VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle?
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , On Two Wheels , USA Click above for high-res image gallery of the electric Mission One sport bike If you’re like some of us here at AutoblogGreen, a few minutes after reading all about the new Mission One , the world’s fastest production electric motorcycle , you were daydreaming about sitting in its saddle waiting for the light to change from red. In the next lane, some guy on a Suzuki Hayabusa was revving his engine like crazy, preparing to let out his clutch. Perhaps you imagined giving the guy a nod of the helmet and an easy smile knowing the silence of your steed and your relaxed attitude was intimidating in its own way. What might really happen when the light turns green? The Hayabusa is famously fast and can produce around the same amount of torque as the electric newcomer. However, as Mission Motors CEO, Forrest Deuth, reminded us when we spoke the other day, the gas-powered bike produces its torque at thousands of RPMs, while the Mission One has it waiting for you from the get go. The result, we’re told, is a very controllable launch, followed by extremely quick acceleration, undisturbed by the shifting of gears. Compare that to the uncertainty of dropping a clutch on a screaming traditional sport bike. Of course, no one has yet ridden the bike that was unveiled yesterday, so can this reverie be believed? Hit the jump for our answer and video testimonials. Gallery: Mission One EV sport bike [Source: Mission Motors ] Continue reading VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle? VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle?
VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle?
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , On Two Wheels , USA Click above for high-res image gallery of the electric Mission One sport bike If you’re like some of us here at AutoblogGreen, a few minutes after reading all about the new Mission One , the world’s fastest production electric motorcycle , you were daydreaming about sitting in its saddle waiting for the light to change from red. In the next lane, some guy on a Suzuki Hayabusa was revving his engine like crazy, preparing to let out his clutch. Perhaps you imagined giving the guy a nod of the helmet and an easy smile knowing the silence of your steed and your relaxed attitude was intimidating in its own way. What might really happen when the light turns green? The Hayabusa is famously fast and can produce around the same amount of torque as the electric newcomer. However, as Mission Motors CEO, Forrest Deuth, reminded us when we spoke the other day, the gas-powered bike produces its torque at thousands of RPMs, while the Mission One has it waiting for you from the get go. The result, we’re told, is a very controllable launch, followed by extremely quick acceleration, undisturbed by the shifting of gears. Compare that to the uncertainty of dropping a clutch on a screaming traditional sport bike. Of course, no one has yet ridden the bike that was unveiled yesterday, so can this reverie be believed? Hit the jump for our answer and video testimonials. Gallery: Mission One EV sport bike [Source: Mission Motors ] Continue reading VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle? VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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VIDEO: What’s it like to drive the prototype of the world’s fastest production motorcycle?
Bolivia may hold the keys to lithium battery cars
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid Martin Alipaz / epa / Corbis – TIME For several years now, electric vehicle advocates have been pushing lithium ion batteries as the solution to the issues of global warming and fossil fuel use. Unfortunately, just as petroleum is a finite resource with the most abundant supplies being restricted to certain geographic areas, the same is true of lithium. A substantial proportion of the world’s known supplies of lithium carbonate are located in the central Andean region of South America, with the largest deposits in Bolivia and, to a lesser degree, Chile. For an impoverished country like Bolivia, this has the potential to bring the same kind of bounty that Saudi Arabia got in the second half of the last century. Unfortunately, for the rest of the world that’s hoping to use all that lithium, having a dominant player means that the cost of lithium batteries is unlikely to drop significantly any time soon even if production is ramped up. Bolivia’s leftist president Evo Morales wants a state-dominated lithium industry in order to ensure that the profits benefit the people of his country. As a result, some automakers are attempting to go directly to the Bolivian government to ensure adequate supplies. That would explain why most of the major automakers are tying up with battery makers in order to keep the technology in house rather than rely on suppliers. Regardless of who controls the supply of lithium, there remain concerns that demand could outstrip supply within a decade. if that happens, we’ll have to continue the search for other alternatives anyway. [Source: TIME ] Bolivia may hold the keys to lithium battery cars originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Bolivia may hold the keys to lithium battery cars
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Leave a commentGerman CNG fan tours 800 filling stations
Auto Blog: Volkswagen , Natural Gas , Germany Despite some recent problems with the natural gas supply from Russia , Germans have an ever-increasing number of CNG options. Rainer Zietlow, a German citizen who just might be the world’s biggest CNG fan, started a nationwide tour of Germany’s 800 compressed natural gas (CNG) service stations on the 7th of January. He’ll be at the wheel of a VW Passat TSI EcoFuel with a direct injection bi-fuel turbo engine and expects to complete the tour in 80 days, just before the AMI 2009 (Auto Mobile International) show in Leipzig on March 28. Zietlow is already a CNG expert, having completed two CNG rallies, one from Germany to Bangkok, Thailand and a tour around the world on a VW Caddy . [Source: NGV] German CNG fan tours 800 filling stations originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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German CNG fan tours 800 filling stations
Posted in Auto Green | bangkok, before-the-ami, caddy, countries, entry, natural-gas, plug in hybrids, PSA, spain, stations-on-the, tour, vigo, world | Leave a commentRendered speculation: SEAT may get its own variant of BlueSport roadster
Auto Blog: Diesel , Volkswagen , SEAT It looks like there may be at least three different variations of the mid-engine roadster that Volkswagen introduced at the Detroit Auto Show last week. The concept BlueSport is based on a new modular architecture Volkswagen is developing that will allow for multiple configurations. If the car is approved for production, an Audi-badged R4 variant will definitely be part of the program. Rounding things out may be a SEAT-branded model. The group’s Spanish division would likely use the same 180 hp 2.0L diesel as the VW concept. Seat has been competing in the World Touring Car Championship with TDI-powered Leon hatchbacks; a diesel roadster would be a good way to capitalize on that. A Porsche-branded version is unlikely however. The new corporate overlords at VW prefer people to buy a used Porsche as an entry level model rather than offering a less expensive new model. Thanks to Paul for the tip! [Source: PaulTan .org] Rendered speculation: SEAT may get its own variant of BlueSport roadster originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Rendered speculation: SEAT may get its own variant of BlueSport roadster
Posted in Auto Green | a-range-over, a-roll-hoop-, diesel-as-the, entry, seat, seat bluesport, volkswagen, world, world-touring, zapalias | Leave a commentElectric Vespa conversion from Soundspeed Scooters
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , On Two Wheels Click above and scroll down to watch the video As much as we love vintage Vespa scooters , the buzzy 2-stroke powerplants that reside under the right-side cowls of the old Italian wasps are anything but environmentally friendly. On the other hand, we hate to see perfectly good vehicles that could otherwise offer reasonable transportation solutions scrapped if they are salvageable. What to do? How about converting the old Vespa and Lambretta scooters to electric? We like the sound of that, and it turns out that there’s already at least one company that’s doing just that with a conversion kit. Included in the parts bin are a new swingarm, electric hub-motor, 300 Amp Alltrax controller kit and a new rear brake cylinder. The motor provides 3000 watts of power on 60 volts, allowing for speeds of over 35 miles per hour. The only bit that isn’t listed on the ordering page is the battery pack, though there are certainly numerous options as far as that’s concerned. Check out a video of an electric Vespa after the break. [Source: Soundspeed Scooters via 2StrokeBuzz ] Continue reading Electric Vespa conversion from Soundspeed Scooters Electric Vespa conversion from Soundspeed Scooters originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Electric Vespa conversion from Soundspeed Scooters
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