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Hybrid Vehicles Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicle Pros & Cons
1586 messages, Last post on Oct 23, 2009 at 4:19 PM
You are in the Electric Vehicles Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: plekto (Apr 14, 2008 1:42 pm) Pop Mech sums it up..."We'll believe it when we drive it" Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) confirmed to PopularMechanics.com on Thursday that it expects to produce the world’s first air-powered car for the United States by late 2009 or early 2010. As the U.S. licensee for Luxembourg-based MDI, which developed the Air Car as a compression-based alternative to the internal combustion engine, ZPM has attained rights to build the first of several modular plants, which are likely to begin manufacturing in the Northeast and grow for regional production around the country, at a clip of up to 10,000 Air Cars per year. And while ZPM is also licensed to build MDI’s two-seater OneCAT economy model (the one headed for India) and three-seat MiniCAT (like a SmartForTwo without the gas), the New Paltz, N.Y., startup is aiming bigger: Company officials want to make the first air-powered car to hit U.S. roads a $17,800, 75-hp equivalent, six-seat modified version of MDI’s CityCAT (pictured above) that, thanks to an even more radical engine, is said to travel as far as 1000 miles at up to 96 mph with each tiny fill-up. http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4251491.html?series=19 |
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Replying to: plekto (Apr 14, 2008 1:42 pm) I agree that this battery swapping idea doesn't make much sense. However there are batteries being developed that will allow an 85% charge in under 10 minutes with a special charging station. Given the early reviews on Honda's FCX Clarity I do believe that fuel cell vehicles have some potential, albeit in the distant future. It would be interesting to see them crash test one of these compressed air vehicles and see what happens should a full tank rupture. Obviously it wouldn't catch on fire but that doesn't mean there wouldn't be an explosion.
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Replying to: tpe (Apr 17, 2008 4:35 am) But MDI really is trying to make this work. They already sell the vehicles in France. They actually have the cars on the road, unlike Zap and the rest. The technology is simple, straightforward, and 100% off the shelf/ready to go. I'd consider them to be more akin to Tesla Motors. Small, but a real company. Of course, their design is far from optimal. That goes to the rotary air engine that guy in Australia made. Why he can't put that in a car I just don't know. |
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Replying to: tpe (Apr 07, 2008 10:43 am)
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Replying to: thaddock (Apr 25, 2008 5:38 pm) Good point. That is just about the epitome of hypocrisy. Don't build that coal fired plant in my back yard. But if you build one we will buy the electricity. We are governed by possibly the worst legislature and governor the USA has ever witnessed. What can we expect when our attorney general is named Moonbeam? |
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Replying to: thaddock (Apr 25, 2008 5:38 pm) The coal industry is obviously opposed to CA's mandate and has even questioned the legality of it. Saying that it might be a violation of interstate commerce laws. |
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Now that we've gone up to $4 gas and back down towards $2, how does the arguement for/against electric vehicles change, if at all? (Besides, we've been focused on non-automotive stuff for far too long and we need to get back to talking about the automotive future!  )
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Nov 12, 2008 5:51 pm) If we are smart we will continue pushing for them because gas will go up again. Better to get a head start on the solution than to be caught with our pants down.
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A reporter would like to speak with consumers who are considering BMW’s electric Mini Cooper lease. If you are interested in this vehicle or currently drive an electric car, please respond to jwahl edmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than Monday, November 17th. Thanks, Jonathan Wahl Corporate Communications Edmunds Inc. |
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Replying to: snakeweasel (Nov 12, 2008 7:51 pm)
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