Thursday, April 15, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

GM, NASA Sending ‘Robonaut’ to Space Station; GM Aims to Improve Manufacturing

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 01:17 PM PDT

It’s a bit of a NASAriffic day in the next generation automobile world! First we heard about a burgeoning relationship between Chrysler and NASA, and today brings word that GM has also teamed with the space agency to work on building advanced robotics for both automobile manufacturing and future missions to space.

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Renault Finalizes Designs of Fluence and Kangoo EVs, Accepting Pre-Reservations

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 12:48 PM PDT

Not to let its sister company Nissan get away with all the electric car press, Renault has also been busy finalizing its plans for releasing electric cars to Europe and Israel early next year.

Today Renault showed off the finalized designs of its Fluence electric sedan and its Kangoo small commercial electric delivery van. In addition, the company also announced a “pre-reservation” list, which will give potential customers a chance to get their name in line to order one of the upcoming electric cars.

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Chrysler, NASA Saddle Up Together

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:30 AM PDT

The title just about says it all. Chrysler, perhaps one of the worst run auto companies in recent memory, has teamed up with NASA. Yes, that NASA. I guess there are certain perks that come with being bailed out by the US government. Like teaming up with the world’s best funded space organization to develop technology as it pertains to both space shuttles and futuristic cars.

This news, on top of DARPA’s research project regarding a flying Hummer, of sorts, gives me hope. Hope for the future. Maybe I really will get a flying car some day after all.

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US Military Wants an All-Terrain, Hybrid, Transforming Flying Car

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 09:12 AM PDT

I love the Transformers; but not the terrible, loud, and innuendo-laced Micheal Bay version. I’m talking old school 80’s toys made popular by the Transformers cartoon. Those guys were awesome, though I was always disappointed when the Decepticons were defeated, not because the Autobots were better, but because Megatron was an inept leader at best.

Someone in the military must be a fan of Transformers too. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has revealed plans for an all-terrain wheeled vehicle that can transform into an airplane and go as far as 250 miles on a tank of gas. Awesome.

The military has a history of hair-brained defense schemes, but this sounds like one that might actually make it to production one day. The design calls for a VTOL, or Vertical Take Off and Landing vehicle, sort of like the Osprey pictured to the left. It would also be about the size of two Hummers parked bumper-to-bumper with a price limitation of $43 million. So far, so good, right?

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US Military Sees Massive Oil Shortages As Soon As 2015

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 09:05 AM PDT

The military consumes a lot of oil; precisely how much, not even they seem to know. But not only do they buy and consume lots of oil, but they ship it all over the world to whatever theater they need. It isn’t exactly efficient, and the Department of Defense knows it. They’ve been moving towards greener, less oily ideas of getting troops and equipment around, ideas that may one day filter down to the civilian population.

But while the Department of Defense may not know how much oil it uses, it has a good idea of when it will start running short of supplies. A recent report suggests that as soon as 2015 all the surplus oil production could be gone, and production could fall short on the order of 10 million barrels… per day

There are lots of arguments for, and against, peak oil, when it will happen, and just how bad it will be. But as a single entity, the US Military is the top consumer of energy in the world. The military pays as much as $400 a gallon for gas, when you figure in all the shipping, equipment, and personal required to get the fuel where it is destined to go. So when the military is predicting massive shortages just a few years out, we should all tune in and pay attention. (more…)

Ford Unveils Plans For Three More EcoBoost Engines, Better EGR System

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 09:00 AM PDT

I love turbochargers. While superchargers hold a special place in my heart, the efficiency and sheer amount of power a well-made turbocharger system can produce really tickles my fancy. That is one of the reasons I love Ford’s new line of EcoBoost turbocharged engines.

The Blue Oval announced on Tuesday that it would be adding the EcoBoost engine to four more vehicles in the near future, including the Edge, F-150, and yet-to-be-unveiled 2011 Explorer. It was also announced today that next generation EcoBoost engines would have an improved Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system to boost fuel efficiency.

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