154 Articles by Jonas
Nissan Leaf fans design more accurate state-of-charge meter

If you get enough like-minded individuals together, they can accomplish quite a lot. Take, for instance, a group of fans on the MyNissanLeaf forum who wanted a more accurate way to tell how much further they could drive their Nissan Leaf. They accomplished this goal by coding up a device that plugs into the OBD-II diagnostics port and returns the exact state of charge of the battery.

DOE helps standardize EV charger permit process with online tools

Electric vehicles are a relatively new thing here in the United States (as long as you ignore vehicles like the short-lived EV1 and the first-gen RAV4 EV and the whole EV thing back in the early 1900s). The current generation EV are so new, in fact, that many cities do not have a standardized permitting process specifically for EV charger in

How the 54.5 mpg CAFE standard will really equal 40 mpg in the real world

First there was 62 miles per gallon, then 56.2 mpg, then 54.5 mpg, and now we could be looking at 40 mpg for Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) in 2025. What's tha

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Toyota looking for gasoline-beating 'Sakichi' battery

Back in 1925, long before the X-Prize foundation even existed, an inventor by the name of Sakichi Toyoda reportedly offered a prize of 1 million yen for the invention of a battery that would produce more energy than gasoline. As you can probably guess, no one has claimed that prize yet. However, Toyota thinks this target may be possible in the future and thus created, in 2008, a research division

Emerald Automotive (who?) wants to build hybrid delivery van in Missouri [w/video]

Emerald Automotive delivery van – Click above to watch video after the jump

Ceres defending 60-mpg CAFE standard for 2025, attacks Auto Alliance

With the proposed 56.2 mile per gallon corporate average fuel economy standards standards by 2025 under attack by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, there was a need for someone to defend high mpg calls. In stepped Ceres, a nonprofit that leads a coalition of organizations and public interest groups to address sustainability and global climate change. Ceres has been running

New survey finds the majority of likely US voters do not want an increase in gasoline tax

While people are pretty sure the U.S. government needs to do something about the country's mounting debt, raising gas taxes is not going to be a popular part of the solution. Recently, Rasmussen Reports conducted a national telephone survey and found that only 33 percent of U.S. voters supported a gas tax hike. A whopping 53 percent flat out oppose it, even if the increase was used only for building and maintaining the Interstate Highway System.

Plug In America talks electric vehicles with the Air Force

Plug In America's Kate Baker interviewed Lt. Col. Brian Rusler and veteran Tim Goodrich of the United States Air Force regarding the military branch's green energy plans. The Air Force has been employing electric vehicles as early as 1997 with the use of electric golf carts for personnel transport within the bases. Currently, they are one of the largest consumers of green energy in the country, accounting for 50% of the federal government's green energ

Ann Marie Sastry and Sakti3 developing solid-state lithium-ion batteries

Matthew Dakotah over at the Huffington Post has been writing a special "Women in Power" series that profiles leaders in energy and environmental innovation. His latest article on Ann Marie Sastry piqued our interest since she happens to be President and CEO of Sakti3. If you recall, Sakti3 is a promising next-generation lithium-ion battery developer that General Motors and Itochu invest

Gas prices not scaring car buyers as much this time around

With gasoline prices soaring this year, one might assume, justifiably, that hybrid and fuel-efficient small vehicle demand must also be on the rise, mimicking the market situation in 2008. However, history may not be repeating itself this time around. AutoPacific President George Peterson says, based on a study by the consulting group, that "small car and hybrid consideration is not tracking anywhere near the rate of the price of fuel as it did in 2008." Of the 68,000 people surveyed, only 21 pe

Star Wars prequels inspire EDWARD, a most unusual electric vehicle [w/video]

The Hailfire Droid from Star Wars is one slick vehicle. The only downside is the closest you could get to driving one is by buying the Lego version. The EDWARD, on the other hand, is a diwheel that actually exists. An acronym standing for Electric Diwheel With Active Rotation Damping, EDWARD was develope

Honda's EV-neo electric scooter to make its European debut in July

While Honda's EV-neo has been available in Japan since last year, the rest of the world had to make do without them. That will change next month in Europe, as Honda will be unveiling the little electric in Barcelona. That's a good choice, considering 30 percent of all vehicles there are motorcycles. There will be a demonstration program in conjunction with the Barcelona City Council in which

A light bulb's worth of energy to take father & son on cross country tour

100 watts of power power may not sound like much in the world of automobiles. Heck, a Nissan Leaf can churn out 80,000 watts, but that doesn't mean if it can't get you places. Pierce Hoover, an inventor and journalist wanted to teach his son about being energy conscious, and to show him that the power of just one light bulb can take you across the country.

Chrysler working on engine that can simultaneously burn gas and diesel

Multi-fuel capable cars have been around for quite some time. Case in point, five years ago we reported on a Volvo prototype that could burn five different types of fuel. But a new project from Chrysler is aiming to do something that none of these existing flex-fuel vehicles can pull off: an engi

Is Best Buy looking to become a service center for EVs?

Best Buy may be pulling the plug on its lineup of electric two-wheelers due to poor sales, but that doesn't mean they want to get out of the EV business entirely. Rocco Pendola from Seeking Alpha had a chance to sit down with Best Buy and discuss some of their future market strategies.

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