Two hybrids fitted with plug-in conversion kits caught on fire this summer. One from Hybrids Plus, and one from CarCals. The Green Motorist brought up the safety concerns of conversion kits – not just DIY but ones installed by reputable companies. Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars stopped by and left some comments.

The truth is that many cars catch fire every year and sometimes you can’t figure out the reason why. The CalCars conversion incident was traced back to a component that failed and the battery pack caught on fire, but the Hybrids Plus conversion hasn’t been figured out. They think it may be a wiring issue, but there’s a chance it didn’t have to do with the conversion kit at all.

Given the number of these things on the road, and given the number without any failures, I don’t see this as a problem sweeping the industry (yet). It’s important that we are looking at these from a critical standpoint though and not just patting the back of progress. Hopefully, major automakers have put a significant amount of their budgets into safety precautions and admittedly this has been part of the battery issue, but it’s not the only one and – for me – at this time, I think of these incidents more as flukes than sign of a chronic problem.

Sources: The Green Motorist, CalCars

Post from: EveryJoe

Cautions over Plug-in Conversions

Tuesday, July 22nd – San Jose McEnery Convention Center, Hall 3

6p – 7:30p Exposition Hall Open
7:30p – 9p Speakers

– Dan Reicher, Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives, Google.org, and former Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy

– Mark Duvall, Program Manager, Electric Transportation, Electric Power Research Institute

– Chelsea Sexton, Executive Director, Plug In America, and former General Motors EV1 Specialist

 More Info Here

Source: PRNewswire

Post from: EveryJoe

San Jose – July 22, Public Night @ Plug-In 2008

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

As I said earlier, PHEV stands for what? Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle. Why? Because all of the PHEVs today started out as regular ole’ hybrids, like the Prius or Escape. In fact, most are Priuses or Escapes. Honda’s hybrid system makes conversions more difficult, but there are a few out there (getting tremendous gas mileage, btw).

An additional benefit to PHEVs (pronounced “fev” and yes, I did have to ask, and it was such a pathetic question that nobody answered, but I did find out eventually) is that they fill up at night while most energy demands are low, and can theoretically feed energy back into the grid during times of greater use. They do raise a lot of interesting issues though, and hopefully we can get into them here.

There’s a ton of information online about PHEVs, including an initiative by Google.org to get more on the road, and several organizations set up to promote development of conversion kits or just to share the joys of driving electric with the world. I could list all of them for you, but that doesn’t give you much incentive to visit any of the sites, really, so please just go to the sites I’m going to be covering in related posts, and I’ll try to link to them here. Okay? Good.

If you come by in the future and want to check out the latest on plug-ins, feel free to click either PHEV or Plug-in at the menu on the right side of the screen. People tend to use the terms interchangeably. Hey, you might even check back next Friday to see if we’re talking about plug-ins again … but I’m not promising anything. ;)

RechargeIT.org (by Google)

Post from: EveryJoe

Welcome to PHEV Friday!

China represents the 2nd largest auto interest in the world, and with the introduction of the Honda Civic hybrid, Toyota Prius, and Buick Lacrosse Eco-Hybrid, major automakers are making a move to take advantage of China’s new environmental trends. In fact, Toyota began producing the Prius there, partnering with China FAW Group Corp. while GM’s move into the Chinese market represents an even bigger push.

In a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. – Shanghai GM – the companies have put into action a program they call “Drive to Green.” Beginning in mid-2008, Shanghai GM will begin releasing a slew of environmentally friendly automobiles into the Chinese market, including the new Buick Lacross Eco-Hybrid, and a line of fuel cell vehicles starting in 2010. The company plans to cut overall fuel consumption by 10% across the board.

Sources:
Marketwatch
Reuters
Shanghai Daily

Post from: EveryJoe

Hybrids Clearing new Paths in China: GM’s Buick LaCross, Honda Civic, and Toyota Prius Hybrids

Building the 2008 HGTV Green Home

I’m very interested to see which direction their garage will be headed. I’m thinking there will be a plug-in for an electric hybrid, but … we’ll have to wait and see. Either way, if I won this baby and sold my current house, I would put a charging station out there if it didn’t exist … then I’d buy one of those No More Gas models to use it. :D

Post from: EveryJoe

My 2008 HGTV Dream Home … is a Green Home

Toyota’s [hybrid project general manager, Yoshitaka Asakura] expressed skepticism about the concept of a plug-in hybrid car that would run only on battery power for 40 miles, the idea central to the Chevrolet Volt concept. Batteries powerful enough to achieve that would fill up the trunk of a car, he said.

OH BURN!

Slow and steady wins the race between big autos’ electric dreams, according to execs:

Mr. Asakura said Toyota is concerned customers might not accept a plug-in hybrid electric car that has to be recharged every day, despite enthusiasm from environmental groups and electric-vehicle enthusiasts…

Oh no. Did GM jump the gun again? I’m hoping not, but I have faith in Toyota’s marketing team to know what will sell – and what wont – even on US soil. (Though Consumer Reports disagrees – wee hee.)

Read article here

Post from: EveryJoe

Toyota Gives GAB to GM’s Volt Plans

Two models are available: the electric model will go a distance of 120 miles per charge, the hybrid plug-in will get roughly 330 miles per gallon. The site claims you can cart around “15 bags of groceries, or 2 full size golf club bags” even a couple surf boards.

Based on plane and race car models, the Aptera has a very futuristic look to it, and is reportedly very lightweight. This is the part that bothers me. Remember now, my first car was a Geo Metro – 3 cylinder engine, body made of recycled cans. My friends used to pick it up and move it around during school so I was never quite sure where I parked. Windy, rainy days and passing semis were problems in that car.  What’s going to happen in the Aptera? Will it be able to handle real-life driving conditions?

It’s safe to say that if there’s a problem, the occupants will be okay. They’ve packed the Aptera with outstanding safety features. At $26,000 (electric) and $29,000 (hybrid) who wants to risk the damage?

This is something I’m going to try to find out more about, because really, I think this looks like a good option for families with one child, or as a car for commuters.

And if you go to the website, head right to the reservation page to get all the details. (Although I have to say, the pics on that third page are pretty crazy .. and the fourth page is just too cute for words. If you can stand the loading time, I’d take the website tour.

Post from: EveryJoe

Aptera – 330 mpg

Read about the Prius Plug-in

Post from: EveryJoe

Toyota Plugs on with Plug-in Trial