So much for the myth of "clean coal", eh?
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-sun-a-fossil-fuels/1142
So much for the myth of "clean coal", eh?
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-sun-a-fossil-fuels/1142
City Trike is a new start up that is offering 3 different styles of pedal/electric trikes; The City Trike Cargo, The City Trike 2Go, and the City Trike Taxi. These are designed with weather protection canopies, cargo carrying capacity, 250 watt to 750 watt front hub motors (depending on the market), easily swappable 48 Volt [...]
http://electricbikereport.com/e-bike-news-city-trike-so-cal-e-bike-tou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgQjIDtYw2g&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: fullychargedshow
It looks likely but I may be reading too much into tonight’s press release. Ford issued a press release tonight, “Ford Achieves All-Time High Hybrid Share and Toyota Slides, as Fusion Hybrid Closes in on Another Sales Record.” Ford notes … Continue reading →
Predictably, the gas Neanderthals [maybe I should pull a GM and trademark this term ;-)] are claiming this video (above) showing a Tesla Model S leaving a Dodge Viper in the dust is a farce, that it's a so-called case of "sandbagging", meaning an allegedly incompotent driver of the gasoline powered Viper not doing the Viper justice.
And, I'm oh SOOO sure that the critics could FOR SURE do so much better than this driver because they're way more "manly" than him, right? (Sorry, to me, it really does seem as if this is ultimately all about a misplaced and outdated macho notion in which the old "stickshift" car ends up taking a backseat to the "feminine", one-gear EV, thereby offending some folks' ridiculous and narrow sense of "manliness").
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-evs-a-phevs/1141-tesla-
What is a “fat” electric bike? Well it’s basically the monster truck of the electric bike world! These “fat” e-bikes generally have tires that are 4+ inches wide and they are designed to handle all sorts of terrain like snow, sand, rough trails, the urban jungle (curbs, stairs) and anything else you can think of. [...]
Kiplinger praised the Ford C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi recently. The Ford C-Max Hybrid won in the ten best values for new 2013 car models. The hybrid won out of 1,693 2013 models based on performance, value, safety and Kiplinger’s driving … Continue reading →
It has been my great pleasure to read a pre-release version of the book “Battery Power Management for Portable Devices“, by TI scientists Yevgen Barsukov and Jinrong Qian, and to then write a foreword for it. The book will come … Continue reading →
http://liionbms.com/blog/2013/01/battery-power-management-for-portable
The only way that a battery manufacturer can insure the safety of a battery is if a switch is included in the battery and the BMS has full control of that switch. The Li-ion batteries in the Dreamliner do include … Continue reading →
http://liionbms.com/blog/2013/01/unlike-dreamliner-battery-elithion-ba
Answer: WeatherTech makes the FloorLiner DigitalFit Mat for the C-Max Hybrid and Energi. It’s available in black, tan or gray for $99.95 for the first row only and $179.90 for the … Continue reading →
Answer: Maybe. It’s listed as an option on page 176 of the manual. MotorTrend lists an engine block heater as a $35 option for any C-Max Hybrid or Energi but for fleet sales only. It’s not listed as an option at the Ford.com … Continue reading →
In the US there is the Federal Tax Credit of $3751 for the C-Max Energi and various state tax credits for California, New York, and many other states. Our Canadian neighbors have various incentives to buy or lease a C-Max … Continue reading →
During the past six years, my wife Julie and I have generated 60 megawatt hours of electricity with our 7.5 kW home solar system – and we’ve driven more than 60,000 of what SolarChargedDriving.Com calls Sun Miles®, meaning miles driven by an electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) whose batteries have been charged using solar energy and/or using electricity from kWh credits amassed via solar offset generation.
Differently put, for the past six years, we’ve owned our own solar micro power plant.
By July of 2012, the $30,000 we spent on our solar PV system was completely recovered by the savings in utility and gasoline cost.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/news/scd-editorials/1140-ev-solar-pv-de
Join Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield and Mark Chatterley from Zero Carbon World, and guest Mark Webb-Johnson from the Open Vehicle Monitoring System project as they discuss the week’s news in the world of electric cars, including the latest developments from the Open Vehicle Monitoring System, the reduced-price 2012 Nissan Leaf in the UK, Chevy’s latest Volt social media advertising and much more. [...]
http://www.transportevolved.com/2013/01/transport-evolved-episode-135-
Imagine losing a loved one or a friend in a car accident caused by someone else who was texting/surfing while driving. Imagine being severely injured by such a driver -- and losing all of your life savings to medical bills you never expected you'd have to pay that resulted from someone else's irresponsibility and selfishness.
That's what happened to people interviewed for this powerful video segment (see video embedded at top of this entry) on Rock Center with Brian Williams about the texting/surfing while driving epidemic. Its an epidemic that's killing thousands of people and injuring hundreds of thousands every year in the United States.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-driving/1139-texting-an
There's not much more to add to this 'infographic' that came across my Facebook newsfeed recently: Germany, with a national feed-in tariff tilted toward individual solar installations, is leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S on solar.
And, as this infographic notes -- and, as I, myself, have noted in previous blog entries, there's plenty of irony in this fact.
After all, the U.S. likes to cast itself as the world leader in free-market-ism and the biggest champion of the small (business) guy. But when it comes to electricity production, we're all about helping the big guys and utility monopolies, or just the opposite of what's going on in "socialist" Germany.
Go figure...
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-going-solar/1138-german
E-bike design concepts, video of the Emotion Neo Jumper full suspension e-mountain bike, Chinese e-bike production slows, and more!
http://electricbikereport.com/e-bike-news-ot-elf-on-today-show-e-bike-
Many owners of the C-Max Hybrid have reported lower than the EPA mpg for the C-Max Hybrid, a story I first wrote about in November. The ConsumerReports tests brought it to the attention of the media in December. McCuneWright LLP, the same … Continue reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itOn8mPOlDc&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: everybodywalk
No. The Ford C-Max joins many cars that are being sold without spare tires (“Automakers leave nothing to spare” in the LA Times). It has what Ford calls a “Temporary Mobility Kit”. This kit includes a compressor and canister with … Continue reading →
Renewables surged in 2012, according to FERC report Nathanael Massey, E&E reporter Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 Nearly half of all the new electrical generating capacity installed in the United States in 2012 came from renewable energy sources, according to … Continue reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCAB0g55lQw&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: fullychargedshow
Hydrogen powered vehicles can convert hydrogen into mechanical energy in two ways, through combusting the fuel to create power at the wheels or converting the hydrogen to electricity through a fuel cell, which sends the power to an electric motor. So while technically, you don’t need to plug in a fuel cell electric vehicle, it [...]
http://www.onelectriccars.com/hydrogen-fuel-cell-buses-coming-on-line-
When one thinks of hybrid vehicles these days, Ford is at the top of the list. When you are a company that is going up against some strong contenders (i.e. Toyota, Honda, etc.), you need to pack the power that it takes to come out on top. Ford dealerships now offer the 2013 Ford Fusion [...]
http://www.onelectriccars.com/the-2013-ford-fusion-hybrid-whats-new-wh
Are you looking for a way to smooth out the road and enjoy a more comfortable ride on your electric bike? If so, you may want to check out a suspension seatpost as a way to economically add a little bit of rear suspension to your bike. A suspension seatpost replaces your existing seatpost and [...]
The entire fleet of Boeing Dreamliner aircrafts is grounded, because of a fire in a Lithium-ion battery. What do we know about the cause of that fire? The cells: LPV65, made by GS Yuasa. Small prismatic, metal case, safety vents … Continue reading →
http://liionbms.com/blog/2013/01/boeing-dreamliner-li-ion-battery-fire
I have been involved in several long debates within the alternative energy community about the advantages and disadvantages of both FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle) ans BEV’s (battery electric vehicle) I want to make a quick post with the important factors of both of these systems, and their applications in the real world. In sence [...]
Back in June of 2012, I wrote about the development of Electric Vehicles (EVs) here in Paris via the Autolib car share program.
Since then, and in talking with many friends here in France about EVs, I have almost without exception encountered the pushback question: “Yes, Albert, but isn’t electric driving just all about driving around in those little toy sized cars”?
Presented with this question, I have had to invariably (until now) concede that most EV models I had knowledge about (other than the Tesla Roadster) tended towards small, low-powered, lightweight frames.
Frankly, I just hadn’t heard much about the big wheel, or “heavy” EVs. I kept telling myself, however, that surely the EV + PV model had to have applications and examples in the larger vehicle, that is, the “heavy” category.
So I set out to look for them. And I must say that I was pleasantly surprised I did not have to go very far to find examples here in France to dismiss this myth.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/news/solar-charged-driving/1137-solar-c
We had a free day in California when visiting my son in Martinez. I got out the Edmunds iPhone App and searched for inventory. A dealership in Fairfield had more than a dozen C-Max vehicles – I found C-Max heaven. … Continue reading →
Join Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield and Mark Chatterley from Zero Carbon World, and guest Chelsea Sexton as they discuss the week’s news in the world of electric cars, including the latest woes for Fisker and Coda, the 2013 NAIAS, Bob Lutz’ latest truck, and much more. Full show notes available here. Subscribe to the show via iTunes, Youtube or Blip.tv This show is sponsored [...]
http://www.transportevolved.com/2013/01/transport-evolved-episode-134-
There are two groups that test vehicles for safety in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration, NHTSA, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS. The results of the NHTSA tests are found at the Safercar website. The … Continue reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXsQFJ3JG7w&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: fullychargedshow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce0yxolt0Cw&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: everybodywalk
If the Gov’s bill passes this year.
Lots of electric bike news this week! Make sure you checkout what is happening in the world of 2 and 3 wheeled electric mobility.
http://electricbikereport.com/e-bike-news-e-kid-trailer-sba-electric-b
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze0EftlRy0E&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: everybodywalk
Toyota and Ford have Facebook pages for the Prius and C-Max. The Prius page joined Facebook May 3, 2009. The C-Max page started two years later on June 16, 2011. The C-Max page appears to be focused on the C-Max Hybrid/Energi. The … Continue reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIxSaUXfbyM&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: fullychargedshow
Although this doesn’t have much to do with the Ford C-Max, it puts the blog on “86,759 Views for All Ford C-Max Ads on YouTube” into perspective. Volkswagen, “The Bark Side”, Views 18,009,874 Honda CR-V, “Matthew’s Day Off”, Views 16,487,428 … Continue reading →
My previous entry, in which I argue that the extra range of the Tesla Model S, in particular that of the Model S with the 85 kWh battery pack, is its single most important advantage, has sparked some interesting conversation on Facebook.
Not surprisingly, a couple of folks have correctly suggested that not everyone needs 200+ miles of EV range and that, furthermore, the 70 or so miles a LEAF can consistently get you (some folks have indicated to me that the LEAF barely squeaks out 50 miles of range when driven in cold conditions), is perfectly okay for them.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-evs-a-phevs/1136-is-a-b
Sometime during Tuesday afternoon a third party Nissan LEAF forum, mynissanleaf.com got placed on a blacklist for malicious websites. Both Firefox and Google Chrome are advising against visiting the website. Visiting the website using Internet Explorer is NOT blocked, however … Continue reading →
http://jpwhitenissanleaf.com/2013/01/15/mynissanleaf-forums-on-malware
The Ford C-Max was voted by journalists on the 2013 North American Truck of the Year Jury as one of three finalists for the award. Yesterday, the same journalists chose the Dodge Ram 1500 over the Ford C-Max. Did they … Continue reading →
This blog continues to monitor the success of Ford C-Max ads on YouTube. I posted the first blog on Ford C-Max ads on October 18th, 2012. The follow-up data was taken on November 15th, December 15th 2012, and January 15th, 2013. There … Continue reading →
This is a guest post from Turbo Bob! Yes, San Diego is a hot spot for bikes. So of course, it’s even hotter for E-bikes. With many E-bike shops here in town, and several of the major E-bike companies headquartered here or nearby in Orange County and Los Angeles, you know they are popular. Ever [...]
http://electricbikereport.com/san-diego-kilowatt-hour-electric-bike-gr
The Ford C-Max was among three finalists for the North American Truck/Utility vehicle of the year award at the Detroit Auto Show. The Dodge Ram 1500 won over the C-Max and Mazda CX-5. With a tow hitch, the C-Max cannot pull … Continue reading →
The European C-Max includes an option for a trailer hitch. The C-Max manual for the Hybrid and Energi sold in the U.S. warns against towing but also includes two references to towing a trailer. On page 243, it states: “WARNING: Never tow a trailer with this vehicle. Your … Continue reading →
So, as you may have noticed, my brother stole the EV + PV thunder at our home recently, zipping down from Boulder to Aurora, Colo. with his family in their brand new Tesla Model S to become the first EV to directly plug into sunshine at our home.
More than three years ago when I started SolarChargedDriving.Com, I kind of figured we, ourselves, would be the first to plug an EV into PV -- which we put on our home in June 2010, 5.59 kW worth of it to be exact -- here. But it wasn't to be thanks to unexpected circumstances that cropped up for us a little over a year ago.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-ev-pv/1135-range-superi
Apps for C-Max Hybrid and C-Max Energi MyFord Touch Guide (MFT Guide) app. [FREE, iPad, iPhone and Android] MFT Guide emulates the user experience for MyFord Touch with SYNC. This app is an informative way to learn the basics and … Continue reading →
Andrew Rivkin of the NY Times reported: This is a graph of Americans who support subsidies for solar panels and fuel efficient vehicles, based on their views of climate change. We all support solar, even if you are a climate … Continue reading →
Michael DeVisser, President of OHM Electric Bikes, pitches his line of e-bikes to the Dragons (business moguls) for a chance to be awarded business funding!
http://electricbikereport.com/ohm-electric-bikes-dragons-den-tv-show
Join Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield from Zero Carbon World and electric car advocate and musician Deb Seymour as they discuss the weeks’ news in the world of electric cars, including the unveiling of the 2013 Nissan Leaf, Tesla’s Chademo modifications in Japan, Baja and Ice EV racing and much more. Full show notes available here. Subscribe to the [...]
http://www.transportevolved.com/2013/01/transport-evolved-episode-133-
ShawnMon a.k.a. – “AustinGreengo” from Austin Texas is a Realtor and has decided to ride a bike instead of driving his car for a year! Here is a post about his new Pedego City Commuter electric bike and how much money the average person can save per month in auto expenses if those trips are done via [...]
http://electricbikereport.com/e-bike-news-ditching-car-for-e-bike-e-tr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GblbLsANUGg&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: brammo
Warmest year ever recorded in lower 48 states came in 2012 Lauren Morello, E&E reporter Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2013 It’s official: 2012 was the warmest year ever recorded in the contiguous United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration … Continue reading →
Green cars account for just a teeny, tiny fraction of U.S. auto sales — 3.3 percent in 2012. But that teeny, tiny fraction is growing fast! BusinessGreen reports: Analyst firm Mintel estimated last month that sales of hybrid, plug-in hybrid … Continue reading →
This is just what climate change scientists predicted. Drought Still Threatens Mississippi River RELATED ARTICLESBarges Lighten Loads, Hope for Rain as Drought Lowers River Levels A new year has started, but last year’s drought is still afflicting the United States. … Continue reading →
I’ve written about different incentives for the Ford C-Max Energi, including a federal tax credit for the C-Max Energi, a tax credit for chargers, free public chargers, and HOV lane permits in New York and California. Now, some states are passing … Continue reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkFlZfyvBsQ&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: fullychargedshow
I was going to wait to put this video up, but now that I see that YouTube may give me problems due to copyright, I'm going to post it right now -- and note that it may not stay up long.
It's a short video that shows my brother's new Tesla Model S plugging into solar at our home in Aurora, Colo. and thereby breaking our 2 1/2 year old, 5.59 kW home solar system of its EV + PV 'virginity.' It's set to Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man. I aquired the music from Archive.Org and it appeared to me that the recording -- by Leonard Berstein and the New York Philharmonic was under a Creative Commons License.
YouTube doesn't seem to think so, and I frankly don't know how to verify if this 1966 recording is, or is not, in the public domain. It's rather amazing how YouTube immediately identifies content it deems to be "problematic" via automated means. I happen to think the video is fun to watch, and, in the spirit of fun, I want to get it out there for viewing by at least a few folks before maybe it gets taken down.
Hope a few of you get to enjoy it. In the meantime, I'm going to dispute YouTube's claim -- and hope they don't cancel my YouTube account as a result of my good faith dispute.
Cheers,
Christof Demont-Heinrich
Editor & Founder
SolarChargedDriving.Com
January 8, 2013
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-ev-pv/1134-an-ev-pv-lov
Ho, ho, ho, ho! Our entire utility bill (gas + electric) for December 2012 was – drum roll, or, more appropriately put, a big Santa high five, please -- $36.99!
This in a household of four people and for a house that’s 2,100 square feet (if you include the furnished basement), and which is located in Aurora, Colo., not exactly a balmy climate at this time of year. In fact, according to our December 2012 Xcel Energy bill, the average monthly temperature was 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-going-solar/1133-home-s
The Lighting GT was Great Britain’s answer to the Tesla Roadster in early development, and now the Model S in 2013. However with the current exchange rate the GT is going to set wealthy patrons back about a quarter of a million dollars or 150,000 British pounds. The electric supercar is hand built in Coventry, [...]
I recently came across a new electric bike company called DC Electro from Albuquerque, New Mexico and I contacted the inventor, Clint Wilsey, for more info on this innovative road style electric bike. Please note: DC Electro is currently testing their prototype e-bike without pedals and high performance (43 mph)! The production versions will have a bicycle drivetrain [...]
http://electricbikereport.com/dc-electro-electric-bike-video
Almost three and a half years after getting so charged up by solar-charged driving that I founded SolarChargedDriving.Com and more than two and a half years after having a 5.59 kW solar system installed on our Aurora, Colo. rooftop, we finally had an EV plug in at our home today.
No, it wasn’t ours – we’ve had to put off getting an EV due to unusual personal circumstances. But it was the next best thing: It was my brother’s new Tesla Model S.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-ev-pv/1132-our-solar-pv
Last year Blink Waived membership Fees for their services. It was assumed by many (including myself) that 2013 would see fees being charged for membership. I just received a fee waiver for 2013 Plus Membership. So what does that get … Continue reading →
http://jpwhitenissanleaf.com/2013/01/05/blink-waive-2013-membership-fe
By writing this blog, I am not stating there is not a problem with the C-Max resulting in lower than expected MPG. I don’t know. Many owners of the C-Max Hybrid are reporting lower than the EPA MPG for the … Continue reading →
I am a big fan of cargo bikes and I want to share this rough cut of LESS CAR MORE GO -a crowd sourced documentary on the birth and boom of the cargo bike. It features some of the history of Xtracycle and others. Enjoy! Adding electric assist to a cargo bike truly makes them a [...]
http://electricbikereport.com/history-of-the-american-cargo-bike-video
Today I received the email displayed below from Ford. What was interesting is the email has two marketing messages. First, it promotes the C-Max Hybrid/Energi and electrified vehicle technology. Second, it contains a special private offer of $750 cash. The … Continue reading →
Join Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield and Mark Chatterley from Zero Carbon World and John Voelcker from GreenCarReports as they discuss the week’s news in the world of electric cars, including Fisker’s legal battles with its insurance company, the new 2013 Nissan Leaf, and sales figures for 2012. Full show notes available here. Subscribe to the show via iTunes, Youtube or Blip.tv This show is sponsored [...]
http://www.transportevolved.com/2013/01/transport-evolved-episode-132-
Regarding your Dec. 26 editorial “The Winds of Washington” and the companion op-ed by Phil Gramm “The Multiple Distortions of Wind Subsidies”: I have been trying to figure out what principle underlies your opposition to encouraging the development of clean, … Continue reading →
C-Max Energi owners and prospective buyers could be interested in a little noticed part of the “Fiscal Cliff” legislation passed yesterday. There is a tax credit for installing a charger in your home. There is also a tax credit for … Continue reading →
U.S. hit with 90% of the world’s disaster costs in 2012 Evan Lehmann, E&E reporter Published: Friday, January 4, 2013 The United States led the world in disaster losses last year as a massive drought seared Midwestern crops in the … Continue reading →
We burned though 1,600 kWh of electricity and generated just 300 kWh of solar electricity in December. This represented the second straight month in which: a) we used more than 1,000 kWh of electricity; b) our electricity use far exceeded our solar-electricity generation.
Yes, all of this extra use is planned: Since we don’t have an EV yet, we’re trying to do as much of our winter heating as possible with six wall-mounted eheat.com electric heaters while using our central, natural gas burning, forced hot air furnace as little as possible.
We’re taking the extra electricity we’re burning out of a “bank” of more than 10,000 extra solar-generated kWh we’ve produced in 2 ? years with our 5.59 kW solar system.
http://solarchargeddriving.com/editors-blog/on-going-solar/1131-should
Wow! The nCycle is a new futuristic electric bike design concept that features a holographic display, smartphone integration, Bluetooth speakers, a unique integrated lock system built into the handlebars, a folding option, and more! It is definitely worth a look! The Voltitude V1, a mini folding electric bike, is set to go into production. Pretty [...]
http://electricbikereport.com/e-bike-news-ncycle-futuristic-e-bike-sol
C-Max Hybrid and Energi sales fell 11 percent from November 2012 with 4,310 vehicles sold in December. This was worse than my projection a few days ago that C-Max sales would be flat. The sales of C-Max were especially disappointing … Continue reading →
Autobytel announced today that the Ford C-Max Hybrid won its 2013 Alternative Fuel Car of the Year Award. The C-Max Hybrid was one of four finalists for the award. The other finalists were the Tesla Model S, Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid and … Continue reading →
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYc2-n0aSXI&feature=youtube_gdat
Credit: fullychargedshow