Electric cars have giant batteries (useful for a number of things besides driving the actual car, even). Also under consideration as the primary power source for electric cars (and buses, motorcycles, yachts, etc.) is the lithium ion capacitor.
A hydrogen fuel cell-powered hybrid electric bus supplied by UTC Power for the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District has set a performance record by operating for over 10,000 hours. The milestone is another step toward reducing the life cycle cost of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles, which produce zero emissions and are more than 50% efficient in terms of converting energy to power.
BYD Co Ltd is on schedule to enter the growing EV market with the E6 crossover in Q2 of 2012. E6 represents the big battery solution to EV range. Other solutions…
The average annual cost of running a Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle amounts to around $233 a year, equivalent to paying some $0.82 a gallon for gasoline, according to New Zealand’s EECA. EECA undertook the study as part of introducing a consumer label that offers “independent, comparative information on the efficiency and running costs of vehicles,” which, in turn, is expected to help the government meet a long term goal of increasing renewable electricity generation from 74% currently to 90%.
Nissan’s world wide Leaf sales are now over 10,000 but questions continue to be asked about the technology. In a recently released video Nissan Corporate Vice-President Simon Sproule answers six questions about the Nissan Leaf battery.
A look at the evolution of electric vehicles and the first Better Place battery-swapping launch in the world, in Israel this August.
Solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) chargers are bound to appease critics who say that electric vehicles are as clean as the energy that feeds them.
SolarCity has teamed up with ClipperCreek to provide electric vehicle (EV) chargers compatible with all new EVs. SolarCity will initially install ClipperCreek EV chargers through its 24 operations centers nationwide, making it the largest single provider of EV, solar, and energy efficiency services in the U.S.
Bicycles (most efficient mode of transportation known to mad) + bamboo (super fast-growing, environmentally friendly plant) = awesome bikes.
In Hiroshima Prefecture, both the city of Fukuyama and the private sector are pushing forward with a futuristic “Eco Town.” In the midst of interest in natural sources of energy, following the nuclear incident in TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, an attempt is being made to acquire and market local “know-how” as quickly as possible to other prefectures in order to stimulate regional revitalization.
Some top clean transportation stories from the past week or so (other than what we’ve already covered):
