Turn Your Car Into a Plug-In Hybrid for $3,000
Photo: MTSU
After five years of research, students at the University of Middle Tennessee have installed a full plug-in hybrid kit in a stock 1994 Honda Accord. The setup gives between 50 and 100 percent better gas mileage with two electric motors delivering power directly to the rear wheels, leaving the engine-powered front wheels to work with little effort. The price of all the parts comes to about $ 3,000 and can be applied to almost any car.
Energy for the motors comes from a lithium ion phosphate battery that sits in the trunk. The battery in the research vehicle is big and ugly so it can easily transmit data, but the production version will be about “the size of a carry-on bag,” said head researcher Professor Charles Perry.
The twin three-phase DC brushless motors sit in the empty interior around the rear brakes. They power the wheels directly, rather than going through the drive shaft like other hybrids. Each motor produces 200 pound-feet of torque. The setup has four patents pending, all of which will be owned by the university to fund future research.
Perry said, “The whole point was to demonstrate the feasibility of adding the electrical motor to the rear wheel of the car without changing the brakes, bearings, suspension — anything mechanical.”
Perry says that the design is aimed at “around town” drivers, as range is limited to about 35 miles per charge, and once the car hits 40-plus mph, the system cuts off.
Incoming search terms:
- Prof charles Perry rear wheel electric motor
- charles perry plug in hybrid
- professor charles perry hybrid motors
- Professor Charles Perry MTSU turn car into hybrid
- turn your car into a hybrid for $3000
2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra pays tribute to Carroll Shelby
Making its debut today at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, FoMoCo is paying a tribute to Carroll Shelby with a unique 2013 Shelby GT500 Cobra.
Check out more news on the Ford Mustang.
The 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Cobra was unveiled by Edsel Ford II, Ford’s group vice president for sales and marketing Jim Farley, and Shelby American president John Luft at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
“Even at 89 years of age, Carroll was an inspiration to us all,” says Farley. “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the original Shelby Cobra. The one-off car we have created represents the very idea he had about making the 2013 Shelby GT500 into a true Cobra.”
World Record Breaking $11 Million Paid for GT40 Gulf/Mirage – 2012 Monterey Auctions
Lightning has struck twice. After a spirited round of bidding, the 1968 Ford GT40 Gulf/Mirage lightweight race car has sold for a staggering $ 11 million at auction in Monterey. The sale of lot #139 during RM Auctions event on Friday night is now the world record holder for the highest price ever paid for an American automobile at auction.
Used extensively as the camera car in the 1971 film Le Mans, this GT40 can thank Steve McQueen for significantly increasing its value. However, back when it was still Mirage M.10003, it nabbed the honor of first overall win for a race car wearing the powder blue and marigold Gulf livery at Spa in 1967 — with driving by legendary endurance racer Jacky Ickx and Dick Thompson. Due to FIA regulation changes in 1968, it was back in the shop of J.W.A. in England where it was remade into GT40 chassis number P/1074. The race car then competed throughout 1968 at Daytona, Sebring, Monza, set a lap record of 3 minute 35.4-seconds during the Le Mans trials, finished in sixth place on the Nürburgring, and came in second at Watkins Glen.
What helped set the stage for this record breaking bid? Last year RM auctioned off Steve McQueen’s personal 1970 Porsche 911 S for $ 1,375,000, bringing in $ 25,000 more than the absolute top shelf estimate of $ 1,350,000. That’s also about 1150% more than a 1970 911 S would sell for that did not have such a sought after provenance and even more notable when you consider that it cost $ 8,338.61 when new. No doubt the fact that it was delivered to McQueen on the set of Le Mans and used during the films epic 3 minutes and 30 second opener before finding its way into his home garage helped.
Chevrolet Optra being recalled for headlight issue
A second recall on the Chevrolet Optra has been published today. This one targets 35,146 units from the 2004 to 2006 model years.
In some cases, a harness connector in the instrument panel could melt and prevent the headlights from functioning. On a rainy or snowy day, or during hours of darkness, this could compromise the driver’s ability to see the road and its users.
Owners are advised to take their Optra to a GM dealer, which will remove the harness connector and permanently join the wires.
Source: Transports Canada
 |
| 2006 Chevrolet Optra (Photo: General Motors) |
Alert Driver Swiftly Moves Out of Harm’s Way
Now here’s one Russian motorist who should be commended not only for being prepared (as in leaving a secure distance from the car in front) and for paying attention to what’s going on behind him/her on the road but also for taking swift action once trouble was detected.
So here’s what happened: while waiting a stop light, the driver saw a truck coming from behind at a fast speed with no intention of stopping so the motorist quickly put the car in gear and moved a few feet to the right without touching the vehicle on the other lane.
Seconds later, we see the truck smashing into the vehicle in front of the camera-equipped car.
The video poster says that the truck’s brakes had failed noting that nobody was physically hurt.
Watch the accident in the video that follows below.
Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Sets New Auction Record
Ferrari, For Sale, Monterey Car Week 2012 — By Lawrence on August 19, 2012 at 4:42 pm — No Comments
Monterey Car Week auctioneers seem to be having a highly successful time this year! First we hear that a new American record has been set with an authentic lightweight Ford GT40, now we have the news that a Ferrari 250 GT LWB California has set an all-time high price. The car in question is a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, one of nine alloy-bodied LWB California Spiders.
It was part of the Gooding & Co sale last night. Among other high grossing lots was a Jay Kay’s 1955 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta which sold for $ 1,650,000, a 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Le Mans Sports “Bobtail” which went for $ 6,050,000 and a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton “Blue J” which reached $ 1.98 million. One of the best results of the night was Jay Leno’s 2012 Fiat 500 “Prima Edizione” which sold for $ 350,000. All proceeds from the Fiat 500 sale will be going towards the Fisher House Foundation. Even a Bugatti Veyron sold for $ 1,182,500.
The Ferrari 250 GT LWB California that heads the bill features a 2,953 CC SOHC Tipo 168 V-12 Engine producing 270hp at 7,000rpm. It was delivered new with competition specifications, disc brakes and covered headlights. It’s chassis number 1639 GT. It has a distinguished concours history having won plenty of awards in its time. It was previously owned by Sherman M. Wolf, a Ferrari collector.
All prices are excluding auctioneers fees!
Mercedes-Benz US SUV recall: ML, G-Class affected
Mercedes-Benz is recalling almost 9000 SUVs in the US because of two separate issues affecting the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
America’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says the recall of 8675 model year 2012-2013 Mercedes-Benz ML350, ML550 and ML63 SUVs is due to an optional all-season floor mat that “may not fully conform to the contour of the vehicle’s floor plan as intended”.
The ill-fitting all-season mat may reduce the clearance between itself and the accelerator pedal, potentially allowing for the pedal to become stuck.
While the NHTSA says the stuck pedal could increase the risk of a crash as the vehicle may not be able to decelerate as expected, Mercedes-Benz’s cars feature a failsafe system that ensures the brake pedal overrides the accelerator in the event that both pedals are depressed at the same time.
Owners will be notified by Mercedes-Benz and dealers will replace the floor mats with correctly fitting mats at no cost.
Incoming search terms:
- mercedes benz e klasse coupe via autoblognl
- ml 63 amg w166 white