The BEV stands for Battery Electric Vehicle.  This term applies to the Tesla vehicles, Nissan’s Leaf, a bunch of others, and now the Ford Focus.  I guess they wanted to put the battery up front to differentiate the Focus from the rest of the electric vehicles that could possibly get their power from somewhere other than batteries.

The Focus EV (that’s right, I left out the B) is going through testing in the UK right now.  Ford is trying to determine which type of vehicle best suits the needs of consumers in europe right now.

Here is the press release:

At the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, Ford of Europe is revealing the first of a fleet of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) prototypes based on the Ford Focus, and specially developed to participate in the UK Government’s “Ultra-Low Carbon Vehicles” demonstration initiative next year.

The research programme aims to test the technology’s suitability for potential future application in Ford’s European passenger car range.

A consortium of Ford, Scottish and Southern Energy and Strathclyde University will use the fleet of 15 prototype Ford Focus BEV vehicles and a charging infrastructure in and around the London Borough of Hillingdon from early 2010.

This new BEV demonstration fleet is being developed partly with public funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB), which promotes innovative industry-led projects that reduce CO2 while benefitting the country’s transport system.

“Electrification is a key element in the effective use of Ford’s global resources and talents,” John Fleming, Chairman & CEO Ford of Europe said. “The development of this fleet of Focus BEV prototypes is an important step in our goal of delivering more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions that are affordable and practical for our customers. We are looking forward to working with the various project partners on developing a realistic solution and viable market for electric vehicles both in the UK and Europe.”

The Focus BEV prototype vehicles
The Focus BEV prototype is based on the current European Ford Focus and will use a new all-electric powertrain, provided by the strategic supplier Magna. This technology is based on that being developed for Ford’s new-generation C-sized global vehicle architecture and which will be launched in North America in 2011.

To evaluate whether this technology is suitable for European road and driving conditions, a fleet of 15 European Focus BEV prototypes is being built. These cars will deliver local zero emission mobility without constraining the user needs and providing room for five passengers, a practical boot and other Ford Focus attributes.

Under the skin of the Ford Focus prototypes is a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack with the capacity of 23kWh and a chassis-mounted 100kW permanent-magnet electric traction motor. The BEV will have a range of up to 75 miles and a top speed of up to 85mph. Charging the batteries will take between six to eight hours using a common 230 volt grid.

The prototype incorporates key components from Ford’s proven North American hybrid technology, including the electric climate control system.
The high-voltage air-conditioning compressor is a key feature of the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, recently introduced in the North American market.

The successful co-operation that is allowing this UK programme to proceed also shows the potential for similar prototype vehicle fleets to be considered for trials in other European countries.

Ford Focus BEV Prototype Technical Data

Battery Technology

Lithium-Ion Tri-Metal

Battery Capacity

23 kWh

Charging time

6-8 hours (230 V grid)

Electric motor

Permanent-magnet motor

Max Power

100 kW

Max Torque

320 Nm

Top speed

85mph

Range

75 miles

Tourneo Connect BEV Concept
The Ford Focus BEV prototype being revealed at Frankfurt joins the Ford Tourneo Connect BEV Concept which had its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

Like the Focus BEV prototype, the Tourneo Connect BEV Concept demonstrates how Ford Motor Company’s aggressive electric vehicle plan announced at the start of this year is extending its potential to Europe.

Full battery-electric conversions for the Ford Transit and Transit Connect commercial vehicles are already marketed in Europe by UK-based specialist, Smith Electric Vehicles. The Tourneo Connect BEV Concept shows how this silent, zero-emission full battery electric technology
could be deployed in passenger vehicles for urban applications such as taxis or hotel shuttles.

Ford of Europe and Smith Electric Vehicles are monitoring reaction to the Tourneo Connect BEV Concept to determine potential market viability. Ford has already announced in North America that it will partner with Smith Electric Vehicles (Tanfield group) to offer a Transit Connect BEV vehicle in the US market in 2010.

[Source: Ford]

Recently updated and now weighing in at a mere 800 pounds, this concept vehicle from Volkswagon is supposed to get 170 MPG.

That rating is achieved through the use of a 1 liter diesel engine combined with an electric drivetrain consisting of an electric motor and battery pack.  The prototype was the first car ever to travel 100 kilometers on 1 liter of fuel.  It’s not yet ready for production because the materials used to make the car are too costly.

“It is an enormous challenge to control costs in producing the monocoque out of CFRP,” says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen Brand with responsibility for development.

As you can tell from the pictures aerodynamics play a huge role in the design of this 2 seater.  Every place that can be covered up is to reduce drag.

During general acceleration the electric motor can supply 40-percent additional torque and even propel the L1 over a short distance by itself.  It also operates as a generator to charge the lithium-ion battery by recovering braking energy.

20% is nothing to sneeze at.  That’s a huge number in terms of greater efficiency.  Smith Electric Vehicles in North East England is working on a new ultra-efficient electric drive line, along with smarter, more energy efficient ancillary systems, such as heating and air conditioning.  Combining all these elements together, Smith’s engineers believe they can improve the range of its electric vans by up to 20 miles on a full battery charge.  Current maximum range is around 100 miles for urban operations.  Smith’s new high voltage systems for air conditioning, power steering and heating will reduce drain on the traction batteries, thereby extending the vehicle’s range on a single charge.

The £2.8m investment will fund the development of three sub-systems and integrate them all into the Smith Edison, a pure electric version of the Ford Transit van produced in collaboration with Ford of Europe.  However Tanfield believes there is substantial crossover potential for the auxiliary systems, into other electric cars, vans and trucks.  The core of the project is a new high efficiency motor, coupled with smart two-speed transmission and managed by a central vehicle systems controller.

We are getting a lot (A LOT) of news about new battery powered hybrids of some sort or another that will either be 100% battery or some kind of combination of battery and gas power.  GM has shown us that they are commited to that market with the new Chevy Volt.  GM, however, isn’t putting all of it’s car eggs into that one basket.

The Chevy Equinox is a 100% electric car, it has no emissions, but it can be refueled in a matter of a few minutes and be off for another 400+ mile journey.  Faster to refuel than 100% battery powered EVs, and less (no) emissions than the gas powered hybrids.  This is done by using fuel cell technology.

The Equinox runs on hydrogen that combines with oxygen to create electricity.  The car needs to be refueled with hydrogen ever few hundred miles, but you can do that at hydrogen refueling stations in a matter of minutes.  The only emission it produces is water so it’s 100% green.  The electricity created by the fuel cell is used to power an electric motor, so the Equinox fuel cell is an electric vehicle – just like other EVs.  It just gets the electricity in a different manner than the other EVs.

The biggest hurdle for the equinox is the infrastructure, there are very few places that you can go and refuel with hydrogen.  If that were to ever change you can expect fuel cell vehicles to be common place in the future.

Recently, testing of the Equinox fuel cell has surpassed the 1 million mile mark.  This is important because it means that the vehicle has been thoroughly tested and is closer to beinga  production vehicle.  It won’t be available in all markets, but in those that do have the option it can make a big impact.

General Motors India is currently discussing with Reva Electric Car Company, a Bangalore based company for a technical collaboration and a JV, executives close to the development said.

GM India will source EV technology from Reva to roll our electric variants of its Chevrolet Spark small car in India and select overseas markets.

“We have been pursuing opportunities for commercial application of alternative fuel options, including bio-diesel, jatropha arrangement with CSMCRI (Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute), electric, fuel cell, hydrogen etc, with many parties for quite some time,” said GM India’s vice-president of corporate affairs, P Balendran. “Our efforts are ongoing and we have nothing to announce as of now. As soon as we finalise our plans for introduction of any alternative fuel solutions, we will announce the same,” he added.

The two companies will enter into a 50:50 JV which is awaiting a green signal from GM’ Detroit HQ. More

The new Mercedes S500 plugin hybrid will, according to Mercedes, get 72.5 miles per gallon.  The hybrid car has the ability to travel 18 miles on electric only, but it’s not an extended range electric vehicle – like the Chevy Volt or the Fisker Karma.

The hybrid has a 6 cylinder gasoline engine for it’s main powerplant.  That engine is integrated with a 44 kw (60 hp) electric motor. There is a rechargeable 10 kw usable lithium ion battery pack mounted in the rear. Mercedes points out that this battery location is “crucial” to maintain weight balance and allow a substantial size for the gas tank.

The heavy car can go from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds.  It drives purely on electricity when possible but the gas engine will go on any time power demands increase sufficiently such as with strong acceleration and hill climbing.

The on-board charger allows recharge in 4.5 hours at 120 V but is capable of accepting a fast charge at 20 kW in 60 minutes.

67 isn’t nearly as high as the 230 MPG that GM claims the Volt will get.  But for a luxury sports car that’s an outrageous number.  The Karma will achieve that fuel economy based on testing methodology being developed for the next generation of hybrids by the Society of Automotive engineers.

Fisker also states that the Karma will emit 83 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer, lower than the current Toyota Prius – so you can be greener than the Prius owners while looking good and going fast.  Not a bad combination.

Fisker is aiming the $88,000 Karma at high-end sports sedans, offering 403 horsepower and a zero-to-60 mph time of around 6 seconds. Orders are being taken now, and production is planned to begin in the first half of 2010.

We here at EVWeblog are very interested in electric vehicles.  So count us in that 48%.  Of all the EVs that will be on the market in the near future the plugin hybrid will almost certainly be the most common.  Something like a hybrid Prius or Fusion that is on the road today but can also be plugged in.

However, the biggest impact will be made by the extended range EVs on the road like the Fisker Karma or the Chevy Volt.  Both the Karma and the Volt will let most people drive on a daily basis without using any gas.  According to a survey by Pike Research 48% of all responders were either ‘very interested’ or ‘exteremely interested’ in a plugin vehicle that will let them drive for 40 miles on a single charge.

“Plug-in hybrids match the driving requirements of most consumers we surveyed,”
says managing director Clint Wheelock.”82% of respondents drive 40 miles or less
per day, with an average daily driving distance of 27 miles.”

Seattle knows Alan Mulally as the father of the Boeing 777. On Monday, he was back in town to show off his newest baby — one with four wheels instead of two wings.

You could test drive this one in the parking lot.

Now chief executive of the Ford Motor Company, Mulally is out promoting the new 2010 Ford Taurus — the latest version of a once-popular nameplate discontinued a few years ago after slumping sales, but has been revived as part of a mission to redefine the automaker.

Mulally sat down on the Labor Day holiday with bloggers and reporters, some of whom he knew from his many years at The Boeing Co., where he headed the Commercial Airplanes Division before leaving for Ford in 2006. An engineer, he spent 37 years with Boeing.

“Usually you have a rock star that’s doing a summer tour. The rock star this year is the Taurus,” Mulally said during the event at Daniel’s Broiler on Lake Union, where two shiny Taurus models were parked outside. “All of us get to choose a different city and I just had to come back to Seattle to share the latest model of the Taurus.”

Ford has planned a 100-city publicity tour for the new Taurus, and is using social media such as Twitter and Facebook to get out the message that “Ford is back,” he said. More

Renault is playing coy, this bird’s-eye-view is all we’ve seen of the French automakers electric vehicle concepts which will debut at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show.

We imagine Renault will take a similar design path with these EV concepts as it has in the past. The Be-Bop ZE concept was a thinly-disguised Kangoo Be-Bop, and some of these concepts seem to resemble existing production cars (the white concept, for instance, looks like the compact Twingo, while the blue car bears a likeness to the Megane sedan). Perhaps the wackiest is the microcar on the far left, which appears to be a single seat buggy for use in urban settings. More