Posted by admin on Aug 22, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Electric Car Popularity – Reasons People Prefer Electric Cars To Gas Cars
Electric cars are not a new concept as we think, people hve been using them for a long time .In fact in the 1900′s people used more electric cars than cars run on gas.In the 1920′s when the popularity for cars was growing, gas was very costly.Starting a gas run car was also a very tedious process, there was no key to ignite the engine, in fact a rod used to fit into the front of the car which had to be turned round and round to get the car started.
Not only were gas run cars tedious to start , they emitted alot of smoke and were very noisy, as either the mufflers used were not good or there were no mufflers at all. Beleive it or not , at one point of time electric cars were so popular that there were about 50,000 electric cars running on the streets of United States .
As new discoveries were underway to make gasoline cheaper, electric cars started disappearing from the market. The discovery of the electric starter made way for the exit of the crank and the car was started with a key.A car run on gas could travel more distance than the electric car.Thus cars run on gas started getting more pouplar than the electric car.
Now, once again because of the awareness towards protecting the environment and reducing the dangers caused by the emission of the greenhouse gases ” green ” electric cars are once again getting
popularized.
Gasoline is not used to run an electric car, it runs on the energy stored in batteries in the car. 12,14 or more batteries may be needed to run the car.The operation of the electric car is similar to that a remote controlled one since both have an electric motor that turns the wheel and a battery that that runs the motor.
Charging of the batteries can either be done all night or some cars need to be plugged into a standard electric wall.There are some which need a large electric outlet, something like what is used for an electric stove or electric clothes dryer. These are the various ways electricity is stored in the cars.
The batteries used to run the cars have to be either lead acid batteries, similar to those used in torch lights or ni-cad (nickel-cadium) used to run portable viodeo recorders or video games , only much larger in size. A lot of work is going on to upgrade the batteries to hold more energy and last longer. By the time the fifth graders in 2001 are ready to drive we should have electric cars which will be able to travel 150 to 200 miles before needing to get recharged.
Manufacturers of cars and scientists are making constant endeavours to make better cars which will be more eco-friendly. The revival of electric cars and the challenge to make them more attractive is on in a big way and enticing more people to switch over to electric cars.
read more
Posted by admin on Aug 12, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
A quick look at the world of electric cars
The concept of electricity as a fuel for vehicles has been one of the most interesting ideas since a long time. It gained high significance following the fluctuating petrol and diesel prices and increasing awareness about environment among the people. The environmentalists have been vehemently supporting electricity as an alternative fuel. Thus, electric vehicles in general and electric cars in particular are popular throughout the world. Consequently, many electric vehicles have been manufactured and are being widely used across the world.
The demand for personal automobile, especially cars is increasing day by day following the availability of car finance and rising income of the people in India. In this situation, the most innovative idea of a car that runs, not on the conventional fuel like petrol and diesel, but on electricity is more than welcomed.
An ideal electric car for India is a basic, simple and reliable vehicle designed specially for local conditions using cutting edge technology and which is modular to incorporate and absorb newer technologies. The electric cars with a top speed of 40-60 kmph and a range of 50-80 km generally cover the city mobility requirements in India.
Here’s a quick look into the world of electric cars in India.
Reva
Maini Reva is India’s first electric car launched in 2001. A highly economical and environment friendly vehicle, Reva is an affordable car with the lowest running and maintenance cost. The hassles of servicing, getting the components checked and repairs will be things of the past with the Reva. There is no engine, clutch, radiator, exhaust system or carburetor. Thus the maintenance is easy and inexpensive. Reva’s Energy Management system (EMS) diagnoses and rectifies the problem of over discharging and helps in better maintenance. Further, Reva has safety features like steel space frame, side impact beams, dent-proof ABS body panels, a low voltage system, and a dual-braking system. Reva is available in REVAi Standard, REVAi AC and REVAi Classe models. The non air-conditioned base variant delivers 80 km on a full charge, while the other two air-conditioned variants will give about 60 km. Cute and super compact Reva which comfortably seat two adults and two kids offered in six colours.
Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster is a high performance all-electric sports car manufactured by the electric car firm Tesla Motors and is the first car produced by the company. Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. It has 92% average efficiency and 85% at peak power.
The Tesla Roadster was developed with design assistance from Lotus Cars, who supplied the basic chassis development technology from the Lotus Elise. Launched on 19 July 2006, series production of the Tesla Roadster began on 17 March 2008. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the wait list. Tesla Motors is now taking orders for the Model S, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge. The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes.
ZENN
ZENN (Zero Emission, No Noise) is a two-seat battery electric vehicle manufactured by ZENN Motor
read more
Posted by admin on Aug 6, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Green Cars ? A Brighter and Cleaner Future
More and more cars are on the road every day, and it is estimated that more than a billion cars will be on the roads by the year 2020. With more and more cars hitting the roads each year, many people are beginning to look for greener options for their vehicles; in fact, governments are even beginning to put pressure on car manufacturers to develop cars that are friendlier to the environment. While in the past green cars were something that most people only dreamed about, today there are a variety of options available for those who are looking for a car that is environmentally friendly.
Several Different Technology Choices
Today as more and more people become environmentally conscious, there are a variety of greener alternatives that are beginning to show up in show rooms in the United States and even in Europe. For those looking for a car that runs green, there are now several different technology choices to consider, including alternative fuels, battery cars, and of courses the ever popular hybrids.
- Alternate Fuels – Perhaps the most futuristic technology when it comes to vehicle propulsion is alternative fuels used in fuel cells, which actually happens to be the cleanest form of vehicle transportation. Several car manufacturers are investigating hydrogen powered vehicles as well as cars that are powered by ethanol instead of gasoline. Vehicles with fuel cells have great potential, although it has not been fully explored. In the past infrastructure for these fuels have been a barrier to their product, but Honda has recently opened a station in California that actually is a hydrogen fueling station. Their goal is to show how alternative fuels can perform, offering consumers a new way to look at transportation.
- Battery Cars – Another type of technology that is employed when it comes to green cars is the electric battery. Actually battery cars have a long and extensive history, and they have been researched for some time. However, it has only been recently that they have shown to be viable in the mass vehicle market. As battery technology continues to improve, more cars are being introduced into the market with battery technology. There are many green advantages to battery operated cars, including great energy efficiency and no pollution; however, until recently they have been very limited, both in speed and electric charging.
- Hybrids – When it comes to cars that are friendly to the environment, the most popular and promising technology is the hybrid technology. Hybrids are unique, in that they use electric motors and an internal combustion engine as well. Fuel efficiency is boosted, since the electric motor can take over and help to lower the usage of fuel. Since the electric motor offers support, the gasoline engine is a lot smaller and much more efficient as well. In fact, in parts of travel, the gasoline engine may shut down altogether. The energy from the gas engine also helps to charge the battery, so you don’t have to worry about recharging it, like you have to with electric battery cars, and the emissions are significantly lower than other gas powered vehicles. Probably the two most popular hybrid cars on the market today include the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight.
Greener Cars for 2007 and 2008
Today there are a variety of options available when it comes to green cars. There are far more options than there were a few years ago. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the cars that have the best green performance in 2007 and 2008.
One of the greenest cars out there on the market today is the Toyota Prius. This car has a pair of electric motors along with a four cylinder engine. The Prius has the best fuel economy of any mass market car in the United States. The Honda Insight is fairly close to the Prius as well, and also has a lot to offer. You’ll also find that another great car for the environment is the Smart For Two car. It is a
read more
Posted by admin on Jun 15, 2010 in Recent Posts | 0 comments
Battery-only cars face avalanche of negatives
I didn’t think I could come up with another reason why battery-electric cars make no sense for the foreseeable future, but try this.
The only way that unaffordable, impractical, battery-only cars will sell is because of huge government subsidies, and a few early-adopter zealots with too much money who don’t mind being stranded every couple of weeks. Germany, Britain and the rest of Europe are involved in planning massive, painful and unprecedented spending cuts to their welfare, pension and public health schemes. Guess which government budgets will survive the cull; money for rich people who already have ,000 to buy a second car, or funds for the poor (Sony Vaio VGN-FZ battery)?
So as the launch of the first battery-only electric cars approaches, the evidence is building. They cost too much. They have limited and unpredictable range. Claims that they emit zero carbon dioxide are erroneous, unless you live in nuclear-powered France, or hydroelectric Switzerland. Plans to have a store of charged batteries ready to replace spent ones might make sense in small countries like Israel and Denmark (as planned by Renault of France and Better Place), but the economics of the scheme don’t look compelling (Sony VGP-BPS8 battery).
Later this year, Peugeot and Citroen of France will launch their C-Zero and Peugeot iOn battery-only cars on the market. Both vehicles are based on the Mitsubishi iMiEV, which is already on sale here (Sony VGP-BPL9 battery).
According to Automotive News Europe, these cars, about the same size as a Honda Fit, will cost ,300 after tax but before government subsidies. The slightly bigger Nissan Leaf will be on sale later this year in Europe and next year in the United States. Here, the price is said to be under ,000 after taxes but including incentives. Next year, Renault will see the first fruits of its battery car scheme when the Fluence appears (Sony VGP-BPL11 battery).
Volt helped by gas engine
At about the same time, Chevrolet should be on the market with its extended range electric Volt (battery-only power, but augmented by gasoline engine; range 300 miles), followed by the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid in 2012 (gasoline engine, electric motor used together or separately; range 300 miles (Sony VGP-BPL15 battery).
How can battery-only cars that run for 60 miles if you’re lucky compete with electric vehicles that can use gasoline engines to extend their range, unless a government forces their sale? Battery-only vehicles are simply not yet ready for prime time and await some significant technical breakthrough (ASUS Eee PC 1000HE Battery).
Most independent automotive experts share this doubt about battery-only cars. Renault and its Nissan affiliate reckon that by 2020, 10 percent of global car sales will be battery only. This is a much higher forecast than HSBC bank’s 4.5 percent estimate. Germany’s VW is believed to project around 1.5 percent (Dell Inspiron 6400 battery).
2 percent by 2020
Professor Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management at the University of Applied Sciences in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, reckons about 2 percent of the global market in 2020 will be battery only, with 14 percent “alternative” powertrains, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, or extended range electric vehicles (SONY VAIO VGN-FZ4000 Battery).
Even by 2025, Bratzel expects battery-only to reach 5 percent, with 20 percent “alternative” — and variations on the conventional still accounting for 75 percent of global sales (Toshiba PA3399U-2BAS Battery).
“We believe pure electric vehicles will be mostly in cities and metropolitan areas and as a second car,” Bratzel said. “Also we believe there will be a lot of financial incentives — we just saw from China the other day that they will invest a lot of money to boost electric vehicles in cities (IBM ThinkPad
read more
Posted by admin on Jun 1, 2010 in Recent Posts | 5 comments
A politically polarized America is coming together over a new kind of car—the plug-in hybrid that will save drivers money, reduce pollution, and increase US security by reducing dependence on imported oil.
Plug-in Hybrids points out that, where hydrogen fuel-cell cars won’t be ready for decades, the technology for plug-in hybrids exists today. Unlike conventional hybrid cars that can’t run without gasoline, plug-in hybrids use gasoline or cheaper, cleaner, domestic electrici
Rating: 
(out of 24 reviews)
List Price: $ 16.95
Price: $ 4.95
- 2-Ways to Play: Foot accelerated for driver or radio controlled by guardians!
- Top Speed Approx 3 Miles per Hour
- COMES IN 3 COLORS -RED- YELLOW- OR SILVER
- GREAT GIFT
- LOADS OF FUN
The Ride-on Aston Martin-Style Sports Car with remote control is the ultimate ride-on toy for any child that weighs less than 50 lb. It is 120 cm long and 57 cm wide and is very easy to use, with working lights, a steering wheel that plays music, and a remote control that is easy for toddlers to control. It tops out at 3 miles per hour and is available in three colors: red, silver and yellow. For those toddlers that are tech-savvy, there is also an MP3 player connection!
2-Ways to Play: Foot
Price: $ 299.99
Related Electric Car Products
read more
