GM announced its first all-electric car, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark, will be available starting next year in select US markets.
The first of its kind for GM, the Chevy Spark EV will run solely off of lithium-ion battery technology, unlike the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid which was introduced last year and runs on both electric and gas. “The Spark EV offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option,” said Jim Federico, global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles at Chevrolet.
The Chevy Spark EV will compete against other all-electric vehicles including the Nissan Leaf, which was released last year, and the forthcoming Mitsubishi i and Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid. While EVs have been slow to catch on in the US due to few model options, high prices and a lack of charging infrastructure, many automakers are pushing towards more fuel-efficient models as the US begins to require more stringent requirements for the industry.
Chevy has not yet made available the details on specifications, price, or release date of the 2013 Spark EV. A new version of the gasoline-powered Spark, already available in China, India and South Korea, will also debut next year in the US.
The 2013 Chevy Spark EV, entering the US electric vehicle market next year, will bring further weight to the increasing electric market and increase GM’s place within the green movement.
Showing posts with label electric cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electric cars. Show all posts
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
10-minute Car Charger Developed by Nissan
One of the biggest complaints about the electric cars that are being developed is that it takes too long for the cars to be recharged. Nissan has been working to develop a new charger that will significantly reduce that time.
Nissan, whose Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars on the market, has the necessary technology to create an electric car charger that can fully charge an electric car in about 10 minutes. This would be a significant improvement over the current eight hours it takes to charge most electric car batteries.
Nissan has been working with Japan's Kansai University on the creation of this new development. The batteries that were charged in the early testing of the new charger showed no significant effect on storage capacity or voltage.
This breakthrough not only would make it more efficient to charge an electric car, but it could also improve the sale of electric cars across the world. If consumers has the available technology to charge their cars in 10 minutes, it would make the purchase of an electric car more appealing to them.
This technology could take up to ten years to fully develop and commercialize here in the United States. However, Nissan is set to begin setting up similar chargers in Japan this November. This charger would be compatible with all of Nissan's electric vehicles as well as other vehicles produced by companies like Honda or Toyota.
While it may take a great amount of time before we see this type on technology in the United States, it is still refreshing to know that developments and progress are being made today.
Nissan, whose Leaf is one of the most popular electric cars on the market, has the necessary technology to create an electric car charger that can fully charge an electric car in about 10 minutes. This would be a significant improvement over the current eight hours it takes to charge most electric car batteries.
Nissan has been working with Japan's Kansai University on the creation of this new development. The batteries that were charged in the early testing of the new charger showed no significant effect on storage capacity or voltage.
This breakthrough not only would make it more efficient to charge an electric car, but it could also improve the sale of electric cars across the world. If consumers has the available technology to charge their cars in 10 minutes, it would make the purchase of an electric car more appealing to them.
This technology could take up to ten years to fully develop and commercialize here in the United States. However, Nissan is set to begin setting up similar chargers in Japan this November. This charger would be compatible with all of Nissan's electric vehicles as well as other vehicles produced by companies like Honda or Toyota.
While it may take a great amount of time before we see this type on technology in the United States, it is still refreshing to know that developments and progress are being made today.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Electric Cars Make Debut
The first cars with engines that do not require gasoline, quietly rolled into Jacksonville, Florida this past weekend. The Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are slowly being distributed out to consumers, and Jacksonville is one of the first cities to be chosen.
The Nissan Leaf can travel 73 miles on its battery. It is equivalent to driving 99 miles to the gallon, while having zero emissions. The environment friendly car also uses a solar-powered radio along with a system called “Carwings,” that shows charging stations on a map and tracks energy consumption. Due to the quiet nature of the electric car, it has a system that sends a warning sound to alert pedestrians of its presence.
The Chevy Volt can travel 35 miles on its battery until a gasoline generator can provide the car with 344 more miles. This is equivalent to receiving 94 miles per gallon on the battery and 37 miles per gallon through generated power. The car holds 9 gallons of gas, which is only used when the battery is low, and produces low emissions while the generator is in use. The Volt has regenerative braking which can charge the battery while the brakes are applied.
The government is offering tax credits and rebates for customers of a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt. Also, a Jacksonville area energy company is offering free charging equipment these cars.
The Nissan Leaf can travel 73 miles on its battery. It is equivalent to driving 99 miles to the gallon, while having zero emissions. The environment friendly car also uses a solar-powered radio along with a system called “Carwings,” that shows charging stations on a map and tracks energy consumption. Due to the quiet nature of the electric car, it has a system that sends a warning sound to alert pedestrians of its presence.
The Chevy Volt can travel 35 miles on its battery until a gasoline generator can provide the car with 344 more miles. This is equivalent to receiving 94 miles per gallon on the battery and 37 miles per gallon through generated power. The car holds 9 gallons of gas, which is only used when the battery is low, and produces low emissions while the generator is in use. The Volt has regenerative braking which can charge the battery while the brakes are applied.
The government is offering tax credits and rebates for customers of a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt. Also, a Jacksonville area energy company is offering free charging equipment these cars.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Chevrolet Capitalizes on Solar Energy
These days, alternative energy sources are all the buzz; who uses fossil fuels anymore? The electric car has already begun the process of divorcing gasoline-powered engines. Chevrolet has taken this technology a step further, using solar canopies to reduce the energy consumption of electric cars.
The solar canopies are a part of Chevy’s “Green Zone Initiative” and will use energy from the sun to charge about 12 Chevrolet Volts daily at Chevy dealers across North America. What’s more, the additional energy produced from the solar canopies can be used as an added power source for the dealership.
The canopies are not only eco-friendly; they are also free. And why wouldn’t dealerships jump on this opportunity? The canopies are beneficial for the environment, plus they reduce the number on the dealers’ electric bills. Chris Perry, vice president of Global Chevrolet Marketing and Strategy, states that, “Just one of these canopies provides…more than 25 percent of a dealership’s energy consumption.” If that isn’t music to a dealer’s ears, I don’t know what is.
Chevrolet invested $7.5 million into a company called Sunlogics to install these canopies. With its Green Zone Initiative, Chevrolet will be the leader in solar power usage among automotive companies.
Two dealers have already jumped on the bandwagon, one in Modesto, California and one in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Judging by the effectiveness of the solar panels and the desire for more eco-friendly energy sources, it is likely that this sun-powered trend will spread like wildfire.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Nothing like a Little Competition: the Leaf & the Volt
It seems that nothing can go wrong for either the Nissan Leaf or the Chevrolet Volt. No matter the ebb and flow of sales and production, both brands remain continuously optimistic, pledging that the future is bright for electric vehicles.
But no matter the apparent confidence of either Nissan or Chevrolet, the facts tell another side of the story.
From January of 2011 to June, Nissan sold 3,875 Leafs while the Volt’s sales numbers teetered off at 2,745. However, there is more to this reality than sales figures alone.
Because General Motors is currently expanding and updating the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant where the Volt is produced, not one Volt was built in the month of June. Production is planned to resume in mid-July but the Volt will not be widely available again until August. As of now, only 200 models are available for purchase in the United States.
Certainly this lull in production is a great opportunity for Nissan to take advantage of. As such, Nissan is planning on pumping out six to seven thousand Leafs by the end of the summer, hoping to secure its lead.
Keeping with the brother/sister mentality, Chevrolet has planned an offensive. Since summer sales for the Volt will be minimal, Chevrolet plans to use its new and improved assembly plant to supply 16,000 Volts by the end of 2011.
But estimated production numbers and 2011 sales figures cannot predict the future. It was not too long ago that Nissan was dealing with slowed production due to the March earthquake in Japan, sinking to the number two spot. But they recovered and eventually secured the lead. The Leaf is the more affordable of the two, but the Volt offers a backup gasoline system in addition to its electric battery, a more comforting set-up for consumers than electric alone.
From their short six months of production and sales, these electric vehicles have constantly been on opposite sides of the ring. There is not straddling the fence: either you are a Volt person or a Leaf person. Surely in the future, the electric car will become more mainstream and this rivalry will be diminished. Until then, the Volt/Leaf competition lives on.
But no matter the apparent confidence of either Nissan or Chevrolet, the facts tell another side of the story.
From January of 2011 to June, Nissan sold 3,875 Leafs while the Volt’s sales numbers teetered off at 2,745. However, there is more to this reality than sales figures alone.
Because General Motors is currently expanding and updating the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant where the Volt is produced, not one Volt was built in the month of June. Production is planned to resume in mid-July but the Volt will not be widely available again until August. As of now, only 200 models are available for purchase in the United States.
Certainly this lull in production is a great opportunity for Nissan to take advantage of. As such, Nissan is planning on pumping out six to seven thousand Leafs by the end of the summer, hoping to secure its lead.
Keeping with the brother/sister mentality, Chevrolet has planned an offensive. Since summer sales for the Volt will be minimal, Chevrolet plans to use its new and improved assembly plant to supply 16,000 Volts by the end of 2011.
But estimated production numbers and 2011 sales figures cannot predict the future. It was not too long ago that Nissan was dealing with slowed production due to the March earthquake in Japan, sinking to the number two spot. But they recovered and eventually secured the lead. The Leaf is the more affordable of the two, but the Volt offers a backup gasoline system in addition to its electric battery, a more comforting set-up for consumers than electric alone.
From their short six months of production and sales, these electric vehicles have constantly been on opposite sides of the ring. There is not straddling the fence: either you are a Volt person or a Leaf person. Surely in the future, the electric car will become more mainstream and this rivalry will be diminished. Until then, the Volt/Leaf competition lives on.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Future of Electric Vehicles: Refillable Liquid Batteries
One argument that continues to resurface amongst electric car bashers is the six to eight hour charging period that most electric batteries have. All those arguments may be coming to close in the near future thanks to an ingenious solution brought to us by the folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In an effort to minimize the discrepancy in refueling time between conventional and electric vehicles, MIT has developed refillable liquid batteries with which all-electric cars could be charged in a matter of minutes. Although the project is in its infancy, much speculation has been made as to whether the batteries would be refilled at a pump the same way we get our gasoline now.
Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
The battery essentially works by pumping a solution with solid particles, which are either cathodes or anodes, through the battery’s circuit. It is interesting to note that MIT’s new battery be highly compartmentalized and will house the two functions of the battery (storing and releasing energy) in separate, physically-partitioned areas. This solution, which has been lovingly nicknamed “Cambridge crude” by professor W. Craig Carter, appears in the form of black, viscous goo.
Due to the new design, MIT speculates that the battery will be both smaller and less expensive than the EV batteries being produced today. Thought this product may not hit markets soon, a company known as 24M Technologies has staked its claim by fueling the project with a 16 million dollar investment. MIT hope that by pairing with 24M Technologies the commercialization of the battery will enjoy huge success.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
MIT Says Refillable Liquid Batteries Are the Way of the Future
One argument that continues to resurface amongst electric car bashers is the six to eight hour charging period that most electric batteries have. All those arguments may be coming to close in the near future thanks to an ingenious solution brought to us by the folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In an effort to minimize the discrepancy in refueling time between conventional and electric vehicles, MIT has developed refillable liquid batteries with which all-electric cars could be charged in a matter of minutes. Although the project is in its infancy, much speculation has been made as to whether the batteries would be refilled at a pump the same way we get our gasoline now.
The battery essentially works by pumping a solution with solid particles, which are either cathodes or anodes, through the battery’s circuit. It is interesting to note that MIT’s new battery be highly compartmentalized and will house the two functions of the battery (storing and releasing energy) in separate, physically-partitioned areas. This solution, which has been lovingly nicknamed “Cambridge crude” by professor W. Craig Carter, appears in the form of black, viscous goo.
Due to the new design, MIT speculates that the battery will be both smaller and less expensive than the EV batteries being produced today. Thought this product may not hit markets soon, a company known as 24M Technologies has staked its claim by fueling the project with a 16 million dollar investment. MIT hope that by pairing with 24M Technologies the commercialization of the battery will enjoy huge success.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
"Toyota Friend" Reminds You to Take Care of Your Car
Your cell phone vibrates. Is that a text message, a phone call? No, it’s just a message from your Toyota Prius plug-in, reminding you it needs a charge.
That’s right, Toyota Motor Corporation is developing a social networking service exclusively for Toyota drivers called Toyota Friend. Toyota’s President, Akio Toyoda, hopes that Toyota Friend will offer a way to create a friendship between car and driver. Just as people use Facebook and Twitter to connect with friends, Toyota Friend is meant to link Toyota drivers to their cars, dealerships, and fellow Toyota owners. Indeed, users can message each other, browse for charging stations, find vehicle tips, and even post their findings to other popular social networking sites.
While Toyota Friend has not been launched yet, it is set to premiere in 2012 in Japan. Toyota is working on the project with both Microsoft and San Francisco-based Salesforce.com, making it likely that Toyota Friend will be introduced in the U.S. and worldwide later in the year.
More than just a networking service, Toyota Friend has the potential to take the guess work out of car maintenance. It has the capability to notify users when their car needs an inspection and will automatically make an appointment with a Toyota dealership. And it doesn’t matter where you are when your car is in need: Toyota Friend’s alerts can be viewed via cell phone, computer, and even the car’s interior display.
The next time you are driving in your Toyota Prius, talking to it about its low battery or asking if something is wrong with the engine, consider that in the future your car just might talk back.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Car2go Car Rental Program Taking Off For Daimler & smart Cars
Daimler has added Hamburg, Amsterdam and Vancouver, Canada in the past month as new operating locations for its car2go car rental program. The additions of both offices have doubled the operating programs for Daimler. The system uses a fleet of environmentally-friendly smart fortwo and smart fortwo electric vehicles for users to utilize on a per-minute car rental basis.
Three years ago, Daimler rolled out the car2go program in Ulm, Germany. The program was such a hit with the smart cars that they expanded the operations to the USA a year ago in Austin, Texas. Vancouver will now inherit a fleet of 225 smart fortwo models to provide fuel-efficient driving for users (33 city/41 hwy mpg). The Amsterdam location will have 300 new smart fortwo electric versions of the smart car. The electric model is 100% electric and allows drivers to travel anywhere from 63-98 miles on a full charge.
Car2go allows users to use smart cars throughout the city on demand or reserved a day in advance. Users pay a one-time registration fee to become a car2go member. Price for use of the smart car will depend on how long and far users drive. The longer the user drives, the lower the price. The standard price includes fuel, parking, insurance, maintenance and mileage.
The program was designed with certain elements to improve current car rental programs. Car2go prices are based on per minute rather than the popular per hour rate. Users have more flexibility with a per-minute price model so they can utilize the car as they see fit. In addition, renters can drive the smart car one way and not return it to the original location they picked it up at. Finally, users also get the benefit of parking in public spots, car2go spots or even city permit spots, offering parking ease for users.
Overall, the system offers an easy, inexpensive way to have quick access to a car. Owning cars is an afterthought in the locations that car2go is found at so users are thrilled to have the program there.
Three years ago, Daimler rolled out the car2go program in Ulm, Germany. The program was such a hit with the smart cars that they expanded the operations to the USA a year ago in Austin, Texas. Vancouver will now inherit a fleet of 225 smart fortwo models to provide fuel-efficient driving for users (33 city/41 hwy mpg). The Amsterdam location will have 300 new smart fortwo electric versions of the smart car. The electric model is 100% electric and allows drivers to travel anywhere from 63-98 miles on a full charge.
Car2go allows users to use smart cars throughout the city on demand or reserved a day in advance. Users pay a one-time registration fee to become a car2go member. Price for use of the smart car will depend on how long and far users drive. The longer the user drives, the lower the price. The standard price includes fuel, parking, insurance, maintenance and mileage. The program was designed with certain elements to improve current car rental programs. Car2go prices are based on per minute rather than the popular per hour rate. Users have more flexibility with a per-minute price model so they can utilize the car as they see fit. In addition, renters can drive the smart car one way and not return it to the original location they picked it up at. Finally, users also get the benefit of parking in public spots, car2go spots or even city permit spots, offering parking ease for users.
Overall, the system offers an easy, inexpensive way to have quick access to a car. Owning cars is an afterthought in the locations that car2go is found at so users are thrilled to have the program there.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Electric Cars Will Soon Come on Strong
Although there are not many electric vehicles on the road today, in a few years the availability and diversity of plug-in cars may be greater than any of us know what to do with. Almost every automaker including the big and small plan to have an all-electric vehicle out by 2012; Toyota plans to have three. There are many start-up companies that are placing their futures on the line with the emergence of the electric car market. Companies like Wheego and Fisker are staring their entrance into the car market with electric-cars.
Despite all of the possible offerings of electric cars, fewer than 7% of Americans say they would consider buying a plug-in vehicle. Of the few that would buy even fewer are willing to risk it on an unknown company. The dooming statistics don’t scare the big automakers because their futures do not rely solely on sales of plug-in vehicles; but for some of the smaller companies it’s electric cars or bust.
The smaller companies plan to compete with the bigger guys in customer service and specialization. Wheego’s CEO says “if you email me as CEO, you’re going to get a response back.” Also, the smaller guys don’t need to sell as many cars to stay afloat. Fisker Automotive plans to sell luxury plug-in sedan that will not be direct competition for cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf.
By 2012 we may be seeing as many as 14 different electric plug-in vehicles for sale. Experts believe the market will be similar to the hybrid market, with one model taking half the sales and the others competing for the rest.
Despite all of the possible offerings of electric cars, fewer than 7% of Americans say they would consider buying a plug-in vehicle. Of the few that would buy even fewer are willing to risk it on an unknown company. The dooming statistics don’t scare the big automakers because their futures do not rely solely on sales of plug-in vehicles; but for some of the smaller companies it’s electric cars or bust.
The smaller companies plan to compete with the bigger guys in customer service and specialization. Wheego’s CEO says “if you email me as CEO, you’re going to get a response back.” Also, the smaller guys don’t need to sell as many cars to stay afloat. Fisker Automotive plans to sell luxury plug-in sedan that will not be direct competition for cars like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf.
By 2012 we may be seeing as many as 14 different electric plug-in vehicles for sale. Experts believe the market will be similar to the hybrid market, with one model taking half the sales and the others competing for the rest.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Electric Cars Are (Almost) Here
After hearing about them for years, the time has come for two of the largest auto manufacturers to begin rolling out electric cars. Nissan and General Motors are ready to introduce plug-ins by the end of 2010, and several other automakers, including Toyota and Ford, have announced plans to launch electric cars in 2011.
Now I know electric cars are eco-friendly and budget-friendly, as they eliminate the cost of fuel, but I must admit the idea scares me. I was the proud owner of an electric Barbie car as a child, and I still have vivid memories of waiting hours for my car to charge, only to have it run for 30 minutes and leave me stranded on the sidewalk. So when I heard that we would be seeing plug-ins before the end of the year, I decided to do some research to answer some FAQ and ease my fears.
1. How far can you travel before charges?
Depends on the car, but the range is 50 to over 200 miles. The Nissan Leaf will be able to travel up to 100 miles when fully charged.
2. How long will it take to charge?
Rapid charging can charge a battery in 30 minutes. However, the Nissan Leaf will take up to 8 hours to fully charge a dead battery.
3. Where do you charge?
Currently, electric owners are expected to do 80% of charging at home, especially overnight. There are public charging stations in some parking garages and shopping centers. Soon Charging systems will be installed in Best Buy parking lots, and BP and ARCO stations. The Obama Administration has set a goal to have 20,000 charging stations installed nationwide by 2012.
4. What kind of special maintenance do electric cars require?
Electric cars do not require oil changes or tune-ups, and they have 1/10 as many parts as gas cars, so maintenance is relatively easy. The battery will need to be checked often, and may need to be watered. The connections will need to be kept clean and tight, and tires checked.
5. How fast can electric cars travel?
Depends on the car, but most can reach 55-65 mph and some may reach 85-90 mph
Now I know electric cars are eco-friendly and budget-friendly, as they eliminate the cost of fuel, but I must admit the idea scares me. I was the proud owner of an electric Barbie car as a child, and I still have vivid memories of waiting hours for my car to charge, only to have it run for 30 minutes and leave me stranded on the sidewalk. So when I heard that we would be seeing plug-ins before the end of the year, I decided to do some research to answer some FAQ and ease my fears.
1. How far can you travel before charges?
Depends on the car, but the range is 50 to over 200 miles. The Nissan Leaf will be able to travel up to 100 miles when fully charged.
2. How long will it take to charge?
Rapid charging can charge a battery in 30 minutes. However, the Nissan Leaf will take up to 8 hours to fully charge a dead battery.
3. Where do you charge?
Currently, electric owners are expected to do 80% of charging at home, especially overnight. There are public charging stations in some parking garages and shopping centers. Soon Charging systems will be installed in Best Buy parking lots, and BP and ARCO stations. The Obama Administration has set a goal to have 20,000 charging stations installed nationwide by 2012.
4. What kind of special maintenance do electric cars require?
Electric cars do not require oil changes or tune-ups, and they have 1/10 as many parts as gas cars, so maintenance is relatively easy. The battery will need to be checked often, and may need to be watered. The connections will need to be kept clean and tight, and tires checked.
5. How fast can electric cars travel?
Depends on the car, but most can reach 55-65 mph and some may reach 85-90 mph
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)