Suzuki r3 mpv concept 2011

Machine Suzuki R3 MPV Concept аrе connected tο a five-speed manual transmission. Maruti Suzuki hаѕ announced thаt thе assembly version οf thе MPV Suzuki Concept R3 іѕ аƖѕο out thеrе within thе Indian market іn concerning 2 years.
espite іtѕ compact size, futuristic concept models ɡеt tο accommodate аѕ several six passengers іn 3 rows οf seats. Suzuki doesn’t unharness additional details concerning R3, hοwеνеr іt’s bееn speculated thаt thе model іѕ аƖѕο thе assembly version οf thе essential іԁеаѕ inside shut.


Suzuki R3 MPV Concept currently comes frοm nеw delhi (india) within thе auto expo. India became  puller many οf υѕ аѕ automobile manufacturers selected thе ѕhοw tο unveil a range οf models concept аnԁ  production designed bу thе domestic market іn mind. Maruti Suzuki tο require blankets frοm R3, Compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) іѕ written within thе company’s analysis аnԁ Development Department іn India. R3 Suzuki Concept front aspect features a lightweight MPV high intensity thаt contrasts wіth LED accents conjointly seem οn thе rear aspect οf thе automobile.




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New Chrysler Dodge Mopar 2011

The Chrysler Group’s Mopar brand is on to its next project, this time based on the new 2011 Dodge Charger sedan. The factory-customized version of the rear-wheel drive Dodge saloon follows in the footsteps of last year’s Mopar ’10 Challenger and will be a limited edition model.

"After the success of our Mopar '10 Challenger, we moved on to the iconic Dodge Charger and added even more performance," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group's service, parts and customer-care brand. "As a new company, we will continue to leverage the heritage of the Mopar brand at every turn."

For the time being, we only get a single illustration of the Mopar ’11 Charger as the Detroit automaker said it will release details of the vehicle later this month. However, the picture reveals that the special edition Charger will keep the Mopar ’10 Challenger’s black color scheme with contrasting racing stripes and gloss black alloy wheels along with a variety of other Mopar enhancements.

Suzuki Kizashi concept 2011

Suzuki’s stand at this month’s 2011 New York International Auto Show will feature two brand new concepts cars, both based on the Kizashi sedan. In the Japanese automaker’s own words, the first study will be a “stylish and socially-conscious sedan propelled by a newly-developed advanced powertrain”, while the second concept will be a “wildly-schemed and amped up homage to Suzuki’s iconic motorcycle heritage”.

To put it more simply, the first car will most likely be a hybrid version of the Kizashi given that during the presentation of the sedan model in 2009, Suzuki officials had revealed plans to a add a fuel efficient hybrid variant to the lineup “in the very near future”. As for the second Kizashi concept, it will be custom tuned model with numerous styling cues inspired from the company’s motorcycle division.

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MINI-E Dismantle, Battery Pack Replacement

It all started about a two months ago when I sent an email to Richard Steinberg, manager of electric vehicle operations and strategy for BMW North America. I asked him if BMW would replace the battery pack in MINI-E #250 because the original pack now has 53,000 miles and is beginning to degrade so my range is suffering. Richard gave me the usual company line about how the lithium ion batteries are expensive and if they did it for me then they'll have to do it for everybody and it will blow their whole bloody budget out the window.

First we disconnected the high voltage battery

Nonetheless, he said he would call Munich and see if it could be arraigned. A few weeks later Richard sent me an email and directed me to give him a call. I did just that and he prefaced the call by saying he wanted me to know he did all he could, but the BMW top brass wouldn't authorize it. He then told me all about a conference call he had with none other than BMW CEO Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Project i boss, Dr Ulrich Kranz as well as Hugo Vangeem and Marian Hawryluk who are electric vehicle project managers for BMW. Noticeably absent from the discussion was BMW North American president, Jim O'Donnell, but from what I'm told, they don't really let him make any decisions around there anymore anyway.  In any event after some discussion, the answer was "No new batteries for Tom".

I ordered 7 boxes, each with 5kWh

Those of you that know me, know that I don't particularly like being told no. In fact, I've been known to go to great lengths and at great expense to turn no's into yes. This wouldn't be any different. If BMW wouldn't give me a new pack, I'll just install one myself! So the quest began. 

We begin to take out the PEU

I quickly realized that it's not difficult to procure batteries for an EV as there are lot's of home conversion websites you can order anything you need from. It was a cinch to get the same exact cells used by BMW in the MINI-E. So last Saturday it was time to do the dirty work. Luckily, I have become friends with one of the area's leading EV mechanics and he offered his shop and services to do the swap. He really likes the MINI-E, so he looked forward to the opportunity to take one apart.  It didn't take us long to realize that much of the cars electronics had to be removed to replace the battery pack so we figured it would be better if we just did a complete dismantle. EV's are really simple and taking one apart and putting it back together is much easier than an internal combustion engine car, where only a experienced mechanic should even think about doing so.

Opening the PEU isn't allowed: oops!

Lot's of wires to reconnect!

  

EVERYTHING was removed!

Mind you, this isn't exactly allowed by BMW so there might be some splainin' to do once they realize I took part one of their precious prototypes. In the end, we did the swap, put everything back together and MINI-E #250 is running like new. If anyone want's some more photo's of the car when it was all taken apart, just ask!

PEU & motor assembly is all one piece

The suspension was in great shape

UPDATE: After a week of driving #250 with the new batteries, I can report the range is back to like it was when the car was brand new!
Mission accomplished!

UPDATE #2:  4/2/11: Just in case you didn't figure this out yet, it was an April Fools post and never actually happened. The car still has great range, although it may be starting to have slightly less now that it has been charged over 1,000 times and driven 53,000 miles. I plan on doing a range comparison post soon that will compare the cars range in different temperatures in the first year and second year I've had it.

If I had done what I said I did, BMW would probably be at my door today with a bus load of lawyers and repossess the car from me. Before getting the car, the trial lease participants all had to sign documents that we wouldn't alter the car in any way, we aren't even allowed to change a tire or put on window tint. Besides that, the battery pack is located behind the seats in the car so if we did change the pack, we wouldn't even have to open the hood, let alone dismantle the entire car!  I did take a photo of us removing a muffler, but figured if I posted that one, nobody would have been tricked! I hope you had fun with this!

BMW i3: Light Weight Means Less Energy Storage Needed

The Power Electronics & Battery System of the i3's Drive System

The previous post here showed a video about CFRP, the material that will be used in the "Life Cell" of the 2013 BMW i3. The picture above is part of the other component of the cars unique LifeDrive architecture, the drive system. This is the energy storage and power electronics the car will employ. Suprisingly, it may only use a 16 kWh battery pack, exactly half the size of the pack in the upcoming BMW ActiveE, yet give the vehicle roughly the same range of the larger, heavier and less efficient ActiveE. However it is possible that the 16 kWh is the "usable" amount of energy which would mean the pack would be around 20 kWh.

To put that accomplishment in even better perspective, the battery is only about 45% of the size of the battery pack currently in the MINI-E's yet the car is bigger, has two more seats, much more storage space and is expected to offer the same driving range.


The batteries used will be the same that are in the BMW ActiveE, which will launch as a trial lease program this fall. They are newly developed Lithium-ion cells which will be using a nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry made by SB-Limotive. SB-Limotive is a joint venture of Korean conglomerate Samsung and German parts giant Bosch. The ActiveE will use 192 cells in 25 modules in three separate battery blocks as opposed the the picture above where the i3's batteries are all located in one enclosure, a result of the car being a purpose-built EV and not a retrofitted ICE platform like the ActiveE. The i3 will use only 96 cells, in 48 smaller modules(only 2 cells per module) packed in rows under the Life Cell driving compartment and be thermally conditioned.

The end result means two main things. The battery is usually the most expensive part of an EV, and since the battery pack will be half the size of the ActiveE, it will cost significantly less to manufacturer, helping to keep the selling price of the i3 to a reasonable point. Secondly, less batteries means less weight and helps to further increase efficiency.

Complete Battery & Drive System of the 2013 BMW i3

Of course, none of this information has been "officially" released by BMW so it is speculation on my part. However, since it has been "reported" and "rumored" by many different media outlets I think it's safe to assume it is mostly accurate. The only question I have is whether the 16 kWh is the total pack or the usable amount which is usually about 80% of the packs total energy storage capacity.