The Engine Counts

Posted by admin on Jul 21st, 2010 | 1 comment

The Engine Counts

This 1 hour program presents five different electric and hybrid car developers presenting their ideas and also gives a justification for why electric cars and hybrid cars are better. It also looks at the environmental issues involved and at the strengths and weaknesses of the internal combustion engine. It was produced for public television initially and is revealing and insightful.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com‘s standard return policy will apply

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

List Price: $ 29.95

Price: $ 29.95

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Are Electric Cars Still the Wave of the Future?

Posted by admin on Jul 17th, 2010 | 0 comments

Are Electric Cars Still the Wave of the Future?

With all the hype and then subsequent let down of the electric car movement many people are beginning to wonder if these cars will ever become mainstream or if they will remain the occasional oddity on the road. Many gas-electric hybrids by companies like Toyota, Ford, Lexus and Mercury are already enjoying some success, but true electric cars are still not capable of attaining the speed or traveling distance required to make them a viable alternative to the gas guzzling vehicles that many Americans are still driving. And the cost is still prohibitive for the average person as well. Saving money on fuel expenses isn’t likely to help the average household afford a vehicle in the ,000 to 0,000 price range any time soon.

Keeping Kurrent in the Neighborhood

Still, electric vehicles are getting better and there are some inexpensive models on the road from independent companies like American Electric with their Kurrent selling for around ,000. However, this is not a family vehicle as it only seats two people. It isn’t meant for cruising down the highway either, the manufacturers suggest that people need to “slow down” a bit anyway and tout this vehicle as a “neighborhood vehicle”. This would be perfect for college students or people who live a short distance from work, but it won’t replace your regular vehicle just yet. Meanwhile, countries like Norway have been driving electric cars like the Think which can go 112 miles on a charge at top speeds of 62 mph for years now and these vehicles are expected to hit US markets within the next couple of years for less than ,000.

Innovations on the Rise

Most Americans aren’t ready to settle for driving 30-100 miles on a charge and then waiting many hours to get back on the go and so the car manufacturers are still working hard to overcome the obstacles and build better batteries and vehicle designs that will extend the driving distance and increase speed. Ideas being developed include hydrogen fuel cells and plug-in hybrid. Either manufacturers are going to have to find a way to create electric vehicles that are comparable in performance and price to conventional vehicles or Americans are going to have to alter their lifestyles by limiting the number of hours driven per day and their driving speed. Since the latter is unlikely in the near future, automakers will have to keep working on new designs.

Weighing the Options

There are several good, inexpensive electric vehicles on the market right now for people who travel short distances to work or to the grocery store like the Kurrent, the Fly bo (made in China), and the GEM. There are also more expensive electric cars like the Venturi Fetish that top out at speeds of 100mph and have an equally impressive price tag at over 0,000 in the US. Meanwhile, it will likely still be few years into the future before the electric car becomes a viable option for the majority of people in the United States.

The American Electric Car

GM is not the first and certainly will not be the last American auto manufacturers to create a mass marketed electric car. GM did it in the 90′s with the “EV” which was a success to the consumers, but not for GM as it was more of a test car. They are working on a car, the “Volt” which will be designed to travel 40 miles solely on battery power. Something like 75% of Americans travel less than 40 miles in their commute to work. So it can provide a clean means to travel and will have a small engine for those with greater distances. The Volt is highly anticipated to charge into American’s lives.

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Electric Car Conversions – How To Turn Your Gas Guzzler Into a Green Machine

Posted by admin on Jul 11th, 2010 | 0 comments

Electric Car Conversions – How To Turn Your Gas Guzzler Into a Green Machine

Odds are, you probably own a gasoline or diesel powered vehicle. If you are considering making the switch to an electric car, there are some things you should consider before getting started.

Should I Buy a New Vehicle?

If you are in the market for an electric car, the easiest option is to simply go new car shopping. There are a few production electric cars out there right now. Be aware that while an electric car is more expensive up front, if it suits your commuting needs you can save a lot of money in the long run on fuel costs. Most production electric cars have more limited range than a gasoline vehicle, but as long as you don’t drive more than 50 miles on a daily basis, they will be just fine. Along with the electric car, you will usually receive a power station for your home, where you plug your car in to recharge overnight. Remember, power isn’t free, and has to come from somewhere. You can expect a rise in your electricity bill, but usually you are still saving money over a gasoline vehicle. And check the laws in the state you live in! California, for instance, offers some very nice incentives to owners of green alternative fuel vehicles. This includes electrically powered vehicles.

Converting Your Existing Vehicle

If you just don’t want to give up your gas guzzlers style or storage capacity, it is possible to convert your vehicle to run on electricity. Just be aware from the get go that this is an expensive project that is definitely not a do-it-yourself deal. Pretty much every active component of your vehicle will have to be replaced with versions designed for electric vehicles. But the costs will probably not be much more than purchasing an electric vehicle, and you may like the results much better.

Get in touch with some companies that specialize in alternative energy sources, such as solar power or fuel cells. Even if they can’t help you with your specific project, they can probably point you towards someone that can. The company that you finally settle on will have quite a few issues to discuss with you, such as the battery types, or whether to go pure electric, or hybrid. Electricity-generating fuel cells are another option, but can be expensive to maintain. There are many different ways to go when talking electric car conversions, and many need to be worked out with someone who knows what is what.

It’s All Worth It

But once you actually perform the conversion, you will be amazed at the difference. Electric vehicles are nearly silent, and you’ll never have to pump gas again. They have a very futuristic feel about them, with computerized systems and displays as finishing touches. And they produce no emissions whatsoever, so you are doing a major favor to the environment. Imagine how much less smog there would be in your city if everyone drove zero emission electric cars.

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