A GRASS ROOTS GROUP OF WELL INFORMED ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE JOINED TOGETHER AND ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGING YOU TO SIGN THEIR PETITION...
We, at EnVironmental Motors, in Glendale are spearheading this effort vigorously. "EVM" is Los Angeles county's first and only fully committed all Electric Car Dealership that was founded in Glendale in 1998, long before it was fashionable to be environmentally friendly.
EVM is the driving force behind a petition to encourage the Federal Government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Department of Motor Vehicles to acknowledge that many recently manufactured 4 wheeled Electric Cars that they limit to 25 mph are actually safe at speeds of 35-40 mph and to immediately urge these agencies to create a new vehicle classification named Medium Speed Vehicle (MSV). Help us create the MSV class so these cars can be driven on more roads by more people to help significantly offset the carbon emissions made by gas powered vehicles. Environmental Motors estimates that 25% - 50% more people who test drive an electric car would be considerably more likely to buy 35-40mph MSVs over 25 mph NEVs. In most case, modifying present NEV to a MSV is usually a simple adjustment.
CALL (818) 244 MYEV FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Please sign our petition and pass the good karma of your actions to all your friends and associates. Let's all jump on the GREEN BAND WAGON, Thanks... EVM
Trend Watch: The $15,000 Electric Car
Jun 5th, 2008
* Note: Since this article was written, the price has changed to $15,995 because air conditioning and radio are now standard
Found on GreenCar.com by Todd Kaho
A word of caution: If you drive a Revolution electric car, don’t plan to slip by unnoticed. This car draws more attention than the most exotic sports car, and once people learn the Revolution is powered by electricity rather than gasoline, well … you’d better have some information to hand over or you may be cornered a while answering questions. That’s what happened when Green Car editors were tooling around town in this car recently, the same experience we had when driving a GM EV1 back in the late 1990s.
Offered by San Luis Obispo, California-based Revolution Electric Cars, the Revolution is an import from China that’s intended for the low speed electric vehicle (LSEV) – or neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) – market. As such, it can be legally driven on public roads with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less when properly registered. Speed is electronically limited to 25 mph to meet requirements for this class of vehicle. That’s fast enough for around town errands or short urban commutes, given the proper 25 to 35 mph roads.
If you wonder just how functional a vehicle could be if governed to a top speed of 25 mph and limited to roads of 35 mph or less, you’re not alone. That said, thousands of drivers have found low speed electric vehicles offering a great fit for their needs, and studies from the Green Car Institute have quantified just how well they can fit into daily life under the right circumstances. For example, in a survey of 260 household and fleet NEV users in California – with the majority households – the Institute found that NEVs replaced two-thirds of daily short-distance trips formerly taken with internal combustion vehicles. This type of use saves emissions, petroleum, and cash spent for increasingly expensive gas at the pump.
The limitation of an electronically governed 25 mph top speed is being pushed nationwide by electric vehicle interests and a few states have either raised, or are working on legislation to raise, this top speed to 35 mph. This is creating a new category called medium speed electric vehicles that can legally operate on roads with speed limits up to 45 mph. Montana has already made the change and similar legislation has passed and is awaiting signature in the state of Washington.
The Revolution is an electric conversion of a platform that’s also sold with a variety of small gasoline engines in other markets around the world. It retains the five speed manual transmission and clutch, though you don’t need the clutch in stop and go driving since the electric motor stops when the car does, and then propulsion automatically resumes when accelerator pressure is applied. While stopping, current to the motor stops and it freewheels as the car coasts down. The manual transmission provides additional driver control in hilly conditions and under various load conditions.
Unlike some other low speed entries, the Revolution is a traditional two-door design that can handle rain and foul weather without the need for an additional cab enclosure. At a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $14,995, the Revolution comes standard with power windows and door locks, power side mirrors, sporty bucket seats with a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, and a full-size spare tire. Optional equipment includes an air conditioner, sunroof, and a stereo with MP3 USB connection or a DVD+MP4.
While the Revolution appears cute and almost toy-like, mechanically it is a real car with steel welded construction, independent MacPherson strut suspension, and LSEV legal lighting. Hydraulic front disc and rear drum brakes are standard and four-wheel discs optional. During our photo session with the Revolution we had the opportunity to park next to an H2 Hummer and the difference in size was dramatic, with the Revolution just two inches shy of 10 feet long and the H2 spanning an additional six feet. In fact, the Revolution looks like it could go on the Hummer’s roof rack and serve as a dingy for in-town driving.
This pint-size electric car is easy to drive, too, with electric assisted power steering making the Revolution quite maneuverable in the tightest confines. Our brief driving impression included city driving in San Luis Obispo, California. The car is not overly powerful, but acceleration is more than adequate to keep with the flow of traffic. Power comes from a 6 kW brushless AC induction motor that offers a peak power output of 24kW. Electricity is stored in six 12-volt Hoppecke sealed and maintenance free lead acid batteries that are claimed to deliver about 60 miles of range dependent on load, speed, and terrain. The electric motor and transmission, along with much of the electronics and controller, are located under the front hood and drive the front wheels in a conventional transverse layout.
When it’s time to recharge a built-in charging system simply plugs into a household 110 volt outlet. Revolution cites a 3 to 5 hour charging time to top off the batteries from a 70 percent state of charge. Battery life is estimated at 700 charge cycles of this type, or approximately 40,000 miles. The company points out that when the battery pack’s end-of-life is reach, these advanced lead acid cell batteries will be much less expensive to replace than the higher performance nickel-metal-hydride or lithium-ion battery packs used in most electric vehicle models. That said, the Revolution can be upgraded to an optional lithium-ion battery pack for $3,900.
The Revolution REV-AC60-EV2D is a two seater with room in the rear cargo hold for groceries and the usual errand freight. Access to the rear cargo area is through a two-piece hatch/tailgate arrangement that offers a low lift-over height. A moveable cargo shelf is provided to separate goods from the standard spare tire and charging unit.
Considering the attention this car generates, it’s clear people that are looking for economical transportation alternatives to fight today’s high fuel prices plus a way to get around that’s fossil-fuel free. If your daily driving involves a lot of in-town running around where two passenger seating is sufficient and the roads you’ll take are appropriate for this low speed electric vehicle, then this car is worth a look.
Book Review- "Plugged In: The End of the Oil Age"
Jun 3rd, 2008
Found on Triplepundit.com by Shannon Arvizu on May 29,2008
The greening of the transportation sector is rife with conflict. Frequent debates occur over the benefits and disadvantages of several emerging technologies. Which has better energy-efficiency? Hydrogen or battery electric? Which is more feasible in the short-run? Plug-in hybrids or biodiesel? Which is more eco-friendly? Hybrids or compressed natural gas? The answers to these questions depend on who one asks. Interest groups, auto and oil giants, entrepreneurs, and consumer-activists all offer varying opinions on how we can best meet the climate challenge through the adoption of new vehicle technologies.
A new book, Plugged In: The End of the Oil Age, provides what I have found to be the most comprehensive, well-researched, succinct, and up-to-date source yet on the topic. Published by the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) and authored by Dr. Gary Kendall, a former petroleum industry scientist, the book is available for free and downloadable from this site.
Plugged In was given to me at last week's GreenWest Expo by Felix Kramer, Founder of CalCars (an advocacy group for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles). I stopped to have coffee with Felix and Ed Kjaer (Director of Electric Transportation at Southern California Edison) before each of them gave their presentations on next-generation plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles. Our conversation revolved around whether we can expect the major automakers to produce plug-in hybrids in any meaningful numbers in the near future. We also discussed the influence that entrepreneurs play in the development of this technology. Felix's group and others around the country are busy converting standard Toyota Priuses to plug-ins that average 100 mpg. While they have helped a lucky few spend far less at the pump, their real power lies in the symbolic effect of increasing public awareness and stimulating public policy to drive the industry towards grid-connected vehicles.
And that brings me back to Plugged In. After a thorough (but accessible) review of every major Well-to-Wheel (WTW) analyses of alternative fuels and technologies currently proposed in the field, Kendall states that electric vehicles hold the most immediate potential to deliver on 4 objectives simultaneously: (1) a reduction in CO2 emissions, (2) improvements in energy efficiency, (3) a dramatic increase in air quality, and (4) enhanced energy security. What is especially interesting, however, are the policy recommendations prescribed near the end of the book. Kendall calls for an "integrated approach." This means "a suite of policies" which are targeted at (i) suppliers of energy (to ensure the greatest mix of renewables on the grid) (ii) manufacturers of vehicles (to incentivize the production of plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles) and (iii) consumers of vehicles (to stimulate widespread adoption).
Such an approach can go a long way towards cleaning the air, slowing climate change, ending oil wars, and creating green-collar jobs within the industry. Hopefully, this type of discussion will be present at the upcoming conference in D.C., "Plug-In Electric Vehicles 2008: What Role for Washington?" Sponsored by Google's ReChargeIt initiative, those who are interested can watch the free webcast on June 11 and 12, 2008. A number of U.S. Congress members are scheduled to speak, in addition to e.v. superstar entrepreneurs, like Shai Agassi. Perhaps we may begin to see the development of federal policies necessary for a sustainable transportation paradigm.
The Govenator in a Zenn
May 8th, 2008
Yes, that's Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Zenn- and he approves! According to my Zenn rep, Bill Williams (the one in the black shirt on the right), "He didn't sit in any other cars...Not even the hydrogen one right next to our booth."
Spark EV's Michael Papp Arrested in EV Scam
May 6th, 2008
Posted Apr 13th 2008 6:44PM by Sebastian Blanco on AutoBlogGreen.com
Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Green Daily
Thanks to our reader Mike, we have an update to share about the troubled history of Michael Papp electric vehicle company. Regular readers will remember that Papp is the man behind Spark EV, a company that has been accused more than once of shady dealings. It looks like the New Jersey law officials agree, and have decided to step in to put a stop to Papp's scam.
According to the Express Times, Papp was arrested Friday after failing to deliver 14 electric vehicles to Electric Cars of Houston (which had ordered 10) and Electric Transportation of Arkansas (four). Papp is charged with bilking them for almost $100,000, according to court records. The EVs were paid for in January and February, and Papp told the payers the vehicles would be delivered March 14. They weren't. After trying to track down what happened, the companies asked for a refund. Papp answered that he was filing for bankruptcy, so no go. Apparently, Papp is in Northampton County Prison and being held on $20,000 bail. We'll have more on this as things move forward, I can guarantee you that.
Four Wheel Electric Car Revolutionizes Economical Driving (VIDEO)
Tim King Salem-News.com Video Business Report
This online version of our special ten minute report on electric cars in Salem, Oregon and the connection to the four wheel car called the Revolution, Neil Young and the Electric Wheels dealership, comes to you courtesy of Salem-News.com and YouTube:
For more information about Larry Dye and Electric Wheels Inc. in Salem, Oregon visit: electricwheelsinc.com
What an awesome turn out! Lot's of people were very interested in the 2008 Zenn. Many said it would be perfect for the Santa Barbara area. EVM is working on getting a Zenn certified service center in Santa Barbara so our customers there have somewhere local to take their EV in the rare event that it would need servicing.
Auto Week Magazine Article about our Zenn
Apr 23rd, 2008
SPECS
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $15,995
DRIVETRAIN: Three-phase AC motor, 5.69 kW, 43 lb-ft; fwd
CURB WEIGHT: 1280 or 1350 lb (depending on ZENN source)
0-60 MPH: Never
FUEL ECONOMY: N/A
By MARK VAUGHN
You can't approach a neighborhood electric vehicle the same way you'd approach a typical gasoline-powered, fully functioning car. NEVs are meant to fill a gap in the transportation chain for clean city vehicles. (NEV is a federal category for electric cars that don't exceed 25 mph. Big carmakers are likely to use them to help meet coming zero-emissions-vehicle requirements.) They are nowhere near as solid, sturdy or safe as even the flimsiest Fiat. However, they are-and this one, in particular, is--well north of the golf-cart category.
ZENN stands for "zero emission, no noise," and that's pretty much what you get, as long as you figure electricity off the grid as zero emissions. The ZENN EV seats two people and can haul 13 cubic feet of luggage in something that is far more substantial than the golf-cart-like GEM e4 we wrote about four years ago ("A Glimpse of Future Past," AW, June 28, 2004).
The ZENN is a three-door hatchback ("fully enclosed!") with an aluminum spaceframe covered in plastic body panels. An AC electric motor spins the front wheels. With all of its torque available at 0 rpm, the ZENN, like many electric conveyances, launches from stops with squealing authority.
The problem after launch is that federally mandated 25-mph NEV speed limit. Most customers make the (technically illegal) software change to increase top speed to 35 mph and thus increase their chances of coping in urban traffic. Our test car had no such software assistance, and we found ourselves regularly ducking out of traffic and crawling along curbs to avoid everything else coming up behind us. Nothing goes 25 mph in Los Angeles, no matter what the posted speed limit says.
ZENN lists its range as either 35 miles or 30 to 50 miles, depending on where you read it. We found that to be a bit of a stretch. We traveled 11 miles from home to EV Motors in Glendale and used well more than half the indicated charge.
Power comes from six 12-volt lead-acid glass-mat batteries. The brushless AC motor makes 7.5 hp, which, on paper, doesn't seem like enough to move the 1280-pound car around, but it behaved better than most gasoline-powered cars off the line and across the intersection. It was just after that where the ZENN faltered.
The car bounced and wallowed more than a typical Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, and the very skinny 13-inch wheels and tires were easily overwhelmed. But you adapt your driving style accordingly. The four-wheel discs, along with regenerative braking, meant that slowing was a little choppy.
Inside, the ZENN is much more like a real car than the GEM. The doors, dash, seats and instrumentation were far better and more carlike than those in the GEM, which we described as being "like a really well-engineered" port-a-potty. Our test ZENN had the optional power cloth sunroof ($1,195) and stereo ($195) and the standard power windows, heater and defroster. We didn't have the $2,200 electric air conditioning. Base price is $15,995.
ZENN knows it can't market this car the same way you'd market a Pontiac or a BMW.
"This is a car for the urban pioneer," said ZENN regional sales director Bill Williams. "The urban pioneer is a young college grad with a job who needs to wear a suit to work yet lives in and around this downtown core center."
There are now 34 dealers in and around downtown core centers, including the pioneering guys at www.environmentalmotors.com in Glendale, California, where we got this car. To find your ZENN, visit www.zenncars.com.
* Note: Since this article was written, the price has changed to $15,995 because air conditioning and radio are now standard
Found on Triplepundit.com by Shannon Arvizu on May 29,2008
Posted Apr 13th 2008 6:44PM by Sebastian Blanco on AutoBlogGreen.com
SPECS
ON SALE: Now
BASE PRICE: $15,995
DRIVETRAIN: Three-phase AC motor, 5.69 kW, 43 lb-ft; fwd
CURB WEIGHT: 1280 or 1350 lb (depending on ZENN source)
0-60 MPH: Never
FUEL ECONOMY: N/A
