June 4, 2009 by Rob.

This was posted from the AustinEV group and is significant since stealthy EEStor could be a major playah if their stuff actually works.

Posted in Batteries, EV News, AustinEV | 1 Comment »

December 3, 2008 by Rob.

One of the most interesting technology items I’ve seen recently in the flood of EV announcements is Michelin’s Active Wheel.  Apparently they’ve been working on this a while and still have years to go.  However, it looks like a viable wheel (not-hub) motor approach.  Their use of active suspension may address the unsprung weight issues of hub motors.

(source: MotorAuthority.com)

Posted in Major Car Makers, Electric Vehicles, EV News | 1 Comment »

September 23, 2008 by Rob.

It must be Detroit in another galaxy because I’m having trouble believing the news that Chrysler is promising multiple EVs by 2010.  They’ve got a retro-modern EV blister thing, a totally hot Tesla-stomping electric Viper, a EV Mini-van, and an electric Jeep SUV.  Apparently some are pure EV and others are plug-ins.  Hmmm….this is getting interesting.

Posted in Major Car Makers, EV News | 3 Comments »

September 20, 2008 by Rob.

GM’s making serious headway and commitments around the green flagship, the Chevy Volt.  This is a serious contender that could vault GM into a leadership position.  Unfortunately the news was completely eclipsed by the Wall Street meltdown (see my post: Now I’m really scared…Financial meltdown foreshadows sustainability crisis).  (more images >> Jalopnik)The Volt’s got the right design components to be a winner:

• It’s a series hybrid - really an EV with a generator
• It’s using lithium batteries (from A123)
• The cost is Prius level ($30-40k) - low enough for middle class green freaks.  
• It also has a 30-40 miles 100% electric range which covers 70% of US daily driving.
• Looks are pretty good (according to Jalopnik.com, but not Edmunds) - I think it’s a sexed up Cobalt.
• The gas generator (range extender) is enough to run the car without batteries - helpful insurance for nervous buyers.

Posted in Major Car Makers, Electric Vehicles, EV News | 1 Comment »

August 9, 2008 by Rob.

I’ve been more active on TribalGrid, but here’s an EV bone for this blog showing that the commerical EVs may be available relatively soon.  I’ve been getting more email from people who want to convert RAV4s to run as an EV.  It’s a great project and I’ll be glad to help - but it’s a project, not a primary transport.

Nissan is racing ahead with their EV plans: “Japan’s third-largest automaker said the front-wheel drive, boxy-shaped car has a newly developed 80 kilowatt motor with advanced lithium-ion batteries installed under the vehicle’s floor to avoid taking up space.”

Posted in Major Car Makers, Electric Vehicles, EV News | 1 Comment »

August 1, 2008 by Rob.

Not sure how real this is - it looks like something from TRON.  Looks cool to me, but you have to ask the Mainframe.

Conventional wisdom is that a 1 front - 2 rear wheel configuration (like the Zap Xebra) is not as safe as a 2/1 combo (like the NMG or Aptera). According to the pictures, the frame in this design leans into turns.

vs.  (blogs.abc.net.au)

Posted in Electric Vehicles, EV News | 1 Comment »

July 23, 2008 by Rob.

The National EV Auto Association’s CurrentEVents for July 2008 (not online yet) is bursting with news about potential EVs from major and minor auto manufacturers.  Here are a sample of the headlines (sorry, no time for links):

• Toyota Dealers not waiting on Toyota for Plug-ins - they are signing up with Hymotion to do conversions
• GM talks to buy Battery Maker Cobasys
• Miles moving ahead with Full Function EV (editor’s note: reportedly using EESTOR caps)
• Th!nk to Produce, Sell Small Electric Cars in US
• Volvo’s Recharge - a series hybrid like the Volt, but with wheel motors
• Gumpert Apollo Geneva (hybrid supercar below)
• Caterpillar creates a AC electric hybrid tractor drive
• VW & SAnyo form a partnership for Li batteries
• Tesla test drive report
• Myers Motors launches Li option (editor’s note: the single person NMG)
• Mitsubishi to provide EVs to Japanese Post Office
• Mitsubishi may introduce plug-in hybrid

(source Carblog)

Posted in ICE Cars, Electric Vehicles, EV News, EV Tech | 1 Comment »

July 23, 2008 by Rob.

This was reposted from IHT by the Crude Awakening group.

In reversal, Ford veers from SUV’s  (Bill Vlasic, July 22, 2008)

DEARBORN, Michigan: Ford Motor, which devoted itself for nearly 20 years to putting millions of Americans into big pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles, is about to drastically alter its focus to building more small cars.

The struggling automaker, reacting to what it sees as a rapid and permanent shift in consumer tastes brought on by high gas prices, plans to unveil its new direction on Thursday, when it will report quarterly earnings.

Among the changes, Ford is expected to announce that it will convert three of its North American assembly plants from trucks to cars, according to people familiar with the plans.

Posted in ICE Cars, EV News | 1 Comment »

May 13, 2008 by Rob.

Nissan played a gutsy card today (story on NPR) with an announcement to have a viable (if ugly) EV on the market by 2010, about 5 years ahead of other majors. I’m glad to hear the news, but am more surprised by their CEO’s motive:

According the the NPR story: Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn says. “The number of people buying cars around the world is increasing, while the need to reduce emissions is becoming more urgent. There is a perceived conflict between the demand for more cars and the demand for a cleaner planet — 10, 20 or 30 percent lower emissions cannot be the only answer. The goal should be 100 percent lower emissions.”

This supports one of my favorite themes: while the US lives high on the hog and is looking for incremental efficiency, the real markets for products is the developing world. Competition for energy will be ferocious in those markets while in the US we can “create” energy by just conserving what we waste (see MIT article on our enormous carbon footprint).

Posted in EV News | 1 Comment »

May 4, 2008 by Rob.

It appears that Aptera is poised to start selling their unique EV / Hybrid.  Of all the EV companies out there, I like that Aptera took a completely fresh approach.  It’s hard for people to compare the to a traditional car, but that also makes it harder for people to accept as a legitimate alternative.  While the Tesla (also a 2 seater) commands a lot of car-geek testosterone, the Aptera will command more green-geek superiority.  BTW - they are 1/2 the price of a Tesla.

I hope that they can avoid Tesla painfully slow road to production and get the the first ones on the road quickly.

Posted in EV News | 1 Comment »