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BMW shows 670-hp plug-in 5 Series GT concept

BMW quietly revealed a 5 Series GT concept earlier this week at an event in France, and it sports a plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of a whopping 670 horsepower. Think the upcoming Model X crossover from Tesla sounds good? BMW has something that might be just as enticing for eco enthusiasts who like their cars to be green and mean. BMW quietly revealed a 5 Series GT concept earlier this week at an event in France, and it sports a plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of a whopping 670 horsepower. That's right, a hybrid BMW hatch-crossover with more estimated power than the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. BMW's setup is called "Power eDrive," and it uses a 20-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that provides juice for two electric motors; they work with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This 5 Series GT would be able to travel for 62 miles under electric power. The prototype shows the high-performance potential of the system, but the 5 Series GT is "purely a concept," BMW spokesman Julian Arguelles told Autoblog. The GT made its global debut alongside plug-in versions of the 3 Series and X5. They used more basic eDrive systems with one electric motor teamed with a turbo four cylinder. BMW revealed the prototypes to illustrate its plans to increase production of plug-in hybrids. Its goal is to add plug-in variants to all of its "core-brand models," though specifics and timing are unclear. BMW Group Media information 1. BMW Group Innovation Days 2014: New drive technologies. (Introduction) The recently launched BMW i3 and BMW i8 are the first zero-emission vehicles in the premium segment, being designed respectively as dedicated all-electric and plug-in hybrid models. Their BMW eDrive technology promotes hallmark brand driving pleasure, while at the same time delivering major reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions – all the way to zero tailpipe emissions when operating in all-electric mode. This is BMW Efficient Dynamics taken to its logical conclusion. For more than 15 years, the Efficient Dynamics strategy has inspired and shaped the development of new models across all the BMW Group brands, resulting in the development of highly efficient vehicles that combine dynamic performance with intelligent energy management. Today, thanks to Efficient Dynamics, the BMW and MINI brands offer premium models that set benchmarks in their respective segments in terms of their exceptional balance of performance and fuel economy.

Tesla owners go grassroots to promote their favorite EV in Iowa

A month or so ago, the Iowa Department of Transportation stepped in to prevent Tesla Motors not only from selling the Model S in the state, but even from offering test drives. That move didn't sit right with some people, but it's not stopping the EV-curious in Iowa from learning about the popular electric vehicle thanks to Tesla's dedicated fan base. A small number of Minnesota Tesla owners drove to Urbandale, Iowa this past weekend for a mini-EV meet-up in a strip mall parking lot. The event included test drives, a number of converted EVs (some the work of Nabil Hanke's Electric Dream Machine shop) and lots of explaining what a 'frunk' is. As a Model S owner identified only as Jason told local TV station KCCI, "This isn't us fighting anything. I think everyone here understands that this is really about sharing new technology." You can watch a video report over at KCCI 8 News. It's easy to see why Tesla owners love their cars and the brand as a whole. Tesla just announced that its network of Superchargers has "delivered 14.3M kWh of energy worldwide, saving 2M gallons of gasoline and offsetting 50M pounds of carbon dioxide. The price for this energy to Model S drivers: $0.0." When the Iowa DOT put the kibosh on the test drives, the state joined others, most recently Michigan, in restricting what the electric vehicle maker can do to promote its products. In some states, the company is allowed to sell vehicles in its stores but in places like Iowa, potential buyers need to order online and then take direct delivery. Events like the one in Urbandale are a different way to drum up EV interest.

Recharge Wrap-up: Tesla's largest private Supercharger order, Sec. Foxx talks safety in innovation

Tesla will deliver its largest order yet for a private Supercharger station. The all-Tesla Teo Taxi fleet servicing the Montreal-Trudeau Airport will have 12 charging stalls in its private station. The two-stall Superchargers Tesla sells for private use are capped at 60 kW, unlike the 120-kW chargers Tesla operates for public use. Tesla doesn't disclose the price of its private Superchargers, but rumors suggest a two-stall charger costs around $60,000, but can come free with a large order of vehicles. Read more at Electrek. French zero-emission delivery service Cetup set a new range record for the Renault Kangoo ZE-H2 EV equipped with a fuel cell range extender. The drivers logged 228 miles over 10 hours and 36 minutes, with a fully charged 22-kWh battery pack and four pounds of hydrogen in the tank. This took place at night in and around the city with lights and heat turned on, averaging 22 mph. "Reaching such impressive performance with a first generation vehicle delivered in January 2015 is remarkable," says Fabio Ferrari, founder and General Manager of Symbio FCell (the company that provides the car's fuel cell). "The new versions of our Kangoo ZE-H2, currently in production, reduce the hydrogen consumption even more. Beyond, a new 700 bar option will get us close to the 500 km range mark." Read more at Green Car Congress. EVgo has taken on JMPR as its public relations agency. As the EV charging service continues to grow, JMPR will help bring awareness to EVgo through various campaigns targeted at consumers, potential partners, and policy makers. "Electric vehicle charging is critical to EV adoption and is set to explode over the coming years," says EVgo VP of Product Strategy and Market Development Terry O'Day. "EVgo is positioned to further build out our industry-leading fast charging network. We are excited to work with JMPR and tell the story of how EVgo is at the forefront of powering the electric vehicle revolution." Read more in the press release from JMPR. US Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx spoke about electric, automated, and connected vehicles during a visit to the International Transportation Innovation Center (ITIC) in Greenville, South Carolina. Foxx highlighted the importance of safety, and discussed roadside sensor systems, camera-based vehicle side collision avoidance, and cybersecure wireless charging infrastructure.