999 mpg
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I picked up a new car a few days ago. http://www.toyota.com/prius-plug-in/[^] A few short trips around town gave me a reported 999 mpg. Without the engine ever starting. Out of EV mode it reports an average of 160 mpg so far. And no it isn't some slow speed snail. EV mode can get to 100kph and I can accelerate from a stop about the same as my Highlander. Of course the engine does kick on if I stump on the accelerator.
Failure is not an option; it's the default selection.
The Prius demonstrates what can easily be done with mass market automotive tech if you try. However, in one respect it's a bit of a throwback - it has two parallel drive trains (mechanical and electric), which significantly increases weight and therefore reduces efficiency. As a result it's also got a lot of unnecessary moving parts (gearbox, propshaft etc.) to maintain. Where hybrids are concerned I can't help thinking the way forward is a series hybrid drive train like that used in the Volt/Ampera - no gearbox, no propshaft - just a generator and traction motors. In traction applications that's been an established pattern since the 1940s, so the technique certainly has pedigree. Battery tech/lifetime/costs are another issue, but at least there's plenty of R&D going on in that area now. We'll see. At the end of the day these are all small but obvious steps towards reducing our dependency on the black stuff.
Anna :rose: Tech Blog | Visual Lint "Why would anyone prefer to wield a weapon that takes both hands at once, when they could use a lighter (and obviously superior) weapon that allows you to wield multiple ones at a time, and thus supports multi-paradigm carnage?"
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Yes, the Model X with the wing doors is certainly intriguing.
Failure is not an option; it's the default selection.
The Zurich showroom is RIGHT across the road from my workplace. http://goo.gl/maps/7K7M[^] At least I don't lack motivating influences. Fast cars and hot girls all over the place. It's a wonder I can concentrate at all in this freakin' town. Particularly in Summer... And to cap it all off, I saw my first Veyron in-the-flesh today as I shuffled moodily out for my lunchtime sambwidge. It is unbelievably pretty. The magazine pictures, even Top Gear does not do it justice. Is there a way to turn off envy/desire? A button somewhere I can press? I need one... I really would have a Tesla though, for the cleverness as much as the speed and looks. But it was a bit of a shock to see a Veyron bearing down on me....
I too dabbled in pacifism once.
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I picked up a new car a few days ago. http://www.toyota.com/prius-plug-in/[^] A few short trips around town gave me a reported 999 mpg. Without the engine ever starting. Out of EV mode it reports an average of 160 mpg so far. And no it isn't some slow speed snail. EV mode can get to 100kph and I can accelerate from a stop about the same as my Highlander. Of course the engine does kick on if I stump on the accelerator.
Failure is not an option; it's the default selection.