Recent Comments:
Jetta TDI demos turn up at dealers, lots of orders coming in {Autoblog Green}
Jul 3rd 2008 1:29PM The EPA ratings for the VW Sportwagen TDI were disappointing, and even the EPA admits that they aren't a good representation of what the customer will experience. VW went and had the car tested by a independent 3rd party: AMCI. Their results were 38 city/ 44 highway.
I'm planning on moving from a 7 year old subaru wagon to the new VW, and I'll be getting almost twice the mileage for a vehicle that is almost exactly the same size. It may not be perfectly green, but it's a dramatic improvement, especially for highway trips.
I'm using a large gas scooter for much of my driving needs, but something the size of a wagon is needed when the scooter won't do.
Lotus throws its weight behind methanol {Autoblog Green}
Jun 24th 2008 9:55AM I've heard good things about butanol, it's chemistry is much better suited for use as a gas replacement than ethanol. There are a couple efforts to build bio-butanol plants to work out the economics of production, but the fuel itself seems run fine in standard unmodified gasoline engines.
Aprilia announces new Scarabeo 100 and 200 {Autoblog Green}
Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM To expand on my comment above:
FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) No 123 (Standard No. 123; Motorcycle controls and displays.) defines:
Scooter means a motorcycle that:
(1) Has a platform for the operator's feet or has integrated footrests, and
(2) Has a step-through architecture, meaning that the part of the vehicle forward of the operator's seat and between the legs of an operator seated in the riding position, is lower in height than the operator's seat.
Aprilia announces new Scarabeo 100 and 200 {Autoblog Green}
Mar 27th 2008 11:58AM Legally, a 'Scooter' is now defined by the US gov't as a motorcycle with a step-thru body (goes down in front of the seat), and floorboards that are part of the body rather than foot pegs.
If a vehicle meets these two criteria, it doesn't need to apply for a waiver to use two handlebar-mounted brake levers, rather than the motorcycle mandated handlebar lever and foot lever.
Free enterprise wingers attack Vectrix for using a diesel truck {Autoblog Green}
Dec 17th 2007 5:49PM Kert: I ride a Honda Silverwing daily, and was considering the Vectrix as a cleaner alternative. Unfortunately, the Vectrix really can't compete in some areas. My SWing can reach 115mph, but more importantly it can hold 70-80mph on the interstates where traffic is also doing 70-80mph.
The Vectrix is limited to 62mph, which means that it's simply not safe to ride on the interstates around here. With that top speed restriction, the Vectrix is better matched against 250cc scooters, not 4-600cc bikes that can safely hold interstate speeds.
Hybrid vs electric - Who is on which side? {Autoblog Green}
Oct 25th 2007 10:22AM I think Hybrids are a necessary transition path to full electrics.
We can't quite do full electric for most users yet, since people still want to drive 200+ miles in a single day, even if only once every few months.
But building hybrids, especially Plug-ins, means that electric drive and battery technology keeps advancing and we get closer to having full-electrics that meet all our needs.
Personally, I'd like to see more attempts at pure electrics that pull a range-extending trailer. That way you can leave the liquid fuel & engine behind most of the time, but still make longer trips when needed.
Stupid hybrid perk: no emissions test {Autoblog Green}
Sep 17th 2007 12:09PM Around Atlanta, a number of Toyota Prius' were failing the local emissions test. The reason? The engine reported 0 RPM while the vehicle was sitting idle in the testing station, but the test required 800-1500RPM.
Could you live with a tiny car? {Autoblog Green}
Sep 3rd 2007 9:01AM If I could get something like the Venture Vehicles VentureOne, a 1,200lbs 2-seater, I'd use it for just about everything: commuting, errands, weekend getaways, cross country jaunts.
Mythbusters' mistakes in AC vs windows down episode {Autoblog Green}
Aug 29th 2007 12:00PM Bill (comment #2):
Correct. At slower speeds, having the windows down is more efficient. At highway speeds, using the AC is more efficient.
There is a crossover speed somewhere in the middle, where both methods are roughly equal, but that exact speed is going to depend a great deal on the vehicle itself. The Mythbusters seem to have picked a test speed that's close to the crossover value, which is why they didn't see much effect.
Mythbusters' mistakes in AC vs windows down episode {Autoblog Green}
Aug 29th 2007 10:51AM Air resistance rises as the *square* of the velocity. A test at 45mph is essentially meaningless, since at that speed most of your friction is not from air resistance.
On the other hand, if you repeat the test at 70mph, you will see an enormous difference. At that speed, the aerodynamics of the vehicle make a much larger impact on mileage, and having windows open really spoils the overall aerodynamics.
Changing the parameters of the test was a mistake, but a mild one. Doing the test at such a low speed was the real fatal error.
