electric

Is Nothing Sacred? Everrati’s Electric Ford GT40 Replica Lacks Soul

By Betty C. Morrow 5 days ago

I recently received a disturbing press release announcing the production of an all-electric Superformance GT40 replica built by British electric car builder Everrati Automotive. Right off the bat here, I must admit my bias against electric cars. I suppose they have their place as commuter vehicles, but I have a tough time being excited about them as performance cars.



a car parked on the side of a road: 001-superformance-gt40-everrati-automotive-electric-sports-car-ford-replica


© Hot Rod Network Staff
001-superformance-gt40-everrati-automotive-electric-sports-car-ford-replica

Yes, the electric Cobra Jet Mustang is quick, Don Garlits’ electric dragster set a record a couple years ago, and Tesla’s new Model S Plaid something-or-other out-accelerated all of the supercars MotorTrend routinely tests, but to me, they have all the engagement of a golf cart.

Related:Electric Mustang Cobra Jet 1400 Runs 8.12 at 171 MPH

That’s just my opinion, of course, and I’m well aware that I may find myself drowning in the looming tidal wave of electrification that seems poised to inundate

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Why Do Electric Cars Look The Way They Do? Because They Can

By Betty C. Morrow 2 weeks ago
Photo credit: Illustration by Clark Mills - Car and Driver

Photo credit: Illustration by Clark Mills – Car and Driver

What should the cars of the future look like? How smooth, how tall, how spacious should they be? For more than a century, most automotive designers have had to work around an internal-combustion engine and transmission. Gas, diesel, and hybrid powertrains need room to spin and breathe—sometimes to the detriment of passengers. We’re so used to stumbling over the hump of a driveshaft tunnel and giving up kneeroom for the sake of a set-back engine that it never occurred to most of us that anything could be different. But in the future, especially the near future, with a focus on electric cars built on new, dedicated platforms, designers have a rare opportunity to reimagine what a car can offer.

Many early EV ventures used existing platforms and arranged electric powertrains to fit where gas engines and transmissions had previously resided.

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Volkswagen Electric Cars Showcased at the Petersen

By Betty C. Morrow 3 weeks ago

Looks like the future is going to be all-electric, and the Petersen Automotive Museum is celebrating it with their exhibit, “Building an Electric Future: The Technology of Today for the Vehicles of Tomorrow.”

While that title isn’t exactly spot-on—sounds like we’ll have outdated technology in the future—the exhibit itself is pretty cool. Actually, the Petersen has had some sort of Cars of Tomorrow-type exhibit its whole existence, from the day the museum first opened in 1994. Those cars have included everything from whacky, university-built solar cars for the World Solar Challenge race to steam cars and early electrics.

“We endeavor to do two things, learn from the past and become inspired for the future,” said Petersen Museum chief historian Leslie Kendall. “With electric cars, we’ve done both of those things.”

The museum has a 1901 Detroit Electric car that it exhibits to remind people how long EVs have been

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Apple hires BMW veteran in latest sign of electric car push

By Betty C. Morrow 1 month ago

This photo, taken in March 2019, shows Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.

felixmizioznikov | iStock Editorial | Getty Images

Apple has hired Ulrich Kranz, a former senior executive at BMW who focused on electric cars, Apple confirmed to CNBC’s Phil LeBeau on Thursday.

The hire is the latest sign that Apple is serious about building an electric car to compete with automakers such as Tesla.

Hyundai said earlier this year it was in talks with Apple to manufacture its car before walking its comments back and confirming it was no longer in discussions.

Apple has never confirmed it is building a car but has hired talent from the automotive industry and tested self-driving software in California. In 2018, Apple hired Doug Field from Tesla, who worked on Tesla’s Model 3. With its expertise in supply chains, battery technology and user experience, Apple would represent a major competitor

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