Tag Archive for: electric vehicles

Electric Cars aren’t new!

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Electric cars are not new!

That’s right I said it. Electric cars aren’t a new phenomena. In 1899 90% of New York City’s taxi cabs were electric vehicles. These cabs were built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia.

Furthermore, in 1899 and 1900 electric cars outside all other types of cars. This includes gas and steam powered ones! The Baker Torpedo, an 1902 electric vehicle became the first car to have an aerodynamic body which enclosed the driver and the platform.

The Baker Torpedo also reached 80mph in a speed test too! (However it did kill two spectators) On a second test it reached speeds of 120mph.

Going further back electric cars got their start in the early 1800’s. While early efforts were just ‘proof of concepts’ as they had limited speed and non rechargeable batteries. So you can go from A to B, but not back again unfortunately.

Fast forward to 1842 and two inventors separately invented electric cars which had rechargeable batteries, and they were practical! American Thomas Davenport and Scotsman Robert Davidson were their names. Improvements were eventually made by various other inventors. They improved the charge capacity and improved the electric motors.

Popularity

The popularity of electric cars really propelled in 1880, when Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb. The lightbulb increased the distribution of electricity and providing the infrastructure needed for the electric car to be viable for the public.

Even then there were advantages for the electric car over gas and steam. Electric cars had no vibrations like their gas and steam counterparts. They were also very quiet. They also didn’t smoke or backfire as often. Furthermore they could go right away when you get in the car. Which is a huge advantage as gas powered cars needed to be cranked by hand. Which is not only dangerous but very difficult!

Furthermore steam powered cars took up to 45mins on a cold day to get going! Electric cars also didn’t need to have gear changes. Which isn’t that difficuly nowadays but back then it was very hard!

Only advantages gas cars had over their electric cousins was that they had larger tanks and they could fill up quicker. While at the time there really wasn’t that many well developed roads to drive on. So most people drove in the city. Rarely going that far.

Popular electric cars

The following cars were popular in the early 1900’s:

  • Columbia Runabout, which could go 40 miles on a single charge and run at average speeds of 15 mph (which wasn’t that bad at the time).
  • 1914 Detroit Electric car, which had a range of 80 miles on a single charge and was the favorite car of none other than Clara Ford (Henry Ford’s wife; he bought the car for her despite the fact that at the time his company was presently breaking the balls of the electric car industry).
  • Another great one was the American Morrison electric car which was capable of ranges of 182 miles on a single charge!  It was also capable of 14 mph, which again isn’t notable by today’s standards, but that 182 mile range certainly is.

Cost

Cost for a basic model of an electric car in the early 1900’s was around $1K. More lavish models were $3K.

Then came Henry Ford.

In 1915 Henry Ford was able to offer cars for $500 (in todays money $10,000). His hugely innovative assembly line construction was the main reason for offering his cars so cheaply compared to the electric vehicles. Making his cars very affordable to the average person.

By this time, electric cars had actually risen in price to $1700.

Another nail in the coffin was crude oil, crude oil was discovered in Texas and Oklahoma. This again, made costs lower. Gas became lower in price. Plus Charles Kettering invented the electric starter. This eliminated the need for cars to be cranked by hand. Roads then began expanding. Which made gas powered cars more attractive as they could travel further distances. Not only that gas cars were also becoming a lot faster then their electric counterparts.

Death

So, by 1935, the electric car was officially dead. It did make a comeback in the 1960’s but this was unsuccessful. To date all attempts to make a commercially successful EV failed.

However, the Tesla Model S, is looking to change that. It has a range of 250-300miles. Can seat 7 and be charged in 45 minutes. Electric cars such as the Model S are also said to save owners anywhere between $10K – $15K over the lifespan of a car in gas. Maintenance cost is also lower.

The Nissan Leaf is also attractive at 100mile range and 30minutes to charge. May look small range but it is very cheap at around $30K. Which is a lot cheaper than a Tesla! May be good for consumers or a run around car!

While the electric car seemed to be ahead of it’s time in the 18oo’s, we have made huge improvements over the years and we may well see an electric car takeover in the next 10 years.

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The NEW Ford Mustang Mach-E

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The New Mustang – Hands on / 8 Great things about it!

We got an exclusive hands on with the Ford Mustang Mach – E at it's launch event in LA.Here are 8 great things about the vehicle that is the spear head of the future of Ford's and Mustangs EV Adventure!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Sunday, 17 November 2019

We recently went to LA with Ford to check out the all new Mustang Mach-E and it is fantastic! It comes with two battery pack sizes, three power outputs, the Mach-E can come in either rear-wheel drive or a all-wheel drive and the first edition series will be available in limited numbers and will be unique! Furthermore there will be two optional technology packs and comes in eight different exterior launch colours. Plus not only that, but an all high-performance GT version will also be available at a later date! While the All-New Mustang Mach-E will only be available to purchase online at the Ford online marketplace.

First Edition…what is it?

The first edition versions will be fully equipped with all options and have the following features (they’re pretty cool!)

  • AWD
  • 337 PS
  • 99 kWh battery
  • Available in three exterior colours including one exclusive First Edition colour (Grabber Blue Metallic)
  • Body styling kit with body-colour detailing
  • Unique First Edition scuff plates
  • SENSICO seat covers with red or blue stitching (depending on exterior colour)
  • Full-length panorama roof
  • Technology Pack +

Specifications

Powertrain, Performance, and Key Dimensions

MACH-E

AWD

First Edition

Drive

RWD

AWD

AWD

Battery pack size* (kWh)

75 99

75 99

99

Power (kW/PS)

190/258 210/285

190/258 248/337

248/337

Torque (Nm)

415

582

582

Vehicle range (km) WLTP estimated

450 600

420 540

540

Acceleration 0-100 km/h (seconds)

<8

<7

<7

Top Speed (km/h)

180

Kerb weight (kg)

1993 2111 2086 2218 2218+

Length (mm)

4712

Width (mm)

1881

Height (mm)

1597

*Battery packs come with an 8-year/160,000 km warranty.

Exterior Colours Availability

  • Absolute Black
  • Iconic Silver
  • Rapid Red
  • Star White
  • Infinite Blue
  • Space White
  • Carbonised Grey
  • Grabber Blue Metallic (exclusive for First Edition)

Note: Exclusive First Edition vehicles will only be available in three colours: Rapid Red, Carbonised Grey, and Grabber Blue (exclusive for First Edition). After all First Edition vehicles have been sold, Grabber Blue Metallic will no longer be available. Grabber Blue Metallic First Editions come with exclusive blue interior stitching, and Rapid Red and Carbonized Grey come with red interior stitching.

Ford Mach-E Technology

As you’d expect the Ford Mach-E comes equipped with a TON of tech…customers can choose between the following two optional technology packs:

Technology Pack

10-speaker B&O Sound System
Hands-free tailgate
Traffic Sign Recognition
Advanced Active Park Assist with 360° Camera  Active Drive Assist with Lane Centring

Technology Pack +

(this includes Technology Pack content plus these additional features):

Eight-way power memory front seats with advanced memory (standard on AWD)
Perforated SENSICO premium feel comfort seats with coloured stitching
Power-foldable door mirrors with puddle lights (standard on AWD)
Full-length panorama roof

New Technologies

The All-New Mustang Mach-E will be available with the following new technologies:

  • 15.5-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch Full Digital Cluster –New to the segment these technologies will provide a premium HMI experience
  • One-pedal drive –One-pedal drive accelerates the vehicle and utilises regenerative charging to slow the vehicle to a standstill if required
  • Front Trunk –Offering 100 litres of stowage space, it is waterproof and fully washable similar to the new Ford Puma MegaBox
  • Phone as a Key –The user’s mobile phone replaces a conventional key fob, enabling drivers to unlock the car as they approach the vehicle without any action required
  • Key fob-free entry and ignition –A key-pad in the B-pillar allows the car to be unlocked using a personalised code. With a different personalised code entered on the HMI screen, the vehicle can even be started
  • Passenger doors can be opened using a push button. This will unlock the vehicle, inform the customer about the status through a green lit lock sign on the B-pillar, and will enable the customer to pull the door open.
  • Over-the-air updates –Software updates can be received over-the-air and vehicle data can be transmitted to the cloud (within the boundaries of local data protection regulations)

    Advanced Connectivity Features

  • FordPass Connect
  • Ford SYNC 4 with Connected Navigation and Natural Voice Control
  • Stolen Vehicle Alert/Tracking/Immobilisation
  • Local Hazard Information
  • AppLink Remote Control
  • Wireless integration of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
  • Smart Home Integration (Alexa) – Smart devices that are connected to Amazon Alexa can be controlled from within the vehicle

Driver Assistance Technologies

A suite of advanced driver assistance technologies will be available on the All-New Mustang Mach-E:

  • Active Park Assist 2 with 360° Camera
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Centring
  • Auto High Beam
  • Blind Spot Information System
  • Cross Traffic Alert With Active Braking
  • Driver Alert
  • Evasive Steering Assist
  • Glare-free high beam
  • Intelligent Speed Limiter
  • Lane-Keeping System
  • Post-Collision Braking
  • Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection
  • Rear-view camera
  • Reverse Brake Assist
  • Reverse Park Aid

Additional Features

  • Hands-free tailgate
  • Wireless charging pad

Features highlights by series

MACH-E

 AWD

(features additional to rear-wheel drive)

First

Edition

(features additional to AWD)

18-inch alloy wheels

19-inch alloy wheels

19-inch alloy wheels

LED Mustang-inspired signature taillights

Adaptive LED Mustang- inspired signature headlights with glare-free high beam

Full-length panorama roof

10.2-inch Full Digital Cluster & 15.5-inch touchscreen

Eight-way power memory front seats

Hands-free tailgate

Phone as a Key

Contrast-coloured heated power-foldable door mirrors with puddle lights

10-speaker B&O Sound System

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Red brake callipers

Exclusive exterior colour options

Up to 150 kW DC high power charging

Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive

Active Park Assist 2 with 360° Camera

Ford Mach-E Charging

Charging is a vital part of electric vehicles and the Ford Mustang Mach-E gives you everything you need to get up and running again. It will come with a Ford Home Charge Cable for AC charging at home, on holiday or even when visiting friends. By supplying you with a 2.3kW home socket cable.

You will also have a Public Charge Cable which will give access to public charge points with power up to 11kW. Furthermore it can be charged via high-power DC charges at a maximum of 150kW.

  • AC Home Charging
    A home socket can be used to charge the vehicle using the Ford Home Charge Cable. You will also be given several adapters to use other power sockets such as a blue camping socket.
  • Ford Connected Wallbox Charging
    If you order a Ford Connected Wallbox you’ll be able to charge your car with up to 11 kW which will help to reduce charge times. Better yet it’s incredible safe as the Ford Connected Wallbox has integrated fault protection and a variety of smart features.
  • DC Charging
    The Mach-E can be charged up to 130kW for the 75kWh battery pack and up to 150kW for the 99 kWh battery back. Why’s this important? Well you can add up to 93km with just 10mins of charge time. Also, you can charge your car up to 80% in 38mins approx with the 75kWh battery pack and 45mins for the 99kWh battery pack.

Ford are also founding members and shareholders in the IONITY consortium. They aim to build 400 high power charging stations in key European locations by the end of 2020. Helping to significantly reduce charge times for all electric vehicles!

Ford Mach-E and Mobile Apps

Ford have partnered up with NewMotion and by using connectivity with the FordPass Connect on-board modem, the FordPass app will highlight to their drivers public stations in Europe. You can see where they are, initiate and pay for charging services right within the app.

Furthermore drivers can monitor their vehicles charge status remotely. Furthermore by using the FordPass Power My Trip feature, you are able to plan a trip whilst considering the current charge state. If the vehicle requires charging you will be given charging points along the way which make it the most efficient trip for you as possible. Not only that the app will also highlight points of interest to help make the most of the time you have whilst it’s charging!

Ford customers in Europe can push pre-planned routes from their phone to their vehicle over the air. Driving itineraries created elsewhere can be seamlessly downloaded to the vehicles sat nav. This means drivers can get in and set off on their chosen route!

Ford Mach-E Tech Specs Rundown….

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Behind The Scenes!

An exclusive look at Ford #MustangMachE Launch Behind The Scenes!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Sunday, 17 November 2019

FAQ’s From Ford

How much will it cost?

GERMANY: Prices will start from €46.900 for the RWD version, going up to €66.800 for the First Edition

UK: Prices will start from GBP 40.270 for the RWD version, going up to GBP 58.000 for the First Edition

NORWAY: Prices will start from NOR 412.000 for the RWD version, going up to NOR 589.000 for the First Edition

FRANCE: Prices will start from €48.990 for the RWD version, going up to €69.500 for the First Edition

NETHERLANDS: Prices will start from €48.425 for the RWD version, going up to €69.440 for the First Edition

[Note: Mach-E GT pricing not available until later]

When will it be in European dealerships?

It will be in selected European markets in the autumn next year. It will also be sold in North America and China.

When does the pre-ordering start?

The pre-ordering for European customers will start with the reveal event on November 18th for our priority markets Norway, Germany, UK, France, Netherlands and Switzerland.

Can people buy this car on the internet only – without going via a Ford dealer?

Mustang Mach-E is being sold using a new online purchasing process. Customers can choose to do this at home, or to go to a Ford dealer and run through the online process with dealer assistance. Delivery of the car will happen via a Ford dealership.

What version will be available – will you do AWD and FWD?

Customers can choose between AWD and RWD versions. No FWD.

The car looks big – what are the dimensions and the weight?

The car is 471 cm long, 188 cm wide, and the height is 160 cm. weight is between 1993 kg and 2218 kg, depending on battery size and whether it’s AWD or RWD.

Will it be sold in all markets across Europe?

Yes, eventually. We have identified our top markets as Norway, Germany and UK as they have the highest demand. The other priority markets are France, Netherlands, and Switzerland. These are the markets with the largest existing customer acceptance for all-electric vehicles. Other European markets will follow soon after.

Will it be built off an existing or new platform?

The vehicle is built off an all-new all-electric architecture.

How many versions will you be offering customers, and will they all be available at launch?

Ford will offer six different models in Europe: RWD (two battery sizes, early 2021), AWD (two battery sizes, late 2020), First Edition (late 2020) and GT (2021).

Are there any differences between the US and European version of Mustang Mach-E?

Visually and technically the cars are identical. There are some minor differences due to legal requirements and in the marketing packages offered. Specifically:

  • Headlamp technology for Europe is different (includes glare free auto high beam), but this isnot visible. Indicators are also fitted to meet European requirements.
  • The Mach-E badges are different, as the “4” in Mach-E4 X is not used for Europeanvehicles. Instead European vehicle will get an AWD badge on the liftgate.
  • The US offers wheels with aero shields, which Europe doesn’t offer. Non-aero shield wheeldesigns are otherwise identical.
  • US offers a black coloured roof, which Europe doesn’t offer on base and AWD.
  • The US will offer a light interior and a black interior on Base and Premium. Europe onlyoffers the light headliner on Base (including a-pillar, rest of pillars is black) and black interioron AWD and First Edition.
  • The package tray is standard in Europe, in the US it’s optional.
  • US vehicles will contain satellite radio, European versions will have DAB+.

What is the targeted maximum range in Europe?

We are targeting a range of up to 600 km (370 miles) under WLTP for Europe.

The New Ford Mustang Mach-E

We recently attended the launch of the new Ford Mach-E. Here is some more info about it!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Sunday, 17 November 2019

 

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Electric Vehicles Charging Points In The UK

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Our environment is under threat and we should do everything we can to help the world. Our friends over at carwow are doing a lot to help promote sustainable, green automotive solutions for this! Electric Vehicles is one important way to do this!

We all like the thought of an electric car but we always are thinking where can we charge up?! Well the guys over at car wow have developed an interactive Electric Car Charging Map to help electric car owners find their nearest electric vehicle charging station!

Check out the interactive map, it’s pretty cool! By clicking here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/electric-cars/charging-points

It will tell you how many charging points there are at a location and how much it will cost! It may be easy to find one as there’s 20,000 charging points in the UK and it’s growing!

Does it cost to charge?

It varies and will depend on a manner of things such as your car, the batteries it takes and where you get your electricity from. Some public charge points ask for a monthly or yearly subscription, while others use a pay as you go model. While some are FREE! However a rule of thumb is, it will be cheaper to recharge the electric car than your petrol one.

How does it work?

There’s 3 different types, rapid, fast and slow charger. These are categorised by their power outputs. Thus, how fast they will charge your vehicle.

Rapid charger

This is the fastest way to charge your electric car. Rapid AC chargers have outputs of 43kW and a Type 2 connector. Rapid DC connectors have atleast a 50kW output. While Tesla Superchargers have a 120kW output and are Rapid DC. Using a rapid charger it should take between 30-80mins to charge to 80%

Fast charger

This is the type of charger you will see at most public places. These will be between 7 and 22kW. Fast Chargers will have Type 1 or 2 connectors and will take between 3 – 4 hours to charge.

Slow charger

These chargers have a three-pin plug. Similar to the home charger many electric vehicles owners have installed in their house, it can take up to 10 hours to fully recharge EVs at one of these locations. However, all the latest charging points in the UK have a universal Typ2 2 socket.

Type 1 / Type 2 Connectors

A lot of the UK sockets have the Type 2 socket. This has a flattened head and will charge at a faster rate than the Type 1. While both Type 1 and Type 2 cables are able to be fitted with adapters. This allows them to be connected to charging stations with either socket.

What is kWh for cars?

A kWh is the value which is equivalent to power in kilowatts multiplied by the time in hours, assuming the energy is transmitted at a constant rate.

So, therefore a kWh price is the EV equivalent of the price per litre of fuel. The price per kWh will show you how much it will cost to recharge the car at different stations.

To work out how much it will cost to charge your electric car from empty to full, you take the unit price for the electricity and multiply it by the kWh capacity of your car’s battery.

The price will always be a little less because the car will never go to completely empty and you may not have time to charge it full.

How many kWh does a car use?

This all dependes on things like weight and how they’re driven and different electric cars use different amounts of energy.

Also the size of the battery will be rated by how many kWhs it can hold. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range has a 7k kWh battery. So therefore it can store 75kWhs of electricity.

Electric vehicles do have an official range but as with fuel based cars, depends on external factors such as how you drive it. Driving it quickly like fuel based cars will use up the electricity faster and decrease the range.

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Kia e-Niro!

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Kia e-Niro Quick Look!

  • Class-leading driving range of 282 miles
  • Can be recharged to 80 per cent battery life in as little as 54 minutes
  • Clean zero tailpipe emissions motoring
  • Successfully combines two of the fastest growing trends – crossover styling
    with electrification
  •  Unique styling cues help to differentiate the e-Niro from the Niro Hybrid and
    PHEV
  • A single high-specification, feature-rich model

Our thoughts of the Kia e-Niro

Recently we tested the new Kia e-Niro. An electric vehicle from Kia, created in California, USA and Naming, Korea. It looks incredible and has a ‘Clean and High -Tech’ design. We especially like the futuristic and aerodynamic ‘tiger-nose’ grille. Not only because it looks great but it has an integrated charging port on it! Though the arrowhead shaped LED lights with the blue trim highlights does make it POP! It’s clearly a family car but it has an aerodynamic performance to it. Giving it character and different from the rest. (Not forgetting the HUGE 17 inch aluminium alloy wheels!)

The inside….

The centre console is a big change in the e-Niro, as the electric powertrain doesn’t actually require a traditional gear lever and gear linkage. It’s been replaced by a ‘shift by wire’ rotator dial drive selector. This sits on its own panel on the central armrest. The new panel also houses buttons for the electronic hand break, heated seats and steering wheel, the drive mode select, parking sensors and the e-Niro’s braking ‘Auto Hold’. Better yet, the new panel has no bulky transmission panel thus enabling a large storage area at the base of the centre console. Cool right?

Dashboard Tech

Dashboard is super realistic as it has a bright blue trim around the air vents, black and blue trims also line the doors which make it look really cool! There is also a shelf at the base of the instrument panel which has a wireless charger on it!

There is an 8” touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. Which shows drivers the nearest charging point as well as highlighting the remainign charge and range. Furthermore it shows how much CO2 reduction the car is reducing both on their trip and lifetime ownership of the vehicle. This touchscreen will also show users to set the approximate departure time for their next journey. Why is this important? Well the car will heat itself to a set temperature before the driver departs.Perfect for the winter!

The 7” LCD Driver instrument cluster will show drivers the battery charge info ont he move, it will also gauge whoever is sitting at the wheel. Attributing a percentage to the amount of ‘economical’ driving the driver does on each journey. If you like instant off the line acceleration, it will also show you what percentage of the journey has been completed with ‘dynamic driving’

Design

The Kia e-Niro has merged crossover inspired design with long distance zero emissions and enjoyable performance. It has achieved this with it’s next gen electric powertrain, using tech that has been developed specifically for Kia electric vehicles. Allowing drivers to complete long distance drives with zero emissions and really low running costs. Yet, despite no petrol or diesel power the e-Niro can go 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. Plus it’s Front Wheel Drive too!

The e-Niro is really safe too, thanks to the Electronic Stability Control and Vehicle Stability Management! It can control skids when cornering or accelerating on uneven levels of grip. The Hill Start Assist Control also prevents the car from rolling too!

The car is very rigid too and has reinforced critical areas with crumple zones, front and rear and anti intrusion beams on the sides. It has seven airbags, including a set which protects a drivers knees!

Tech & Safety

The Kia e-Niro has regenerative braking which allows the car to harvest kinetic energy and recharge the battery. Both while coasting and braking. Furthermore the Eco Driving Assistant System will provide drivers information on how to drive more efficiently. Plus the Coasting Guide Control (CGC) and Predictive Energy Control (PEC), enabling drivers to maximise
vehicle range by suggesting when to coast or brake.

The CGC take information from the satellite navigation system to anticipate road conditions. It will then reduce energy use and identify opportunities to harvest additional power through coasting. It will work by altering drivers the best time to lift off the accelerator and coast towards a junction for example. Thus allowing energy to be regenerated. Therefore it means the driver can brake later and maintain momentum when traffic allows.

This may mean that you won’t need to stop at a junction or traffic lights. Traffic permitting of course. The way that the system does this is via a small icon on the instrument cluster and an unobtrusive audible warning.  While, the car also has lane assist capabilities! It will film the lane infant of the car and then it will detect the lanes and markings. It will issue sound and visual alerts to its driver if the car has moved out of it’s lane, whilst using no indicators. Steering the car back into the lane if necessary.

Crash Detection

We were also very impressed by the Forward Collision Avoidance Assist! It can detect pedestrians and cyclists bringing itself to a halt if the driver fails to react to a potential accident. So, how it does this is by short and long wave radars to monitor the proximity of vehicles and pedestrians infant of it. As, if the car things that a collision is imminent and the driver fails to react the brakes will be applied automatically.

The system is split into three main categories:

City, which can avoid low-speed urban accidents at up to 13mph.
1. Inter-Urban, which operates between 31mph and 50mph.
2. Pedestrian, which detects pedestrians and other vulnerable road users such as cyclists at up to
44mph.

Kia e-Niro’s Battery and Performance

The car’s fitted with a battery heating system which allows the e-Niro to insulate and warm up the battery whilst it is plugged in. Minimising the adverse effects of cold temperatures. It will charge up to 80% in 54mins while using a 100kW direct current charger or 75mins using a 50kW DC charger. With the 7.2kW on-board charger, charging with alternating current it will take 9hrs and 50mins. Drivers also have the option of charging their car at a compatible regular household power socket using the in cable control box!

The e-Niro can be driven in different modes, allowing them to tailor the driving experience. You can use Normal, Eco and Sport modes. All will affect the level of effort to steer the car. While Eco mode maximises the potential for greater efficiency. It does this by limiting the maximum torque and power the motor. Whilst softening throttle responses and offering more relaxed steering inputs.

However, normal mode will be the most suitable for day to day driving. It will combine the innate efficiency and performance of the powertrain with direct steering and throttle responses. Yet Sport mode will enhance the throttle response and enables maximum acceleration. It will also weight up the steering for more decisive driver inputs. So make sure you know how to drive in a sporty car if you use sport mode! 

In-Car Tech

The e-Niro has an 8” touchscreen with a satellite navigation system, European mapping and a Traffic Mapping Channel. There’s also a reverse camera too! TomTom Live is also integrated into the Kia Connected Services! Providing traffic updates and alternative routes, weather forcasts, directions to restaurants and supermarkets, alerts for speed cameras and accident blackspots. Best thing about all this? Kia Connected Services is free for 7 years from the day of purchase. Decent deal if you ask us!

The Kia Connected Services is also linked to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Therefore allowing you access to everything such as Google Maps, Google Play, Siri, calls and text dictation and a lot lot more! Not forgetting Bluetooth hands free calls and bluetooth streaming either! The car also has a DAB radio with MP3 compatibility. Listen to it with the 8 speaker, 320 watt JBL audio system with subwoofer and external amplifier and front speaker. As standard! We think the Kia e-Niro is a great introduction into the EV world! 

 

Kia e-Niro Overview

  • 201bhp (150kW) pure electric drivetrain
  • 282 miles driving range (combined) or 382 miles in a city environment
  • Can be recharged to 80 per cent battery life in just 54 minutes using a 100kW charger,
    and with a 50kW charger, the battery can be replenished to 80 per cent in 75 minutes
  • Slots into a market that is set to grow enormously over the coming years
  • Successfully combines two of the fastest growing trends – crossover styling with
    electrification
  • A single high-specification, feature-rich model
  • Underfloor position of the batteries ensures a no-compromise approach to interior space
  • More than 200,000 Niro Hybrid and PHEV models have been sold around the world since
    2016, with 65,000 sold in Europe and more than 11,000 in the UK
  • More than 5,000 pre-orders for the e-Niro in South Korea
    Body
  • Based on a platform exclusively developed for electrified cars
  • Five-door, five-seater front-wheel-drive crossover
  • At 4,375mm long, slots between the Ceed hatchback and Sportage SUV in size
  • Batteries located under the floor for low centre of gravity and satisfying driving
    experience
  • Made up of 53 per cent advanced high-strength steel
  • Bonnet, tailgate panel, front bumper back beam and chassis components are all made of
    aluminium to save weight

Design

  • Signature design cues like the aerodynamic ‘tiger-nose’ grille ensures e-Niro is easily
    recognisable as a Kia. The grille handily doubles up as a neatly integrated charging point
  • Revised styling clearly identifies the e-Niro apart from the Niro Hybrid and PHEV
  • e-Niro takes inspiration from the Niro EV Concept car unveiled at the 2018 Consumer
    Electronic Show in Las Vegas
  • Redesigned air intakes and striking new arrowhead-shaped LED daytime running lights
    Interior
  • Redesigned cabin, incorporating Kia’s first rotary gear selector
  • Long, 2,700mm wheelbase and width of 1,805mm create ample space for five adults
  • Shapely front seats save 1.3kg each and offer excellent all-round support
  • Dashboard split into upper display area and lower control area with fewer, simpler
    switches
  • Horizontal trim line on dashboard emphasises width and space inside
  • luxurious soft-touch materials and trim details attest to high-quality fit and finish
  • Boot capacity enhanced from 324 to 451 litres compared with Niro PHEV due to under
    floor mounted battery pack

Tech

  • Wireless phone charger included as standard for Qi-equipped smartphones
  • Kia Connected Services featuring TomTom® Live, providing speed camera, weather,
    traffic and local point of interest information
  • Reversing camera system and rear parking sensors included as standard
  • Android Auto TM and Apple CarPlay TM standard equipment, giving access to navigation,
    music, hands-free calls and text messaging and voice recognition through smartphone
    apps
  • Advanced active safety technologies include Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with
    pedestrian and cyclist detection (FCA), Adaptive Smart Cruise Control (SCC), Driver
    Attention Warning (DAW) and Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
  • •DAB radio standard, with eight-speaker 320-watt JBL® premium sound system

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Tesla How To Kill An Hour Car

It’s “Game, Set, Match” For Tesla, Says Musk

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Elon Musk likes to extol the virtues of his car company. But this month, the billionaire mogul has gone a step further, claiming that it’s “game, set, match” for the firm in the race to develop autonomous tech. Musk is convinced that no other players in the industry can catch Tesla in the race to develop cars that drive themselves, thanks to the company’s unique position.

 

Game, Set, Match Tesla

 

Musk points out that Tesla is the only company in the world to make cars, develop autonomous tech in-house and collect vehicle data. It is, in his opinion, a slam dunk, which means that Tesla will continue to outcompete the rest of the market for at least the next five years.

 

Credit: www.diggita.it/v.php?id=1623397

 

What does this mean for the “traditional” automakers like BMW and Ford? Are we looking at the end of the traditional auto industry as everyone switches to Tesla’s superior tech?

 

It’s worth pointing out that other players could cobble together some form of response. Ford, for instance, could team up with Google’s Waymo and start producing cars with the search giant’s powerful software onboard. Likewise, BMW could pair up with another third-party provider and install all of the autonomous apparatus it needs as the cars come off the production line. It wouldn’t take a genius to work out that part.

 

The Competition

 

But all companies, including Waymo, have a problem that Musk’s Tesla has solved: the data collection issue. Waymo, the second most driven AI system in the world, has collected about 10 million miles of real-world data through its various testing initiatives. Tesla, on the other hand, says that it has more than 2 billion, meaning that it just has way more data to train its algorithms.

 

The cars you can find on sites like  Emerald House Of Cars today still offer some pretty decent autonomous technology. Many, for instance, offer lane assist, parking assist, lane warning, blind spot assist and smart cruise control. But these are low-hanging fruit: it’s relatively easy to make a car do what you want in controlled conditions and set pieces. It’s when the vehicle has to make decisions itself when things start getting complicated. Just reacting isn’t too hard, but being proactive is something that machines struggle to do.

 

How Long Before We Get Autonomy?

 

Will we get autonomous tech anytime soon? Musk seems to think so. In the interview in which he declared that it was “game, set, match” to Tesla, he said that his cars would be “feature complete” with regards to autonomous driving by the end of 2020, so about 18 months from now. That’s the point, he says, where he’d feel comfortable travelling in a Tesla autonomous vehicle.

 

That’s not to say, however, that regulators will agree. Tesla might be ready to go as early as next year, but regulators could spend upwards of a decade working out whether they think autonomy is a good idea. Many conservative regulators may always want a human in the loop. The delay could allow other manufacturers to catch up and overtake Tesla, which isn’t what the company wants.