Electric Car Blogging

With all the things our lawmakers could be doing, they decide banning cellphones on commercial flights is the most important.

When the Chevy Malibu Hybrid debuted, its biggest criticism was that its fuel economy was not a significant enough improvement over the gas-powered model. For 2009, the Malibu Hybrid—which is virtually the same exact vehicle—now offers a slightly better 26 city/34 highway as a result of a couple of minor modifications. We did a mixed driving loop to measure this hybrid’s real-world mileage.

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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, USA

Although they have yet to show off a prototype of their electrical energy storage unit (EESU) to a very curious public, the mysterious EEStor company has inked yet another deal. This time the future beneficiary of the super-duper capacitor is the Light Electric Vehicles Company (LightEVs) headed by Carl Watkins, former president of the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Company (NEVCO), the company which brought the world the Gizmo EV. The world-wide “Exclusive Technology Agreement” grants LightEVs the rights to build and/or license two and three-wheeled electric vehicles powered by EEStor’s EESU. Of the agreement Mr. Watkins says, “We are extremely happy to reach an agreement with EEStor to provide its new battery technology to the bicycle, scooter and motorcycle markets of the world. We have watched EEStor continue to make progress in proving their ability to produce ultra-high performance multilayered barium titanate ceramic capacitors in production quantities. They have met or exceeded each of their technology milestones, as verified by outside laboratories, and the remaining steps all utilize well established industry techniques.”

In spite of their previously announced deals with Zenn Motor Company and Lockheed Martin, skepticism about the device seems to abound amongst those who frequent the website dedicated to eeverything EEStor, TheEEStory.com. The site, headed by an equally mysterious un-named blogger who answers only to the name of “B.”, still has some true believers but a contractual agreement with a company with no existing product is not likely to gain any new conversions. Still, it all makes for interesting reading and “B” even lands interviews with the head of EEStor, Dick Weir, as well as other key players in this slowly unfolding techno-drama.

[Source: TheEEStory.com]

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Aptera, USA

The latest newsletter from Aptera has arrived and we can now inform you of their most recent interesting updates. As expected, the company is about to begin the process of moving much of their current crowded facility to their new, close-by Vista, CA location. The new shop will contain some offices, the R&D lab and, of course, space to begin series production of the all-new Mk-1. I say “all-new” because, as you may have noticed in the above renderings, there have been some “refinements” made to the super efficient three-wheeler which they say make it safer and even more efficient. Holding their cards close to their chest, the company would not elaborate about which or how many of these changes would appear on the final production version but they should be making those revelations in their next newsletter.

The latest rendering seems to stretch and lower our wingless friend which might allow them to give it a slightly narrower track. This version also adds side-view mirrors to an otherwise sleek exterior but we don’t know if they are permanent since the side-view cameras are maintained. Interestingly, the rear-view camera gets its own little dorsal-fin enclosure that has been spotted on some pre-production Mk-1 out there in the wild. The other noticable change is the addition of another window behind the door. We’re not sure if this is one of the permanent changes though perhaps it could be if the company gets enough positive feedback from its fans. Though seemingly brief, the newsletter does contain a nice chat between founder Steve Fambro and the company’s new CEO, Paul Wilbur and hints about an all-new website coming soon.

[Source: Aptera]

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, At Witz End

People are most critical of the things they least understand. - Paul W. Spoor, Bits & Pieces, September 2008.

Why is it so important to some to cast GM as a villain? To believe that the only reason we don’t have affordable, practical pure-electric vehicles today is that GM doesn’t want us to?

Why is it so difficult to believe that General Motors is not the same sadly mismanaged company it was in the 1970s and ’80s? That it’s a completely different enterprise run by completely different leaders with completely different values and priorities?

Why so difficult to accept that if GM - or anyone else - could make a buck building and selling the EVs of your dreams, they would be thrilled to do so? And will the minute they can?

As GM (and others) have learned from past, very expensive failed attempts, volume road-worthy EVs require a huge financial investment, and risk. But whoever gets there first with practical, affordable ones will make a killing. Why would any automaker not want to?

And why accuse me of lying or spinning, as some will, for explaining and defending - based on my knowledge and experience - GM, Ford, Chrysler, anyone else who deserves it?

I worked for GM two different times, the first (1965-’73) when it led the global industry and was as proud and arrogant as the day was long. The second (1987-’02) when it teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, learned humility and appointed different kinds of leaders to fix it. In between, as a widely published auto writer, I was as harsh a critic as anyone. I hammered GM’s leadership and its products relentlessly, because both were shamefully bad.
But that began to change when Bob Stempel replaced Roger Smith as CEO in 1989 and gained momentum in 1992 when new CEO Jack Smith (no relation to Roger) effectively started to right the still-sinking ship. It’s been rough and rocky sailing since, but - contrary to what many believe - GM leadership under current CEO Rick Wagoner has been outstanding.

Like other U.S. makers, they still can’t make a living in North America due to high costs, our business-unfriendly government and other conditions beyond their control. But there have been no bad new GM products this decade, and most are world-class competitive, or better. As an employee, I had no great love for GM. As a journalist (again), I’m professionally neutral and objective. But as a former insider, I gained perspective on GM and the industry as a whole that no one who hasn’t been there could understand. Also enormous appreciation for the smart, talented, dedicated, hard-working individuals who toil there 10-14 hours every day.

That said, I’ve responded to some of your questions about my previous columns after the jump.

Continue reading At Witz’ End: GM EV1 - The Real Story, Q&A

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Volkswagen

Volkswagen is currently running a twenty strong test fleet of Twin-Drive Golfs in and around Berlin Germany and the results of this work are expected to hit the retail market around 2011. The current test models are using diesel engines but the production versions are likely to switch to gasoline when their 30-mile electric range has been expended. With coming EURO VI emissions standards that approach the U.S. Tier 2 Bin 5 standards, a diesel hybrid would simply be too expensive to be commercially viable. The drivetrain layout of the Twin-Drive is different from the approach being used by current parallel hybrids or extended range EVs like the Volt. While the Volt ER-EV is a series hybrid setup where only the electric motor is mechanically coupled to the wheels, the Golf is a parallel system but without a transmission. The single reduction gear ratio is comparable to a normal high gear and the torque of the electric motor is used to provide the equivalent of the torque multiplication that is normally achieved with a lower gears. The absence of a conventional gearbox compensates for some of the added weight of the battery and motor. A 12 kWh Sanyo lithium ion battery pack provides 30 miles of driving range and energy storage from the regenerative braking.

[Source: Motor Trend]

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Vectrix

Sure, Formula 1 is trying to introduce fuel-savings technologies in the coming years, starting with the KERS system that is currently being tested. Will we ever see the day when electric F1 cars are whizzing past gawking spectators across the world with the top drivers at the helm? Could be, but it’s not in the directly foreseeable future. Current F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella is now a certified “Ambassador of the Electric.” We have visions of the Force, India driver getting down on one knee and being awarded his new title, like a Knight. Probably didn’t go down like that, but it’s the picture in our heads anyway. The Force India team apparently has two Vectrix electric scooters that it uses when the insane speed of its F1 cars isn’t required. Now, Fisichella has one of his own, as the company has given him one as part of his new role.

It seems that racing drivers have taken a liking to the electric Vectrix scooter. According to the manufacturer, Eddie Jordan, Damon Hill and Adrian Sutil all ride their own, though we’re not sure that these racers have actually been Knighted proclaimed “Official Electric Ambassadors.”

[Source: Vectrix]

Continue reading F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella now an “Electric Ambassador”

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Lightweight, UK

Officially launched at the British International Motor Show in July by NICE Car Company, MyCar was named electric vehicle of the year by GreenFleet this past Thursday in Twickenham, England. Sporting space for two occupants and born of an Italian pen, the tiny car from Hong Kong captured judges hearts by combining a stylish and practical design with low running costs. In the land where it will be sold, the all-electric MyCar gets to forgo congestion charges and road tax and, depending on where you juice up the batteries, can cost as little as 2 pence a mile to operate. Hopefully the prize will inspire an orderly queue of potential owners to form in preparation for the cars arrival to the NICE sales floor sometime next month. Cost of admission into the 40 mph / 40 mile range vehicle is a mere £8,995 (,220). The options list is quite interesting and we expect lots of takers for 15 inch wheels, leather, bluetooth and laptop dock.

As with every contest there were winners and losers runners-up. Two notable notables were the Th!nk City and the truck from Modec. The Th!nk City is all-electric and designed to be recycled while Modec is said to be making the first purpose-built electric light commercial vehicle. Although the Th!nk City has yet to go on sale in Britain (soon, we hope) according to GreenFleet there are over 110 copies of the Modec vehicle already on the streets displacing more than 990 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

[Source: GreenFleet]

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