New posts from Gas 2.0! |
- Tesla Roadster Wins 5th Straight Monte Carlo Rally
- Renault Announces New dCi Energy Diesel
- Wave Disk Engine Receives $2.5 Million in Federal Funding
- Finally, A Nissan Leaf Race Car: The NISMO RC
| Tesla Roadster Wins 5th Straight Monte Carlo Rally Posted: 18 Apr 2011 03:30 PM PDT
The Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally includes some of the same roads as the original Monte Carlo Rally and involves a 1,230 meter pass that puts electric cars and other alternative fuel vehicles to the test. The Tesla Roadster has an average range of 212 miles but the Roadster managed to put out another 68 miles to dominate the race. The range of the Tesla Roadster has been a point of contention in the past months. The popular British automobile show Top Gear took some liberties in their review of the Roadster and made it look as if the car had run out of juice after a mere 55 miles. Since the airing of the show Top Gear has admitted that the car did not actually run out of battery after 55 miles—but that has not stopped the California based car company from suing the British Broadcasting Company. Tesla is suing for liable and malicious falsehood and after the Roadsters performance at the Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally the odds are likely in Tesla's favor. Tesla Motors was founded by Elon Musk, of Pay Pal fame, in 2003 and is based in California. In 2008 Tesla released The Tesla Roadster; a two seat fully electric sports car with a $100,000 price tag. Within two years over 1,500 Roadsters were on the streets and the company was winning awards for their engineering. With its proven success Tesla Motors continues to grow. Tesla's stock went public in 2010 and although the stock has been shaky it is impossible to count Tesla's value out just yet. In 2012 Tesla Motors plans to release the Tesla Model S, a fully electric four door sedan with up to a 300 mile range that can go from 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 5.6 seconds. Not bad, especially with a price tag of $49,500 after a $7,500 federal tax credit. Analysts suggest that the Model S will boost the stumbling Tesla stock as the company moves into the more mainstream consumer car market. With great speed, 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, a sporty look and a battery range that can get upward of 280 miles with zero emissions, the 2011 Tesla Roadster is a winner on and off the race track. Source: Tesla Motors Andrew Meggison was born in the state of Maine and educated in Massachusetts. Andrew earned a Bachelors Degree in Government and International Relations from Clark University and a Masters Degree in Political Science from Northeastern University. Being and Eagle Scout, Andrew has a passion for all things environmental. In his free time Andrew enjoys writing, exploring the great outdoors, a good film, and a creative cocktail.
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| Renault Announces New dCi Energy Diesel Posted: 18 Apr 2011 01:55 PM PDT
It seems like there are new diesel engine programs being announced every week these days – with everyone from over-the-road European truck builders to American automotive icons getting in on the act. Today’s new diesel – the Energy dCi 130 – is the latest offspring of the Renault-Nissan alliance. The new Renault engine develops 130 hp (Energy 130, get it?) and nearly 240 lb-ft of torque from just off idle (1750 rpm) making for a potentially quick, traffic-carving mill. The Energy cDi 130 is also the first Renault-Nissan diesel to incorporate stop/start technology and exceed the EuroV emissions standards. The new Energy 130 is expected to see duty in Renault’s Scenic and Megane models, initially, where it will deliver something near 50 mpg (4.5 L/100 km). No word yet on when (or if) the engine will appear in a Nissan. Source: Autoblog.Es
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| Wave Disk Engine Receives $2.5 Million in Federal Funding Posted: 18 Apr 2011 10:40 AM PDT
For details about exactly how the Wave Disk Engine works, check out my previous post about it. Developed by Michigan State University researchers, it’s the size of a cooking pot and can burn just about any kind of fuel. It does so in a way that shaves weight from the vehicle and is up to 3.5 times more efficient than an ICE engine, meaning better fuel efficiency and up to 90% less CO2. Spinning at high speeds sends a shockwave through the device, igniting air and whatever fuel happens to be used. Simple, light, cheap, and effective. However, it will not directly replace an engine or transmission setup, but rather it could work as a range-extender for plug-in hybrid vehicles. The Wave Disk spins very fast, generating a lot of energy from a very small package that could dramatically lower the weight of hybrid vehicles while improving the fuel efficiency. For example, a Chevy Volt typically gets around 36 MPG in charge-sustaining mode, but with a Wave Disk engine, it could get closer to 100 MPG while in charge-sustaining mode (this is just an example and I've heard nothing about a Wave Disk Volt…would be cool though.) Wave Disk engine designs could shave upwards of 1,000 pounds in engine and transmission equipment too, meaning lighter, more nimble plug-ins that can make up for the extra battery weight they must carry. While $2.5 million may not sound like a lot, a unit large enough to power an automobile battery pack could cost as little as $500, so there's a lot of room for experimentation here, or so it would seem. I'll keep watching for more updates as they come. Source: Edmunds Auto Observer 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.
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| Finally, A Nissan Leaf Race Car: The NISMO RC Posted: 18 Apr 2011 07:44 AM PDT
Called the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC (did they have to make it sound like a toy?) the vehicle will make its official world debut on Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show. And before you get too excited, Nissan isn't planning on racing the RC anywhere just yet; it's for "demonstration purposes" and bears little in common to its commuter cousin. Sans two doors and 40% of the Leaf's weight, the NISMO RC weighs just over 2,000 pounds thanks to a carbon fiber monocoque chassis. For better weight distribution, the battery pack has been relocated to the center of the car (an improvement I hope to see on the production Leaf) and the electric motors provide up to 107 horsepower and 207 ft-lbs of torque. That's enough motivation for a 0-60 mph time of 6.8 seconds and a 93 mph top speed for up to 20 minutes on the race track, which is ten minutes shorter than the required quick-charge time. So it's not exactly "race ready," (and not even half as fast as the Tesla Roadster) but I see a lot of potential, and I think Nissan does too. After Nissan threw off the covers of the ESFLOW rear-wheel drive electric coupe concept, it became clear to me that the company sees electric cars the same way that I do; the next level of performance. Electric cars would seem to have a lot going for them when it comes to motorsports, not the least of which is the amount of torque available at a blip of the "throttle." Electric cars also have far, far fewer moving parts, increasing their reliability on the track. "Refueling" could be as simple and quick as a battery swap, change the tires, clean the window, and you're back to the action. While this particular "race car" lacks battery-swapping, Nissan's French partner Renault is experimenting with Project Better Place on swappable batteries, which makes the most performance sense to me. Nissan is also said to be considering a "zero-emissions" racing series, but they're probably more concerned with delivering Leafs to their very-patient customers, and rightly so. I'm a patient man too, and I hope the days of real Nissan Leaf race cars aren't too far away. Source: Nissan 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.
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