Electric vehicle

Izabran je auto godine u Hrvatskoj

2011-12-16T04:34:00.000-08:00

Portal automotorisport.hr donosi vijest da je u idućih godinu dana titulu Hrvatskog automobila godine osvojila Kia Rio. Tako je odlučio žiri sačinjen od članova Zbora automobilskih novinara koji djeluje pri Hrvatskom novinarskom društvu. Sa 83 boda iza sebe je ostavio Volkswagn up! sa 66, odnosno Ford Focus sa 63 boda. U finalu su bili i Peugeot 508 i Toyota Yaris koji su osvojili po 33 boda, te Chevrolet Orlando koji je imao jedanaest bodova manje. Pored toga dodijeljena su i posebna priznanja u brojnim kategorijama, a tu bi istaknuli priznanje za novinarska postignuća koje su dobili članovi naše redakcije, Marko Tomac i Ivan Cvetković. To su zaslužili ulaskom u Guinnessovu knjigu rekorda prevalivši s jednim rezervoarom goriva VW Passata 1,6 TDI 2545,8 kilometara.

7 New Electric Cars

2011-06-03T13:46:00.000-07:00

They're finally here! After years of anticipation, plans, promises and the occasional test drive, electric vehicles (EVs) arrived with a thump this week: Nissan delivered the first Leaf to a customer, Chevy put 350 Volts on trucks for delivery to dealers in several states, Mercedes handed over its first leased F-Cell hydrogen car (to the head of the Producers Guild of America) and Think opened its new Indiana factory with 15 City plug-ins for the state's Department of Natural Resources. The new EVs are expensive, starting around $32,780 (the Leaf's price) and rising to $87,400 (the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid). But the purchase price can be offset with a $7,500 federal income tax credit, and state rebates and tax credits. The most lucrative of those is a $5,000 rebate for California residents, and Tennessee (where the Leaf will be built)offers $2,500 for the first 1,000 cars. A list of subsidies by state is here, but it may be out of date in some instances -- you'll need to check locally.

Also available is a federal tax credit for installing a home charger. This will be 50% of the cost up to $2,000, but only up to December 31, 2010. Congress just extended the credit for a year, but now it's at "pre-stimulus" levels of 30% up to $1,000.( http://www.thedailygreen.com )

Attempt recovery HHO generator for cars in Croatia

2011-02-03T00:37:00.000-08:00

EUROPE - CROATIA - Slow combustion in the cylinders of a car problem is why catalysts otto and diesel engines usually inflicted problems to their owners when they need to change. This problem started in Croatia to deal with commercial company "Trgomar" from Bjelovar, near Zagreb. Adviser on the project with Adam Filić leader Tomislav Pavicic note that motor vehicle with a built HHO generator safely pass the eco test during technical inspection of vehicles, as harmful gases completely absent. This is the only such project in Croatia, which began an enterprise. Trgomar d.o.o. decided to produce test series of the generator and caused a lot of time in the public interest. A lot invested in equipment for testing of materials suitable for the final product. Set for installation in a vehicle so in the first series production costs around 600 USD depending on engine power, in which it is fitted. Compared with prices HHO generator in the world, their generator costs the same, a certified service technician in the company Trgomar Ltd. take two to three hours for installation of generators in the vehicle. Can save up to 50 percent fuel, which depends on the condition of the engine, the type of car, and driving style. The next goal is to make engines that consume only water, but it will be only when the sale of patent HHO generator earn enough to pay for testing the new system, which is often very expensive process. Basis HHO generator is electrolysis of water which water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. After that, hydrogen is injected into the engine cylinders where accelerates combustion of gasoline or diesel. Past practice has shown that iskoristivos HHO generators can be expected only in the long run and not in city driving and engine idling. Otherwise, the HHO generator using solar energy can easily get the electricity and gas for welding. This topic in the world is a lot of deals, so we hope that the young Croatian enthusiasts familiar with all the good and bad sides of this eco-system that would be called for cheating their customers.

Mitsubishi’s PlugIn ElectricSUV

2011-01-15T03:55:00.000-08:00

Many hybrid cars and SUVs are developed for sale in a specific country or perhaps two. Mitsubishi is looking to change this pattern with a new hybrid SUV slated for availability in 2013. The plug-in hybrid SUV is, to this point, unnamed. However, the company says it will carry the MiEV brand name. According to the company, the vehicle is part of a new Mitsubishi strategy to build cars that can be sold globally rather than for specific markets. “This [SUV]
is not only for customers in developed countries like Japan, the United States, and Europe,” said Yoshikazu Nakamura, senior executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s global electric vehicle business. “The next target might be China or other developing countries like Brazil or India.” Autoweek reports that the new SUV will be similar to the Px-MiEV concept vehicle introduced at the 2009 Tokyo auto show. The concept SUV is powered by a 1.6 liter engine delivering 114 hp. The engine works with two electric motors and includes batteries for storing electricity. According to the International Business Times, Mitsubishi claims that the vehicle will get a fuel economy of 117.6 mpg. That’s a high fuel economy for any vehicle, and the claim is particularly daring for an SUV. Other performance claims for the Px-MiEV are equally impressive. The four-wheel drive concept car has a range of 30 miles on electricity alone. Mitsubishi aims to deliver such performance using a combination of technologies. According to the company the engine, motors, and batteries work together to maximize efficiency. At slow and moderate speeds, the SUV operates in all-electric EV Mode. In essence, the PX-MiEV becomes a front-wheel-drive vehicle, powered by its battery pack and a front electric motor. For high speed driving, the front electric motor is complemented with the power of the gasoline engine. The PX-MiEV monitors road conditions and adapts to them. If it’s raining or snowing, electric power is automatically provided to the rear motor, turning the car into an electric four-wheel-drive vehicle. When the battery power gets low, the PX-MiEV engages the gas engine to generate electricity. Regenerative breaks also create power by converting deceleration energy into electricity, which is stored in the battery. Besides being a vehicle for multiple country markets, the new SUV also will play a role in another Mitsubishi marketing effort. CNet reports that the new vehicle is part of Mitsubishi’s strategy to “build its product lineup around vehicle families, or multiple models carrying a derivative of the same nameplate.” The article notes, for example, that Mitsubishi already sells three versions of the Lancer compact sedan. One model in the MiEV line that is expected to make it to market before the new SUV is the i-MiEV. As reported in a Hybrid Cars article, this hybrid is an electric version of a gasoline car already on sale in Japan. Mitsubishi plans to have the i-MiEV electric vehicle available in three West Coast states and Hawaii in November 2011. (Industry sources note that Mitsubishi has changed the name of the vehicle for the U.S. market from i-MiEV to the ‘i powered by MiEV’.)

Will GM Amp Up Green SUVs?

2011-01-14T12:46:00.000-08:00

With the Chevy Volt finally launched, General Motors is expected to leverage the car’s electric motor and battery technology in other vehicles. The next potential target for this equipment is a five-seat crossover many believe will be called the Chevy Amp. Car and Driver reports that the new vehicle might be unveiled as early as January at the Detroit Auto Show. GM has already laid down some hints as to what to expect in the new crossover. At the Beijing Motor Show in April, the company showed off the Chevy Volt SUV MPV5 (Multi-person vehicle for five) concept vehicle. That MPV borrowed many design features from the Volt sedan. When the vehicle was unveiled, CNet noted that GM took “the styling cues of the Volt sedan that we’re already familiar with and super-sizes it into a five-seat crossover.” Many expect the Chevy Amp to be similar. That would mean the new Chevy Amp would be all-electric, with front-wheel drive propulsion. The Amp would also have a gasoline engine to generate electricity for the drivetrain motor. Essentially, the vehicle will run on battery power. When the batteries are drained, the gasoline engine would kick in to generate electricity to drive the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. If the Chevy Amp matches the performance of the MPV5 concept vehicle, it would have an electric-only range of 32 miles before the battery power is exhausted. After that point, using the gas engine to drive the electric drivetrain motor, the Amp is expected to have a range of 300 miles. And if the Chevy Amp matches the MPV5’s top speed that would mean the crossover has the potential to top out at 100 mph. From a design perspective, the Chevy Amp is, as noted, expected to borrow heavily from the Volt sedan. For example, Autoblog reported that the MPV5 had similar headlights, tail lamps and a grille, as the Volt. Additionally, the Amp is expected to be a five-door hatchback with style similar to the Chevy Orlando hatchback. In fact, in the past the Motor Authority and others thought Chevy’s entry into the plug-in crossover market would be achieved by applying the Volt technology to the Orlando. For those who don’t want to wait for Chevrolet, there may be a more immediate alternative that produces something quite similar. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Amp Electric Vehicles will convert an existing gasoline-powered Chevy Equinox to an electric vehicle. The process takes about two weeks to complete. Once done, the converted vehicle, called the Amp Electric Equinox, will use batteries and two rear-mounted electric motors to offer a driving range 150 miles per charge. This Amp will have a top speed of 90 mph and will be able to accelerate from 0-60 in under 8 seconds.

HISTORY of ELECTRIC VEHICLES 1834, Final part

2010-11-19T23:27:00.000-08:00

CHRONOLOGY
1834 (yes 1834) Thomas Davenport
1838 Robert Davidson
1851 Charles B. Page
1852-1966 Studebaker
1874 Sir David Salomons
1881-1906 Jeantaud
1888 Fred Kimball

1890-1896 Morrison
1893 William Morrison
1894-1897 Immisch
1895 Volk
1895-1897 Morris & Salom
1895-1899 Bersey
1895-1899 Canadian Motor Syndicate
1896 to present Oldsmobile
1896-1902 Riker
1896-1906 Lohner (Porsche)
1897 Neale
1897 - 1898 Elieson
1897-1898 Barrows
1897-1900 E.M.P.
1897-1900 Headland
1897-1902 Lux
1897-1909 Krieger
1898 Eaton
1898 - 1903 Eisenach
1898-1900 Madelvic
1898-1900 Patin
1898-1902 G.E.C.
1898-1902 Kuhlstein
1898-1903 Jenatzy
1898-1907 Opperman
1899 - 1900 Elecctra
1899 - 1900 Elgin
1899 - 1901 ? Dore
1899-1900 Helvetia
1899-1900 Hub
1899-1900 Kliemt
1899-1900 Schuckert
1899-1901 Averly
1899-1901 Kruse
1899-1901 New England
1899-1901 Scott
1899-1901 U.S. Electric
1899-1902 American Electric
1899-1902 Joel
1899-1902 Munson
1899-1902 Eastman
1899-1903 Maxwerke
1899-1905 Hautier
1899-1906 B.G.S.
1899-1906 Creanche
1899-1906 Henschel
1899-1910 Scheele
1899-1919 Woods
1900 Pfluger
1900 - 1909 Electromotion
1900-1901 Hart
1900-1901 Remington
1900-1901 Strong & Rodgers
1900-1902 California
1900-1902 Solignac
1900-1906 Cardinet
1900-1924 National
1901 Gramme
1901-1902 Bachelle
1901-1902 Thompson
1901-1903 AJAX
1901-1903 Crowdus
1901-1903 Demissine
1901-1904 General Electric
1901-1905 City & Suburban
1901-1906 Buffalo Automobile Company
1901-1912 Phipps-Grinnell
1901-1920 Electromobile
1902 Lefert
1902-1903 Accumulator Industries
1902-1905 Champrobert
1902-1906 Chenhall
1902-1920 Tribelhorn
1902-1934 N.A.G.
1903-1904 Pritchett & Gold
1903-1904 Starr
1903-1905 Ivanhoe
1903-1905 V.E.
1903-1906 Ausonia
1903-1907 Pope-Waverly
1903-1908 Hagen
1903-1908 Regina
1903-1916 Borland
1904 Berwick Auto Car Company
1904 Dinin
1904 Galileo
1904-1906 C.I.E.M.
1904-1908 Synnestvedt
1904-1910 Vedrine
1904-1917 Fritchie
1905 Banker Juvenile Electric
1905 Dora
1905 Provincial
1905-1906 Alexandra
1905-1906 Parsons
1905-1906 Zeddeco
1905-1910 Silvertown
1905-1928 Rauch & Lang
1906 Dynamobile
1906 Hercules
1906-1908 Cloumobil
1906-1908 Lansden
1906-1910 Siemens-Schuckert
1906-1912 Auto-Mixte
1906-1912 Babcock Electric Carriage Co
1906-1913 Stella
1907 American Juvenile Electric
1907-1909 G.E.M.
1907-1913 B.E.F.
1907-1915 Bailey
1907-1938 Detroit Electric
1908 V.A.T.E.
1908-1909 Byrider
1908-1914 Waverly
1909-1914 Ideal
1909-1916 Broc
1909-1918 Thrige
1910-1912 Kimball
1910-1913 Grinnell
1910-1918 Ohio
1910-1923 Geha
1911-1919 Hupp-Yeats
1911-1935 Galt
1912-1913 Church-Field
1912-1913 Fischer
1912-1914 Argo
1912-1915 Flanders
1913-1914 Tiffany
1913-1956 David
1914 GMUR
1914-1918 Columbia
1914-1922 Owen Magnetic
1914-1922 Milburn
1915 Menominee
1915 Storms
1915-1916 Chicago Electric
1915-1917 Beardsley Electric Co
1916 Belmont Electric Auto Company
1920 A.A.A.
1920 - 1924 Electricar
1920 - 1928 Elite-Diamant
1920-1924 S.B.
1921 Automatic
1921 Via
1921-1922 Kaha
1921-1925 Stigler
1922 Chelsea
1922 Omnobil
1922-1924 Alfi
1922-1924 Elektric
1922-1925 Voltor
1924 - 1929 ? D.E.W.
1924-1928 Red Bug
1926-1927 A.E.M.
1928 Parville
1935-1936 Wilson
1936-1939 Bleichert
1937 Auto-Lux
1940-1941 Chapeaux
1941 Revelli
1941 S.A.T.A.M.
1941 - 1943 Electrolette
1941 - 1947 Faure
1941-1942 LeDauphin
1941-1944 Stela
1941-1944 Story
1941-1946 C.G.E.
1942 Internationale
1943 A.F.A.
1943 - 1946 Electro-Renard
1944-1946 C.M.V.
1945 - 1946 Electrociclo
1947-1951 Tama
1948-1949 Paris-Rhone
1950-1960 Fuldamobil
1952 Prince
1952-1957 B.M.A. Hazelcar
1955 Electronic La Saetta
1957 Arbel
1959-1960 Nu-Klea Starlite
1961 - 1976? Electra King
1962-1966 Peel
1964 - 1966 ? Electric Shopper
1965 Marketour
1965 Mobilette
1965 - 1969 ? Electro Master
1969 Enfield
1969 - 1976 (?) EFP - Electric Fuel Propulsion
1970 Autoette
1972 - 1976 Electrosport
1974-1976 Vangaurd CitCar
1977 Braun Elec
1977 - 1979 EVA - Electric Vehicle Associates
1978 EAC
1978 Sears, Roebuck and Company
1978 - 1979 Transformer 1
1978-1987 Comuta-Car and Comuta-Van
1980 Electro-Sport
1985-Present Didik

At the cutting edge of electric vehicle development The Formula EV X-01 comes all the way from Japan where it competes in the Japan EV Club (JEVC). Sponsored by Yokohama tires, the EV racer weighs 1,322 lbs without batteries. The NiMh batteries weigh 582 lbs and come from Panasonic EV Energy. They are wired to produce 237 volts that runs through Café Electric Zilla Z1K-EHV motor controllers to twin Advanced DC Motors XP-1227-A. Total power output for the EV X-01 is 209kW or 284 hp, which can propel the vehicle to speeds around 168 mph.

Formula EV X-01

Equally impressive is the technology in the 1000A Zilla liquid-cooled controllers (green cubes) designed and built in the USA by one of electric motorsport's most influential personalities. Electric drag racing today is almost entirely based on Otmar Ebenhoech's Zilla controllers. Some say you either run a Zilla, something custom, or you're just not competitive!

HISTORY of ELECTRIC VEHICLES 1834, part 3

2010-11-18T00:09:00.000-08:00

GM has designed and developed an electric car from the ground up instead of modifying an existing vehicle. This vehicle, called the EV1, was a 2-passenger sports car powered by a liquid-cooled alternating current motor and lead-acid batteries. The EV1 had a top speed of 80 mph, had a range of 80 miles, and could accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in less than 7 seconds. In addition to the EV1, General Motors offered an electric vehicle Chevrolet S-10 pickup. This vehicle had a range of 45 miles, it accelerated from 5 to 50 mph in 10 seconds, and it had a payload of 950 pounds. Other electric vehicles that were available during 1998 included the Toyota RAV4 sport utility, the Honda EV Plus sedan, and the Chrysler EPIC minivan. These three vehicles were all equipped with advanced nickel metal hydride battery packs. Nissan placed limited numbers of their Altra EV station wagons in California fleets during 1998. The Altra was equipped with a lithium-ion battery pack. In addition, both Ford and General Motors during 1998, made the Ranger, the EV1, and the S-10 pickup available with nickel metal hydride battery packs. While the vehicles in 1998 satisfied the driving requirements of many fleet operators and two car families, the cost of $30,000 to $40,000 (1998) made them expensive. However, this cost was considerably lower when tax credits and incentives were included. Large-volume production and improvements in the production process are expected to reduce prices to the range of current gasoline-powered vehicles.

HISTORY of ELECTRIC VEHICLES 1834, Part 2

2010-11-17T09:31:00.000-08:00

The decline of the electric vehicle was brought about by several major developments: By the 1920s, America had a better system of roads that now connected cities, bringing with it the need for longer-range vehicles. The discovery of Texas crude oil reduced the price of gasoline so that it was affordable to the average consumer. The invention of the electric starter by Charles Kettering in 1912 eliminated the need for the hand crank. The initiation of mass production of internal combustion engine vehicles by Henry Ford made these vehicles widely available and affordable in the $500 to $1,000 price range. By contrast, the price of the less efficiently produced electric vehicles continued to rise. In 1912, an electric roadster sold for $1,750, while a gasoline car sold for $650. Thomas Hugh Parker, son of the founder the company, Electric Construction Company (ECC) was a brilliant innovator and inventor. He showed an early interest in powered vehicles and claimed to have had a battery powered car running as early as 1884. He religiously obeyed the Light Locomotive Act, the red flag law, which lasted until 1896 and set a speed limit of 5m.p.h. on motorised vehicles. Thomas described Wolverhampton, as a hilly town without a single yard of level ground, between his house in Tettenhall and the town centre. During the remaining part of the century he built several other cars, one of which gave over 18 months trouble free service on daily runs to and from Tettenhall, to the works at Bushbury. Thomas is credited with the design and manufacture of E.C.C.'s most famous car, the 'electric dog-cart', which was built in 1896. Reins were used to steer the vehicle because Mr. A. B. Blackburn, who was works manager, enjoyed horse riding and so the vehicle had to be as similar as possible to a horse-drawn one. The operation of the motor controller was by sliding seat.

EV DECLINE and REBIRTH

Electric vehicles had all but disappeared by 1935. The years following until the 1960s were dead years for electric vehicle development and for use as personal transportation. The 1960s and 1970s saw a need for alternative fueled vehicles to reduce the problems of exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines and to reduce the dependency on imported foreign crude oil. Many attempts to produce practical electric vehicles occurred during the years from 1960 to the present. In the early 1960s, the Boyertown Auto Body Works jointly formed the Battronic Truck Company with Smith Delivery Vehicles, Ltd., of England and the Exide Division of the Electric Battery Company. The first Battronic electric truck was delivered to the Potomac Edison Company in 1964. This truck was capable of speeds of 25 mph, a range of 62 miles and a payload of 2,500 pounds. Battronic worked with General Electric from 1973 to 1983 to produce 175 utility vans for use in the utility industry and to demonstrate the capabilities of battery-powered vehicles. Battronic also developed and produced about 20 passenger buses in the mid 1970s. Two companies were leaders in electric car production during this time. Sebring-Vanguard produced over 2,000 "CitiCars." These cars had a top speed of 44 mph, a normal cruise speed of 38 mph and a range of 50 to 60 miles. The other company was Elcar Corporation, which produced the "Elcar". The Elcar had a top speed of 45 mph, a range of 60 miles and cost between $4,000 and $4,500. In 1975, the United States Postal Service (see top image) purchased 350 electric delivery jeeps from the American Motor Company to be used in a test program. These jeeps had a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 40 miles at a speed of 40 mph. Heating and defrosting were accomplished with a gas heater and the recharge time was 10 hours. End part 2

HISTORY of ELECTRIC VEHICLES 1834

2010-11-15T10:28:00.000-08:00

Between 1832 and 1839, Robert Anderson of Scotland invented the first crude electric carriage. A small-scale electric car was designed by Professor Stratingh of Groningen, Holland, and built by his assistant Christopher Becker in 1835. Practical and more successful electric road vehicles were invented by both American Thomas Davenport and Scotsmen Robert Davidson around 1842. Both inventors were the first to use non-rechargeable electric cells. Frenchmen Gaston Plante invented a better storage battery in 1865 and his fellow countrymen Camille Faure improved the storage battery in 1881. This improved-capacity storage battery paved the way for electric vehicles to flourish. France and Great Britain were the first nations to support the widespread development of electric vehicles in the late 1800s. In 1899, a Belgian built electric racing car called "La Jamais Contente" set a world record for land speed - 68 mph - designed by Camille Jénatzy. It was not until 1895 that Americans began to devote attention to electric vehicles after an electric tricycle was built by A. L. Ryker and William Morrison built a six-passenger wagon both in 1891. Many innovations followed and interest in motor vehicles increased greatly in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1897, the first commercial application was established as a fleet of New York City taxis built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia. The early electric vehicles, such as the 1902 Wood's Phaeton (top image), were little more than electrified horseless carriages and surreys. The Phaeton had a range of 18 miles, a top speed of 14 mph and cost $2,000. Later in 1916, Woods invented a hybrid car that had both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. By the turn of the century, America was prosperous and cars, now available in steam, electric, or gasoline versions, were becoming more popular. The years 1899 and 1900 were the high point of electric cars in America, as they outsold all other types of cars. Electric vehicles had many advantages over their competitors in the early 1900s. They did not have the vibration, smell, and noise associated with gasoline cars. Changing gears on gasoline cars was the most difficult part of driving, while electric vehicles did not require gear changes. While steam-powered cars also had no gear shifting, they suffered from long start-up times of up to 45 minutes on cold mornings. The steam cars had less range before needing water than an electric's range on a single charge. The only good roads of the period were in town, causing most travel to be local commuting, a perfect situation for electric vehicles, since their range was limited. The electric vehicle was the preferred choice of many because it did not require the manual effort to start, as with the hand crank on gasoline vehicles, and there was no wrestling with a gear shifter. While basic electric cars cost under $1,000, most early electric vehicles were ornate, massive carriages designed for the upper class. They had fancy interiors, with expensive materials, and averaged $3,000 by 1910. Electric vehicles enjoyed success into the 1920s with production peaking in 1912. End part 1

Curiosities from the world

2010-11-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

Italian lotto - Croatian popular blog "Italian Lotto 6 / 90," conveyed the news of the biggest gains in the Italian lottery in history. 70 players of Italian lottery is divided between them more than 177 million euros. This win was coming to 133 draws. Croatian popular blog "Italian lotto" follows the events surrounding the Italian lotto game. Blog is the web address http://sreca-lotto.blogspot.com/ The Italian SuperEnalotto is a modified version of the glorious Enalotto of the 1950s. Re-launched in 1997, the formula's simplicity and number of record-breaking wins has made the lottery so popular that Italians Reportedly spend over U.S. $ 38 billion a year on lottery play. One of the biggest lottery game in Italy is the SuperEnalotto, Which can be thought of as Italy's answer to the Power Ball game that is played in the USA. Enalotto has been around for over half a century, and the modern SuperEnalotto game has been operated by Sisal since 1996th SuperEnalotto is played every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Players choose six numbers from 1 to 90th Players can also choose to play a "SuperStar" - not exactly a bonus ball but one that can help them to Achieve a consolation prize should they miss out on the jackpot. If you can not get to a superenalotto outlet, the best was to play is onoline via the banner link above.

Hybrid sports car

2010-07-26T00:02:00.001-07:00

Fisker's premium hybrid sports sedan finally has a name: Karma. It is particularly apt since the coach builder's aim is to give customers a luxury sports sedan about which they can feel proud for what it does, or doesn't do, to the environment. The Karma is powered by what's being called Q-DRIVE, a system developed by Quantum Technologies that combines a four-cylinder engine sending power to a generator to propel the four-door sedan. Fisker claims that the Karma can run from zero to sixty in 5.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph. There are two different modes available to drivers; the first, dubbed "Stealth Drive" is a pure electric mode which should allow the Karma to run off the lithium ion battery pack for 50 miles before the engine kicks into boost the juice. The second, a sports mode, integrates the four-banger for peak performance and, according to Fisker, makes the Karma sound like a combination of a jet fighter and an F1 car. The batteries themselves are placed smack dab in the middle of the vehicle, which lowers the car's center of gravity and improves weight distribution. Of course, the Karma is a luxury vehicle at heart and will include a navigation system and DVD player with headrest-mounted displays. As for the design, it's unique and we're totally crushing on it. It's like a Maserati Quattroporte with more curves and character. Make no mistake, if you eventually own one you'll never see another on the road. If you're interested, however, you'll have to wait until late 2009 to take delivery, although we're certain Fisker wouldn't mind accepting a deposit before then. The first batch of 99 will be signed by the designer, Henrik Fisker, and coated in the same color as above. Price? $80,000.

Elektro motor bike "Lectra"

2010-07-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

Lectra meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and is a "zero emission" vehicle.Range will vary depending upon many factors including driver actions, and weather and road conditions. The Lectra^TM is a worldclass application of the most advanced technologies available in electric energy storage, display and delivery. Whether you’re out for a leisurely ride around town, or running strong in demanding city traffic, you’ll appreciate the superior acceleration, braking and handling characteristics of the Lectra^TM. The Lectra^TM has a low seat height (26"), a balanced feel, a tight turning radius (6-1/2 ft.), and requires no shifting or "warm up". And, the Lectra^TM is virtually maintenance free. These characteristics make the Lectra^TM a perfect motorbike for easy riding around town .... may be we should call it a "townbike" instead of a "motorbike"? People just getting started in EVs or motorbikes can appreciate the easy riding, no hassle characteristics of the Lectra^TM. But, it is also a world-class motorcycle product that brings a new riding experience to even the veteran motorcycle rider. The "Cost Of Ownership" of a product such as the Lectra can be broken down into four basic catagories:

Initial purchase price
Fuel costs
Insurance costs
Maintenance costs

The Lectra is designed to be very competitive in all four categories. INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE: The Lectra's price competes with small motorcycles or large scooters. FUEL COSTS: The Lectra uses 2 kilowatt-hours per charge. Electricity rates in most areas range from $0.04 to $0.10 per kilowatt-hour. Therefore, the Lectra can be recharged for as little as 8 cents! This is significantly less than the price of gasoline fuel. INSURANCE COSTS: The Lectra can be insured with rates similar to a 125cc scooter. Insurance can be under $100 per year, for basic liability coverage. This is significantly less expensive that an automobile or a large motorcycle. MAINTENANCE COSTS: This is where the Lectra is very attractive. The Lectra does not have spark plugs, carburators, oil filters, gas filters, air filters, exhaust pipes, or gas tanks. In fact, the Lectra requires only simple maintenance, offering savings to the Lectra owner of perhaps hundreds of dollars compared to a gasoline motorcycle. Lectra maintenance includes: drive chain lubrication and tensioning, checks for tire and brake pad wear, checks for light bulb operation, and regular washing to keep your Lectra looking great! Think of all the time you'll save. With the Lectra's "regen" braking, brake pad life is significantly longer than most gasoline-powered motorcycles. Even after factoring the periodic replacement of batteries, the Lectra should prove to be low in cost to own and operate. And, the Lectra comes with a one-year warranty! The Lectra has the power to climb hills and keep up with most city traffic. It is designed for easy riding around town. It also happens to be an excellent "starter" motorcycle. Here are some great features of the Lectra that make riding easy: INSTANT ON - NO "WARM UP": Have you ever started your gasoline motorcycle early in the morning. Usually, you need to warm up the engine before it will run right and be safe in traffic. Maybe your neighbors know that sound all too well! But, the Lectra is solid state -- no warm up needed. Just click it on and you have full power at your fingertips. Quiet, clean and ready to go! NO SHIFTING: The Lectra has just one gear that takes it from zero to top speed. No more shifting or clutching. LOW SEAT HEIGHT: With a seat height of just 26 inches, the Lectra is sized for just about anyone. EASY AROUND TOWN: The Lectra has a sharp turning radius (6-1/2 ft.), a low center of gravity and a balanced feel making it easy to ride around town. LOOKING GREAT: The Lectra is the only electric motorcycle on the market. Women tell us that it is a "guy magnet". In fact, you will probably find that lots of people wave, give you the "thumbs up", or stop to ask you about your Lectra. It is a GREAT attention grabber! MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION: If you are just starting to ride, or if you want to hone your riding skills further, contact the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They have some great publications and offer some nice training courses. Tel: (800) 669-7994. The VR24^TM advanced electric drive system coupled to fat Dunlop tires are accurately controlled from your finger tips. The anti-lock electrically-assisted regenerating rear brake and floating caliper front disk brake provide smooth, powerful braking when you need it. Included is the convenience of on-board, fully automatic charging and a maintenance-free energy storage system.VR24^TM DRIVE SYSTEM EMB is one of the first companies to commercialize an advanced variable reluctance (VR) electric drive system for vehicle drive applications. VR motor technology is a compact, highly efficient and brushless motor technology. A new motor structure (patent pending) combined with custom computer controls provide superior performance at a competitive price. A unique feature of the VR24^TM is its electronically assisted braking mode. Electrical braking extends vehicle range and preserves brake life by turning the vehicle’s kinetic energy into stored electrical energy during braking. For added safety and control, the VR24^TM also incorporates "antilock" braking features, and a variety of safety interlock controls. The VR24 drive system includes a regenerative braking mode. This turns the vehicle's kinetic (moving) energy into electricity when the regen brake is commanded. While regen braking does return some electric energy back to the batteries, it is not a perfect system. The amount of energy returned to the battery during regen braking depends upon many factors, including your speed, the voltage level of the battery pack, and the efficiency of the regen braking system. EMB's tests have confirmed that regen braking is most efficient at returning electric energy to the batteries when:

(1) Battery voltage is high (> 50% charge), and (2) Speed of the vehicle is less than 15 mph.

Regen braking works very well at slowing the Lectra .... it is a form of power braking. However, excessive use of regen braking can cause the VR24 drive to overheat. This is because part of the energy is converted to heat, and part is converted to electric energy for the batteries. In general, coasting to a stop is much better for increasing vehicle range than using regen braking. However, using regen braking will provide more range that using only the friction (disk) brakes on the vehicle. ( http://www.electricmotorbike.org/index.php?page=lectra )

Croatian elCar

2010-03-20T05:13:00.001-07:00

NJEMAČKI automagazin AutoBild u svom novom broju donosi vijest o prvom hrvatskom automobilu na električni pogon, vrlo konkurentnih karakteristika i dopadljivog dizajna. Najavljen kao "pametna ideja iz Hrvatske" (Smarte Idee aus Kroatien) i "gradska buba" (Stadtfloh), prototip minijaturnog gradskog prometala s potpuno električnim pogonom privukao je pažnju prije svega svojim jedinstvenim dizajnom iza kojeg stoji 40-godišnji dizajner iz Siska Igor Jurić, a koji je već radio na dizajnu njemačkih klasika, od Porschea Cayennea i Mercedosve ML klase, pa sve do Opelovih volume makera, Corse i Zafire. Međutim, tu hrvatska pamet ne staje. Iza cijelog projekta stoji zagrebačka tvrtka Dok-ing, koja je u svijetu poznata po strojevima za razminiravanje (serija MV-), robotiziranim vozilima za gašenje požara (serija Jelka-) kao i dozerima za rudnike. Dovoljno je reći kako uspješno surađuju s američkom vojskom, ali i Rusima.Kad je pak u pitanju razvoj ekološki prihvatljivog gradskog automobila, to je u neku ruku usputni projekt iz kojeg bi se mogao izroditi prepoznatljivi proizvod tvrtke Dok-ing, ali i cijele Hrvatske. Naime, cilj je maksimalno iskoristiti hrvatske resurse i stvoriti što je moguće više hrvatski proizvod. Dosada je u projekt automobila uloženo oko četvrt milijuna eura, a prototip bi trebao skoro biti dovršen. Serijsku proizvodnju će najvjerojatnije trebati pričekati dok se projektu ne pridruže veći financijski partneri, banke, sama država ili neki vanjski partner, ali i dok moguća konkurentnost proizvoda ne dobi potvrdu u praktičnim testiranjima. Ukoliko doista doživi serijsku proizvodnju, svjetsko tržište automobila postat će bogatije za gradski dvosjed originalnog dizajna, zamjetne praktičnosti i nadasve konkurentnog pogona. Pulska tvrtka Tema trebala bi svojim tehnološkim rješenjima potpomoći električni pogon, koji bi s jednim punjenjem baterija trebao osiguravati automobilčiću do 250 km autonomije i maksimalnu brzinu od oko 120 km/h. Iz tvrtke Dok-ing zasada ne žele izlaziti u javnost s bilo kakvim tehničkim informacijama. No kako neslužbeno doznajemo, na ovom projektu ima opravdanih razloga za optimizam./M.N.Ilustracija: Dok-ing/AutoIndex

The Top Ten

2009-04-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

think all the news of the Tesla Roadster and the Chevy Volt that came out since last summer has reminded a lot of people that there are some serious contenders to the gasoline engine. The electric vehicle (EV) community certainly thinks 2006 was a good year for EVs. In fact, the past has seen some truly cool EVs, and the list of retired EVs is long and, for some, emotional: the EV1, the Ranger EV, the RAV4 EV and so on. But there should be no time for mourning and instead a look toward the future. Actually, we don't even need to guess what great EVs are coming down the pipe, there are already some wicked cool EVs available today. If you're ready to get off the gas in 2007, consider one of these, the Top Ten Electric Cars of 2007 (Aside from the Roadster, which certainly deserves the Number 1 spot, the list is in no real order).Tesla Roadster - This car has reinvigorated the EV market like no other. While technically no one can buy it this year (all 100 vehicles that will be available later in 2007 have already been spoken for, I can't help but place it at No. 1. UEV Spyder - Universal Electric Vehicle's Spyder made an impressive debut at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last December, even though I heard a lot of people ask, "Is this the Tesla?" This EV will be available with different battery configurations at different price levels (some comparable to the Roadster). You don't hear so many people talk the Spyder up, but it seems to share many of the same qualities that make the Roadster so exciting: speed, zero emissions, and sports-car styling. (More)
Phoenix SUT – Yeah, it's expensive ($45,000), but EVs aren't cheap. Heck, retired Toyota RAV4 EVs regularly go for more than $50,000 on eBay, and the batteries in those things are old. Phoenix has been working with Altairnano Technologies on new batteries and is bringing this sports utility truck to market with better range than the RAV4 (but, admittedly, not as much size). Phoenix says they hope to sell 500 SUTs by the end of the year. Perhaps a better name will pump up sales. (More) Miles ZX40 – While the Spyder and the Roadster don't really ask the driver to make any sacrifices (aside from in the bank account), EVs like those from Miles are not a replacement for a "standard" car, but a solid contender for second vehicle for certain families or individuals, or as a main vehicle for those who don't have to go very far. The Miles ZX40 is like a lot of NEVs – limited to a top speed of 25 mph, a range of around 50 miles per charge and a price of about $12,000-$20,000. (We don't actually know the price of the ZX40, but other NEVs are priced in this range). Another Miles model, the OR70, can go 35 mph. (More) ZENN – Another player in the NEV field, ZENN's cars are "zero emission, no noise." Get it? ZENN. These NEVs have a lower range than Miles' offerings (only about 35 miles) and are a bit smaller, too. When I drove one in D.C. last year the battery was on its last legs and in need of a charge, but still drove well. The various options can add up to $2,500 to the $12,500 base price. But the most exciting part about ZENN's offerings are yet to come: the EESTOR ultra capacitor is still shrouded in mystery, but the potential is great for this new EV power source (as is the disappointment if the EESTOR doesn't live up to the hype). (More)GEM e2 – Yes, they look funny. No, they can't go very far or very fast. But GEM electric vehicles have been available for years and the company has a wide range of models available (two through six seats, with or without a flatbed) and prices ($7,000-$12,500). GEMs are used around the country on various campuses, but models like the e2 are obviously targeted to home users. Smart EV - Available in Switzerland and the UK, the tiny Smart EVs are zero-emission versions of their fossil-fuel drinking cousins. These cars share the easy-parking abilities and unique styling of the standard Smarts, but are only available in the fortwo configuration and only to "to blue chip companies who are happy to meet our requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources," says Smart UK. Conversions for your standard Smart are also available. (More)Mullen L1X-75 – Some of our readers are skeptical of Hybrid Technologies, maker of the Mullen L1X-75, saying their press releases promise more than they can ever deliver. The L1X-75 certainly promises a lot - 100-mile range on a 4-6 hour charge - and this comes at a price ($125,000). Still, the sports car look will attract the eye of those you zip by, and I'd certainly give one a whirl. (More)G-Wiz EV – available in the UK (and desired by Sir Elton John), the G-Wiz costs a little bit (£8,299 to £6,999) more than some of the short-range EVs in America, but you get something extra in England, too: exemption from certain taxes and London congestion charges and free parking in some areas. There are even free charging stations in some locations. (More) Kurrent – A tiny and very distinctive-looking NEV, the Kurrent's price ($10,600) includes home delivery because, as American Electric Vehicle president Scott Thornton told AutoblogGreen, if AEV allowed the Kurrent to be sold at just any dealership, the customer might not be able to drive it home thanks to U.S. laws that restrict NEVs to roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or below. Lead-acid batteries deliver a range of about 40-mile range.

Comparing Hydrogen Powered Cars To Electric Cars

2009-01-31T09:21:00.000-08:00

With gas prices being so high, alternative fuel vehicles have become a popular topic. Two of the types of vehicles that tend to get a lot of press are the hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles and electric powered vehicles. Both are lauded as the way of the future But which of these two options are really has the better chance of being the car your children drive. Let’s look at hydrogen fuel cells first. When burned in an engine, the only emissions giving off is water, so a hydrogen powered vehicle is a zero emission vehicle. Hydrogen is also a better fuel than gasoline, it actually has the highest energy content per unit of weight of any known fuel. Hydrogen is also a very abundant element. While current methods for making hydrogen are done by using fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, and oil, American wouldn’t be dependent on foreign oil anymore. Also, hydrogen can be extracted from water, and we all know there’s a lot of water on this planet. However, hydrogen is not without its share of drawbacks. Probably the biggest problem right now is that it would require an entire new infrastructure. While gas stations could be outfitted with hydrogen fueling stations that would take years. Also, the technology to store hydrogen efficiently is still not ready for prime time. Then there’s the electric car. Electric cars can also be considered zero emission vehicles since they give off no emission when running. However, electric cars do require power from the electric grid, which does give off emissions. As the electric grid gets cleaner, though, so do electric cars, and electric powered cars are substantially less polluting than gasoline powered cars due to the fact that power plants are far cleaner and more efficient than an internal combustion engine in a vehicle. The technology for mainstream electric cars is also not quite ready for all the major manufacturers to stop making gasoline powered cars, but it’s much closer than hydrogen currently is. The challenge with electric cars right now is the batteries. The batteries are both expensive and current models, like the Tesla Roadster, have a range of only 250 miles – great for commuting, but not so good for road trips. The other problem is the length of time these vehicles take to charge. It’s not simply a matter stopping at your local power station and plugging in for five minutes and leaving. A typical charging cycle for current prototypes is 4-5 hours – again, fine if you’re commuting, but impossible for a road trip. While technology is being developed to make charging your vehicle as quick as quick as filling up with gas, it has a ways to go before it’s ready, just like hydrogen fuel cells. Fleets of electric cars will certainly be hitting the roads sooner hydrogen fuel cell cars, but which one ultimately ends up being the vehicle of choice for American drivers remains to be seen as both have plenty of challenges to overcome before people will readily give up their cheap gas powered cars in favor of these alternatives. ( Gary Ruplinger)

Electric Cadillac Converj coupe

2009-01-23T08:37:00.001-08:00

This Cadillac Converj, however, was a real electric shock, with no one predicting its arrival at the show.It was introduced during GM's press conference, a half hour talk that aimed to boost a flagging company that was recently bailed out by the US government. And cars like this should do a lot to kick confident levels into touch.It uses the Voltec electric system from the more mass-market Chevrolet Volt, a car that will make it to the UK in a Vauxhall-packaged car similar in size to an Astra. Voltec can be adapted throughout the GM model range though, this luxury coupe the next recipient. The system means the car defaults to all-electric power, which provides the car with a 40-mile range. That may not sound much, but 75 per cent of American commutes are less than 40 miles meaning a simple plug-in charge either side of the journey will see drivers kept on the move.There's a four-cylinder petrol engine as well, which keeps the battery power topped up and lends a hand when journeys pass the electric-only threshold. The wheels are always battery powered, too, which cuts down on running costs and the environmental impact. The aerodynamically designed glass roof also incorporates solar panels to help keep the power topped up.Total output is 120kw (equivalent to 161bhp) with 273lb ft of torque on offer. Top speed is 100mph. As well as throwing style and climate-conscious technology together, the Converj proves Cadillac has moved on from big, soft limos and can produce a cracking medium-sized coupe with style and forward-facing ideas. Fingers crossed GM has the investment to put it into production.

HERE'S THE BAD NEWS

2008-12-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

As a lot of the alternative energy sources, Hydrogen Fuel Cells are a relatively new technology that was originally developed for the space program. In fact they are similar to batteries in that they produce electricity by a chemical reaction combined with an electrical charge. The difference with batteries is that power is only produced while the fuel cell is being fed with hydrogen. You can find more in depth information about their workings on our site.
The amount of electricity the fuel cell produces depends on the size of the cell as well as the rate of flow of the hydrogen. The chemical reaction between hydrogen and the air produces electricity, water and heat. The heat output from a fuel cell, however, is quite low when compared with other energy sources such as fossil fuels. There are several advantages of hydrogen fuel cells over other power supplies. First of all they are clean - the only by products are water and a little bit of heat. Secondly, they are very efficient. Gasoline engines, for example, operate at an efficiency rate of about 20%. Fuel cells have an efficiency rate between 45% and 53%. Hydrogen fuel cells can be used anywhere electricity is required. Since their size is scalable they can be made small enough to power an MP3 player or big enough to power a town. They can also be used to provide rotary power for vehicles. The automobile industry is looking at fuel cells as a replacement for the internal combustion engine. If they become popular, cars powered with fuel cells will reduce our dependency on petroleum and cut down on pollution.
Hydrogen fuel cells have also been installed to provide power for industrial buildings and even whole neighborhoods. Fuel cells are expected to replace petroleum as a power source within 50 to 100 years. They have broad commercial and social applications. They could be used to bring electricity to remote settlements around the world as well as to provide a source of renewable power for portable devices. Government support and commercial interest has guaranteed the success of this sustainable, clean energy source. This all might sound great, but there is a catch. We need energy to produce hydrogen. At the moment the most widely used energy source to produce that hydrogen are fossil fuels. So Fuel Cells are certainly an option, but we will need a lot of extra research to find ways to safely produce the hydrogen we need. Hans Dekker

Brushless

2008-12-26T06:38:00.001-08:00

Known in the trade by a multitude of names the Printed Armature or Pancake electric motor is still as relevant a technology today as it was at its conception in the late 60’s. Originally designed as a solution to smoothly wind magnetic tape for the budding computer industry, the Pancake technology has found its way into a whole host of new applications with the number of advantages the technology has over conventional electric motor technologies. The Flat Armature design is essentially an ironless disc with coils punched from sheet copper and formed onto non-magnetic disc insulators. The brushes short across two or more points to create a path through the copper thereby creating a magnetic field which interacts with the permanent magnets to create motion. With no magnetic material present in the armature undesirable ‘cogging’ is completely eliminated, providing smooth operation and continuous torque down to zero RPM, with minimal torque ripple. Torque is proportional to current and not limited by saturation, whilst speed is directly proportional to voltage. The ironless design of the printed armature means that there is virtually zero inductance. The result of this feature is that when the magnetic field collapses energy does not discharge by arcing to the brushes. The effect of this is twofold; firstly the printed armature exhibits low EMC properties, essential for most of today’s applications. Secondly this means the wear rate of the brush is minimal, as it is arcing not friction that is the major contributing factor when calculating brush life. In certain applications PML have achieved over 10,000 hours working life expectancy on a high volume product. In conventional permanent magnet DC motors internal losses increase with speed. These losses are associated with the inductance, and therefore arcing, which means that the motor must use some of the torque developed in order to keep itself rotating, thereby reducing the torque available in the application. This also can cause the motor to behave irregularly at high speed. The minimal inductance if the Printed armature motor means that these losses are small and the motor can deliver torque much more effectively at high speeds. Also because the inductance has a negative effect on the initial development of torque the printed armature motor can reach maximum torque in a fraction of the time, compared with conventional motors.

Using energy from water for your car

2008-12-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

How? By using ENERGY from WATER. If that sounds impossible, or crazy, or delusional, I understand. This is something that none of our trusted sources of information--TV, radio, teachers, movies, professors, magazines, dad, scientists, books, Sesame Street--have told us about. Why? See the bad news, above. I mentioned amazing inventions and discoveries. Many of them have very sophisticated technical patents on them. But the kind of water energy system I am talking about, the one that is affordable and do-able by ME and YOU in OUR cars (not by buying a Big Auto hybrid with a luxury car pricetag), is a do-it-yourself technology, specifically designed for beginners with basic tools and very limited budgets. A working system can be built at home for $20 to $200 worth of parts and installed in your car, truck, or SUV on a weekend. It's a 90-year-old technology that has been revived and developed into a simple, affordable, SAFE system based on low-cost hardware. It works like this: The main component of the low-cost water energy system is an electrolyzer-a container of water with electrodes in it. The electrolyzer takes a tiny bit of electricity from your car. The electricity "splits" water into hydroxyl gas and feeds it immediately to the engine cylinders. The improved air/fuel mix gets very efficient combustion. SPINNING WHEELS, NOT HEADS Remember the bad news at the top? Remember I said that wasted fuel can be as much as 80%? In other words, even though you have paid $3.50 or more per gallon, you are only getting performance from as little as 20%--two gallons out of every ten--of the gas you pay good money for! It puts a whole new complexion on the phrase "highway robbery." Our heads are spinning from rising gas prices. Now imagine instead that ALL your gasoline is working for you--it's actually turning your wheels and not just being turned into carbon deposits on your engine or exhaust from the catalytic converter. What would it be like for ALL that gasoline to be giving you mileage? It would be a WHOLE LOT MORE ECONOMICAL, that's what! That's what happens when you add the energy from water. SEEING THE SEA OF ENERGY Wondering how much energy is in water? One gallon of water converts to approximately 1,833 gallons of combustible gas. One observer noted that a gallon of water in his water energy system lasted for about 2,700 miles. "Energy from water" is hard to believe because we are misled by the appearance of water when it's liquied. It looks so, well, WET and noncombustible. But if we could SEE the sea of energy in the water--zillions of hydrogen and oxygen atoms ready to break out and be combustible gas under the right conditions--it would be easy to conceive that, indeed, water can be "burned" in an engine, thus taking advantage of a new "crude"--plain water. Why aren't scientists telling us about this? Why doesn't it make big headlines? More bad news. Some of them just don't know about it, and some are paid to tell us about anything BUT this. Also, scientists are sometimes far behind empirical evidence from experimenters and inventors. Sometimes a true scientist makes an amazing discovery and is suddenly way ahead of everyone. What happens then? He or she has to fight all the other scientists that are way behind or too vested in the old paradigm. So who are the true scientists around here? A TRUE scientist could be anyone, including a scientist.

What is new in electric fuels

2008-11-16T00:23:00.000-08:00

Guineng: The Silicone battery; Fuell Cell vs. Battery electric vehicles

Guineng batteries are high power secondary batteries developed and manufactured by Guangdong Jiangmen Yuyang Special Batteries CO.,LTD.The development process took several years of time. Based on the brand new electrolyte of liquid low sodium silicate compound, renovations have been made for cell electrode structure, material composition and battery manufacture processes. GUINENG silicone batteries have successfully broken away from the shortcomings of lead-acid batteries,such as acid corrosion, acid mist pollution, low energy density & power density, and short life span.GUINENG has a universally recognized edge over commonly used lead-acid batteries nowadays in the world, due to its high capacity,high current output, rapid recharge time, low temperature performance, long life span, and environment-friendliness.On top of that, the brand new neutral electrolyte does not corrode the electrodes, which makes it possible to recycle the electrodes after the battery is properly disposed of. The disposed electrolyte, in the state of semi-solid grains, is a high quality fertilizer rather than soil pollutant. The factory is rated as Factory of Environment Friendliness by the relevant environment protection authority for its contribution to the commitment of green environment protection.

Battery Type Energy Density (Wh/kg) Cycle Life Charging 100% time hrs Effi-ciency (%) Self-discharge Rate Cost (€/Wh) Comments Lead-Acid 30-40 100-300 6-8 65 Low(5-10%month) 0.10-0.30 Low cost, low energy density, disposal problems Nickel- Cadmium 50-60 >1000 14-16 65 Very high(30%month) 0.50-1.50 High cost, low energy density, long cycle life, major disposal problems Nickel- MetalHydride 80 >500 14-16 65 Very high(30%month) 1.00-3.00 Very high cost, poor charge retention, difficult to seal large cells, memory effect, dangerous H2 gas in large cells Nickel Zinc 60 >500 5 65 High (±20% month) 0.50-0.60 Medium to high cost, moderate energy density, contains ±2%lead/kg Lithiumion 120 >500-1000 5 >98.8 **very low(1-2%month) 0.90 Higher cost, high energy density,long cycle life, high charge efficiency, economic, Eco friendly Silicone powerbattery 45-52 *>500 2-3 85 Very low(1-2%month) 0.30- 0.35 Low to medium cost, medium energy density, no memory effect, very short charging timeEco friendly. The Silicone battery has much less memory effect and operates uneffected at very cold or hot conditions, so this battery is definitely a big improvement compared with the lead-acid battery. Unless the lithium-ion battery becomes much cheaper, the silicone battery is a very good option for electric vehicles.

Fuel cells

2008-08-06T09:13:00.001-07:00

Fuel cells are an important enabling technology for the hydrogen economy and have the potential to revolutionize the way we power our nation, offering cleaner, more-efficient alternatives to the combustion of gasoline and other fossil fuels. Fuel cells have the potential to replace the internal combustion engine in vehicles and provide power in stationary and portable power applications because they are energy-efficient, clean, and fuel-flexible. Hydrogen or any hydrogen-rich fuel can be used by this emerging technology.
DOE is working closely with its national laboratories, universities, and industry partners to overcome critical technical barriers to fuel cell commercialization. Current R&D focuses on the development of reliable, low-cost, high-performance fuel cell system components for transportation and buildings applications.

fuel cells - gorive ćelije

2008-01-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

Energija, materija i polja - EnergetikaGorive ćelije - Fuel Cells Gorive ćelije su elektrokemijski pretvarač energije. Princip djelovanja je sličan kao kod akumulatora, baterije sa jednom osnovnom razlikom. Gorive ćelije se ne ispražnjuju, ne smanjuje im se napon te ih nije potrebno puniti električnom energijom, a proizvodit će električnu energiju sve dok su u upotrebi. Povijesni razvoj William R. Grove (brit. fizičar) otkrio je 1839. g. da se elektrokemijskim spajanjem vodika i kisika generira električna energija. Svoje eksperimente je opisao još davne 1842. i gorivu ćeliju naziva Voltina plinska baterija. Također 1889. L. Mond i C. Langer unaprijedili su ovu prvobitnu gorivu ćeliju dodajući između elektroda poroznu vodljivu membranu kao elektrolit. No tek 1932. F.T. Bacon smišlja tehnički upotrebljiva rješenja. Sredinom 50-tih godina proizvode se prve gorive ćelije za pogon malih električnih uređaja, a sredinom 60-tih godina započela je i upotreba gorivih ćelija u svemirskim letjelicama. Opis djelovanja gorive ćelije Goriva ćelija sastoji se od dvije elektrode između kojih je elektrolit. Vodik prolazi duž jedne elektrode (anode) dok kisik prolazi duž druge elektrode (katode). Na anodi se posredstvom djelovanja katalizatora vrši električko razdvajanje atoma vodika. Slobodni elektroni tada putuju električnim vodičem preko trošila do katode, a pozitivna jezgra atoma vodika kroz elektrolit također do katode. Na samoj katodi vrši se regeneracija atoma vodika te spajanje sa molekulama kisika uslijed čega se stvaraju vodena para i toplinska energija. U prosjeku nominalni napon na krajevima elektroda je 0,7 Volti te se spajanjem više ćelija u seriju ovaj napon povećava. Kemijske reakcije: ANODA: H2 -> 2H+ + 2e KATODA: O2 + 4H+ + 4e -> 2H2O + toplina

Vrste gorivih ćelija:

Phosphoric Acid fuel cell (PAFC)
Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (PEM)
Molten Carbonate fuel cell (MCFC)
Solid Oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
Alkaline fuel cell (AFC)
Direct Methanol fuel cell (DMFC)
Regenerative fuel cell
Zinc Air fuel cell (ZAFC)
Protonic Ceramic fuel cell (PCFC)
Microbial fuel cell (MFC)

Primjena gorivih ćelija:

za napajanje objekata kao glavni ili pomoćni izvor električne energije
telekomunikacije ,prijevozna sredstva - automobili, autobusi, skuteri, zrakoplovi, plovila, željeznica
elektronika, prijenosna računala, mobiteli,svemirske letjelice,

Zebra Motors ? Lotus Elise ?

2008-01-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

Zebra Motors was founded in 1996 to produce the world's first purpose-built affordable electric sportscar. While virtually all of the electric cars sold in the world thus far are either retrofitted conventional cars or conversions from gas-powered to electric powered, Zebra has designed its electric sportscar, the Model Z Roadster from the ground up.

A prototype all-electric Lotus Elise, powered by two internal, oil-cooled, brushless dc motors, weighs just 875 kg. Simulations predict a 30-70 mph time of five seconds for the vehicle and a range of 120 miles.
Made by Zytek Automotive Ltd., the motors are mounted on lightweight aluminum single-ratio Zytek gearboxes. Each weighs 13 kg. and the two together produce a total of 200 bhp (brake horsepower), or 150 kW. A closed-loop, presurized cooling system for the motors employs a comventional transformer oil that flows through slots in the stator laminations, and over the windings. This approach removes heat produced in the stator winding by FR losses. Zytek claims the motor is the first production EV motor to use this technique to cool critical components.
Power for the motors comes from a 300 V nickel cadmium battery pack. Engineers selected nickel cadmium technology to ensure steady voltage throughout most of the discharge cycle. Recharge to 95% capacity will require 60 minutes. An electroic control system made by Zytek coordinates all power-related functions and provides both regenerative braking and traction control.
Vehicle running gear, bodywork, and the extruded and bonded aluninum chassis are retained from the starndard Elise. In the future, passenger compartment heating will be provided using heat from the motor cooling oil, which is cooled by the starndard Elise radiator.

2008-01-13T13:39:00.001-08:00

By Michael Brown with Shari Prange, 128 pgs., 8 1/2" x 11", soft-cover, 1993) This third edition of the definitive hands-on conversion manual has been greatly updated and expanded, and printed with higher quality production and binding. It takes you by the hand through the entire process of converting an internal combustion car to electricity, from choosing a donor car through removing the internal combustion system, installing the electric system, and all the way to driving, charging, maintenance, and even talking with reporters.
Mike Brown, of Electro Automotive, gives you the benefit of his experience: 28 years as a professional auto mechanic and 14 years in the electric vehicle conversion business. This expertise is delivered as if Mike were chatting with you in his garage.

well to wheel

2008-01-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

Well-to-Wheel
How can you know, with certainty, how efficient one car is versus another? We conducted a “well-to-wheel” accounting for all fuel efficiency and emissions of several types of high-efficiency cars, including an estimate for the Tesla Roadster, based upon performance prototypes.
Here‘s what we found: the Tesla Roadster offers double the efficiency of popular hybrid cars, while generating one-third of the carbon dioxide. Compare the Tesla Roadster against other sports cars and the results get better still: it is six times as efficient and produces one-tenth the pollution, all while achieving the same performance and acceleration. Power Electronics Module (PEM)
Most of the subsystems in the Tesla Roadster are completely electronic and under direct software control. But unlike all other cars, these systems are not a hodge-podge of independent systems — instead, they are designed as an integrated system, the way complex network and computer systems are designed today.
You'll see the hub of this network every time you pop the trunk — the Power Electronics Module. When you shift gears or accelerate in the Tesla Roadster, the PEM translates your commands into precisely timed voltages, telling the motor to respond with the proper speed and direction of rotation. The PEM also controls motor torque, charging, and regenerative braking, and it monitors things like the voltage delivered by the ESS, the speed of rotation of the motor, and the temperatures of the motor and power electronics.
The PEM controls over 200 kW of electrical power during peak acceleration — enough power to illuminate 2,000 incandescent light bulbs.

History of the electric vehicle

2008-01-08T12:19:00.001-08:00

Edison and a 1914 Detroit Electric, model 47 Electric motive power started with a small railway operated by a miniature electric motor, built by T. Davenport in 1835. In 1838, a Scotsman named R. Davidson built an electric locomotive that attained a speed of four miles an hour. In England a patent was granted in 1840 for the use of rails as conductors of electric current, and similar American patents.
Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), invented the first crude electric carriage, powered by non-rechargeable. Over time their general-purpose commercial use reduced to specialist roles, as platform trucks, forklift trucks, tow tractors and urban delivery vehicles, such as the iconic Brithis milk float.
Electrified trains were used for coal transport as the motors did not use precious oxygen in the mines. Swiss's lack of natural fossil resources forced the rapid electrification of their rile network. One of the earliest r-bater. the Ni bat was favored by Edison for use in electric cars.
Electric vehicles were among the earliest automobiles, and before the preeminence of light, powerful internal combustion engines, electric automobiles held many vehicle land speed and distance records in the early 1900 s. They were produced by Baker electric, Columbia, Detroit, and others and at one point in history out-sold gasoline-powered vehicles.
In the 1930s, NCL, which was a partnership of GM, Firestone, and Standard oil of California purchased many electric tram networks across the country to dismantle them and replace them with GM buses. The partnership was convicted for this conspiracy, but the ruling was overturned in a higher court. Electric tram line technologies could be used to recharge Bev s and Phev s on the highway while the user drives, providing virtually unrestricted driving range. The technology is old and well established .

The infrastructure has not been built.
In January of 1990, General Motors' President introduced its EV concept two-seater, the "Impact," at the Los Angeles Auto Show. That September, the California Air Resources Board mandated major-automaker sales of EVs, in phases starting in 1998. From 1996 to 1998 GM produced 1117 EV1s, 800 of which were made available through 3-year leases.
Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan and Toyota also produced limited numbers of EVs for California drivers. In 2003, upon the expiration of EV1 leases, GM crushed them. The crushing has variously been attributed to 1) the auto industry's successful Federal Court challenge to California's Zero emissions vehicle mandate, 2) a federal regulation requiring GM to produce and maintain spare parts for the few thousands EV1s and 3) the success of the Oil and Auto industries' media campaign to reduce public acceptance of electric vehicles.
A movie made on the subject in 2005-2006 was titled Who killed electric cars? and released theatrically by Sony in 2006. The film explores the roles of automobile manufacturers, oil industry, the US guv, batt, hyd vehicles, and consumers, and each of their roles in limiting the deployment and adoption of this technology.
Honda, Nissan and Toyota also repossessed and crushed most of their EVs, which, like the GM EV1s, had been available only by closed-end lease. After public protests, Toyota sold 200 of its RAV EVs to eager buyers; they now sell, five years later, at over their original forty-thousand-dollar price.