Porsche 914 EV Conversion
DECEMBER 31, 2006
I'd like to thank the wonderful folks in the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association for all their advice and input in helping me learn more about the whole electric vehicle scene. Rick Barnes has graciously allowed me to help him with his Ford Probe conversion one Saturday and John Benson, who lives a 20-minute walk away, has let me look at his Porsche 914 DC motor conversion project.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 29, 2006
There's really only one way to read the Kyodo News (Japan) report that Honda President Takeo Fukui said in an interview that Honda thinks it will be able to mass produce fuel-cell vehicles for the general market by 2018. For you and me that means gasoline-only Hondas (along with a few NGV Civics for die-hards) for at least another decade. Not surprising from this quintessential internal combusion engine company.
Plug In Partners
DECEMBER 22, 2006
B elow is a summary of our partners and fleet orders. A more complete list can be found at the campaign website www.pluginpartners.org : Partners Update – There are currently 497 entities signed on as Partners. The breakdown is as follows: Ø Cities = 49 Ø Counties/Local Governments = 28 Ø Colleges/Universities = 4 Ø Public Utilities = 161 Ø National Utility Associations = 9 Ø Businesses = 123 Ø Non-Profit Groups = 36 Ø National/Local Environmental Groups = 39 Ø Investor-Owned Utilities = 5 Ø Sta
Porsche 914 EV Conversion
DECEMBER 28, 2006
The conversion process highly recommends installing a new clutch assembly, so I ordered a clutch kit from Driving Source NW in Salem, OR (part # POR055822) on December 27th. Dennis from Driving Source NW was going to be in Portland the next day and was wonderful enough to deliver the clutch (and four CV joint gaskets in upper left of photo) to my house.
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Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 27, 2006
The MIT Technology Review reports plug-in hybrids a big 2006 energy story: "The plug-in hybrid-vehicle era begins. For years, hobbyists and a few companies have been adding bigger battery packs to hybrid vehicles, which have both battery power and an internal combustion engine, and plugging them into electrical outlets. This allows the cars, which typically rely on the electric power only for short bursts or to assist the onboard gasoline engine, to run on electricity alone for short trips.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 22, 2006
There is more to Dan Neil's recent LA Times column than a favorable review of yet another gasoline-only hybrid. He likes the Nissan Altima Hybrid well enough. Calls it a "Camry hybrid in tight jeans." More important, Neil says, is that it comes from an automaker that had scoffed at "hybridization." In December, Nissan announced its "Green Program 2010," projecting a line of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric cars utilizing lithium-ion batteries of its own manufacture.
EV Driven brings together the best content on electric vehicles from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 20, 2006
No, I'm not referring to John McCain or the other remaining defenders of the Iraq adventure, predicated on so many lies. I'm speaking about Mark Phelan, columnist for the Detroit Free Press. You see Phelan was in North Carolina recently to test drive the new Toyota Tundra. one of the ever-larger vehicles that has catapulted Toyota's profitability. 15 miles per gallon, thank you very much.
Plug In Partners
DECEMBER 14, 2006
electrons A new report from researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory indicates that there is substantial idle capacity for use in a "switch from oil to electrons " Although the full report is not yet available, here is the press release from PNNL. Mileage from Megawatts: Study finds enough electric capacity to "fill up" plug-in vehicles across much of the nation RICHLAND, Wash. – If all the cars and light trucks in the nation switched from oil to electrons, idle capacity in the
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 12, 2006
Santa Monica AltFuel Expo was by all standard measure an overwhelming success. Thousands packed the hangar to meander through exhibits by companies large and small, trade groups, government agencies and advocacy organizations. Under one roof, all the alt fuels were represented, from hydrogen to biofuels and electricity to (using less) gasoline. Panels and keynote addresses were well attended.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 8, 2006
Spent the day at the press event and setup for the Santa Monica AltFuel Expo, being held in conjunction with the LA Auto Show. One can be quite encouraged by the 30 odd alternative fuel cars of all shapes and sizes. I should feel heartened that battery electrics predominated, if you include NEVs and bikes. I drove the AC Propulsion eBox (thank you, Tom), my first time behind the wheel of the ACP system.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 6, 2006
Environmental author Mark Hertsgaard spoke at the San Francisco Department of Environment today. He has come to believe we are so far down the global warming road and its consequences that the time has come to move beyond mitigation to focus on adaptation. Of course, he said, every effort must continue to move toward a zero-carbon economy, but we need to get our collective head around the idea that our carbon emissions have warmed up the earth, and it's going to get even warmer.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 4, 2006
Titled "Not as Green as it Seems," Spiegel Online takes direct aim not only at BMW's vision of the future, but the entire hydrogen enterprise. According to this review, "BMW has created an energy-guzzling engine that only seems to be environmentally friendly -- a farcical ecomobile whose only true merit is that of illustrating the cardinal dilemma of a possible hydrogen-based economy.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 3, 2006
Almost every American who drives (and for better or worse that's most of us), must pay oil companies for the privilege. And they make a good profit. But it's not enough to sell a product and make the biggest profits in the history of the world. Today's NYTimes has a big story about one way oil and gas companies continue to steal from us. They drill on public lands and are meant to pay US royalties.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 15, 2006
Thomas Friedman of the NY Times has been on his geo-green kick for a while now, merging his eco-consciousness with his hawkish neo-liberalism. Going green is necessary, and it can get the US out of the pickle of the Mid East. Agreed. Ending our dependence on foreign oil is essential if we are to eliminate its perverting influence on our foreign policy.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 21, 2006
Changing of the guard at the auto makers' industry group the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM). Former Democratic Congressman Dave McCurdy takes his lobbying skills from Electronics to Autos. As reported at the Washington Note , just seeing a Democrat in this top spot once held by Andy Card , who went on to become Bush's Chief of Staff, is a positive sign of the times.
Plugs and Cars
DECEMBER 15, 2006
Felix Kramer of CalCars reports that this week, in the first letter of its kind, 17 Senators and 21 Representatives from both sides of the aisle wrote to Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman and Office of Management and Budget Director Robert Portman, urging that the Fiscal Year 2008 budget request include at least $90M in funding for Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs).
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