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I read through the article and a lot of blogs covering Riversimple. Here's what it looks like under the hood. It seems too early and preliminary for adoption. "Open Source" seems to have been employed purely as a buzzword to generate interest. Most of the detail is actually at the 40 Fires foundation website which will probably release design schematics. Their FAQ answers questions I had in mind and is a good place for a starting read. The codename for this car is Hybran. The EU welcomes Hydrogen cars as a strong "Green" alternative.

If you do compare it to other initiatives like OSCar, you would find this option from Riversimple probably at a better stage of adoption. But until they unveil their prototypes (16-Jun-2009 is not far) and manufacturing goals (however they intend to go about it,) consumers will be skeptical about adoption. They first have to hit a note on consumers _wanting_ it or _needing_ it before proposing an attractive business model. Most of the prior comments reflect that we are not yet ready. Design momentum on OSCar seems to have stalled in the year 2006.

In contrast another vehicle release earlier this year happened in India with a lot of buzz about a $2,500 car, the Nano from India. This car _can_ do more than 56 mpg on Gasoline. It isn't green, but you can grab one, drive one and feel much safer than the electric counterparts that roam about the cities. This car went through at least 2 yrs of testing because the average consumer was scared about safety. The adoption was further slowed down by slow manufacturing response from Tata Motors.

India has allowed an Electric car (REVA) to be used within City limits (for road safety and range concerns) manufactured by Reva. The vehicle (a modest 4 wheeler) which comes in multiple flavors has low adoption rates in cities which allow it. This car through evolution has been heavier than India's top selling gasoline small-car the Maruti Suzuki 800cc 4 seater, and offers lesser range within a city. It has a very short range of 80-100km and requires battery packs to be replaced every two years (or depending on usage.) From June, 2001 the adoption has been very slow. During July, 2008 at least 260 Reva's (multiple models) were sold which is a record high. The Reva is priced at a one time price tag of close to $6,500 with an installed set of batteries. These have to be replaced at about $1000 every year. There's some comprehensive information and links on the Wikipedia Article (Reva). The cost has been a factor in slowing down adoption added to the fact that electric charges are required almost on a nightly basis. India has welcomed the car with reduced parking charges and several cuts. The G-Whiz model sold outside India is far too pricey ($12000 in Chile) and does not enjoy these environment friendly regulatory benefits.

For crowded cities in India where pollution is a heavy problem, Electrical cars with limited range for office commuters who'd prefer some shade (where public transport is a little inconvenient with timings) has received early adoption. i would presume that countries facing rapid development and growth rates will have to take this more seriously. Scaling public transport infrastructure has always been a challenge in many developing countries owing to a myriad of reasons. The basis for creating indices to track air pollution is outlined quite well in this paper (PDF) from

Electric cars have been lingering at the high point because no significant car has been rough to market. The Tesla and the Volt appear to be the firsts going there.

What about these?

MDI Enterprises S.A. - Air compressed cars
Electric Tiger Star Truck
Zenn Motor Company
Tata Motors
GM before the Volt
Zap Electric Cars
Global Electric Motors
Phoenix Motorcars
Dynasty Electric Cars
Nice Car Company
Reva
I could keep going but let me Google that for you.

We need to take the first steps if we are ever to migrate from oil to electric.

I agree.

http://www.revaindia.com/

This Company has been in business since 1994.

There is no need for "an essential electric vehicle infrastructure". what is needed are cars that run off the current infrastructure.

There's a car in india called the Reva that runs off electicity, and can be charged from any common power socket. Sure, it's a bit crap, but I'm sure Californian ingenuity can come up with a better design.

If the californian govt. wants to encourage electric car usage, they should sponsor design competitions, or offer tax breaks on electic cars, etc. etc, not plough money into massive top-down infrastructure projects.

Well, that's what I think anyway.

Ireland already has a charging infrastructure... and these are the most popular cars: http://www.greenaer.ie/ http://www.revaindia.com/revaworldwide.htm

The shape looks familiar on Indian roads and even the steering wheel which has an "R" makes me think of the electric cars branded Reva in India. Is the the same thing? You can find Reva's home page at http://www.revaindia.com/

Just to fill out your post a little, this is an indian company producing electric cars:
http://www.revaindia.com/
I think the reason they have not made in-roads to the US are the strict safety standards here.

Imagine a vehicle with no safety equipment - it could be EXTREAMELY light. Think of a tricycle with a battery and electric assist motor. I would drive something like that if there were better bicycle paths in town.

Here in India, a company Reva have a small plugin car available for a few years now.

It hasn't been a big hit, but you can spot a few of them in Bangalore streets.

Is there a comprehensive list of reasonably available electric vehicles?

The Reva ( http://www.revaindia.com/ ) has already been mentioned elsewhere in this thread --- one which I actually considered purchasing is the Twike ( http://www.twike.com/ ) (really more of an enclosed three wheel recumbent bicycle) --- there are some others though. A quick search on Google reveals:

  - http://www.zapworld.com/
  - http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php
  - http://www.gemcar.com/
  - http://www.zenncars.com/

There was an article in the local (Harrisburg, PA) paper recently about a local who'd purchased an all-electric scooter, and another about a (school teacher?) who had refurbished an electric car from the 70s which was street-legal 'causeit was grand-fathered in.

Of all the above, the only one which seems to have full equivalency to a gasoline powered vehicle is the Tesla (which is ~$100,000 if memory serves) --- I thought about getting a Twike, but it's ~$20,000, and would've required me to rent a vehicle for vacations, or to drive our other car (an 8 year old Cavalier w/ ~130,000 miles), so got a Chevy Aveo ($9,999 when I bought it the other year).

William

did we ever discuss about the Indian electric car company Reva any time in the past? Their latest variant, Reva i, released this month costs around USD 9K (at exchange rate of INR 40 per USD).

Sure, it can only do a top speed of around 50MPH with a range of 60 Miles per charge, but I guess that's enough for city driving? I don't know, but is USD 9K too much for a small electric car that can carry two adults & two children in your place? In India, it is a viable option as a second car, for the growing numbers of nouveau rich at least.

The Reva from India boasts of 50 Miles range with top speed of 50 MPH and cost per Mile of 2 Cents. It can carry two folks only though. I guess if they can just improve the battery to get to 100 Miles and top speed to 100 as well, I think it will become very viable to own one. Of course, the car is very small and flimsy but I guess those things can be improved over time.

http://www.revaindia.com/worldwidegallery.htm

http://www.electroauto.com/

sells and electric-car conversion kit. An inventor in korea has developed an electric generator from sea water

http://www.1000inventions.com/detail2.php?id=942

There are at least a dozen of these types of inventions out there. This is the only one I know of being looked at for commercial scale production. During the Y2K scare there was a small-scale commerically available version of this called the EnviroGen generator.

There is a company in India Reva producing a in-city car (tops out at 35 MPH). Most in-city trips top out at about 35 MPH. Plug this types of cars into a well designed mass-transit system such as DCs Metropolitan Transit bus/train system or Denver's Regional Transit bus/train system and you have a descent solution.

http://www.revaindia.com/

http://www.wmata.com/

http://www.rtd-denver.com/

They need cheap metal or equivalent.

That would be plastic. Go have a look at the Reva sometime. Small electric car, mostly plastic panels over a minimal steel subframe. Whether it stands up to acceptable crashworthiness standards is anyones guess, however they are relatively low speed vehicles.

Hey now, don't give him crap. He just doesn't know how to use google to actually look up the thing he is ranting about. Heck, the very first search page turns up Tesla Motors, the REVA, and freakin' Global Electric Motorcars, which is a Chrysler company, or even the upcoming Chevy Volt.

Maybe he thinks those electric cars suck (it's ok, a lot of other people think that too - but the Roadster and the Volt look pretty cool to me), he'd rather have a electric Civic or something like that. It's too bad there is a conspiracy to keep people from converting their existing cars to electricity. Oh, wait, no there isn't.

Google is the friend of the ranter... it keeps you from looking retarded.

Thats probably why this electric car is a craze in Bangalore. Read the Bio of the CEO. He was from GM !!

When the idea is always - how do I fill my next alternate-fuel powered SUV, the US will never have proper solutions. Compact Electric cars are a viable alternative. If we can keep those Damn SUVs and light trucks off some of the inner roads for even a period of time, people would feel safe to drive around in these cars. But that idea would quickly get political and shot down. The reason for the high price is $ valuation.

• No heavy magnets
• avg torque x RPM range
• So , no gears to mess with

The real issue around here is not the start problems - but driving them in rain or sleet , battery life and lack of repair shops. Speed has very little to do with the lack of their popularity.

The design is similar to a cheap electric commuter car called Revabeing sold in India.
Also, check out Reva electric commuter car photo gallery

Reva electric car home page

The design is similar to a cheap electric commuter car called Revabeing sold in India.
Also, check out Reva electric commuter car photo gallery

Reva electric car home page

The design is similar to a cheap electric commuter car called Revabeing sold in India.
Also, check out Reva electric commuter car photo gallery

Reva electric car home page

have a look at REVA
It come for around $5000 and is good value for money.

The best (less money, more feature, better looking) electric car I have known about is REVA

Hey ppl! Chk out this electric car -REVA -from India.
Features Grab:
This elegant, light-yet rugged, two-door sedan comfortably seats 2 adults in the front and 2 children upto a height of 5' and 6" (165 cms) in the rear. It has a range of 80 kilometers in stop-and-go city driving, and a top speed of 65 km/h.
you can read a review about it Here
It costs somethin like Rupees.2.20 lakhs (which is abt $5300).

The GEM at $2995 would have worked for me, but my backroad commute road is signposted 45mph even though it's stop and go most of the way.

The Reva (RCar) from India looks tempting.... but not available here yet (see second link, no response from emailing the guy).

I'm buying a motorcycle. Gas mileage is better, as is parking and being able to jump to the front of the line at lights. I'm a chicken so I won't be lane splitting.

Be interested to hear what other people come up with! My understanding is that the NEV (Neighboorhood Electric Vehicles) don't have to go through the strict crash tests, so they're cheaper to build and market... but only useful in a golfing community.

--D

and here is Linux.