'electric vehicle'

If it seems like many people you know would like to own a hybrid car, J.D. Power and Associates has the data to back up your hunch.

The auto market research firm on Tuesday released results of a survey that found a very high interest in hybrid-electric vehicles--even after the substantial price premium was revealed.

The company performed surveys with consumers before and after telling them of an average $5,000 price difference between hybrids and non-hybrids.

The study found that 72 percent of consumers are "definitely/probably" interested in having hybrid-electric technology for their next vehicle. … Read more

The Department of Energy announced a $30 million effort Thursday with Ford, General Motors, and General Electric to bring to market by 2014 plug-in hybrid electric cars that drive 40 miles on a single charge.

"The projects announced today demonstrate a shared public-private sector commitment to advance clean vehicle technologies and will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil while also confronting the serious challenge of global climate change," Andy Karsner, assistant secretary of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said in a statement. He made the announcement Thursday at a conference on plug-in electric vehicles sponsored by the … Read more

The techno-academic types at the MIT Media Lab are tinkering away at an all-electric two-wheeler that's meant to be smarter than your average scooter. Well, the wheels, at least, would be smarter about things like braking and shock absorption, but backers say the really bright ideas are in the RoboScooter's minimalist design, with just one-tenth the number of parts cluttering up the assembly line compared with what's needed for a traditional internal combustion vehicle. The lessons learned here could also provide direction for electric four-wheeler projects like the group's City Car.

Read more at Popular Mechanics: &… Read more

Ecotality plans to acquire Minit-Charger, a subsidiary of publicly traded Edison International, for $3 million in cash and stock, both companies announced Thursday.

Minit-Charger makes chargers for rechargeable lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries that can be used in electric light construction vehicles like forklifts. The Irvine, Calif.-based company includes Home Depot, Costco Wholesale, and Toyota Motor among its customers.

"It's the charging system, very complex, that allows batteries to be charged to maximum charge on minimum time. It has a complex electrical system that adjusts once every 300 times per minute for variances," Ecotality CEO Jonathan Read … Read more

Once again, Aptera, the producer of a three-wheeled electric vehicle, is making big claims.

The Aptera Typ-1, a vehicle that can get 300 miles per gallon, will be available in early 2008 for less than $30,000 in both an electric plugin, and gas electric plugin hybrid version, the company announced Monday.

The vehicle will be able to charge from any stand 110-volt outlet, according to company specs.

The Typ-1 will have a range of 120 miles on electricity alone, with a 600 mile range for the hybrid version when fully fueled. The vehicle seats two in the front, with … Read more

I had a chance to visit with the founders of a new San Francisco Bay Area clean-tech start-up called Barefoot Motors, which is building an all-electric ATV. I think is a great idea for an untapped electric vehicle product.

Think about it: Of all the potential electric vehicles out there, ATVs suck down a comparably large amount of gasoline per mile and are used primarily for short-range transport (range is a longtime achilles heel of electric vehicles). And some riders have a serious problem with the noise and the noxious exhaust fumes.

Add to that the fact that ATV riders … Read more

Google is earmarking more greenbacks to make cars greener.

The nonprofit arm of the Web search giant, Google.org, on Wednesday issued a $10 million request for proposal from companies involved in commercial plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and other forms of sustainable transportation.

The RFP process--to be done entirely online--is meant to accelerate development of cleaner forms of transportation at a large scale in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Google.org.

Google intends to invest between $500,000 and $2 million in companies that are approved and will not take up position on those firms' boards.

It … Read more

General Motors is has developed an alternative alternative vehicle. The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that GM has developed a prototype of a new kind of electric car that uses an internal combustion engine solely as an electric generator. Scheduled to be unveiled early next year, the car will run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that will be supplemented by electricity generated from an onboard gasoline- or diesel-powered motor when the charge runs low.

According to the Times, the car would require charging on a daily basis with each charge delivering a range of 20 to 30 miles, after which … Read more

Another way to have the date of a lifetime in Rome while saving on gas.

The Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter, as the tree huggers at Treehugger.com pointed out, will debut this November at the 64th International Motorcycle Exhibition in Milan.

The electric scooter, which runs on a rechargeable nickel metal hydride battery, gets 70 miles to the charge, and does a top speed of 63 mph, according to Vectrix specs.

I am sure plenty of urbanites will take to scooter, but who is Vectrix hoping to reach with these marketing photos? The guy in the Saville Row suit looks like … Read more