Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Mini E Driver Says Friends Worry More About Range Anxiety Than He Does

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 01:56 PM PDT

Here’s a little nugget that suggests range anxiety may be an overblown topic: Northeast Mine E test driver, Tom Moloughney, writes on the Inside Line blog that in the year he’s been driving the car he’s never had a problem with getting stranded. And if there’s anybody who should have had a chance to get stranded in a Mini E, it’s Moloughney — he’s driven more than 23,000 miles in the car. Mr. Moloughney says that, in fact, he’s been so unconcerned with range anxiety that he rarely even looks at his range gauge anymore.

It’s gotten to the point that his friends and colleagues fret more about it than he does, wondering frequently if Moloughney will be able to make it to lunch dates and the like.

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IngoCar’s 170 MPG Lightweight Concept Looks Good on Paper

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 12:35 PM PDT

We love interesting concept cars here at Gas2.org. We especially love concepts that go outside the box to figure out ways to improve fuel efficiency.

Valentin Technologies is hard at work coming up with a 5-passenger sedan that accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds, and can go over 1,000 miles on just 6 gallons of gas. They can do this, they claim, through a unique hybrid gas/hydraulic engine system and a an extremely light weight of about 1,600 pounds. But is it just vaporware?

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Scientist Implores US to “Master” Rare Earth Metals For Future Transportation Security

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 12:22 PM PDT

Rare earth metals — so called because they are found in such low concentration on the Earth and are, therefore, exceedingly difficult to profitably mine — are required in everything from advanced electric car batteries and motors to new refrigerator technology.

Is the US running headlong into a future where we depend on other countries for a stable supply of this critical resource?

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GM To World: “We’re Still Developing Hydrogen Fuel Cells”

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 11:34 AM PDT

The hydrogen economy. It sounds so good on paper. All of our vehicles driving around emitting nothing but water vapor fueled from hydrogen produced by power from the sun. It’s been a dream since before I was born.

I remember reading a copy of Popular Mechanics when I was in 7th grade that said the hydrogen economy was realistically a decade away… that was in the 80s. As each decade has come and gone since then, the hydrogen economy seems to be perpetually a decade away.

Is the hydrogen economy something we should just throw in the towel on (at least for now), or should we continue funding this area of research even though other technologies are more promising for the time being?

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Are Cars Getting Too Complicated For Their Own Good?

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 10:33 AM PDT

I still don’t know what is to blame for Toyota’s “unintended acceleration” problem. Doesn’t seem like Toyota or the government does either. But there has already been a lot of talk about mandating an accelerator pedal override switch on all new cars, yet another feature that further complicates cars.

Not that I am against government regulation. Cars are safer than ever before, and traffic deaths are down as a result of it. But as lawmakers mandate safety features and car makers pile on the entertainment systems, cars get heavier and thus require more powerful engines. Even hybrid systems, while improving gas mileage, are adding further complications to an already complicated system. Shouldn’t we be trying to get back to basics?

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Solar Road Prototype Finished

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 09:09 AM PDT

Fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles are just one part of the solution to our future transportation problems. US highways and our transportation infrastructure are both sorely outdated, and few advancements have been made to improve the actual driving experience.

One idea we covered some months ago was the Solar Roadway, which would replace traditional asphalt roads with a grid of solar-powered, self-heating roadways. These roadways would merge utility poles, plowing, road signs and warnings into a single dynamic unit. Solar Roadways has completed their first 12′ x12′ section of road, and it looks like it works!

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Multiple Hybrids and Electric Cars are Coming From GM

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 09:04 AM PDT

Could GM one day stand for “Green Motors”?

According to a recent Associated Press piece, the soon-to-retire Bob Lutz said that GM needs to hybridize its fleet to keep up with increasing fuel economy standards. This we already know, and there are plans in the works for hybrid rear-wheel drive vehicles, as well as the upcoming Volt.

But Lutz also let slip that GM was working on a line of all-electric vehicles, something the General hasn’t openly committed to yet, despite having more experience than other companies thanks to the short-lived EV1 program. Lutz’s statement seems to corroborate a recent remark by GM’s North American President that the Volt is a stepping stone to all-electric cars.

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New Ford Police Interceptor Improves Gas Mileage By 25%

Posted: 17 Mar 2010 08:56 AM PDT

The Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor has become synonymous in this country with law enforcement. Based on the ancient Panther platform, departments across the country loved the Crown Vic for its price, frame-on-body construction, and all around toughness. Fuel economy? Not so much.

Last Friday Ford introduced a new Police Interceptor, based on the 2010 Taurus D3 platform. In addition to improved safety and a better looking car, Ford promised the new Police Interceptor would have more horsepower and better fuel economy than the outgoing Crown Victoria.

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