CCrab (Cuba Crab) concept electric car (Future Cars

Juha-Pekka Rautio’s Citroen CCrab

Juha-Pekka Rautio’s Citroen CCrab concept takes inspiration from the animal kingdom and its small Cuba Crab.

The CCrab concept was designed in conjunction with French automaker Citroen as part of a program that takes designers and provides them with feedback and access to various resources for their design concepts. For its part, Citroen is able to work closely with designers to help create and foster new designs for electric vehicles.

Although very much a concept, the idea behind the Crab was to create a vehicle that could move omni-directionally in and around the city, weaving effortlessly through traffic and in and out of tight spaces.
It might be a long way to go before we see anything like the CCrab on the production line, but with innovative designers and more automakers like Citroen stepping up to introduce new and exciting designs, it may only be a matter of time before we see a vehicle like the CCrab on the roads

»»  read more

Honda's electric Canopy (Gyro), Japan's only three wheeled scooter

Honda has finally added electric propulsion to one of its most enduring and successful commuter vehicles - the Japan-only three-wheeled scooter. 

Used extensively throughout Japan's congested urban environment as a commuter and delivery vehicle with a 50cc four-stroke motor, the Honda Canopy (aka Gyro) delivers 100 mpg. Converting the well-protected three wheeler, with its capacious cargo space, to an electric-only vehicle is a no-brainer and is certain to create an insatiable demand in non-domestic markets everywhere.
To say the Gyro/Canopy is the most common road vehicle in Tokyo, the world's largest and most congested urban area, is no exaggeration. The frugal 50cc engine enjoys a tax break in Japan, and in a city where vehicles rarely get near the speed limits, is more than powerful enough to get the job done. Equally interesting is the array of boxes built onto the platform, some of which offer enough carrying capacity to fit a small third world country.

Honda's electric Canopy (Gyro

It's a monumental sales success in Japan and has been produced in one form or another for 28 years, with the actual Gyro model now in production for 27 years. Now we're not party to who owns what in this area, but our understanding is that the three-wheeled design was patented in the UK in 1966 and first marketed as the BSA Ariel 3 in 1970.

Honda's electric Canopy (Gyro

The patented three-wheeled design was subsequently licensed to Honda, though it has been copied extensively, particularly in China (most notably as the Xingyue but there appear to be numerous copies) and a very similar two-wheeled version of the layout has been employed by BMW, first as the C3, and more recently as the BMW C1-E concept scooter.

In Japan, the fully-enclosed gas-powered scooter sells for less than US$3500, and can be purchased naked or fully enclosed and is designed like a cab-chassis utility, to be fitted with an aftermarket rear section suitable for your line of business.

»»  read more

Special Bikes/Lito Sora Electric Motorcycle

Most companies would be happy to take a traditional bike, slap an electric engine and some batteries in it, and call it a day. But not Lito. It took cues from Bobber and Street Fighter bikes to create the Lito Sora Electric Motorcycle ($44,000). Built from the ground-up as an electric superbike, the Sora sports the world's first electric motorcycle seat, letting ride in a low position on the highway, then move the seat higher for more aggressive riding. Other features include an integrated GPS system and touch screen, high-quality suspension components, a regenerative braking system, an on-board charging port and sealed, lockable storage compartment, carbon fiber fairing and an aluminum chassis, a CVT transmission that helps the Sora move from 0-60 in roughly four seconds on its way to a top speed of 120 mph, and a unique notification system that emails you when it's done charging and ready to ride.

»»  read more

Tesla Model S Sedan Makes First Public Appearance

Electric carmaker Tesla Motors threw open its factory doors to customers who have preordered its forthcoming Model S Sedan on Saturday evening. The company is now putting the finishing touches on its Model S electric sedan, which is currently in beta testing. The beta is the phase of vehicle development before it reaches production. The press was allowed to watch while interested potential customers received brief rides around the parking lot.
We need your help, Elon Musk, CEO and founder of Tesla Motors told hundreds of customers after driving onto a stage in a red Model S, saying many people thought of electric cars as unrealistic unicorns. He asked the crowd to talk up the car and announced Tesla would be introducing a faster Model S that goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds, shaving more than a second off current acceleration. Of the speediness of the Model, Musk said: That’s quicker than a 911. Not bad for an electric luxury sedan.

While some users might baulk at having to recharge the vehicle, Musk and his team have designed the vehicle to be as practical as possible. Using its QuickCharge system, the Model S will take only 45 minutes to charge up (With its fastest industrial charger, slower chargers take a more conventional five to 12 hours). Alternatively, owners can purchase a second battery and swap out the spent battery in just five minutes. The 2012 Model S will be available in three trim levels, delivering a driving range of 160 miles, 230 miles, and 300 miles respectively. Musk also highlighted the entertainment system on the Model S. He compared it to being akin to having an iPad in the console as it stores music onboard and will respond to music requests made by voice.
Tesla has received more than 6,000 reservations for the Model S, a four-door, sportback sedan with room for five adults. The Model S starts at $57,400 or $49,900 after the U.S. federal tax credit. The 230-mile Model S starts at about $10,000 more and the 300-mile Model S starts at about $20,000 more than the base price. Model S sedans will start being delivered to customers in mid-2012 with a target production of 5,000 units in 2012 and 20,000 vehicles per year after that.

Tesla also used the launch of the Model S Beta to unveil its new Tesla Motors website, which contains a wealth of information about what to expect when the car reaches the market after it completes its Beta shakedown.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, introduces customers to the Model S sedan at the company's Fremont factory

»»  read more

All-electric Tron Lightcycle hits the streets

Practicality tends to take a back seat when you combine sci-fi cult status with custom chopper building - and there's no room for a pillion passenger on the Lightcycle. We first spied Parker Brothers Choppers Lightcycle project last year when it surfaced in gas-powered form, now the company has released video of a fully-electric version of the neon-packing two-wheeler in action. The electric motor may be quieter, but this one's still guaranteed to turn heads.

The Lightcycle is based on the conveyance from 2010's Tron: Legacy and in its latest real-world form it has undergone extensive body reworking as well as getting a 96 volt electric motor and lithium ion battery pack. Parker Brothers quotes an (impressive if true) top speed of in excess of 100 mph for and a range of 100 miles on a single charge with 35 minute recharge times.

There's no word yet on pricing or availability of All Electric Lightcycle, but the Suzuki 4-stroke driven model is still being sold through Hammacher Schlemmer for an the asking price of US$55K.

You might not find yourself lane-splitting or scraping the pegs while astride this beast, but - at least until landspeeders hit the market - you'll be hard pressed to find a more radical 21st century ride.

»»  read more