Corsa Motorsports Creates Hybrid Le Mans Racer, Goes Quietly Into That Green Night

According to FOXNews, the American Le Mans Series has teamed up with the Environmental Protection Agency to create the “Green Challenge”, a harbinger of the apocalypse intended to promote the use of alternative fuel technologies. In addition to overall performance, participants in Le Mans will also be ranked by the amount of energy their vehicles use and the size of their subsequent carbon footprint.

Reigning LMP1 champs like Audi R10 are already powered by enviro-friendly diesel or ethanol-converted engines, but Corsa Motorsports is changing the game entirely with their Zytek LMP1 hybrid racer.

Developed jointly with hybrid part supplier and racing engineer, Zytek Group, the Zytek LMP1 hybrid racer is capable of reaching speeds well over 200mph and is technically classified as a serial hybrid. Powered dually by gasoline and electric engines, the Zytek LMP1 features a lithium ion battery-powered 50-hp electric motor that is directly connected to a 4.5L V8 gasoline engine, configured to run on the E10 ethanol/gasoline blend of fuel. Entered to compete in Le Man’s top LMP1 prototype division, the Zytek LMP1 is scheduled to make its preliminary debut October 2 at the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta.

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RideLusts Top 5 Fuel Efficient Cars You Cannot Have… Yet!

There are a number of concept cars being proposed by the various auto manufacturers and each comes with its own set of fuel efficiency promises. While it is never wise to take all of their promises to heart it IS okay to look forward to the potential that they promise. So with our eyes on a better tomorrow we have compiled a list of RideLusts Top 5 Fuel Efficient Cars You Cannot Have…  Yet!

Number 5:
The Tesla Roadster makes our list at Number 5 as a light, all-electric, plug-in roadster that may allow your gas card to collect some dust in a drawer or to sit so long in your wallet it sticks to the leather. (more…)

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Aptera Motors accepting pre-orders on 300-MPG car

After years of work Aptera Motors is finally ready to accept pre-orders for their unique 3-wheeled hybrid. The Aptera, as it is aptly called, is an electric-hybrid that is said to achieve up to 300-mpg due to its lightweight construction and electric propulsion. The one-cylinder engine housed within the car is used solely for recharging the batteries. The Cesna/teardrop design is intended to reduce the drag on the car thus aiding it in reaching 60-mph in 11 seconds. The top speed of the Aptera is 95-mph. So the question is: while the Aptera is nearly ready for you, are you ready for an Aptera?

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Can the new GM Yukon/Tahoe Hybrid really match the Camry in fuel efficiency?

When GM first announced their efforts of producing a hybrid system for their Troop Carrier class SUV’s the Chevy Tahoe and the GMC Yukon their estimates were for a modest 25 percent gain in fuel economy. After more testing it seems their modest estimates were too modest and that the real fuel savings has leapt to 50 percent. That would mean that this road behemoth would average around 21 mpg in the city; which is right there with the Camry.  …Not so behemoth like.

The complete EPA rating for the Tahoe/Yukon Hybrid will be 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. Those may not be the same average leaps found from other hybrid models, but when you consider the gasoline variant of those SUV’s gets 10 mpg in the city that is a colossal improvement. (more…)

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Hybrid Technologies, Inc is Driving Lithium to New Limits

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. is out to show everybody that despite the major automakers electric deficiencies the Lithium electric automobile is ready for the road. Most recently for Popular Mechanics they demonstrated two of their electric conversion vehicles, the Electrici Mini Cooper and the two-wheeled Jin Bike. Both examples are just part of the product line being promoted by Hybrid Technologies as they work to bring electric power out of the wall sockets and into our everyday mobile transportation.
You may not here them coming. You may not smell their exhaust after they have passed. But you will someday be thankful that someone is out there pushing the envelope while others sit back and watch.

Ride along in this test drive of a Lithium powered Mini Cooper.

Also take a moment to watch as Hybrid Technologies, inc’s Stealth bike moves silently and without hesitation into New York City traffic.

The cost-to-value ratio of these Lithium conversions is still not in reach for the average car buyer, but that is no reason to stop now. As with any new technology it sometimes takes a bit of time to garner popular acceptance. The first car was often frowned upon by Cowboys and the like as a noisey, smoking contraption that scared their horses, and look where that has taken us. While the technology grows in acceptance and matures you should see the price of these conversions mass produced and more affordable to the average car buyer. But if I have to go without my thoaty V8 exhaust you better be providing me with one killer THX stereo surround sound system in my car.

Take a look at Hyrbid Technologies website to explore what they are doing to advance our Lithium and Electric car technologies. You can also look over their design for their Solar Hybrid Living Home to see how Hybrid design can improve both the way we live and our means of mobility.

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Ikea UK to use hybrid vehicles

Swedish design and retail sensation Ikea are going to be switching their entire fleet of cars over to hybrid power in the UK. Hybrid powered vehicles use a combination of electric and normal fuel engine for it power.

The company at the moment uses Skoda for all of their company cars, but by next year will be switching those for the Honda Civic hybrid power. This is said to a pilot program to see how it goes and if all goes fine then this trend is likely to be rolled out all over Europe and other Countries with an Ikea presence.

This is great news for Honda, especially as the main rival in the hybrid market is Toyota, whose hybrid vehicles totally dominate the market place throughout the world where they are available. However there are changes ahead for both Honda and Toyota as they change their hybrid ranges, Honda will be bringing to the market a new small hybrid car.

The move by Ikea is a bold one, but this only effects their company cars, and as they wish to reduce their Co2 emissions by nine percent by the year 2010, they may need to look at their commercial vehicles, it is these larger diesel powered vehicles that need to be looked at more closely.

Source [Money Central]

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