Inspira��es

Myth Busted: Electric Cars Do Not Suffer With the Cold

2010-12-21 15:03:39

It's always good to demystify urban legends, right? One of them is that electric cars can?t cope with extremely low temperatures (a current problem in Europe, which suffers from heavy snow). But is there some truth to that? According to website All Electric Cars, not really. The site's team decided to try taking a Tesla Roadster Sport 2.5, 2011 model to go for a ride through the roads of London, in the UK. On the way out, the external temperature marked -3� C, and snow falling. About 65 km later, the Tesla still provided enough energy for at least 130 km more. The next day, the team decided to take the car up Cheddar Gorge, a mountainous region with a 300m tilt. The trip unfolded without any major problems, even with a temperature of -6 � C. At the end of the day, more than 140 kilowatts per hour where spent over the weekend, resulting in a grand total of 724 km. No problems were reported with the Tesla that not only had the engine running smoothly but also provided heat inside the vehicle. In other words: myth busted. What remains to be seen now is how electric cars behave in the heat of the Brazilian Northeast, right? [All Cars Electric]

Scientists Discover a Way to Extend Battery Life

2010-12-20 18:58:05

Those who own a cell phone know it: it?s frustrating when the battery starts to fail after a while. Obviously this also affects electric vehicles that use the same principle. However, researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington may be able to appease the problem. The scientists published in Science magazine an article with super high definition images showing how electrode cables used in lithium-ion batteries writhed when ?fed? with electricity. That?s because this type of equipment has a life span which is subject to degradation after being recharged several times. The solution presented is to implant stannum oxide nanocables which endure the stresses of being recharged in a better manner. ?That reminds me of the way we make steel cables, where we twist several wires together instead of making one thick cable? exemplifies Chongmin Wang, material scientist from the lab?s energy department. According to a statement from the institution, research will determine how to control the deformation of the structures, which would eventually expand a battery?s life span over the course of several recharges. Furthermore, studies will verify the viability of mass production of that type of technology, so let?s keep our fingers crossed! [Autoblog Green]

New Version of Maps Allows Navigation on Offline Routes and 3D Maps

2010-12-17 12:58:19

Slowly but surely, Google is putting dashes of lime in the grave of GPS manufacturers. After including navigation turn-by-turn for free in their Maps application for mobile phones with Android operating system, the U.S. giant now offers 3D visualization of maps in the 5.0 version of the program. The user can also access common routes without having to use the internet. 3D display (not the 3D offered for films, but in the sense of being able to rotate the map and see models with height, width and depth) is made possible thanks to changes in the programming of the application: Google now uses vectors, reducing the amount of information so it can yield more. It also ensures offline browsing, in other words, even without web access, a commonly used path can be accessed when it is stored in cache. All this makes it much easier when observing the path suggested by the maps while driving, even when using offline resources once you have already scheduled a trip to cities without 3Gcoverage. This is because the program makes sure to include a return route. Best of all, it?s free for users of smartphones equipped with the Android operating system in the 2.0 version or higher (those who have the 1.6 version can also get Google Maps 5.0, but without 3D). [Engadget]

Road Ditches Work As Biofuel Fields

2010-12-15 19:27:12

Have you ever seen those long roads with curbs (if any) full of useless scrubs? Well, someone thought of a use for that long area hard to be exploited: install sunflowers, canola and safflower plantations. And that is not for the purpose of having a beautiful landscape but also for the processing of biodiesel with the harvest of these herbs. The idea came from Mike Schaff, member of the Etna district committee in Licking County, Ohio, USA. He says the initiative, aside from providing feedstock for bio-fuel, would also help the state save money, by not having to mow the weeds in the gutter -the local government spends approximately US$ 17 million a year with that little problem, according to Schaff. But his idea was not so original, as he himself admits being inspired by a similar program in the state of Utah, also in the U.S., which sparked a movement called Freeways to Fuel. The idea is to convert approximately 10 million North American acres into plantations for biodiesel. The problem Schaff will have to face now is the resistance from the Ohio Department of Transportation. According to the department, similar ideas for taking advantage of the gutter have never worked because of the risks to workers. But there is hope: the planting of sunflowers and canola imagined by Schaff would happen twice a year, much less than cutting the grass. One thing is certain: no doubt the proposal would also work in Brazil. [Dispatch via Autoblog Green]

System Provides Cars Driving by Themselves at 90 km/h in Train-like Fashion

2010-12-14 17:25:21

The idea of being able to relax in the driver's seat and let the car guide you may not be so distant. Scientists at the European program Sartre (which is the acronym for "Safe Road Trains for the Environment") plan to put on the road several vehicles and have them drive independently by following a "leader". It?s simple: Cars are electronically interconnected to the train, led by a bus which is driven by a professional. This way you can maintain the constant speed of approximately 90 km / h proposed by the system. Of course, for those drivers who want to regain control and take another route, they are free to leave the group. Scientists also hope, with the line of cars, to reduce the aerodynamic coefficient (cumulative effect of the vacuum left by the car ahead) and reduce congestion without any changes in the structure of urban roads. And of course it is also a good opportunity for drivers to read the newspaper, check e-mails or work comfortably. The program's goal is to put five cars in a train by the year 2012. However, tests on real conditions have already begun this month (December). Laboratory experiments were promising, according to the Swedish automaker, Volvo, who is working with the project. In addition to the technical side, the biggest challenge is now to convince users to trust the Sartre and really relax without touching the steering wheel. If not, they?ll have to read the newspaper in the subway or the bus. [Wired Autopia]

Architect Wants to Cover Highway with Solar Roof

2010-12-10 13:12:56

Observe the image above: it looks like snake skin, right? That?s exactly what the Swedish architect and ?urban strategist, Mans Tham, had in mind when he conceived what he calls the ?Serpents in Paradise?, a complex structure that would cover, with solar panels, millions of kilometers of the Santa Monica Freeway. Tham believes that highways are ?majestic structures? and their size ?inspires as well as intimidates?, but end up affecting the view, which in this case is an enormous desert in the Los Angeles area. ?The best thing then is to make something attractive out of it, something beautiful and add new functions that will be beneficial as well?, he says. The ?Serpents in Paradise? would cover, with solar cells, a ten lane highway, providing 115 megawatts of energy (which is enough to supply a small town of 40 thousand inhabitants such as Venice in California), sheltering cars from the elements while filtering a great portion of the emitted carbon dioxide. Furthermore, according to the Swiss architect, its construction would provide jobs for the cities located along the highway. The main point for Tham is to take advantage of the already modified scenery with something useful, and use green technology at the same time. ?The possibility of producing electricity within the city is a lot better that ruining a desert with a solar farm and waste energy with expensive connecting cables? according to his site . ?This idea is not the solution, but rather one of the many steps that will make cities more intelligent? [Mans Tham, via Wired]

Prototype Uses Joystick Instead of Steering Wheel

2010-12-09 14:54:39

Do you remember the sporty electric EX1 built to celebrate Peugeot?s anniversary and break the speed record in its category? Its exterior design shows us it?s a different and aggressive car, but we knew nothing about its interior: it does not have a steering wheel but a joystick instead, similar to the ones found on air planes. If you have a hard time imagining what it would be like to pilot a plane, think of two joysticks used to control the same character in a video game (which is the regular format seen in consoles today). But as opposed to the EX1, the system is no longer a concept- Nexteer has built and sells the joystick, known as EPS, for electric cars. The company guarantees that the control uses a low friction design and advanced sensors to consume the minimum amount of energy while driving which provides ?pureness to the driving sensitivity for those behind the ?stick?. Thus, according to Nexteer, this gives the driver a better and more natural feel for the performance of the car, right in your hands. The novelty may (or may not) have helped, but for sure, breaking the record with Nicolas Vanier was thanks to the four 340 hp electric motors on the wheels (one for each) which takes the Peugeot EX1 to a high speed of 260km/h. Would you change your traditional steering wheel for a joystick like that? [Autoblog Green]

App Slows Down iPod Music When Driving too Fast

2010-12-07 15:15:43

So, you are one of those who gets all exited with adrenaline loaded music and end up stepping too far down on the gas pedal? Bear in mind that this is dangerous behavior, mainly if you don?t even notice it. So to calm down those hasty distracted individuals, the Belgian developer OVK has created an app for iOS devices (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) which alters the speed of the song being played when the driver exceeds the speed limit. Known as the Slow Down, the program uses the movement sensor from Apple products to determine the speed of the car and slowing down the music when driving too fast. If the driver continues, and goes 10% over the limit, the software simply interrupts completely the execution of the song. You can program the app for speeds of 50, 90 and 120 km/h. In other words, don?t even think of using the device on highways with no limit such as the Autobahn in Germany. Furthermore, the Slow Down allows you to create an exclusive playlist, but that?s about it. You can?t really personalize it much or fine tune your programming. There is also another drawback: The iOS sensors are not so efficient at measuring accurately the speed of the vehicle. Nevertheless it?s free, and you can get it by clicking here to download it from the North American App Store. [Engadget]

Revolutionary System from Fiat Wins Science Award

2010-12-06 19:28:42

Often times the greatest ideas tend to be the simplest ones. This is the case of the MultiAir from Fiat, which allows you to save on fuel (and reduce CO² emissions in the atmosphere) by simply adjusting the motor valves in real time. And the editors of Popular Science magazine recognized this and elected the revolutionary technology as one of the best automotive solutions for 2010.

The mechanism won the prize for of “Best of What’s New” from Popular Science, mainly because of its simplicity and efficiency. “In 2001 BMW’s system Valvetronic reduced the potential losses using electronically controlled valves, however, it was complex and expensive. Now, the MultiAir from Fiat will bring similar results for carbon dioxide emissions but with a simpler and cheaper design”, according to the publication.

The idea is revolutionary because it corrects a mechanical failure often seen nowadays. Regular engines waste 10% of the energy when taking in the low pressure air into the equipment. The MultiAir optimizes this with adjustable valves guaranteeing rotations 15% lower, thus reducing the consumption and emission of gases by 10%. All of this at such a ridiculously low price that briefly they should be seen in the Fiat 500 which will arrive in the US by 2011.

See the video from MecanicaOnline below, which explains how the technology works.

[Autoblog Green]

Go Driving Around in a Light Bike Just Like in the Film Tron

2010-12-02 10:01:37

With its debut in Brazilian theaters scheduled for December 17, "Tron - The Legacy" is hoping to please those fans who were thrilled with the original film in1982. On that occasion, the pioneer idea of using computer graphics was soon overshadowed by the memorable scene of the ?light bike" race (which certainly is recreated in the sequel). But what if that car came out of the science fiction screens and hit the real world? It has already been done. If you have $ 55,000 to spare, you can have a real Light Cycle from a manufacturer in Florida, USA. The company Parker Brothers Choppers has 10 of these custom made bikes with steel chassis, fiberglass cowling and a Suzuki TLR1000 V-twin engine. The brakes are customized for the huge tires, providing a visually faithful copy of the one seen in the new movie. Other details: it weighs 215 kg, is 2.5 meters long, about 60 cm wide and is 72 cm from the ground. Consumers can even choose to have either a regular panel or put in an iPad and show the vital statistics of the vehicle on the touch screen of the Apple tablet; everything to maintain the futuristic ideas suggested in Tron. According to Jeff Halverson, owner of the bike, it is not exactly a replica, since the models used in both films were virtual. "Basically we used the images found on the internet to create the bike. Remember that no one has ever built one of these before," he says. Unfortunately (or not), it does not leave a trail in the form of deadly wall of light as in Tron. For those interested, Halverson says, there are still some units available. [Autopia]

Smart Accelerator Helps Save Fuel

2010-11-30 15:18:45

Fuel consumption is in some ways associated to the style of driving. Those who love to put the pedal to the metal end up consuming more fuel and, subsequently, contaminating a lot more. However, a new system called the ECO Pedal promises to put an end to this, forcing the driver to moderate when accelerating. Used for the first time on the Nissan Fuga in 2009, the technology consists of a simple concept: a mechanism responds by pushing the pedal back up the moment the driver pushes on it down with too much force. Studies reveal that this even alters the driving style, contributing between 5 to 10% with fuel efficiency. Developed by the Japanese company together with Mikuni Corporation, this innovative system even has permission to be used by other automakers. Nissan expects the mass adoption of the ECO Pedal to cheapen the technology and allow installation on most popular cars. Now we just need to wait for the technology to arrive here. [Autoblog Green]

Conversion Kit Transforms Fiat 500 into Electric

2010-11-26 10:42:31

After Fiat 500?s debut in Brazil, North Americans will finally be able to drive a Fiat 500 without even having to leave the country. However, they will have to wait until the year 2012 to find the official electric version of the little car- unless they consider getting the adaptation kit from EV Adapt, which promises to sell the car completely converted (with the Italian maker?s permission of couse). Renamed CARe 500, the adapted electric is already available in Europe for ? 23.900 (about R$ 55,000). However, that price does not include the batteries, which can be rented for ?150 (R$ 344) a month or bought with the vehicle, thus increasing, and quite a bit, the final price to a whopping ? 36.900 (close to R$ 84,700). ?The advantage of renting the batteries is that they will always be functional and available without having to buy the most expensive part of an electric car? says Martin Richard Kristek, CEO of Holding GmBh, which distributes the CARe 500 in the US. ?The fuel is included in a fixed fee? he adds. The modified Fiat 500 reaches 120 km/h as well as 120 km in range. And you, would you like to see conversion kits in Brazil? And about renting batteries, do you believe in the advantages Kristek says it has? Please comment. [Autoblog Green]

Initiative Aims to Recycle Old Car Batteries with Reuse

2010-11-25 16:39:00

If on one hand, electric cars are gaining popularity, what happens with all those batteries once their life has expired? Yes, because they lose efficiency as you recharge them. A solution may lie in a deal announced on Wednesday (23) by Duke Energy and Itochu to reuse this equipment in other situations requiring less power. The companies promised to begin extracting the lithium-ion batteries from 80 electric cars at the Duke Energy plant in Indianapolis in the U.S. These parts can be reused in new charging stations to support the additional power supply in small solar or wind power plants during peak hours. All this has an explanation: after a few recharges, the battery is depleted to less than 80% of its capacity, which indicates the time to be discarded. Critics say that if no recycling techniques are used for all this material in electric cars, the damage to the environment may be considerably higher than that found in ordinary cars. Especially if the electricity to power the vehicles comes from renewable sources such as coal. The hope is to provide an increase in the duration of a battery, which could end up reducing the price to produce such equipment. The question is whether this re-use may have parts recycled in some way that does not harm the environment. [TechCrunch, image from The Motor Report]

Would You be Interested Postpaid Package to Recharge Your Electric Car?

2010-11-23 17:55:44

Even in other countries, electric cars suffer with the lack of infrastructure when it comes to recharging. That?s why creative solutions come up to alleviate the problem. Such as the North American model from NRG Energy, which intends to establish consumption packages in the same way we use our cell phone here in Brazil. But would that really work? Known as eVgo, the service is available for those who live in Houston, Texas, in Southwestern United States. The user will be able to recharge the electric car at home or in public places, just as in the quick recharge posts (level 2) in malls, stores and supermarkets. Of course, as with cell phones, the driver will have several types of plans with different rates according to the consumer?s choice. Furthermore, the contract requires three years of fidelity which is a lot more than regular cell phone package deals. But don?t kid yourself. It won?t be cheap: the Premium subscription for the eVgo comes up to U$ 89 (close to R$ 155), which corresponds to 132 liters of gasoline at the cheapest gas station in Houston. Taking into consideration the price of a domestic recharger, which costs between U$ 1.500 (R$ 2.580) all the way up to 7 thousand (a little over R$ 12 thousand) without taking into account the energy bill (where the cheapest rate is U$ 49 or U$ 85 seems to compensate a bit more, though most electricity bills will be the responsibility of the user). Having to compete with cheaper polluting fuel seems to be the main problem. Do you think it?s worth paying for a package deal to recharge your car? Give us your opinion. [All Cars Electric]

Driverless Racer Completes Uphill Race in US

2010-11-22 14:12:19

The Pikes Peak Race in the US state of Colorado is a challenge for many. There are 156 uphill curves with an extension of 20 km that test the pilot?s ability. Therefore it?s even more amazing to witness the feat of the Audi TTS, which completed the same circuit but without a driver. The robotic vehicle?s accomplishment was in September, but only now the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb organizers have announced the official recognition. The car climbed the 4.297 meters in 27 minutes, a mark which is not so good compared to faster and more expert pilots who can complete the circuit in 10 minutes. Nevertheless it?s quite impressive considering that it?s a machine (and according to Audi, the same TTS would only take 17 minutes when piloted by a human being). The car was adapted by the makers themselves together with the Electronics Research Lab in Palo Alto (silicone Valley) California. ?The purpose is to improve drivers? safety and save lives by creating extremely robust electronics? says Dr. Burkhard Huhnke, director of the institute. The idea is mainly to develop systems that help when driving while still giving people the control at the wheel. A similar research has been initiated by Google, which ran tests with seven Toyota Prius adapted with this autonomous technology. [Autopia]

System Recharges Electric Car Batteries without Any Physical Contact

2010-11-19 15:24:05

Many people still have reservations with regards to electric vehicles- The infrastructure for recharge stations and the type of standard plug are two examples of large scale barriers. However, if it all depended on HaloIPT (from New Zealand), a new wireless battery recharge system could help those cars become easier to charge and thus more popular. It?s not that plugless recharging is a novelty- some companies have already explored the technique of electromagnetic fields before, but the IPT system (Inductive Power Transfer) alleges to be the most advanced these days, using an already available technology (present in electric tooth brushes, for instance). The mechanism, in the shape of a tray, is installed on the floor of a parking lot. The system?s coils remain magnetically connected to the floor of the car itself. When one system detects the presence of the other, they immediately enter into the same operating frequency and the electricity is then transferred with a control. The company guarantees it even works up to a distance of 40cm. For now, since there are no cars equipped with the technology yet, the company continues to work on its tests. However, HaloIPT is planning to commercialize the system in two years, with the possibility of adapting it to existing electric vehicles. [All Cars Eletric]

App Puts GPS and Pac-Man Together To Give Traffic Information

2010-11-17 18:33:54

Smartphones are quite practical when you need to locate yourself in traffic without a GPS. Google informs you about traffic on major highways in large cities such as Sao Paulo, but not all the streets are available yet. One great alternative is the Waze app for iPhone which combines traffic data with a sort of real life Pack-Man game. Actually, the system?s software is based on information gathered by other users who report if they are moving slowly. The problem with the device is with the less traveled streets-this is where the application?s videogame factor comes in, offering points to those who choose to go on a not so well known street. The driver who wins improves his or her status within Waze by obtaining more options to edit the application as well as some real prizes. There is also the possibility for the user to communicate through the program as long as they are correctly parked. The problem is that you need to provide traffic info in real time, which means that you have to be in the car. If some of you don?t see the danger in using a cell phone while driving, the traffic police will remind you: it?s considered a medium infraction with the right to a fine and the loss of four points on your driver?s license. At least those who developed the Waze promise to provide new resources to facilitate the driver?s life, such as voice commands, algorithm which recognizes movements and are more effective. [Wired]

Trailer Provides Extra Recharge for Your Electric

2010-11-16 17:30:44

Even though electric cars are practical and economical, their range is a challenge for most automakers nowadays. Our blog has already addressed solutions for the problem, but the North American company Electric Motor and Vehicles (EMAV) has proposed a rather simple one: a sort of auxiliary mini trailer. Differently than those models generated by diesel fuel and a combination of ion-lithium batteries for longer trips, for a Fiat 500 EV (electric), the additional range gained is 1.126 km with only 25 liters of fuel. The PRU even provides 400 volts to recharge the car. ?We want to target those who are looking for a car for the family?, says Cashen, founder and president of EMAV, referring to those weekend passengers. Furthermore, the company has provided 75% of its space for baggage, which makes the PRU even more useful on longer trips. However, the project is only an idea with no prototype in sight. Nevertheless, according to Cashen, Chrysler has got its eye on the system as a way to follow the market of electric cars. But prepare your pocketbooks: The estimated price tag for the PRU should come up to US$ 15 thousand (close to 25.700,) eight times more that a regular trailer. [Motorpasion, Wired]

The Gran Turismo 5 Red Bull X1 is Actually Being Built

2010-11-12 08:56:25

We all thought that the Red Bull X1 model, designed by the Formula 1 team especially for the Gran Turismo 5 game, was only restricted to the virtual world. However, as you can see in the photo above, the prototype seems to be turning into a reality. The latest edition of Evo Magazine shows the construction of the car and lots of details about the biggest dream for speed lovers. According to the publication, the previous information about having turbines and variable transmission is actually wrong. Instead, the X1 will have more conventional propulsion with a 3 liter V6 engine, direct injection and twin turbo which will generate 1.482 hp in 15.000 rpm. The prototype will also reach 100 km/h in only 1.4 seconds and 321 km/h in 6.1 seconds. Not good enough for you? As predicted in the information given for the PlayStation 3 game, the car will reach 450km/h. Red Bull has not published a date for the official unveiling of the X1. Nevertheless it will be exhibited in Madrid, the second week in November, in a special event for the Gran Turismo 5, which also does not have a launching date provided by Sony. [Automotto, GTPlanet]

Designer Takes Advantage of Car-Share in Social Networking for Cars

2010-11-10 15:56:16

The concept of Car-Share has already been discussed right here in our Inspirations blog. However, one British designer has decided to go even further with the idea. As an Audi fan, Martin Tyminski has conceived a commuter vehicle in a sort of automotive social network. Known as the Audi Scape Concept, the car communicates with other vehicles in order to get traffic information as well as road conditions and useful data to share among drivers and machines. The style of the Scape, an aggressive compact single-seater frame, is also a feature that attracts attention. If some cars take advantage and even exaggerate the use of tires, Tyminski has simply abolished them in this German concept, using propeller like wheels instead. The whole project, as you can see in the images above, was conceived not only to provide quieter streets but also to reduce the number of cars. But has Audi approved of the idea? [CarbodyDesign.com]