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Author Topic: Electric Vehicles  (Read 59474 times)

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AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #15 on: December 17, 2013, 02:12:19 pm »

Electric Car Leader Accepts California’s Highest Honor


Paul Scott
 
Paul Scott is one of the standout leaders in the EV revolution. He is the co-founder of the highly regarded organization Plug In America, and he has done a tremendous job hitting the ground to an even greater degree and selling Nissan Leafs at the Nissan of Downtown Los Angeles dealership.

Last week, Paul accepted a 2013 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) from the state of California on behalf of the LA Nissan dealership. The dealership was one of 13 winners for this prestigious environmental award.

I think the director of “Who Killed the Electric Car?” and “Revenge of the Electric Car” summarizes the general consensus on Paul quite well:

“Paul is one of the most dedicated activists and educators I have ever met for both electric cars and solar,” said Chris Paine, said. “He knows the issues, he’s passionate and takes personal risks, he puts his money where his mouth is, he’s tireless even when exhausted, and he walks the walk. He truly is one of California’s finest assets and I’ve met a lot of people in my 20 years here. He not only believes, he’s making it happen.”

The press release adds more noteworthy comments on Scott and the associations he is a critical part of: “A founding board member of Plug In America, the nonprofit organization widely credited as critically instrumental in bringing EVs back into auto showrooms, Scott helped bring about installation at Nissan of Downtown L.A. of one of the area’s first EV quick chargers, which LEAF and other EV drivers may use for free around the clock. He helped organize several EV ride-and-drives at large local corporations, and trains the dealership’s staff—which boasts one of the nation’s highest LEAF ownership rates—about the environmental, economic and national security benefits of EVs outlined in the documentary about his ill-fated lunch with President Barack Obama.”

Nissan of Downtown LA is apparently planning to install a large solar carport for charging its EVs. No doubt, Scott was a critical part of that move. As he says, the dealership can now sell all of its EVs on a “full tank of sunshine.”

You can find more details about the honor and more comments from Paul in the Plug In America press release.

Hear Paul and another noted EV advocate, Nicolas Zart, talk about EVs and autonomous cars in this recent interview at National Plug In Day 2013 in Los Angeles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHEsLynSuFA&feature=player_embedded


Read more about or from Paul Scott on our Paul Scott channel. Keep up with all the hottest EV news here on CleanTechnica, and subscribe to our free EV newsletter if you like getting your news in your inbox.

Btw, here’s another special treat from the PR person who sent me the above press release. Enjoy!

Image Credit: Nissan


http://cleantechnica.com/2013/12/17/electric-car-leader-accepts-californias-highest-honor/#5t9q4r4LO1jSCxBE.99

Agelbert NOTE:That Nissan Nitmo has the same Leaf drive train but weighs only 2,000 lbs versus 3,400 for the production Leaf. The Nitmo can turn 90 DEGREES at 50 MPH!

For the fossil fuelers that question my "parabolic to exponential" projection of Renewable Energy growth to 2035, listen to Paul provide a (just one tiny part of my projection research) RELEVANT DATA CLUE for you -   Attending crowd growth at the annual event in the video.      


He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Are Electric Vehicles Already Halfway to Market Dominance?  ;D

 Tam Hunt, Contributor 
 December 16, 2013

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/12/are-electric-vehicles-already-halfway-to-market-dominance
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2014, 03:27:26 pm »
Green Machines


Trucks Alternative Power Hybrid Electric
 
Reposition Your Fleet

You stop. You go. You generate power along the way. You save fuel. Freightliner Trucks’ Business Class® M2 106 diesel-electric hybrid trucks are a perfect solution for stop-and-go and high-idling vocational operations. Whether using the hybrid system’s electric motor to launch the vehicle or its electronic power take-off (ePTO) capability, you’re adding green to your bottom line, while going green through reduced fuel consumption.


Day Cab: Hybrid
 
Specs

GVW up to 55,000 lbs
 
Horsepower 200 to 325 HP

Torque 520 to 750 lb/ft


When you invest in our M2 106 Hybrid trucks, you not only benefit from the powerful combination of product knowledge, resources and service/support systems—you're also backed by the advanced technological expertise of Daimler Trucks North America, LLC and global parent company, Daimler AG. Daimler is shaping future transportation through hybrid electric truck initiatives focused on providing greater fuel economy and lower emissions.

The Performance You Need


Powered by the Cummins ISB 6.7 liter engine with a variety of horsepower/torque ratings up to 325 hp/750 ft lb torque, the M2 106 Hybrid comes with the Eaton parallel-electric hybrid system. This system features a 6-speed UltraShift transmission, coupled with an electric motor that provides up to an additional 60 hp and 310 ft lb torque at peak.

The M2 106 Hybrid with the Eaton® parallel-electric hybrid system is a proven business tool that positions your company as an industry and environmental leader.



Standard Advantages—and then Some


Available in truck and tractor configurations, Freightliner M2 106 Hybrid trucks not only give you the standard advantages of the Business Class M2 106 like superior maneuverability, visibility, and body builder friendliness, but also a business solution that reduces fuel consumption and adds to your bottom line.

This versatile, hardworking hybrid electric truck is perfect for:
High stop-and-go applications including pick-up and delivery and food and beverage
Vocational applications such as dump, HAZMAT, utility and towing

Reduce Idling Time


Optional electronic power take off (ePTO) capability makes M2 106 Hybrid trucks ideal for high-idling applications such as utility and tree trimming. Idle time is reduced up to 87% and fuel consumption up to 60% in ePTO mode.

Add the optional 5 kW auxiliary power generation (APG) unit and realize additional savings. The APG unit provides AC power for lights, tools or refrigeration units using only the power stored in the lithium ion batteries.

How Do Hybrid Electric Trucks Work?


1.The Eaton parallel-electric hybrid system enables these electric trucks to operate using the diesel engine alone, or in combination with the hybrid-electric motor.

2.The hybrid system’s electric motor provides additional power (up to 60 hp) to launch the vehicle, improving fuel economy in stop-and-go operations.



3.The hybrid system’s lithium-ion batteries are recharged through a process called regenerative braking. During braking, the hybrid electric trucks’ kinetic energy is captured and regenerated to charge the hybrid battery. Regenerative braking captures up to 44kW (or 60hp), power that normally is absorbed by the foundation brakes and lost as heat.


4.The all new engine-off-at-stop feature provides up to 8% additional fuel savings. When the service brake is applied, at a stop light for example, the engine turns off. When the service brake is released, the engine restarts.




 


https://www.freightlinertrucks.com/Trucks/Alternative-Power-Trucks/Hybrid-Electric/

NOW THEN, if we could (and believe me, we CAN!)  run these babies on BIODIESEL, that would be THAT for fossil fuels, now wouldn't it?                
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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SunPower and Ford Team on Gridless EV
« Reply #19 on: January 04, 2014, 01:47:41 pm »

SunPower and Ford Team on Gridless EV


01/06/2014 

 Clean Edge News

Ford Motor Company has announced the C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which it says is the first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle.

Instead of powering its battery from an electrical outlet, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept harnesses the power of the sun by using a special concentrator that acts like a magnifying glass, directing intense rays to solar panels on the vehicle roof.

The result is a concept vehicle that takes a day’s worth of sunlight to deliver the same performance as the conventional C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which draws its power from the electric grid. Ford C-MAX Energi gets a combined best miles per gallon equivalent in its class, with EPA-estimated 108 MPGe city and 92 MPGe highway, for a combined 100 MPGe. By using renewable power, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions a typical owner would produce by four metric tons.

C-MAX Solar Energi Concept, which will be shown at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas, is a collaborative project of Ford, San Jose, Calif.-based SunPower Corp. and Atlanta-based Georgia Institute of Technology.
 

The C-MAX Solar Energi Concept debuts as Ford caps a record year of electrified vehicle sales.


Ford expects to sell 85,000 hybrids, plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles for 2013 – the first full year its six new electrified vehicles were available in dealer showrooms.

C-MAX Energi is Ford’s plug-in sales leader, with sales of more than 6,300 through November. Ford sold more plug-in vehicles in October and November than both Toyota and Tesla, and it outsold Toyota through the first 11 months of 2013. Plug-in hybrids continue to grow in sales as more customers discover the benefits of using electricity to extend their driving range.

C-MAX Hybrid over the last year has been a key driver in helping Ford sell more hybrids than any other automaker in the United States, second only to Toyota. C-MAX Hybrid continues to bring new customers to the Ford brand, with a conquest rate of 64 percent and drawing nearly half of its sales from import brands. Conquest rates are even higher in key hybrid growth markets like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Breakthrough Clean Technology

SunPower, which has been Ford’s solar technology partner since 2011, is providing high-efficiency solar cells for the roof of Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept. Because of the extended time it takes to absorb enough energy to fully charge the vehicle, Ford turned to Georgia Institute of Technology for a way to amplify the sunlight in order to make a solar-powered hybrid feasible for daily use.

Researchers developed an off-vehicle solar concentrator that uses a special Fresnel lens to direct sunlight to the solar cells while boosting the impact of the sunlight by a factor of eight. Fresnel is a compact lens originally developed for use in lighthouses. Similar in concept to a magnifying glass, the patent-pending system tracks the sun as it moves from east to west, drawing enough power from the sun through the concentrator each day to equal a four-hour battery charge (8 kilowatts).


With a full charge, Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is estimated to have the same total range as a conventional C-MAX Energi of up to 620 miles, including up to 21 electric-only miles. Additionally, the vehicle still has a charge port, and can be charged by connecting to a charging station via cord and plug so that drivers retain the option to power up via the grid, if desired.

After C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is shown at CES, Ford and Georgia Tech will begin testing the vehicle in numerous real-world scenarios. The outcome of those tests will help to determine if the concept is feasible as a production car.
 

Off-the-Grid Car


By tapping renewable solar energy with a rooftop solar panel system, C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is not dependent on the traditional electric grid for its battery power. Internal Ford data suggest the sun could power up to 75 percent of all trips made by an average driver in a solar hybrid vehicle. This could be especially important in places where the electric grid is underdeveloped, unreliable or expensive to use.

The vehicle also reinforces MyEnergi Lifestyle, a concept revealed by Ford and several partners at 2013 CES. MyEnergi Lifestyle uses math, science and computer modeling to help homeowners understand how they can take advantage of energy-efficient home appliances, solar power systems and plug-in hybrid vehicles to significantly reduce monthly expenses while also reducing their overall carbon footprint.

The positive environmental impact from Ford C-MAX Solar Energi could be significant. It would reduce yearly CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions from the average U.S. car owner by as much as four metric tons – the equivalent of what a U.S. house produces in four months.

If all light-duty vehicles in the United States were to adopt Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept technology, annual greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by approximately 1 billion metric tons.

http://www.cleanedge.com/Resources/news/SunPower-and-Ford-Team-on-Gridless-EV
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #20 on: January 21, 2014, 03:34:04 pm »
Nissan LEAF Global Sales Reach 100,000 



01/22/2014 

 Clean Edge News


The 100,000th all-electric Nissan LEAF has been purchased by a customer in the United Kingdom. The Nissan LEAF, the world's first mass-produced zero emissions vehicle, remains the best-selling EV in history with a 45% market share, according to a Nissan press release.

Since its launch in December 2010 Nissan has seen the pace of sales increase consistently and 2013 was a record year. The LEAF is now available to customers in 35 countries on four continents. In Norway, the Nissan LEAF topped sales charts, out-selling conventional gasoline powered vehicles in October 2013.


Nissan's research into on-board lithium-ion battery technology began in 1992. The Nissan LEAF offers powerful acceleration, quiet operation, energy efficiency and low cost of maintenance. Nissan has extended the standard warranty for the battery-power holding capacity with its own additional warranty.

After leading the era of electrification in passenger vehicles with the LEAF, Nissan will in 2014 bring an all-electric light commercial vehicle to market.    The e-NV200 will go on sale in Europe and Japan bringing the benefits of quiet, cost-efficient, zero-emissions mobility to businesses.







NISSAN NV200

In June 2014, Nissan will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the NISSAN ZEOD RC and aims to set a record for the fastest all-electric, zero-emissions lap of the circuit. Nissan is committed to using the EV platform to break new ground in both the commercial-vehicle and motorsports arenas.



NISSAN ZEOD RC

http://www.cleanedge.com/Resources/news/Nissan-LEAF-Global-Sales-Reach-100,000
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #21 on: January 22, 2014, 07:58:42 pm »


DIY Stretchla Project – Tesla Model S to Underpin Stretched Volkswagen Vanagon Body – Battery Evaluation and Removal

 by Eric Loveday

Remember when we first reported on Stretchla, the ambitious DIY project that involves stripping a salvaged Tesla Model S down to its chassis and drivetrain and then slipping that under a stretched Volkswagen Vanagon?

Well, if you missed our initial post on the subject, then we suggest you click here to get caught up.

Strechla is spearheaded by a man named of Otmar.

Since we first presented the story, there have been a few updates.

First, the Tesla Model S arrived:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwr4WuAobAE&feature=player_embedded

The next step in the process was ensuring that the Model S performed as intended.  This step proved to be a time consuming one since much was unknown as to what occured after the donor Model S was wrecked.

As Otmar explains:

Quote

“Before I start dismantling the Tesla and transferring parts to the Stretched Vanagon, I want to insure that all the Model S systems are working correctly. The condition of the battery, being the most expensive component in the car, has been of great concern to me. I wasn’t expecting much difficulty in getting it to wake up, charge and drive but things are often not as I expect.

The Tesla is very new, and so far there is precious little public diagnostic information. The simple fact that a pyrotechnic disconnect on the 12V battery controls power to the contactors for the main traction pack was unknown to me, though in retrospect it makes perfect sense.

I do appreciate the fact that doing things the hard way often entails more learning, and I’m certainly learning many obscure details about the Model S!  ;D  It’s a good thing I enjoy learning about this sort of thing.”  ;)

This latest update on the Stretchla project is detailed entirely in the video posted below.  Ever wonder what’s involved in removing the Model S battery pack?   ??? Otmar has the answer, but you’ll have to check out the video to find out:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3sdTS2kiWg&feature=player_embedded
Cafe Electric Strecthla Blog

http://insideevs.com/video-update-diy-stretchla-project-tesla-model-s-to-underpin-stretched-volkswagen-vanagon-body-battery-evaluation-and-removal/
 
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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BYD’s Electric Buses Can Go 30 Hours On Single Charge
« Reply #23 on: February 24, 2014, 03:56:52 pm »
BYD’s Electric Buses Can Go 30 Hours On Single Charge



BYD bus

BYD’s electric buses can run for an impressive 30 or so hours straight in between charges, based on the results of a pilot test performed in New York City last year during the months of August–October. Charging to full capacity took, roughly, 3–4 hours, and was completed at night.

According to SAE International (the Society of Automotive Engineers), one of BYD’s buses was used on a number of different routes in Manhattan during that span of time, and ran for a total of 1,481 miles. The pilot test proved that the electric bus could indeed approach the 155-mile-range advertised by BYD.



Here’s some more info from SAE:

After two months, the electric bus’s average battery duration was 0.3 h per % SOC, or 30 h of operation per full charge. An advantage of electric buses, compared to diesel bus technology, is that they do not idle when in heavy or stopped traffic, thus conserving “fuel” and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Another advantage is that because BYD buses do not have an internal-combustion engine or transmission, along with other conventional components, maintenance costs (and labor) can be reduced “significantly,” according to the company. Regenerative braking also reduces normal brake-pad wear and maintenance.

BYD and MTA claim that the expected operating-cost-per-mile of an electric bus is about $0.20 to $0.30, compared to $1.30 per mile for an equivalent diesel- or natural-gas-powered bus in New York.

In related news, Daimler-BYD’s first Denza electric car is nearing its release date — the model is expected to be released in China sometime towards the middle of the year. Recent reports have revealed that the EV will be DV quick-charge compatible.

Keep up to date with all the hottest electrified vehicle news here on CleanTechnica. Subscribe to our free EV newsletter or overall cleantech newsletter to never miss a story.

Image Credit: BYD

Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2014/02/24/byds-ev-buses-can-go-30-hours-single-charge/#FBVgokZfTVsuDjLx.99
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Tesla Motors Inc. Is Leaving Big Energy in the Dust
« Reply #25 on: April 11, 2014, 08:04:48 pm »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX90oDuwhPk&feature=player_embedded

Tesla Motors Inc. Is Leaving Big Energy in the Dust 

(GRAPHICS AT LINK)  ;D

By Justin Loiseau
April 11, 2014

 Tesla Motors  (NASDAQ: TSLA  )  is taking the automotive industry by storm -- but that's not all. Some of the largest energy corporations around are kicking themselves for not investing earlier in one of the electric-vehicle maker's smartest moves. Here's what you need to know.

If you build it, they will come


Tesla Motors, is building more than cars -- it's building a support system to overthrow the entire way we conceive of getting from Point A to Point B. The key: electric-vehicle charging stations. Tesla Motors knows it's up against a century-old status quo of gas guzzlers, so the company is doing everything in its power to ease consumers' switching costs.

While technological improvements are enabling Tesla drivers to go further on faster charges, the company's massive network of Supercharger stations is what truly sets it apart, and what energy companies wish they'd cashed in on earlier.

At what is dubbed "the fastest charging station on the planet," Tesla owners can charge their vehicles at more than 10 times the rate of public charging stations. With 84 stations open across the nation, Tesla drivers can now make a full American road trip without needing a single drop of gas. Just check out the video below for proof.

 

It's all about infrastructure

In a recent survey, 527 utility professionals offered surprising thoughts on Tesla's major infrastructure advances. Only 17% of those surveyed said there isn't an opportunity for utilities to deploy electric-vehicle charging stations, while 46% said they utilities are missing out on the opportunity. It's not hard to understand why. Here's a map of Tesla Motors' 84 current stations:



But by the end of 2015, the United States of America is going to look more spotted than a three-year-old with chickenpox. Ninety-eight percent of the entire U.S. population will be Tesla-able:


Perhaps the survey's most shocking number is the 37% of utility professionals who responded that "tilities are not and will not miss the [electric-vehicle charging station] opportunity." Unless energy companies have super-secret plans they're not telling anyone about, their current grand total of 147 stations doesn't come close to Tesla Motors' plans.

If you look at the geographic spread, it's easy to see that utility companies aren't concerned with nationwide access. While Tesla wants drivers across every state, energy companies are currently playing to their strengths. Sorry, Washington state, Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Tennessee, Maine, and many others -- utilities have yet to put a single station in your state

It takes two (hundred stations) to tango                                         


With more than 200 stations expected for 2015, Tesla Motors is gearing up for massive growth. And while utilities are collectively sitting on billions in cash, they're either bureaucratically unable or unwilling to go where this electric-vehicle maker is going. Ironically, Tesla seems less afraid of infrastructure investments than the corporations that lit up America -- and they're paying a pretty price in lost profit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ0HsN-tblo&feature=player_embedded

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/11/tesla-motors-inc-is-leaving-big-energy-in-the-dust.aspx


9 rock-solid dividend stocks you can buy today 

Dividend stocks can make you rich. It's as simple as that. While they don't garner the notoriety of high-flying growth stocks, they're also less likely to crash and burn. And over the long term, the compounding effect of the quarterly payouts, as well as their growth, adds up faster than most investors imagine. With this in mind, our analysts sat down to identify the absolute best of the best when it comes to rock-solid dividend stocks, drawing up a list in this free report of nine that fit the bill. To discover the identities of these companies before the rest of the market catches on, you can download this valuable free report by simply clicking here now.  :P


 
 

   

Justin Loiseau owns shares of Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool recommends Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of Tesla Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #26 on: April 24, 2014, 01:53:51 pm »
Norwegian Man With Seven Teslas Says Electric Cars Work Just Fine In Winter Weather  ;D

 By Richard Read  Richard Read 

Last year, the auto world watched Tesla CEO Elon Musk carry out a very public feud with New York Times writer John Broder, who'd published a damning story about his travels in a Tesla Model S. Musk claimed that negative publicity generated by the piece cost Tesla $100 million in revenue.

Among other things, Broder's article suggested that cold weather adversely affected the battery in the Model S, drastically reducing its driving range. (It's an issue that had been raised before.) But one Norwegian man wants to set the record straight.

That man is Jens Kratholm, an ophthalmologist who lives in the town of Narvik, some 136 miles north of the Arctic Circle. The average temperature there is 39 degrees Fahrenheit. If electric car batteries fare poorly in chilly temps, Narvik would be a bad place to own a Tesla.

And yet, Kratholm owns a Tesla Model S. He also owns six Tesla Roadsters.  :o Yes: six. According to a post on the Tesla Motors blog, Kratholm owns more Teslas than anyone else on Planet Earth.


He ordered his first Roadster sight-unseen from a dealership in Denmark -- much to the chagrin of his wife, Ellen Røsnes, who is a self-proclaimed car nut and longtime Mercedes-Benz fan. Røsnes chided Kratholm, saying "Are you crazy?  ??? This car doesn’t have an engine! It’s just a play car."

As you might've guessed, Røsnes was quickly hooked by the Roadster's handling, especially in icy conditions. The family's collection grew, until the couple had enough Teslas to share with their children when they came home for visits.

To Kratholm, Tesla's biggest selling point is its performance in cold weather:

"We found out that [the Tesla is] a super winter car,” says Jens. 'It’s so fantastic. It’s much easier and better than an ordinary car.' He likes that you can heat the Model S remotely via an app, so that there’s no ice or snow on the car when you’re ready to drive it. He also says the winter range is almost the same as the summer range. In December, he and Røsnes took the Model S to an ice hotel in Sweden, 200km from Narvik. The temperature dropped to -40 degrees Celsius. It was so cold that the trains couldn’t operate and the diesel in the buses froze. But the Model S was just fine."


OUR TAKE

Kratholm is the kind of superfan that CEOs dream about. He and his family are passionate about Tesla products, so it's not surprising that Tesla ran a post about them on its corporate blog.

That being said, it would be hard to imagine that the family's claims are fabricated, or that Kratholm would continue buying Teslas if they performed poorly in Narvik's harsh winter weather.

Bottom line: there's a lot more research to be done on electric car batteries, their strengths, and their shortcomings, particularly in extreme temps. At the very least, however, Kratholm's family show that Teslas are viable vehicles, even for folks living north of the Arctic Circle. At best, they suggest that Broder's reports     were either misguided
or inaccurate.   

Picture at link of
Jens Kratholm with two of his six Tesla Roadsters (via the Tesla Motors blog)

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1091687_norwegian-man-with-seven-teslas-says-electric-cars-work-just-fine-in-winter-weather

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #27 on: April 24, 2014, 04:00:17 pm »
Tesla Motors Has Friends At The FTC When It Comes To Direct Sales

by Jay Cole    


At link:
Internationally Tesla Run Into Few Problems With Their Direct Sales Model (such as at this company store in Toronto)

There is a war going on in the United States when it comes to automotive sales; specifically the ability to sell cars directly to the consumer.

And it seemingly goes like this: Tesla Motors VS every state’s auto dealers association.  Sometimes Tesla wins, sometimes they lose (such as recent defeats in Arizona, and ongoing difficulties in New Jersey).

Often when they lose, their CEO Elon Musk muses taking the fight to the federal level; although no such advancement on that front has yet been made.

Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) threw a little gas on that fire by aligning themselves on Tesla’s side of the fight by putting up a blog post entitled “Who decides how consumers should shop?”


“Dealers contend that it is important for regulators to prevent abuses of local dealers. This rationale appears unsupported, however, with respect to blanket prohibitions of direct sales by manufacturers. And, in any event, it has no relevance to companies like Tesla. It has never had any independent dealers and reportedly does not want them.

Regulators should differentiate between regulations that truly protect consumers and those that protect the regulated. We hope lawmakers will recognize efforts by auto dealers and others to bar new sources of competition for what they are—expressions of a lack of confidence in the competitive process that can only make consumers worse off.”

Check out the entire transcript of that post below – it’s a well thought out read!

Who decides how consumers should shop? 


(By: Andy Gavil, Debbie Feinstein, and Marty Gaynor)

Consumers once shopped predominantly at their local stores; but first mail order catalogs and today the Internet have created new ways to shop for and purchase a wide range of goods and services. Similarly, consumers once arranged for taxis by hailing one from a street corner or by calling a dispatcher; yet today, smartphones and new software applications are shaking up the transportation industry, creating new business opportunities and new services for consumers.

At link:
Tesla Model S Design Studio In China – Company Owned & Operated
 
In buying cars, however, these new ways to shop may not be available to consumers. For decades, local laws in many states have required consumers to purchase their cars solely from local, independent auto dealers. Removing these regulatory impediments may be essential to allow consumers access to new ways of shopping that have become available in many other industries.

This very question has been raised across the country, as a still-young car manufacturer, Tesla, pursues a direct-to-consumer sales strategy that does not rely on local, independent dealers.

In this case and others, many state and local regulators have eliminated the direct purchasing option for consumers, by taking steps to protect existing middlemen  from new competition.  We believe this is bad policy for a number of reasons.

American consumers and businesses benefit from a dynamic and diverse economy where new technologies and business models can and have disrupted stable and stagnant industries, often by responding to unmet or under-served consumer needs. When that occurs in an industry long subject to extensive regulation, existing businesses—like automobile dealers—often respond by urging legislators or regulators to restrict or even bar the new firms that threaten to shake up their market.

Out of 15 million cars sold in the U.S. in 2013, Tesla accounted for a little over 22,000. This hardly presents a serious competitive threat to established dealers. What it could represent is a real change to the way cars are sold that might allow Tesla to expand in the future and prove attractive to other manufacturers, whether established or new ones that have yet to emerge, and consumers. Efforts to litigate, legislate, and regulate to eliminate Tesla’s perceived threat have forced it to battle jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction for the simple right to sell its automobiles directly to consumers.

When the automobile industry was in its infancy, auto manufacturers recruited independent, locally owned dealers to reach consumers in localities across the country. State laws progressively embraced wide-ranging protections for these dealers due to a perceived imbalance of power between the typically small local dealers and major national manufacturers. Dealers persuaded lawmakers that they needed protections from abusive practices by manufacturers. Federal laws, too, developed to protect auto dealers from abuse.

At link:
London Tesla Store – Company Owned & Operated (via driving.co.uk)


These protections expanded until in many states they included outright bans on the sale of new cars by anyone other than a dealer—specifically, an auto manufacturer.
Instead of “protecting,” these state laws became “protectionist,” perpetuating one way of selling cars—the independent car dealer. Such blanket bans are an anomaly in the broader economy, where most manufacturers compete to respond to consumer needs by choosing from among direct sales to consumers, reliance on independent dealers, or some combination of the two.

Dealers contend that it is important for regulators to prevent abuses of local dealers. This rationale appears unsupported, however, with respect to blanket prohibitions of direct sales by manufacturers. And, in any event, it has no relevance to companies like Tesla. It has never had any independent dealers and reportedly does not want them.

FTC staff have commented on similar efforts to bar new rivals and new business models in industries as varied as wine sales, taxis, and health care. We have consistently urged legislators and regulators to consider the potential harmful consequences this can have for competition and consumers. How manufacturers choose to supply their products and services to consumers is just as much a function of competition as what they sell—and competition ultimately provides the best protections for consumers and the best chances for new businesses to develop and succeed. Our point has not been that new methods of sale are necessarily superior to the traditional methods—just that the determination should be made through the competitive process.

At link:
Tesla Store In Palo Alto, California

Change is a critical dimension of that competitive process. Manufacturers in a variety of industries now reach consumers directly through websites, providing extensive information that was once only available from dealers or by phone or mail inquiry. And consumers routinely turn to the Internet as a convenient way to comparison shop and buy products and services.

Such change can sometimes be difficult for established competitors that are used to operating in a particular way, but consumers can benefit from change that also challenges longstanding competitors. Regulators should differentiate between regulations that truly protect consumers and those that protect the regulated. We hope lawmakers will recognize efforts by auto dealers and others to bar new sources of competition for what they are—expressions of a lack of confidence in the competitive process that can only make consumers worse off.

Andy is the Director of the Office of Policy Planning, Debbie is the Director of the Bureau of Competition, and Marty is the Director of the Bureau of Economics. The views expressed are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Commission or of any individual Commissioner.

Hat tip to Frank for his contribution!

Tesla Dealer Pictures at link:
http://insideevs.com/tesla-motors-has-a-friend-in-the-ftc-when-it-comes-to-direct-sales/
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Re: Electric Vehicles
« Reply #28 on: May 19, 2014, 08:43:16 pm »
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

AGelbert

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Formula E Holdings Raises 50 Million Euros In First Round of Financing

Nice pictures at link:  ;D

http://insideevs.com/formula-e-holdings-raises-50-million-euros-first-round-financing/
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Matt 10:37

 

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