Electric Vehicle - Discoverers of graphene bring graphene-based electronics a step closer

One technical area where we can still greatly improve the electric vehicle is in the battery department. One promising technology sofar is called graphene, a material build up of a sheet of carbon. What make graphene so special then? It is only one atom thick! For an impression refer to the image attached to this post.

Graphene is said to have great mechanical strength, but also in conductivity. This last property makes interesting for electronics, but alsofor batteries. In a battery it can help increase the rate of charging (or discharging, but that has not really been a big issue yet). Keep an eye out for more news on this material.

Discoverers of graphene bring graphene-based electronics a step closer
http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-based-electronics-a-step-closer/19329/

“Although the exciting physics which we have found in this particular experiment may have an immediate implementation in practical electronic devices, the further understanding of the electronic properties of this material will bring us a step closer to the development of graphene electronics,” said Professor Novoselov.

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- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - GM and ABB provide Second Life for Volt battery packs

The batteries used in an electric vehicle can get worn during the use over many years, or extensive driving. Experts still debate about when a battery is to be called 'not good enough for an EV' and the value of such used batteries.

One way to improve the economics of this is to use the used EV batteries as a powet buffer in the energy grid, for which GM and ABB are now running a demonstration project. In the future, your old car battery might help you out during power outages, or just shave peak loads in the grid and save you money. The Second Life for batteries is upon us!

GM and ABB demonstrate prototype of Volt battery pack grid re-use application
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/07/gmabb-20110721.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greencarcongress%2FTrBK+%28Green+Car+Congress%29

Earlier this year, General Motors signed a definitive agreement with ABB Group to identify joint research and development projects that would reuse Chevrolet Volt battery systems, which will have up to 70% of life remaining after their automotive use is exhausted. (Earlier post.) Using Volt battery cells, the ABB and GM team is building a prototype system for 25-kilowatt/50-kWh applications, about the same power consumption of five US homes or small retail and industrial facilities.

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- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - Tesla scores $100 million Toyota RAV4 EV-related contract

The upcoming RAV4 EV from Toyota, fearures a big chunk of technology and services from the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla. It involves a nice chunk of $100m, which will greatly help in getting Tesla's Model S on the road.

It is deals like these that lead me to wonder if Tesla is either going for their own, unique line of vehicles, do they want their Tesla tech and knowhow inside all the other car manufacturers cars, or is their ambition big enough for both? For now, it seems the new RAV4 EV has Tesla Inside.

Tesla scores $100 million Toyota RAV4 EV-related contract
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/20/tesla-scores-100-million-toyota-rav4-ev-related-contract/

Buried within its latest U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Tesla Motors revealed that its deal with Toyota is to be pumped up, with the Japanese automaker agreeing to fork over an additional $100 million to Tesla. Initially, word of the agreement brought trading of Tesla stock (NASDAQ ticker symbol: TSLA) to an immediate halt. However, the freeze was short-lived, with TSLA shares currently trading in the ballpark of $29.

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- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - 2012 Nissan Leaf upgraded for America

An update from one of the most well known electric vehicles in the world; the Nissan Leaf. Due to popular demand they will make the quick charge and winterisation options a standard in the 2012 model.

Also some nice statistics already from the current US users of the Leaf; a lot of them are using it as their primary car and driving a lot more than initially anticipated. Once you are hooked to electric driving, you are really hooked ;-)

2012 Nissan Leaf upgraded for America
http://electric-vehicles-cars-bikes.blogspot.com/2011/07/2012-nissan-leaf-upgraded-for-america.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FpEcq+%28Electric+Vehicles%29

More than 4,000 Nissan LEAFs have been delivered to U.S. customers, and Nissan, as it begins the next phase of the launch, continues to learn from them. While 82 percent have never previously owned a Nissan, a full 75 percent considered no other vehicle than the Nissan LEAF in their purchase decision. On a whole, these early adopters report that they are using the Nissan LEAF as their primary car, and driving it far more than was originally anticipated. These consumers, most of whom are highly educated and have high income levels, are technologically savvy, environmentally conscious, and consider themselves advocates for electric-car technology.

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- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - Life With Tesla - Tesla Owner Mike Koenigs explores the green world of energy independence and living off the grid

There is no electric vehicle like the Tesla Roadster, that is for sure! Today I want to point out to a great informative website on this vehicle and living off grid.

Mike Koenigs has made a neat documentary on his adventurea of gettingthe Tesla, getting the solar panels on his house and never have to worry about gas or the rising gas prices again!

Go check out his website and watch the documentary, it is really nice!

Life With Tesla & Tesla Owner Mike Koenigs explores the green world of energy independence and living off the grid
http://lifewithtesla.com/

Life With Tesla â€" Tesla Owner Mike Koenigs explores the green world of energy independence and living off the grid

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- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - Toyota RAV4 EV won't be sold to the general public

A long anticipated electric vehicle, the Toyota RAV4 EV, will probably not be available for consumers to buy, neither will it have an option to quick charge. 

A true pity, since many current RAV4 EV users are highly enthusiastic about the car and have made a lot of folks wanting their own (new) version of it. Understandable as it is, getting the car to business and car sharing fleets will generate more exposure of the vehicle and for car sharing, a lot more people get to drive it as well.

The supposed lack of quick charging is a bit mysterious, they prefer to wait till the US has decided on a standard, while the ChaDeMo standard has been widely adopted in Europe and Japan. Hopefully the Americans pick their standard quick, or they will have to drink a few more cups of tea compared toEV drivers elsewhere...

Report: Toyota RAV4 EV won't be sold to the general public
http://green.autoblog.com/2011/07/17/toyota-rav4-ev-wont-be-sold-to-the-general-public/

And, despite being a electric vehicle that could benefit from quick charging, Yoza says the RAV4 EV will not come equipped with a CHAdeMO charging port, stating that Toyota will not offer a quick-charge setup on any of its electrified vehicles until the SAE finalizes a standard. Let’s hope that Yoza’s admission is slightly inaccurate and that Toyota will eventually sell the RAV4 EV to the public. Otherwise, the only electric CUV on the market in 2012 will be one that folks like us can’t even buy.

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- Roelof

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Electric Vehicle - Orphiro Cruiser Is A Battery-Powered Beauty

A two wheeled electric vehicle is not such a common sight yet. One that is made to enjoy a ride and cruising instead of speed and thrills is even more rare. The Dutch Orphiro was revealed and made it to the page of Wired; calling it a "Battery powered beauty", which I can only agree upon. Hope to see more of these on the road soon!

Orphiro Cruiser Is A Battery-Powered Beauty
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/07/orphiro-cruiser-is-a-battery-powered-beauty/

Steegh has been working with a dozen other people over the past year and a half to bring the Orphiro to market. He hopes companies will order it for promotional use. He says he’s received some interest after a sneak preview of the machine, but he’s waiting until the official debut at the end of September to take any orders.

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- Roelof

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