AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Wheego ready with LiFe EV build plan, 100 due by end of 2012]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/wheego-ready-with-life-ev-build-plan-100-due-by-end-of-2012/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/wheego-ready-with-life-ev-build-plan-100-due-by-end-of-2012/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/wheego-ready-with-life-ev-build-plan-100-due-by-end-of-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

wheego life electric car

The biggest problem that Wheego was having the last time we looked in on the company was getting the Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to sign off on temporary exemption to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Regulations (FMVSSR) for its two-seat, all-electric Wheego Whip LiFe car. NHTSA granted the small electric vehicle company a waiver for an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system that is good until the end of the year. Wheego is in the process of developing an ESC for the little car. And with that, things are moving forward.

Wheego's Leslie Nolen told AutoblogGreen that around a dozen rolling chassis landed in Long Beach in the first shipment earlier this fall, and the plan was for Wheego to start building them into the LiFe EVs at its Ontario, CA location as soon as they made it through customs. This assembly process includes putting in the battery, battery management system and dash. The goal is to build 100 by the end of the year and Nolen said almost all of them are spoken for by dealers. Wheego has 30 dealers around the country.

There have been no major changes to the LiFe since the last time we took a look, but Nolen said the engineers have "tightened some stuff up" in the production process That includes things like having the appropriate wiring harness installed in China, where the chassis are built, rather than having the wrong one put in just so Wheego can take it out in the US.

Looking further down the road, Nolen said Wheego is working on R&D for a small, all-electric SUV. The plan is to show this off at the New York Auto Show in the spring of 2013 and have it available for sale by the end of that year.

Wheego ready with LiFe EV build plan, 100 due by end of 2012 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcarelectric vehicleelectronic stability controlescfmvssrlifenhtsawheegoThu, 08 Nov 2012 12:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20337187/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20337187/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/08/wheego-ready-with-life-ev-build-plan-100-due-by-end-of-2012/20337187/article-detail.xml 20337187 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/wheego-life-altcar-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/wheego-life-altcar-628.jpg <![CDATA[Over 10,000 Aerovironment chargers installed in US; Fiat deal coming soon?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/over-10-000-aerovironment-chargers-installed-in-us-fiat-deal-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/over-10-000-aerovironment-chargers-installed-in-us-fiat-deal-co/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/08/over-10-000-aerovironment-chargers-installed-in-us-fiat-deal-co/#commentsFiled under: , ,

aerovironment charger evse

Aerovironment has installed 10,000 residential chargers in the US. On top of these, there are many at Nissan dealers and more at BMW dealers that offered the ActiveE (around 70). Soon, possibly, there will be some at US Fiat Studios. Aerovironment's Tom Carney, director of automotive sales and EV solutions, recently told AutoblogGreen that more news will be coming from Fiat on the deal with Aerovironment, most likely at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show where the 500E will take a bow.

While AeroVironment is Nissan's preferred vendor, Nissan dealerships have the discretion to choose the brand of charger they install. Nissan makes a 44kW DC Quick Charger unit that is sold by AeroVironment and costs under $20,000.

The Fiat deal came about in an interesting way. Nissan had asked AV to put together a dealer package so that when people buy a Leaf they also have an easy way to get a home charger. Since this package was still on the books, AV recently took it to Fiat in preparation for 500E sales. We should know more in a few weeks.

Over 10,000 Aerovironment chargers installed in US; Fiat deal coming soon? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerovironmentaerovironment chargeraltcaraltcar expoelectric vehicleplug-in hybridThu, 08 Nov 2012 09:47:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20337191/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20337191/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/08/over-10-000-aerovironment-chargers-installed-in-us-fiat-deal-co/20337191/article-detail.xml 20337191 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/aerovironment-charger-evse-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/aerovironment-charger-evse-628.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar: ZeroTruck a big electric vehicle with bigger dreams]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/altcar-zerotruck-a-big-electric-vehicle-with-bigger-dreams/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/altcar-zerotruck-a-big-electric-vehicle-with-bigger-dreams/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/23/altcar-zerotruck-a-big-electric-vehicle-with-bigger-dreams/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Richard Serio, CEO of ZeroTruck recently told AutoblogGreen his all-electric work truck company is "on the cusp."

That's because the California Energy Commission (CEC) program has approved a $2.2 million grant to get around a dozen vehicles into work fleets around the state. The grant pays for a portion of the truck and each participant in the program will get to keep the trucks after the two-year program is done. Each truck is being purpose-built, and Serio said that movie studios and catering companies would be ideal customers for the electric vehicles (EVs). The idea, Serio said, is to get data on how the trucks are charged and driven and then be able to show possible future buyers that there are companies that have been using the trucks for 24 months.

ZeroTruck has been around for a while. After being unveiled at AFVI in 2008, the first one was delivered to the City of Santa Monica in 2009. The truck's technology continues to evolve, with ZeroTruck now working with two unnamed wireless charging companies to add that option to the powertrain package. Right now, you can order a Zerotruck with 30-, 60- or 90-kWh battery packs (which offer, roughly, 60, 80 or 110 miles, respectively). The prices range between $115,000 to $180,000. A comparable ICE truck costs between $65,000 and $85,000.

Right now, ZeroTrucks come with a base, three-gear, electronically controlled transmission. ZeroTruck has received a $120,000 grant from the state of Pennsylvania and Ben Franklin Technology Partners to develop a continuous variable transmission (CVT) that should increase the efficiency of these big EVs. Serio said that low gear is useful to move the heavy trucks (with around a 14,500-pound gross vehicle weight) around a parking lot, but since the truck might then need to go 60 or 70 miles per hour on the highway for a few dozen miles, higher gears will pump up the miles per pack. It should take around two years to get the CVT ready, Serio said.

AltCar: ZeroTruck a big electric vehicle with bigger dreams originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar expoelectric vehiclerich seriosanta monica alt carzero truckTue, 23 Oct 2012 16:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20336811/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20336811/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/23/altcar-zerotruck-a-big-electric-vehicle-with-bigger-dreams/20336811/article-detail.xml 20336811 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/zero-truck-altcar-628-1351085906_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/zero-truck-altcar-628-1351085906.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2012: Firefly ESV ready to check in on parking meters]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/altcar-2012-firefly-esv/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/altcar-2012-firefly-esv/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/22/altcar-2012-firefly-esv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Firefly ESV

The all-electric Firefly ESV looks exactly like the kind of vehicle that would be used to go around and hand out parking tickets. Luckily, that's exactly what it was designed to do. Good Earth Energy (maker of the ESV, which stands for Essential Services Vehicle) itself says the vehicle has an "aggressive design" and "appealing curves" and for $29,775 it could be yours.

During an interview at AltCar 2012, Pete Barsky, the vice president of sales for Good Earth Energy told AutoblogGreen that the ESV is currently used in around a half-dozen cities in the US (e.g., Clayton, MS, Seattle, WA and Roanoke, VA) but he wouldn't say how many orders the company has for the Fort Worth, TX-made three wheeler. The trike can have the seat on the left, right or center, and most of the Firefly ESVs sold have the right-hand seat installed because this is most convenient for parking enforcement officers.

Inside the cabin, the ESV defines Spartan aesthetic. The buttons and knobs are utilitarian to the extreme, as you can see in the photo gallery. You'll get on/low/high settings for the heat, and you'll like it. Designed for people who know what they're doing, the basic info screen in the center of the dash can display information on individual cells in the battery pack in case one needs replacing. The company says it expects the pack to have a lifespan "of more than four years."

Speaking of the lithium-iron phosphate battery, the powertrain uses a 14.4-kWh pack and a 100-volt, 35-horsepower AC induction motor. With an electronically limited top speed of 45 miles per hour, the Firefly ESV can go around 60 miles on a charge. That should be plenty to roam downtowns looking for scofflaws.

Firefly's visit to the 2011 AltCar Expo was captured on video and is available below, along with a more general video of the car in action.

Continue reading AltCar 2012: Firefly ESV ready to check in on parking meters

AltCar 2012: Firefly ESV ready to check in on parking meters originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar expoelectric vehiclefireflyfirefly esvMon, 22 Oct 2012 15:11:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20344472/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20344472/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/22/altcar-2012-firefly-esv/20344472/article-detail.xml 20344472 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/altcar-2012-firefly-esv-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/altcar-2012-firefly-esv-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota sending RAV4 EV on Charge-to-Charge Tour of California]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/toyota-sending-rav4-ev-on-charge-to-charge-tour-of-california/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/toyota-sending-rav4-ev-on-charge-to-charge-tour-of-california/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/18/toyota-sending-rav4-ev-on-charge-to-charge-tour-of-california/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Anyone who's California Dreamin' about test-driving the battery-electric version of the Toyota RAV4 can now get their chance.

The Japanese automaker is taking the EV on a tour of the Golden State with its Charge-to-Charge Tour, complete with a web series hosted by Treehugger founder Graham Hill.

The tour started this past weekend in Richmond, just across the bay from San Francisco, and will work its way south through the end of the month. The RAV4 will be exhibited at events such as 40th Annual EAA Electric Vehicle Rally and Show in Cupertino before finishing up at the AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, which takes place at the end of next week, September 28-29.

Last week, Toyota outlined its loan and lease options while disclosing that the EPA put a single-charge range rating of 103 miles on the Vehicle. The Japanese automaker, which will start sales of the model at some California dealers starting next week, will offer a 36-month lease option for $599 a month with a $3,499 downpayment. For buyers, Toyota will offer an APR loan at 1.9 percent.

In May, Toyota said it would price the EV at $49,800 and would make about 2,600 of them through 2014. And late last month, Toyota released a couple videos elaborating on Toyota's work with Tesla Motors on the vehicle and on efforts to cut the RAV4 EV's wind drag as a way to help boost range. Find more Charge-to-Charge Tour details in the press release below.

Continue reading Toyota sending RAV4 EV on Charge-to-Charge Tour of California

Toyota sending RAV4 EV on Charge-to-Charge Tour of California originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcarcaliforniacharge-to-chargecupertinoelectric vehicleGraham Hillrav4richmondsanta monicateslatoyotatreehuggerTue, 18 Sep 2012 20:36:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20325965/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20325965/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/18/toyota-sending-rav4-ev-on-charge-to-charge-tour-of-california/20325965/article-detail.xml 20325965 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/rav4ev_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/rav4ev.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2011: Electric Mobile Cars is all crunked up with three fleet models]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/altcar-2011-electric-mobile-cars-all-crunked-up-three-fleets/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/altcar-2011-electric-mobile-cars-all-crunked-up-three-fleets/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/04/altcar-2011-electric-mobile-cars-all-crunked-up-three-fleets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's been a while since an all-electric truck has been for sale in the U.S. (RIP, Ford Ranger EV), so perhaps a zero-emission crunk is just what the market is waiting for. Electric Mobile Cars will soon find out, now that it is taking orders (fleets only) for its converted E36T (pictured).

EMC will sell three all-electric models, all with similar names: a passenger wagon (the E36, which sells for $39,300), a utility vehicle (the $38,300 E36V) and the E36T ($37,300). The truck is a converted Renault/Dacia Logan Pickup, which was introduced in Romania in 2008.

EMC says all three have a top speed of over 75 mph and a range of "up to 200 miles" using the company's EVBX-1 powertrain. This all-electric propulsion system is powered by 57-kWh worth of adapted ZEBRA batteries, and we have to say that these numbers are awful impressive. EMC's David Taylor told AutoblogGreen at the 2011 AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, CA, this weekend that the low-cost, long-range secret is the car's battery management system. The details are proprietary, but Taylor said the general idea is that the system can accept a higher regenerative brake energy level than other packs and the battery is able to recoup a "minute" amount of the heat expelled from the battery when it is in use. Will all this bear out on the road? We'll be watching.

Bill Williams, who used to be vice president of sales of ZENN, is now director of West Coast sales for EMC, and told AutoblogGreen that EMC is dedicating its efforts to fleet sales because that is how it can provide better service. All three models are available now, and Taylor said that the first deliveries are due by the end of October. The vehicles are available to fleets nationwide and the prices listed above are GSA pricing.

AltCar 2011: Electric Mobile Cars is all crunked up with three fleet models originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcarElectric Mobile Carselectric vehicleemczennTue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071119/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071119/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/04/altcar-2011-electric-mobile-cars-all-crunked-up-three-fleets/20071119/article-detail.xml 20071119 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/emc-altcar-crunk-b_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/emc-altcar-crunk-b.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2011: EV Mobile Charger brings electrons to the side of the road]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-ev-mobile-charger-brings-electrons-to-the-side-of-t/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-ev-mobile-charger-brings-electrons-to-the-side-of-t/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-ev-mobile-charger-brings-electrons-to-the-side-of-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Cross Country Automotive Services Mobile Charger

Somewhat surprisingly given the early stage of the EV rollout we're in, there are already lots of ways to recharge empty electric vehicles along the side of the road, both official (see choices from AAA, Club Assist and Nation-E) and DIY. At the 2011 AltCar Expo in Santa Monica, CA, this weekend, another option, the EV Mobile Charger from Cross Country Automotive Services was on display and it's got something that would make Hank Hill proud: a propane tank.

Yes, this little trailer would be right at home in Arlen, TX but that's not where the first units will be deployed. Currently, there are two in use in Los Angeles, one in San Diego, one in Phoenix and moree are coming to Portland and Nashville. Astute readers will notice that these cities mimic the roll-out of the Nissan Leaf. When the all-electric Ford Focus hits the stage, the locations where the mobile charger will be used should grow.

When mounted on a trailer or onto the back of a tow truck, the EV Mobile Charger burns propane in a Generac two-stroke engine to generate electricity and then feeds the energy to a car through an Eaton EVSE. This way, the EV Mobile Charger can put a few miles of range into a pack in 15 minutes. Thus, this isn't a DC Fast Charge solution, but it's still useful for both driver and tow truck operators.

The reasons that a roadside charger are better than a tow are many, and fairly easy to figure out. Spending 15 minutes with the car plugged into trailer is more convenient than loading an EV onto a truck, driving to a dealer or a local charge point and waiting around there while the battery fills up. The EV Mobile Charger also has another feature that should get tow truck business operators to take notice: a $9,999 MSRP. Bigger versions of the EV Mobile Charger (to charge four vehicles at once or a complete van conversion that includes a comfortable waiting area with WiFi), are also possible.

Continue reading AltCar 2011: EV Mobile Charger brings electrons to the side of the road

AltCar 2011: EV Mobile Charger brings electrons to the side of the road originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar expocross country roadside assistanceelectric vehicleev mobile chargerev roadside assistanceMon, 03 Oct 2011 16:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071527/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071527/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-ev-mobile-charger-brings-electrons-to-the-side-of-t/20071527/article-detail.xml 20071527 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/cross-country-mobile-charger_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/cross-country-mobile-charger.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2011: Trexa Enertube is waiting for you]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-trexa-enertube/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-trexa-enertube/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-trexa-enertube/#commentsFiled under: , ,

trexa platform altcar

The Trexa has evolved. First unveiled as a skateboard-like concept platform in 2010, the latest version of the Enertube was on display at the 2011 AltCar Expo this past weekend, along with a few ideas for how this battery-powered cylinder with wheels could be used (see gallery for those sketches).

Built by six people over six months in Marina del Rey, CA, the Trexa is a 9-inch aluminum tube packed full of batteries with two wheels at each end. Designed as a "multi-mission platform" to hold a variety of vehicle bodies/passenger compartments, the Trexa design is meant to be as flexible and easy to fix as possible (the A-arms, for example are all interchangeable and vehicle could be two- or four-wheel drive). The battery pack in the tube on display would offer a hypothetical vehicle a 30-mile range if driven at 70 miles per hour. The idea is that end users can build the application they need, whatever that may be.

The skateboard platform was supposed to cost $15,999, but the item on display in Santa Monica is more proof-of-concept than vehicle for sale and Trexa is currently looking for Series A funding. There's some bad news, though: if you try to go to the official Trexa website, you are currently redirected to a site that ends in .ru and pulls up a fierce-looking warning that says, it "has been reported as an attack page and has been blocked." Watch out.

AltCar 2011: Trexa Enertube is waiting for you originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar expoelectric vehicleskateboardtrexatrexa evMon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071566/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071566/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-trexa-enertube/20071566/article-detail.xml 20071566 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/trexa-altcar-hanging-7_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/trexa-altcar-hanging-7.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2011: Island Green Motors wants to scoot you to the Caribbean]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-island-green-motors-scooter-caribbean/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-island-green-motors-scooter-caribbean/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-island-green-motors-scooter-caribbean/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Island Green Motors AltCar 2011

How's this for an unusual business model: take a Chinese-built vehicle, convert it to electric drive in Iowa and then export it to the Caribbean. Yeah, it doesn't make all that much sense to us, either.

Perhaps this is why Island Green Motors (IGM) scrapped this original plan and is now focused on building and selling electric scooters. At the 2011 AltCar Expo in Santa Monica this weekend, IGM was showcasing both its three-door E-SUV and its E-scooter. Neither of these are for sale quite yet (and the Jonway-based E-SUV, while originally intended for the islands, will most likely be too expensive for the Caribbean market, IGM's Dean Tassio admitted to AutoblogGreen), but IGM could put the E-scooter into production in the spring of 2012. It's also far too early to talk about prices, but the two versions of the E-scooter - one that has a 72-volt LiFP battery and a 5-kW, brushless DC hub motor and one that has a 48-volt, 3-kW system - could cost around $7,500 and $5,000, respectively. Maybe.

What would you get for that money? A range of around 54 (or 40, for the lesser bike) miles and a top speed of 54 (40) miles per hour. Both bikes can charge in around 5-6 hours from a standard 110 outlet. The design of the bike was done by Momo in Italy, which created a good-looking two-wheeler that weighs only around 400 pounds.

The E-SUV, should it ever make it to market, would be offered in both three- and five-door versions. Both would be able to go around 60 miles on a charge and have a top speed of 75 mph. The bigger SUV would come packing a 21.7-kWh pack, while the little one would rock a 17.4-kWh battery. That sound you hear? It's the waves splashing in this island fantasy.

AltCar 2011: Island Green Motors wants to scoot you to the Caribbean originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcarelectric vehicleisland green motorssanta monica alt car expoMon, 03 Oct 2011 14:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071506/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20071506/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/03/altcar-2011-island-green-motors-scooter-caribbean/20071506/article-detail.xml 20071506 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/island-green-motors-altcar-11-1317501248_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/island-green-motors-altcar-11-1317501248.jpg <![CDATA[Alt Car 2010: Where plug-in vehicles are finally for sale and the drives are smooth]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2010/10/07/alt-car-2010-where-plug-in-vehicles-are-finally-for-sale-and-th/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/10/07/alt-car-2010-where-plug-in-vehicles-are-finally-for-sale-and-th/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/10/07/alt-car-2010-where-plug-in-vehicles-are-finally-for-sale-and-th/#commentsFiled under: , ,

brammo empulse naked
Brammo Enertia at AltCar 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery from the show

As we said, we were not able to make our annual pilgrimage to the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last weekend. But that doesn't mean we didn't have friends there. Reader Gint Federas. was able to go for a few drives and shared a few pictures of the event. He also sent in the following report:
I test drove the Leaf, Volt, most of the fuel cell vehicles, and wasn't disappointed by any. The Volt's main battery died just as my test drive began. The range extender was much quieter than I thought - barely noticeable. The Leaf burned rubber accelerating, but the Volt was sluggish which I attribute to range extended mode. With the exception of the Monotracer, if there is a dashboard picture, I drove it.

BTW, Chevy only had one Volt for test drives, and cut the waiting list off at 60. I was #53 signing up at 10:30 a.m. By 4 p.m., most sign-ups were no-shows. If you were still there, you were allowed to drive the Volt.

Nissan was much better organized with at least 8 cars active on the test loop. Nissan's spokesman said they are traveling with 10 cars. I saw another Leaf behind the Auditorium that was quick charging (30 min to 80 pecent charge, DC). The quick charger was a biodiesel-fueled genset charging a battery pack that dumped charges directly DC to DC to the on-board pack. The car I drove had 63 miles on the trip odometer, with 31 miles charge remaining. The AC had been on all day as it was 93 and humid in LA on Friday.
You can see a lot of Gint's photos in the gallery below and more here.

New Nissan Leaf salesman Paul Scott was also on hand, and he shared some thoughts over on his personal blog. The takeaway point: after four years or promises and hopes, people could actually place orders for mass market electric vehicles this year. Also, around 2,000 people, Scott estimates, test drove either the Leaf, the Volt or both. Well done.


Gallery: AltCar 2010: Views From The Show

AltCar 2010AltCar 2010AltCar 2010AltCar 2010AltCar 2010

[Source: Gint Federas, Paul Scott]

Alt Car 2010: Where plug-in vehicles are finally for sale and the drives are smooth originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2010altcar expoelectric vehicleleafplug-in hybridThu, 07 Oct 2010 19:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19660421/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19660421/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/07/alt-car-2010-where-plug-in-vehicles-are-finally-for-sale-and-th/19660421/article-detail.xml 19660421 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/brammo-empulse-naked-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/brammo-empulse-naked-630.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar: See X-Prize-winning X-Tracer and more this weekend in Santa Monica]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2010/09/30/altcar-see-x-prize-winning-x-tracer-and-more-this-weekend-in-sa/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/09/30/altcar-see-x-prize-winning-x-tracer-and-more-this-weekend-in-sa/http://green.autoblog.com/2010/09/30/altcar-see-x-prize-winning-x-tracer-and-more-this-weekend-in-sa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Gov. Schwarzenegger learns about the Chevy Volt at AltCar 2009 - click above for high-res image gallery

Due to an unmoveable scheduling conflict, we won't be able to be at the annual Santa Monica Alt Car Expo this weekend. It'll be the first one we've missed, and it makes us kind of sad. For old times' sake, you can all about the show's first three years here. But, if you can make it down to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Friday or Saturday, we highly recommend it.

For one thing, one of the three winners of the Automotive X-Prize will be there - the Peraves E-Tracer - and AltCar is also the first event of the Nissan Leaf's Drive Electric Tour. For another, there will be a ride and drive with some interesting vehicles (like the Coda Electric Sedan). Lastly, there is an expo hall and an interesting line-up of panel discussions, like the "Annual Tech Review & Debate" and "My Experience Driving a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle." Hopefully, those will be engaging and then posted somewhere online. The event is free, and you can get all the details here.

[Source: AltCar Expo]

Continue reading AltCar: See X-Prize-winning X-Tracer and more this weekend in Santa Monica

AltCar: See X-Prize-winning X-Tracer and more this weekend in Santa Monica originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt car expoaltcaraltcar expoaltcar Schwarzeneggerx-tracerThu, 30 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19654324/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19654324/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2010/09/30/altcar-see-x-prize-winning-x-tracer-and-more-this-weekend-in-sa/19654324/article-detail.xml 19654324 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/governator-altcar-schw-volt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/governator-altcar-schw-volt.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



On top of the test drives (Wheego Whip), test rides (Coda Sedan) and a visit to the unlimited energy booth, a highlight of the AltCar Expo last weekend was getting to hear the LA Times' premiere auto scribe Dan Neil moderate two sessions called "Some Inconvenient Questions." Neil was lucky to have on his panels some of the most knowledgeable people in the green car world who were able to discuss and promote their favored technologies (plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, etc.) without beating each other up. Well, Neil dished out a few critical hits at the idea of hydrogen cars but also allowed Honda's Steve Ellis to rebut his doubts about the efficacy of H2 as an energy carrier for vehicles. All in all, it was an entertaining three hours (four-and-a-half if you count the Tech Review Panel that took place just before Neil's events) in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. We've got details and audio recordings of everything after the jump.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders

AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar dan neilaltcar expoAltcar2009AltcarDanNeilAltcarExpodan neilDanNeildave barthmussDaveBarthmussdean taylorDeanTaylorfeaturedinconvenient questionsInconvenientQuestionsjeff curryJeffCurryrick sikesRickSikessteve elllisSteveElllistom gageTomGageThu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19189376/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19189376/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/19189376/article-detail.xml 19189376 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/altcar-dan-niel_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/altcar-dan-niel.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Triac - Click above for high-res image gallery

The history of the Green Vehicles' Triac is a convoluted one. First surfacing in the summer of 2008, promised delivery dates in November and December 2008 were not kept, but Green Vehicles' Ehab Youssef and his team kept on pushing forward, taking reservations for the $24,995 three-wheeled vehicle. We saw the Triac caged in a booth at the AltCar Expo last year, but were somewhat surprised to find one cruising the parking lot this year as part of the ride and drive. After all this time waiting, we just had to hop in and see what the trike, which uses a 20 kW AC motor and a 160 amp hour lithium battery pack, is capable of. Just like our time in the Coda Sedan, we were not allowed behind the wheel, but our ten minutes in the passenger seat told us all we need to know for now. Read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Triac


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready

AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoaltcar triacAltcar2009AltcarExpoAltcarTriactriactriac altcartriac electric vehicletriac evTriacAltcarTriacElectricVehicleTriacEvWed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19187762/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19187762/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/19187762/article-detail.xml 19187762 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/triac-altcar-01-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/triac-altcar-01-630.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EF9's "unlimited clean energy" system - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mark Tanner, who does R&D for EF9 Energy Systems, was pretty wiped out by the time we got to speak with him at the end of AltCar 2009 in Santa Monica last weekend. It's understandable. He'd been explaining how his system for "unlimited clean energy" was supposed to work to hundreds of attendees for two days and was starting to question his ability to transmit the information to the people who stopped at his booth. Whether it was because this was the end of the show or for another reason, we didn't quite understand it either, but here's what we took away: Tanner claims that you can get about 81 hp of power out of a system that needs just 10 hp to work. Yeah, that's what Gov. Schwarzenegger thought, too.

Somehow, by funneling air through his turbine and using atmospheric pressure and the Bernoulli effect - the atmosphere is trying to flow into the turbine at the same rate as the air is going out - Tanner's system could return eightfold the energy put into it. He explained it as the atmosphere of the earth acting as a cache of energy that expands to form wind in the narrow channel of the turbine and spins the blades.

Tanner said the concept could be installed into an electric vehicle as well as a house. We'll let Tanner explain:



There's more numbers and details in the gallery below. Also, watch EF9's own video after the jump.

Here's another thing. Tanner is looking for about ten people to invest $5,000 each to build them ten prototype systems that he would install in their homes in order to prove that the idea is solid and to provide the investors with all of the clean energy they want. He said that it's possible he'll be back next year with a working system on display. We'll be waiting.

Gallery: EF9's "unlimited clean energy"


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.



Continue reading AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works

AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoAltcar2009AltcarExpobernoulli effectBernoulliEffectef9ef9 energy systemsef9 unlimited clean energyEf9EnergySystemsEf9UnlimitedCleanEnergyfeaturedmarc tannerMarcTannermark tannerMarkTannerTue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19186804/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19186804/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/19186804/article-detail.xml 19186804 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/ef9-unlimited-energy-marc-tanner_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/ef9-unlimited-energy-marc-tanner.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Coda EV Sedan - click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August, members of the Diamond Bar Electric Vehicle Association were treated to rides in t he Coda all-electric sedan with Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger at the wheel. This past weekend, AutoblogGreen was given the same opportunity during the AltCar Expo at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Our 15 minutes in the passenger seat were a real tease - this is a standard-looking EV with more punch than a mid-size-sedan deserves (it felt more feisty than its 0-60 speed of just under 11 seconds sounds), and we can't wait for the chance to drive it for ourselves.

A quick refresher on what the Coda Sedan will offer: a top speed of 80 mph, seating for four/five, a 100- to 120- mile range and a sales price of under $30,000 in California (after state and federal rebates). We didn't sit in the back seat, but should have remembered to do so since we've heard a few reports that it's a tight fit. We did, however, make the most of our time sitting shotgun - after getting the car out of the clever "Break Glass In Emergency" stand it was in most of the weekend - feeling the zero-emission power and learning about where Coda is today with their first vehicle offering. Read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle

AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcar 2009altcar expoAltcar2009AltcarExpocodacoda automotivecoda electric carcoda ev test drivecoda sedancoda sedan evCodaAutomotiveCodaElectricCarCodaEvTestDriveCodaSedanCodaSedanEvkevin CzingerKevinCzingerquick spinQuickSpinMon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19185075/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19185075/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/19185075/article-detail.xml 19185075 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/coda-sedan-altcar-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/coda-sedan-altcar-630.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wheego Whip - click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Wheego Whip "The Cadillac of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles"? That's one description that we heard during our very short test drive of the NEV during the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last weekend. Marc Korchin, owner of the Green Motors electric vehicles dealership in Berkeley, rode with us around the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in the Wheego and explained why this car is, in many ways, the best he's ever sold.

Having driven the Tesla Roadster and the Dodge Circuit, we know what pure EVs are capable of. But this car costs about a sixth of what the Roadster costs - and the Circuit is just a prototype today - so we had to make sure to evaluate the Whip on its own NEV merits. Is the Wheego worth it? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?

AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>quick spinQuickSpinwheegowheego electric carWheego Whipwheego whip evWheegoElectricCarWheegoWhipWheegoWhipEvMon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19183314/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19183314/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/19183314/article-detail.xml 19183314 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/wheego-altcar-06-630_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/wheego-altcar-06-630.png <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Touring the show with the Governator]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gov. Schwarzenegger learns about the Chevy Volt - click above for high-res image gallery

During the opening day of the 2009 AltCar Expo & Conference here in Santa Monica, Governor Schwarzenegger stopped by for a tour of the green vehicles on display. He learned about the Volt from Dave Barthmuss (above), sat down in a Tango and the Wheego Whip, learned about the MINI E and stopped by the California Fuel Cell Partnership's booth. He also gave a skeptical look at the guy in the booth who was promising more energy out of the system than one puts in. Of course, since this is the Governator we're talking about, he arrived and left in a caravan of large vehicles, but at least he learned a little bit more about his options for getting around should he want to ditch the giant SUVs.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Gov. Schwarzenegger tours the show


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

AltCar 2009: Touring the show with the Governator originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoaltcar SchwarzeneggerAltcar2009AltcarExpoAltcarSchwarzeneggerarnold SchwarzeneggerArnoldSchwarzeneggergov SchwarzeneggerGovSchwarzeneggerSchwarzeneggerSchwarzenegger tangoSchwarzeneggerTangotangovoltvolt SchwarzeneggerVoltSchwarzeneggerweego SchwarzeneggerWeegoSchwarzeneggerSat, 03 Oct 2009 18:09:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19183321/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19183321/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/19183321/article-detail.xml 19183321 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/governator-altcar-schw-volt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/governator-altcar-schw-volt.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: California Fuel Cell Partnership giving out free t-shirts w/winning slogan]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Readers had a lot of fun with the California Fuel Cell Partnership's t-shirt slogan earlier this year. The winning slogan wasn't one of the snarky options - it's "Ahead of the Pact with a Fuel Cell Stack" - and now the CaFCP is ready to start getting the word out about hydrogen via the ever-popular front-of-torso surface area. To that end, the first 500 people who either drive or ride in a fuel cell vehicle at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo this weekend will each get a free shirt. If you can't make it to the event, the Hydrogen Education Foundation will be offering the shirt (along with other designs and slogans) on their website starting later this month.

Vehicles included in the AltCar ride and drive include: the Daimler F-Cell, the Chevy Equinox FCV, the Honda FCX Clarity, the Nissan X-Trail FCV and the Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv. If you want to drive one of these, you have to be over 18 and bring a valid driver's license.

[Source: CaCFP]

AltCar 2009: California Fuel Cell Partnership giving out free t-shirts w/winning slogan originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcarexpocafcpcalifornia fuel cell partnershipCaliforniaFuelCellPartnershipsanta monica alt carsanta monica alt car expoSantaMonicaAltCarSantaMonicaAltCarExpoThu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19181040/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19181040/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/19181040/article-detail.xml 19181040 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/santamonicafrontimage_03_0_thumbnail.gif http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/santamonicafrontimage_03_0.gif <![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The annual Alt Car Expo is coming up this weekend at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and Vision Industries will be on hand to display its Tyrano semi tractor. This is no typical smoke-belching, diesel-powered semi. In fact, the only thing emitted by this hauler is water vapor.

The Tyrano is a plug-in hybrid with a hydrogen fuel cell. The truck uses 33 kg of compressed hydrogen for a 340-mile range. It's not known at this point how far the battery can propel the truck on a charge. The Tyrano is being built as part of a program to replace 16,800 diesel-powered trucks in the port of Los Angeles over the next several years. The first production units are expected in the first quarter of 2010.

[Source: Vision Motor Corp]


Continue reading AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica

AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt caraltcarfalsehydrogenhydrogen fuel cellhydrogen fuel cell hybridHydrogenFuelCellHydrogenFuelCellHybridtyranovision motor corpVisionMotorCorpWed, 30 Sep 2009 13:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19178719/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/19178719/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/19178719/article-detail.xml 19178719 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/479448.1-lg_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/479448.1-lg.jpg <![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Some thoughts on year three]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/http://green.autoblog.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/#commentsFiled under: ,


The AltCar crowd around the EV1 and the Chevy Volt. Photo to Amy Williams

The third Santa Monica Alt Car Expo has come and gone. AutoblogGreen has been lucky enough to attend each iteration of this growing expo, and being back in Santa Monica made us want to take a look back. In December 2006, the first event was held at the Barker Hanger not long after the Tesla Roadster was introduced to the world in the same hall. The Alt Car Expo has always been about showing what average people are doing in the green car space - and making that information very easy for other average people to get. The show is free and held over two days, and the attendance numbers have only gone up. Around 10,000 people attended each of the first two years, but in 2008, the first time it was held in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, more than 15,000 attendees showed up, according to estimates from Platia Productions, the show's producer.

Things have changed through the years. As one AutoblogGreen reader, Dave S., noticed, Phoenix Motorcars did not have a booth. This disappointed him, since he flew all the way from Chicago to visit Alt Car. The Spyder was also missing and Zap! was nowhere to be found. Also, we missed Ed Begley, Jr. this year but we did get another dose of Terry Tamminen saying some of the same things and PHEV "godfather" Dr. Andy Frank was there again. I saw OKA's Miro Kefurt wandering the hall, but he didn't have his own booth this time. The OEMs - GM and Honda, at least - have their presence at the show, but it's never something new. Still, as you can see in the picture above, people loved getting some face time with the new Volt.

In any case, AltCar Santa Monica is a good show, and we're glad to cover it each year. You can read every post we've done about the show over the years here. Later this month, we'll be visiting the first ever edition of Alt Car Austin. Stay tuned.

AltCar 2008: Some thoughts on year three originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-caralt-car-austinalt-car-expoaltcaraltcar-expoaustinaustin-alt-carsanta-monica-alt-car-expoWed, 01 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/1326540/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/1326540/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/1326540/article-detail.xml 1326540 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/altcar-volt-crowd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2008/09/altcar-volt-crowd.jpg -1 2