Environmentally Friendly Cars

EVI or Electric Vehicles International launches their medium-duty truck called the MD EVI. The company also signs a joint venture with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation to come up with an electric powered walk in van tagged as the WI EVI.

During the unveiling of the new electric truck at their new headquarters in the Stockton, California, EVI also disclosed an agreement with Valence Technologies to develop storage systems utilizing Lithium-ion technology.

MD EVI

This electric vehicle is designed to meet the demands of businesses with gross weight rating as a Class 4 or 15,000 pounds ranging to class 6 or 25,950 pounds. The electric motor that powers the truck occupies lesser space than the conventional engine, this gives the truck a higher wheel cut or making it as a very maneuverable vehicle in its class.

The truck will utilize 3-phase 360volt motor which can give out about 146hp and a torque of 450 ft-lb. The engine is coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. The MD EVI has a top speed of 60 mph.

The battery gives the electric truck a range of 115 miles which is more than the average distance needed to complete a usual commercial base to base trip. The battery can be charged overnight.

WI EVI

The electric van will make use of the same drive train as the MD EVI and except that it will make use of a chassis designed by the FCCC. The battery for the electric van will come in three ranges: 60, miles, 80 miles, and 115 miles.

The Trabant is the answer of the communist East Germany to the Beetle of the Volkswagen. It was manufactured by VEB Sachsenring Automobilwerk Zwickau in 1958. Its design is very simple and went untouched until it was killed after the fall of the Berlin wall.

It was fondly or irritatingly called Trabi by the people. The Trabant is being remembered as the least reliable, slowest, and most pollting vehicle known to man, so they say. But the very simple architecture and engineering of the Trabant made it very easy to self repair even by owners. The parts of the cars are everywhere or one can simply fabricate or improvise.

The Trabant has been treated as an icon and about 50,000 of them are still on the road. No matter a reputation, it has survived the test of time that’s why some enthusiasts and believers are planning to resurrect the car. It will not run the streets as the clunky vehicle as it is known to be but a green electric vehicle.

Since 2007, IndiKar while in close cooperation with Herpa, the owner now of the Trabant name, has been trying to revive the car. They will be unveiling to the public an all new electric Trabant during the Frankfurt Auto Show kicking off next week.

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How would you like a passenger shuttle that can be converted to a cargo vehicle whenever you want to?

ZAP surely knows the kind of utility vehicle that the most practical people are looking for. In just a matter of time, ZAP will introduce its four-wheel electric passenger van convertible to cargo truck at the annual conference of the National Automobile Dealers Association. It will be in New Orleans later January.

With removable seats, this van can definitely be used for transporting equipments when needed. The cargo function has a 108 cubic ft. and it can carry up to 900 pounds in capacity.

No worry for its use on the road since it is in conformity with the US regulations for Low Speed Vehicles. It can run at 25 mph on street limits. It has posted 35 mph speed limit. It’s an electric van that’s why it posts such a range of speed limit.

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