Electric Vehicles

Mercedes-Benz and AMG have been teasing us with the prospect of an all-electric supercar since the SLS AMG E-Cell concept broke cover in 2010. Now at the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes has presented the public with an all-electric SLS that's set to become the fastest production electric supercar in the world when it hits the road next year.  Read More

A quick look at currently and shortly-to-be available electric vehicle production models from major automotive players like Nissan, BMW, Chevy, Renault and Ford would appear to be proof positive that the move toward an EV future has well and truly started. Even the Pope is going electric. Yet despite EVs clocking up significant speed, range and endurance records this year, one major auto maker has announced that it's pulling back on EV production to concentrate on its expanding family of hybrid vehicles. Toyota is still planning a full roll out of its RAV4 EV but will severely limit the availability of the Scion iQ EV microcar.  Read More

Tesla Motors has announced an extensive network of Supercharger stations that aim to make long distance travel a reality for owners of its Model S electric car. The chargers are some 4.5x faster than previous methods, making it possible for drivers to get half a full charge in as little as half an hour.  Read More

It’s been over 20 months since we last looked at the Kymera jet-powered body board and it’s great to see that its creator, Jason Woods, has stuck with his dream of developing a compact and lightweight personal watercraft. In the time since our last story, Woods has continued to plug away in his garage refining the Kymera, which now sports a new hourglass shape, has made the switch from gasoline to electric power, and has attracted the interest of search and rescue (SAR) teams. Most importantly, the Kymera is nearing commercial availability, with Woods aiming for a release in 2013.  Read More

When it comes to wheels, Polaris is already a well-recognized brand thanks to its line of off-roaders. Now the company is making the move into a new segment: electric bikes. Polaris has partnered with electric drive manufacturer EVantage in launching its own line of e-bikes. In fact, it dives into the market with lines for three different types of cyclists.  Read More

Swiss technology specialist BRUSA Elektronik AG is claiming a first for electric vehicle fast charging with the launch of its NLG6 battery charger. Small enough to be fitted on-board an electric car, the unit is capable of operating on a three-phase current with power of up to 22 kW, meaning that it could fully charge a typical electric vehicle in less than one hour. European EV models featuring the NLG6 charger will be available to customers by next month.  Read More

Until there’s some huge revolution in battery technology, electric vehicles are destined to remain as urban runabouts, never going out on long highway trips ... right? Well, not if Germany’s ebuggy project has anything to say about it. The group is developing little range-extending battery trailers that could be towed behind electric cars, providing power to the vehicles on longer trips. When a user’s trailer started getting low on juice, they could just pull over at a roadside exchange station and swap it for one that was fully charged.  Read More

Keeping the software on PCs, smartphones and tablets up to date has become a daily chore for many people. Now even car owners are being dragged onto the software update treadmill with Tesla adding a “creep” option to its Model S via a free software download.  Read More

BMW will present a new version of its i3 Concept electric vehicle at the Paris Motor Show later this month. This time around, BMW is emphasizing its holistic approach to sustainability by focusing not just on the all-electric drivetrain and extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced plastic to reduce weight, but on the renewable materials employed to put the finishing touches on the high-tech interior.  Read More