Latest Updates: electric vehicles RSS

• A New Concept for Electric Cars
  Srikant Rajan 02:17:22 pm on October 17, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: electric cars, electric vehicles, fedral law, podcars, transportation bill

  A new concept of Personal Rapid Transit (PRTs) or more commonly know as podcars may be the future of transportation , according to Jacob Roberts of Connect Ithaca.The Connect is a group of planning and building professionals, activists and students committed to having a first podcars community in USA at Ithaca.Podacrs are computer guided cars which do away with the need for drivers.They carry 2-10 passengers, giving travelers the freedom and privacy of their own car while reducing the use of fossil fuels, reducing traffic congestion and freeing up space now monopolized by parking.

  With the new transportation bill due by 2010, federal lawmakers would be looking for charting out a new course of transportation future.The concept of podcars though appealing is still some time away as car makers are still struggling to find the golden combination of low cost high value for electric cars.

   

• US Department Of Energy Grants $30 Million to Hybrid Cars
  Srikant Rajan 04:19:11 am on June 13, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: Department Of Energy, electric vehicles, ford, GE, General Electric, general motors, gm, Hybrid, lithium ion

  US Department Of Energy has announced $30 million in funding for development of electric vehicles.This amount would be split in three ways by GM ,Ford,and General Electric(GE).Under his agreement for research GM plans to focus on lithium -ion batteries and battery recharging technology for Electric Cars.Ford will focus on identifying bottlenecks in commercialization of plug in hybrid electric vehicles and GE would work towards dual battery energy storage system and its integration with the EV.Of the three Ford,seems to be making some headway in Plug-in hybrid vehicles with its recent Escape model.

  DOE also plans to a second round of research applications under its PHEV Technology Acceleration and Deployment Activity plan, in July 2008. Considering Toyotas recent decision to build up its battery capacity, this latest effort by the DOE signifies that US is still struggling to get the right  electric vehicle plan. Additionally since conclusive  results are  expected by 2014-2016,makes on wonder is this effort is worthwhile.