Auto & Car Blog

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, USA

What better way to launch a new transportation product than to take it on a long trip with some sweet scenic vistas. In the case of the Zuumer (rhymes with boomer) from ZuumCraft, the journey being undertaken is a week long and covers a distance of 600 miles from San Francisco to San Diego along the beautiful California coast. The three-wheel electric ultralight scooter is powered by a removable lithium ion battery and employees a double-forked steering column with a low center of gravity that not only keeps it stable in the turns but also highly maneuverable. The rear axles seem to have some funky tilting action going on that contributes to its ability to carve your way along like a skateboard. Of course its also perfectly fine for going in a straight line and can do so for around 25 miles on a charge.

While the trip, along with your chance to try it out, ends this Friday, the company has lots of videos of the Zuumer in action. The first batch of 150 units arrives in January and the company is accepting deposits now. Total price tag is in the neighborhood of $2,000 which is a lot less than its Segway competition and won’t make you look like a total dork (sorry Segwayers). Hit the jump for a couple videos of some Zuumer carving-it-up action.

[Source: CleanTech / ZuumCraft]

Continue reading VIDEO: ZuumQuest ‘08 = 600 miles of standing room only

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep

Along with all the photos of its new battery-powered vehicles, Chrysler yesterday also provided some video footage. The clips after the jump include Chrysler VP for ENVI, Lou Rhodes, discussing the electric vehicle program, and running footage of the Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep EVs. There isn’t much new here but you might want to see these vehicles in action, silently humming along as they do their business. Although Chrysler has made some bold claims, it will be interesting to see which if any of these ever make it to mass production. The Jeep in particular is interesting because if Chrysler can build a commercially viable Jeep EV it could also presage a similar RAM.

Related:

• Officially, official: Chrysler’s late 2010 electric vehicle lineup!
• Specs on Chrysler’s new EV lineup, bigger batteries than the Volt
• GEM changes name to GreenEcoMobility, plans new vehicles
• Chrysler execs talk about new electric vehicles

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading VIDEO: Chrysler’s new EVs in action

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Plants/Manufacturing

The 2011 Chevy Volt has been getting the lion’s share of news on the EV front, but it could be jostling for attention in late 2010 with an all-EV sedan from Tesla. Tesla has secured $100 million in private equity and another $150 million in loan guarantees from the federal government to build a new factory in San Jose, CA. The company on Wednesday announced that the facility would build the $60,000 Model S sedan, which was originally dubbed Whitestar. The new Tesla plant will be able to produce 11,000 Model S sedans per year by the end of 2011, giving customers a much more mainstream EV entry than the $100,000 Tesla Roadster.

We haven’t heard too much about the Model S sedan, but earlier in the year Tesla co-founder Elan Musk said there could be a fully functioning prototype and a finalized design by the end of 2008. We’re with you in hoping it looks as good as the Tesla Roadster while providing similar range in a more family-friendly package.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req’d]

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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sedans/Saloons, Green, Videos, Chevrolet, GM

General Motors’ goal for the exterior of the 2011 Chevy Volt is to create as much pizazz as possible with superior aerodynamics to ensure the least amount of parasitic loss for the electric drivetrain. The interior, however, is all about how the driver interacts with the vehicle. And with the Volt, GM designers attempted to pull off a Buck Rodgers meets Apple iPod theme.

A quick glance at the futuristic Volt interior shows a very unique approach to integrating design and technology. The first thing we noticed was that GM decided to use two seven-inch LCD screens, with one working as the main driver instrument panel (no gauge cluster here) and the other for everything from navigation to tracking battery charges. Both screens are user configurable, and two different configurations can be saved for two different drivers.

Follow the jump for more including a video demonstration of the Chevy Volt’s interior by one of its designers.

Continue reading VIDEO: Walkthrough of 2011 Chevy Volt interior

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Filed under: Convertibles, Hybrids/Alternative, Green

The Tesla Roadster launch has been anything but silky-smooth, but the upstart EV automaker hopes its problems are in the rear view mirror with the completion of Drivetrain 1.5, which includes an upgraded electric motor and swapping the original two-speed automatic transmission for a Borg Warner-sourced one speed. The changes will improve the Tesla Roadster’s instant torque from 211 to 280 lb-ft while also improving its range by 10% to a shockingly impressive 244 miles.

Drivetrain 1.5 also means Tesla can finally ramp up production of its well-publicized roadster. Within the next few weeks, Tesla will begin producing 10 Roadsters per week. By next March, that number will increase to 40 samples per week, which will go a long way toward satisfying demand for the sexy EV. The new, upgraded Drivetrain 1.5 is so much better than the mechanicals it replaces, Tesla will keeps its promise and retrofit the 38 models already produced and delivered with the new equipment. Hit the jump to view Tesla’s official press release.

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Continue reading Tesla ends development of Drivetrain 1.5, ready to ramp up production

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Chrysler

Click the Dodge Zeo for a high-res gallery

As has become the custom in recent years, Chrysler unveiled a trio of concept vehicles at last January’s Detroit Auto Show. This years designs all had one thing in common: electric drive. The Jeep Renegade and Chrysler EcoVoyager were both range extended EVs while the Dodge Zeo was a pure battery electric design. This month, Chrysler is finally launching sales of its first hybrids but co-president Jim Press told a media gathering on Tuesday that three new electric drive prototypes would be shown to dealers at a meeting later in September. Press didn’t give any indication of when the vehicles would go on sale but did say that plug-in hybrid vehicles are the first priority with new platforms being developed with electrification in mind. Press also told the Motor Press Guild meeting that Chrysler still has access to the Daimler’s technology and that the company is working with several different battery suppliers.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req’d]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

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