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Hybrid car conversions getting 80 MPG right now
SAN JOSE, CA (KGO) -- About a year ago, CEO's in Silicon Valley challenged one another to start driving electric. On the eve of a huge conference in San Jose, high tech leaders say the plug-in movement is well underway.
Last week Tom Hayse was getting 40 miles a gallon driving his hybrid Prius. That was before his plug-in conversion and a lithium battery packed in the back.
"With the plug-in hybrid, I'm getting actually getting close to 80 miles a gallon, so I'm pretty happy with that."
Tom is one of 30 Silicon Valley CEO's and community leaders who have pledged to be part of what they call the 'plug-in revolution'.
"If only ten percent of the million or so Prius owners converted their cars like we're doing, the price of the battery conversion would come down," says Sass Somekh, Ph.D of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.
SAN JOSE, CA (KGO) -- About a year ago, CEO's in Silicon Valley challenged one another to start driving electric. On the eve of a huge... more -
Hybrid Cars Pose Risk to Blind, Visually Impaired
Because they can be nearly silent, hybrid cars pose a serious threat of injury and death to blind and visually impaired people, says the American Council of the Blind, which is pushing the auto industry and government officials to develop ways to reduce this danger.
"Traditionally, people who are blind or visually impaired learn to rely on their hearing and tactile cues to provide them with information about their environment, which they can use to navigate safely across streets and through other vehicular ways, such as parking lots. In so doing, the sound of traffic is their primary focus," Melanie Brunson, council executive director, said in a news release from the council.
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Jeez when is everyone gonna stop being so caaarrringgg. But seriously, I never thought of that... Because they can be nearly silent, hybrid cars pose a serious threat of injury and death to blind and visually impaired people, says t... more -
The Car of Tomorrow Has an Extension Cord
Forget hydrogen. The car of the future has an extension cord and a great big laptop battery.
The next evolution of the automobile will be plug-in hybrids that get their juice from a household electrical outlet. They'll start rolling into showrooms within in 18 months. Experts say plug-in hybrids could account for about 20 percent of vehicle sales within a decade -- and half of all sales by 2050.
"It all boils down to the three ways electricity is better than gasoline," says Felix Kramer of Cal Cars, a plug-in advocacy group. "It's cleaner, it's cheaper and it's domestic."
Advocates say plug-in hybrids are the best chance to address global warming and wean the nation from oil. Consumers remain unsure about electric vehicles. Ethanol's a shaky proposition because of the food-for-fuel debate. And it'll be decades before hydrogen is a viable option. That, advocates say, leaves plug-ins as the best option. They'll go up to 40 miles on a charge; but they'll also have a gas engine to keep you going beyond that at 80 to 100 mpg or more.
People have been converting conventional hybrids to plug-ins for years, but the auto industry has been slow to catch on. Now the big automakers and start-ups like Fisker Automotive are scrambling to build them despite questions about their cost and long-term reliability. Those are just two of the issues that automakers, battery manufacturers and utility companies will discuss next week at the international Plug-In 2008 conference in San Jose.
"The discussion is no longer one of 'if,' but of 'when' and 'how,'" says Chelesa Sexton, executive director of the advocacy group Plug-In America. "This has moved beyond the grass-roots level into the policy and business arenas."
It all starts in 2010. General Motors promises to have the Chevrolet Volt rolling into showrooms by then. Toyota says it will roll out a small fleet of plug-in Prius hybrids to see how they do. Volkswagen has similar plans for its plug-in Golf. And Fisker hopes to have a few dozen pricey Karma sedans in driveways within 18 months. Ford and others are moving more slowly, aiming for 2012 and beyond.
Automakers know plug-in hybrids are their best shot at meeting tightening federal fuel-economy regulations, and California's zero-emissions-vehicle mandate requires them to put nearly 60,000 of them on the road in six years. They're also responding to a seismic change in the market as record-high gas prices have consumers, fed-up with paying through the nose for gasoline, joining environmentalists to demand fuel-efficient cars. Forget hydrogen. The car of the future has an extension cord and a great big laptop battery. ... more -
Toyota to build Prius in US, stops truck production
"The company said Thursday it will start producing the Prius in 2010 at a plant it is building in Blue Springs, Miss. Toyota already builds a hybrid version of the Camry sedan in Kentucky, but this will be the first time the Prius, which has been on sale for more than a decade, will be built outside of Asia." -MSNBC
Toyota is also planning on temporarily stopping US production of its trucks and large SUVs because of declining demand. The plants will either temporarily close or build hybrid SUVs instead.
This is great news both for the environment and for our economy. It will ultimately result in more jobs for Americans and strengthen the "green-collar" job market. This is evidence of our economy's shift in the right direction.
What do you think? "The company said Thursday it will start producing the Prius in 2010 at a plant it is building in Blue Springs, Miss. Toyota already b... more -
Camry Hybrid designer dies from overwork
A Japanese labor bureau has ruled that one of Toyota's top car engineers died from working too many hours, the latest in a string of such findings in a nation where extraordinarily long hours for some employees has long been the norm.
The man who died was aged 45 and had been under severe pressure as the lead engineer in developing a hybrid version of Toyota's blockbuster Camry line, said Mikio Mizuno, the lawyer representing his wife. The man's identity is being withheld at the request of his family, who continue to live in Toyota City where the company is based.
In the two months up to his death, the man averaged more than 80 hours of overtime per month, according to Mizuno. A Japanese labor bureau has ruled that one of Toyota's top car engineers died from working too many hours, the latest in a string of s... more -
Ferrari Hybrid;
And you thought the Prius was cool. It is great to see car companies of all types stepping up to the plate.
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DIY Electric Motorcycle Kicks Butt, Gets 300 eMPG
It just takes some brain power and elbow grease!
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Too many people want hybrids. No one can find 'em
Top hybrid seller, Toyota's production is a year behind the demand. The batteries that are used to make the hybrid possible are the culprit. The toyota prius is the highest selling hybrid in America. AND I just heard on TMZ.com that Dustin Hoffman among others has one...now you know you need one. Top hybrid seller, Toyota's production is a year behind the demand. The batteries that are used to make the hybrid possible are the cu... more
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Chop Chop Salon
Chop Chop is a extraordinary hybrid: two parts hair salon, one part art gallery and zero parts pretense.
Located at 830 N. La Brea Avenue in the heart of trendy LA, Chop Chop Salon is a simple mix of chic and grass roots style whose mission is to create color and cuts that befit their client’s personality, taste and lifestyle.
The creative force behind the salon is owner and bay-area native, Darin Birchler who after 18 years of styling hair came up with the concept of integrating an art gallery and hair salon.
The artist, Jorge Oswaldo explains why this collaboration is fresh and how it has affected his career.
Reception for this artist will be at the salon on:
Saturday, June 28th, 2008
7-11pm
http://www.chopchopsalon.com
http://www.jorgeoswaldo.com
Chop Chop is a extraordinary hybrid: two parts hair salon, one part art gallery and zero parts pretense. ... more -
Turn any car into a plug-in hybrid
Soon drivers will be able to get at least double the gas mileage of a Toyota Prius hybrid, thanks to a spate of new aftermarket kits that convert any car into a plug-in electric vehicle. But they’ll have to pay upwards of $10,000 to do so.
Auto manufacturers are at least a year or two away from launching the next generation of hybrids, called plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), that recharge by plugging into a wall outlet. But battery companies are ready to start selling aftermarket kits within the next few months that convert hybrids, and in some cases regular vehicles, into plug-in electric cars.
A123Systems, an automotive technology company and battery supplier based in Watertown, Mass., is now taking orders for its Hymotion L5 conversion kit, which turns a Toyota Prius into a plug-in electric car. The $10,000 kit, due this fall, works with Prius model years 2004 through 2008 and adds a special, range-extending lithium-ion battery to the Prius' existing drivetrain.
Using A123’s plug-in system, the Prius, which normally runs only short distances at slow speeds on electric power alone, will have added battery power to extend its electric-only range and boost gas mileage to more than 100 miles per gallon. The Prius normally gets an estimated 46 mpg in combined city/highway driving.
Even if electricity costs as much as 15 cents per kilowatt hour, fully charging the 5 kilowatt-hour battery to run up to 40 miles would cost less than a dollar.
Soon drivers will be able to get at least double the gas mileage of a Toyota Prius hybrid, thanks to a spate of new aftermarket kits t... more -
Laboratorio en Movimiento
HELP a couple of people cross Latino America to promote alternative energy use. They been traveling using a biodiesel powered SUV and they need your help to get to Patagonia! Learn more about the project at:
http://www.laboratorioenmovimiento.com/index.html HELP a couple of people cross Latino America to promote alternative energy use. They been traveling using a biodiesel powered SUV and ... more -
300 mpg car
The Aptera boasts 300 mpg for the hybrid. It also comes in an all electric model which will go about 120 miles before needing a recharge. They cost between $27,000 and $30,000 depending on the build. The Aptera boasts 300 mpg for the hybrid. It also comes in an all electric model which will go about 120 miles before needing a recha... more
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Company unveils hydrogen hybrid supercar: available fall 2008
Written by Nick Chambers
Well, here it is folks. A company has finally gone and built the controversial hydrogen hybrid system (or hydrogen injection, or Water4Gas or HHO system – choose your poison) into what appears to be a true production car. Not only that, the car looks, well, stunning… to put it mildly.
Ronn Motors of Austin, Texas, yesterday unveiled what they’re calling “the key to a new generation of “green cars.” The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ronn Maxwell, had this to say about it: “What we are revealing today is an innovation in the automotive industry and demonstrates American ingenuity at a time of real need. We’re designing and building cars with performance components and unique styling with the objective of making the new environmentally friendly vehicle stand out with never before seen style and approximately 40 mpg plus efficiency.”
“Move over Bugatti, Lamborghini and Saleen, the Ronn Motors Scorpion is a supercar that will scoot 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and achieve 40 mpg, too.”
Source: http://gas2.org/2008/06/04/company-unveils-hydrogen-hyb... Written by Nick Chambers ... more -
EcoGeeks get all the girls
I agree. I would rather date a guy with a hybrid than a mustang.
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Personal aviation the way of the future?
"When your 100mpg (miles per gallon) car is stuck in traffic and a 100mpg airplane whizzes overhead, you're going to be jealous."
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Run Your Car on Water!
This is a kit you can buy to convert your car to a water/gasoline hybrid. Let me know if it works. -st
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Toyota Prius proves a gas guzzler in a race with the BMW 520d
The Toyota hybrid is hailed as an eco-paragon, so how does it fare against a big BMW?
"To find out we set a challenge: to drive a Prius to Geneva using motorways and town driving. The direct route is 460 miles but we drove almost 100 miles further to give the Prius the advantage of running in urban conditions where its petrol-electric drivetrain comes into its own.
We took along a conventionally powered car – a diesel BMW executive saloon – for comparison and drove both cars an identical number of miles (545)." The Toyota hybrid is hailed as an eco-paragon, so how does it fare against a big BMW? ... more -
When Green Cars Collide: Tesla sues green car rival Fisker
Electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. filed suit against the designer it hired to create the look of its electric hybrid sedan, saying it used ideas and information it gained during the process to create a rival sedan.
San Carlos-based Tesla filed the suit Monday in San Mateo Superior Court accusing Henrik Fisker and Bernhard Koehler of of fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets, and breach of contract.
Irvine-based Fisker Automotive Inc. styled the interior and body of Tesla's WhiteStar sedan in 2007.
Fisker, who has also provided designs for BMW, Aston Martin and other carmakers, was paid about $800,000 by Tesla, the suit says, and alleges that Fisker provided substandard designs and created a six-month delay, then incorporated its best designs into Karma, the Fisker hybrid-electric sedan.
Fisker Automotive Inc. has received more than $10 million from Menlo Park-based Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer, and in January unveiled the Karma.
The four-door plug-in hybrid premium sports sedan will have a starting price of $80,000. Initial deliveries of the Karma will commence in the 4th quarter of 2009 with annual production projected to reach 15,000 cars. Electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. filed suit against the designer it hired to create the look of its electric hybrid sedan, saying... more -
UK's first human-cow embryos created
Scientists at Newcastle University have successfully created human-cow hybrid embryos that grew for three days. This achievement, they believe, forms a crucial first step towards being able to supply stem cells for research into untreatable conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The embryos are 99.9% human and 0/1% cow. Their goal is to grow such embryos for six days and then extract stem cells for research. They used cow eggs because of the scarcity of human eggs for research, and they insist that the embryos would never be implanted in a woman.
This achievement comes just days after fierce condemnation from religious groups that forced Gordon Brown to give MPs a vote on the human fertilization and embryology bill. Scientists at Newcastle University have successfully created human-cow hybrid embryos that grew for three days. This achievement, they... more -
Fast Karma: A Vehicle For Eco Chic
This is one beautiful (and expensive) way to improve your karma. Fisker Automotive have unveiled their new luxury performance plug-in, hybrid, four-door sedan. The Fisker Karma does 0 to 60 in less than 6 seconds, has a top speed of 125 mph, and can drive emission free for 50 miles per day, provided the car is recharged each evening, meaning that the 60% of commuters who drive less than 50 miles to work and back each day will be able to go 100% gas free.
It's designed by Henrik Fisker, who's responsible for the good looks of the BMW Z8, and the Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage. The car has the height of a Porsche 911, the length of a Mercedes Benz CLS, the width of a BMW 7 Series, the looks of Gisele Bündchen, the sex appeal of Johnny Depp, and the eco-chic of Al Gore.
The Q Drive plug-in engine, which also utilizes regenerative breaking to re-charge, was developed in conjunction with hybrid specialists Quantum Technologies. It has two modes: Stealth Drive, which is the car's quiet and eco-nomical mode, and Sports Drive, which maximizes the car's power. An optional full-length solar roof will help charge the car and provide cooling for the interior cabin when the vehicle is parked.
It's expected to go into production in 2009. If Fisker stay on schedule, the Karma could be the first plug-in hybrid electric production vehicle on the road. The cost? A Mere $80,000. We could purchase a lot of carbon credits for our 1998 Ford Escort with that kinda cash.
http://www.dailymantra.com
This is one beautiful (and expensive) way to improve your karma. Fisker Automotive have unveiled their new luxury performance plug-in,... more
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