Fox News Anchor Changes his Tune Regarding Electric Vehicles

Neil Cavuto is a presenter and Senior Vice President of Business News at Fox.

He is, in his own words, a vocal electric car skeptic. But something unusual happened during a recent segment on Fox: the 53-year old said something nice about an electric car.

As Cavuto has pointed out numerous times in the past, he’s skeptical of any car that plugs in, calling cars like the 2012 Chevrolet Volt “a lot of money for very little.”

When covering the Infiniti LE all-electric luxury sedan, however, due to enter production next year as a 2014 model with wireless inductive charging as standard, Cavuto was exuberant. “Infiniti has come up with a plug-in that gets it,” said Cavuto. “Because it’s a plug in that doesn’t plug in at all!”

Based on the same technology in the 2012 Nissan Leafand unveiled as a concept car at this year’s New York Auto Show, we know very little else about the luxurysedan, save for its 100-mile estimated range and refined, elegant styling. 

For Cavuto, however, the details were not important.

Calling it a “marriage-saver, because no longer will couples have to fight over who forgot to plug in the electric car,” Cavuto appeared unusually switched on to this particular electric car.

He even went so far as to suggest that the Infiniti LE’s impending release would diminish sales of every other electric car on sale today. 

Addressing the rest of the electric car industry -- all of whom rely on traditional conductive charging solutions at present -- Cavuto shared his wisdom on screen. “For every other car maker the message is clear,” he said. “You wanna charge your electric sales? Take your plug out of the wall and start all over.”

Plug-in electric cars, he said, had no future. 

“If only they had listened to me, because this was my idea!” Cavuto said in a disappointed tone.

2012 Infiniti LE Concept

While he gave no specifics, we can assume he was referring to the concept of wireless inductive charging.

“They could have saved themselves a lot of money, but they didn’t did they?” he moaned in more familiar tones. “Because they thought they knew everything.” 

“It turns out I knew everything...almost everything,” he concluded. 

If that’s true, perhaps Mr. Cavuto should consider a job in the automotive industry, an industry that usually takes years and years to master.

We await his career change, and wisdom, with eager anticipation.

Source: Green Car Reports

Infiniti LE Electric Car Coming In 2014 With Wireless Charging

Nissan’s grand experiment with electric cars doesn’t seem to be panning out as hoped. Leaf sales are slumping both here in America and abroad, and recent battery life issues have started cropping up in the hotter states.

But Nissan still has an ace up its sleeve; the Infiniti LE electric car, which should hit markets in the year 2014, and almost assuredly with wireless charging.

Premium Features, Premium Price

Having just driven 10 miles out of my way to plug into a solar-powered Level 2 EV charger, I can say with some degree of certainty that wireless charging will be a huge plus for electric cars. If Infiniti can be the first major auto makers to bring wireless charging to the EV market, it could really accelerate adaption among the wealthy masses.

When history looks back on this new generation of electric cars, I am certain that criticism will be level at automakers who put a premium price on a non-premium product. Why sell $35,000 Nissan based on a $15,000 chassis? The Chevy Volt is guilty of the same badging error. Instead, the Nissan Leaf should have been branded an Infiniti from the get go, and priced accordingly. The Volt should have been a Cadillac.

Wireless Charging For The (Well-Off) Masses

Well Infiniti already has a look and a date for their electric car, the LE (not to be confused with the more sporty Infiniti EMERG-E). What’s more, wireless charging seems to be all but confirmed at this point, adding another level of premium technology to this premium EV. Being able to just drive over a charging pad, without having to worry about plugging in, or being unplugged? That’s pretty sci-fi if you ask me.

Tesla has already proven that there is a market for high-end electric cars; can Nissan save its electric car program with a luxury EV and wireless charging?

Source: Gas2.0

Infiniti sets 2014 due date for all-electric LE with wireless charging

Infiniti has re-confirmed it will sell the production version of the LE, and it has now given us a year: 2014. This makes it likely that Nissan's upscale arm will be the first OEM to sell a production inductive charging vehicle.

USAToday reports that Infiniti officials made the announcement in California alongside the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this past weekend. The high-end event is a good place to discuss launching a beefier, prettier luxury cousin to the Nissan Leaf, especially one that could have the cachet of being able to offer completely hassle-free electric miles (one you install the pads in your garage, of course). Infiniti's Ben Poore told USAToday that, "It's a new technology. We're being a little bit bold on this." The LE – which stands for Luxury, Electric – also allows standard, wired charging.

While we don't know what the specs will be for the production version, the LE Concept has a Leaf-like 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 100-kw electric motor that offers 134 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. That's 24 hp and 30 lb-ft more than the Leaf. The LE will be most likely be built at Nissan's factory in Smyrna, TN, the one that will start making the Leaf later this year.

The race is on to bring wireless charging to the masses, with companies like Mitsubishi and Audi working privately and the U.S. government dabbling as well.



Source: Autoblog Green

2012 Infiniti M35h Review

From the outside, the 2012 Infiniti M35h hybrid looks just like any other model of the large luxury sport sedan. Only some subtle badges--one on each front fender, one on the trunk lid--denote its hybrid powertrain. It's the first hybrid for Infiniti, that gives the M35h the title of "fastest hybrid sedan" sold this year. Infiniti is proud of pointing out that it's the only car sold that has both 350 horsepower and a highway gas-mileage rating of more than 30 mpg.

The M35h pairs a 302-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 with a 50-kilowatt (67-horsepower) electric motor sandwiched between the engine and a version of the company's seven-speed automatic transmission modified to maintain pressure even with the engine switched off. The maximum combined output of the entire powertrain is 360 hp. The motor can power the car alone, drawing energy from a 1.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk, and it can contribute torque along with the engine to power the car. It also recharges the battery pack either through regenerative braking or using engine power. But unlike the dual-motor systems from Toyota and Ford, it can't both power and charge at the same time.

The EPA rates the 2012 Infiniti M35h at 27 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, for a combined rating of 29 mpg. That's impressive for a sedan this large and heavy that performs this fast. But keeping the fuel economy near those numbers may require using Eco mode, which not only reduces maximum power output but also stiffens the accelerator pedal to push back if the driver accelerates too aggressively. Drivers can override the feedback in emergency situations, but it's a clever and subtle way to encourage more fuel-efficient driving.

Knowing that U.S. drivers spend as much as half their time at speeds of 50 mph or more, Infiniti has tuned the system to deliver good fuel economy at highway speeds as well as in stop-and-go urban traffic. The M35h switches to electric-only mode quite a lot both around town and under light loads on the highway. Depending on your duty cycle, Infiniti says it can spend as much as 50 percent of the time in EV mode.

On the road, the hybrid system adds an extra burst of power when needed, both off the line and when passing at highway speeds. There's a slight delay as added power comes in from the motor, and the engine can sound rough at times, but there's a lot of acceleration on tap. Drivers can select from among four modes--Standard, Eco, Sport, and Snow--to change the personality of this large, luxurious sedan at the flick of a switch.

Another technology designed to maximize efficiency is Infiniti's electrohydraulic steering, which only switches on the electric motor that delivers power to the hydraulic-assist pump if the steering wheel is turned. The result is a steering system that offers good feedback to the driver through the wheel, while only using power when needed.

The 2012 Infiniti M lineup achieves a five-star crash rating, including the M35h hybrid model. And it's at the high end of the M range, with lots of standard luxury features on the base model, which has a sticker price of $47,400. That said, a technology package, a deluxe touring package, and a premium package can all quickly add $10,150 to the price for such safety features as forward collision warning and lane-departure correction.

Source: Green Car Reports

Infiniti EMERG-E Supercar Leaked

A number of images of Infiniti’s upcoming EMERG-E electric supercar have been leaked ahead of the car’s offical debut at next month’s Geneva Auto Show. Like the Nissan Mid-4 concept of the 1980s, this one was also built as a technological showpiece to steal some of rival carmaker Acura’s stunning new NSX hybrid. To do that, the EMERG-E builds on technology developed by Nissan/Renault (Infiniti’s parent company) in its high-profile Nissan Leaf and low-cost Renault Twizy EVs.

The leaked photos follow months of poorly-lit videos and patent-drawing leaks, and show a slinky Japanese sportscar with mid-engine proportions and aggressively styled flanks. The Infiniti concept’s batteries are expected to be powered by a small, internal combustion, range-extending engine, which will help the powerful electric motors deliver useful driving range to the car’s (conceptual) buyers.

There is no word yet on the Infiniti’s production prospects.

Source: Gas2.0

Infiniti naming its range-extended electric sports car concept EMERG-E

Infiniti has named the advanced range-extended electric sports car concept it will unveil at the 82^nd Geneva Motor Show EMERG-E.

The Infiniti EMERG-E will be the first car from the brand to have not only a range-extender drivetrain, but also one mounted in a mid-ship package for optimal handling. The mid-ship layout enables optimal weight distribution, at the same time facilitating a change in vocabulary for Infiniti’s design language.

Infiniti says its goal with the vehicle is to combine extreme, low emission open-road performance with zero emission operation in urban situations.

Infiniti electric sports car concept teaser - VIDEO

Infiniti electric car concept:

L.A. Auto Show: Infiniti Says Luxury LEAF Coming in 2014

So Hyundai was a bust as far as sustainable cars go, and 90% of the way through the Infiniti conference I was starting to feel the same way. Then, at the very end of his spiel about the 23 mpg (highway) Infiniti JX SUV, VP of Infiniti mentioned that come 2014, Infiniti would begin selling its first 100% EV…

This of course piqued my interest, and after the commotion had died down, I tried to get some details from Poore. All I could get out of him was that this would be a “luxury LEAF” with performance and driving experience being a key factor. Poore also said that it would debut at next year’s New York Auto Show.

When I brought up the Nissan ESFLOW concept, a rear-wheel drive concept using the LEAF’s drivetrain, Poore smiled, but gave me the usual exec-speak that they can’t discuss future products. I understand…but I am also pretty anxious to find out what Infiniti is planning for their own version of the all-electric LEAF.

Will it be a sedan, or a coupe? Front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive? Will it be as sporty as promised? What will it cost? So many burning questions…absolutely no answers. Until next Spring, that is.



Source: Gas2.0

Nissan To Offer Leaf-Based Electric Sports Car

Will This Come With An All-Electric Option?








Nissan has already confirmed that it will have an upmarket version of the Nissan Leaf wearing Infinity badges, but now a source at Nissan has confirmed to Inside Line that the company will use technology from the Leaf to create an electric sports car.

The source wouldn't go into any further detail on the project, but it's clear that Nissan has two potential candidates. An all-electric 370Z-E is the lower-cost route, or the company could make an ambitious run at a production version of the Essence Coupe.

For now we know this: Tesla's competition is right around the corner.

Source: Edmunds

Infiniti To Introduce EV in 2014, Based on Nissan LEAF

The Infinity Essence, Precursor To EV?









Now we see that the Infinity brand wants to hop on the electrification bandwagon and is announcing a model slated for 2014. 2014? Huh? That is four years from now and represents an Infinity in terms of technological advances (pun intended, sorry). Who knows, in four years automobiles could be propelled by nuclear reactors or even flux capacitors (Back to the Future model). Nevertheless, we are thrilled to see yet another player in the EV marketplace. Electric cars should represent the future as the infrastructure is already in place with 110 volt outlets being ubiquitous.

What is puzzling about this announcement is the timeline. If they are basing the new EV upon the Nissan Leaf, which will be released this year, then why would it take four years to bring the more upscale Infinity model to market? All the hard work is already finished.

From Gas2.0:

According to a report on the Top Gear website, the much-anticipated Infiniti performance electric car won’t arrive until 2014. This comes even after previous suggestions from Nissan that we might see it as early as 2012. Top Gear is also reporting that the Infiniti EV will be based on the Nissan LEAF platform but have completely different styling and upgraded performance.

Although the above pic is of the Infiniti Essence concept unveiled in Geneva, the styling is indicative of where Infiniti has been headed as of late. Because the Infiniti EV will be based on the LEAF platform, you can expect it to be Infiniti’s smallest car. Although there is no official comment from Nissan on this revelation, Nissan has always stated that their Infiniti EV would be based on LEAF technology.

Back in October, Nissan’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn, said that a concept Infiniti EV is being developed for a “stylish, compact, high performance four-seat luxury Infiniti with zero emissions” that matches up to Infiniti’s hallmark of “inspired performance.”

According to Top Gear, when they asked “the boss of Infiniti” why Infiniti is choosing to take the path of smaller, more affordable EVs rather than the ultra-expensive supercar EVs like Audi with its e-tron, this unnamed individual responded “We’re not doing EVs for a limited number of people. We want lots of buyers quickly, so we are making a family car. We have no intention to make a niche EV. Besides, big vehicles are too heavy for today’s batteries, which is why our car will be compact.”

Take this report for what it’s worth, considering there are no named sources. 2014 seems like a long way away for a company that wants to dominate the EV market from upscale to everyman. Perhaps they meant the Infiniti EV would be released in Britain in 2014? I’ll bet we see a release in the US as soon as 2012 for an Infiniti-branded EV. We might even see the concept at next week’s New York Auto Show.

Carlos Ghosn Announces Infinity to Join the EV Fray

The Nissan Leaf All-Electric Vehicle

Another vehicle brand will produce an all electric vehicle as these announcements seem to come every day. This time around, the Nissan Leaf will be joined by a sibling from Infinity.

Carlos Ghosn, President and CEO, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., announced at the 41^st Tokyo Motor Show that Infiniti plans to introduce an electric vehicle—one that will be true to the Infiniti brand’s promise of “Inspired Performance.”

Ghosn stated that a concept is being developed for a stylish, compact, high performance four-seat luxury Infiniti.

Earlier in October, Nissan confirmed production of the Infiniti M35 Hybrid, due to go on sale beginning in Spring 2011.