Category Archives: Transport
Japanese car Mazda has become the world’s first automobile manufacturer to begin commercial leasing of its hydrogen hybrid vehicle the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. The first units will be delivered to local government authorities and energy-related companies during 2009. It will feature a series-type hybrid drivetrain, which combines Mazda’s hydrogen rotary engine with an electric motor. The engine output is converted to electricity which then powers the motor that drives the wheels and boosts the hydrogen fuel range to 200 kilometers and increases the maximum output by approximately 40 percent, to 110 kilowatts.
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When one man in the United States broke all odds and raced against wind to set a record of 116mph in his Iron Duck Vehicle ten years ago, another fellow across the sea in UK stood interested. Now, he has accomplished his dream by racing his wind powered Greenbird and breaking Bob Schumacher’s speed reaching 126.1 mph in Ivanpah Lake, Nevada. British engineer Richard Jenkins’ Greenbird is a carbon fibre composite vehicle that uses wind (and nothing else) for power with the wing bearings and wheel unit in metal.
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If you are looking forward for a super cool car that will support the whole bunch of your off springs as well as save the economy from shying to oblivion, here’s what you can wait for until 2012 probably. Worth it though, cos Tesla has launched its new Model S Sedan electric car concept. It will have a 300-mile range, 45-minute fast charge capability, a 0 to 60 kmph in 5.5-seconds and can seat seven people. The production is expected to start by third quarter of 2011 and will apparently be produced at a rate of 20,000 units per year and get it completed by mid 2012 probably. Also on the cards for inculcation are features like renting customers a long range battery pack for long trips with the regular batteries available for lease and expected to last from 7 to 10 years depending on use and an entire car warranty between 3 and 4 years. It will also feature 2 LCD screens – one displaying the gauges and one mounted centrally featuring a full touch screen.
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Hyundai has unveiled plans on its plug-in hybrid concept BLUE-WILL for the upcoming Seoul Motor Show on April 2. The concept features a direct-inject 1.6-liter gas engine mated to a CVT transmission, a 100kw electric motor, a state of the art lithium ion polymer batter pack and a trick panoramic roof that integrates solar cells while still being able to see through. It will also feature eco-friendly plastics for instance the headlamp bezels will be made out of recycled plastic bottles and other plastics derived from plant extracts.
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Toyota’s new Toyota Prius goes on a new level of eco-friendly attribute. The hybrid that is known for its excellent gas mileage now comes with a giant solar panel on the roof to grab some solar fodder and convert them into energy to power the stereo and air conditioner within the car. Smart, as they continue to work even while remaining stationary. Like saving up for the rainy days.
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Bless the Mercedes–Benz to think trendy and posh yet classic. The company’s F-CELL Roadster is paying homage to the very first car ever built, the Benz Patent Motor Car, but with a few modern additions like joystick control, a carbon fibre and fiberglass body and hydrogen-electric fuel-cell power. It has a compact 1.2 kW fuel cell for power generation and a top speed of 25 kmph. Instead of the steering, there is the joystick for control which is like an updated version of the tiller found on the 1886 Benz Patent Motor Car. Last but the most prominent are its huge bicycle wheels.
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When cars are racing to keep up with the green trend, car products are also now following suit. Don’t know if you can call oil as a car product but that’s the topic of discussion here. Apparently the official motor oil of the American Le Mans (ALM) racing series will be biodegradable, non-toxic and made from saturated animal fat. This is the case at least for the next two seasons. The ALM race series and Green Earth Technologies signed a deal that puts Green Earth’s animal-based G-Oil in all of the safety trucks and the company’s logos on everything but the race cars. So this won’t be used on the cars going round the tracks.
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BMW is already rolling up its sleeves after recently launching its electric Mini-E. BMW tested a fleet of several hundred Minis to experiment with electric drive systems. Now it’s a line of near zero-emission vehicles called Megacity which will include electric and high-efficiency gasoline. This is part of the company’s project i, BMW’s campaign to develop low-emission city cars and a sustainable means of producing them. BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer said that this isn’t such huge news as it will take many years before electric cars become common on the streets as he said “electric cars do not meet all the different mobility demands and batteries remain expensive – the Mini will cost $850 a month to lease”.
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All of them are doing it, so why shouldn’t I? Mused Nissan and voila! They are soon to launch a luxury gas-electric hybrid for the US and Japanese markets next year. Toyota did it and Honda did it too so now Nissan is stepping in to bring fresh spotlights and attention. Currently the brand buys hybrid systems from Toyota for the Nissan Altima hybrid but is promising a vehicle packed with Nissan’s own hybrid system by 2010.
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In the recent past a few golf carts came to the limelight with more use than run around a massive golf course or resort to transport lazylogs. Especially for the horrid heat of the middle east which makes even the most active of individuals a sloth. UAE has now introduced what is not new in the market, but prevalent, a golf cart that can save up to 70 per cent energy than the regular ones and reduce CO2 emissions by 100 percent. At the second World Future Energy Summit that was held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai-based Hydroturf launched the first solar powered golf carts. It can be used anywhere including golf courses, hotels, resorts, parks and municipalities. The carts have a state of the art SolarDrive roof made up of crystalline solar cells, which charge while they are driving, extending the battery lifetime through continuous charging. It is also a cheaper alternative.
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