Friday, May 13, 2011

New posts from Gas 2.0!

New posts from Gas 2.0!

Sci-Fi Star Helps Launch SRV EV Commuter

Posted: 13 May 2011 12:54 PM PDT

The cult-classic sci-fi television show Firefly portrayed a future where humanity had taken to the stars. One of the stars of this defunct show, Nathan Fillion, helped Acrimoto unveil the "Red 5" SRK EV prototype, a three-wheeler with racing aspirations.

Nathan Fillion, also known as Captain Malcom Reynolds from Firefly, showed up with his Castle co-star Jon Huertas to take a test drive in the Red 5 SRV prototype. It always helps to have some big stars on hand to launch a car,, and Fillion has had a hand in launching other alt-fuel vehicles as well. He’s also involved in trying to purchase the rights to Firefly (one of my favorite television shows) in order to bring it back to airwaves.

The SRV does have a few things going for it though. This mobility scooter-turned three-wheeled EV commuter can go up to 65 mph, and while that may not be blisteringly fast, it takes less than ten seconds to reach max speed. Combined with a racing-inspired suspension, Acrimoto will offer different battery levels for different range requirements. 40 miles on the low end, 80 for mid-range, and up to 160 miles on future models, which will cover all but the most extreme commutes. It is also being built in Eugene, Oregon, giving it that “Built in the USA” appeal.

How much of a chance the SRV stands, I can’t say. However, with scooter sales on the rise and more people looking for a cheap alternative to gasoline (prices are said to start under $20,000) there might just be a market for this three-wheeled EV commuter.

Fillion had a few choice words for Acrimoto and those gathered for the unveiling. I'll leave you with his (awesome) parting speech.

"Thank you.

Thank you so much for simply yet so radically revolutionizing the auto industry, an industry that has seen so little change in the last century.

Thank you for making a cleaner vehicle for which the energy infrastructure already exists.

Thank you for seeing a need facing a mere 90% of the population, and filling it.

Thank you for giving me a way to stick it to big oil and big auto companies.  Because… I am a vengeful man.  And they’ve been sticking it to me for a long time.

No matter how old I get, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the fact that it looks a little like a spaceship.  I’m kind of into spaceships, so thanks for that.

Thank you for keeping it in Eugene.

Thank you for taking this venture upon yourselves, through the long hours of hard work, the sacrifices that you and your families have endured.  Ladies and Gentlemen, you of Arcimoto have done something amazing and I hope that you are proud.

P.S. Last time I was here I think I left my iPhone charger in your offices, give me a call if you find it."

Source: Acrimoto via Inhabitat

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.

Plug-In Prius Standard = No Go According to Toyota

Posted: 13 May 2011 09:05 AM PDT

An article written in the Nikkei Business Daily claiming that Toyota was planning on making plug in technology standard in all Prius' by 2014 has been denied by a Toyota spokesman.

Toyota is indeed perusing electric vehicles (EV), and recently purchased a stake in EV manufacturer Tesla. Toyota seems reluctant though to make the plug-in technology standard on the most successful hybrid car in the world, the Prius. While a fully electric Prius is coming out in 2012, it does not look like the traditional hybrid Prius will come with an official plug in option anytime soon.

Toyota's argument is that the push to make the hybrid Prius with a plug in standard would add about 400 pounds of equipment to the car.  The result is obvious—a heavier vehicle. However, adding 400 pounds to a car also means that car must have larger brakes, larger springs, and a more intricate safety system. All of these components also add additional weight. All that weight leads to a heavier, less-efficient Prius.

While Toyota and the Prius have dominated hybrid vehicle sales worldwide, there is a lot more competition than there used to be. The Chevy Volt came on the market last year as an extended range electric car (A fancy name for a plug-in hybrid. – Ed.). The problem Toyota sees with the Volt is the high price tag, around $42,000, needed to cover the cost of the battery which only powers the Volt for 40 miles before needing a recharge.

Another competitor to the Prius is the Nissan Leaf which went on sale last fall and is 100% electric and has a driving range of about 80 miles. Yet, that 80 mile driving range can very dramatically depending on how aggressively the Leaf is driven. Interestingly, Toyota cites the high cost to the consumer and the potential for poor performance as two additional reasons to not make plug in technologies standard on the Prius. Tests with the limited number of Plug-in Prii have shown gas mileage between 60 and 80 mpg, with an all-electric range of about 14 miles. Toyota hasn’t said how it plans to price a Plug-in Prius, but it will likely start close to $30,000 and go up from there. Speculations puts the estimated number of plug in vehicles for sale by Toyota anywhere from 5,000 to 40,000 in the next couple of years. A lot of it rides on whether or not gas prices continue to escalate.

If you ask me though, Toyota does present a strong argument for not toying with the successful and loved hybrid car that is the Prius. Then again, history favors the bold, and some may see Toyota and the Prius as sitting on its laurels.

Source: autos.aol

Andrew Meggison was born in the state of Maine and educated in Massachusetts. Andrew earned a Bachelor's Degree in Government and International Relations from Clark University and a Master's Degree in Political Science from Northeastern University. Being an 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.



Ford and Georgia Tech Build Hydraulic Hybrid Bus

Posted: 13 May 2011 06:45 AM PDT

I never understood why school buses had to be so huge, and I can't only imagine their gas mileage in the low single-digits. Ford has teamed up with Georgia Tech to build the first hydraulic hybrid bus conversion here in the U.S.

The 16-passenger bus will be retrofitted with a hydraulic hybrid system, which is funded by $50,000 from the Ford College Community Challenge grant. The project aims to convert this one bus to a hybrid to see if retrofitting whole fleets of buses makes economical and environmental sense. Many school systems across the country are struggling to find funding, and untold millions are funneled from the school into the gas tanks of these huge yellow beasts.

So you're probably asking yourself, why a hydraulic hybrid system, and not a standard hybrid-electric? Simply put, regenerative braking powers a pump, that pushes fluid into a reservoir that provides power directly to the driveshaft at low speeds. This eliminates the need for a huge, expensive battery system, and hydraulic systems are probably better at moving those huge buses anyway.

There are plenty of other companies and students working on different buses of the future, from all-electric luxury “superbuses” to plug-in hybrids, but school buses represent a bigger challenge because these beasts often need to go far, far out of the way to pick up their passengers. Maybe if more parents could find time to drop off/pick up their kids at school themselves, we could get rid of a lot of those buses, but for now, this hydraulic hybrid idea doesn't seem half bad.

Source: Inhabitat via Ford

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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