New posts from Gas 2.0!

An Electric Highway Inspired by the Superbus
“Breaking” News: Nissan Leaf Owners Report Starting Problems
Will Beijing Become the EV Capital of the World?
Video: Man Beats Bus on Big Wheel
CicLAvia | Los Angeles Escapes Its Cages For A Day of Biking

An Electric Highway Inspired by the Superbus

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 03:38 PM PDT

Writing about the maybe-future means writing about a lot of concepts that have no basis in reality. Sometimes it means coming up with ideas of my own. What about an all-electric highway made for fast EVs like the Superbus?

Maybe it is just the spring air talking, or maybe I caught a whiff of whatever these crazy Dutch engineering students were smoking when they came up with the idea of a 23 passenger all-electric bus with a supposed top speed of around 300 kph, or 180 mph. What started out as a laudable concept has become a working, driving, well-appointed reality in a relatively short time (or at least since I heard about it.)

The idea of cruising around in a six-wheel electric Batmobile while recling in plush leather seats, sipping champagne and working on my supertablet is pretty damn appealing. That got me to thinking about the debate for high-speed rail in America, and the deep-rooted political debate at the heart of it.

You’ve got some conservatives arguing that an attempt to get Americans back on trains is part of some conspiracy to make everybody into share-everything communists who have no need for cars, guns, or freedom. I think that is silly, and while I am for high speed rail, I love me some automobiles. Given the option, my heart always leaps for the car, but on occasions like the New York Auto Show, trying to drive into NYC on a weekday during rush hour is pretty much the worst idea imaginable. So slow, old, ugly train it is (though Metro North has taken delivery of some new, very delayed train cars recently, so that is a positive.)

The problem is, despite all the advancements in vehicles making them safer, faster, and more comfortable, we're not really getting anywhere any faster because there are too many roads, and our nation's infrastructure is woefully out of date and in need of a major overhaul, especially our highways and bridges. We’ve got cars like the Corvette ZR1, which can go over 200 mph, but certainly not on public roads. Even the average family sedan can easily cruise at 85 mph, and Texas is considering raising its limit that high. But going faster on gas power means getting even worse gas mileage. So what if we made our roads straighter, wider, safer, and more efficient for high-speed driving, and throw in a wireless charging system for electric vehicles while we’re at it?

Imagine highways where your average automobile can reach speeds of 100 mph easily? Computer navigation systems linked to sensors in the road guide your car at high speeds as it travels over a river of electrons. The in-road charging system keeps the car's battery system topped off, so when you arrive at the exit in a speedy fashion, you're ready to resume control of a vehicle with its maximum range intact. There is room for non-electric vehicles on these roadways too, of course, but none of them benefit from the special high-speed charging lanes that sling futuristic EV's past at speeds topping 150 mph. Who needs trains? Not America. We've got this gangster electric highway.

None of this is cheap, nor will it happen overnight with today's available technology. With solar powered roads though, much of the energy could come from nature herself, and maybe even move away from asphalt roads to something that isn’t so fickle and in need of constant replacement. The idea seems like a win-win-win for everyone. America gets to boast of the best highway system in the world, again, people can still have their freedom preserved with individual (though often automated) personal vehicles, and electric cars have an infrastructure, so no more complaining about no where to charge.

I’m not the first person with this idea to be sure. Maybe I’m just the first one who thinks this could bring America back together, because the more we argue, the more we ignore the fact that our country is literally and morally collapsing. We need a big project, that everybody can get behind. Judging from the way most of your drive on the roads, damn near everybody but the grandparents and Prius drivers want to go faster. And we all hate waiting in traffic. It could spur the next generation of automobiles. Think Car 2.0; does the work for you or lets you drive yourself. Distracted driving would disappear overnight, and electric cars are far more appealing than they had been.

Anyway, here's a new video of the Superbus driving along the track. It is probably a ways away from reaching even 100 mph, and even if it could go that fast, where would it go? Maybe one day, our superhighways. I believe the video is in Dutch. Can anyone translate and give us a gist of what's happening? Because that's what inspired this whole thoughtrant.

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can read about his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout or follow his non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.

“Breaking” News: Nissan Leaf Owners Report Starting Problems

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 03:00 PM PDT

Nissan is reporting that a significant number of new Nissan Leaf owners are having difficulty re-starting their cars once they’ve been shut down. Nissan spokesperson Toshitake Inoshita told Reuters that the starting problems have been traced as far back as the car’s HVAC systems, but the exact cause of the problem remains unknown.

When asked about a possible Leaf recall, Inoshita said that “when (Nissan) know the exact cause, we will decide whether to issue a service bulletin, or take other steps.”

It’s worth noting that – while significant strides in infrastructure and charging technology are being made – these are still early days for modern electric cars like the Leaf, and teething problems might be reasonably expected. That said, while most of the early-adopters of new technology (as always) understand that they are “signing on” as beta testers, the earliest tech adopters are usually its strongest proponents, and it will be interesting to see if/how these issues (coupled with existing delays) will impact their enthusiasm for the brand going forward.

Source / Photos: Reuters / Autoblog.

Will Beijing Become the EV Capital of the World?

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 12:27 PM PDT

Overcrowding is a huge problem in Beijing, to the point where new car registration comes down to a lottery system…unless you purchase a plug-in or electric vehicle. Is Beijing poised to become the electric car capital of the world?

Bertel Schmitt writing for The Truth About Cars certainly seems to think so, and not without good reason. Beijing has been registering, on average, 2,000 new cars a day, or over 700,000 cars every year for the past few years. Attempts to curb congestion (like the 10 day traffic jam) have led to some interesting edicts, like having to leave your car at home every other day depending on the last digit of your license plate. Cars registered outside of the "5^th Ring" of the city are not allowed within the city limits on certain days and curtailing new car registrations via a lottery system. These restrictions have destroyed the car market in the city, with 9 out of 10 people winning the license plate lottery not even bothering to buy a car. It ain't easy being a car owner in Beijing.

But it could get a whole lot easier if you buy a new electric vehicle. Beijing officials announced last week that plug-in or electric car buyers will not have to enter the lottery to receive registration plates for their cars. Nor will they be restricted from entering the city during rush hour. On top of all that, their car taxes will be paid for by the government, and there are generous tax incentives that could pay upwards of half the cost of a new plug-in or electric car. The problem? Well, the Chinese can't really buy any electric cars right now because there aren't many available. BYD is the only Chinese carmaker that you could theoretically buy an EV from…but they're not commercially available. Whoops?

Other options include the built-close-by Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, but it looks like Volkswagen’s Golf Blue e-Motion could become a hit in Beijing as the German automaker maneuvers into being the leading car builder in the world. Dominating the EV market in Beijing could go a long, long way towards that goal. But unless they start cranking them out en masse overnight, Beijing could be in for a new car drought until EV’s really start hitting dealerships.

China wants 5 million electric car or plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015, absolutely dwarfing President Obama's plan to have just a million such vehicles on America's roads in the same time frame (and we've got a few years headstart.) This could be just the kind of momentum the electric car market needs, as Beijing is home to a virtual cornucopia of different car makers. And if the only cars Beijing residents want to (or are forced to buy, depending on how you look at it) are electric cars, it could be a kick in the ass for domestic and foreign automakers to build EV’s both in China and around the world.

With such draconian rules in effect though, it might not be as impossible as it sounds, though it'd help if there were more such vehicles to buy. And I'm not really keen on this kind of tyrannical government regulation. Can you imagine if New York City tried to pull the same stunt? There'd be riots in the streets that puts The Warriors to shame.

Source: The Truth About Cars

Video: Man Beats Bus on Big Wheel

Posted: 11 Apr 2011 08:30 AM PDT

Homer Simpson once said "Public transportation is for suckers," and after watching this video of a New Yorker beating a bus in a one-mile race from 10^th avenue to Madison avenue by two minutes. How can we fix that?

Mark Malkoff, "amateur daredevil" and professional comedian (perhaps best known for living in an Ikea for a week) rode what is clearly a pretty sweet big wheel down 42^nd street between 10^th avenue and Madison. Malkoff admits to no longer riding the bus much, as it is too slow for him, and after watching this video I can see his point. The trip took Mark, on his oversized child's toy, about 12 minutes to go a mile. The bus? Over fourteen minutes to get down that same mile. Seriously, I ran faster than that back in Middle School (and I was a pudgy little kid.) And keep in mind, both competitors were racing on congested pathways, so if ever there was a fair bout between different forms of transportation, this is it.

Is it any wonder that Homer Simpson and much of America has a poor opinion of public transportation? You're better off riding a bike or even jogging than taking a bus in NYC, and this is not a unique problem. Where I live, the bus only comes by every forty-five minutes, and depending on the day it's sometimes better to go for a walk than wait for the bus.

It's a pretty entertaining video if you ask me, but it raises a lot of important points too. Would a larger fleet of smaller buses be faster and more efficient? What about more dedicated busways? Or maybe New York should downsize its bus fleet altogether and instead invest in light rail or more subway routes. Or maybe just ban personal automobiles from the city center altogether? Yeah, keep dreaming…but watch the video anyways for some morning infotainment.

I have to say, it’s a bit telling that these days we are getting more useful information from comedians like Malkoff, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert than the actual news. This guy may have been trying to be funny, but he did it in a way that raises a number of questions about public transportation. What’s the point in having it if it’s not actually making our lives easier.

Source: My Damn Channel

CicLAvia | Los Angeles Escapes Its Cages For A Day of Biking

Posted: 10 Apr 2011 11:25 PM PDT

Los Angeles is the ultimate car town. Angelenos show off with their cars the way New Yorkers show off with their clothes. After all, most of us spend an inordinate amount of time on the road, and want to be comfortable while also expressing status.

Ridazz Revolt

However, there is a growing revolt against this car culture. As far as I can tell, it started with Midnight Ridazz, which I don't feel qualified to comment on, as I've never ridden with them. But my cooler friends have. Suffice to say, they made cycling cool in LA, creating a movement that people want to be a part of. Although the LA Bicycle Coalition is older and more respectable, I really think it took hundreds of wild kids running the streets late at night to make cycling interesting to the rest of us. Keep in mind, LA is a city where, for many people, "being cool" takes precedence over all else. Right, Elmo?

Saving the Planet and Ourselves Through Social Integration

The first CicLAvia was held on 10/10/10, which, as you may recall, was a global day of action to reduce CO2 emissions. Los Angeles did a great job of this, as thousands of Angelenos rolled joyfully through the streets. We had so much fun, we did it again today. And if there’s one thing LA desperately needs, it’s social integration…

CicLAvia's website describes it best:

A Ciclovía is not just for recreation. It is social integration.

"Ciclovías started in Bogotá, Colombia, over thirty years ago as a response to the congestion and pollution of city streets. Now they happen throughout Latin America and the United States, connecting communities and giving people a break from the stress of car traffic. The health benefits are immense. Ciclovías bring families outside of their homes to enjoy the streets, our largest public space."

Mayor Villaraigosa is a huge fan, and even rides himself. Having a mayor who rides bicycles (even when it's not a press opportunity, as evinced by the crash) gives me a lot of hope for LA. After he was hit by a taxi, the city was a lot more willing to listen to cycling safety advocates like Stephen Box and the LA Bicycle Coalition.

A Snapshot of the Past, Present and Future of Cycling in LA

This first video is footage from 10/10/10 via bicycle, dubbed with an interview I did today. I met Aurisha while having lunch next door to the Bicycle Kitchen during CicLAvia and asked her about these things, as well as where she saw LA cycling going. For me, the event was indeed life-changing, as I never imagined I could travel 5 miles so quickly via bicycle!

After the first CicLAvia, I tried to figure out what would be the best and cheapest bicycle for me. Eventually I wound up just pulling dad's old 10-speed out of mothballs. I waited until the last minute, thinking it wouldn't take me that long to rebuild it at the Bicycle Kitchen. It had only been collecting dust for about 30 years! Well, life happened, and I wasn't able to complete my bike in time, so I did today's event on my rollerblades instead of borrowing a bike again. This video is from today, which is why it's quite shaky.

Hope to see you out there in July for the next CicLAvia, or in some of the bike lanes that have been sprouting around LA…