Electric Cars // Go Electric, Go Green Today

Is Genepax Water Car a Hoax?

editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:19:57 +0000

After seeing that Reuter's video on Genepax's water car, and doing all the background research, and writing story which ended up in wikipedia as well… I have few thoughts I wish to share with you my reader…

Before posting my story on Genepax water car I did a few days of research on finding anything related, and was overwhelmed with number of existing solutions that use water to run some sort of engine or car. Yes - water is always used as a fuel - to be (by different kind of procedures) transformed into hydrogen, which then is the final source of energy…

But the idea of getting car run on water seem to be older than gas cars - even Tesla at end of 1890's way toying with the idea, and some source claim, he even managed to get it working… (caution: possible conspiracy fairytale), but then every 20 years some "inventor" was publicly showing off something related to producing free energy from water… One of those was also Stanley Meyer, who died in shady circumstances, and whose water car prototype was stolen shortly after… Also a number of patents were filled as one might find in patents database…

What also amazed me, was THOUSANDS of videos on youtube, showing people working on free energy cars - running on water, hydrogen and even something called orgone energy (whatever that may be)… Just google for "joe cell" or "hydrogen cell"… or "orgone energy"… All these videos - made by thousands of different people - in last 20 years time frame - can they all be one large hoax? (more…)

Another Japanese Car Running on Water

editor — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:47:15 +0000

This one looks like a bit larger, but runs on same principle. Just water in the tank. Video is in japanese, but you will get the point… Looks like water powered cars are around the corner… I sure hope so - my greatest concern is that big oil industry will prevent these small developers to mass produce… How? Money! And if that does not work - fear, or even murder… Yeah - i know - being on the fine line of conspiracy theories now… But … did you know that ExxonMobile as one of the largest oil producers (but not the largest one, and not too different from 3-5 others), has more net income in a year than ALL CAR MAKERS worldwide combined? Now, that's power… And - what would you do to protect its dominion?

Japanese company Genepax unviels car that runs on Water

editor — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:48:41 +0000

I would not believe it, if news would not be carried by Reuters. And if I did not see their video coverage. Also in my experience Japanese companies usually do not lie, and would not go public, if this was a hoax or not a completely working unit. Company CEO Kiyoshi Hirasawa presented their eco-friendly car that runs on nothing but water in a test drive. While test car is one of smalles (like Smart), the company is in talks for mass production of engine unit (converter from water to hydrogen), production of which currently costs 15.000 USD, but as soon as next year with right quantities it could be lowered to below 5.000 USD…

Big advantage of this solution is that there is only water in car's tank, and hydrogen is produces on needed basis. So no difficult hydrogen storage questions, and safety concerns… Genepax is alread in talks about mass production with another Japanese manufacturer.

The car has an energy generator that extracts hydrogen from water that is poured into the car's tank. The generator then releases electrons that (more…)

Is CO2 exhaust in cars similar to humans?

editor — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:22:25 +0000

In recent Renault-Nissan advertising campaign, car maker is persuading us, that its newest green cars, equipped with eco2 dCi 1.5 liter engine (new Clio, new Laguna) produce just little more CO2 exhaust than humans when running… As Renault explained to us, they used study "Tissue Engineering, Palsson et al., 2003"of USA agriculture ministry, where authors claim that in every liter of exhaled air there are approximately 2 grams of CO2. An average human exhales 5-10 liters of air in minute (so 20 grams of CO2). When running, breathing is accelerated to 35-40 breaths per minute, with excessive strains, even to 60-70 breaths per minute, which leads to CO2 exhaust of around 15 - 20 grams more than when breathing normally. When calculating in the time required to to run for 1 kilometer, the total sum of CO2 exhaust from human (and score is preety conservative) is close to that of a green eco2 diesel car from Renault… Let us just describe that numbers representing mileage in Europe are defined with string of three numbers, like: 5,2/4,1/4,5, meaning how many liters car uses to drive for 100 kilometers, and first number means city, second open road and third and last is combined cycle). For converting between mpg and litres/km, use this form here

Mitsubishi iMiev commercial launch in 2009!

editor — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:23:41 +0000

Mitsubishi iMiev EV Debut

The iMiEV is an electric car version of Mitsubishi's i-car, a model on sale in Japan with a small gas engine. Car is similar to some small eco cars for European market- like Smart For Two, Smart For Four, Ford Ka…

Mitsubishi is automotive maker with history (did you know that Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. made a mass-market car shortly after Ford T - they called it Mitsubishi model A) and well known for technological leadership and it is not suprisingly that all electric car MiEV (acronym for Mitsubishi innovative electric vehicle) is now officially scheduled for mass production and commercial sale in Japan early 2009!

During press days for the 2008 New York auto show, Mitsubishi drove its electric iMiEV up and down the hall, because it could. While gas-powered cars were prohibited from driving in the hall, the iMiEV was allowed to troll by the booths of its automotive competitors.

Japan media is already testing the mature prototypes of car, as can be seen in this video: (read the following pages or this review at bottom)

Tesla not yet on road, lawsuits already flying…

editor — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:07:42 +0000

Tesla Motors, maker of full-EV sports car filled a lawsuit against Henrik Fiskers and Bernhard Koehler, the designer and the ceo of California based low series car maker Fisker Automotive. The reason for lawsuit is fraud and stealing of business secrets, connected with cooperation between companies, that lead to birth of Tesla's next-generation sedan EV concept WhiteStar in 2007. Tesla Motors paid Fiskers $800.000 during development of first electric car, but now Tesla claims that Fiskers is responsible for more than half a year of delay with production of Tesla's roadster. Tesla Motors is also annoyed by the fact, that Fiskers introduced its own hybrid-EV concept of sports car named Karma, and basically used Tesla to create competition. Tesla Motors is currently under pressure from buyers and investors, all waiting that Tesla finally drives on the roads…

150 MPG Toyota Prius with aftermarket lithium-polymer battery pack

editor — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:30:39 +0000

We checked the 150 MPG Toyota Prius at the Clean Vehicle Technology Expo in Ontario California. There were a lot of pure electric cars and hybrid cars there, some in early concept stages, other (pre)production. But Hymotion's new lithium-ion battery pack for the Toyota Prius really got our attention. While it may not lower gas prices, it does promise to make trips to the gas station a lot less frequent.

The 175-pound battery pack, which is sold as aftermarket kit, converts the car into a plug-in hybrid and allows it to run on electric power for the first forty miles of a trip. It installs in the spare tire well of the trunk, leaving the entire trunk space for cargo, so you can still drive your spare tire in there, and have plenty room left. In average Prius, the gasoline engine still does the majority of the work and the batteries merely take over at low speeds.

Aftermarket kit from Hymotion however changes much. Owners charge up their vehicles with a regular 110 or 220 volt extension cord and afterwards the car will drive dozens of miles solely on electrical power. As you can expect, total gas mileage goes through the roof and company executives claim drivers can easily exceed 150 miles-per-gallon in the city and 100 MPG on the highways.

TWIKE LION - Crazy looking European Electric Car

editor — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:00:04 +0000

We have extended list of electric car manufacturers with two more European manufacturers (Germany), namely TWIKE and City EL (thanks Franko - i'd love to hear from your experience with Twike - let me know at editorATdomain). We bet that only few of you heard about Twike, but truth is, that this is one of the more unique approaches (exterior of the vehicle included) to personal transporter - to 100% clean, electric car, a plug-in. Twike electric cars can already be seen on European roads, and company just announced the Li-Ion version of the vehicle (Twike LION). The Twike LION has a reach of over 150 km (95 miles) and same top speed as original Twike - 85 km/h (50 mph). Li Ion managed pack enables fast charge (1 km every minute), and there is no memory effect, meaning we can charge it even after a short ride. New batteery also features low self discharge, so LION TWIKE can stand idle for a few days and the maximum range is still nearly the same. Besides battery pack, not much has changed in Twike - meaning, engine is still 3 or 5 kW electric motor, with option to pedal the vehicle (yes, you read correctly)!

Xebra Electric Car + 1 Year Free Electricity

editor — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:52:02 +0000

Nice offer for everybody thinking about getting plug-in electric car. This Xebra Sedan looks funny, but it is a pure electric car, with 25 miles range (per charge), and top speed is 40 mph (60 kmh) …

For all orders until february 14th (Valentine's day), the $11,200.00 Zap's Xebra Sedan pure Electric car will also come with 1 year of free electricy. Electric car pioneer ZAP (OTC BB:ZAAP.OB) announced today that it is offering free electricity to charge your electric car for one year but only if you reserve your Xebra electric sedan or pickup online at http://www.zapworld.com.

All customers will receive a free Kill-A-Watt Smart Power Meter and free electricity for one year. "We know that our Xebras can save consumers money on fuel costs, so we wanted to prove it," said ZAP Chairman Gary Starr.

Plug-In as option for Toyota Prius in 2009

editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:29:46 +0000

Toyota will probably offer plug-in electric car technology as an option on the Prius, at least in the short term, rather than switch all of its hybrids to plug-in models. The reason that Toyota is stating are – consumers, who prefer the convenience of hybrids that did not have to be recharged.

But the automaker is nevertheless testing plug-in hybrids on public roads in Japan and also in France. Even before test results are in, Toyota has offered plug-in hybrid test drives to journalists in Japan, California and Detroit, where a small fleet bearing the words “Toyota Plug-In Hybrid” traveled city streets in mid January.

This plug-in hybrid — a development version of the plug-in Prius, and not the vehicle Toyota announced it would build — differs from the Prius in four ways. It has two nickel-metal hydride batteries under the floor of its trunk, instead the conventional Prius’s single battery. Final plug-in prius will probably feature a li-ion battery pack, or Nickel Hydride Metal pack, if available (there are some legal disputes with its patent holder – a company recently acquired by Texaco - big oil company)…

Unlike the Prius, which has a single fuel-filler door on the left side of the car, the plug-in model has another door on the right hand side that opens to reveal an outlet for the electrical charger. One end of the charger looks like a small fuel nozzle; the other end is a conventional three-pronged plug (on photo is shown a previous model of plug-in prius).