It is the turn of Chevrolet Blazer EV to wear the badge in the United States police. In fact, it is not the first zero-emission vehicle chosen: before it, Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The new Chevy Blazer has a maximum power of 565 HP. Blazer EV is already sold in the versions 2LT, RS and SS. Chevrolet does not specify the technical data of the first two models with rear-wheel drive, but for the SS with all-wheel drive precisely 565 HP and 879 Nm are at stake, with autonomy of 515 km. In the more sportif modality called WOW (Wide Open Watts) Mode, the SUV can cover 0-100 km/h in less than 4 seconds. Concerning the recharge, it is possible to connect with an AC column up to 11.5 kW or 190-kW DC.
A very interesting peculiarity that concerns all versions? It is not necessary to press an ignition button to start the car because it recognizes the presence of the key and to start you must just press the brake pedal and afterwards raise your foot.
The electric direction of the American police
Electric motor for the waste collection
Some months ago, AS Labruna had presented MOVe, startup in the electrification of mobile vehicles in the off road and automotive sectors consisting of a team of engineers, with behind professional training gained in the railway sector, who since the early Nineties has collaborated with leader European users to satisfy the new motion requirements in the zero-emission modality. The direction was the design and manufacturing of full electric vehicles for the transport of goods and people and precisely a range of innovative electrified solutions has been recently presented by AS Labruna, in collaboration with its Group companies, LF official distributor of Fpt Industrial and precisely MOVe. Its first creation is Metrocab Fresia featuring 15T, fully electric and a completely ecologic generator and a lowered frame, specifically designed for the ecologic waste collection and particularly suitable for the door to door service.
The importance of components: pre-integrated system solutions
The highly miniaturized components are the glue that holds todaysā technological world together. The most powerful semiconductors are the core of all electronic systems and the various application fields include also the electric vehiclesā, so that the company aids manufacturers in operating with more efficiency. The core of pre-integrated system solutions by Bosch is the advanced drive module, ADM, which integrates the single systems of propulsion, steering and brakes in a single harmonized flexible module. Simplified interfaces and a coherent software architecture decrease the complexity and assure the optimized communication among components. This modular approach that combines hardware, software and services allows manufacturing companies to integrate the ADM according to their requirements. The rolling chassis prototype, created through the collaboration with Benteler, specialized in the production of chassis and bodyworks, proves the highest possible level of pre-integration and represents a development platform for electric battery vehicles. With its integrated safety and control technology, the new flexible smart charging cable works also without the in-cable control box with 230-V socket. Without the so-called ācharging brickā Bosch cable weighs less than 3 kg. On average, it corresponds to a 40% weight reduction compared to conventional cables with control box.
Zero Motorcycles for each driving licence are arriving in Italy
The pioneer of the two-wheelers electric mobility Zero Motorcycles has announced the arrival in Italy of two new electric motorcycles DS, FXE and S with 15-HP motors, corresponding to 11 kW. Vehicles are designed to offer a versatile accessible experience for the bikers with any experience level: in Italy, to drive an 11-kW electric motorbike the driving licenses A1 or B are sufficient. Zero DS is a light whippy Dual Sport enduro, ideal for the simplest dirt roads and it has an electric motor able to deliver a maximum torque of 109 Nm, besides proposing various advanced technological functions. The total black FXE is ideal for the urban environment due to its innovative ZForce 75-5 motor, whereas the naked S with three-phase electric brushless motor has a maximum autonomy of 359 km in the urban cycle with a single charge.
The new Hypercar Fulminea will have 4 electric motors
Automobili Estrema has recently revealed the details of its fully made in Italy electric hypercar that will be available starting from the second half of 2023: 61 cars in all at the cost of 2 million Euros each.
Its name is absolutely self-explanatory: Fulminea, which will be able to deliver the super-power of 1.5 MW, therefore over 2,000 HP and to sprint from 0 to 320 km/h in less than 10 seconds.
The battery pack has a capacity of 100 kWh and the autonomy expected according to the WLTP cycle is 520 km.
Ā«Automobili Estrema ā Gianfranco Pizzuto, founder and Ceo of the brand, explained ā is a reality established around one year ago in Modena, where the factory is under construction, and in Turin, where our design and modelling teams work. Our challenge is entering the Italian electric mobility world as absolute protagonists and we start doing that by presenting Fulminea, a vehicle with all the characteristics of a racing car: high performances, forefront technologies and premium materials like carbon, but with a full electric state-of-the-art propulsion, unique in the world. Fulminea is meant as a new made in Italy, made in Modena excellence, where engineering and assembling phases are performed, and made in Turin, city where, thanks to the collaboration with studio Epta Design, Ucif Modelli and Est Mobile the styling and the modelling of our hypercar have been implementedĀ».
Dream yatch ā¦ electric!
The first mega-yacht with hybrid propulsion Bintador is in Tankoa Genovese yard, shipyard specialized in the construction of fully customizable metal mega yachts.
Number one in the S501 range featuring 50 metres of the yard, the boat is powered by a state-of-the-art hybrid propulsion package based on a pair of diesel 895 kW (1200 HP) MTU and two electric 300 kW motors assisted by two 250 kW variable-speed generators.
Among the various operation modalities, it is worth underlining DEM (Diesel Electric Mode) that assures a notable fuel saving and leads to decrease noise levels: the electric motors are powered by two variable-speed generators and allow reaching a speed of 10.5 nodes, with maximum autonomy of 4900 nautical miles. In hybrid modality, instead, the two diesel generators are off during the navigation and one of the two main motors works to power the second electric motor that shares in the propulsion and to satisfy the energy requirements for non-board services. At 12 nodes, the yacht will have a cruise autonomy of about 4000 nautical miles.
The choice of navigating in Full-Speed modality sets in operation both main motors and the generators to power the two electric motors and on-board services: in this case, the yacht reaches a maximum speed of over 18 nodes.
The yacht has been already awarded: it won the Boat International 2020 World Superyacht Award as it is the best āDisplacement Motor Yachts Below 499GT ā 40M and aboveā.
Are you wondering how much does it cost? About 31 million Euros!
Manufacturing excellence for Marelli motors that equip Maserati GranTurismo Folgore
The first electric car by Maserati brand is equipped with the forefront 800-V motors by Marelli ā all featuring 300 kW of power -, developed in the course of two years and manufactured at Modugno, in Puglia, in a futuristic factory. The motors, one assembled on the front axle and two on the rear one, deliver a maximum installed power of 1200 HP, with power density of 9.2 kW/kg and maximum torque of 1350 Nm. It is a performance that can drive Maserati GranTurismo Folgore to over 300 kilometres/hour.
Marelli motors are made so performing by the manufacturing process: the rotor of the electric motor is subjected to a cryogenic cooling phase, in a chamber with temperature under -200 centigrade degrees to grant the perfect insertion of the shaft into the rotor pack.
Another innovative feature of Puglia factory is the use of an exclusive double process, of which one phase in 3D, for the stator manufacturing. Moreover, they carry out 70 quality tests, of which 41 fully automated, executed on the primary features along the whole manufacturing process.
Hannes Prenn, President and Chief Executive Officer – Vehicle Electrification Division, stated: Ā«We are really proud of giving our technological contribution to a vehicle that marks a memorable time in the history of such an iconic brand like Maserati. Our consolidated technical know-how in the field of electric motors, combined with unceasing attention to innovation and well-rooted manufacturing skills, have represented key factors that have allowed us to develop the best solutions to assure the extraordinary performances of this unique carĀ».
Four-wheel drive for Nissan X-Trail electric SUV
X-Trail is the last Suv presented by Nissan, in the four-wheel drive version it is pioneer in being equipped with the exclusive e-4ORCE and e-Power systems.
The new Nissan e-4ORCE technology is the evolution of the four-wheel drive on electric and electrified vehicles. The name allows guessing what are the novelties hidden behind this change of pace: a fully electric traction, 4 for the wheels that are moved by the two electric motors.
Nissan engineers have focused on three aspects: the joint operation of motors, frame control technologies and, last but not least, the study of case movements (roll, yaw and pitch) to minimize them in comparison with a conventional thermal vehicle.
The 4ORCE system is composed by two electric motors, one for each axis. The motor on the front axle can develop 150 kW (204 HP), the one on the rear axle 100 kW (136 HP), for 157 kW (213 HP) overall. They are managed by a sophisticated control unit able to adjust driving force and braking action on each single wheel.
Moreover, the motor allows the Suv to shift from 0 to 100 km/h in 7 seconds and, compared to a mechanical 4Ć4 system, the drive regulation on the 4 wheels is 10,000-time higher, as well as reaction times.
The torque is constantly distributed on the two axles and having mounted two equivalent electric motors in terms of weight allows a mass distribution that approaches 50:50, synonym of more frame stability and better handiness.
The American brand Lucid in European market
The American brand Lucid has announced new versions of the Air intended for Europe. In particular, the customers from Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Norway can order the Pure AWD and Touring variants with double electric motor, with the first deliveries scheduled by the end of the year.
The two new versions are positioned at the base of Air price list, in terms of both power and of equipment. The first has a power of 480 HP, while the second releases 620 HP. Both are equipped with a 92-kWh battery pack that allows an autonomy of 725 km in the WLTP cycle.
The new versions can be recharged up to 250 kW in direct current, instead of 300 kW, and there are also the pluses for the on-board comfort, with broader space.
Lucid range will be enlarged in 2024 with the ābaseā Pure equipped with a single rear motor.