Gas 2.0 |
- The Tipping Point: China Takes Major Steps Toward Electric Vehicles
- Open-Source Hydrogen Car Takes to the Road
- The Benefits of Smart Home Charging for Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrids
| The Tipping Point: China Takes Major Steps Toward Electric Vehicles Posted: 16 Jun 2009 04:26 PM PDT
With over 1.3 billion people, it is no wonder that China is the “tipping point” when it comes to electric vehicles (EV). At least that’s what Better Place CEO Shai Agassi says. Better Place, a venture-backed company that aims to reduce global dependency on oil, doesn’t sell cars but infrastructure. The company recently unveiled a battery swap system in Tokyo that makes refueling an EV easier than filling up at the pump. The $500,000 station allows drivers to travel long distances without having to stop to charge their battery, eliminating EV’s ever present “range anxiety.” Batteries are quickly and easily swapped out so drivers can get back on the road. But infrastructure is just part of the picture, and Agassi says that China is taking steps toward green-lighting electric cars in a big way. "Once China does it, you don't have a choice," Agassi said. |
| Open-Source Hydrogen Car Takes to the Road Posted: 16 Jun 2009 01:53 PM PDT
A new hydrogen-powered car, whose designs will be “open source” and posted for free use on the web, was unveiled today in London. The company behind the Riversimple urban car claim the new model proves hydrogen automotive technology is ready for roll-out now rather than in 10 years’ time. The open-source approach means entrepreneurs around the world could download the designs and manufacture the two-seater prototype locally for free. The car, which drove in to the launch event, is capable of a 50mph top speed, 0-30mph acceleration in 5.5 seconds, and has a 240 mile range. The car’s backers say it has greenhouse gas emissions of 30g/km CO2, less than a third of the latest hybrid petrol cars such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. The lightweight Smart car-size vehicle uses hydrogen in a modest 6kW fuel cell, and – in the case of this prototype – uses hydrogen converted from natural gas. Hydrogen can also be created from water using electrolysis and potentially even from bio-fuels. |
| The Benefits of Smart Home Charging for Electric Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrids Posted: 16 Jun 2009 09:02 AM PDT
Editor's Note: This is a guest contribution by Richard Lowenthal, CEO of electric vehicle ChargePoint manufacturer Coulomb Technologies. See his last post here: Henrik Fisker Debuts Karma Plug-in Hybrid in San Jose. This is part of our ongoing series on EV Charging Infrastructure, which was initiated by Mayors Gavin Newsom and Sam Adams. This week, Coulomb Technologies announced that Walnut Creek, California has become the third Bay Area city (along with San Jose and San Francisco) to deploy Coulomb's ChargePoint™ Networked Charging Stations for electric vehicles. Coulomb's charging stations were officially welcomed in a ribbon cutting ceremony in downtown Walnut Creek. We were joined by the city managers of Walnut Creek and Orinda as well as Walnut Creek city officials. As many California readers know, Walnut Creek is considered one of the top destinations in the Bay Area, known for its outdoor festivals, performing arts scene and superb shopping and dining. EV owners across the Bay Area now have a premier destination where they can recharge while enjoying downtown Walnut Creek. |
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