It once started with a sales pitch. A happy greeting and hand-shake, “What can we put you into today?” Now, Electric Car dealers need to be educators, too.

Today, selling electric cars is as much about being a teacher as it is a car dealer. Those on the look out for a brand new Tesla S or Nissan Leaf are not searching for the “tried and true” dealership method.

They want to be impressed the moment their feet touch the dealership carpet. Auto makers like Tesla turned their businesses into something that more resembles an Apple Store and not a car franchise.

Screens and colorful posters, hanging from walls that surround wide sales floors complete with sample vehicles, educate the buyer on what it means to be an EV. Tesla hopes its stores will become places where people “spend time when they’re not looking to buy a car.” At least, that’s the plan from George Blankenship, former Apple and Gap retail chief and now head of Tesla’s retail strategy. “The goal is to provide an enjoyable, educational and low-pressure customer experience, so that when a prospective buyer is ready to buy, ‘“they’ll remember,’” he added.

Other dealers, like Coda (who will sell the Coda Sedan in the US starting next year) are looking towards the internet. Sales for Coda will be set up online, but dealerships are being constructed so those interested can test drive the vehicle. Best of all, there won’t be any sales pressure – Coda wants to staff these locations with “non-commissioned” employees.

Electric Car Dealers hope to turn a major profit. Setting up stores to not only sell cars, but to educate buyers, is an expensive process. In the end, shoppers still need to trust the person shaking their hand and greeting them at the door. That is one companion to car sales that will never change.

Source: The New York Times

First off – yes the plane can fly in cloudy or rainy weather. With solar powered and electric cars becoming a bit more “normal” in today’s market, other solar powered modes of transit are not far off. Case in point – the Solar Impulse.

The 2010 inaugural flight of Solar Impulse proves that this sun-powered airplane can achieve a greater flight time and efficiency then the latest in gas-powered jet engine travel.

The Impulse’s engineers spent seven years developing the craft. Its first flight, which left from Switzerland, traveled at an altitude of 4,000 feet after capturing its energy with 12,000 solar cells. How long does it fly? Solar Impulse is no Spruce Goose – the pilot stayed airborne for 26 straight hours – using only stored energy (that means even after the sun set). Welcome to the future – coach, business, or first class?

What if there was an easy outlet for electric car lovers to share power with another individual’s vehicle? This global electricity idea is about to become a reality. Xatori, a Silicon Valley software start-up, hopes to create networks of electric car enthusiasts, sort of like a green Facebook. These green car lovers will provide charging points, via their household power outlets, to other drivers in need of juice and not close to public-charge stations.

Xatori released their “PlugShare” iPhone app, which allows drivers and outlet owners to find each others’ location. Drivers simply punch in their destination to see the availability of outlets and public charging stations along the way. Those who share electricity indicate the type of outlet or charger they have, how to gain access, and a preferred method of contact.

“We want to break down that barrier in people’s minds about where it’s acceptable to charge,” said Armen Petrosian, Xatori’s co-founder and chief technology officer. “We think the infrastructure to charge is everywhere. I think a big positive of using the app is that you get to connect with other E.V. owners.”

“People who don’t own an electric car can be part of the electric vehicle revolution,” said Forrest North, Xatori’s chief executive and founder of Mission Motors, a start-up that is developing an electric motorcycle.

Xatori’s founders, who believe that most people will share their standard 110-volt household outlets. In the San Francisco Bay Area, it will cost on average about 15 cents an hour to charge an electric car.

“This is more like a backup network, like A.A.A.,” added Mr. Petrosian, “Most of the time you’ll drive on energy from your own house. If you miscalculate, you can rely on the community.”

Source: NY Times

Google has tested their driverless car for over 140,000 miles, but some are still skeptical. Google recently told fans and the press that it has been working on driverless cars for some time now, logging over 140,000 miles on test tracks.

For now, the cost of such a vehicle is not very economical, but it proves one solid fact – the technology exists. Google’s auto-car could have a huge impact on the tech of traveling.

According to Google & Gas2 – The Google cars use computer A.I., cameras, lasers, and GPS devices to figure out where to go, how fast to go, and where other cars are. So far Google says there has been just one accident from its fleet of seven cars… when somebody else rear-ended a Google driverless car. That is pretty impressive, and a computer would be better able to optimize travel speed for fuel efficiency, timing, and could better account for things like traffic while the human passenger can be as distracted as he or she wants.

Getting these cars off the ground could pose an issue – many have their own misgivings about trusting a car to deliver them safely so, and manual override systems will be a must. And then there’s cost. While Google hasn’t said what all this technology costs, it won’t be cheap at first.

But driverless cars ARE possible in our lifetime, and we may one day find ourselves riding passenger to the empty driver’s seat.

Source: gas2.org

Europe, yes I mean all of Europe, hopes to have a completely EV automotive infrastructure set up by the year 2017 – two years after the release of Jaws 19. The European Automobile Manufacturer’s Association has agreed on a set of standards for the plugs and sockets needed to recharge electric vehicles. The unified standard will allow Europe to more quickly develop an infrastructure capable of handling the vehicles, with several all-electric models scheduled to come to market over the next few years.

The organization, also known by the abbreviation ACEA for its French name, counts many of the world’s largest automakers amongst its membership. BMW, Daimler, Fiat, Jaguar Land Rover, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Volkswagen and Volvo are all part of the group. The European divisions of Ford, General Motors and Toyota are also members, as well as several commercial vehicle manufacturers.

“We want to avoid a situation where customers have to carry a multitude of charging cables to use their vehicles in different cities, regions and countries, just as we see today with items like mobile phones,” said ACEA Secretary General Ivan Hodac in a statement to Automotive News.

-Source, WCF

Everyone is getting on the electric car bandwagon – From Tesla to BMW, Chevy and even Toyota. Before, the main focus was on sheer eco-friendliness, but now Sports and Luxury are becoming just as important for auto makers, as their research and development people construct the hybrid/electric vehicles we may all one day drive. But there are many obstacles up against those who take money away from Big Oil and Governments. Yet, it doesn’t stop foreign auto companies from putting together some fancy hybrid rides. Check out our favs below.

BMW Concept ActiveE: 1-Series Goes Electric

BMW’s ActiveHybrid series is one of the most ambitious luxury alternative fuel concepts ever imagined. The German auto maker claims its vehicle has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 and a 40-kW electric motor. How much power that combination creates is a mystery thus far- although we know the 7 Series ActiveHybrid needs to be gas-electric, while the 5 Series can run on electric-only power. Now that’s impressive.

Mercedes CLS – F800 Style Edition

One of the more spectacular options that goes along with owning a Mercedes F800 is its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged from household currents or local charging station. Convenient! Mercedes says its F-Cell technology also could be adapted to the F800, bundling a 136-hp, rear-drive electric motor that generates 214 pound-feet of torque with a fuel cell stack. Range is said to be nearly 375 miles. The concept’s hybrid powertrain provides 0-60 acceleration in 4.7 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph, says Mercedes.

Tesla Roadster – Death Becomes It

One of the most infamous electric sports cars out there is Tesla’s Roadster. It’s been killed off several times already, and when the all-electric sports car seems like it’ll hit more dealerships outside of California, three Tesla execs die in a small plane crash. Conspiracy theory much? And just this week, Tesla Motors announced they will cease production of the Roadster in 2011. They already have a planned replacement, Model S, for 2013 – but the company needs to start paying off a $465 million loan with the Department of Energy. And you thought college loans were bad. We still have high hopes for Telsa – they’ve been through hell, which could make them stronger in the end.

5 by Peugeot – French Environmentalist Auto

Even the French are into going green. With their “5 by Peugeot” the auto maker has combined a luxury hybrid with the speediness of German cars. It uses a front-mounted 163 bhp 2.0-liter diesel engine, which works with a 27 kW electric motor at the back. The two combine for 147 kW / 200 PS when both systems are in use, providing power to all four wheels. At low speeds, the 5 goes all-electric, and has upwards of 61.9 MPG US. Too bad we’ll never see a Peugeot in ‘Merica outside of their bicycles.

Electric Zamboni For 2010′s Vancouver Olympics

As more auto makers are turning to luxury hybrids, sports electric and plug-ins for the future of production models we are optimistic The Electric Car will survive – no matter what Government Black Ops have to say about them.

Now on a somewhat related, and embarrassing note – The electric Zamboni was part of Canada’s attempt at a green Vancouver Olympics, and was a failure not once, not twice, but thrice! According to Jalopnik, “The Canadian-built electric ice resurfacers (note: Zamboni is a brand of ice resurfacers, these are built by Olympia) used at the Richmond Olympic Oval are supposed to help the environment but it cost the second half of the 500M speedskating pairs after one ice-resurfacing machine couldn’t properly clean the ice. Then a second machine failed. Then they brought in a third and it, too, screwed up the course.” Good try, Canada – but leave the trendy green car stuff to Americans…and Europeans…and Japanese.

Sources: Jalopnik | Inside Line | Worldcarfans

As consumer demand for electric cars continues to grow so has the number of electric car companies. Automopedia.org brings you ten up and coming electric car companies that you should keep your eye on. These companies are leading the way in developing electric vehicles for all types of uses. From affordable compact city vehicles to high performance sports cars, there is an electric car company out there building your dream green machine.

1. Tesla Motors
www.teslamotors.com
Based out of Silicon Valley, Tesla Motors was found by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning in the summer of 2003. The private company’s first production vehicle is an all electric sports car called the Tesla Roadster. The vehicle can travel 221 miles on a single charge and the ability to go 0-60 in under 4 seconds. The company has plans to introduce a sedan in 2009 and an affordable model codenamed “Bluestar” by 2012.

2. Commuter Cars
www.commutercars.com
Commuter Cars is an electric car company out of Spokane, Washington founded by Rick & Bryan Woodbury. The company’s current production model is the the narrow 2 door, the Tango T600. The vehicle cost $108,000 and requires minimal assembly upon delivery. Actor George Clooney was the first to receive a T600in August 2004.

3. Global Electric Motorcars
www.gemcar.com
Global Electric Motors (GEM) was founded by ex GM employees in 1992 and purchased by Chrysler in 2000. The company currently offers 6 different models and has produced over 35000 vehicles. The vehicles are plug in battery electric and have an average range of 30 mph. GEM vehicles have been very popular fleet vehicles, on military bases, airports, golf courses, parks and senior communities.

4. AC Propulasion
www.acpropulsion.com
AC Propulsion was founded in San Dimas, CA in 1992 by Alan Cocconi. The company produces a top of the line sports car called the “AC Propulsion tzero” as well as electric vehicle drive systems. AC propulsion has also developed prototype vehicles including a Volkswagen that has been modified to run on electricity called the “Plug Bug.”

5. Venturi
www.venturi.fr
Venturi is a French automaker that was founded in the mid 80′s. The company started off producing high end sports cars under the names MVS, which in English stand for sport car manufacturer. In 2001 the manufacturer was bought by Gildo Pallanca who has since shfted the focus of the company to electric powered vehicles. The companies current models include the Eclectic and Astrolab. The low speed Eclectic is the first ever energy autonomous car, with solar panels, a wind charger and the ability to be plugged in. The Astrolab is a hybrid that runs on a plug in charge or solar energy.

6. Think
www.think.no
Think is an Aurskog, Norway electric car company founded in 1991. The company has had its ups and downs, with company ownership changing hands multiple times, but a revamped model of the Think City is currently in production. The vehicle will be available in the US by the second half of 2008 and features a 106 mile range and a top speed of 62mph.


7. ZENN
www.zenncars.com
ZENN Motor Company is a Canadian based company that manufactures neighborhood electric vehicles. The company was found by a professional photographer named Ian Clifford who started the business after finding it difficult to purchase an electric vehicle in Canada. In 2001 the company teamed up with French automaker Microcar, utilizing the company’s small diesel powered vehicles. ZENN is currently working with EEStor, a company that has developed a battery that gets 800 kilometers per charge.

8. Lightning Car Company
www.lightningcarcompany.com
The Lightening Car company develops high performance electric sports car at its Peterborough location. The company’s first production car, the Lightening GT, went on sale in 2008. The vehicle features all wheel drive, can get 250 miles per charge and has a top speed of 150mph. The compnay is currently taking deposits on the Lightening which will br delivered in 2009.

9. Nice
www.nicecarcompany.co.uk
The NICE Car Company was founded in 2005 in London. The young company has already began distributing the Mega City, an electric city car that was developed by Aixam-Mega. NICE is also a distributer for Vectrix, Mega Mult-itrucks and electric scooters by e-max and Oxygen.

10. REVA
www.revaindia.com
REVA is an India based manufacturer of an electric city car. The automaker has produced more electric cars than any other company and sales continue to increase. The REVA is a 3 door hatchback that can accommodate 2 adults and 2 children. The vehicle’s top speed is 45mph and has a range of 50 miles. The vehicle may be imported to the U.S. Where it can be used as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle. The compnay plans to offer models with increased range, speed and acceleration in 2008.