How do you roll?

Like it or not, most of us really care what other people think of our car. Although it is mainly for transportation, our vehicle can also be representative of our image to the world. Do you agree, or do you think a car should just be to get from point A to point B? And if you don't, what do you drive? Think about it ...

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EV Out of Juice?

One of the biggest issues facing today's current technology plug-in only vehicles is what to do when your charge runs out on the road. This article from Motorcrave.com suggests an interesting option... find an RV park. With nightly rentals running less than a tank of gas or a tow charge, and RV parks much more prevalent than you might expect, it would at least be an option.

It's not a great option because you will be cooling your heels for about four hours, but if you bought the EV car you understand there are going to be inconveniences. Until someone can design a battery with a much greater range, and a very long "limp home" mode, these are going to be issues. That is why I feel the hybrid option that uses gasoline to charge the batteries is a better choice at this time. At least if you "run out" with those vehicles someone can bring you some gas and get you back on the road.

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Russian Yo-Auto wants to Rock the Frankfurt Motor Show

One of the lesser known automakers from Russia, Yo-Auto, will participate at this month’s Frankfurt Motor Show with a new study, the (not so imaginatively named) Yo-Concept.
It is one of three hybrid models the Russian company is developing and has been designed in order to introduce the brand to the public and to preview its future products.
The highlights of the Yo-Concept include the rear-and-upwards sliding doors with minimal glass area and a full-length glass roof that merges with the windshield. The interior can accommodate four adults thanks to the slim front seats that maximize rear space.
The imaginatively-styled concept, which is not intended for production, is powered by a hybrid system that works in a similar fashion to the Volt, in that it pairs a battery pack and an electric motor with a range-extending conventional petrol engine. 

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New Audi A2 Concept

These past few years, Audi and the German premium automakers in general, have set out to fill every possible niche consumers may or may not think they need, from luxurious superminis to wild supercars. And they are far from done.At the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt auto show, Audi will lift the covers off a new pure-electric concept study that revives the name of long gone A2. 
The original model was a small MPV built from 1999 to 2005 that was way ahead of its time in several ways, but what made it truly unique was that it was manufactured entirely out of aluminum.
The new A2 concept is, however, a different car - and a very confused one at that. First of all, it’s a five-door hatchback but it's actually smaller in size than the three-door A1 measuring just 3.80 meters (12.47 ft) long, 1.69 meters (5.54 ft) wide and 1.49 meters (4.89 ft) tall. In comparison, the A2 is 3.95 meters long, 1.74 meters wide and 1.42 meters tall.
At this stage, Audi has not revealed many technical details on the A2 Concept, but it is believed that the car is based on a shortened version of the A1's platform.
The German automaker says that the A2 offers "plenty of room for four people" and that it features flat interior floorboard. There are four individual seats, with the center console attached to the driver’s seat and the rear console extending forward between the two rear seats. The load area has two levels with a frame creating the upper level.
The only piece of information we get about the drivetrain from Audi is that the A2 Concept sports a "powerful electric drive system for agile performance and long range".
And what does the future hold for the A2? Well, at last year's Geneva Salon, Audi execs hinted at the A2 but noted that if the company were to produce such a model, it would be offered with both conventional and electric powertrains.
We'll find out more about the A2 at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt Motor Show.

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One Step Beyond the Flux-Capacitor

This story from Fast Company combined with this markup of a very low friction magnetic bearing from UC Berkely highlight a new technology that may leapfrog the current Lithium Ion batteries currently being used for energy storage in electric and hybrid vehicles.



We will continue to highlight new technologies that may be game changers in the automotive economy. It is an exciting time to watch as each of these new designs vie for positioning in the highly profitable auto industry. Sometimes the ideas may be utilized in another field first, but with all of the new pieces floating around surely someone will be able to combine them in just the right construct to bring economical and green tech to the cars we will be driving around every day. It seems the Jetson's may be closer than we might think.



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