My Perfect Automobile » Electric car

Fresh Face Detroit Electric to Rival Tesla?

Larry Bell — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:21:31 +0000

Detroit Electric: Will this car give Tesla a run for its money?

Automaker Detroit Electric has announced plans to build a two-seat EV that could end up competing directly against vehicles made by Tesla Motor Co., whose Model S sedan is currently sold in major world markets. DE is the revived version of an early 1900s company the made and sold a popular electric car before the advent of gasoline power. Very few details have been released concerning the model, though DE has published a photo and will show the car at an industry event in Detroit on April 3. A public unveiling will occur at Shanghai’s auto exhibition in April. Some industry-watchers guess that DE will sell the car in both the U.S. and China, as its initial marketing gets underway sometime in 2014.

Detroit Electric: Video

The video clip above features sights and sounds from the most recent Shanghai Auto Show, one of Asia’s biggest such events. In terms of floor space and the number of vehicles shown, it easily ranks in the world’s top-10 automotive exhibitions. When the show opened its doors in 1985, it was the only professional automotive event of its kind in China. Held every two years, the Shanghai Auto Show routinely plays host to exhibitors from nearly two dozen nations and attracts more than 9,500 journalists.

Detroit Electric

Albert Lam, formerly the CEO of Lotus Engineering Group, resuscitated the Detroit Electric brand in 2008, after almost 70 years of non-activity. The original Detroit Electric last operated in 1939. Lam sees the new car as a melding of all the best in performance, technology, handling and aesthetics. Now officially headquartered in Detroit’s Fisher Building, the new firm will be showing off its sports car at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show in April. With just one model in the pipeline for now, DE is hoping to bring out several others, all produced at its Michigan assembly plant.

For more about Detroit Electric, see the company’s official website:
http://www.detroit-electric.com/

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Remember the BMW E1?

Larry Bell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:10:24 +0000

BMW concept electric car, the E1

Twenty-one years ago, auto giant BMW showed the world its first all-electric car, the E1, which of course is no longer around but gets credit within company ranks as being the forerunner to the entire BMW i-series, which is currently in production. For its day, the E1 was truly ahead of the game, with advanced aerodynamic design and unheard of, at the time, ergonomic flourishes, plus a range that to this day is in dispute. Experts in 1991 called the car the most advanced of the century, which is not much of an exaggeration, considering that it was BMW’s first workable, realistic shot at an emission-free auto up to that time.

The rear-mounted 37 kW motor was part of a daring design, which included aluminum and plastic in the car’s body and components, and boasted a maximum speed of 72 mph and a range of 125 miles. While those numbers sound impressive, consider that they came at great cost, which meant that the car was out of the price range of most consumers. The cutting-edge car used sodium-sulfur batteries, while its successors, the Z15 and the E2, upgraded to sodium nickel-chloride packs.

The scientists and engineers who worked on the project for a number of years came to the conclusion that electric cars were definitely in the future for BMW, and could eventually be manufactured and sold to the public for reasonable prices. The study’s overall conclusion was prescient, namely that the biggest obstacle to the development of electric vehicles was the storage of energy. BMW’s efforts in the area of alternative fuel power are based directly on what their engineers learned from the E1 project, which goes to show that no lesson in the world of science is wasted.

For information about what’s going on at BMW, see the company’s website, at http://www.bmw.com/com/en/index.html

Larry Bell

Quick Charger, Circa 1908

Larry Bell — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 05:59:58 +0000

Baker 1908 EV. My other car is a horse!

Some people laughed at Thomas Edison when he invented the nickel-iron batteries that were used in early Baker Electric automobiles. The video clip goes into detail about the chargers for those ancient cars, many of which still exist today. To Edison’s credit, his nickel-iron batteries were so sturdy that some of the Baker electrics from the 1910s are still operating in 2012, after thousands of charges. To see how the old chargers worked, take a look at the short film. Keep in mind that the first Baker came out in 1899 and had a sticker price of $850. In those days, Baker dealerships accepted farm tools, buggies, and produce as “trade credit” for its cars. Thomas Edison himself purchased one of the first models to use as his personal car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWfg6SHxpJk

By 1910, the heyday of Baker Electric, the models like the one in the clip went for $2,800, seated four, and came with a black body. Buyers could order green, maroon, or blue panels however. Baker Company was on the cutting edge in those days, being the only electric car maker to offer a series-wound motor with 300 percent overload capacity. That was important in an era when battery technology was such that many electric motors were poorly matched with their batteries and thus overloaded on a regular basis. Not so the Baker motors, which were the best of the best, lo those many years ago.

Of interest to automotive historians is the fact that Walter Baker, the company’s founder, was a race car hobbyist who built the Baker Torpedo, a speed-record competitor that is thought to be the first vehicle to feature a very strange safety mechanism called a seat belt. All but forgotten today, Baker Electric went out of business in 1919, the same year that Walter Baker became a board member of his former rival firm, Peerless Motor Company.

For more about electric cars of the early era, see this information page, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_electric_vehicle#1830s_to_1900s:_Early_history

Larry Bell

1909 EV Still Running

Larry Bell — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:43:13 +0000

An early Baker electric car

A 1909 EV, called the Baker Electric, is still running, and looking great. The owner jokes that what killed electric cars was the fact that they were designed for women, with interior space that resembled a feminized version of a small dressing room. Is he joking? Maybe so, since the owner is a professional comedian, and none other than Jay Leno, host of the Tonight Show as well as the popular Jay Leno’s Garage.

Seriously, Leno walks us through the intriguing 1909 Baker, which is not only in pristine cosmetic condition but runs perfectly. In fact, toward the end of the clip Jay takes the ancient EV for a spin in his neighborhood and gets more than a few stares. Looking like a giant, glassed phone booth, the car cannot go much faster than 30 mph, and features both front and back battery packs. Jay has done one bit of modernizing to the car, however, fitting it with a more convenient, modern electric charger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9vC3S8MJPY

Before merging with Rauch and Lang in 1914, Baker made some of the most gorgeous electrics around, for 15 years in fact, beginning in 1899. Thomas Edison, quite an innovator himself, purchased his very first car from the Baker Motor Vehicle Company. The two-seater, which set Thomas back about $850, was a shiny, new model. The year was 1899, and no, the car was not equipped with a built-in smart-phone.

Many of the world’s rich and famous people sought out Baker’s cars; such was the company’s reputation. The first fleet of automobiles used by the White House was partly comprised of Bakers. In addition, none other than the King of Siam was apparently gaga for Baker electrics, and purchased one for himself, then had it decked out with ivory and gold ornaments. Those were the days.

For more information about the interesting history of electric automobiles, see http://edisontechcenter.org/ElectricCars.html

Larry Bell

Predicting the Future of EVs

Larry Bell — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:10:13 +0000

What is the future of EVs?

‘Revenge’ Movie Maker Looks Ahead

Chris Paine knows a thing or two about electric cars. He made a pair of full-length feature films about them which were critically acclaimed and highly informative. In this brief clip, he is interviewed about his opinions on the future of electric cars.

After a quick background about the films and his role in their production, Paine gives his short list of reasons why he thinks electric cars are truly, finally, set to take off. It’s all about consumer demand, and with several economic factors lined up just perfectly, critical mass is near. That’s the scientific way of saying that people are actually starting to accept electric and hybrid-electric cars as part of the scenery, even though a recent Gallup poll shows that 57 percent of respondents said they would not buy an EV.

What the Gallup poll does not say is how that number has changed over time. Just a decade ago, the same question might have gotten a majority of responses along the lines of, “What’s an electric car? You mean, someone is selling those things?” Times have changed, and Paine’s personal choices are proof; he owns a Nissan Leaf all-electric, a Chevy Volt hybrid electric, and a Tesla Roadster electric sports car.

Chris’s films, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, and “The Revenge of the Electric Car,” tell the long, sometimes sad, sometimes encouraging story of the recent history of the vehicle in question. There is no doubt that politics and profits played a key role in the early demise of the cars, but oddly those same forces are now the major proponents of the resurgence of the electric automobile.

Chris Paine sees a bright future for electric cars, and in this three-minute clip, you will see his rationale behind that prediction. For more information about the films and Chris, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F

Larry Bell

What EV/Hybrid Exposure Will You See at the Detroit, NAIAS Auto Show?

Larry — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:02:38 +0000

Here is a “known” list that will be at the show. There will be more, but these are vehicles that have been announced to be shown. Most are still under-wraps for the official unveiling during the Press Conferences.

American EV conversion company, Amp, will show an Electric Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The BMW i3 concept heralds the upcoming pure-electric small hatchback. BMW will also debut the 5-Series ActiveHybrid 5.

Fords pure-electric Focus. Ford recently claimed that the Focus EV will earn a rating of more than 100 MPGe.

Nissan NV200 pure-electric van, uses the same power-train as the Nissan LEAF.

Smart’s new pickup. The 900mm load space is enough to carry two of Smart’s high-tech electric pushbikes (the eBike). And the electric motor provides 75 horsepower on the electric drive.

Teslas Electric Roadster Super-car. Tesla will set up its booth to look like one of its new high street stores and will showcase its high-tech manufacturing prowess.

Toyota NS4 concept car – an “Advanced Plug-in Hybrid”.

VIA Motors will introduce the world’s first EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle) pickup truck, SUV and van.

VW pure-electric concept car. The pure-electric concept will borrow some of the style cues from the latest Beetle. VW will also bring its Jetta petrol-electric hybrid. The Jetta’s 1.4 litre petrol engine will be joined by a lithium ion battery pack.

Volvo will set out its plans for plug-in hybrids. The company has already announced details of its V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which it claims is the world’s first diesel-electric hybrid.

If you plan on going to the show, be prepared for the cold weather outdoors. More important, be prepared for the warm “surprises” indoors. There are always unexpected exposures. I’m talking about new automotive technology releases. You may even find “your perfect automobile”. The show is the best place to shop, as all the new opportunities are displayed in one place, the NAIAS auto show!

Larry Judkin

Larry Judkin + is My Perfect Automobile’s General Manager, but people call him Lar’. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Co-owner of My Perfect Automobile. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

You Say Commuter, I Say Comuta

Larry Bell — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 22:22:05 +0000

Some Comutas are still around

An astonishing look at the future, from a 1967 vantage point. Did you know that, “…electric cars are the trend of the future.”? The Electric Comuta was produced and a few still prowl the streets today. The Comuta has a speedometer that shows 60 mph as the top speed, but you might notice the apparent top speed in the demo video clip is about 25 mph. Oh well, that black-and-white film just doesn’t do justice to the gorgeous Comuta. Have a look.

Larry Bell

Revenge of the Electric Car

Bob T — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:32:41 +0000

I just saw the Movie. Very nice to see such persistence in those who believe there is a future for this technology.

I want to contact Gadget to see if he can convert a convertible 2+2 for me.
Perhaps a newer model Porsche?

Bob Twaalfhoven

Bob Twaalfhoven + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Owner and Visionary Creator, but people just call him “Bob T”.. Here is his full Bio: Bob Twaalfhoven. Bob lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Founder of BobCAD-CAM software. BobCAD-CAM was created by Bob, who was an engineer graduate of MIT in 1978. He created the software as a means to bring the technology of CAD/CAM to the personal computer. But overall – Bob is a lover of cars, engines and anything that is fast…

Audi Urban Concept to See Production

Catherine Siverts — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:23:24 +0000

The Audio Urban Concept made its debut earlier this year, but what’s new is that it is rumored for low-volume production from Audi.

The Urban Concept vehicle is just over ten feet long and seats two; a driver and a passenger, in a fighter jet-esque “cockpit”. The seats are staggered slightly, which allows it to be just 67 inches wide. It weighs about 1,100 pounds, so a low curb weight will add to the MPGe.

Propulsion is provided by two electric motors and is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that supplies about 45 miles of range. This is truly designed for a city, with the top speed capped at 62 miles per hour. The Urban Concept additionally can accelerate from 0 to 37 miles per hour in about 6.5 seconds.

The Urban Concept features a carbon fiber body and has twenty horses at its disposal. While the Urban Concept is no sportscar, it definitely fits the bill for what a driver would want and need in a metropolitan zone.

Just recently it was leaked from sources inside the German company that a limited batch of 999 units will be produced, and will be sold for 9999 Euros. Just because this is a “test run”, doesn’t mean Audi won’t be producing more of these vehicles in the future however.

While Audi originally created the Urban Concept as a concept car with two versions, it is unknown which version (or if both of them) will see the light of day with the limited production order. The extant versions of the Urban Concept are the Sportback (with a roof) and the Spyder (without a roof).

With the Urban Concept, Audi is yet another automaker making some serious strides into the field of mostly cars. There are several other automakers creating vehicles that are smaller, focusing more on an exact niche in the urban world. Audi definitely hass a contender in the Urban Concept.

Catherine Siverts

Catherine Siverts is My Perfect Automobile’s Expert Author, but people call her Cat. Here is her bio: My Perfect Automobile. Catherine lives in San Jose, CA and is also a Dedicated Member of the My Perfect Automobile Team. Catherine is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Nerdy Stuff (power), Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars!