Plugs and Cars

DECEMBER 6, 2006

Of course, he said, every effort must continue to move toward a zero-carbon economy, but we need to get our collective head around the idea that our carbon emissions have warmed up the earth, and it's going to get even warmer. We can still make it worse, but we can't make it stop. More Katrina's.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco GM Renewable Detroit 100

Plugs and Cars

NOVEMBER 24, 2007

But because Americans have fallen for the idea, the politically expedient thing for VW to do is make some hybrids. Quotations from the interview below; first, my somewhat snarky synopsis. Hatz, in short: Hybrids are bogus - "a very expensive way to save a small amount of fuel." Hybrids' PR payoff is bigger than their environmental benefit.

CO2 100

CO2 Hydrogen Hybrid Diesel 100

Plugs and Cars

DECEMBER 18, 2009

Because people naturally, logically believe electric cars are a good idea. There has never been a shortage of stories in the press denigrating plug-in electric cars. Special interests who preferred to maintain the internal combustion status quo (read oil and auto companies) have long needed to plant seeds of doubt.

PHEV 100

PHEV Plug-in Plug Hydrogen 100

Plugs and Cars

JULY 26, 2007

A123 has an idea to cut through the difficulty of getting OEMs to make cars. Even the Prius and Civic Hybrid are quite different. ARB could spend a year in conversation with stakeholders to figure out regs and credits for new OEM plug-in hybrid cars.

Convert 100

Convert Prius Plug-in Civic Hybrid 100

Plugs and Cars

MARCH 3, 2011

If you happen to have a chip-enabled credit card (I have no idea how prevalent they are), you wave it. A charge station appears at the grocery store you frequent. You plug it in, but nothing happens. You see the credit card symbols. Juice flows. A small crowd gathers. You answer questions about the car. This is exciting.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Parts Charging Juice 100

Plugs and Cars

MAY 30, 2007

Building on initial discussions in Davos at the World Economic Forum in January, a meeting has now been held in Jordan to move the idea forward. Ynetnews.com, an Israeli news site, reports on continuing progress on the Middle East electric car front. Renault and Toyota are reported to be involved along with Shai Agassi, ex-SAP executive.

Jordan 100

Jordan Toyota Cars 100

Plugs and Cars

APRIL 22, 2007

In January GM announced the Volt, a smart idea that makes use of the two existing primary energy infrastructures - the electric grid and gasoline stations. With NiMH batteries - those that provide energy to every hybrid on the road and thousands of all-electric cars - the Volt plug-in hybrid could go into production today.

Volt 100

Volt NiMH GM Plug-in 100

Plugs and Cars

NOVEMBER 28, 2006

From Oregon to Florida, members continues to promote the film and promote the idea of electric cars at screenings. By mid August, the film had grossed over $1 million in its theatrical release, thanks in no small part to the great promotional efforts by members of the Electric Auto Association.

Electric Cars 100

Electric Cars San Francisco Tesla Cars 100

Plugs and Cars

JANUARY 21, 2008

As reported in the NY Times today here : The idea, said Shai Agassi, 39, the software entrepreneur behind the new company, is to sell electric car transportation on the model of the cellphone. Raising a couple of hundred million dollars not to build electric cars struck me as peculiar.

Electric Cars 100

Electric Cars Cars Nissan 100

Plugs and Cars

DECEMBER 15, 2006

Everyone save Dick Cheney thinks it's a darn good idea. Thanks in part to Bush's support of a nascent wind industry during his tenure in Austin, much of that wind is being turned into electricity. Renewable energy is hot. If Bush grabs Friedman's concept, he's got a positive agenda to focus on during his final two years.

Wind 100

Wind Plug-in Plug Green 100

Plugs and Cars

JUNE 13, 2008

One couldn’t help leaving the conference with the excitement of feeling part of an idea whose time has come. When a questioner challenged him to move from rhetorical support to issuing an RFP for actual vehicles, he didn’t flinch.

Plug-in 100

Plug-in Plug DC Grid 100