Tom Gage of AC Propulsion is a driving force in the world of electric cars -- latimes.com: "The future is current: Gasoline engines can be great for power or for fuel economy, but not both, Gage said. That's a compromise that electric cars don't have to make. He said vehicles running AC Propulsion's drivetrain, called the tzero, can have bullet-like acceleration yet still get from point A to point B for just a few pennies' worth of juice. The only limitation is range, which is rapidly increasing as lithium battery technology improves.
'The most compelling feature is that you don't use petroleum,' Gage said. 'For many uses, electrics are superior.'"
Sunday, August 30, 2009
TH!NK Back in Business | Green Energy News
TH!NK Back in Business | Green Energy News:
"The Norwegian electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has announced that the Norwegian courts have approved its debt settlement plan, enabling the company to exit court protection. Effectively, this puts Think back in business and in a position to resume normal operations in terms of the manufacture and sale of new electric vehicles (EVs), namely, its latest TH!NK City model.
Think CEO Richard Canny said: “This court ruling completes the final step in our return to normal operations. It is an important day for Think, and we would like to thank our creditors and suppliers for their continued support, and to show our appreciation to Think’s very patient and loyal customers – this means we can re-start production of the TH!NK City as soon as possible.”"
"The Norwegian electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has announced that the Norwegian courts have approved its debt settlement plan, enabling the company to exit court protection. Effectively, this puts Think back in business and in a position to resume normal operations in terms of the manufacture and sale of new electric vehicles (EVs), namely, its latest TH!NK City model.
Think CEO Richard Canny said: “This court ruling completes the final step in our return to normal operations. It is an important day for Think, and we would like to thank our creditors and suppliers for their continued support, and to show our appreciation to Think’s very patient and loyal customers – this means we can re-start production of the TH!NK City as soon as possible.”"
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Toyota Bets Against The Electric Revolution
Toyota Bets Against The Electric Revolution: "'The time is not here,” for electric cars.
They're right, the time is not here, not now. In three years though? It looks more and more likely that it will be.
So why isn't Toyota plowing all its PR muscle resources into electric cars? Tabuchi says:
* Batteries aren't ready.
* Toyota doesn't want to churn out some crap electric that tarnishes the brand.
* Electric cars are going to be expensive, with low margins.
* Have you noticed the $4.4 billion loss from last year? Maybe not the best time to burn a billion dollars on an electric project.
* Is the mass market ready for an electric car? Probably not.
* Hydrogen! Toyota is developing a better alternative car technology
."
They're right, the time is not here, not now. In three years though? It looks more and more likely that it will be.
So why isn't Toyota plowing all its PR muscle resources into electric cars? Tabuchi says:
* Batteries aren't ready.
* Toyota doesn't want to churn out some crap electric that tarnishes the brand.
* Electric cars are going to be expensive, with low margins.
* Have you noticed the $4.4 billion loss from last year? Maybe not the best time to burn a billion dollars on an electric project.
* Is the mass market ready for an electric car? Probably not.
* Hydrogen! Toyota is developing a better alternative car technology
."
Toyota Bets Against The Electric Revolution
Toyota Bets Against The Electric Revolution: "Tabuchi says:
* Batteries aren't ready.
* Toyota doesn't want to churn out some crap electric that tarnishes the brand.
* Electric cars are going to be expensive, with low margins.
* Have you noticed the $4.4 billion loss from last year? Maybe not the best time to burn a billion dollars on an electric project.
* Is the mass market ready for an electric car? Probably not.
* Hydrogen! Toyota is developing a better alternative car technology."
* Batteries aren't ready.
* Toyota doesn't want to churn out some crap electric that tarnishes the brand.
* Electric cars are going to be expensive, with low margins.
* Have you noticed the $4.4 billion loss from last year? Maybe not the best time to burn a billion dollars on an electric project.
* Is the mass market ready for an electric car? Probably not.
* Hydrogen! Toyota is developing a better alternative car technology."
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tech.view: Sticker shock | The Economist
Tech.view: Sticker shock | The Economist: "Such an analysis has actually been done by engineers at AC Propulsion, a firm in the Los Angeles area that makes parts for electric cars. Their conclusion was that around eight miles per kilowatt-hour is the equivalent of 100mpg. So forget GM’s outlandish claims: the Chevy Volt will get at best 50mpg in the city. As your correspondent noted at the beginning, that is not at all bad—but it is nowhere near the preposterous 230mpg being touted."
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Auto X Prize throws water on GM's 230 mpg claim, offers mpge calculator — Autoblog Green
Auto X Prize throws water on GM's 230 mpg claim, offers mpge calculator — Autoblog Green: "With all of the attention being paid to the 230 mpg number that the Chevy Volt will apparently be granted by the EPA, the Automotive X Prize thought it was time to weigh in on the subject of calculating fuel efficiency for vehicles that use energy sources other than gasoline. They don't like it. Instead, the AXP prefers MPGe, a 'rigorous and more neutral measure' of fuel efficiency. The AXP's John Shore walked us through how the long-running competition thinks about MPGe. They've been at it for a while.
First, let's define MPGe. MPGe stands for miles per gallon equivalent, and measures fuel economy based on the energy content of a gallon of petroleum-based gasoline. For those who like formulas, the AXP defines MPGe as (miles driven) / [(total energy of all fuels consumed)/(energy of one gallon of gasoline)]). Understanding and using MPGe is important, now more than ever, Shore said, because MPG is no longer particularly useful from the consumer's point of view. 'It is obsolete,' he said."
First, let's define MPGe. MPGe stands for miles per gallon equivalent, and measures fuel economy based on the energy content of a gallon of petroleum-based gasoline. For those who like formulas, the AXP defines MPGe as (miles driven) / [(total energy of all fuels consumed)/(energy of one gallon of gasoline)]). Understanding and using MPGe is important, now more than ever, Shore said, because MPG is no longer particularly useful from the consumer's point of view. 'It is obsolete,' he said."
Greentech Media: Study: Batteries to Add $14,400 to EVs, $5,900 to Plug-Ins
Greentech Media: Study: Batteries to Add $14,400 to EVs, $5,900 to Plug-Ins: "Adding batteries to a plug-in will add $5,900 to the cost of a car in 2035, said Daniel Sperling, founder of the Institute for Transportation Studies at UC Davis.
The National Academy of Sciences will weigh in on the debate over plug-ins and electric vehicles soon, and the news is not comforting.
The study states that adding batteries to a plug-in will add $5,900 to the cost of a car in 2035, said Daniel Sperling, a professor of civil engineering and the founder of the Institute for Transportation Studies at UC Davis, during a presentation at the Almaden Institute taking place at IBM's Almaden labs."
The National Academy of Sciences will weigh in on the debate over plug-ins and electric vehicles soon, and the news is not comforting.
The study states that adding batteries to a plug-in will add $5,900 to the cost of a car in 2035, said Daniel Sperling, a professor of civil engineering and the founder of the Institute for Transportation Studies at UC Davis, during a presentation at the Almaden Institute taking place at IBM's Almaden labs."
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