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Electric cars. The future is already here.


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Since my wife is Finnish i tend to follow Finnish companies and many are world leaders in various niche areas.

 

Valmet automotive are for example now making Porsche Caymens and Boxsters until 2012

 

They have just signed aggreements to make the Fisker Karma hybrid beginning q4 2009. This is no Micky Mouse type of car. It is a high performance 4 door sports car capable of 125mph! 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 5.8 seconds!

 

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=vu0MwgvnK-U

 

Here the Danish born Fisker presents the car at the Detroit motor show

 

http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=muBjs9PMW7Q&...feature=related

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrik_Fisker

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisker_Karma

 

"Although Fisker Automotive has yet to release solid statistics regarding Karma’s fuel economy, the company estimates the average driver will only have to refill the fuel tank annually provided they do not drive more than 50 miles per day. Fisker have also suggested that when in 'sport-hybrid' mode the Karma will be capable of doing 100 miles per gallon of fuel consumed for a range of 300 miles. Despite its eco-friendly background the Karma features a 125 mph (201 km/h) top speed and is capable of reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 5.8 seconds."

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Or the US dinosaur might get in first

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...80/gm_puma.html

 

Make way for the the Puma! GM's latest take on low emission motoring will make its debut at this week’s New York Auto Show, and will be able to travel up to 35 miles on a single charge from the lithium-ion batteries.

 

These are the first pictures of the prototype, which boasts a top speed of around 35mph.

 

The name, which is an acronym of Peronal Urban Mobility and Accessibility refers to the fact that the model is strictly limited to urban carriageways.

 

In fact, though our pictures show it on the public road, GM and Segway are hoping to form partnerships with universities and cities, where they can set up dedicated Puma travel lanes.

 

As well as promoting the use of the product, the firms hope to use the lanes to test the Puma’s on-board wireless communication systems, which are designed to keep them at a safe distance from other traffic.

 

After a billion bailout from the US government, GM is looking to secure its future with a move away from its traditional gas-guzzling models, in favour of lightweight, efficient vehicles.

 

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Hmmm I think cornering at speed might be a problem looking at it ! Otherwise looks/sounds good at first sight.

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I found this interesting. Let's see if it actually get some traction behind it ............. <_<

 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/irelan...3931058_pf.html

 

ESB signs deal to back electric car scheme

TIM O'BRIEN

 

Fri, Apr 03, 2009

 

THE GOVERNMENT has signed an agreement with the ESB and carmaker Renault-Nissan to increase radically the usage of electric vehicles.

 

The agreement, which is to provide infrastructure to support the Government target of making one-tenth of all road vehicles electrically powered by 2020, is to be announced by Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan in Dublin Castle today.

 

It will detail the countrywide roll-out by the ESB of a network of refuelling points which will offer an alternative source of fuel to traditional petrol stations. The ESB is to also promote a special night-rate deal under which householders will be able to charge their cars.

 

Renault-Nissan, the merged French-Japanese carmaker, will undertake to provide new vehicles for the private user as well as delivery vans and other vehicles.

 

Electric bicycles with power-assisted pedals are not specified in today’s launch but were covered by the Government’s tax and PRSI rebate scheme to encourage commuting by bicycle.

 

The agreement will attempt to address many of the concerns about electric vehicles raised following last year’s launch of the 10 per cent target.

 

Earlier this year a conference on sustainable energy highlighted the fact that the capacity for recharging an estimated 250,000 passenger vehicles both at home and on the road is yet to be developed.

 

But Sustainable Energy Ireland chief executive Prof J Owen Lewis said renewable, wind and tidal energy could and should be harnessed to power the cars.

 

He told the conference in February that “significant investment in infrastructure will be required to facilitate even a modest deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland, as these vehicles require an extensive charging infrastructure which is not currently in place.”

 

None of the parties to the agreement were willing to comment yesterday on the cost and the scope of the new infrastructure but some described it as “major”.

 

SEI has previously said similar projects in Israel and Denmark cost about €200 million for a full rollout. The system would typically consist of kerbside and car park charging points and 500 battery exchange centres.

 

© 2009 The Irish Times

 

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http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/shai_ag...ctric_cars.html

 

Shai Agassi talks about electric cars and infrastructure .............

 

 

Coupling a few ideas together from the Shai Agassi talk and new developments in quick-charge batteries ( http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/battery...erial-0311.html ) together with Eric Giler's demo for wireless electricity I do start to see electric cars as a viable alternative to petroleum in the not too distant future.

 

 

 

 

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