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Electric Cars
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industry news
alternative energy
Electric "It" Spotted Down On The Ann Arbor Street; Where's The It-amino?
Contrary to popular belief, you can in fact own a real full electric car. As proof, we found this thing parked on the street in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Made by the Dynasty Electric Car Corporation, they call it the, err... It. Now, while it may only be classified as a Low Speed Vehicle, meaning you can only drive it on roads with up to a 35 MPH speed limit, there's one version of the It that's got us particularly excited.More »
down on the street bonus edition
Tesla Spotted In Palo Alto, Price Of Electrons Climbs
A few months before I started writing for El Jalop, one of the few Mercedes-Benz F-Cell fuel cell cars parked on my block for while, and I'm still kicking myself for not photographing it. The anonymous tipster who sent in the shots of a Tesla Roadster he found parked in Palo Alto, on the other hand, had his camera primed and ready when the moment of truth arrived. Good work, anonymous tipster!
alternative energy
When we heard that Th!nk was coming to America our cynicism censors immediately lit up. Is this the same Th!nk that failed here before, went bankrupt, had their electric bike recalled and has annoying punctuation in their name? Yes. But they got that sweet sweet Kleiner Perkins VC money, right? True, that money has yet to produce a commercially successful car. The interesting history of all that below.
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Something To Th!nk About Regarding The Coming (Hopefully) Green Vehicle Revolution
When we heard that Th!nk was coming to America our cynicism censors immediately lit up. Is this the same Th!nk that failed here before, went bankrupt, had their electric bike recalled and has annoying punctuation in their name? Yes. But they got that sweet sweet Kleiner Perkins VC money, right? True, that money has yet to produce a commercially successful car. The interesting history of all that below.
More »
4:20 PM on Tue Apr 29 2008
By Matt Hardigree
2,922 views,
29 comments
Latest by kengrubb: In the U.S., an electric vehicle is likely NOT being charged with electricity from a coal source. [www.eia.doe.gov] more »
venturi fetish
Venturi Fetish Gets Upgraded Power, Retains Weird Name
A constricted passage though which fluid flows and accelerates while the internal pressure drops and an object or action upon which unreasonably excessive attention or reverence is placed, Venturi Fetish. It's French, who knows. But, it's still a pretty slick car and it's ready to join the quickly expanding field of electric sports cars. Just as the Venturi is going into production, we're hearing news... More »
alternative energy
ThoRR Electric Se7en Should Have Shocking Performance
Thor is of course the Norse god of thunder, thunder comes from lightning and lightning is made of electricity, thus naming an all-electric se7en ThoRR is appropriate. The chassis we all know and love is largely unmolested, but the powertrain is pure electrons with a Siemens 3-phase electric motor sporting a redline of 10,000 RPM, a peak horsepower of 272, and max torque of 331 lb.ft. Interestingly, there is no transmission to get in the way so this gets even closer to go-kart like driving.More »
choose your eternity
We took a break from the PCH Superpowers and watched the Rotary Honda 600 pound on the Rotary Starlet in yesterday's all-Japanese Choose Your Eternity poll. However, Britain's defeat of Italy last week can mean only one thing: Britain must now take on PCH SuperGigaPower France in an attempt to claim the rusty, oil-leaking PCH Intergalactic Superchampion crown!
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PCH, Superpower Showdown: V12 Jagchero or Electric Renault?
We took a break from the PCH Superpowers and watched the Rotary Honda 600 pound on the Rotary Starlet in yesterday's all-Japanese Choose Your Eternity poll. However, Britain's defeat of Italy last week can mean only one thing: Britain must now take on PCH SuperGigaPower France in an attempt to claim the rusty, oil-leaking PCH Intergalactic Superchampion crown!More »
industry news
CARB May Lower Electric Car Mandate, Ed Begley, Jr. May Stab A Guy
Those brave souls at the California Air Resource Board, responsible for dreaming up the policy direction and regulations for California's auto sales, are backing down on their original goal of seeing 75,000 zero-emission vehicles produced between 2012 and 2017. Instead, the board is interested in moving towards as few as 27,500 vehicles. Didn't they see how much fun Benji had driving the lithium-powered supercar? This could result in as much as a $2 billion savings for the auto industry, which has yet to produce a high quantity ZEV. More »
new york auto show
The Nissan Denki Cube Concept is something you've probably already seen. In fact, you probably saw it this morning when we caught the electric Nissan Cube sunning itself in advance of its press conference. What did we learn at the press conference? Fleet-use electric vehicles by 2010 and commercial vehicles by 2012. The big news is that the LA Auto Show this fall will see the introduction of the next generation Cube for the North American market. Press release, pictures of the Denki Cube and shots of two rather unfortunately customized Cubes below.
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Nissan Cube Coming To US, Electric Version Still A Concept
The Nissan Denki Cube Concept is something you've probably already seen. In fact, you probably saw it this morning when we caught the electric Nissan Cube sunning itself in advance of its press conference. What did we learn at the press conference? Fleet-use electric vehicles by 2010 and commercial vehicles by 2012. The big news is that the LA Auto Show this fall will see the introduction of the next generation Cube for the North American market. Press release, pictures of the Denki Cube and shots of two rather unfortunately customized Cubes below.More »
10:15 AM on Fri Mar 21 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,661 views,
16 comments
Latest by FuzzyPlushroom: I'm so gonna get one of these and paint it like a Rubik's Cube. more »
new york auto show
Subaru R1e Electric Car: It's A Me, Mario!
As much fun as the new R1e Electric Car is in photos, it really charms in person. Maybe it's the right-hand drive or the red on black interior. We could be interested in the purported " Maybe it's Subaru's own lithium ion batteries, which offers a two-minute fast charges that doesn't damage the batteries. The car is also more recyclable than previous electric cars, which is somewhat endearing. Who are we kidding? It's the Mario-esque mustachioed grille.
1:20 PM on Wed Mar 19 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,078 views,
26 comments
Latest by CUL8R: Is this going to be all wheel drive? more »
new york auto show
Subaru Brings The Power To NYC, One Tiny Electric Car At A Time
Subaru's is bringing its tiniest alternative energy cruiser, the R1e electric car, to New York for a little testing in the Big Apple. And while we're currently being powered by soggy french fries, this NYC transplant will get its motivation from Subaru's own lithium ion batteries, which offer a few unique features. For one, these batteries allow for a two-minute fast charges that doesn't damage the batteries. Additionally, the battery packs have been designed in layers so that they can be easily recycled. More »
4:00 PM on Tue Mar 18 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,399 views,
25 comments
Latest by The Kid: @clank-o-tron: The Mitsu i MiEV Sport concept is an AWD electric kei car, with in-wheel motors driving each of the front tires, and a single motor powering the two in back. Let's just hope it turns out to be more reliable more »
alternative energy
Gearhead Olympus: If You Can't Get An Alterna-Fuel Car, Build It Yourself
We're not surprised that this one comes from the Bay Area—except that it's about building stuff in garages, rather than starting a restaurant or auditioning a Web 2.0 business plan. Mark Armstrong has been teaching a course at Santa Rosa Junior College in which he instructs budding alternative-fuel gearheads on the ins and outs of bio-diesel conversions and turning old Plymouths into electro-mobiles. More »
geneva motor show
Post Geneva Shocker: Lumeneo Smera Is A Two Seater!
A couple of days ago, we received an email from Lumeneo's PR rep Isabel giving us the business about the all-electric, leaning Lumeneo Smera we brought you. She claimed the car was not as our American eyes could clearly see, a single seater, but in fact a two seater! 'Impossible!' we said, 'Prove it with a picture.' And so she has. Seated inline, inside that tiny little car are father Daniel and son Thierry Moulène, President and Technical Director respectively.More »
new cars
The Lightning Car Company has stunned us with their release of the UK's first electric sportscar, the Lightning GT. Top speed is promised to be over 130 MPH, which isn't all that impressive, but Lightning is claiming the electric powertrain will deliver 700+ HP from its wheel-mounted electric motors charged by your home electric plugs. Acceleration from 0-60 is estimated to be about 4.0 seconds. That's enough to give any Aston Martin a run for its money. Though there's no word on price, you can leave Lightning a $30,000 deposit if you're interested. It all sounds fantastic, but frankly we'd like to see one that isn't a CG rendering before we plunk down our wad of cash.
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Lightning GT Strikes The UK In CGI Glory
The Lightning Car Company has stunned us with their release of the UK's first electric sportscar, the Lightning GT. Top speed is promised to be over 130 MPH, which isn't all that impressive, but Lightning is claiming the electric powertrain will deliver 700+ HP from its wheel-mounted electric motors charged by your home electric plugs. Acceleration from 0-60 is estimated to be about 4.0 seconds. That's enough to give any Aston Martin a run for its money. Though there's no word on price, you can leave Lightning a $30,000 deposit if you're interested. It all sounds fantastic, but frankly we'd like to see one that isn't a CG rendering before we plunk down our wad of cash.More »
geneva auto show
Lumeneo Smera: 80 MPH EV Gets Geneva Started Down Path Of Weird
Tucked into a lightly trafficked back corner of the show is this awesome little scooter-sized concept car called the Lumeneo Smera. The Smera is aMore »
novelties
Sometimes Yesterday's Today is Eerily Accurate
It's always fun to look back at publications which predict what the future will be like - especially if that future is already the past. Most of the enjoyment comes from seeing just how far we haven't progressed. In the case of this 1979 book, The Usborne Book of the Future - A trip in time to the year 2000 and beyond the predictions are remarkably prescient. Take for instance the car of the future; The book offers two distinctly different and yet remarkably familiar predictions - the hybrid, and the ever elusive electric car. More »
electric cars
ZAP Alias Electric Sports Car Ready For Production In 2009, Priced Around $30,000
ZAP has a long history producing electric cars, though not always the best looking electric cars. Given their history, we shouldn't dismiss the ZAP Alias electric car quite as quickly as we might with other manufacturers. Even if their claim is to build an electric car with a range of 150 miles, a 0-60 mph time under 6 seconds, a top speed over 100 mph. That they claim that this whole package will come in under $31,000 is what's worth being hopefully skeptical about. And will it perform? Given that car is part of a joint venture with Lotus Engineering, who helped with the Tesla, this could be for real. We'll hear more after the National Automobile Dealers Association meeting early next month. Reservations start at $5,000. Press release below the jump. More »
industry news
Tesla Roadster To Get Federal Air Bag Exemption, Drive Slowly
As part of the ongoing Tesla Roadster safety certification, the NHSTA is giving the company an important air bag exemption. The waiver was given because the company was losing money and would "have to cancel its pending development of an electric-powered sedan, and would ultimately have to terminate its operations." Of course, the government would like to encourage the development of alternative fuel/electric vehicles and looking the other way on this is something they've deemed reasonable.More »
