# Electric Cars: The Next Big Thing

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2007/03/electric-cars-the-next-big-thing/
- Published: 2007-03-06T22:56:00-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

By: Dave White on Tue. Mar. 6th, 2007, 7:56AM PSTURL:

[http://www.mobilemag.com](http://www.mobilemag.com)/

Just in case all those stories about the Tesla electric cars and the GM Volt don’t
drive the [point](https://greenlivingguy.com/2007/03/electric-cars-the-next-big-thing/)
home. For they let us officially announce that the electric car thing is back.

The very fact that General Motors, the company that famously killed the alternative-
fuel vehicle in the film of the same name, is putting both feet into its efforts
to build such a beast is proof positive that a large handful of [Tesla electric car](https://greenlivingguy.com/2009/01/robert-f-kennedy-jr-declares-electric-car-superior/)
fanatics can’t be wrong.

![Tesla roadster sport](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2010/01/image4.jpg?resize=300%2C200&quality=52&ssl=1 "Tesla Roadster Sport - The
Green Living Guy")

So there’s a reason that the Tesla sold out. Especially before it was ever offered
on the open market. I mean and it’s not just that it’s cool beyond words. [Electricity’s](https://greenlivingguy.com/2005/12/canadian-companies-agencies-launch-electric-mobility-network/)
is the new ethanol. For  as it were. I mean many industry analysts think, and they
have evidence to prove it.

# GM

GM is making a big carbon-less footprint, yes, but plenty of smaller companies are
getting into the swing of things on the electricity front as well, including Phoenix,
which is planning electric pickups and perhaps even SUVs. Electricity has the reputation
of being the greenest of all the alternative fuels. And although these electric 
vehicles won’t be 100 percent electricity-powered, they will be predominantly that
way, with gas becoming an afterthought as a vehicle fuel after a few iterations.
Helping the cause of the electric car is a revolution in battery technology, based
on the kind of lithium-ion that power most of today’s laptop computers. (These won’t
burn or blow up, of course.) No less a presence than Tesla has championed the lithium
battery, that one with more than 6,800 individual cells. Another startup, Caterpillar
spinoff Firefly Energy, has bumped up the technological advancement factor in traditional
power sources, depending on a super-lightweight carbon graphite foam to replace 
the lead-acid material that weighs down today’s batteries.Will Tesla sell out everything
it makes for the next five years? Will the Volt be a big hit for General Motors,
or will the automaker kill it, too? Stay tuned.

## **Genetically Modified Computing**

The GT1 is certainly not for consumption by your typical computer user. It is a 
hybrid of computer and video camera. The “notebook” circuitry utilizes Transmeta’s
600mhz Crusoe chip for fast performance and even better battery life: up to 17 hours
with the (LLL) cell.

The GT1 comes standard with the largest HDD available for its size, 20gb. (A natural,
to leave space for recording video.) To enhance video editing, it is equipped with
an ATI RAGE Mobility-M1 with 8mb VRAM. Maximum RAM is 192mb with 128mb standard.

The camera is a 680,000 pixel CCD variable aperture and zoom functionality. The 
screen swivels behind the unit to allow you to use it like a DV video camera. Full
motion video with sound, as well as still photos are an option. The GT1 has integrated
ports for Firewire, USB, mini-VGA, NTSC, memory stick, and more.

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/df91669667126e1290c21ee0342c386e2da19d588d4d9ca6560bd82ed59a9641?
s=300&d=monsterid&r=g)

 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

 [See Full Bio](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/) [  ](https://greenlivingguy.com/author/greenlivingguy/)