Hybrid Car News

Super-Efficient Gas Engine Beats Best Hybrids

Thursday, 11 March 2010 16:20 Keen & Green
Transonic Combustion

A group of super-smart hippy engineers in Camarillo, CA have developed a fuel-injection system they claim improves gas-engine efficiency by 50%. Transonic Combustion set out to best the best hybrid on the road, the Toyota Prius, with an exclusively gasoline fueled powerplant. And, if initial tests are an indicator, they may have done it. A test vehicle outfitted with the new technology recently scored 64 mpg in a real-world highway test (as reported by the MIT Technology Review), which is about 15 mpg better than the Prius.

The system works by heating and pressurizing gasoline before injecting it into the combustion chamber, kinda like a diesel. Once the petrol is in this supercritical state, it burns much faster and cleaner, therefore requiring less fuel for complete combustion. In fact, it’s so efficient that no spark is even needed for combustion.

It’s all happening folks! Just imagine the possibility of mating an engine outfitted with this technology to an electric hybrid set up. Sounds like triple-digit mileage numbers could be right around the corner.

 

Top Planet Hating Petrol Burners

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 19:06 Keen & Green

Lamborghini Pinatubo

Despite worldwide economic meltdowns, international oil wars, global warming and undeniable market trends, some people will just never get it. We’re talking about those petroleum burning fat fucks who continue to unabashedly drive cars that are obvious menaces to the environment. A couple weeks ago, greenercars.org put out their list of the “Meanest Vehicles for the Environment in 2010” and the results aren’t so startling. The top 4 are ultra-rare exotics that you only see coked-out douche bags  driving around Miami or LA, but scroll down the list and you’ll see the same vehicle’s that are likely sitting in your neighbor’s driveway—Dodge Ram and Ford F-250. Check out the full list right here.

 

White Zombie: More Tesla than Tesla

Friday, 05 March 2010 00:53 Keen & Green
white_zombie

Well, I was gonna do another post about the exotic-hybrids showing off at the Geneva Motor Show, but then I ran across these crazy guys over at Plasma Boy Racing. For the last 14 years, Plasma Boy has been drag racing their homebuilt, all-electric 1972 Datsun 1200, dubbed the White Zombie. With a 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, sub-12 second ETs and 114 mph gate times, the White Zombie is one the fastest all-electric street legal vehicle anywhere. Check out the Plasma Boy site, they have an extensive rundown of the 14 year history of this undead tire-smoker.

 

 


 

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS Hybrid: Plug-In Prancing Stallion

Tuesday, 02 March 2010 15:42 Keen & Green

Photo Source: Jalopnik

The latest hyper hybrid to roll out of a storied European fast factory is the Ferrari 599 HY-KERS Hybrid concept. Unveiled yesterday at Geneva, the HY-KERS is actually just a V12 599 with a token 107 hp electric motor crow-barred into the engine bay.  And, with over 200 lbs of electro fancywork on board, the extra hundred or so ponies are pretty much rendered neutral.

Here at Discover Hybrid Cars, we’re still undecided on how we feel about Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus and the other gods of performance churning out hybrids. A lot of technology has trickled down to our daily drivers through the years thanks to these legendary garages pushing the envelope on the track, and hopefully by pushing the hybrid envelope we’ll get some usable ideas for our commuter cars. After all, with such limited build numbers and the fact that those who have em rarely drive em, are supercars really the problem?

 

Source: Jalopnik

 

Porsche Cayenne Hybrid: Two Sacrileges with One Stone

Friday, 26 February 2010 00:22 Keen & Green

2011 Porsche Cayenne

Not only is Porsche giving its “SUV” a second generation, they’re gonna make it a hybrid. Now, this leads to a couple of conundrums for the staff here at Discover Hybrid Cars. First, Porsche and SUV go together like stripes and plaids. But, thanks to yuppies with children, and emo boys at a Belle & Sebastian concert, both combos are here to stay.

Our second problem: As earth lovers, we love hybrids. As car lovers, we love Porsches. But do we want either of these interests homogenized by the other—hell no. Worrying about MPG in a Porsche and going fast in a hybrid just kinda defeats the purpose of both.

Source: Jalopnik

 


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