Renew News » hybrid-car

NPR Talks About Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles

Mark — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:45:40 +0000

A nice article about the details of near-future plug-in hybrids (PHEV). Good ol’ NPR.

Read the article here.

Ultracapacitors Have Finally Arrived In Consumer Electronics

Mark — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:41:46 +0000

We all use rechargeable batteries everyday in everything from cell phones, to razors, to hybrid cars, to power tools. It is SO frustrating to be working on a project and discover that your rechargeable tool is out of juice. Now you have to either wait hours for the battery to charge, use hand tools (which can take forever depending on the job), or not get your project done on time. There is always talk of the next big thing in battery technology that seems to be perpetually around the corner. Well, the wait may be over… for the small scale anyway.

I just read in the current issue of Discover magazine that there are two new capacitor gadgets out on the market. A bike light and a cordless screw driver. I am REALLY excited about the screwdriver. It’s made by Coleman, and has a recharge time of 90 seconds. Seriously, that is unbelievable. I have spent so much time waiting for hand drill batteries to recharge that it makes me edgy just writing about it. 90 seconds! Instead of a battery this driver has an ultracapacitor inside which, like all capacitors, has the ability to take a charge very quickly. You can learn more about it at flashcelldriver.com

Charges in 90 seconds! That’s right… 90 SECONDS!!!

The bike light is pretty cool too. It has a capacitor in it, and gets its charge from a magnet attached to the wheel of your bike. Every time the magnet goes by it allows the light to generate a little electricity. There are two models, one that flashes, and one that stays on continuously while you ride, and for a short time when you stop. Learn more at reelight.com

I should point out that I have not seen either of these devices in person. I am relying on Discover magazine and the manufacturer’s websites, but even so, I’m pretty impressed. Capacitors are still not useful for larger, more power-intensive machines like hybrid cars, but researchers are working on it.

125 mpg Plug In Toyota Prius!

Mark — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 04:18:01 +0000

The bar has been raised yet again. Lithium Technology Corporation out of Pennsyvania has released a new line of lithium batteries
that are “…the answer the automotive industry has been searching for.” according to their website.

The Future of Thongs has a great article on the new 125 mpg hybrid. Read it here.

Learn more about Lithium Technology Corporation on their website.

New Solar Roof for the Toyota Prius!

Mark — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 21:36:14 +0000

A company called Solar Electric Vehicles has put out what Prius owners have been waiting for: a solar roof panel. It apparently costs about $2000-4000 and will pay for itself in 2-3 years. Read a very nice article at TreeHugger.com.

Photo from TreeHugger.com

Also, check out the Solar Electric Vehicles site for more information.

EPA/DOE Fuel Efficiency Ratings Posted: For Best AND Worst

Mark — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 05:38:24 +0000

The Toyota Prius was postd as the overall most fuel-efficient car by the EPA/DOE, but the most fun is to look at the lists of the vehicles with the worst mileage. Admitedly, if you are buying a Lamborghini you probably don’t care about efficiency, the environment, or spending money on something so trivial as gas, but the list is still pretty funny… and embarassing for those on it.

See it here.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: the Promised Land

Mark — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 04:59:01 +0000

A lot of people seem to be saying that fuel cells are going to be the future of automoblies, most notably and shockingly: the President, George W Bush himself. It seems too good to be true to me at the moment, but I’m slowly being swayed.

There is definitely some promise there, but the hydrogen folks have some hurdles to get over first. One of the biggest ones is where the hydrogen will come from. Up to this point everything I have read and heard pushes that problem off to be solved magically by technology in the future. It doens’t do us any good if we are using fossil fuels to make a fuel that is supposed to free us of the chains of fossil fuels.

My buddy Greg from www.yoyoguy.com turned me on to a site that actually deals with the problems as well as the benefits of hydrogen. They are the first to admit that the technology isn’t quite ready yet, but they are also the first I have seen (in my very limited research) who don’t talk about hydrogen in such glorious terms as to make it unbelievable. Check it out for yourself here. They are even realistic about hydrogen generation and propose that you do it yourself with solar. I have to say, it would be awfully nice to not have to pay someone else for your fuel. But then again, I’m still crossing my fingers and waiting for my solar car. With some luck, some help, and some solar panels, I’m hoping to make my Prius get closer to that goal.