Zoomi Life

I normally don’t like so-called “micro” vehicles and I especially despise “commuter” vehicles. These are usually one-in-the-same and are generally some of the worst perpetrators of ugly design and lame looks in the EV market. While the Tazzari Zero may not be a real looker, it’s much better than average and hopefully is part of a new trend.

Read More: The Tazzari Zero: Not So Zero In My Book

Concept cars are not usually known for their realism or great looks. They’re sort of the modern art of car design: only those who made them understand what they are to represent and then usually only after certain, uhhh, altered states of consciousness have been achieved.

Read More: Honda FC Sport Concept: Ugly, Even For a Concept

You might remember the Enertia Electric Motorcycle - we covered it a while back here at ZoomiLife. The Enertia is a 100% electric motorcycle with a single-charge range of about 45 miles and a top speed of about 50mph and is available for purchase from Brammo Motorsports.

Read More: Enertia Electric Motorcycle Test Ride Video

Alright, I’ll admit that the title is a bit of a teaser since Nissan hasn’t actually produced a model of a car that does those things yet. So no, you won’t be able to buy any kind of an “infinity machine” from Nissan anytime soon. No, what Nissan is doing is researching recharging units that use neither the existing electrical grid nor gasoline or diesel burning motors to supply power to a battery storage bank or electric motor.

Read More: Nissan Wants to Build Electric Car that Recharges Itself

You can thank the lawyers for this concept. Chevrolet’s new Volt, the hybrid-EV coming out next year, will have “car sounds” added. Yep, the worry that blind or deaf people won’t hear it (yeah, they said “deaf people won’t hear it”–you can’t make this stuff up) and will get hit by a motorist, who will in turn sue Chevy for making a car that’s too quiet, caused the thinkers at General Motors to come up with a sound-producing speaker for the car.

Read More: Chevy Volt to Have Artificial Engine Noise

“Hey, that thing got a Hemi?”

Ya, it does and it’s still slower than the electric. The LA Times featured a video from Dodge’s marketing buildup to the LA Auto Show held earlier this month. The video features a Dodge Challenger with a 6.1L Hemi racing a Dodge EV (electric). In both runs, the EV clearly smokes the Hemi.

Read More: Dodge EV Smokes Challenger in 1/4 Mile

I know that I’ve touted the Tesla a lot and tend to use it as a benchmark for other electrics, but there’s a reason for that: it rocks. Why? Because it goes fast, does so for a long time, and looks cool. My biggest beef with it is its price tag, but that’s neither here nor there.

Read More: The Tesla Roadster Gets An Overhaul

In what could potentially be a revolutionary breakthrough for everything from laptops to electric cars, a South Korean team of researchers have made a major discovery in Lithium-Ion battery technology. A team of researchers at South Korea’s Hanyung University, led by professor Cho Jaephil, has claimed a discovery that could extend lithium ion battery energy capacity by up to 1000% or more.

Read More: Battery Life Breakthrough Could Increase Li-Ion Capacity by 1000%

Quietly, Subaru has been working on some electric vehicle concepts. Without the hoopla of GM or the immediate green cred of chief rival Toyota, Subaru has been carefully working out the details and bugs for its newest line of electric cars.

Read More: The Subaru R1e and G4e Electric Cars

Piaggio makes unique scooters, to say the least, that utilize 3-wheeled designs. Unfortunately, Piaggio decided to name this machine the MP3, which their marketers failed to tell them would instantly make it seem less hip as it tries to rip off the popular music format’s household status.

When I tell you I’m riding an MP3, you’ll assume I’m using a creative euphemism for listening to a song. No one thinks of scooters when they hear “MP3.” If you see a scooter and someone tells you it’s called an “MP3,” you’ll just shake your head and say “what a stupid name.”

Read More: Piaggio Announces MP3 Hybrid Scooter - Gets 141 MPG