Friday, July 22, 2011

Lithium Supply: Competition draining Japan's hold on battery materials market ilc.v, tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc



  Lithium and Rare Earths are at the heart of the technological revolution today and they will be the basis for the new industrial revolution based on Energy Transition from fossil fuels. Electrification of the transportation will lead the way and provide new investment opportunities.
  All major industrial players are busy making M&A deals in the lithium space in order to secure supply of the critical materials in the future. Korean and Chinese companies are coming very aggressively into Lithium sector as well now.



"With Euro area coming out of coma and US Debt ceiling potentially being lifted Crude Oil is already hitting above 100 dollars today. IEA has announced that there is No Plans about second Oil release and that the previous one is now helping the market supply. Our Lithium plays will be picking up next with the risk coming back on the table."



Asahi.com:


Competition draining Japan's hold on battery materials market

BY AKIHIRO NISHIYAMA

With demand for energy-dense lithium-ion batteries climbing worldwide, Japan's materials makers are facing tougher competition from China and South Korea, loosening their grip on the industry's top spot.

In response, many companies are gearing up to raise production ahead of an expected surge in demand for electric vehicles and hybrid cars.

On July 20, Kureha Corp. President Takao Iwasaki announced that his company, in cooperation with trading house Itochu Corp., plans to set up new materials factories in Japan and the United States by 2013 with a total investment of 10 billion yen ($127 million).

"Lithium-ion will dominate the battery market of this century. We hope to control that market with Japanese materials," Iwasaki told a news conference.

Kureha now holds a 70 percent share in the international market for adhesives for cathode materials, a principal material used to make lithium-ion batteries.

It also aims to grab a 20 percent share by 2015 in the market for anode materials, another crucial material for lithium-ion batteries.

The other main materials used in lithium-ion batteries are electrolytes and separators.

The batteries generate electricity when ions travel between the cathodes and anodes. Lithium-ion batteries have much larger capacities than nickel-hydride batteries.

At present, lithium-ion batteries are mainly used in mobile phones and personal computers, and the lithium-ion battery market is worth around 1 trillion yen. Japanese materials makers are the top suppliers in many markets.

These makers are also keeping a sharp eye on the market being generated by next-generation vehicles in development at Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and other carmakers.

The overall market for lithium-ion batteries, including for products other than cars, is expected to grow to somewhere between 5 trillion yen and 8 trillion yen by 2020. To prepare for rapid expansion, Japanese materials makers are accelerating advance investments in production.

Showa Denko KK currently occupies 50 percent of the market for aluminum-laminated films used to encase batteries. On July 19, the company unveiled a plan to expand its production of anode materials by spending 3 billion yen. It also said that it will make inroads into the electrolyte market by 2013.

Ube Industries Ltd., now the world's top producer of electrolytes, announced July 6 it will establish its first overseas production base in the United States in 2012 in a joint venture with U.S. chemical maker Dow Chemical Co. Using Dow's sales networks, Ube Industries aims to sell its products to U.S. carmakers.

Asahi Kasei Corp., the world's largest producer of separators, also plans to increase production by spring 2013 through additional investments of 6 billion yen in its factories in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Japanese materials makers have secured a market share by earning the trust of clients by providing high-quality products. But the rising tide of competition is spurring them to hurry along their investments.

Battery makers, which rely on materials manufacturers, are already losing their market shares.

According to Techno Systems Research Co., South Korean makers grabbed 38 percent of the world market for lithium-ion batteries on a shipment basis in the January-March quarter of 2011, matching that of Japanese manufacturers for the first time.

By maker, South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. topped Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. in the April-June quarter of 2010, and has since held onto the top position.

Even more of a concern, "about 1,000 materials makers have emerged" in China, said an industry source.

South Korea's LG Chem Ltd., the world's third-largest lithium-ion battery producer, has begun to produce materials by itself.

A price war has already erupted in the lithium-ion battery materials market for mobile phones.

Showa Denko says the average price of anode materials per kilogram has shrunk by half from the 2,000 yen of two years ago.

Hitachi Chemical Co., the world's largest producer of anode materials, announced in June it will set up a new factory in China, the country that produces graphite, the raw material for anodes. The move apparently is aimed at reducing production costs.

Will a similar battle take place in the market for materials to make lithium-ion batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles?

"In the market for cars, where demand for safety and high quality is especially strong, Japanese makers' dominance will continue for the time being. But, as some materials become usable in both mobile phones and cars, their use will spread. That will force Japanese makers to strengthen their price competitiveness," said Shinobu Takeuchi, a SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. researcher."
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Lithium Drive: Nissan Leaf 2011 car video review NRMA Drivers Seat ilc.v, tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc


  With Euro area coming out of coma and US Debt ceiling potentially being lifted Crude Oil is already hitting above 100 dollars today. IEA has announced that there is No Plans about second Oil release and that the previous one is now helping the market supply. Our Lithium plays will be picking up next with the risk coming back on the table.


"Lithium Charge: Electric car demand expected to jump-start lithium stocks In this article we have almost all credible Lithium investment universe. Always keep in mind that analysts are promoting the companies, which they have business with and which was financed by the house they are working for. Otherwise, Jonathan LEE and David Talbot are talking about the right names and it is very encouraging, that they are bullish on Lithium demand and particularly now we can see the serious promotion of all lithium plays. Byron Capital was one of the first to put Lithium on the investors' radar screen and now Dundee Capital is expanding this mega trend introduction to the market place. We are doing the same here and writing about stocks we are interested in and having a position. General bullishness in Lithium sector should move the new names to the radar screen as well. Almost all Lithium juniors were under pressure for the last 6-8 months and will be coming strong now into the Fall with return of the risk trade. You have plenty to chose from based on your DD and risk profile: from major producers - to the more risky development plays."




"Lithium Charge: Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy. Finally, we have the first book about the Lithium economy and Electric Cars - this Bull is still in its infancy now, just look around - how many Electric Cars can you see. For us it is like Gold and Silver in 2003 when nobody cared about it. This mega trend - Peak Oil multiplied by Inflation - will be even more powerful. Ugly Truth about diminishing Oil supply with constantly increasing demandwill make its way to the headlines again with higher Gas prices. Be prepared and tell the others - this time is coming and we can be ready for it. Time to act is now."
Enhanced by Zemanta

M&A Watch in Canada: Canada Zinc Metals Reports on Activities at the Akie Project czx.v , lun.to, tnr.v, ilc.v, bwr.to, cs.to, imn.to, ncu.to, tko.to, wrn.to, qux.to, rio, bls.to, tck



 From the company:


"Excerpts from the July 19, 2011 “Metals Morning Note” issued by Salman Partners of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.


TSX.V: CZX; Frankfurt : A0RAQJ
“Line-ups at warehouses in New Orleans appear to reflect a strong rebound in end-user demand
Why New Orleans matters: Dow Jones reports that 61% of the stocks of zinc reported by the London Metal Exchange are stored in New Orleans . And there is now a 44-day wait for “anyone looking to get metal out of” the LME warehouses. Until this week, the wait was only seven days…line-ups in New Orleans do seem to reflect end-user demand.”
“Furthermore…we continue to believe that a series of mine closures are putting us in a position of growing shortages of zinc mining capacity.”



The Note goes on to suggest how investors can play the imminent shortage of zinc and names Canada Zinc Metals as one of the alternatives for the development of zinc resources. It also mentions the proposed acquisition of zinc producer Breakwater Resources by Nyrstar NV and how that transaction may be an indication of how zinc companies, including Canada Zinc Metals, may also be the object of acquisition by smelting / refining companies based in North America, Europe, China or India."



"We would love to see the every car in the world Electric one and in the nearest future, this time will come, but for a few years to come the ICE will make the majority of cars to be sold. In our search for growth inevitably we are coming to China and its largest auto market now - it means a lot of Zinc and Lead demand. Zinc in this recovery is a poor brother of Copper so far and the junior prices in Zinc juniors are reflecting it. We are following here Canada Zinc Metals - Chinese M&A story in Canada.

"We have very interesting situation here: company moves into Preliminary Economic Assestment of the Cardiak Creek deposit and stock is below than the recent financing at 0.77 CAD. How all situation with Lundin Mining will affect this M&A situation in Canada remains to be seen. Chinese Copper and Zinc giant Tongling already owns 36% of Canada Zinc Metals and Lukas Lundin has its stake in this company via Lundin Mining."





July 18, 2011
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Canada Zinc Metals Corp. (TSX Venture Exchange: CZX) is pleased to provide an update on exploration activities on its 100% owned Akie property, which hosts the Cardiac Creek SEDEX Zn-Pb-Ag deposit. The property is located approximately 260 kilometers north-northwest of the town of Mackenzie, in northeastern British Columbia, Canada.

Akie Property:

The 2011 exploration program commenced in early June with diamond drilling targeting several key zones along strike from the Cardiac Creek deposit, including: the North Lead Anomaly; the NW Extension and the SE Extension. Drilling will also test the SE edge of the deposit with the intent to expand the deposit in this direction. To date, 6 drill holes have been completed in the first month of the program, totaling 2,213.78 metres, with drill production and recovery exceeding expectations.

The bulk of the drilling to date has focused on the NW Extension. A total of 5 holes have been completed totaling 1,708.72 metres. Holes A-11-87, A-11-88 and A-11-89 tested the strike extent and up-dip potential of proximal style mineralization encountered in A-10-69. Hole A-11-90 tested the possible up-dip extent of the Nick Style (Ni-Zn) horizon discovered in A-10-72. Hole A-11-91 tested the down-dip extent of the mineralization encountered in A-10-69.

Variable widths of proximal style mineralization were encountered in all drill holes except A-11-91. Hole A-11-88, located closest to the Cardiac Creek deposit, contains the most promising mineralization to date with a well-developed section of proximal style mineralization and approximately 2.0 metres of massive sulphide lens situated at the base of the Gunsteel formation.
The Nick Horizon was not encountered in drill hole A-11-90 and A-11-91 did not intersect any significant mineralization down-dip of A-10-69. Folding and faulting at the NW Extension has produced a structurally complex geological setting that requires further analysis.

The first drill hole of the 2011 exploration program tested the SE Extension. Drill hole A-11-86 was completed to a depth of 505.06 metres, testing the strike and down-dip potential of the mineralization encountered in the spring geotechnical drill holes A-11-84 and A-11-85. The mineralization encountered in A-11-86 appeared to be distal in nature and of different character to that observed in A-11-84 and A-11-85. Analytical results from all sampled drill holes are pending.

Currently, the drill is testing the SE edge of the Cardiac Creek deposit with the intent of expanding the known limits of the deposit. The intended target of the current drill hole A-11-92 represents a 100 metre step-out to the SE from the closest resource hole, A-95-16. If successful, a series of holes are planned further along strike from the deposit. Future drill targets include two deep (900 metre) drill holes on the North Lead Anomaly designed to test the down-dip extent of extensive mineralization encountered in A-10-68 and A-10-76. It is anticipated that mineralization will continue to develop down-dip.

Regional Exploration:

The regional exploration program has focused on targets situated on the Pie and Akie properties. These efforts include mapping of the West Pie property, delineating the extent of prospective black shales of the Gunsteel Formation and further examination and analysis of the GPS bedded barite and Pie Breccia showings.

Mapping on the West Pie property has defined a significant panel of interpreted prospective Gunsteel Formation shales. Nodular barite occurrences have been discovered within this panel indicating the occurrence of exhalative activity in the area. Further mapping and an extensive soil sampling program are planned.

The GPS bedded barite occurrence is located on the western most edge of the Akie property. It is situated along strike from and is hosted in the same panel of interpreted Gunsteel shales identified at the West Pie property. The showing was inspected early in the program and a series of soil samples were collected to close off an existing anomaly. It is important to note that the interpreted Gunsteel shales present at the West Pie property, which also host the GPS bedded barite showing, are situated directly along strike from Teck’s Cirque deposit.

At this time a single drill hole is proposed that will test the down dip extent of the bedded barite. The proposed drill hole is expected to be less than 250m. The surface outcropping of the Cirque deposit is identified as the “Baritic facies” and is known to contain massive barite and minor sulphides. The GPS showing could represent a similar barite horizon proximal to another center of exhalative sulphide mineralization.

Other exploration efforts on the Pie property have focused on Pie Breccia Showing, a black silica vein host to significant sphalerite and minor galena mineralization. Work along the eastern edge of the Pie property has included follow up on areas with coincident soil and silt anomalies containing elevated values of nickel and zinc. Analytical results from the regional exploration program are pending.

About the Akie Property

The Akie zinc-lead property is situated within the southern-most part (Kechika Trough) of the regionally extensive Paleozoic Selwyn Basin, one of the most prolific sedimentary basins in the world for the occurrence of SEDEX zinc-lead-silver and stratiform barite deposits.

Drilling on the Akie property by Inmet Mining Corporation during the period 1994 to 1996 and by Canada Zinc Metals since 2005 has identified a significant body of baritic-zinc-lead SEDEX mineralization (Cardiac Creek deposit). The deposit is hosted by siliceous, carbonaceous, fine grained clastic rocks of the Middle to Late Devonian ‘Gunsteel’ formation. The Company has outlined a NI 43-101 compliant inferred resource of 23.6 million tonnes grading 7.6% zinc, 1.5% lead and 13.0 g/t silver (at a 5% zinc cut off grade).

Two similar deposits, Cirque and Cirque South Cirque, located some 20 km northwest of Akie and owned under a joint venture by Teck Resources and Korea Zinc, are also hosted by Gunsteel rocks and have a combined geologic inventory in excess of 50 million tonnes (not 43-101 compliant) grading approximately 10% combined zinc + lead.

In addition to the Akie property, Canada Zinc Metals Corp. controls a large contiguous group of claims which comprise the Kechika Regional project. These claims are underlain by geology identical to that on the Akie property (Cardiac Creek deposit) and Cirque. This project includes the 100% owned Mt. Alcock property, which has yielded a historic drill intercept of 8.8 metres grading 9.3% zinc+lead, numerous zinc-lead-barite occurrences, and several regional base metal anomalies.

Ken MacDonald P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for the technical information contained in this release.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CANADA ZINC METALS CORP.

“PEEYUSH VARSHNEY”

PEEYUSH VARSHNEY, LL.B
CEO & CHAIRMAN"
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Lithium Drive: GM Restarts Volt Production - Autoline Daily 684 ilc.v, tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc


  GM will triple its Volt production - sounds interesting, Nissan raises the specs and the price and brings its Leaf to more markets in US ahead of time. Things are moving fast in Electric space now. Maybe, we are very close to our new catalyst for the Lithium development plays.

"Lithium Charge: Electric car demand expected to jump-start lithium stocks. Lithium is a metal that may not be top of mind for many investors, but it's common in everything from cellphones and iPods to laptops and tablets.
 Now, the rising demand for electric cars will help give an additional boost to lithium prices and stocks, analysts say."
Enhanced by Zemanta

Lithium Charge: Ikea to Host ECOtality’s Charging Stations ilc.v, tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc

  


  It is the very important development. Charging infrastructure is coming on now and partnerships between DOE, private capital and places like Ikea, Walmart, Restaurant chains, Starbucks etc. will be the necessary catalyst to spread the EV adoption very fast. Electricity is everywhere already, we just need to build the "last mile" to consumer - it will be even faster than with Internet.

"Lithium Charge: Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy. Finally, we have the first book about the Lithium economy and Electric Cars - this Bull is still in its infancy now, just look around - how many Electric Cars can you see. For us it is like Gold and Silver in 2003 when nobody cared about it. This mega trend - Peak Oil multiplied by Inflation - will be even more powerful. Ugly Truth about diminishing Oil supply with constantly increasing demandwill make its way to the headlines again with higher Gas prices. Be prepared and tell the others - this time is coming and we can be ready for it. Time to act is now."





gas2.0:

Frankie Berti


Ikea to Host ECOtality’s Charging Stations

Ikea, the world’s largest furniture retailer with a demonstrated interest in sustainability and environmental responsibility, has partnered with ECOtality, Inc. to bring Blink EV charging stations to 10 cities throughout the western United States by Fall 2011.
ECOtality will be in charge of installation and “ongoing charger operations”; IKEA’s role is to prepare the host site for the charging stations, maintain the sites in good condition, and send all charging data to ECOtality. There will be a minimum of two charging stations per qualifying store.
Blink, an EV infrastructure and EV product line owned by ECOtality, has already worked with restaurant chain Cracker Barrel to provide its DC Faster Chargers in Tennessee. The EV Project will provide a variation of these stations, as well as Blink’s Level 2 Residential Wall Mount Charger, (“Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment” or EVSE’s). Data collected from residential charging could be crucial to the project’s aim, as most charging will probably take place in the home. Home charging stations are still expensive. The EV Project offered qualifying EV owners a free home charging station and a credit up to $1,200 for installation in exchange for data collection. Never seen a Blink charging station? Check out the video, below.


ECOtality manages the EV Project, a public and privately-funded campaign (half of the $230 million invested in the project comes from the U.S. Department of Energy), with the aim of providing necessary infrastructure for the coming wave of electric vehicles. It will deliver 14,000 chargers to commercial locations like IKEA and EVSE’s to homes in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas.
The EV Project is designed to collect and evaluate data about electric vehicle use in diverse conditions (the states vary from Oregon to Texas), charge infrastructure. The EV Project hopes to learn as much as possible about the participating Chevrolet Volts and Nissan LEAF electric vehicles in order to facilitate the future mass deployment of electric vehicles.
No word on which cities will be enjoying the Blink electric vehicle charging station yet; criteria for installation needs and feasibility need to be met. The pilot program will last through December 2012, so keep your eyes peeled and let us know if the IKEA store in your city has one!
Source: ECOtality, Inc.

Source: ECOtality & IKEA"


Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, July 18, 2011

Lithium Drive: WHAT´S NEXT - Zero Emission. Production BMW ActiveE. ilc.v, tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc


"Lithium Drive: BMW i3. BMW is one of the companies, which can make the Electric Cars happen an a mass scale basis. So far German auto makers were more talking about Electric Cars, than really making them, but BMW is scaling its Electric market approach very fast.

"Will we be able to compete with Asia in the end in Electric Cars space?New Electric Cars are coming on the market now and we have good news from BMW Active E today - company will be leasing these electric cars later this year. Leasing means they will be still expensive, but we need to start somewhere.
"China Plans 220,000 EV Charge Points and 2,351 Battery Switch Stations.  Some people have 5 year plan how to make Electric Cars the strategic industry and to be leaders in Lithium Batteries and Electric Cars. They also have more than 3 trillion dollars in Reserves and can afford Lithium dreams, by the waythey are already controlling 97% of Rare Earths market and moving fast into Lithium Supply space. These people are in China and they are busy now with new and very practical revolution - Industrial one based on Electric Cars."



Just a few years ago, the zero-emission vehicle seemed little more than a dream to Mirco Schwarze, a team leader at the BMW plant in Leipzig.

Then he started working on it.

Now, just a couple of years later, the BMW ActiveE is rolling off the assembly line in Leipzig. You can watch the short film about Mirco Schwarze to learn more.

But the electric BMW ActiveE is not the only example of how we at the BMW Group are working to reduce emissions.

Take our Efficient Dynamics strategy: The goal of Efficient Dynamics is lower fuel consumption, more driving fun.

A few facts and figures about our strategy:

We have invested over 1.2 billion euros in Efficient Dynamics to date. There are now more than 2.5 million vehicles equipped with this standard technology package on the roads today.

We have reduced the CO2 emissions of our European new-vehicle fleet by about 30 percent over the past 15 years. At the start of 2011, the BMW and MINI model range comprised more than 52 vehicles with CO2 emissions of 140 gram per kilometre or less, including 19 with an emissions rating of no more than 120 gram per kilometre.

Efficient on all roads – the ActiveHybrid.

We currently offer two series-produced hybrid vehicles, the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and the BMW ActiveHybrid 7. Unlike conventional hybrid models, our hybrid technology delivers efficiency benefits both on the highway and in the city.

The future of the automobile – electro-mobility and hydrogen.

We are currently gaining valuable practical experience with e-mobility in an international field trial with more than 600 fully-electric MINI E cars on the roads.

The BMW ActiveE is also providing insights for series development of the BMW i3, which will come onto the market in 2013.

Our small series of 100 BMW Hydrogen 7 cars has already clocked up almost four million kilometres. In this way, we have underlined that the hydrogen car is already another viable option for everyday driving.

Despite all of these new technologies and developments, we are certainly not taking it easy. Our aim is to develop new technologies that will significantly increase vehicle efficiency.

These developments will ultimately lead to drive trains that produce zero emissions.

That is what’s next for us."
Enhanced by Zemanta

Lithium Drive: Economist: First Karma chameleon goes to Leonardo di Caprio ilc.v, tnr.v, czx.v, cgp.v, alk.ax, lmr.v, rm.v, nup.ax, srz.ax, usa.ax, jnn.v, abn.v, ura.v, mxr.v, tsla, res, mcp, avl.to, quc.v, cee.v, sqm, fmc, roc, li.v, wlc.v, clq.v, lit, nsany, byddf, gm, dai, rno.pa, hev, aone, vlnc

  

  This is the case when "who is writing" can be even more important than the subject itself. Fisker finally has made it and its first Fisker Karma - ultimate EV marketing machine - will be delivered to Leonardo di Caprio. This car will be turning heads on the streets and the names surrounding it will be making headlines. Now you can depart into the post carbon world in style and even without any range anxiety.




"Lithium Charge: Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy. Finally, we have the first book about the Lithium economy and Electric Cars - this Bull is still in its infancy now, just look around - how many Electric Cars can you see. For us it is like Gold and Silver in 2003 when nobody cared about it. This mega trend - Peak Oil multiplied by Inflation - will be even more powerful. Ugly Truth about diminishing Oil supply with constantly increasing demandwill make its way to the headlines again with higher Gas prices. Be prepared and tell the others - this time is coming and we can be ready for it. Time to act is now."







Economist:

Electric Cars

Karma chameleon.




THE first Fisker Karma, a luxury four-seater high-performance electric car, will be delivered to its first customer, one Leonardo di Caprio, on July 21st. The Hollywood film star will find that unlike other electric cars, the Karma has been designed to be driven like a conventional combustion-engined vehicle, but also with the ability to change its character and use electricity for a different driving style.




The Karma is being built by Fisker Automotive, a Californian company led by Henrik Fisker, who has designed cars for BMW, Ford and Aston Martin. Fully charged and with the car switched to what Fisker calls “stealth” mode, a 20kWh lithium-ion battery, hidden beneath the floor, gives it a range of about 80km (50 miles) and a top speed of 153kph. Like many hybrids, a petrol engine is installed to extend its range. Yet unlike those that use a range extender when the battery runs down, such as the Chevrolet Volt (Opel/Vauxhall Ampera in Europe), the Karma's two-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which sits under the bonnet in the front, never drives the wheels directly. Instead, it is perpetually connected to a generator which powers the car's two electric motors in the rear wheels.
As a result, besides its range-extending function, the petrol engine can improve the car's performance by delivering extra electricity whenever the driver flips on the vehicle's sport mode. This boosts acceleration and takes the top speed to 200kph. Switching between the different modes is done by one of a pair of paddles on the steering wheel. In a conventional modern sports car these are used to change gear. (As is often the case with such novelties, the paddles came from Formula 1.) But the Karma has no need of a gearbox, required by cars (hybrid or otherwise) whose petrol engines turn the wheels. That is because unlike petrol engines, which need to rev up before producing the torque necessary to budge a vehicle from a standstill or accelerate it quickly from a cruising speed, as in overtaking, electric motors provide full torque at the first touch of the accelerator pedal.
The other paddle, meanwhile, modulates the effect of regenerative braking. This uses the car's momentum when the accelerator pedal is not being pressed to generate electricity and feed it back into the battery. The fiercer the regenerative effect, the more power is fed to the battery, slowing the car more rapidly. This can be useful when going downhill, where the effect is similar to engine braking. Softer settings may be more comfortable in slow traffic.
The Karma, which costs around $100,000 in America, is being assembled for Fisker in Finland by Valmet, which produces performance cars for a number of manufacturers. Fisker hopes to sell up to 15,000 Karmas a year. A second model, called the Nina, is due to go on sale in 2013. This, says Mr Fisker, will be a four-door family saloon and will sell for about half the price of the Karma. The plan is for some 100,000 Ninas to be built every year at a former General Motors factory which Fisker has acquired in Delaware. The Nina will also be a hybrid fitted with a range-extending petrol engine. That configuration, reckons Mr Fisker, is the best way to relieve electric-car drivers of any symptoms of range anxiety."



Enhanced by Zemanta