Chrysler Sucks

How times have changed as a reformed Chrysler puts the emphasis on socially relevant electric vehicles instead of beefy Dodge Rams and Vipers. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent

You've gotta love "journalists." If Chrysler says they're emphasizing "social responsibility" then it must be true. And a full sized hybrid SUV labeled as an electric vehicle is exactly that. Oh, wait, no it's not. It's a full sized hybrid SUV labeled as an electric vehicle.

I think the word that Chrysler was looking for was "plugin hybrid."

Linky

The Insight Returns

Remember the Honda Insight? It was that little green car that got 70 mpg and made us all think that hybrids were freaking amazing. Well, hybrids are still pretty awesome, but not 70 mpg awesome.

Honda is bringing the name back, but on a very different idea. I think it's the right idea. They're continuing with IMA, which is all about a motor and an engine always working together rather then the half dozen ways in which honda's synergy drive works. It's less efficient (IMA that is) but it's cheaper to make.

Honda is planning to continue with affordable NiMH cells for now. They're claiming that the Insight will sell under $20,000, which is competitive for a 5 seater hatch back. The new Insight should beat the Civic hybrid's mileage.

I think this is great. A hybrid at that price range may be cost effective with $2.50 gas. And if it's cost effective and popular it should actually get cheaper to run. If millions of people need the replacement batteries they'll be a lot less expensive then they'd be if thousands needed them.

Volvo's are "Crash Proof"

Did you know that you can't die in an accident if you're in a Volvo? Feel free to drive your Volvo like a maniac now.

I hope they don't market it like this when they actually release it. This is a legitimate lawsuit in the womb.

As a cyclist I'm concerned with the auto industries attempts to convince people that cars are safe. Motor vehicle deaths trend slightly downward. Only slightly. Even with 500lbs of air bags and everyone driving a four wheel drive tank. As a cyclist I don't get new cage safety features and I'd greatly prefer it if people used the best safety device of all: Their brain.

Defensive driving courses should be mandatory; every 5 years.

Commuter Benefits. Just in case you thought you're being ripped off by not getting a tax credit for your transit costs I'd like to remind you that the federal Government already gives a tax credit for:
* Use of mass transit.
* Paid parking costs.

It's about time they gave something to cyclists. I think I'd be happier if they ditched all of the incentives and invested in building useful bus systems instead. The last thing we need is more subsidized downtown car parking.

Toyota iQ

Have you seen the iQ? This is a pretty cool concept. It's pretty similar to the Smart ForTwo with two big differences:
1. You can actually seat 4 people if you need.
2. It gets great mileage. The Smart only gets 33/41 mileage which is great but this car is claiming 55 mpg (they don't specify city/hwy). I'm unsure why the Smart doesn't get better mileage: It has about the same weight and volume and it's engine is similar. Smart must simply be making a cheaper (read sloppier) product.

In other, unrelated, news: Target's battery selection looks like it's been under attack. I forgot that normal people buy 10 thousand batteries after Christmas for all of their new devices. I, on the other hand, simply needed to keep a few more AAA's on hand.

Chevy Volt

How is it that the 2500lb Tesla Roadster has a range of 244 miles on commodity lithium ion cells and the Chevy Volt has a range of 40 miles on a 375lb advanced technology lithium ion battery pack?

If the Roadster has 6 times the batteries it would have to be a 200lb frame, motor, wheelset, and axels: It's not, there's no way.

Is the Volt simply that much of a power hog? Is Chevy making stuff up because they don't want to ship this car? Is the Volt vaporware?

The Electric Car Is Coming

Finally, what looks like a sensible electric car. It's expensive but it's competitive. I doubt it could be as cheap as a Smart Car (TCO) but it's competitive. So, if avoiding buying gas, or avoiding carbon use, or making use of that insane solar array is a goal this looks like a reasonable electric vehicle.
* It's small but it has 4 wheels, not 3. 3 wheeled vehicles probably work fine but they look funny and right now that's a concern for most consumers.
* It has enough range for city driving: 50 miles.
* It's cost to purchase is competitive with 5 seat economy cars.
* It can do 70mph, if the DOT passes it for safety. This will be important for those who live in cities with a beltway.

It looks like it has a big limitation: A lead acid battery. To the end user that means that the 50 mile range is not something you can do regularly. Lead acid batteries die if you fully discharge them often. They're cheap, and handle partial charges well which makes them perfect for your car starter. I'd like to see this in a NiMH version but I'm guessing that would add a few thousand to the cost.

For this kind of vehicle I would think it'd be reasonable to cut the battery size by about 20% (assuming you can do a full discharge) to 40 miles range and drop the power such that it can barely hold 55: This would be a stop gap car for folks who can happily give up freeway driving. Towns like, well, Lincoln, NE which have no freeway don't require a car that can exceed 45mph but they do require 45mph. It'd make an excellent second car for quite a few people: The car "daddy drives to work."

This isn't how I know the electric car is coming though. This is. Electric bikes are becoming cost effective using Li-Ion cells and pedal based throttle. It's a lot easier to make this (electric power supply) work on a bicycle due to the efficiency. And what happened the last time that bicycles became affordable for the common man? Henry Ford and others made cars affordable for him as well. It has to do with the shocking amount of infrastructure and function that they share.

You can currently buy what looks like a nice electric bike for $1,900 in the US. They don't appear to be popular but they're new. While $1,900 sounds like a fortune for a bike it works out quite a bit cheaper than an automobile: If you actually use the bike. The advantage? While Giant doesn't seem to be forward with their numbers most of these bikes offer a 2:1 power ratio. That means that the bike gives twice the power you do. So a regular guy with no cycling history can keep up with someone who cycles semi-regularly. It means going to work at 15mph without choosing between crawling up the hills or getting sweaty.

You Negligent Parent, Your Baby is in the Car!

A cool device.

A very cool idea. I wonder: Does the keychain beep because it's sent a signal to do so, or because it isn't sent a signal not to beep?

I just want them to say: "You negligent parent! You left your baby to die!" Is that too much?

This really is a minor disadvantage to the closed in private nature of cars and parking lots. Your car is so safe in that big parking lot that you don't have to worry about anyone noticing a baby in it.