Featured Threads Archive
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SkyActiv-3 and Project One. The future of efficient hybrid engines
The Internal Combustion Engine Is Dead? Mazda Has Another Idea With Innovative SkyActiv-X
How The Mercedes-AMG Project One Brings F1 Tech to the Street
Mazda has cracked the code for a compression ignition gasoline engine by using a spark plug to start a small pressure wave which controls the timing of a diesel like compression ignition, with similar efficiency and the ability to do lean burn (about 1/2 stoich fuel to air ratio) that supplies a cooler burn and lower emissions before pollution control. The ability to this lean means that the power band close to peak efficiency is much broader. This should be available in a car around the end of next year, and according to the forbes article toyota is... -
Milestone for ‘green motors’ as Toyota’s Prius turns 20
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Milestone for 'green motors' as Toyota's Prius turns 20 | Asia Times
More importantly, how come I've never heard of the Eco Cruiser concept car? It's a Prius wagon! -
Prius Prime sales outpace Bolt and Volt and in January 2018
Prime: 1,496 units
Bolt: 1,177 units
Volt: 713 units
Pretty impressive numbers. I guess range isn't the only motivating factor.
Plug-in electric car sales fall in Jan after year-end surge (update) -
Four part, Energy Savings Trust
With a UK orientation, still a nice set of reviews:
FYI, not a temptation for this plugin hybrid owner.
Bob Wilson -
Average price paid: $36,270
Source: Average New-Car Prices Rise Nearly 4 Percent For January 2018 On Shifting Sales Mix, According To Kelley Blue Book - Feb 1, 2018
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 1, 2018 The analysts at Kelley Blue Book today reported the estimated average transaction price (ATP) for light vehicles in the United States was $36,270 in January 2018. New-car prices have increased by $1,360(up 3.9 percent) from January 2017, while dropping $486 (down 1.3 percent) from last month.
. . .
Prius Prime owners are smiling.
Bob Wilson -
Bollinger B1
Source:
Tesla competition.
Bob Wilson -
BP And Their Portable Charging Station
They're going to use them at their fuel stations in Europe. It's a start. You can probably get some tootsie-frootsie ice cream out of it while you're charging, too.
Ermigod, Look At This Adorable BP-Branded EV Charging Station! | CleanTechnica -
Honda Clarity Fuel Cell (Alex on Auto)
This YouTube review shines on a Honda Clarity fuel cell vehicle:
The only problem is he speaks faster than my Southern ears want to hear. Still, he does a reasonable job even if he seems oblivious to the hydrogen cost.
LEAF:
PRIME:
Bob Wilson -
New EV Models Coming in 2018!
We created a quick preview of the many new EV options coming in 2018. You can find it in full, here.
Plug-in Hybrids
Mitsubishi Outlander Expands Electric SUV Options
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Land Rover Plugs In to the EV Trend
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All-Electric Options
Hyundai Kona Goes for 200
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Jaguar I-PACE Electrifies Luxury
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Kia Niro Is a Sleek Crossover
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and the Next-Generation Nissan LEAF (http://bit.ly/CP-2018evs) -
California dreaming
Source: California Governor orders 5M ZEV target for 2030; more hydrogen fueling and EV charging stations - Green Car Congress
Brown is also proposing a new eight-year initiative to continue the state’s clean vehicle rebates and spur more infrastructure investments. This $2.5-billion initiative will help bring 200 hydrogen fueling stations and 250,000 zero-emission vehicle chargers, including 10,000 direct current fast chargers, to California by 2025.
ZEV technologies include hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), which include both pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). According to the Auto Alliance ZEV sales dashboard, as of the end of October 2017, California had 176,681 battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles—i.e., fully zero tailpipe emissions vehicles—on its roads. When plug-in... -
Prius #4 on List of Cars kept 15yrs
Reliability - Toyota proves to be #1 on longevity list, & Prius is high, within Toyota's lineup.
Car Models With Longevity -- Who Takes the Top Spot? - Autotrader
That's better advertising than ANY of the Prius ads. As for longevity - it's unlikely anyone on PC is surprised
[emoji6]
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Road salt
Lots of reasons to hate the stuff. Rusting cars, infrastructure (bridges, concrete, especially rebar), changing fresh water lakes/rivers, to the point marine species are able to live in them.
Good discussion of alternatives/adjuncts (beet juice/salt mix for example), and "low hanging fruit", like: do we really need a centimeter deep layer of rock salt throughout our parking lots and mall sidewalks?
Also the question, is a completely bare road necessary?
My thought: maybe wider adoption of snow tires could reduce the need for salt.
Beet juice and cheese brine: what cities are spreading on streets to replace corrosive road salt - Home | The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti | CBC Radio -
Barnaby Joyce rejects petrol car sales ban amid Coalition debate on electric vehicles
Quote from news article:
Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce has quashed the prospect of Australia replicating overseas bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, as the Turnbull government debates whether to encourage the electric vehicle industry.
End quote
Barnaby Joyce rejects petrol car sales ban amid Coalition debate on electric vehicles
It almost seems that when there is a change of government this situation will change. Would this uncertainty make for difficult long term decisions for buying new cars? It almost seems the safest bet would be to buy a plugin hybrid, so as to not get stuck with a car that will lose too much of it's value dependent on the decision of the government of the day.
Or am I mistaken? What do other people here think?
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Switching to electric cars
Source: Switching to electric cars is key to fixing America's 'critically insufficient' climate policies | Dana Nuccitelli | Environment | The Guardian
Carbon pollution from electricity is already falling fast
But the power sector is already rapidly decarbonizing because coal can’t compete in the marketplace. In some regions, new wind and solar with battery storage have already become cheaper than continuing to operate existing coal plants, and the International Renewable Energy Agency has concluded that by 2020, “all the renewable power generation technologies that are now in commercial use are expected to fall within the fossil fuel-fired cost range.”
American power sector carbon emissions had exceeded those from transportation from 1979 until 2016. But because coal power... -
Safe or Save
Source: High-Tech Safety Gear Preventing Crashes – But Raising Insurance Rates | TheDetroitBureau.com
. . .
Given the significant benefits already being reported – with more vehicles now being sold with even more advanced technologies, the pay-off would seem to be obvious. “To the extent that vehicles get into fewer crashes that will ultimately be reflected in the rate you pay,” said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the IIHS.
But that isn’t happening. At least not yet. If anything, there’s evidence that motorists may be saddled with higher insurance rates as lane departure warning and other ADAS technologies become ever more commonplace. But why?
Experts say that’s because these systems make use of an array of onboard camera, radar and other sensors that are, in many cases, mounted in the grille, sideview mirrors or a vehicle’s bumpers and fenders.... -
VIA Motors partnership
Source: Via Motors, Geely to co-develop medium-duty extended-range electric truck for China and Americas - Green Car Congress
VIA Motors International is partnering with China-based Zhejiang Geely New Energy Vehicle Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Commercial Vehicle Group, to co-develop a medium-duty extended range electric truck. The truck will incorporate VIA’s proprietary vehicle software and systems control technology, for launch in China and the Americas in 2019.
VIA Motors develops and markets extended-range electric (eREV) and all-electric (EV) powertrain systems for most vehicle classes from light-duty through Class 8. VIA’s vehicle integration capability, at both production facilities in Utah and Mexico, provides a range of commercial vehicles to meet zero emissions requirements. VIA vehicles are marketed under the VTRUX... -
It has started, 48 volt hybrids arrive.
Sounds like the 2019 Ram 1500 will have a mild hybrid system standard on all trucks.
2019 RAM 1500 Mild Hybrid | CleanMPG
On a separate note, engine coolant will be used to heat up the 4x2's rear axle to efficient temps, and also cool it while towing. -
Nissan e-power
Thanks to @Rmay635703 for this find:
This sounds to be a true, serial hybrid like our BMW i3-REx. I was going to post a comment under the source article when I realized how poorly informed they are.
Here is a better source:
http://www.autonews.com/article/20180121/OEM05/180129955/nissan-epower-us-popular-in-japan
Saikawa said that every Infiniti that appears in or after 2021 will either be a full electric vehicle or have an ePower powertrain.
The technology reached the market in Japan as a powertrain option on the Note in late 2016. But in 2017, its... -
Solar cell import tariff
Source: Trump Slaps Tariffs On Imported Solar Panels And Washing Machines : The Two-Way : NPR
In a statement, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said that, after consulting with the interagency Trade Policy Committee and the bipartisan U.S. International Trade Commission, the president decided that "increased foreign imports of washers and solar cells and modules are a substantial cause of serious injury to domestic manufacturers."
. . .
A 30 percent tariff will be imposed on solar panel components, with the rate declining over four years.
The move against imported solar components splits...
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