Electric Vehicle
Electrify the Roads
Last updated: June 22, 2010
Source: Truthout
My magic wand is on the fritz, otherwise we’d have a big, new federal program to free America from its dependence on oil. Like other environmentalists, I’m sad that the calamity in the Gulf of Mexico hasn’t spurred Washington to more vigorously promote America’s exit from this curse.
The fault may lie with President Obama’s timidity, a public scared by major new government programs or fossil-fuel interests flashing their campaign dough. Probably it’s all three, but the bottom line is this: An all-out effort to unchain America from hydrocarbons is essential to national security, a healthy environment and economic prosperity in the 21st century. But it’s not politically possible.
And so we must look at what’s passable. Fortunately, there’s one piece to the escape strategy that business leaders, military brass and the buying public all like — and would create jobs. Most importantly, it has bipartisan support in Congress.
We speak of electric cars, specifically the “Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010.” Sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., the bill’s goal is to electrify half of America’s cars and trucks within 20 years. That, its backers say, would cut America’s dependence on petroleum by a third. Similar legislation is before the House.
The Senate bill would name at least five communities to be models for electric-vehicle transportation. They would build stations where motorists could recharge their cars’ batteries. Residents would be offered a $10,000 tax credit to buy electric cars. And the federal government would put $1.5 billion into research for improving electric-car technology.
Electric cars don’t appear to be a very hard sell to those who would buy them. The first all-electric model, the Nissan Leaf, will hit the U.S. market at the end of the year. (The batteries will be made in Smyrna, Tenn.) But you won’t be able to just pick one up, because the year’s production is already sold out. More than two-thirds of the 19,000 preorders are from the United States.
The Chevy Volt will reach showrooms around that time. Its battery range of 40 miles is considerably smaller than the Nissan Leaf’s 100 miles, but the Volt has a small gasoline engine to keep the car going if a recharging station is not handy.
In any case, more than 75 percent of Americans commute 40 miles or less a day. That means most of them could plug in their Volts at the end of the day and drive off fully charged in the morning.
Being both an environmentalist and a fan of high automotive performance can be awkward. But car makers are learning to put zoom into their fuel-efficient models. The Ford Fusion Hybrid, for example, gets 41 miles-a-gallon in the city, but can pull away from a stoplight at a respectable pace. “Sustainable mobility solutions” need not be as boring as they sound.
What about the source of the electric power? Although an all-electric vehicle puts out zero emissions, that is probably not true of the plant that provides the electricity. While California has moved its mix of electricity sources toward clean, renewable energy, other parts of America are still highly dependent on dirty, coal-powered plants.
However, electric cars cut global warming pollution even where coal supplies the power, according to a study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash. That’s because cars plugged in overnight employ unused capacity in the current electric system.
So let the brawl over cap-and-trade proceed. Outside of the oil business, most everyone seems enthusiastic about accelerating a move toward electric cars. Nothing should stop Congress from revving up the process. Right?
KMB to test electric bus that recharges itself at each stop
Last updated: May 14, 2010
Source: South China Morning Post
An electric bus that recharges itself at bus stops will go on trial on Hong Kong roads in about two months.
The so-called supercapacitor bus – now being used at the World Expo in Shanghai – is being brought to the city by Kowloon Motor Bus as it seeks ways to reduce emissions from its diesel-burning fleet.
The bus has a quick-charging electricity storage device that can propel it for a kilometre after charging for 30 seconds and five to nine kilometres after a full charge taking three minutes.
One kilometre might seem a short distance, but the bus company’s deputy managing director, Evan Auyang, said this amounted to three to four blocks and as the buses stopped often, the pauses should allow enough time for quick charges.
“Chargers will be installed at our bus stops so that the bus can recharge while loading and offloading passengers, but we won’t need a charger at every stop to begin with,” Auyang said.
The bus will arrive at KMB’s Lai Chi Kok depot in July for the company to test its performance in the city’s hot, humid weather and hilly terrain before deciding whether it can be used to replace some of the older models. When fully charged, the air-conditioned bus can travel for five kilometres with a full load and up to nine kilometres empty.
Its top speed is 55km/h, compared to 70km/h for the diesel buses, so it would only be used on urban routes, where the average speed was 50km/h.
Auyang said the technology would evolve quickly, with US researchers working at doubling power capacity in the same charging time.
The bus would cost more than diesel-fuelled single-deckers, which cost about HK$2 million, but it would be cheaper than hybrids and would cut fuel costs by up to 75 per cent.
Electric dream set to make us a motor city
First published: March 3, 2010
Source: The Standard
Hong Kong will soon boast an automobile industry – but unlike most motor cities, this one will be green.
In a joint venture with Taiwan and the mainland, Halo Motor plans to set up a small production line in the next two to three years and aims eventually to churn out 10,000 electric vehicles a year.
A research and development center is also to open in the Science Park by the end of this month.
(more…)
10 Electric Cars VS Electric Cars in Families
Using Green energy is the trend of different governments throughout the world. After HKSAR government said that she will introduce 10 electric cars in the policy address, another government announced that she will bring green vehicles into the country.
Let’s see this news:
On Friday, October 30 at 8:30 PM, “NOW” investigates how the Danish government and Better Place are working together to put electric cars into the hands of as many Danish families as possible. The idea is still having trouble getting out of the garage here in America, but Denmark could be an inspiration.
Electric Car can help much in the environment.
Demark is a country famous for using green energy. She had developed wind power to produce electricity, setting a good example in creating clear power. Now she go further, not just introducing electric cars in government use, but encouraging the citizens to use electric cars. If the electric plant in Demark produces electricity by fuel such as coal, we may say the electric cars there are not clean enough. However, the electric cars in Demark are powered by wind, and contribute a lot to the Earth’s health.
Compare with Demark Government, HKSAR government seem contribute less in environmental protection. Both government talking about electric cars, the former is introducing the cars to the citizens, but the later is introducing 10 cars in government use only. We are both developed region, and we are both enjoying high technology and high quality of life. When we come to the environmental protection issues, we have no excuse. So please require the government to do more in order to clear the air.
Source: NOW, Truthout Programming Note
Firm plans to import 200 electric vans
Peter So, SCMP
The world’s largest manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles plans to introduce 200 to the city next year.
An electrically powered van will be sold for about HK$700,000 and a truck for HK$900,000 – about three times the prices of diesel vehicles.
British-based Smith Electric Vehicles is the third manufacturer to announce plans to bring electric vehicles into the city.
Earlier this year, Japanese carmakers Nissan and Mitsubishi promised to introduce electric vehicles for road tests in Hong Kong.
Smith intends to import vans and trucks with payloads ranging from 3.5 to 12 tonnes. Its minibus can carry up to 17 passengers.
Sales director Kevin Harkin said the vehicle batteries would normally need eight hours for a full charge using home-use power sockets.
Speeds can reach 120km/h and the travelling range is about 160 kilometres, depending on whether air conditioning is used.
Mr Harkin said the city would be ideal for introducing the vehicles because the roads were mostly flat.
He noted that the high price tags and doubts about vehicle performance could make businesses hesitate. But the vehicles could cut costs over about five years because of cheaper fuel and lower maintenance fees, he said.
Smith would first target high- profile businesses, he said.
“The businesses normally buy a small volume to start with,” he said, adding that he expected the vehicles to become widely used after businesses saw savings in operational costs.
Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah announced in his budget a five-year extension of the registration-tax waiver for electric vehicles, to March 2014.
A government committee has been set up to study problems relating to their introduction.
Hong Kong Government to Conduct Trial On BYD Dual Mode Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
Business Desk, June 12, 2009
The Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Ms Anissa Wong, today (June 12) participated in a promotional activity on clean fuel vehicles in Shenzhen to mark the launch of a trial on BYD’s dual mode hybrid vehicles by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government.
“I am pleased to see that the Environment Bureau of the SAR Government has joined with the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Shenzhen Municipal Government to promote the use of clean fuel vehicles, and launched the trial scheme together. The scheme will enhance our understanding of this new generation of dual mode hybrid vehicles,” Ms Wong said.
She added that Shenzhen was among the 13 pilot cities on the Mainland to showcase and promote energy-saving vehicles powered by new types of fuel. The co-operation between the Environment Bureau of the SAR Government and the Environmental Protection Bureau of the Shenzhen Municipal Government marked an important step in enhancing the transformation of the Pearl River Delta region into a green and quality living area. She expressed the wish that the two places could make the best use of their experiences in developing energy-saving transportation and step up communication and knowledge sharing on research, supply and use of environmentally friendly vehicles.
The SAR Government will commence the trial of two BYD dual mode plug-in hybrid vehicles “3DM”starting from this July. The trial will not only provide the Government with useful information for assessing the use of this type of vehicle in Hong Kong, but will also encourage the public to learn more about this new type of vehicle.
Ms Wong, representing the Environment Bureau of the SAR Government, took part in the Green Action Day 2009 cum Shenzhen-Hong Kong Clean Fuel Vehicle Promotion held in Shenzhen this morning. A number of officials from the Shenzhen Municipal Government, including the Vice Mayor Mr Zhang Siping, were also present.
The Financial Secretary identified in this year’s Budget the promotion of electric vehicles as a key measure to promote a green economy. The Government earlier announced a host of measures for this cause, and set up a steering committee under the leadership of the Financial Secretary to make recommendations on strategy and specific measures to promote the use of electric vehicles. The Government began a trial on an electric vehicle in mid-May.
Air-powered Battery
A normal fossil fuel car (using an internal combustion engine) only needs the battery to start the engine as well as run the air conditioning system and the car stereo. But the scene is quite different with electric cars. Batteries run everything. So when one tries to buy an electric car his/her prime concern is battery. Electric car owners are still grappling with the quality and reliability of the electric car battery. The main concern is how long the battery will last before it needs recharging. Researchers are continuously trying to devise new ways for the battery to last longer and recharge easily. Imagine your phones, mp3 players, computers and laptops running for days without recharging, or for that matter your car running far longer on one charge than it presently can with a tank or two of gas. Using air power, it might be possible in as early as 5 years.
Researchers at the Scotland’s University of St. Andrews are working on a project on the air-powered battery. If successful they will replace the lithium cobalt oxide electrode in the fuel cell. The “STAIR” (St. Andres Air) battery will be compatible on all renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, and oxygen. Professor Peter Bruce who is leading his team for this project, is of the opinion, “Our target is to get a five to ten fold increase in storage capacity, which is beyond the horizon of current lithium batteries. The key is to use oxygen in the air as a re-agent, rather than carry the necessary chemicals around inside the battery.”
The major advantages will be the battery will be cheaper and lighter in weight too. Because they are not using expensive material but lightweight porous carbon. This carbon inhales oxygen from the atmosphere while the battery is discharging. We can see that there will be a regular round of charge and discharge. The oxygen will be sucked in through an exterior of the battery that is exposed to air. This oxygen will react within the pores of the carbon to discharge the battery. “Not only is this part of the process free, the carbon component is much cheaper than current technology,” Bruce says.
This research project was assigned on a four year basis. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of Great Britain (EPSRC) is sponsoring this project. The project has just completed two years but it has already achieved a battery lasting 8 times longer than a lithium cobalt oxide battery. The original aim was to achieve a battery with a 5 to 10 times more life than contemporary batteries. EPSRC explains, “By discharging batteries to provide electricity and recharging them when the wind blows or sun shines, renewables become a much more viable option.”
The air powered batteries might take five more years to be commercially produced. But they will be available for your cell phones, laptops and mp3 players first.