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[Sylvi]

Members,

I came across this article on the web.

Engineless cars, driverless trains and Brits in space

21 November 2011 | By Jason Ford

What isn’t there to like about electric vehicles? They are currently rather small compared to their petrol and diesel brethren, they make little noise and they don’t belch vile fumes onto the streets.

Briefing can’t wait to see more EVs on the road, given the amount of tailpipe emissions inhaled over the years pounding the pavements, and environmentalists will no doubt provide a body of evidence backing up their arguments regarding CO₂ emissions and climate change.

However, it seems that headaches induced by fumes are set to continue, given a report published today by industry analysts GfK Automotive.

Their study is said to find that electric cars have failed to generate sales among British motorists because of consumer confusion about the realities of their cost and performance.

Back in January this year the same firm of analysts reported that EVs are set to be worth be worth £7.2bn to the British motor industry by 2014, but this figure was predicated on a number of caveats, some of which are repeated in the new report.

Their new findings show that the lack of understanding about the practicalities of electric cars is deepest amongst those who say they are keenest to purchase one.

While eight per cent of motorists plan to buy an electric car, the vast majority of this group underestimate the cost and time it takes to charge the vehicles and overestimate their range, according to the data.

From road to rail and the thorny issue of automatic train control systems on London Underground trains.

The Engineer’s Sam Shead is set to interview David Waboso, London Underground’s capital programme director and director of engineering in early December to discuss this and other issues.

In the interim, IET recently hosted an event at the new Victoria Line Control Centre.

Developed over 40 years ago, the Victoria Line was claimed to offer a ‘world first’ automatic train control system using electro-mechanical and first generation electronic devices.

The line has since introduced new trains and a new train control system with new trains (controlled by new signalling) progressively replaced the old trains (still controlled by old signalling) over a period of a year, while inter-running at two minute intervals.

The issue of rail automation still makes the headlines and only last week Time Out London magazine ran an article with Mike Brown, managing director of London Underground and Bob Crow, RMT general secretary and arguing for and against driverless trains respectively.

Brown believes automation will help the mass transit system modernise in order to cope with an expected rise in demand, noting that 70 per cent of the network will be automatic by 2018. Crow, however, fears a combination of automation plus proposed cuts to maintenance and inspection will act to the detriment of underground services.

IMechE this week hosts its Manufacturing Excellence Awards, where 21 short listed companies will compete for 11 awards designed to honour the very best in UK’s manufacturing.

The awards, to be held at The Dorchester hotel in London on Wednesday, will be compered by Alastair Campbell and features a speech by Mark Prisk, minister for business and enterprise.

In a statement, Rachel Pearson, project manager for Manufacturing Excellence said: ‘Manufacturing is crucial to the UK economic recovery and it has been proven that taking part in Manufacturing Excellence can improve the way businesses work.’

Finally, we take to the skies with IET and a free lecture celebrating the past, present and future of space exploration.

In a very short space of time space exploration has led to scientific and technological advances for satellite applications including security, defence and telecommunications. The lecture will ask, however, what is next for the space industry?

Topics for discussion developments in propulsion systems for space, space tourism, current and future satellite projects, and the importance of continued British involvement in space.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[Sylvi]

Members,

I came across this article on the web.

Mazda creates capacitor-based regenerative braking system

28 November 2011

Mazda has developed what is claimed to be the world’s first capacitor-based regenerative braking system.

The i-ELOOP (Intelligent Energy Loop) concept makes use of a capacitor to temporarily store energy captured from braking.

Mazda claims that the use of a capacitor for storing large volumes of electricity has advantages over batteries because the capacitors are charged and discharged in seconds and are less vulnerable to deterioration through prolonged use.

It is reported that the i-ELOOP starts to recover kinetic energy the moment the driver lifts off the accelerator pedal and the vehicle starts to decelerate.

The alternator generates electricity at up to 25V for maximum efficiency before sending it to the capacitor for storage. The DC/DC converter steps down the electricity from 25V to 12V before it is distributed directly to the vehicle’s electrical components.

Regenerative braking systems that store energy into batteries during braking are becoming a popular concept in new car designs as they help reduce fuel consumption.

The i-ELOOP is being positioned as a fuel saver for internal combustion engine vehicles. According to Mazda, the i-ELOOP system improves the fuel economy of a vehicle by around 10 per cent under the tougher, real-world driving conditions in city traffic.

The i-ELOOP is to make its debut in Mazda’s Takeri concept car at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show and will then appear in production models in 2012.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[miniace]

Dear Sylvi this is ordinary regenerative braking right? Glad to hear Mazda joins the regenerative club following Toyota, Honda, Merc Peugeot and Chevy to name a few.

MINIACE

[Sylvi]

Dear Sylvi this is ordinary regenerative braking right? Glad to hear Mazda joins the regenerative club following Toyota, Honda, Merc Peugeot and Chevy to name a few.

MINIACE

'miniace',

Yes You are perfectly correct.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[Sylvi]

Members,

I received by Email.

Taking telematics on the road to improve automotive safety

12 December 2011 | By Jason Ford

An event taking place this week in London will give attendees an insight into maximising the commercial potential of automotive telematics.

Taking place from today until Wednesday, Connected Vehicle World Europe 2011 brings together senior figures directly responsible for the future direction of telematics and the connected vehicle.

They will be on hand to deliver a number of telematics workshops, one of which is entitled ‘Achieving the vision of a future without fatal road accidents’.

Scheduled to be presented by Jonas Ekmark, Volvo’s head of preventative safety, the session will look at developing the algorithms to predict vehicle movements and facilitate effective car-to-car communication in the future.

Ekmark will look also at the EU SARTRE (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) project and the potential of ‘platooning’ to reduce emissions and accidents, a subject covered by The Engineer in January this year that provoked a flurry of comments.

In his January news story, Andrew Czyzewski wrote that vehicle platooning involves a line of vehicles led by a professional driver, where each car measures the distance, speed and direction, adjusting to the car in front. Once in the platoon, drivers can relax and do other things. Vehicles can, however, leave the procession at any time.

One potential advantage of the system improved road safety, since it eliminates the human factor that is the cause of at least 80 per cent of road accidents.

An appeal now to all of you that work in manufacturing from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

It is calling for expressions of interest from companies that think their products or processes could gain entry into the Make it in Great Britain campaign.

Launched last month, the campaign is designed to transform the image of modern UK manufacturing and to raise awareness of its importance for Britain’s economy.

The campaign will culminate in an exhibition at the Science Museum in summer 2012, which the organisers say will highlight the successes of the manufacturing sector, showing the true face of British manufacturing and encouraging young people to consider a career in the industry.

Click here to be taken to the Make it in Great Britain website, where application forms can be found. You’ll be asked to explain what your exhibit is and how your product or process could be displayed so that it engages an audience.

The deadline for completed Expression of Interests is by midday on 6 January 2012.

The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) is holding its national conference this week in London to debate whether the AD industry is finally gathering momentum.

The organisers say that if the UK is to meet its climate change and renewable energy targets by 2050 then a mature AD industry is critical, as it could deliver more than 40TWh of renewable energy. This, they say, is equivalent to 20 per cent of the UK’s domestic gas demand.

High-profile experts from across the anaerobic digestion sector will be on hand to address the key issues currently affecting the AD industry.

There was bad news for new solar photovoltaics (PV) installations eligible for Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) installed from today.

Climate change minister Gregg Barker proposed in October that the generation tariff for PV installations with a total installed capacity of 4kW or less should be reduced to 21p/kWh

DECC’s consultation on proposed changes to FITs for PV closes on 23 December.

Staying with energy, there is news of an online game developed at Southampton University that is designed to raise energy awareness.

The online quiz, which can be found here, invites players to compete and answer 12 questions about energy comparisons.

One question asks: ‘Which uses more energy, a Christmas tree with 100 lights continuously lit over the festive period, or a dishwasher used once a week for month?’

A team led by Dr Alex Rogers of the university’s Electronics and Computer Science department originally developed The Energy Quiz for BT to challenge its employees to test their knowledge about energy. The new version is launched today.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[madmax]

New technology, funny commercial.

http://www.bmwusa.com/connecteddrive

[Sylvi]

Members ,

I receved this link by email.

http://www.nidokidos...ou-ll-Never-Own

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

Edited December 25, 2011 by Sylvi

[Sylvi]

Members,

I got under from the web,

Lola-Drayson electric racing car unveiled

12 January 2012

A new electric race car prototype has been officially revealed by Lola Group and Drayson Racing Technologies (DRT).

The Lola-Drayson B12/69EV is a technology demonstrator that is aiming to break lap records for electric vehicles at tracks around the world.

Built around the current Lola LMP1 group B12 Le Mans chassis, the new vehicle uses a DRT electric drivetrain to generate 850Bhp, propelling it to 60pmh from standstill in 3.0 seconds. The weight of the car is 1000kg, slightly in excess of the regular 900kgs in the present LMP1.

Power is stored in a new generation of Lithium Nanophosphate cells made by A123 Systems and packaged by Mavizen. The team is also experimenting with structural composite battery technology from BAE Systems – where the batteries are essentially part of the body of the car in an effort to keep weight down.

Charging is done wirelessly and inductively where charge pads made by Halo IPT will be available in the pit garages. The initial target is for the car to be used for short ‘time attacks’, essentially optimising its qualifying performance. To this end multimatic electrical regenerative dampers will also be available.

The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at Warwick University will provide recyclable composite body panels, while Cosworth will provide electronic control systems.

Project pioneer Lord Drayson said: ‘Electric racing represents a considerable new business opportunity for motorsport and underlines the growing commercial potential of green racing and technology.

‘Electric-powered racing is really taking off with the launch of the new FIA Formula E world championship for electric racing cars planned for 2013 and we are thrilled to be at the forefront of the push for innovation at such an exciting time for the sport and industry.’

Officially announced at the end of last year the proposed championships will feature eight events per season at city centres venues with winding tracks to avoid long straights and overheating issues.

The field will comprise 24 cars, most likely with different manufacturers, but if more than one car supplier participates, ’the FIA will proceed to a balance of performance between the cars.’

The design and specification of the chassis, aerodynamics and powertrain will be largely unrestricted.

Each race will consist of about four heats per car of 15 minutes each and charging of the cars will be authorized between those heats – ideally the charging time will not exceed half an hour.

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

Bottom of Form

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

[Sylvi]

From the web,

Sylvi Wijesinghe.

[Sylvi]

Members I got this by Email.

Double-Decker Hybrid hits the streets of London

The double-Decker buses are a national icon of England .

Recently hitting the streets, is the new hybrid double-Decker . This is the work of designer Thomas Heatherwick in collaboration with specialist bus manufacturer Wrightbus.

The newly revamped bus combines a modern form with some inspiration from the 1950’s era Routemasters.

In fact, this is the first time in over 50 years that the Transport for London has commissioned a new bus built specially for the city.

http://inhabitat.com/thomas-heatherwicks-new-hybrid-double-decker-bus-hits-the-streets-in-london/london-routemaster-heatherwick-studio-8/

Sylvi Wijesinghe,

Edited January 29, 2012 by Sylvi

[Pericles]

Hmmm, this is interesting.

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17989553

Google gets Nevada driving licence for self-drive car

Driverless cars will soon be a reality on the roads of Nevada after the state approved America's first self-driven vehicle licence.

I dunno. I'm not against it per say. I don't mind being driven around from time to time. A system that will get you home when sleepy, or drunk, can be a good thing. As long as it doesn't mean an end to cars. as opposed to mode of transportation. Gotta have the fun-runner.

[heavyD]

Hmmm, this is interesting.

http://www.bbc.com/n...nology-17989553

I dunno. I'm not against it per say. I don't mind being driven around from time to time. A system that will get you home when sleepy, or drunk, can be a good thing. As long as it doesn't mean an end to cars. as opposed to mode of transportation. Gotta have the fun-runner.

So, does this mean someone could hack into the system(s) and wreak havoc?

[terrabytetango]

Hmmm, this is interesting.

http://www.bbc.com/n...nology-17989553

I dunno. I'm not against it per say. I don't mind being driven around from time to time. A system that will get you home when sleepy, or drunk, can be a good thing. As long as it doesn't mean an end to cars. as opposed to mode of transportation. Gotta have the fun-runner.

You should read Asimov's "Sally".

[Pericles]

So, does this mean someone could hack into the system(s) and wreak havoc?

The future remake of The Italian Job.

It could be an embedded system, but I guess they will have online connectivity for updates and maps for navigation.

[Gummybr]

Toyota plans to come back into WRC with a Vitz,

Toyota's possible return to the FIA World Rally Championship moved a step closer to becoming reality when the company's motorsport president Yoshiaki Kinoshita suggested a comeback in 2014 was a strong possibility.

A one-time powerhouse of the WRC, Toyota has been absent from the series since the end of 1999 when it switched its focus to Formula One.

The Japanese firm has already begun work on a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine to meet current WRC regulations. At the same time, it has also sought the approval of the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, and its rival manufacturers to use its Yaris model as the basis of the project, even though it is 15cm short of the regulation 3.9-metre car length.

“We hope we are ready in 2014,” Kinoshita was quoted as saying in Autosport magazine. “Of course the final target is the WRC programme, but to get back in WRC we need several steps. Because we stopped rally programme in 1999 and after that most of the people are gone, there is no know-how inside the company. What we need is to prepare engines, and homologated chassis, and build up our knowledge again. Then we are ready.”

Toyota is currently in the first year of a three-year endurance racing programme although Kinoshita said it would be possible to support a WRC project as well.

Source: http://www.wrc.com/news/toyota-closer-to-wrc-comeback/?fid=17023

[Sylvi]

Members,

I got this from a Email. As Obama's Cadillac: 20 things you (probably) didn't know !!

1 - Power comes from a 6.5-litre diesel engine that's fitted with a supercharger to help haul this beast around. Yet despite this mammoth power plant, the top speed is only 60mph and it takes around 15 seconds to reach this. 2 - It is based on a GM truck chassis and weighs a staggering 6,350kg. To put that in context, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, one of the biggest cars on the road, weighs a paltry 2,550kg in comparison. This will be why the Obamobile only averages 8mpg 3 - A lot of the weight comes from the Armour protection. The body is made up of steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramic4 - The glass is five-inches thick and only the windscreen opens, to allow the driver to talk to secret service running alongside or to pay a toll. It is also hermetically sealed to secure it from chemical attack. 5 - Should the worst happen, The Beast has its own oxygen supply 6 - The military-grade Armour means the doors are eight-inches thick and weigh as much as a Boeing 747's. 7 - The doors are so thick that Obama can't hear any outside noise, so speakers are built in to play the ambient sound of the crowd. 8 - The underside is reinforced with a Kevlar mat to protect Caddy One from bomb attacks. 9 - The fuel tank is leak proof and filled with special foam that prevents it from exploding, even in a direct hit. 10 - There are two holes in the front bumper that can emit tear gas and fire smoke grenades. 11 - There is also an infrared video system for the driver to drive through smoke and night vision cameras for driving in darkness without lights. 12 - Cadillac One normally flies two flags, the American flag and the Presidential Standard, which are lit up at night with LEDs. When Obama is on a state visit, the Presidential Standard is replaced by the flag of the country he is visiting.

13 - The Beast has a firefighting system located in the boot. 14 - Also in the boot is a bank of the president's blood that iscarried at all times and when he goes out an ambulance always follows close behind. 15 - Obama gets a presidential limo built to this specification every four years and the old ones are handed down to vice presidents and visiting heads of state16 - The Obamobile can seat seven, with two seats up front, three rear-facing ones in the middle, and two at the very back, one for the president and the other for a guest. 16 - The Obamobile can seat seven, with two seats up front, three rear-facing ones in the middle, and two at the very back, one for the president and the other for a guest. 17 - Inside, Obama isn't deprived of his creature comforts; a 10-disc CD player is among the features, as well as sophisticated electronic communications with direct phones to the White House and internal Internet. 18 - Defence systems include a pump-action shotgun in a compartment beside the driver. 19 - The tyres are reinforced with Kevlar and can run when flat. If the tyres are missing, the steel rims have been designed to allow the car to keep on driving at

Speed 20 - Unlike previous presidential cars, Caddy One has no specific model name.

Sylvi Wijesinghe

[Watchman]

Members,

I got this from a Email. As Obama's Cadillac: 20 things you (probably) didn't know !!

1 - Power comes from a 6.5-litre diesel engine that's fitted with a supercharger to help haul this beast around. Yet despite this mammoth power plant, the top speed is only 60mph and it takes around 15 seconds to reach this. 2 - It is based on a GM truck chassis and weighs a staggering 6,350kg. To put that in context, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, one of the biggest cars on the road, weighs a paltry 2,550kg in comparison. This will be why the Obamobile only averages 8mpg 3 - A lot of the weight comes from the Armour protection. The body is made up of steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramic4 - The glass is five-inches thick and only the windscreen opens, to allow the driver to talk to secret service running alongside or to pay a toll. It is also hermetically sealed to secure it from chemical attack. 5 - Should the worst happen, The Beast has its own oxygen supply 6 - The military-grade Armour means the doors are eight-inches thick and weigh as much as a Boeing 747's. 7 - The doors are so thick that Obama can't hear any outside noise, so speakers are built in to play the ambient sound of the crowd. 8 - The underside is reinforced with a Kevlar mat to protect Caddy One from bomb attacks. 9 - The fuel tank is leak proof and filled with special foam that prevents it from exploding, even in a direct hit. 10 - There are two holes in the front bumper that can emit tear gas and fire smoke grenades. 11 - There is also an infrared video system for the driver to drive through smoke and night vision cameras for driving in darkness without lights. 12 - Cadillac One normally flies two flags, the American flag and the Presidential Standard, which are lit up at night with LEDs. When Obama is on a state visit, the Presidential Standard is replaced by the flag of the country he is visiting.

13 - The Beast has a firefighting system located in the boot. 14 - Also in the boot is a bank of the president's blood that iscarried at all times and when he goes out an ambulance always follows close behind. 15 - Obama gets a presidential limo built to this specification every four years and the old ones are handed down to vice presidents and visiting heads of state16 - The Obamobile can seat seven, with two seats up front, three rear-facing ones in the middle, and two at the very back, one for the president and the other for a guest. 16 - The Obamobile can seat seven, with two seats up front, three rear-facing ones in the middle, and two at the very back, one for the president and the other for a guest. 17 - Inside, Obama isn't deprived of his creature comforts; a 10-disc CD player is among the features, as well as sophisticated electronic communications with direct phones to the White House and internal Internet. 18 - Defence systems include a pump-action shotgun in a compartment beside the driver. 19 - The tyres are reinforced with Kevlar and can run when flat. If the tyres are missing, the steel rims have been designed to allow the car to keep on driving at

Speed 20 - Unlike previous presidential cars, Caddy One has no specific model name.

Sylvi Wijesinghe

Appo... it only has a CD player.. no iPod socket... I'm having 2nd thoughts on buying it now..

[Scooter]

Bit of a giggle here as "The Beast" doesn't do too well in Dublin:

and here's the crowd making appropriate responses, oh the embarassement:

...they had to get a whacking great recovery vehicle to tow it away!

[Scooter]

However, if the top-man in Washington has a few friends along for the weekend, well, there's always "The Bus":

[Scooter]

However, across the ocean in Timor Leste, they do things differently. Here's President Horta toodling in for a meeting in his usual transport:

Hey, I make no comment, whatsover. I'm just having an enjoyable day off work and bludging on the net!

Sylvi, thanks for getting us into this interesting topic area. The top team always have interesting cars.

[terrabytetango]

I've been a fan of the beast ever since it was first revealed. The designers have really hid the bulk of it well by keeping things scale. You can see exactly how much armour it has if you look carefully at pictures where the door is open. You can get a very good look at the doors in the Dublin video.

Edit: Here's the rear door

Edited September 27, 2012 by terrabytetango

[Scooter]

Gawd, Terra, those doors are thick! Can you imagine getting your fingers in the door-jamb,,,,arrrgh. Do you know if the doors are power operated?

[Magnum]

Appo... it only has a CD player.. no iPod socket... I'm having 2nd thoughts on buying it now..

exactly i was expecting more than just a CD player

However, if the top-man in Washington has a few friends along for the weekend, well, there's always "The Bus":

DAMN! that bus is sexy!

edit: the front is bit boring

Edited September 27, 2012 by Magnum

[iRage]

However, across the ocean in Timor Leste, they do things differently. Here's President Horta toodling in for a meeting in his usual transport:

Hey, I make no comment, whatsover. I'm just having an enjoyable day off work and bludging on the net!

Sylvi, thanks for getting us into this interesting topic area. The top team always have interesting cars.

Ramos Horta has 2 fully loaded LC200 (one was maroon and the other blue) plus a Pajero V9x (pearl white) for his daily running to and from work. Plus the government owns 15 (out of 23 that they bought but 8 at the time I let the place were broken and they didn't know how to repair it) BMW 735s which he uses at his will.

The Mini Moke is what he drives to show himself off to the people. Usually he does this on weekend evenings along beach road where the masses gather to enjoy an evening at the beach and enjoy the sunset. Usually when he drives the Mini Moke on his propaganda cruise it is full of children in the back (atleast 5 or 6).

[Scooter]

Yep, iRage, you'd be right that there is a lot of the propaganda stuff with ex-Pres Horta but he's gotta be a gutsy guy to drive a Moke around Dili where he got a couple of bullets in the belly from an assassin not long back. He seems to like his cars in a regular blokey way. Apart from the government SUVs and things, he's got the Moke and a beach buggy and a VW Beetle in his garage...can't be all bad despite Timor not being exactly a paradise on Earth.