A recently-published study by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) ranks the top 20 cities where going car-free will save the most money. Number 14 on the list is Washington, DC, which has nearly 200,000 car-less households already.

The APTA’s report claims that the average DC resident would save $10,282 per year in transportation-related costs by giving up his or her vehicle and traveling solely via public transport. The APTA considered up-to-date gas prices, parking rates, and bus and train fares in its calculations. The annual figure equates to around $857 per month in savings.

The $857 in monthly savings takes into account car payments, insurance, repairs, fuel, and parking fees. If you think that number is on the high side, consider the $1,218 monthly cost of owning a private vehicle in the first city on the list: New York. Rounding out the top five are Boston ($1,127), San Francisco ($1,095), Seattle ($999), and Chicago ($978).

The study provides us with some idea of the high and often hidden costs of owning and operating a personal vehicle. Car pools, trains, buses, taxis, bicycles, and walking are just some of the many alternatives with the potential to save significant money. But the convenience and necessity of a car are inarguable facts for many individuals, and it is difficult to put a price tag on these things.

The American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization that actively promotes the use of public transport in the United States.

Plugless Power EV Charging Station

Plugless Power, an innovative EV charging station that uses hands-free, wireless inductive charging, has been installed at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Developed by Evatran, the charging stations are built into parking spaces to automatically charge the electric vehicle while it’s parked. This is the first public trial of the system. Google utilizes a variety of EVs to get around their campus and also provides them in their employee car sharing program.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The obvious benefit of inductive charging is the convenience, but it is also safer as there is no risk of electric shock. However, a certain amount of efficiency is lost when transferring energy inductively. In general, this technology has an efficiency rate of 90% and according to Plugless Power, their system is expected to run at the same rate. An adapter that has been specifically designed for each EV model is retrofitted onto the vehicle. With Plugless Power, Evatran wants to play a part in  developing an infrastructure of convenient EV charging stations which they believe is the key to widespread acceptance of electric vehicles.

EV Charging Stations Map

Meanwhile, Google will do it’s part in aiding electrified motorists by adding EV charging stations to Google Maps. The feature is a more user-friendly way of getting finding the locations of over 600 EV charging stations across the country.  The information will be continuously be updated via the U.S. Department of Energy.

Fuel efficient hydrogen-powered Hyundai vehicles will soon be cruising Scandanavian streets, thanks to a pilot program which aims to introduce them to the European market.  Government employees in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland will operate the test fleets of the FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) under the program announced this week.

Hyundai targeted these four nations for the program largely because there is already an infrastructure in place to replenish the vehicles’ hydrogen fuel cells.  SHHP, the Scandanavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership, oversees a network of refueling stations around the region and also promotes hydrogen as a sustainable fuel source for the future.

Hydrogen Filling Station In Copenhagen (image: Hydrogen Link via SHHP)

Through its “Blue Drive” initiative, Hyundai has recently been making moves to position itself as one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of fuel efficient cars.  The FCEVs join Hyundai’s BlueOn electric car and hybrid vehicles as part of its eco-friendly fleet.  According to Woong-Chul Yang, Hyundai’s President of Research & Development, “This agreement will be a stepping stone for the Hyundai Motor Group to lead the FCEV market in Europe.”

Map Of Hydrogen Fuel Stations In Scandanavia (image: SHHP)

Hyundai hopes to bring hydrogen cars to the general market by 2015.  Learn more about Hyundai and their BlueDrive initiative at their website.

2012 Ford Focus Electric

Since the release of our 2011 electric car review, Ford has unveiled the new 2012 Focus Electric, first at the recent 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show, and currently at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Though showing up a little late to the electric vehicle party, Ford is flaunting the new Focus’ ability to recharge the 23 kwh lithium-ion battery in as little as 3-4 hours, half the time as that of the Nissan Leaf, by using a faster 6.6 kilowatt on-board charger plugged into an optional 240 volt charging station that can be installed in the home.

Ford Focus Electric Lithium-Ion Battery

The advanced battery system uses an active liquid cooling and heating system to keep the battery at a steady temperature in order to maximize mileage during fluctuations in driving conditions. Ford is also offering up an electric vehicle app for Smartphones which would allow the user to keep track of the charge level, map out the nearest charging stations, and estimate CO2 emissions and money saved based on driving habits to help maximize efficiency.

Ford Charging Station Sold at Best Buy

Ford has joined forces with Best Buy to sell and install the 240 volt charging stations to Focus Electric customers in their homes. The cost for this is set to run around $1,499, which is about $700 less than the charging station Nissan is offering through their car dealers. Another benefit to Ford’s charging station, manufactured by Leviton, is that it’s portable, since it’s not being permanently hard-wired into the home electrical system. Though there have been some questions raised about the feasibility of a non-permanent unit meeting electrical codes, Ford doesn’t seem to be concerned and Geek Squad technicians from Best Buy will perform an electrical audit as well as take care of all the red tape with the electric company. Best Buy is also set to provide charging stations for Mitsubishi’s new EV, the Mitsubishi i. See PlugInCars for more information on these charging stations.

Ford Focus Electric Illuminated Charge Port

Ford has yet to announce a list price for the new 2012 Ford Focus which is set to hit the market in late 2011, but insiders predict that Ford will continue on the competitive streak by selling the Focus below the Leaf’s MSRP of $32,780. The Focus has traditionally been Ford’s entry as an affordable car for the younger crowd and with the Honda Fit EV and the Mitsubishi i set to come in under $30,000, Ford could continue to make news in the electric vehicle sector.

Electric Cars Making A Comeback in 2011

2011 is being heralded by auto industry insiders as the “year of the electric car”. Though we here at Metaefficient endorse a life free of dependency upon cars, 100% electric vehicles are certainly more fuel efficient than internal combustion vehicles and may be on their way to becoming user-friendly as well.

For 2011 consumers interested in electric vehicles will have an array of options to choose from.Currently, the biggest news makers are Nissan with its’ 100% electric powered Leaf and Chevrolet with the Volt, while other major car companies have electric vehicles in development. Since sales of hybrid cars have increased while new car sales overall has decreased, manufacturers are confident that people are ready to embrace electric vehicles. Forecast predictions are optimistic. Executive Vice President of Nissan, Carlos Tavares, anticipates that “electric vehicles will account for 10 percent of all cars sold globally by 2020″. Though with the cost of an electric car still hovering above the $30,000 mark, other industry experts disagree. Here’s an overview of what’s available and what to look for in the coming year.

2011 Nissan Leaf

2011 Nissan Leaf

The 2011 Nissan Leaf launches the official beginning to mass market production of a 100% electric powered vehicle. Powered by an 80 kilowatt electric motor using a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery, the Nissan Leaf boasts swift acceleration with an ultra-quiet cabin and speeds up to 90 mph. On a full charge, the Leaf has a range of 62-138 miles depending upon driving conditions. The EPA rating on the Leaf is 106 mpg city, 92 mpg highway, and 99 mpg combined with an estimated driving range of 73 miles. Recharging the battery at home will take around 4-8 hours. A commercial charge station can charge it in 30 minutes. The standard navigation system will display charging stations available along your route. Nissan says the average life of the battery is 5-10 years depending on usage. With the $7,500 federal tax savings applied, the cost of the Nissan Leaf comes down from the MSRP price of $32,780 to $25,280.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Though technically a hybrid, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is being included in the electric vehicle category because it is able to operate in an electric-only mode. After traveling about 40 miles on a 111 kilowatt, 149 horsepower electric motor, the onboard gasoline powered generator kicks in to supply the electricity needed to travel another 300 miles. The most advance hybrid vehicle, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt has been named by Motor Trend magazine as the car of the year. Edmunds states it may be the most fuel efficient car on the market. The EPA rating on the Volt is 93 mpg equivalent using the all electric mode and 37 mpg when the gas is on. What you save in fuel economy though will be paid for at the dealership. The MSRP on the 2011 Chevy Volt is $40,280. Apply the federal tax credit and you’ll still be looking at a sticker price of at least $33,000. Also, the lithium-ion battery can only be charged at home.

2011 Tesla Roadster

2011 Tesla Roadster

So maybe you don’t have an extra 100k lying around and probably you’re name isn’t George Clooney, but there’s no denying the fact the 2011 Tesla Roadster sends a lightning bolt of sexy into owning an electric vehicle. With 288 horsepower, the carbon fiber Roadster reaches 60 mph in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph. It can go for 245 miles on a full charge. A 2011 Tesla Roadster will set you back $109,000. But as Tesla boasts unrivaled performance and the industry’s best battery, we can only hope that the advanced engineering of Tesla will trickle down to other car companies.

Still to Come in 2011

Ford Focus eV

Ford is set to unveil its’ electric version of the Ford Focus at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show. The car pictured has been featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s “Green Car Challenge”. Ford is set to release an estimated 5,000 lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles over the next couple years with an estimated range of 100 miles. BYD Auto has a line of electric vehicles manufactured in China and backed by investor, Warren Buffet. They are set to debut an all electric crossover and a plug-in hybrid SUV at the 2011 Detroit Auto show, though they may face obstacles breaking through the made in China label with U.S. consumers.

Toyota is set to release a plug-in hybrid version of the Prius in 2012. It will work similarly to the Chevy Volt, but is anticipated to cost as much as $10,000 less at a cost of $29,900 before tax incentives. Mitsubishi could beat Toyota to the under $30,000 price point though as it plans to start selling the 2012 Mitsubishi i in the U.S. beginning fall 2011. The Mitsubishi i is currently the best selling electric car in Japan and the U.S. version will be more powerful with an average 85 mile range. Honda will enter the green car price war with the electric version of the Honda Fit in 2012, also expected, perhaps optimistically, to be priced under $30,000.

Bottom line: the electric vehicle industry is knocking on the door to tomorrow, but to gain entry the cost to consumers may need to come down by developing even more efficient battery technology or by embracing the battery switching ingenuity of Better Place to appeal to a larger market. Should be interesting to watch as the auto industry battles for the electric vehicle customer. In the meantime, if you’re not ready to take the EV plunge, then you can always take the train.

Better Place Shows Electric Taxis Working in the Real World

Shai Agassi, founder and CEO of Better Place, has a vision — a vision for a world free of oil dependency. Mr. Agassi, who is well on his way to making this vision a reality, has what he believes is the solution for making electric vehicles efficient and affordable. He theorizes that the only way to take electric vehicles into mainstream society is to eliminate the inconvenience factor, in this case, the battery. Enter Better Place, which is already underway in Israel and Denmark. The Better Place plan is to build an infrastructure of battery charging and switch stations. What if, instead of having to plug in your car for a lengthy amount of time, you could pull into a battery exchange station and have a fully charged battery placed in your vehicle in the tenth of the time that it takes to fill up at the gas station, and without even getting out of the car?

Electric Taxis In Action

In much the same way that a cell phone company provides minutes, Better Place would sell miles to their customers. A Better Place consumer would purchase a monthly mileage package that would include charging and use of the battery switching stations. Shai Agassi tells us that this system would bring the cost of an electric vehicle down from the hard to grasp $30,000 mark to the more reasonable $15,000 price point, thus reaching a larger market and moving us closer to an oil-free lifestyle.

2011 Renault Fluence Z.E.

By partnering with Renault-Nissan, Better Place has already put the system to the test with the successful Tokyo Electric Taxi Project. Over 3,000 passengers have used the electric taxis traveling over 40,000 kilometers. Project data states that the taxi drivers went through the battery switching stations 2,122 times with the average switch time lasting 59.1 seconds. Later this year, Better Place will be delivering 115,000 Renault Fluence Z.E. electric sedans to customers in Israel and Denmark with plans to build over 100,000 EV charging stations and 100 (to start) battery exchange stations for each country.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Better Place is also working with leading battery manufacturers to provide the most reliable and up-to-date Lithium-ion batteries to place in their EVs. Shai Agassi points out that battery technology has made leaps and bounds over the past few years with considerably more storage capacity and twice the power capability, which improves the range and performance of EVs. Better Place is committed to environmentally safe practices by using recyclable batteries and renewable energy sources to power their charging stations. It will still be some time before residents in North America can pull into their local Better Place service station, but some will get the opportunity soon. Over the next 3 years, the Electric Taxi Project will unfold in the San Francisco Bay area with 4 battery exchange stations to support the electric taxi fleet. Hawaii is also on the list to begin building a foundation of Better Place charge stations starting in early 2011.

Best Bike Car Racks: Thule Passage 3-Bike Rack

Cycling is one of the most efficient ways to get around, and bicycle commuting is often a much better option than driving.  But sometimes you need to transport your bicycle from point A to point B before you can ride – which is where a good bike rack for your car comes in.  We’ve put together the following list of the best trunk-mounted bike racks available.  All are adjustable to fit a wide variety of vehicles, but we recommend checking the manufacturer’s specs before buying just to be sure.

Editor’s note:  There are some excellent roof-mounted bicycle car racks on the market, but we’ve focused here on trunk racks because they enjoy the following advantages:
-Better fuel economy when driving, since trunk racks tend to be more aerodynamic than roof racks
-Bikes are better protected from road grime and debris
-Less danger of damage to bikes from overhanging obstacles
-Trunk racks are easier to remove when not in use

Thule Passage 3 Bike Car Rack

Thule Passage 3 Bicycle Car Rack

Thule’s Passage bicycle car rack is versatile enough to fit almost any car thanks to the adjustable FitDial system.  Adjustment is simple, and the six-strap harness holds the rack secure.  One particularly nifty feature is the Stay-Put “anti-sway cage” design that limits the rocking motion of bikes on the rack, and helps prevent damage to your vehicle or other bikes during transport.  “SoftCushion” pads and vinyl-coated hardware help protect your vehicle’s paint job, and the arms of the rack fold away when they’re not actually carrying your bikes.

You can find the Thule Passage 3-Bike Trunk Rack for $107.95 at Amazon.

Saris Bones 3 Bike Car Rack

Saris Bones 3 Bicycle Car Rack

The Saris Bones 3-bike rack combines the practicality of a trunk rack with some stylish Italian design twists.  The heavy-duty injection-molded plastic frame won’t rust or corrode, and the arc shape of the arms helps protect bikes from each other by holding them at different levels.  The angle of the arms is adjustable, and the arched design will fit on most vehicles with spoilers (as well as flat-back vehicles like minivans or SUVs).  Finally, the Bones bicycle car rack is available in seven color choices, with $5 from the purchase of pink & purple racks going to support cancer research.

The Saris Bones 3-Bike Trunk Rack is available in gray, green, blue, pink, purple, red, and yellow at Amazon for $143.99.

Yakima Super Joe 2 Bike Car Rack

Yakima Super Joe 2 Bicycle Car Rack

The Super Joe carries 2 bikes, secured with Yakima’s “StableCradle” attachments.  The six-strap harness is designed to give the rack maximum stability, and the Super Joe bicycle car rack includes hooks for attachment to either a glass hatch or a regular trunk/gate.  Padded feet protect the paint job on your car as well as your bike, and the arms of the rack are easily adjustable with the Quick-Trigger Hub System.

The Yakima Super Joe 2-Bike Trunk Rack is available for $77.27 at Amazon.

Allen 102S Premium 2 Bike Car Rack

Allen 102S Premium 2 Bicycle Car Rack

Allen Sports may not be as well-known as some of the bigger cycling gear companies, but their products consistently receive high marks from users – and the company’s founder is a Harvard-trained former NASA engineer, which doesn’t hurt either.  The sturdy Allen 102S Premium Rack features long 12″ carry arms for easily transporting 2 bicycles, and generous clearance allows the rack to be fitted on most cars with spoilers.  Cam-style buckles allow quick and secure tightening of the straps, and the rack arrives fully assembled and ready to install.

The Allen 102S Premium 2-Bike Trunk Rack is available at Amazon for $78.39.

Listen To iPod in The Car

If you’re a music lover who spends a lot of time on the road, you don’t want to fumble with an iPod’s controls to enjoy your music. So what’s the solution? An iPod stereo receiver for the car. And there’s no need to break the bank – here are four of the best options available for under $150.

Sony CDX-GT630UI iPod Car Stereo

Sony CDX-GT630UI iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver

The Sony CDX-GT630UI has a slight power edge on its competition with its 4 x 52W output, but where it really shines is in its versatility playing different types of music files. An iPod can be connected directly and controlled/charged via the receiver, but the frontal USB slot offers other options too: MP3, WMA, AAC, and ATRAC3 files can all be played from a USB drive. The ZAPPIN feature lets you scroll easily through your iPod’s catalog, and style-conscious listeners have a choice of blue or green illumination. It’s an easy way to connect and listen to your iPod in the car.

You can find the Sony CDX-GT630UI iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver for $109.99 at Amazon.

JVC KD-HDR50 iPod Car Stereo

JVC KD-HDR50 iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver

The JVC KD-HDR50 is a 4 x 50W HD radio receiver with seven equalizer bands and two pre-amp outputs. Its CD player will accommodate MP3 and WMA files on disc as well as CD audio, and its USB input lets you play tracks from a flash drive too. You can control your iPod through the receiver’s controls, and it also comes with a wireless remote control. An auxiliary input allows use of other music devices.

The JVC KD-HDR50 iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver is available from Amazon for $129.64.

Pioneer DEHP4100UB SCD iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver

Pioneer DEHP4100UB SCD iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver

The Pioneer DEHP4100UB SCD integrates a CD-IU50 iPod cable to let you control your music directly from the receiver. It provides 50W of power to each of the four channels, and three pre-outs allow connections of external amps or speakers. The Pioneer is satellite-radio-ready, and it comes standard with a wireless remote. It’s also compatible with Pioneer’s Bluetooth adapter, so you can use your speakers for hands-free cell phone calls.

You can find the Pioneer DEHP4100UB SCD iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver for $128.00 at Amazon.

Kenwood KDC-MP342U iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver

Kenwood KDC-MP342U iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver

The 4 x 50W Kenwood KDC-MP342U features two options for iPod connections, either the USB slot on the faceplate or the optional iPod Interface cable. The receiver also plays standard CDs as well as discs with MP3, WMA, or AAC tracks. A mini drive can also be attached to the USB slot on the faceplate for playing music files. The Kenwood is HD-radio and satellite-radio ready, and comes with an IR remote control. Plus it’s available with an optional adapter to use Bluetooth-enabled devices.

The Kenwood KDC-MP342U iPod-Ready Car Stereo Receiver is available at Amazon for $101.00.

Yesterday, GM and Segway unveiled an electric-powered urban vehicle called the Puma. The Puma seats two people, and is said to reach a top speed of 35 miles per hour. The vehicle can go 35 miles before needing a recharge.

Larry Burns, vice president of research and development for GM, said it would cost about 35 cents to charge the Puma’s lithium ion battery system — essentially a larger version of the power system for the Segway Personal Transporter.The Puma balances on two large wheels while driving. For safety, it employs two sets of wheels in the front and back — similar to drag-racing vehicles — to prevent it from tipping over. When it parks, it rests on the front set of wheels.

Deploying the GM OnStar navigation systems and the latest in robot-driving technology, the Puma could potentially drive by itself and even receive messages from other cars to help it avoid potholes. It could drop you off at work, find a place to park and then pick you up at the end of the day at a designated time. The Internet connectivity would allow Web surfing and all the other features offered from portable handheld devices.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Bill Mitchell, an urban-planning guru and professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the time is ripe for new types of electric vehicles that can fit into tiny parking spaces and reduce smog — whether they come from GM or some other company.

“The need is enormous,” he commented. “Cities need small, convenient electric vehicles that reduce congestion. The technology to do that exists now.”

GM isn’t talking about a price for the Puma yet or providing sales targets, but it hopes to have a new prototype ready by the fall for display to the media

Gasoline-powered cars are perhaps the most inefficient devices that many of us use daily. The internal combustion engine is inefficient in term of pollution, gas costs and maintenance costs. Electric motors are comparatively simple devices that do not require much maintenance at all. But, as you may know, it’s difficult to obtain an commercial electric car today. One option is to buy a used vehicle that somebody else has converted to an electric vehicle.

You can search for use electric vehicles on sites like Craig’s List, eBay, or EVFinder. For more advice on buying an used electric car, I would refer you to Shari Prange’s recent article “Finding and Buying A Used Electric Vehicle” (PDF FIle) in Home Power Magazine No 119.

But these used electric cars are certainly limited in their availability, especially if you don’t live on the West Coast. So may wish to take a plunge and do an electric conversion yourself.

Basically, electric conversion involves removing the entire internal combustion engine from a vehicle, installing an electric motor in its place, and also adding a large bank of batteries. A conversion will cost you about $6000 in parts, and about $1000-$3000 for batteries and installation. But, for this up-front  expense, you’ll get a zero-emissions vehicle that costs only a few cents per mile to run. Your electric car will also be more reliable and require much less maintenance that a conventional one. Remember that gas-powered cars cost the owner about $1800 per year on average for fuel costs alone, and there is the addition expense of engine maintenance and oil changes. Electric cars have a better resell values, and are more reliable overall because there are fewer parts to fail. Most of the components are solid-state electronics with no moving parts. The engine of an electric car has a virtually infinite lifespan — the components will probably outlast the chassis. The only real expense is the batteries, which will need to be replaced about every 3 to 4 years.

You can expect your converted vehicle to have a range of 60-80 miles, a top speed of 50-90 MPH, and good acceleration capabilities. It will take about 6-12 hours to completely recharge the car. All of these factors will vary, based on the weight of the car you convert, and the type of engine and batteries you install.

So, what type of car is the best candidate for an electric conversion? A light car (2000-3000 lbs. curb weight) with a manual transmission.You want a light vehicle, because heavy ones severely restrict the range of the electric engine. Automatic transmissions use up too much power because they require the engine to be constantly idling. As far as body style, you need something that can hold all the batteries you’ll be installing. Michael Brown, author of Convert It, recommends a car that is light and roomy like a Rabbit, Civic, Sentra, Escort or light pickup truck. The ideal donor car has a good body and interior, sound transmission, but a dead engine.

For electric cars, the best type of driving is an area that is not too hilly and not too cold. Hills obviously put a larger burden on the engine, and thus reduce its range.Cold weather will also reduce performance, but there are many happy electric car owners who live in Canada and Alaska.

There are two types of electric conversions kits available: custom kits that are tailored to a specific vehicles models, and universal kits that can be installed in a variety of vehicles. Universal kits contain all the essential drive-system components but rely on the builder to create custom parts like battery racks or boxes. Custom kits include the entire drive system and battery racks and boxes, customized to suit a particular model. For example, a company called Canadian Electric Vehicles provides kits to convert Chevy S10 trucks, Geo Metros and Dodge Neons. Another company, Electro Automotive, provides kits to convert Volkswagen Rabbits and Porsche 914s.

Here’s a brief history of electric cars.

Here are some online forums about electric conversions: Electric Vehicle Discussion List, DIY Electric Car Forums, EVWorld.

Photso via Russ, Jerry B, GPS Head on Flickr.