The Frankfurt Motor Show going on this week is teeming with a lot of EVs, most of which are mere concepts but could be vehicles we shall soon see driving on the road.
Volkswagen featured its own contribution to the EV market, the NILS concept, a one-seater car that weighs less than 1,000 pounds. The body is composed of an ultra-light all-aluminum chassis with aluminum skin and polycarbonate door panels. According to the automaker, overall length is just 120 inches.
The 33-horsepower electric motor weighs just 42 pounds, and the vehicle’s pulling power comes from a 5.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The range is about 40 miles and charging takes just two hours.
“In Germany, 90 percent of car commuters are alone in their car,” says Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research.
Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg says of the vehicle, “NILS is a vehicle that anticipates the future. It looks as though someone had projected it back from 2030 to the world of today.”
According to Autoblog, the vehicle’s tiny dashboard includes a 7” LCD touchscreen which provides vehicle information, as well as access to the built-in navigation system and radio. An always-on laser sensor hidden in the VW badge on the front of the vehicle monitors braking distance and can prevent a crash if it notices the driver is quickly approaching a collision.
The NILS is the result of a competition amongst small teams comprising a designer, cost accountant, marketing expert, engineer and so on.
Other companies are joining the EV market, such as Mercedes-Benz who is showing off their interpretation of the extended-range electric vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class E-Cell Plus concept at the show this week.
More parallel hybrid than series hybrid like the Chevrolet Volt, the B-Class E-Cell Plus can be powered by the batteries, by the batteries and generator, or via the gasoline engine at speeds above 37 miles per hour when the batteries are depleted.
The B-Class E-Cell Plus will come packed with technology and safety features, including blind-spot detection, lane-keeping assist, active parking assist and Pre-Safe, Mercedes’ own collision intervention system.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2011, happening now, in Austin, Texas. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.
Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO… follow us on Twitter
Michelle Amodio is a TMCnet contributor. She has helped promote companies and groups in all industries, from technology to banking to professional roller derby. She holds a bachelor's degree in Writing from Endicott College and currently works in marketing, journalism, and public relations as a freelancer.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
