The Volt Has Arrived

The much anticipated Chevrolet Volt is about to go on sale in select markets in the US. Hear what experts are saying about this car of the future.

The Nissian Leaf

After much speculation and hype, the first large scale production all electric vehicle has finally gone on sale to the general public. This vehicle represents a leap in the availability of electric vehicles to the masses. With a starting price of around 25K and a range of up to 100 miles, the Leaf offers affordability and an extended vehicle range. Its lithium ion battery pack allows the vehicle to travel while emitting zero pollution and silent propulsion. But there are inherent drawbacks with these new technologies. While the leaf does not actually pollute, the energy that powers the vehicle can come from coal fired power plants, not exactly environmentally friendly. In addition, there is what has been called range anxiety. This term has been coined to describe the worry that drivers face as their vehicles run low on power and must be charged before they can be driven again.

Technology For the Here and Now

There has been a lot of talk recently about the future viability of the electric vehicle. While a fully electric vehicle is a great idea in theory, the infrastructure does not currently exist to support purely electric vehicles. While the introduction of the Chevrolet Volt alleviates many of these infrastructural issues, it too is limited to its current compact car platform. So what about the rest of the vehicles? In my recent search I found an article that states that turbocharged engines will lead the way toward improving the efficiency of vehicles in the near future. While turbochargers are usually associated with high performance vehicles, they have a viable place in helping to increase the fuel efficiency of most automobiles. By utilizing a turbocharged engine, automakers are able to downsize the displacement of their engines while maintaining the level of performance that drivers have become accustom to. This reduction in displacement allows for increased fuel efficiency and overall fewer carbon emissions, something we will all benefit from.

http://www.greencarreports.com/blog/1051044_number-of-turbocharged-vehicles-to-soar-thanks-to-cafe-mileage-rules