Author Archives for Marc Geller
California Air Resources Board set to weaken ZEV Mandate tomorrow
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily
One day remains before the California Air Resources Board (CARB) votes on the latest proposed revision (read weakening) of the Zero Emission Vehicle Program, and the press is picking up the story, with headlines trumpeting Will California Kill the Electric Car Again? (here, here and here) CARB opted to promote hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) over battery electric cars when it revised the program in 2003, and the automakers destroyed most of the electric cars that had been deployed.
A schedule was set for the manufacture of FCVs, rising to 25,000 by 2015, but the technology remains far from commercialization and automakers have been lobbying to lower the numbers. Although some major manufacturers, most prominently GM with its Chevy Volt, have announced intentions to begin commercial production of electric drive cars, all have signed on to a letter to CARB decrying the CARB staff proposal to reduce by 90 percent the number of required ZEVs as still too onerous. Plug In America, the Sierra Club, and a host of environmental organizations along with Tesla Motors and former CIA Director James Woolsey held a press conference this morning in front of CARB, and will be testifying at tomorrow’s hearing to press the case for a higher numbers of ZEVs. Consumers who want electric options available sooner rather than later can make their voice hear via links to CARB and Governor Schwarzengger here. (Full disclosure: I am on the Board of Plug In America.)
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Treehugging Hummer?
Filed under: Green Culture, HUMMER, Green Daily
The erroneous contention that a Hummer is more efficient and earth-friendly than a Prius over the vehicles’ lifetime has sailed across the net for months. The argument defies common sense, and has been debunked repeatedly. The “studies” were flawed by design, but they served the purpose of sowing confusion and doubt. The point by point rebuttal to this nonsense can be found here and here. To take just one point, it is presumed that a Hummer will drive more miles than a Prius, thus spreading out its environmental impact over a longer period of time. Huh?
So, when we saw the picture to the right, we had to wonder: is this Hummer a rolling advertisement for bad science or just a twisted sense of humor?
[Source: Where is Holden? h/t to Stefano P.]
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Sierra Club calls for 100,000 ZEVs
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, USA
Sierra Club California is appealing to its members to take action for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). Sierra Club is one of the large environmental organizations that have been quite active federally and at the state level as government wrestles with automotive and emissions policies. Its involvement in the California debate is significant.
The ZEV Program of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) resulted in thousands of electric cars on the roads of California from 1997 through 2003. Revisions to the program in 2003 reduced dramatically the numbers of ZEVs required of automakers in the near term.
Carmakers promised time would allow alternative zero-emission technology to become commercializable. As we mentioned a bit yesterday, the 2003 revision permitted carmakers to follow their chosen path, and therefore didn’t require higher numbers for more than a decade. Now the promised 25,000 ZEVs in the 2014-2017 period are within view. And CARB staff is advocating that that number be slashed by 90 percent. Sierra Club California believes that CARB should hold automakers to their 2003 commitment.
This is not a narrow California concern. As Sierra Club states in its Action Alert, “California is the only state allowed under the Clean Air Act to set tougher limits on vehicle emissions than federal regulations. Other states can choose to follow California’s standards, and at least 10 states hope to do so. The CARB vote has national implications.”
The Board is set to vote on March 27.
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eBay Find of the Day: Toyota RAV4 electric conversion
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, Toyota
Toyota made the electric RAV enticing but it is now unavailable. Ever wonder what a regular old gasoline RAV4 converted into a electric RAV4 would be like? Some folks have taken matters in their own hands. A RAV4 in Oregon converted to electric drive is up on eBay. Take a look.
The NiMH batteries that propel the Toyota-built EV over 100 miles on a charge are, of course, unavailable on the open market. (Wikipedia has an entry on the much-debated “Patent encumbrance of NiMH batteries.“) Using lead-acid batteries, this car has less than half that range. But as GM keeps hammering home with its Volt commercials, the average car drives under 40 miles per day. This conversion’s claimed range is over 40. The lead acid make this EV affordable compared to the $50,000+ RAV4 EVs that pop up on eBay from time to time. The Buy It Now price is just $22,000.
[Source: eBay]
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Davis, CA selling half of its NEV fleet, citing budget issues
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)
The City of Davis, California is unloading about half its fleet of Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. The university town has 27 GEMs which have proven “popular as transport for City Council members, parade entrants, visiting delegate movers and symbols of environmental awareness,” according to a story in Sunday’s Davis Enterprise (reg. req’d).
The city received the low speed vehicles from Daimler-Chrysler when automakers were dumping NEVs to comply with the California Air Resources Board’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate without offering full-function electric cars. The City blames budget woes for the decision to auction half the fleet. All the vehicles are in working order, though some will require a bit of work. The first two GEM cars on the block are a G-7 two-passenger model with 3,474 miles and a G-21 four-passenger model with 921 miles. Minimum bids for two-seaters begin at $1,700 and for four-seaters will start at $2,100. If you’re looking to buy, contact the City Manager’s Office.
[Source: Davis Enterprise]
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Firms Chosen in Israel to Develop “Better Place” Chargers
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Renault, Middle East
Look, more signs that Project Better Place is taking root in Israel.
Two companies have been chosen to implement the charging infrastructure designed by Better Place. Aran Research and Development Ltd. and Nekuda DM Ltd will develop and install the first of an intended 500,000 charging sites in Israel alone. Hundreds will be installed in 2009. According to the Israeli business website Globes, “Project Better Place’s engineering and marketing teams have formulated the design, safety, engineering, and operational features of the recharging stations.”
[Source: Globes]
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