Simanaitis Says

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Category Archives: Driving it Tomorrow

BUY THE MARQUE, NOT THE CAR

WE ALL love our cars, though personal mobility may be approaching a shift of paradigm. A recent survey of ownership options suggests this. A marketing idea with the Fiat 500e … Continue reading

April 6, 2013 · Leave a comment

CLEANER GAS—ALL AROUND

THERE IS recent news that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require cleaner gasoline nationwide (see, for example, http://goo.gl/s5Tc4). As is often the case with such news, it profits from … Continue reading

March 30, 2013 · 1 Comment

EV GOOD NEWS

I DISSED the electrified vehicle experience only two days ago (see http://www.wp.me/p2ETap-Uj). However, there are also other EV happenings that suggest a brighter future for battery electrics, hybrids, plug-in hybrids … Continue reading

March 17, 2013 · 1 Comment

HYDRAULIC HYBRID

RECENT NEWS concerning Peugeot S.A. and Robert Bosch GmbH makes for technical confusion. The key words are “hydraulic hybrid”—whereas, a better term is “pneumatic hybrid.” Even its developers call the technology Hybrid … Continue reading

February 8, 2013 · 1 Comment

48 VOLTS

JOHNSON CONTROLS, a major automaker supplier, has announced it’s developing a 48-volt lithium-ion battery for automobile applications. According to Automotive News, January 21, 2013, an unnamed European automaker (spelled Mercedes-Benz?) … Continue reading

January 30, 2013 · 2 Comments

JV CARS

THE “JV” I have in mind is “Joint Venture,” wherein two or more companies share their talents in research, development or production. We’ve seen this big time with Subaru/Toyota and their BRZ/Scion … Continue reading

January 26, 2013 · 3 Comments

FUEL CELLS, PEM & SOLID OXIDE

TWO DISTINCT types of fuel cells have been in the news lately. In a sense, both types are known for performing electrolysis in reverse: They take in hydrogen and oxygen … Continue reading

December 22, 2012 · Leave a comment

TOYOTA SEMINAR NUGGETS

THIS LAST of five mini-essays on the 2012 Toyota Future Mobility Seminar, held Oct. 16-17 in Denver, collects technological nuggets gleaned there. The price of motor fuels was a recurring … Continue reading

October 23, 2012 · 1 Comment

NREL HAPPENINGS

THE NATIONAL Renewable Energy Laboratory hosted attendees of Toyota’s 2012 Future Mobility Seminar at its Golden, Colorado, facilities on Oct. 17. Here are some technical take-aways from a most interesting … Continue reading

October 22, 2012 · 2 Comments

ZEV AND US

THOSE OF us residing in California—and in 14 other states more or less following its lead—will soon be into ZEV 3, the third phase of this state’s Zero Emissions Vehicle … Continue reading

October 19, 2012 · 2 Comments