Greenskid » new concept

The Lincoln C Concept: The Green Car with the Luxury Feel

Greenskid — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:48:31 +0000

The Lincoln "C" Concept

It must have been quite the surprise to auto enthusiasts when Lincoln presented the Lincoln C Concept car. While most people are hesitant to make the shift from their gas-guzzling rides to the smaller and greener vehicles on the market, it should come as a comfort to luxury-loving folks that they won’t have to give up the comfort provided by their luxury rides–not once the Lincoln “C” Concept hits the market.

What’s so lovable about the concept car called the “C” Concept is that it helps make green cars look cooler. Sure, for green car lovers like us (hopefully you included), green cars are the cat’s pajamas, but some people tend to see green cars as slower and less-powerful (and by default, less cool) cars compared to large vehicles that guzzle down gas like there’s no tomorrow.

But then, here comes the “C” Concept to shatter these types of pre-conceived notions. What’s so surprising about the unveiling of the “C” Concept is how the automaker Lincoln has always been associated with creating large and bulky vehicles that look and feel nothing like what people expect a green car to. Sure, Lincoln had to make their concept green car more compact, but the car looks amazing! Kinda like what you would expect a high-performance and powerful sedan would look like.

"C" Savvy Interior

Of course, Lincoln seemed to have gotten its inspiration from the typical box car design, but the brand has noticeably made the car curvier. Smoother. Sleeker. In an article from Ezinearticles.com written by Matthew B. Bailey, the writer describes the Lincoln concept to look like a cross between a Lincoln Navigator, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, and a VW New Beetle. And based solely on the looks of the car, I think I’d have to agree with Mr. Bailey on that one.

As for the interior, well, let’s just say the seats are so comfortable, it makes you want to just lie back and have a few minutes of snooze time. But what really gets me going is the car’s instrument panel, that’s panoramic, mind you. It’s so futuristic, it even has an avatar (customizable, of course) that welcomes you back and tells you if you’ve got new text messages or emails.

Also, according to “The Green Luxury Car - The Lincoln C Concept” by Mr. Bailey, the car also has fingertip controls that allow you to operate GPS Navigation, MP3 Players, and a Satellite Radio. It’s every environment-friendly technophile’s dream car.

But the best part about this concept is not its good looks or technophile-friendly accessories, it’s what drives the car that makes it so irresistible.

The Lincoln "C" Concept's Futuristic Look

AutomobileMag.com included the Lincoln C Concept Car in their Detroit 2009: Five Most Significant Green Cars due to the concept’s incredible, direct-injection, EcoBoost engine. This type of engine comes with a dual-clutch transmission, stop/start technology, and a “focus on weight-savings.”

Created based on the same ideas used on the European Focus, the pint-size “C” is a truly awesome ride that retains the typical Lincoln style we see from the brand’s luxury line.

If there’s one green car that could appeal to the cool kids (regardless of age), this one has got to be it. Here’s to hoping we’ll be seeing more of the “C” sometime soon.

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Do You Want a 15,000 Dollar Car?

Greenskid — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:17:26 +0000

The title does not seem believable at first, especially if you’re talking about a brand-new car. However, the Revolution electric car is really only 15,000 dollars each and on top of that, it uses electric power instead of gasoline. Unlike other EVs, the Revolution definitely attracts a lot of attention these days with its sleek design and powerful colors.

Basically, the Revolution comes from California and it is designed for those who are into low cost and low speed NEVs or Neighborhood Electric Vehicles. When it comes to speed, the Revolution can go as fast as 35 mph. That’s not necessarily impressive, but electric cars like the Revolution are prohibited from going faster that that, so there’s really not much that you can do about it. Despite of its low speed, the Revolution is excellent for daily commutes and city errands for short distances.

So how well would the Revolution perform on the road? This car is a perfect fit for your daily driving needs because it cuts down emissions, saves you money, and makes your driving more efficient. When it comes to performance, the Revolution has a five-speed manual transmission and clutch. The manual transmission provides you with more freedom when you’re driving in bumpy roads, while carrying additional load as well.

The design of the Revolution also makes it a very attractive option for prospective NEV buyers. Basically, this car has a two-door design that provides enough protection against road debris and changing weather. Even at a very low price of 15,000 USD, it still comes with power windows, door locks, power side mirrors, well-designed bucket seats, an adjustable driver seat, and one full-size spare tire. If you want more than just that, you can avail of an air conditioner, sunroof, stereo, and DVD player at an additional price. Overall, the Revolution comes in a great package and the great thing is that you don’t even have to dig deep into your pockets to get it.

Meanwhile, the Revolution may appear like a blown-up toy, but in reality, it performs like a real car that is designed to take a beating. That’s because it boasts of an independent MacPherson strut suspension and LSEV legal lighting. That’s not all because it has a hydraulic front disc that would let you to stop without any problems. Despite of the car’s diminutive size, the car is very easy drive because of its electric-assisted power steering. Because of this, getting out of tight situations is effortless. In addition to that, the Revolution’s acceleration is good enough to keep it in step even in heavy traffic.

Just like all NEVs, the Revolution is all about the battery that propels it forward. The car uses a 6 KW brushless AC induction motor that is powered by 12-volt Hoppecke batteries, which can go as far as 60 miles. The great thing about the Revolution is that you can recharge it from 3-6 hours using any 110-volt electric outlet. The manufacturers of this car claim that each battery lasts for more or less 40,000 miles before being replaced. Unlike other batteries, the Revolution’s lead acid batteries are cheaper and easier to replace unlike the lithium-ion battery packs that other NEVs have. However, if you’re not content with its current batteries, you can upgrade to a lithium-ion version by coughing around 3900 USD.

Unlike most NEVs, the Revolution has enough space for some cargo and that means you can use it when you’re buying grocery supplies. You can put your cargo in the rear compartment that you can access through a two-piece tailgate arrangement. For sure, the Revolution is a good alternative if you’re sick and tired of spending so much money for your gas bills. At 15,000 USD, this car is a steal.

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Five Things That You Should Know About Hydrogen Cars

Greenskid — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:11:46 +0000

We all heard about electric cars and hybrid cars and without a doubt, they have become the most viable alternatives so far. However, going under the radar are the hydrogen cars, which have the potential to become the next best thing after gasoline. Hydrogen-powered cars provide people with almost zero emission and unlike electric cars, they are not limited by the size of the batteries. Then again, as an up and coming alternative choice, it also has several issues that need to be addressed before it becomes a major player in the automotive industry. Here are some things that you need to learn about hydrogen as a fuel source.

1.There are two kinds of Hydrogen Vehicles

These days, the easiest way of harnessing the amazing powers of hydrogen is by making it react in the fuel cell. Once that happens, the reaction produces water, heat, and electricity. The electricity from that reaction will now be used to supply the electric motor/s that will drive the vehicle. Another way of doing this is by using a specially-designed hydrogen engine that combusts the hydrogen to create energy. Unfortunately, using the latter is a lot more expensive and is more difficult to manufacture.

2.Hydrogen is not equal to fuel

That may be surprising, but yes it’s true. Hydrogen is technically speaking, not another type of fuel, but an energy carrier. That means, you need to use a little bit of energy to extract hydrogen out of something. These days, you can create hydrogen by using natural gas or turning coal into gas. Another popular way of getting your hands to hydrogen is by separating it from oxygen in water through a process called electrolysis. The best part about hydrogen is that it will never harm the environment. You don’t have to deal with thick smoke from your tail pipe, because it’s perfectly clean.

3. Putting Hydrogen inside a Tank

So if hydrogen is so effective, why are people still stuck with gasoline-powered vehicles? Well, the thing with hydrogen is that it has very low density. That means you have to store it at very low temperatures, so you can compress it as a gas or liquid. The catch is, it’s not easy to do and it’s very expensive. Aside from that, you need to have a lot of space to store it inside a tank. That simply isn’t practical if you’re driving on the road, because you need loads of energy just to compress hydrogen. However, the emergence of fuel cells have paved the way for harnessing the hydrogen’s energy.

4.So What Else?

Despite of these limitations, hydrogen-fueled vehicles have a surge in recent years especially with the invention of hydrogen fuel cells. However, the greatest hurdle for the development of hydrogen-powered cars would be well-established refueling stations. Before people start embracing hydrogen as an alternative way of getting their cars moving, it should be as available as gasoline. Realistically speaking, it will take a lot of time to develop and for sure, it will never happen overnight. Aside from that, hydrogen fuel cells need to be more affordable to encourage people to use them. Right now, hydrogen fuel cells have to use platinum, which does not come cheap at all.

5. Looking at the Future

The truth is, the use of hydrogen hasn’t look this great in decades. It has already attracted several big automakers such as General Motors, Honda, and even BMW. With that being said, the development of hydrogen as a solid source of energy will continue for years.

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A Car and a Motorcycle Rolled Into One

Greenskid — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:01:36 +0000

I’ve always wanted to have a motorcycle that provides the protection and stability of a car. The Piaggion MP3 for instance does have three wheels, but it does not have the “caged” sensation that you have when you’re already in it. However, the Peraves Mono Tracer seems to have what I have been looking for. That’s because it has clearly paved the way for a bike that gives you that ultimate car/bike sensation.

The Mono Tracer seems to jump straight out of a Japanese tokusatsu, but the thing is, it’s even better. That’s because it allows two people inside, while giving you a scooter-like fuel economy at the same time. It simply blurs the line between a car and a bike and this might just be the perfect ride to get you off heavy traffic and rising gas prices.

Performance wise, the Mono Tracer can accelerate from 0-60 mph in only 4.8 seconds. Also, it has an MPG rating pegged at 65, which is enough to get you around the city the whole day without even refueling. Because of its revolutionary approach, the Mono Tracer was named as one of the best inventions of the year by Time Magazine.

On the other hand, the precursor to the Mono Tracer, the Ecomobile was built way back in 1982; by a former Swiss Air Pilot named Alfred Wagner. Intrigued by combining traits of a car and a bike, he tinkered with the idea for several years before releasing several prototypes later on. The Ecomobile was sold in Europe and Japan, before a fire put the whole production on hold.

Today, Wagner and his sons are definitely on vengeance mode with the Mono Tracer. Basically, this eccentric-looking hybrid uses carbon fiber that is made even tougher with aluminum. Unlike typical motorcycles, it has two outriggers at the left and right sides, which prevent the vehicle from losing its balance. When it comes to power, it gets its boost from its 1200-cc BMW engine, which is enough to generate at least 113-horsewpower. That seems quite small, but you have to remember that this car/bike is only about 1000 lbs. Also, you’ll also be getting air conditioning and stereo for the standard package.

Unfortunately, the Mono Tracer isn’t ready to go big time just yet, because Wagner and company can only manage producing 100 of this car/bikes. So how do you drive it? Basically it’s a lot like a motorcycle, although instead of levers, you use pedals for braking. Moreover, it can corner at angle of 52 degrees, while having enough traction to keep your equilibrium in check. However, the Mono Tracer seems a little bit too pricey at 70,000 USD. However, in terms of performance and looks, this one beats everything there is.

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