Some automakers and environmentalists are convinced that electric vehicles are the next big thing. Others however remain skeptical and to date, there’s little indication that EVs will be embraced by most drivers, due to the factors of cost, weight and range limitation.

Nevertheless new claims are being advertised all the time about improved range and lower cost becoming achievable from Lithium based batteries. Tesla Motors lays claim to a capacity of 56 kW hours and a range of 254 miles as used in its two-seat Roadster, but now battery maker Kolibri is stating that it has gone even further.

During a test conducted in Germany, with an Audi A2 converted to EV propulsion by DBM Energy/Lekker Energie and fitted with a Kolibri battery pack system, a total distance of 375 miles was claimed for the vehicle before re-charging.

Naturally, the results were quickly met with skepticism, further fueled by the car being destroyed in a warehouse fire afterwards (the battery pack did survive).

However,  the inspection organization Dekkra conducted tests of an A2 on a chassis dynometer and found that a 63 Kilowatt per hour battery gave the A2 a range of 283 miles, not quite as far as the claims listed by DBM, but still rather impressive by current EV standards. In addition, the German Federal Institute for Materials, Research and Testing also conducted experiments on the Kolibri battery pack. The results? Well the organization claimed that the pack easily passed their safety tests and was judged fit to be installed in passenger vehicles.

As a result of these “successful” conclusions, DBM is now planning full scale field trials of the system later this year. However a great deal of skepticism remains about how well the Kolibri pack will perform in real world conditions – I guess only time will tell.

[Source: New York Times]

With rumored news that rival BMW is planning a long list of 1 Series-based vehicles, Audi is reportedly studying several premium small cars for introduction into the North American marketplace.

First on the list is a sedan version of the A3 hatchback. Much like BMW’s plans for the 1 Series, Audi is rumored to be working on several A3 based vehicles when the new platform debuts in 2012. This new A3 could also spawn a convertible model, while a Q3 crossover to slot in underneath the Q5 (and compete directly with the BMx X1) is almost certain.

The final product Audi is looking to bring to the U.S. and Canada is an electric city car based on the Europe-only A2 (pictured above). Currently Audi parent company Volkswagen is planning an electric car (based on the E-U! Concept which debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show). Audi has also announced plans to bring a high powered electric car based on the R8-based Audi E-Tron Concept, which debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

[Source: Automotive News via LeftLaneNews]