Electric cars run on coal, partly

Environmental groups and power companies are touting the benefits of emissions-free electric vehicles as a way to cut pollution in Texas.

But do electric vehicles, especially in Texas where much electricity is generated with coal, simply move emissions from the tailpipe to the smokestack?

"The electricity grid is a mix of generation technologies, some dirty and some clean. With electricity generation that tends toward dirtier feedstocks (like coal), you get fewer emissions benefits from electric vehicles," said Luke Tonachel, senior analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

About 37 percent of Texas power comes from coal, according to July data from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the state's grid operator.

But even charged with power from dirtier sources, electric cars are cleaner than today's average vehicle and on par with the cleanest hybrids, Tonachel said.

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Fully electric car makes pit stop at Wilton Library

Sick of paying for gasoline?

Most Americans probably are.

Enter the fully electric car.

On Tuesday, one such car — a smart fortwo, a two-seater “microcar” made by smartUSA — was on display in front of the Wilton Library. Jennifer Ferreira, the regional director for smartUSA’s Northeast operations, showcased one of the six prototypes the company has in America.

Ms. Ferreira said that smartUSA has been making energy-efficient vehicles since 1998 and started selling them in the United States in 2008. But those cars weren’t powered solely by electricity.

Though the solely electric car won’t be available for lease until 2012, Ms. Ferreira said she thinks the time is right for electric cars.

“We believe there’s a great opportunity for electric vehicles,” she said. “It’s a fun, affordable, interesting vehicle.”

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China to issue 15 electric car standards in second half

To boost domestically-produced electric vehicles, the Chinese government will issue 15 relevant electric vehicle standards in the second half after figuring out it should mainly focus on promoting pure-electric vehicles to develop its automobile industry, Beijing Times reported Thursday.

Reporters learned from the drafting standards for electric vehicles that related items such as battery box specifications, voltage/current reference, battery recycling, batter replacement requirements, charging station monitoring, billing, security, battery box number will all be standardized.

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Amman Gov't to introduce electric cars in bid to go green

Starting next year, several electric cars will be introduced to public agency fleets as part of the country's commitment to adopt eco-friendly practices, the government said on Wednesday.

The Nissan LEAF, manufactured by Nissan Motor Co., Lt., will be introduced in the public sector in 2011 to help the Kingdom reduce carbon dioxide emissions, preserve the environment and cut expenditures on fuel, Minister of Environment Hazem Malhas said in a press conference yesterday to announce the measure.

"I believe that we have an obligation to future generations to take the necessary actions towards a greener and better world," Malhas said, noting that the cars will be exempted from custom fees.

Under a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday in the presence of Prime Minister Samir Rifai, Jordan and Nissan will work to promote electric vehicles as an energy-saving alternative to help Jordan achieve energy independence and protect the environment.

Under the agreement, Jordan will consider the purchase of up to 300 Nissan LEAFs for public agencies, according to the Ministry of Environment.

The vehicle's motor produces up to 80 kilowatts and 280Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of 140 kilometres per hour. The electric motor is powered by a laminated lithium-ion battery with a power output of more than 90 kilowatts, according to Normand.

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Your Car Would Have to Get 70 MPG to Be as Clean as an Electric Car, Study Finds

Are electric cars less catastrophic for our future climate than gasoline cars? Well, duh. But, here’s another study carefully poring over the evidence and showing it to be the case. At least for Europe.

A team of Empa scientists made a detailed life cycle assessment of the current state of the art lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries used in electric vehicles, and published it in the scientific journal “Environmental Science & Technology.”
Comparing not just the energy sources of gasoline-powered versus electric-powered cars, but also comparing an exhaustively detailed full life-cycle analysis of every step to make a battery versus a combustion engine: what did the researchers find?
The EV is the cleaner way to go. This is contrary to widely spread beliefs – based on the earlier lead-acid and nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries – that batteries are dirty to manufacture. Also, the common misconception that running electric cars on coal power would be worse for the environment than running gasoline cars on gasoline.
Researchers at Empa’s “Technology and Society Laboratory” calculated the ecological footprints of electric cars fitted with Li-ion batteries, taking into account all possible relevant factors, from those associated with the production of individual parts all the way through to the scrapping of the vehicle and the disposal of the remains, including the operation of the vehicle during its lifetime.

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Win with plug-in cars

Like most consumers, when I look to purchase a new gadget, I always ask: Is it worth the investment, can it stand up to my crazy schedule and lifestyle and will it actually improve my quality of life? Well, I've found something that is reliable, makes a positive impact on my life and will save me money - a plug-in electric car.

I've been driving a special plug-in hybrid Prius to work and all over the Bay Area. This Prius has an all-electric vehicle range of 13 miles and runs in normal hybrid mode beyond that. It's perfect because my commute to our San Jose headquarters is 13 miles, so I can go back and forth without using any gas. And though it's not a sports car, given its added battery weight, I've still been able to cruise across town averaging more than 70 miles per gallon, including some longer hauls to our office in Richmond. I charge it up fully at home in about three hours on a standard 110-volt outlet, and with my solar panels, it uses clean and economical power.

These cars will not only reduce our global warming pollution, they will also save owners thousands of dollars each year. Because the cost to charge an electric vehicle is comparable to 75 cents per gallon of gas, owners can save upwards of $2,000 each year or more, especially because gas prices are likely to climb. Also, federal tax credits ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 plus the state's $5,000 rebate on some cars really reduces the sticker price, making the cars considerably more affordable. Moreover, instead of continuing to pay high prices for oil and sending billions of dollars overseas to unfriendly countries, we can invest in our own economy and create jobs in leading-edge industries here at home.

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Obama’s electric car champion drives the drive

By KEN THOMAS

The Associated Press

Updated Aug 27, 2010 04:27PM

Washington

David Sandalow starts his 5-mile commute each day by unplugging an orange extension cord connecting his Toyota Prius hybrid to an outlet in his brick carport.

His Prius, which was converted two years ago to allow him to recharge the battery from an electrical outlet, gets more than 80 miles per gallon and lets him drive 30 miles on a single charge. He fills up his car with gasoline about once every month or two, an oddity in a transportation sector long dominated by the internal combustion engine.

“If you’re thirsty, you can get a Diet Coke or orange juice or water. If you’re hungry you can get a hamburger or hot dog or a fruit plate. If you want to drive someplace, you only have one choice. You can use gasoline or petroleum-based products,” said Sandalow, the Energy Department’s assistant secretary for policy and international affairs. “That doesn’t seem strange to us ... but it’s odd. It’s strange that we are utterly dependent on this one fuel source for mobility.”

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Charging Guides for Electric Cars to Be Issued

China will issue three standards in October to regulate charging facilities for electric cars, the Shanghai Securities News reported Monday, citing an unnamed source from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

China will issue three standards in October to regulate charging facilities for electric cars, the Shanghai Securities News reported Monday, citing an unnamed source from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Related readings: China's 1st electric car sold to individual Electric car purchase to be subsidized in 5 cities Shanghai to build 400 E-car charging stations Electric car recharging station opens in E ChinaFive more standards are being drafted and will be released before the year's end, the newspaper said. 

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Electric Car On Front Burner

China has set up an electric-vehicles association in its latest effort to encourage wider commercialisation of the costly technology.

The new group, made up of state-owned automakers and other related manufacturers, will promote common standards and accelerate research among related state-owned companies, Li Rongrong, head of the government agency in charge of state assets, said in a speech Wednesday posted on the agency's website.

The 16 manufacturers and research institutes belonging to the new group include major automakers China FAW Corp, Dongfeng MotorCorp. and China Changan Automobile Group. Others include state-owned battery makers and main electricity distributor State Grid Corp.

Developments in the electrical-vehicle area so far have come through joint ventures with foreign automakers, such as General Motors Corp, or through independent automakers, like BYD Auto, a dominant battery maker that has successfully branched into car making.

China has sought to gain control over technology innovation through a slew of policies, and the new group appears to represent an attempt by the government to join forces to exert greater control over electrical vehicle development.

It also could enable automakers that lack the wherewithall to launch electric vehicles on their own to benefit from collaboration with state companies that dominate battery making and electricity distribution.

"The message is that the government really wants to boost the new energy-car industry," said Zhang Xin, an analyst at Guotai Junan Securities in Beijing.

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State's first electric car charging station to be unveiled Aug. 27

On Aug. 27, Rhode Island will have its own electric car charging station. The station, which will be in West Warwick, is being built and paid for by Arpin Renewable Energy and Cardi’s Furniture Superstores.

This will be Rhode Island’s first public charging station for drivers of plug-in electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars. The charging unit itself is being provided by Coulomb Technologies.

The electric car charging station will be unveiled during a media event on Aug. 27, 10 a.m. at the Cardi's Furniture Superstore, 1681 Quaker Lane (Rt. 2) West Warwick.

The Coulomb electric charging station will have an outlet for what is known as a Level 1 charge at 110 volts (the same as common household outlets) and a corded plug delivering the faster 220-volt or Level 2 charge.

According to Robert Beadle, a Public Relations consultant for Arpin, the amount of time it takes to charge a car “depends on the car … but the level 1 takes about six to eight hours, and level 2 can charge your car about 80 percent in two hours.”

Only two cars can be charged at once, with only the two stations.

Within a year, a new design, called ARC (Auto Recharge Center), is expected, which an Arpin Renewable Energy affiliated partner is currently developing.

With this unit, Rhode Island will join a small but growing list of states and cities building infrastructure for the wave of new electric cars and plug-in hybrids, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, which will enter the market later this year.

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Worlds Biggest project on Global Warming

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Companies ready for electric cars

Southern California Edison expects 100,000 electric vehicles in its service area within five years.

“In 10 years, we expect somewhere in the order of 400,000 to 500,000,” said Steve Powell, SoCal Edison's manager of plug-in electric vehicle readiness.
The Southern California utility wants to accommodate and educate prospective electric car buyers after years of anticipation, talk and recent buzz about the eco-friendly vehicles.
The initiative comes as electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt begin to roll onto showroom floors at several Coachella Valley dealerships before the end of the year.
Electric and hybrid vehicles are expected to be among the hottest topics at the 2010 Inland Empire Auto Show on Aug. 27-29 at the Ontario Convention Center. Show goers will get a chance to peruse the latest electric vehicle technology on “EcoStreet.”

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Iceland: The Next Electric Car Capital

What country will be the first to make electric cars the default national transportation? It would probably be the tiny green country of Iceland.

Some 75% of Iceland's population lives within 37 miles of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, and the rural areas (connected by an 840-mile ring road) could probably be wired with just 15 fast-charging stations. That, coupled with the fact that 80% of Iceland's energy is cheaply produced renewable (from geothermal and hydro) should give you a good idea why this is the ideal test bed for electric vehicles.

Iceland doesn't have the world's largest geothermal resource, but it has by far the largest per capita. Here's how the country mines hot water from beneath the earth,according to Popular Science:

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Victoria to trial electric cars

Brumby spends $5m of $38b transport plan on zero-emission vehicles.

The Victorian Government was seeking 180 households for a $5 million, five-year trial of zero-emission electric cars.

It was part of a $38 billion transport plan for the state.

The trial involved 180 charging points and 60 vehicles - passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and two-wheelers - to be rotated between participants every three months.

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Zotye Auto becomes first in China to sell EV to individual buyers

Li Ziqiang, a Hangzhou resident, bought the purely electric car last week - PhotoProvided to China Daily

Few have heard of Zotye Auto or its first all-electric vehicle 5008EV. But the company has now gained the distinction of being the first Chinese automaker to launch an all-electric vehicle for individual buyers in China.

Li Ziqiang, a Hangzhou resident, bought the 5008EV from the Zhejiang-based private manufacturer on July 26 after leasing a 2008EV model based on the company's small SUV for six months. In January this year, Zotye had put 100 units of its 2008EV model up for lease in Hangzhou to be tested for daily use.

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Which electric car will win?

The Chevrolet Volt andNissanLeaf will square off later this year in a battle that could determine the course of the 21st-Century auto industry.

The Volt and Leaf electric cars take two radically different approaches to reducing oil consumption and emissions. The compact Volt will cover 40 miles on a charge and use an on-board generator for longer trips. The subcompact Leaf’s bigger battery pack promises a 100-mile range but won’t be capable of longer trips and will require hours of charging time after a long drive.
The vehicles’ prices will also differ significantly. Nissan has announced the Leaf will retail for $25,280, after a $7,500 federal tax credit. Chevrolet has not revealed the Volt’s sticker price, but it’s expected to cost around $32,500 after the same tax credit.
The Volt arrives in dealerships this November. The Leaf follows a month later.
The cars represent multibillion-dollar bets by GM and Renault-Nissan. The winner will be the early leader in a new technology that’s expected to eventually dominate the worldwide auto industry.

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Will Electric Cars Catch On?

Currently, the U.S. government has a sort of 'if you build them, they will come' attitude towards electric vehicles. Just yesterday, the President appeared at the opening of a new electric battery plant in Michigan, which benefitted from stimulus funds. Electric cars also qualify for generous tax rebates up to $7,500. Yet, an article in the Wall Street Journal argues that consumers in the U.S. might not be quick to embrace electronic cars. Is the government making a poor bet?

Here's the WSJ explaining a major obstacle:

Proponents of the technology will tell you that anyone buying an electric vehicle will want to know at least two things: How far can I drive before I have to recharge? And, where can I go to recharge when I am on the road, far from home? Companies acknowledge that clear answers to those questions aren't yet available--and may not be until a good while after the coming flock of electric cars has hit showrooms.

Of course, there are other obstacles as well. Americans have developed an appetite for giant, fast cars. Most electronic vehicles are on the small side and don't have the same zip. It isn't easy to change cultural norms. So is the industry doomed, despite the government assistance?

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Are electric cars ready to transform Britain’s motoring in the Age of Energy?

There's little doubt that electric vehicles will play an important role in the Age of Energy, eradicating emissions at street level at the same time as cutting costs for motorists.

By Andrew Cave
Published: 6:42PM BST 15 Jul 2010

Andrew Cave in an electric car

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Electric Car-Makers Develop 'Cartones'

(NewsCore) - Select first gear and “vroom”, off you go. Or would you prefer to go “whoosh”? Or “zoom”? The choice may soon be yours, it was revealed Sunday, with electric-car makers tailoring engine noises so their vehicles don’t endanger pedestrians who cannot hear them.

While investigating different noises manufacturers realized they could offer customized sounds to individual buyers. After ringtones, here come the car tones, and as well as the classic “vroom” noises, researchers have been playing with sounds from films such as "Star Trek" and "Blade Runner."

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Tesla IPO: Will build electric cars for $178 million

Tesla Motors, whose $109,000 electric Roadster is vividly familiar to anyone who’s ever picked up a car magazine (or, recently, a business one) is trying to go public and raise $178 million (up from $100 million). My guess: They’ll do it, because Tesla is a very sexy business, with a great image. Who wouldn’t want to tell people at cocktail parties that they’re an investor in Tesla?

The harder part will be getting the company out of the high-end luxury niche it is in now. Tesla’s strategy is clear enough: It’s rolling out the Model S at $49,900 (inclusive of a $7,500 federal tax credit) late next year as a 2012 model, and with the money that better-selling sedan brings in will then prepare an even-more-affordable third car. At that point, a publicly traded Tesla Motors will go mainstream and get out of the niche.

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