2019 Jeep Renegade Limited 4x4Jil McIntosh Big changes are reportedly in store for everybodys favourite off-road brand, Jeep.The companys entire lineup is on track to get electrified by 2022, Jeep global president Christian Meunier revealed to Australias Car Advice at the debut of the 2020 Gladiator. This means in just a few years we can expect plug-in hybrid or battery-electric powertrains under the hoods of not just new products, but icons like the Wrangler as well.Its a lofty goal for the brand to complete in just two years, but its already got a start in the compact Hybrid Renegade.Jeeps also plans to expand its lineup into more on-road vehicles, according to reports from Auto Express, and has been confirmed to soon launch a rival to the extremely popular ultra-compact Suzuki Jimny.We want to make it more of a sustainable, iconic brand, not only an off-road brand, Meuniers said, which suggests this brand re-alignment rumour has legs. While its arguable Jeep is already an on-road brand, as probably less than half of owners actually take their vehicles out on the trails, a more road-friendly SUV would be a good move for Jeep.And a Jimny rival would do very well in North America, since Suzuki has decided not to bring the vehicle here thats a gap Jeep could potentially fill.With Jeeps new doctrine in mind, wed bet the vehicle could also be all-electric, making for the perfect little city car, especially for us Canadians that need a little more ground clearance for those particularly harsh winters.LISTEN: What do you get when you combine a cross-country electric vehicle road trip with a poignant love story? Mary Ann’s Electric Drive, that’s what. In this week’s episode of Plugged In, we chat with Harvey Soicher, a Vancouver man who tragically lost his soul mate 18 months ago but found some semblance of healing by embracing what he calls a ‘pioneer spirit’ to drive his Audi e-tron from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and back.
Origin: Jeep wants to electrify its whole lineup by 2022, says report
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Grenfell garage to electrify classic Volkswagens
German classic car electrification specialist eClassics has chosen a struggling Kensington garage as its first UK outlet, saving it from closure in the wake of the Grenfell disaster. Earlier this year, eClassics worked with Volkswagen to produce an electric version of the original Type 1 Beetle, using the motor, battery and gearbox from the e-Up city car. A deal with the manufacturer allowed eClassics to put the model into limited production using genuine parts, and it’s now on sale in Germany with a starting price of €99,000 (£84,000). Jack’s Garage – located close to the 24-storey apartment block where 72 residents died in a fire two years ago – will be the first business in the UK to electrify classic Volkswagens using genuine manufacturer-supplied parts. The classic Volkswagen specialist has suffered in the wake of the tragedy; owner of 12 years Joseph Salama told Sky News: “The first year after the fire was diabolical to say the least. In the first few weeks, the roads were closed, clients couldn’t get in, we weren’t getting paid and suppliers couldn’t deliver parts. Effectively, our production (and) our restoration ceased overnight.” Turnover was down £100,000 year-on-year over the course of the next six months, so Salama was forced to lay off half his workforce. He attributes the extended decline to the continued presence of the burnt-out tower nearby, which customers preferred to avoid. The new deal with eClassics is expected to improve the garage’s future viability and expand its customer base. “I’ve already had enquiries from America, Europe and the UK,” Salama said. Initially, Jack’s Garage will offer the conversion package used to create the e-Käfer demonstration car earlier this year. There are plans to bring electric versions of the Volkswagen Type 2 van and Beetle-derived Porsche 356 to market as well. UK prices for the electric Beetle aren’t yet confirmed, but eClassics sales director Gianfranco Pizzuto told Sky News that “the estimated cost of transforming an old VW Beetle is £40,000, and it could take some time before that cost is brought down”. Jack’s Garage joins a number of UK businesses already electrifying classic cars. For example, Swindon Powertrain in Wiltshire offers an electric variant of the Mini for £79,000, while Silverstone-based Lunaz carries out the conversion on rarer classic models, such as the Jaguar XK120 and Rolls-Royce Ghost, with prices starting at
Origin: Grenfell garage to electrify classic Volkswagens
Electrify Canada planning 20 new 350-kW charging stations across the country
Volkswagen built Electrify America, its U.S. multi-brand-compatible network of EV charging stations, as part of a settlement with authorities there over its Dieselgate scandal. But now the automaker has voluntarily expanded that effort with a Canadian arm to give electric vehicle owners that same level of charging access.Electrify Canada announced early October that it plans to open 20 350-kW-capable charging stations at Canadian Tire locations in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.While you wouldnt be able to jet clear across Canada via the charging network, youll now probably be able to take reasonably long journeys in the western and central parts of the country with a properly long-range electric vehicle, that is.The only car that can utilize the 800-volt chargers to their full potential is, currently, the Porsche Taycan, which can be charged at up to 270 kW. (Electrify Canadas chargers offer up to 350 kW of charging power.) Teslas Model 3 can charge at only 250 kW right now, and other brands EVs charge at about 150 kW.Charging stations for multiple types of connectors will be available; all stations will have a 350-kW CCS DC fast-charging connector, as well as one with 50-kW CHAdeMO fast-charging. The rest of the stations chargers will offer 150-kW CCS fast-charging.Pricing is based on 75-kW-, 125-kW- and 350-kW-per-minute power levels. There is a $1 session fee per charge-up, but an Electrify Canada Pass+ is only $4 per month, which waives the session fee and knocks the cost down by roughly 20 cents per
Origin: Electrify Canada planning 20 new 350-kW charging stations across the country
Silverstone start-up Lunaz to electrify British classic cars
Lunaz, a new classic car electrification company, has chosen Silverstone as its global headquarters as it prepares to bring its first models to market. The start-up, led by ex-Renault F1 technical director Jon Hilton, claims it will make “the most beautiful and celebrated cars in history ready for the future”, with a focus on fully electrifying mid-century British luxury and sports cars. Currently under development are electric versions of the 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V, the 1956 Rolls-Royce Cloud and the 1953 Jaguar XK120. At the time of its launch, the latter was the fastest production car in the world. Each car will be sympathetically restored before electrification, with Lunaz offering a range of one-off paint schemes and interior packages designed by bespoke automotive styling specialists. The Phantom V, a large eight-seater, is equipped with a 120kWh battery pack, while the lighter Jaguar has an 80kWh unit. All models feature EV-specific functions, such as fast-charging capabilities and regenerative braking, with modern additions such as traction control and cruise control enhancing their usability. The XK120, powered by a twin-motor setup producing 375bhp and 516lb ft, is said to be undergoing its final stages of testing before it’s launched as Lunaz’s first model. Lunaz has confirmed that the entire powertrain is built and assembled in-house but refused to give any more details. The process of electrifying each vehicle begins with a comprehensive analysis of its shape, weight and intended driving dynamics. The original powertrain and its associated hardware are then removed before the car is 3D-scanned so that Lunaz engineers can use scale models for reference. The vehicle is then subject to a thorough restoration process that involves taking the paint back to bare metal and rectifying any imperfections by hand. Upon completion, the interior is modernised with the addition of sat-nav, wi-fi and a contemporary infotainment system. Existing vehicle hardware, including the fuel filler cap, dials and vents, is retained and reconfigured to suit the electric powertrain, but braking, suspension and steering components are uprated to cope with the added power. Company founder David Lorenz said: “I wanted a car like a 1953 Jaguar to be my daily driver. Lunaz takes a history we all love and gives it a bright future. We are innovating to create cars that are usable, dynamic and stand as the ultimate drivers’ classics.” Prices for a Lunaz-converted electrified classic start from £350,000, with order books opening in November. Build slots can be secured only through direct connection with the
Origin: Silverstone start-up Lunaz to electrify British classic cars
This Dutch company will electrify your vintage Porsche
A Dutch firm called Voitures Extravert wants to convert your vintage 911 into a fully electric vehicle. The company’s Quintessenza conversions were introduced last year, with the goal of a five-build run, with maybe another 12 for 2019. However, now the company is announcing it’s going to increase the number of cars converted to three per month, a total of 36 per year. The conversion involves much more than just an engine swap: Voitures Extravert is also a restoration expert and can customize your vehicle to any taste that you want. It has explicitly stated it won’t convert models from the 1960s, but it will take your ’70s and ’80s machines and backdate them to look like older models. Modern conveniences can be added to the rest of the drivetrain as well, to boost safety. Powering the conversion is an electric motor in the same place as the original engine; the running gear now makes 672 lb.-ft. of torque, which puts the car’s performance specs closer to those of a 1970s race car. The weight distribution has also been improved by way of the front-mounted batteries. Range for the electric Porsche isn’t too horrible either; the 58-kilowatt-hour battery can power the car for up to 200 miles (321 km), and fast-charging allows 100 km of range to be added in just 15 minutes. The conversions obviously aren’t cheap: they cost about US$338,000, or about $450,000 Canadian. But at least you can say you’re trying to save the planet, one classic at a
Origin: This Dutch company will electrify your vintage Porsche
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