National Plug In Day in Alameda

I had fun today in Alameda at the South Shore Shopping Center at the East Bay's National Plug In Day Event.  I talked to a lot of people and learned a lot, and hopefully passed on some of what I've learned.  I estimate that about 125 people attended the event plus about 25 - 30 people who brought electric vehicles to display.

Photo from today's event.  I hope to post more from other participants.

 

I counted two Volts (including ours), tow or three new plug-in Prius's, three Leafs, a Think, a new RAV 4, an old RAV 4, a Kewet, a Sparrow, several Yike Bikes, several electric motorcycles, at least four electric conversions, and a Tesla roadster.  I probably missed some cars since I was busy talking to people and offering test rides/drives.

 

Some thoughts from various conversations:

• Most people don't understand that the Volt is an Extended Range Electric Vehicle that always runs on the electric motor--powered by the batteries for the first 35-40 miles, and then by the generator
• The challenge for most people is up-front financing.  I need to learn more about the way that lease options work since that is the way most people are buying these cars.
• Most people do not know about PG&E's E9 electric rates for charging EVs (e.g. see my previous post dated May 22, 2012)  PG&E should be required to promote these rates.
• The tax subsidies for purchase of EVs and for installing charging equipment are very important at this early stage of EV adoption.

All in all I was very happy to see more EV models out this year than I saw last year at Krissy Field in San Francisco.  I enjoyed the day, and hope National Plug In Day continues to build in the future.

 

Good news for EVs from the White House

I was very happy to see the press release from the White House on March 7 promoting electric vehicles
See press release.

The key points that caught my eye were:

• Increasing the credit for EV buyers from $7,500, making it scalable up to $10,000;
• Reforming the credit to make it available at the point-of-sale by making it transferable to the dealer or financier, allowing consumers to benefit when they purchase a vehicle rather than when they file their taxes; and
• Removing the cap on the number of vehicles per manufacturer eligible for the credit and, instead, ramping down and eventually eliminating the credit at the end of the decade.

In addition, the "EV Everywhere" program includes $650 million in the 2013 budget to invest in breakthrough R&D for advanced batteries, electric drivetrain technologies, lightweight vehicle structures, and fast charging technology.

I didn't like the way the White House is promoting natural gas, since that is no way to solve global warming.  But on the whole, it's a good program.  It's light years away from the Republican presidential candidates who, incredibly, are stepping all over each other to see who can be the most backward on global warming, reducing oil imports, and cleaning the air.  Mitt Romney once said, "The Volt is an idea who's time has not come."  I think of him as being like the people who derided the first automobiles by saying, "Get a horse" or those who laughed at the first steamboat, calling it "Fulton's folly."  At least we have a President who understands that we need to move into the future.

SUPERBIKE KUASA ELEKTRIK

Siapa sangka selepas kereta menggunakan kuasa elektrik, kini superbike juga menggunakan kuasa elektrik untuk bergerak. Kalau nak tau kelajuan dan ketangkasan superbike yang menggunakan kuasa elektrik ini anda bolehlah menonton video di atas.

PROTON SAGA EV GUNA KUASA ELEKTRIK!

Hello geng, hari ni aku nak update tentang kereta yang memang anda semua dah sedia kenal iaitu Proton Saga BLM. Tetapi kali ni agak menarik sikit sebabnya ianya bukan seperti kereta yang anda pakai sekarang ni kerana ia menggunakan kuasa elektrik untuk bergerak (macam handphone la pulak boleh cas2 nih...). Gambar diambil dari Kuala Lumpur International's Motor Show dengan kerjasama PROTON dan UTM.

Ni gambar Proton Saga EV (nama yang diberi oleh PROTON). Jangan konfius sebab itu bukan nozzle pump petrol tetapi charger yang digunakan untuk charge semula kuasa elektrik kedalam kereta ini.

Cuba anda lihat bahagian enjin kereta ini, ya memang kereta ini nampak kosong pada ruang enjinnya sebab enjin yang guna kuasa elektrik lebih simple dan lebih kecil berbanding yang menggunakan petrol maka terdapat banyak ruang2 kosong. Awas! ruang ini tak boleh letak barang ya!~

Ni pula adalah lakaran litar elektrik untuk model Proton Saga EV ini.

Selain menggunakan charger untuk salurkan kuasa elektrik, kereta ini direka khas dibumbungnya alat mengecas tenaga solar jadi anda tidak perlu risau kalau jalan jauh takkan nk pinjam plug elektrik rumah orang pula kan? So memadai kalau matahari ada, cuma guna tenaga solar sahaja.

Gempak tak? Ni bukan mata naga tapi lampu hadapan kereta ni. Rasanya rekaan yang ni nampak lebih garang dan sporty sikit dari sebelum ni. Agak2 berapa harga sebijik eh?

Lihat pada gear pula, ianya menggunakan aliran transmisi auto dan class nya pula berlainan dengan kereta2 transmisi auto yang lain. Bagaimanapun belum ada pandu uji dibuat so tak dapat dipastikan bagaimana cara memandu kereta Proton Saga EV ini. Kalau ada berita2 baru tentang Proton Saga EV ni nanti kami akan update lagi...

PROTON EXORA ELECTRIC PROTOTYPE

Proton Exora dengan kuasa elektrik, pandu uji dibuat untuk melihat kehebatan kereta ini. Ternyata memang hebat! Berikut sedikit gambar yang dapat di paparkan....

TEKNOLOGI HIJAU PROTON LEBIH HEBAT

Salam dan Selamat Petang semua.. Hari ni aku nak share satu artikel yang sangat menarik untuk kita kongsikan bersama. Artikel ni mengenai satu pertandingan kereta (bukan race okay!) yang dibuat oleh industri automotive dunia termasuk Proton, Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda dan lain2 jenama dalam inudstri automotive ini. Dipetik dari blog Che Det, korang bacalah sendiri artikel dibawah ini....

1. Pada 6hb November kereta Proton Exora telah menang pertandingan kereta zaman akan datang yang dianjurkan oleh RAC (Royal Automobile Club - United Kingdom). Pertandingan ini melibatkan hanya kereta-kereta otomobil yang tidak terlalu mencemar udara dengan pengeluaran asap, karbon dioksida dan monoksida.

2. Hampir semua syarikat-syarikat otomobil di dunia telah mengambil bahagian dalam pertandingan ini dengan kereta elektrik dan hybrid ciptaan mereka untuk masa depan (future). Kereta-kereta ini dikehendaki berjalan dari Brighton ke London, perjalanan sejauh lebih kurang 60 batu (miles).

3. Diantara jenama yang terkenal yang mengambil bahagian ialah Toyota (Jepun), Volkswagen (Jerman) dan General Motors (Amerika Syarikat). Ada yang mengambil bahagian dengan kereta yang sudah dipasarkan dan ada yang belum dipasarkan.

4. Proton menyertai dengan sebuah kereta Exora untuk pertandingan ini yang menggunakan sistem yang, selain daripada amat kurang mencemarkan udara tetapi juga menggunakan bahan bakar petrol yang amat sedikit.

5. Exora mendapat tempat pertama dalam kategori Extended Range Electric Vehicle (kereta elektrik yang ditingkatkan jarak perjalanannya) serta juga memenangi dalam semua kategori termasuk kereta elektrik (EV - Electric Vehicle), kereta yang ditingkatkan jarak perjalanan (extended range EV), hybrid (menggunakan enjin petroleum dan elektrik bersama) dan minyak disel.

6. Exora mencatat ekonomi penggunaan petrol sebanyak 136 batu (miles) bagi satu gelen. Tempat kedua hanya mampu mencatat jarak 62 batu (miles) bagi satu gelen - iaitu kurang separuh daripada kebolehan Proton Exora.

7. Keputusan pertandingan ini jelas menunjukkan yang teknologi Proton jauh lebih baik daripada teknologi lain-lain jenama.

8. Sementara itu Proton Saga elektrik juga mendapat kemenangan tetapi syarikat-syarikat lain membuat protes. Pihak Proton telah membantah terhadap protes ini.

9. Selain daripada kurang mencemar udara dan jarak perjalanan bagi satu gelen petrol kereta Exora dan Saga mampu memuatkan jumlah penumpang sepenuhnya dan bootnya (tempat simpanan barang) juga mempunyai kapasiti biasa. Hampir semua kereta lain terpaksa menggunakan boot dan tempat duduk belakang untuk bateri.

10. Kejayaan Proton dalam pertandingan ini membuktikan kemampuannya bersaing dengan syarikat-syarikat gergasi dunia dalam teknologi elektrik, extended range electric dan hybrid.

11. Proton sedang bersiap sedia untuk mengeluarkan Saga Elektrik dan Exora Extended Range untuk pasaran dunia. Buat kali pertama Proton mempunyai harapan untuk bersaing dalam pasaran kereta bermotor di seluruh dunia.

BMW VISION EFFICENTDYNAMICS SPAWN PRODUCTION 2013

BMW yang paling gempak pernah aku jumpa, tapi aku tak pasti samada kereta ni akan dijual di pasaran ataupun ianya hanya untuk filem sahaja. Mengikut sumber, kereta BMW Vision EfficientDynamics ni adalah berkonsepkan kereta hibrid sports car. Diperkuatkan dengan enjin 1.5 liter inline-3 turbodiesel (gempak woo diesel turbo! he..he..) dengan keluaran 328 kuasakuda dan mengambil masa 4.8 saat untuk capai kelajuan 100 KM/H.. Apa2 hal pun kereta ni akan keluar pada tahun 2013 so lambat lagi ok jadi sama2lah kita tunggu dan lihat. Tentang harga pula anda sendiri dah tahu kot andai masuk kat Malaysia ni confirm la meletop!!!

Ni ada video untuk tontonan anda, aku amik dari laman Youtube. Enjoy ~

TOYOTA PRIUS MPV ON EARLY NEXT YEAR!

Toyota will be introducing the next extension of its Prius family, a MPV-sized offering, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next January.

There are no details about the vehicle, the second to wear the Prius badge, save a teaser video called Prius Puzzle, showing the MPV’s profile in a billboard in Malibu, California, mostly hidden by the current ZVW30 Prius

Given the scope increase, the longer-wheelbase Prius MPV should easily be a seven-seater. It and a planned third Prius model, which will be smaller than the existing third-gen version, are slated to enter the US market in two years time.

PARIS 2010 MOTOR SHOW: HONDA JAZZ HYBRID

Japanese carmakers don’t have much to shout about at Paris, preferring to save it all for their home show. Concepts and world debuts are few and far between, and some makes like Mitsubishi, Mazda and Suzuki did nothing more than just bring their showrooms into the show hall! Honda’s area wasn’t much different, save for the little green Jazz sitting all alone on its elevated throne.

It’s in Lime Green (exclusive to this variant) because it’s a green car. The Jazz Hybrid uses the same IMA system as the Insight, a 1.3 litre i-VTEC engine paired to an assisting electric motor. Like the rest of Honda’s hybrids, this is a “mild hybrid” setup as opposed to the full series hybrid system in the Toyota Prius. Using the standard CVT gearbox, Honda claims combined fuel consumption of just 4.4 litres per 100 km and emissions of just 104 g/km of CO2 (lowest CO2 output of any automatic car in the B-segment) for the Jazz Hybrid.

Honda stresses the fact that the Jazz Hybrid will not lose any of the car’s famous practicality; it retains the flexible “Magic Seats” and 300 litres of boot space. The IMA battery pack and power control unit have been integrated in the area under the boot floor, retaining the normal boot area and allowing the Magic Seats to fold in the same manner – up to 831 litres of space or with seat bases folded up for tall items.

Inside, a darker single colour dashboard is new, as is an Eco Assist function. It’s available with leather trim, the first time for a Jazz in Europe, where sales start early next year.

Source

EXAGON FURTIVE eGT

Hari ini saya nak bercerita pula tentang kereta elektrik yang bakal dipamerkan dalam Paris Motor Show. Kereta ini mempunya tempat duduk 2+2 boleh laras dan ditambah dengan kuasa dua motor Siemens elektrik. Terdapat beberapa sumber mengatakan kereta Exagon Furtive ini mampu mencapai kelajuan setinggi 250KM/H!! Dengan kepantasan 100KM/H selama 3.5 saat sahaja! Nampaknya kuasa elektrik pun mampu mencapai kelajuan sepantas ni...

Turbocharged Proton Exora to debut next year, facelift version of an existing model to be launched this year

It has been widely reported previously that Proton will be introducing a turbocharged engine sometime next year and the Exora would be the first vehicle to run the engine. Proton has reiterated it’s intentions yet again. The company has confirmed to Bernama that it will debut the force-inducted engine with the Exora MPV next year.

Speaking to reporters after the company’s annual general meeting, group managing director Datuk Syed Zainal said, “The engine will support Proton’s future products in relation to extending enhanced performance, emissions and quality standards.’ He also added that the performance of the engine would be equivalent to a 2.0 liter engine.

He did not reveal further details about the engine, but we can expect it to be based on the 1.6 Campro, with or without CPS. Syed Zainal also mentioned that Proton will launch a facelift version of an existing model before end of the year. This could well be the Saga facelift, as we have recently spotted a taped-up version near Bukit Jelutong. As reported previously, the new Proton Waja will be introduced this year as well. Based on the Mitsubishi Lancer, the new model would carry a slightly higher price tag as it will be offered with better performance and features.

He also spoke about Proton’s involvement in the hybrid and electric vehicles arena. “Proton has started on the development of the hybrid and electric vehicles which are currently being subjected to performance evaluation, testing and safety assessment,” were his exact words. The company has already showcased the Saga EV in Indonesia and we have also seen the Exora Hybrid demonstrator vehicle.

Proton also expects to better it’s export figures compared to the last fiscal year as interest in China, Thailand and Indonesia is growing. The company’s chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh also went on to confirm that Proton has no intention to off-load Lotus at the moment. “We have no intention to dispose of Lotus at this point in time. By having Lotus within the group we will have better benefit,” he assured.

Source: Paultan

FISKER KARMA HYBRID

Ini antara design yang mungkin akan dikeluarkan. Dibuat oleh syarikat co-founder dan CEO Henrik Fisker. Fisker Karma Hybrid ini menggunakan kuasa sebanyak 300 KW (403 bhp) elektrik motor yang boleh mencapai kelajuan 0-100KM/h dalam masa 5.9 saat sahaja! Perghhh!

Ini adalah beberapa design artis mengenai kerta Fisker Karma Hybrid ini.

Ruangan dalaman Fisker Karma Hybrid ini menggunakan rekaan kulit.