92-year-old EV Charging next to me

Today I decided to get an extra charge at work, because I needed the range for a trip to the dentist across town. When I left for my dentist appointment, I walked out to my Volt and was pleasantly surprised to see a classic electric car charging in the EV parking area. I went up to the car and read it is a 1920 Milburn Light Electric Model 27L. My car is the Blue Volt in the background.

I read the plates and they say "weighs nearly a ton less." I assume this must be compared to the gas-powered version of the car in 1920. It was quite a treat to see this car. I really like the color too.

Update: Brittt1 on the GM-Volt.com site found more information on the car at: http://www.milburn.us/myles-twete1920.htm

New report with well-to-wheel analysis of EVs vs. ICE cars across the USA

The Union of Concerned Scientists have put together a study entitled State of Charge: Electric Vehicles' Global Warming Emissions and Fuel-Cost Savings across the United States.The scientists did a complete study of the Well-to-Wheels global warming pollution ratings of an EV and a typical ICE car. The study showed in my region, the Pacific Northwest, that an electric vehicle puts out the equivalent pollution of a 73 mpg ICE car. The figure from the report, below, shows the gas equivalent across the country.

To do the analysis above, the study analyzed the emissions of "gasoline miles per gallon equivalent." For example, if you run your electric car on a grid with 100% coal, it has the equivalent Well-to-Wheels global warming emissions as an ICE car that gets 30 MPG. Another example is if you run your EV on hydro, it is equivalent to and ICE car that gets 5,800 MPG. The chart below lays out the major electric sources in the US grid and the gas equivalents.

I purchase "green energy" from PGE. So I must be using wind and hydro. That means I am getting the equivalent of between 3,900 and 5,800 mpg. Pretty good. I highly recommend this study. You can read it by clicking on the link above. This study basically shows EVs are better for the environment no matter what technology is used for electric power generation. And in many places, EVs are a ton better!

Volt Sales Hit a Record!

Bob Lutz was right. The Volt sales in March hit a new record. March US sales were 2,289. This is fantastic news! The trend for the Volt looks good too. The other mainstream electric car, the Nissan Leaf, did not fare as well. The Leaf trend is clearly down since a high in July 2011. I heard on one blog that the Leaf is focusing in Europe and Japan, so US sales are constrained. I wish my source, AutoBlogGreen reported international sales with their US sales reports so I'd have the whole picture.



Another first! The Volt has surpassed the Nissan Leaf in cumulative sales. I have nothing against the Leaf -- I like the car and hope to see it sell millions -- but I kind of route for the "home team" of GM since it is a US company.


GM even announced it will resume production one week early in this article. No more production hold!

UPDATE: AutoBlogGreen produces a great spreadsheet every month on sales of green cars like the Volt, Leaf and Prius. Shows lots of growth for Volts, Leafs and Prius for March. See below.