Welcome to the Electric Car Weblog. In addition to links, news, and tips about electric cars and other forms of alternative transportation we are publishing an on-line diary of our current EV project. Started in August 2005 the chronicle follows the conversion of a gas powered Ford Probe into an Electric Car.
You will find articles organized by categories, along with recent comments, along the right hand column of the website. If you are just getting started with the idea of converting a gas car to electric be sure to check out Your First Electric Car .
Welcome and enjoy!
-Jerry
You will find articles organized by categories, along with recent comments, along the right hand column of the website. If you are just getting started with the idea of converting a gas car to electric be sure to check out Your First Electric Car .
Welcome and enjoy!
-Jerry
- Bosch wins prize for it’s Flex Fuel Engine Management System.
- Nano-based Lithium Batteries or hybrids a step closer
- Prime Minister’s Electric Dream confuses car makers.
- A real-time display of New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) energy prices. (which appears to be IE centric)
- Free parking in Salt Lake City for eco friendly vehicles.
Comment [2]
- Thanks to Darin for the tip on Zenn’s NEV. It’s a NEV/LSV (neighborhood EV or low speed vehicle) and laws vary from state to state. Click Zenn’s legislation map to find out what your state’s rules are. They have a page of videos. BTW, the picture isn’t the ZENN but a Dauphine Electric found elsewhere on their site.
- The space-iest looking hybrid design goes to Accelerated Composites for their diesel hybrid concept. Looking more like an attenuated jet fighter cockpit the aerodynamic design is claimed to achieve 330 MPG.
- If you somehow got tickets to Sundance this year be sure to check out the film, Who Killed the Electric Car. (Jan 19-29, 2006)
- Smoke detectors and the Radioactive Boyscout
- Printable fastener tools and gauges over at Bolt Depot.
- The Energy Blog has a good post on Flow Batteries that is worth a read. Future updates are promised.
- JC picked up on one of the better quotes I’ve read lately: “Sorry, but being green, focusing the nation on greater energy efficiency and conservation, is not some girlie-man issue. It is actually the most tough-minded, geostrategic, pro-growth and patriotic thing we can do. Living green is not for sissies. Sticking with oil, and basically saying that a country that can double the speed of microchips every 18 months is somehow incapable of innovating its way to energy independence – that is for sissies, defeatists and people who are ready to see American values eroded at home and abroad.”
- Now this is an on-board computer! Hooks to another microcontroller that gathers engine data (in Czech?)
Comment [4]
- Take one cap bank (210uF 20kV 16kJ), attach to a 4 1/2 turn helical coil, aluminium sheet from old case, mini spanner (8cm). Remove children and animals, charge to 4.5kV (2kJ), pull firing cord, Serve hot: Magna-forming
- Firefly Energy is working on new lead acid battery technology. “The Firefly battery replaces the the heavy, corrosive, traditional positive and negative lead plates, which comprise up to 70% of a typical lead-acid battery’s weight, with smaller and extremely low weight non-corrosive composite plate material.”
- Darin is investigating the latest pulse and glide gas saving techniques.
- Lots of information and choices for supplemental vacuum.
- Sandia researchers seek ways to make lithium-ion batteries work longer, safer. “Current hybrid vehicles use nickel-metal hydride batteries, but a safe lithium-ion battery will be a much better option for the hybrids.” (i.e. we’ll make money)
- New York’s Governor has unveiled a plan to encourage the production and use of renewable fuels.
Comment [1]
- The Great Hybrid Cover-up of 1974. “I went to various showrooms in New York. I looked under the hoods. The Buick Skylark seemed to have the most volume. And not knowing exactly how much space we were going to need, I wanted a car with the largest volume under the hood.”
- PriUPS, turning your Prius into a backup power supply for the house.
- Bowden’s Hobby Circuits, over 100 electronic circuits.
- Electronics Schematics (and for sale kits) for hobbyists.
- HOBO Data Logger Modules
- The EPA and MPG: The wrong debate. “The EPA’s proposed ratings downshift does nothing to require that auto makers increase the fuel efficiency of their cars and trucks. ... The average fuel economy for today’s new cars and trucks is lower than it was 20 years ago.”
- Jim Husted has a new Website. Jim rebuilds DC motors, notably those for EVs.
Comment [1]
- Korean C-Zone electric golf car. Probably not something you’d drive on the links, more of a NEV?
- Vellman electronics kits, here’s their automotive category including the little code lock kit. Sold at parts express and KitsUSA.
- Buying and running your business on wind power. “Or, to put it another way: The purchase – in terms of the environmental benefit in displacing conventional fuels – is equivalent to taking 60,000 cars off the road or planting 90,000 acres of trees.”
- If you have a Mac be sure to check out the very cool drawing app, SketchUp. They have a new plug-in to integrate drawings into Google Earth.
- Electric dune-buggies on steroids, the Ariel Atom. “We’re 50 percent done on (designing) the electric car,” he said. “It will be a blast to drive. It will bring notoriety to the electric field and it fits into our high performance vehicle vision.” Their web site with more pics.
- Mitsubishi’s concept vehicle, the MIEV, makes debut at auto show.
- UQM is developing Motor/Generator Controller for the Air Force. Part of the project is to convert a conventional one-half ton pickup truck to all-electric operation using high power silicon carbide modules.
- Small is big this year at the auto show.
- China to spend billions on alternative energy.
Comment [2]