RoboScooters functional equivalents are 50cc gasoline-powered scooters and can be recharged in their racks. The scooters win the buckminister fuller challenge.






above: the zero emission nope 1500L has a 1500 watt/1.5kWh/48V motor powered by a silicon sealed lead acid battery. recharge time is 6-8 hrs and costs only 20-25 cents per full charge.

Resources:
x-box
koala
scoota
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above: hackett and prelgauskas are driving hackett’s red 2008 roadster as part of the 10th annual global green challenge, one of the most high-profile rallies worldwide for production, prototype and experimental cars. Hackett is providing updates in real time on his blog.

The pair drove from alice springs, in the australian northern territory, to the finish marker at a point 183 km north of coober pedy, in south australia.





above: motor sport manager from the south australian motor sport board, jeffmattner,
applies a seal to the Roadster’s “fuel tank”.





above: simon hackett, as he sets off to break the world distance record for a production electric vehicle





above: simon and emilis making history with 313 (501 KM) miles on single charge





above: internode’s favorite road marker on the entire stuart highway

Producer: tesla motors

source: treehugger

The taxi is composed of two main parts – an undercarriage and a cabin. The car is driven by two electric motors which are integrated into the rear wheels. There’s optical sensors around all the undercarriage to get maximum view for driving, navigation and control. While the concept looks futuristic, industrial designer Kubik Petr believes it’s going to happen sooner than we think with the modern technology at hand.

Designer: Kubik Petr

via ecofriend

LeftlaneNews adds “Although the Model S’ styling is show-stopping, its interior is just as awe-inspiring. You can clearly see the Model S’ center stack is made up of what looks to be a touch screen interface. Presumably the screen will house all radio, navigation and HVAC controls, which would make for a highly customizable car.”

Elon Musk’s newsletter written 3/27, to Jason Calacanis—
Just moments ago, we took the wraps off the Model S, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge. We also launched a web site and began taking orders for this historic vehicle, which will likely be world’s first mass-produced, highway-capable EV.

The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.

The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.

“Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility — it’s truly the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.”

Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California from the Dept of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.

Building on Proven Technology

Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the waitlist.

Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving (and breakable) parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify for federal and state tax credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking, commuter-lane passes and other perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles – a bargain even if gasoline were $1 per gallon.

The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. The company has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.

But the anticipated sticker price doesn’t tell the full story. Model S costs half as much as a Roadster, and it’s a better value than much cheaper cars. The ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000. That’s why we’re positive this car will be the preferred choice of savvy consumers.

The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless acceleration and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.

Tesla is taking reservations online and at showrooms in California. Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.

We’re certain you’ll be hearing a lot more about Tesla in the weeks and months ahead, and we look forward to seeing you at the stores we’re opening soon! [link]

below: jason calacanis parks his tesla at free electric parking at LAX ( more )

[tesla motors] [leftlanenews] [link] [link]

above: bike and story seen in ID magazine march / april 2009
#1 Yamaha PAS City-C/Plusminuszero $2,194 / PAS City-C $1,131
FRAME: STEEL / GEARS: 3 / MOTOR: 240 WATTS / RANGE: 40 MILES / WEIGHT: 44.7LB



#2 Bridgestone RealStream $1,366
FRAME: ALUMINUM / GEARS: 8 / MOTOR: 240 WATTS / RANGE: 38 MILES / WEIGHT: 49LB



#3 Kalkhoff Pro Connect S $3,038
FRAME: DOUBLE BUTTED 7005 ALUMINUM / GEARS: 27 / MOTOR: 250 WATTS / RANGE: 50 MILES / WEIGHT: 55LB



vBridgestone Angelino Assista $1,312
FRAME: ALUMINUM / GEARS: 3 / MOTOR: 240 WATTS / RANGE: 37 MILES / WEIGHT: 66.5LB



#5 Panasonic Lithium ViVi RX-10S $1,642
FRAME: STEEL / GEARS: 1 / MOTOR: 250 WATTS / RANGE: 112 MILES / WEIGHT: 56LB

#6 Panasonic Titanium Flat Road EB $6,405
FRAME: TITANIUM / GEARS: 9 / MOTOR: 250 WATTS / RANGE: 94 MILES / WEIGHT: 34LB

#7 Giant Twist Freedom DX $2,100
FRAME: 6061 ALUMINUM / GEARS: 7 / MOTOR: 250 WATTS / RANGE: 75 MILES / WEIGHT: 61LB

#8 E-Solex Version 2.0 $2,111
FRAME: STEEL / GEARS: 1 / MOTOR: 400 WATTS / RANGE: 25 MILES / WEIGHT: 99LB

vPi Mobility From $5,500
FRAME: 6061 T6 ALUMINUM / GEARS: 8 / MOTOR: 750 WATTS / RANGE: 50 MILES / WEIGHT: 50LB

#10 Ultra Motor A2B $2,699
FRAME: 6061-GRADE ALUMINUM / GEARS: 7 / MOTOR: 500 WATTS / RANGE: 40 MILES / WEIGHT: 73LB

#11 Schwinn Tailwind $2,999
FRAME: 6000 SERIES ALUMINUM / GEARS: 8 / MOTOR: 250 WATTS / RANGE: 25 MILES

e-Bikes are big with the elderly, eco-friendly, and commuters who disdain sweat. Favored by the elderly may explain the design of the majority of these bikes. Favored by “everyone” else we assume is bike #9. Maybe it’s because the bike was designed by a designer, Marcus Hays, to please himself. You get what you pay for with this group. Light weight, power, styling adds to the bottom line cost.

[MORE INFO]

above: The Karma S — for Sunset — concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show shares its gas-electric drivetrain with the Karma sedan but wraps it in an even sleeker two-door body that could see production within two years.

above: A rooftop solar panel on the sedan comprised of 80 cells divided into four zones. Output is 130 watts, and it helps charge the battery and, when the car is parked, keep the interior cool.

“The Karma’s material philosophy balances sensuality and accountability,” Fisker says. “We have gone to great lengths to use only environmentally conscious, classic automotive materials that support a commitment to our eco initiatives.”

Under the skin, the 4-door and 2-door cars use the same gas-electric drivetrain, which Fisker calls Q-Drive, developed with help from Quantum Technologies. The Karma will work much like the Chevrolet Volt, delivering 50 miles of all-electric range before the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine kicks in to drive a generator that will recharge the 22.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and provide juice to keep the car moving. A rooftop solar panel on the sedan comprised of 80 cells divided into four zones. Output is 130 watts, and it helps charge the battery and, when the car is parked, keep the interior cool. Toyota’s got something similar on the 2010 Prius it unveiled a few hours before the Karma S broke cover.

Beneath the car’s aluminum-and-composite body lies an aluminum spaceframe chassis that cradles two electric motors that together produce 300 kW (408 horsepower) and a stunning 959 foot-pounds of torque. Fisker claims the sedan, which weighs 4,650 pounds, will do zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds. Top speed is limited to 125 mph.

Although the Karma’s electric drivetrain is a proprietary system designed in conjunction with Quantum Technologies, the engine, air-conditioning system, steering column and other “bits and baubles” were pulled from the GM parts bin, says Fisker spokesman Russell Datz.

Fisker may be getting help from GM, but, like Tesla Motors, he’s bringing a new business model to the auto industry.

His company isn’t financed by stockholders or government loans, but by venture capitalists, including the powerhouse firm of Kleiner, Perkins Caufield & Byers. It is outsourcing much of the work to top-tier suppliers like Edag Engineering and Magna Intier, and the cars will be assembled by Valmet, the Finnish firm that builds cars for Porsche. Fisker Automotive bought a big share of Advanced Lithium Power, so it’s got a battery supplier lined up.

Still, Fisker still has to get its car certified by the feds — an arduous task that some industry insiders doubt it will complete before the end of the year, particularly since we haven’t seen running cars. It also has to establish a dealer network, but Fisker says 40 dealers will be up-and-running by year’s end. Some seasoned industry watchers say Fisker undoubtedly will get his cars built, but they aren’t betting he’ll do it by the end of the year.

The convertible added just 15 percent to the cost of building the sedan, which carries a retail price starting at $87,900. Another $18,599 gets you the “Eco-Chic” model, which has an interior free of all animal products, with woodwork made from submerged logs (no clearcutting required).

Fisker says he’s received orders for 1,300 vehicles, and he tells The New York Times his company would turn a profit if it sold 4,000 cars annually. The goal, he says, is to sell 15,000 worldwide each year.

Specification:
All electric with range extender (Q-Drive)
Dual mode option: power mode and stealth mode
0-60: under 6 seconds
Top speed: 125 mph
4-door
22 inch wheels

Producer: Karma by Fiskar