A Motorcycle for Your Granny?

The Amplio Electric Motorcycle is our newest example of the leading edge of personal transportation and the need to travel further on less charging time. While battery technology seems to be the limiting factor, design is making inroads into solving (or at least easing) the limitations on acceptance. The first hurdle seems to be solved in that we are seeing electric vehicles that can get us to work and back on a single charge.

For full replacement of our internal combustion dinosaurs however we need an electric vehicle that will allow us to jump in the car on a whim, after the bar closes, when we decide it is time for a road trip across the country to see that old girlfriend... without getting stranded 80 miles from home along a desolated stretch of sketchy two lane "highway".

The Chevy Volt design seems to be the front runner in car designs, but it still needs petrol to charge it's batteries. The NEXT vehicle either needs an unlimited type of battery, maybe nuclear?, or can somehow be charged in minutes if not seconds. Another possibility would be the acceptance of a universal design type (re VHS vs BETA) that could be easily swapped out by Granny on her way to brunch after Church each Sunday.

In all the Amplio is a good interim design. However, the items mentioned above need to be addressed. I can't see my Granny riding it either, would yours?

Old School Nissan Compact

Is Ford Reconsidering the GT Again?

This article from Jalopnik stretches an ambiguous quote from a Ford executive into the possibility of a new Ford GT program. We all can see the logic in beginning to remarket this platform, but American car companies have not always fallen squarely into the logical arena. You have to respect many of Ford's recent decisions so hopefully this will come to fruition. They have also floated the possibility of an "electric" drivetrain... Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Is this the battery quantum leap we are looking for?

This article from FastCompany.com may highlight the research we have been waiting on. Apparently a virus of many plant species called the tobacco mosaic is being incorporated into lithium batteries and will allow 10 times the battery life (or the same life at 1/10th the size). Think about how a combination of the two integrated with new hybrid or electric vehicle design would revolutionize how we commute. Batteries either weigh too much or don't last long enough. Let's hope this will be the breakthrough we need.

I'm out of juice, bring me some batteries!

While unveiling an all electric Fedex test vehicle, I wrote a few months back on the subject of a standardized battery configuration for the coming influx of totally electric vehicles. The infrastructure and time logistics of getting batteries charged just seems to be a non-starter for me. I can easily imagine the benefit of my daily commute to and from work using an electric vehicle (especially if I have a free charging station at work), but what can I do if I want to go on vacation? What if I need to run several errands and accidentally run over my allotted mileage? What if I forget to plug in the vehicle and don't notice until I get in to go to work the next morning? An eight hour charging cycle will just not work. This article from Reuters explores many of these issues and highlights several companies who are jumping at the chance to become solutions to what will be a very large issue within the next few years. It will be an interesting news story to follow. Keep in touch...

Fisker considering partnership deals

It seems that I am enamored (along with many others) with the idea of all electric cars with beautiful styling and huge performance. I seem to keep coming back to the Fisker Karma as my favorite, soon to be released, model. The problem for me is the $88,000 sticker price. Now I can justify quite a bit of payment to offset what I am currently spending on fuel for my Ford Expedition which averages about 12 MPG. Somehow the numbers are still pretty far apart. So, I have come up with a plan...

Companies should implement an incentive plan for employees who would like to switch to all electric. First, there should be a government subsidy for the first 20% of monthly payments for the first two years. Second, companies should grant an equal 20% tax exempt subsidy for employees who will agree to automatic payroll deduction. Finally, a prominent place would be constructed and provided for these employees to park and recharge their cars each day while they were working. This may be dreaming, but we wouldn't have many of the things we take for granted today if it weren't for someone dreaming of the concept and then moving it forward.

Tesla Thrashed by Electric VW Bug

Quarter mile in 11.24 seconds at 114 MPH. Zero to 60 in 3 seconds. Somehow, I prefer the sound of combustion engines ...

Drive an American Car !!

Car Technologies of the Near Future

Many technologies are being added to current and future model vehicles. I find these things pretty fascinating. Hopefully you will also.

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