Electric Car · Eco-Chick

Browsing all posts tagged with electric car

Tesla Unveils the New Model X (and Watch Elon Musk Adorably Nerd Out!)

When I was recently at the North American Auto Show in Detroit, I got a chance to check out the Tesla Model S, an electric sportscar through and through, and it’s a damn hot car. And yesterday, Tesla showed us all the Model X, a crossover vehicle, which fits seven full-size adults, and has those AMAZINGLY cool (and actually more functional) gullwing doors (check out 16:00 for the reveal).

And a hatch! Love hatches, you can fit SO much more in a car with a hatch than one with a trunk.

With this move, Tesla is moving from the cool-car only market to the cool and super-useful car market. Whether you have kids, have stuff to haul, or run a business wherein you need to move people and stuff often, this crossover car is a sustainably stylish option, and it’s made in Fremont, California.
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auto, California, crossover, electric car, Elon Musk, hot, Model S, Model X, nerd, sustainable, Tesla

Interview with Seth Leitman, Author of ‘Build Your Own Electric Vehicle’

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by Stephanie Rogers · 12/28/08

Electric cars are the way of the future, but not many of us can afford a Tesla and we’re still waiting on that Chevy Volt. In the meantime, author Seth Leitman shows us how we can green up the cars we own right now and transform them from gas guzzlers to mean, green electric machines.

With the economy the way it is, America’s DIY spirit will no doubt be stronger than ever and ‘Build Your Own Electric Vehicle’ could be the handbook that allows people to take the switch into their own hands. We interviewed Seth about his book and got a fascinating look into the world of electric vehicles.

What inspired you to write a book about electric cars?

SL: The book was first published in 1993, written by Bob Brant. Recently, Judy Bass, the editor of McGraw-Hill Professional, publisher of the volume, noticed that it was still selling well, but that it was in need of an update. She chose me for the project a little over a year ago because Brant had died and I had worked for the State of New York on electric cars.

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle provides step-by-step instructions for converting a regular gas-powered car into electric – for as much as or less than buying a traditional car. Does this process require prior knowledge about car repair and maintenance? Could someone like me – who’s handy, but doesn’t have much technical knowledge – take on this task?

SL: You could convert the car with prior knowledge of automobiles or are handy and are a do it yourself type. However, if you feel any bit uncomfortable about converting the car, there is a source directory of companies and people that can assist you in your conversion process.

What would you say to critics who claim that electric cars aren’t eco-friendly because they use electricity drawn from fossil-fuel-powered plants?

SL: Great question. The Environmental Protection Agency measures emissions by a grams or emissions per mile. Even if electric cars are all powered with coal they would still be cleaner than any other alternative fueled vehicle; they have ZERO tailpipe emissions; coal powered plants across the country are spending money to reduce emissions from their power plants which will only reduce emissions further.

Since you wrote this book, the economy has suffered dramatically and oil prices have gone down. Have these factors, or any others that have recently come up, changed any of the concepts you cover in your book?

SL: While the economy is in bad shape, we still import more oil than we generate (55%) and we are reliant on a commodity that is rather volatile. We saw over $140 a barrel this summer and we are now at a little over $50. There was recently a report that Saudi officials believe that oil should be $75 a barrel. Some analysts predict oil to go to $120 a barrel this upcoming summer. Also, as the economy gets better in the US, the price will most likely go up since a barrel of oil is based on the US dollar.

In addition, Bob Brandt (the first author) in 1993 saw $100 a barrel as a need for change. I am in agreement with Bob.

To some people a Porsche, BMW that gets about 100 miles to a charge costing about $15,000 – $18,500 for someone to convert is a good deal and would pay for a car that does that. Some who can do it themselves would only pay $8,000 – $10,000. Also, there are people that would even pay $40,000 – $45,000 for a Porsche, BMW, SAAB, that gets 300 miles on a charge. While not everyone can afford that, early adopters can afford the higher end prices and have expressed sincere interest to purchase cars that use no oil or gasoline. As more people buy advanced batteries, the cost of a 250-300 mile EV will come down (just as with cell phones). You now see power tools using lithium ion batteries and even duracell is selling lithium ion batteries. These is a tell tale sign that advanced battery costs will come down and be more affordable.

In addition, since the US car companies have been building inefficient cars, people have been clamoring for anything electric, such as hybrid electric cars. Now GM is working on the Volt which gets us an all electric range for 40 miles @ 40 miles per hour, plus they are working with US utilities to develop infrastructure for the vehicles. This is a huge step!

We are now even talking about plug-in hybrids which allow you to plug in and get up to 100 miles per gallon. We are getting closer everyday to electric cars in our automobiles and the electric car (as an EV purist) is the way to go. We will get there and a conversion is the quickest way to get there today.

Have women traditionally had a role in the electric car movement?

SL: Women have been involved in electric cars since the birth of the electric motor. Genevera Delphine Mudge of New York City, has been identified by one source as the first woman motorist in the United States, drove an electric in 1898, and one Miss Daisy Post also drove an electric vehicle as early as 1898.

In ‘Who Killed The Electric Car?’ you had Chelsea Sexton who worked for Saturn and the EV1 and Co-Founder of Plug-In America.

Can you recommend any additional resources for women interested in learning more about electric cars?

SL: Besides the book, which has a source directory in the back, I also worked with Lynne Mason from Electric-cars-are-for-girls.com and Chelsea Sexton from Plug In America and Who Killed The Electric Car?, to make the book a resource for women. I hope it helps.

In the source directory I listed Electric Cars are for Girls, the electric auto association plug in America. Also, check out Women’s Travel Issues and Are Cars Just a Male Thing? There are more but this is at least a great start.

Thanks, Seth!

Build Your Own Electric Vehicle is available at your local bookstore and online at Amazon.com.

books, electric car, interview

Greener Gadgets Redux and Harrison Ford Clearcuts (His Chest Hair)

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by Starre Vartan · 05/18/08

electric car, gadgets, rainforest

Green Living in Minnesota

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by Starre Vartan · 06/05/07

Guest-Blogger Tami Molitor sent this report from Minnesota’s Living Green Expo. I think it’s fantastic to hear about all the green stuff happening in places other than the East and West Coasts, and there’s plenty of it. All Americans need to be involved in building a sustainable world, because pretty much all of us have been involved in getting us to this ecologically precarious and dangerous place that we are now. -Ed.

By Guest-Blogger Tami Molitor

My husband and I headed to the Minnesota state fairgrounds in St. Paul the first weekend of May to attend the Living Green Expo. Our first greeting was that of electric cars and a variety of bikes to promote travel without gasoline. Organic Valley family of farms (from Wisconsin)was giving samples of milk and coupons. College “kids” from Macalester were sharing a slideshow from their travels to ice-covered parts of the world to learn more about global warming with world reknowned Minnesotan explorers.

Organic Bob gardening and a variety of organic and natural lawncare, landscapers and gardening cmpanies were exibiting along with green roof promoters, natural skincare companies and small home-based soap makers.

We missed the eco-fashoin show….check the site for more on that. The Waldorf School promoted their Earth-friendly curriculum and trendy South Minneapolis was also well represented with Linden Hills area natural foods coop and home store.

The City of Minneapolis officials participated in presentation of ” An Inconvenient Truth”
via slide show. Clean energy was well represented with local and national energy companies and wind energy groups.

A kid’s area included creative arts, a compassionate kids presentation, recycling games,
visits form the raptor center and healthy toys and snacks. Lots more to see, do and learn for kids and family.

This event is getting bigger every year. We only had time for a three-hour stay, and I feel like we barely sratched the surface. Our goal is to review the handouts and start adding more green living options to our lifestyle. It is great to live in an area that offers this type of event. Be sure to check out the main Living Green expo site for all the details!

bikes, cape, car, cars, electric, electric car, electric cars, Energy, farm, farms, Food, garden, Gardening, gas, giving, Global Warming, Green Living, health, Home, kids, local, Milk, Organic, Recycling, skin, skincare, soap, style, sustainable, travel

Electric Cars ARE for Girls!

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by Starre Vartan · 12/12/06

I love this new site, Electric Cars Are for Girls. Since women buy the majority of cars in this country AND make up the bulk of people who consider themselves environmentalists, it makes perfect sense to get women on the electric car bandwagon. Lynne Mason, who runs the site, knows a thing or two about electric vehicles (we’re talking all-electric, not just hybrids like the Prius). She fills us non-gearheads in on exactly what kinds of mods need to be made to get a car to run on a battery, tells us why electrics rule, and gives us a really good reminder as to why we would want to bother with such a project. There’s also an interesting page on the history of electric cars.

If you do nothing else useful today, visit Lynne’s site, then pass it on to the favorite ladies in your life; it’s informative, fun and inspirational.