A new report commissioned by the NRMA on Australia's risk exposure to liquid fuels paints a grim picture. Written by retired Air Vice-Marshal John Blackburn it finds Australia at serious risk through it's dependence on foreign based oil. No doubt this report could be a template for many industrialised countries around the world. A single
Local Motors goal is to: "operate an efficient, multinational Microfactory network in order to build game-changing products and deliver a world of vehicle innovations." I think 3d printing an EV would certainly fit that description and that's exactly what they intend to do at the upcoming International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, September 8-13,
Tesla opened a showroom last November in Beijing and it looks like the Model S will roll out sometime in March. With very aggressive pricing Tesla will be taking on the luxury hold of the likes of BMW and Mercedes. Tesla also plans to roll out a supercharger network in similar fashion to what's it
Now that Ford GM and Toyota have called it quits in Australia isn't it time the skill set and infrastructure already in place is switched to developing our own home grown Electric Vehicle. From the AGL Energy White Paper 2014: "EVs are able to reduce the Australian economy’s reliance on imported liquid fuels by substituting domestically-generated
Well this one is a bit futuristic but the idea of raising solar's 20% efficiency is a dream many are chasing. This particular idea may be one that gets some traction if the conversion efficiency gains make it viable. I'd love to have one of these powering my electric car. According to a recent report in Fast
It's official - the number one EV in Europe is the Nissan Leaf. Sales in Norway where the car was the third most popular overall, helped the automaker to sell 25% more units than the next best seller. But sales in other European countries were very strong also. Sales were 200% above the previous year.
When an EV's battery storage capacity has reduced by 2o-30% (reducing the operating range by that much) the batteries are replaced. They are then recycled through programs such as those in place by Tesla or Nissan. There is however the potential for them to be used as battery storage systems and the big advantage of
EV and hybrid sales are set to surge 67% in 2014 according to IHS Automotive. That's in comparison to just 3.6% increase in overall global production. The driving factors - tightening of emission standards, introduction of compelling new models, cheaper batteries and a big drive in China to help combat city air pollution. IHS reported:
The US based green energy company Ecotricity is offering it's clients 1600 kms of free energy for their electric vehicles plus free charging at their 120 motorway based fast charge stations. The company has also signed an agreement with VW for the new e-up! EV that means a free smart meter in customers homes.
If you are a Tesla owner living in Europe or the US with access to the Tesla Supercharger network you will never have to pay for fuel again. And those networks are expanding rapidly (see our Supercharger page). Recently two Model S cars made the journey from Los Angeles to New York in 76 hours