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To raise awareness of the high mileage it’s possible to achieve by driving sensibly in a sensible vehicle, John and Helen Taylor traversed the lower 48 states in a stock 2009 VW Jetta TDI . Staying within 5 MPH of the posted speed limit, the couple used just 11 tanks of fuel on the trip resulting in an overall fuel economy of 58.82 MPG. Yes, you too can get nearly 60 MPG while driving a nice, normal car. The couple is now holder of the new Guinness World Record for least amount of fuel used while visiting all 48 contiguous states. The numbers break down as: 3.99L/100KM, 11.04 tanks of diesel costing a total of $653.06, 853 miles per average tank, 6.9 cents per mile, 9,419 miles driven. That’s damn impressive especially since there’s not a hybrid badge in sight. [ Fuel Academy via Autoblog ]
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When Chrysler dropped its bevy of extended-range electric vehicles in our laps today as part of the company's new ENVI program, we wondered how coincidental it was that Chrysler was claiming the same all-electric range as the much ballyhooed Chevy Volt . The Volt makes concessions to seating and obsessively maximizes aerodynamics to get its 40 mile range, but the Chrysler EV and the Jeep EV both claim 40 miles as well. No funny-shaped center consoles, no wacky aero-trickery, just batteries and electric motors. So what's the deal? Not surprisingly, it's mainly the batteries that make the difference here. Battery storage capacity is measured in watt-hours, more or less the total amount of energy used over time. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is simply a thousand watt-hours and this is what's used to measure big batteries, the kind used in modern hybrids.The Chevy Volt uses a 16 kWh battery and only really functions within a range of 50-80% charge in order to extend battery life. In...
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Not content to let the Dodge EV and Chrysler EV hog the electrified-concept spotlight, the Jeep EV makes its debut as well, complete with range-extended electric status and the possibility of monster rock-crawling capabilities. This Jeep Wrangler Unlimited gets a battery pack, an electronics controller, and a 268 HP electric motor with 295 lb-ft of torque, while the big gas engine is subtracted in favor of a fuel-sipping generator. The knee-jerk reaction to an electrically motivated Jeep might be to recoil in horror at the thought, but think about it for a second — maximum torque at zero RPM, a power source unaffected by orientation, and no engine noise to get in the way of your spotter's directions. Okay, the likelihood of hitting the Rubicon Trail with this baby is small, but the idea isn't that far out. Details in the press release below. galleryPost('jeepev', 6, 'The Jeep EV Extended Range Electric'); Auburn Hills, Mich., Sep 23, 2008 - Actions speak louder...
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Apparently, even in light of Chrysler's announcement this morning , Honda thinks all this plug-in hybrid stuff is nonsense...at least until battery technology is up to the task, reports Bloomberg News . Masaaki Kato, head of Honda's research unit, said "For battery-powered vehicles to become more widespread, more popular in the market, we feel battery technology needs to advance further." Kato considers the rapid release of a plug-in hybrid when technology isn't quite up to the task could be a PR disaster, and he hints at such, remarking that the expectations for plug-ins are big and "we don't know that that could be sustained right now." Instead, Honda will continue work on its hydrogen fuel-cell FCX Clarity , which the company considers less technologically challenging than developing advanced batteries. Kato explains the problem with battery-powered vehicles as a simple problem of weight versus energy content: lithium-ion batteries hold less than half...
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The thorn in Tesla's side, the troubled single-speed transmission for its all-electric Tesla Roadster , has finally been approved for production, and with it comes an announcement of more power and better range. After durability problems with the original single-speed transmission, Telsa was forced to used a two-speed cog swapper for production. But now, after re-sourcing the business to transmission mega-star Borg Warner, the redesigned single-speed is ready to go and offers big benefits. Because of the additional capability in the transmission, the peak torque has been raised from 211 lb-ft to 280 lb-ft; a heady number considering peak torque arrives at zero rpm with an electric motor. Despite the higher output, the EPA estimates show a 10% increase in range. That's a pretty neat trick. Complete details below. Tesla Motors Selects BorgWarner for Production of New Gearbox for Tesla Roadster Deliveries of 27 Roadsters Completed to Date, Production and Delivery of Roadsters To Accelerate...
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Mercedes has announced a new C-Class car with its next-generation four-cylinder diesel mill, uniquely titled "BlueEFFICIENCY." While we're not sure about the name, the specs are certainly impressive: Mercedes claims 204 HP and 369 lb-ft of torque from the 2.2-liter four, while returning a combined 45 MPG and meeting EU5 emissions standards in C-Class Prime form. Mercedes claims the BlueEFFICIENCY engine will replace four separate diesels at the company, and be offered in the E-Class , the new GLK-Class and in a future E‑Class Coupe in addition to the C-Class. More info and full release after the jump. galleryPost('c250blueefficiency', 6, 'We Thought Green Stood For Efficiency'); So what does the C250 Prime Edition get you? In addition to the fancy oilburner, the Prime also has low rolling-resistance tires, some aero tweaks to the exterior, a 6-speed manual gearbox, special power steering that saps less energy and an efficiency monitor that provides feedback...
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Toyota , teaming up with EDF Energy, begins road trials today of the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the UK. The trials will give Toyota real-world driving test data on its PHEV, while EDF will get to test its public charging stations, 40 of which have already been installed throughout the country — as well as provide yet another marketing win for the automaker by making them the first major manufacturer to test plug-ins in the UK. Plug-in test cars will be given to EDF employees to drive in the company fleet, ensuring the vehicles will get the crap beaten out of them and that any major problems can be discreetly rectified by the partner organizations. Full release after the jump. EDF Energy and Toyota launch UK trials of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle EDF Energy and Toyota have teamed up to road trial the first Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) introduced by a car manufacturer to the UK (1). Trials start today and will continue for more than one year. Toyota’s right-hand drive PHV will make its...
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Mazda has developed its own start-stop system capable of turning its cars’ engines off while they’re stationary, then quickly restarting them when it’s time to pull away. The Mazda system differs from that of rivals in that it leaves the pistons in a pre-combustion position, injecting fuel and igniting it to restart the engine rather than using the electric starter motor. This makes it both faster (.35 seconds to start) and smoother. Mazda claims that, in urban areas where frequent stops are made in traffic — such as at stoplights — the system returns a 10% increase in fuel economy. But there’s a catch. The Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) only works with automatic transmission-equipped vehicles. This means that you’ll likely still be able to achieve overall better economy away from the city in an equivalent manual transmission vehicle. Nor is Mazda clear about when we’ll get SISSified vehicles, assuming they're coming to the US at all, or about which models will be so-equipped...
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The Detroit News reports on a truce between the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an automaker trade group, and two advocates of more-stringent vehicle emissions regulations, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter. After a series of public battles over stiffening regulations, including a May meeting where Schwarzenegger told auto executives to "stop whining" and meet new standards that should have gone into effect in 2002, the parties have all decided that a consumer-education Web site is the best way to curb fuel usage. Ah-nold's step-by-step instructions for saving the planet, after the jump. The new collaborative Web site, ecodrivingusa.com, urges consumers to slow down, ensure that tires are filled properly, avoid tailgating, remove excess weight from vehicles, replace air filters, and get tune-ups. Sound familiar? Yeah, it's all pretty much the same stuff that's been recommended — and largely ignored — for about 30...
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Remember when we drove a European-spec Honda Civic 2.2 i-CTDi on a 100-mile road trip? We did pretty well, averaging 72 MPG . While we were throughly impressed, it was nothing compared to earning two spots in the Guinness Book Of World Records. Helen and John Taylor, a British couple, earned their two spots of fame in the record book of record books while Down Under in their little Peugeot 308 HDi. The first record was for "longest distance on a single tank," set by traveling 1192 miles on just 60 liters of diesel fuel — just 15.8 gallons. The other record, "highest mileage for a journey," was set by completing 9,062 miles at an average of 90.75 MPG. So how did they do it? What magical modifications were made? Actually, the car was stock. Stock as in standard, from the factory, without any modifications besides the sponsors' stickers. That is, unless you count the extra weight of the couple's luggage as a modification. It's figures like this that make...
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We first met Metrompg when we did a story on Mr. Harry Stevinson way back in 2006. Since then we've been occasionally plucking bits and pieces of interesting fodder from them and their all grown up version Ecomodder . The incredible 73 miles per gallon we got out of the 2007 Honda Civic i-CTDi is almost an entry point for these guys. If you want to know how to mod your jalopy for ludicrous mileage, these are the places to go.
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While we are reporting daily on alternative energy and fuel-economy , it seems we should really be writing about cup holders, because that is what you, the public, truly care about in a vehicle. Sure, fuel economy has risen exponentially from four years ago, but CNW Marketing Research says that concern about gas consumption doesn't even stand a chance against "interior conveniences," which include heated seats and yes, cup holders. In a recent study, CNW found that the interior conveniences held a higher priority, at 73 percent importance, than fuel efficiency, which came in at 67 percent. See? This is what Al Gore was talking about! [ Forbes ]
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