Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

EV critics with petrol fumes in their nostrils …

THE CRITICS of all-electric cars often assert that EVs are equally, if not more polluting than petrol vehicles, mainly because their power comes from coal-fired power stations. There is no comprehensive data to confirm that assertion, but the point may be relevant where coal alone drives a country’s power needs. This is not the case [...]

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EVs … now a matter of common sense

I GOT TO THINKING that after two years of driving the i-MiEV – providing us with an emissions-free, safe and cheap, solar-powered experience, why has the rest of the world not jettisoned petroleum in favour of electricity? One major reason is the global power of the oil industry – peak oil will gradually shrink that [...]

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EVs bring a little ray of sunshine …

Readers will recall that when my wife and I bought the first all-electric i-MiEV in Queensland two years ago, we decided to go the whole hog and power the car using solar panels on our office roof. We had our electrician install a 15amp socket in our car port and then connect it up to [...]

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Car makers take stock… EV motoring is on the way … but oh so slowly

AFTER ALMOST TWO YEARS of commercial EV sales around the world, the major car makers are facing a sluggish market and a growing enthusiasm for hybrids over all electric cars. For current owners like us, the decision to by an EV was a conviction decision … that is our commitment to zero emissions. It certainly [...]

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It is in all governments’ interest to support electric vehicle industry

ELECTRIC CAR PURCHASE by communities worldwide remains sluggish, and by now we know why. “The reality is that business model isn’t there yet,” says Brett Smith, co-director from the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “It isn’t there yet for volume. It isn’t there yet for reaching the mass consumer. And it probably [...]

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“It was the wheel barrow’s fault !”

AFTER 18 MONTHS the i-MiEV has had its first prang, but according to my wife it was the wheel barrow’s fault. When the best that 21st century automotive bodywork came up against a 20 year old timber and plastic wheel barrow … the wheel barrow won hands down. My wife was reversing the i-MiEV out [...]

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Silly critics trivialise EV motoring …

As we know the ‘petrol heads’ in our midst, and particularly those who write or broadcast about cars, have tended to sneer at EVs. They either ask the most obvious questions … what happens when the batteries run flat? or they deride EVs for their lack of macho look, sound and performance when compared with [...]

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i-MiEV blog: Keeping the EV batteries balanced

THE FIRST major service for our i-MiEV was due this month … that is 20,000 km or 12 months. We use the car for our business but, not surprising perhaps, there was less than 10,000 km on the clock when I drove it into Gary Crick Motors in Maroochydore. That’s because the battery range inhibits [...]

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The Chinese are charging ahead …

ALL EYES are on the major component that will really kick start the all-electric car revolution… long life batteries. Lithium ion batteries have already revolutionised tools and digital gadgets, from phones to hand drills, and of course the first generation of electric cars. But these batteries are heavy and need constant charging. The latest buzz [...]

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Auzimax software puts power in your hands …

Auzimax software gives you control of your power usage IHAVE BEEN powering the i-MiEV for several months now on sunlight – my 3.5kw panels not only provide all electricity needs to the house and office, but also to the car. I knew it was vastly cheaper than running a petrol car, but I wasn’t sure, [...]

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