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 »

June 13, 2008 by Rob.

I try to keep a eye out for news about Austin-based super-capacitor hopeful, EEStor.  A post surfaced claiming that they’ve got working prototypes.  I’m reluctant to credit reports about ZENN using EEStor super-caps in any real capacity; however, it’s interesting to see the remarkable level of enthusiam that the claims can generate.  Based on the comments from the post, EEStor will have a bigger impact than sliced bread.

Posted in Alternate Fuels, Commentary, Electric Vehicles, EV Tech | 3 Comments »

June 9, 2008 by Rob.

I’ve been resisting feeling the pull to comment more and more about non-EV topics on this blog.  To be true to this blog’s content and (imagined) readership, I’ve decided to start TribalGrid, a new blog, focused on broader social energy and sustainability topics.

I’m re-coining the term “social energy” to describe technology and attitudes that help people see energy as a limited community resource.  I believe that solving problems in our near-term future will require a deep change in public thinking about how we consume energy.

The blog has been in stealth mode since Earth Day so there are already some fresh rants for your enjoyment.

Posted in Commentary, Alternate Fuels, Rants, Blogroll, Storyline, EV Tech | 1 Comment »

December 20, 2007 by Rob.

But my uncle did send me an interesting link to new Lithium battery technology from Stanford.  Even if this is not ready for market, the electron microscope picture of silicon nanowire’s absorbing lithium is amazing!  The article has a concise description of Li battery chemistry.

Posted in Batteries, EV Tech | 1 Comment »

December 19, 2007 by Rob.

A friend sent me a link to this MSN blog entry about confusingly miss-named Hybrid Technology.  They are a North Carolina EV conversion company using Smart Cars as the gilder.  According to the post, the re-assembled EV costs twice ($35k)  the ICE version.

I agree that it’s HUGELY SEXY to drive an EV and the Smart is exotic looking enough to capture vanity buyers; however, I’m not convinced that it’s a good investment to convert one of the most fuel efficient ICEs.  This would purely be a vanity buy.

You’d have my attention if they can do it at a cost that competes (or beats) with Smart’s ICE version.

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

December 15, 2007 by Rob.

My family skis and boards at Aspen Snowmass every year. It is an awesome 4 mountain resort and a true leader in running as a green operation. Even though I knew their reputation for putting their money behind their words, I was completely astounded by what they just mailed to me!

They sent a small box with the words “Save Snow” written on the outside and inside was a single CFL blub. There was no extra card, no brochure, no letter from the CEO. It was not needed because the message was SO SIMPLE AND DIRECT: install this bulb and you can start making a global difference. Small local changes DO have global impacts.

Bravo Aspen Ski Company! You have my business.

Posted in Rants, Green Tech, EV Tech | 1 Comment »

November 3, 2007 by Rob.

Firefly is a spin out from Caterpillar heavy equipment with a revolutionary approach to lead acid batteries.  The simple summary is that they use a carbon foam to increase the surface area.  This is very promising battery technology.  This is REAL STUFF - the word is they they are now deploying the cells for military applications first and then commercial markets.

The article is a great read if you want to know how lead acid batteries (old and new) work.

Posted in EV Tech | 1 Comment »

October 14, 2007 by Rob.

This gem appeared on the EVDL:

“According to a department of energy report a few years back, the largest single user of electricity in California are the refineries with the average of 12kwh used per gallon of gas produced.”

This means that your gasser is also an EV!  I’ve seen lots of “long tail pipe” arguments against EVs, this is the first example of gas’ impact on electricity that I’ve heard.  It nicely moves adds another positive conservation impact to the EV side of the equation.

Let’s talk real numbers: the RAVolt uses about 0.6kwh/mile.  Assume the RAV4 got 24 mpg as a gasser.  That’s .5kwh/mile of electricity input for gas production.  Ignoring additional polluting raw materials, the RAVolt’s net pure electricity use compared to it’s gas use is 0.1kwh/mile.  That’s a real savings and a real impact!

Posted in Green Tech, EV Tech | 1 Comment »

October 4, 2007 by Rob.

I’m mixed about posting this item about a 500 mile range EV because I’m very suspicious about it’s veracity. Considering they are using the same basic equipment as the RAVolt (Advanced DC 9″ and Flooded Pb Acid batteries), the claim seems to violate the basic laws of physics. You’d need a lot more than a magic transmission to get 15x more efficiency out of my system.

Don’t rush out an put in a down payment…I’m watching EVDL for more information.

10/6 update: The claim for Pb is “just” 150 miles so only 5x better than the RAVolt and still deep into the bullshit zone of sanity meter.  AND…no one on EVDL has been able to turn up details beyond the one local press story.

Posted in EV News, EV Tech | No Comments »

October 1, 2007 by Rob.

I’ve been trying to digest this blog post about the Wrightspeed EV.   This is an interview with a Tesla competitor (his car will start at $200k) who believes in EVs, but for very unconventional reasons.  He is all about the performance potential of an EV, not the economy.  According to Ian Wright, we get only marginal returns on more efficient compact cars: a hybrid saves 100 gallons of gas compared to a regular compact.  The big gains come from improving economy on the gas guzzlers like SUVs and sports cars where a 20% improvement can offset 1,000 gallons of gas.

It took me a while to see it, but his logic is all about the torque curve.   The theory is that SUVs and sports cars are designed to operate under conditions that they are rarely used for like towing or driving at 100 mph.  Consequently, the cars waste lots of gas inefficiently handling 90% of their normal use in order to accommodate their <10% use-case.  Sorry, but this is a big “well, duh” to me.  How many suburban housewives really need a Hummer for daily use?  None.

Anyway, I think that this argument is off base.  The real answer to people driving a special purpose car (like a pick-up truck) as a commuter is that we have not made it easy enough to rent/share cars.  The #1 excuse I hear against an EV is that it can’t handle driver’s 10% needs.  Solving that problem does not require a better EV - it requires an adjustment to how we own cars.

Hmmmm…maybe to much blue sky thinking for one post.  Check out the Wrightspeed EV - it’s fast.

Posted in EV Tech | 4 Comments »