Archive for February, 2010
Gas Prices More Volatile Than Electricity Rates
“In the Driver’s Seat” brings you news and commentary from Plug In America’s board and staff. We’re considering creating a guest blog as well, which would feature posts by a selection of Plug In America’s most active volunteers. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting some samples of the[…]
Revenge of the NiMH Batteries?
Nearly all the talk about batteries for electric cars has focused on lithium-ion batteries in recent years, but the battery champions of the last generation of electric vehicles — nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH) — may be poised for a bit of a comeback. That’s the suggestion in Paul Weissler’s excellent[…]
BMW will build electric cars in Leipzig
It’s been crystal clear for some months that BMW would be making more EVs after getting nothing but high praise for its little 500 car MINI E experiment. Not so much for the logistical foul ups in their haste to deploy the fleet in time for valuable CARB credits, but[…]
Wall Street Journal Schooling Its Readers
The journalistic bastion of the business world is spreading confidence about the new era of plug-in electric vehicles through a quiz for its readers. While I could quibble with a few of their questions and assumptions, this quiz is nothing but good news. Sure, they confuse electric vehicles with plug-in[…]
Zan and Paul test the Mitsubishi iMiEV
Last Friday, Chelsea Sexton dropped off the cute little Mitsubishi iMiEV (pronounced I-meev) test car. She and her husband, Bob, had been driving it for a week, and now it was our turn. This version is a right-hand drive built for the Japanese market. Driving from the right side of[…]
The Princess(es) and the EV
The last time I blogged on these pages, my blog caused enough negative reaction that I was told to add a disclaimer unless I was certain that my views reflected those of every Plug In America board member. Well, let me just say this: Disclaimer! This blog consists of my[…]
Learn About EVs at the Press of a Button
My partner is in rapture with his new iTouch. The other day he suddenly discovered links to learn Korean, or pick up yoga poses, all for free. “Oh look,” he declared, “they have all the Nicholas Stern lectures.” “Wow, how about living off the grid.” His curiosity began to crescendo.[…]
Keep On Truckin’
Plug In America board members Paul Scott, Mike Kane and I recently had the privilege of meeting with Balwinder Samra, CEO and founder of Balqon Corporation at the company’s headquarters in Harbor City, California. Balqon Corp was founded in 2005 when AQMD and the Port of LA partnered to fund[…]
An EV Driver’s Favorite App
I’m a relatively new iPhone user, but I think I’ve already found my favorite app of all time — the EV Charger Finder app. Jeff Lander, who drives an electric BMW Mini, created this free app utilizing the best database of EV charging locations that exists — Tom Dowling’s evchargernews.com.[…]
Coda EV Hits the Streets of San Francisco
Coda Automotive brought its all-electric sedan for show-and-tell and test rides at the San Francisco Electric Vehicle Association (SFEVA) meeting on February 6. Plug In America’s Sherry Boschert, Marc Geller, and Jeanne Trombly were there to check it out. If you’ve been following the electric vehicle (EV) space for awhile,[…]
From MINI to Maxi Miles
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tom Moloughney — MINI E driver and owner of the Montclair, New Jersey restaurant, Nauna’s Bella Casa. Like many other fortunate Plug In America’supporters, Tom drives an electric vehicle. But unlike any other known EV driver, Tom has driven his BMW-leased MINI E[…]
Efficient Vehicles, Buildings, and Government Permits
San Francisco City Administrator Edwin Lee told guests at Plug In America’s benefit party last week that the City is working with all nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area to ensure a 24-hour turn-around for electric vehicle charging station permits and inspections. (Pictured: Plug In America’s Sherry Boschert[…]
Guerrilla charging: theft or public service?
So you’ve finally got your electric car. You’re going out of town for a few days and recall a few spots at the airport parking lot that have a regular 110-volt electric outlet on the wall. Do you plug in your Tesla (or Nissan LEAF or Chevy Volt)? Are you[…]
Listen Up, GM, and Tone It Down
Have you seen GM’s new video about how the Volt functions? It’s a good, clear, basic explanation. But it delivers a message that really steams me. It blithely advises that “you won’t have to adjust your life” with an extended range vehicle. Oh thank God. Clearly GM means to draw[…]
Emergency Responders Think Ahead
Plug In America gets the most interesting calls. Last week we heard from a representative of the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), which is working with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to help devise electric vehicle training materials for the nation s emergency response workforce. Funded by a three[…]