Honda’s UX-3 prototype Personal Mobility Device is pretty cool. Appears to be inspired by the Segway, most likely for indoor use. Seems ideal for large building transportation (malls, hospitals, etc.) In any case, their promo video is worth watching.
Aptera Motors, manufacturers of some fantastic electric commuter cars, has a nice newsletter that you might want to give a try. It covers product news and some industry trends. You can subscribe on their home page.
Smith Electric, an international manufacturer of commercial electric vehicles, announced this week that their first electric truck has rolled off their new Kansas City manufacturing facility. The have an impressive range of vehicles from the 2.3 ton Ampere van to the 12 ton Newton. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Myers Motors, the Ohio-based all electric car company has followed up their single passenger all electric NmG (no more gas) with a two passenger model to be named via an on-line competition. You can order one beginning next week. These cool cars travel about 60 miles between charges and may be the first of a series of practical, affordable all-electrics coming in at about $30,000.
Govenor Kaine’s office announced a partnership with Dominion Power to establish electric car charging stations at several rest stops. From the Govenor’s press release…
“Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced as part of his Renew Virginia initiative a partnership with Dominion Virginia Power to install electric vehicle charging stations at certain state rest areas. These charging stations, installed at no cost to the state, are designed to accommodate most of today’s hybrid electric vehicles and use of the stations will be complimentary. Earlier this month the first electric vehicle charging stations were installed at the westbound New Kent Safety Rest Area on Interstate 64 and can charge up to four vehicles at a time. “
EV World reports on the Renault Twizy. The all electric commuter looks a bit like a Smart Car and is powered by a 15kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Passengers sit in tandem. There is a short video of the Twizy posted.
CNET reports on the hybrid plug-in Hummer H3 from Raser Technologies. The idea of an environmentally-friendly Hummer might take some getting used to, with that particular vehicle being used for years as the prime example of an inefficient gas-guzzler. But there are jumbo shrimp, so there’s no reason we can’t have a “green” Hummer too.
What’s more interesting about the article is that you have another example of different MPG calculation methods muddling the marketing message. As the CNET caption puts it:
Raser’s Hummer H3E gets 35 mpg, 100 mpg, or 190 mpg in city. It depends on how you calculate mileage.
Efficiency claims for “regular” cars have always been a mess, with the distinction between city and highway miles, all the footnotes about ideal conditions, and other variables throws into the mix.
With more and more electric and hybrid cars coming on the market, consumers are going to have a hard time comparing apples to apples if the industry doesn’t come up with a sensible, fair, and consistent means of measuring efficiency. Maybe MPGs aren’t the way to go any more? Maybe we need a new number or indicator altogether…