Gas 2.0

EV’s and Road Trips – Are we ready?
Ford wants to Replace Sparkplugs with Lasers
Affordable Eco-Luxury Ride - LexusLog :: Conclusion
Student-Built Electric Car Charges In 10 Minutes

Posted: 27 Jul 2009 02:39 PM PDT

Gasoline is a nasty thing. When we burn it we foul the air with pollutants and when we import it we cause economic and political problems. So we're interested in switching to electricity as a fuel – are we ready?

There is no question that today's EVs and all those planned by the automakers for the next few years are great for commuting. Whether driving a Tesla Roadster, a BMW Mini-E, a plug-in Prius, or a vintage Toyota Rav4/EV, you've got a great vehicle for our average daily drive of 29 miles. Just plug it in when you go to bed at night and plug it in at work if you have the opportunity, and you'll be a happy camper.

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Ford wants to Replace Sparkplugs with Lasers

Posted: 27 Jul 2009 01:23 PM PDT

Since its humble beginnings in the 19th century, the sparkplug has been a mainstay of the combustion engine.

Some engineers at Ford, in collaboration with Liverpool University researchers have decided to modernize spark plug technology. Since we’re in the 21st century, that replacement is going to be lasers.

Yes, I said lasers.

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Affordable Eco-Luxury Ride - LexusLog :: Conclusion

Posted: 27 Jul 2009 01:18 PM PDT

It was an interesting week to say the least. By the time the Lexus pick-up team arrived to retrieve their prototype, I was clear that I would likely measure all hybrid vehicle test drives by this first one. This was not my first hybrid test ride, nor do I hope it is my last, but I found myself more attached than I wanted to be as I saw its sleek yet short silver body reflect brilliantly for the last time. Yes, I am waxing (or waning perhaps) poetic for a car . . .

I come by it naturally as my father had a love for cool cars and gadgets - the Lexus HS 250h hybrid presented a satisfying blend of both.

A few of the ergonomic and gadget-type features that I loved had little to do with the hybrid or eco-factor. However, a couple of things in particular stuck with me and I suspect will be incorporated to some degree in most hybrid cars - or they should be for at least one model generation:

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Student-Built Electric Car Charges In 10 Minutes

Posted: 27 Jul 2009 10:13 AM PDT

MIT students are developing an electric car that could easily compete with petro-based vehicles.

Using a 2010 Mercury Milan hybrid and 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate batteries, the car fully charges in about 10 minutes. Whereas most EVs require overnight charging to reach full capacity, this is clearly a game changer.

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