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Electric Car Timeline
- 1832-1839: The first rudimentary electric carriage powered by non-rechargeable primary cells was created by Scottish inventor Robert Anderson Tech FAQ: Electric Car
- 1897: The Pope Manufacturing Company of Connecticut produced the first electric taxis used in New York CityPBS: History of the Electric Car
- 1891: The first successful electric automobile was built by William Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa
- 1900: 28 % of the 4,192 cars that were produced in the United States were powered by electricityPBS: History of the Electric Car
- 1966: According to a Gallup poll, 36 million Americans were interested in electric vehicles Electric Auto Association: EV Timeline
- 1976: United States Congress passed the Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development and Demonstration Act Electric Auto Association: EV Timeline
- 1990: California established the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate; which required 2% of vehicles to be ZEVs by 1998, 10% ZEVs by 2003 Electric Auto Association: EV Timeline
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An alternative fuel car, electric cars are powered by an electric motor and motor controllers rather than by gasoline-powered engines. The most common electric cars utilize rechargeable batteries as a power source, which makes the cars almost silent when running and does not create pollution.
Tesla Motors wins millions of dollars in Federal loans to help build to car plants. This is part of a Dept. of Energy program to help develop cars that are very fuel efficient.
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How It Works
- A gasoline engine is replaced by an electric motor
- An electric motor is powered by a controller How Stuff Works: Electric Cars
- A controller is powered by rechargeable batteriesHow Stuff Works: Electric Cars
- Batteries are a type of electrochemical energy conversion device, which converts hydrogen and oxygen into water thereby producing electricity
- The by-products from an operating fuel cell or electrochemical energy conversion device are heat and waterNASA Glenn Research Center: Fuel Cell
BYD Electric Cars
Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto broke into the electric car market in 2003, and in 2008, received a $230 million investment from Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett.Midas Letter: The Car Company Warren Buffett is Investing In-
Electric Cars News
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LA suburb's rebirth rides on electric car plant
Downey's City Council has approved an agreement aimed at luring Tesla Motors' electric car manufacturing plant to the former site of a NASA plant that ... (November 26, 2009)The Associated Press -
A new Leaf in Nissan's lineup
This car should sell without advertising." He said the company expected to make a profit from the Leaf. Nissan's electric vehicle plan has expanded. ... (November 27, 2009)New Zealand Herald -
EV Batteries Could Be Used To Boost Nation's Energy Grid
Electric cars could provide the answer, as well as a boost to the US power grid. The US Department of Energy is lending funds to several automakers, ... (November 27, 2009)Gas 2.0 (blog) -
Will Plug-in Hybrids Help Obama in Copenhagen?
One avenue is switching to plug-in hybrid and electric cars as soon as possible. To push in that direction, the Obama Administration awarded $2.4 billion in ... (November 27, 2009)Hybrid Cars News
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Electric Cars Questions
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Where can I find more information about electric cars? 2 AnswersThe book "Two Cents Per Mile" by Nevres Cefo is a comprehensive analysis of electric vehicles, and their benefits. The book compares them to combustion engines.... read more -
Why isnt there a homebrew electric car? 5 AnswersI've seen a few, my college's mechanical and electrical engineering schools did a joint project every year to convert a stock consumer car into an all electric ... read more -
Would you drive a small electric car? 2 AnswersAbsolutely! it's definitely cute, and would complement since I'm petite. Not only that, but then you will realize its advantage when you are in a crowded urban ... read more -
What do you think of BYDs claim of 250 Miles Per Charge Electric Car by 2010? And what does this say About... 2 AnswersRange is dependent simply on the total amount of energy storage available and the power required to move the vehicle at the desired speed, related to weight, ae... read more
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Electric Cars on Amazon
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Who Killed the Electric Car? - $14.94
In 1996, electric cars began to appear on roads all over California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust and ran without gasoline. Ten years later, these futuristic cars ...Amazon
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Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America - $16.95
A politically polarized America is coming together over a new kind of car-the plug-in hybrid that will save drivers money, reduce pollution, and increase US security by reduc...Amazon
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