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Audi EV exec compliments Tesla Supercharger network

Stefan Niemand, Audi's Director of Battery Electric Vehicles, didn't mince words that the EV market must improve, and he even applauded the American competition during a meeting of Germany's auto industry organization, the VDA. "I hate to admit it, but Tesla did everything right", he said about the Supercharger network, according to EETimes Europe Automotive. Niemand also tried to convince the members that EVs needed to improve significantly. "These cars are slower than those with conventional drive and they have a much lower range – and in compensation they are more expensive," Niemand said, according to EETimes Europe Automotive In the exec's opinion, it's acceptable if an electric vehicle is a little more expensive than the competition, but the model needs to be every bit as enjoyable to drive as one with a combustion drivetrain. Niemand championed the need for a vast recharging infrastructure and used his speech to do some cheerleading for the forthcoming production version of the company's E-Tron Quattro crossover concept. The company claims the future model can do everything Niemand is admonishing the industry about. For example, the version at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show could produce up to 496 horsepower for short periods and cover 311 miles on the European testing cycle. The exec's arguments echo those of Audi of America president Scott Keogh who sees a similar EV future in the US. Keogh believes the brand's electric sales could as high as 25 percent of its volume by 2025. The company is getting the public ready for this electrified powertrain transition with the A3 e-Tron plug-in hybrid, but the production E-Tron Quattro takes the idea to the next level. To solve the recharging problem, the company is also working on 150-kW fast charging network with partners. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Dedicated stop-start battery, anti-Tesla states win Luddite Award

Arizona, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas have been awarded a Luddite Award for blocking Tesla sales. The collective honor is bestowed by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) for standing "resolutely in opposition to innovation." It's a particularly hard blow for the proudly auto-centric state of Michigan, whose Governor Rick Snyder signed an anti-Tesla bill into law in October. ITIF is now accepting votes for the "worst of the worst," with the "winner" to be announced February 5. Among the awardees in the running are Virginia and Nevada for their stances on ridesharing services. Read more in the press release below, in the ITIF's report or at the Detroit Free Press. Tesla has put the finishing touches on its underground Supercharger station in London. The subterranean chargers reside below the Westfield London shopping mall, which is also home to a Tesla Store. The Westfield London station is Tesla's largest underground station in Europe. Have a look in the attached photo gallery, or visit Tesla's Facebook page for more. Johnson Controls has developed a dedicated battery for stop-start system. The small lithium-ion battery allows for more frequent and longer engine stops, improving fuel economy by as much as eight percent. It weighs just nine pounds, and with no need for thermal management, it offers more packaging freedom within the vehicle. The battery offers a lifespan of four to six years, with a price in the hundreds of dollars. Johnson Controls will debut the start-stop battery at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, with deployment beginning in Europe in 2018. Read more at Automotive News. ITIF Announces 2014 Luddite Awards WASHINGTON – (January 5, 2015) Technological innovation is the wellspring of social and economic progress. Despite this, a growing array of interests-some economic, some ideological-now stand resolutely in opposition to innovation. These "neo-Luddites" have worked to convince the public and policymakers that technological innovation is something to be feared and contained. Their targets include genetically modified organisms, new Internet apps, smart electric meters, health IT, big data, and increasingly productivity itself. And if these advocates are successful Americans will suffer in the form of lower quality of life and reduced societal growth.

Tesla Model S wins Automobile car of the year [w/video]

Automobile Magazine recently spent the better part of three days getting to know 28 of the latest and greatest cars on the market to pick its Automobile of the Year, and today it announced that the 2012 Tesla Model S was given this coveted award. As much as the all-electric Model S means to the automotive world, we'd be surprised if it doesn't snag a lot more hardware in the next few months.
The Model S beat out cars like the 2013 Cadillac ATS, 2013 Ford Fusion, 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S and 2013 BMW M5 with its sleek design, luxurious and tech-filled interior and, of course, its unique electric powertrain that offers both an incredible all-electric range and equally eye-popping performance.
To narrow down the top candidates for the award, Automobile took all the cars out for two days of road testing and then spent another day at Gingerman Raceway in Western Michigan, and the performance aspect of the Model S seemed to surprise and/or impress a lot of the magazine's staff more than anything else. To prove how fast the car is, they did a drag race to 100 miles per hour with the Tesla and the new M5, and the Model S won. The 265-mile driving range and 17-inch touch-screen display won points for the car, too.