What is an Electric Motorcycle?

Electric motorcycles look pretty much like a typical motorcycle but are powered by an electric battery rather than a gasoline-fueled engine. They’re generally somewhat bigger and more powerful than an electric scooter and can travel farther than a scooter when their battery is fully charged. They shouldn’t be confused with an electric bicycle, which can be pedaled if the driver prefers to only use the battery when cycling up a hill or covering a longer distance than the driver wants to pedal.

Eco Benefits of Electric Motorbikes

Like electric cars, electric motorbikes offer several benefits over gasoline-powered vehicles when it comes to air pollution, noise pollution, fuel source, and climate change.

• Because their fuel is electricity rather than gasoline, electric motorbikes use no oil or gasoline and emit none of the exhaust fumes that cause air pollution and smog. In fact, if you have chosen to get your electricity from a wind farm, you can power your bike with clean renewable energy.

• They’re not releasing carbon dioxide when they’re being driven, either, so operating an electric motorcycle doesn’t add to climate change.

• They can be charged during off-peak hours using the excess energy utilities generate in evenings, so they require no new source of fuel.

• They’re usually cheaper to operate than a gasoline-powered vehicle, since electric engines are cleaner than those powered by gas and oil.

• A driver can’t really rev an electric motorcycle engine, so it is generally quieter than a gasoline-powered motorcycle. (Some critics point out that the quietness of an electric motorcycle may make it harder for drivers to be aware they’re on the road.)

• Some advocates of electric motorcycles suggest that, because these vehicles are more lightweight than cars, they wreak less wear and tear on highways and roads. Because they’re smaller, motorcycles can take up less parking space, as well. At my Metro subway station, it looks like two motorbikes are being parked in the same size space that’s reserved for one car.

Compared to gas-fueled motorcycles, electric motorcycles do offer many tangible environmental advantages.

What About the Batteries?

Electric batteries may be made from lithium ion, nickel metal hydride or lead acid. Nickel metal hydride batteries are being phased out, so you most likely would be choosing between lead acid or lithium ion batteries.

Of these, research conducted by Alternative Energy eMagazine  and the transportation research department of Elsevier, Ltd. indicates that lithium ion batteries are better for the environment in several ways. In particular, it takes more raw material to make a lead acid battery than it does to make a lithium ion battery. Lead processing creates more pollution. Plus, lead is more toxic to human health. As with any vehicle battery, whether for a car or a motorbike, it is important to recycle the battery at the end of its useful life. If buying an electric motorcycle, opt for one powered by a lithium ion battery.

How Far Can An Electric Motorbike Travel?

The range of an electric motorbike will vary between 40 miles/25 km to 100 miles/65 km, depending on whether the battery is fully charged. That is certainly enough to cover a daily round-trip commute to work or to manage daily chores before the battery would need to be recharged. The amount of time it takes to recharge a battery will depend on the size of the battery. In almost all cases, the battery can be recharged fully overnight.

What About Mass Transit?

It will almost always make sense to use mass transit over a single-passenger vehicle, whether it is powered by electricity or gas. The economies of scale of manufacturing and powering one large vehicle to move many passengers usually outweigh those of making a smaller, single-passenger vehicle.

However, many people still have little or no access to buses, subways, trains or even carpools, and need to travel distances that are too far to walk or bicycle. For them, an electric motorcycle could be a good solution. Plus, there are millions of people who simply enjoy riding a motorcycle. I’d definitely encourage them to switch to a ride powered by electricity. You can compare models at Bikesales.com.au.

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 Hybrids

 Generally, hybrids are any vehicles that use more than one source of power. This usually entails using a traditional gasoline engine as well as an electric battery or engine. The car can often switch between gas and electric mode as needed to save energy depending on the conditions, providing a much more efficient driving experience. (Full Disclosure: I drive a 2002 Toyota Prius Hybrid, one of the first hybrids to be sold in the U.S. The car’s mileage varies depending on who is driving it; I usually get more miles to the gallon than do my (hotrodding) kids. Overall, I average around 40-42 mpg driving in the city. My car easily gets over 50 mpg on the highway.)

  How do Plug-Ins Work?

 In a conventional hybrid vehicle, the car carries a battery pack that can be charged by additional components already carried within the vehicle. These could include electric generators, or power derived from actions like braking. For example, the car brakes; that braking energy is captured and stored in a battery pack as electricity; the stored electricity can assist the vehicle’s gasoline engine, usually giving it a boost during acceleration. The gasoline engine remains the primary source of power in a hybrid car.

 In a plug-in, the electric motor is the primary power source, with the gasoline engine providing back-up. Once the electric charge is depleted, the gasoline engine kicks in. A plug-in hybrid can be charged in any wall outlet, whether at your home or at a charging station. A plug-in’s additional battery power allows it to travel longer distances without the need to burn any gasoline. As a result, plug-ins are often more efficient than traditional hybrids.

Advantages of Plug-Ins

 The extra electric capacity of a plug-in hybrid means that its primary advantage is that it can cover greater distances than a regular hybrid without using a drop of gasoline. Burning no or little gasoline helps protect the environment by reducing the pollution that causes smog and climate change. Because electricity is cheaper than gasoline, a plug-in hybrid should also save you money at the pump. If you keep track of the latest plug-ins through sources like Car Sales, our sponsors for this post, you’ll see that many of the recent models like the Chevy Volt can travel in all-electric mode for an EPA-estimated 38 miles at a time. The Volt actually can cover up to 380 miles on the combined energy provided by a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas. (See my test drive of the Volt here.)

 Disadvantages of Plug-Ins

 Although you’ll save money driving a plug-in hybrid, they do cost more upfront. For example, the Ford C-Max Hybrid gets around 45 mpg in the city, 40 mpg on the hwy, and costs around $21,000 USD. The Ford C-Max Energi Plug-in (pictured above) gets around 108 mpg in the city, and 92 mpg on the highway, but costs around seven thousand dollars more. One way to decide if the extra cost is worth it is to calculate how many miles you drive and how much money you’ll spend or save on gasoline by purchasing either vehicle.

 Plug-in hybrid batteries, which are lithium ion batteries, cost more to manufacture than regular hybrid batteries and need to be replaced more frequently, so that is another expense to calculate when considering your options. And remember: neither vehicle is fully electric, so you will still need to use gas from time to time, and take care of regular engine maintenance issues such as oil changes. Plug-ins are great for saving money around town, but if you’re planning a long-distance road trip or have a long commute, you’ll need to switch to gasoline mode, which means you’ll still be buying some gas.

 The Bottom Line

 Both hybrids and plug-in hybrids offer a wide range of advantages. They often come with outstanding mileage rates, and can save you money at the gas pump over time. Plus, they reduce air pollution and climate change, making them better for people as well as the planet. My suggestion is to go to a dealer who sells both hybrids and plug-ins. Take them both for a test drive, then do some calculations to figure out how much money and gas you’ll save with each vehicle. Choose the vehicle that best matches your desire to be a good green citizen as well as your pocketbook.

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 PHOTO CREDIT: Wikimedia Commons; Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz  

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Solid Nine. And that’s saying a lot, considering that most cars would probably average only a 3 or a 4.

What’s so great about the Leaf?

I had a chance to find out earlier this week when I stopped by the Nissan Leaf road show as it passed through my county. The Leaf is Nissan’s snazzy eco-friendly, all-electric car which means…it runs ONLY on electricity. It is NOT a gasoline-electric hybrid like the Ford Fusion or Chevy Volt, both of which I have also tested. The Leaf does not run on flex fuel or biodiesel or hydrogen or natural gas or anything other than electricity. It is truly gas-free.

Nissan had set up a big pavilion in the parking lot of the local mall to explain how the car works and then let people take it for a test drive. I was ready to be skeptical, since I drive a Prius (the original model, which I purchased in 2002), and love it. Instead, I fell in love with the Leaf. Here’s why.

Almost No Pollution: The Leaf’s motto is “100% electric. zero gas. zero tailpipe.” Because the car only runs on electricity, operating it generates none of the air pollutants that make smog, nor does it release the carbon dioxide that’s substantially responsible for climate change. It doesn’t even create noise pollution. In fact, the engine is so quiet, Nissan has had to build in a little “hum” to the system so you can tell the car is running!

It’s Very Zippy: The car can quickly reach speeds of 94 mph, according to the tour guides I met during my test drive (not that I ever drive that fast…). It’s also got a great turning radius so is very easy to park and maneuver, a plus in the city.

   It’s Made from Recycled Parts, and Can Be Recycled: For example, the seats are crafted from recycled soda bottles. Over 95% of the components of the vehicle can be recycled at the end of its life, including metal wiring, the car frame itself, tires, and other components.

It’s Spacious and Comfortable – With Convenient Cupholders: My Prius can feel a little small if it’s carrying five passengers or for someone who’s tall and sitting in the back seat. Plus, the cupholder for the back seats was flimsy and broke soon after we brought the car home. By comparison, the Leaf feels luxuriously spacious. And the cupholders – an important feature to many drivers – are built into the side of the doors rather than take up interior space on a central console. In addition, the hatchback trunk offers enough room for a bunch of bags of groceries or luggage if you’re traveling for a couple of weeks.

Covers Most Commutes: The Leaf has gotten a lot of publicity around the fact that it only travels about 100 miles on a single battery charge. But that’s plenty for most people, whose average daily commute is closer to 40 miles per hour. Plus, you can switch between a “drive” function and an “eco” function to extend the life of the battery if needed.

Charge at Home or at a Variety of Retail Outlets: No, you don’t have the convenience of pulling into a gas station to fuel your car. You can plug it into a regular outlet at home, though it will take 20 hours to charge using a common household socket. You can install a Home Charging Dock to reduce the charging time down to 7 or 8 hours, but it’s expensive: around $2,000. You can also plug it in at an increasing number of retailers, including Best Buy, Walgreen’s, Cracker Barrell, and others. Unlike with a cell phone, you can partially recharge the battery at any time and it won’t undermine the integrity of the battery.

Lots of Cool Aps and Online Tools Help You Get the Most Out of Every Charge: An iPhone Ap lets you turn the car on remotely or check how much charge you have left. An online mapping function lets you plug in all your day’s destinations and let you know how much charge you need to cover the distance.

What are the Downsides?

No Spare Tire:  As someone who’s had several flat tires over the years, it makes me nervous that this car does not come with a spare tire and the gear to change it. If I bought the car, I’d buy a spare tire and I guess I’d just have to keep it in the hatchback, but that would take up space I’d rather use for cargo.

It’s Relatively Expensive: At between $32, 700 for the standard model, and $35,200 for the upgrade (which includes a back-up viewfinder on the car’s interior console and solar panels on the hatchback for additional charging capacity), it’s pretty pricey. Even with federal tax credits of up to $7,000, the car will still cost almost $30,000. That’s cheaper than the upscale Tesla that George Clooney drives, but a lot more expensive than the current Prius after the same tax breaks.

Availability: Right now, all the 2011 Leafs are spoken for. If you want this car, you’ll have to order the 2012 model this fall and put down a $99 refundable deposit.

It’s Made in Japan: Right now, the Leaf is only made in Japan. The company is building a plant in Smyrna, Tennessee to manufacture the batteries for the car. Ultimately, said the reps,the company would like to build the entire car in the U.S., but it’s not made in America yet.

Charging Takes Time: As noted above, if you use a regular household plug, it will take 20 hours to fully recharge; if you want a faster charge, it will cost you a couple of thousand dollars to install a charging dock.

Bottom Line? I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If you generally travel less than 100 miles per day and can take advantage of state and federal tax credits to lower the price, consider the Leaf.

NOTE to Nissan – When I asked a guy from the road trip demo team what amount of state tax credit U could add to the federal tax credit, he was singularly unhelpful and simply suggested I go home and check online. Why not have a list of tax credits available in every state the road trip stops in to give consumers as much info as possible about the cost savings available for a purchase of this magnitude?

 WANT TO SEE MORE TEST DRIVES?

Test Drive the New Chevy Volt With Me

Ford Fusion Hybrid: Good Choice for Family Looking for High MPG

Comparing Hybrid Cars, The Honda Civic Came Out on Top for My Dad

Zip Car Comes to the Rescue (And Saves Me a Lot of Money)

Looking for Gas Saving Tips? Get Beat High Gas Prices Now: The Fastest, Easiest Ways to Save $20-$50 Every Month on Gasoline.

The post My test-drive of the all-electric Nissan Leaf – On a scale of One to Ten, I give it a … appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Learn how to drive as efficiently as possible.  Take note of these gas-saving tips and driving techniques and you’ll visit the pump less often. Plus, you’ll save $20-$50 a month on gasoline (photo credit).

• Recycle your car once it has reached the end of its life. Don’t send your vehicle to the junkyard before you’ve looked at this list.

• Carpool and use mass transit as much as possible. When you share the ride, you reduce your costs – and your impact on the air your breathe and the water you drink.

• Use a car-sharing service such as Zipcar, which may eliminate the need to own a vehicle altogether. It has certainly helped me!

• Walk, bicycle. Well, these are more “non” driving tips, aren’t they? But they do help you guzzle less gas; and manufacturing a bike or a pair of walking shoes uses far less resources than producing a car!

• And remember: if you are in the market for a new car, choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the size that will meet your needs. Visit FuelEconomy.gov to find the best available option for you.

The post Eco-Friendly Tips Will Reduce Your Car’s Environmental Impact appeared first on Big Green Purse.

NAIAS is showcasing what it calls the most recent advances in automotive technology at Detroit’s Cobo Center through January 24th.  Although NAIAS is featuring plenty of gas guzzlers, it is also highlighting dozens of electric, hybrid, and fuel-efficient vehicles.  On the ground floor, a 37,000 sq. foot exhibit called the “Electric Avenue” has been devoted solely to electrics.

Here are the highlights:

Chevy Volt

Price: TBA estimated $30,000-$40,000

Production Begins: 2010

Although the Volt appeared as a concept car previously, Chevrolet’s much-hyped hybrid electric is on display in anticipation of its launch later this year.  Drivers can travel up to 40 miles per charge on the Volt’s electric battery before the car switches to gasoline, at which point the car can go up to an additional 600 miles without a refill.  Personally, I believe the Volt is a game-changer.  Why? Click here to see what I told Fox News.

Nissan LEAF

Price: TBA, estimated $25,000-$30,000

Production Begins: 2010

Unlike the Volt, the LEAF is greener because it’s an all-electric car with no gasoline back-up system.  However, this benefit doesn’t come without a tradeoff: it can only travel 100 miles on a single charge, making the LEAF better suited for local drives rather than long-distance road trips.

Tesla Model S

Price: $49,500

Production Begins: 2011

The Model S gives the consumer a choice of three battery options, providing driving ranges from 160 to 300 miles between charges.  While the hefty price tag may place the Tesla out of reach for many middle-class consumers (like me), if you’re already in the market for a Lexus, Mercedes, or even a very flashy Camry, get your name on the Tesla list instead.

Honda CR-Z Hybrid

Price: TBA, estimated $25,000

Production Begins: 2010

Honda finally unveiled the production version of this vehicle after debuting the concept design years ago.  Two different transmission options will be available: 6-speed manual or the more fuel-efficient Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).  However, the fuel economy is somewhat underwhelming even with CVT, topping out at 36 city/38 highway miles per gallon.

Toyota FT-CH

Price: TBA

Production Begins: TBA

As the next member of its hybrid vehicle “family,” Toyota showed off the FT-CH as a lower-priced alternative to the popular Prius.  Intended for younger consumers, the FT-CH is also lighter and more fuel-efficient than its big brother.  The price and date of availability are unknown because it debuted as a concept car. Stay tuned.

As excited as we are about the development of electric cars, their price is not for the faint of heart. Consumers who buy these cars right now are doing so because it’s a smart way to save gas, improve national security by way of consuming less oil, and help reduce air and water pollution. You may not be financially ready to order a Tesla yet, but George Clooney has. Thanks, George.

If you’re interested in checking out the NAIAS cars for yourself, view a schedule of upcoming auto shows here.

You can also review EPA’s list of most fuel efficient vehicles here.

The post How Green are the Cars At the 2010 Auto Show? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

But given its compact size (it seats four comfortably, five only if the person in the middle back seat has short legs), it’s not the vehicle you’d willingly use to pick up your daughter — and all her stuff — from college, the challenge I faced recently.

Fortunately, I’m a member of ZipCar, the car company that lets you rent vehicles by the hour or the day. ZipCar, whose motto is “Wheels When You Want Them,” is gaining in popularity because it makes using a car so cheap compared to owning one.  According to the company’s calculations, owning a car like a Ford Fusion can cost you almost $800 a month, once you figure in parking, insurance, vehicle registration, gas, maintenance, new tires, and other related expenses. Even if you drive a lot (though not every single day), you could be paying as little as $322 a month using a Zip Car. You can join for $50 a year

Using my zippy membership, I was able to rent a Honda Element for the 7 hours I needed to retrieve my daughter from school.  I simply reserved my car a day in advance, walked two blocks in my neighborhood, and found the car clean and ready to go. I swiped my membership card over a scanner embedded into the windshield. The car doors unlocked, and I found the key in the ignition. Off I went, easy as pie, for a little more than $11/hr.

I chose the Honda Element over a wide range of other options because it offered the most room for the greatest amount of gas mileage. I drove 242 miles on about a tank of gas, for an average fuel economy of around 22 mpg – not quite as good as the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV (which wasn’t an option, either at ZipCar or at any of the conventional car rental companies I checked), but better than most conventional SUVs. I filled the gas tank up using the gas card in the glove compartment, so it didn’t cost me anything.

Interested? If you live here or go to school here, you can rent a ZipCar. If your city’s not on the list, send the company an e-mail and let them know you’d like to Zip. They’re opening new locations all the time – maybe you can get them to consider your neighborhood. You can also search “car share” on the Internet to see similar options other companies may be offering in your community.

Thumbs up, ZipCar!

By the way, don’t miss these Big Green Purse tips on saving gas and choosing fuel-efficient vehicles.

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