Picture this. You’re on the road, top down on the car, listening to some of your favorite songs as you cruise along. Suddenly, something catches the corner of your eye. You turn, and you’re surprised. You have no idea how they got there. You never heard that pack of Hells Angels racing by on those motorcycles. You never heard them because the motorcycles are hybrids, which make them not only eco-friendly, but quieter as well.

That could be our future. As the country changes, there is more of a focus than ever on keeping the environment green. Part of doing our part is driving vehicles that aren’t as harmful to the environment. While auto manufactures have been a bit behind when it comes to hybrid motorcycles, it appears that might be changing. With all of the concept motorcycles that have floated in and out of the news, it appears that there is one man who might be capable of truly making a difference.

Jim Taylor, an executive at Cadillac and a motorcycle enthusiast, recently unveiled his company’s plans to show off their new hybrid motorcycle at the LA Auto Show in November. While Cadillac’s hybrid is currently being described as a concept motorcycle, it is rumored that it might actually be a finished product by the time it hits the auto show. If that is the case, consumers can expect to see them available to buy sometime next year. If that is not the case, Cadillac does appear to be dedicated to seeing this project through. Taylor appears to be very excited about the hybrid motorcycle and plans on it being a functioning piece of machinery.

While Cadillac is staying somewhat tight lipped about its new motorcycle, they have revealed a few of the details. The motorcycle is said to go from zero to sixty in 4.5 seconds, which is very admirable in the land of the hybrids. It is also believed to top out at eighty miles an hour, which is still too fast for Grandma, so that’s good as well. It’s not so fast that you could end up in the jail overnight for speeding, but fast enough to still be cool enough to take out on the interstate.

Motorcycle enthusiasts can also get excited about the design. Jim Taylor is not naïve to the expectations of the consumer. Since he does enjoy motorcycles, he understands that looks are important. Taylor is not going to go out and sell a Vespa rip off.

Even though the motorcycle is expected to look good, it will stay true to the hybrid nature. It will be capable of running off of either ethanol or pure electric. Both motorcycle lovers and environmental protectors will be pleased. It will showcase the best of both worlds.

Cadillac’s hybrid motorcycle could easily propel automotive manufacturers into the future. Instead of sitting on their heels and thinking about making a hybrid motorcycle, chances are it will come into action. When the time comes, be prepared. Those Hells Angels on hybrids might be coming to a highway near you.

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Filed Under: General

A recent study from the Public Policy Institute of California is asserting that hands-free cellphone laws, such as the one taking effect in California on July 1st, will save 300 lives per year.

Based on data from municipalities, including the California Highway Patrol, this statistic is not an entirely accurate picture of possible or future road safety. Currently the results from the report above include guess-timates, based on information collected from accidents and mobile phone users, in states that have had the hands-free cell phone laws in effect for some time, such as Connecticut and New York.

Will hands-free phone laws make our roads safer?

According to Joe Kolko, who conducted the cell phone and accident study from PPIC, the answer is yes.

Kolko discovered that traffic deaths during bad weather fell 52 percent within six months of the laws’ taking effect. Fatalities on wet roads dropped 38 percent and rush-hour deaths fell 17 percent.

Data from New York, which enacted the nation’s first hands-free law in 2001, suggests the pattern holds up over the long haul. Four years after the law passed, traffic fatalities during lousy weather or on wet roads were down about 64 percent. Kolko assumed California would see similar declines and applied those figures to the number traffic fatalities in adverse conditions to arrive at 300 lives saved per year.

Clearly his guess-timates paint a picture of increased road safety.

But many questions remain such as, will drivers en masse adhere to these new laws? Should drivers be told by the government when and how to use their cell phones? When will better reporting take place to accurately record whether a cell phone triggered an accident?

I’m sure as time passes, all 50 states will have passed similar laws, and drivers will not be allowed to drive while on their cell phones. I especially feel that TWD (texting while driving) is a far more dangerous activity performed behind the wheel. Essentially while a driver is on a call, be it on a hands free device or not, distraction can and does occur, which brings me to my reader question.

Reader Question

Do you think that hands free devices will make for greater road safety?

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Filed Under: Autos

In a world where SUVs are seen as the villain fighting against a greener environment, Mercedes has jumped into the ring to change consumers’ way of thinking. Instead of marketing yet another SUV that does more harm than good, Mercedes has changed the mold to wonderful results.

In its first step to change the perception of SUVs, Mercedes came out with BlueTEC technology. BlueTEC is a technology for diesel fueled vehicles that not only cleans the diesel exhaust, but also improves vehicle mileage. As the exhaust makes its way through a vehicle, it passes through a filtering system. Then, it is mixed with AdBlue additives, which turn the exhaust into Nitrogen and water. The end result is a safer, cleaner operating system for motorists.

When Mercedes unveiled BlueTEC technology, environmentalists were excited. However, while the public was still taking in all of the information that BlueTEC had to offer, Mercedes was quietly working on yet another way to help the environment. Much to the surprise of consumers and environmentalists alike, they managed to outdo themselves by combing both BlueTEC technology and a hybrid system to give consumers the best of both worlds.

Mercedes showed its new model at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. With its new product, Mercedes proved that it had managed to once again up the ante in the market of SUVs. With the Vision GLK BlueTEC Hybrid, Mercedes threw the gauntlet down with such force that SUV manufacturers across the board are going to have to scramble to catch up.

The Vision GLK BlueTEC Hybrid is a new breed of SUVs. While most hybrid SUVs are doing well to offer 25 miles per gallon, the GLK announced that drivers will enjoy 40 miles per gallon. Up until that point, hybrid SUVs were expected to get an average of 25% better fuel economy. Mercedes turned 25% into a joke.

Mercedes found that by mixing both a hybrid system and BlueTEC technology, fuel economy is greatly improved. Even though the Vision GLK BlueTEC Hybrid is the first in its class, consumers can expect to see more vehicles taking advantage of the dual technology in the future. The GLK has proven to be an astounding vehicle, and it should pave the way for SUVs and other vehicles in the future.

Not only is the Vision GLK BlueTEC Hybrid a great model regarding fuel economy, but it also looks good. It does not have the feel of hybrids of the past. Instead, it would blend in nicely with other vehicles on the road.

Currently, the GLK BlueTEC Hybrid is being labeled as a concept vehicle. That should not give consumers reason for concern, though. The GLK BlueTEC Hybrid is expected to be available to consumers as early as 2009. Mercedes feels confident that the model is ready for the public. As the technology is implemented into more vehicles, it should also become more and more affordable. It could end up being the ride of the future, but right now it is in a class all of its own.

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Filed Under: Green

The Zap-X Electric Vehicle is being tuted as “the fun, compact, and affordable EV”. Due out in the year 2010, this high performance crossover electric car is to be engineered by Lotus.

Some of the features of the Zap X include:

• APX Light Weight Aluminum
• Architecture Design
• Electronic Braking System (EBS)
• Rack and Pinion Steering
• Solar Glass
• Lithium Batteries
  (Bio-degradable Non-Explosive)
• Power Windows
• Power Door Locks
• Power Steering
• GPS
• On Board Carputer with Full Entertainment System

The stylings of this EV reminds me of a cross between a Ford Mustang and a small SUV, not terribly exciting a design. The Zap-X ride comes in at a top speed of 155 MPH, horsepower at 644, and a ridiculous charge time of 10 minutes.

The Zap-X EV is not yet available anywhere and some of its marketed features (such as charge time) will need to be seriously tweaked, before they become reality in many or most homes.

What Zap-X lacks in design, atleast they make up for in fuel efficiency and technology.

Price Tag: $60,000

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Filed Under: Autos, Eco Friendly, Fuel Efficient, Green, electric cars, electric vehicles, ev, transportation, zap x