Who Killed The Electric Car?

In the middle 90s state of California’s growing problem with air pollution pushed California Air Resources Board to make radical steps. Despite of the car companies’ protests, the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate was passed in order to eliminate the major cause of the pollution. Any company that wanted to sell vehicles in California had to obey the mandate and make their cars entirely emission free. In response, GM introduced the electric car EV1 that would change the view on electric vehicles. Through the period of two years, GM continued the EV1 program with great success. Although EV1 was never put out to public sale and it was only available to consumers at a lease option, the demand for it was rising. Unfortunately, in late 2003 GM cancelled the EV1 program and despite of unfulfilled waiting list and customer frustration started to take away EV1s from leasers.
Electric cars and clean energy enthusiasts in California started to inspect who really killed the EV1 project. One of the main suspects was GM itself that claimed they can’t sell enough electric vehicles to make a profit. GM sabotage behavior toward its own product had its purposes. The electric cars were threat to the conventional gas powered car industry. Lack of engine saved customers all services associated with oil, filters, and spark plugs replacements. The electronic regenerating breaking system of EV1 prevented the mechanical systems form excessive wear down, extending cars life. These savings cost GM millions of dollars on unsold parts and services which cut their profit for near a half. The EV1s stoning efficiency was a winner for customers, but a big time looser for the company.
Powered entirely by electricity, EV1 faced its most powerful opponent, oil industry. Using no single drop of oil, EV1 was a perfect solution for raising gas prices. Threatened oil companies, influencing both the public and government, fought with great fury to stop founding for public charging stations for EV1s. Using national newspapers ads, critiquing materials of electric cars, oil companies successfully eliminated its competitor.
The battery was often the scapegoat used by GM for justifying the failure of EV1. Lack of breakout in weak battery technology was often brought up by EVs critics. However a standard battery pack used in EV1 had range between 55 to 95 miles on a single charge, and according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Americans drive an average of 29 miles a day. Still many drivers saw it impractical. In response EV1 was equipped with new nickel-metal hydride battery, developed Stanford R. Ovshinsky’s Ovonics battery company, suitable for up to 120 miles per single charge. However the NiMH batteries were expensive and GM never mass produced them which would have reduced their cost, therefore they were an optional equipment for additional charge.
Before EV1s were pulled back, GM associated with several other EV companies and Federal Government sued California. Their leading argument was that throughout the zero emission mandate California government attempted to regulate fuel economy, which only federal government has authority to do. Shortly Bush administration, which was known for its links with oil industries, joined the lawsuit. As a result government of California and the CARB had to give up the fight for better fuel economy and were forced to change the mandate. Although CARB awakened the rise of electric vehicle, it failed to lead the zero emission mandate to success, and by eliminating EVs production from the mandate let the auto and oil industries of the hook.
Instead of supporting cheaper, much easier and significantly better electric cars, government and leading officials focused on yet totally different kind of substitute, hydrogen fuel cell. One of the reasons why the alternative for which both the mandate and EV1 were abandoned, was more attractive to oil industries because most hydrogen is made from fossil fuels, and by promoting hydrogen fuel cell as a great hope and future, political leaders linked with oil companies appear to innovation and conservation, while at the same time promoting oil companies interests. Although it was so promoted and sponsored, hydrogen fuel cells failed to fulfill their goals as an alternative. Even when the hydrogen would be made entirely form renewable energy, it would not be as efficient as electric utility.
One of the main trends that affect and steer automotive industry is customer demand. The reason for killing EV1s as GM cited was a lack of customer demand for electric two-seater because of its limited range and suitability in warmer states only. Limited availability, questionable advertising, and simple lack of awareness gave consumers little incentive to think of EV1s as a practical, pollution free vehicle. Regardless of air quality, consumers tend to considered EVs as a commute car and had another conventional gas car for longer trips.Electric vehicle EV1 that had brought so many conventional solutions to unconventional problems was officially killed by General Motors, oil companies, California Air Resources Board, federal government, hydrogen fuel cell, and the consumers on July 24, 2003. Of all listed suspects only battery technology didn’t contribute to EV1 failure. GM, federal government, CARB and oil industry worked together to blindfold potential buyers. Misinformed and careless customers officially hammered in the last nail into the EV1 coffin, bearing electric vehicle that could change the world.

Description Essay

There are many different or cars on today’s roads, but there is only one perfect sports car.
The perfect sports car would be a two-seat sedan. It would have a shiny white metallic color with black tinted windows. Front bumper would be lowered with a big opening in the middle for more air flow to cool the engine. To increase its aerodynamic it would have a carbon fiber hood and spoiler. It would have wide slick racing tires for better grip, and shiny black, 18 inch, five spoke, aluminum rims. Its lowered sport suspension would help the car to handle better in corners. To be a real sports car it would have to have a manual transmission with sports short clutch and rear wheel drive. Its engine would be an inline, 6 cylinder, twin turbo charged monster producing about 500 break-horse power. It would have custom intake and exhaust system to increase engine performance and reduce gas consumption. Its interior would be black with sport, but still comfortable seats and sport driving wheel. One of the sedans that are ideal to become a great sports car is Toyota Supra. It has all the characteristics of a sports car and its recognized by almost every motor sports fan. Unfortunately this Toyota is out of production for quite a while and that makes it very rare. However Toyota Supra is a legendary model and a perfect sports car.

Definition Essay

Many people don’t realize that stealing someone’s thoughts and ideas is considered to be a crime and can be prosecuted. In today’s world plagiarism happens to be used on a daily basis as an easy way for “new” ideas. Places where that happen vary from offices, small personal businesses, and even big corporations, to where plagiarism is the most abused, in schools. Students often use another’s work to escape from burden of an assignment or essay. There are even such cases where students don’t realize that the essay or report they plagiarizing has been already plagiarized. There are many different web sites from where sluggish students can copy already proof-read and complete essays on almost any topic. Such violation is very similar to shoplifting. In both the chances of success are very little compared with the risk of being caught. In case of shoplifting one can be charged a fine or even go to jail, and in case of plagiarism one can be suspended or even thrown out of school.Plagiarism is not using your own words to present thoughts and ideas, or citing each piece of quotation and borrowed phrases. It is stealing others work and presenting it as someone’s own.

Narrative Essay

I didn’t think much about what happened that day. Deep inside I felt it coming, because nothing good lasts forever, but when it actually happened, I was shocked. It hit at me like lightning from out of nowhere.
A couple of months ago, during the winter I started to go out with her, we met one day at school café. She seemed to be that kind of a normal girl with enthusiasm and a lot of friends. But there was one thing which differed her from other girls, that something in her eyes that couldn’t leave me alone.
We got along with each other and we rarely fought, and even if we did, it didn’t matter that much. Occasionally she would get a little nervous because sometimes I was really quiet. She would ask then, with a mysterious smile on her face if I still like her, but she already knew the answer. We really liked each other a lot.
One day before school I ran up to her to say hello. She was searching for something in her locker. But when I did, she didn’t even stand up. I realized that something was wrong, and when I asked she explained with grievance in her voice that she’s in a bad mood. I wanted to help her but she didn’t want to talk to me. I was helpless. When we meet after school her “mood” was even worse.
She mumbled something about how bad day she had and asked for a ride, and naturally I drove her home. I tried to talk to her about what was going on, what was bothering her. I explained that I’m just trying to help, and she said she knew, but I would not be able to help her. I felt useless.
As soon as I pulled over she grabbed her bag and just ran home slamming the car doors right in front of my face. Later that day I tried to call her, but she wouldn’t answer. Finally in the evening she called back. Very seriously she said that we have to talk. I listed to her with caution and analyzed every word she had said. Than she said something that was the last thing I wanted to hear from her. She wanted to break up. First I had thought she was making a joke, that she wanted to check my reaction.
“I’m so sorry... but let’s just be friends...” she said it with that tone in her voice that I would never forget. It was then I finally realized she had not joked.
“Bye...” she hung up. And I stood there thinking about what just happened.
I couldn’t sleep, eat, nor concentrate on anything I was doing. I was thinking about what she sad. My life just stopped. I was walking around like a prisoner, waiting for the death penalty.
When looking back from today and thinking all what happened, I still moan about it. Our relationship couldn’t end up like that, but it did. Whether it was my fault or not we broke up. The only thing that changed is my attempt to that situation. I still like her and we stayed friends, but there is no disappointment about it any more. I learned that loving someone is not just understanding person’s needs and wants, but also reconcile with that person decisions.

What's on the fridge?

More and more people, forced by the life on the go, are using their kitchens as a hub for their every day activities. Often little kitchens happen to be the most crowded areas of many houses. Seeing that, companies are trying to attract potential customers by compacting kitchen appliances and making even the smallest kitchens look bigger. Last spring, LG hit the market with world’s first high-definition TV refrigerator, equipped with 15 inch LCD screen build into the refrigerator door, FM radio and a wireless weather channel. This luxury and stylish unit cost $4,000. However a year later, the company forgot about its high-def refrigerator, preferring the customers to focus on build-in wall ovens with touchscreen control system. Combining personal technology with the most used kitchen appliance has been a challenge for many companies like LG for the past few years. Maybe it seems quite easy to put and LCD into fridges door, but even the smallest and the most miniaturized technology has to occupy some amount of space, which refrigerator doors just don’t have. So the companies are trying to solve the problem of cluttered space in different way. The customer complains about lack of the counter room. Again the solution may seem easy: squish everything together, make it more compact and technologically advanced. But the really question is: how? No matter what the companies do, something eventually ends up on the counter top. Finally Whirlpool company has created a fridge combo that, as company hopes, will fit most of customers expectations. They achieved that by putting together one of their best refrigerators and small computerized unit. The new appliance has a modular space on the upper left side of the door that can be used to swap out a digital photo frame, an iPod dock and speaker system, a convertible computing device or a message center. It can use memory cards from a camera, or even connect wirelessly to your laptop. All that functions are controlled by 15 inch touchscreen that itself acts as a screen. As a result of combining the newest technology and one of the best refrigerators is a kitchen appliance that functions as a dozen of devices, but takes up space of only one.
LG wouldn’t be worried about their product if not the Whirlpool fridge price of $3,000. Declassed by Whirlpools product, more companies are starting to engage in the race for consumer. As of today the Whirlpool is at the lead, but not for long if only the promises of competing companies are true.

More information on:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24586600/

Benq - Siemens Black Box

Not long ago, a European company Benq – Siemens, introduced a newly developed concept mobile phone, the Black Box. Its design is very similar to the iPhone patent, but in smaller and more advanced version. The Black Box has almost every iPhone function, but what’s different abut it is a 3 megapixel camera, AM/FM radio, and no keypads or buttons. The entire phone is one big, black touch screen that changes layouts immediately according to the function or program is currently using, making the interface easier to maneuver. The Black Box is the first mobile phone to break language barrier, since it could be navigated without any letters, using only icons or pictures. Its Widnows Mobile software is equipped with all newest windows gadgets, screen saver, and upgrades, allowing smooth phone browsing. As far as the Benq - Siemens announced, there is no known release date for the Black Box, however the company is declaring that its hot concept will be produced on the world scale.

More information about that amazing mobile phone on:
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/benqsiemens-black-box-concept-phone-204284.php
http://www.portablegadgets.net/article/300/the-black-box-by-benq-siemens