Gas 2.0

ERA RaceAbout EV, in Action!
Mazda2 Subcompact To Be World’s Most Fuel Efficient Car?
Could Ford “Start” Replace The Ka Micro-Car?
Brammo Doubles Mileage Of Electric Motorcycle
Prius’ Dirty Little Secrets

Posted: 20 Oct 2010 01:06 PM PDT

The ERA RaceAbout electric car from Finland was one of the competitors in the recent Automotive XPrize, but while plenty of photos and specs existed, I hadn’t yet stumbled upon a good VIDEO of the car in action. Michael Graham Richard, over at Treehugger, found this video of the little electric runabout, and I thought it was worth sharing here.

As a quick refresher, the RaceAbout is an all-carbon, 4WD sportscar propelled by 4 hub-mounted electric motors which are powered Li-ion batteries which the car’s makers claim can be “express” charged (to 80% capacity) in about 10 minutes. Considering the car’s claimed 200 km range, that should cover the needs of any “weekend toy”-style driver out there.

Proposed "Express" Charging Station

You can follow the car’s progress on the company’s Facebook page, HERE … and don’t forget to “Like” Gas 2.0 while you’re over there.

SOURCE: Automotive XPrize, via TreeHugger.

Mazda2 Subcompact To Be World’s Most Fuel Efficient Car?

Posted: 20 Oct 2010 12:17 PM PDT

I have a soft spot in my heart for Mazda. For one, they made one of the best sports cars of the 1980′s, the RX-7, and they did it their own way via a rotary engine. Mazda has also been integral to Ford’s renewed success, as the Blue Oval’s mid-size lineup (Fusion/Milan/MKZ) are based off of the Mazda6′s architecture. Ford has recently divested itself of its stake in Mazda, though perhaps at the wrong time.

Reuters is reporting that the Mazda2 subcompact, which goes on sale in Japan next year and will eventually make its way to America, could get gas mileage of around 70 mpg. That would make it the most efficient gas-only car in the world.

I have personally seen the Mazda2 up close and personal, and it certainly is a cute car. Mazda, which has no hybrid engine systems of its own, has taken to vastly improving its line of gas and diesel engines to compete with hybrids. If these rumors are true, not only are they competing, but completely blowing the competition out of the water. A 70 mpg gas-only car would outdo every hybrid on the planet. Of course, it depends on what continent the mpg is calculated, as Japan, America, and Europe all have different standards.

The Mazda2 goes on sale in Japan in 2011, and will be priced well-below any hybrid, which makes sense since it will use less “exotic” technology. It will have a choice of petrol or diesel engines from the new SKY lineup, which promises improved fuel mileage and performance by increasing the compression ratio and squeezing the most amount of energy out of every squirt of gas. Mazda is making a name for itself outside of the herd by ignoring hybrids and improving the internal combustion engine, though how long this tactic can work to their benefit, I don’t know. You’ve got to admire their gusto for trying to be different though, and it may pay massive dividends down the road.

Oh, and as for Ford, Mazda claims they still have a strategic partnership. We will see how that pans out as well.

Source: Reuters

Could Ford “Start” Replace The Ka Micro-Car?

Posted: 20 Oct 2010 09:26 AM PDT

The battle of the micro-cars is heating up, and perhaps the most important battleground is the country we call him. Yes, America’s love affair with oversized automobiles may finally be cooling and smaller cars like the Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500 are ready for the limelight. How small are Americans willing to go though?

Very small, mayhaps. Ford is said to be mulling replacing its aging Ka, which shares some engineering with the 500, with a car based on the “Start” concept unveiled in Beijing over the summer. Will this car make it to America under the “One Ford” plan?

I certainly hope so, because I loooove the Start concept. The tiny four-seater is powered by a three-cylinder, 1.0 liter EcoBoost engine, which means turbocharger + fuel efficiency. Plus such a car would start around $13,000, well within even this humble writer’s price range. Of course, such a car has traditionally been sold in markets that love small cars, like East Asia, Africa, South America, and even Europe where the Ka is quite popular. So what about America?

The Fiesta just went on sale here in America, and yet already accounts for 1/3 of total Fiesta sales. That is not a number to be ignored, especially since Ford sells more trucks than anything else. Still, the Fiesta can easily top $20,000 when you start adding features…there is room in Ford’s lineup for a cheaper car yet, even in America. I would love to see something like the Start on Ford lots. Plus, Ford wants to take all of its models global…why not the Start too?

What about you guys? Would you ever consider a car like the Start?

Source: Inside Line

Brammo Doubles Mileage Of Electric Motorcycle

Posted: 20 Oct 2010 09:09 AM PDT

I much prefer driving on four wheels than two. Personal preference is all, though I’ve got plenty of friends who get their kicks on motorcycles. Most of them like to ride crotch rockets, those Japanese bikes that are little more than an engine and two wheels. Besides going fast as all hell, these bikes are great for wheelies, endos, and all manner of righteous tricks, these bikes are also surprisingly cheap and fuel frugal. Convincing these guys to ditch the crotch rocket for an electric motorcycle might not be easy.

It is, however, getting easier to argue for electric motorcycles. Brammo, maker of electric motorcycles, has just announced that they have managed to double the range their Enertia electric motorcycle from 40 miles to 80.

The upgraded motorcycle, called the Enertis+, costs $1,000 more than the original Enertia. For that extra cheese, you get a 6.0 kWh lithium ion battery pack that 80 miles of driving on a single charge. That is more than enough to cover most commutes, especially for you city folk. With an MSRP of just $8,995, the Enertia+ price comes down when you factor in a 10% federal tax credit and different state tax credits. Depending on where you live, you could pay just $5,000 or less for the Enertia+, especially if you already own a Brammo bike (which gets you a $2,500 rebate from Brammo itself).

The 80 mile range of the Enertia+ makes the argument for electric motorcycles so much easier. The only downside is that charging takes a bit longer, a full 8 hours if the battery is depleted. A small price to pay though for a motorcycle that has a sporty side and practical commuter applications. Now they just have to improve the top speed, which sits at a tepid 60 mph, and maybe some of my daredevil friends will consider making the switch.

Source: Treehugger via Brammo

Prius’ Dirty Little Secrets

Posted: 20 Oct 2010 07:48 AM PDT

Toyota Prius on Manufacturing Emissions

Automotive News recently published their analysis of Toyota’s “sustainability report”, which looked at the Prius’ total environmental impact, “from factory to junkyard“.

As expected, the Prius compared favorably in terms of lifetime emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide (according to Toyota), but unexpectedly poorly when compared to a “class average” in the emissions of nonmethane hydrocarbons and particulate matter. Additionally, when looking at the “materials manufacturing” phase of the car’s life cycle, the Prius was worse than the class average across all five emissions categories.

Toyota offered that these results are by-products of hybrid-only parts such as motors, inverters and nickel-metal hydride batteries which consume more energy and creates more emissions than non-hybrid parts during the manufacturing process.

Toyota reports that the results of this report will be used to redesign hybrid vehicles like the upcoming Lexus HS250h and JDM-only Wish MPV.

SOURCE: Automotive News.