Chicago's Solar-powered Plug-in Station for Cars

One of the nations first solar-powered electric vehicle plug-in stations was installed in the spring of 2009 in Chicago. The ChargePoint Stations are built by Coulomb Technologies.

Read the article in Inhabitat
Read the article in Jetson Green

Electric Dream Machines: Pull up & Plug in

From an article in Australia's The Age by SIMON O'BRIEN November 11, 2009 & in AllCars Electric.com by Eric Loveday 11/10/09

Brisbane is hosting Australia's first first Electric Vehicle Conference this week.
The article in The Age describes how issues of developing electric car infrastructure will be discussed by authorities in technology, business and government.

Luke Grana, Chief Executive Officer of ChargePoint Pty Ltd. has said that the average cost to drive a car in Australia is about $10 for 100 kilometers, but an electric vehicle would cost only about $2 per 100 kilometers.

Coulomb Technologies has ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations in use around the world.

Trial charging systems in parking lots would be in place in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne by the first half of 2010. The effects on the electrical infrastructure consumers, society and the environment will be studied.

Hybrids in 2009 Races - Formula One & Le Mans

2009 Formula One
Beginning with the 2009 season, the Formula One regulations allow for the use of hybrid technology to increase the power & efficiency of the race cars.

The BMW Sauber F1.09 will be equipped with a hybrid system consisting of a combination of electric motor & generator, with power electronics & an energy storage module. Regenerative braking boosts the power in the energy storage module so the electric motor, in combination with the V8 provides extra power.


Le Mans

Peugeot has revealed a hybrid race car for the 2009 Le Mans competition. Approval is pending.
Read more at: AutoBlogGreen 9/2008,



Toyota is reportedly planning re-entering Le Mans racing - this time with hybrids. Read more at: Automobile 4/2008, Left Lane 3/2008,



HYBRIDS AREN'T WIMPY! A Personal Story On a personal note, I was shocked at the tremendous power & speed available when the electric motor & gas engine in our Toyota Hybrid Highlander kicked in together. We wanted better gas mileage in a SUV, but I thought that hybrids were wimpy.

So when we drove our Highlander on an interstate with four adults, two children and all our luggage, I was being careful about being stuck behind a semi on a hill. I just gave a little extra on the accelerator to get around the semi and return to the slow lane. Well, both the electric and gas engines kicked in. Even with four adults, two kids, all our luggage & GOING UPHILL - I was at 95 miles per hour very quickly. I'm glad everyone else was asleep so I wouldn't hear a commentary on my speed burst, but Wow - HYBRIDS AREN'T WIMPY!

Wild Vehicles at SEMA Show in Las Vegas

Do you recognize this vehicle, seen at the 2008 SEMA Show?

The first one to correctly identify it wins a DriveUSA t-shirt.

Hint:  It's featured in an exciting series on the Discovery channel.

All Electric Ford F-150 Delivers 600hp!

November 5, 2008 (Las Vegas, NV)
This all electric concept vehicle, built by UK-based PML Flightlink in partnership with Ford, is on display at the 2008 SEMA Show.


Using the F-150 Pick-up, the mechanical engine, transmission, gearbox, drivetrain, differential, gas tank and exhaust were replaced with the Hi-Pa Drive system.

The four electric in-wheel motors that power the fully-electric Hi-Pa Drive F-150 will deliver more than 600 horsepower as well as more torque than the 320 horsepower V-8 engine it replaced.

2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas

November 5, 2008 (Las Vegas, NV)
The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show is spread over one million net square feet of exhibit space hosts 2,000 exhibitors and over 125,000 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

It's the premier auto accessories trade show in the world, and is an industry-only event, so we came here to cover it for you.

We'll be interviewing some builders with vehicles that are competing in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize competition. What is the x-Prize? It's a TEN MILLION DOLLAR prize to the winner of a cross-country race in 2009 for vehicles that can exceed 100 Miles Per Gallon (or 100 MPG equivalent).

The Race Is On!

There are increased efforts  for Electric Vehicles (EV) & Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV).  For instance...

Actual Tests of PHEV Conversions at 90+ MPG

Utility company Pacific Gas & Electric, search giant's Google.org, & A123 Hymotion (builder of the conversion equipment) continue the evaluation.  Follow the results HERE.

GM Selects the Battery Maker for the Volt

GM intends to begin production of the Volt at the end of 2010, and has been evaluating potential vendors for the lithium-ion batteries.   GM's VP, Bob Lutz announced that the selection of the vendor has been made, but he did not specify the manufacturer yet.