Comments on: Fed-Ex Testing Nissan’s All-Electric e-NV200 in Yokohama

By: Nissan Wants Electric Taxis In London - One More Win For The e-NV200

Nissan Wants Electric Taxis In London - One More Win For The e-NV200 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 02:26:38 +0000

[…] Between the Leaf and the e-NV200 and the assorted paraphernalia, Nissan has been showing up in various cities around the world to show the market that electric vehicles work perfectly well in the real world, […]

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:19:00 +0000

Nice quote!

Dang.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:37:00 +0000

Fred Smith, CEO of FedEX during NPR interview…

“”An all-electric pickup and delivery van will operate at a 75 percent less per-mile cost than an internal combustion engine variant,” he says. “Now, I didn’t say 7 1/2 percent — [I said] 75 percent. These are big numbers.”Smith points out that the vehicles would be charged in off-peak hours, minimizing the need for additional power plants. Battery life and cost remain a challenge, but Smith is optimistic.”I think in three or four years you will have a battery vehicle with a range that’s probably double what it has today — a couple of hundred miles versus a hundred miles — and it’ll probably be 25 percent to 40 percent cheaper than [it] currently is.”http://www.npr.org/2012/04/02/149703488/oil-scare-turns-fedex-onto-energy-efficiency

By: kjw

kjw — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Sounds like FedEx is trying lots of different things which is a really good thing. THey are always moving so anything they can do is a step in the right direction. At this point though I have to think that there might be more bang for the buck using the micro turbine range extender solution that Keneworth is using in their FedEx pilot program (see link below). One could upgrade many trucks at a fraction of the cost of fuel cells which still cost a bunch more currently. Price per price I’m sure that one could buy many more range extending micro turbines than one could buy equivalent fuel cells. I’m sure that will change eventually but until it does I say use microturbines to maximize carbon reduction in the short term and continue to prototype and develop on a smaller scale until they become more durable, reliable and more cost effective. My two cents.

http://www.energy.ca.gov/drive/projects/ARV-09-012.html

By: Captivation

Captivation — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 15:32:00 +0000

Van Rant: I want an open source van. I want an open source van. I want an open source van. Change the engine, yes. Move the batteries around, yes. But stop spending millions to redesign the same body over and over and over. Make my next van a Linux and then put the emphasis on what runs it. I’m beginning to think our energy transition is being delayed by the inconsequential issue of capturing the perfect “signature” look.
Instead, the designers should go punk rock. Make the van as ugly as possible (not a major challenge judging from the photo) and turn the focus to what’s under the hood. People like ugly cars anyway. Why else could explain the Hummer?