- I’m not quite sure what to think about the Venturi. They claim it to be the first energy-autonomous vehicle, presumably since it comes equipped with solar panels and even a wind generator to be deployed when parked, and of course able to be plugged into an electrical outlet. The design, well, as the site proclaims, this is a vehicle that has no desire to look like other cars. Indeed. A chief design factor was probably making a large enough flat space to have sufficient solar panels. Here’s a few of the other features it boasts:
- 400 to 800 W wind turbine charging system (turbine with mast)
- Wifi kit (module, aerial and maintenance software)
- Cloth-covered wooden seats.
- Fabric doors
- Trunk with lock
- Peripheral kit : 220 V output and 12 V output for passengers
- Blue-tinted windscreen (green on standard models)
- Water resistant Sony Radio/CD/MP3
- Optional water-resistant rear-console Sony remote control
- Why not wind-up? Damn Interesting takes a shot at speculating why. The most interesting part of the article comes from the extensive comment thread that follows.
- Trying to make an entire town car free. “For example, an annual pass for the tram is free, while a parking space costs $23,000.”
- A Segway-inspired two person electric commuter coming to China; the Camper Lotus
- UC Davis scored two million dollars in funding for their plug-in hybrid research. Hmm, maybe we could form the University of EVConvert to solicit grants and research our own plug-in hybrid: part electric, part labrador.
- Yummmm, lithium batteries! I sent them an email to see if the University of EVConvert might acquire some for R&D.
- Speaking of Universities, down in Florida Armor Electric has been contracted to develop and deliver eleven electric powered rental cars (NEVs) to be rented to college students.
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Buy a Hybrid, Part I · 14 December 06
This is the story of how Eve, our in-progress electric car conversion project, ended up being put on hold for a while, how we ended up with a brand new Hybrid Car, and what all of this might mean in the larger picture of EV design, vehicle efficiency, and the future direction of the automobile industry.
- Why the Hydrogen Economy doesn’t make sense. “The advantages of hydrogen praised by journalists (non-toxic, burns to water, abundance of hydrogen in the Universe, etc.) are misleading, because the production of hydrogen depends on the availability of energy and water, both of which are increasingly rare and may become political issues, as much as oil and natural gas are today.” For a heated discussion visit the Slashdot thread.
- Seoul Semiconductor has created the brightest LED ever. It also has the highest luminous efficiency, 110lm/W@350mA (by comparison: fluorescent 70lm/W, incandescent 15lm/W).
- Speaking of efficiencies. Our fridge broke a few weeks ago and in the process of troubleshooting it I went to remove a light bulb in the freezer section and burned my finger. Doesn’t putting heat generating light bulbs in a fridge/freezer strike anyone else as a bit antiquated? Tim over at Instructables thought so too, be sure to read the comments though.
- The Sparta Ion – Europe’s number one E-Bike. Nice integrated battery and motor system and they even tap the battery for a built in headlight.
- Next time you check out a new vehicle look for the new window sticker. The EPA is coming out with their new fuel economy ratings. Car makers have responded with a website: Your Mileage will vary, includes explanations on why the stickers will be showing lower mileage and basic tips on how to help improve it. Hey, now would be a GREAT time for automakers to put MPG readouts in all cars and really help everyone understand and improve their efficiency.
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- The Fab@Home project is just what it sounds like, a group of folks creating their own home fabrication devices, essentially a three dimensional printer. Here’s a solid freeform fabrication unit from Cornell University. Scroll down and you’ll see that they have used it to create their own Zinc-Air battery. (here’s a paper on that process: Freeform Fabrication of Zinc Air Batteries with Tailored Geometry and Performance (PDF))
- Thanks to Peter for posting his report on this last weekend’s AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, with pictures. The Auto Blog has some coverage too.
- Around the world in a three-wheeled Solar Electric Vehicle.
- Ran across a couple of electric car related articles over at Business Week:
- The first article is about OSCar the Open Source Car project. Checking out the concept page shows that they are shooting for an electric powertrain with wheel-hub motors.
- The other article highlights the California electric car company, Zap!. Given this year’s soaring gas prices it’s not surprising to that their revenue shot up 247% over the year before.
- I get quite a few emails from folks wondering if they can convert their RV to electric and then “charge” it using a generator while they drive, somehow tricking the gas into being more efficient by going through a another stage of energy transfer with a less efficient engine. Here’s a fellow who decided to power his RV using The Fat of America (WVO powered, that is). For those still curious about using gas to power an EV, here’s a couple articles: Gas Powered EV and Free Energy.
- For those interested in enabling their hybrid to spend more time as a pure-electric check out Hymotion’s PHEV. GCC reports that the Fiarfax County Department of Vehicle Services just added a PHEV conversion to their fleet.
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Holiday Ramblings · 8 December 06
First off this post isn’t all EV related, just some of it.
I do part time web work for the folks over at Jetboil and recently put together an online store for them and thought I’d share a nice deal they are offering for the holidays. You can pick up a Jetboil Java Kit at their online store for ninety bucks. Included is, of course, the great Jetboil PCS (personal cooking system), the lightweight French Press, a sampling of coffee, and a fuel canister. As a holiday bonus you get an extra canister of fuel, free gift wrapping with card, and free shipping anywhere in the continental USA. I think this particular deal runs until the 15th and, since they ship it with fuel (i.e. ground shipping), it’s only available in the US.
- If you are in the Santa Monica area this weekend be sure to swing by and check out the Alternative Car Expo in Barker Hanger, December 9th & 10th, with free admission. Among the exhibitors you’ll find the fully-electric Electrum Spyder. Drop us an email if you go.
- A new world record has been achieved in solar cell technology: 40% efficiency. This using a concentrator set-up, where the sun is focused on a small section of solar cell by a larger lens. As a reference, current solar cells are in the 8-15% efficiency range.
- The first street recharging stations for electric cars are going live in London.
- Lithium Technology Corp developed a new Lithium Ion Battery system for the Hybrid Car Project. The base car was a Smart w/3 cylinder turbo diesel teamed up to 2 permanent-magnet electric motors powered by Li-ion batteries.
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- Since most of the Electric and Hybrid car news focuses on Lithium batteries I figured it’s time for a few lithium links: Is lithium-ion the ideal battery?, wiki lithium ion entry, operating principles of lithium batteries.
- Genetically engineered blood protein might offer new technique for splitting water into hydrogen.
- GM says its top priority is to build a plug-in hybrid they aren’t really saying when.
- A bit dated, but Honda rolled out another concept hybrid car at the recent LA Auto show. Even if you don’t like hybrid cars all of this attention and product engineering can only mean good things for electric cars: improved technology and batteries, and presumably lower costs as they become more mainstream and more manufacturers are competing.
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- Secret battery info on how they power a Tesla Roadster to its 4 second 0-60mph performance. A good read about some of the battery choices they made and the trade-offs for performance/life expectancy.
- Phoenix motors has started installing and testing their new lithium battery pack. No pricing mentioned, but someone in the comments hazards a guess (a wild one at that). More info on Phoenix Motors new All-Electric SUV.
- This year’s Toyota Camry Hybrid has been named the Green Car of the Year at the LA Auto Show.
- Be sure to head over and read Darren’s latest gas saving experiment, going alternator optional. As usual an excellent article with lots of data and information.
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