December 21, 2007 by Rob.

Analysis of the “landmark” energy bill has been going round and I have not read enough to bring new insights; however, I can’t resist a sarcastic list of why this lame piece of legislation makes me sad:

• Improved CAFE standards for 2020? There’s no need to rush, we need the time to get all the way up to H9 (Hummer 9)!
• Biofuel incentives?  Food into energy is a tasty way to drive up both core components to inflation!  Ethical considerations about feeding our Hummers instead of the starving?  More U.N. humbug!  Let them eat coal.
• No alternative energy tax credits & research funds? Nah, we can just pump the CO2 under the same ground where our politicians have stuck their heads.
• Tax breaks for big oil? Finally some tax relief where it’s really needed!
• Energy efficiency? Mercury filled CFLs for everyone since they are less toxic than lead paint!
• CO2? Condi on Oprah too? Maybe she can run as GOP’s VP.

I’m trying to be funny - tears of the clown.

Posted in Green Tech, EV News | 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 19, 2007 by Rob.

For our family, attending our friend’s solstice party is one of the highlights of the holiday season.  The party is a whimsical nod to the original pagan holiday that, according to some, is the reason for placing another increasingly secular religious holiday at this time of year.  Anyway, the party is fun and we have a good time.

The symbolic highlight of the evening is a bonfire in which we burn an offering to symbolize something that we want to change in the coming year.  Last year I threw in the engine maintenance pages from the RAV4’s repair manual.  It was a fitting way to start the project and is still a very powerful memory for me.
I have no idea what I’m going to offer/ask this year…maybe a picture of the damn sexy Pontiac Solstice would do!

Posted in Storyline | 1 Comment »

December 19, 2007 by Rob.

I took advantage of the warm weather to spend some quality time with the RAVolt.  Clearly the RAVolt was feeling neglected because we had a bit of a Christine moment.

On the way home from getting my trilunar haircut, the brakes turned to bricks.  That’s normal when the vacuum pump is not working: normal maybe, but definitely unwelcome.  The brakes still “work” as long as there is no one in front of you and you’re going up hill.  I pulled over quickly and discovered a loose wire.  Luckily, I was just cruising the neighborhood.

Lessons learned:

1. Avoid force the wrong age wire into a screw terminal
2. Include routine “pull test” for wire fitting.

Posted in Safety, Daily Use, Storyline | 1 Comment »

December 15, 2007 by Rob.

Someone asked me at a holiday party if I would do another conversion. It was not a simple question to answer now that I have a working EV. I would love the learning and discovery of converting another car, but I doubt that I will.

I’m am very glad to have an EV to drive and have gotten comfortable with it’s limitations. However, to repeat the experience, I would want to take it up a notch and go for an AC motor with lithium batteries. That type of system would run about $30k and I could not justify putting that into a beat-up glider. That means spending something like $20k (or more) for a nice car. I’m just not willing to spend $50k on a car no matter how green.

All this is subject to change since my 6 year old daughter has already informed me that we are building a car together when she is old enough to drive. How can I argue with that!

Posted in Storyline, Conversion, Planning | 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 »

December 13, 2007 by Rob.

Hearing the news of the massive oil spill in South Korea felt like a punch in the gut.  There seem to be an upwelling of Oil spills lately while the fines from the 1989 Exxon Valdese spill are apparently still unpaid.  The grim reality is that the environmental devastation from spills are a sad part of the price we continue to pay for oil.  The more we use, the greater the risk.

I can’t imagine any American willing to pour a gallon of oil into their local lake or ocean, but that is the ultimate effect.  Maybe spills in places like Alaska and South Korea are just too remote for us to feel any urgency.

Posted in Rants | 1 Comment »

December 7, 2007 by Rob.

I cautiously drove the RAVolt to work today AND back home too.  The batteries are still weaker than before, but there was enough charge to keep me from being a total embarrassment.  I have to admit that I’m still skittish after last week.

Posted in Daily Use, Storyline | 1 Comment »

December 1, 2007 by Rob.

Sure, Congress is talking about reasonable CAFE standards, but Toyota seems to be endorsing hypermiling in this blog entry.

It’s a good read w/ practical advice PLUS A funny cartoon.

Posted in Green Tech | 1 Comment »