Transportation
40 mpg club? An American highway to nowhere
40 mpg in the city? Not even close If it’s not 40 mpg combined, then it doesn’t count 40 mpg. That’s become a big new talking point for automakers selling in the US. Too bad it’s mostly nonsense. Most of these new cars, such as the Chevy Sonic and Cruze, the upcoming Hyundai Elantra, nor [...]
Continue reading...Baby-booming EVs: Every Nissan Leaf should look like this?
17 January 2011 – 2:56 pm PDT
Comments Off
A customized Leaf at the Tokyo Salon Show. Should the Leaf entice baby boomers or Gen Yers? Couple of interesting stories on Straightline regarding the Tokyo Salon Auto Show. One claims the Honda CR-Z hybrid is the hottest thing at the Tokyo Show. Hybrids are hipper than ever – at least in Japan. The other [...]
Continue reading...Ford lightens up for the future
17 January 2011 – 9:28 am PDT
Comments Off
Reduce weight, increase efficiency Weight the key to higher energy prices Whether it comes to conventional ICE vehicles, hybrids or even pure electric cars, Ford believes reducing weight is the key enabling technology for the greatest improvements in fuel economy. Thus, a big push in carbon fiber, aluminum and high strength steel will be used [...]
Continue reading...Booming Energy Economy Impacting Condition of North Dakota Roads
14 January 2011 – 1:00 pm PDT
Comments Off
(Washington DC) – Contrary to the financial woes many states are experiencing, North Dakota is in the midst of an economic boom. One of the nation’s largest wind farms is located in the state. In addition, according to the most recent U.S. Geological Survey estimate from April 2008. Literally millions of barrels of undiscovered, technically [...]
Continue reading...Are GM’s battery-powered plans dysfunctional or brilliant?
14 January 2011 – 11:49 am PDT
Comments Off
Buick LaCrosse hybrid more important than Chevy Volt? With so many options will scale be impossible? Conceptually and theoretically, the Chevy Volt might be the best car on the planet. In reality, however, the Volt is terribly cost-ineffective and completely dependent upon government aid. In the auto industry, scale is typically the key to such [...]
Continue reading...Japanese Big 3 unite on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
14 January 2011 – 9:42 am PDT
The Honda Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Fuel cell hybrid vehicles are inevitable 2015 is shaping up to be the dawn of fuel cell vehicles. Around that time a number of automakers have announced plans to begin commercializing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Consequently, Honda, Nissan and Toyota are joining forces along with 10 other energy [...]
Continue reading...Toyota to move beyond rare earths and lithium by 2020?
14 January 2011 – 9:12 am PDT
Comments Off
Rare earth and lithium free hybrids and plug-ins by 2020? Is Toyota’s hybrid experience set for big payoffs? While Toyota has assembled a task force to secure new rare earth metals outside of China, the company has a “long term” plan to eventually move beyond rare earths. For instance, Toyota is in the “advanced” stages [...]
Continue reading...Today’s Headlines – 1/14/11
14 January 2011 – 8:40 am PDT
Comments Off
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood touts new data showing the many benefits of bicycle infrastructure. (DOT Blog) Outgoing Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says the federal Recovery Act worked for his state. (AP) The Washington Post’s editorial against California high-speed rail mischaracterized aspects of the project. (Greater Greater Washington) The reform-minded highway chief in Massachusetts is stepping [...]
Continue reading...Study – California electricity too expensive for plug-ins
13 January 2011 – 1:14 pm PDT
Comments Off
Not a good car for California? Time to kill the tiered-pricing system? A new study out of Purdue suggests that even if plug-in vehicle prices come down significantly, they still won’t be very cost-effective in places like California due to high electricity rates. Based on California’s current system for pricing electricity, Chevy Volt buyers for [...]
Continue reading...USA! USA! USA! The US auto industry is back
13 January 2011 – 10:49 am PDT
Comments Off
What happened to big dreams? But where are they – we – going? Toyota is still the best automaker on the planet. Seriously, bring up the recalls. Fine. But, look at deaths by automaker, for instance. Toyota is not the leader. Or, look at JD Power and Consumer Reports data during the recall affected years. [...]
Continue reading...
18 January 2011 – 10:05 am PDT
View Comments