Monthly Archives: August 2007

Peugeot 308 Hybrid HDi

Posted on August 30, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Peugeot debuted a hybrid diesel-electric hybrid at the Frankfurt Auto show. The parallel hybrid will send power to the wheels via a 6-speed electronically controlled manual gearbox. Peugeot claims that the 308 Hybrid HDi gets 89-69 MPG (depending on who … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Hybrid | 2 Comments

Ultracapacitors + small batteries for hybrids

Posted on August 28, 2007 by paul kuehnel

A few weeks ago a Toyota Supra HV-R coupe, using an ultracapacitor, became the first hybrid to win the 24-hour endurance car race held at Japan’s Tokachi International Speedway, 19 more laps than the second-place non-hybrid Nissan Fairlady Z. While … Continue reading →

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A greener “normal” car

Posted on August 27, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Axel Friedrich, a top German environmental regulator, got tired of hearing automakers say that stricter emission standards won’t be possible until future technology becomes available. So he hired a bunch of engineers to take a Volkswagen Golf and make it … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Innovation, Oil Machine/politics | 1 Comment

Yellow pine energy storage

Posted on August 26, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Old school pine has the property of “thermal inertia,” a phenomenon where the solid wood stored energy during the day, and released it during the night. Southern Yellow Pine was extensively used for building throughout the United States (Colonies) during … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, History, Home Heat/Efficiency, Innovation | 4 Comments

A sweet battery

Posted on August 25, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Sony has developed a battery prototype that runs on sugars that can generate enough electricity to power a music player and a pair of speakers. The battery works by pouring a sugar solution into the unit, where enzymes break it … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Electric, Innovation | 1 Comment

GM Hybrid arrives soon

Posted on August 24, 2007 by paul kuehnel

General Motors’ first full hybrid reaches showrooms in November as a Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid or a GMC Yukon Hybrid. Micky Bly, GM’s director of hybrid powertrain integration, says the big SUV will get 25 percent better fuel economy overall than … Continue reading →

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Cheaper? hybrids

Posted on August 21, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Toyota announced the price of a Highlander Hybrid will be $190 less for a 4-wheel drive model (2-wheel no longer available). A stripped down version of the 2008 Prius should also be available, however, the cost of one fully loaded … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Hybrid | 1 Comment

Jay Leno’s Green Garage

Posted on August 18, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Energy independence is about innovation and vision rather than technology and confusion. Jay’s garage is going green. Like most of us, Jay Leno has been taking a hard look at his footprint on the planet. So in a long-term project … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Biodiesel, Electric, Innovation | Leave a comment

A Hybrid Camero

Posted on August 16, 2007 by paul kuehnel

I have hope for the future. Do More, Use Less, See how… In 2000, GM’s slogan, as well as most of the automotive industry might have been. Care Little, Take More, See how… Between wars in oil rich nations, the … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Hybrid, Oil Machine/politics | 1 Comment

BAE Systems hybrid war machines

Posted on August 15, 2007 by paul kuehnel

BAE Systems, our hometown defense contractor in West Manchester Township, demonstrated the first hybrid electric drive system today for ground combat vehicles as part of the U.S. Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. The hybrid drive system will be used … Continue reading →

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Congestion Charge Part II

Posted on August 14, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Two months ago, I posted ‘Congestion Charge’ saying that New York City was toying with the idea of charging cars $8 and trucks $21 to enter Manhattan’s business district, other U.S. cities are also interested in the idea. This week, … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Innovation, Public Transportation | Leave a comment

Little Ford Electric Police Car

Posted on August 13, 2007 by paul kuehnel

I was in a small coastal town on Cape Cod, Massachusetts last week, where every other car seems to be a Prius, and spotted this golf cart-plus sized Ford electric police car. Maybe a 15 mpg Crown Victoria is too … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Electric, Innovation | 2 Comments

Kenworth hybrid

Posted on August 6, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Kenworth Truck Co., subsidiary of Bellevue-based Paccar Inc., announced plans to introduce a hybrid truck for the medium-duty market (vehicles typically used for local pick-up and delivery). Kenworth has delivered its first hybrid, and it’s to a Seattle company — … Continue reading →

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Climate and stuctural design II

Posted on August 5, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Investigators look into the role of climate extremes in the failure of the Interstate 35W bridge. Today, Mark V. Rosenker, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at a televised news conference that the investigation so far has … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, History, Oil Machine/politics | Leave a comment

Have more, care less

Posted on August 4, 2007 by paul kuehnel

Like the change of seasons, the price of fuel determines the interest in saving fuel. As gas prices begin to fall, so does consumer interest in fuel-efficient vehicles, according the latest Cars.com Consumer Search Index. Cars.com is reporting a decline … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, History, MPG | 1 Comment

Ten years after Kyoto Protocol

Posted on August 3, 2007 by paul kuehnel

The United States, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is not a party to the Kyoto agreement adopted in 1997, and large developing countries such as China, the second-largest emitter, India and Brazil are exempt. The agreement is set to … Continue reading →

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Climate and structural design

Posted on August 2, 2007 by paul kuehnel

“We have never sensed there were any troubles with this particular bridge,” agreed Rep. Frank Hornstein of Minneapolis. Both are members of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer- Labor Party. Hortman speculated that 90-plus-degree heat Wednesday and the above-normal temperatures of the past … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start | 2 Comments

One fast electric truck

Posted on August 1, 2007 by paul kuehnel

According to Phoenix Motorcars of Ontario, California, this pickup can go 95 mph with a 0-60 time of 10 seconds. It’s on board charger that can bring the charge up to 95% in 10 minutes. The battery, made of 900 … Continue reading →

Posted in All posts from the start, Electric, Innovation | 3 Comments