My Car Insurance Life |

Chris Jensen asked:


Electric cars are made up of a series of batteries that are attached to an on and off switch that in turn is attached to an electrically operated motor. It is the electric motor, which drives the wheels, thereby propelling the car into motion. Making a basic electric car is fascinating and easy. Converting a car to run on electricity will set you free from high gas prices and high servicing costs. But how is gas to electric car conversion done?

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Step one is to obtain a step-by-step guide on how to make an electric car. Obviously, you need to have a vehicle. Usually, the best vehicles to convert to electric are light weight cars that have enough room for batteries. Sedans and light trucks make the best conversions. They are light, making it easy to mount the motors on. Also, the electric car is getting all of its energy from a set of batteries and so there is a limit to which the car can travel under certain conditions. In most cases, you may want to use smaller cars so that the motors are not over burdened.

Step two is to have a place to do the work such as the garage, driveway, or a shed. It is important to have a good place to work in because you will need to remove the gas engine parts and install the electric motor.

Step three is to know exactly which tools to use. Your guide will teach you that, as well as where you can purchase them. Most of the tools are basic and you probably already have them in a garage. The main components of an electric car are a simple frame, basic wheels, an electric motor, a car battery, and an electric on and off switch. Other materials that you will need are different nuts and bolts, fuses, a power controller, and power conductors.

Electric cars can be built by anyone because they are very simple in overall construction.

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Joe Ratzkin asked:


With more and more vehicles roaming and zooming through the streets and roads, it is not very likely that one day we will find ourselves waking up to a foggy environment. Smog would surely fill the air and children would no longer remember what it was like to live in a place where the breeze was fresh and air was very clean.

This has been one of the great concerns of the auto industry. Despite being the culprit behind creating vehicles that would bring about dirt and smoke to the environment, auto manufacturers are now concerned about the welfare of the environment as well as of the people. That is most certainly they have created the Zero Air Pollution which they believe would be one of the best ways to reduce pollution.

Now ZAP, the world leader when it comes to electric cars, have set out to Europe to bring about the good news that would surely reduce the number of smoke belching machines on the streets. Steven Schneider, ZAP’s chief executive officer also came with the batch of vehicles to Europe so as to be able to further discuss the benefits of having electric cars. Though electric cars may not have easy to find replacement parts like Ford parts, these cars do provide a lot of benefit to both man and environment.

“With large car and gas dependent automakers closing plants, gas prices soaring and growing public awareness of the need to switch to alternative energy, ZAP’s global market position is stronger than ever. We hope to forge partnerships with some of the automotive industry’s most respected companies,” says Schneider.

During ZAP and Schneider’s stay in Europe, they would be presenting the various aspects of building electric cars as well as the advantages and disadvantages that this type of vehicle has. Important people in the European continent and from the auto industry would be enjoying the information that would be shared with them.

Ricardo Machado is the president of a Brazilian auto making company and he states, “In Brazil, we recently won the support of the Rio de Janeiro government that will help ensure we break sales records. We expect to create four thousand new jobs and boost Brazil’s economic infrastructure. We hope to parlay this great business plan by bringing on European partners as well.”

Bailey Grafton asked:


Are you tired of paying increasingly high gas costs? If you are, you should know that there are electric car kits that are easy to implement and can help you reduce your fuel costs.

Before you purchase a kit though, you should make sure you understand what the conversion process entails and how to select the right kit.

Here are some helpful tips.

First, you need to make sure your car has enough room to house the new engine. You can easily convert a small truck because it has a good-size space for battery storage. But a small car will work as well. Once you’ve selected your vehicle, make sure you have enough space to complete the conversion. Your driveway or garage will serve your needs. Then, you’ll have to make sure you have a wrench, drill, and screwdriver, which are necessary to complete the electric car conversion. Finally, you’ll want to think about asking someone to help you with the conversion. You’ll complete the project faster and easier if you get a friend or family member involved. You should be prepared to spend a few hundred dollars on a motor and batteries, but don’t forget that you’ll recoup your costs quickly. You’ll find that your car requires minimum maintenance, and you’ll also have the satisfaction of helping to reduce pollution.

But the most important thing to remember when you’re selecting from the many electric car kits available is to purchase a kit that is detailed, yet simple to follow and understandable to a non-mechanic. The right kit will make the difference between success and failure. To learn more…click here.

Nick Molinar asked:


OK, so is it really possible to build your own DIY Electric Car from parts you can obtain yourself, at a cost that won’t put you in the poor house? That’s really the one question I seem to get most often from skeptics.

To be honest, I don’t know why there aren’t more DIY electric cars on the road. I suppose people assume that if it were really so simple, everyone would be doing it. Driving for 4 cents per mile instead of four dollars per mile is a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t do that if given the choice? Everyone would gladly say goodbye to tune ups, oil changes and the gas pump forever if the could. Therefore, many conclude that converting a car to electric power must be difficult, highly complicated and beyond the ability of most people.

What I do know is that it is a lot of fun to build and drive and the project is easy and cheap to complete. Simply begin your DIY Electric car project with a car that is appropriate for converting and a good set of plans. You’ll need to mount batteries and the electric motor inside, so you’ll need a car with enough room for those but is still relatively light and small.

To make the project a lot easier, the car should also have a manual transmission. Don’t worry if you can’t or don’t want to drive a stick. A converted vehicle requires no shifting once the project is completed. It’s pretty amazing how inexpensively you can pick up a used car with engine damage that is in otherwise excellent condition. Just check for issues in the transmission, undercarriage, breaks etc before you buy it.

In spite of their 50-60 MPH top speed and range of 200 miles between charges, I always recommend that the first conversion not be performed on the owner’s primary vehicle. Instead, get a cheap 2nd car to convert. One more point to remember once you do complete your project take some time to get used to the responsiveness. You must get a feel for the controller (the electric car version of the gas pedal) because these things are amazingly zippy off the line.

The reasons the plans are so important is that a good set of quality plans will not only guide you step-by-step through the entire project, but will also provides priceless information on where to locate all your parts very inexpensively-and in some cases even free. You can save a ton of money using a good instruction guide. For example, retail conversion kits cost $6000 or more and that’s before you even buy a single battery or the vehicle, or you can spend $50 on a set of plans up front and convert the entire car for under $500 including the batteries. Readers can learn a lot more about DIY electric cars here.

Jenny Mclane asked:


The quest to develop an automobile which will reduce and possibly eliminate the dependence of the entire human race on petroleum fuel for automotive fuel has led to a partnership between companies. These working partnerships allow companies to have bigger funding and share expertise.

One such partnership is that between ZAP and Lotus Engineering. The partnership is aiming to develop the most advanced electric car in history. Currently, ZAP is already offering electric cars for American car buyers. These vehicles run on electricity and needs only to be plugged into a common household socket to be recharged and store up some juice.

While these electric vehicles are of great advantage to the environment and fuel cost, their range is not enough to make extended trips. This is one issue that the partnership will be looking into in their quest to produce the most advanced electric car in the entire history of the automotive industry.

Recently, both parties have been having talks at the headquarters of ZAP located in Santa Rosa, California. Lotus Engineering personalities who attended these talks includes the company’s chief executive officer Albert Lam. Project Manager Steven Woolley and West Coast Operations Manager Rexford Park are also part of the dialogues between ZAP and Lotus. The talks between ZAP and Lotus is expected to bring to light more developments in the development and production of electric cars. These developments are expected to be announced by ZAP Chief Executive Officer Steve Schneider.

For the present, Schneider has this to say: “This was an important meeting because ZAP and Lotus Engineering are working to bring new technologies to bear that could change the auto industry forever. With Lotus Engineering’s capabilities, and ZAP’s vision and entrepreneurship, we are building a world-class team to tackle this important endeavor.”

Currently, ZAP’s offering includes the electric vehicle Xebra. It was first introduced to the market in May of 2006. The three-wheeled vehicle is classified as a motorcycle but it has both a sedan and a pickup configuration. While it uses a battery pack and an electric motor, it does not use the regenerative braking system used commonly by hybrid electric cars. The said feature captures the energy produced during braking.

While the Xebra does not posses the said feature, its battery pack can power the vehicle for approximately forty miles on low speed driving. The same battery pack can also give the Xebra a top speed of 40 miles per hour. While these attributes already standout, the partnership between Lotus and ZAP aims to develop an electric car that is far more advanced than the Xebra.

On the other hand, Lotus has been known for designing and developing some of the most notable cars in history. This collaboration with ZAP is seen by Lotus as a step for them to become one of the frontrunners in the development of green cars. Chief Executive Officer Albert Lam has this to say: “The venture with ZAP is a dream come true because we are creating the most advanced electric vehicles in history. Lotus Engineering is very happy to be associated with ZAP in bringing this vehicle to market. The technology is ready for electric vehicles so they don’t have to be slow, they can have a long range, and they can be exciting to look at.”

Aside from developing high performance vehicles, Lotus is also known for creating aesthetically pleasing cars. With the company’s expertise, one can expect an environment friendly and good-looking car to come out of this partnership. If the partnership comes up with the most advanced electric car in history it is, of course, safe to say that it will be far more environment friendly than vehicles equipped with flowmaster exhaust components.

sugiex asked:


Batteries are used to run electric cars, they are stored beneath the hood and maybe 12 to 24 in numbers.

When it is time to replace them they are all there.

These batteries are similar to those used on cell phones and toy cars children love to drive around in the backyard. Thus, it is not very difficult to get new batteries when we need them.

Actually, electric batteries do not need to be replaced often so replacement of batteries does not happen too frequently.

They cost around $2000 to $5000 , depending on the model and make of your car.

You must be careful about the amount of electricity in the battery before charging it.

Sometimes the batteries have an in built “memory” , and if the battery is not run completely before charging it may lose some of its potency. In this situation you may have to spend on a new battery before it is due.

There is allot of research and development underway in the electric cars industry.

New battery technology is being worked on to ensure that your vehicle can get charged faster

and hold more power for a longer time. It will not be long before you can drive your car longer without the need for a battery charge. This is really some great news for those who patronize electric cars. At present the cars can run up to 100 miles per charge. There is a strong possibility that by 2010 the car will be able to run 200 miles on new batteries.

Recycling of the batteries can be done when it is time to replace the batteries.

Electric car batteries are recyclable up to 95 percent. Only those who are concerned about the environment and want to protect their wallets against the gasoline price hike will opt for an electric car, since you have, you are sure to be one of them. So, if you can recycle your electric car battery, before buying a new one you have given yourself a new source of power along with peace of mind.

It is advisable to choose the best type of batteries, for the best price, for your car and be assured that you have done the best for yourself and for the environment .

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Correy Putton asked:


ZAP, an electric car pioneer, earlier unveiled the concept drawings of its X Crossover SUV on its website. The images are also highlighted in the April 2007 issue of Popular Science in the article titled ‘Who killed the gas guzzler?’ where you can also find an interview with Steve Schneider, the ZAP CEO.

The ZAP-X compact crossover SUV images highlight the technology, styling and the potent performance that the company wanted to integrate into the vehicle. The concept will feature all-wheel drive complemented with in-hub electric motors and other performance parts. The vehicle is capable of producing an astounding 644 horsepower and an impressive top speed of 155mph. The performance is achieved by combining a lightweight aluminum chassis, refined battery management system and a new proficient drive system. Basically, the goal of the vehicle is to achieve 350-mile range with a swift recharging time of ten minutes.

ZAP and Lotus Engineering will begin the first phase of an engineering project to use the British consultancy’s APX or Aluminum Performance Crossover as a basis for designing the X-concept electric all-wheel drive crossover high performance vehicle for ZAP in the American market.

Steve Schneider, the CEO of ZAP, was earlier quoted saying: “Lotus Engineering’s APX technology demonstrator vehicle is a perfect fit for our plans to introduce a full product portfolio of electric cars. Due to the initial design by Lotus, our cost and time to production will be significantly reduced. We believe that the ZAP-X will become the most advanced, most practical and most appealing flagship electric vehicle to date and will revolutionize the industry providing the driver with the enjoyment of a sports car and the practicality of an SUV.”

“Lotus Engineering’s APX is a world-class innovative concept and was developed to showcase real solutions to new challenges facing the automotive industry. So it’s very satisfying that ZAP’s proposed new model will make use of a great deal of the APX concept’s advanced body structure and chassis technology. The bringing together of these next-generation vehicle technologies represents another significant step forward for automotive technology,” said Mike Kimberley, the CEO of Group Lotus.

The concept is based on the APX technical demonstrator vehicle by Lotus Engineering. Lotus has contributed some of the most successful cars in the history. It is also one of the world’s premier auto consultancies. The company has been employed by many of the major automakers to develop engineering services on concept and production cars. Lotus is one of the two original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that have expertise in design, production and marketing its own product lines. This fact gives the company a remarkable edge in the automotive realm.

“We believe that the ZAP-X will become the most advanced, most practical and most appealing flagship electric vehicle to date and will revolutionize the industry providing the driver with the enjoyment of a sports car and the practicality of an SUV,” noted Schneider.

Anthony Fontanelle asked:


The increasing price of petroleum fuel and the increasing threat of global warming had consumers thinking about purchasing green vehicles such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles produced by small car companies like ZAP. In Canada, the Zenn electric car is a good choice for consumers looking to own an electric car for their urban traveling needs. Unfortunately though, even with the Zenn electric car already available in the United States, it is still not permitted for use in any Canadian province.

Ian Clifford, Chief Executive Officer of the Zenn Motor Company, is exasperated with the fact that even with approval from Transport Canada, provinces are still not deciding whether to approve the sale of the Zenn car. “Your biggest carbon footprint as an individual is probably the car you drive,” said Clifford in an interview with The Canadian Press. Clifford is pointing out that legislations should be passed that would allow consumers to have the chance to do their own part in cleaning the environment.

Clifford even went as far as saying: “Every time I go to the gas station, I want to choke,” he said, his voice full of frustration.” According to the CEO, he started thinking about creating an electric vehicle after being stuck in traffic in Toronto in his SUV.

Currently, the Zenn electric car is being sold between US$ 12,000 and $15,000. It has been approved for sale and use in 45 out of 50 States. Today, these 45 States are the primary destinations of the Zenn car. The Zenn, which stands for zero emission and no noise, does not have a retail price in Canadian dollar as the company still awaits approval. This is despite the fact that it has been given the National Safety Mark by Transport Canada.

According to The Canadian Press, British Columbia is said to be planning to approve the sale and use of the Zenn electric car by next year. For now though, a lot of people are exasperated with the slow actions by the people involved in the approval of the electric car. “It’s an absurdity, to be honest, that we cannot sell this in Canada. We are a Canadian company and this just adds insult to injury, if you will,” said Clifford.

The Zenn car has been given a lot of positive reviews. Al Cornier, the executive director of Electric Mobility Canada, had this to say about the Zenn car: “It’s the end of cheap oil. As the price of oil goes through the roof, this makes more and more sense.”

The Zenn electric car is sure to help Canadian motorists save up on their gas consumption. The vehicle also uses auto parts like antenna Canada which can be found on online stores.

virgil sandberg asked:


The price of gas is on the rise again, in august of 1990 the nationwide average price of a gallon of regular gas was $119.10. The lowest price seen since then was in feb 1999, when it was an astounding 88.5 cents a gallon. Just over a year later in march 2000 it went over $1.50, four years later it broke the $2.00 mark, just over a year later it went over $2.50, and just one month later over $3.00. April 2008 topped $3.50 for the first time, and two months later it went over a wallet crushing $4.00 a gallon. At the present time (Aug 2009) the national average is $2.647, and on the rise again. Here are some gas price milestones:

Feb 1999 88.5 cents (you will never see this again) March 2000 $151.1 May 2004 $202.6 Aug 2005 $251.9 Sept 2005 $303.7 April 2008  $356.6 June 2008 $400.7 (ouch!)

 

In the 1990’s electric cars were more of a novelty, something tinkerers with a lot of time on their hands built, but that had little practical use. At  the beginning of the new millennium there was a new realization that maybe electric cars were something that had real value, by 2008 the idea of having an electric car was becoming quite popular. The problem for most people was that it was very difficult to buy an electric car, companies that build these cars have been increasing, but the very high cost of these vehicles put them beyond the reach of most people.

Today it has become practical to convert a car to electric power, all you need is a car and a good manual to guide you through the process. A good manual will have links to various sites that are parts suppliers, chapters on motors, controllers, batteries, and wiring schematics. It should be completely illustrated and be written in a clear and easy to understand manner. Gas Prices may seem to have stabilized right now, but think about this, prices have risen over 250% in the last ten years, has your income risen by that much? This is not going to change, the time of cheap gas is over and will never be back, so don’t you think it is about time to do something before $50-$100 fill ups return.

Now is the time to join the thousands of people who have already converted to an electric car, It is not as difficult as you may imagine with the right Electric Car Manual, so get started today and in a short time you can have your own clean running zero emission car.

Zeke Gervis asked:


At the General Motors Corporation’s annual meeting, GM chairman Richard Wagoner emphasized to the shareholders that the Detroit car company is serious about accelerating the development of the new technology that is required to power the electrified Chevrolet Volt.

However, the day right after the shareholders’ meeting last Tuesday in Wilmington, Delaware, Wagoner was in Washington D.C. together with top executives from the Ford Motor Company and Chrysler Corporation discussing on tougher new fuel economy standards that is still pending in Congress.

Wagoner frankly said that it is about time to move beyond the limits of exclusive reliance on the traditional regulatory approaches that visibly has not resolved the critical problems on new fuel economy standards. He added that Americans deserve a positive move that would embody solutions which will give the appropriate solutions to the overriding problems.

He sited bio-fuels as examples. He said that bio-fuels have the biggest potential to really minimize US oil consumption (for the country to further increase production of goods); limit imports of oil that makes the US economy very dependent to oil exporting countries; and lessen emissions of carbon gas that is severely making a negative impact on the environment.

A sharp response from environmental and consumer groups was implied by the appearance of Wagoner and counterparts Tom LaSorda of Chrysler and Alan Mulally of Ford.

The Director of Research at the Consumer Federation of America, Mark Cooper, said that the proposed target of fuel efficiency was 30 percent too low. It was proposed by the US carmakers and Toyota – the Japanese rival.

Pam Solo of the Washington-based Civil Institute said that now is the time for Washington and Detroit to tackle the fact that the US is unnecessarily losing the race to develop the best fuel-efficient vehicle technology. He said that this should be done as Detroit’s Big Three car companies (GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler) and giant Japanese manufacturer Toyota launch an astoundingly short-sighted advertising and persuading campaign to hinder even modest refinements in the fuel efficiency of vehicle.

He added that increasing fuel efficiency can at the same time minimize the country’s dependence on the Middle East region, trim down greenhouse effects, as well as save quality auto industry jobs thereby helping build the US economy.

Moreover, she pointed out surveys of potential voters which revealed that 75 percent are in favor of tougher emissions standards.

However, Detroit’s Big Three remain reliant on the sales of gas-eating pickup trucks and big sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Jeremy Anwyl, the President of Edmunds, a very influential web site on cars and other vehicles, noted that his firm’s data depicts that the sales of large SUVs and pickup trucks are slopping down due to the consumers’ responses on the continuously increasing gas prices. The data also showed that consumers who visit Edmunds site believe that there will be increased sales of small cars as an effect of the gasoline prices.

Wagoner seemed to be preparing for the trend has announced at the annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday the awarding of two contracts for the advanced development of lithium-ion batteries for its new Chevy Volt - concept car that was introduced in January at the Detroit auto show.

Wagoner said that the Volt is being developed as part of GM’s strategy to divert their cars from petroleum.

GM officials said this week that the company also faces a serious image problem, particularly due to increasing fuel-conscious Americans.

In a latest speech, United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger summarized that the car-buying public perceives the Big Three as manufacturers of nothing but gas-eaters, while Japanese competitor, Toyota is an advocate of less fuel consumption.

About General Motors Corporation

General Motors Corporation is the largest auto company in the world by sales revenue according to the 2006 records. Founded in 1908 in Flint, Michigan, it has its global headquarters at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It manufactures its line of products in 33 countries around the world.

It sells it products under the marques of Cadillac, Chevrolet, Corvette (as a stand-alone brand in Europe and Japan), Daewoo, Elmore, GMC, Holden, Hummer, LaSalle, Marquette, Oakland, Oldsmobile, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall, and Viking.

Aside from cars and other vehicles, General Motors also manufactures top of the line auto parts such as Oldsmobile oxygen sensor.