Last October, in an effort to become “greener”, the City Of Tampa installed ten electric vehicle charging stations at eight city-owned and operated parking facilities.  The stations provide both Level I (120 Volts) and Level II (240 Volts) charging options. The stations were provided by Coulomb Technologies under their ChargePoint America Program.  The ChargePoint America Program is funded by the American Recovery And Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the equipment was provided to the City at no cost.  In exchange for the charging stations, the City will participate in a monitoring program by the US Department Of Energy through the end of 2013. Initially, Tampa will not charge a service fee for the stations’ use, but motorists will be required to pay for...

It is always interesting to see what other countries are doing to reduce their carbon footprints and dependence on fossil fuels.  The UK, ever at the forefront of the ecology movement, has undertaken a couple of new initiatives aimed at doing both. The government has launched a multi-million pound demonstration program to encourage road haulage operators to buy and use low carbon vehicles.  Managed by the Technology Strategy Board and the Department For Transport, the trial will assist operators in creating small fleets (5 to 35 vehicles) of alternative-energy vehicles by partially funding not only the purchase of vehicles, but also the infrastructure necessary to fuel them.  The demonstration fleets will operate for two years, and the vehicles and infrastructure will...

Brushes are an essential component part of any motor. Two sets of brushes are fixed diagonally opposite each other and touch the commutator ring on the end of the armature spindle. Two brushes provide negative electrons; the other two, positive electrons. The ring is split into multiple sections so the negative and positive electrons don't touch each other; otherwise, the motor will short circuit. Direct current motor brushes are relatively simply to replace. Start by removing battery main terminals.  This will prevent short circuits etc. Next, removed the gold-colored band on the end of your motor.  This band is your brush/commutator cover.  Around motor you will find 4 brushes. To remove, just lift spring away from rear of brush, then pull out brush and remove...

Southern California has long been known for two things:  air pollution and environmental activism.  In an effort to alleviate the former and support the latter, the South Bay Cities Council Of Governments (SBCCOG) has encouraged and studied the use of electric vehicles in the area. Over the last year, the agency has conducted the Local Use Vehicle (LUV) Project, aimed at providing information on how electric vehicles can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and gasoline consumption.  Funded by a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), the project’s findings have just been released and are being used to locate electric vehicle charging stations throughout the fifteen cities, portions of Los Angeles, and portions of...

The Electric Drive Transportation Association recently published an article (http://multibriefs.com/briefs/EDTA/EDTA102811.php) that explains why the US government spends money to promote electric vehicles.  We feel that it made such a good point, we copied and pasted it here, in its entirety. See  what you think … “At a time when all government funding is being carefully scrutinized, it is worth noting the importance of federal support for energy innovation. U.S. investments in advanced technology and manufacturing innovation are critical because they are helping to build our position in the growing global market for electric drive vehicles. This includes hybrids, plug-in hybrid, pure battery electric and fuel cell vehicles. Industry investments demonstrate...

More than two years after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil well, the Gulf Of Mexico is still feeling its impact.  Despite the use of new technologies meant to degrade and disperse the spilled oil, scientists have had to admit that the bottom of the Gulf is still covered with oil and organisms that have died because of it. At the time of the original spill clean up, oil eating microbes were introduced to the spill area, which were supposed to consume the spilled oil, leaving the area clean again.  Marine scientist Samantha Joye of the University Of   Georgia, who has recently visited the area, says that the plan does not seem to have been as effective as was hoped.  She estimates that the microbes may have consumed about 10% of the total oil...

The Herald-Tribune reported on April 15, 2012 that in Venice, Florida two recently installed electric vehicle charging stations remain unplugged while authorities figure out what and how to charge users. New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations In Venice, Florida Remain Covered Unlike the nearby city of Sarasota, which allows free use of the charging stations that have been installed in its downtown municipal parking garage, Venice plans to charge those who use the new charging stations for their electrical “fill ups”. City Engineer Kathleen Weeden indicated that the city of Venice is still trying to negotiate the best price it can get for the electricity the chargers will use.  Florida Power and Light confirms that the City will be charged for the...

California’s Coachella Valley Association Of Governments has agreed to a plan that would use $20 million in highway funds to build a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV) trail along the Whitewater River. The money would come from a $53 million mitigation fund set aside for air quality projects in the desert, meant to offset the impact of a power plant being built near Desert Hot Springs.  When completed, the proposed 54-mile paved trail would allow NEVs, golf carts and bikes to travel between Desert Hot Springs and Coachella. The proposed project has a great deal of local support, but also has its opponents.  Some are hoping to get a portion of the money for their own local pet projects, so it remains to be seen just how much of the total the trail project will...

In February, 2012, Washington became the first state in the nation to pass a tax on Electric Vehicles aimed at making up for lost gasoline tax revenues.  The WA electric vehicle tax includes Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and Low Speed Electric Vehicles (LSVs) as well as plug-in electric vehicles from major automakers. Washington State has one of the highest gas taxes in the nation at 37.5 cents per gallon.  Added to the Federal 18.4 cent per gallon gas tax, it makes for a whopping 54.9 cents in taxes that Washingtonians pay per gallon of gasoline. Since monies collected from gasoline taxes are used to repair and maintain roads and traffic infrastructure, lawmakers felt that the proliferation of electric-powered vehicles could cause a shortfall in the funds used...

It is a rare Monday morning that finds this writer anxious to get to her desk and share the weekend’s happenings, but this weekend’s experience at Sea World Orlando was so profound that I can’t wait to tell everyone about it. Now, I know that Sea World and other theme parks and zoos get a lot of negative press from groups like PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals).  But, at least in Sea World’s case, I think the criticism must come from people who have never been there and thus are either misinformed or uninformed. As an example, did you know that the Sea World parks make up the largest animal rescue organization in the world?  As a former resident of the Orlando area (back when HBJ owned Sea World), and a longtime annual pass holder, I...