Gas 2.0

A Week in the Life of Azhar Hussain, Godfather of Electric Motorcycle Racing
155 MPH Electric Superbus Hits the Track
Honda to Double CNG Vehicle Production
Nissan LEAF’s Mysterious Cold Weather Package
GM/Opel Developing Volt Plug-in Hybrid Van
New Kia Optima Launches Today, Hybrid Coming Soon

A Week in the Life of Azhar Hussain, Godfather of Electric Motorcycle Racing

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 03:06 PM PDT

In April of this year, I went to the first round of the 2010 TTXGP season at Infineon Raceway . From the start I’ve been curious and excited about the potential for electric motorcycle racing—and in a bit of personal realization it struck me that I should also write about it. So at the Team Werkstatt party, I cornered Founder and CEO Azhar Hussain to learn more about the visionary who started it all, and interviewed him later that weekend.

Azhar’s passion for TTXGP is infectious, and I quickly saw that this (the whole electric motorcycle industry, and racing as a way to speed up innovation) held the potential to be as big as the Internet back in the 90′s. We became fast friends and have remained in contact since. So when he told me he would be in California, I knew I wanted to spend some time with him. He asked me to show him around LA, which I did via motorcycle on a rather cold and foggy Saturday… which quickly turned into a week’s worth of adventures.

The week began with Azhar’s presentation at Intel in Santa Clara, a cross-promotional event intended to show Intel and Silicon Valley more about electric motorcycles and all the fun things you can do with an Intel Atom processor on a motorcycle. There was an interesting mix of attendees who braved the cube farm we had to pass through to get to the conference room, and much pleasant networking was done.

TTXGP Goes To Hollywood

Early the next morning, we hit the road for Azhar’s first trip down I-5 and what felt like my millionth. Like any European, he was soon asking “Are we there yet?” We were transporting Jennifer Bromme’s Mavizen TTX02 race bike from San Francisco to Los Angeles to display it at Hollywood Electric‘s One Year Anniversary party, then to ship to Europe for the upcoming season finale at Albacete. Azhar Hussain and Harlan Flagg (co-owner of Hollywood Electrics) joined me for the trip south. I had loads of fun driving up there and this video shows why it’s best other people drive my car.

While I wondered if this would be the time my trusty Joe Hauler finally gave out, or some other catastrophe befell this one-of-a-kind $40,000 race bike, Azhar and Harlan took turns behind the wheel. That is, when Azhar wasn’t holding us up working at what few rest stops we made along the way that had wifi. This man needs a USB internet stick more than anyone I know. Our conversations on the drive revolved around the electric motorcycle industry and specific people in it, racing and how awesome it is, as well as electric motorcycle mods and aftermarket fun bits. None of which is going to be published here today, of course.

The following day Azhar met with the press and Los Angeles Times’ motorcycle correspondent Susan Carpenter took the Mavizen for a spin. I’m looking forward to reading her take on it. Then it was time for the Hollywood Electrics party—at which more networking occurred and I took a ride on Brammo’s Southern California Service Manager’s Enertia. Dave had given it to Race Tech to develop and install aftermarket suspension components. The handling was better, but the real difference was in the braking. The gold valve forks made for much crisper braking with almost no dive.

Electric Motorcycle Debauchery

Tom also got to ride the Mavizen, as he was the only one present with any burnout experience. It was a horrible thing to do to the environment, but oh! what a glorious burnout it was…

On Friday, I lent Azhar my Yamaha R1 to ride out to Fontana for a meeting with the owners of California Speedway. He returned ecstatic and expressing a sense of guilt over having enjoyed a gas-powered bike so much. I told him to think of it more as setting a higher benchmark for the Mavizen, and that went over well. It’s already one of the faster electric bikes on the market, so we’ll see what a few hours on a 180 hp motorcycle does for development. Although really, it seems the two biggest issues are battery life and overheating. The motors are capable of equivalent power, just not for very long. Yet.

The Enlightened Debauchery Known as Mindshare LA

Friday night, he gave an overview of TTXGP at Mindshare LA, an evening of “Enlightened Debauchery” started by the same guys who brought you that OK Go video with the massive Rube Goldberg machine. There were some really good questions from the crowd, which is why I love Mindshare. It’s a room full of really smart people, having fun. In Los Angeles. We love shattering misconceptions. Afterwards we explored downtown LA nightlife, then sat in front of a taqueria and watched a TV show being filmed around us.

The next day, we rode my R1 all over town, and I made him drive because I don’t like having big passengers. Although I was a terrible backseat driver, I must admit. We argued over whether it was more appropriate to really use the motor and keep it in a lower gear (my preference) or use the transmission even if that means forgetting to downshift and finding oneself in 3rd gear going 20 mph on a bike capable of reaching 100mph in 1st gear well before redline. Well, the bike didn’t complain nearly as much as I did, and once we’re all on electric bikes that won’t matter. I’m looking forward to Albacete, where all the top teams from the US, UK and EU series will be competing. As with all TTXGP races, if you can’t get it on TV you can always get it at www.egrandprix.tv.

155 MPH Electric Superbus Hits the Track

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 02:48 PM PDT

I write about a lot of fanciful concept cars that I know have little or no basis in reality. Most of these concepts never even make it past the “sketch” phase. Some concepts make it a little bit farther than that, going on to become a clay model. Sometimes, even the most illogical concepts somehow, some way become actual working models… like the electric Superbus.

A cross between an electric supercar and a luxury limo, the Superbus hasn’t just been built, but has actually made its way on to a test track. Is there hope for this wacky concept after all?

I wrote about the electric Superbus, being built by Dutch design students, earlier this ear. The concept is powered by electric motors that provide upwards of 800 horsepower. This horsepower can supposedly push the 20,000 pound Superbus to speeds upwards of 155 mph. In my earlier post, some of you were dismissive of this project, and for good reason. To date, the Superbus has cost £7.5 million, and can hold just 23 passengers. However, these passengers will ride in luxury and speed… if the Superbus actually enters service.

These students seem serious about their creation. While the Superbus hasn’t gone faster than 50mph, they have taken it to the track and tested it. Of course, a 155 mph is rather useless unless you have someplace to go that fast. To me that means the creation of a special highway network relegated specifically to vehicles going 100 mph or more. While it is built from lightweight carbon fiber, I also still have reservations about the range of the Superbus, as well as how long it will take to recharge.

Ideally, I see something like this going super-fast in one direction, dropping off its passengers and recharging while a new group of passengers board. Once boarding and whatnot is done, the bus should be ready to go again. It could be useful for short, quick jaunts between nearby cities, but for long distance travel, a high-speed train still sounds better to me. Plus, tickets will probably be crazy expensive considering the amenities like a headphone, multimedia center, and work desk. Sounds more comfortable than an airplane to be sure.

Source: The Telegraph

Honda to Double CNG Vehicle Production

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 02:38 PM PDT

Even though the Prius gets the headlines, arguably the greenest vehicle available to US buyers for the past seven years has been the California-only natural-gas-powered Honda Civic GX.

Since the infrastructure hasn’t been there to support widespread distribution of NGVs, however, Honda has kept production numbers of the GX very low.

According to Honda’s senior manager of alternative vehicles, the company has plans to double production of the GX over the next 2-3 years.

"With the activity in the environmental vehicle space, we're anticipating growth in sales of CNG vehicles, not only in California but nationwide," said Elmer Hardey, Honda's senior manager of alternative vehicles. "We're considering doubling sales in the next two- to three-year horizon," Hardey said. Last year, Honda sold less than 2,000 Civic GXs—so a doubling is still a modest increase in production. The Civic GX will also be offered with nicer amenities, such as a navigation system and premium stereo package.

Hardey acknowledges several factors still keeping CNG cars a small niche, most notably limited access to CNG fueling stations, which could be solved by products like the BRC Fuel Maker, which costs consumer about $4,500 (after a $2,000 tax credit).

Currently, buyers of Honda’s Civic GX are eligible for a $4000 tax credit for simply buying the car, which stickers for around $25,000. At that price, the GX – with its access to HOV lanes and significant fuel savings – might just be able to find a home outside of California, as well.

Here’s hoping!

SOURCE: HybridCars.com

Nissan LEAF’s Mysterious Cold Weather Package

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 02:33 PM PDT

Here in the Northeast, we really do have four seasons (as opposed to say, California’s perpetual summer). One of those seasons is winter, and New England winters can be mild or brutal, depending on the year. That cold weather has a detrimental effect on cars, from salt on roads rusting out frames to accidents and icy roads making travel difficult.

Electric cars face additional problems from the cold. For instance, the range can shorten dramatically depending on battery temperature management, as the cold affects the chemistry of the electric car’s battery. Yet Nissan LEAF fans have found a mysterious, unexplained cold weather package for the LEAF. What gives?

The cold weather package, which has never been explained yet is available for viewing on the Nissan LEAF’s Features and Specs website. There is no price, though the cold weather package includes temperature management, heated seats, heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, and a HVAC duct to the rear. The most interesting tidbit to me is the temperature management system. Is it for the battery, or the passengers? Also, for a car that has to conserve its electricity for driving, heating the seats, steering wheels, and mirrors seems like something of a waste of energy.

In talking to Nissan, Nissan-Leaf.net learned that there is indeed a cold weather package, but that it won’t be available on the initial batch of LEAFs. Nissan also claims that it found it more efficient to heat the seats, steering wheel, and mirrors separately than it was to simply blast the heater. Sounds reasonable enough, but will it be enough for those of us living in cold climates?

Source: Nissan-Leaf.net

GM/Opel Developing Volt Plug-in Hybrid Van

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 02:31 PM PDT

Remember when vans were cool? I don’t, but my father likes to regale me of tales when big vans with wild paintings adorning the side were all the rage. These days it seems most vans are used for delivery or contractor work, especially over in Europe. They never got the memo that the van craze is over.

GM’s European branch Opel has developed a hybrid-electric van concept based on the Voltec engineering underpinning the Chevy Volt. Called the Vivaro e-Concept, it is definitely designed for European tastes. So could it come to America?

Many, many small businesses use cargo vans as delivery vehicles. Contractors also use vans, as opposed to pickups, should they live in a particularly rainy (or criminal) area. Some people just prefer vans. With the Chevy Volt hitting showrooms in the next few weeks, people are going to start clamoring for the next application of the Volt’s technology, sink or swim. I don’t think anybody was expecting a van… and yet it makes sense.

Fleet sales make up a large margin of GM’s sales. Vans are crazy popular in Europe, so launching it over there through Opel and gauging interest makes sense. GM also knows that Ford is developing an all-electric Transit Connect van. The Transit Connect is a perennial favorite across the pond, and GM probably wants a slice of that pie. The Vivaro e-Power, which is just a concept, would certainly give the electric Transit Connect a run for its money.

Supposedly, it can travel 60 miles on electric power alone. That would cover a lot of ground for many small businesses. After that, a range extender would keep it going for another 190 miles, for a total range of 250 miles. It is clearly designed for local businesses moreso than those driving long hauls.

Here’s the thing. There are no prototypes, no plans to build it, and certainly no plans to bring it to the U.S. This is a concept car, built to gauge interest. So let me ask you, are you interested in the Volt-van?

You can check out the full press release on the next page.

Source: GM

New Kia Optima Launches Today, Hybrid Coming Soon

Posted: 23 Sep 2010 04:57 AM PDT

It is hard to believe how far Hyundai/Kia has come in such a relatively short time. The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is a sharp looking car available with both turbocharged and hybrid engines that deliver great gas mileage, especially for their price segment. Now Kia, the cheaper kid brother of Hyundai, is getting its own version of the Sonata, an all-new Optima.

Just like the Sonata, the 2011 Kia Optima will be available with turbocharged and hybrid engines. The hybrid is expected to be unveiled at the L.A. Auto Show.

This week was the official launching of the Optima, and Kia is happy to spread the word about its peppy new Kia. While not as “swoopy” as the Sonata, the Kia has a more aggressive, muscular look to be sure—clearly reflecting the design mantra of Peter Schreyer, who came to Kia in 2006 after 25 years at Audi. It seems that Hyundai is truly on the path to remake Kia as a younger, sportier brand—next step: I’d like to see a Genesis Coupe-based Kia. The Optima will however be available with a 274 horsepower turbocharged 2.0 liter engine that gets 33 mpg on the highway.

The hybrid Optima, meanwhile, will share platforms with the Sonata. While not on sale yet, the Sonata Hybrid reportedly gets 39 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway. It can also travel to speeds of up to 62 mph on the electric motor alone, whereas many other hybrids still can’t get over 50 mph on the electric motor.

What impressed me the most though is the list of standard and optional features on a Kia. From the cockpit-like driver’s console to the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, this car seems to be built for people who enjoy driving. A CD/MP3 player is standard, as is a USB plug, and that is on the base LX model (which is also the only model offered with a six-speed manual transmission). Upgrading to EX offers entertainment features, adjustable power seats, and even a panoramic sunfroof. On a Kia.

Personally, the sporty SX model with the turbo engine sounds good for me. Black leather trim on the inside, faux-carbon fiber, leather wrapped steering wheel. A fast, classy Kia. Too bad you can’t get the manual transmission with the turbocharged engine.

No prices yet, but if the Sonata is any judge, it should have an MSRP of between $18k -$25k.

I think its a looker, but what about you guys? You can check out the full press release on the next page.

Source: Kia Motors