BMW has two electric cars in its garage. The Mini E is on a test phase with about 600 units roaming around the streets of the U.S., U.K., and Europe. They also have the ActiveE Concept that took spotlight during the auto show in Detroit last month.

According to BMW top execs, the two cars are just the tip of the iceberg. The carmaker is looking forward to launch their all electric vehicle that is expected to go on full production by the first half of this decade. This new electric vehicle will solely depend on the power stored in a battery pack.

BMW codenamed the development as Project Megacity which was driven by the research that kicked off with their Project i back in 2008.

The Project Megacity will be an EV that uses designs that will be specific for use in congested city streets. According to insiders, the production of the 2014 model might begin by the second half of 2013. The car is set to be assembled in the BMW plant in Leipzig, Germany.

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Renault recently unveiled the demo unit of their electric vehicle Kangoo be bop ZE. Unlike other demo units splashed all over the internet, the EV from Renault will served as a test vehicle to let people know of the technology involved in this new generation of vehicles.

The Kangoo be bop ZE is an improvement of the basic be bop. ZE stands for the zero emissions of the car. At first glance, it looks like it is a twin sibling of the Nissan EV-02 but it can be explained by the collaboration of Renault with the Japanese car maker.

The performance of the be bop ZE is very impressive. Its 60 horsepower engine can maximize the lithium-ion batteries and travel a distance of 100 kilometers or 62 miles in a single charge.

The test drive of the vehicle is limited to the confines of the city where it is also seen as a major contributor in reducing noise and air pollution. Electric vehicles may help make mode of transport a lot cheaper and decrease the dependence to petrol by as much as 90%.

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Toshiba Corporation and Volkswagen AG are set to team up on three major projects: the production of electric drive units, the development of power electronics for Volkswagen’s new line of vehicles, and the manufacturing of high-specific density batteries for the new generation electric-powered vehicles.

These three efforts are supposed to work towards Volkswagen’s goal this year, which is to produce safe, affordable, and emission-free large-scale electric vehicles. This was reported by Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board of Management, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

Eventually, Volkswagen will be producing lithium-ion power technology hand-in-hand with Toshiba Corporation. Based on the direction of the three projects, the Volkwagen AG is aiming for long-term plans that are bound to find their own niches in the production of affordable hybrid and electric vehicles a few years from now.

Toshiba is one of the world’s leaders in electronics and battery production, with their recent Super Charge ion Battery (SCiB) lithium-ion batteries. The SCiB is pegged to be used in hybrid and electric cars very soon. The battery line has only recently been commercialized in Japan.

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Chery, China’s biggest independent car manufacturer, has finally unleashed its first all-battery operated electric car, the S18 EV. The small four-door vehicle was shown as the battery-operated edition of the S18/QQ2 that was revealed at the 2008’s Beijing Auto show. Chery is the second car company in China to produce a full electric vehicle (BYD was the first).

The S18 Electric edition has a noted range of 150 km and holds a top speed of 120 km/h. It has an in-house design, and features batteries of lithium ion phosphate (LiFePO4). The charging time is for 4-6 hours and fast charging will supply 80% capacity in just 30 minutes. It also bears the 336 volt system that permits 40 Kw motor to take it up to the winding speed of an amazing 120 kph (75 mph).

Chery Auto’s deputy general manager Yuan Tao announced that the S18 EV made use of the world’s advanced technology and offers a very effective energy conservation mechanism.

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Mini USA will lease 450 Mini E electric cars to successful applicants this year. However, the program, which was expected to kick off at the beginning of 2009, is delayed due the surge of about 1,800 new applicants.

The chosen candidates expect to get their 450 Mini E sometime this April. Thirty more vehicles will be allotted to the different cities and navies for a year, to see whether the Mini E will have a shot at the market. Ten vehicles will be given to New York and will be used as patrol cars. Los Angeles will get five vehicles.

Mini Car USA has cut the list to about 1,000 lucky people while the on-going applications are still being scrutinized by 16 dealers—eight in Los Angeles, five in New York, and three in New Jersey. Jim McDowell, Vice President of Mini USA said that the dealers will cover the lease and service of the Mini E vehicles during the year-long trial.

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CEO Elon Musk, founder and chairman of Tesla Motors Inc., announced that they have been working with Daimler AG since 2007 to produce the Smart Car Electric microcars, with Tesla providing the battery packs and chargers need for initial plan to deliver 1,000 vehicles by the end of the year. During the North American International Auto Show, Musk told the Society of Automotive Analysts, “If the 1,000-vehicle fleet is a success and the economics make sense and the product is compelling, that will expand to tens of thousands of vehicles per year.”

Musk stressed that Daimler is looking at this joint project very seriously. Last year, Daimler brought the Smart fortwo to the United States during the time when gas prices skyrocketed. It reached more than 24,000 in sales, at US$12,000. The two-seater call is less than 9 feet long and carries a three-cylinder engine that produces 41 mpg (5.7 liters per 100 kilometers) during highway driving.

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Electric cars have come a long way in a short time frame. Moving away from the original low speed restrictions and little box type design, the convertible Tesla Roadster is sexy, fast and the ultimate in luxury. Even though it is an electric car, it might even be considered a chick-magnet for all you guys out there worried about how you look in an eco-friendly vehicle.

Aside from the sharp looking appearance and the obvious fuel efficiency, the Tesla Roadster sports many other positive features. A normal gasoline driven vehicle requires many parts to make the car ignite and the motor run. The Tesla, on the other hand, only has a rotor so one of the biggest advantages is not having parts break down and the expense of being repaired. In addition to fewer replacement parts, the battery of the Tesla replaces the fuel tank of traditional vehicles. Eliminating the need for gas makes this battery cost efficient and much cleaner to use. At the same time, it is high powered with the ability to deliver power allowing the roadster to go from zero to sixty in four seconds.

Further, the motor, approximately the size of a watermelon, has been designed to store energy for propelling the vehicle rather than heating up the car needlessly expending precious energy. The transmission works like a manual but is easier to manage much like an automatic. All of these points help to make the car more conducive to positive interaction with the planet as opposed to destroying it.

Looks a little like a Lotus Elise, doesn’t it?

More info on Tesla Motors dot com.