AutoblogGreen

AltCar 2011: Electric Mobile Cars is all crunked up with three fleet models

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, ZENN

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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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AltCar 2011: Trexa Enertube is waiting for you

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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AltCar 2011: Island Green Motors wants to scoot you to the Caribbean

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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Alt Car 2010: Where plug-in vehicles are finally for sale and the drives are smooth

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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

[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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Hybrid, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Hybrid, Hydrogen, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Green Daily

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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Green Daily

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

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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Green Culture, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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"

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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Miles EV, Green Daily, Coda Automotive

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

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.

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

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle), Wheego

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

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.

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AltCar 2009: Touring the show with the Governator

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:09:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, GM, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Green Daily

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

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.

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AltCar 2009: California Fuel Cell Partnership giving out free t-shirts w/winning slogan

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hydrogen, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:04:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Hydrogen, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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AltCar 2008: Some thoughts on year three

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

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.

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AltCar 2008: Terry Tamminen says green is the new red, white and blue

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:03:00 EST

Filed under: AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

Here's a tip for Terry Tamminen: retire the joke already. You know, the one about Arnold Schwarzenegger and whoever just introduced you as a speaker, how they were pumping iron together back in the day? We heard it about Ed Begley at the 2006 Alt Car Expo and then again at AFVI in 2007. When Tamminen told it again at this year's Alt Car Expo (listen to the audio clip below), I started to worry that he might not have anything new to say at all. But, while Tamminen is still a strong supporter of hydrogen, he didn't promote it quite as much as he has in the past. Indeed, he said that, "I think we should be talking to the about the alternatives that this expo exemplifies."

Tamminen's speech at AltCar 2008 was called "Advice for the Next President," and the 30-minute talk was a mixture of a rallying call for the green vehicle fans in the audience and specific advice for a President Obama or McCain.

Details after the jump.

Continue reading AltCar 2008: Terry Tamminen says green is the new red, white and blue

AltCar 2008: Terry Tamminen says green is the new red, white and blue originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AltCar 2008: TrioBike, the pedal-powered SUV for three

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:39:00 EST

Filed under: Green Culture, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, On Two Wheels, Green Daily

click above to see more of the TrioBike

Not everything at the AltCar Expo was an alternative car. Some, like the Prometheus electric motorcycle and the TrioBike (above) were car alternatives. In fact, the TrioBike is really a next-generation SUV. I mean, that designation just means sports utility vehicle, right? It doesn't have to identify oversized gas-guzzling grocery getter. And what's more sports utility than pedaling your kids around?

In any case, the TrioBike is a three-wheeled cycle with a large scoop in front that seats two small children or a bunch of groceries. An extra wheel sits under the compartment and can connect to the rear end to form a normal-looking bicycle. The front end then becomes a fairly standard stroller that looks like it comes from the near future.

Regina Keith is the U.S. sales representative for TrioBike. She and her husband Robert were the first in America to order a Danish TrioBike, but there are now two in the U.S. (another is apparently in Chicago). When the Keiths found out just how difficult it was to order one, they decided it was a good business plan to try and make it easier for other Americans to buy a TrioBike and worked with the Danish company to set up distribution in the States. Interest at the Santa Monica show was high, and Robert even said that a representative from the Price is Right stopped by their booth and suggested making the TrioBike a prize on the show. If you don't want to wait for that possibility, Robert said that retail sales will begin in the near future and the price will be around $4,500 (the Keiths paid around $6,000 for theirs).

Listen here (8 min):

Gallery: AltCar 2008: TrioBike

AltCar 2008: TrioBike, the pedal-powered SUV for three originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AltCar 2008: Let's get ready to alt-energy rummmble! (yawn)

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Biodiesel, Hybrid, Hydrogen, GM, Honda, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Natural Gas

Dr. Andy Frank, the "godfather" of the plug-in hybrid

Saturday afternoon at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo was supposed to feature an all-out technology debate between everyone's favorite gasoline alternatives. Moderated by Rick Sikes, the fleet superintendent of the City of Santa Monica, the setup was billed as "Top experts representing PHEV, all electric, Hydrids, Natural Gas, Propane, Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Hydrogen will discuss and debate the latest information on these technologies." Sikes is the perfect person to lead this type of discussion because his City's fleet uses all sorts of non-gasoline energy to move around. Here's the starting lineup, the alt-fuels and their proponents:

Dr. Andy Frank; professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering, UC Davis, speaking for Plug-in hybrids
Dave Barthmuss; group manager western region, Environment & Energy Communications Team, GM, speaking on "vehicle electrification" and GM's well-known "gas friendly to gas free" mantra
Steve Ellis; marketing manager for Alternative Fuel Programs, Honda, talking about hybrids and hydrogen, mostly
Joe Gershen; VP sales & marketing for Tellurian Biodiesel, speaking on, well, you can guess
Dean Taylor; senior program manager, Southern California Edison talking on and on
Lesley Brown Garland; president and CEO, Western Propane Gas Association on, surprise, propane

So, we've got the hook, the characters and the topic. How did it all shake down? Follow after the jump to find out.

Continue reading AltCar 2008: Let's get ready to alt-energy rummmble! (yawn)

AltCar 2008: Let's get ready to alt-energy rummmble! (yawn) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AltCar 2008: Is the Lola EV the "poor man's Tesla"?

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:06:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo

click above for more of the Lola EV

During the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, someone joked to me that the Lola EV, a flashy electric kit car, was the "poor man's Tesla." Paul Pearson, the man behind the project, said, "That's a compliment," but there's really no comparison between the two other than that they're two-seat sports cars that run on batteries. The Lola EV has a 70-75 mph top speed and Pearson called it a very Southern California type of car. There are no opening doors, for example, and there's no roof (so, it may look like a convertible, but it's not).

Steve Graber of Graber Cars in Phoenix, Arizona designed the Lola EV and Pearson applied his EV knowledge to the project. Two years ago, at the Alt Car Expo, Pearson was displaying his street racer (and you can see the story of getting in touch with Zap that he describes in our talk in this old comments thread). For the new Lola, Pearson can deliver the car to a builder as everything from a body with a set of plans to an almost finished car, starting at $45,000. The big caveat: the Lola-EV's price does not include the batteries. Since Electric Custom Cars is not a licensed automaker, they can't deliver the complete vehicle to buyers. One cool part of the design is that the design calles for the batteries to sit where the doors would be, a placement that Pearson told us improved safety.

See more over at Electric Custom Cars and listen here (7 min):

Gallery: AltCar 2008: Electric Custom Cars

AltCar 2008: Is the Lola EV the "poor man's Tesla"? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AltCar 2008: AMPLE taking orders for $29,999 PHEV truck, two other plug-in hybrids

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:44:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, Green Daily

The headline above is what we call a "bait & switch," and it recreates the feeling I got when I approached the AMPLE Motion booth at the AltCar Expo. AMPLE, a new company incorporated on Earth Day this year, is trying an unusual strategy to get the word out about its plug-in hybrid vehicles that are scheduled to arrive in 2010: super deep pre-order discounts. While the company's 2010 R300 plug-in truck will normally cost $75,000, the first thirty people to pre-order will be on the hook for only $29,999. A similar deal was available to visitors at the Santa Monica AltCar Expo for the E600 PHEV sedan. Original MSRP is $99,000, but the pre-order price is $47,999. While the banners at the AMPLE booth say the special offers are limited to the first 30 pre-oders, sheets that AMPLE had available at the show made it seem like only people at the show could take advantage of the deal. So, if you're interested, contact AMPLE for more information.

But what are these vehicles with the unexciting names? We spoke with AMPLE's Ted Flittner about the the company's line-up, discount and referral system (yes, if you get your friends to buy an AMPLE car, you get a referral fee) and more. You can listen to Flittner here (7 min):

Here are the preliminary details on the three plug-in hybrid vehicles AMPLE is offering:

For all three: 100 miles per gallon equivalent, or better. 600+ mile range with full charge and tank. Use EDI's mechanically continuously variable transmission. Lithium-ion battery pack. ABS brakes and SRS airbags standard. Recharging from a standard household outlet.

E600: "Epiphany" class. Four-door sedan. 60-mile all-electric range (AER). 38 mpg highway. $99,000.
E300: Mid-size sedan. 40-mile AER. 45 mpg highway. No price sheet available.
R300: "Robust" class. Compact pick-up truck (similar to a Chevy Colorado or Ford Ranger). 1,420 pounds payload. 3,150 pounds towing capability. $75,000.

All of these models will be brand-new vehicles to the customer, but will be made from existing vehicle designs that AMPLE will be licensing from other automakers. More details will be coming in April or May 2009.

AltCar 2008: AMPLE taking orders for $29,999 PHEV truck, two other plug-in hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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