Gas 2.0 |
- Low Price Renault in Works to Compete With Tata Nano; Targeting $2,500
- Amazing Coating on Ferns Could Make Boats Much More Fuel Efficient
- VW Unveils Big Plug-In Plans: Electric Golf, Jetta and Up! City Car to Go Global in 2013
- American Electric Motorcycle Team Ramps Up For The TTXGP
| Low Price Renault in Works to Compete With Tata Nano; Targeting $2,500 Posted: 04 May 2010 02:26 PM PDT
There was a time when even the top-end cars only cost around $3,000. Of course, that was when $3,000 could buy you a very nice house too. Still, these days $3,000 doesn’t get you into a very nice car, unless you get lucky. And it certainly won’t get you a new car in the United States. But it will in India. The Tata Nano has become a huge hit practically overnight: thanks to its low cost and standard features the Nano stickers for around $2,100. The success of the Nano seems to have convinced Renault that there is a market for super-cheap cars. The French automaker is now planning a $2,500 micro car of its own. |
| Amazing Coating on Ferns Could Make Boats Much More Fuel Efficient Posted: 04 May 2010 12:38 PM PDT
Large container ships are some of the heaviest polluters on the planet. They burn 1,600 gallons of pollutant-laden heavy fuel oil an hour and each ship can emit over 150,000 tons of CO2 every year along with sulfur and other particulates that cause a whole host of health problems. The EPA estimates that as many as 60,000 coastal deaths each year can be attributed to the pollution. Because of this, many ship operators are increasingly looking for ways to cut down on emissions, as well as save themselves a boatload of money — quite literally. In this vein, research being conducted by scientists at the Universities of Bonn, Rostock and Karlsruhe in Germany has unlocked the mysteries of how some types of ferns are so good at shedding water, and, in turn, how those properties can be used to make a synthetic coating for boat hulls that allows them to glide more efficiently through the water — potentially reducing heavy oil consumption by as much as 10%. |
| VW Unveils Big Plug-In Plans: Electric Golf, Jetta and Up! City Car to Go Global in 2013 Posted: 04 May 2010 09:41 AM PDT
Over the last year we’ve seen and heard rather vague hints of Volkswagen’s strategy when it comes to electric cars, including the debut of their Up! city car concept last year in Frankfurt and then indications that it would be released at some point in the future along with another larger electric car meant for general use. In the last couple of days, however, Volkswagen has presented a solidified plan for their ambitious electric vehicle rollout, and it appears that 2013 is the big year for VW plug-ins. It will start with the introduction of a production version of the Up!, followed by an electric Golf and an electric Jetta later in the year. The vehicles will see near simultaneous rollouts in Germany, North America and other key markets (presumably most of Europe). |
| American Electric Motorcycle Team Ramps Up For The TTXGP Posted: 04 May 2010 08:45 AM PDT
I have a lot to be excited for this year, in terms of green racing. For one, the EMXGP, a grand prix style race for electric cars, will be happening in Barcelona, Spain, rather than Paris, France, in October. Works for me, as I’m not a huge fan of French food. But even bigger news is the TTXGP series of electric motorcycle races happening across North America and Europe, drawing competition from every corner of the world. A new American team, Rhyne Electric Powersports, has recently entered the fray with a bike they promise will drive just like a standard gas-powered bike, and has more than enough power for your average wheel-standing daredevil. |
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