New Versions of Kia Cee'd To Be Equipped With Start/Stop Systems
The Kia Cee'd ISG model will be equipped with the Start/Stop system produced by Bosch, starting from next year. By introducing the Start/Stop technology, the normal consumption of fuel decreases and, implicitly, the vehicle's carbon dioxide emissions level is reduced by up to 5%.
WrightSpeed X1 – The First Retired Electric Sportscar
Remember Ian Wright? Right, he's the inventor and producer of Wrightspeed X1, the first most famous electric sportscar. This summer his car was on top of all the newspapers, environmental and auto blogs. Now, the same famous sportscar with plans to be commercialized and developed in the coming years, is being retired and put on the shelf. Why is that happening?
Mercedes Benz BlueZERO – A Trio of Green Concepts
Mercedes-Benz announced the BlueZERO concept which will be presented at the Detroit Auto Show, in January. Three different models will be available, all based on the Class B model, including the fully electric BlueZERO E-Cell featuring a lithium-ion battery that offers it an autonomy of up to 200 km, a 100 kW electric engine (equivalent to 136 horsepower) and a maximum torque of 320 Nm.
James May from Top Gear Driving a Honda FCX Clarity Hydrogen Car
James May evaluated a Honda FCX Clarity, with a positive attitude towards its environmental purpose. We don't enter the discussion as of how eco-friendly is the making of FCX, or its price, because these are all going to change in a few years to accomodate to the markets.
Top Gear Review on Another Electric Car: The Tesla Roadster
Of course, maybe you've watched Top Gear's Prius evaluation a few years ago. It was about the 2001 generation of the hybrid, and they've been a little harsh to it (Jeremy Clarkson showed us how fun it is to rifle a high tech car). Now, the all-famous Jeremy Clarkson didn't rifle anything (yet), but what he was trying to prove with this Tesla Roadster video just isn't fair.
BYD F3DM: Chevy Volt Technology, Cheaper, Chinese, Available Today
Its name sounds like it's taken out of Star Trek. Still, this is Chinese technology kicking some much bigger butts all over the world. BYD, the Chinese cell phone battery maker unveils today the F3DM, an all-electric sedan designed to show some more capitalist, more prudent, oil-led giant companies like Chevrolet, GM or Toyota, that you can do a decent electric car with a low price and high expectations.
Converted Prius to Get Over 100 MPG or Over 40 Miles of Full Electric
Here's some good news for DIYers. If it ever passed through your head to convert your actual car to an electric one, here are some Orange County guys that already did that and sell Prius conversion kits so you can do it at home, too.
Michelin Active Wheel: All-In-One Standard for Engine, Brake & Suspension
The active wheel features an electric motor, a braking and an electric suspension system, which is something only seen in the military about two years ago. The electric suspension is basically the same with a classic one, except the central shock absorbers, that comprise active, step-by-step motors driving a rack-and-pinion system at each wheel, that can cancel out anything the computer tells them to.
Sleekest Hydrogen Powered Sportscar: Honda FC Sport
Though some blogs take it as a surprise, it's not something new coming from Honda: their vision of a sportscar powered entirely by a hydrogen fuel cell... not surprisingly, the same that's into their FCX Clarity, released this summer.
DEKA Revolt: First Hybrid Stirling Engine Car – Powered by Anything!
Dean Kamen, a UK inventor, has just released to the public a modified electric Ford Th!nk, hacked in his DEKA labs. DEKA is his company located in Manchester Millyard. Kamen's modified electric car has a Stirling engine onboard, into the trunk. He uses the stirling engine mainly to defrost and heat the car, because the systems doing that are huge power consumers.
