Monday, May 11, 2009

Electric Cars On The Way

Hey, James I see your comments but I'm not sure how to respond to you... you can e-mail me at aikeru [at] gmail [dot] com

I think it's always exciting to see yet another manufacturer starting on a BEV :) here's a list of the ones I've found so far:

Who doesn't love the Tesla Model S sedan? 300mi. range with a 45minute "quick-charge" at $49,9k
http://www.teslamotors.com/models/index.php
Tesla is also supplying Mercedes-Benz with batteries for their EV
http://www.leftlanenews.com/tesla-to-provide-lithium-ion-batteries-to-mercedes-benz.html
Remember the "Miles EV"? 80+mph, 120+mi range XS500 set to be $30k-$35k
http://www.zoomilife.com/2008/11/22/miles-automotive-introduces-xs500-electric-sedan/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/08/30000_electric.php
Subaru's sub-$20k R1e which can recharge in 15 minutes with a 124mi. range
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/03/subaru-electric-cars-r1e-g4e-new-york.php
Dodge's beautiful EV sports car 150-200mi., 0-60 <5sec. four hour charge at 220v
http://jalopnik.com/5053495/chrysler-unveils-dodge-ev-a-tesla+like-all+electric-sports-car
BMW's Electric Mini
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/bmw-electric-mini-cooper-california.php
Nissan's unnamed electric - it will be a 4 door, FWD hatchback. They have the interesting idea of leasing the batteries and having a reduced price for the car itself...
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2009-05-07-nissan-electric-car-review_N.htm
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/23/nissans-2010-electric-car-in-u-s-will-be-price-competitive-wit/
Indian-made REVA Electric Car (75mi., 50mph, 90% charge in 1 hour)
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/reva-l-ion.php
Electric Tango 0-60 in 4 seconds
http://www.tangoelectriccar.com/
http://hackedgadgets.com/2009/01/17/tango-electric-car-good-in-snow-and-faster-than-the-tesla/
Mercedes-Benz developing BEV, plans to eliminate fossil by 2015
http://www.greencar.com/articles/preview-mercedes-bluezero-electric-cars.php
http://www.hybridcars.com/types-systems/mercedes-electric-cars-swiss-army-25359.html
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/23/electric-mercedes-benz-coming-in-2010/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/mercedes-eliminate-petroleum-7-years-2015.php
GM's Chevy Volt - well, it's not 100% BEV seeing as they added a gasoline generator to recharge the batteries, but for people who need 1 car that can refuel at a gas station on a long trip, it may be ideal.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/27/what-will-the-chevy-volt-cost-depends-on-the-price-of-gas-at-th/
http://gm-volt.com/
Fisker's Karma is much like the volt, but at $80km, 125mph and a 50mi. range before gas generator
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/fisker-automotive-karma-detroit-center.php
Ford to bring pure Ford Focus BEV to market in 2011
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/05/ford-invests-550-million-michigan-plant-focus-electric-car-bev.php?daylife=1&dcitc=daylife-article
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/autos/ford_electric/index.htm
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090202/AUTO01/902020354
Chinese BYD's E6 who Warren Buffet has invested in
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/13/technology/gunther_electric.fortune/
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/01/byd-shows-produ.html
Toyota FT-EV
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/toyota/2009-toyota-ft-ev-ar69094.html
http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/toyota-ft-ev.html
Mitsubishi MiEV
http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=124867/pageNumber=1
Th!nk City electric car - a four-seater with 110 mile range and top speed of 65 mph, priced under $25,000, made from 95% recyclable materials
http://gas2.org/2008/04/23/affordable-electric-cars-coming-to-us-in-2009/
Google invested in Aptera Motors, their Type 1 will sell for $27k
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/google-invests-aptera-motors-actacell-battery.php
Jeep EV and Chrysler Minivan EV
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/chrysler-electric-cars-prototypes-dodge-jeep-minivan-ev.php
Lightning GT 0-60 in 4 seconds, beautiful and very, very expensive
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_GT

Even though it's not at all practical, if you've seen the super-fast "Eliica" electric car, they shoudl be making them for sale at about $255k ea.:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/30/team-hopes-to-build-200-eight-wheeled-eliica-electric-cars/

Honda seems to have a negative view of BEV or PHEV...
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/honda-poo-poos-plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles-phev/
But Honda will be making a battery electric motorcycle
http://www.thebikergene.com/electric-hybrids/honda-electric-motorcycle-to-debut-in-2010/

Check out "Better Place" with their quick-recharge and battery swap-out stations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=iwsCmeS4mI4
They're already doing things in Australia, Hawaii, Israel and elsewhere!

Did you enjoy "Who Killed the Electric Car"? Well, there's a new movie coming out: "Revenge of the Electric Car"
http://revengeoftheelectriccar.com/

I don't really care for the NEV thing myself, but China's got a cheap one
Chinese "Fly Bo" 40mph with 70-150mi. range at $10k
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/12/16/video-fly-bo-a-150-mile-range-smart-look-a-like-ev-on-sale/
http://greenhome.huddler.com/products/fly-bo-6000-2-ev

I got some of my info here:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/17-electric-cars-overview-2005-to-2008.php
http://www.treehugger.com/galleries/2009/01/slideshow-gallery-23-electric-cars-evs.php?page=23

I'm also still eagerly awaiting the Automotive X-Prize :)
http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/teams

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