- Looks like they are taking orders for the new Rudman MK3 battery regulator/monitors. “The current command structure supports 99 regulators in series. All communications are done on with terminal software.”
- Another breakthrough in solar cells. I’m not sure what the exact major breakthrough is (i.e. how much cheaper to make or % efficiency) but thought this quote from the article was interesting: “Alberts said in Switzerland it was already compulsory for all new houses to include solar technology to lessen energy demands on national grids.” Another take on the story, here
- Geoff’s e-jet, jet power assist EV-1? Uh, ok…
- While we are covering science fiction, “Bush said the batteries could someday enable a hybrid car to plug into a wall socket to recharge and then travel 100 miles on a single gallon of gasoline.” Or, hey, how about NO gas?
- I heard back from A123 Systems: “Thank you for you interest in A123Systems’ exciting new battery technology. Electric vehicle (EV) & hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications are extremely attractive applications for our technology. Unfortunately, we are not currently in a position to support the individual inquiries for project cars.” Dang!
Comment [7]
Site Changes · 20 February 06
Well, hopefully this is an unnecessary message, but just in case…
I’ve updated the EVConvert software (TextPattern) and while I think everything is back in order there’s always the chance that some obscure page or functionality is messed up. Drop me an email or leave a comment if you find something strange.
- Miles Twete’s 1921 Milburn Light Electric: top speed 28mph, range 90 miles, worm drivetrain, and a Coal-burning foot warmer.
- Chris Jones’ EV Conversion Plan. He’s put together some helpful information, including a battery comparison chart and a drive train comparison.
- It was inevitable that hybrid kits, of some sort or another would start showing up. And like some of the new “hybrids” that will be coming from auto manufacturers, not all of them are meant to improve fuel efficiency. Check out the Electrocharger kit, to increase the initial rate of acceleration. Essentially a beefy alternator with a heavy duty belt connecting it to the engine shaft. They claim that it should improve fuel efficiency, but won’t have data to support this until later this year.
- No idea on the propulsion means for any of these, but some very interesting cars in this Art Car Fest flickr set.
- A123’s new nanotechnology-based lithium-ion batteries will start showing up in power tools soon. A123 claims its battery offers twice the power density of comparable ‘old-technology’ lithium ion cells. I’ve volunteered to be an EV tester…no word back yet. ”:^)
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- Ok, this isn’t really EV or even automotive related, but it’s the kind of thing I’m sure you can appreciate: Home Automation in the Netherlands. All kinds of home automation tracking and logging: security, lighting, weather, phones, fridge, power consumption, and even toilet flushes. The how page explains some of it (including how, like me, he got started in computers with the Sinclair ZX80).
- Competitor teardowns.
- Milwaukee tool powered electric car (video clip at the bottom). The current guess is that sometime in April they’ll be showing this episode of Monster Garage. A couple guys from the EVList did the EV work: building a race EV in the period of a few days using a heavy donor and all kinds of high-end parts.
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- Toyota’s CS&S Concept Hybrid car rolling out in 2008? “An electric motor drives the front wheels, while a gas engine and electric motor in combination drive the rear.”
- A short article on Ultracapacitors over a Hybrid cars. If you are in a reading mood be sure to check out the earlier post on Toyota’s PHEV, especially the huge number of comments.
- They’ll be starting to take orders for the Lithium Carbon Fiber Super Car in April. Chump change at $124,900. ”:^) From Hybrid Technologies.
- Got some spare time? Plenty of antacid? Head on over to /. for this “lively discussion” on Has World Oil Production Passed Its Peak?.
- A biodiesel hybrid built by the West Philadelphia High School. Here’s a multi-media presentation breaking out the major components. The school’s homepage and gallery.
- An interesting conversion: 1955 Jeep Kit Car.
- I haven’t tried it on this website, but http://co.mments.com/ comment tracking might be handy.
- TRW is developing advanced braking technology for hybrid braking. “Slip Control Boost offers a fully integrated TRW stability and brake actuation system that replaces traditional boosters, master cylinders and vacuum pumps with an electro-hydraulic control unit (EHCU), and brake pedal simulator unit with a twin master cylinder to supply brake pressure.” JC over at After Gutenberg follows up with: Brake by Wire.
- Seattle’s drive towards fewer cars. “Assuming the same percentage of people continued driving alone to work, the city estimates it would have to build 20 city blocks of 10-story parking garages downtown.”
- Short interview with Andrew Frank University of California at Davis on plug-in hybrids.
- From time to time other web sites show up in the log files when someone links to us. Sometimes the discussions are interesting, or at least provide a new perspective. Here’s a couple from this week: MX6.com and TeamSwift.net.
Comment [2]
Wazzup? · 12 February 06
I’m still digging out from being away on vacation and also having a grand time with the new cold my nephews and niece shared while I was visiting. ”:^)
Before leaving on vacation I stopped at the local parts shop and picked up a new master cylinder and a set of replacement disk brake pads and drum shoes. Soon as my cold goes away and the garage warms up a bit I’ll be out there plunking away on the brakes. Not very exciting, so probably no pictures.
The mailbox has been filling up so I thought now is a good time to post updates on some of the other EV projects we’ve been following.
- How green can you get? Four versions of the Smart ForTwo: Electric, Mild hybrid, Full hybrid, and CNG.
- Top Ten Hybrid Myths over at HybridCars.com
- KingElvis takes on the split personalities of GM
- AFS to develop plug-in drive train. Ok, I’m all for advances in electric drive systems and teaming them up with gas engines to get the best performance out of each, but these claims of 250 miles per gallon really need to stop, or at least be better explained. It’s not that you get 250 miles per gallon: it’s that you use electricity (which costs money) AND gasoline to reach this magical number and only once per trip, i.e. you can’t go on a 1000 mile trip using only 4 gallons of gas. Using this sneaky 250 mpg logic I could put a gallon of gas in the trunk of a pure EV and claim to get infinite miles per gallon!
- Old news, but tragically funny all the same. “After President Bush vowed to reduce America’s dependence on Middle East oil by cutting imports from there 75 percent by 2025, his energy secretary and national economic advisor said Wednesday that the president didn’t mean it literally.”
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- Sweden is shooting for an oil-free economy within 15 years.
- How to make an electric car, battery, solar cell, gasoline and more, from How Products are Made.
- MIT Carbon Nanotube Ultracapacitor could approach storage density of batteries.
- It only takes one, Ergosphere on the promise of barium-titanate ultracapacitors.
- Meanwhile Darin has been testing Warm Air Intake as a possible fuel savings move.