The 2012 Focus electric will be the first EV that can carry five passengers and yet give an amazing efficiency of 100 miles per gallon. If that fact does not impress you, how about a charging time half the time it takes to charge up the Nissan Leaf?

Ford is determined to give consumers the vehicles that will fit their needs be it plug-in hybrids, EVs, or hybrids. The carmaker wants to give consumers the best fuel efficiency possible with their rides and this is very evident in their upgraded editions of the C-Max Energi and the C-Max Hybrid. These rides clearly outmatch the Prius V of Toyota in several categories. The C-Max vehicles boast of excellent performance in combo with great mileage. The efficiency is possible because of an effective pairing for the gasoline engine and the setup.

The C-MAX makes use of a Lithium battery system which is utilized for the Hybrid. The charged battery partnered with the engine can bring you 500 miles far from your point of origin. Ford will soon roll out their C-Max Energi and C-Max Hybrid and when that happens, they will be the biggest hybrid transmission maker in North America.

The engineers at Ford have also been working on minor aspects of their green cars like the cooling of heated parts to complete their green, and very efficient vehicles. They will also be giving consumers a new technology which will be cutting short the charging time of the battery. You will be looking at 15 minutes of charging time which is not yet achieved by any commercially available green cars. Owners can charge their vehicles using the usual 240 volt outlets and juiced up the battery fully in less than 3 hours.

Ford understands that electric vehicles is the way to go to address the worsening condition of the environment and the busier lifestyle of consumers and so their team is working hard to cut charging times and even give us more efficient vehicles.

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.

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.

The Trabant NT will remain true to the simple design and function of the old car but it will sport the latest technologies known to the auto industry.

The company responsible for the comeback is still seeking investors willing to take the risk of helping the Trabant reach the masses so it can live up to its old glory.

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.

The former release of ZAP shuttle had its share of advantages. For one, it ran on zero emissions for indoor uses. People also liked it because of its available options on air conditioning, rapid charger, and solar panels – a great solar powered car. This time, it boasts of its multi-functional feature which is surely a great way to market on the side of practicability. With its space that’s a 5-passenger seater and an additional space for other stuffs, one will surely appreciate it.

Practical, efficient, and green! ZAP certainly knows how to feed the market with great innovations. Not only great, but green too!