Automotive X Prize News: Sept 28th, 2008

By Eric Boyd on September 28, 2008 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tags:

Chevy Volt,

Chrylser,

Kinetic Vehicles,

Myers Motors,

Phoenix,

Tesla,

ZAP

The big news this week is Chrysler unveiling 3 EVs (pictured), one of which will actually be put into production by 2010. For AXP competitors, we have news from ZAP, Myers Motors, Kinetic Vehicles, Tesla, and Phoenix. Also, the EPA may give the Chevy Volt a "100 MPG" sticker, and that has provoked all sorts of commentary, not the least of which is a press release from the X Prize Foundation. And, some bonus material from the Alt Car Expo.

ZAP turns 14, Uruguay Grants Land for ZAP Electric Vehicle Assembly Facility

EVcast: Interview with Dana Myers of MyersMotors, including mention of a 2-seat version of the NmG which sounds like something that could qualify for the Automotive X Prize.

MAX Update No. 10: MAX to Escape from Berkeley, Oct 10-13th, 2008. I'm hoping to see the start line myself. MAX is Kinetic Vehicles entry for the AXP.

Senate panel hears from Ontario (California) electric car company executative, Thad Balkman of Phoenix Motors.

Tesla's Bluestar to be all-electric family car

X Prize Foundation on possible EPA rating of Chevy Volt at ">100 MPG". Personally I think that the EPA should provide 2 numbers for E-REV type vehicles: all-electric range, and charge-sustaining MPG. So the Volt would get 40 miles + 50 MPG thereafter. But of course the AXP people want the EPA to use the "MPGe" metric they have devised, which is a lot better than just ignoring the cost of the electricity (as the EPA seems to be hinting at now). See Calculating the Volts EPA Rating, More than 100 MPG?, bloomberg.

The LA Times used the 100 MPG Volt as an opportunity to write about the AXP: Automoive X Prize considers ways to include 100-mpg Volt. Why isn't the Volt in the prize now? "I know it was considered very carefully," said GM spokesman Terry Rhadigan. "Candidly, it was because we're already locked into a hyper-competitive race with other manufacturers and we wanted to stay focused on that."

Chrysler Goes Electric, with 3 EV models based on existing vehicles: a minivan, a Jeep and a Dodge sportscar. Supposedly, one to be produced in 2010. See also autobloggreen, CNBC, ABG Video, Popular Mechanics, Ecogeek, specs sheet (PDF), wired Autopia. For an interesting alternate view of this event, check out Five concept cars Chrysler could have used for its electric debut.

House Approves $25B Loan for Big 3

Researchers Find That Fuel Line Electrorheological Device Can Boost Fuel Economy, which is incredible. They show an 18.8% increase in fuel mileage from a device which clamps on the fuel line and creates a magnetic field. The theory is that this field reduces fuel viscosity, which improves fuel dispersion and thus fuel combustion. See slashdot commentary.

Santa Monica AltCar Expo 2008 preview rocks a parking lot, Auto X Prize not half-filled with low-speed vehicles

AltCar 2008: Chris Paine talks "Who Killed?" sequel, coming in 2010M, including audio of the talk. He really slams hydrogen near the 12 minute mark.