Stories tagged electric cars

Aptera Typ-1 electric vehicle
Courtesy Aptera Motors, Inc. Aptera Motors, Inc. is now taking reservations (California only) for either its 300 mpg hybrid or its all electric vehicles. The electric version of the Aptera typ-1 is slated for delivery in 2008 with the hybrid model to follow. The all-electric model has a range of 120 miles. The plug-in series hybrid has achieved more than 300 miles per gallon with a range of more than 600 miles.

The Aptera Typ-1 is loaded with safety features.

• Driver and passenger side airbags
• Energy absorbing and impact deflecting passenger safety cell
• Advanced drive computer with GPS navigation, CD/MP3/DVD player, XM
• Large rear view camera and complete vehicle diagnostic system
• LED interior and exterior lighting for maximum energy efficiency
• An RFID (Radio Frequency ID) ? an automatic identification method so a driver never has to pull out their keys to enter or start their Aptera
• USB port for powering a laptop or charging an MP3 player and other mobile devices

Aptera videos are on You Tube

Click this to see more Aptera electric vehicle You Tube videos.

Sources: Jalopnik.com/cars and Aptera.com/details

Tags : California, electric cars, Aptera, hybrid, automotive, EV, Aptera typ-1

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We couldn’t get the rights to a photo of a nano-ultra-capacitor, so here’s a picture of some cute baby ducks.: Photo by Mattay from Flickr.com

Many devices need to use stored energy. The most common storage devices are batteries and capacitors.

Batteries produce energy through chemical reactions in their mass, and release it at a slow and steady rate. Batteries can store a lot of energy, but they’re difficult to recharge.

Capacitors store energy on their surface, release it all in a burst, and then can be easily recharged. Many devices use capacitors – cellphones, computer memory, even some trucks and buses. But the amount of energy capacitors can store is limited – only one-millionth the power in a battery of the same size.

But perhaps not for long. A team of researchers at MIT is using nanotechnology to improve the storage capacity of capacitors. Working with materials just a few atoms thick, they can build very complicated shapes with lots of surface area to hold electrical charge. Test show these devices can hold up to 50% of the energy a battery holds, and yet still maintain the advantages of quick release and easy recharge. The researchers predict this next generation of capacitors could someday help power electric cars or store energy from renewable sources.

Tags : energy, nanotechnology, batteries, capacitors, cars, ultracapactiros, electric cars

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