Hasta La Gadget!

MIT’s electric vehicle prototype may be a long way off from being completed, but if we let that stop us from discussing EVs, we might never talk about them. The headline ambition of this project is a full recharge within 10 minutes, which would eliminate somewhere between four and ten hours of waiting. Speedwise, the Electric Vehicle Team is aiming for a 100 mph top speed from a 250-horsepower / 187 kilowatt AC induction motor, and a not unheard of 200-mile cruising range. To achieve their rapid juicing aim, the students will strap 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate cell batteries from A123Systems to a gutted 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid body. The batteries’ low internal resistance is what makes things possible, but further hurdles, such as finding a sufficiently powerful energy source, would have to be overcome before any sort of widespread use may occur. Video after the break.

[Via PC World]

Continue reading Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

Filed under: Transportation

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mind you, we’re talking just one of the 30,000 or so McDonalds around the world. Nevertheless, the first “green” version of the ubiquitous US “restaurant” will offer NovaCharge ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations when it opens in Cary, North Carolina on July 14th. The idea is to recharge your plug-in Electric Vehicle while “enjoying your meal.” Unfortunately, the current generation of EV batteries won’t likely benefit from the 10 minutes or so it takes to gulp down a value meal. However, Mickey D’s might be on to something should drivers choose to stay for the additional 2-hours of regret that follows.

[Via RedFerret]

Filed under: Transportation

McDonalds to offer ChargePoint electric vehicle charging stations originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We won’t bother detailing just how sophisticated the system is that’s powering the wild whip you’re peering at above. We won’t bother mentioning just how many A123Systems batteries are installed, nor how intelligent the creator is. We won’t bother wearing our jealously on our sleeves. What we will do, however, is point you after the break in order to have a look at just how exhilarating a ride in the LOLrio Cart (otherwise known as an electric go-kart) is. Harris Teeter, you getting all this?

[Via AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Video: Grocery cart morphs into electric go-kart, insanity ensues

Filed under: Transportation

Video: Grocery cart morphs into electric go-kart, insanity ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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High five, Tesla fans — everyone’s favorite incredibly controversial electric car company has just been granted $465m in loans from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program. The bulk of the money will go towards that postponed Model S factory, while the remaining $100m will be used to fund an electric powertrain manufacturing facility that will sell parts like motors and battery packs to other carmakers. Tesla wasn’t the DOE’s only big winner: Nissan received $1.6b (billion!) to build batteries and EVs in Tennessee and Ford received an undisclosed amount to build two upcoming electric cars, but since those companies have largely drama-free upper management that isn’t constantly involved in lawsuits, it feels a little more routine. Still, it’s an exciting time — let’s hope all these tax dollars turn into affordable, convenient electric transportation sooner rather than later.

Update: A “congressional source” has told the AP that Ford’s getting $5.9 billion, so yeah, the Oval’s still the big dog.

Read – Tesla
Read – Ford
Read – Nissan

Filed under: Transportation

Tesla, Ford, Nissan all receive electric car development loans from US government originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beware Big Oil executives: EVs aren’t content to just take over the morning commute. They’re targeting all motorized leisure activities, and while we’ve already seen how an electric motorcycle can be just as much fun as a petrol-powered version, electric waverunners look to be next. The company is Eco Watercraft, pledging to build its machines in a factory powered by renewable means, thus giving the vehicles twice the green cred. The model in the videos embedded below doesn’t look like it could stand a chance of keeping up with some of the more powerful watercraft on the market today, like Yamaha’s ridiculous FX Cruiser SHO and its supercharger, but it should be good enough to get your kicks whilst earning fewer dirty looks from birdwatching kayakers. Now if only we knew how much that privilege will cost you.

[Via TreeHugger]

Continue reading Eco Watercraft electric waverunner makes no sound, burns no fuel, zaps no fish

Filed under: Transportation

Eco Watercraft electric waverunner makes no sound, burns no fuel, zaps no fish originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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