Electric Vehicle Empowerment on the Rise

Another test driver gets out of BMW's i3 electric vehicle at the Naperville test track on Sunday, Sept. 21.I was watching a lecture given by George Marshall, titled “Wired to Ignore Climate Change,” and the lecture revolves around the ways humans ignore climate change. Marshall cites we ignore climate change due to many factors, such as contradictions and the abstract nature of climate threats and its effects.

However, Marshall doesn’t touch on a new wrinkle to the climate discussion, empowerment. Before electric vehicles hit mass production recently, it was REALLY hard to make an everyday impact on climate change and that’s the often overlooked element with a no-emission vehicle.

Power is in play for everyday folks and that’s a big deal.

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KIA EV Soul Targets Fast-Charging 'Animals'

ABB's Terra 53 charger wrapped in Greenlots' SKY network, charging the new Soul EV, based on Kia's best selling Soul model;

As electric vehicles appears on more roads and drivers put more miles on these cars, the need for more DC fast-charging stations emerges pretty clearly. Today, KIA Motors announces a new program to install ABB's Terra 53 50kW fast-charging stations in its dealerships across the country, starting on the west coast in the "first wave."

Kia's electric vehicles use a CHAdeMO fast charging interface and is capable of charging the EV Soul—began selling in the U.S this month—vehicle in 15-30 minutes.

According to the press release, Soul EV owners will be provided an RFID card, giving them access to the DC fast chargers via Greenlots SKY network system. Drivers will be able to easily find these charging stations via Kia's smartphone app or the touchscreen inside the vehicle.

Other fast-charging stations have different interface standards, such as the SAE combo and Tesla Motor's DC fast-charging network. KIA did not mention whether it has adapters for those other interfaces.

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EV Intersection for Aug. 12, 2014

Performance 85 Model S graces the Green Fair on the Fox this last Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. Another edition of Electric Vehicle Intersection, where energy, advanced vehicles, battery developments and charging infrastructure intersect. Just click on the link below to read the story. 

Above is a picture of a candy-apple red, Tesla Motors Model S electric vehicle at the "Green Fair on the Fox" festival last Saturday. Fun day talking electric vehicles to curious folks! 

Tesla Shows It All| (Brendan Byrne) Interesting "leak" to a German auto magazine, Autobild, via Tesla Chief Designer, Franz Von Hohlhausen. According to Hohlhausen, "a new Roadster to the '3rd generation' platform is to show what Tesla is able" in 2017. Brilliant move, why? Big profit margins on high-end luxury electric vehicles, where some analysts thought Tesla could set up shop a couple of years ago. Here's the link to the Autobild article (if you have Chrome, it will translate to English).

Inside the July 2014 Sales Numbers for Nissan | (Jay Cole) GM should take note as Nissan's leadership strategy has been paying off since last year, when they introduced the pilot program, "No charge for charge" in Texas. Read "Will Nissan's No Charge to Charge Program Drive Leaf Sales?" at Charged EVs. Hats off and hope to see Nissan at our National Drive Electric Week in Naperville, IL.  

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How I learned to Stop Worrying about the Tipping Point and Love Electric Vehicles

The headline is a reference to the satire genius of Dr. Strangelove, a movie made during height of the cold war and depicted our addiction to large stockpiles of nuclear weapons and conflict.

Speaking of conflict, major automakers—GM, Ford, Volkswagen and Chrysler—have been reluctant to go full throttle if you will on any electric vehicle strategy. They seem to be hiding behind the noble "education" initiatives and figuring out the next move...I hope.

For example, I attended the Electric Drive Transportation Assn. (EDTA) meeting in May and drove in a Cadillac ELR at the ride-and-drive that accompanied the show. As I talked to the "drive advisor," she mentioned that they weren't recording feedback from electric vehicle drivers during the ride-and-drives...just like Chevy Volt education tour back in 2012.

Really? At least Ford Motor Company recorded feedback on their ride-and-drives at 2013 Spring meeting of the Fox Valley Electric Automotive Association. A team of four marketing and their tablets, with advisors in the electric vehicles with you during the ride and then a team leader conducting a survey via tablet with you right after the drive. Very effective.

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