This is the Interstate Traveler Hydrogen Superhighway. This is a rail system of magnetically levitated containers that can carry people, cars, freight, and well, pretty much anything at high speed. The containers will travel like packets of data travel over the internet, mathematically spaced for optimal speed and efficiency. The rails will be built along America’s interstate freeway system, all 54,000 miles. Along the entire rail line will be solar panels and electrolysis stations that will generate “3.4 quadrillion Btu of power.” It solves the American energy crisis for the next 3 decades. Here is a cutaway of how the rail itself will be able to generate power, and carry data, fluid, and electricity across the country through its conduit cluster:
The rail system would be constructed of steel to save our wilting steel industry. Because these rail lines are built along the interstate, this inherently creates a charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. And the system is capable of doing so much more than that. Here is the ITC website.
Still not convinced, listen to Timm Finfrock, chairman of ITC and PhD:
“You just go out and build it, and do it, and then let them try to stop you.” pretty good quote
Even better, this company is based in Detroit, Michigan, and I hear that city is looking for jobs.
Check out this video, and statements in question start at 1:20:
According to Phil Lebow, auto industry journalist for CNBC, the Dodge EV is a Range Extended Electric Vehicle that gets 40 miles all electric, and then switches on a gasoline generator, just like the Chevy Volt. Wrong. The Dodge EV is a pure electric vehicle that gets 150-200 miles per charge. You think the guy would have looked under the hood to see if there was a gasoline engine generator before he went on network TV. He also claims the Tesla Roadster is “extremely limited” hinting to the range. A 220 mile range is phenomenal for a sports car of that caliber, whereas in a combustion engine supercar, you can burn through 30 gallons in 7 minutes. And honestly, who has the back to drive a supercar for over 220 miles in one sitting. C’mon you’re better than that. CNBC, if you need a guy to cover electric vehicles, call me up.
[edit: Ok maybe he was referring to the Tesla Roadster as limited in quantity. Still, unless Chrysler is secretly changing its plans, the Dodge EV will not employ a gasoline powered range extender.]
The Tazzari Zero is a “high performance” Micro EV. They keep saying, 0-31 mph in under 5 seconds, the key number there is 31, as apposed to the customary 60, so it’s not too incredibly quick. With a top speed of about 56 mph, the car might not win any quarter mile races, but should be very capable of getting you from place to place with a 93 mile ev range. You can go to the Tazzari Zero website, but you will be hard pressed to find any info behind all the flash animation (seems to be an Italian thing, see Venturi) unless you sign up for their monthly newsletter. A November 2008 edition is below.
Also check out this video of a prototype being “driven like it’s stolen” without the body attached. The car appears to have a fair amount of pickup at low speeds so I can imagine it would still be very fun to drive.
This is ZERO NEWS, the electronic newsletter, which brings you all the news about the ZERO project, the eco-sports brand.
Loyal to the initial concept
The idea for ZERO dates back a few years. It stems from the desire to give the car market a true alternative, something completely new, so as to break with the past. Electric vehicles just had to evolve, so it was only by making a series of innovative decisions that this was going to happen. The idea was to create an electric sports car, a trendy vehicle with an Italian heart and distinctive Italian design and prime performance, incorporating state-of-the-art technology.
Born electric
ZERO exists as a totally electric vehicle. She is not the conversion of an internal combustion vehicle, as are many. This means that from the very first sketch, everything has been designed according to an all-electric concept. No rearranging around an existing vehicle, no restrictions with regard to design or technical aspects, no compromise.
New technical solutions
Indispensable and innovative the choice of lithium batteries, primarily because they hugely increase the roaming range and the number of recharge cycles that are possible with respect to the battery types that have been available up until now. They guarantee unmatched performance levels for electric vehicles at an affordable price. Moreover, they allow a significant reduction in weight and volume, meaning the vehicle is spacious and perfect for 2 occupants and provides 2 separate boot areas with over 130 litres storage capacity.
The lighter the vehicle, the more you get out of electrically powered propulsion, so the lightweight aluminium frame is ideal. In the hands of experts in the field of cast aluminium parts, this alloy’s structural characteristics, together with the specially developed geometry of the car’s design, have enabled the expert technicians to create the dynamic, ultra-light frame which makes ZERO an exciting car to drive.
The motorsport attributes belonging to ZERO are enhanced by the extremely low centre of gravity, rear-wheel drive and the centrally positioned motor. The wide wheelbase, 15″ wheels and wide tyres all make for first-rate road holding and maximum safety is achieved thanks to electro-assisted braking with 4 oversized disc brakes, giving power and balance when you need to stop fast. Last, but not least, regenerative braking, stable handling and that motor sport feeling are the objective and unprecedented features of this urban electric vehicle.
ZERO comes from Imola, right at the heart of Italian “sports car territory”. Passion is part of its DNA.
“Why did I decide to create ZERO? ZERO applies the most evolved technologies available today at a competitive price. This is the starting point of a new generation of functional, sustainable vehicles. ZERO is quality innovation, the truly ecological alternative to mobility today.”
Personally I find this to be one of the most exotic electric vehicles out there. This is the Eagle G-Car from G Car Motors Inc. of the Philippines. It made some news about a year ago, and I haven’t really found any updates on the NEV. The top speed is about 25 mph and is capable of running 50 miles on a charge. Charging takes about 4-6 hours. What intrigues me about this car is the price. Prices range from 140,000 to 280,000 pesos, about 3,300 to 6,600 USD. I would buy that car right now! If the street laws permitted me to drive around town in zones under 50mph. Apparently, it can be registered as a Low Speed Vehicle (LSV) in Canada and the United States. Click on picture below to read the official brochure.
Check out the G Car Motors site, where you can find some more info and possibly order one. It hasn’t been updated since January and I emailed them see if there were any developments. No response, but I hope they are doing well, because these are very economical electric vehicles. However, I imagine they would have a tough time passing many safety standards in most countries.
The Karma’s Q DRIVE configuration consists of a small gasoline engine that turns the generator, which charges the lithium ion battery pack, powering the electric motor and turning the rear wheels. The vehicle will have an all electric range of 50 miles before the gasoline powered 4-cylinder engine generator kicks in. After this, the full range jumps up to over 350 miles. The Karma has regenerative braking that will help recharge the batteries, much like the Tesla Roadster and many modern electric vehicles. Patrons will also have the option to purchase a full-length solar roof that will help charge the car and provide cooling for the interior cabin while the car is parked. Fisker Automotive will even offer consumers an option to purchase a set of solar panels for their roofs or garages where they can generate electricity during the day to charge the car overnight.
Initial deliveries will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009, with annual production projected to reach 15,000 units. More info can be found at fiskerautomotive.com.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an avid proponent of green technology. California has made massive strides to make itself the green tech capital of the world. He loves his Tesla Roadster so much that he gave Tesla huge incentives to manufacture their future sedan, the Model S, in San Jose.
Now, about this bailout. With all the resources available to the Big 3, they still could not produce a viable electric car after GM destroyed the EV1. The Chevy Volt has about a quarter of the range the EV1 was capable of in the mid 90’s. And now they expect us to bail them out so that they can continue to produce gas guzzling vehicles that nobody wants? They expect us to bail them out after we had to get a second job just to pay for gas because no domestic cars could get decent gas mileage? They expect us to bail them out after they continue to outsource jobs?
As of this hour, tonight, the fate of Detroit is in the hands of President Bush. The GOP does not want to bail them out, so I am curious to see what Bush will do. Mitt Romney suggests a managed bankruptcy. In a managed bankruptcy, “the federal government would propel newly competitive and viable automakers, rather than seal their fate with a bailout check.” I think this is the best course of action. This way, these new companies could reorganize and build cars for the 21st century. Maybe we could see an electric car company spinoff, based on the Chevy Volt and Chrysler ENVI programs.
Yes, if the Big 3 do go under, hundreds of thousands of US jobs will be lost, and several companies that manufacture for the Big 3 will go under. But $25 billion is probably just going to slightly delay the inevitable collapse of these helpless companies if they do not make a significant change of direction. If we bail out the Big 3, and they continue to be obstinate, and refuse to appease consumer demands, and continue to fail and embarrass America, I would rather they just “drop dead”.
