A Fiat Dovolo delivery vehicle has been driving around Europe...occasionally stopping for ten-minute breaks to refuel, and so the driver can go get a cup of coffee. It's not an unusual story, until the vehicle is refueling with electrons...not gasoline.

AltairNano, Aerovironment, Go Green Holding, and Micro-Vett have created a fast-chargable delivery vehicle for the European market and they just successfully tested it out in Norway.

The truck went on a 200-mile delivery circuit, stopping three times for ultra-rapid recharges. Other batteries take as long as six hours to recharge, but AltairNano's fancy lithium ion packs take less than ten minutes. Of course, they also require a special high-energy power station that would need to exist just like gas stations do now.

The range of the Dovolo is pretty short, and the necessity of new infrastructure eliminates one of the best advantages of electric cars (that the infrastructure is already in place.) So I don't think this vehicle will be for everyone. But it will find a big market, especially in Europe. Full press release below the fold.

Medium Duty, All-Electric Transport Vehicle Travels over 300 km in a Single Day

RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AeroVironment, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVAV), Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. ‘Altairnano’ (Nasdaq: ALTI), Micro-Vett, SPA and Go Green Holding AS, today jointly announced the successful public demonstrations of the All-Electric Fiat Doblò to government officials and potential commercial customers in Oslo, Norway. On October 2^nd, half-way through an ongoing 60-day demonstration, the Micro-Vett Fiat Doblò, a regular size 5-seat station wagon vehicle, powered by a custom 18 kWh Altairnano high performance NanoSafe^® battery pack, traveled 300 kilometers (186 miles) in an urban delivery circuit. The custom battery pack was fully recharged in less than ten minutes a total of three times using AeroViroments’ high voltage, 125kW rated, rapid charging system. The vehicle will be driven an estimated total of 7,500 kilometers during the 60-day demonstration period, which translates to an annual equivalent use of 45,000 kilometers.

The Fiat Doblò is designed both as a commercial medium-duty transport vehicle, as well as a regular size family car. Micro-Vett has been converting standard vehicles to electric drive for the past 20 years, and today, they have a wide range of passenger and utility vehicles available for sale. Go Green expects to ship up to 20 Micro-Vett vehicles with Altairnano’s 18 kWh NanoSafe^® battery packs to customers in the next several months, and an additional 250 vehicles are planned for shipment in 2008. Altairnano offers a range of NanoSafe^® battery packs for all-electric vehicles requiring from 10 to 35 kWh of energy storage.

“This alliance of innovative companies is a powerful combination that is committed to providing clean transportation on a global platform,” said Asbjorn Slordahl, Go Green Holdings’ chief executive officer. "With battery packs from Altairnano, and fast-charge infrastructure from AeroVironment, these roadway-ready, all-electric vehicles converted by Micro-Vett and distributed by Go Green are a powerful example of what happens when you combine the right technology, with the right providers, at the right time.”

"This is a key step forward in demonstrating the viability of all-electric vehicles, and the fast charge infrastructure necessary to enable their practical use," said Joe Edwards, vice president and general manager of AeroVironment's Energy Technology Center. "This demonstration proves that the technology to deploy electric vehicles for everyday use is available and ready. Our PosiCharge^® fast charge technology has demonstrated itself to be reliable for the daily operation of thousands of heavily used, low voltage electric industrial vehicles throughout North America and increasingly in Europe, Australia and Asia. Using PosiCharge^® to support high voltage electric vehicles is a natural extension."

“This public demonstration in Norway demonstrates another all-electric vehicle platform that is powered by Altairnano’s unique lithium Titanate NanoSafe battery pack product line. The NanoSafe^® battery packs are safe, powerful, fully rechargeable in less than ten minutes with rapid charge systems, have long life and operate in extreme temperatures,” said Alan J. Gotcher, Ph.D., Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.’s president and chief executive officer. “With more than 1,700 electric-powered vehicles in the country, Norway is taking a proactive approach in the adoption of all-electric vehicle technology and products. Our innovative battery technology, which is capable of thousands of re-charge cycles, provides a necessary ingredient for the adoption of EVs around the globe.”

“Micro-Vett has been manufacturing electric vehicles since 1987 and so we constantly follow energy accumulation systems evolution, from batteries to fuel cells,” said Massimiliano Di Gioia, Micro-Vett Vice President. “Until now we’ve seen some developments, but Altairnano’s fast charge batteries have the potential to revolutionize electric vehicles and also the automotive industry. It was very exciting to see Doblò’s charge level indicator going up visibly in Oslo. With Altairnano’s fast charge batteries, we can overcome the primary electric vehicle limitation because we can achieve refuelling times comparable to those of gasoline-powered vehicles.”

About AeroVironment, Inc. (AV)

Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. The company's small UAS are used extensively by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and increasingly by allied military forces to deliver real-time reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition to tactical operating units. AV's PosiCharge^® fast charge systems eliminate battery changing for electric industrial vehicles in factories, airports, and distribution centers. For more information about AV, please visit www.avinc.com.

About Altair Nanotechnologies Inc.

Altairnano is an innovator and manufacturer of advanced novel, ceramic nanomaterials that are used in products that exhibit groundbreaking performance. Altairnano’s products address a diverse range of high-growth energy, industrial and pharmaceutical applications within three businesses: the Altair Power & Energy Group, Altair Materials Group and Altair Life Sciences Group. Our goal, or mission statement, is to create and deliver innovative products that improve the quality of life. For more information visit: www.altairnano.com.

About Go Green Holding AS

Go Green Holding is a Norwegian company, founded in April 2007. The company’s aim is to bring sustainable electric vehicles to the Scandinavian market, supported by an infrastructure for rapid charging. Having teamed up with strong partners, Go Green Holding offers a wide range of 0-emmission electric vehicles to fleet operators and, eventually, the private market. With the development of an infrastructure for rapid chargers, 0-emmission electric vehicles will be a realistic alternative to fossil fuel vehicles and make a big difference to the environment. Please visit our website at: http://www.Go Green.no

About Micro-Vett, SPA

Micro-Vett is a leader in the electric vehicle market in Europe. Since 1987, Micro-Vett has been operating in the field of electric traction, beginning its business with the design of micro-citycars and then shifting in 1991 to the electrification of light, medium and heavy commercial transport vehicles. Micro-Vett offers products that join mechanical reliability, affordability, security and comfort. Micro-Vett also was responsible for designing PORTER, the most-sold electrical vehicle in Italy (beyond 2000) and the second most-sold electric vehicle in Europe. PORTER is the only electrical vehicle sold in series. Please visit our English website at: http://www.micro-vett.it/eng/indexing.html.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks that development or early commercial stage products described in this release will not be completed for technical, business or other reasons; that commercially sold products will not perform as expected in future testing or commercial applications; that one or more of the joint development partners may proceed slowly with, or abandon, development or commercialization efforts for any of various reasons, including concerns with the feasibility of the product or the financial viability of continuing with the product; and that even if full commercialization occurs, sales may not reach expected levels for one or more reasons, including failure of end products to perform as expected or the introduction of a superior product, and that costs associated with the proposed products may exceed revenues. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in company expectations or results or any change in events.

Comments (9)

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Lifespan
written by EV , October 19, 2007

Given my (limited) knowledge of Li-Ion batteries, it would seem this fast charging would reduce the livespan of the battery packs. Also, at 220V, it'll probably sink 500amps to recharge in 10 minutes. That's some thick cable.

Electrify me
written by David Alexander , October 20, 2007

This car effort is great; it is yet another design and technology, which I had not heard of. I had several thoughts stimulated by reading this article.

1) The future of energy, if the planet can pull this off and roll it out while oil is in decline but not yet overly depleted, is electricity. Electriciy can be generated both centrally in big plants, AND by individuals and companies, and share the same grid. This meets the ideal of distributed, fault-tolerant systems (such as the Internet).

2) The article makes a good point - the infrastructure needs to be there (the chicken/egg question). However, I do remember here in the USA how Sprint and AT&T and a few others EACH spent 10s of billions of dollars laying the original high-speed cables for many services used today. If it is a national priority (nation by nation), not just dependent on a few private companies, can't we achieve almost ANY goal we want that follows the laws of physics - such as adding high-power and standard power stations nationwide, possibly or likely located right in existing gasoline stations?

3) Transportation is a key aspect of the move to a new energy economy. Why? Think of food transport, and secondarily, the moving of goods and providing of on-site services. We need to keep trying a variety of vehicles, a variety of options, until the best one or two are left standing.

4) Why is the United States so far behind in our efforts? Is it just because our government subsidizes gasoline and keeps the price low (compared with Europe)? Is it because we are obsessed with empire and policing of the world? Whatever the reason, we need new priorities here in 2008. If not a leader, at the very least the United States should not be the spoiled brat pulling up in the rear of the pack in the move to renewable energy, environmental awareness, and sustainable living in general. We risk spending our fortune of international good will, natural resources, and economic wealth if we do not get our show on the road.

We are behind because
written by Enrique , October 20, 2007

We are behind because our leaders are stuck in the 1950's. Oil companies, coal companies and the financial markets to some extent do not want to change.
The oil and coal companies have given millions to our Republicans representatives to stifled innovation and competition.
Our best hope to catch up is next year elections.

Eco Interactive Family Adventure - Savin
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Limited range
written by Conrad , October 20, 2007

The limited range may be a burden compared to gasoline vehicles, but how many hundreds of millions of people don't need to travel that much in one day?

If normal, urban-dwelling families and individuals (most of whom only travel a handful of kms per day) can switch to cars like these, that could already pose a huge cut in emissions.

Of course, the problem is that electricity is still predominantly generated by means of coal and other fossil fuels, so until the utility companies make big changes, electric cars won't help.

How much...
written by Lorenzo Rambaldi , October 21, 2007

And how much should be this fantastic veichle?? I'm Italian.. like Fiat Doblò

www.energyislife.org

...
written by robert moore , October 28, 2007

I was wondering could this be used by something like the Post Office in the United STates??

...
written by Bill , November 02, 2007

where can i buy the fait electric car??

...
written by Chef Thomas , December 14, 2007

brilliant! i hope to be the first business in santa fe new mexico with one!

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