by Cristian Ionescu
Less than ten years ago, a group of Americans and a South-African born, named Elon Musk, had launched a car that most likely will be responsible for the complete change of the world`s automobile landscape and, perhaps what is of more importance, of the consumer`s perception regarding the concept of personal mobility.
The achievements of Tesla Roadster – the car mentioned above – are truly fantastic. Just think a little! The small convertible with no polluting emissions was, in fact, a Lotus Elise endowed with an electric engine, crammed with laptop batteries and sold for a price of more than 100,000 dollars. Furthermore, the car was available for a period of only four bmw i8 years and had a balance of trade for 2,500 units delivered – and this is what made also Rolls-Royce, the promoters of supreme luxury for the most elitist circles, to urgently gather a crisis committee.
Looking back, we can have a discussion with regards to the true moment of genius that the people who lead Tesla`s destiny had. Some might be tempted to rather designate the decision of continuing the adventure, this time done exclusively with their own forces and by exponentially increasing the stake, as the true measure of an undeniable visionary courage and of the small American producer`s decision to undertake the role of saving the car industry from the tyranny of the heat engine – indubitably to the satisfaction of the ecologists – but also the role of opinion (re)maker for drivers all around the world.
On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that Tesla’s enterprise has benefited from a perfect timing – see the interest shown by society in the last few years with regards to global warming – and from the fact that electric propulsion was a long time concern for car producers. Therefore, we are not faced with an absolute premiere – but nobody has even got past the project always postponed phase and because of some sort of comfort that is now certainly regretted. Alongside, Elon Musk`s oratory talent and charisma brought essential contributions to the success gained by Tesla. Additionally, the most recent chapter added to the story has all the right features for becoming a best-seller.
X Model or the sprint against history
At the end of September last year, the American company has presented the first electric SUV in the automobile history. The X Model, having two versions, both with seven seats and a full traction, promised more than 400 km autonomy and higher performances than all other cars of this type that exist on the market, regardless of the propulsion they are using (gasoline, diesel or hybrid).
The top version has two electric engines which develop an equivalent of 510 and 263 horse power and can reach 100 km/h in only 3.2 seconds. Any Italian supercar would be proud to have such a speed, and the fact that a 2 tones SUV provides it… well, this is the newest definition of progress. Surprising or not, just one week after the launch on the American market – the car shall be sold later on in Europe also – Tesla had already received 200.000 orders.
The old troops do not give in
A leader undertakes calculated risks and is not afraid to improvise or to reinvent oneself, when needed. As a true regent of the premium segment, BMW was the first luxury automaker from the old troops who has embraced change and did it in a complete and rapid manner.
Two years ago, the Bavarian producer has launched a new class of ecological cars, mainly designed to rigorously provide a sustainable mobility. The first one was the purely electric urban model i3, a pioneer with regards to the wide use of carbon fiber. The second member of the eco family went to the other extreme – the supercar plug-in hybrid i8, in other words a car that still counts on the resources of the internal combustion engine, but also accompanied by two electrical units that provide autonomy without polluting emissions for approximately 37 km.
After driving both of them – the small one only outside public roads – the author of this article can guarantee one thing: BMW`s i class can be considered anyhow, but certainly not even for a moment, boring.
One thing is for sure: the story doesn`t stop here. The next electric model designed at Munich shall be – according to a funny announcement made by the German company`s president – bigger than the i3. Feeling compelled to complete the information, the specialized press has quickly speculated that there is a large class sedan (see the 5 Series), prepared to fight another “danger” coming from across the Ocean – Tesla S, the first 100% electric model who has ever reached a monthly sales top in a country.
And, because we have mentioned the performance of the American sedan, let`s open a parenthesis to mention that the promised land of chargeable cars is Norway. There, already, for each four cars that are being sold, one is electric. Whatever shall happen in the Fiords Country ten years from now is even more interesting. At that time, absolutely all new cars shall be non- pollutant. How come? Thanks to a package of laws that aim to progressively suppress the sales of fossil fueled cars. It seems so simple, right?
Solutions are coming from the least unexpected places
While Volkswagen was mesmerizing us with all sorts of software and was discretely but completely bombing us with its vicious engines, the company was preparing to do its part for the common benefit and the preservation of Terra`s biodiversity. Audi and Porsche – two of the German auto crown jewels – have brought to light a series of impressive projects, in several progress phases, as it is the case of the R8 e-tron supercar, ready to know its future clients.
The new generation of the Audi R8 tron sports coupe, launched last summer, gathers the entire technological advancement gained in the last period of time by the Ingolstadt automaker in the field of electric propulsion. According to official data, the maximum autonomy has increased twice, practically speaking – up to 450 km -, a figure that can be compared with Tesla`s best offers. An explanation provided by Audi draws some special attention: the size of the batteries has not increased at all. An official statement made by the automaker clarifies how it was possible to reach such a performance – by increasing the density of the stored energy and of the storage capacity.
Audi has raised the stake at the Auto Show in Frankfurt, in September with the e-tron Quattro prototype, the future SUV Q6 series. There is 100% electric propulsion ensured by two engines that deliver 503 HP and batteries capable of providing up to 500 km of autonomy – these data should be remembered together with the promise that a special loading system could provide a “full tank” in only 50 minutes.
At the same event, Porsche had displayed a beautiful concept with zero polluting emissions. Mission E offers quite an eloquent image on the electric future of the Zuffenhausen brand. The German coupe brags about 500 km autonomy and the rechargeable batteries, up to 80% of the total capacity in – pay attention – just 15 minutes.
Porsche missione
The Empire counter-attacks
London, the capital of the current United Kingdom and of the last empire known by history books, was one of the first large cities that tried to protect its center, the area which is most crowded, from the exhaust gas of the cars that still use old propulsion systems, thus imposing a tax payable by all who wanted to drive by. Only hybrid and electric cars were exempted by the authorities.
Many years after this new rule was given, nevertheless in trend with the new realities of the industry, Aston Martin has recently announced its intentions to go on the electric car market. Its first model with zero polluting emissions shall be Rapide, in 2017, and DBX - the first crossover of the Gaydon automaker - shall also have a similar version.
The retro automaker Morgan is also making efforts to comply with the latest trends in the premium area. The guests of the last summer`s Speed Festival in Goodwood were able to admire the EV3 concept, an electric roadster with three wheels and, obviously, having 100% electric propulsion system. The series version is expected at the end of 2016.
Morgan`s involvement, a small family business that manually produces only a few hundred cars each year, could be the best proof that the era of the electric car is here, whether we like it or not.
