Hasta La Gadget!

So, are you confused about the presence of two MPG numbers on your newly delivered Volt? Fear not, the folks at GM are doing their best to educate the huddled masses about the Volt’s industry-leading fuel economy, and just how the EPA arrived at the car’s previously released 93MPG (electric equivalent) and 37MPG (straight gas, homey) ratings. No word on plans for a film explaining where the missing 137MPG went. Check the video after the break.

Continue reading Chevy explains why two MPG numbers are better than one

Chevy explains why two MPG numbers are better than one originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Headed to Pawnee, Indiana anytime soon? Don’t lie, it’s a place that survives in only two places: your mind, and NBC’s studios. The only “Pawnee” in proximity of the Hoosier State lies in Illinois, but it’s cool, we can still pretend. After hearing that Think was planning to hawk its City electric vehicle in the Big Apple this year, it looks as if Indiana’s government will actually be first to acquire it. Fitting, though, given how Think’s primarily manufacturing facility is parked in Elkhart, IN. The first 15 City EVs — described by the company as “all-electric, zero-emission cars designed in Scandinavia for fleet applications and urban commuters” — have hit the ground running, delivered to the Department of Administration to be used principally by the Department of Natural Resources in the state’s park system. Naturally, Ron Swanson was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a mind to swipe one for his own personal use, but once he learned of Think’s plans to finally roll out retail distribution in select US cities in the second half of 2011, his conscience got the better of him. Phew.

Continue reading First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ’em

First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of ’em originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plan on visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island via ferry next year? If so, pay close attention to the vessel you board, as it just might be the world’s first to rely on hydrogen, solar and wind power for motorization. Currently, the New York Hornblower Hybrid (not to be confused with the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid) is under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and if all goes well, it’ll reach completion in April. The 600-passenger boat be equipped with Tier 2 diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines, with power coming from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity. We’re told that the diesel rigs will only kick in to cover “additional energy needs,” but it’s hard to say how often they’ll actually be used. The eventual goal, however, is to do away with emissions altogether in the ferry process, and it seems that the technology is already capable of being scaled for use in other hybrid ferries, hybrid yachts and even hybrid tugs.

Continue reading Hornblower Hybrid ferry relies on eco-friendly trifecta: hydrogen, solar and wind power

Hornblower Hybrid ferry relies on eco-friendly trifecta: hydrogen, solar and wind power originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The poster child for the electric car has just received its official EPA sticker, merely days after Nissan’s Leaf received its own. The Volt has been found to have a 93MPG equivalent when running purely on batteries, while one could expect an average of 37MPG when using petrol alone. According to the EPA, the Volt will only be capable of cruising 35 miles on a full charge (here’s hoping you’ve got a socket at your workplace, right?), but the overall range of 379 miles ain’t too shabby for a car of this size. The good news here is that this sticker will enable General Motors to finally get these automobiles onto showroom floors, but the bad news is pretty obvious: 93 definitely isn’t 230.

Continue reading 2011 Chevy Volt gets stickered: 93MPG on battery, 37MPG on gasoline

2011 Chevy Volt gets stickered: 93MPG on battery, 37MPG on gasoline originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 02:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No one’s going to be calling Nokero out for falling behind. Just a few short months after revealing its first commercial light bulb for developing nations, the outfit has now rolled out a second version, the predictably titled N200. This guy strikes a vastly different pose compared to the original, with the LED enclosure hanging on a swivel that enables it to be positioned in a way that would optimally catch light. When night falls, users can flip the light north to create a lantern. Nokero claims that this edition is just as rugged and rainproof as the original, but it’s 60 percent brighter and lasts three times as long. A single NiMH battery is included, and that’s what is rejuvenated by the sun — once charged, it’ll provide between 2.5 and 6 hours of light, depending on the mode. It’s on sale now for $20 apiece (bulk prices are less), representing a modest $5 premium over the (still available) N100. Can’t say the Yankees will be looking to decorate their outdoor patio with lighting right about now, but for the nomads trekking to Panama to escape Old Man Winter… well, you know what to do. Vid’s after the break.

[Images courtesy of Larry Bollig]

Continue reading Nokero’s solar-powered, rainproof N200 light bulb: brighter, stronger, more flexible

Nokero’s solar-powered, rainproof N200 light bulb: brighter, stronger, more flexible originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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