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Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla Model S races TVR Tuscan S, Chicago considers E15

Continental might end a partnership with Korean battery manufacturer SK Innovation due to low demand. Lower-than-expected growth and an abundance of competition have cast a shadow over the partners' plans to supply lithium ion batteries for electric cars. Continental CFO Wolfgang Schaefer sees interest in EVs, but says consumers "are delaying their purchases," leading the Germany-based company to find a way to end the deal. Read more at Bloomberg. Chargemaster has installed the Rapid EV quick charging network in Wiltshire, England. The six "triple standard" chargers are equipped with CHAdeMO, DC 44 kilowatt CCS Combi and AC 43 kilowatt Type 2 plugs to support a wide variety of electric vehicles. The charging stations are linked to the country's Polar network, and can charge cars to 80 percent in 20 minutes. The chargers are free to use. Read more at Hybrid Cars. A bill in Chicago could allow retailers to sell E15 within city limits. The suggested amendment to the Chicago Clean Air Choice ordinance is intended to help reduce air pollution and promote energy security and independence by supporting ethanol. "By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels by increasing ethanol usage, this ordinance is supporting a renewable fuel that is grown in America, keeping American dollars and troops at home, instead of sending them overseas," says Alderman Anthony Beale. Read more at Domestic Fuel. Probably just because they could, Auto Express pitted a Tesla Model S against a TVR Tuscan S in a drag race. The publication put the cars through multiple runs throughout the day with the electric car up against the inline-6-equipped TVR on an 1800-meter runway, and posted the cars' best times for the day. We won't spoil the results here, so watch what happens in the video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: Bloomberg, Hybrid Cars, Domestic Fuel, YouTube: Auto ExpressImage Credit: YouTube: Auto Express Green Tesla Ethanol Electric Racing Vehicles Videos recharge wrapup

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla software suggestions, 'Audi at home' car sharing

Norwegian Tesla buff Bjorn Nyland wants the Tesla community to offer suggestions for the Firmware 7.1 over-the-air update. 7.0 includes a variety of small changes to the interface design, which Nyland discusses in depth in the video above. He offers constructive criticism, especially for things like the placement of certain data within the display. He calls upon other drivers to suggest their own changes and features they'd like to see in future updates. Nyland plans to tweet at Elon Musk once there are enough comments with hopes that Tesla will take the community's suggestions into consideration. See the video above, and read more at Teslarati. A survey of NRG eVgo stations found that drivers use DC fast charging over Level 2 charging by a ratio of 12 to 1. While businesses might prefer to install a Level 2 charger because it is cheaper and could help convince the customer to linger longer while they wait for a charge, this study suggests that DC charging could actually be a better way to attract customers. But the question is how to make DC charging sustainable for businesses with regard to the costs. Read more at Green Car Reports. Audi is launching its vehicle sharing program at luxury residences in San Francisco and Miami this week. Called "Audi at home," the program provides residents with a fleet of Audi vehicles at their disposal at either hourly or daily rates. The cars – the S7, S5 Cabriolet, SQ5, TT Roadster, Q7, and RS5 Cabriolet – are all of the Prestige trim level. Drivers needn't worry about mileage charges, tolls, fuel costs, insurance, or cleaning. Just reserve the car online, and drop it off at the property's valet when finished. Audi at home is launching at the Lumina luxury condos in San Francisco and at the Four Seasons Residences in Miami, with expansion to more cities planned for the future. Read more from Audi. Ballard is partnering with bus manufacturer King Long to build fuel cell buses in China. The two companies will work together to design and deploy the hydrogen-powered buses first in China, then in King Long's global network. "We are delighted to be working with the second largest bus OEM in the world on this important fuel cell bus design and market opportunity," says Ballard President and CEO Randy MacEwen. "Together, we are looking to optimize the design in order to improve performance, while lowering cost.

Maserati's first electric car won't be a Tesla rival

Italian supercar makers haven't exactly embraced electric vehicles with gusto (the LaFerrari hybrid is about as close as you get), but that should change in the next few years. Ferrari's sibling brand Maserati tells Car and Driver that it's working on an electric vehicle that would be shown before 2020. And unlike other luxury car brands, Maserati doesn't plan on eating Tesla's lunch. It has to produce something "very different" to stand out, the company's Roberto Fedeli says. Think of something more like the GranTurismo coupe (see above) than yet another upscale sedan. Part of the challenge, Fedeli claims, is making a green machine that's exciting to drive. Breakneck acceleration is the only really thrilling aspect of EVs right now, he says – the sheer weight of those lithium-ion batteries dampens the enjoyment on twisty roads. A Maserati would have to be lighter on its feet. Also, the automaker will have to find a way to give its car character without a roaring gas engine under the hood. In that sense, Maserati's 2020 goal is realistic. It may not have much choice but to wait for battery technology to catch up to its ambitions. Related Video: This article by Jon Fingas originally ran on Engadget, the definitive guide to this connected life. News Source: Car and Driver Green Maserati Tesla Coupe Electric Luxury Performance