EVHUB.IN Blog

Wednesday, 16 June 2010

So far, garage is hub of EV charging action

A small but serviceable infrastructure for charging the batteries in electric vehicles is springing up in the United States, but it's largely in people's own garages.

Outside the home, more charging stations are being built, but locations are still widely scattered. In the long run, experts say, the basic charging technology being used to launch tiny volumes of EVs today probably will predominate in the near future.

"Most of the technology issues are minimal," says Phil Gott, director of automotive consulting for IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Mass.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/99#99

UK businesses reluctant to switch to electric fleet vehicles

Electric car manufacturers continue the push to commercialise electric vehicles but a poll reveals UK businesses are more inclined to buy hybrids

Nissan leaf — Former business secretary Lord Mandelson checks out the new Nissan Leaf

Despite growing commitments from car manufacturers and the UK government to create an electric car infrastructure, businesses in the UK remain wary of investing in electric fleet cars, according to a new report by Corporate Vehicle Observatory.
The independent research, sponsored by Arval, a company car fleet operator, claims that compared to fleets in 13 other countries, UK company fleets are likely to show the slowest uptake of electric vehicles over the next three years.

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Tesla to Showcase Electric Vehicles at World Innovation Summit in Barcelona

Tesla Motors said it is debuting at the World Innovation Summit, and the electric vehicle company will be offering test drives for the media and prospective customers throughout the conference, which runs through June 17.

According to a release, the summit focuses on revolutionary ideas and great business opportunities, with up to 10,000 venture capitalists, executives and entrepreneurs expected to converge in Barcelona. Cristiano Carlutti, Tesla's Vice President for European Sales and Operations, will keynote an opening VIP gala June 15 and participate in a June 17 panel discussion on alternative fuel and energy efficiency.

Tesla is offering test drives with qualified prospective customers - including those who reserved the Tesla Model S and those eager to "go electric" as soon as possible.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/97#97

Tuesday, 15 June 2010

India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr. Ananth continues

This is the subsequent words by Mr. Ananth after his first interview with

http://www.evhub.in @

India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Interview with Mr. Ananth , M.M. Technologies , Mysore @

http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles/

" Is our Country ready for Electric Vehicles", and i wish to clarify as follows:-

1. Whatever the Vehicle introduced into the market, will be optimized to that particular day or only for few more months or years, optimization does not end there it is process of offering to the society or to the public the maximum utility of the product. Then optimization about the product is always done with existing or the present availability of the raw material and the technologies.\

Read full story @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles-by-mrananth---2/

Monday, 14 June 2010

Electric cars have unique safety issues

The imminent arrival of the state’s first electric-car dealership in Hudson has produced a lot of excitement, but for firefighters, EMTs and police, it also produces questions about dealing with accident scenes.

“We have to have a heightened sense of safety, dealing with the voltages these things are carrying,” Hudson Fire Chief Shawn Murray said. “We used to just walk in there and cut battery cables. You can’t do that anymore.”

Emergency officials fear that long-established safety practices designed for accident scenes may not be appropriate when dealing with vehicles powered by banks of high-voltage batteries instead of gasoline, where the concern is electrocution more than explosion.

For example:

If an electric car is burning, should water be applied, or fire-suppressing foam, or some other type of foam?

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/96#96

GM to launch more green cars in China by 2015

Jun. 15, 2010 (China Knowledge) - U.S.-based auto giant General Motors Corp on Friday said it plans to launch more fuel efficient vehicles in China, as it aims to cut fuel consumption by 15% by 2015, the Shanghai Daily reported.

Some new hybrids and vehicles powered by electricity will be launched within five years, the JV will initially show a Chevrolet New Sail electric vehicle prototype this year and roll out the new Buick LaCrosse hybrid and the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range capability.

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Volvo to deliver 10 new electric vehicles

It was the green car of the year even before it went electric, and now Volvo is planning to introduce a battery powered version of the C30.

The Swedish manufacturer is teaming up with energy company Goteborg Energi to co-operate on electric vehicles and recharge infrastructure. The former Ford brand will now provide 10 Volvo C30 electric cars as part of a test fleet with delivery to start this autumn.

Read this article @ http://www.evhub.in/news/94#94

Paul A. Eisenstein: Electric car a Smart choice

The auto industry is starting to embrace the concept of electrification, with plug-in hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt and pure battery-electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf. Even Mercedes-Benz is exploring its options with a battery-powered version of its SLS supercar.

But the German maker’s sibling brand, Smart, seems especially well-suited to enter the electric field, delivering a battery version of its nimble urban microcar, the fortwo.

Smart will launch sales of 250 Electric Drives in the U.S. late this year, a prelude to the ED’s full retail introduction as a 2013 model. We got the chance to drive a prototype in New York City, an appropriate place for a battery microcar and one of a handful of markets where the ED will initially be targeted.

Read this article @ http://www.evhub.in/news/93#93

Spotlight on Electric Vehicles

I recently cited an upcoming conference solely focused on the electric vehicle space, and as the date approaches, it’s a good time to say more about it. The event is theElectric Vehicle Consumer Adoption Summit, and is put together by IQPC (News -Alert), a well-known conference producer. While our Smart Grid Summit has a fairly broad scope, this event is narrow but deep. We have one panel in our program about electric vehicles, and it’s one of the sessions I’m most looking forward to.

For that reason I’d like to tell you a bit more about this conference. This is one of the most exciting areas of smart grid and will have far reaching implications, not just for utilities, but for our everyday behaviors. While it’s a given how important the electric vehicle will be for auto-centric North America, the opportunity is in fact even greater in emerging markets like China and India. As an example, for the first time ever, the United States was passed by China in 2009 as the largest auto market in the world.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/92#92

All-electric Nissan Leaf to "Whistle" While it Works to Alert Pedestrians

Leaf will get artificial "sound" sweeteners

On a number of occasions, DailyTech has discussed a concern that appears to be growing among advocates for blind pedestrians. With the rise of hybrid vehicles which run nearly silent at low speeds and fully-electric vehicles, many blind pedestrians are concerned that they won't be able to listen for typical audible cues present in modern internal combustion engines.

The NHTSA is already working on guidelinesthat would require hybrids and electric vehicles to produce sounds that can be heard by pedestrians at low speeds. However, Nissan it taking matters into its own hands with the upcoming Leaf electric vehicle.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/91#91

GM to recharge electric car after Reva split

Calcutta, June 13: General Motors (GM) is looking forward to developing an electric car for India on its own. It had to drop its plan for the electric Spark following a break-up with Reva.

The American car maker, which is expected to launch the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, Chevrolet Volt, in the US by the year-end, will “certainly not bring the Volt to India”.

“The country is still not ready for such plug-in hybrid vehicles. The expensive Chevrolet Volt may get few Indian buyers, who are fascinated to drive a green car. It will certainly not be a huge success in a sensitive market such as India,” GM India vice-president (marketing, sales and after sales) Ankush Arora said.

In March, GM had said the eSpark would not reach customers by the promised date. It had also moved part of its operations back to Detroit, in an early sign of its faltering partnership with Reva.

Read full news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/90#90

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Sunday, 13 June 2010

India Ready For Electric Vehicles, Thoughts from Mr. Ananth , M.M. Technologies , Mysore

These thoughts are shared by Mr. Ananth from M.M.Technologies, Mysore. He owns an electric bicycle company and recently showcased his products in Bangalore International Auto Expo 2010. He is EVHUB's regular visitor.

This is in response to EVHUB's post “Is the country ready for Electric cars?”

Definitely our country is ready for Electric Vehicles, to my knowledge following are sections that are willing to for electric vehicles:

1. The one who is really concerned about the negative effects of pollution, but there may be very few who are really concerned about the pollution.

2. Then the major market comes from the lower middle class segment that is bent upon savings from the mobility. This market is two-wheelers predominantly and this is basically an urban market.

3. Then we have the rural market segment which is highly price sensitive and bent upon the durability of the product. Again this is also for two-wheelers and the durability of the product in this segment is very essential.

All of us have been watching that the number of electric two-wheelers manufacturers is more than the bicycles or three wheelers or the four wheelers. This is a clear cut indication that the demand and essentiality of the electric two wheelers falls in the third category.

Many manufacturers are ready to cater to the need of this segment but why no one is able to dominate this particular segment due to the following reasons.

1. All of us are dependent on the import of majority of the components, while importing components there are lot of hurdles, the majority of the efforts goes into the time consumed to bring the material from China to India.

2. Under the above circumstances it is only the trader who can survive the situation and not a manufacturer.

3. We don’t have many manufacturers who are equipped with in house manufacturing facilities. We are all dependent on import of components from China.

4. Batteries and motors are the two main components that our manufacturers are totally dependent on the China manufacturers.

5. If some manufacturer in India targets this market, they will have a very huge and encouraging market, but at the same time Chinese motors may drop their prices, even if we manufacture the motor here, again we are dependent on China magnets for the motors

6. Then the batteries are definitely imported from China, Taiwan or Korea. We don’t have any facility to manufacture the batteries. Depending on the Chinese Batteries results in higher landing cost of the product.

Read full article @ http://www.evhub.in/content/india-ready-for-electric-vehicles/

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ELECTRIC BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, AND SCOOTERS TO GAIN INCREASING ACCEPTANCE WORLDWIDE

Increasingly accepted as capable, even appealing, forms of transportation, particularly in densely populated urban areas, electric two-wheel vehicles, a category that includes electric bicycles, motorcycles, and scooters, will spread rapidly over the next several years.According to a recent report fromPike Research, worldwide sales of electric two-wheel vehicles (E2WVs) are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% through 2016.

“While electric two-wheel vehicles tend to be a lifestyle choice in North America and much of Western Europe, in the developing world they’re used more as primary means of transportation,” says industry analyst Dave Hurst. “Rising incomes and increased urbanization are driving the need for, and the ability to purchase, reliable transportation, and electric two-wheel vehicles fill a growing niche.” Battery improvements that extend the range and speed of the vehicles, Hurst adds, will also hasten adoption of e-motorcycles and e-scooters.

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The Future of Electric Vehicles: Technology, infrastructure developments and the future outlook

Recently published research from Business Insights, "The Future of Electric Vehicles: Technology, infrastructure developments and the future outlook", is now available at Fast Market Research

Interest in electric vehicles is on the rise. For a variety of reasons this interest is unlikely to dissipate in the foreseeable future. These reasons range from climate change and environmental pollution, to the gradual depletion of fossil fuels worldwide, and to the nationalistic desire to reduce dependence on imported oil. Each country faces its own unique set of challenges.

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Fleet operators pushing toward 'green'

If the average Joe wants to reduce his environmental impact, he might switch to a car that uses less gas or one that runs on alternative fuels.

But what would be the environmental impact if the people who operate hundreds, even thousands, of vehicles decided to do the same?

Turns out, a number of them are doing just that.

Driven in part by tougher federal and state emissions rules and in part by the recession and uncertain fuel prices, many major companies have decided it's good business to reduce the environmental impact of their fleets, industry experts say. As a result, owners of many of the nation's largest commercial fleets are experimenting with alternative-fuel vehicles.

Telecommunications giant AT&T Inc. , which is headquartered in Dallas and has the nation's largest commercial fleet with more than 77,000 vehicles, is in the early stages of a 10-year ,

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Nissan’s Leaf electric car gets sound effect for pedestrian warnings

Eco Factor: Eco-friendly hybrid car adds noise for safety measures.

It seems like being extra quiet did not work for Nissan’s much-awaited hatchback, the LEAF. Due to the guidelines for pedestrian warnings in electric vehicles that make little noise when in operation, Nissan has added sound effects to its otherwise nearly silent vehicle. After considering a variety of sounds like chimes, motorlike, futuristic, the company finally selected a soft whine that fluctuates in intensity with the car’s speed.

Read full story @ ecofriend.org

Car review: electric cars

If you have ever driven a remote-control toy car, you will have experienced – in miniature – the pros and cons of driving a full-scale, grown-up electric vehicle (EV). You'll have appreciated the instant, clean power harnessed to the exhilarating performance of the high-revving, very quiet and surprisingly powerful engine. You'll also have developed a loathing for batteries. Too many, too big, too expenisve, too weak…

The battery problem has been such a sticking point that many manufacturers have put all their eggs in the petrol-hybrid basket as an eco solution to the future of motoring. Hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, have both an electric and a back-up petrol engine.

A few makers, however, have been plugging away at a purely electric solution, and the fruit of their labour is appearing on our roads. The breakthrough came a few years ago with the introduction of the lithium-ion battery. These already power your mobile phone and laptop. They are powerful, relatively light, have a high energy-to-weight ratio, recharge quickly and hold their charge when not in use.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/85

Saturday, 12 June 2010

Schoolcraft College showcases electric vehicles today

Livonia -- Organizers hope visitors get a charge out of the second annual Michigan Electric Vehicle Rally & Show today at Schoolcraft College.

The college's Electronic Technology program and the Michigan Electric Auto Association are sponsoring the free event. More than 50 electric and hybrid vehicles will be on display and visitors even can go for rides in or on the vehicles with owners.

Electric vehicles from throughout the years are part of the festivities to show that the concept is not a new one even if many have never seen the vehicles.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/83

$3M in electric vehicle grants for Hawaii

The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has nearly $3 million of available grants for business and nonprofits to install electronic vehicle charging equipment.

DBEDT anticipates awarding between two and seven grants throughout the state ranging anywhere from $30,000 to $2 million each.

The money is coming from federal stimulus funds that are allocated for Hawaii’s energy program.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/82

Nissan unveils prototype of 'Leaf' electric vehicle

Nissan Motor Co.'s "Leaf" electric vehicle is pictured in the Kanagawa Prefecture city of Yokosuka on June 11. (Mainichi)

Nissan Motor Co. has unveiled to the press a prototype of its "Leaf" electric vehicle, which will be released in December in Japan, the United States and Europe.
The five-seater electric car can travel 160 kilometers on a single charge (the recharge time is eight hours with a 200-volt power source). With significant engine noise reduction being typical of electric vehicles, compared to gasoline cars, the Leaf has been fitted with a pseudo car running sound-emitting system to alert pedestrians to its presence.

Read this news @ http://www.evhub.in/news/84

Read more related news @

$3M in electric vehicle grants for Hawaii @ http://www.evhub.in/news/82

Schoolcraft College showcases electric vehicles today @ http://www.evhub.in/news/83

Nissan unveils prototype of 'Leaf' electric vehicle @ http://www.evhub.in/news/84

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