offers a 60% ride improvement. Eindhoven University developed the system in collaboration with Swedish mechatronics company SKF, which has patented the technology and is looking into marketing it.

Toyota Sells One-Millionth Prius in the U.S. [video]

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. today announced the one-millionth sale of the Toyota Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicle, in the United States. It is the third milestone for Toyota’s hybrid lineup in the last six months that started with the announcement of worldwide Toyota Prius sales topping two million in October 2010 and overall global Toyota hybrid sales passing three million last month.

“Since the Prius went on sale eleven years ago not a year has gone by when it hasn’t been the number one selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. “Prius has become synonymous with the word hybrid and as we see fuel prices starting to rise again, it has accounted for more than 60 percent of hybrid passenger car sales so far this year. Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy, I’m proud to say that since its introduction, 13 other auto brands have seen the benefits of hybrid technology and joined the hybrid market.”

The third-generation Prius topped the EPA’s list of the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2011. It has been named the Best Overall Value of the Year for the last nine years in a row by IntelliChoice, and has the highest owner loyalty of any mid-size vehicle for four of the last five years according to R.L. Polk. More than 97 percent of all Toyota Prii sold since 2000 are still on the road.

Since it was introduced in the U.S. in 2000, Prius, when compared to the average car, has saved American consumers more than an estimated 881 million gallons of gas, $2.19 billion in fuel costs, and 12.4 million tons of CO2 emissions.

In January 2011 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota debuted the Prius v, the first vehicle to be debuted as part of the Prius family marketing strategy. Prius v, which goes on sale in third quarter of 2011, is a mid-size vehicle that provides more than 50 percent additional interior cargo space than the current Prius. In early 2012 Prius will launch two more Prius family members – the Prius c compact hybrid vehicle and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle.

Nico Rosberg explains his 2011 steering wheel with KERS [video]

In a promotional video for the Mercedes GP Formula One team, Nico Rosberg shows how an F1 steering wheel works, including the extra switches for KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and the DRS (Drag Reduction System) device.

Rosberg explains how the KERS is deployed and how its harvesting can be adjusted.

“It shows how much harvesting is happening, so you can reduce or increase with this rotary here,” he says at some point, referring to the rotary switch for the KERS deployment.

Tesla sues BBC over "rigged" Top Gear electric car test [video]

Remember that time Top Gear gave the Tesla Roadster such a thrashing it broke, except it really didn't break? Tesla does, and it's now filed suit against the BBC and Top Gear accusing the Beeb of defamation.

The test from the episode aired in December, 2008 involved a race between the Tesla Roadster and the gas-powered Lotus Elise it's based on. The show featured Jeremy Clarkson saying the Tesla ran out of charge at 55 miles, with footage of it being pushed around a garage, ending with Clarkson saying "It's just a shame that in the real world it doesn't seem to work."

Shortly after it aired, Tesla said the Roadster never lost its charge, never needed to be pushed and asked Top Gear for some kind of retraction. After some sparring, the BBC admitted the footage of the push-powered Roadster was meant to show what could happen, saying the show fairly represented how the Tesla performed during tests.

With that episode still playing in repeats, available on DVD and now on Netflix streaming in the United States, Tesla says it was forced to act: "The BBC's conduct has given us no choice but to sue them and clear up their lies."

A BBC spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that we have received notification that Tesla have issued proceedings against the BBC.’


Mail Online

Red Bull outwit rival F1 teams with Start-Only KERS? UPDATE [video]

Red Bull are thought to have a mini-Kers system they use only at the race start. This allows them to defend their position at the start without some of the disadvantages of a full KERS system.

A fully optimised KERS provides an average performance boost of 0.3 seconds a lap by harvesting energy that would have been wasted during braking, storing it in batteries and then reapplying it during acceleration.

But the system's power is limited by the regulations and the heavy batteries and other parts create packaging and weight distribution problems. Equally, as the system relies on the rear wheels to provide its charge, it can increase tyre wear in races because it unsettles the handling of the car.

That is a potentially key advantage in a year when the new Pirelli tyres have been designed to degrade more quickly than the Bridgestones F1 used in the last few years.

Because of this, some teams believe a car can be made to perform faster without Kers.
Rivals teams believe Red Bull have built a Kers system with a smaller battery which is charged before the race, discharged only once at the start and not used again. The system would still need a fairly large battery to deliver the high current needed but weight could be saved because the parts needed to charge the battery during the race would not be required.

What is not clear is whether this was Red Bull's design from the start or whether they were forced to go down this route because they could not get the full system reliable enough for a race. In theory, taking this approach means the car can be made faster over one lap while ensuring they are not easily passed by those of Kers-equipped rivals close behind. Red Bull would then rely on the inherent pace of their car to keep them clear of the threat of being passed in the race.

However, there is a major risk with Red Bull's approach. If they do find themselves under threat from a Kers-equipped car in a race, Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber would be virtually defenceless.

Team principal Christian Horner would not confirm or deny the presence of the system.
But he said: "All I will tell you is our system is not the same as others' but it's at its most beneficial at the start." Vettel said after qualifying that he had not been using his Kers during the session. Webber added: "We didn't run it today for reasons we will keep in the team."

Rivals were stunned by the pace of the Red Bulls in Australia after pre-season testing had appeared to suggest that they and Ferrari would be evenly matched. Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, who qualified fifth, said he believed the Italian team had failed to extract the full potential of their car on Saturday.

A leading engineer from another team said he thought it "very likely" that Red Bull had such a system as his team were working on a similar idea themselves.

UPDATE: Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed after Sebastian Vettel's season-opening victory in Melbourne that the team did not have KERS on its RB7s from Saturday onwards. "We haven't had KERS on at all this weekend," said Horner.

"We didn't want to tell anybody, but looking at the start ... It didn't look like we needed it. We were a bit nervous about telling everybody before the race. We ran it on Friday and we weren't happy with the reliability, we felt it was a potential risk, so we took it off both cars and didn't race it at all this weekend."

Fully Charged Delta E4 coupe [video]

Robert Llewellyn takes an exclusive first ride in the Delta E4 coupe electric car with technical director Nick Carpenter

A Hot Lap of Laguna Seca in a Chevy Volt [video]

The Chevy Volt is completely at home barreling down a race track - in EV mode. The track is Laguna Seca.

EV Aircraft ELEKTRA ONE performs first 30 min flight [video]

The Elektra One EV aircraft performed the first flight on 19 Mar. 2011 at the Augsburg Airport in Germany. Jon Karkow, an well known test pilot and aircraft engineer performed the first flight. Flight characteristics and engne parameter were tested.

The ultra lightweight aircraft weighs just 220 pounds, plus an additional 220 pound battery pack. With a 660 pound weight capacity, there is ample room for a more than just the pilot.

The test pilot was very satisfied with the results. Three flights were performed. The climbing rate was 400 ft/min. A new 30 min. flight was performed on 23 Mar. Only about 3kW from the total on board of 6kWh energy was used.

Over the next two weeks a new variable pitch propeller and retractable landing gear will be installed for further testing.

Ford won't lease EV batteries [video]

Ford’s forthcoming electric Focus will be sold in the same way as a conventional car, meaning its battery pack will be included as standard.

Ford’s UK managing director Nigel Sharp said the company would not consider leasing the Focus’s lithium-ion battery pack separately to sale: “We’re waiting to see how the market reacts to other electric cars, but we are sure leasing batteries is not the way to go, even if it would bring the initial price down," he said. "The Focus must be sold as a conventional car would be."

The electric Focus is the flagship of its five-strong fleet of alternatively fuelled cars and a significant all-electric rival to the Nissan Leaf, which also has the battery pack included in its purchase price.

The Focus’s electric motor is powered by a 28kWh lithium ion battery, giving a top speed of 84mph. A standard full recharge from a 240V outlet will take three to four hours — half the time of the Nissan Leaf — and Ford is targeting a range of 100 miles.

Norwegian Post 1st Customer for Ford Transit EV in Europe [video]

Ford Motor Company and Azure Dynamics announce that Norwegian Post becomes the first European customer of the Ford Transit Connect Electric with order of 20 units

The all-electric, zero-emission Ford Transit Connect Electric van has a targeted range of up to 130km (80 miles) per full charge, and is ideal for fleet owners with well-defined routes

Transit Connect Electric is the first of five new electrified vehicles Ford is bringing to market in Europe by 2013, including the Ford Focus Electric debuting next year

Ford and Azure Dynamics Corporation have confirmed their first European customer for the zero-emission Ford Transit Connect Electric van. Norwegian Post today signed a contract to purchase 20 Transit Connect Electric vehicles, with an option to order more vehicles in the future. Norwegian Post is the largest provider of mail and logistics servicesand the biggest employer in Norway.

"The Norwegian Post will be an environmental leader in the mail and logistics industry by taking advantage of the latest technology available," said Dag Mejdell, CEO, Norwegian Post. "In signing a contract for delivery of the new Ford Transit Connect Electric, the Norwegian Post is taking an important step towards its goal of reducing 150.000 tonnes of CO2 annually."

Ford and Azure are introducing the Transit Connect Electric in summer 2011, as increasing numbers of fleet operators are demanding the benefits of efficient, clean alternative power for their vehicles.

With 28kWh of power to call on, Transit Connect Electric has a top speed of 120km/h (75mph) and a range of up to 130 km (80 miles) on a full charge.

"Transit Connect Electric was designed and engineered with customers like Norwegian Post in mind," said Scott Harrison, Azure CEO. "The ForceDrive(TM) powertrain excels under the types of urban driving conditions that the Transit Connect Electric is likely to encounter during postal delivery routes. We're honoured to have Norwegian Post as our inaugural customer in Europe and are eager to help them achieve theenvironmental, operational and performance goals that they seek."

Ford's Global Electric vehicle plan

The Ford Transit Connect Electric - Ford's first all-electric vehicle in Europe - is the first of five electrified vehicles that Ford plans to launch in Europe by 2013. Next comes the Ford Focus Electric in 2012, followed by the C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, as well as another hybrid electric model in 2013.

"By providing a variety of electrified vehicles, we are making it easier for our customers to embrace this fuel-saving technology," said Thormod Skofsrud, managing director, Ford Norway. "This strategy is true to our heritage of making innovative technology available to as many people as possible and to our vision of developing great products."

Practical and affordable

Transit Connect Electric will offer European operators the opportunity to eliminate petrol bills in their small vans and help to lower overall maintenance and running costs.

Ford's Transit Connect commercial platform is an ideal choice for battery electric power thanks to its unique combination of car-like driving dynamics, generous cargo capacity, easy accessibility and low operation costs.

With a cargo volume 3.8 m3 and a payload of 500 kg, Transit Connect Electric will particularly appeal to operators who travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop and go driving. Transit Connect Electric can be recharged using standard European 220/240-volt outlets in approximately eight hours. Commercial van users generally return to a central location at the end of a driving cycle perfect for recharging over night.

Zero emissions

The Transit Connect Electric is a pure electric-powered version of the award-winning, long-wheelbase Transit Connect light commercial vehicle. Azure's proprietary Force Drive(TM) powertrain uses an advanced lithium ion battery pack designed by Johnson Controls-Saft to power the vehicle that produces zero tailpipe emissions.

Azure's ForceDrive(TM) powertrain has previously been deployed in more than 40 vehicle integrations and has more than 35 million miles of on-the-road experience.

Tried and tested

The Transit Connect Electric goes on sale in European markets this summer following its successful launch in North America in December 2010.

'Glider' units - complete vehicles except for the powertrain - are shipped from the Ford Otosan manufacturing facility in Kocaeli, Turkey, directly to an Azure-contracted up-fitter for final assembly. The completed Transit Connect Electric vehicles are then sold by Azure Dynamics through a specially-created network of dealerships. The European Transit Connect Electric will be badged with both the Ford Blue Oval and Azure's Force Drive logo.

Transit Connect Electric builds on an existing relationship between Ford and Azure and battery supplier Johnson Controls-Saft.

"Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are leveraging our relationships as well as our hybrid and advanced powertrain programs to bring energy-efficient technologies from the laboratory to the street," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. "Not only is this an ideal vehicle for eco-conscious fleet operators, it is an important part of Ford's future."

Transit Connect Electric Technical data

Body

'Glider' assembly at Ford Otosan plant in Kocaeli, Turkey

Final assembly by Azure Dynamics Corporation

Propulsion architecture

Siemens AC induction motor, Azure Dynamics inverter

Borg-Warner transaxle, Johnson Controls-Saft battery pack

System voltage range 260V - 380V

Electric drive system

Motor Siemens model 135, 3-phase AC induction motor, 300V nominal, liquid-cooled

Torque 158 Nm (continuous) / 235 Nm (peak)

Transmission Borg-Warner 31-03, single-speed

Gear ratio 8.28:1

IEC 62196 type 1

Battery

Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion pack

Capacity 28 kWh, 16 modules / (192 cells)

Voltage range 215V - 390V / charger - 3.3 kW

Weights and capacities

Maximum payload 500 kg

Curb weight 1791 kg (est.)

Cargo volume 3.8 m3

Performance

Driving range up to 130 km (80 miles) per full charge

Charge time of around 8 hours for full cycle using 230 V

Top speed 120 km/h (75 mph)

Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 12 seconds (based on kerb weight)

0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in 15 seconds (based on gross vehicle weight rating)

Green Overdrive: Inside Tesla’s Model S Alpha [video]

For the latest episode of GigaOM TV’s Green Overdrive Show Katie Fehrenbacher takes a look behind the scenes of the Alpha program for Tesla’s next-generation all-electric car the Model S.

Tesla has built 20 Alpha (prototype) Model S’s that it’s using to test out various features like safety, durability, electronics and steering capability.

Katie a look at some of the Model S design features and interview Tesla Model S Program Director Jerome Guillen, who has been driving the Model S Alphas to and from work.

BMW i3 EV Spied During Cold Weather Testing [video]

The first electric vehicle to launch under the new BMW i sub-brand was once again spied during cold weather testing. BMW i3 will make its official debut in 2013, but a concept version is expected to be unveiled later this year.

At launch, Megacity will be offered in a two-door, four-seat configuration. The car will measure around 157 inches. In the future, the MCV sub-brand will include two additional models.
First one due in 2015 and dubbed ICV, short Intracity Vehicle, will be a two-door, two-seat car. In 2017, UCV – Urban Commuter Vehicle -will extend the length of the initial MCV and has four doors while hosting five people.

BMW Megacity is powered by a lithium-ion battery with 35 kWh of capacity placed below the vehicle’s floor. Rear-wheels approach remains in BMW’s philosophy and the power is sent to the rear wheels through a rear-mounted 150-hp electric motor. Driving range is expected to top at 100 miles and top speed at 95 mph.

The price of the i3 is not yet decided, but BMW sources mentioned in the past that the i3 will be above 40,000 euros in Europe.

BMW also said is looking at different channels to put these cars on the street, one of them is the Zipcar-like approach, a car sharing process more and more popular around the world.

Mark Webber explains F1 KERS and DRS [video]

Mark Webber explains the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) and Drag Reductions System (adjustable rear wing) that will be used in F1 this year.

In-depth review of the Tango EV [video]

The Tango EV has been around for a few years now but this is the first time we’ve seen an in-depth review of the car. Automotive technology website, Translogic, has just provided a full review of the car including insightful interviews with its creator, Rick Woodbury.

Unlike the G-Wizz, another small and very skinny electric vehicle, the Tango provides ample power with more-than-adequate acceleration. In fact, the Tango EV is able to achieve 0-100km/h in just four seconds (3.8 seconds for 0-60mph/97kph) and has previously run a quarter mile of 12.8 seconds – similar to a Tesla Roadster.

Take a look at the video above for more interesting details on how the Tango was developed, and a quick road test.

Fully Charged Lexus CT200h [video]

Robert Llewellyn drives the new Lexus CT200h, the first compact hybrid car from Lexus.

Special Gas Tank Caters to All-Electric Chevy Volt Drivers [video]

Ben Short isn’t complaining about the rising price of gasoline. In fact, the Chevrolet Volt owner from Rochester, N.Y., doesn’t pay attention to the rising prices since he’s only used about a half a tank of gas in the last three weeks.

Short is an early Volt purchaser whose idea of an electric car with extended range is that it is an electric car first and foremost. Like the typical Volt driver, Short counts on the Volt’s 16 kWh lithium-ion battery to take him about 35 miles between charges. Interviewed recently by WHAM-TV, Short said he remembered gas was “floating just above $3 a gallon” when he last bought it.

If he gets really good at going without gas, Short will find his Volt telling him the engine generator needs to start every so often, while the Volt’s specially engineered fuel tank makes sure the gas inside stays fresh.

“Gasoline readily evaporates at normal ambient temperatures and it also degrades over time from oxygenation and condensation, “said Jon Stec, fuel system integration engineer for the Volt. In order to ensure that the gasoline in the tank doesn’t hurt the Volt’s performance or emissions when it is needed, engineers pressure sealed the 9.3 gallon steel fuel tank to contain the gasoline vapors.

“Using a sealed tank limits this evaporation when the engine is off,” Stec said.

For the last several decades, new vehicles have been equipped with charcoal canisters to trap evaporating gasoline and then feed it back to the engine. Since the Volt’s engine may not fire up for extended periods, hydrocarbons potentially could build up in the canister, so the sealed tank contains the vapor. The extra pressure meant that a lightweight steel tank had to replace the lightweight plastic tanks used in most modern vehicles.

Volt engineers and supplier Spectra Premium Inc. developed the tank from 1.4 millimeter thick hot-dip tin-zinc coated steel to resist corrosion from both inside and outside. Despite the strength of the tank, it has a mechanical pressure relief valve that begins opening at 3.5 psi and a vacuum relief that opens at -2.3 psi, levels that are rarely exceeded.

Even with a tank that resists fuel vapors escaping or humidity getting in, the gas inside still needs to be used up and replenished periodically. That’s where the Volt’s “maintenance mode” comes in. If the engine hasn’t started after six weeks, the powertrain controller sends a message to the driver telling him the engine needs to run for maintenance.

Volt drivers can defer the engine maintenance mode for up to 24 hours, after which the engine will run for a while on its own to use up some of the gas and keep the internals lubricated and ready for use. If a driver manages to go a full year between fill-ups, the fuel maintenance mode will run the engine until the old gas is used up or the driver adds fresh fuel.

“For the driver who starts the year with a full tank of 9.3 gallons and runs 15,000 miles on electricity, the maintenance mode will use just enough gas to average a very respectable 1,613 miles per gallon,” Stec said.

Fully Charged @ Geneva Auto Show [video]

Robert Llewellyn films a frantic day at the Geneva Motor show, more electric cars than you can poke a stick at.