Hyundai Ioniq Most Efficient Electric Car Says EPA

The EPA last week announced that the new Hyundai Ioniq battery electric car has been given an MPGe rating of 136. That is higher than the rating awarded to the BMW i3 (124 MPGe), the Chevrolet Volt (119MPGe) and Spark EV (119MPGe), the Volkswagen e-Golf (116MPGe), and Tesla Model S 60D (104MPGe). What is MPGe? For those who were absent in class that day, here’s a refresher from Wikipedia:

“Miles per gallon gasoline equivalent is a measure of the average distance traveled per unit of energy consumed. MPGe is used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to compare energy consumption of alternative fuel vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, and other advanced technology vehicles with the fuel economy of conventional internal combustion vehicles expressed as miles per US gallon.

“The MPGe metric was introduced in November 2010 by EPA in the Monroney sticker of the Nissan Leaf electric car and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. The ratings are based on EPA’s formula, in which 33.7 kilowatt-hours (121 megajoules) of electricity is equivalent to one gallon of gasoline, and the energy consumption of each vehicle during EPA’s five standard drive cycle tests simulating varying driving conditions. All new cars and light-duty trucks sold in the U.S. are required to have this label showing the EPA’s estimate of fuel economy of the vehicle.”

Got that? The EPA assumes (and we all know about the word “assume,” don’t we?) that 33.7 kWh of electricity is equivalent to one gallon of gasoline. By that measure, if the Ioniq were a traditional car with an internal combustion engine, it could go 136 miles on one gallon of gas.

Here’s more from Korean website Dong-A. “Unlike ‘miles on a single charge’ that extends as the number of batteries with large capacity increases, the MPGe is an economic indicator that considers the cost of charge. The EPA estimated the yearly fuel cost of the Ioniq Electric at 500 dollars, the lowest among other competing vehicles.”

Putting all the technical jargon aside, what it comes down to is that the Ioniq electric car, which is coming to the US in the middle of 2017, is a very efficient machine. Unfortunately, it has a rather limited range of 124 miles. Popular perception is that an EV should have at least 200 miles of range before mainstream shoppers will even consider it.

That is a misconception, of course. Owners of gasoline powered cars don’t start every day with a full tank but owners of electric cars start every day with a fully charged battery — assuming they remember to plug in at night. The saving grace for the Hyundai offering is that it may cost significantly less than than cars with 200 miles or more of range.

Batteries are costly, so a smaller battery should result in a smaller price. Lots of people still vote with their wallets, so the Hyundai may be able to carve out a nice chunk of the EV market if it costs thousands less than competitors like the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Bolt. Hyundai has not yet released pricing information for the car.

The Best EV Lease Deals This Month

Careful shoppers who are patient can often get very attractive lease deals on new cars, as auto makers seek to clear out old inventory or get ready for the release of new models. Inside EVs keep track of such things and shares that information on a regular basis. Leasing an EV is often the lowest cost option. That’s because the $7500 federal tax credit gets deducted from the capitalized cost of the lease right up front. If an individual buys an EV now, he or she won’t get the full benefit of the federal credit until tax time rolls around in 2017

By far the best lease deal this month is on the the 2016 Chevy Spark EV. Not only is it just $129 a month, it requires no money down at signing. Total payments over the 39 month term of the lease total a mere $5,421. Much of that cost will be offset by the money saved from not buying gasoline and performing routine maintenance. As with all leases, pay careful attention to the allowable annual mileage. Exceeding mileage limitations can prove costly when the lease is over and its time to turn the car back to the leasing company.

The Fiat 500e has the next best lease package — $i69 a month for 36 months with a down payment of $1,999 for total payments of $8,083. A 2015 Ford C-Max Energi goes out the door for $227 a month with $3,179 down while a 2016 VW e-Golf can be leased for $149 a month with $2,349 down. Finally, the second generation Chevy Volt is available for $299 a month with no money down. Total cost of that lease is $11,661, which is more than double the cost for a Spark EV. The terms of the Volt lease only apply to customers who do not presently own a General Motors product.

Inside EVs has also uncovered an unadvertised promotion offered by Nissan. Buy a 2016 LEAF, and the company will finance your purchase at 0% interest for 72 months. Qualified buyers will also get an extra $3,000 off the price of the car. Apparently, this offer applies mostly to the base model LEAF S, which does not have the new extended range battery available on SV and SL models. You will need to speak with an authorized Nissan dealer to get all the details.

The bottom line is that you can drive electric for very little money, if you shop around. The Chevy Spark EV is no Tesla Model S, but it has its share of admirers. Here’s the best part. It is rated at 82 miles of range — about the same as the entry level LEAF S. At $129 a month with no money down, that is more than a great deal. It’s an outright steal!

Great Deal On Chevy Spark EV

In the market for a new car? Why not? And of course you want an electric. Ready to pony up about $20,000? Well, if you live in beautiful sunny California between Oakland and Sacramento, Tracy Herrin at Chase Chevrolet may have the car for you.

A 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV Hatchback 1LT is available for an asking price of just $19,988. Complete with instant torque and an impressive “fuel economy” (128 MPGe city / 109 MPGe highway), this car is a great find. For goodness sake, it only has 178 miles on it!

As for entertainment, this beast has you covered. Complete with Chevrolet MyLink radio, AM/FM stereo, Bluetooth streaming, audio voice recognition, Pandora, SiriusXM Satellite Radio trial, and more, with all functions controlled through a 7″ diagonal color touchscreen. Included is a (UW6) 6-speaker system and eco-routing capability through OnStar.

But wait, there’s more. With OnStar, you would get 6 months of the “Directions and Connections” plan, including automatic crash response, stolen vehicle assistance, roadside assistance, and turn-by-turn navigation.

For the Looky-Loos, there are 15″ aluminum rims, chrome trim, a license plate bracket, unique grille, halogen headlamps, solar absorbing glass (tint?), and chrome belt-line moldings. Surely, a whip worth rolling.

The guts are equally as plush. Heated bucket seats with high backs and adjustable head rests, plenty of storage compartments, carpet floors (as if those aren’t normal), ballin’ electric blue floor mats, power doors and windows, silver trim, keyless start and entry, alarm, A/C, and the list goes on and on.

Under the hood, there’s a 520 cold-cranking amp battery, automatic electric drive unit transmission, and charge control for the battery to capitalize on off-peak hours.

How could I neglect to mention what is, perhaps, the most important feature of this fine automobile? The stylized EV is draped in a head-turning electric blue paint, sure to be an eye catcher in any parking lot.

Some may say “baby blue,” but hey… Tomato-Tomato.

Did I forget to mention the buyer will get the MSO papers and still be eligible for the $7,500 federal and $2,500 state rebate? Still a steal in any color, right?

New Lithium-Ion Battery Uses Peroxide To Boost Energy Density By 7 Times: Report

Chevrolet Spark EV at CCS fast charging station in San Diego.

All electric vehicles currently in production use some form of lithium-ion chemistryin their battery packs.

Finding ways of improving that chemistry is therefore very important--the aim being to make future electric car batteries cheaper, more stable and more energy-dense for longer range.

Researchers from the School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo have found a way to develop a lithium-based battery with seven times the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries, according to Nikkei Technology.

This has, at least theoretically, each of the major benefits you'd expect should it be introduced in production form--lower cost, greater capacity and increased safety.

Led by Professor Noritaka Mizuno, the team have used a new material on the positive electrode in the battery, formed by adding cobalt to the lithium oxide crystal structure. This aids an oxidation-reduction reaction during which peroxides are produced, and electrical energy is generated.

The researchers claim energy density of 2,570 watt-hours per kilogram. That's actually a little less than the theoretical density of lithium-air technology (3,460 Wh/kg, and a current leader in lithium battery developments) but as a sealed design it's more stable (and therefore safer) than lithium-air.

The team also proved that there are no unwanted byproducts in the battery's acceptable charging and discharging cycle--no excess oxygen or carbon dioxide is produced during the reactions.

Tests at the university have also shown it's possible to repeatedly charge and discharge the battery at a large current, boding well for faster charging.

In theory, at least. As with all current battery research projects, there is still some way to go before the technology can be applied in a practical format--one that could be used in electric vehicles.

While the team mentions no apparent drawbacks, such a concept would require more thorough testing before it's applied inn the real world. As ever though, it's evidence that battery technology is still progressing behind the scenes--and that one day, electric cars should be able to travel much further on a charge.

Source: Green Car Reports

Chevy Spark EV Now Available as a Hertz Rental

Though some may deride it as nothing more than a compliance car, the Chevy Spark EV is among the most efficient and fun electric cars out there. Don’t believe us? Well if you live in Los Angeles or San Francisco, you can now rent a Chevy Spark EV through Hertz Rental Cars.

Hertz has a history of offering fast and exotic rental vehicles, all the way back to the original Shelby GT350H. You can also rent a Tesla Model S or Smart ForTwo Electric Drive through Hertz, though the Chevy Spark EV is technically more efficient than either.

With a 119 MPGe, the Spark EV is more efficient than any other electric car save the Scion iQ EV (which isn’t on the consumer market) and the leading 124 MPGe BMW i3. And the Spark EV’s 82-miles of driving range is competitive with other vehicles in this price range. One downside of the Spark EV is its relatively long 7-hour charging time for a Level 2 charger, but if you’re just renting one for around town driving, you probably won’t be going far.

It’s the latest offering from Hertz’s Smart Mobility vehicle lineup, as the rental agency is diversifying its holdings as of late. The recent purchase of carsharing agency ZipCar by competitor Avis could give them an advantage among increasingly car-phobic Millennials. Hertz has countered by offering more electric vehicles and hybrids for rent, and that could draw in the curious for a test drive.

What’s the next EV Hertz should add to its vehicle lineup?

Source: Hertz.

Google Chooses Chevy Spark for Pilot Program

Google and General Motors will soon be teaming up for a ride-sharing pilot program which will utilize Chevrolet Spark EVs, according to recent reports. The program will be based around Google’s Mountain View, California, campus, and is — at least partly — intended to help General Motors (GM) develop strategies for the deployment of other ride-sharing programs elsewhere.

According to GM, such programs could be used to reduce traffic congestion in large cities during peak travel times, while also exposing more people to the company’s electric offerings.

Reportedly, the company is also utilizing its Warren Tech Center in Michigan to research parking garage dynamics — being aided in said pursuit by the parking-technology company Streetline Inc.

Green Car Reports provides more information on that:

Sensors installed in a heavily-trafficked parking deck will be used to measure demand and turnover patterns, while employees will use an app to locate free spaces. GM claims 70% of drivers have trouble finding a parking space once or more per day, and they waste fuel in the process. Both programs were revealed in the 104-page sustainability report, which discusses GM’s progress in meeting various environmental goals.

In the report — the fourth since January 2012 — GM reaffirmed its commitment to putting 500,000 electrified vehicles on US roads by 2017. The company said it put 153,034 of these vehicles — including electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and conventional hybrids — on the road in 2013, up from 39,843 in 2011.

As well as the EVs and PHEVs, General Motors is currently aiming for at least eight of the gas-powered vehicles in its lineup to get at least 40 mpg by 2017. 40 mpg isn’t exactly a substitute for an EV (with regard to carbon emission AND to fuel costs), but it’s better than nothing I suppose.

In related news — GM recently revealed that it’s aiming for a new version of the ELR to directly compete with the Tesla Model S. To accomplish said goal, the ELR will get beefed up a fair deal across a number of different parameters — bigger brake calipers and rotors; more power; and five-spoke wheels and a hidden (likely sportier) grille.

Improvements, sure, I suppose — but will (the Google program) really be enough to make someone choose the ELR over the Model S? I find that hard to believe.

Source:  Gas 2.

Fiat 500e Electric Car Sales To Expand Into Oregon This Summer

Depending on where you live, there may be certain electric cars that aren't available at your local dealer.

For buyers outside California, that's been the case with the Fiat 500e--but it will soon become available in a second state.

Speaking to WardsAuto at the 2014 New York Auto Show, Fiat's U.S. chief Jason Stoicevich said the 500e plug-in car will go on sale in Oregon this summer.

Stoicevich didn't specifically say when the 500e will arrive in Oregon, how many Fiat dealers will offer it, or how many units the Italian automaker expects to sell.

2014 Fiat 500e

The 500e won't sell in large volumes, though. As a compliance car built primarily to satisfy California's zero-emission vehicle mandate, it was never intended to be a mass-market item.

When it first launched the 500e, Fiat said it had a three-part rollout plan, with California its first destination, followed by a second phase that presumably includes other states that use California's emissions standards, and a final third phase that would widen distribution even further.

Expansion of sales to Oregon would appear to indicate the start of the second phase, but Fiat hasn't mentioned any other states.

Based on the top 500 Lounge trim level, the 500e is powered by an 83-kilowatt (111-horsepower) electric motor and 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.

Official range is 87 miles--a class-leading figure for small electric cars--and a full charge from a 240-volt Level 2 source takes about 4 hours.

Despite its performance and chic retro looks, Fiat has not been shy about the fact that it doesn't want to build the 500e, in part because it loses money on every one it makes.

For now, though, Fiat's loss is Oregon's gain.

The 500e is actually the second compliance car that's made it across California's northern border; the other is the similarly-sized Chevrolet Spark EV.

Source: Green Car Reports

Chevy Spark EV Goes 139 Miles on Single Charge

Driving without cruise control, in ideal conditions, one Portland man was able to take his little Chevy Spark EV on a 139 mile driveon a single charge!

I’ve been a big fan of the Chevy Spark ever since it appeared on the big screen as a vaguely racist Transformer. Add to that the car’s 400 lb-ft of torque available at 0 RPM and the fact that the Chevy Spark is the only car to get an “acceptable” rating in the IIHS’ tiny car crash test and you have a car I definitely want to drive.

Planetsave author Jake Richardson has more on the 139 mile Chevy Spark EV ultra-marathon drive, below. Enjoy!

Electric Chevy Spark Driven Nearly 140 Miles on Single Charge (via Planetsave)

The Chevy Volt is more popular with the press, but the all-electric Chevy Spark is the more environmentally friendly one. Recently a Portland man decided to see how far he could go on a single charge. After driving for six hours he clocked 139.7 miles…

Source:  Gas 2.

Chevy Spark EV Proves To Be A Surprise Hit

As the first pure electric car from GM since the ill-fated EV1, the Chevy Spark EV has a lot of weight riding on its adorable roof. Yet it seems as though GM has a small hit on its hands, with sales outpacing both expectations and production, and it has proven especially popular with younger buyers coming over from other brands.

Priced at $27,495, the Chevy Spark EV is only sold in California and Oregon, where it gets a $2,500 and $1,500 state tax rebate, respective. The Spark EV also qualifies for $7,500 from the Federal government bringing the price down to just $17,495 in California and $18,995. Even for penny-pinching Millennials, the Spark EV is a great deal with its 82 miles of range, and all that torque on tap makes for quite the fun ride too.

So far GM has sold or lease 397 Spark EVs between the two states since it went on sale in June, with dealers having a hard time keeping the tiny EV in stock. Even though the $750 quick charge feature isn’t available yet, sales are exceeding expectations, and could lead to the expansion of Chevy Spark sales to other EV-friendly states. As it stands, Chevy is rolling out a custom Spark EV concept at this week’s SEMA event in Las Vegas.

Sure, the Chevy Spark EV isn’t exactly lighting up the sales chart, but it is one of the cutest and most-affordable electric cars on the market. For a generation of car buyers more interested in EVs than ever before, GM might have an unintentional sleeper hit on its hands.

 Source: Plug-In Cars