Posts Tagged ev

Researchers at NREL Striving to Increase EV Adoption

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on February 7, 2013

Researchers at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL] have set a goal, “to target the key innovations necessary to accelerate the rate of adoption for electric drive vehicles. In addition, our efforts are focused on scenarios that will incorporate expanded use of renewable energy resources to charge those vehicles.” – Bob Rehn, [...]

Toyota Prius Backup Power – An Aftermarket Solution

Posted by Benji Jerew in Energy Storage, Hybrid vehicles on February 1, 2013

Modern society depends on electricity, and without it, most everything ceases to function, including heating and cooling, refrigerators, mobile phones, computers, and the list goes on. In emergencies, such as Hurricane Sandy knocking out power for millions of people, some for weeks, backup power generators make all kinds of sense to have on hand. Backup [...]

DIY Electric BMW CS – Over 800HP Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on February 1, 2013

If you saw this car running down the street with your radio on, you’d fail to notice it makes almost no sound as it passes. And if you, in your fancy supercharged Honda Civic, dared to challenge the owner to an impromptu race at the next traffic signal, well, let’s just call it now and [...]

Texas Considers Taxing Electric Cars, Follows Washington Model

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles, Green Policy on January 25, 2013

Part of the price we pay for every gallon of gas we put in our cars is tax, Texas charges 38.4¢/gal, which goes toward transportation infrastructure, including road maintenance and running traffic lights, among other things. While Texas hasn’t raised this tax in twenty years, vehicle fuel efficiency has almost doubled, meaning that vehicles are [...]

Ohio State Proves Their All-Wheel-Steering EV Prototype is Maneuverable and Safe

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles, Experiments on January 24, 2013

Most on-road vehicles today use only the front wheels to steer. Four-wheel steering is usually limited to heavy equipment, monster trucks, and off-road vehicles because they are extremely maneuverable. Really, vehicles that spend most of their time driving in a straight line don’t need to be that maneuverable anyways, but what about city cars? With [...]

Chinese Police Gets Electric: 500 BYD-Made EVs Hit Shenzen Precincts

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on January 22, 2013

China has been upping the ante on electric vehicle [EV] production and utilization, including tax incentives for EV manufacturers and EV battery manufacturing, which likely enabled the Wanxiang acquisition of failed A123 Systems this past year. Beijing looks to be introducing some tax incentives for consumers, in addition to state incentives. Local governments and fleet [...]

Plug-In America’s New EV Survey Targets the Tesla Roadster

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on January 22, 2013

Peruse forums and you’re likely to find any number of comments both for and against electric vehicle [EV] technology. Really though, these anecdotal responses don’t add up to a whole lot more than hot air. The reality is, that happy people are pretty quiet, but unhappy people, well, let’s just say that misery loves company. [...]

China’s BYD Seeking Alternative Route Into US EV Market

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on January 5, 2013

Even though BYD’s electric vehicle [EV] sales in China haven’t been anywhere near where they would like them to be, they’ve had their plans to get into the lucrative US EV market for years. Back as far as 2008, there was news that BYD might be setting up manufacturing facilities in California, but time and [...]

Increased EV Adoption a Concern for First Responders

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles, Hybrid vehicles on December 29, 2012

Electric vehicle [EV] and hybrid electric vehicle [HEV] battery packs, typically lithium-ion [Li-ion] or nickel-metal hydride [NiMH], are not much like the small lead-acid batteries that are found in petroleum-driven vehicles today. Even the biggest lead-acid battery systems only rate to 48 Volts, and those are on tractor trailers. For the most part, the standard [...]

AMP and to Make Inductive Charging Available For All Their Electric Trucks

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on December 27, 2012

Until now, AMP Electric Vehicles [AMP] has been focusing on converting standard gasoline-powered SUVs to electric power-trains. For private consumers, the electric vehicle [EV] market hasn’t really paid off as quickly as hoped. Fleet operators, on the other hand, have the capital to invest in order to realize future fuel and maintenance savings, up to [...]

Automakers Investigating Two Approaches to Inductive Charging

Posted by Benji Jerew in Car industry, Electric Vehicles on December 13, 2012

Inductive charging mats already exist for small items, such as mobile phones, laptops, even electric kettles. An electric bus line in Milton Keynes, UK, uses much larger inductive charging mats buried in the road to recharge the bus’ rechargeable batteries while the driver is on his break. Automakers offering electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric [...]

Chinese Battery Company Wanxiang Could Acquire A123 Systems

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles, Green Policy on December 10, 2012

In our ongoing coverage of the fall of the advanced rechargeable battery company, A123 Systems, we’ve seen A123′s slow decline and finally, bankruptcy proceedings. One version of their latest battery technology was supposed to go into the new Chevy Spark EV, as well as another iteration in Fisker’s next model. Unfortunately, the market for electric [...]

Better Place Sees No Profits in Israel, Lays Off Hundreds

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles, Green Policy on December 10, 2012

Electric vehicles [EV] aren’t only having a hard time breaking into the market here in the US, but abroad as well. Some government and large company programs are implementing EVs into their fleets, where the main concerns about range and recharging time, as well as expense, are fairly easy to absorb until the returns are [...]

Electric Vehicle Racing Revolution on the Streets of Rome

Posted by Benji Jerew in Electric Vehicles on December 6, 2012

We might be familiar with Formula 1 racing, featuring low-slung aerodynamic racing cars with fat exposed tires gripping the track, racing around corners through Rome’s monuments to the past. Now, the past meets the future with the replacement of the powerful engines, with electric motors, that have wowed onlookers for generations. What if the Formula [...]

General Motors Boost EV Sales With New Smartphone Apps

Posted by Mila Luleva in Electric Vehicles on November 27, 2012

General Motors decided to increase their range and sales of Electric vehicles by introducing new Smartphone Apps that will bring down the cost of charging. The company has set a target to sell 500,000 EVs annually by 2017. They are convinced that this will be achieved by including smartphones apps in the equation. Two of [...]