The biggest step to reduce America's dependence on oil EVER

[Willinois]

This has been expected for a while and today it became official. From NRDC blog:

Quote:Today ushers in a new era for American drivers. Soon we will save thousands of dollars every year at the gas pump. Car buyers will be able to choose from hundreds of models that combine fuel-efficiency, high performance, and safety. And workers will find half a million new jobs building the cars of future.

This isn’t some distant dream; it is a concrete reality that begins now. The Obama Administration issued clean car standards today that will raise automobile fuel efficiency to the equivalent of 54.5 miles per gallon—on average—by 2025. That’s roughly twice the mileage our cars get today.

These standards will save consumers $1.7 trillion at the gas pump and cut our oil imports by one-third. They also represent the biggest step America has taken to reduce carbon pollution and combat climate change.

Another BFD! This is also the best way of responding to the Gulf Oil disaster and Keystone XL pipeline. America can't be energy independent unless we use less oil!

[pappy]

Interesting coincidence that the FIA, the governing body of several racing series around the world including Formula 1, announced today a new racing series, Formula E, exclusively for electrically powered race cars. I believe the series will kick off in 2013.

[Willinois]

(08-28-2012 07:29 PM)pappy Wrote:  Interesting coincidence that the FIA, the governing body of several racing series around the world including Formula 1, announced today a new racing series, Formula E, exclusively for electrically powered race cars. I believe the series will kick off in 2013.

Awesome. People are often surprised by how much pickup electric cars have.

[pappy]

(08-29-2012 12:33 PM)Willinois Wrote:  

(08-28-2012 07:29 PM)pappy Wrote:  Interesting coincidence that the FIA, the governing body of several racing series around the world including Formula 1, announced today a new racing series, Formula E, exclusively for electrically powered race cars. I believe the series will kick off in 2013.

Awesome. People are often surprised by how much pickup electric cars have.

BBC Business

The electric Lola-Drayson B12/69EV can do 0-60 mph in three seconds

Quote:[....]
he new championship, known as Formula E, is due to begin in 2014.

Manufacturers are being invited to design and build their own cars, which will race on city-centre circuits around the world.
[....]

[jaxx]

That's a cool car pappy. I hope NASCAR follows along real fast. The dumpy cars they use now need upgraded and being fuel efficient would be downright amazing.

[pappy]

(08-29-2012 03:32 PM)jaxx Wrote:  That's a cool car pappy. I hope NASCAR follows along real fast. The dumpy cars they use now need upgraded and being fuel efficient would be downright amazing.

Well, as the article points out, Formula 1 cars have been essentially hybrids for 2 years now.

Without getting too technical, the cars employ and electric motor/generator attached to the drive train. At the start of each lap the motor generates enough energy into the cars batteries which, when called upon by the driver, can add a burst of 80 HP for 8 to 10 seconds. Next year the capacity will increase to about 120 HP.