Posted by Admin on
September 3, 2008
Ok, so we admit, sometimes we’re a little slow. (And no, we’re definitely not talking about our driving speeds) At the beginning of last month, Honda sent out its official press release of what the 2009 Honda Civic and 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid have to offer the world. Well finally ours arrived and here they are. The 2009 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid have indeed been updated, but don’t hold your breath too much, they’re less exciting than one might hope for. It took us a bit to figure out what changed between ‘08 and ‘09, but from the appearance side of things, the most dramatic difference is the lower bumper — it gets a set of side intakes which are probably just for visual interest. Most of the news comes from interior features, including the introduction of a stereo system equipped to play MP3s, some Bluetooth gadgetry and a new stability-control system. Check out the pics and read all about it in the lengthy official press release after the jump.
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Posted by Admin on
June 27, 2008
Much like the current Mercedes-Benz S Class, the new Toyota Crown Hybrid, has opted for a LCD panel mounted directly above the steering wheel in the dash, instead of traditional gauges. In the case of the Toyota, their 1280 x 480 pixel screen has a fancy name called “Night View.”
And just like the Mercedes-Benz S Class, Toyota is now offering a night vision system that changes the screen from the standard Speedometer and RPM gauges, to a full screen Night Vision displal. But, Toyota has gone a step further by adding a human recognition system to their night vision system. As with any bleeding edge technology, there are some limits however.
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Posted by Admin on
May 20, 2008
Now is the time to really break out those tin-foil hats (and maybe underwear)! Just to help perpetuate the FUD around hybrids, The New York Times is running an article about the “hidden” dangers of Hybrids – Electro-Magnetic Fields (or EMF’s).
According to the New York Times, strong electromagnetic fields are emanating from the high voltage power cables (which happen to be located near the driver) might be hazardous to your health, yet the government doesn’t even test for EMF’s in vehicles.
Back to Alternative Fuels 101, “Hybrid vehicles” are, of course, vehicles that use an electric power motor assisting the more traditional gasoline-fueled combustion engine. Unlike traditional vehicles, hybrids need to move a large amount of electricity which causes electromagnetic fields or EMFs. Many drivers are lucky enough to spend hours at a time in their car (yay rush hour), making this exposure prolonged, thus increasing the health risk. This apparently has many drivers concerned. The article says,
Their concern is not without merit; agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute acknowledge the potential hazards of long-term exposure to a strong electromagnetic field, or E.M.F., and have done studies on the association of cancer risks with living near high-voltage utility lines.
EMFs are nothing more than a byproduct of electricity, meaning, virtually every device that needs electricity produces some level of EMF. Generally, the more electricity pumped through an object, the stronger the EMF will be. However, there is no general agreement or federal standard that says what level of EMF’s are hazardous, if any. Currently the government does not do safety tests on the strength of EMF’s in hybrid vehicles.
Automakers argue that such instruments cannot make consistent and meaningful readings, however, there is anecdotal evidence of hybrid vehicle EMFs causing health problems. Neysa Linzer, 58, says that since she bought her Honda Civic Hybrid her blood pressure has increased and that she has fallen asleep at the wheel 3 times. She believes her hybrid is causing her health problems, “I never had a sleepiness problem before,” she said. She requested that Honda provide her with shielding material to protect her from the fields but Honda declined.
Driver, Brian Collins decided to test his Honda Insight with a Trifield meter. He received readings of 135 milligauss at the hip and 100 milligauss at the upper torso. Considering his VW Van only measures between 1-2 milligauss, he decided to sell his hybrid at a $7000 loss. The article says,
Lawrence Gust of Ventura, Calif., a consultant with a specialty in E.M.F.’s and electrical sensitivity, was one of the electrical engineers who tested Mr. Collins’s Insight in 2001. He agreed that the readings were high but did not want to speculate on whether they were harmful. “There are big blocks of high-amp power being moved around in a hybrid, the equivalent of horsepower,” he said. “I get a lot of clients who ask if they should buy hybrid electric cars, and I say the jury is still out.
New technology of course comes with new risks. Obviously, reduced gasoline consumption is a good thing, but should we ignore possible risks as these vehicles gain popularity? Should we care if tree hugging hippies can’t reproduce? Should the goverment be promoting hybrid use to the terrorists?
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