Manufacturers of all-electric vehicle have known for some time that for their products to become widely accepted, they must overcome the “range anxiety” of potential owners.  Industry-wide, a great deal of research and technology is being focused on improving the batteries that power such vehicles - finding ways to store more energy in them to extend their range, as well as finding new materials that are not as expensive and potentially toxic from which to make them. The website inhabitat.com reports that now a discovery by a 10-year old girl could help to address the energy storage problem.  Fifth grader Clara Lazen created a new molecule, called tetranitratoxycarbon, which has the potential to store large amounts of energy and expel it.  While using...

Do something good for the Earth this weekend -- participate in World Earth Hour 2012!  On Saturday, March 31, 2012, hundreds of millions of citizens in over 100 countries will show their concern for the environment and their support for climate change initiatives by turning off their lights and other electrical devices from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The movement is designed to raise awareness of climate change issues and send a message to governmental leaders around the world that more needs to be done to protect our fragile environment and conserve our precious natural resources. Consider using the "dark hour" as an opportunity to discuss conservation and environmental issues with your children, or to meet with your neighbors and come up with ways to make your neighborhood,...

Today, we would like to discuss motor maintenance. Most permanent magnet DC-powered electric motors use brushes to transmit power from the source (battery) to the commutator.  The power then continues to the rotor that is wound with conductive wire, producing a strong magnetic field that will repel the magnet facing it on the inside of the motor case.  This is what makes the rotational torque that will power your vehicle. One of the disadvantages of using a brushed DC motor is that eventually the brushes will wear down and need to be replaced, similar to how brake pads wear on disc brakes. In most cases, the brushes will last a VERY long time in a properly maintained DC electric motor.  Things that can cause excessive and pre-mature wear include running the motor too...

Residents of Hope, British Columbia may soon have the opportunity to drive a little greener in their city. According to an article in the Hope Standard, Council passed a motion on January 23, 2012 to have staff begin drafting a bylaw permitting the use of Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) on municipal roads.  The resolution received unanimous support from Council, and the public is expected to have substantial input before the bill becomes law. LSVs used to be included with other slow-moving vehicles, such as farm tractors, in the Motor Vehicle Act.  An amendment passed in 2008 allowed municipalities to pass specific bylaws permitting LSVs on roads with speed limits between 40 and 50 km/h (21 to 30 mph), and defined exactly what constituted an LSV. The vehicles will still require...

Here’s another great reason to switch to driving an electric vehicle … As of December 31, 2009, the State of Florida joined at least ten other states in mandating the sale and use of E-10 Ethanol-blended gasoline.  E-10 is a mixture of 10% ethanol (alcohol) and 90% gasoline.  Touted as a means of lowering harmful emissions and easing our dependence on foreign oil, all modern non-diesel cars are certified to run on this mixture – but not without a price. The primary problems with E-10 occur because of alcohol’s solvent and water-absorbing qualities.  It also has a short (2-3 month) shelf life, even under ideal conditions. The Fuel-Testers website explains that because of its solvent properties, ethanol can dissolve plastic, rubber, certain...

The State of Kansas is one of several states considering a special tax on electric cars.  While on the surface, this appears to be unfair, Rep. Tom Sloan (R-KS), who supports the measure, explained the thought process behind the measure. Kansas, like many other states, charges a tax on gasoline, which is used to fund new road building and road maintenance projects.  The concern is that if everyone begins driving electric cars, that tax revenue will dry up and the State won’t be able to build new roads or maintain those they already have. But in Kansas, the proposed amount would be less than a penny of tax for each kilowatt-hour of electricity used to charge an electric car.  The move would require electric car owners to install a second electric meter dedicated...

In an October 24, 2011 article, Electric Vehicles Research indicated that currently 60% of the value of the electric vehicle market is being spent on commercial and industrial vehicles – and this trend is expected to continue and grow into the next decade. Heavy industrial vehicles (those used do heavy lifting, such as forklifts) make up the largest segment of the market.  This is understandable, since by law, forklifts must be electric to be used indoors.  While little opportunity may remain in this market, there are plenty of other uses for electric vehicles in the commercial and industrial sector. Airports are under increasing pressure to switch their Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to pure electric versions, both on and off the tarmac.  Besides lowering...

In this post, we’d like to address battery maintenance.  As part of a weekly maintenance check up, it is necessary to check the electrolyte level in your batteries. Start by ensuring that the ignition and all accessories are off.  In a well-ventilated area, open all access panels to expose battery area(s).  Remove all caps from battery tops and check for proper level.  The (water) level should reach the plastic indicators and should NEVER be allowed to fall to the metal plates.  If water is needed, add only distilled water to each battery cell.  Any spillage should be cleaned off before acid can cause damage. Proper maintenance will allow maximum life and optimum operation of your batteries.  For harder-to-reach batteries, as well as...

Electric vehicle owners have something else to feel a bit smug about these days, as the price of gasoline continues to rise for a variety of reasons. In a market where prices can be affected by weather, financial markets and civil unrest, the latest cause of gasoline price hikes is directly attributable to the actions of our Federal government. The website stltoday.com reports that, under the guise of being a cost-saving measure to help balance the budget, on January 1, 2012, the Federal government ceased its subsidy of ethanol – a subsidy that has existed in some form since the 1970s.  Taxpayers are expected to save $6 billion this year because of this measure. Originally touted as a cleaner burning fuel, ethanol has been blended with gasoline in this country for many...

Customer Photo sent in by the Watson Family. Read below regarding their experience with Moto Electric Vehicles! "I would like to thank the team at MotoElectric for taking good care of me and my family during our purchase of a new electric vehicle. Our sales representative and the Service Department worked hard to find and customize the vehicle I wanted. Attached is a picture of my family enjoying a nice day in Jacksonville Beach on our new 6P Bubble Buddy!” Thanks again for great service. -The Watson Family (March 13th, 2012)