Zoomi Life

The new Bolt Electric Scooter from Zero Emission Motors is the newest edition to their lineup of 1,500watt Electric Scooters. We last caught up with the guys at Zero Emission Motors when they released a similarly named the Volt Electric Scooter.  The Volt was the first electric scooter, that I know of, in the price range, to achieve its’ top speed/range numbers.

The Bolt electric scooter is powered by a 1,500 Watt / 48 Volt Brushless Motor. The larger motor helps when driving up hills with heavy loads. It falls in the mid-range category of electric scooters/mopeds between the low power electric scooters (<1000W) and the higher-power freeway legal Vectrix. With a powerful 1500 watt motor, it scoots out faster from a stop and goes faster (45 MPH) than most other electric mopeds/scooters in its’ class. It has also been tested to give you a range of 30 miles on a single charge.

We found that the Bolt has a compact design that is meant for riders of short to average height. For riders with longer legs, Zero Emission Motors recommends the Volt instead because of increased legroom. Non-slip rubber floor mat is great in all weather conditions. It is available in Silver, Black, Red, Blue, and Maroon and retails for $1,595 plus $150 shipping to any 48 Continental United States.

Zero Emission Motors is also offering the Volt & Bolt in two holiday packages with a full-sized helmet, scooter cover, and magnetic u-lock. Packages start at $1545. They are now also offering a limited time holiday discount to all ZoomiLife readers. Five percent (5%) off their entire store, including all electric scooters, bikes, mopeds and accessories. Just enter the coupon code Z654422 under Coupon Code / Promotional Code in the store checkout.

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.

For those of you that might be interested in this awesome electric bike, check out the Test Ride video created by MotorcycleUsa.com. It’s about 6 minutes long and does a great job of covering the test ride in detail. You can watch the video by following this link or via the embedded video below:

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.

The key to Jaephil’s discovery was the application of a three-dimensional porous silicon graphite material which has the ability of holding up to ten times the number of lithium ions as conventional graphite cathodes. Patents have already been applied for. from the press release:

Lithium ion accumulator batteries produce current by moving lithium ions. The battery usually contains a cathode (positive electrode) made of a mixed metal oxide, such as lithium cobalt oxide, and an anode (negative electrode) made of graphite. While the battery is being charged, lithium ions migrate into the anode, where they are stored between the graphite layers. When the battery is being discharged, these ions migrate back to the cathode.

It would be nice to have an anodic material that could store more lithium ions than graphite. Silicon presents an interesting alternative. The problem: silicon expands a great deal while absorbing lithium ions (charging) and shrinks when giving them up (discharging). After several cycles the required thin silicon layers are pulverized and can no longer be charged.

Cho’s team has now developed a new method for the production of a porous silicon anode that can withstand this strain. They annealed silicon dioxide nanoparticles with silicon particles whose outermost silicon atoms have short hydrocarbon chains attached to them at 900 °C under an argon atmosphere. The silicon dioxide particles were removed from the resulting mass by etching. What remained were carbon-coated silicon crystals in a continuous, three-dimensional, highly porous structure.

If this is for real, it could have a huge impact on the electric vehicle industry. For example, the Tesla Roadster currently gets about 150-200 miles per charge. Imagine having an electric car that gets 1600 miles per charge, with a full charge costing you less than a regular tank of gas. You’re getting more miles for less money, with no fossil fuel use - especially if your electrity comes from a renewable source.

This Post Source: Eurekalert

While all the big automakers have been touting their coming-soon plug-in hybrids - you’d have to be under a rock not to have heard of the Chevy Volt or the Toyota Prius Plugin - a little-known automaker is getting set to quietly release the first mass-produced, inexpensive all-electric car onto the US market.

You’ve probably never heard of BG (Be Green) Automotive Group. Neither had I until I came across their website. But apparently this relatively unknown company is about to pull off a feat that the Big 9 haven’t been able to do - introduce a mass-produced electric car with all the safety features and accessories of a regular car, and offer it for under $20,000.

To be fair, the C100 can’t do everything a regular car can. The C100 is rated as a low-speed vehicle (Also as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) and is thus electronically limited to a maximum speed of 45mph - so you won’t be taking this car on the freeway. Depending on your local laws, your legal maximum top speed might even be lower - check your DMV for laws for NEV’s in your local area.

However, the C100 looks and is manufactured with many of the same specs as any other vehicle - the C100 is a four door, five passenger vehicle with dual airbags, climate control, a CD stereo, power locks and windows and even has an option for an in-dash iPhone. Depending on the package, the C100 will cost you between $16k and $18k.

The C100 has a range of about 60-120 miles depending on the battery configuration you choose at purchase, and charges from any 110/220V outlet. No details are currently provided on recharge time, but we’ll guess and assume it’s going to be the standard 4-8 hours.

The C100 is also no slouch on safety. While many other NEV’s amount to nothing more than electric-powered go-karts, the C100 exceeds all DOT/NHTSA requirements for safety.

BG’s website is still very sparse on additional details, but you can visit them here and get on their mailing list. They are due to release an official brochure for the C100 any day now.

If BG can keep its promises and make the C100 available for sale in 2009, we might be seeing the start of an electric car revolution and a classic case of David-beats-Goliath. If an unknown like BG can pull this off, how many other companies are there out there right now in stealth-mode coming up with the next Prius killer?

Check out the BG website here, and check out a video of the C100 in action below:

Fiat unveiled the Fiat Palio Weekend Eletrico, the electric version of it’s popular Fiat Palio Weekend station wagon, at the Sao Paolo Motor Show last week. Its development was created in conjunction with the the Swiss company KWO. This car is mainly meant for European markets, which are in high demand for electric cars.

The Fiat Palio Weekend Eletrico is powered by a 20 HP Electric motor which in turn is run by a Nickel-Cd battery located at the base of the trunk, (Lithium-Ion isn’t used as it is very expensive, but future variants should come with Lithium-Ion units). Over night charging will give you a maximum possible range of 120 km. The Palio Eletrico can be operated in 3 modes : Drive, Neutral and Reverse. This car is not a hybrid, it’s a fully electric short distance city car.

As for the exteriors, there have only been minor face-lifts. The Eletrico comes only in one color - green, which supposedly reflects on Fiat’s concern for the environment, and the blue graphics on the doors helps to distinguish the Eletrico from the Palio Weekend Station Wagon. No news has been revealed so far about production and prices, but, we are quite sure that it will be launched in the European market first, where there is suitable infrastructure to support electric cars.

This Post via IndiasAutoBlog

iZip Enlightened Cruiser

2008 has proven to be a bumper year for electric bicycles. Sales are up - way up. Amazon.com Inc. says sales of electric bikes surged more than 6,000 percent in July from a year earlier, in part because of expanded available offerings. People are finding out about the convenience and versatility of electric bicycles.

Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, bridge the gap between bicycles and scooters by giving you a vehicle which is both human and electric-powered. In essence, e-bikes are human-electric hybrid vehicles, with you the rider providing some of the power and the electric motor providing the rest. This means you can go 2 or 3 times as far (and in some cases as fast) as a regular bicycle, and you can do it without breaking a sweat if you don’t want to.

Several electric bicycle brands have emerged as top contenders in the e-bike industry, and all have released some exciting new products this year. Here’s a list of the top five electric bicycles of 2008 as we see them.

iZip Enlightened Trekking

Currie Technologies’ iZip Enlightened Series

Currie Technologies is known for its innovation and quality eZip and iZip electric bicycle product lines, and the iZip Enlightened Series is no exception. The series features five models: Trailz, Mountain Trailz, Urban Cruiser, Trails Women, and Trekking.

Featuring iZip’s PTS (Pedal Torque Sensor) system which controls the bikes speed based on how hard you pedal, iZip Enlightened e-bikes also feature a 24V 9AH NiMH battery pack built-in to the bike frame, which means no external battery pack and sleek lines on the bikes frame. iZip enlightened e-bikes retail for about $1,800.

Some other iZip Enlightened Bicycle specs:

• 8-Speed Geared System with SRAM X.7 Rear Derailleur
• Top Speed Up to 15 Mph / 24 Kph (Rider Weight Contingent)
• Range Up to 23 - 30 Miles / 38 - 48 Km with Normal Pedaling (Rider Weight Contingent)
• NiMH Currie High Power Smart Charger with LED status display
• Net Weight 48 lbs / 22 kg

Optibike 800Li

The Optibike 800Li

If you’re looking for the best of the best in an electric bicycle, then the Optibike 800Li is right at the top of the list. Each bike is hand built in Boulder, Colorado by a team of professionals with an eye for detail and a taste for speed. Optibike claims that its 800Li is the fastest e-bike available; with moderate pedaling, you can get the 800Li going up to about 35 mph.

The Optibike 800Li is a top-of-the-line electric bicycle with a massive 800 watt electric motor, front and rear Fox Talas RLC suspension and carbon fiber hydraulic disk brakes, and a space-age frame. Climbing up hills is an absolute breeze with the powerful electric motor. Expect a 30 mile range with the stock battery, which can be doubled to 60 miles with an optional battery pack.

Optibike allows you to fully customize your e-bike when you purchase it. This bike definitely has a high-end price to go with it’s features - expect to spend upwards of $8,995 for yours.

Ultra Motors’ A2B

Ultra Motor’s A2B

The A2B electric bicycle was designed as a commuter’s e-bike - thus the name, because it gets you from point A to point B, and does it in style. This futuristic-looking electric bicycle packs some performance technology.

The A2B sports a proprietary 500 Watt (2/3 Horsepower) motor, which is more than adequate to let you cruise along at 20 mph with minimal to no pedaling. This bikes hardware specs include a Shimano Alivio derailleur, Hayes disc brakes and full suspension with an aluminum frame.

The battery on the A2B will provide you with about 20 miles range, and takes about three to five hours to recharge. The A2B retails for about $2,500 and you can find a dealer here.

Schwinn Transit

Schwinn Transit Electric Bicycles

Schwinn’s Transit e-bikes pack a great combination of quality, innovation, and affordability. At a retail price of between $1500 to $2000, Schwinn’s e-bikes are definitely the most affordable on this list. But the relatively inexpensive price doesn’t mean these bikes are light on innovation. These e-bikes have their electric motors and batteries integrated seamlessly into their design, like some of the more expensive e-bikes available.

Schwinn claims that the hi-tech patent-pending lithium polymer battery included with these bikes is the lightest and most durable on the market. One battery charge will last you between 40-60 miles. The battery also charges faster than those found on most electric bikes - you can fully charge it in about four hours. The batteries are detachable, so there are no wires on the bike itself. The bikes use a 250 Watt electric front hub motor controlled by a throttle on the handlebar which can propel the bike up to 18 mph without pedaling.

E+ Cruiser by EMS

E+ Cruiser By Electric Motion Systems

The E+ Cruiser by Electric Motion Systems is simply one of the best electric bicycles available on the market today. EMS spared nothing in building this e-bike. The E+ is available with motors from 750 Watts to a whopping 1000 Watts, which will have you going 30 mph with practically no effort. With no pedaling on your part, the E+ can easily has a twenty mile range on a single charge of its 36 volt nickel metal hydride pack, which is uniquely mounted in the front hub.

The E+ also includes some high-end features not found on other electric bicycles. The E+ supports regenerative braking, which helps recharge the batteries everytime the rider uses the brakes. The E+ also includes a motion-sensitive alarm system, which makes it very difficult for someone to walk off with your bike. other goodies such as a handlebar-mounted LCD display which shows speed, distance traversed, battery level and whether or not cruise control is enabled are included. Oh yeah - this e-bike has cruise control.

The E+ can be purchased from the EMS website for $3,495.

The Green Car Company in Seattle will auction its first 2009-model converted Plug-in Prius on eBay and donate the proceeds of the profit to Plug In America, the nation’s leading advocacy organization for plug-in vehicles. These Plug-in Prius hybrids feature the crash-tested A123 Hymotion Li-on battery pack installed by Hymotion CHIP-certified technicians.

This means Toyota’s standard factory warranty remains in place along with a 3-year unlimited-mile warranty covering the added battery pack. These Plug-in Prius hybrids can travel up to 40 miles in pure electric mode, satisfying the daily driving needs of most Americans, whereas a regular Prius kicks into gas mode after only a few miles.

The auction starts today and runs through November 9th, the last day of the Seattle Auto Show, where the car will be on display. Here’s your chance to get in front of the line and avoid the 150 person waiting list!

The auction webpage

PIA plans to use the proceeds from this auction to target the new U.S. President’s “first 100 days” to ensure that electric vehicles are included in any new stimulus package or automotive bail-out package. Since both major candidates agree on the importance of energy independence and renewables, we are certain to see a “green” stimulus package addressing clean-tech infrastructure projects and jobs involving renewable energy. We need to make sure that electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure projects end up front and center! We need to make sure that any bail-out monies to the auto industry include requirements for them to make more electric vehicles and accelerate any current plans to put EVs on the road!

About Plug In America:
Plug In America drives change. Our mission is to accelerate the shift to plug-in electric vehicles powered by clean, affordable, domestic electricity. Our goal is to reduce our nation’s dependence on petroleum and improve the global environment. For more information on this and other matters please email info@pluginamerica.org

Zero Emission Motors’ Volt electric scooter

If you’re looking for an inexpensive electric scooter tailor-made for city driving, then the new Volt electric scooter from Zero Emission Motors might be just the ticket for you. The new Volt electric scooter (named just like the newly-announced electric car, but unlike the car, available today) is a new electric scooter just released by our friends over at Zero Emission Motors - we got the opportunity to meet Adam Maoz, president of the company, a couple of weeks back at the Kick Gas festival in San Diego, and got to see the Volt in person.

The Volt electric scooter is a mid-range electric scooter that straddles the gap between low-power electric scooters (< 1000W) and higher-power, freeway-legal scooters such as the Vectrix.

The Volt electric scooter is driven by a 1500 watt / 48 Volt motor and can propel you at speeds up to 30 mph for up to 30 miles per charge. We like the 1500 Watt motor because it provides enough power to get you up hills without slowing down too much, and will also provide good acceleration when you need it.

Details on the Volt electric scooter

The Volt electric scooter features all the trimmings you would expect from a scooter in this range - mirrors, headlights, taillights, blinkers and brake lights, keyed start, a horn, and an under-seat storage compartment and glove box. An odometer is included to let you know how far you’ve traveled, and a speedometer is also provided. A battery indicator is also provided to let you know how much charge you have left. The battery pack is lead-acid, and takes about 8 hours or so to fully charge using the included battery charger, which you can plug in to any wall outlet. It costs about $0.10 for a full charge, which means $10 of electricity will get you about 3000 miles worth of travel. Try that with gasoline.

The Volt is capable of seating up to two people at a time - its weight limit is 500 lbs. And at $1,495 plus $150 shipping, we think this e-scooter gives a you lot for the price. The Volt electric scooter is available today from Zero Emission Motors.

A couple of weeks ago, we reported on the Kick Gas Festival in San Diego - the place to go to meet EV and gas motor heads. One of the folks we met at the event was Todd Kollin, owner of Electric Motorsport, of Oakland, CA. Electric Motorsport has been a well-respected motorsports part shop for many years, and they are now getting into a whole new game - electric motorcycles.

Electric Motorsport has recently announced the release of their GPR-S electric motorcycle. Todd says the GPR-S is the “first street and freeway-legal electric motorcycle available in the USA”. The electric GPR-S looks exactly like a gas sport bike, except for two distinct differences - no gas cap, and a visible electric motor that slightly protrudes from one side of the unit.

Todd Kollin from Electric Motorsport with his GPR-S electric motorcycle.		Another shot of the GPR-S electric motorcycle.

The GPR-S electric motorcycle costs $8,000. The permanent DC motor in the GPR-S can pump out about 19-horsepower, and the GPR-S has a top speed of about 70 miles per hour with a range of up to 60 miles. The electric GPR-S weighs a total of 285 lbs, with 90 lbs of that being the vehicles Li-Ion battery. The battery pack itself takes about 4 hours to recharge with the included stock charger. A high speed charger option is available, which cuts the charge time down to about 1.5 hours.

Since the electric GPR-S is based on a modular design, with batteries, motors, and controllers all designed to be interchangeable, the electric GPR-S platform should last well past the technological lifetime of any one component. And, if past performance is any indication, we’ll be seeing a lot more innovation on the GPR-S from Electric Motorsport, a company which has already stood the test of time in the motorsports industry.

This Post via Electric Motorsport

Everybody loves the idea of electric cars. Renewable, rechargeable, no emissions, silent… but is silent safe? After all, as pedestrians, we rely on our sense of hearing as much as our sight to detect oncoming traffic when we’re out and about.

Many people have postulated that as electric vehicles become more mainstream, it is possible that the silent nature of the vehicles might cause increased traffic accidents because no one can hear them coming. In fact, the National Federation for the Blind is strongly backing a proposal to add some kind of warning noise to hybrid and electric vehicles for just this reason.

Well, a group of Stanford students think they might have an answer - fake engine noise pumped out by directional speakers, in order to alert other drivers and pedestrians to the oncoming vehicle. From the press release:

“The sound system Meyer and his team developed for super-quiet cars, including the Toyota Prius, uses miniature, all-weather audio speakers installed in the car’s wheel wells that are activated when the vehicle shifts into silent mode. The system cuts off when the car’s gasoline engine is running or when the vehicle’s speed reaches about 25 mph when tire and wind noise typically make it detectable.”

Personally, we would love to see the car engine sounds be modular, so that people can choose whether to sound like a Porsche, or Mustang… or even a Star Wars Pod racer or TIE Fighter. We’ve got programmable ring tones, why not programmable ‘car tones’?

You can see a video of the student’s work below, and you can hear the sound here. For the Stanford press release, click here.

This Post Via Stanford University and New Scientist