Green is the word

LONDON, England -- The major theme of this year's early motor shows in Detroit and Los Angeles confirmed that "green" cars are finally credible in the U.S., in the wake of increased awareness of climate change and continued high fuel prices.

(Picture Left-Top: Hybrid taxis are unveiled in New York City. At Detroit's Auto Show earlier this year, U.S. automakers highlighted the latest technology in hybrid models)

While development of the hydrogen fuel-cell as the probable motive force of the future, the technology of the moment is the petrol-electric hybrid, in which a petrol engine and electric motors work in tandem.

The benefits are zero emissions when the car operates in electric-only mode, while the petrol engine can be smaller due to its electrical assistance. A smaller capacity engine also means less carbon dioxide emissions, while battery charging is taken care of by the petrol engine.

Drawbacks include greater complexity and weight, then there's the issue of making and disposing of the batteries, not to mention limited range in electric-only mode.

But industry analysts say that hybrids are just token models. The reason for their increasing popularity in the U.S. is due to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations -- the average economy of a car maker's range has to be 27.5 miles per gallon. This means that if a manufacturer sells a hybrid capable of 60 miles per gallon, it is allowed to sell less efficient cars -- typically SUVs and trucks -- that only manage 20 miles per gallon.

California is the undisputed hybrid capital of the world, due to a commitment to low-emissions regulations. The Los Angeles show featured offerings from the world's big four manufacturers of hybrid cars; Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota. Nissan also joined the party, showing a hybrid version of the Altima saloon.

Ford showed its Escape Hybrid, America's first hybrid-electric vehicle and the most-fuel efficient SUV on sale, delivering 36 miles per gallon in city driving.

General Motors introduced two of the four hybrid models it is launching this year, the Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid and the 2008 Yukon Hybrid. The latter is only the second GM vehicle to be marketed with GM's new two-mode full hybrid system, which uses an electrically variable transmission with two hybrid modes of operation that optimize power and torque for various driving conditions. The first mode is for low speeds and light loads, while the second is primarily for highway speeds.

This system is also the starting point for a collaboration between GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW.

At Detroit, GM launched its Chevrolet Volt concept car, the first mass market prototype designed to operate purely using an electric motor.

The vehicle will be powered by new-style lithium batteries, charged via a domestic electricity socket.

It could also feature a range of supplementary power sources including an ethanol-based petrol engine and, eventually, hydrogen fuel cells.

The Volt can run in electric-only mode for up to 40 miles. In a daily commute of 30 miles it would deliver an equivalent fuel consumption of about 150 miles per gallon using ethanol.

Honda, which reached a milestone of 100,000 hybrid sales in August 2005, launched an all-new version of the popular Civic Hybrid capable of 49 miles per gallon in urban driving.

The Civic, and the larger Accord Hybrid, are powered by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology which uses an ultra-compact electric motor/generator to provide supplemental power to the engine using energy captured during deceleration or braking.

Toyota is a sales leader with its Prius, which combines a 1.5-liter petrol engine and an electric motor to give economy in the region of 60 miles per gallon in urban driving. The larger Camry hybrid, with similar Hybrid Synergy Drive, delivers an EPA-estimated 40 miles per gallon in the city.

Its Lexus luxury division is offering the LS600h, the world's first full V8 hybrid. Although it's a large, luxury car, thanks to the assistance of an electric motor the 600h is claimed to deliver the performance of a V12 petrol engine with emissions 70 per cent lower than equivalent V8-powered saloons.

The all-new Nissan Altima Hybrid, Nissan's first entry into the hybrid petrol-electric vehicle segment, made its debut in Los Angeles. It features a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT) with an electric motor and generator that combines greater economy (an estimated 41 miles per gallon around town) with low emissions.

At Detroit, Mazda unveiled a hybrid version of its Tribute SUV, its first production hybrid vehicle, which goes on sale in the U.S. later this year. With a combined power output from its petrol engine and electric motor of 155bhp, the Tribute HEV meets both the strict Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEVII) and the Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standards in California -- the world's strictest emission regulations for a petrol-engined vehicle.


By Paul Hudson taken from CNN

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Carmakers rush to jump on green bandwagon

GENEVA, Switzerland -- There was a distinctly green theme at this year's Geneva motor show, as manufacturers battled to prove their environmental credentials in a world that is increasingly concerned with the environment and man's effect on it.

(Picture Left: Honda's Small Hybrid Sports Concept shows it's possible to eco-aware will having fun.)

Although petrol-electric hybrid vehicles are seen as the interim technology to reduce fossil fuel use and emissions of carbon dioxide, the hydrogen fuel cell is still likely to represent the future of motoring.

Plenty of the former were on display at Geneva as the industry realizes that so-called "green" cars can sell.

Honda and Toyota are the mass-market pioneers of petrol-electric hybrids, and although their offerings might be constructed at a loss it is worth it in terms of marketing and a perception of being at the vanguard of planet-saving technologies.

Yet it is Honda that stole the march with the presentation at Geneva of a driveable fuel cell-powered vehicle -- until now, such things had been confined to test beds and highly experimental prototypes.

Although still officially a concept, this vehicle is fully functional and a development of it could be production as soon as the end of this year, with Honda committed to selling this model in Japan and the U.S. next year.

It features a newly-developed compact, high-efficient Honda fuel-cell (FC) stack in a spacious saloon body. It offers a large, comfortable cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. It has a range of 354 miles (570 kilometers) and a top speed limited to 100 mph.

One of the biggest surprises was the announcement by Morgan, purveyor of quintessentially British sports cars, that it intends to develop a hydrogen fuel cell-powered machine. The company is famous for its traditional production methods, but managing director Charles Morgan announced a hydrogen-fueled, zero-emissions car -- using Morgan's traditional ash-framed body -- would be launched at Geneva next year. The goal is a lightweight car with a range of 200 miles.

(Picture Right: Lexus hopes LS600h will set standards in environmentally-conscious luxury cars)

The application of fuel-cell technology in smaller cars was investigated by Peugeot, with its Epure version of the 207CC. The existing small coupe-cabriolet (an open-top car with electrically operated folding steel roof) has a fuel cell developed in conjunction with the French atomic energy commission, which powers an electric motor to supply drive.

The investment in petrol-electric hybrids is massive.

Kia Motors of Korea demonstrated its intent to become a major player with the unveiling of its Rio Hybrid saloon at Geneva.

The European premiere of the hybrid celebrates the recent announcement that Kia, together with fellow Korean manufacturer Hyundai, will supply the Korean environment ministry with almost 4,000 hybrid vehicles over the next two years as part of the country's program of 'real-world' testing to develop this type of car propulsion. The existing Korean test fleet numbers 780.

The Kia Rio Hybrid saloon used in these tests has a 1.4-liter petrol engine, mated to a 12kW, 95 Nm AC synchronized electric motor and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) gearbox.

The high-torque permanent magnet electric motor is mounted between the flywheel and the gearbox and "assists" the petrol engine during starting, accelerating and hill-climbing, switching off during steady cruising when the petrol engine is at its most efficient. During deceleration it employs regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

The computer-controlled system also allows stop/start motoring which switches both engine and motor off whenever the car comes to a standstill for more than a few seconds. Restarting is automatic.

Compared to the standard petrol Rio, air pollutants are reduced by 37 per cent and fuel efficiency is improved by 44 per cent. The hybrid's CO2 figure is 126 g/km. There's little price to pay in terms of performance, with a top speed of 112 mph and 0-62 mph in 12.2 seconds, aided considerably by the inherent surge of torque from zero revs provided by the electric motor. Overall fuel consumption is 53.4 mpg.

To reduce fuel and power demands, the Rio Hybrid has an aluminum bonnet, boot lid and front seat frames, as well as lightweight wheels, low-friction tires and electric (rather than hydraulic) power steering.

Glimpse of future
Already to hit the streets is the latest petrol-electric hybrid from Lexus, the LS600h, which aims to set new standards in environmentally-conscious performance among luxury cars. It has a 5.0-liter V8 petrol engine, with two fuel injectors per cylinder and VVTi-E intelligent valve timing on the intake to boost performance and reduce emissions, noise and vibration.

What separates the Lexus from other luxury saloons is the inclusion of an electric motor, which enables the car to have the performance of a conventional V12-engined car with much lower fuel consumption and emissions. Its EC Combined economy is 29.7 mpg, with carbon dioxide emissions of 220 g/km, figures which compare well with the levels achieved by the cleanest diesels in the segment.

Honda unveiled its Small Hybrid Sports Concept at Geneva. This is a sports car that features a development of the company's existing hybrid technology in an effort to demonstrate that stylish design and driving enjoyment can be combined with low environmental impact. It was designed by Honda R&D Europe, based in Germany.

Meanwhile, Honda UK has announced that it plans to sell more than three times as many Civic Hybrids this year than in 2006, up to about 3,000 units.

Arch-rival Toyota revealed a new hybrid concept model, the Hybrid X. Designed by Toyota's European Design center, it gives a glimpse of the future for Toyota's hybrid synergy drive system, according to Toyota Motor Europe's executive vice-president, Thierry Dombreval.

"Over the next few years, we plan to double our global hybrid vehicle offering, anticipating annual sales of over a million hybrid vehicles by early in the next decade," Dombreval said. Including the compact Prius, Toyota and Lexus have 11 hybrid models on sale, and have sold 900,000 hybrids worldwide, of which 650,000 are the Prius.

Toyota also showed the FT-HS hybrid sports car shown at Detroit in January, which has a hybrid system capable of developing 400 bhp, providing a 0-60 mph acceleration time of about four seconds.

"Hybrd X and FT-HS represent two poles of the hybrid spectrum, which define the frontiers for an array of hybrids in the future," Dombreval added.

Biofuels -- those produced from naturally occurring products such as sugar cane -- are seen by some manufacturers as a way of reducing reliance of petrol while reducing harmful emissions. The fact that most cars also produce more power when running on bioethanol fuel is a bonus.

Saab already has a full range of flex-fuel (capable of running on petrol and biofuel) cars, and at Geneva launched a new, 1.8-liter flex-fuel engine for its 9-3 range of saloon, estate and convertible. The new engine 50-70 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2) than its 1.8 t petrol engine equivalent, yet produces 17 per cent more power (to 175 bhp) and 10 per cent more torque (to 265 Nm) on bioethanol E85.

For comparison with standard petrol engine, the flex-fuel 9-3 sprints from 0-62 mph in 8.4 seconds and 50-70 mph in fifth gear -- a crucial test of real-world flexibility -- in 13.9 seconds, compared with 9.5 seconds and 15.0 seconds respectively.

Until the widespread availability of petrol-electric hybrids, there is still plenty of investment in cleaner internal combustion engines, both petrol and diesel. There is a genuine desire to achieve this, although the specter of even tougher Euro V emissions legislation is obviously an incentive.

Volkswagen has a range, called BlueMotion, designed to reduce fuel consumption. A Polo supermini has already gone on sale, and at Geneva the company announced BlueMotion versions of its Passat mid-size car and Touareg SUV.

The Passat BlueMotion saloon returns 55.4 mpg and produces just 136 g/km of CO2. Both saloon and estate models have a range of up to 838 miles (1,350 km).

Performance is barely compromised, with a top speed of 120 mph.

The Touareg SUV also has a turbodiesel engine, a 3.0-liter V6 developing 223bhp, with a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) reducing NOx emissions by up to 90 per cent. Current Euro IV emissions regulations dictate a NOx limit of 0.25 g/km -- the SCR-equipped Touareg meets the 0.043 g/km US limit.

The system sprays a film of ammonia-rich solution stored in an auxiliary tank into the exhaust stream before it reaches the new catalytic converter. A reaction occurs within the exhaust system to split the nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen and water. The SCR system works in conjunction with a diesel particulate filter and a conventional catalytic converter to further reduce emissions.

Although there are no plans to introduce the system in Europe, VW says that the SCR-equipped Touareg will go on sale in the US next year.

After being a late arrival on the diesel front, Honda produced a highly acclaimed 2.2-liter unit. Its next-generation diesel engine is claimed to reduce emissions to the same level of a petrol engine. A catalytic converter reduces nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions to a level that enables the engine to meet stringent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.

The catalytic converter uses the reductive reaction of ammonia to "detoxify" oxides of nitrogen by converting them into harmless nitrogen (N2). However, unlike the VW SCR system which uses an injection of liquid containing ammonia, the Honda system uses ammonia generated within the catalytic converter. Honda plans to introduce its next-generation diesel engine within three years.

Lack of a credible diesel engine severely hampers sales potential in prime European markets -- just ask Jaguar, which saw a sales slump due to its line-up of large-capacity petrol engines only.

Cadillac, part of General Motors, introduced a new V6 diesel at Geneva, a 2.9-liter unit developing 250 bhp and 550 Nm of torque. Its first production application is scheduled for 2009 in the next Cadillac CTS.

Off-road specialist Land Rover has a novel approach to woo car buyers who are concerned about the environmental impact of their purchase. Its CO2 Offset Program enables buyers of all new Land Rover vehicles sold in the UK pay to offset the CO2 emissions produced by their vehicle, calculated on the certified CO2 emissions level for each model up to 45,000 miles, or about three years of use. The cost is from £85 to £165 depending on model.

The ultimate goal is CO2 neutrality, with investments being made in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar, technology change and energy efficiency.


By Paul Hudson for CNN

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Hybrid Cars Prices and its Tax and Credit

Prices are dropping and most still have tax incentives. Now, however, federal tax incentives can cover much of the cost difference.

Tax credits running out

Once a given manufacturer sells more than 60,000 credit-eligible vehicles, tax credits for that company's vehicles start being reduced and ultimately eliminated.

Toyota is now offering rebates and discounts to make up for lost tax credits.

For example, because Toyota is past the sales limit, the tax credit for purchasing a Prius has dropped to $1,575, from $3,150 in September 2006. Factoring in the tax credit, a Toyota Camry Hybrid purchased now should cost about $23,118, according to Edmunds True Market Value. Prices for other hybrid vehicles are falling as well, but not as fast. Tax incentives for those vehicles, like the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, remain high, however.

Some state and local governments also offer tax incentives to purchasers of hybrid vehicles.

In addition, some corporations, such as Bank of America, offer cash incentives for employees who purchase hybrid vehicles. Some insurance companies, such as Travelers and Farmers Insurance Group, offer discounts to drivers of hybrid vehicles.

Prices likely to rise

Hybrid prices probably aren't going to stay low for long, though, Rosten told CNNMoney.com.

Either through errors or tricky rules, not all hybrid buyers will get the tax credit they had expected.

If you bought a Toyota Prius last summer you may have thought you were entitled to a $3,150 tax credit.

Following a story we published Friday about the cost-effectiveness of purchasing a hybrid vehicle, CNNMoney.com received an email from one reader who filled out the wrong form - she mistakenly asked for an electric vehicle tax deduction - and thought she was entitled only to a $1,000 tax credit, not the $3,150 credit she was actually supposed to receive.

She's now filing an amended tax return.

If a family's taxes, figured the old-fashioned way, come in below the AMT amount, they have to pay the higher AMT.

But the tax was never indexed for inflation since its 1970 inception. In that case, you're only allowed to claim as much of the tax credit as you can without reducing the taxes you pay below the AMT amount.

At tax time, Bob finds that for his income he's paying less in taxes than the AMT mandates, so he must pay the AMT. Bob gets no hybrid tax credit for his Prius.

Jane doesn't have to pay the AMT, either. But her taxes are just $1,500 more than she would have had to pay under AMT. Finally, if you bought a Toyota hybrid vehicle last year, the date you purchased the vehicle will influence how much your tax credit is.

Just in case you missed this detail: Because Toyota sold more than 60,000 hybrid vehicles last year, tax credits for those vehicles began phasing out after September. Also, the tax credits do not apply to leased vehicles and only apply to vehicles purchased new, not used.

Summarized by WS from CNN.com

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Hybrid Cars and Gas Prices

According to auto industry executives, hybrid cars and diesel cars will jockey for market position as long as gas prices remain under $3. While gas prices hung around $3, interest towards hybrid and diesel cars grew because consumers had concerns about the costs of filling the tanks of conventional cars. Now that gas prices have dropped, the concern for stretching every gallon of gas has also fallen.

Consumers are not as drawn to hybrid vehicles and diesel cars because they have no reason to spend anywhere from a $3,000 to $10,000 premium on an alternative fuel car. For much of the next decade, gasoline-powered hybrids, diesel engines and cars that can run on blends of gasoline and ethanol will jockey for market position, executives said.

Hybrids save fuel by using an electric motor at times rather than the gasoline engine. Diesel fuel can cost more than gasoline but gets 20 percent to 40 percent better fuel efficiency, meaning you go farther on a gallon.

The auto web site, Edmunds.com, is now saying that some hybrid cars are worth their premium price tag due to higher gas costs and tax credits from the government. "High gas prices and generous tax credits now offset the high sales prices of some hybrids, assuming owners keep their hybrids for a few years," said Alex Rosten, an analyst with Edmunds.com. 30, the tax credit gets cut in half. The tax credit on Toyota and Lexus hybrids is scheduled to drop to 25 percent in April 2007 and then be eliminated in October 2007.

Summarized by WS

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Welcome to the CONCEPT VEHICLES blog

This site will feature both realistic and science fiction concept vehicle renders. It is a companion to the CONCEPTSHIPS and the CONCEPTROBOTS sites.

Keywords: automotive design cars motor vehicles concept art realistic renders science fiction sci-fi manufacturers gm general motors ford chevy chevrolet dodge chrysler jeep honda acura toyota lexus nissan infinity mitsubishi bmw bravarian motor works volkswagen audi lamborghini ferrari kia hyundai peugeot citroen saab volvo skoda aston martin

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Chrysler to make hybrids with Hemis

Durango and Aspen hybrids will use powerful V8 engine for more hauling capability.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Chrysler Group announced Monday that the gas/electric hybrid Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs to be released in 2008 will be powered by the company's 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine.

The SUVs will use a "two-mode" hybrid system developed by Chrysler in conjunction with General Motors and Germany's BMW. The first vehicle to be sold using the system will be GM's GMC Yukon Hybrid slated to go on sale this fall.

Chrysler, the U.S. arm of DaimlerChrysler, calls the 5.7 liter Hemi, also used in the company's Chrysler 300C and Dodge Charger R/T sedans, its most fuel-efficient V8 engine. The Hemi engine shuts off four of its eight cylinders during highway cruising when their extra power is not needed.

In the hybrid SUVs, that engine will be coupled with electric motors to provide additional power, allowing the gasoline engine to work more efficiently and to shut off altogether whenever the vehicle is stopped. Batteries for the electric motors are charged using power from the gasoline engine.

Chrysler promises a 40 percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving and a 25 percent improvement in overall economy compared to the non-hybrid Hemi-powered SUVS.

The closely related Hemi-powered Durango and Aspen are estimated to get about 15 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving, according to the EPA. That would increase to just under 19 miles per gallon overall in the hybrid versions, according to Chrysler's estimates.

Using the 345-horsepower V8 engine preserves hauling and towing capabilities that are important to Durango and Aspen buyers, according to Chrysler. Both SUVs are currently available with a smaller, less powerful V8 engine but the smaller engine does not provide better fuel economy, according to EPA estimates.

"We have to think hard about the consumer who buys vehicles like the Dodge Durango and the Chrysler Aspen," said Mark Chernoby, Chrysler Group vice president for advanced vehicle engineering, in a recording made available to journalists. "These are people who want to have hauling capability."

The two-mode hybrid system is designed to provide the most efficient performance in both city and highway driving, according to GM and Chrysler. The system is engineered to fit almost entirely within the vehicle's transmission tunnel, making it easier to adapt for use in different vehicles.

Chrysler does not currently offer any hybrid vehicles. GM currently sells a "mild hybrid" version of its Saturn VUE crossover SUV and will beginning offering more hybrid SUVs next year. Ford currently sells hybrid versions of its small Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossover SUVs and will begin offering hybrid versions of some of its cars next year.

Last year, more than half of the hybrid vehicles sold in the U.S. were produced by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp., according to Power Information Networks.

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Haulage goes green

By Paul Hudson for CNN

The drive towards more eco-friendly vehicles isn't the preserve of the manufacturers of passenger cars.

Commercial vehicles also contribute to congestion and emissions, and although few of us spare a thought for them most of us rely on them to transport the goods we buy.

At the UK's premier Commercial Vehicle (CV) show in Birmingham, makers were just as keen to promote their green credentials as the most fanatical auto manufacturers.

British manufacturer Vauxhall unveiled a range of panel vans than run on E30 biodiesel, a mixture of conventional diesel and fuel made from renewable resources, meaning carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduced by up to 20 per cent over similar vehicles running on 100 per cent conventional diesel. It is planning trials of two models with a major fleet customer.

As part of a controlled fleet trial, a number of vans will run on biodiesel B30 across the UK as Vauxhall and its parent company General Motors investigate the long-term potential for the fuel in the UK, and look towards a more widespread distribution network for it.

Biodiesel is made from naturally renewable sources such as sunflower and rapeseed oils, where the oil is extracted and transformed into a methyl ester. Biodiesel B30 is a mixture of 30 per cent biodiesel and 70 per cent conventional diesel.

Emissions from the fuel are reduced because plants grown for conversion to biodiesel actually absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.

Although biodiesel can be produced from a variety of sources, quality is critical, and GM is calling on the EU and the UK government to look at establishing a quality specification for the fuel.

Vauxhall's managing director, Bill Parfitt, said: "Fuel efficiency is already one of the top priorities for our commercial vehicle customers. Payload and duty cycles mean downsizing is generally not an option, so achieving further CO2 reductions becomes a real challenge."

"The introduction of biodiesel B30-compatible models is one way GM can help customers reduce their CO2 emissions and is part of General Motors' wider commitment to alternative fuels and advanced propulsion systems -- we're very pleased to be the first manufacturer planning to fully trial the fuel in the UK."

"Of course, governments have an important role to play as well, specifically in terms of ensuring the quality and wider availability of the fuel, and providing incentives to encourage customers to buy it."

The biodiesel B30-compatible vans aren't the only vehicles offered by General Motors to successfully use biofuels. Swedish auto brand Saab introduced petrol-based BioPower vehicles in 2005, which are capable of running on any combination of petrol and bioethanol E85.

The increased use of platform sharing, in which a whole range of passenger cars and commercial vehicles are planned one chassis platform, makes it easier for manufacturers to roll out fuel-efficient technologies.

There's also a drive towards battery-powered vehicles -- particularly for short-distance, urban use -- although hybrids are still seen as the longer-term solution.

The development of wholly electric vehicles has been spurred by the planned Low Emission Zone (LEZ) restrictions in London. Other makers that are simply keen to show their green credentials, through dramatic emission reductions (including carbon dioxide and noise), are showing great interest in diesel-electric hybrids.

As yet, there are no CV hybrids available in the UK market. Most are still at the prototype stage and, as Toyota and Honda have found with their Prius and Civiv passenger car petrol-electric hybrids, involve considerable investment before any profitability can even be considered.

Therefore, in the CV world at least, electric vehicles are seen as viable in the short term. Despite shortcomings in weight, range and performance -- mainly connected with limitations of current battery technology -- they are simpler and less costly than an equivalent hybrid.

Smith Electric Vehicles of Tyne and Wear, whose milk-floats have been used by dairies all over the UK for more than 40 years, unveiled a range of electric vehicles at the CV show

The adoption of sodium nickel chloride batteries in place of the hitherto ubiquitous lead-acid type are at the heart of what is claimed to be the technology breakthrough for SEV. These power packs are about 80 per cent than lead-acid units with the same energy storage, and deliver more performance.

The converted Ford Transit on show has a claimed top speed of 80kph (50mph) in combination with a range of up to 240km (150 miles).

Modec uses the same battery technology for its electric vehicles, and says that UK supermarket giant Tesco will be using the vehicle for home deliveries of groceries. The new trucks can carry a two ton payload, have a 100-mile range and a top speed of 50mph, all on one overnight charge.

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