Gas 2.0 |
- How Fat is Too Fat? The EPA Makes it a Tough Call.
- U.S. Marine Corp Buys Two Smith Electric Vehicles
- 2011 Ford Explorer V6 Gets 25 MPG Highway Rating
- Diesel-hybrids Make a Clean Sweep
| How Fat is Too Fat? The EPA Makes it a Tough Call. Posted: 14 Dec 2010 02:12 PM PST
Since 1980, Honda’s Accord sedan has grown 4 feet in length, and has packed on over 2000 lbs. in additional weight – tipping the scales in 2010 at more than twice the 2,050 lb 1980 Accord. How did this happen!? Jalopnik‘s Mike Spinelli points out that, over the last thirty years, “Tightening safety regulations, feature bloat and heightened demand for cars that consumers perceive to be safer (i.e., larger ones) have led to the enfattening of automobiles … larger, heavier cars have amassed tremendous technical complexity, much of which has gone toward managing the physical stresses of size.” He’s right, of course … but there’s more to this equation than simple safety regulation, crash standards, and “we’re a lot fatter than we were 30 years ago.” For his part, Spinelli does a good job of pinning some of the blame on the EPA. The EPA? The Environmental Protection Agency, yes. See, when you and I (laypersons) decide to go shop for a car, we think of things like “size”. Do I want a “small” car, or a “large” car. To us, this seems to be a relatively simple concept, and we base our understanding of size on things like a car’s length, width, and height … according to the EPA, however, that’s all wrong. Were we to see things “clearly” (like the EPA) we’d determine a vehicle’s size by calculating its interior volume, and the notion that a Rolls-Royce and a Honda Civic are “about the same size” would make perfect sense … … maybe. Something needs to change at the EPA, which – to be fair – is at least trying to come up with new ideas. In the meantime, Spinelli predicts that “the safety curve will eventually level out, leaving less finagling for regulators to do. Plus, as lighter, stronger materials become cheaper to produce (with some help from supercar buyers, and the defense and aerospace industries), we’ll finally see some dramatic weight reduction, which will affect the development of all the rest of cars’ systems.” I hope he’s right, but I don’t think the change will from mainstream companies like Honda, whose smallest offering in 2010 (the CRZ) weighs almost 600 lbs. more than it’s largest offering in 1980. Here’s hoping, then, that some of the independents like Aptera put their government grant money to good use!    Source: Jalopnik.
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| U.S. Marine Corp Buys Two Smith Electric Vehicles Posted: 14 Dec 2010 01:49 PM PST
I'm a big history buff, and I know one of the main strategies in war is to deprive the enemy of fuel, food, and munitions. An army without bullets cannot fight, and an army without fuel cannot move. It's the vulnerability of a massive, mechanized army like ours. Electric vehicles, however, don't have the same vulnerabilities if powered from renewable energy like solar power. The Marines have purchased two of Smith Newton Electric trucks, presumably to put through the tests and rigors that military equipment must withstand. Again, electric vehicles have the advantage of a more durable drivetrain with fewer moving parts. However, diesel and petrol engines have had a long time to get as tough and as durable as they are. They will not easily be dislodged from their place without our military's ranks. I hope the Smith trucks are up to the challenge. They have a top speed of 55 mph and a range of 50 to 120 miles, enough for base deliveries and personnel transportation, able to hold up to 16,000 pounds. As an added bonus, they are very quiet. Imagine a fleet of silent military vehicles slipping into town at night and delivering hundreds of troops right where they are needed without attracting undue attention. A fantasy for now, but maybe not for long. The Marine Corp wants to reduce its energy usage by 30% by 2015, increase use of renewable by 2025, and the entire military wants to completely operate on non-petroleum fuels by 2040 in order to avoid the vulnerabilities of this unstable fuel source. Source: Green Car Advisor 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. |
| 2011 Ford Explorer V6 Gets 25 MPG Highway Rating Posted: 14 Dec 2010 09:12 AM PST
The new Ford Explorer is based on the same body style as the 2011 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS, Ford's full-size car offerings. So whether or not it still qualifies as an SUV is really up to the consumer. However, the base V6 engine managed to nail a 25 mpg rating on the highway and 17 mpg in the city. The outgoing Explorer got just 20 mpg on the highway and 14 in the city. Mileage thus went up 25% and 20% respectively, due in large part to a lighter front-wheel drive setup and aerodynamic improvements such as the rear lip spoiler and front air dam, which Ford claims combined to drive efficiency up nearly one MPG. Of course, much credit is due the new 3.7 liter V7 engine that is now standard, with 292 horsepower on tap, you'll not be left wanting for get-up-and-go. And this is just the base engine. The premium engine choice, the turbocharged 2.0 liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine will supposedly get 30% better mileage over the 2010 Explorer, though that would only put it at 18 city/26 highway. If Ford can push those numbers closer to 20/30, I think the EcoBoost engine will be much more desirable. Still, can't complain about 25 MPG in a 292 horsepower full-size SUV, though I'm curious what kind of MPG numbers the four-wheel drive model gets. Source: Ford 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. |
| Diesel-hybrids Make a Clean Sweep Posted: 14 Dec 2010 08:35 AM PST
With a 60 mph top speed and scores of electric motors powering a variety of functions, the Allianz 4000 hybrid sweeper could be coming to a city near you. Currently seeing action only in New York, the Allianz hybrid sweeper features a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel supplemented by two 12-volt li-ion batteries and an advanced electric-traction drive system. Allianz estimates that their new 4000 hybrid delivers a 40% percent fuel savings over a diesel-only sweeper. Allianz’ sales manager, Chad Bormann, points out that these sweepers are not like ordinary light trucks, since sweepers need to propel themselves and spin their brooms at the same time, their differentials are built to run at a constant speed regardless, of how fast the sweeper itself travels. Bormann explains that the hybrid system gives Allianz’ new 4000 “the ability to operate using a smaller single diesel engine running at lower RPMs. This alone creates savings against any street sweeper that requires an auxiliary engine in conjunction with the chassis engine to drive and operate the sweep functions. The fuel savings are extreme and the carbon footprint minimal considering that street sweepers are operated for long shifts daily all over the world." Pricing has yet to be set, but Bormann believes purchase price will play a very small role in a city’s decision to purchase and run the new hybrid sweepers. With environmental concerns and reduced oil-dependency being such hot topics in recent elections, he may be right! Full specs on the hybrid are available on the Allianz site. Source: Allianz. |
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