New posts from Gas 2.0! |
- Video: Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Racer Hits the Track
- Do We Risk Armed Conflict Over Arctic Oil Drilling?
- Hydrogen Re-fueling Network Expands in SoCal
| Video: Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Racer Hits the Track Posted: 16 May 2011 03:29 PM PDT
I'm going to keep this short and sweet, because there's an eight-minute video with subtitles ahead that you'll want to watch. The gist of it though is that the all-electric NISMO RC is designed to highlight the advantages of the Leaf as a car, but in a racing format. While it features some carbon fiber bodywork and a two-door layout, the mechanicals are all stock Leaf underneath. So this isn't exactly a rocketship, but it is a start. Nissan is exploring starting an all-electric racing series, using a car based on the Leaf, and I am behind that 100%. And honestly, I'd love to see a two-door Leaf based on the NISMO RC racer. I think the swept-back two-door style looks great on this racing Leaf. It will also be interesting to see what some of the other advantages (like easier radio communication) and disadvantages (frequent battery charging/swapping) will develop as electric car racing evolves. Also, it looks a lot better in black than blue methinks. But enough of my blathering; watch the video for some on-track action of this hot rod EV. Source: Nissan via Autoblog 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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| Do We Risk Armed Conflict Over Arctic Oil Drilling? Posted: 16 May 2011 11:43 AM PDT
Now I am not a fan of Julian Assage or Wikileaks, but even my eyebrows went up reading some of the diplomatic cables between Russia, the United States, and other countries bordering the Artic circle. After all, the Artic is thought to hold some of the last great, untapped reserves of oil and natural gas in the world, and with many leading oil suppliers bordering these reserves, it's only natural that certain countries are bound to bump heads. It could be a war of words, or something much more sinister. Russia in particular is worrying me. Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitriy Rogozin has said… “The twenty-first century will see a fight for resources, and Russia should not be defeated in this fight … NATO has sensed where the wind comes from. It comes from the North.” Russia is actually the world's largest oil producer now, and something tells me they're not as "environmentally sensitive" when it comes to when and where they drill for oil. Is Artic drilling going to lead to open, armed conflict? It's hard to say. What is certain though is that the longer we rely on oil, the more we put ourselves at risk over these sorts of resource wars. Whereas relying on solar or wind power, or electric cars puts our energy future more securely in our own hands. Going green isn't just about cleaning up our act as stewards of the Earth. It is about national security, promoting growth and peace among nations, rather than competing over the scant remaining resources that are drawing us to the least hospitable places on the planet for drilling. Are we actually willing to fight a war over oil? And don’t come crying about Iraq, as we import all of 151 million barrels of oil annually…or about a week’s worth of regular consumption. We actually imported less oil from Iraq in 2010 than we did Pre-9/11. No, I am talking about a real, sustained, conventional conflict whose only purpose is to secure the Arctic for drilling purposes. As Albert Einstein said, "I know not what weapons World War III will be fought with, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Source: Treehugger via Wikileaks 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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| Hydrogen Re-fueling Network Expands in SoCal Posted: 16 May 2011 07:40 AM PDT
The world’s first hydrogen station supplied by an existing, industrial hydrogen pipeline opened earlier this week in Torrance, CA, bringing the total number of hydrogen re-fueling stations to seven in the state. The station is located close to the Los Angeles International Airport and major freeways. More notably, the hydrogen is being pulled from Air Products’ hydrogen production plants in nearby cities, rendering the hydrogen refueling infrastructure that much more convenient, practical, and reliable. Other hydrogen fueling stations have their hydrogen trucked in and stored on site, which has created shortages and wait lists even for the handful of fuel-cell ev owners in the past. The Torrance fueling station features multiple fuel dispensers and can fuel up to four cars in less than five minutes, dispensing up to 100 kg of hydrogen over twelve hours. The station is a joint project between Shell, Toyota, Air Projects, and received funding from South Coast Air Quality Management District and the Department of Energy. Shell is operating the refueling station on land leased from Toyota, and both will serve a large role in running the on-site learning center for school children and the general public. Despite these partnerships, the station will be open to fuel-cell electric vehicles manufactured by other automakers, as well. In fact, the first retail fuel-cell electric vehicle to fill up at the station was Honda’s FCX Clarity, the world’s first production zero-emissions fuel-cell vehicle. There are very few of these vehicles on the road, many of which have been used as demonstrations to introduce the public to the concept of hydrogen as a viable alternative to gasoline. Even production and leasing of Mercedes-Benz’s F-Cell is happening on a small scale, and is not cheap. Toyota plans to introduce their fuel-cell vehicles to market in 2015, with the hopes that the Torrance filling station and education garnered from it will pave the way for sales- which may or may not be the “right” way to go about deciding which alt-fuel to use. It’s not a stretch to say that all eyes will be on this fueling station as a model for how easy and practical- or how impractical, using hydrogen as an alternative fuel can be. Source: Toyota
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