- Mostly a fluff piece, Popular Mechanics takes the Hybrid Technologies L1X-75 composite body electric car for a spin. (the comments nicely illustrate the typical bi-polar responses to EVs)
- A short article on the mechanical design of the Tango electric two-seater. The Tango is an interesting car, whether you like the look of it or not. It’s not underpowered but it’s also not catering to the typical sports car crowd. Here’s the specification page. Note that it doesn’t have a tranny, but instead uses a 9” FB1-4001 on EACH rear wheel (via a custom gear box). 0-60 in 4 seconds, top speed 150mph.
- Here’s a story to warm Darin’s heart (is it still Winter in Canada Darin?): Japan mileage maniacs hack their hybrids to get over 100mpg.
- Meanwhile GM is still serious about electric cars…honest! (Ignore the man behind the curtain)
As a matter of fact, it’s snowing lightly at the moment, Jerry :P
Those Prii folks sure have fun with their cars. I drove one of each generation, and would love to try out some of the techniques I’ve read about since then.
So, now I read that the VOLT is actually going to be a plug-in hybrid eh. If this car gets developed too much it will end up a 6L V8 if we’re not careful!
Knowing GM’s track history, I have a feeling it’s going to be one of those Plug In Hybrids that starts it’s engine as soon as you go over 3 mph/push too hard on the gas/sneeze etc…
Is GM serious about EVs?
Well, here’s a perspective on the new ‘Volt’:
It’s EV-1 all over again.
Let’s do the checklist, see if this new car will be like the EV-1:
• It’s a technological tour-de-force.
• It gets very enthusiastic press and public reaction – treehuggers particularly.
• People will line up to be first to lease (NOT buy) it.
• They’ll spend big bucks on R&D to convince the press it’ll actually be produced.
• All road tests will convince the sceptics that electric cars can be usable after all.
• Good Morning Wherever ‘journalists’ will demonstrate plugging it in to power sockets, and talk about electric vehicles as if no-one has ever heard of such a thing.
• Celebs will promote the car breathlessly, ok mostly Ed and Hannah will promote the car breathlessly.
• GM will ‘develop’ it for 7 years and then give us 23 reasons why it won’t sell without actually putting it on the market to find out. It’ll be shelved to make room for the next electric/hydro/hybrid/ethonolaholic concept/preproduction/prototype that wil take ANOTHER 7 years to perfect.
• During this space of time GM will produce 9 more varieties of SUV and a Hummer Hybrid that achieves 13mpg instead of 11mpg. They’ll also re-badge a few Suzuki compacts, sell them as GM products and call it even.
Now, IS GM serious about EVs?