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Is the world really getting more and more concerned about our environment? Are we really getting more conscious about what we do so that we actually do not add to the destruction of nature?

Well, it looks like such for the market is constantly bombarded with consumers who are looking for clean and fuel efficient vehicles. Most consumers are no longer looking for really sporty and performance driven types of vehicles. Right now, their main concern is the environment and their pocket.

One very clear example of such is the recent order of electric vehicles. The well known manufacturer of electric vehicles, ZAP, just received its largest order in its entire existence in the industry. After all, the total amount of the order has crept up to US $79 million.

Such a huge order came about from The Electric Vehicle Company, or more commonly referred to as the EVC, which is a company based in Chicago. This group is one of those businesses who are making sure that they do send out word to all ordinary consumers about electric transportation that do not help pollute the environment but also is quite light on the pocket.

According to ZAP’s chief head honcho, Steve Schneider, the whole order of US$79 million is actually not just for electric cars. The order also does include a variety of electric vehicles like trucks. He also did further mention that would the orders be filled out in 12 months, EVC would be receiving a discount of 8% from the total deal.

Schneider also does continue to disclose, “We believe this order, which constitutes thousands of vehicles, is the largest order for consumer electric vehicles in history.” And with that statement it seems like he does have a point. In fact, not even huge companies like Active Brakes Direct or Ford has yet to experience such a huge order for their products.

“Many municipalities have been talking recently about mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, so we are grateful to be involved in this historic effort,” Schneider also does continue to express. This is after Schneider did mention that last March, quite a huge amount of concerned individuals, groups and organizations have voiced out their concerns in Congress calling for the lawmakers to give limits when it comes to carbon dioxide and other harmful gases emissions.

With rising fuel costs, more and more people and are looking for alternatives. One such alternative that is gaining popularity, especially with the do-it yourself types, are the electric vehicle kits. Anyone familiar with automobiles can now use these kits to convert traditional gas powered vehicles to one powered by electric current.

However, converting a traditional Gas powered vehicle into an electric vehicle can be a very daunting task. Only those who are the very mechanically minded should try this. To convert the vehicle will require extensive modifications to nearly all-mechanical parts of the car. Everything from the engine to the radiator, heater and air-conditioning, to the gauges on the panel. On top of that, the electric cars have to be recharged on a regular basis, which means having to purchase or use the services of recharging station. Solar power could be another potential source of power for the electric vehicle.

Can any car be converted into an electric vehicle?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Not all cars can be converted into an electric vehicle. However, and the most common electric vehicle kit seems to be the Chevy S-10 pick up kit. For examples to follow just do a search online for Chevy S-10 pickup Electric conversions. Other cars that are good candidates for conversion are the Chevy Geo, especially from 1989 to 1999. These cars are good potential candidates for an electric vehicle kit conversion. Cars similar to the Chevy Geo Metro, such as the Chevy Sprint, Pontiac Firefly and the Suzuki Swift are also ideal for conversions too.

Are there downsides to using an electric vehicle kit?

Going back a few years, many people associated electric powered vehicles with slowness and a lack of power. But as usual, thanks to technology, significant advances in the electric vehicle have changed all that. With these electric vehicle kits some cars can reach top speeds of between 70 and 75 mph. nonetheless, converting to electric power still has its drawbacks.

The biggest drawback it is of course the need for recharging the batteries. As an example, the Chevy Geo Metro kit must be recharged every 20 to 40 miles, depending on driving habits and battery quality. For city driving, this would be ideal. However, for lengthy commutes on the highway, this would not be ideal.

The Chevy S-10 with an electric vehicle kit installed will run a little longer on a single charge. On a single charge, the S-10 should last between 40 and 60 miles. Again this depends upon the driving habits as well as the size and quality of batteries. Some S-10 models can be equipped with solar powered panels which would in reduced in the need for charging, at least when driving during daylight hours.

Converting vehicles with electric vehicle kits is not a cheap affair. Most conversion kits seem to cost between $8000 to $10,000. And this does not even include professional installation as well as the cost of the batteries, not to mention access to or the purchase of a charging station.

Quite frankly, with the cost involved of using an electric vehicle kit, it probably wouldn’t be very practical for the average consumer, especially if they do a lot of highway driving. However, that being said, it probably would be ideal for a back yard mechanic who loves to tinker with cars and has a few bucks to throw around and wants to impress his beer-drinking buddies.

Car Guru asked:


I had just got back from my own holiday to Bali when I arrived at work and they announced I was off to New Zealand with three of my colleagues. What a way to come back from one holiday and find out your going on another!

The trip started with a slight hiccup. Our flight was delayed, which is the last thing you need when you’re at the airport after a busy morning at work, which also meant we would be late in picking up our rental car. We then had to call work and asked them to call New Zealand to make sure the depot knew we would be late. One of the benefits of working for a car rental wholesaler!

About an hour later, we finally left and we were up in the air. It was a smooth flight and we arrived in Christchurch about 11pm. After collecting our bags, we went straight to the Hertz desk to be met by a friendly employee who was more than helpful.

After the formalities of signing the rental agreement and getting the keys, we were then given a local map of the south island and a city map of Christchurch. The employee even highlighted how we were to get to our hotel in the centre of Christchurch.

The car was in the car park, so away we went to find the car. We thought she said it was behind the police station and we were looking for quite a while, until it dawned on me that she had actually said pay station; we had misunderstood her kiwi accent!

We eventually got to the hire car and it was a premium wagon with automatic transmission and it was nearly brand new, similar to a Ford Territory wagon. It came with heating, air-conditioning, radio, electric windows and heaps of room enough to relax while being one of the passengers in the car.

We decided to use our Seymor GPS which we nicknamed “Moaning Myrtle”. We waited for the satellites to load on the Seymor GPS and then we were off to our hotel in Christchurch. It was cold and dark but we trusted our Seymor GPS and arrived stress free to the Rydges Hotel.

For the next week the Seymor GPS and rental car were our life savers. It got us to all the destinations and sightseeing attractions and even got us from Christchurch to Queenstown in one piece.

I would recommend hiring a car and taking the trusty Seymor GPS with you next time you go on a driving holiday.

DriveAway Holidays offer GPS rental and car hire in New Zealand.

Hilal Abdelwali asked:


If you own a gas guzzling vehicle and are interested in making the conversion of it over to an electric car, believe it or not, you can actually do it. There are conversion kits that can make a gasoline powered vehicle into an electric car, but doing it is not an easy job. You will want to find the services of an experienced mechanic to help you make the conversion over to an electric car.

You see, there are many components of a gasoline powered car that can be modified to allow it to become electric. In order to perform this conversion, you will need specific parts that will allow those parts to run solely on electric power. This just is not a do it yourself project. Unless, of course, you yourself are a seasoned mechanic!

If you are interested in making the conversion from a gasoline car to an electric car, you might want to know some of the advantages of doing this. First, if you have an all electric car, your power comes from batteries that store electricity to operate the motor that is similar to a regular vehicle. You charge the batteries at night and then you are good to go in the morning.

A gasoline car conversion over to an electric car will allow you to know that you are not releasing harmful pollutants into the air that can cause damage to the environment. Vehicles are responsible for about 80 percent of the pollution in our world, and that pollution is depleting the ozone layer and contributing to global warming.

Once you perform the conversion from gasoline to electric car, you will find that you are not really making many concessions and that you will be gaining a lot more than you will be losing. A major drawback of a completely electric car is that you will only be able to drive about a hundred miles before the charge runs out. However, most people do not drive much more than that in an average day, so just keep an eye on your electricity gauge and drive on!

You can also do a conversion from gasoline to electric car by making your car a hybrid electric car. A hybrid electric car is one that runs primarily on electricity but also provides a secondary power source with gasoline or even another alternative fuel. While not completely emission free, if you think you have to drive more than a hundred miles a day, this type of conversion can give you a huge piece of mind.

If you want to make the conversion from gas to electric, by all means, make your car what you want it to be. Your environment thanks you.

Michael Drover asked:


Have you ever worked out how much money you spend every month, and every year on gas? If you spend $50 a week, that’s $2,400 a year. Of course, there are electric cars and hybrid vehicles on the market that you can buy. But they cost as much as a new car and you often have to pay a premium for electric technology. Electric car conversion kits were supposed to end all that. But if you’ve priced one out lately, you know they are surprisingly expensive-$10,000 or more-and complicated.

Well fortunately, that’s a thing of the past. Converting your current motor vehicle turns out to be a much less costly route to follow. Now you can buy a guide that show you step-by-step how to convert your car to electric yourself for a fraction of the price of pre-assembled kits.

Before you start ripping your car apart, here are some general tips and facts about converting your car to the electricity.

* Electric car conversions have been used successfully by many people. Guides are available on the internet and are usually complete with all the essential directions, schematics, components lists, and parts sources.

* Even if you are not a master mechanic, you will be able to convert your car yourself. The tools needed are probably in your garage already or at your local hardware store, and the kit will be a step-by-step guide to demonstrate exactly how the job should be done.

* Generally, you can expect to pay around $300-$500 to complete the conversion of your car if you’re willing to be resourceful. The best guides give you sources of low-cost or no-cost supplies. You’ll need to pick them up.

* On a single charge, you will be able to travel over 100 miles and reach highway speeds, at least 60 mph.

* It will still be your car, and you can install the new power source in a way that will keep the car looking and working much as it did before. When you want to go, it goes, when you want to stop, it stops.

* Last fact to keep in mind-your current vehicle must have a standard manual transmission. Automatic transmissions don’t work with electric motors.

So converting your car to electric power is finally a reality. Your best bet is to use a guide from someone experienced with conversions rather than buying a new electric car or electric car conversion kits.

Nick Molinar asked:


Many people have asked me if it is really possible to convert a car from gas to electric power in a way that is practical and reliable. The answer is yes. In fact, I could never understand why there aren’t local companies offering to do electric car conversions for profit.

Converting a car from gas to electric can be done in one of several ways. In some areas of the country, there might be mechanics that will do it for a price, but you might as well try to find a new one for the amount they’ll charge you. There are kits you can buy on-line for between $2000 and $8000. A kit usually comes with all the electrical components and some basic instructions. It is important to remember that kits you purchase never include the batteries you need. You have to figure on another $1000 or more for batteries if you go this route since an electric car won’t run without them.

A far better option is to do it yourself using inexpensive reconditioned parts you can get second hand. You have the choice of using an AC electric motor or a DC electric motor. AC motors are lighter and produce more power than DC. However, DC motors are much less expensive and easier to install than AC. For this reason, we always opt for a used DC motor. A reliable DC motor that you can get very cheap (and often even for free), will outlive just about any car you put it in, so it makes no sense to spend the additional dollars on a new AC motor for your electric car conversion.

Your DC motor will need to be in the 9 to 13 inch range. A top speed of 50 MPH or more can be achieved with this size motor. The project also requires a controller to manipulate the amount of current flowing from the batteries to the motor which determines how fast you go. The controller is assembled to your old gas pedal linkage for smooth control of the vehicle. The conversion requires an on board battery charger in order to charge your batteries between trips. Just plug it in to any common household AC circuit and simply charge it up overnight.

You’ll need about 20 deep cycle batteries to achieve a range of 200 miles on a charge. There are a number of sources for finding these very cheap and often free. These batteries allow you to discharge further and charge more quickly than regular car batteries, which is whey they are called deep cycle - because they permit and stand up to greater and more frequent draining, unlike the battery you have in your car now. You can regularly discharge a deep cycle battery down to 30% or so, but you won’t want to go lower than 30%.

It is important to balance the space available to hold the batteries in the car against the battery capacity. For example, if your project will require 20 batteries, you have to make sure there is room enough for 20 batteries. I know that sounds like common sense, but still - this detail is often overlooked by many people.

Learn more about electric car conversions here.

Faye Bautista asked:


The all-electric sportscar that caught the world’s attention last year is about to do it again this year as UK auto magazine CAR has published spy shots of the Tesla roadster undergoing on road testing near Lotus Headquarters in England.

CAR reports that what will be the world’s first electric sportscar will boast Porsche 911-style performance times; 0-60 mph in a scant 4.0 seconds and be based on the Lotus Elise’s chassis. Further, Lotus will be the manufacturer. The GBP 41,000 ($79,000) sports cars are set to sell this autumn.

Another one is that Car & Driver has road test of the new Honda Civic Hybrid over on their website. They also point out that while the Toyota Prius can take off from a stop using only an electric motor, the Civic Hybrid can’t. It is a bit odd, considering that the car is going for the ultimate gas mileage. The Honda Civic has a weak 20 hp electric motor while the Toyota Prius has a much more powerful 67 hp electric motor.

The dashboard of the Toyota looks pretty cool from the images I see on Car & Driver, it looks very futuristic. The EPA quotes the Toyota Hybrid gets 49 miles per gallon in city driving, and 51 miles per gallon on the highway. However it is hard achieve those numbers according to Car & Driver. Basically, if you put your foot in the throttle at all you’re going not getting anywhere near those mileage figures. I’m not sure that even hybrid buyers want to be left behind by grandma the stoplight.

Also, I am not sure that the Smart car is the answer to our urban woes like Bob delicately claimed in his post, not when they’re predicting a list price over $20,000. I do think that the Global Electric Motorcar, the GEM Car, is the answer, however. Base price for the GEM Car is $6,995 and it runs on batteries. And there’s a 10% federal tax credit on the purchase price of a GEM Car, at least until the end of this year.

Oh, it’s not perfect, not unless you live in a very mild climate, anyway. Sorry, Bob. You’ll probably want to add the heater/defroster ($395), the hard doors ($1,595), the gel batteries ($395) and the windshield washer kit ($75), so your GEM Car will run you closer to $9,000. GEM is a wholly owned subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler, by the way - don’t they own Smart Car, too?

Hilal Abdelwali asked:


When it comes to one of the newest developments in the vehicle industry electric cars the facts about them are plentiful and easy to come by. This new alternative to regular gasoline powered cars has many people very excited about being able to have reliable transportation without damaging the environment. So what are the facts about electric cars?

First, there are many types of electric cars you can choose from, but all of them use an electric motor that runs on batteries that you recharge. The more batteries you have, the longer you can drive your car. Electric cars come in all different sizes and performances. They are aerodynamically more efficient than gasoline powered cars because electricity stored chemically is lighter than electricity stored electrically.

Another very advantageous fact about electric cars is that they emit virtually no greenhouse gases into the air and thus run much, much cleaner than many other vehicles. Greenhouse gases contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer that has led to global warming. Electric cars that run on batteries alone produce no pollution at all and thus are very environmentally friendly.

How far can you drive on an electric cars charge? The amazing fact is that electric cars can usually travel for about a hundred miles before needing a charge. The batteries generally need charged overnight and there is a gauge that can tell you how much power you have left. They are perfectly fine for city driving and those who do not have to go long distances on a regular basis.

This next fact about electric cars may amaze you. I know it did me. Some people believe that an electric car can not go very fast. But the fact is that electric cars have been clocked at over one hundred miles per hour and can go from zero to that in less than nine seconds. This is because electric motors have a very high torque which allows them to accelerate quickly and travel faster.

There are many more facts to be found out about electric cars such as their price, their range, their availability, and their benefits. Finding out these facts is easy. If you are thinking about buying an electric car, do your research and find one that fits your lifestyle. Most car companies produce at least a hybrid type of electric car that runs on both gasoline and electricity, but you can also find total electric cars if you know where to look. Just get the facts and then get on the electric car bandwagon. You may just find out you like it there.

Rico Tavares asked:


While electric cars are a relatively new automotive technology, they are although fast becoming popular worldwide. A conventional car is very different from an electric car. An all electric car is a type of vehicle that uses a mixture of various technologies such as internal combustion engines, gasoline, electric motors, and batteries to run.

All Electric Cars

All electrical cars are set on batteries that provide electricity to an electric motor in the car, the engine turns the transmission, and the transmission spins the wheels. The attempt here is to increase mileage and reduce emissions as much as possible.

Structure

The structure of the electric car is simple, with the major components being: gasoline engine, motor, generator, fuel tank, battery and transmission. Many of these components are similar, and some even identical to those in conventional cars, but electric cars have different functions and are more convenient for you, your family, and the environment.

Advantages

There are many advantages that are accompanied in an electrical vehicle. Namely, you are saving air of pollutants that would otherwise be spewing into the environment. Electrical vehicles are 100% emission free, and are free of pollution by-products. They provide their power from batteries, solar, or hydrogen fuel cells.

Electric cars therefore are emission free, compact, lightweight, and they are three times as efficient as gas engines. They also have excellent ranges, and are safe to drive.

Electrical cars combine the best of both conventional and electric cars for a true winner. They bring more clean energy from the electric motor with the long-range power of gasoline engines, really giving you the best of both worlds.

Shortcomings

Just as there are advantages, there are some drawbacks to electrical cars. Electrical cars tend to require long recharge times. This means that you can not use a car while the battery is charging. Electric cars also tend to have expensive costs associated with them, should they every break down outside the warranty coverage. Although, the good news is that over the years the repair costs have significantly come down due to manufacturers better understanding the technology, and have become much more adept to building reliable parts.

To decide your next purchase, weigh the advantages and disadvantages in order to identify what is the best electric car for you.

Bharat Book Bureau asked:


Hybrid And Pure Electric Cars 2009-2019 Report ( http://www.bharatbook.com/Market-Research-Reports/Hybrid-And-Pure-Electric-Cars.html ) estimates that Electric vehicles just became exciting. For 111 years, electric cars that rely only on a battery - “pure EVs” - have had a range of only 30-50 miles and the humble golf car has been the only type selling in hundreds of thousands every year. However, huge changes have been announced in 2009. Electric vehicles will penetrate the market rapidly to constitute 35% of the cars made in 2025 - 25% hybrids, 10% pure EV. Any motor manufacturer without a compelling line up of electric vehicles is signing its death warrant.

 These changes include:

Launch of cars that have a range of 250 miles or more in pure electric mode, including a pure EV family car made in China and plug in hybrid gasoline-electric cars. Launch of the Toyota Prius plug in hybrid that will be very attractive to over one million purchasers of the existing Prius mild hybrid and millions of others. 95% of Prius owners would buy another. First full production of the beautiful Tesla pure EV luxury sports car which silently outperforms conventional equivalents. Large initial orders show that this can be a multibillion dollar sector of the EV car business, particularly if we include new luxury hybrids such as the gorgeous Fiskar Karma. Lithium electric car batteries from companies such as LGChem are claimed to last ten years, not the more usual three years. This hugely improves the economics of all EVs with range acceptable to mainstream purchasers. President Obama’s Stimulus Bill granted $14.4 billion for hybrids and huge sums have been allotted by other governments across the world to develop and subsidise use of EV cars to save the planet and the car industry and provide independence from dwindling oil reserves.

Within the decade, it will be possible for some suppliers to offer hybrid cars and no price premium to conventional cars in the way that the Japanese took the Western car market by storm 20 years ago by offering excellent vehicles with most accessories thrown in free. There would then be no strong reason why anyone would want the conventional alternative.This unique report takes a detailed look at the market size from 2009-2019 and the government support, technology and new model launches that will get it there. It assesses work on energy harvesting in vehicles from light, heat and shock absorbers, new battery technologies, fuel cells, flywheels and other advances and clarifies which really matter. Here you can also learn which countries and companies are most impressive and why.

The only detailed and up to date critical analysis of both pure and hybrid EV cars worldwide

Entirely researched in 2009, this report gives the only detailed and up to date critical analysis of both pure and hybrid EV cars worldwide. With 200 pages and over 125 figures and tables including many new and detailed summaries and forecasts, it gives the future in the context of the past including the mistakes and inspired moves for over 100 years. It looks closely at the forceful new market drivers such as peak oil and government subsidies but it does not dwell on the well understood global warming debate that is also now driving things forward. Instead, it provides essential data useful to all investors, manufacturers, developers, component suppliers, marketing outlets, legislators and those planning financial support. Which will be the prosperous niches? What is the neglected part of leader Toyota’s multibillion dollar business in EVs? Where is the action globally? Why is the geometry of the EV about to change? What about supercapacitors, supercabatteries, zinc air batteries and solar cells even over the windows? It is all here, provided by a global team of technical experts who have been tracking this industry for ten years and writing highly acclaimed forecasts about it.

 

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