CarBuyersNoteBook

Charge Your Car While You Eat at McDonalds

McDonalds hasn’t decided to start selling gas, especially with the nasty economy. But the company is thinking about your car. Actually I bet McDonalds is considering ways to determine how to get you to spend as much time as possible inside their restaurants. How will they do that? Well it looks like while you eat, your electric car is going to receive its precious energy free of charge in McDonalds’s parking lot. The first restaurant to offer this incentive is located in Cary, NC, and it will be able to charge your electric car starting July 14th. Ric Richards had this to say:

The networked grid-friendly charging stations are a perfect complement to the many innovative green features of the restaurant. Our customers will have a dedicated place to park and recharge their vehicles. McDonalds is enabling a better environment for future generations by supporting zero-emissions transportation infrastructure, through the use of the ChargePointSM Network.

Will such a move convince you to purchase your first electric car? Will you eat more at McDonalds after that?
(more…)

Posted in Alternative Energy, Industry | 0 Comments

Volvo Fuel Cell Technology Creates 100 New Jobs

Volvo is shifting into high gear for their fuel cell technology venture, possibly creating additional jobs in Stockholm if everything goes according to plan. Swedish Energy Agency and the Volvo Group are investing SEK 200 M in Volvo’s development of fuel cells. The investment will create around 100 new positions in the Gothenburg region within the next three years.

In the autumn of 2009, Powercell Sweden will need to hire around 60 people in an entirely new plant in the Gothenburg region. Per Wassén, who is Investment Director at Volvo Technology Transfer and chairman of Powercell Sweden AB, foresees that the company will create around 100 new jobs within the next three years.

With the growing need for alternative energy and fuel for various means but largely for vehicles, fuel cell technology can truly be a big help towards the efforts of local motorists and car companies. A fuel cell resembles a small battery. It is charged with hydrogen gas and converts this into electricity, water and carbon dioxide through a chemical reaction.

The areas of use can be power supply units for households, trucks, boats, radio masts in remote locations and electric hybrid vehicles. Compared with normal diesel or gas-powered engines, fuel cells produce significantly less carbon dioxide and no emissions at all of particulates and nitrogen oxides. In addition, they are more efficient, smaller and lighter.

(Source) Press

Posted in Alternative Energy, Business, Cars, Enviroment, Industry, Volvo | 0 Comments

Golf Cart Runs on Cow… Stuff

That’s right, a golf cart seems to be able to run on cow dung. There’s no error here. The guys over at Yamaha have turned the dung into biomethane which can actually power the cart. Don’t worry, you won’t have to grow your own cows in order to power your favorite small car since all that methane generated from the dung will go into special tanks which will be installed in your golf carts. In case you own a golf course, would you order Yamaha dung-powered carts?

via autobloggreen

Posted in Alternative Energy, Business, Enviroment | 0 Comments

New World Record: Wind-Powered Car Hits 126 Mph

This might not be the prettiest car you’ve seen lately but it’s certainly the fastest. Sure there are plenty of cars that can go faster than 126 mph but this one is the only wind-power vehicle capable to do that. Sir Richard Jenkings drove the car in Ivanpah Lake in Nevada. With winds of only 30 mph he managed to achieve an outstanding speed of 126.1 mph. I’m sure that in a few years, or even sooner, a new manufacturer will be able to beat this record. Ecotricity is the record holder for driving at full wind speed for now and we’ll be waiting for our minds to be blown off by the first commercial wind-powered car!

via BBC

Posted in Alternative Energy, Business, Science | 0 Comments

Coffee Can Power Your Car!

Ready to go all electric on your car? What about all coffee? It looks like biofuel can be made out of any oily source which means coffee fuel might just be the thing that will power you car soon.

According to experts it takes 5-7kg of coffee grounds to make a liter of biofuel which will eventually result in a price of about $1 per gallon. Does that mean you’re going to get coffee to go and gas from your local coffee shop? And talk about the better smell!

via TheEconomist

Posted in Alternative Energy, Concept Cars, Enviroment, Industry | 0 Comments

Detroit Auto Show: 2010 Toyota Prius Comes with Solar Panels

The 2010 Toyota Prius has been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show and it does feature those solar panels we were talking about earlier. Unfortunatelly they are just an extra option you can request and their job will be to keep the temperature inside cool.

Here’s a quick specs list for the new Toyota Prius:

From a different point of view the new Prius will be able to go for 50 mpg which is 4 miles more than the previous version and it has a 1.8L four-cylinder engine under the hood. Power and Eco driving modes are available and there’s also an EV Drive mode which will let you run on battery for a mile.

2010 PRUIS PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

POWERTRAIN

1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with VVT-i

Engine horsepower: 98 hp @ 5,200 rpm

Engine torque: 105 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

Electric motor: Permanent magnet synchronous motor

Electric motor power output: 80 hp/153 lb-ft torque

Hybrid system net horsepower: 134 hp

Emission rating: SULEV (with AT-PZEV)

Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission

Drive System: Front-wheel-drive

Hybrid battery pack: Nickel-metal hydride

Estimated fuel economy: 50 mpg (combined)*

DIMENSIONS (inches)

Overall Length: 175.6

Overall Width: 68.7

Overall Height: 58.7

Wheelbase: 106.3

Ground clearance: 5.5

Coefficient of Drag: 0.25

Wheels: 15-inch alloy wheels

17-inch alloy wheels (optional)

Tire Size: 15-inch: 195/65R15

17-inch: 215/45R17 (optional)

Seating Capacity: 5

EPA class rating: Midsize

* Preliminary figure based on Toyota’s internal testing. Actual mileage will vary.

via Press

Posted in 2010 Vehicles, Alternative Energy, Concept Cars, Enviroment, Industry, Toyota | 0 Comments

Formula AE Car to Run on Solar and Wind Energy

Move over Toyota, there is a new car in the works and it is going to run on Solar and Wind Power. Prior to rumors that Toyota would unveil such a car, it looks like another company has jumped the gun and taken over from Toyota Motors.

RORMaxx Automotive is developing a car that can run on solar and wind power and it has been dubbed as Formula AE.

The Formual AE will be covered with flexible, thin film solar cells which are expected to extend the car’s range by 15-40%. But the most interesting part of the vehicle is its wind power aspect. Energy lost under the friction of air will be recovered through 4 intakes and directed into turbines containing brushless synchronous alternators. The power generated will then be stored in ultra-capacitors

.

By August, RORMaxx may unveil the first prototype of this alternative energy running car. Watch out for it!

(Source) Energy Matters

Posted in Cars, Concept Cars, Enviroment | 0 Comments

Detroit Auto Show: 2010 Toyota Prius to Arrive Tomorrow

The official announcement for the 2010 Toyota Prius should be made sometime tomorrow. However details about the car have already been leaked so why not take a look at them.

– similar to the power of 2.4l engine – 164 hp?
– 1.2 mil Priuses sold so far
– better mpg than before
– solar ventilation for interior, built into the moon roof
– remote air conditioning activation even when car is off (world first)
– by mid may it should be sold everywhere
– 90% all new hybrid system
– highest fuel efficiency of any sedan
– LED headlights
– hybrid info screen at the combination meter
– S-VSC (small modifications of steering wheel angle done by the VSC)
– precrash (and radar distance control?)

I guess we will return with the official version of the 2010 Toyota Prius soon. In the mean time enjoy the pictures!

Posted in 2010 Vehicles, Alternative Energy, Industry, Toyota | 0 Comments

New Tesla Roadster Sport, More Power, More Money

Are you still raising money for your first Tesla? The company has launched a new electric car, the Tesla Roadster Sport. It comes with an extra 15% more peak power and it will get from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds. This Tesla comes with a hand-wound stator and increased winding density which will eventually get you some lower resistance and a higher peak torque. The Roadster Sport will use the Yokohama Ultra High Performance tires and it has a better suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars customizable to your liking.

The Tesla Roadster Sport will be available in June and prices will start at $128,500 in the States and at 112,000 Euro in Europe.

Posted in Concept Cars, Industry, Tesla | 0 Comments

sTrike Concept Vehicle Can Get You Around Town

The vehicle in the picture here will certainly get you around town but it won’t make you look good. sTrike has been designed by Stefano Marchetto and it’s just a more complicated bicycle. That’s right, there’s no engine, no fancy stuff behind it. It has a cocoon shaped cabin which will keep you safe while you pedal your way around town. You can probably park it anywhere too as it’s really small and could be parked virtually anywhere. The sTrike won’t impress the ladies and it’s easy to steal, but it’s an alternative to your regular means of transportation.

via tuvie

Posted in Alternative Energy, Concept Cars, DIY, Enviroment | 0 Comments