Points of Interest | Green Energy News

July 20, 2003 – Vol.8 No.17

POINTS OF INTEREST.

A weekly collection of websites worth visiting.

Electric Vehicle Technologies (EVT) is a Skokie, Illinois based manufacturer/developer of a growing range of electric vehicles. Its first product, introduced last year, was the $2300 Elite, an electric bicycle (up to 25 mph, 30 mile range) now available in a number of variations. The company is also now selling a retro-style electric scooter, the $2800 Equinox (30 mph, 45 mile range)

EVT has also developed an electric all terrain vehicle which is not yet available for sale. Another version of the Equinox, the Ion, with 00’s styling, is expected to be available this fall. In about a year a two-seat scooter, the T-rex should also be available. Also in the works is an EVT-developed hydrogen fuel cell for its vehicles, and a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is also planned. http://www.evtworld.com/

Splashpower makes technology aimed to simplify the task of recharging electronic devices like cell phones and personal digital assistants. Put a Splashpower card in the device and ,when a recharge is needed, just place the device onto the Splashpower pad which looks much like a mouse pad with a wire attached.

The technology behind the scenes is obviously a variation on inductive charging. Yet could this concept be used - on a larger scale of course - to recharge electric cars? Drive over a pad, the pad activates and the recharging process begins - food for thought. http://www.splashpower.com/ .

iLight Technologies wants to replace neon lighting used in signs and accent lighting with its significantly more energy-efficient technology it calls Plexineon (tm). Plexineon utilizes high-intensity Light Emitting Diodes (LED), fully encapsulated in a solid plastic waveguide that diffuses light evenly along its length. Plexineon can be bent to create letters in a sign, for example, or used for linear accent lighting.

According to company specifications, Plexineon uses only 2.43 watts per running foot as compared with 8.75 watts per running foot of neon. Energy savings would be significant in large signs, especially those kept operating 24/7 . The product has been used by U.S. chains such as Wendy’s, Applebee’s and Checkers. http://www.ilight-tech.com/ .