Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com Autoblog Green http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Green http://www.autobloggreen.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/08/altcar-2009-dan-neil-some-inconvenient-questions-and-gm-hin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,



On top of the test drives (Wheego Whip), test rides (Coda Sedan) and a visit to the unlimited energy booth, a highlight of the AltCar Expo last weekend was getting to hear the LA Times' premiere auto scribe Dan Neil moderate two sessions called "Some Inconvenient Questions." Neil was lucky to have on his panels some of the most knowledgeable people in the green car world who were able to discuss and promote their favored technologies (plug-in hybrids, hydrogen, etc.) without beating each other up. Well, Neil dished out a few critical hits at the idea of hydrogen cars but also allowed Honda's Steve Ellis to rebut his doubts about the efficacy of H2 as an energy carrier for vehicles. All in all, it was an entertaining three hours (four-and-a-half if you count the Tech Review Panel that took place just before Neil's events) in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. We've got details and audio recordings of everything after the jump.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders

AltCar 2009: Dan Neil, "Some Inconvenient Questions," and GM hints it could sell Chevy Volt gliders originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar dan neilaltcar expoAltcar2009AltcarDanNeilAltcarExpodan neilDanNeildave barthmussDaveBarthmussdean taylorDeanTaylorfeaturedinconvenient questionsInconvenientQuestionsjeff curryJeffCurryrick sikesRickSikessteve elllisSteveElllistom gageTomGageThu, 08 Oct 2009 16:07:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/07/altcar-2009-riding-in-green-vehicles-triac-a-prototype-that-i/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Triac - Click above for high-res image gallery

The history of the Green Vehicles' Triac is a convoluted one. First surfacing in the summer of 2008, promised delivery dates in November and December 2008 were not kept, but Green Vehicles' Ehab Youssef and his team kept on pushing forward, taking reservations for the $24,995 three-wheeled vehicle. We saw the Triac caged in a booth at the AltCar Expo last year, but were somewhat surprised to find one cruising the parking lot this year as part of the ride and drive. After all this time waiting, we just had to hop in and see what the trike, which uses a 20 kW AC motor and a 160 amp hour lithium battery pack, is capable of. Just like our time in the Coda Sedan, we were not allowed behind the wheel, but our ten minutes in the passenger seat told us all we need to know for now. Read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Triac


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready

AltCar 2009: Riding in Green Vehicles' Triac, a prototype that is not quite ready originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoaltcar triacAltcar2009AltcarExpoAltcarTriactriactriac altcartriac electric vehicletriac evTriacAltcarTriacElectricVehicleTriacEvWed, 07 Oct 2009 19:46:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/06/altcar-2009-ef9s-unlimited-clean-energy-turbine-could-go-int/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


EF9's "unlimited clean energy" system - Click above for high-res image gallery

Mark Tanner, who does R&D for EF9 Energy Systems, was pretty wiped out by the time we got to speak with him at the end of AltCar 2009 in Santa Monica last weekend. It's understandable. He'd been explaining how his system for "unlimited clean energy" was supposed to work to hundreds of attendees for two days and was starting to question his ability to transmit the information to the people who stopped at his booth. Whether it was because this was the end of the show or for another reason, we didn't quite understand it either, but here's what we took away: Tanner claims that you can get about 81 hp of power out of a system that needs just 10 hp to work. Yeah, that's what Gov. Schwarzenegger thought, too.

Somehow, by funneling air through his turbine and using atmospheric pressure and the Bernoulli effect - the atmosphere is trying to flow into the turbine at the same rate as the air is going out - Tanner's system could return eightfold the energy put into it. He explained it as the atmosphere of the earth acting as a cache of energy that expands to form wind in the narrow channel of the turbine and spins the blades.

Tanner said the concept could be installed into an electric vehicle as well as a house. We'll let Tanner explain:



There's more numbers and details in the gallery below. Also, watch EF9's own video after the jump.

Here's another thing. Tanner is looking for about ten people to invest $5,000 each to build them ten prototype systems that he would install in their homes in order to prove that the idea is solid and to provide the investors with all of the clean energy they want. He said that it's possible he'll be back next year with a working system on display. We'll be waiting.

Gallery: EF9's "unlimited clean energy"


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.



Continue reading AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works

AltCar 2009: EF9's "unlimited clean energy" turbine could go into cars, if it works originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoAltcar2009AltcarExpobernoulli effectBernoulliEffectef9ef9 energy systemsef9 unlimited clean energyEf9EnergySystemsEf9UnlimitedCleanEnergyfeaturedmarc tannerMarcTannermark tannerMarkTannerTue, 06 Oct 2009 19:48:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-coda-sedan-test-ride-wish-we-could-drive-the-30-0/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Coda EV Sedan - click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August, members of the Diamond Bar Electric Vehicle Association were treated to rides in t he Coda all-electric sedan with Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger at the wheel. This past weekend, AutoblogGreen was given the same opportunity during the AltCar Expo at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Our 15 minutes in the passenger seat were a real tease - this is a standard-looking EV with more punch than a mid-size-sedan deserves (it felt more feisty than its 0-60 speed of just under 11 seconds sounds), and we can't wait for the chance to drive it for ourselves.

A quick refresher on what the Coda Sedan will offer: a top speed of 80 mph, seating for four/five, a 100- to 120- mile range and a sales price of under $30,000 in California (after state and federal rebates). We didn't sit in the back seat, but should have remembered to do so since we've heard a few reports that it's a tight fit. We did, however, make the most of our time sitting shotgun - after getting the car out of the clever "Break Glass In Emergency" stand it was in most of the weekend - feeling the zero-emission power and learning about where Coda is today with their first vehicle offering. Read all about it after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle

AltCar 2009: Coda Sedan test ride; wish we could drive the $30,000 (or so) electric vehicle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcar 2009altcar expoAltcar2009AltcarExpocodacoda automotivecoda electric carcoda ev test drivecoda sedancoda sedan evCodaAutomotiveCodaElectricCarCodaEvTestDriveCodaSedanCodaSedanEvkevin CzingerKevinCzingerquick spinQuickSpinMon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/05/altcar-2009-wheego-whip-quick-drive-is-this-the-cadillac-of-n/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wheego Whip - click above for high-res image gallery

Is the Wheego Whip "The Cadillac of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles"? That's one description that we heard during our very short test drive of the NEV during the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo last weekend. Marc Korchin, owner of the Green Motors electric vehicles dealership in Berkeley, rode with us around the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in the Wheego and explained why this car is, in many ways, the best he's ever sold.

Having driven the Tesla Roadster and the Dodge Circuit, we know what pure EVs are capable of. But this car costs about a sixth of what the Roadster costs - and the Circuit is just a prototype today - so we had to make sure to evaluate the Whip on its own NEV merits. Is the Wheego worth it? Find out after the jump.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs?

AltCar 2009: Wheego Whip Quick Drive - is this the Cadillac of NEVs? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>quick spinQuickSpinwheegowheego electric carWheego Whipwheego whip evWheegoElectricCarWheegoWhipWheegoWhipEvMon, 05 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Touring the show with the Governator]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/03/altcar-2009-touring-the-show-with-the-governator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Gov. Schwarzenegger learns about the Chevy Volt - click above for high-res image gallery

During the opening day of the 2009 AltCar Expo & Conference here in Santa Monica, Governor Schwarzenegger stopped by for a tour of the green vehicles on display. He learned about the Volt from Dave Barthmuss (above), sat down in a Tango and the Wheego Whip, learned about the MINI E and stopped by the California Fuel Cell Partnership's booth. He also gave a skeptical look at the guy in the booth who was promising more energy out of the system than one puts in. Of course, since this is the Governator we're talking about, he arrived and left in a caravan of large vehicles, but at least he learned a little bit more about his options for getting around should he want to ditch the giant SUVs.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Gov. Schwarzenegger tours the show


Photos copyright (C)2009 Sebastian Blanco / Weblogs, Inc.

AltCar 2009: Touring the show with the Governator originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcar 2009altcar expoaltcar SchwarzeneggerAltcar2009AltcarExpoAltcarSchwarzeneggerarnold SchwarzeneggerArnoldSchwarzeneggergov SchwarzeneggerGovSchwarzeneggerSchwarzeneggerSchwarzenegger tangoSchwarzeneggerTangotangovoltvolt SchwarzeneggerVoltSchwarzeneggerweego SchwarzeneggerWeegoSchwarzeneggerSat, 03 Oct 2009 18:09:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: California Fuel Cell Partnership giving out free t-shirts w/winning slogan]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/10/01/altcar-2009-california-fuel-cell-partnership-givin-out-free-t-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Readers had a lot of fun with the California Fuel Cell Partnership's t-shirt slogan earlier this year. The winning slogan wasn't one of the snarky options - it's "Ahead of the Pact with a Fuel Cell Stack" - and now the CaFCP is ready to start getting the word out about hydrogen via the ever-popular front-of-torso surface area. To that end, the first 500 people who either drive or ride in a fuel cell vehicle at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo this weekend will each get a free shirt. If you can't make it to the event, the Hydrogen Education Foundation will be offering the shirt (along with other designs and slogans) on their website starting later this month.

Vehicles included in the AltCar ride and drive include: the Daimler F-Cell, the Chevy Equinox FCV, the Honda FCX Clarity, the Nissan X-Trail FCV and the Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv. If you want to drive one of these, you have to be over 18 and bring a valid driver's license.

[Source: CaCFP]

AltCar 2009: California Fuel Cell Partnership giving out free t-shirts w/winning slogan originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcaraltcarexpocafcpcalifornia fuel cell partnershipCaliforniaFuelCellPartnershipsanta monica alt carsanta monica alt car expoSantaMonicaAltCarSantaMonicaAltCarExpoThu, 01 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/09/30/altcar-2009-vision-industries-to-display-fuel-cell-truck-at-san/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The annual Alt Car Expo is coming up this weekend at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and Vision Industries will be on hand to display its Tyrano semi tractor. This is no typical smoke-belching, diesel-powered semi. In fact, the only thing emitted by this hauler is water vapor.

The Tyrano is a plug-in hybrid with a hydrogen fuel cell. The truck uses 33 kg of compressed hydrogen for a 340-mile range. It's not known at this point how far the battery can propel the truck on a charge. The Tyrano is being built as part of a program to replace 16,800 diesel-powered trucks in the port of Los Angeles over the next several years. The first production units are expected in the first quarter of 2010.

[Source: Vision Motor Corp]


Continue reading AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica

AltCar 2009: Vision Industries to display fuel cell truck at Santa Monica originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt caraltcarfalsehydrogenhydrogen fuel cellhydrogen fuel cell hybridHydrogenFuelCellHydrogenFuelCellHybridtyranovision motor corpVisionMotorCorpWed, 30 Sep 2009 13:04:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Some thoughts on year three]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-some-thoughts-on-year-three/#commentsFiled under: ,


The AltCar crowd around the EV1 and the Chevy Volt. Photo to Amy Williams

The third Santa Monica Alt Car Expo has come and gone. AutoblogGreen has been lucky enough to attend each iteration of this growing expo, and being back in Santa Monica made us want to take a look back. In December 2006, the first event was held at the Barker Hanger not long after the Tesla Roadster was introduced to the world in the same hall. The Alt Car Expo has always been about showing what average people are doing in the green car space - and making that information very easy for other average people to get. The show is free and held over two days, and the attendance numbers have only gone up. Around 10,000 people attended each of the first two years, but in 2008, the first time it was held in the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, more than 15,000 attendees showed up, according to estimates from Platia Productions, the show's producer.

Things have changed through the years. As one AutoblogGreen reader, Dave S., noticed, Phoenix Motorcars did not have a booth. This disappointed him, since he flew all the way from Chicago to visit Alt Car. The Spyder was also missing and Zap! was nowhere to be found. Also, we missed Ed Begley, Jr. this year but we did get another dose of Terry Tamminen saying some of the same things and PHEV "godfather" Dr. Andy Frank was there again. I saw OKA's Miro Kefurt wandering the hall, but he didn't have his own booth this time. The OEMs - GM and Honda, at least - have their presence at the show, but it's never something new. Still, as you can see in the picture above, people loved getting some face time with the new Volt.

In any case, AltCar Santa Monica is a good show, and we're glad to cover it each year. You can read every post we've done about the show over the years here. Later this month, we'll be visiting the first ever edition of Alt Car Austin. Stay tuned.

AltCar 2008: Some thoughts on year three originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-caralt-car-austinalt-car-expoaltcaraltcar-expoaustinaustin-alt-carsanta-monica-alt-car-expoWed, 01 Oct 2008 19:29:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Terry Tamminen says green is the new red, white and blue]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-terry-tamminen-says-green-is-the-new-red-white-and/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-terry-tamminen-says-green-is-the-new-red-white-and/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/01/altcar-2008-terry-tamminen-says-green-is-the-new-red-white-and/#commentsFiled under: ,

Here's a tip for Terry Tamminen: retire the joke already. You know, the one about Arnold Schwarzenegger and whoever just introduced you as a speaker, how they were pumping iron together back in the day? We heard it about Ed Begley at the 2006 Alt Car Expo and then again at AFVI in 2007. When Tamminen told it again at this year's Alt Car Expo (listen to the audio clip below), I started to worry that he might not have anything new to say at all. But, while Tamminen is still a strong supporter of hydrogen, he didn't promote it quite as much as he has in the past. Indeed, he said that, "I think we should be talking to the about the alternatives that this expo exemplifies."

Tamminen's speech at AltCar 2008 was called "Advice for the Next President," and the 30-minute talk was a mixture of a rallying call for the green vehicle fans in the audience and specific advice for a President Obama or McCain.

Details after the jump.

Continue reading AltCar 2008: Terry Tamminen says green is the new red, white and blue

AltCar 2008: Terry Tamminen says green is the new red, white and blue originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-caralt-car-expoaltcaraltcar-expoaltcarexposanta-monicasanta-monica-alt-car-expoterry-tamminenterry-tamminen-h2terry-tamminen-hydrogenWed, 01 Oct 2008 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: TrioBike, the pedal-powered SUV for three ]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/30/altcar-2008-triobike-the-pedal-powered-suv-for-three/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/30/altcar-2008-triobike-the-pedal-powered-suv-for-three/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/30/altcar-2008-triobike-the-pedal-powered-suv-for-three/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click above to see more of the TrioBike

Not everything at the AltCar Expo was an alternative car. Some, like the Prometheus electric motorcycle and the TrioBike (above) were car alternatives. In fact, the TrioBike is really a next-generation SUV. I mean, that designation just means sports utility vehicle, right? It doesn't have to identify oversized gas-guzzling grocery getter. And what's more sports utility than pedaling your kids around?

In any case, the TrioBike is a three-wheeled cycle with a large scoop in front that seats two small children or a bunch of groceries. An extra wheel sits under the compartment and can connect to the rear end to form a normal-looking bicycle. The front end then becomes a fairly standard stroller that looks like it comes from the near future.

Regina Keith is the U.S. sales representative for TrioBike. She and her husband Robert were the first in America to order a Danish TrioBike, but there are now two in the U.S. (another is apparently in Chicago). When the Keiths found out just how difficult it was to order one, they decided it was a good business plan to try and make it easier for other Americans to buy a TrioBike and worked with the Danish company to set up distribution in the States. Interest at the Santa Monica show was high, and Robert even said that a representative from the Price is Right stopped by their booth and suggested making the TrioBike a prize on the show. If you don't want to wait for that possibility, Robert said that retail sales will begin in the near future and the price will be around $4,500 (the Keiths paid around $6,000 for theirs).

Listen here (8 min):



Gallery: AltCar 2008: TrioBike

AltCar 2008: TrioBike, the pedal-powered SUV for three originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-caralt-car-expoaltcaraltcarexporegina-keithrobert-keithsanta-monicasanta-monica-alt-car-expotrio-biketriobikeTue, 30 Sep 2008 12:39:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Let's get ready to alt-energy rummmble! (yawn)]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/30/altcar-2008-lets-get-ready-to-alt-energy-rummmble-yawn/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/30/altcar-2008-lets-get-ready-to-alt-energy-rummmble-yawn/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/30/altcar-2008-lets-get-ready-to-alt-energy-rummmble-yawn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Dr. Andy Frank, the "godfather" of the plug-in hybrid

Saturday afternoon at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo was supposed to feature an all-out technology debate between everyone's favorite gasoline alternatives. Moderated by Rick Sikes, the fleet superintendent of the City of Santa Monica, the setup was billed as "Top experts representing PHEV, all electric, Hydrids, Natural Gas, Propane, Ethanol, Biodiesel, and Hydrogen will discuss and debate the latest information on these technologies." Sikes is the perfect person to lead this type of discussion because his City's fleet uses all sorts of non-gasoline energy to move around. Here's the starting lineup, the alt-fuels and their proponents:

  • Dr. Andy Frank; professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering, UC Davis, speaking for Plug-in hybrids
  • Dave Barthmuss; group manager western region, Environment & Energy Communications Team, GM, speaking on "vehicle electrification" and GM's well-known "gas friendly to gas free" mantra
  • Steve Ellis; marketing manager for Alternative Fuel Programs, Honda, talking about hybrids and hydrogen, mostly
  • Joe Gershen; VP sales & marketing for Tellurian Biodiesel, speaking on, well, you can guess
  • Dean Taylor; senior program manager, Southern California Edison talking on and on
  • Lesley Brown Garland; president and CEO, Western Propane Gas Association on, surprise, propane

So, we've got the hook, the characters and the topic. How did it all shake down? Follow after the jump to find out.

Continue reading AltCar 2008: Let's get ready to alt-energy rummmble! (yawn)

AltCar 2008: Let's get ready to alt-energy rummmble! (yawn) originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alt-caralt-car-expoaltcar-expoaltcarexpoandy-frankdave-barthmussdean-taylorjoe-gershenlesley-brown-garlandsanta-monicasanta-monica-alt-car-exposteve-ellisTue, 30 Sep 2008 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Is the Lola EV the "poor man's Tesla"?]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-is-the-lola-ev-the-poor-mans-tesla/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-is-the-lola-ev-the-poor-mans-tesla/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-is-the-lola-ev-the-poor-mans-tesla/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above for more of the Lola EV


During the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo, someone joked to me that the Lola EV, a flashy electric kit car, was the "poor man's Tesla." Paul Pearson, the man behind the project, said, "That's a compliment," but there's really no comparison between the two other than that they're two-seat sports cars that run on batteries. The Lola EV has a 70-75 mph top speed and Pearson called it a very Southern California type of car. There are no opening doors, for example, and there's no roof (so, it may look like a convertible, but it's not).

Steve Graber of Graber Cars in Phoenix, Arizona designed the Lola EV and Pearson applied his EV knowledge to the project. Two years ago, at the Alt Car Expo, Pearson was displaying his street racer (and you can see the story of getting in touch with Zap that he describes in our talk in this old comments thread). For the new Lola, Pearson can deliver the car to a builder as everything from a body with a set of plans to an almost finished car, starting at $45,000. The big caveat: the Lola-EV's price does not include the batteries. Since Electric Custom Cars is not a licensed automaker, they can't deliver the complete vehicle to buyers. One cool part of the design is that the design calles for the batteries to sit where the doors would be, a placement that Pearson told us improved safety.

See more over at Electric Custom Cars and listen here (7 min):



Gallery: AltCar 2008: Electric Custom Cars

AltCar 2008: Is the Lola EV the "poor man's Tesla"? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lola-electric-carlola-evpaul-pearsonsteve-graberwild-electric-custom-carsMon, 29 Sep 2008 20:06:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: AMPLE taking orders for $29,999 PHEV truck, two other plug-in hybrids]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-ample-taking-orders-for-29-999-phev-truck-two-oth/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-ample-taking-orders-for-29-999-phev-truck-two-oth/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-ample-taking-orders-for-29-999-phev-truck-two-oth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The headline above is what we call a "bait & switch," and it recreates the feeling I got when I approached the AMPLE Motion booth at the AltCar Expo. AMPLE, a new company incorporated on Earth Day this year, is trying an unusual strategy to get the word out about its plug-in hybrid vehicles that are scheduled to arrive in 2010: super deep pre-order discounts. While the company's 2010 R300 plug-in truck will normally cost $75,000, the first thirty people to pre-order will be on the hook for only $29,999. A similar deal was available to visitors at the Santa Monica AltCar Expo for the E600 PHEV sedan. Original MSRP is $99,000, but the pre-order price is $47,999. While the banners at the AMPLE booth say the special offers are limited to the first 30 pre-oders, sheets that AMPLE had available at the show made it seem like only people at the show could take advantage of the deal. So, if you're interested, contact AMPLE for more information.

But what are these vehicles with the unexciting names? We spoke with AMPLE's Ted Flittner about the the company's line-up, discount and referral system (yes, if you get your friends to buy an AMPLE car, you get a referral fee) and more. You can listen to Flittner here (7 min):



Here are the preliminary details on the three plug-in hybrid vehicles AMPLE is offering:

  • For all three: 100 miles per gallon equivalent, or better. 600+ mile range with full charge and tank. Use EDI's mechanically continuously variable transmission. Lithium-ion battery pack. ABS brakes and SRS airbags standard. Recharging from a standard household outlet.
  • E600: "Epiphany" class. Four-door sedan. 60-mile all-electric range (AER). 38 mpg highway. $99,000.
  • E300: Mid-size sedan. 40-mile AER. 45 mpg highway. No price sheet available.
  • R300: "Robust" class. Compact pick-up truck (similar to a Chevy Colorado or Ford Ranger). 1,420 pounds payload. 3,150 pounds towing capability. $75,000.
All of these models will be brand-new vehicles to the customer, but will be made from existing vehicle designs that AMPLE will be licensing from other automakers. More details will be coming in April or May 2009.

AltCar 2008: AMPLE taking orders for $29,999 PHEV truck, two other plug-in hybrids originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ampleample-phevample-plug-inandy-frankplug-inplug-in hybridplug-in-hybridplug-in-hybridsPlug-inHybridted-flittnerMon, 29 Sep 2008 17:44:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Triac in the metal, deliveries to customers start in December]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-triac-in-the-metal-deliveries-to-customers-start-i/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-triac-in-the-metal-deliveries-to-customers-start-i/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-triac-in-the-metal-deliveries-to-customers-start-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click for more shots of the Triac

We heard about the Triac back in April and got more details in May. When we saw the prototype sitting on the floor of the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo floor over the weekend, we knew we needed to stop in and say hello. Ehab Youssef was there to give a rundown of the Triac, an all-electric tadpole-style three-wheeler that can go 80 mph and has a 100-mile range. The Triac uses a 20 kW AC motor and a 160 amp hour lithium battery pack and features full regen braking. The intellectual property - lithium batteries, battery management system, etc. - is engineered in the U.S. and final assembly is in San Jose, but some of the other components come from overseas.

One of the things that Youssef is quick to point out, though, is the Triac's safety features (this is a "motorcycle" in the eyes of the feds, after all, and so escapes a lot of expensive testing). "Safety is one of the primary concerns of any vehicle, and so we went well beyond the Federal motor vehicle safety standards for motorcycles," he said, "and put in all of the safety features that are possible." Some of those features are disc brakes, structural steel cage, side impact bracing.

So far, Youssef said, "several vehicles" have been reserved and Youssef's company, Green Vehicles, will start delivering the Triac to customers in December (a little later than expected). Youssef explained that the base price of $23,000 is the lowest you can find today for a highway-speed electric vehicle, and many customers are choosing to go with some of the many upgrades.

Gallery: AltCar 2008: Triac


AltCar 2008: Triac in the metal, deliveries to customers start in December originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ehab-youssefgreen-vehiclesplug-intriactriac-evMon, 29 Sep 2008 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: LA Times panel hates/loves GM, and more]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-la-times-panel-hates-loves-gm-and-more/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-la-times-panel-hates-loves-gm-and-more/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-la-times-panel-hates-loves-gm-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



For me, the highlight of the weekend's panel discussions at the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo was two guys just sitting around and chatting. The reason the hour-long freeflowing discussion between the men was so good was that they - Dan Neil (left in the picture above) and Ken Bensinger, both writers at the Los Angeles Times - were smart, funny and unafraid. Basically, it's what you want in a discussion of where things stand today in the automotive industry: two people calling it like they see it.

Introduced by LA City Councilmember Wendy Greuel, the panelists covered everything from the cars on the expo floor - Bensinger called them the Model Ts of the new generation - the just how great gas is - Neil made the very reasonable point that, from an energy perspective, "liquid petroleum kicks ass." Details on what else made up the discussion are available after the jump.

Continue reading AltCar 2008: LA Times panel hates/loves GM, and more

AltCar 2008: LA Times panel hates/loves GM, and more originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcarbob-lutzdan-neilken-bensingerla-timeslos-angelessanta-monicasanta-monica-alt-car-expowendy-greuelMon, 29 Sep 2008 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Prometheus' solar-powered electric motorcycle ]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-prometheus-solar-powered-electric-motorcycle/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-prometheus-solar-powered-electric-motorcycle/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/29/altcar-2008-prometheus-solar-powered-electric-motorcycle/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


click for more shots of the Prometheus Electric Motorcycle

Jim Corning had an idea. Wouldn't it be cool if you could put four solar panels on your house, and then be able to power a vehicle with the energy created with them? Corning, who founded Prometheus Solar LLC, didn't have a vehicle he could power with sunlight, but he did have a wife with a Ninja 250 that wasn't getting much use.

Today, Corning has a proof-of-concept electric motorcycle. At the Santa Monica AltCar Expo, Corning was talking with curious visitors all weekend, but was happy to tell AutoblogGreen about the bike. The four panels behind Corning in the picture above offer 800 watts, enough to recharge the bike. During testing, he's blown up the batteries twice, and those accidents helped him realize the benefits of a more aerodynamic bike. Inspired by Craig Vetter's fuel efficiency contests of the 1980s, Corning designed the Prometheus research vehicle to be quite slippery (note the front wheel cover and the extended back end to give the air somewhere to go). He also wanted to keep the upright seating of a motorcycle, which influenced the desighn. Currently, the bike uses lithium-ion phosphate batteries from Thundersky that have a 4.6 kWh capacity connected to a 10 HP Perm PMG 132 motor. That means he can go up to 70 mph and has a range of about 50 miles. The bike is not for sale, but there has been no lack of interest, both at the show and on the street. Corning said he had to buy an open face helmet to talk to all of the people who chat him up at stop lights.

Listen to Jim Corning (5 min):



Gallery: AltCar 2008: Prometheus Solar Bike

AltCar 2008: Prometheus' solar-powered electric motorcycle originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric-bikeelectric-motorcyclejim-corningprometheusprometheus-solarsolar-motorcycleMon, 29 Sep 2008 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: "Water and Charge your batteries regularly!"]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/28/altcar-2008-water-and-charge-your-batteries-regularly/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/28/altcar-2008-water-and-charge-your-batteries-regularly/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/28/altcar-2008-water-and-charge-your-batteries-regularly/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click for more images of the electric MEGA van

The hurdles to moving from a gasoline-dominated private transportation environment to one that contains a lot of batteries and plug-in vehicles are many. If nothing else, that's one message we can take away from the Sustainable Mobility Seminar and the AltCar Expo this past week. So, when I came across the Columbia MEGA van in the parking lot at AltCar, I couldn't help but think that this vehicles isn't going to make jumping those hurdles much easier. This NEV-like van doesn't provide any noteworthy specs (it's available with either a 19- or 25-mph top speed, for example), and the battery maintenance requirements/suggestions mean that if there was ever a vehicle that only appeals to early adopters, this is the one. A sheet that hung in the display vehicle's cab described how drivers need to keep adding distilled water to the battery, keep the lead plates covered and check the electrolyte level every month. The batteries should be recharged when they lose 20 percent of their charge. The sheet continues:

"Batteries may be recharged if vehicle has been driven 15 minutes or more since the previous charge. ... Plugging in the Delta Q Charger overnight or when the vehicle is not in use for 3-5 or more days is encouraged. ... The Delta Q Charger can be left plugged in as it has a 30 day self test and battery temperature monitor. ... Water and Charge your batteries regularly!" (Emphasis theirs). Read it all here.

Gallery: AltCar 2008: Columbia Mega EV

AltCar 2008: "Water and Charge your batteries regularly!" originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delta-qelectric-vanmegamega-electric-vanmega-vanSun, 28 Sep 2008 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Details on the MIIN-AER compressed air Porsche Boxster ]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/27/altcar-2008-details-on-the-miin-aer-compressed-air-porsche-boxs/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/27/altcar-2008-details-on-the-miin-aer-compressed-air-porsche-boxs/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/27/altcar-2008-details-on-the-miin-aer-compressed-air-porsche-boxs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As I wrote on Thursday, one of the more interesting vehicles here at the Alt Car Expo is a one-off home conversion of a 1999 Porsche Boxster called the MIIN-AER car. We wanted to get some more information about this thing, so we talked to Glenn Bell, CEO of Air Fuel Auto. Bell talked about why he's in favor of compressed air - wait, actually
the Minimally Intrusive Intensely Pneumatic - Air Energy Recovery (the N in pneumatic contributes its sound to MIIN, not the P) system - and how the powerplant in the air Porsche is quite different than what is used in MDI's AirCar. For the public details on the MIIN-AER system, click here or follow us past the jump, but the basic idea is that compressed air (or nitrogen) is sent through the system based on temperature differences. I'll admit I don't fully get the technology, but Bell said he takes the air Porsche for a lot of test drives, so it apparently works.

What's in the Porsche at the show is phase 1 of the MIIN-AER technology. Bell said that the current specs are 40-45 miles per hour with a range of 50 miles (this differs from the press release's claim of 50 miles at 65 mph).
in phase 2, which is designed but not yet installed, the system will recompress the air and will capture the thermal energy from braking to give better performance. Will have a top speed of 80, phase three will have a speed of 100-120 mph. In each of the phases, the range will increase by "a little bit" until the car can go 100 miles at 50 mph in phase three.

As for why compressed air instead of li-ion, Bell said that the rarity and geographic location of the precious metals required for next-generation batteries have the potential to trade one set of issues (the problems with oil) with another set (the recent increase in lithium and cobalt prices, for example). He didn't give a numerical answer when I asked how much a MIIN-AER conversion would cost. Bell didn't express a lot of confidence in the path that Tesla or GM is on, but I suppose that are plenty of people who don't have a lot of confidence in Bell's strategy, either. Bell said he'd be willing to license his technology, so the proof will be in the pudding. Any thoughts?

Have a listen:




Gallery: AltCar 2008: MIIN-AER, the air-powered Porsche Boxter

Continue reading AltCar 2008: Details on the MIIN-AER compressed air Porsche Boxster

AltCar 2008: Details on the MIIN-AER compressed air Porsche Boxster originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air-porschemiin-aermiin-aer-boxstermiin-aer-porscheSat, 27 Sep 2008 13:23:00 EST<![CDATA[AltCar 2008: Chris Paine talks "Who Killed?" sequel, coming in 2010]]>http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/27/altcar-2008-chris-paine-talks-who-killed-sequel-coming-in-2/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/27/altcar-2008-chris-paine-talks-who-killed-sequel-coming-in-2/http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/09/27/altcar-2008-chris-paine-talks-who-killed-sequel-coming-in-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



One of the highlights of Day One of the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo was spending an hour with "Who Killed the Electric Car?" director Chris Paine and hearing stories about making both that film and his sequel-in-progress. While he said the studio/lawyers would not let him show any clips from the new film, he did say they've been filming for a while now and they really got serious about a month ago. The crew has so far visited the GM tech center in Warren, the Volt unveiling and Iceland. He also showed some stills from the sequel film, "The Revenge of the Electric Car" (still a working title, as far as I know) from last Tuesday and then showed some pictures from the trip to Reykjavík as well.

While talking about making his surprise hit film, Paine updated the suspects list by talking about where the various groups are today. For some of the line-up, the story today is pretty much the same. Batteries, in his view, were good then and are simply better today. But the auto companies are making much more pro-plug-in vehicle moves now than they were during shooting of the first film. Oil companies are also singing a different tune on this round than they were in the mid-'90s. Consumers, well, if you're reading this, then you can probably explain how people care more about EVs now than they did 10 years ago.

While it took a long while for Paine and his friends to figure out the murder suspect theme of the first movie, he's already got a possible message for the sequel: maybe the crazies aren't so crazy. As a proud self-described crazy who's not afraid to take a stand - whether that means making EVs in your garage or taking on CARB or the automakers with some creative actions - it seems like it might be time that the crazies are taken seriously. One clip he did play was a scene that was cut from "Who Killed The Electric Car?" This was a bit of street theater, a staged funeral for the Ford Th!nk, that the studio asked him to take out. In the sequel, we might be seeing more scenes of the crazies, both on the streets and in the garages, when the film hits theaters in 2010. I'm ready now.

Listen here:


Gallery: AltCar 2008: Chris Paine, voice of a movement

AltCar 2008: Chris Paine talks "Who Killed?" sequel, coming in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altcarchris-painesanta-monica-alt-car-expowho-killed-the-elect...Sat, 27 Sep 2008 10:02:00 EST