Electric // Current TV

A Foldable Electric Bicycle for Your Urban Commuting Needs

If a Segway and a foldable scooter got together, they might hope to conceive something... more

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The Aptera - A New Energy Dream Car - Behind-the-Scenes

The 3-wheeled Aptera is the new energy car of the future. It will get well over 130... more

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A Shock to the Nuts

Warning electric fences can be dangerous

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"Look Ma -- No Hands" Could Be A Reality With 2040's Autonomobile

We've seen just about a bazillion "green" concept cars come out in the... more

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Smoke-spewing Trabant poised for rebirth as electric car

BERLIN — Once the much-mocked symbol of drab communist East Germany, Trabant... more

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Honda Prefers Hydrogen as U.S. Pushes Battery Autos

Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co. is backing hydrogen power for the cars of the... more

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Eight-Wheeled, 230 MPH Electric Car to Spawn a Bus

Japan's Keio University created the shocking Ellica, an electric supercar that could out-run some of the world's fastest exotics. Now for their next trick -- public transportation.

Ellica Electric Supercar to Spawn a Bus for Japan: The eight-wheeled Ellica electric supercar, created by researchers of Keio University in Japan, will reportedly spawn an electric shuttle bus. The Ellica can get from 0-60 in 4.1 seconds and hit a top speed of 230 miles per hour. The bus won't match those performance figures, but will adopt the Ellica's flat floor, low ride height and electric powerplant. Keio University
It resembles an early '70s Citroen sedan, recast for Blade Runner-era Los Angeles. But this Japanese-built electric oddity, dubbed Ellica by its developers at Keio University, will reportedly spawn something with a bit less techie-sex appeal -- a bus. The university announced a deal last week with Isuzu Motors Ltd, the Kanagawa prefectural government, among others, to develop a full-sized electric bus for Japan based on the eight-wheeled, 230-mph research project.

Dr. Hiroshi Shimizu, the university's professor of Environment and Information Studies built the Ellica (Electric Lithium-Ion Car) over two years in the mid-2000s with a team of engineering students, stunning gearheads with supercar-like performance figures -- 0-60 in 4.1 seconds and a top speed higher than a Ferrari Enzo's. Eight, in-wheel electric motors each provide the power equivalent of 80 hp. Those eight small wheels, instead of four large ones, allow for a lower floor and center of gravity.

Japanese technology web site Tech On reports the Ellica will form the basis for a new electric-bus prototype with a flat, low-height floor. Isuzu Motors will design the body and Toshiba will contribute a lithium ion secondary battery with a capacity of 120kW, providing enough juice to shuttle passengers -- both replicants and humans, presumably -- 93 miles, or 150km, on a charge (the travel distance of a typical shuttle bus in Japan is about 75 miles per day). Tokyo Electric Power Company will create a charging infrastructure for the new e-bus.

Dr. Shimizu says the price of the bus, battery included, will be equivalent to that of a diesel bus -- assuming 500 units produced, at a running cost of a tenth that of a diesel bus.

The partners plan to complete development by late 2010, with volume production in Kanagawa Prefecture scheduled for 2011. Japan's Ministry of the Environment kicked in $5.16 million for the project.

FOR MORE LIKE THIS JOIN THE GREEN TRANSPORTATION GROUP AT http://current.com/groups/green-transportation/Japan's Keio University created the shocking Ellica, an electric supercar that... more

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Tire Maker Designs Rubber-Paneled, Electric SUV

Korean tire maker Kumho has produced a concept for an electric SUV utilizing a tire... more

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Midwest Offroad Racing League, July 2009 Race - Stateline RC Speedway

Our feature, the Midwest Offroad Racing League, July 2009 race at Stateline RC... more

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Stateline RC Speedway, 30 Minute TRAXXAS Slash Enduro Race

Exciting RC racing action from July 24, 2009 Take 15 TRAXXAS Slash stock... more

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First public drive for Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid scheduled for Pebble Beach Concours

Fisker Automotive's long awaited plug-in hybrid Karma sedan has only ever been... more

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15 Sweet Bikes to Watch From the World Electric Grand Prix

Ever been on an electric motorcycle? Me either. But I would definitely ride any of the... more

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MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

MIT's electric vehicle prototype may be a long way off from being completed, but... more

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Is THiNK coming back to the US?

Clean, quiet, and relatively profitable to produce, electric vehicles have had a rough start in the U.S.: Five years after General Motors (GM) nixed its innovative EV1 electric car program, just a handful of automakers have committed to making and selling electric vehicles on a mass scale any time soon.

Enter Think Global, a Norwegian upstart plotting a U.S. invasion via pint-size, affordable electric cars. Think has been selling gas-free, Lilliputian city cars in Europe and will start peddling them to fuel-crunched Americans in 2009. The company's newly formed North American division has high hopes for Think's existing models—and even higher ones for the upcoming Th!nk Ox, a concept unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year.

An electrified people's car for the 21st century, the Ox is a preview of Think's next-generation production vehicle, due out in 2011. Roughly the size of a Toyota (TM) Prius, the Ox can travel between 125 and 155 miles before needing a recharge, and zips from zero to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. Its lithium-ion batteries can be charged to 80% capacity in less than an hour, and slender solar panels integrated into the roof power the onboard electronics. Inside, the hatchback includes a bevy of high-tech gizmos such as GPS navigation, a mobile Internet connection, and a key fob that lets drivers customize the car's all-digital dashboard. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the company's current vehicles cost less than $25,000.

Although little-known, Think North America is backed by an undisclosed amount from Silicon Valley venture capital firms RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which famously invested early in companies such as Amazon.com (AMZN) and Google (GOOG). General Electric (GE) made an unrelated $4 million investment in March to support the company's battery research and development operations.
Distinguished Design

Even more than its well-funded sponsors or cutting-edge technology, the Ox's killer app could be its design. To date, most electric cars available in the U.S.—small, unsafe, and underpowered—have been intended strictly for the earliest early adopters and the most faithful green believers. In contrast, Think's senior vice-president for design, Katinka von der Lippe, says the Ox is a "real car, a big step away from the cuteness of [other] electric vehicles." All that distinguishes the Ox from name-brand, fuel-sipping compact cars, in fact, is its silent hum and zero emissions.

The Ox also embodies the characteristic simplicity of Scandinavian design, featuring uncomplicated lines and clean, uncluttered surfaces. A band of unpainted metal stretches from the front of the vehicle to its rear, revealing the Ox's interior architecture, an aluminum frame. An unassuming grille is tucked between sophisticated sloping headlamps. "The Ox is a leap forward for the design of electric cars," says von der Lippe, "and, we think, the product of a mature company."

Still, the American market for electric vehicles "is virtually nonexistent," says John O'Dell, a senior editor specializing in green vehicles for car-buying site Edmunds.com.

Innovation & Design

Even well-established gas-electric hybrids such as the Prius and Honda's (HMC) Civic account for barely 3% of U.S. auto sales. "Until you've got a compelling product, you won't have a market," adds O'Dell. Aside from the sleek Tesla Motors Roadster, which carries a price tag of nearly $100,000, there are almost no fully functional electric vehicles that meet average drivers' requirements. The Ox could fill that gap.

"It'll take a lot of time," Wilber James, RockPort's managing general partner and acting president of Think North America, says of the challenge of selling electric vehicles to American drivers, who still overwhelmingly prefer trucks to thriftier small cars. "We're going

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Check out current.com/groups/green-transportation/Clean, quiet, and relatively profitable to produce, electric vehicles have had a rough... more

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Eco + Muscle

Almost everyone agrees that hybrid cars are the next big step on our way to an... more

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The CODA: Could This Chinese-Electric Come to California?

Nascent auto-maker CODA announced a new electric car available in California in fall 2010. The fully electric sedan will have a range of 90-100 miles on a fully-charged battery.

Speaking during a webinar, the company also formally announced a global joint venture between CODA and battery manufacturer Lishen Battery Co., located in Tianjin, China. Lishen is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of lithium-ion cells for companies like Apple, Motorola, Samsung, and Vodafone. CODA will maintain a 40% stake in the partnership.

CODA has also coupled with a European OEM engineering firm and major automotive assembly plant in China to design and build the chassis for the vehicle, allowing them to circumvent major manufacturing costs. CODA assured us that the electric vehicle will be safety certified for the US market.

The global battery partnership has also teamed up with a US company to file a DOE application for federal funding. Applications for Federal stimulus funds were due May 19th, and if selected, the partnership would build a battery manufacturing plant in the US. CODA claims that the CODA 4-door Sedan will be the first mainstream all-electric vehicle available in the United States that will provide the type of utility needed for normal day-to-day tasks.

The 90-100 mile minimum range covers 94 percent of commuter trips in the United States according to statistics from the Bureau of transportation. Base price for the CODA sedan will be $45,000, but after State and Federal subsidies it should be closer to mid-$30,000s, putting it in the same ball-park as GM’s Chevy Volt.

Details and Technical Specs of the CODA Electric Vehicle
The CODA will get 90-100 miles in on a charge, depending on driving style. The car will be powered by a 33.8 kwh lithium-ion battery pack.

The car ships with a 6.6 kw charger, which when plugged into a 220V AC input completes charging for a depleted battery in 6 hours. The typical commuter driving 40 miles a day (and one who has access to a 220V plug) would be able to charge in 2 hours per day. The car can also recharge more slowly from std. 110V outlets. The car will have a 3-year, 36,000-mile warranty, and an 8-year, 100,000 mile battery warranty.

CODA’s sedan is electronically limted to 80 mph, and accelerates 0-60 in less than 11s.

The company expects the sedan to achieve a 5-star impact safety rating based on early testing. They are working with top-tier partssuppliers for all the working parts.

CODA expects to being piority pre-sales in fall-2009, when an unknown deposit amount will be accepted. No deposits are accepted yet but the company is accepting “indications of interest.” In, June 2010, CODA will launch a 200 car fleet-test in California. By fall of 2010 the company will begin customer delivery in California.

The company hopes to ramp uo to a 20,000 vehicle run rate in 2011, when it will expand to other markets. Expansion is primarily limited by ramping up battery manufacturing capabilities.Nascent auto-maker CODA announced a new electric car available in California in fall... more

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Venturi Eclectic (that's not a typo), the World’s First Production Solar-Electric Car

LOS ANGELES — Plug-in hybrid cars are certainly enticing as we look for ways to lighten our demand on petroleum—and as Detroit hunts for the battery technology to do it. But taking a spin in an electric vehicle that’s self-sustained through its solar-panel roof and plug-in wind turbine is, frankly, pretty amazing. We recently caught up with Venturi, a French company that plans to sell its three-seat, 30-mph, 30-mile-range Eclectic street car globally next year for a bit over $30,000 as the first electro-solar ride to hit the market. If it can beat Tesla and Phoenix, Venturi will have the first (albeit simple) plug-in production car—period.

The Eclectic, which looks similar to a squashed robot, is very comfortable and manageable as an urban get-around car. And get this: It only has two buttons for motion (one for Drive and another for Reverse), though that one gear would suggest Venturi isn’t trying to match up to the high-performance plug-in capabilities of the Tesla Roadster. No, the Eclectic’s real purpose is as a neighborhood electric vehicle such as DaimlerChrysler’s old GEM. Heck, even the doors are optional on this little green buggy.

But the sun shining down through the translucent solar roof gave the ride an airy feel in our SoCal climate. The Eclectic is breezy, fun and actually quite exhilarating. Like all electric cars, it’s very quiet and superbly smooth on the road—you hardly feel the regenerative braking as it helps recharge the battery pack. There’s no power steering, but at a mere 882 pounds, this ultralight vehicle doesn’t really need it. The real rush you get isn’t from street performance; it’s the looks on the street. With Venturi pushing custom doorplates, the Eclectic strikes us as the ultimate marketing car for any company looking to show off its eco-friendly side—or the cops.

Cynical of more early green-car hype? You should be. The Eclectic certainly won’t be for the family car market when the first 200 production models launch in the U.S. next March, with its low speed and puttering range. And don’t forget safety implications; this thing’s got slightly-better-than-motorcycle crash protection. But the technology is innovative: The Eclectic’s solar recharging system provides an extra 4 to 5 miles per day of exposure, and a tiny turbine gives an extra 10 miles per day in windy areas. And with power from a standard wall plug, a full recharge of the Hawker nickel-metal-hydride battery takes 5 hours. Venturi says the pack will last 500 cycles, with an option for a larger capacity battery that charges in 3 hours and offers more range and a longer life span. If nothing else, this French golf-cart-on-steroids will bring the Holy Trinity of green-car firsts to market: solar, wind and electric. And that’s good enough for us. —Brittany MarquisLOS ANGELES — Plug-in hybrid cars are certainly enticing as we look for ways to... more

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Chrysler Shocks Electric Car Timeline With Dodge EV

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — In a surprise move here this morning amid struggling sales numbers from its dealers and fuel-efficient buzz from competitors, Chrysler announced that it's charging into the electric vehicle market a lot sooner than expected. The automaker just unveiled a trio of battery-powered vehicles—including an all-electric, 200-mile-range Dodge sports car that we revved up near its 120-mph top speed on the test track and think could give the Tesla Roadster a run for its money—and plans to bring one of them to market by 2010, aligning Chrysler with the timetable for General Motors' Chevy Volt.

Chrysler officials, who reinforced their case for an entirely hybrid fleet at least partially powered by batteries, said at a news conference on Tuesday that they're aiming to sell all three cars—extended-range plug-in versions of a Jeep Wrangler and Chrysler Town & Country were unveiled in addition to the Dodge EV—within a decade. But how fast they reach dealerships, CEO Bob Nardelli cautioned, may well depend on whether the federal government comes through with a package of loan guarantees for Detroit's Big Three.

"You're going to see the electrification of all vehicles" in the years ahead, said Frank Klegon, Chrysler's executive vice president for product development. That will range from full battery power to simpler systems, like Stop/Start, which temporarily shuts off an engine at a stoplight. Indeed, Klegon forecasts that "at least 50 percent of the market" will consists of pure EVs or extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) by around 2020.

The former category very well could include the Dodge EV. If the look is familiar, that's because the body and platform are borrowed from the Lotus Europa sportscar (not the Lotus Elise, as you might first imagine). There have been minor modifications made to squeeze in a 200-kilowatt motor and a lithium-ion battery pack that, in production, would yield somewhere between 150 and 200 miles on a charge. Doug Quigley, engineering lead for Chrysler's ENVI advanced powertrain division that is also working on three concepts we saw at the Detroit auto show this year, said the rear-drive two-seater should be able to launch from 0-to-60 in under 5 seconds. He wouldn't say how much under, but the goal is to be faster than the Lotus with a target of the mid-13-second range for the 1/4-mile run. And if our 20-minute test drive on the 2-mile track here is any indication, that should be very doable. The new EV handles like a charm, with sharp steering and some serious giddyup—we could feel the 100-plus-mph beneath us while hearing nary a thing.

The Jeep and Chrysler plug-ins, like the Volt, both fall into the extended-range category to combine battery and gasoline power. And like GM, Chrysler is aiming for a 40-mile range on electric charges alone, claiming that both vehicles should be able to hit 400 miles with an 8- or 9-gal. tank of gas. Chrysler modified its newest Jeep Wrangler for the white plug-in truck unveiled here today—and that should mean the same off-road capabilities. The minivan is a slightly upmodded version of the popular Town & Country, with the underbody tubs—used to hide the Stow-and-Go seats in a conventional Chrysler minivan—housing the large battery packs.

So which of the three new electric cars will come to market first? Chrysler isn't saying—in part, President Tom LaSorda acknowledged, because the company has yet to decide. There are serious questions to answer, including what batteries the company will use—and who will supply them. The good news, Klegon said, is that the number of potential battery vendors has "tripled" in recent years. Coming up with reliable, high-power batteries is a clear challenge, but there's also the issue of cost. Lithium-ion technology is phenomenally expensive, but Chrysler, like its competitors, believes that in high volume, costs should plunge.

FOLLOW LINK FOR COMPLETE ARTICLEAUBURN HILLS, Mich. — In a surprise move here this morning amid struggling sales... more

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Aptera Electric Car Stops Traffic (Literally) on First Drive in NYC: Gallery

NEW YORK — You don’t see this many cameraphones pulled out in this town... more

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How Green Is Your Lawn Mower?

Spring is here, and your lawn will soon be out of control. Time to start up the old... more

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