Archive for May, 2009
Norwegian Think Car to be manufactured in Portland, OR?
Posted by Jeffrey in General News, Green Cars on May 28th, 2009
I like to think of the Pacific Northwest as leaders in the green vehicle movement. Soon, we may have Norwegian’s Think! EV built in Portland to give us some serious green credibility.
Reports began in April that Think North America could use an old Freightliners plant in Portland, OR to bring it’s small EV to the United States. The move would not only provide about 900 jobs to the area, but Oregon seems keen on using the partnership to explore building an EV infrastructure with charging stations. (Think is also talking with several other states, so no final decision has been made yet.)
What is Th!nk?
From the official Th!nk city page:
TH!NK city demands very little of you. In fact, not much more than a mobile phone. Just an overnight power top-up, and it’s ready to go in the morning.
TH!NK city is a modern urban car. With zero local emissions and an energy efficiency three times that of a traditional combustion engine car, it is a car for the environment. And it is a fun car for you. A choice of sodium or lithium batteries allows you to accommodate your car to your driving style, travelling up to 180 kilometres in one charge, with a top speed of 100km/h. Driving a silent car will give you a totally new experience.
It is a 100% electric vehicle that is currently being sold in Europe. It’s a two-seater, but has the option for two more smaller back seats. It is not only safe, but is made in an evironmentally-responsible manner, and it is made to be recycled at the end of its life. (Full specifications here.)
Little Guy: Smart Travel
Posted by admin in Tools & Toys on May 18th, 2009
If ever there was an RV aptly named, it’s the Little Guy Teardrop Camping Trailer.
Teardrop camping trailers are an affordable, versatile, easy-towing answer for those eager to graduate from tent camping to RV living, those just getting started in the RV lifestyle or those looking to downsize from a larger, heavier RV requiring more fuel to tow or drive.
Whether you drive a Smart Car or a mid-sized SUV there exists a Little Guy for you. Weighing in at just under 500 lbs the smallest model, or Rascal, is light enough to be towed by a 1500 cc motorcycle. It also features a fullsize mattress and like all Little Guys, partners with hundreds of accessories. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the largest trailer features a king-size mattress and measures a full 6 feet wide. With portable heating-and-air conditioning systems and paint options ranging all the way to camouflage, customizing your Little Guy doesn’t stop at size.
The series is based on the early, egg-shaped camping trailers made popular after World War II, when returning GIs packed up their growing families and began exploring the U.S. in home-built camping trailers made from military surplus parts.
In addition to personality, little impact on fuel economy and minimal carbon footprints make these low cost, green alternatives, a no-brainer. Additional model and product information can be viewed online at www.golittleguy.com (A PDF brochure is available here.)
The Green Car Co. is your exclusive dealer for Little Guy trailers in the NorthWest. Contact us and we’ll help you pick ou the best trailer for your car.
Bad Appliance! - How to monitor electricty usage.
Posted by admin in Tools & Toys on May 3rd, 2009
It’s no secret that appliances around the house are constantly gobbling down electricity: that TV may be off, but it’s still plugged in, right? Is the refrigerator working overtime? How’s that old freezer in the garage doing? Being an appliance detective is easier than you think thanks to a number of tools readily available.
To really get a hold of your energy usage, your first stop should be your electricity bill. Here’s a sample bill, but depending on your electricity provider, it will look different. The key part is the bar graph. This will give you a good overview of what your power usage trends are. If you have electric heat, you would expect to see your power usage increase in the winter when you need to heat your home more.
However, just looking at your electric bill won’t tell you which appliances are using the most energy. There are several tools out there to help you approximate what is normal for an appliance (such as this one), but these tools are only simplified guesses.
If you want to really reign in misbehaving appliances, then co
nsider something like the Kill A Watt EZ, (which we sell at The Green Car Company).
There are several tools like this, and each varies in features and price. This particular model retails for $49.95 ($29.95 for it’s little brother, the Kill A Watt). They are very simple to use: plug them into an outlet, then plug the appliance into the device. It will keep track of how much electricity the appliance uses and provide cost forecasts. If you’re considering an electric vehicle, then this is definitely something you will want so you can keep track of how much money it is saving you in fuel costs!
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