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It's telling that some of the most exciting transport designs these days can be found in one of thefastest-growing sectors: electric bicycles.We've covered several electric bicycles on Green Car Reports in the past and the vast majority are veritable works of art--whether retro-inspired or futuristic and modern, designers really are pushing the boundaries of the humble electric bicycle.Taking the former, retro stance is Otocycles in Spain, whose electric bikes (spotted via Retro To Go) look like custom cruisers.Still, it only takes a quick glance for the illusion to be shattered. Where normally you'd expect to find a thumping V-twin engine in the frame, the Otocycles Otor and Otok give you a great deal of nothing. Well, a set of pedals at least, but if there's one criticism of the designs it's that they look more "unfinished motorcycle" than electric bicycle.It's much greener as a result, though.That retro-style fuel tank hides the bike's lithium battery pack, made by Samsung and rated at 36V and 10.4 amps.On the rear axle there's a 250-watt motor, or about a third of a horsepower--enough to propel the bike to 15.5 mph. Opt for a motor with double the power and that rises to 26 mph, while an extra twist-grip throttle system lets you control the thrust when you aren't pedaling yourself.Read Full ArticleTuesday, December 31, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
12:57 AM
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With hybrid supercars starting to appear at last--the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1 among them--many electric-car fans wonder when we'll see another battery-electric supercar to follow the Tesla Roadster.One already exists, it turns out--and we didn't even notice.You can literally put a plug-in electric SRT Viper in your garage today if you want to.All you need to do is head to your local Target store and plunk down $109 (discounted for the holidays, regularly $179.99), and you can walk out with a plug-in electric SRT Viper.And for those worried about long-term battery life, you can even purchase an extended warranty--Target calls it a 2-year replacement plan--for an additional $17.There are a couple of differences from the gasoline Viper, though.For one thing, this one only has room for the driver. It's only 42 inches long, and the top speed is 2.5 mph. Also, it's sold under the KidTrax brand.The plug-in electric SRT Viper doesn't skimp on features, as it's based on the GTS trim.That means it includes LED daytime running lights, race-inspired wheels, deep bucket seats, reflective mirrors, and even a cup holder.The dashboard looks quite similar to what you'd find in the genuine Viper in SRT showrooms, and there's a racing-style flat-bottom steering wheel.The plug-in electric SRT Viper is no slouch when it comes to performance. Like other electric vehicles, you'll feel the surge of instant torque from 0 rpm as you accelerate off the line.Its 6-volt battery pack powers the rear wheels through a two-speed gearbox that includes reverse. Power Trax rubber traction strip tires will keep you on the road.Just like the Tesla Roadster, the SRT Viper uses a proprietary charging plug with a one-step direct-connect charging system.For more details on the world's only plug-in electric SRT Viper, head over to Target.com.
12:53 AM
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Should you be one of those people among our readers who celebrates the Christmas holiday,you might be interested in having a greener Christmas.
Did you know, for example, that it's greener to have a real Christmas tree than a plastic one, unless you keep the plastic tree many years? The real ones are more carbon neutral, you see. And they do smell rather lovely too.
But how will you light it? Nissan in Japan has thought of a novel idea--a Leaf-powered Christmas tree.
Okay, so it might not be practical for everyone, but it does work rather well in this particular Japanese shopping mall, Futako Tamagawa Rise in Tokyo. Modern LED Christmas lights use very little power, so the Leaf's battery should be more than enough to power the tree for quite some time.
If you chose to use a similar system in your home, the Leaf would work as a great energy storage system for electricity you've generated using solar power, for example, or simply low-cost energy you've accumulated during off-peak times.For Video Visit
Did you know, for example, that it's greener to have a real Christmas tree than a plastic one, unless you keep the plastic tree many years? The real ones are more carbon neutral, you see. And they do smell rather lovely too.
But how will you light it? Nissan in Japan has thought of a novel idea--a Leaf-powered Christmas tree.
Okay, so it might not be practical for everyone, but it does work rather well in this particular Japanese shopping mall, Futako Tamagawa Rise in Tokyo. Modern LED Christmas lights use very little power, so the Leaf's battery should be more than enough to power the tree for quite some time.
If you chose to use a similar system in your home, the Leaf would work as a great energy storage system for electricity you've generated using solar power, for example, or simply low-cost energy you've accumulated during off-peak times.For Video Visit
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
1:38 AM
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Electric motorcycles are now ready for primetime, and this year's selection shows that the pace of development is quick. This buyer's guide focuses on street-legal, highway-ready motorcycles.
There are many two-wheeled electric vehicles out there that are more properly considered scooters or dirt bikes, but this guide covers only motorcycles (plus a scooter or two) that are safe to use on all highways.Bikes are categorized by whether they can be bought now, or have be ordered ahead of time. My experience after covering the industry for several years is that nailing down a delivery date for motorcycles that haven't yet been built is challenging.
If you look online, some of the projections seem a bit inflated for some of the Pre-Order motorcycles; we'll see how they perform when deliveries start.
Zero Motorcycles and Brammo were the first two companies to put their money where their mouths were and put bikes into consumer hands. Vectrix also has bikes on the ground from 2007-8, though they are more of a maxi-scooter--but they're included because they can legally travel on highways.
I have ridden all the Zero and Brammo offerings as well as the original Vectrix VX-1. (The original VX-1 had a nickel-metal-hydride battery, but it will soon sport a lighter, more durable, and longer-range lithium-ion battery.)Electric motorcycles with ranges of 100 miles or more have been available to the average consumer since 2012; each year they get faster and go farther. Reviews from traditional motorcycle-news sources have become more favorable with each passing month, and it truly seems as if electric motorcycles are ready to go mainstream.
While rumors of other electric motorcycles have sprouted periodically, so far there are no production models for sale--they require pre-ordering.Companies like Lightning Motorcycles, Electric Motorsport, Lito Sora Electric Motorcycle, Evolve motorcycles, MotoCzysz, Mavizen, and Orphiro are among those from whom we're still waiting to see product delivered.
I had hoped Vectrix would have its new Lithium powered VX-1 available to test for this guide, but only the low-speed VX-2 electric scooter is available today.
As for the Pre-Order category of bikes: Don't get your hopes up. If history teaches us anything, waiting for an electric motorcycle from a brand-new startup company is a long lesson in patience. Read Full Article
1:35 AM
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The Ford F-150 full-size pickup is the best-selling single nameplate in the U.S. market, so any changes to Ford's premier truck mean a lot.
Buyers, dealers, and the whole industry are paying close attention to information about the next generation 2015 Ford F-150, the first all-new design of Ford's truck since the 2009 model.And fuel efficiency will be one of the most closely-watched specifications.This year, the new best combined gas-mileage for large pickup trucks is 20 mpg--achieved by versions of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado C15 and the 2014 Ram 1500.While Ford lags behind, at 18 mpg combined, it's clear the company will want to meet--and more likely beat--the 20-mpg figure, targeting a combined gas-mileage rating for the best model of its new 2015 F-150 to 21 mpg or higher, possibly as high as 23 mpg.
The company is known to be using much more aluminum in the next F-150, though recent rumors say quality problems in getting acceptable panel quality could delay the new F-150's production launchfrom six to 10 weeks.
Thus far, there's been no indication that Ford plans to debut the new F-150 pickup truck at the next Detroit Auto Show, which opens to the press three weeks from today.That could depend on whether Ford can get the alleged problems resolved and keep the truck on track for a summer launch.
Reducing drag
Other likely fuel-saving technologies include active grille shutters (already used on the current Ram pickup), retractable running boards, and a front air dam that can be extended at speed to reduce aerodynamic drag.Last January, Ford showed these features plus an additional innovation--active wheel shutters--on the Ford Atlas Concept pickup truck, its main concept vehicle at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.Read More
Monday, December 23, 2013
2:30 AM
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When Chevrolet was engineering the Volt range-extended electric car, it gave the car a battery just big enough for 40-50 miles of electric range.
GM did this because it reasoned that this electric range would be most effective for most drivers--covering the average commute on electricity alone. That two thirds of Volt miles are all-electric proves the concept works.Now, another survey has emerged confirming that the average electric car really can meet the needs of the average American consumer--they just don't realize it yet.The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has found that 42 percent of American households with a vehicle could do their driving using one of the electric cars on sale today.
The UCS figures come from a Venn diagram based on three simple attributes of the average driver and electric car requirements: That of a space to park and plug in, enough seats for passengers, and lack of hauling needs requiring a bigger, beefier vehicle.56 percent of U.S. households apparently have access to charging. A full 95 percent of U.S. drivers carry fewer than four passengers--a number most electric cars happily carry--and 79 percent of U.S. drivers have no hauling needs, ruling out the need for a big SUV or pickup.
Those numbers lead to the 42 percent figure--households that could be happily served by the average electric car on sale today.In fact, with 69 percent of U.S. drivers covering fewer than 60 miles per day, most electric cars could easily cope with day's driving. Even the Mitsubishi i-MiEV with its 62-mile range covers that metric, though most would be happier with the 75 miles-and-up offered by cars like the Nissan Leaf or the 82 miles of a Chevy Spark EV.For Details
Saturday, December 21, 2013
6:22 PM
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I
In just three years or so, the number of plug-in cars on U.S. roads has gone from just a few thousandto over 160,000 units, with over a dozen different models available to consumers.
In India though, electric car sales are much smaller--despite a population of over 1.2 billion. And just one single electric car model is on sale right now to Indian consumers--the Mahindra Reva e2o.
It may be some time before we get a go in an e2o ourselves. But thanks to the wonders of the internet, and The Indian Express, we can get an idea of what India's sole electric car is like to drive.
First, a little background.
Mahindra was formed in 1945 and is now one of India's biggest automobile manufacturers, largely concentrating on a range of off-road vehicles and SUVs that look suspiciously similar to some vehicles sold in the West.
The company also owns the Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Private Limited company, responsible for the Mahindra e2o you see here.
It's best known for the REVAi, a tiny electric car best known (and much maligned) in some markets as the G-Wiz. The e2o is its substantially more modern and better-styled replacement--though we suspect the narrow, upright styling will still be an acquired taste for some readers.
If you think you've seen it before, you're right--the car was previously known as the REVA NXR, but is now sold under the Mahindra brand name.
For the journalist on The Indian Express, that it's electric at all is a unique experience--remember the first time you drove an electric car yourself?
That means comment is largely reserved for well-known electric car benefits, such as the smooth, silent drivetrain, an initially brisk step-off and gradual paucity of power as the speed rises.
Handling is also good, one assumes in relation to its closest gasoline competition--cars like the Tata Nano and Maruti Suzuki Alto--thanks to the low placement of the battery pack.
Friday, December 20, 2013
6:21 PM
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For any new company, creating recognition of its product and its branding is one of the most difficult things to achieve.If internet search terms are to be believed--and as a mark of how much people are trying to find out about something, they're pretty important--Tesla Motors has certainly created that recognition.In fact, according to Google's latest round of 2013 statistics (via InAutoNews), Tesla is the highest-trending car brand in the U.S--beating some huge companies in the process.Trending relates to search topics with the largest increase in search volume since the previous period. It's no surprise to see Tesla so high up in such a search--from excellent reviews of its Model S electric car to rather less excellent news of debris-related fires, the automaker has made headlines more than most in 2013.It must be said, huge volumes of search traffic are absolutely no indication of popularity or indeed sales.For proof of this, you need look no further than the automobile company sitting in second place for U.S. Google trending search terms: Bugatti. We doubt the supercar maker has sold many more Veyrons on the back of a few Google searches.But it is a highly-recognizable brand with a massive buzz behind it, and Tesla Motors has clearly done likewise. You don't become a Google most-searched term if just a hardcore of electric car advocates or investors are searching for information.For More Details
Thursday, December 19, 2013
7:01 PM
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A car's mass affects virtually every aspect of its performance, handling and efficiency, and reducing it has become an all-encompassing pursuit for carmakers aiming to meet tough new fuel economy targets.High-strength steels, aluminum and even carbon fiber are now widely used, but the industry is also now turning to magnesium, previously considered too expensive and energy-intensive, in an effort to make our cars lighter.According to Wards Auto, the government has even stepped in to assist automakers in the development of cheaper magnesium components and accelerate technological development.The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) recently handed out $32 million in grants to aid research into lightweight vehicle technologies, with magnesium a primary concern.The material is around a quarter the weight of steel and only two thirds that of aluminum, but conversely, costs around three quarters more than steel and a third more than aluminum. Such cost concerns have minimized its use so far, and production isn't so green either.Most magnesium used around the globe is sourced from China. This not only pushes up the cost through import taxes, but draws heavily on China's largely coal-fired industry to produce--a pollution and carbon dioxide nightmare.Even in the U.S, most magnesium is produced in Utah, using electrolysis of molten brine to extract magnesium from the state's Great Salt Lake.Finding a way to extract magnesium without the significant environmental impact is a key goal--and over $2 million of the ARPA-E grant has gone to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to fund research into magnesium extraction from seawater. PNNL estimates its extraction method is 50 percent more efficient than current methods--lower heat, meaning lower energy use.
Read Full Article
6:57 PM
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Back in 2009, the MINI E electric car was BMW's very first attempt at building a battery-electric vehicle.The fleet of several hundred electric MINIs was leased out to volunteer test drivers in the U.S., Europe, China, and the U.K. to let the company gather data on how drivers used plug-in cars in real-world circumstances.Now it appears that BMW is testing a new generation of MINI E, though it's quite unclear when and even whether the company would launch such a car.
Motor Authority has published spy shots of an electrified MINI Coupe--the current-generation two-seat model with the "backward baseball cap" roofline--covered in MINI E graphics, seen testing in Germany.The lessons BMW learned fed into its next test fleet of BMW ActiveE two-door sedans, which are now nearing the end of their two-year leases.In turn, all those lessons helped refine the 2014 BMW i3 electric car that was unveiled in production form this summer and is now on sale in Germany, with U.S. sales starting next spring.But while the MINI E wasn't perfect, its hundreds of test drivers mostly loved the cars despite their flaws.With the surprisingly good Fiat 500e battery-electric minicar proving that small electric cars can be fun to drive and stylish too, could MINI launch a new and improved MINI E within a couple of years?
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
8:25 PM
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The wait is almost over for the 2014 Cadillac ELR luxury electric coupe.
Yesterday, General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant began shipping the first of these extended-range electric cars to dealers, ahead of the car's official January on-sale date.
That means a few cars may arrive at dealers before the year closes out, perhaps allowing Cadillac to get a head start on deliveries and log a few sales for 2013.
Whenever buyers take delivery, they will be confronted with a base price of $75,995, including destination. That's more than twice the price of the only other car sharing the ELR's powertrain--the 2014 Chevrolet Volt. The Volt now starts at $34,995, thanks to a $5,000 price cut for 2014.
The ELR will be eligible for a $7,500 Federal tax credit, and a variety of state and local incentives, which might soften the blow a little.
Underneath the ELR's upscale luxury coupe bodywork is a modified version of the Volt's extended-range electric powertrain.
That powertrain consists of a 1.4-liter range-extending gasoline engine, an electric motor, and a T-shaped 16.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.
Total powertrain output is 207 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, making the ELR more powerful than the 149-hp Volt.
That extra power will contribute to a 0-to-60-mph time of 7.8 seconds, according to Cadillac. However, the car is faster on gasoline than electricity: the sprint to 60 mph takes 8.8 seconds in EV mode.
8:22 PM
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Rumors of an Apple "iCar" have circulated for some time now, though they're largely viewed as not credible--and now similar rumors might be directed toward Samsung.
The Korean electronics giant recently filed a series of patents for components that could be used in electric cars, according to The Wall Street Journal (via SlashGear).
The patent filings--submitted to both the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and the Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service--cover technology for electric motors, tires, and in-car electronics that relay information to the driver.
However, Samsung officials told the WSJ that the company has no plans to build electric cars; the patents will simply keep its options open. The company has reportedly been looking to expand beyond the competition-choked television and mobile-device markets.Samsung files hundreds of technology patents on a regular basis, not always for products that make it into consumers' hands.In the automotive sphere, through, Samsung has already done more than file patents.
The company's battery division has been in talks with Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] to supply lithium-ion cells, augmenting current supplier (and Tesla investor) Panasonic. Persistent demand for the Model S has caused Tesla to seek a second supplier.
8:16 PM
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Nissan is still making all the right noises over one of 2013's most exciting concept vehicles, the BladeGlider electric sports car.Despite looking like nothing else on the roads and very much the sort of car that's often forgotten about once its auto show debut has passed, the company still says it could be put into production within three years.What's more, the concept's engineer, Ben Bowlby, has told Autocar that the car could be a benchmark for handling and excitement within the industry--and that's as a whole, not just for electric vehicles.
Bowlby, Nissan's motorsport innovation boss--and the man leading next year's assault on Le Manswith the ZEOD RC prototype--said he thinks the BladeGlider could be "the nicest handling car you will ever drive".
Conventional wisdom leads you to believe the narrow front track, wide rear end and tiny front tires would result in some very odd handling characteristics, mostly dominated by understeer--but as Nissan and Highcroft Racing's DeltaWing demonstrated at Le Mans back in 2012, the layout is actually highly capable.
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
8:15 PM
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The Ford Escape, entirely redesigned for 2013, is one of the best-selling entries in the popular category of compact crossover utility vehicles.The real-world gas mileage of the latest Escapes, however, does not quite seem to equal those cars' combined EPA ratings.Ford has put a great deal of effort into engineering its EcoBoost four-cylinder engines, which use direct injection and turbocharging to make smaller engines produce the same power as the larger ones it previously used.2.0-liter EcoBoost: struggle to hit 24 mpg
When we tested a 2013 Ford Escape with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine and all-wheel drive last spring, we barely equaled its combined 24-mpg EPA rating last spring, getting a real-world indicated gas mileage of 23.9 mpg. And that only came after the last leg of a 838-mile journey, during most of which the indicated mileage was considerably lower.Only a long stretch of steady-speed highway running on cruise control brought the indicated mileage back up toward the rating.That model, with a sticker of almost $35,000, had the most powerful engine--a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter EcoBoost four paired to a six-speed automatic transmission.
Latest test: 1.6-liter EcoBoostNow we've had a chance to test the Escape model with the highest fuel efficiency: a 2014 Escape SE with the smaller 178-hp 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and front-wheel drive, rated at 26 mpg combined.Regrettably, our 285-mile test produced an indicated gas mileage of only 24.8 mpg.
Monday, December 16, 2013
8:57 PM
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A race track is not the typical environment for an electric city car with narrow tires and upright styling.Nevertheless, that's exactly where the 2014 BMW i3 finds itself in BMW's latest video, displaying its handling prowess on a closed circuit.It's a place few actual i3 owners will ever venture, at least in the i3 itself. But there are perhaps a few good reasons BMW has chosen to demonstrate its diminutive electric car in such a manner.The first is that it simply makes for a cool video. More and more, we're seeing electric cars used in situations they might previously have been ignored, and putting an electric city car on track shows there's more to it than meets the eye.The second is that BMW has a reputation to uphold. The company still sells cars under "The Ultimate Driving Machine" tag--hyperbole perhaps, but a message that needs to infuse all its products to some degree.Finally, early reviews of the i3 have been a little mixed when it comes to the way the car handles--plenty of understeer, or lacking steering feel next to other BMWs--and this video is perhaps the company's way of reassuring potential buyers that there's still fun to be had.SOURCE
2:01 AM
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It's been said before but bears repeating: One of the best ways to get people interested in electric cars is to get "butts in seats"--getting potential customers behind the wheel to experience the cars and see just how good they are to drive.
It's not always easy to do, though. Some people don't have the time to spend a weekend test-driving cars. Others may be dissuaded by hard-sell tactics.
That's where Tred comes in.
The Seattle startup is a new way of testing electric and hybrid cars (among other vehicles). The idea behind Tred is that for a small fee, the company can bring vehicles to your door to drive.
Unlike dealers, there'll also be no pressure to buy--Tred's experts simply answer questions on the vehicles, letting potential buyers know everything they need to know about the car. Better still, Tred can deliver two vehicles at once to test back-to-back--not always easy to do when traveling from dealer to dealer.
Should a driver like the car, they can then use Tred to get offers from local dealers and buy without ever setting foot in a dealer.
So what's the catch? Actually, there isn't one, as far as we can see. Where normally you'd have to pay $19 for a test drive, Tred has made all electric and hybrid vehicle drives completely free--so there really is no risk. And you get to drive the car on familiar roads, since test drives start from your front door--something you may not have the benefit of at a dealer.
As The Seattle Times reports, one of Tred's backers is ex-GM CEO Rick Wagoner. There's a solid premise behind the idea too--a Kelly Blue Book survey in 2011 discovered that 56 percent of drivers would definitely schedule a test drive if the car could be delivered to them.
Apply that figure to the number of people potentially interested in trying out an electric vehicle, and you really could get plenty of extra butts in seats.
Not everyone is guaranteed to buy a car, of course. But a sale is significantly more likely if someone new to the vehicles is handed one on a plate with no obligation to buy.
If you've not yet tried an electric car, would you give a system like Tred a try? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Friday, December 13, 2013
1:48 AM
Unknown
People tend to recall bad or frustrating experiences more acutely than good ones.
Which is likely why a staple of plug-in car forums is the bad-treatment-at-a-car-dealership story.
Anecdotes abound about Chevrolet and Nissan dealers who tried to pull Volt and Leaf buyers away from plug-in electrics into gasoline cars.
Or said, "Your battery will go dead and you'll be stuck on the side of the road."
Or knew nothing at all about Federal, state, or local incentives--from tax credits to purchase rebates, from free charging to carpool-lane access--that make owning a plug-in car easier.
Or consistently block access to their "publicly available" charging station with gasoline vehicles.The stories go on and on.
So it's important for all potential car buyers to understand how dealers operate, so they can be better prepared before they walk through the dealership doors.
The first thing to realize is that the salespeople at the dealer do not work for the carmaker. They work for independent third-party businesses, over which the carmakers have limited control.
In most states, auto companies are specifically banned by law from selling cars to retail buyers.Automakers would dearly love to have more direct say over the dealership experience, of course, because it reflects directly on their brand.
But auto-dealer groups have worked closely with state politicians throughout the country to get laws enacted to protect existing franchised dealers against company-owned competition.
While carmakers can set certain conditions under which dealers are allocated specific types of cars, they can't--in the end--control the sales experience.
As many dealers complain, those experiences are generally shared only when they're bad.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
2:02 AM
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Tesla Model S Road Trip:-
Once Tesla Motors built out its Supercharger network of quick-charging stations along Interstate 5.It was almost 600 miles from our home in West Sacramento to our hotel room in Portland, so it would be a long day's drive. But we would save about $400 on airfare, and another $150 or so on not needing a rental car once we got there.
Starting with a full "range charge" of 271 miles in our 85-kWh Tesla Model S, we headed out at 5:30 a.m. to the first charging station in Corning, California, about 110 miles away. We arrived at the Corning Supercharger about 7:15 am, and after plugging in we walked 200 feet to the nearby Starbucks for coffee and a bathroom break. We were on the road again in 25 minutes, with almost 255 miles of range, refreshed and heading for the next stop in California's famed Mount Shasta. We were using up about 20 percent more range than each recharge had provided, but we were also driving against a constant headwind.
I use cruise control pretty much all the time on the interstates, so I was holding to the regular "posted speed limit," either 65 mph or in a few areas an awesome 70 mph. The Model S is so solid and steady on the road that the only way we knew it was windy was after the sun rose...seeing how much the trees and bushes bent over in the gusts.Arriving at the Mt. Shasta charging units, in the parking lot of a nice Best Western Hotel, we had covered 107 miles from Corning in just under two hours. An indulgent breakfast was in order, so we walked across the street in the cold brisk wind to the Black Bear Diner.
Returning to the Model S, we now had a full 270-mile "range charge," and we headed out into the headwind (15 to 25 mph) towards Grants Pass, the first charging point in Oregon.
We crossed the 4300-foot pass between Mt. Shasta and Grants Pass and arrived about 1 pm, after covering only 88 miles. However, we had used up almost 110 miles of "projected range."Since our next stop was to be Springfield, Oregon--almost 140 miles further north--we took a 25-minute charging break and left with 215 miles showing on the projected range display. It was still sunny, but the headwinds were also still fighting us.
From Grants Pass to Springfield was the longest segment between Supercharger locations; we arrived at Springfield with just 30 miles of range remaining on our dashboard display. The 140 miles had used about 175 miles of originally projected range! Headwinds hurt range.
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Wednesday, December 11, 2013
2:27 AM
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2015 Ford Mustang
The 2015 Mustang will offer a four-cylinder engine, the model's first since 1993--though the new 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four is actually being presented as a performance option, not a fuel-economy special.
Ford says that the base engine will remain a 3.7-liter V-6 that will produce at least 300 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.The base V-6 model of the 2014 Mustang is still rated at 23 mpg combined (19 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) with the six-speed automatic, and 1 mpg less in every reading with the six-speed manual.
We may see the V-8 versions priced comparatively higher for 2015 than they have been in the past, to skew the mix more toward the more efficient engines.
Ford's only improving the gas mileage because it has to do so for all its cars under the Federal gas-mileage mandate. Which is why it's at least"considering" alternative powertrains--diesel, hybrid, even electric--for Mustangs of the future.We'll take a stab here and suggest that the base V-6 car could reach 25 mpg (21 city, 33 highway) and the EcoBoost will be marginally higher than that.
2:22 AM
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If you live in parts of California, electric cars--from the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid all the way up to the Tesla Model S--are no longer uncommon.
The streets of Palo Alto, in the center of Silicon Valley, are practically crawling with Teslas these days.
But in other parts of the country, you may go months without seeing a single car with a plug.
Three weeks ago, Mother Nature Network took a look at which states have the most plug-in electric cars, and why.
California tops the list, of course, due to state rules that require sales of certain numbers of zero-emission vehicles by the six carmakers with the great sales in the state (Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota).But after California, there are a few surprises.
Two years ago, Pike Research predicted that Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, D.C. (technically not a state, but OK), and Delaware would have the highest percentage of electric vehicles on their roads.
Among the top 10 best markets for the Nissan Leaf, for example, is Atlanta--due largely to Georgia's $5,000 state tax credit for purchase of a battery-electric vehicle.
Little Normal, Illinois, designated itself "EVtown" and has more than 300 plug-in vehicles in a city of 54,000.
And even regions not necessarily known for being particularly green in their transport--think pickups, not Priuses--are starting to look at their own efforts.
Among southwestern states, for example, Colorado is best, Wyoming is worst in policies supporting adoption of plug-in cars.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
2:05 AM
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Looking for a good deal on a used diesel car?
Turns out Buffalo is the best place to go, according to new data from iSeeCars.com. The home of chicken wings and the Bills football team is the least-expensive city in which to buy a used diesel, with prices 6.0 percent below the national average.
The combined Providence, Rhode Island-New Bedford, Massachusetts metro area came second, with used diesel prices there 5.1 percent below the national average. The Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida metro area was third, with prices 5.0 percent below the national average.
In contrast, Seattle was the most expensive city to buy a used diesel car. Prices in the Emerald City were 7.1 percent above the national average. It was followed by Indianapolis (4.1 percent) and Baltimore (3.5 percent).
Used diesel cars tend to be more expensive in areas--such as the West Coast--where green cars are already in demand, iSeeCars.com CEO Phong Ly said.
He noted that cities with the priciest secondhand diesels also tend to have higher overall used-car fuel economy.
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Monday, December 9, 2013
2:18 AM
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INVASIVE COCKROACH FOUND IN NYC CAN TAKE THE COLD
NEW YORK (AP) — The High Line, a park that turned a dilapidated stretch of elevated railway on Manhattan's West Side into one of New York's newest tourist attractions, may have brought a different kind of visitor: a cockroach that can withstand harsh winter cold and never seen before in the U.S.Rutgers University insect biologists Jessica Ware and Dominic Evangelista said the species Periplaneta japonica is well documented in Asia but was never confirmed in the United States until now. The scientists, whose findings were published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, say that it is too soon to predict the impact but that there is probably little cause for concern."Because this species is very similar to cockroach species that already exist in the urban environment," Evangelista said, "they likely will compete with each other for space and for food."That competition, Ware said, will likely keep the population low, "because more time and energy spent competing means less time and energy to devote to reproduction."Michael Scharf, a professor of urban entomology at Purdue University, said the discovery is something to monitor.
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Friday, December 6, 2013
3:36 AM
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Car production isn't the greenest of processes, but in recent decades many automakers have at least made attempts to reduce environmental impact--and General Motors is the latest to take a step towards improving it.
The automaker has announced a $24 million investment in the use of landfill gas at its Fort Wayne, Indiana and Orion, Michigan assembly plants.
GM says the new equipment has the capacity to generate more than 14 megawatts of electricity from landfill gas--saving over 89,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. For some idea of the emissions savings, that equates to over 18,500 passenger vehicles per year.
Landfill gas is a mix of different gases produced from the chemical reactions and effects of microbes on waste products. Between 40-60 percent of the gas is methane, while much of the remainder is made up of carbon dioxide, and traces of other gases.By separating natural gas from the other gases, this can then be used in facilities like GM's assembly plants.
Not only does this reduce the output of waste gases into the atmosphere, but also reduces the need for gas from fossil fuels. It's also cheaper for big companies like General Motors--which expects to save a combined $10 million in energy costs each year at its facilities.
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1:48 AM
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Beware of unfamiliar outlets.
Charging an electric car at the first available power source can have unfortunate consequences, as an Atlanta-area Nissan Leaf driver recently found out.
As always, though, there's more to the story than the first live-TV report indicates.
Atlanta's 11Alive (via Transport Evolved) reports that Kaveh Kamooneh was arrested for stealing electricity from Chamblee Middle School after he left his Nissan Leaf electric car plugged into a school outlet while playing tennis.According to a statement issued by Chamblee City Manager and Police Chief Marc Johnson, Kamooneh admitted that he didn't have permission to use the plug, and accused the officer of damaging his Leaf.
The officer filed a report and--when police followed up with the school--officials recognized Kamooneh, noting that he had previously been told he wasn't allowed on the tennis courts.
The "totality of the circumstances" led police to issue a theft warrant, the statement said.
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Thursday, December 5, 2013
2:49 AM
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When we think of Lorde, one thing (other than the lyrics to "Royals") pops into mind: that hair. Sure, she pulls off goth-inspired style and dark lipstick insanely well, but that curly mane is kinda her thing. Even though we've seen it matted down and pinned back on thecover of Clash magazine, we were still taken aback when we peeped her video for "Team" and her signature curls were M.I.A.
From what we can see in the few (and dark) shots of Lorde in the video (wearing a Zana Bayne leather harness, BTW), she seems to have braided her hair into cornrows and tied it into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. When we chatted with Lorde a few weeks ago, she revealed the secret to her hair was not washing it frequently which, TBH, we can get behind. Good news for Lorde (and us, as Lorde worshippers): Cornrows don't need to be washed that frequently either! A new style to add to our encyclopedia that doesn't require maintenance? Sign us up!
for more
http://style.mtv.com/2013/12/04/lorde-team-braids/
2:10 AM
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Centenary of Military Aviation 2014 (CMA14)
| The Centenary of Military Aviation 2014 Air Show is proudly presented by the Royal Australian Air Force at RAAF Base Williams, Point Cook, Victoria over the weekend of 1st & 2nd March 2014. Point Cook is the birthplace of military aviation in Australia and the oldest continually operating military airfield in the world. The Centenary of Military Aviation is a national event celebrating 100 years of military aviation in Australian and encompassing a spectacular Air Show with air displays and ground displays. Gates are open from 8am to 4pm. Flying displays will be held from 10am to 3:30pm. The flying program is the same for both days of the Air Show. Entry is by pre-paid ticketing which will be available from December 2013. Please refer back to this website for further details in the coming weeks. Why you should come The event highlights the significant advances in military aircraft during the past 100 years. On display for the first time at CMA14 will be a newly built replica of a Bristol BoxKite aeroplane. The Bristol BoxKite was the first military aircraft flown in Australia at RAAF Point Cook, on 1 March 1914. No original Bristol BoxKite aeroplanes survive today. Three reproductions were built for the making of the film ‘Those magnificent men in their flying machines’. One is on display at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, another is on display at the Shuttleworth Collection in Bedfordshire (where it is still flown during flying displays), and the third one is on display at the Museum of Australian Army Flying in Queensland. Go to http://airforce.gov.au/ |
2:06 AM
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Hyundai is an aggressive company, and that applies to its green cars as much as the bread-and-butter sedans and crossovers it sells in growing numbers.
So when the company approached Green Car Reports to ask if we'd like to drive its new, hydrogen-powered 2015 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle, that was a no-brainer.
All in all, we spent about two hours in the zero-emission compact crossover, mixing freeway driving and suburban stop-and-go travel with a refueling stop at a rare hydrogen filling station.
While Hyundai's sibling rival Kia has launched the 2014 Kia Soul EV, a battery-electric conversion of its all-new 2014 Soul "tall box" compact hatchback, Hyundai believes that hydrogen fuel cells are the better path to zero-emission vehicles.Hyundai has been developed its own fuel-cell technology since 2000, and has shown a few concept cars over the years.
The Tucson Fuel Cell was announced at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012, where it was known as the ix35 Fuel Cell (the Tucson's model name in Europe).
It entered production this past February, and it was one of three hydrogen fuel-cell cars shown at November's auto shows in Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Now, its first low-volume production hydrogen car--built on the same Tucson assembly line in South Korea as the gasoline version we get--is here.
It will be offered for lease next spring at a cost of $499 per month for three years, with $3,000 down.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013
2:35 AM
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As the year winds toward a close, U.S. car sales are at their highest levels in years. And modern plug-in electric cars will set a new sales record too.
With one month left, November deliveries of cars with plugs look like they'll hold steady with last month's.
The Chevrolet Volt sold 1,920 units last month, against 2,022 in October, bringing its sales for the year to date to 20,702.Sales of the Volt through the first 11 months of the year are now essentially equal with those from last year, despite a $5,000 price cut on the 2014 Volt in August.Neck and neck with the Volt, the Nissan Leaf battery-electric car logged 2,003 deliveries, precisely one car more than the October number of 2,002.
That raises the Leaf's 2013 sales so far to 20,081, just 621 units behind the Volt. Nissan noted that, once again, Atlanta was the hottest market for Leaf sales.Neck and neck with the Volt, the Nissan Leaf battery-electric car logged 2,003 deliveries, precisely one car more than the October number of 2,002.
That raises the Leaf's 2013 sales so far to 20,081, just 621 units behind the Volt. Nissan noted that, once again, Atlanta was the hottest market for Leaf sales.Overall, it's looking like plug-in electric cars will total between 90,000 and 100,000 sales for 2013, out of a U.S. market of more than 15 million vehicles.
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2:29 AM
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Once more into the fray: Another state's car dealers are pushing for legislation to ban Tesla Motors from selling its electric cars directly to buyers.
This time it's Ohio. And legislators have unexpectedly moved up a hearing on the new law to today, according to a letter from Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA].The hearing takes place early this afternoon.
The Ohio Dealers Association is backing an amendment to Ohio Senate Bill 137--an unrelated bill that requires Ohio drivers to move left so as to leave an empty lane between themselves and highway maintenance vehicles at the side of the road,
Attaching the anti-Tesla amendment to an uncontroversial bill already moving toward adoption could see it become law more quickly than on its own.The proposed amendment would ban Tesla's practiceof selling its electric cars directly to customers, who place their orders online with the company after seeing and learning about the Model S in company-owned stores.
That would require Tesla to transact its sales through independently-owned third parties, which is to say, traditional car dealerships.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013
2:50 AM
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(Phys.org) —Japanese construction firm Shimizu Corp. has unveiled a proposal that entails building a solar panel array around the moon's equator, then sending the power it collects back to Earth. They are calling the project LUNA RING.Since the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan back in March 2011 (which led to closing the country's nuclear power plants) scientists there (and elsewhere) have been scrambling to find ways to create electricity for the country in other ways. In this latest proposal, a private company is reaching, quite literally, for the sky.The idea, company reps say, is to lay down a band of concrete (which can be made from moon soil) 250 miles wide all the way around the moon's equator (a distance of approximately 6,800 miles), using robots directed by humans back here on Earth.Next the concrete would be covered with solar panels, which would be connected via cables to microwave and laser transmission stations. The energy beams sent from the moon would be directed at receiving stations on Earth, allowing for a round-the-clock source of energy as there are no clouds or other bad weather on the moon. Shimizu claims that such a system would be capable of sending 13,000 terawatts of power back to Earth and that construction could begin on the project as early as 2035.
for more
http://phys.org/news/2013-11-japanese-firm-luna-solar-energy.html
for more
http://phys.org/news/2013-11-japanese-firm-luna-solar-energy.html
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