German Car Forum

Electric 'eVito' black cabs to be trialled in London | Business

A revolutionary all-electric taxi with the potential to transform the way people use public transport was unveiled in the West Midlands today by Regional Minister Ian Austin MP.

The ‘E Vito taxi’ - a prototype developed by a consortium including automotive engineering specialists Zytek and technology experts Penso – can transport up to 6 passengers in comfort over a range of 120 miles from a single 6-hour full charge and is licensed for use in London.

Speaking at the demonstration event in Lichfield, Staffordshire Ian Austin MP said: “The taxi cab is an iconic vehicle that makes personal transport accessible to all.

“It’s therefore highly appropriate that such a widely used mode of transport has become the first vehicle to incorporate this innovative ‘market-ready’ technology - which could potentially be introduced in time to serve the many thousands of tourists visiting the capital for the 2012 Olympics.”

The West Midlands is home to the largest cluster of automotive businesses in the UK, responsible for 28 per cent of all automotive output (£13 billion) and over 60% of the industry’s research and development. It’s therefore perhaps unsurprising that the E Vito’s advanced technology has been developed within the region.

Neil Cheeseman, programme manager at Zytek Automotive, said: “The range and performance of the E Vito make it perfect for inner city transport: not only does it deliver a significant reduction in CO2 emissions but also significant costs savings (a full charge costs less than £2.50) which can be passed on to users in the form of reduced fares.

Zytek is one of the world’s most experienced developers of powertrains for electric vehicles and works closely with vehicle manufacturers on several production programmes.

“The Zytek electric drive system used in the E Vito taxi is suitable for a variety of passenger car and light commercial vehicle applications. Today’s demonstration highlights that the E Vito taxi is both viable and relatively simple to put into production.”

The E Vito taxi meets all of the legislative requirements of the Public Carriage Office and incorporates the 38kWh Valence Li-Ion battery power pack installed in a weatherproof enclosure beneath the vehicle floor, so the internal space of the taxi will remain unaffected by the electric conversion, not compromising luggage space and also improving vehicle stability.

The vehicle, is capable of up to 75 mph, powered by the innovative 70kW Zytek electric drive system, driving the front wheels through a custom designed Vocis/Graziano transmission. The vehicle not only generates zero tailpipe emissions but also very low noise pollution.

The E Vito taxi programme has been part-funded by a £2.5 million grant from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM) whose Advantage Niche Vehicle Research & Development Programme (NVRDP) brought together the necessary expertise from Zytek, Penso and fellow consortium members: Vocis/Graziano, Valence Technology and Mercedes Benz UK - which donated the Vito platform that underwent the electric transformation.

Julia Chance, programme manager for Cenex which delivers the NVRDP, added: “The companies in the consortium behind the E Vito taxi are among 25 businesses that have received assistance from the Niche Vehicle Programme since its launch in 2008.

“Collaborative projects like the E Vito taxi, Westfield Sportscars’ recently launched iRACER (an electric racecar) and hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles from Microcab are creating and safeguarding jobs as well as highlighting the UK’s expertise in low carbon vehicles on the world stage.”

SOURCE: Minister Hails All'electric Taxi a Revolution in Passenger Transport

Battery-powered Mercedes-Benz Vito for zero emissions

San Sebastian/Spain, February 9, 2010

• Premiering to an audience of European economics ministers
• The Vito delivers CO2-free mobility in urban areas
• Battery-powered Vito to enter low-volume production in 2010
• World’s first van with electric drive system ex factory
• Daimler underlining its technology leadership
• Lithium-ion battery gives the Vito a wide scope of application
• Load capacity in excess of 900 kg

Mercedes-Benz is unveiling the prototype of a battery-powered van based on the Mercedes-Benz Vito at the informal EU Competitiveness Council meeting in San Sebastián from 7 to 9 February. During this event, European ministers of economic affairs meet to discuss issues relating to the economic viability of future technologies. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, will be giving a speech on the sustainability of electric vehicles in his capacity as current president of the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association).

Based on the Mercedes-Benz Vito, the experimental vehicle being presented marks the start of a new era in local, zero emission mobility in the van sector. The Vito is the first van in the world to incorporate this technology ex factory, thereby underlining Daimler AG’s commitment to sustainable mobility. The vehicle is the outcome of research and development activities at Daimler AG which are focused on three aspects: optimising combustion engines, boosting efficiency via custom hybrid components and emission-free vehicle operation deploying batteries and fuel cells.

During 2010, more than 100 Mercedes-Benz Vito vans will be delivered to 20 customers, primarily fleet operators and public institutions wishing to transport items in environmentally sensitive zones with zero emissions, including no CO2 emissions, and low noise. Deployment scenarios therefore typically involve short distances and making many stops in urban areas.

Production of a further 2000 vehicles is planned in the next phase.

The drive configuration is designed solely to run on battery power and thus dispenses with the powertrain intended for combustion engines.

A battery featuring powerful lithium-ion technology supplies energy to the Vito. With an operating voltage of 400 V, 16 A current and an available capacity of 32 kWh, the Vito’s range averages 130 km but can be considerably higher given an appropriate driving style. The electric motor delivers a peak output of 90 kW. Performance is oriented around customer requirements: an electronically limited top speed of 80 km/h is designed to meet our customers’ transportation needs in and around urban areas.

When it comes to safety features, every aspect is covered. All Vito vehicles come with ESP as standard which incorporates ABS and ASR. The number and type of airbags also corresponds with the current Vito specification. Vehicles are subjected to the usual crash tests with regard to passive safety. There is no loss in terms of payload or load volume compared to a conventionally powered Vito as a load capacity in excess of 900 kg is possible.

Assembly of the electric-powered Vito is being integrated directly into standard production. The Mercedes-Benz plant at Vitoria in the Basque region of Spain is already preparing for the challenges associated with manufacturing an additional variant. Logistics, staff training and production technology are receiving financial support from the regional government.

In Germany too the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is providing subsidies to support the efforts of Mercedes-Benz Vans in the areas of research and development, testing and customer deployment.

Source: Daimler