You're probably thinking of the Venture One which will be available in hybrid and full-electric versions and which will use the A123Systems battery packs. Check out this video -- even more fun than the Carver videos.

And the Venture One has sweeter, more streamlined styling too.

Hoo boy, the doomers and the Puritans are going to slam me now.

Ped Shed Blog

Especially if EESTOR makes good on their claims about their UltraCapacitors.
http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/957

Now it'd also be a lie to say that an electric car that is both conventionally Sexy, Fast, and has long range doesn't exist.
Look no further than the Tesla Roadster
http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,71414-0.html

I'm also rather interested in the Zap-X which is in development.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/zap_x.php

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Now if you are more demanding for a near term solution.  Don't focus too much on electricity.

I'd actually suggest looking at clean diesel cars coming out inbetween now and early next year.  

Clean Diesels achieve comprable performance compared to Hybrids in terms of both fuel economy and low emmisions.  With the added option of filling up on BioDiesel to make them even more green.

A little later after that?  I'd look out for the  Prius v3.0, since it's rumored to sport lithium-ion batteries rather than NiMH.  Which means it could get an amazing 94mpg.

_

Cars don't have to be small to be green.

-David Ahlport

-Why do some have three wheels? To be considered motorcycles and avoid onerous safety testing regulations to expensive for small start-ups. Which brings up the question, why can't the government help with the costs of passing these tests if we are serious about Climate protection?

-Why are others only 25 mph? Again same government regulation answer. If they are to have four tires and avoid the tests they have to be artificially limited to 25 mph.

-Why do companies keep making electric cars if it is financial suicide? Well, the market leader GEM was bought be Daimler-Chrysler, who is making lots of money, except for the SUV-heavy Chrysler part.

I am doing actual research into one of those three-wheel Xebras. While I haven't made a final decision on getting one or not, I have looked at the benefits and drawbacks. Along the why I am reexamining whether a high-horsepower, dangerously heavy, long-range car is a good idea, electric or not.

SUV are extremely efficient at killing people walking, biking, and driving other vehicles. That makes them dangerous. Yet most Americans seems to believe that "safe" means having a vehicle that is good at killing others. That is sociopathic thinking.

A safe car is one that is less likely to kill people inside or outside the vehicle. Of course SUVs also kill their owners in high numbers of rollovers too. So they fail both sides of the equation.

When their intentions are sincere I can live with the fact that some posters may not be up to speed on every aspect of what they post about, so long as questions are posed... and especially when they get answered. So thank you, EastBayBlue, you are obviously very smart and have done the research. That could come possibly across just as well without bashing others over the head?

The legislative impediment to going 4-wheel is interesting. And I agree needs further investigation and answering. I have to say as an ad-man that the thing can be as worthy as you like, but if it looks like it will fall over (amongst other stylistic shortfalls - then again the Prius isn't exactly slick to my eyes) it will suffer consumer resistance. And that needs addressing if these things are credible solutions to emissions.

Maybe you can help me here. I have taken our UK media to task with stories on these efforts before, when they stand next to one and gush that it is' 'pollution free'. By my best estimation, they are not, depending on the source of electricity to charge them. And even nuclear still produces pollution and greenhouse gasses in the form of steam, so really the exhaust pipe is just in another place.

Then there is the efficiency of energy transfer between generator to storage in vehicle at home, and then as a % of miles covered.

Maybe you could help educate me/us further?


Do before you talk. Then share. If it's also fun and inspiring, people will want to read more. They may even be inspired follow your example.

There are two reasons why electric cars are cleaner. One is efficiency. The "well-to-wheels" efficiency of electric cars is so much greater than internal combustion that it far outweighs the energy losses in electricity generation and transmission.

For example, this Tesla Motors white paper explains how electric cars are 100-300 percent more efficient than internal combustion, even including the Prius. When its electricity is generated by natural gas, the Tesla causes about one-third as much CO2 pollution as the most efficient internal combustion cars.

This detailed analysis by Professor Mark DeLucci looks at the complete life cycle of fuel emissions (see summary table, page 413). DeLucci finds that electric vehicles emit 32% less CO2 using grid electricity with the average US fuel mix. From natural gas-fired generators, CO2 is reduced 63%; from nuclear the reduction is 98%.

The other reason electric cars are better is because their electricity is generated in power plants some distance from residences. EPA criteria pollutants such as NOx, SOx and fine particulates are much easier to capture from utility smokestacks than vehicle tailpipes. Particulates are especially dangerous next to high volume roads and electric vehicles can help a great deal in that regard.

(BUT even the cleanest car will still have emissions of tire and brake dust. And the environmental and financial costs of road infrastructure construction and maintenance is huge. So regardless of car technology, mass transit is still the most environmentally superior option wherever urban form supports high ridership.)

Ped Shed Blog

To EastBayBlue, on "sociopathic thinking": Well, yes, that is extremely well put, and I hope it becomes the sensus omnium.  Unfortunately, we are over and over again told that people buy SUVs in the belief that they are doing something good, specifically helping to defend their families.

Really, this is a great anthropological project: Why is treating our neighbors as collateral damage considered a normal, acceptable part of being an upstanding, family-loving American?

As for my bimbette girlfriend Rainbow Trike, and, more substantively, BioD's suggestion that electric cars are "going nowhere" unless and until they become "sexy": Am I the only person here who finds that extremely boring?  It is probably true that I have written more about sex than anybody else on Gristmill, perhaps more than everybody else on Gristmill combined.  And yet, I cannot help feeling that BioD thinks about sex more seriously, more solemnly than anyone.  One might think he was the reverend director of a Catholic seminary, the way he insists on the moral importance of sex.

Those candy-colored, bean-shaped electric tricycles are adorable, and I for one would be very happy to ride one around town, if ever I need a vehicle.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

ZAP is working on other faster, more expensive electric car that may come on the market over the next few years, but I decided not to wait and today I'm driving a XEBRA (with stripes) back and forth to work. It's a dream not having to buy gas.

The Carver is sexy, but I first saw this video about four years ago and it looks like that haven't made any progress.

1 Car = 200 trees

a) The issue isn't appearance. The first Model A was a 'weird'  looking vehicle too. But it led to th mass acceptance of gas powered  autos.  And the practicality of gas v. horse (or other animal) won  the day.
So
1) you'll get used to the appearance.

And 2) by classic car standards there are some awesome looking evs  available.  Check out the Tesla. Or the Spyder (aka the James Dean  death car). Or the Scion.  ANd here's the point- most any car style  can be converted to electric.

What I suspect you- and most drivers - will find is that the tradeoff  to have it look like a gas powered car will not be worth the added  expense.  An electric car that weighs less than 1500 lbs will by  definition be more efficient than one that weighs 3000. So while I  love the look of the 53 Coupe d'Ville and the 57 Eldorado- I'll take  a 55 Spyder.

b) I have seen efficiency equivalents that list specs for evs in  either MPG equivalents or carbon emissions. Seek and ye shall find,  too. Meanwhile- best case (something like a twike) 550mpg.  Fully  electric, plug-in capable of fwy speed and 60-100 mile per charge  range- more like 150+/- equivalent.  ANd plug-in hybrid ~ 90-100mpg  equivalent.

Yes- energy consumption causes ...emissions.  ANd converting to  electric only changes the where, at present not so much the what.   But my thinking is that if we concentrate the emissions at the coal  plant (lotsa coal) then it's easier to manage than having the  emissions dispersed all over.  And then when we can figure out how to  convert away from coal- solar? fusion? something I know nothing bout?  - the emissions it's easy. replace the power- not the grid.

c) the other efficiency factor will be accessories.  As a long time  bike rider (HPV and motor driven) - I find heat to be nice but....  perhaps not worth the efficiency trade in an ev.  AC is useless- I  never used mine even when I lived in Tucson. Though I respect that  without it, it will be harder to cross the initial acceptance chasm.

d) How did you do your bike with batteries & trailer? I think that  could work for me.

batteries
Michael Darling
Centennial, CO


In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

Sadly, all I can add to it a tad less than encouraging on the state of play here.

It seems our government does not see electric cars as being, um.. cars. This from a leading Sunday with a green bent:

'That's no car, it's an eco-quadricycle'

Link at end of this:

http://junkk.blogspot.com/2007/03/electric-blues.html


Do before you talk. Then share. If it's also fun and inspiring, people will want to read more. They may even be inspired follow your example.

Now it'd also be a lie to say that an electric car that is both conventionally Sexy, Fast, and has long range doesn't exist. Look no further than the Tesla Roadster

From the interview with the founder of Venture One: "...the Tesla Roadster -- who's battery pack is roughly 20 times the size of ours."

Clean Diesels achieve comprable performance compared to Hybrids in terms of both fuel economy and low emmisions

Consumer Reports shows the Prius gets 25% better overall mileage than a Jetta diesel. That is not all that comparable in my book (44 MPG verses 34 MPG). And if next year's Prius actually does manage to get 94 MPG it will blow clean diesels out of the water.

EastBayBlue,

I'm with you on the dangers of heavy cars. I envision a future where most cars will be very light and will tend to bounce rather than crush.

Danothebaldyheid,

This headline is going to look very stupid very quickly...

I hope so.


In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world

Understand: cars take damage in order that that their occupants will not.

--- G. R. L. Cowan, former hydrogen-energy fan
Oxygen expands around boron fire, car goes