Automotive

Tesla announces their 2nd all-electric car

Automotive, Miscellaneous / By /

Electric car maker, Tesla Motors, unveiled their 2nd all-electric auto this week, the Model S. Their first model, the Roadster was (and still is) sold for over $100k. Despite the price, there is still a waiting list for these cars.

The Model S will have a more down-to-earth price tag of $50k (with an approximate federal tax credit of $7,500). This may still seem like quite a hefty price tag as compared to hybrids, but bear in mind that this is an all-electric car, so no more buying gasoline, although you will probably be faced with a stiff battery bill every 3 to 5 years.

Notable in this announcement is the fact that Tesla is actually expanding and growing (building a new plant in particular) despite the downturn for the other traditional automakers. Good for them – there is hope yet for a green revolution in transportation yet and sooner than may have been first imagined.

#CES09: FLIR introduces Pedestrian Detection into auto Night Vision product

Automotive, CES / By /

FLIR Systems showed off the latest version of their thermal imaging system for automobiles that now includes Pedestrian Detection.

First off all, the thermal imaging camera displays a clearer image at night than a human’s native vision can provide. Known as Night Vision and currently available in a select few BMW models, the image is shown in the vehicle’s in-dash monitor (which also duals as the info center).

The new addition to the system is Pedestrian Detection which if detects a heat source in the shape of a human, alerts the driver. Cool. Definitely something that needs to get embedded in all vehicles. Currently, the pricing is a bit too much ($2600 luxury add-on for some BMWs).

FLIR is working with another German vendor as well as a Japanese automaker for 2010 releases.

GM’s Chevy Volt looks to be an evolution of the Prius

Automotive, Miscellaneous / By /

The Prius and other hybrids are just that – hybrids that use both electric and gasoline to greatly improve gas mileage. That means it uses gas to run as well. The Chevrolet Volt is a hybrid too, but a different one. It’s a Series Hybrid.

While it also has a gasoline engine, that’s only called upon when it needs to recharge the battery, which means the electric battery is what’s doing the powering most of the time. A single charge can get you 40 miles.

Well that’s the theory anyway. The gas engine is only a little 134HP one, but it should be enough to do the job. Certainly, the Volt will be a relatively very clean auto.

The Volt has incorporated a lot of technology, and lessons learned from the EV1 that was unceremoniously nixed over a decade ago. Let’s hope one of the lessons learned is to stick with this one.

via Wired

Anti-sleep driving alarm

Automotive, Gizmo of the Day, Miscellaneous / By /

In keeping with our love of all types of alarms (clocks mainly), here’s one to help keep you awake when you’re behind the wheel, manning an important station, studying, or perhaps in the middle of that very important gaming session! It’s a gadget that goes behind your ear and can tell when your head tilts forward more than 30 degrees at which point it will emit a high-pitched alarm that will surely bring you out of your slumber.

This is the type of thing that should almost be mandated for truckers, couriers or others who are on the road a lot, and it’s very reasonably priced after all.

Gimme!

Price: $14.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

CarMD – Handheld Engine Code Reader

Automotive, Gizmo of the Day / By /

CarMD Engine Code ReaderFor a single Benjamin Franklin bill (hundred that is), you can pick up the CarMD Handheld Engine Code Reader that interfaces with your car’s computers to tell you what’s wrong with your car in seconds.

This little gem works with all 1996 and newer model cars and provides complete diagnostics on your car’s engine and whatever else your car’s computer tracks. CarMD comes with Windows software that helps you track up to 3 of your cars’ health. In addition,the website www.CarMD.com has an online database of thousands of problems and their solutions as seen by auto techs over the past 10 years.

Naturally, it has a USB hookup to your computer for easy connectivity and data dumping. If you’ve got a car that gives you any sort of trouble, or you want your very own second opinion, in this time of rising gas prices, then this gadget may just pay for itself the first time your mechanic tries to hoodwink you.

Buy Now!

Price: $107.99
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

4 Port USB Car Charger

Automotive, Gizmo of the Day / By /

4 Port USB Car Charger

A USB charger with 4 ports for the car is a handy gadget to have around. This is great for any geek who is on the go and needs to charge their Ipod or camera. Ipods and Cameras are only a few examples of what this little critter can do, it is capable of working with many different electronics. It will charge any audio device directly from the USB ports while you are on your trip. This charger is designed with the 4 port and 1 DC unit that will work with most cellular phones that have changeable tips. It is also set up with overload protection and high temperature protection.

This unit is also equipped with a FM transmitter. It works by setting the system with the same frequency as the car stereo. Then once you plug it into the USB ports this allows the unit to transmit mp3 sound through the sound system already in the car. It will work with any audio device like the Ipod that is 3.5mm stereo jack. This unit is great for any one who does not have a lot of time to charge their electronics at home. If they are like most people who just forget, it won’t matter too much. Charge everything while you are on the go.

Gimme!

More info from the manufacturer

Price: $5.19
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Power up your gadgets in your car

Automotive, Computers, Portable / By /

If you ever take long road trips or spend a lot of time commuting, then you’ve probably experienced the pain of being stuck in your car with a dead iPod or perhaps your road-trip buddy’s laptop just sucked the last electron out of its battery.

No more do you have to suffer silently through your trip. Get a power inverter that plugs into your cigarette lighter and converts the 12V DC power from your car into 120V AC power.

This wicked cool power inverter also features a USB port as well as 120V grounded power outlet. It also has overload protection, a low battery indicator, an auto shutoff and its own cooling fan.

Gimme!
Price: $49.74
(Please note prices are subject to change and the listed price is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting)

Motorized Monocycle

Automotive, Gizmo of the Day / By /

Motorized Monocycle Leave it to those crazy Dutch to create a motorized monocycle that isn’t even street legal! This wheel operates by using a centrifugal clutch on the inner steel frame to engage the 67″ diameter outer flywheel which makes contact with the ground using a rubber tire. A single rider can achieve speeds of 25MPH as the monocycle is powered by a 31cc, four-stroke 1 1/2-hp engine and steered by the passenger leaning to one side or the other. The frame is made of fiberglass which encloses the engine, drive train and fuel tank and provides a cushioned seat for riders up to 275 lbs.

This crazy gadget can run up to 2 hours on a full tank (1/2 gallon) of gas but to own this ultimate single wheeled vehicle you’ll have to pull out your credit card with a high credit limit as this impractical, albeit cool, vehicle is more expensive than Hyundai Accent which comes with a different kind of tilt steering wheel, seat-mounted and side-impact airbags, heating and air and a roof.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $12999 + $800 shipping

Q Branch Would Approve: The Rinspeed sQuba

Automotive / By /

Rinspeed sQubaA cursory glance of the latest Fords, Chevys, Toyotas and cars available from any of the other big automakers in any given year reveals little in the way of truly new or revolutionary features. A redesigned cupholder here, a different color backlight on the instrument panel there, but when you think about it, there is really not a whole lot of difference in the the basic four wheels, four doors, gas-powered car that you can buy today from those our parents, or even our grandparents drove.

So I am hoping the Big Three pay attention to this little number coming out soon from RinSpeed–the sQuba. If an electric two-seater that can drive right into the water and dive to a depth of 10 meters sounds like something out of a James Bond movie, it should. Rinspeed boss and designer Frank M. Rinderknecht is a Bond fan, and was inspired 3 decades ago by the submersible Lotus Esprit designed by Q branch in The Spy Who Loved Me, and the sQuba is the result. The primary difference, of course, is that Bond’s Lotus was just movie SFX, but the sQuba actually works. …

Q Branch Would Approve: The Rinspeed sQubaRead More »

Portable In-Car Dash Mountable Camera with DVR

Audio/Video, Home Theater, Automotive, Gizmo of the Day / By /

Portable In-Car Dash Mountable Camera with DVR Are you the frequent target of police brutality? Do you want to have video evidence of what your teenager does behind the wheel? Ever wish you had a video black box to record an accident to help argue your side? When is the last time you took your new car around your city’s beltway at 130mph only to be laughed at by your non-believer friends?

I’ve got a million of these, seriously… do you want me to continue?

Anyway, intended use of this gizmo is to record crucial information about the scene of a collision. The portable DVR can record important details about the scene of an accident including the weather, road conditions, and the position of traffic immediately before and during a traffic collision. Video evidence is detailed and objective and could be useful for law enforcement and insurance companies. Arguing your side of what occurred during an accident is a whole lot easier when you have video footage to support your case.

Gimmie!

Suggested Price: $78.99

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