electric Commadore concepts on the way

[Pis-ton broke]

I thought this might interest some members, do Ford have an electric car program here in Australia? I think it's a great idea.


Article;

Battery-powered Commodores words - Ken Gratton
New consortium to roll-out Commodore-based electric vehicles in $26 million 'proof of concept' trial
Aussies love their large cars, but not the fuel bills. A new enterprise named EV Engineering Limited may have the answer -- build an electric-powered Commodore...

At this stage the project is still in the 'proof of concept' stage, but within 15 months of the company's announcement there'll be seven Commodore EVs on local roads, being trialled for commercial viability.

EV Engineering is a joint venture formed through the efforts of OE parts suppliers Futuris, Air International, Bosch and Continental, plus global electric vehicle resupply company A Better Place Australia. The high-tech consortium also draws on support from the CSIRO, Holden and the federal government.

Some of the names behind the company are a veritable who's who of the automotive industry, starting at the top with company chairman and former Mitsubishi President, Rob McEniry. During the presentation to the press, speakers included A Better Place CEO Evan Thornley and Senator Kim Carr (pictured). When asked by the Carsales Network how the return on investment for the government's funding might pan out, the Senator explained that the $3.5 million grant from the Green Car Innovation Fund was aimed at proving the concept.

"We've got to prove that the concept works," he said. "That's what this project is about. Last year, in this country, we sold 112 fully electric vehicles -- out of nearly a million sales. So clearly there's considerable room for improvement in that number.

"What we want to see is the Australian industry advance, build its capabilities, and then make sure those R&D breakthroughs are commercialised -- actually put into our general production arrangements through our Automotive Transformation Scheme, so they can have further support from the Australian government. That's the objective here. We've got to prove the concept first. That's the point of this whole project, you can't assume that it's already proven, otherwise we wouldn't have invested in it."

The Senator also revealed that Holden was currently in negotiation with the consortium for a future role, which could refer to vehicle manufacturing or further developmental support.

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Published : Friday, 18 February 2011


link; http://ninemsn.carpoint.com.au/news/...modores-23725#

cheers mick

[aussie muscle]

i don't think a commodore is really the right platform for an EV. the x-prize cars were getting 160mpge but they were extremely light and very aerodynamic. i'd reckon a commodore would be very limited.

[TheInterceptor]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

*snip*
do Ford have an electric car program here in Australia? I think it's a great idea.

*snip*

Not as far as i know but Ford US have the Ford Fusion hybrid if im not mistaken. Id presume they can figure somthing out when the times comes sice they already have somthing to go off.

[bobthebilda]

Part of an article from a similar story on saturday

It's not the first time Holden has been linked to electric-powered vehicles.

In 2000 Holden revealed the hybrid ECOmmodore concept car that was developed in conjunction with the CSIRO.

The car used capacitors and batteries as well as a modified body to reduce fuel use.

Despite the innovative technology, though, any plans to fast-track the project were shelved because hybrids at the time were not viewed as viable by Holden executives at the time.

More recently Holden's then Asia-Pacific boss announced it would have a hybrid Commodore on sale by 2010, comments it later walked away from.

Holden have no involvement with the idea, apart from the fact that they are using commodores, which would not seem to be an ideal body for a light weight electric vehicle. However no matter how silly the idea seems, why wouldnt you do it, if the federal government was giving you $3.5 million to build 7 cars. What you could do is buy the internals of a Tesla for $50000 x7 ($350,000), buy 7 commodores ($260,000), marry them together $350,000 and pocket nearly $2.5 million.

I Think senator Carrs comments.

the Senator explained that the $3.5 million grant from the Green Car Innovation Fund was aimed at proving the concept.

"We've got to prove that the concept works," he said. "That's what this project is about. Last year, in this country, we sold 112 fully electric vehicles -- out of nearly a million sales. So clearly there's considerable room for improvement in that number.
"What we want to see is the Australian industry advance, build its capabilities, and then make sure those R&D breakthroughs are commercialised -- actually put into our general production arrangements through our Automotive Transformation Scheme, so they can have further support from the Australian government. That's the objective here. We've got to prove the concept first. That's the point of this whole project, you can't assume that it's already proven, otherwise we wouldn't have invested in it."

How can you not assume its already proven, when we currently have the leaf, the tesla etc etc already on the roads. So the consortium is not aiming to prove that electric cars are compatible with cars that are designed for it, they want to prove that a commodore can be made electric. Something that Holden has given up on, and something that the rest of the worlds automobile industry think a car of the commodores size is not compatible with electrification.

[Ford_The_Win]

More fluff from GMHotair. Does anybody remember the ECOmmodore concept from about 10 years ago? It had a 4 cyl motor and an electric to help propel it along. I very much doubt this will ever happen.

http://www.solve.csiro.au/0608/img/p...ore@uluru2.jpg

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

More fluff from GMHotair. Does anybody remember the ECOmmodore concept from about 10 years ago? It had a 4 cyl motor and an electric to help propel it along. I very much doubt this will ever happen.

http://www.solve.csiro.au/0608/img/p...ore@uluru2.jpg

So what, even if they don't go ahead with it, they still managed to get a positive reaction out of everyone and peopel will talk about it.

This is why Ford fails, they don't generate hype about anything, look at Ford USA and their Ecoboost episodes, all their advertising etc. Everyone knows what Holden is doing and on what, but you ask anyone what they know about Ford and they have nothing, because they don't advertise and no journo's really have a clue.

Wheres the hype about the TDV6 in the Terry? What about the LPi eGas? Ecoboost 4 cylinder? The new Ranger?

Ford will be their own downfall and they have no one else to blame.

[Smoke Pursuit]

What ever happened to the VT Electric??

[fairBA]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Kil...lectric_Car%3F

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

So what, even if they don't go ahead with it, they still managed to get a positive reaction out of everyone and peopel will talk about it.

.

But its not a Holden project, they have no involvement in it, they are not part of the consortium. The only link to Holden is that the consortium are using a commodore as the base, and if people somehow perceive that this invloves Holden then they are incorrect.

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

Does anybody remember the ECOmmodore concept from about 10 years ago? It had a 4 cyl motor and an electric to help propel it along.

Unfortunately I do. It resides in the Birdwood Motor Museum, I see the damn thing every time I go up there to appreciate nice machinery, and always forget to close my eyes!

[dylancox]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

What ever happened to the VT Electric??

It lost two doors and became the VT/VX Monaro.