Electricnick, The EV Revolution

July 31, 2008

The United Arab Emirates Goes Hybrid

Filed under: Hybrid — Tags: , — Nick @ 2:00 pm

This was a head scratching news when we found this piece of information saying that Dubai was investing in a fleet of hybrid taxis.  The UEA?

They need hybrid? The last place we would imagined would think about fuel efficiency would be Dubai.  The story about Dubai receiving 10 Toyota Hybrid Camry as taxis picked our interest.  Who would have thought.

What is the gist? The following helped us nail down the question, why?  “This deal signals (the Road & Transit Authority) RTA commitment to protect lives & properties, conserve the environment & natural wealth, and improve levels of occupational health & public safety.”

When we think of Dubai, we certainly don’t think of high gas price and certainly not looking into hybrid technology.  So this news was particularly interesting.  What we see as a mostly US, Europe and Japan move to be more Eco-friendly is also happening in other parts of the world, some we wouldn’t automatically suspect.  And it won’t stop at just taxis, public transportation is also in the works, as well as national laws eventually.

How serious are they? Apparently, plenty.  A policy calling for reducing the percentage of carbon monoxide from 4.5% to 2.5%, and reducing the rate of hydrocarbons from 800ppm to 300ppm is being put in place with the Road & Transport Authority.  And the second step is to abolish registration, or renewal of registration, of light vehicles whose age exceeds 20 years, further reducing this period shall be reduced to 15 years as of January 2010.   It also imposes a ban on the imported used light vehicles whose age exceeds 5 years, as well as banning the import of used buses & heavy vehicles whose age exceeds 7 years. Very serious proposals and commitment.

So our question is what steps could we take to kick start further our push into the electric and hybrid vehicle reality back here?  What else could we do or have our officials do?  Questions we would like to see answered.

Green, Environmental Car Rental

Filed under: Electric Cars,Hybrid — Tags: , , — Nick @ 10:00 am

In the department of “Someone Had To Think Of It”, a website is now offering a full range of Eco-friendly vehicles.

Why would you want that? Say you want to get away from the Los Angeles smog for a weekend and go to the mountains to feel the fresh crisp air.  The last thing you will want to do is to bring your gas fossil fuel guzzling car to such pristine places.  So have no fear, EQOCAR is here.  You now have a choice to rent a few hybrids and even performance electric vehicles, EV.

What can I rent? How about driving Toyota Prius or Camry Hybrid to that “who’s who” party in Malibu?  You want to upscale, how about a Lexus LS 600h L?  You need space?  A GMC Yukon SUV or Tahoe SUV should do.  Looking for other products?  You can rent such items as the Nissan Altima Hybrid; Chevrolet Impala Hybrid, and the company hopes to attract a clientele that wants more than the average gas rental car.  And they don’t want to just stop here.  As soon as the famed Chevrolet Volt, Chrysler Aspen Hybrid and other such vehicles become available, they will have it.  Personally, we can’t wait to try out the Porsche Panamera Hybrid, or the Aptera, and the Fisker Automotive and, of course the Tesla Roadster.

So what does this all mean? Clearly, the green, eco-friendly revolution is beyond just knocking at our doors, it is here.  When you can rent a hybrid or electric performance car, you can say an entire new market is being established in a renewed industry.

Marketwatch even picked up on them.  Congratulations EQOCAR, there is a market for smart car rental out there.

West Coast Getting Electric Vehicle Friendly

Filed under: Electric Cars,Energy,Plug-in Hybrid — Tags: , , , , — Nick @ 6:00 am

After talking about getting the infrastructure ready for electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV), here is more concrete news that plans are underway and how utilities are stepping up to the plate.

KWG.com picked up on how Pacific Gas & Electricity, PGE is already moving into high hear by providing Portland’s first recharging stations in Oregon with 12 more to follow soon.

Why Portland? The city of Portland has the highest proportion of hybrid vehicles in the nation, and PGE officials believe that when consumers learn about the economics of an electric fill-up, they won’t ever want to go back.  And with arguments such as: “Some of the early returns show you can charge a vehicle for 40 miles for less than a dollar. You compare that to how much you’re going to pay; $5 or $6 for gas to run 40 miles, and we think it’s going to be cheaper and better for the environment,” it’s hard not to be sold.

Not only the city is getting a recharging station but it will be free in the beginning.

And if Texas is getting into selling electric buses, we should see a nation riding on electricity in less than a decade.

Makes us wonder, how will utilities be seen in a few decades?  With the incredible position they have providing electricity for our driving needs, will they be like petroleum companies were until now or will they still have an aura of saviors?  Time will tell.

The Electric Power Research Institue

Filed under: Clean Technology,Electric Cars,Energy — Tags: , — Nick @ 2:00 am

EPRI plays a crucial role in our electric and hybrid vehicle society that is unveiling itself.

ESPRI who? The Electric Power Research Institute made an announcement yesterday that bis would partner with GM, Nissan and 30 of the top electric utilities in North America, on the introduction of plug-in electric vehicles, working on issues as codes, standards to grid capacity and public awareness.

What’s in it for the consumer? There are lofty plans but imagine what must happen before we have standards as to how our electric vehicle rechage?  Imagine a world where hopefully all cars will recharge using the same type of plug or why not, through induction?

So who is this ESPRI? It is a non-for-profit organisation that conducts research and development on technology, operations and the environment for the global electric power sector, by bringing together members, the institute’s scientists and engineers, along with experts from academia, industry and other research centers to meet challenges in electricity generation, delivery and use.  And there is a storng international participation within its programs that includes 40 countries.

Click here for an interview on how to “decarbonizing the electric sector”.

ESPRI‘s website has some good information as to what is happening in this growing industry.

July 30, 2008

Mainstream Electric Vehicle Manufacturers Or Startups?

Filed under: Clean Technology,Electric Cars,Energy,Hybrid,Plug-in Hybrid — Tags: , , , — Nick @ 2:00 pm

There is a frenetic race as to who can provide a successful electrical vehicle, EV that can sustain its manufacturer.

One the one camp, the mainstream manufacturers talk about pure EV but for now, focus on plug-in hybrids.  It makes sense considering the massive investment they have on internal combustion engine technology.  They are well positioned to help the transfer to full electric vehicles.  More and more we hear mainstream car manufacturers partnering, GM-Nissan with utilities, Renault-Nissan with Project Better Place, Nissan with NEC, Peugeot with Mitsubishi, well you get the picture.  It is survival of the fittest at this stage.

On the other hand, this leaves a completely clean slate for independents and start-ups to focus solely on hybrids or pure electric vehicles, mainly Tesla, Fisker, Th!nk, amongst many others.  As electric cars evolve from glorified golf carts to full-fledged electric performance vehicles, the consumer is the main beneficiary.

It might seem like a herculean task for a small start-up to compete with the likes of GMs, but both are actually working towards the same future.  As battery technology evolves from any cars sold from these makers, start-ups can set their views on the longer term.  Let’s not forget that in the beginning, mainstream car manufacturer were also start-ups competing against more well established electric car makers.  And the playing field today is much more even than we might think, despite products being different.

With news of high gas price, currently $123 per barrel of crude, coupled with dismal sales of conventional gas engines, bad strategies that insisted on less fuel efficient cars, electric vehicle start-up can play their cards well and become relevant big players in the near future, as more and more people turn to cheaper locomotion alternatives.

The way the future is shaping is an obvious shift to hybrids and now, more recently plug-in hybrids with full electric vehicles already being offered.  It is a snow ball effect that feeds technology and certainly more innovations then we have seen these last few decades.  Ultimately, for once we are seeing real choices for consumers, whether you like gas cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles or why not motorcycles and converting the whole deal yourself, you can chose.

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