Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Honda May Swap to Lithium-Ion Batteries

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 04:07 PM PST

Since 1999, Honda has used its Integrated Motor Assist system in its hybrid fleet, along with nickel-metal hydride batteries. They are contemplating replacing their aging IMA system with a more modern hybrid system utilizing lithium-ion batteries.

Everybody is getting in on the hybrid act, and while Honda was one of the first companies to hit the hybrid market, it hasn't exactly met with massive success. The Insight has come and gone and come back again, and yet it hasn't come even close to the success of the Prius. Honda has the new CR-Z, which also uses the IMA system, but according to a report from the Detroit Free Press, they are seriously considering an update to something more modern.

The hot commodity among hybrid car makers right now are lithium-ion batteries. The "mild hybrid" system Honda uses right now can't be used with lithium-ion batteries, and as seen in the Insight and CR-Z, it isn't really all the beneficial to the fuel economy either. The CR-Z doesn't even break 40 mpg on the highway, yet cars like the Cruze and Fiesta manage to do so without any hybrid system whatsoever.

If Honda does go to a new system, we'd likely first see it in Honda's luxury brand, Acura, before it filtered down to cheaper cars. About time I say. I wasn't at all impressed with the CR-Z's EPA numbers, and a new hybrid system may be just what they need to kickstart their hybrid program.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Chery Readies Its First Electric Car for China

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 12:17 PM PST

Almost two years ago, Chinese automaker Chery unveiled the S18 electric car concept. That concept is now a reality, preparing to enter a car-hungry market at a time when the government is handing generous incentives to green car buyers.

This all-electric M1-EV is pretty impressive for an EV virgin like Chery. There seems to be some confusion on the Internet about the exact stats of this new EV, with a range somewhere between 60 and 90 miles, and a top speed around 75 mph. While official pricing has not been released, China Car Times says it is priced between $22,000 and $35,000 U.S. dollar bills.

Depending on the size of the battery (likely designated by the five different models) the M1-EV could get up to a $9,000 government incentive to buy it. That would price it ahead of the Volt, and put it right in the range of the Leaf (if it really cost $35,000). No word on when exactly it goes on sale, but I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty of other EV's coming out of China in the next few years. China is buying more cars than America, and with more generous incentives, setting up China to be a leader in electric vehicle sales and production. It is only a matter of time before they start exporting them to America too.

Sources: Chery | China Car Times

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Keeping Tabs On EV Drivers

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 08:29 AM PST

I’ve often wondered if there is some secret, hidden office out there tracking my every click via the Internet. Facebook already knows I love cars and video games and you can even “check in” at different places now. What else does the Internet know?

An article in Automotive News suggests that corporations could use the Internet connectivity of EV’s (and other cars) to keep tabs on its customers. George Orwell, eat your heart out.

It is no secret that automakers are loading up cars and trucks with all sorts of technology to help people stay “connected.” Ford’s SYNC is probably the best example, as not only does it act as a phone and MP3 player, but soon it will provide traffic on the fly and tell you where the nearest Chinese restaurants are. All of this requires, of course, the Internet.

The article in Automotive News, penned by Hans Greimel, goes on to talk about how plugging your electric vehicle into a charging station would be another method for companies to keep tabs on you. The car, of course, will be plugged into the Internet and be able to let you know where the nearest charging station is. Records of your location could then be used in lawsuits and criminal cases. Oh, you say you were at the grocery store on the night of the 15th picking up ice cream for the kids? Well then why was your car at your mistress’s house?

Yes, I could see this happening, and it is in fact already happening with Facebook. Marriages and careers have been ended by “oversharing.” This isn’t a problem that will be only for EV’s though. As GPS devices become standard equipment (really people, use a map), it doesn’t matter what kind of motor runs your car; there will be eyes on you.

Companies promise not to overshare your personal information, and yet there are whole companies out there dedicated to untangling the shopping habits of consumers. A whole new cottage industry could spring up deciphering our driving habits. There are already “black boxes” installed on many automobiles that record anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes of your driving behavior. Toyota used black boxes to determine that many “runaway” Prius accidents were just driver error instead.

This information doesn’t have to be used for evil purposes though. Much of this data can be used to improve traffic flow, coordinate traffic lights, and improve local infrastructure. It could even be used to save us money and fuel and make our cars operate more efficiently.

Still though, the days of hiding your driving habits are quickly coming to an end, though it has less to do with electric vehicles and more to do with technology as a whole. The more connected we, as a people, become, the more connected our cars must become. If you are really worried about your privacy, better buy an old car instead. Otherwise, kiss your privacy goodbye, no matter what kind of car you drive.

Source: Automotive News

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Generation Y Not Into Cars: Is That A Good Thing?

Posted: 08 Nov 2010 04:34 PM PST

Before I was into cars, I was really into video games. I mean like, really into video games. I recently embarked on a one-year embargo of video games, so I could focus more attention on my much-neglected fleet of project cars. Since turning 16, cars have been my prime obsession, and the more I learn about the auto industry, the more fascinated and enthralled I become with cars of all shapes and sizes. Video games? Just not as interesting as they used to be.

Apparently, I’m the exception, rather than the rule (though I already knew that). MSNBC is apparently just figuring out that my generation, the so-called “Millenials” or “Generation Y”, are more interested in gadgets than automobiles. Is that a good thing?

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Though not if you’re a car manufacturer.

The article on MSNBC talks about how teens and twenty-somethings are more focused on gadgets that let them live their lives virtually. Like many other people my age, I work from home, so you can scratch out commuting right there. Many students take classes online as well, and social networking sites like Facebook let friends stay in touch from their computer screen. My how times have changed.

Driving used to be a right of passage, but fewer people of all ages are buying new cars, and those that do hold on to their cars much longer. Just 27% of new car sales are to 21-35 year olds, down from a high of 38% in 1985. Only 31% of 16 year-olds had their license in 2008, compared to 1994 when 42% of 16 year-olds were driving. Young people just aren’t all that concerned with cars. They’d rather have the latest iPhone instead.

Then there are people who drive only because they have to, because public transportation doesn’t offer a viable alternative, and these are the people that are really being let down. I hear a lot of arguments against public transportation, yet it is hard to argue that as people continue to downsize their life, the car is increasingly pushed out of their lives altogether. Of course, automakers aren’t too happy with any of this, trying to appeal to younger people by stuffing their cars full of gadgets and doo-dads like the SYNC, MP3 players, and even the Internet. Does that really enhance the driving experience?

I don’t want cars to disappear because I love driving. For me, it really does epitomize every cliche about freedom, the open road, and being the driving force of one’s own destiny.Cars are my Zen. Some people have meditation, others have martial arts. For me, turning a wrench and getting behind the wheel for an extend cruise is all the meditation I need.

But even I have to admit that my generation is too “distracted” for car ownership. Too many of them are talking on cellphones instead of paying attention to the road. 80% of drivers can’t (or won’t) change their own oil. Car ownership is more complicated that buying an iPad, and to be frank, I don’t think a lot of Generation Y has the attention span to care about cars the way people used to. We’re still out there, and we always will be, but a big generational shift away from cars and towards practical transportation seems to be happening. That’s great for the environment, but if automakers want to survive they have to adapt to the times. Or maybe just get in to the public transportation racket.

Source: MSNBC

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.
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