Dakar Rally Defeated by an Electric Car for the First Time

Image: Electrek

The popular Dakar Rally, hosted in South America, isn’t an easy race. It offers over 9000 kilometres of uneven roads, which show no mercy to participants, and dozens of petrol vehicles go head-to-head for the highest categorical ranking.

Considering how tough the event can be, everyone was shocked to hear that the Acciona EcoPowered race car completed the course while burning nothing but electricity.

Tests with the vehicle began in 2015. When the car couldn’t finish the race, it was tested again in 2016 to no avail. It seems 2017 was the lucky year, as the Acciona finally completed the rally, ranking higher than the quarter of gas-powered vehicles that tapped out early.

This year’s Acciona crew was prepared for the challenges ahead. Despite failing to place, the vehicle succeeded in becoming the first fully electric car to finish the Dakar Rally of the total 18,000.

Acciona’s homebase in Spain created the 100% EcoPowered vehicle as a giant step forward in renewable energy research and utilisation. Its 250 kW electric motor, 150 kWh lithium batteries and 100W fast-absorbing solar panels allow it to race for 200 km before a 60-minute recharge period. These characteristics make it the strongest electric car ever built.

Of course, the Acciona’s intense power is overkill for everyday life. But the creation of a consistent and functional electric automobile brings us one step closer to ridding of gas-powered cars for good. 

Source: http://www.mufflerexpress.com/muffler-industry-blog/166-dakar-rally-defeated-by-an-electric-car-for-the-first-time.html

Apple gets Official Approval to Test its new Autonomous Vehicles

The Motley Fool

Apple joins the ranks of multiple tech companies after developing a driverless car and getting the okay to try it out in California. Uncertainty lingered for months as to whether Apple would go through with such a large project, but now it’s official.

On the list of self-driving vehicle testers are automakers like Ford and Honda, though they’re joined by larger companies like Tesla and Uber who have created their own versions of the independent automobile. Unlike others, Apple was near silent about its participation in the developing trend, and it was a pleasant surprise to hear it would be following through.

Having been the thirtieth company to receive a permit, Apple will be testing three 2015 Lexus RX540h models in conjunction with six drivers. These cars may be among the twelve million self-driving automobiles expected to be used by the public in eight years’ time. It’s up to Apple whether it will hold onto its permit for later use, or strap down and get testing immediately.

Although the successful tech company has kept many details of its future plans under wraps, a letter it wrote to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requested permission to collaborate on an autonomous vehicle project. As expected, Apple is diligently reading up on all things machine.

Apple has also shown interest in simulating car crashes and collecting data from real ones in a way that hides identities in order to preserve privacy. Finding a functional way to do this will allow the automotive industry to correct its mistakes and improve its weaknesses.

Will Apple beat out the rest for the best driverless car? Only time - and tests - will tell. 

Source: http://www.mufflerexpress.com/muffler-industry-blog/163-apple-gets-official-approval-to-test-its-new-autonomous-vehicles.html

The P100D from Tesla Offers Tech Options to The Rich

Priced at 134, 000.000, there is no question that the new P100D from Tesla offers a pricey option. However, for those who want to be at the forefront of technology in vehicles, this is definitely something you are going to want to pay attention to. This new vehicle makes it clear that these technologies and features with vehicles like these are becoming closer to the reach of the average consumer.

This vehicle can go from zero to sixty in an astonishing 2.5 seconds. However, there are several additional features and amenities to this vehicle that are worth keeping in mind. Featuring the latest in semiautonomous and EV tech, the Model-S in particular comes with enough room for anything that you might have in mind. The fact that autopilot is limited to posted speed limits on undivided roadways is something else to consider.

The massive 17-inch touchscreen is back. The same can be said for many of the features and design elements that defined the Model X vehicles. The leather seats that have been praised for being extremely comfortable in the past are back, as well. You will also find it possible to seat five people without any difficult, provided all of the passengers are less than six feet tall. Even at capacity, owners of the new P100D from Tesla will find it possible to have room for many other things. The vehicle is designed for use across both short distances and long ones.

Although the vehicle is quite large, the low center of gravity and stiff chassis will keep the vehicle from feeling as though one is trying to drive and steer a boat.

For now, while a vehicle like this is clearly a luxury for those lucky enough to afford it, vehicles like the Model 3 will soon be able to answer the call for those who want something more affordable.

Source: http://www.mufflerexpress.com/muffler-industry-blog/143-the-p100d-from-tesla-offers-tech-options-to-the-rich.html

Scientists Uncover Efficient Method to Turn Carbon Iv Oxide Into Ethanol

Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee made a revolutionary discovery as they accidentally stumbled on a chemical reaction that converts carbon IV oxide (i.e. carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas and a waste product of combustion) to ethanol without the use of any form of chemical catalysts.

The United States scientists were performing some experiments in a bid to turning carbon IV oxide into a useful source of energy when it happened; the first step in the series of methods literally, automatically and chemically reacted to produce ethanol. This is a hydrocarbon compound that, although used in the brewing of alcoholic beverages, can be utilized as a source of energy for vehicles and generators. Ethanol, which can also be produced from sugar or corn (i.e. organic matter) is one of the most important biofuels globally.

Nanotechnology (technology for microscopic devices) was employed in this process. Carbon nanospikes, arranged on a silicon surface, were chemically combined with copper. The use of nanotechnology made the chemical reaction to be clear-cut and was helpful in eliminating contaminants or side reactions which could have marred the process. The result was outstanding, to say the least.

The chemicals used in this process are materials that can be found commonly anywhere, and the fact that the reaction from the beginning to the end requires little to no expenditure of energy has made this process the best, compared to the other procedures utilized to convert carbon IV oxide to ethanol. This also implies that the process of conversion can be utilized as a short-term energy storage system during the generation of renewable energy and can be used to adjust the oscillation in a renewable energy grid.

This remarkable discovery is highly applauded by all and sundry, as anyone who desires to use electricity gets to enjoy a bit more of this source of energy as soon as this procedure is made public. Making this option available for users will make the national grid better able to supply useful electricity to the masses. 

The scientists behind this ground-breaking discovery are pulling all the resources at their disposal to ensure that they enhance this process as much as possible and within a short time-frame. Making this process of chemically converting carbon IV oxide to ethanol more efficient could lead to a great carbon capture in the nearest future. 

The use of solar energy and wind as sources of power is growing day by day, but changes in weather could mar these, and since we cannot control the climate, their efficiency could be affected. But not with this innovative discovery as intense research is still ongoing to find ways of making and storing ethanol from the overabundant carbon IV oxide on earth.

If this experimentation becomes successful, there could be a drastic change from using fossil fuels to using biofuels, since the majority of toxic gas emissions arise from the production of fossil fuels, which in turn influences the climate negatively. 

Source Url : http://www.mufflerexpress.com/muffler-industry-blog/134-scientists-uncover-efficient-method-to-turn-carbon-iv-oxide-into-ethanol.html