CAR News

As car manufacturers start to feel the economic pinch, they are looking to outsource more and more of their product development work to suppliers. That’s the view of Austrian-based Magna Steyr, best-known for its contract manufacturing for the likes of Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz.

The company is keen to show off its design and development capabilities, especially when it comes to electric vehicles. Magna Steyr already has a contract to help Ford develop an electric version of the Focus – and at Geneva it showed an entirely self-designed electric prototype, the Mila EV.

Magna Steyr describes the Mila EV as a “fully integrated electric vehicle platform which can be used by every OEM to realise their own products, drive and design strategies in the shortest time.”

The platform is fully engineered and can be built as pure battery-electric car, a hybrid, a natural gas-powered car or even a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. It’s designed to meet all crash testing standards, while the platform is flexible enough to be ‘right-sized’ to any customer OEM’s requirements.

Magna Steyr is hoping a manufacturer will buy the basic design “off the shelf” – which would allow it to get a fully engineered electric car into production far more quickly than if it were to start developing such a vehicle on its own.

The design is so flexible that Magna Steyr believes more than one manufacturer could build distinct cars on the same basic architecture, thus leveraging economies of scale which could be shared. And of course, Magna Steyr wants the contract to build the cars “With the proven Flex Plant concept, all versions can be made on one single production line,” said a spokesman.

The Geneva show car is a 4m-long five-door version, with a 67hp electric motor powered by Magna Steyr-developed lithium-ion batteries. It has an average charging time of 2.5 hours, and it has an ranges of up to 150km. Solar cells integrated in the glass roof provide additional energy generation, and the drag-inducing wing mirrors have been replaced by rear-view cameras.

Protoscar SA unveiled LAMPO – a full size sport cabriolet – at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 . LAMPO is powered by two BRUSA electric motors (one rear and one front), optimized for maximizing acceleration and regenerative braking respectively. They deliver a total output of 268 HP and a torque of over 440 Nm. The lightweight Lithium-Ion battery pack with a capacity of 32 kWh allows for a range of over 200 km. LAMPO shows that also a zero-emission electric vehicle can offer the same performance as a traditional sporty car.

The primary energy source used for charging the LAMPO has been in existence for more than 4.5 billion years and has demonstrated to be rather reliable: it’s the sun. The exploitation of solar energy for LAMPO is possible thanks to a 16 kWp photovoltaic plant located in Seggiano, Tuscany.

Never before a premium driving pleasure like the one of the LAMPO has been achieved at such an optimal level of overall “Well-to-Wheel” energy efficiency – and zero emissions. However, even if the LAMPO was “filled up” with today’s particularly clean Swiss electricity mix, the WtW CO2 emissions of this vehicle would only account for about 7 g/km! Considering the EU electricity mix projection scenario for 2020, elaborated by Eurelectric, the WtW CO2 emission would still be limited to about 40 g/km.

Through the showcar LAMPO, Protoscar and its partners aim to demonstrate new technologies which include absolute innovations such as „intelligent charging“ or interactive GPS-based „range estimator“ – and discuss potential applications together with car manufacturers, in order to implement these solutions into their plans for future CleanCars.

In depth Protoscar

Protoscar SA is a design company founded in 1987 specialized in CleanCars and based in Rovio (Ticino, Switzerland). It presently employs 14 specialists. We act like a “Minergie-architect”, but apply the efficiency-concepts to cars, mainly by introducing electrification.

Our unique experience and holistic approach allow us not only to develop forward looking strategies and outstanding vehicle concepts, but also to support the market introduction of CleanCars and the communication activity of these technologies.

We are proud to include worldwide companies like Daimler AG, GeneralMotors, Rinspeed- Esoro and Nissan among our faithful clients.

Vehicle‘s name and logo

LAMPO, in the Italian language means „lightning“. A lightning stands for power, especially for electric energy like the one propelling LAMPO. Moreover a lightning is fast, intense, impressive and, last but not least, LAMPO is a product of nature.

The edgy logo of LAMPO with its straight lines reminds the lightening and emphasizes the electric spirit of the car.

eQmotion and clean energy

eQmotion is a “philosophy”, made reality by a consortium of companies supporting and implementing EV-projects. Actually this pool is developing exciting innovative full electric vehicles.

The name eQmotion is an acronym composed by:

• electric
• Quotient (of electrification) / Quality
• motion

Our showcars shall have an eQ of 100: we want to drive 100% electrically, trying to overcome the “compromises” in terms of Well to Wheel emissions and efficiency.

Also, driving cars – and particularly electric vehicles – has a lot to do with e(Q)motions. We pursue a high vehicle and component Quality relying on most recent technical standards and innovations, in order to maximize emotional driving pleasure.

The label eQmotion has been created by BRUSA Elektronik AG and Protoscar SA and will be used on different EV-projects. The first two showcars realized under this label are Spyder and LAMPO.

The eQmotion philosophy integrates of course energetic considerations. We are not just realizing zero emission vehicles, but we care about the energy needed to let them move. In other words we look at the entire energy chain that a vehicle requires: this is the so called “Well-to-Wheel”. On the entire energy chain the attention is focused on the reduction of CO2 emissions. The energy used by these vehicles comes from 100% renewable energy sources (solar energy in LAMPO’s case).

The exploitation of solar power has been possible thanks to a remote 16 kWh photovoltaic plant located in Seggiano (Tuscany) in the facility of the farmhouse of Vitabella Palazzetto. The energy produced by this system is put into the global grid and charged into LAMPO’s batteries not perforce where the photovoltaic plant is located. The goal is to self-produce all the energy that we need for the car getting to counterbalance the entire consumption. Never before a premium driving pleasure like the one of the LAMPO has been possible at such a level of overall “Well-to-Wheel” energy efficiency.

Innovative top-down approach

With LAMPO we clearly apply a top-down approach, instead of a bottom-up strategy. In fact, the automobile sector is normally based on this approach which consists in initially showing trendy characteristics in exclusive, premium, vehicles. Unavoidably, at first the price of such products is very high but with growing production the prices decrease, allowing a large number of people to have access to the new technology (in other words the first buyers allow the technology to circulate). In the electric vehicles market the approach – still very often – is viceversa based on a bottom-up approach. This is the reason why electric vehicles are not always very successful. In today’s market the majority of the EV promoters try to sell electric cars as a “rational vehicle” and forget the emotional aspects. But as a matter of fact, for most buyers a car is essentially an emotional object and not only a means of transport. The LAMPO shall demonstrate that electric drivetrains can be perceived positively and totally accepted if placed and launched in a different way.

Unique features

The research and practical presentation of new, more efficient energy features is carried out in cooperation with various partners and relates to several areas:

Intelligent charging system

Some charging parameters like the earliest charging time/last charging stop, max. charging yield and charging status to be achieved by the end of charging, will regulate the onboard chargers.

The user of the vehicle is able to choose and set – directly in the vehicle – some charging parameters which will control the onboard battery charger, e.g.

- Earliest charging time/ latest charging stop
- Maximum charging yield
- Charging status to be achieved by end of the charging

Accelerated charge (for public and private charging points)
With today’s European energy supply standard (typically 240V and 10 to 16Amps) the charging time for an EV vehicle like the LAMPO is around 12 hours (considering a 16Amps plug): the typical available overnight time. In fact, with a small extra-investment, this time could be half: with very small adaptations (basically 2,5 mm2 cable instead of 1,5 mm2 connections, and a little on/off electronic switch avoiding current-flow during the plug-in action) a 16Amps plug easily can be upgraded to deliver 32Amps, meaning a power of 7 kW. The resulting charging time will then still not be as fast as for liquid fuels, but interesting enough for significantly recharging the batteries over lunch or shopping time, and allowing a shifting of the charging time – during nights – into periods where energy is available over-abundantly. Such energy supply optimizations are studied and developed in association with Alpiq, the Swiss energy leader.

Public charging & payment system

Several highly sophisticated public charging stations, including power metering and billing per chip cards or other techniques, have been proposed recently, yet their relatively high investment cost – causing also high cost per kWh delivered – does not facilitate their widespread application.

In order to avoid high cost of metering and billing the “Park & Charge” concept has been created. It is a very simple system, and it is based on a lump-sum payment, combining low investment cost with low operation cost – exactly like it happens with the well known yearly “sticker” allowing to pay for the use of Swiss highways. This service is offered by the Swiss Electric Vehicle Association (ECS) and has been in operation for over 10 years, counting 600 charging points all over Switzerland. At the moment, in EU, there are 1346 public charging points: over 100 of them are “Park and Charge”. A detailed list of public charging points in Switzerland and Europe is available at: www.lemnet.org.

EVA Range estimator

For a battery-driven vehicle the accuracy of the possible autonomy is absolutely important, and with a simple 0 -100% indicator, it is impossible to determine. This depends on several highly variable factors, e.g. topography (upward/downward slopes) or environmental temperature. These variances should be included in the residual autonomy indication – but they are not considered in today’s EVs. Thanks to an interactive advanced navigation system, a LAMPO driver is provided with the following information:- “radar graph” of the residual range integrated with standard navigation capabilities- charging station location – advanced long-distance trip planning which incorporates charging time and recommended locations.

The EVA system is being developed in cooperation with Virve, W&B.

All wheel drive for max. regenerative braking & safety

When accelerating, the load is shifted to the rear axle while in braking it moves to the front axle. More load is on an axle, more successfully the traction can be transferred to the wheels. If the two electric motors can have differential tasks (primarily to pull or primarily to regenerate) the total efficiency of the vehicle can be considerably increased. This is exactly what we will demonstrate and – thanks to axles which can be singularly disconnected – also tested for comparison.

This optimized traction system has been conceived, developed and implemented together with the company BRUSA.

Sportec RS700: Noble Power Limousine

Not only the wishes of Porsche Drivers are fulfilled at Sportec from Höri – also Audi Driver can help themselves out of the program of the this noble high-tech forge.

Sportec offers from now on a complete refining program for Audi RS6.

The main point consists in the increased performance of the 5.0 litre V10 Biturbo aggregate. For that purpose the Swiss specialists exchange the original catalysts by high-performance catalysts with higher flow rate.

As an option the originally installed exhaust system can be substituted by a Sportec high-performance exhaust system with four ø76mm tail pipes and sportive sound. Hereafter the new components of the vehicle are tuned in the Sportec 4-wheel test rig. In combination with the new programming of the engine control unit the RS6 reaches a maximum output of more than 700 HP. The torque increases up to fulminate 800 NM. As a result the 4-wheel limousine sprints to tempo 100 in 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h are achieved after only 12.0 seconds and then reaches the electronically regulated maximum speed of more than 310 km/h.

In order to keep so much power safely on the ground, Sportec offers a lowering set which lowers the body by 30 millimetres perfectly harmonized with the electronic chassis. This breathtaking demonstration of engine force is transferred to the 265/30 tyres which are mounted on special light 22 inches Sportec Mono/10 rims. Beside this, the design of the Mono/10 lets the RS6 appear even more sporty – and gives to the overall optics of the limousine more easiness which is complemented by the Carbon front spoiler lip and the Carbon rear diffuser.

Sportec impresses with noble aluminium accessories for the interior. This is accented in form of aluminium pedal sets and aluminium footrests.

Artega at the Geneva Autosalon 2009

Two versions and configuration packages are presented by Artega on its third participation of the Geneva Autosalon. Just in time Artega can announce the EU-standard fuel consumptions. Using Euro 4 standard, this is only 8.9 l (Super Plus ROZ 98)/100 km which matches a CO2 emission rate of 211 g/km. Also in the EU-standard Euro 5 it sets a sign in the sports car segment with only 9.1 l (Super Plus ROZ 98)/100 km. Artega also presents the very good performance of the latest crash tests. Artega managing director Klaus Dieter Frers sees a confirmation of the development efforts. “We fully focus on quality and every day usability and extend our efforts far beyond the legal regulations for small series production.” Artega presents two cars on the noticeably larger booth in Geneva: the initial series “Intro 2008″ with a special paint finish Tiefseeblau and the series model Artega GT with special paint finish Korallenorange, a color tuned decoration bead in the cockpit a bleaky leather steering wheel and a full leather fitting.

Outstanding crash test results

An exemplary development effort was realized by Artega before the start of the series production of the premier model Artega GT. Besides CAD construction, complex simulation evaluations, wind tunnel and climate tests as well as extensive drive testing on road, test and race tracks a series of crash tests was also a part of it. During the latest crash test, an offset test with 40% vehicle coverage (see ECE R 94) on the test range of Continental the Artega GT achieved outstanding results. The passenger cabin as well as the underbody inclusively leg area stayed intact, the airbags operated as intended, no dislocation of the steering column took place the front windscreen was almost undamaged, the tank in the front stayed intact and both doors allowed opening by hand without tools. The measured injury valuation stayed clearly beyond legal regulations. The enjoyable conclusion: The aluminium spaceframe and the complexly constructed crash box of the new German sports car work together in a highly efficient way.