Greenskid » Electric Vehicle

Ford Pushes the Pedal with the Ecostar EV

Greenskid — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:44:37 +0000

Prior to the domination of weird-looking green cars of the 2000s, one of the most famous green cars years ago was the Ecostar EV from Ford. Born in 1992, the Ecostar EV was way ahead of its time when it comes to the green technology that it used.

An electric vehicle, the Ecostar EV looked like any other automobile out in the streets. The only thing that makes it different is its power source. Using a sodium-sulfur battery pack that is mounted beneath the floor pan, the Ecostar EV was a solid vehicle needless to say. When it comes to performance, it can go from 0-60 mph in 15 seconds while having a maximum driving range of 150 miles.

Meanwhile, the thing that really stands out about this vehicle is its 600-degree sodium-sulfur batteries. Basically, these batteries need to operate at this temperature in order to ignite a reaction between the sodium and sulfur molecules. The reaction results to electricity being produced, while kinetic energy was stored inside the batteries’ thick walls.

Although sodium-sulfur batteries had great potential, newer and better batteries were later invented. Because of that, the Ecostar EV faded in obscurity although it paved the way for other electric vehicles to come out years later.

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Want Your Own Personal Ride? Check out the PUMA

Greenskid — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:27:07 +0000

Initially, you would think that anyone who’s driving the PUMA is driving an electric wheelchair. A closer look however shows you something more. That’s because the PUMA, which stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility is a two-seater vehicle that intends to allow people to travel faster, especially in today’s crowded streets.

It’s just like the highly-popular Segway, although General Motors tells that it’s cheaper and more energy efficient. Having two wheels, the PUMA is powered by one lithium-ion battery that can be charged in any conventional power outlet. Just like most electric vehicles, it can travel as fast as 25 mph, with a total range of 56 kilometers.

The goal of the PUMA is to let people cover as much space as possible, using very little time. Aside from that, it enables people to thread small areas and cramped city spaces without putting much effort at all. Right now, PUMA is still at the development stage although I wouldn’t be surprised if it performs as good as Segway after it is launched.

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And the Award Goes to…..the DuraCar Quicc !

Greenskid — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:24:59 +0000

I know that the Netherlands is a great place. With its interesting mix of superb people, places, and unbelievable freedom, I would have to say that I want to live there in the future. Aside from the things that I mentioned, the Dutch have also assembled what seems to be the most underrated green car today: the DuraCar Quicc. Though small and a little bit lacking in power, the DuraCar Quicc is even a better option compared to the Tesla Roadster and Pininfarin Blue Car.

Basically, the DuraCar Quicc is a cheap and efficient alternative to conventional vehicles that you know. Capable of carrying a maximum of two passengers, the DuraCar Quicc has a payload of 600 pounds. Aside from that, it can cover a 150-kilometer range, using only a single-charge from its batteries. Compared to other electric cars, the DuraCar Quicc can go as fast as 120 kilometers. Best of all, there’s no way that you’ll be emitting anything once you drive it.

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A 200-MPG Electric Car

Greenskid — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:14:58 +0000

Switzerland is not all about the Alps and the cheese. When it comes to fuel-economy vehicles, the Swiss also can proud of one car called the Hotzi Electric Car. Truth is, I have never been to Switzerland although I would love to have the Hotzi Electric Car in my garage. Manufactured by engineering giant Kruspan Engineering, the Hotzi Electric Car runs using its highly-dependable lithium-polymer battery pack.

Ever since the Hotzi Electric Car has used Lipo batteries from Korea, its single-charge range has increased from 55 miles to a whopping 250 miles. That’s an MPG rating of 250 and you only need to charge the batteries for a couple of hours. Unlike other electric cars that run really slow, the Hotzi Electric Car has a decent speed of 80 mph. So how long does it take to get that 250-MPG range? Well Manufacturers have stated that it only takes an entire night to enjoy a 250-mile traveling range. After that, you can cover that distance and not worry about halting in the middle of nowhere.

When it comes to design, the Hotzi Electric Car is quite versatile. Weighing only 660 pounds, you can still maximize its passenger capacity by as much as four people.

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Raser Electric Hummer: When Big Cars Become Green

Greenskid — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:43:48 +0000

These days, it’s not only the small cars that want to be green. Just recently, Racer Technologies just used its Extended Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) powertrain technology on the Hummer H3. As a result, our good-old H3 became the Raser Electric Hummer that boasts a 100 MPG and range of over 60 miles.

Basically, Raser’s powertrain technology is built for big vehicles such as SUVs and trucks. Because half of America’s vehicles come from these classes, using Raser’s technology will significantly improve fuel efficiency and mileage. The best thing about the Raser Electric Hummer is that it’s a plug-in hybrid. That means it is propelled by an electrical motor and not an internal combustion engine. Aside from that, the Raser Electric Hummer has a small internal combustion engine to make sure that batteries are charged and as a result, the batteries’ lives are extended.

So how does the Raser Electric Hummer move? Basically, all of its power comes from 200-kilowatt AC induction motor. It’s directly connected to the vehicle’s transmission, sharing its power to the front and rear axles. Overall, the Raser Electric Hummer can travel from 360 to 400 miles by simply using its fully-charged batteries.

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The Scorpion Roadster is Ready to Pound the Road

Greenskid — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:43:21 +0000

If you’re looking for a green car that can torch the road at the same time, then the Scorpion Roadster is clearly the runaway winner. With an MPG rating of 40 and with a capacity to generate as much as 450-horsepower, it’s definitely something that mother Earth and the Lewis Hamiltons would smile at. The great thing about this car is that it is powered by hydrogen, which makes it a real toast for those rabid environmentalists out there. According to its manufacturer called Ronn Motor Company, they expect that it’s the second coming of the Tesla Roadster. Instead of using batteries, their car uses Hydrogen to go around the place.

Meanwhile, The Scorpion Roadster uses electrolysis in order to convert water to hydrogen. After that, it is mixed with 91-octane gasoline for better fuel economy and reduction of fuel emission. Basically, the whole idea is to sell the electrolysis technology and prove to everyone that it works. That means that if the electrolysis system works with the Scorpion Roadster, there’s no way that you can’t use it for your Chevrolet or a Ford.

The company guarantees that you’ll get at least 15 to 33 percent of increase in gas mileage. That’s a lot of fuel, considering how much you have to pay for gas these days. On the other hand, unlike BMW’s Hydrogen 7, the Scorpion Roadster does not have any 30-gallonn tanks full of liquid hydrogen. That’s good news, especially if you don’t want to bother dealing with it all the time.

When it comes to the car’s performance, it is expected to reach 200 mph in open speedway. If that’s not enough, it also boasts of a 3.5-liter V6 engine, while all in all, the whole car weighs only an astonishing 2,200 lbs. Overall, you can call the Scorpion Roadster your own if you have at least 150,000 USD.

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Looking Back at the Volvo 850

Greenskid — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:54:09 +0000

Back in the 90s, not many people cared about hybrid vehicles that can run using gasoline and another alternative fuel. Of course time flies and because of that, it brings so many changes that were unthinkable more than a decade ago. Volvo was already developing hybrid vehicles during that time and in 1997, the company launched the Volvo 850.

Basically, this wagon runs using both gasoline and compressed natural gas. This kind of concept is now being used by virtually every hybrid vehicle today. Basically, the car provides superior comfort, handling, and tremendous acceleration. The best part though is its fuel efficiency and during the time that it was launched, it can churn up as much as 70 MPG in any given day.

Although the vehicle looks pretty conventional, it offers sleek interior comforts that were quite advanced during its time.

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The Out-of-this-world Toyota Hi-CT Plug-in Hybrid

Greenskid — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:30:23 +0000

At first glance, the Toyota Hi-CT Plug-in Hybrid looks like it’s ready for a new sequel of the Back to the Future movie series. It’s small, it looks like a box, and it’s one hell of an eco-friendly vehicle as well. Boasting of a 1.5-liter engine and powered by a lithium-ion battery, the Toyota Hi-CT Plug-in Hybrid does not emit a single exhaust gas.

Apart from that, this vehicle has a special floor arrangement that maximizes its interior space. Aside from that, its low center of gravity minimizes the weight that its battery pack puts on it.

If you’re the kind of guy who likes putting stuff inside your auto, then the Toyota Hi-CT Plug-in Hybrid is perfect for you. Its detachable trunk and deck can offer more than enough space for equipment that has varying sizes.

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What I Want: The ZEO Electric Car Concept

Greenskid — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:30:34 +0000

High-performance vehicles are always fun to drive. They’re fast, powerful, and they’re simply full of feature. Ever since I started driving, I’ve been in love with muscle cars. Their design, power, and speed are things that every driver would want to have for their rides. Unfortunately, muscle cars fail when it comes to one department and that’s fuel efficiency. In fact most models chug fuel at such a high rate that their popularity drastically declined at the start of the 1970s. Then again, it seems like that Dodge wants to change muscle cars by offering their new concept car called the Dodge ZEO.

Basically, the Dodge ZEO’s name stands for Zero Emissions Operation. As its name implies, it really doesn’t emit anything, because it’s a muscle car and electric car rolled into one. Basically, the Dodge ZEO is an electric car that performs like your good, old muscle car. Powered by a 200 kilowatt electric motor, it’s strong enough to power the vehicle from 0-60 mph in less than 6 seconds. Aside from that, its motor is built to provide it by as much as 268 horsepower as well. Compared to other electric cars that simply lack in power, the Dodge ZEO has a 64 kilowatt-hour lithium battery pack that can give it a 250-mile driving range. All you need to do to keep it in working in optimum condition is to keep it charged fully.

When I first saw the Dodge ZEO, I could not help but marvel at how the guys from Dodge can give it so much power and speed without even relying on gasoline. In short, the vehicle is just one fantastic vehicle that everyone should take a look at. When it comes to exteriors, the Dodge ZEO boasts of a 23-inch steel alloy wheels that are indestructible by rust and corrosion. Its windshield meanwhile, arches up from the long and well-designed hood. In short, you would like every thing about the design of this eco-friendly muscle car from Dodge.

The door of the Dodge ZEO is built to look like scissors. Because of that, there is unlimited access to the interior. Meanwhile, it will take quite a while before the Dodge ZEO will be launched by Dodge. Nevertheless, I really think that this vehicle will change how muscle cars should be in the future.

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The B-4220: The Car for the Handicapped

Greenskid — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:27:35 +0000

I have been a fan of automobiles ever since I can remember. In fact, I was able to identify car models even before I was able to write my name. Then again, you don’t see automakers that specifically cater to the specially-abled members of the society. In short, you don’t see vehicles that are tailor-made for people using wheelchairs. Now considering that these guys need special attention when it comes to everything, I’m tipping my hat to an automaker such as Kenguru UK. Why? That’s because the company has created a vehicle for the handicapped called the B-4220.

Classified as an invalid car, cars such as the B-4220 make things easier for people on wheelchairs. In fact, it has become so popular in Eastern Europe for years already. Today, you can get yourself a B-4220 for only 12,500 dollars. Unlike most cars, this invalid car doesn’t have a seat because the wheelchair will do the job. There is very little legroom inside, although its design will allow the drive to roll into driving position by merely using a ramp that lowers automatically. After that, the wheelchair will be locked into position, to prevent it from wobbling once the B-4220 starts moving.

Once you insert the ignition key inside the ignition switch, the rear panel immediately closes down. After that, the driver can already start driving and its functions are just like any other vehicle out there. The downside to this car however is its size and its very limited space. In fact, there’s only room for just one person. In spite of that, it is still capable of generating as much as 25 mph on the freeway. On the other hand, the B-4220 is powered by a 4KW electric motor and four lead-acid batteries. Since it’s an electric vehicle, you need to charge its batteries to make sure you can last the distance. The B-4220 may be far from having the performance of a sports car, but it sure is up for the task it was made for: providing comfort and safety to handicapped drivers. At 12,500 dollars, the B-4220 gives handicapped people the comfort that they need despite their physical limitations.

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