Posted by Tim on 2012/04/25 under BMW | 
The sub brand of BMW, the BMW i, knows where mobility is heading in the future as it unwrapped ithe i8 Spyder, its third concept vehicle. This derives its form from the i8 Coupe which was unveiled last year vis-a-vis the city car tagged as the i3. The i8 Spyder is a clear follow up but is also a few steps closer to the production version which will be delivered to consumers.
Like its coupe sibling, the Spyder variant of the i8 is a plug-in hybrid that makes use of a 131HP electric motor on the front wheels and a 3-cylinder petrol engine giving out 223 horses for the rear wheels. Between the power sources is a tunnel which houses the lithium ion battery pack. The total output of the system is 354 horsepower with a torque of 405 lb-ft.
The i8 Spyder can go on pure electric power for 19 miles before the gas engine starts to work to charge the battery pack. BMW says the i8 Spyder can go for 78 miles per gallon on EPA cycle.
What is very nice with the i8 Spyder is that it can go as a front wheel drive or on all wheel drive depending if the situation calls for performance, traction, or efficiency. It also has a 50-50 distribution of weight just like its coupe counterpart and BMW boasts that it has canceled out the extra weight of the hybrid setup by using carbon fiber and aluminum elements on construction of the body. The performance is also jaw dropping with 0 to 62 miles per hour in just 5 seconds while it can go to its top speed of 155 mph.
The overall length and the wheelbase of the i8 Spyder is slightly shorter than the coupe. Its windowless doors are also designed differently. The differences add to the design tweaks needed for the exterior of the car which can go from an open air vehicle to a closed one with the help of a 2-section folding roof.
The BMW I8 Spyder, aside from sustainability is one good looking green machine.
Posted by Tim on 2012/01/27 under Hybrid Cars, Toyota |
It is quite a shock as Peugeot departs from the racing scene in Le Mans but everything about the World Endurance Championship and the 24-hour race remains exciting as powerhouse Toyota is gearing up in place of Peugeot.
Toyota announced in October last year that they might construct and race a new LMP1 in Le Mans. The car was designed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH (which managed the F1 team of Toyota until it withdrew in 2009) in collaboration with Team Oreca aiming to rule the arena of endurance racing. Toyota also hired the best drivers to go behind the LMP1′s steering wheels.
Finding all the necessary elements they need to build a competitive car, Toyota started testing the hybrid LMP1 last week in a race track in France. The car manufacturer did not release details about the result of the run and how the car performed but it was Alex Wurz who led the charge on the track with other drivers Kazuki Nakajima and Nicolas Lapierre sharing driver duties.
The team did not release any official photo for the test run but the Toyota PR man tweeted some for the fans. The car looks great but we all know what matters most is the engine that you will see under all the skin. The hybrid powerplant of this car is a blend of gasoline engine and electric motor .r
We are pretty sure we will here more about the LMP1 hybrid as it goes into another testing session by May.
Posted by Tim on 2011/10/25 under Infinity |
The Infinity M35h ruled the hybrid class by covering a course of 596 kilometers and returning with a fuel rating of 36.2 miles a gallon beating all competition and being the only hybrid vehicle to beat its declared combine fuel rating during the 2011 FuelSave MPG Marathon in the United Kingdom.
The M35h demonstrated the true capabilities of the hybrid technology of Infinity. After going thru the demanding fuel marathon course, the Infiniti M35h consumed 6.49 liters for every 100 kilometers which is 7% better than the car’s projected 7.0 liter consumption for every 100 kilometers. All other hybrid vehicles which joined the prestigious fuel economy run fell short of their declared fuel consumption numbers.
The M35h makes use of a motor linked to two clutch systems which allows it to run more often without having to emit harmful filtrates into the air.
The Infiniti M35h actually run 290 kilometers of the 596 km. in electric power alone or with its V6 3.5L powerplant switched off. During one of the legs of the race, an 87 kilometer route, the M35h cruised 48 kilometers or about 55% of the distance using its batteries and its 68PS electric motor alone which is among the most powerful compared to its counterparts.
The fuel rating of 6.5L per 100 km during the race, the the M35h is really impressive considering that the five seater can go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in a matter of 5.5 seconds. It also holds the record of being the fastest hybrid vehicle today according to the Guinness World Book of Records which officially measured the 13.9 second feat of the Infiniti M35h to cover the required 400 meters. The car’s carbon dioxide emission is pegged at 162 grams per kilometer.
Posted by Els on 2010/08/23 under Toyota |
It might be a pretty weird idea to have a cup of water on your dashboard while driving around, but what if a big carmaker like Toyota will tell you that it can save you around 10% of fuel, will you consider this technique?
Well, Toyota is not really asking anyone to literally place a glass of drink on the dashboard, but the Japanese carmaker is pushing for the idea that we should drive in a way that our theoretical glass on the dash remains full so we save some fuel. Toyota created www.aglassofwater.org to push for this idea.
So how do we keep the glass topped off? It is simple enough given that we are not in a hurry to get to our destination. Tips will range from graceful acceleration, maintaining distance from the vehicle in front, and gentle braking.
If you want learn more about the driving concept, you can go to the website created by Toyota and check out the coach section. You can also download the iPhone application.
Following the advice might not really be a bad idea. Driving with the imaginary glass of water is not bad at all when you know you save some fuel and some money when you can stretch what’s in your fuel tank.
Posted by Tim on 2010/05/06 under Government |
For environmentalists and people who are trying to save gas money, sharing cars is never a bad thing. If anything, it’s always encouraged. We’ve seen how well society has taken to this new norm with the iPhone applications that can help people line up their carpooling buddies. There are even private companies out to help people find vehicles for car pooling purposes.
However, once the aspect of profit-making is brought up, the concept of sharing a car is eventually frowned upon by the law. Why? One word: insurance. Insurance companies do not like the idea of more than one person driving a single car. You see, insurance companies compute their coverage costs based on how risky a client is.
Suffice it to say that with the prospect of car pooling being made legally for-profit, the well-balanced science of risk probabilities are put out of proportion. Right now, companies can legally deny you any coverage if they find out that you use your private car for profit-based car pooling. Some laws in the many state of the US, including California, prohibit the rental of private vehicles.
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Posted by Tim on 2010/04/30 under Ford, Hybrid Cars |
The old measuring tool for “economical” cars used to be “miles per gallon”. That was back in the days when all vehicles used to be powered by petroleum. Now, with the invention of plug-ins, hybrids, and other alternative-fuel vehicles, that measuring tool no longer suffices. It’s safe to say that the only way for you to measure a car’s efficiency is to measure the cost of its power source per mile.
With that in mind, the San Francisco Chronicle compiles a list of popular hybrid vehicles and reviewed them for what they truly are. We’ve heard only too many claims of “power-saving” from these hybrid models. But considering their initial cost? Who can say which ones are really giving you your money’s worth?
The compiled review included seven hybrids that are considered by most consumers to be the most “ideal” for them. The publication estimated just how long it would take for the consumer to get what s/he paid for in terms of “fuel savings”, and they found a winner. By a mile, the Ford Fusion Hybrid won the fuel saver’s race by letting its future owner save enough fuel to “break even” in 5.6 years.
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Posted by Tim on 2010/02/19 under Hybrid Cars, Hyundai |
Car buyers now only have two choices if they are looking for a midsize hybrid sedan. There is the 2010 Fusion Hybrid from Ford and the Toyota made Camry Hybrid. That fact will change when Korean carmaker Hyundai unveils the 2011 Sonata Hybrid at the New York Auto Show in six weeks time.
This Hyundai release will somehow declare its intention of meeting on with the rival Japanese car maker Toyota that has been experiencing some setbacks with global recalls recently.
The new Hyundai Sonata was showcased during the Los Angeles Auto Show a few months ago. They also announced that to achieve better fuel mileage with their compact crossovers and midsize cars, V-6 engines will no longer installed for these vehicles.
The hybrid variant of the Hyundai Sonata will be its next best step to improve the fuel mileage of its range of products. The designers are making use of lithium polymer battery packs instead of nickel metal hydride that other carmakers like Ford, Honda, and Toyota use.
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Posted by Tim on 2009/10/02 under Volkswagen |
Volkswagen shares the specs of the electric vehicle E-Up! concept displayed during the Frankfurt Auto Show. The car coined us the Beetle of the twenty first century is set to hit the road by 2013. The E-Up! derives its architecture from the Up! concept introduced a few years back. The E-Up! improves on the original concept by making the vehicle fully electric.
The E-Up! is a very small ride at 3.19 meters or 10.5 feet in length. It is tough to think that four persons will fit in the car comfortably as claimed by the German carmaker. The car is said to have a top speed of 85 mph and can race from 0 to 60 in just 11 seconds. Looking at the possible city driving use of the car, the E-Up! hits 0 to 30 in a decent 3.5 seconds.
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Posted by Tim on 2009/09/28 under Citroën |
Citroen puts the spotlight on their plug-in hybrid REVOLTe concept car during the recent auto show in Frankfurt. The REVOLTe derives its design lines from their iconic model the 2CV. The car gives you the unusual styling for a compact car that is about 12 feet in length and 5 feet 8 inches in width.
Aside from being a green plkug-in machine, the REVOLTe stirs curiosity with its three-seat layout. The driver seat occupies one side, the passenger seat faces backward, while the rear seat resembles a bench. According to the designers, the car’s interiors resemble a lounge, but the treatment is not just that appealing for everyone.
The car has some aggressive exterior lines with a curvy hood, sculpted side, and a humpy top. Step inside and you will be welcomed in a mult-colored world with leather, velvet, and aluminum all around you. You can definitely say that the freedom given by Citroen to the designers of the car was a bit over the edge and pushed the car to a dare-to-be-different status.
The sofa like rear seat doubles as cover to the battery pack. It can also double as a usable space in case you have some cargo when driving alone.
The folding roof of the car is lined with solar cells which help power the onboard comfort provisions to reduce the load on the batteries of the REVOLTe.
The small combustion engine of the REVOLTe working in combo with the electric motor may suit the driving needs for someone living in an urban setting. The owner can also opt for emission free driving when the car is switched to depend on the electric motors alone.
The sub brand of BMW, the BMW i, knows where mobility is heading in the future as it unwrapped ithe i8 Spyder, its third concept vehicle. This derives its form from the i8 Coupe which was unveiled last year vis-a-vis the city car tagged as the i3. The i8 Spyder is a clear follow up but is also a few steps closer to the production version which will be delivered to consumers.
