Midweek round-up
September 29, 2010 § Leave a Comment
Opel is trialling three Meriva EVs in Karlsruhe, Germany, to study vehicle-to-grid communications and Level 3 (up to 400-volt) charging. This three-phase charging system can be set up to only charge the car from renewable-source electricity fed into the grid, or for an any-source feed which can charge the car within an hour. The Meriva EV prototypes themselves are good for 81mph but only have a 40-mile range; they’ve been built only to study the V2G network.
- The main Mini story at the Paris Show will be the Vespa-alike electric scooter, but of more interest is the new entry-level diesel engine, now in the One D Clubman in which it returns 72.4mpg and 103g/km. The drop-top gets it too: the Cooper D Convertible does 70.6mpg and 105g/km.
- Saab has inked an engine-supply deal with BMW: BMW’s to provide its turbocharged 1.6 to Saab. This is an engine-downsizing move for the 9-3 and perhaps even 9-5, and the engine will be supplied complete with BMW’s stop-start and brake energy regeneration tech. It could also feature in the upcoming 9-2 small car.
- Rumour of the day: we’ve heard this before, but Motor Trend is reheating the whispers that a new-age Ford GT40 (oh yeah?) could be all-electric. Pigs, wings, etc., but you never know…
