German Auto Club reviews fuel efficiency in real world conditions

Posted By on June 8, 2010

The German Auto Club found CNG Fiat Panda to be the most Economical Car in Europe for real world driving conditions. Perhaps before U.S. driivers rush to plug-in electric models for commuting and around town driving we should be looking at a few more ‘current technology’ CNG vehicles?

The German equivalent of AAA — Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club, or ADAC — just finished an exhaustive test of almost all cars available for sale in Europe (241 to be exact) in real-world conditions to answer one question: which car can travel the farthest on €30 (~$36 US) worth of cash?

In Europe there are quite a few more choices in the… eh… economical range of offerings than we currently have in the U.S., so the competition pitted everything from natural gas to diesel to regular old petrol powered vehicles up against each other.

In the end, the Fiat Panda Natural Power — a dual fuel CNG/gasoline-powered vehicle — won hands down by traveling 724 kilometers (~450 miles) on €30 worth of CNG. If you do the calculations, that’s 8 cents a mile, which may sound kind of average to U.S. green car sensibilities, but consider that in Germany gasoline costs about $6.20 per gallon — meaning that even a 30 mpg car would cost about 21 cents per mile to drive there. At $3 per gallon gas, that same 30 mpg car will cost you 10 cents a mile in the U.S.

Even though all the press releases I read on the topic were rather cagey about what the average fuel efficiency of the Panda was during the tests, I did a few back calculations to figure it out myself. ADAC used an average price of €0.94 per kg for the CNG calculations (as shown in the above picture), which means that they obtained a fuel efficiency of 22.7 km (14.1 miles) per kg of CNG, seeing as they traveled 724 km on €30 of fuel.

In the US, CNG is sold in units of gasoline gallon equivalents (gge) instead of kilograms, but using this handy calculator, I was able to figure out that the current average U.S. price of $1.90 per gge is equivalent to €0.62 per kg — roughly 65% of the cost of the €0.94 used by ADAC in their tests. So in the U.S., the same Fiat Panda Natural Power would go 450 miles on about $23 of CNG — or about 5 cents per mile, the equivalent of a 60 mpg car at $3 per gallon gas in the US..

Given that the Fiat Panda Natural Power starts at about €14,000 (~$16,700), if what you’re after is pure economy and you live in Europe, that sounds like a steal.

via gas2.org

Posted via web from richc’s posterous

Category: Automotive | 4 Comments »
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Sly as a Fox: Or is it just ‘genius’ in Apple’s case?

Posted By on June 7, 2010

FLASH VIDEO REMOVED

While watching smartphones and connected portable devices (tablets and pads) continue to take center stage in the technology world, it is interesting to contemplate the marketing and “name recognition” angle.  I spotted a forum post sensing that Steve Jobs of Apple knew exactly what he was doing in releasing their new iPhone 4G (4th generation) near the same time as Sprints first 4G (WiMax) HTC EVO phone launch.

Sprint needs to QUICKLY figure out how to talk about 4G in a manner that the public sees as different than iPhone 4G, or they will lose the "First 4G phone on the first 4G network" marketing spin to the mighty Apple marketing monster. Think it’s an accident that Apple launched iPhone 4G just as Sprint launched their 4G (WiMAX) phone??? Jobs is a genius…

EDIT: Adding an iPhone 4 video: http://www.apple.com/iphone/design/#design-video

Category: Cellphone, Marketing, Technology | 16 Comments »
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Sunday afternoon is absolutely gorgeous here in Cincinnati

Posted By on June 6, 2010

rosesandsky100606

I’ll call this a lazy but productive weekend since I spent most of Saturday working in the yard … or more appropriately on the pool and patio. Most of the  heavy pollen from the pine trees seems to have left it mark and looks to be finally finished coating everything for the season, it was time to power wash the cement surfaces, patios and outdoor furniture, as well put a little effort into brighten the teak items. After scrubbing the pool down (substantially shocked after the heavy rain) I headed over to the cleanteakporchroses100606neighbor’s graduation party – Toya and Terry Estes put on a nice party for their son Austin (he is heading to Miami University next year). 

Sunday afternoon comes the lazy part as I’m “testing” the freshly cleaned furniture and enjoying some catch-up reading. I’m also relaxing in the teak Adirondack chair while the boss is away.
🙂

Category: Misc, Personal, Photos | No Comments »
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Sprint 4G HTC EVO started selling Friday

Posted By on June 5, 2010

I’ve had my Palm Pre about a year now and have been pretty satisfied with the webOS smartphone. Unfortunately the news coming from the acquiring company, HP, isn’t a confidence builder android-evo-pre-5so it’s time to ponder the options …  still most likely a year away. The buzz at Sprint is the higher data speed from its expanding 4G service and the HTC EVO device hitting the market this past Friday. I expect it will be a big seller in that the “phone” (if you can still call it that) has a superb display, high performance processor and maturing Android operating system. This is the first major WiMAX phone and it will test the public’s tolerance at bigger sized phones, with higher carrier data costs and a shortened battery life (the Palm Pre is bad enough).

According to the PreCentral forums, especially this thread, “a sizable number of Pre owners are going to make the switch.” A photo comparison in their blog also highlights the difference between a smallish Palm Pre and the new HTC EVO smartphone (comparison photo above). For someone like me who prefers carrying their phone in a pocket, I’d be having  second thoughts if I was switching to the EVO.

Speaking of second thoughts, I was with my brother this past weekend and found myself pondering a smaller cellphone bill and while doing less with a phone. I actually enjoy checking out his LG Lotus; it was really a nice QWERTY flip phone and now that the newer Elite model is available (image below), it might be a decent phone to step back from the do-all smartphones that are “all the rage” today. Frankly having a clamshell phone that fits comfortably in a pocket, does text messaging and emails along with some social networking… and has both a decent camera and video makes some sense. Sure I’d miss the synchronization with Google Contacts and Calendar, but a lower monthly bill and better battery life would be appreciated. I might just consider going back to a more basic phone and “pad” or netbook instead of and all in one smartphone? But as a friend who just order the EVO tweeted a day before placing his order, “I’m very cell phone bipolar!”

LG-Lotus-Elite

Category: Cellphone, Technology | 6 Comments »
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Europe’s debt and U.S. jobs report push markets below 10,000

Posted By on June 4, 2010

U.S. markets close back below 10,000 today as worried investors see debt in Europe and weaker than expected jobs numbers in the U.S. as bearish for stocks. The slight improvement in unemployment was markets100604tarnished by the addition of nearly 400,000 government census temporary hires … leaving only 41,000 jobs being added by the private sector. This addition of 431,000 fell far short of the expectations of 515,000 jobs predicted by economists.

For those traveling to Europe this summer (so as long as you’ve already purchase airfare), you’ll see your U.S. dollar stretch a bit further against the Euro which continues to weaken – Euro to below $1.20 at a four year low. Although Greece, Portugal and Ireland have been the biggest concerns in Europe, today’s news focused on Hungary. A leading official in the ruling Fidesz party said Thursday that “Hungary faces a Greek-like sovereign-debt problem” and although Hungary is not part of the euro zone, it is an important regional trading partner to countries that do use the common currency.

In an attempt to find something positive to say going into the weekend, BP has capture “some” oil from the the funnel-like lid is designed to channel oil for pumping to a surface tanker, but recent video is still “showed that the oil seemed unimpeded” as it leaked into the Gulf of Mexico. The best chance to stop the leaking will still be the drilling of relief wells, which according to reports are at least two months away. The disaster makes anyone who appreciates the environment, oceans and wildlife just sick.

seabirdcoveredwithoil

Category: Environment, Financial | No Comments »
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Keep the TDI ‘clean diesel’ tax credit deadlines in mind

Posted By on June 4, 2010

Worth mentioning if you’re considering a new Volkswagen TDI this year …

Tax credits for 2010

via cincitdi.com

Posted via web from richc’s posterous

Category: Automotive, Biodiesel, Volkswagen | No Comments »
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Roz Savage, Ocean Rower, complete crossing of the Pacific Ocean

Posted By on June 4, 2010

Roz Savage finished her row across the Pacific Ocean and is welcomed into Madang, Papua New Guinea by a crowd of 5000 welcomers. Her rowing, endurance and spirit is amazing. Here’s a snippet from her blog, rozsavage.com.

The first local people to congratulate me were a few fishermen, out early in their outrigger canoes, who formed an orderly line to pass close to my boat and shake my hand.

They were just the first of many. As I neared the harbour a flotilla of about twenty canoes, all decked out in traditional garlands of leaves, came out to join me and escort me to the dock. I hope you’ve seen the photos that Mum posted earlier, and seen how splendid the boats and their paddlers looked. Everybody was smiling, especially me. I kept stopping to wave to the crowds, who waved back enthusiastically. I wish I could find a way to row and wave at the same time, but I’m still working on it.

As I got closer to the dock the crowds on the shoreline thickened. Schoolchildren in uniform created blocks of colour. As I rounded the corner towards the Madang Resort the harbour wall was absolutely packed. The estimated number is five thousand people, and I don’t think that is any exaggeration.

We completed the formalities on the dock, and then I was free to step ashore. I was met by the Governor of PNG, who explained the meaning of the traditional garlands and string bags that various well-wishers placed around my neck. As we moved through the crowd everyone was reaching out to shake my hand or touch me. It could have been overwhelming to be surrounded by such a crush of humanity after 46 days at sea, but in fact it felt great.

via rozsavage.com

Posted via web from richc’s posterous

Category: Misc, News, Sailing | 2 Comments »
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Radium License contest at Mac.AppStorm

Posted By on June 4, 2010

An easy way to listen to web-based radio is using Radium on the Mac. By entering a contest at mac.apstorm.net you might even get a license free. (Thanks Scott)

9 Radium Licenses Up For Grabs

Today we’re kicking off a new competition to win a copy of Radium. We recently reviewed Radium, and were really impressed. It’s simple, functional, and an absolutely fantastic way to listen to the radio on your Mac!

We have nine licenses up for grabs, and entering is really simple. All you need to do is:

  1. Post a link to this competition – either on your website, or via Twitter
  2. Leave a comment, letting me know where you posted the link!

The competition will run for one week, and we’ll announce the winners on the Friday, 11th June. Good luck, and enjoy your weekend!

via mac.appstorm.net

Posted via web from richc’s posterous

Category: Misc | No Comments »
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Lightning made for a beautiful 11PM photo

Posted By on June 4, 2010

TimeLapse1130PMLightning_35

While heading home the distant lightning lit night and the sky making for an interesting photo … so stuck the camera out the window for a 2 second exposure just as the bolt brighten the surroundings.

Category: Photos | No Comments »
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The Palm Pre and Pixi’s future is in question … again

Posted By on June 3, 2010

After HP purchased Palm, most developing and carrying around webOS mobile devices had a sigh of relief believed that having a bigger company behind Palm would give them a chance to compete in the crowded handset device market. Unfortunately HP CEO Mark Hurd isn’t seeing things the way Palm advocates did? Thanks for the link Scott.

HP CEO: "We didn’t buy Palm to be in the smartphone business"

You’d think spending a billion dollars on a smartphone company would indicate a desire to, say, make and sell smartphones, but you’d apparently be thinking wrong: HP CEO Mark Hurd just told investors at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch tech conference that his company "didn’t buy Palm to be in the smartphone business," and that he’s not going to "spend billions of dollars trying to go into the smartphone business; that doesn’t in any way make any sense." Yes, that sound you’re hearing is Jon Rubinstein’s heart breaking into a million tiny pieces. According to Hurd, HP was actually more interested in Palm’s IP — specifically webOS, which he wants to put on "tens of millions of HP small form-factor web-connected devices." Sure, that makes sense, and it lines up perfectly with HP’s plan to "double down on webOS" and put it on everything from netbooks and slates to printers, but hey, Mark? You should really look into the smartphone business when you get a second, okay? Just trust us on this one.

We didn’t buy Palm to be in the smartphone business. And I tell people that, but it doesn’t seem to resonate well. We bought it for the IP. The WebOS is one of the two ground-up pieces of software that is built as a web operating environment…We have tens of millions of HP small form factor web-connected devices…Now imagine that being a web-connected environment where now you can get a common look and feel and a common set of services laid against that environment. That is a very value proposition.

Category: Cellphone, Computer, Technology | 2 Comments »
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Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
My Desultory Blog