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It's no secret that a car with slick coefficient of friction will be better on gas. So Volvo decided to build a top-notch wind tunnel in Sweden that they claim is an improvement on traditional test facilities. Volvo's wind tunnel allows a simulated road under the car at-speed, while most tunnels just leave the wheels stationary. The whole thing is also climate-controlled, from 68 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing Volvo to test for temperature-induced changes in drag. Impressive, but we still miss the days when Volvos were shaped using nothing but straight lines and 90-degree angles. More »
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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. More »
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The nanny state has added one more criteria to their driver licensing tests: Eco-friendly driving skills. The Telegraph reports that the new testing is being implemented to comply with EU regulations, with government officials stating that motorists practicing the eco-friendly driving techniques could see savings of up to a month's worth of fuel over the course of a year. Basically, it's the same thing our automakers are promoting with the help of Ah-nold, except ours isn't mandated or federally funded. Heck, we don't even have driver's ed! While motorists won't fail the test due to poor environmental scores, we figure it's only a matter of time before remote CO2 monitoring stations are around every bend, checking pollution output and photographing the plates of any gross offenders. You've been warned. [Telegraph.co.uk, Image: Getty Images] More »
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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. More »
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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. More »
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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. More »
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Bloomberg today reports that GM product czar Bob Lutz, referencing a handful of GM dealerships, is saying that the decline in pickup sales may be "bottoming out." Lutz apparently commented that dealers are seeing "some resurgence in demand for full-size SUVs and pickups," though he declined to mention specific figures — or the specific dealers reporting the demand. So, what's behind the new SUV boomlet? More »
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We looked at ten different ways to boost your mileage — and how they interfere with the "American way of life" — earlier. As proof that these techniques can make a difference, Ford claims internal tests show that practicing eco-driving improves mileage by an average of 24%. Ford and Pro Formance professionals coached 48 Phoenix-area residents for four days, recording mileage improvements between 6% and 50%, depending upon what type of driver the subject originally was and how adept they were at learning the new driving behaviors. More »
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Acknowledging that gas is more expensive than it used to be, and that some people are kinda freaked out by it, these 10 simple gas-saving tips have been shared by the folks at Ford as part of their push for "eco-driving." But while the tips are easy-to-follow for most people in everyday driving situations, some of us need to make exceptions. We've amended each of Ford's tips with some damn good reasons why you should ignore them. Hit the jump for more. More »
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Today we made our way over to Ford's Beech Daly Technical Center, a nondescript building along the Dearborn side roads which houses what is, for lack of a better term, Ford's engine skunk works. Capable of doing everything from rapid-prototyped vinyl intakes to turning out fully functioning engines, the tech center is where all Ford's engines go to get the bugs worked out. Our mission was to get to know the 3.5-liter Ford EcoBoost on a nuts-and-bolts level by putting one together ourselves. More »
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Filling a need we didn't know we had until just now, a pair of developers have created a website that tracks your fill-ups in a community setting. Dubbed "Fuelly," because every web 2.0 application needs an adorably misspelled name, the site is actually quite fun and full-featured. Just add your car to the system and start tracking your mileage, how much you spend on gas, how you stack up to EPA estimates and how much you'd save by improving your mileage. Join now before weirdo dragons looking for 13-year-old cars take over the site. More »
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The Detroit News has put together a rundown of all the little tweaks automakers are applying, as quickly as possible, to help current models achieve better fuel economy. Since a wholesale re-engineering of every vehicle is impossible, manufacturers are switching to low-rolling-resistance tires, re-gearing transmissions, moving from belt-driven accessories to electric, and so on. Each change accounts for only a tiny improvement on its own, but added up, the results can make a big difference. More »
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In a stringer piece for the Detroit News, Rex Roy makes the observation that automatic transmissions are finally beginning to catch up to stick shifts in fuel economy. While we say "it's about damn time," considering automatics make up more than 90% of the US new vehicle market, we simultaneously lament that same fact. Also, we think photog-cum-journo Roy misses out on an important component of the improvement: The interface between engine and transmission and the technologies that make the entire powertrain system more efficient. Join us after the jump for a look at why it's not just the two extra gears in your slushbox doing all the work. More »
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Lotus Engineering, in collaboration with Jaguar, is starting up a project they're calling "Omnivore," a task which, if successful, could see traditional internal combustion engines go the way of the dodo. Lotus is planning to meld the two-cycle engine with new technologies — direct injection and a variable compression ratio — to create an engine able to run on almost any fuel. If you've ever wondered what the future of the internal combustion looked like, you're getting a peek now. Put your propeller cap on and join us for a pocket protector talk after the jump. More »
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We've all known for a long time that EPA fuel economy estimates should be taken with a grain of salt. Well, actually, with a bucket of salt, as the testing was done to simulate a very patient 85-year-old behind the wheel, on a road lined with by-the-book traffic cops (for example, the hardest acceleration used was the equivalent of zero to 60 in 18 seconds). Now the EPA says they'll be revising their tests (which had remained unchanged since 1984) using higher speeds, air conditioning, and colder outside temperatures. Hybrid vehicles will take the biggest estimated-mileage hit, no doubt diluting the sense of smug superiority held by their owners. [New York Times] More »
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Looks like the US Senate did last night what many all automakers feared they'd do — lump cars, trucks and SUV's together and force all to abide by the same standard for Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) numbers. The new standard, if approved by the US House — a feat we're hearing is not fait accompli, would require US automakers to hit 35 MPG for cars, SUV's and light trucks by 2025. That's a significant bump up from the current standard which mandates an average for cars of more than 27.5 MPG and light trucks more than 20.7 mpg (trucks under 8500 lb must average 22.5 mpg in 2008, 23.1 mpg in 2009, and 23.5 mpg in 2010). More importantly it puts the most onerous changes on the automakers with the heaviest portfolio of light haulers of heavy things. It would seem to us it's not the most onerous task on earth to get fuel economy numbers up to these levels — as long as they're allowed to count all vehicles they produce regardless of where they're producing them. That'll require a fight with the UAW over "domestic" and "foreign" fleets but it seems to us for fairness, they'll need to have that fight. But we're not holding our breath on anything until we see what transpires in the House — whenever that ends up happening. – Ray Wert More »
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