Posts Tagged ‘range’

Meet the New Google Maps Street View Car: A Colorful Subaru Complete With Red Ladybug Up Top

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Well, here it is, the current generation Google Maps Car. (A Subaru, judging by the Pleiades icon on the nose – for some reason, Google stripped the badges from the rear of these cars.)

Are there cameras and SICK laser range finders and WiFi detectors and whatnot on top of this Subie? Who knows…

Click to expand

And here’s what these rides looked like before they got wrapped:

And this was the first generation Map Car, seen getting busted by the Federal popo in the Presidio.

(I have dual sources supporting contradictory stories (so that’s four people promoting two completely different stories) on why this particular Googler got busted, or not busted as the case may be. Oh well. Did the Presidio Trust tell the Google to get a permit? And did Google ignore that request? Don’t know.)

And of course, don’t forget about the Google Bus:

And the Google Bikes:

And the Google office:

And the Google Kitchen – it’s just like a 7-11 except shoplifting is encouraged:

And here’s the concomitant G-Toilet – it costs $700, it has over 20 buttons for its full operation, it’s made in Japan:

So that’s Google’s world.

Now, there are a lot of counterfeit Google Map Cars out there as well:

Accept No Substitutes.

Google Rulez!

Bon Courage, Googlers!

Drive a Range Rover Up and Down in SoMA – It’s “The Land Rover Experience” at the San Francisco Car Show

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

This is the scene these days at 747 Howard, Moscone Center North, just outside of the otherwise-tepid 53rd Annual San Francisco International Auto Show.

They let you drive on and around a big pile of dirt.

See?

Click to expand

Things get a little tippy:

Now, I’d never own a Range Rover product myself, but you, you go right ahead. The electronic wizardry is amazing, anyway.

Think they close up early on Thanksgiving Day, otherwise this Experience should be around until the car show ends on Sunday.

The Land Rover Experience

Range RoverThe Land Rover Experience is your opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Land Rover or Range Rover for a unique, off-road driving session. The sure-footed control, renowned handling and impressive agility of our vehicles have to be experienced from inside the cabin to be believed. Certified Land Rover Driving Instructors will be on hand to share tips and techniques, and guide you through the course with confidence. For more details, please visit us at the Land Rover Experience tent in front of the Moscone North Hall. Must be 18 or over with a valid driver license to drive.


Spotting an All-Electric ZAP Xebra Microcar on the Streets of San Francisco

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Well, here it is, straight-outta-Shandong, it’s a three-wheeled ZAP! Xebra all-electric car / motorcycle.

Now, one of the things you should know by now is to never trust anything said by anybody from an electric car company. (Sometimes they’ll lie to you on purpose and sometimes they’ll lie to you inadvertently.) Anyway, I’ll let Wiki take over now – seems as if Santa Rosa-based ZAP! has more than it’s fair share of issues.

Recently seen on Market Street:

Take a look at the video of a Xebra on Sloat from the Cat Snuggler - this could be the same exact vehicle.

Let’s hope the range is over 15 miles per charge IRL for the newer models.

Wow! You can even buy them on the craigslist.

Keep a look out.

2008 ZAP! Xebra Sedan  
Shipment just arrived. Red, blue, green, and other colors available. Tax credits and sales tax free. Here is your chance to go all electric and stop using gas! Stock 72 Volt. Upgrades to 84 volt are available at extra cost. All Electric! | Top speed 40mph | Max range 20-25 miles | 4 door 4 seater | 110v charge | Max capacity 500lbs | 72v system

  • Curtis Controller
  • Power Locks
  • Metal body
  • Heat/Defrost
  • AM/FM/CD player
  • ALL ELECTRIC!
  • DeltaQ charger
  • Hatchback

Tesla Motors Prattles about “Range Anxiety” – But What About Loan Repayment Anxiety?

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Ah yes, the horrible Tesla Motors company, based in nearby San Carlos, CA, comes now to diagnose the public’s ”range anxiety” concerning electric vehicles. Their point is that if you keep on charging up an electric car, it will keep on running.

O.K.

But why did Tesla need to get bailed out by the Feds to the tune of a half-billion dollars? Did they try to get private financing? Oh yes, numerous times, but, for some reason, they felt the need to take the money from the Feds. If Tesla is such a great company, why don’t they pay back the government loan right now and thereby relieve taxpayers of loan repayment anxiety?

Oh well.

Here’s some Photoshop Phun – what’s been changed in this photo?

1. “Founder” Elon Musk has been enlarged to make him look more like a man-child playing with a rich man’s toy on the Feds’ dime; or

2. Indoor sunglasses have been added to make “founder” Elon Musk look more like a man-child playing with a rich man’s toy on the Feds’ dime; or

3. Pink XXL Crocs shoes from Costco ($14.99) have been pasted on.

 You Make The Call:

You know Tesla, your fast little toy has impressed some people, but your track record over the past six years is not impressive at all and it remains to be seen how you’ll do over the next six years.

Just saying…

Is It Really True That Cars in the 1950s Only Went 100 Miles Between Fill Ups?

Monday, February 9th, 2009

No, no it’s not. But who’s saying that in today’s New York Times? Disingenuous Shai Agassi of Project Better Place, that’s who. To wit:

Cars in the 1950s only went about 100 miles on a tank of gas, and that problem was solved by installing an infrastructure of gas stations.”

See, he’s trying to get support for his scheme of battery exchange stations for electric cars, so he’s cogitating about History and stuff. Which is fine, but why does he have to be all Music Man all the time?  

A Nash from the 1940′s. Did some Nashes have a range of 600 miles on a tank of gas? Yes.

 

Other cars, like VW Beetles, could also go much farther than 100 miles on a tank. But what about your stereotypical slick black Cadillacs with sold gold hub caps? Could these huge vehicles with 20 gallon tanks get more than 5 mpg on the open road? Yes.

Well maybe Shai was talking about cars in Israel or Europe in the 1950′s? Even so, same deal. Does this make Shai Agassi a liar? A promoter? A Believer?

If it doesn’t matter what MPG cars got in the 1950s, then why talk about it in your pitch? If you’re mistaken about this, what else are you mistaken about?