Tesla Motors gets new Investor with German Daimler

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

The coolest electric car maker Tesla Motors gets a new investor with German car maker Daimler. Daimler takes 10% of Tesla Motors.
Daimler paid a double digit million dollar sum for the 10% in Tesla.
The companies plan to work together on the Smart electric car and future electric cars. Read more

Posted on Tue, 19 May 2009 07:54:56 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Better Place Battery Switch is how you are going to gas up in the Future

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Better Place unveiled its battery swap system for electric cars today in Japan. The video below shows how you will be recharging your electric car in the future.
Better Place is a hot Silicon Valley startup led by Shai Agassi that wants to build the infrastructure for electric cars.
The Better Place battery swap system is still a work in progress but can exchange an empty with new battery within 40 seconds. This would be less time than it takes to fill a tank with gas. Read more

Posted on Wed, 13 May 2009 10:32:02 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Porsche and Volkswagen to Merge

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

The battle between Volkswagen and Porsche is apparently over. The companies have agree to merge and create a new integrated car company.
The dominating family owners Porsche und Piech have apparently found a basis to work together instead of buying each other.

The bigger question is if Porsche fans can take even more Volkswagen in their Porsche car. A Porsche is a highly emotional car and already shares lots of technology with Volkswagen cars and Audi cars. Read more

Posted on Wed, 6 May 2009 12:46:12 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Porsche Panamera Take Elevator Ride 94 Stories

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

I'm not sure what would be more perplexing when the door for an elevator going to the 94th story of the Shanghai World Financial Center opens -- seeing an ax wielding murderer step out or a Porsche Panamera sitting upright. Porsche decided to hold a press conference for the car 1,394 feet up on the 94th floor of the venue.

The building owners no doubt looked at them oddly when they first said what the plan was. To get the large Porsche up the elevator required some specialized ramps, bravery, and a really strong cargo elevator. Read more

Posted on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:38:28 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Danny MacAskill Street Trial Biking Video is a Must See

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

This story is slightely off topic, but I have been mountain biking for decades and what 23-year-old street trials biker Danny MacAskill is doing with his bike is really inspiring. Watch the must see video below.

Danny MacAskill published a cool new video that shows him biking around Edinburgh, Scottland. Besides jumping and driving on fences, he jumps roofs and does a backflip riding up a tree (my favorite stunt). The video already got over 680,000 views within 3 days on Youtube. Read more

Posted on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 03:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Warren Buffett invests in Chinese Electric Car Maker BYD

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Ueber Investor Warren Buffett goes green by investing in Chinese BYD, a dynamic company making products from cell phone batteries to electric cars.
BYD is set to introduce two full electric cars later this year with the BYD E3 and BYD E6 in China.
BYD is already selling a plug-in hybrid dubbed F3DM. Read more

Posted on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Tesla Motors Opens EU Sales and Service in London

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Tesla Motors is arguably the most well known maker of electric vehicles around with its Roadster and the recently announced Model S sedan. Tesla has announced that it will be opening its first EU regional sales and service center in London.

Tesla says that the London location is the first of three European stores it plans to open this year. The London facility will be located at 49-51 Cheval Place, formerly occupied by the Segrave Supercar Club. The Tesla showroom will be in the popular Knightsbridge district within walking distance to Harrods department store. Read more

Posted on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:09:10 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Segway Project P.U.M.A. is supposed to be the funny Future of Transportation

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Segay unveiled the Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) today. Segway and General Motors unveiled the P.U.M.A prototype today in New York City in advance of the New York Auto Show.
Segway Project P.U.M.A. is basically a sit-down Segway PT for two people. The PUMA is capable of carrying two passengers up to anywhere between 25 and 35 mph (40 - 56 kph) for anywhere between 25 and 35 miles (40 - 56 km) on a single charge. The Segway PUMA has the maneuverability and advanced control you get through Segway’s use of dynamic stabilization (balancing technology). Read more

Posted on Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:52:39 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Hotelicopter is a Flying 5-star Hotel

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

If I were an X-Man, I'd fly around in the Hotelicopter rather than that small jet. The Hotelicopter is just what it sounds like, a helicopter that is as much a flying hotel as it is a rotorcraft. The massive helicopter is outfitted with 18 luxury rooms that are each sound proofed and equipped with a queen-size bed, mini-bar, Wi-Fi, and more.

The aircraft offers room service after takeoff and is generally massive. The giant helicopter started life as one of only two Russian Mil V-12 helicopter prototypes ever produced. The Hotelicopter Company purchased one of the prototypes in 2004 and modified it with an extra floor, turbofans, and aerodynamic modifications to be a flying hotel. Each of the four GEnx turbofans produces 75,000 pounds of thrust and the aerodynamic modes cut fuel consumption by 22%. Read more

Posted on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Tesla Announces All-electric Model S Sedan

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

Tesla is certainly most well known for its electric Roadster sports car. Tesla has announced its second model, this time the car is a family sedan that gets its power from electricity. The car is called the Model S and can carry seven passengers up to 300 miles per charge.

Tesla says that the car can be recharged quickly as well from any 120V, 240V, or 480V outlet. When charged from a 480V outlet the car can be charged from empty to full in only 45 minutes. The battery pack is mounted in the floor and can be removed opening the possibility of battery exchange stations nationwide. Read more

Posted on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 06:09:37 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Tata Nano goes on Sale in India for about $2,000

Topic: Cars & Vehicles

A little over a year ago Indian Tata Motors made a huge splash with the announcement of the Tata Nano, a car selling for about $2,000 (100,000 rupees) now in India.
The Tata Nano is BS-III compliant and comes with an all-new 2-cylinder aluminum MPFI 624 cc petrol engine mated to a four-speed gear box and will be available in three variants.
The three Nano models include the Tata Nano Standard, Tata Nano CX and Tata Nano LX. Read more

Posted on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:51:36 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr