A new survey indicates that Gen Y consumers—a.k.a., Millenials, those born roughly between 1982 and 1993—are more interested in hybrids and electric cars than they are in traditional, gas-powered automobiles. The problem, from the automaker’s point of view, is that thus far consumers in this age demographic haven’t shown nearly as much interest in cars Continue reading →
electric cars
Often thought of as too expensive or sophisticated for the average driver, plug-in electric vehicles will soon be available even to the occasional driver. Israel’s largest car rental company, Eldan, signed an agreement with Better Place electric vehicle company on December 5, making hundreds of Renault Fluence Z.E. electric cars available to the general public Continue reading →
A recent Bloomberg survey of key energy decision-makers concluded that China shows more government support than any other country for funding renewable energy. It also shows equally high support for transformational clean technologies, like smart grids and electric cars. With the right government backing, China could address its own energy security issues with technology to Continue reading →
Persistently high gas prices – which earlier this year flirted with the $4 per gallon mark – may hasten the arrival of an idea whose time has long been predicted: electric vehicles. Over the next year, most car manufacturers will be rolling out some type of plug-in car or truck, some that run solely on Continue reading →
In the latest baby steps to build out infrastructure for electric cars, Indianapolis International Airport has added three new charging stations in its parking garage. via Indianapolis airport adds three EV charging stations | SmartPlanet.
A $37 million wide-scale smart grid project is being developed in Maui Island, Hawaii. The project includes the development of smart appliances and the integration of more solar photovoltaic systems at home. It will also equip the power grid to handle more electric cars and plug-in hybrids and renewable energy sources. via Hitachi lead contractor Continue reading →
Willett Kempton is an anthropologist. And an electrical engineer. On this winter morning at the University of Delaware, both skill sets come in handy as he courts two Japanese businessmen. They’ve traveled here from Tokyo to see how much progress he’s made toward a revolutionary idea: electric cars that will make several thousand dollars a Continue reading →
People aren’t so gung-ho about smart meters and vehicle-to-grid (V2G), but they are about electric cars and lithium ion batteries. But when they realize that combining the two can lead to huge savings, things might change. I have been conducting a lot of research lately on why it has taken so long to get the Continue reading →
eMotion is intended to ensure the fast-track success of electric cars with lithium ion batteries. The European Commission has kicked off a four-year cross-European initiative to promote electromobility. The 42 partners in the initiative comprising industrial companies and automobile manufacturers, utilities, municipalities, universities, and technology and research institutions are to input, exchange and expand their Continue reading →
Smart power systems that allow for groups of electric vehicles to be recharged efficiently overnight are key to making electric-powered cars a reality, Jeffrey Stein, associate director of the Automotive Research Center and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, told a Washington, D.C. audience on March 24. via Smart grid will enable Continue reading →
San Diego is one of the first cities where Nissan has launched its first mass-produced, plug-in electric car, the Leaf, a five-seat compact. Thomas Franklin of San Diego was the first to take delivery of the car in Southern California when he quietly drove off in his new Leaf earlier this month. Franklin is a Continue reading →
Denmark has been in the forefront of countries that took various initiatives to promote electric cars, in a bid to reduce their dependence of limited reserves of oil and contain green house gas emissions. Globally, transportation sector is the leading consumer of oil and emitted significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. However, Continue reading →
With petrol prices sky-high and the Government offering inducements to go green, electric cars are being championed as the future of motoring. But as David Rose reveals, their real cost could give us a nasty shock… via Has the spark gone out of electric cars? | Downloads Edge.
Coincidental with DECC’s release of its energy review, consultancy Arthur D Little is publishing a report on energy policy, Realigning UK energy policy – from a high-cost, low-output system to a robust, cost-efficient infrastructure. BusinessGreen.com spoke to Nick White, UK managing director and energy practice leader at the consultancy and co-author of the report. via Continue reading →
The gleaming, squeaky-clean future promised by electric cars comes with a burden: The region’s electricity infrastructure will have to be ready to charge all those big, thirsty batteries. The first thousand-vehicle fleet of Nissan Leafs is scheduled to flutter into San Diego County beginning in December, followed in short order by plug-in hybrids like the Continue reading →
The green economy is rapidly taking shape here and throughout the country. Our electric infrastructure is badly in need of adaptable solutions to meet new demand. Technologies like renewable wind power, electric cars, smart appliances and distributed generation and energy storage are fundamentally changing the power grid. Enter smart grid. via Georgia must be ready Continue reading →
What will happen if consumers in a particular geographic area like Berkeley, California and Marin County flock to electric cars — and area utilities haven’t really prepared for the exigencies of mass smart charging? “Fireworks,” said Andres Carvallo, chief strategy officer at Grid Net. Transformers could blow and start fires all over town. The ability Continue reading →
Google is no stranger to renewable energy. The search giant has previously invested in enhanced geothermal technology, smart grid ventures, electric cars, and wind power startups. But those investments all came from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the company. Now, for the first time, Google Inc. has invested in renewable power as a way to Continue reading →
In the suddenly zooming story of electric cars, it’s the cars themselves that have tended to hog the spotlight. Later this year, Nissan and GM will be the first to unveil their hyped first attempts at cars they hope will appeal to both America’s inner motorist and its inner environmentalist: cars that get much or Continue reading →
President Barack Obama has called for one million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to hit the road by 2015. If the demand for plug-ins skyrockets, a flood of new electric cars could strain America’s power networks to the limit. Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory are working to develop a “smart grid” that will not only adapt Continue reading →
