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Recharge Wrap-up: Jason Hughes builds 1,000-hp EV, BMW considers Thai battery factory

Tesla hacker Jason Hughes is building his own 1,000-horsepower electric vehicle. To propel the insane DIY EV, Hughes is using two Tesla performance drive units powered by two Chevrolet Volt battery packs and six Tesla battery modules. Controlling them with a custom control board, Hughes expects to be able to wring out 500 hp from each motor – one at the front and one in the rear. He also predicts a driving range of 120 to 150 miles between charges. It also appears that Hughes, also known as wk057, has set up a website dedicated to the project. Read more at Electrek, and watch Hughes' first test video above. BMW might build a battery factory in Thailand. According to Thai Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang, the German automaker is considering building the plant for about $57 million, with construction beginning in the middle of 2017. Thailand is discussing possible tax incentives for BMW, says Atchaka, with the hopes of making the country friendlier to plug-in hybrids. "Hybrid vehicles are still expensive now but once there is a factory established and batteries are available this will make it affordable for consumers." Read more from Automotive News Europe. Samsung is investing $449 million in BYD. Shanghai Samsung Semiconductor bought 52.3 million shares of BYD, which will use the funds to expand its battery production and for research and development of alternatively powered vehicles. Samsung is leveraging its recent investments in the auto industry to make up for slowdowns in other electronics hardware. Samsung says its investment in BYD will help grow its semiconductor business. The purchase by Samsung and other investors dilutes BYD Founder, Chairman, and CEO Wang Chuanfu's stake by almost two percent, down to 18.8 percent. Read more from Automotive News. Related Gallery BYD Electric Buses News Source: Electrek, YouTube: Jason Hughes, Automotive News Europe, Automotive News Earnings/Financials Green Plants/Manufacturing BMW Automakers Tesla Green Automakers Electric recharge wrapup

Recharge Wrap-up: EV charging at IKEA, Tesla Model M just rendering

Despite rumors, Tesla will not be producing a "Model M" electric motorcycle. After a rendering of a Tesla motorcycle concept by a designer named Jans Slapins began circulating online, some folks mistakenly thought it was something Tesla intends to build. Slapins, though, has no relationship with Tesla, nor has he claimed to. As cool as it could be, Tesla hasn't stated an interest in producing an electric two-wheeler, and, as Green Car Reports explains, Tesla's batteries don't lend themselves to the size and shape of a motorcycle the way, say, Zero's do. Read more at Green Car Reports. Piaggio and KTM are partnering to develop an affordable electric commuter vehicle. The EU is funding the project in the hopes that commuters would choose such a vehicle over polluting, traditionally powered vehicles for their daily drives. The initial plan is to create two four-wheeled tilting vehicles for demonstration purposes. The two manufacturers will also receive support from Bosch and several universities. Read more at Visor Down. Total has opened a hydrogen filling station in Munich, Germany with both standard compressed and BMW cryo-compressed hydrogen (CCH2) technology. CCH2 involves storing the fuel on board at low temperatures and just 350 bar pressure. It allows for up to 50 percent more storage than standard 700 bar systems (and, subsequently, a greater driving range). Having CCH2 hydrogen available at a public station allows BMW to further its fuel cell research and development with real-world testing. Read more at Green Car Congress. IKEA will install free EV charging stations at all of its Canadian stores. Each of the 12 stores will offer, initially, two 60-amp chargers available on a first-come-first-served basis. Sun Country Highway will install the chargers by the end of this summer (that's right, you don't have to assemble them yourself). IKEA sees itself as a prime location for EV charging as most of its stores are located near major highways. All of Canada's IKEA stores get their energy from renewable sources. "Electric vehicle charging stations are an important step on IKEA Canada's continuing journey towards sustainability," says IKEA's sustainability manager, Brendan Seale. Read more from Sun Country Highway. Related Gallery News Source: Green Car Reports, Visor Down, Green Car Congress, Sun Country Highway Green BMW Automakers Tesla Alternative Fuels Motorcycle Electric Hydrogen Cars recharge wrapup

The BMW 2002 Hommage is a retro concept done right

BMW has been building hommage cars for years now. They're teases that let us know the designers remember what was great about BMW design past, even if that's not always obvious in the new cars. The latest tribute car is this 2002 Hommage, which makes its debut at the Concorso d'Eleganza at Villa d'Este this weekend. Like past hommage cars, the 2002 is more about design than mechanicals. BMW doesn't even mention what theoretically powers this car, and frankly we don't care. There are clues, however, from the classic livery, which includes an M tri-color front splitter with "obrut" ghosted over it, similar to the reversed text on the original '02 Turbo. We'll guess it's a powerful turbocharged engine under the hood, whatever the specifics are. View 17 Photos Neat details abound. There's a carbon-fiber band at the beltline that is supposed to recall the original 2002's chrome trim. The greenhouse is more slick 2 Series than boxy '02, and the flared-fender goodness is a definite nod to the homologation 2002 Turbo. The off-center roundel at the tail is another nice 2002 touch. We're into the ducktail spoiler out back, and, although not quite '60s-specific, the snowflake wheels are pretty great. Even the lighting elements are retro-tinged. The headlight lenses have a gold hue since this is the golden anniversary of the 1966 model. There are also separate turn-signal units embedded above the headlights, here stuck into a piece of carbon trim. Of course, this hommage is likely nothing more than eye candy. BMW uses them more as design exercises than forecasts of future styling. It's good daydream fuel, at least. Image Credit: BMW BMW Coupe Concept Cars Performance villa deste concorso deleganza villa deste bmw 2002 bmw 2002 hommage