Posts Tagged ‘electric car’

Sharing the Stuff That Drives Electric Cars

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

“Xatori, a Silicon Valley software start-up, aims to create a network of electric car enthusiasts who make their household power outlets and home chargers available for drivers who need to top off their battery or who find themselves out of range of the few public-charging stations currently available.”

What do you think?

Would you ever pay for a total stranger’s gas? What about letting them charge their phone in your garage?

Are electric car owners just more generous?

Gas Guzzlers About To Get An ‘F’

Monday, August 30th, 2010

A new letter grading system could turbocharge green vehicles sales!

  • The Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department have proposed new rules that would require car dealerships to display a letter grade on each of their vehicles, illustrating how well (or poorly) the vehicle does on fuel efficiency and harmful emissions.
  • Electric cars and hybrids would be the ‘A’ students, while Hummers and the like are most likely to end up in detention.
  • Right now, dealers are only required to display a vehicle’s miles per gallon and estimated yearly fuel costs. The industry is obviously not happy with the proposal, saying it would amount to a government endorsement of certain cars and not others. Still, major auto manufacturers have been preparing for this kind of change by producing more hybrid and electric cars.

Facts & Figures

  • Grades will range from A – D
  • A small car like the Toyota Yaris would likely be graded B+ while many SUVs and pickup trucks would probably score C or worse
  • Sales of SUVs and crossovers have gone up by 21% this year

Best Quote

“We think a new label is absolutely needed to help consumers make the right decision for their wallets and the environment.” – Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation at the EPA

California Leads The Way In Electric Car Technology

Monday, June 21st, 2010

California is ahead of the game: great weather, beautiful beaches and now affordable environmentally friendly transportation…we should all just move.

  • California is encouraging consumers to purchase electric cars through hefty discounts and reliable and accessible charging stations.
  • Charging stations are being built in locations where customers are able to linger (like shopping malls and grocery stores) because charging up a car’s battery takes longer than filling it up with gas.
  • The cost of charging a car’s battery is under discussion – some companies would like consumers to pay by simply by swiping a card, some will make the service free as a way to attract business to neighboring stores.

Facts & Figures

  • California is spending $200 million a year on low-emission vehicle technology.
  • To aid in the cost of these vehicles, California is offering up to a $20,000 rebate to buyers of low-emission commercial vehicles.

Best Quote

“California is leading the way.” – Sue Cischke, Global Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering at Ford Motor Co.