This interview offers an update on BMW’s commitment to electric cars, as the company explains they expect demand to grow in the future, and they’re seeing demand in markets like Germany. The Chinese market is also rebounding after slumping last year. With low gas prices there’s a challenge now with green cars, but for the long term it’s nice to see the commitment. The latest news on Tesla has Elon Musk bragging that the new Tesla Model S will be the fastest production car in the world, beating its gas-powered rivals. Tesla is adding versions of its Model S sedan and Model X sport utility vehicle with a more powerful battery pack that gives the vehicles range of 315 miles on a single charge along with adding speed. With all the recent controversies, Tesla could use something to brag about! Are “Plug-In Hybrids” the Next Logical Step?
Introduced over 10 years ago, hybrids are cars that utilize both gas motors and electric motors for propulsion. On a hybrid, the gas motor is powered by gasoline, of course, and the electric motor is powered by a bank of batteries. Engineers have designed them so these two different power plants work together to deliver high efficiency and great gas mileage. The Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight are two popular examples of the hybrid category.
Pure solar vehicles are being developed. A pure solar vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely by energy from the sun. The way it works is that the cars convert the sun’s energy into electricity using Photovoltaic Panels (PVCs) which then fuel the battery to run the car’s motor. More classic cars coming soon!
There could be more classic cars hitting the road soon – cars that look like classics, that is. The Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2015 was passed last December by Congress as part of The Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015. This act allows small companies to produce and sell replicas of classic cars without subjecting them to the expensive safety and emissions tests the major automakers’ vehicles must undergo. Under the new law, registered companies would be allowed to produce and sell up to 325 finished cars in the U.S. each year. Each vehicle would be issued a federal Vehicle Identification Number. |
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