Better Place’s 10 Words campaign invites regular, everyday people to share with the world – in 10 words or less – why they think we need to stop our oil addiction. The site turns your words into an animated graphic that others can see, and that you can post online.

Check them out, and make sure to come back and post your own!

Post from: EveryJoe

Make a Statement

Chrysler is heading full steam ahead into hybrid and electric vehicles, with a new division – ENVI, an all-electric line – slated to begin producing within the next 5 years. In addition, it’s highly anticipated that a hybrid version of the Dodge Caravan will hit the market by 2010.

Right now, major automakers are facing a slump, and none moreso than Chrysler. 70 PERCENT of their sales come from monsters … big, Big vehicles like the Dodge Ram, the Charger, their new baby the Challenger. None of which are eco- (or particularly pocket book) friendly. I’m very excited to see what comes of the hybrid Aspen and Durango. They’re thousands less expensive than comparable hybrid models and they have enough room for large-ish families. Personally, I think if they market them as well as they pushed the new Caravan, Chrysler’s hybrid sales will be very successful. If they can add an affordable hybrid minivan?? Wowzers.

Source: The Weekly Driver

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybrid Minivans … 2010!

* Development of the electric car much like the computer, starting at the bottom with NEVs and working their way up.

* As auto emissions switch from tailpipe to power plant, pollution will be easier to regulate and treat.

Post from: EveryJoe

Move Toward Electric = Energy Resilience

I hoped to talk with the guys and see where their resource was headed. Bo Bennett took some time out to comment. Thanks again, Bo.

*******

You started out with EVCast intending to be a weekly podcast, and decided fairly quickly to go daily. Why did you make that decision?

With all the news in the industry, we felt we would be doing the listeners an injustice by creating just a weekly podcast. We would either have to leave out many stories, or make the weekly podcast excruciatingly long. Not everyone listens daily now, but at least they have the choice of staying up to date on a daily basis, or tuning in just once a week to our weekly podcast on Tuesday afternoons.

You’ve interviewed some amazing people so far. Which shows have been your favorites? Who are you looking forward to speaking with in the future?

The shows I like best are when Ryan and I crack each other up with spontaneous comments. But as for interviews, I was most impressed so far with Ian Clifford from Zen, because he can very well be one of the people responsible for the way we store energy in the future. If the EEstor storage technology works, it will be amazing. If not, well, he still is an impressive man with the ability to shoot for the stars.

I am looking forward to speaking with more of the “small guys” that are doing some amazing things to change the way we drive.

Out of all of the EVs on the market, what 3 vehicles would you recommend to today’s consumers?

This depends on many factors. For example, if you are rich and you do not mind waiting 15 months, get the Tesla. If you mostly drive alone and relatively short distances, go for the Myers Motor’s NmG. But for me personally, as much as I want an EV today, I just have to wait. There are many very practical and affordable options due out that I believe will meet the needs of 95% of all drivers.

*****

Please don’t forget to register to win a free Rand McNally 85th Anniversary road atlas from EcoFriendlyDriver.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Catching up with the Guys from EVCast

Hybridfest 2008
Saturday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Located at Alliant Energy Center, Madison, Wisconsin

You’ll be able to catch plug-ins, electrics, biodiesel, hydrogen and other alternative autos, as well as listen to the experts speak on how to save gas with everyday vehicles. Then there’s the Hybridfest MPG Challenge where drivers do their best to stretch their mileage.

Speakers include:
Felix Kramer, Cal-Cars
Mike Granoff, Project Better Place
Jo-Ann Yantzis, Clean Energy
Francis Vogel, Wisconsin Clean Cities
Wayne Gerdes, CleanMPG
Peter Kozan, MPG Challenge Winner
Michael Sefton, Diesels 101

Hybridfest 2008 is presented as part of Dane County Fair. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6 to 11, parking and admission for younger children is free. Visit the Hybridfest website for more information.

* Don’t forget to comment to win a free Rand McNally road atlas … now Earth-Friendlier!*

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybridfest 2008 – Madison, Wisc.

If thousands of people begin leaving surrounding areas and heading into metro areas, high rent costs in the cities will get even higher. You’ll be forced to pay higher costs for food, and living supplies. I would be very surprised if the costs didn’t even out. In the meantime, you could be looking at your other alternatives to lower your transportation expenses.

Top ways to save:

* Rideshare, carpooling, carsharing and public transportation.

* Tweak your driving route, and keep an eye on traffic.

* Using common sense driving techniques, and conduct regular maintenance, to burn less gas.

* Consider purchasing an electric auto or hybrid.

[Image: Newscom]

Don’t forget to check out the contest for a 2009 Rand McNally atlas, made with greener materials.

Post from: EveryJoe

Conserve or Move … the fight against change

The EVcast debuts Tuesday, March 27, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Members of evcast.com can listen live while leaving real-time feedback via the live chat. You can also download or stream any of the previous shows at the website or subscribe to the feed via iTunes.

This is great! And it’s run by two successful guys (Bo Bennett and Ryan Levesque) with a passion for electric vehicles … and apparently blessed with common sense:

Although I am definitely pro-EVs, I don’t hesitate to point out their shortcomings,” says [Bo] Bennett. “The EVcast is an informative show that will demonstrate different viewpoints and opinions when it comes to the practicality of electric cars. Our ultimate goal is to spread the adoption of the electric vehicle, but at the same time help consumers make smart decisions when comes to buying a pure EV, hybrid, or even sticking with a gas powered vehicle for now.”

Episode 1: Electric — Past, Present, and Future (with guest, Jason Geise) kicks off the season. Get more details here. It hasn’t debuted yet, so I honestly can’t tell you what it will be like. I’ll be on the road to Des Moines tomorrow so I’ll have to download it later, but I can’t wait to hear what they say about the “present” state of electric cars.

Source: EVcast.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Listen in on the New EVCast – Tuesday, May 27

Ernie Brookins has perfected what could be the next best thing since plug-in hybrids by introducing a hybrid conversion with batteries that charge while the gas engine is running.

Brookins Air/.Hydralic Drive Systems (BAHDS) piston-driven torque converter/transmission is said to deliver twice a vehicle’s mpg AND can be installed in autos already on the road.

This almost sounds too good to be true, and I cannot wait to see the outcome after the first prototypes have been fully tested.

Brookins has a long history in making transmissions for race cars, holds various patents and hopefully has stumbled onto a way of saving a significant amount of gas while running electric cars on clean energy.
Sources: WDay News
Powertrain Industry News

Post from: EveryJoe

Brookins Charge-as-you-go Hybrid Conversion = Clean Electrics!

Fisker is forging ahead with development of their electric sports car despite recent legal troubles with Tesla Motors.  In Southern California, three prototypes of the Karma are currently being tested, with initial orders expected to deliver by the end of 2009.

Specs? Up to 125 mph in “sport” mode, in electric only (what the company is calling “stealth”) up to 95 mph. Initial battery testing gives hope of the lithium-ion battery packs lasting 10 years or longer.

According to Fisker, you should be able to fill your tank ONCE per year … if you recharge every night, and drive in stealth mode the rest of the time. The Karma purportedly can go 50 miles on electric power, only.

If you want one, you’ll have to get in line. Like the pricey Tesla Roadster, the $80,000 Karma has already received hundreds of advanced orders.

[Source: Fisker Automotive]

Post from: EveryJoe

Fisker Forges Ahead

This kind of reminds me of the City Car idea, with stackable, rentable autos you could drive from one place to another, but something more people could easily gravitate toward.

The State of Israel liked the idea so much that laws have already been put in place to support this kind of advancement, and plan on being oil free in the near future. (Well, oil free as far as passenger cars are concerned.)

Renault-Nissan is developing a car and battery pack to fill the role of the world’s first electric car fit with a battery meant to be changed regularly. A working prototype debuted Sunday in Tel Aviv, and are expected to hit Israeli roads sometime next year.

[Source:Autoblog Green, Project Better Place]

[Image Source: Project Better Place]

Post from: EveryJoe

Why Plug in When you can Swap out?