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The improved lead-acid (lead-carbon) stuff is worth a look. I'm skeptical since although they improve longevity & durability, the energy density is still pretty crappy.
See if you can get an interview with Captain Lead-Acid: John Petersen. He's written a gazillion articles pumping the the lead-carbon technolgy (and pissing all over lithium-ion):
http://seekingalpha.com/author/john-petersen/articles/latest
And if you got a Lithium-Ion booster on the same program, you could have lots of fireworks as they go at each other's throats.
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Lead-acid batteries? You mentioned Axion Power, but there are others. And you only mentioned them in terms of conversions, rather than used in production vehicles. Both Axion and CSIRO are developing the same lead-acid battery with a built-in capacitor technology (I see patent lawsuits coming out this one;-), and if they hold true to their statements, they can be manufactured for not much more than a current lead-acid battery, but with more power and longer life. Even if they do not last as long as a Li-Ion battery, they would only cost about 1/5 to 1/10 as much- so now you could build an EV for under $20,000, today. Li-Ion is a better battery, but it will take years to bring down the cost.
As for why do a conversion? Well, if you are converting a new car, unless you are just an early adopter with extra cash, then yes- why spend that much? But if you are converting an older car, or even an not-so-older one with a dead engine that can be purchased fairly cheaply, then spending $10,000 to rejuvenate it to an EV is a lot cheaper than spending $30,000 after rebates on a new EV.
Oh- was it my imagination, or did y'all not say what company is making the 3-wheel skateboard. I did a little google searching, and I did not realize how many electric skateboards there are. And a lot of them go from 20-30 mph, including a couple of 3-wheelers- but none seemed to be the one you mentioned. And most use a remote control for the speed and brakes- and most of them are wirless, but not bluetooth- it seemed to be like the radio frequency that is used for RC cars. This, apparently, can be a bad thing if your skateboard picks up another competing command on the same frequency. The bluetooth would be better, since its range is only a few feet, and therefore much less likely to pick up other bluetooth transmissions.
is there going to be a honda fit hybrid that is going to use the 2009 honda insight technolgy for 2010
Well, if you have 9 minutes to spare, check out this video on the EV1 that GM made to promote it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLknNrrL6QU&NR=1
The car is 12 years old and still sounds futuristic.
OK, Who has been messing with the colors?
Are we now supposed to read gray text on a gray background? How about a little more CONTRAST between text and field? Please
Hmmm. looks better now.
I have totally missed the Loremo vehicle.
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1048/69/
I know it is a European car, but it looks amazing. In the link above, check out the 2 minute video. The car has no doors. The hood, dashboard, and windshield all pivot up out of the way.
Here is a new post on the car.
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2523/69/