BMW is apparently changing its tune about developing plug-in vehicles in every product category. A month ago that was the story, and that the BMW X5 eDrive, a plug-in hybrid SUV, would be BMW’s next plug-in vehicle. Now, BMW’s i3 project manager, Roland Kowalski, says that SUV’s don’t fit the…
A few years ago the Fuel Cell was presented as the bright future. Remember all the advertising about the Hydrogen Economy and how it was going to become big? While the Hydrogen Economy and the Fuel Cell Vehicles that were envisioned have so far fizzled, while battery-electric cars are taking…
Another Tesla Model S has crashed and burned. Tesla’s stock price fell today when the news broke, closing at $162/share when in September (before the first fire) the price had reached almost to $195/share. The incident occurred in the Northern Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico) at 3 AM, to a car driven…
I’m taking a medium-length trip with my electric Karmann Ghia, and need to charge twice on the outbound leg, and charge twice on the return leg. The first charging spot, at the Gilroy Outlet Malls, let me see two things. First, is to experience “Pay With PlugShare” to pay for…
The first prototype version of Tesla Motors’ Gen3 car, the affordable mass market electric car, should be shown to the public in the first quarter 2015, according to Elon Musk. Tesla Motors’ long-term plan is to develop an affordable mass market electric car with a target price of $35,000 US, and manufactured in volumes around 200,000…
Two Formula One drivers in a phys.org interview have split opinions on whether the Formula E electric race car series would be a success. One, Sebastian Vettel, said it was going to fail, that it’s not the future, because it doesn’t scream, and you don’t feel the vibration in your…
By rapidly building out the Supercharger network, service centers, and increasing the Model S top speed for the Autobahn, Tesla Motors hopes to wow Germans that are known for appreciating automotive engineering prowess. Tesla Motors is expanding its sales network into Europe, and one of the targets is Germany. Describing…
Remember the Nissan Leaf sales figures in 2012? It was pretty dismal. While looking something else up I just came across this Time Magazine article from September 2012: Is It Time to Declare the Nissan Leaf a Flop? Well.. Looking back at that, Leaf (and Volt and Model S) sales…
US government leaders in Washington DC have gone insane and are threatening to stop paying US Debt, despite the unconstitutionality of doing so, and have shut down the US Government. This is a little astray from my usual topic here (greening the transportation system) but bear with me. The “shut…
Sometimes creating change means taking your own steps, to make the change yourself. A group of Nebraska farmers decided that they could block the Keystone XL pipeline simply by building a barn full of renewable energy technology right on its path. The video is full of homespun wisdom, speaking from…
Toyota’s Chairman, Takeshi Uchiyamada, all but confirmed my suspicion from a few weeks ago – Toyota is planning to stick with Hybrid technology and wait for the next generation of battery technology, or fuel cells, before making a big push in vehicle electrification. Speaking last week at the Economic Club…
Last night we drove a fair way to visit with some relatives who are in town. It was far enough that I wanted to do a bit of recharging to ensure enough safety margin in the battery pack to make it home. According to the EV charging station map in…
Opening the door to transportation fuels other than gasoline or diesel means considering not just electricity, but other fuels, like natural gas. I personally want to see electric vehicles because that’s the best long-term solution. However there’s an aspect to this where the companies that supply other energy sources, like…
MotoCzysz For the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 racing seasons the Laguna Seca Raceway has hosted one of the most important historical sequence of racing events. I’m talking about the FIM e-Power, TTXGP and now eRoadRacing electric motorcycle races. Historical? The whole project of establishing electric motorcycle racing as a…
