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Category: ElectricVehicleTrends

ElectricVehicleTrends

  • Electric Car Charging Stations to Reach 200K by 2020

    Hybrid cars have now become the norm on U.S. roads and car company Tesla is showing more established car companies exactly how to build a safe, profitable electric luxury car. Though electric vehicles appear to be the future, the infrastructure for the change-over from gas is not yet in place.

    Analyst firm IHS this week reassured consumers, predicting that fast-charging stations are set to blanket the work in the coming years. The firm predicted that the number of fast-charging stations in the world will reach 199,000 by the year 2020 – over 110 times the number of stations that existed as of last year (around 1800). The number of stations is expected to climb to just shy of 6,000 by the end of this year, and to just over 15,000 by the end of 2014.

    “The length of time it takes to recharge an EV continues to be one of the major stumbling blocks inhibiting the widespread adoption of electric vehicles,” said Alastair Hayfield, associate research director at IHS Automotive. “Compared to the time it takes to refuel an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, the recharge time for EVs is incredibly slow—at about four hours to charge a 24 kilowatt-hour (kWh)-capacity battery using a 6.6 kW on-board charger. If EV auto manufacturers could overcome this obstacle, it could lead to a high rate of adoption from environmentally minded consumers as well as those seeking to cut gasoline expenses. That’s where fast charging comes in.”

    While the numbers of fast-charging stations will rise quickly in the coming years, not all of them will operate a single charging standard. According to IHS, two major fast-charging standards, CHAdeMO and CCS (combined charging system), will be competing for driver dollars. CHAdeMO is backed primarily by Japanese auto manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, as well as by major Japanese power companies. The CSS standard is backed by German and U.S. car brands such as BMW, GM, Ford, Volkswagen, and Chrysler.

    (Image courtesy Ludovic Hirlimann)

  • Tesla Outsells Porsche And Others In California

    The state of California has long been considered to be more accepting of green technologies, especially in the realm of automobiles. Jokes about the streets being filled with the hybrid Toyota Prius are well known and made often. It should come as no surprise then that the residents of the state have been buying up cars from Tesla motors in the past year at a high rate.

    Tesla Motors, which produces electric cars exclusively and is located in Palo Alto, CA, did the near unthinkable this past year by outselling such powerhouse car makers as Porsche, Land Rover, Volvo, Lincoln, and Jaguar. The company, which has seen a 3000% increase in sales over the past year, has obviously claimed its spot among the big boys of the automotive industry.

    While having an electric car when gas prices are through the roof is a good enough incentive to buy, it helps when the cars are quality made, as evidenced by Tesla’s recent perfect score in crash test ratings

    While Tesla has plenty to celebrate, the company is still looking up the sales rankings at other titans of the industry. Mercedes, BMW, and of course Toyota outsold Tesla in California. In fact, There were over 33,000 new Prius cars registered in the state, which is over 28,000 more than the number of new Tesla cars. However, if Tesla keeps growing at such an extreme rate they could be knocking on Toyota’s door soon.

    [Image via the Tesla Motors YouTube channel]

  • Tesla Model S Gets the Highest Safety Rating…Ever

    Tesla Model S Gets the Highest Safety Rating…Ever

    In terms of U.S. automobile safety testing, the Tesla Model S has just set a new record.

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just awarded Tesla’s full-sized luxury sedan a 5-star safety rating – both overall and across the board, in every single category tested. The car also received a 5.4 star Vehicle Safety Score, the highest ever given by the agency.

    Around 1% of cars tested by the NHTSA ever receive 5-star ratings across the board.

    You have to know that Tesla just loves this little tidbit. Apparently, the Model S broke the test rig:

    Of note, during validation of Model S roof crush protection at an independent commercial facility, the testing machine failed at just above 4 g’s. While the exact number is uncertain due to Model S breaking the testing machine, what this means is that at least four additional fully loaded Model S vehicles could be placed on top of an owner’s car without the roof caving in. This is achieved primarily through a center (B) pillar reinforcement attached via aerospace grade bolts.

    Oh, and they ain’t no cheaters either:

    “The above results do not tell the full story. It is possible to game the regulatory testing score to some degree by strengthening a car at the exact locations used by the regulatory testing machines. After verifying through internal testing that the Model S would achieve a NHTSA 5-star rating, Tesla then analyzed the Model S to determine the weakest points in the car and retested at those locations until the car achieved 5 stars no matter how the test equipment was configured.”

    Back in June, Tesla issued its first-ever recall on the Model S, citing a weakened mounting bracket that affected around 1,300 cars. Elon Musk assured customers that there had been no adverse incident yet, and Tesla received praise for getting out in front of the issue and tackling even the tiniest of defects.

  • Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Has Generated Massive Search Buzz, Yahoo Says

    Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Has Generated Massive Search Buzz, Yahoo Says

    Elon Musk revealed plans for the Hyperloop transportation system on Monday. This, if built, will transport travelers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in about a half hour’s time. Naturally, the project – the brainchild of the man behind SpaceX, Tesla and PayPal (he co-founded those last two) – has drawn a great deal of attention from not only people in California, but from pretty much everywhere else as well.

    According to data from Yahoo, searches for Musk and the hyperloop are spiking “off the charts” this week, and it’s also generating a lot of interest in Musk’s other work.

    “With this venture, CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, is bringing attention to his brand as [tesla stock] is soaring at 2476% change over the past week, and searches for [tesla] have increased 5x over the past year,” a Yahoo spokesperson tells WebProNews. “However, it seems like Yahoo! Users’ interest in [electric cars] has decreased in general, with searches decreasing by 9x since August 2012. Men perform 75% of the searches for [tesla] in top searching regions San Francisco, LA, Seattle, San Diego and Sacramento.”

    “People are interested in learning more about Musk,” the spokesperson says. “They are searching for [elon musk bio], which are off the charts in the last 7 days on Yahoo!. Searches for [elon musk] are nearly as high as the term [hyperloop] itself. 85% of searches for [hyperloop] come from males on Yahoo!.”

    The spokesperson notes that Yahoo is also seeing searcher interest in [hyperloop transport system], [hyperloop video], [hyperloop transit concept], [hyperloop design], [what is hyper loop] and [hyperloop plans].

    There is certainly a lot of Hyperloop information to consume. Musk’s announcement came accompanied by a 57-page PDF document discussing the details of the plans. This includes things such as the proposed route it would take, how various emergency situations would play out, what the interior of the passenger capsules would be like and how the Hyperloop would withstand an earthquake, to name a few.

    Image: Jimmy Kimmel Live

  • Here’s Why The Hyperloop Would Withstand An Earthquake (At Least In Theory)

    Here’s Why The Hyperloop Would Withstand An Earthquake (At Least In Theory)

    Elon Musk’s Hyperloop proposal takes the system’s susceptibility (or hopefully non-susceptibility) to earthquakes very seriously. The subject is brought up numerous times within the 57-page document.

    The proposal actually details what would happen in a number of emergency situations, but indicates the Hyperloop would be built to withstand an earthquake with “the necessary flexibility” and tube alignment.

    “A ground based high speed rail system is susceptible to Earthquakes and needs frequent expansion joints to deal with thermal expansion/contraction and subtle, large scale land movement,” it says. “By building a system on pylons, where the tube is not rigidly fixed at any point, you can dramatically mitigate Earthquake risk and avoid the need for expansion joints. Tucked away inside each pylon, you could place two adjustable lateral (XY) dampers and one vertical (Z) damper.”

    “These would absorb the small length changes between pylons due to thermal changes, as well as long form subtle height changes,” it says. “As land slowly settles to a new position over time, the damper neutral position can be adjusted accordingly. A telescoping tube, similar to the boxy ones used to access airplanes at airports would be needed at the end stations to address the cumulative length change of the tube.”

    In a lengthy description of the tube section of the system (the part in which the capsules travel through), earthquakes are mentioned again:

    The tube will be supported by pillars which constrain the tube in the vertical direction but allow longitudinal slip for thermal expansion as well as dampened lateral slip to reduce the risk posed by earthquakes. In addition, the pillar to tube connection nominal position will be adjustable vertically and laterally to ensure proper alignment despite possible ground settling.

    It says the Hyperloop’s capability to withstand earthquakes has been demonstrated in structural simulations.

    If an earthquake did strike while the Hyperloop was in operation, the proposal suggests the capsules (in which passengers ride) would be controlled remotely with emergency braking systems being deployed.

  • Your Hyperloop Ride Will Include Beautiful Scenery And Your Own Personal Entertainment System

    Your Hyperloop Ride Will Include Beautiful Scenery And Your Own Personal Entertainment System

    As you’ve no doubt heard, Elon Musk revealed his plans for the Hyperloop transportation system on Monday. You might be wondering what it would be like to ride in it. While it’s hard to say for sure without it actually existing, Musk tries to give us an idea in a large PDF document with all the details about its plans.

    There’s a section of the document that focuses on the interior. “The interior of the capsule is specifically designed with passenger safety and comfort in mind,” it says. “The seats conform well to the body to maintain comfort during the high speed accelerations experienced during travel. Beautiful landscape will be displayed in the cabin and each passenger will have access their own personal entertainment system.”

    The interior weight of the capsule is expected to be about 5,500 pounds, including the seats, restraint systems, interior and door panels, luggage compartments, and entertainment displays (this is all expected to cost about $255,00).

    Here are a couple of diagrams included in the plans, looking at a capsule version with doors open at the station and a cutaway with passengers on board.

    Hyperloop capsules

    The different version of the capsule called the “Passenger Plus,” would weigh about 6,000 pounds, and would cost about $185,000.

    Here’s some info about emergency situations and the actual route the Hyperloop will take.

  • Hyperloop: Here’s How An Emergency Situation Would Play Out

    Hyperloop: Here’s How An Emergency Situation Would Play Out

    On Monday, Elon Musk unveiled his detailed plans for the long-anticipated Hyperloop project, a futuristic transportation system that would make a trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles just over a half an hour long (here’s the initial proposed route).

    Musk revealed the details of the project in a 57-page PDF document. WIthin that is a section about onboard passenger emergencies. According to this, each capsule (which contains passengers) would have a direct radio contact with station operators in case of emergencies. This would enable passengers to report incidents, request help and receive assistance.

    Each capsule would also contain first aid equipment.

    “The Hyperloop allows people to travel from San Francisco to LA in 30 minutes,” the document says. “Therefore in case of emergency, it is likely that the best course of action would be for the capsule to communicate the situation to the station operator and for the capsule to finish the journey in a few minutes where emergency services would be waiting to assist.”

    Hold it.

    Of course, we’re talking about emergencies pretty vaguely here. Different kinds of “emergencies” could require different courses of action. While not necessarily life-threatening, Business Insider, for example, raises a good point about there not being any bathrooms on board. This could at least make for some sanitary issues.

    But in terms of real medical emergencies, Musk says the typical times between an emergency and access to a physician should be shorter than if the incident happened during an airplane takeoff (but at least planes have bathrooms).

    “In the case of the airplane, the route would need to be adjusted, other planes rerouted, runways cleared, airplane landed, taxi to a gate, and doors opened,” the document says. “An emergency in a Hyperloop capsule simply requires the system to complete the planned journey and meet emergency personnel at the destination.”

    “The design of Hyperloop has been considered from the start with safety in mind,” it says. “Unlike other modes of transport, Hyperloop is a single system that incorporates the vehicle, propulsion system, energy management, timing, and route. Capsules travel in a carefully controlled and maintained tube environment. The system is immune to wind, ice, fog, and rain. The propulsion system is integrated into the tube and can only accelerate the capsule to speeds that are safe in each section. With human control error and unpredictable weather removed from the system, very few safety concerns remain.”

    It suggests that all safety scenarios should be considered relative to other forms of transportation, as with the airplane example above.

    Power Outages

    With regards to power outages, the proposal indicates that the “vast majority” of Hyperloop travel is spent coasting, so capsules don’t require continuous power. That said, it does have back-up plans including batteries and energy storage.

    Air Pressure

    With regards to capsule depressurization, there would be oxygen masks like those found on airplanes, but the onboard control system would maintain capsule pressure using reserve air carried onboard. In what is proposed to be an “unlikely event,” other capsuls in the tube would automatically begin emergency breaking while they tube undergoes rapid re-pressurization if there is a large scale capsule depressurization.

    Getting Stuck

    If you’re worried about being stuck in a capsule within the tube (which could be a nightmare scenario for the claustrophobic), this is also deemed extremely unlikely due to the fact that the capsules coast at high speed without the need for propulsion for over 90% of the trip. If one did manage to become stranded, the capsules behind the stranded ones would have their emergency brakes deployed. They would then be driven using small onboard electric motors.

    Quakes

    Being in California, earthquakes are a natural concern, but the proposal indicates that the Hyperloop would be built to withstand one with “the necessary flexibility” and tube alignment.

    Terrorists

    In the event of a human-related incident (presumably such as a terrorist threat), the proposal indicates that security would be at the same level as airports.

    As far as general reliability, the Hyperloop is supposed to have a service life of 100 years.

    So, do you think you’re going to feel safe getting in one of these things?

  • Here’s The Initial Proposed Hyperloop Route

    Here’s The Initial Proposed Hyperloop Route

    Yesterday evening, Elon Musk finally revealed his Hyperloop proposal after months of teasing the new transportation method. In essence, it’s a capsule that travels in a tube at high speeds – think the transportation system that’s used in Logan’s Run. It’s ambitious and just a little impossible at this point, but it’s always fun to plan ahead, right?

    In the massive Hyperloop document that hit the Web alongside the announcement, Musk revealed that his initial goal would be to provide transportation between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Anybody who lives in California knows that’s that a 400 mile road trip that can take anywhere between five to six hours. With the Hyperloop, he proposes that the trip could be cut down to about 30 minutes.

    So, where would the Hyperloop go? The initial route he planned out would be mostly a straight shot between the two cities with only a small turn towards the coast as passengers approached San Francisco. Check it out:

    Here's The Initial Proposed Hyperloop Route

    The route may look like a straight line, but it would have to take multiple geographic variations into account as the Hyperloop traveled up and down the Western coast. Here’s how Musk proposes the system handles that:

    In order to avoid bend radii that would lead to uncomfortable passenger inertial accelerations and hence limit velocity, it is necessary to optimize the route. This can be achieved by deviating from the current highway system, earth removal, constructing pylons to achieve elevation change or tunneling.

    The proposed route considers a combination of 20, 50, and 100 ft (6, 15, and 30 m, respectively) pylon heights to raise and lower the Hyperloop tube over geographical obstacles. A total tunnel length of 15.2 miles (24.5 km) has been included in this optimization where extreme local gradients (>6%) would preclude the use of pylons. Tunneling cost estimations are estimated at $50 million per mile ($31 million per km). The small diameter of the Hyperloop tube should keep tunneling costs to a far more reasonable level than traditional automotive and rail tunnels.

    The Hyperloop is very much a pipe dream at this point, but that doesn’t mean Musk has no plans beyond connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco. He says that he would also like to connect a few more cities to the network if the Hyperloop ever becomes technically and financially feasible. Those cities include San Diego, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Fresno. As you can see, he’s keeping it primarily in California, but he does say that he would consider adding a Las Vegas station due to the high amount of traffic that goes back and forth between Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

    Here’s a map of all the Hyperloop stations as proposed by Musk:

    Here's The Initial Proposed Hyperloop Route

    It needs to be reiterated once again that this is merely a proposal, not something that Musk or anybody else is actively working on. As he said yesterday, he has his hands full running both Tesla Motors and SpaceX. Both endeavors would be full time jobs in and of themselves, and he just doesn’t have the time to go chasing after a new transportation method that may or may not flop.

    That being said, it would be the world’s best interest to find an alternative to land based transportation. Cars are notoriously unsafe and trains aren’t exactly feasible in some areas. The Hyperloop is one of the best alternatives yet, but we would have to see it in action first to determine its efficacy.

  • Hyperloop: Elon Musk Reveals Plans For New Transportation System

    Hyperloop: Elon Musk Reveals Plans For New Transportation System

    Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, Paypal, and Tesla, says he has designed a revolutionary new transportation system that would be faster and cheaper than a high-speed train, and would run along I-5 and I-580. The aerospace engineer says there are still several kinks to be worked out, but the system would take passengers from L.A. to San Francisco in thirty minutes. That’s about a 400-mile, 5-6 hour trip when traveling by car.

    Musk’s design includes capsules, or pods, that would carry 28 people each through a sealed tube. Each pod would depart about two minutes apart, but he says the maximum distance traveled should only be 900 miles. Beyond that, you’re better off taking air transportation. One of the many advantages to the system is that it would rest on large pylons above ground, yet wouldn’t have to take up much space. In face, Musk says it could feasibly be put inside the median on the interstate. In addition, the system would be completely self-powered.

    “By placing solar panels on top of the tube, the Hyperloop can generatefar in excess of the energy needed to operate. This takes into account storingenough energy in battery packs to operate at night and for periods of extendedcloudy weather. The energy could also be stored in the form of compressed airthat then runs an electric fan in reverse to generate energy, as demonstratedby LightSail,” Musk says.

    As far as the mechanics go, Musk describes how the pods would function:

    “Hyperloop capsules will float above the tube’s surface on an array of 28 air bearing skis that are geometrically conformed to the tube walls. The skis, each 4.9 ft (1.5 meters) in length and 3.0 ft (0.9 meters) in width, support the weight of the capsule by floating on a pressurized cushion of air 0.020 to 0.050 in. (0.5 to 1.3 mm) off the ground. Peak pressures beneath the skis need only reach 1.4 psi (9.4 kPa) to support the passenger capsule (9% of sea level atmospheric pressure). The skis depend on two mechanisms to pressurize the thin air film: external pressurization and aerodynamics.”

    The project is estimated to cost between $6 and $7 billion, but Musk says he’s not prepared to build or fund it himself.

    “I think I kind of shot myself in the foot by ever mentioning the Hyperloop, because I’m too strung out,” he said. “Obviously I have to focus on core Tesla business and on SpaceX business, and that’s more than enough. If nothing happens for a few years, maybe it could make sense to make the Hyperloop happen with Tesla involvement. But, obviously, you shouldn’t be speculative.”

    Image: Elon Musk