Category Archives: -Other EVs-

VentureOne

On the VentureOne

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To give you an idea of what the VentureOne is, this is a TopGear video on the Vandenbrink Carver, which is a three wheeled vehicle that utilizes a unique tilting action to turn. See for yourself:

Interestingly, the Carver is about $60,000, and the electric/hybrid VentureOne is targeted to be between $18,000 and $25,000 using this same tilting technology. Seems like a lofty goal; and this concept had been in the works for years with nothing more than a computer generated image, up until now. I was starting to lose hope, but the VentureOne was finally unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show in the Automotive X Prize entries and it looks good:

VentureOne

They are projecting the two-seater wlll have a 0-60 of 7 seconds and a top speed of about 100 mph. The vehicle will come in three models, two hybrids and a full ev:
VentureOne Models

VentureOne Vehicles plans to release in California initially in 2010 because they have more lenient 3 wheeled vehicle laws. Hopefully, this car comes to fruition, because it is a very exciting electric concept at a reasonable price. You can find out more about VentureOne at FlytheRoad.com and actually participate in the vehicle’s development in their forums. For example, members actually participated in deciding the final design. Neat idea.

Hybrid Technologies

Evolution of an Electric Supercar (LiV Rush)

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This is a cool old video on the Hybrid Technologies, L1X-75:

This car is now known as the LiV Rush and the Hybrid Technologies website says the beast accelerates from 0-60 in 5 to 6 seconds. Really pedestrian when you compare that to the 3.1 second claim in the video from over a year ago. What’s with the fluctuation? This car was really ahead of its time as a purchasable electric supercar. I’d blame its failure to really take off on its plasticky, kit car aura; as recent electric sport cars have more refined, individual looks. Compare and contrast:
Hybrid TechnologiesTesla Roadster

So that’s where Hybrid Technologies’ most recent evolution comes in. Popular Mechanics gives a pretty good overview of their latest concept electric car. Complete with unique exterior and hopefully a 150-180 mile range. With this still unnamed prototype, Hybrid hopes to compete with Tesla and Fisker for supremacy in the American electric supercar market by late 2009.

Hybrid Technologies

Hybrid Technologies seems to have everything

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Hybrid Technologies

Electric Supercar? Check.
Lithium-Ion technology? Check.
Highway Speed EVs? Check.
100+ mile range? Check.
Several models? Good 0-60 acceleration? Available now? Cool electric motorcycle? Everything looks good.

If all that wasn’t enough, the company is based in heartland USA: Mooresville, North Carolina. Hybrid Technologies is starting to generate some buzz as it made an appearance on the today show a couple weeks ago. And on the radio a month ago, talking about Senator McCain’s $300 million challenge to create an ev with a 300 mile range. Can’t let McCain forget about that. I could care less if he gets elected, he better put his money (government’s money) where his mouth is if someone accomplishes that goal.

Anyways, Hybrid Technologies offers highway capable Mini Cooper, Smart Car, Toyota Yaris, and PT Cruiser conversions that sport 0-60 times under 10 seconds, similar to the standard gasoline powered versions. The only real hookup I have with the company is that the prices are just out of realistic range for those of us who are not environmental fanatics, but want electric vehicles for economical reasons. Hopefully with time, investment, technological innovation, and larger scale operation, Hybrid Technologies will offer a fair alternative for the rest of us.

You can get this for under four grand though.

Aptera

On the Aptera

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Aptera

The Aptera is another three wheeled electric car that will be technically classified as a motorcycle once it hits the road. The vehicle will come in two models, the Typ-1e and the Typ-1h, an all electric model and a hybrid model respectively. The electric version will be able to travel 120 miles on a charge and accelerate from 0-60 in 10 seconds with a top speed of around 85 mph. Not as fast as it looks, but at $27K for the electric and $30K for the hybrid, the Aptera is a worthwhile investment if you want a head turner that saves the environment as well as your gas fund. The Aptera seats two comfortably and is safer than it looks according to the Aptera site, where you can reserve your own Typ-1e for $500 down. Production will start in late 2008.

Google.org recently donated $2.75 million to Aptera and Actacell, a Lithium-Ion battery producer. Touchstone Energy Cooperative wants in on the action too, with a shameless Aptera plug to show they’re environmentally conscious. But the video gives you a good view of the car:

Miles XS500

On the Miles XS500

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XS500

There are a lot of things I love about this car: $30,000-$40,000, highway speed ev, 120+ mile driving range. But most of all I love the completely traditional styling. No wings, wheel covers, space age moldings, or anything that screams “I’m different!”. But therein lies the problem with this car; it looks exactly like a 2004 Kia Rio:

Kia Rio

Well gee, I can get one of those for $4000 dollars on eBay. Over 30 mpg, not bad. Do you want to spend ten times that much on a car of similar performance and identical looks? One that you have to explain to skeptical women that it is indeed electric, $40,000, and that you are environmentally compassionate. Now I’m the biggest electric car proponent there is, but I think Miles needs to rethink the exterior of this vehicle that they are raising so much funding for. This car is set to release in late 2009, and has the price and performance to be huge in the American market. It just needs to distinguish itself a little more ala the Zap-X concept or the Th!nk Ox if consumers are going to cross that $30,000 barrier.

Ultimate Aero EV

On the Ultimate Aero EV

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Ultimate Aero

Shelby SuperCars, or SSC, is an American supercar company founded by Jarod Shelby. The automaker and founder have no relation to Shelby Automobiles, the performance Mustang outfitter. However they have built up a recent amount of publicity of their own with the Ultimate Aero, the current Guinness World Record holder for fastest production car. A cool video on that here. The EV version will likely be an exact replica, but replacing the twin turbo V8 with one or two powerful electric motors; they have not decided. Nor have they decided whether to make the car rear or all-wheel drive, which will most likely be determined by the electric motor configuration. But they do believe the car will be finished and delivered as early as the end of 2009. Oh yeah, there’s rumors that they have come up with a miraculous power source that allows years between charges.

Basically, they haven’t put anything together yet, but they are already claiming to have the most powerful electric car in the world, even though the company has no experience with electric vehicles. Coincidentally, they are now accepting outside capital from celebrities and A-list financiers. Hmm. This article best describes my feelings right now. Although, the nature of electric automobiles recently seems to be that you are more likely to see a fantastic one that breaks speed records, than a standard ev for under $40,000.