From today's EEI newsletter:
Plug-in Hybrids, Electric Vehicles Gaining in Popularity
Soaring gasoline prices have spurred enthusiasm for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and a new all-electric import from China is selling well, Chicago Tribune Automotive columnist Jon Hilkevitch reported. The Xebra-PK (pronounced "Zebra"), is offered by U.S. firm ZAP, or Zero Air Pollution. At a cost of about $10,000, an estimated 250 have been sold since last October. Wrote Hilkevitch: "The ZAP line is considered a neighborhood electric vehicle, marketed as a second car to travel short distances pollution-free and gas-free."
The columnist noted that GM has developed a plug-in hybrid concept car, the five-passenger Chevrolet Volt, and the market also features the ZENN (Zero Emission No Noise) and Dynasty, both made in Canada, along with the U.S.-made Tiger Truck, and the Kurrent, produced by American Electric Vehicle.
Al Hallaj, a research associate professor of chemical engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, was quoted as saying: "Electric cars are no longer just a novelty for hobbyists or tree-huggers. Oil consumption is a national security issue and we should move to electric-based transportation, as well as improving wind, solar and hydrogen fuel cell energy."
Chicago Tribune , June 11.
Hecate,
ReplyDeleteDid you write a post about Julie Amero, substitute teacher convicted of showing porn to a class, a few months ago? I've been following it for several months and she's finally been granted a new trial:
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007706070374
Flawed testimony by a state expert witness led a Superior Court judge Wednesday to order a new trial for a Norwich substitute teacher accused of surfing Internet porn during class.
Judge Hillary B. Strackbein overturned the Jan. 5 conviction of Julie Amero, 40, of Windham, who was scheduled for sentencing Wednesday at New London Superior Court.