LA RéVOLUTION

FRACTAL: a natural phenomenon or a mathematical set that exhibits a repeating pattern that displays at every scale, such as found in this Romanesco broccoli. FRACTAL: also the name of an electric concept car by Peugeot. In 2019, all electric vehicles in the European Union will be mandated to emit a noise to assure that […]

A New(ish) Leaf

The 2012 Nissan Leaf SL (above) had an MSRP of $38,415 when it was leased to a local couple in January, 2013. Two years later it came off of lease, and after being driven a few months by a dealer, I purchased it for $11,500 – almost $27,000 less. A virtually new car, with only […]

Faraday Future

Now comes FARADAY FUTURE announcing its future entree (2017) into the EV world. No vehicle(s) at this time. Just a company intending to build a vehicle that will have “four wheels.” They are sticking with four wheels. Plenty of articles are questioning almost everything about the venture, because I guess someone has to question everything. […]

Rocket Sled

The inspiration for the world’s fastest electric scooter can trace its origins to a singular moment in Brad Baker’s life. After cresting a hill on his cross-country bicycle ride from Virginia to Oregon, while soaking in the beauty of the Teton Mountains for the very first time, he was suddenly overwhelmed by a vision: A […]

Beyond The Zombie

“It’s the battery, stupid.” Everyone who designs and builds electric vehicles understands this axiom, John Wayland included. “It’s all about the battery.” But John isn’t just anyone involved with electric vehicles. He’s the man behind the legendary White Zombie, the all-electric Datsun 1200 that has been blowing the doors off of gas-powered competitors at the […]

Invisible Chinese Cars

Los Angeles, near the Staples Center. A Chinese automotive manufacturer has opened a showroom for its electric car. The showroom is empty, except for a few displays which are verboten to photograph. Look, but do not click. The woman manning the reception portal is polite and somewhat bemused by my arrival. Behind her and to […]

Ions in La La Land

I am in the land of the automobile. The City of Angels and McLarens. A place where you ARE what you drive. A city with more exotic luxury and sports cars per square mile than there has a right or need to be. Cars are king. They are everything. From Pinto to P1, if you […]

Nothing = Zero

If you want to buy an electric motorcycle that is capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 102 mph and a potential range of 185 miles, nothing equals Zero. Zero Motorcycles of Scotts Valley, California. In 2009, I had reached out to the founder of Zero […]

The More Things Change

When I was a kid, building an electric vehicle that would go farther than a few miles seemed like such a simple thing: just put a generator on board. When the batteries needed charging, fire up the generator et voilà: just keep on driving. It was a simple-minded solution at the time. Weight, energy density, […]