Russia forces gas stations to add electric chargers
In an effort to hasten the adoption of electric vehicles, Russia’s government has ordered every gasoline filling station in that country to be equipped with electric-vehicle charging stations by November 2016, whether they currently need them or not, and at their own cost. Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev signed the order to provide charging stations on a national scale Aug. 27, reports the Moscow Times. Electric vehicles are rarely seen in Russia, but the government thinks a nation-wide infrastructure will boost EV sales. There currently are no government cash incentives or tax credits for new electric-car purchases, reports alternative-vehicle web mag Green Car Reports. In Moscow, “the only perk electric car drivers get is free parking.”
Tesla waves “unique red” flag at Model X buyers: Electric-car startup Tesla has begun deliveries of its Model X to United States customers who had already reserved a copy of the luxury tall wagon. Those who ordered the premium Model X Signature series, priced between $132,000 and $144,000 US, got theirs first at a handing-over ceremony at Tesla’s Freemont, California, factory, reported industry watchdog Automotive News. A third, cheaper vehicle, the Model 3 starting at $35,000, will begin production “in about two years,” tweeted Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Among other features such as selfparking and enhanced sound systems, the limited-edition Signature series cars will be available in a red colour not offered for the standard Model X.
Next-gen X1 packs more in a small size: The second generation of the BMW X1 smallest tall wagon, launching this fall, packs more interior space, efficiency and technology into its compact form than did the first-generation model. The first X1 sold what was for the German automaker a satisfying 62,000 units in the United States since its debut in 2012. The X1 xDrive28i will be the exclusive model at launch in North America, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and allwheel-drive. Styling is more dramatic than the first-gen X1, while inside the cabin has been fully redesigned for more people and cargo space and a lengthy list of features. Standard livery includes a 16.5-centimetre dashboard display, seven-speaker sound system and cloth seats.
Seeing clearly with new glass: In the quest to make cars lighter and stronger, more auto manufacturers are looking at Corning’s Gorilla Glass. Already widely used among mobile-device manufacturers, Gorilla Glass reduces the typical windscreen’s weight by up to 30 per cent. The rub as always, reports auto-news website Motor Authority, comes at a cost. The chemical process that gives Gorilla Glass its strength is more expensive than the traditional soda-glazing process, so finding a production technique that allows automakers to exploit its advantages and meet automotive standards — without becoming too pricey — will be key. “Given the industry’s demand for glass, it’s clear widespread adoption isn’t a matter of if, but when.”
Nissan gives nod to battery-electrics over hydrogen, for now: There’s a growing divide among automakers over what is the most viable form of electrified vehicle, reports alternative-vehicle web- site Green Car Reports: batteryelectric cars, or electric cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Toyota now sells its first hydrogen car, the Mirai, in California, while Honda and Hyundai say they will also bring hydrogen cars to market. On the other side of the divide, Nissan, which makes the world’s current best-selling battery-electric car, says it won’t “rush into” developing a fuel-cell vehicle, an executive explaining that the company is “quite optimistic” about the future of battery-electrics. Nissan views fuel cells as viable only after widespread infrastructure is in place.
In brief:
• For its second year in North America, Mercedes-Benz’s entrylevel compact C-Class adds a diesel and a plug-in hybrid to the lineup. The C-Class model count climbs to five with the addition of the C300d diesel and the C350e plug-in hybrid.
• Chinese electric-car sales have climbed steadily since last year but, reports Automotive News China, there still appears to be “a significant lack of enthusiasm” among Chinese buyers for electric vehicles. Carmakers are being pushed by the government to build ever more electric vehicles for public consumption.