New posts from Gas 2.0! |
- Honda Launches 71 MPG Hybrid Fit Shuttle in Japan, Could Be US Bound
- Green GT Hydrogen Racer Heading to Le Mans in 2012
- 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In to Offer Selectable EV Mode
| Honda Launches 71 MPG Hybrid Fit Shuttle in Japan, Could Be US Bound Posted: 17 Jun 2011 01:58 PM PDT
The Fit Shuttle, which already has 7,000 pre-orders in Japan, is more of the Fit. The already-versatile compact gains a big ol' butt for more cargo room, seats five, and gets gas mileage of 25 km/liter on the JC08 cycle, and 30 km/liter on the 10-15 fuel consumption cycle. The latter measuring method works out to about 71 mpg on the US EPA rating (though likely lower than that, given big differences between the testing cycles.) That is damn impressive for a five-passenger hybrid that has a starting price of about $22,400….$5,000 less than the five-passenger Prius V.
The Honda Fit Shuttle is even more versatile, and according to The Truth About Cars, it appears to be heading to the U.S. sooner rather than later. Just in time to compete with the Ford C-Max and Toyota Prius V. Funny how things work out, eh? Not, if only they would make a hybrid Honda that also runs on natural gas… Source: Honda via Treehugger | The Truth About Cars 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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| Green GT Hydrogen Racer Heading to Le Mans in 2012 Posted: 17 Jun 2011 10:38 AM PDT
As part of an attempt to "green" its image, the world's premier endurance racing event has started a new tradition called "Le Mans ver le future," or, Le Mans Into the Future. It is a showcase for would-be, could-be future Le Mans racers, and Green GT was there this year with its Twenty-4 300kw electric racing prototype. There’s even some nice racing footage (posted below) from the car included with the press released. For next year though, they will be ditching the batteries in favor of a hydrogen fueling setup. Called the LMP H2, Green GT will use an in-house hydrogen fuel station to provide 300kw (or more) of power to their Le Mans racer. I imagine that one of the advantages of going hydrogen power versus batteries is weight and power density. 150 grams of hydrogen can replace one liter of fuel according to Green GT, which means their 12kg high pressure storage tanks will displace about 80 liters of racing fuel, or about 21 us gallons. Pit stops play a major role in endurance racing, and the less refueling you have to do, the more laps you can complete. Consider also the fact that the winning Audi Diesel racer from last weekend's Le Mans only had a 13 gallon fuel tank, and it would appear that the Green GT LMP H2 may have a significant endurance advantage. Factor the 400 horsepower+ and tons ‘o’ torque on tap from its electric motors, and the LMP H2 is shaping up to be a serious contender for future Le Mans races. All of that that only matters if it works, and as promising as hydrogen-powered endurance racing sounds, proving one's self on the race track with such a new technology is a monumental undertaking. Do they have the gusto to do it? I certainly hope so. A new age of motorsports is dawning, and it looks like hydrogen may have a place at the table after all. Source: Green GT 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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| 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In to Offer Selectable EV Mode Posted: 17 Jun 2011 07:10 AM PDT
The current Toyota Prius comes with three selectable driving modes; Eco, Power, and EV, and the non-selectable Normal mode. When the Prius first starts up, it automatically enters Normal mode, draining the battery before switching over to the gas engine. There's nothing wrong with this, although if you're planning to just hop on the highway before going downtown, you're losing fuel efficiency as the EV mode is better suited to slow city driving than highway speeds. The 2012 Prius Plug-In will also offer a selectable EV mode. What that does is allow you, the driver, to decide when to enter EV mode, and when to let the gas engine do the work. It's a small but brilliant maneuver on Toyota's part that puts control back in the hands of the driver, something sorely lacking in most modern cars. Now you can save EV mode for when you want it, allowing you to increase your efficiency, as long as you use it wisely. This EV Mode goes along with another very nifty feature which will allow drivers to refill the EV battery via regenerative braking, no plugging in required (though an charger is still the fastest way to refill the battery. This feature means that, technically, you would be able to recharge your Prius Plug-In to its full 13 mile or so EV range without ever having to plug in, although you’ll need a long hill to do so. And that, my friends, is nothing short of amazing…if it works. Which I have a feeling it will. Ford may be catching up to Toyota, but the Prius keeps moving the goal posts. Gotta give them props for that, and it looks like Toyota's hearty hybrid may keep the MPG Crown for at least a few more years. Source: Consumer Research 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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