Voltex - Click above to watch video after the jump
While there are those who say range anxiety is not really a problem for them, there are clearly many who plan on going down the whole "extender" route to avoid the possibility of one day being embarrassed by a sudden lack of go-power. But, instead of continuing to depend on mechanical backup, perhaps there is another approach to consider: pharmaceuticals.*
Our good friends over at EVcast may have un-earthed video of a commercial for a product called Voltex that claims to finally put an end to the curse of range anxiety. At least, it can if your stomach happens to be less than 80 percent full or more than 20 percent empty. And you can handle the potentially bizarre side effects. Curious? Hit the jump to check out the video and possibly discover if Voltex is right for you.
*ABG strongly recommends not taking any prescription medications without the explicit advice of your physician. ABG does not mean to imply that Voltrex (or any other medication) will work for you or that it's a prescription medication. Reading glasses are recommended for examining the fine print on any product.
The Autoblog Green Podcast has finally reached our second dozen! Sebastian and Sam kicked it just before the July 4th holiday, and touched on the Tesla sedan, fuel prices making a possible case for economical vehicles to consumers, ethanol from invasive species, and the possibility of GM dusting off the EV1. Most importantly, the new design of AutoblogGreen is discussed a little bit, too. Thanks for listening, see you again soon!
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Sebastian is joined by Jeremy for AutoblogGreen Podcast #23, since Sam was hanging out with Bob Lutz and his Vectrix scooter when we recorded. Jeremy recounts his experience with Piaggio MP3 scooters on a ride from New York to Connecticut, and we move on to talk about the limited Prius supply as of late. We also touch on some developments at GM: the impending doom that may befall Hummer, and the coming of the Volt, which GM wants to build in Detroit. We go on for a while about hybrids and EVs for a while before wrapping up. Thanks for listening, we'll see you soon!
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For Episode #22 of the AutoblogGreen podcast, Sam and Sebastian recap the AVFI show in Las Vegas, and enter into a discussion focusing on diesel. Still on the diesel tip, Sam talks excitedly about the Volkswagen TDI Cup racing series before moving on to the much more charged topic of EV infrastructure. Our interview this week isn't so much a one on one as it is a speech from T. Boone Pickens, he of oil magnate status, about how oil is not going to last forever. Thanks for listening, see you again soon!
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It's tales from the road for episode #21 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast. Sebastian got a peek behind the curtain at GM to see the Chevrolet Volt, and Sam jet-setted to sample wares from Audi and BMW. Hybrids, diesels, EVs, and more - plus, we wrap up with an interview with Tesla's Daryl Siry for a total of 43 minutes. Thanks for listening!
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Episode 20 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast has us recapping Geneva mere days before we head to New York. There were lots of exciting things over in Switzerland, and we touch on a few of them. Th!nk's new Ox will be a Tesla-magnitude achievement if it hits the market doing what the company says it will. GM rolled out the new version of its mild hybrid system that will be propagating across virtually all models in all brands to help boost CAFE. Better efficiency for about half of what a sat nav option costs? We'll take it. Speaking of hybrids, there was a lot of talk from BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen ,and others about upcoming Euro-branded hybrids, and diesel hybrids at that. Mercedes will debut li-Ion batteries in a production hybrid, while Toyota has yet to see a compelling argument for diesel hybrids. Rest assured that if people want it, Toyota will build it, though. Before closing, we look forward to the couple of things we know about in New York, like the debut of the Acura TSX/Honda Euro Accord which will sport a 50-state legal diesel, and the Automotive X-Prize folks will be holding a press conference, as well. 32 minutes this time around. Stay tuned, we'll surely be abuzz when we return from New York.
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Some people use airport layovers to sleep, read, or get a meal. Sam and Sebastian took the opportunity to record AutoblogGreen Podcast #19. While waiting for a plane to whisk them back home from the Chicago Auto Show, we recapped a few things we saw at the show. It wasn't the greenest show we've seen, but they have the biggest building, by their own admission. A few things left impressions on us, first of which was the GMC Denali XT. The Zeta variant is the first use of GM's Two-mode hybrid system on a passenger car platform. Other exciting GM news is the announcement that ICM and Coskata will be working together to build a cellulosic ethanol plant. Ford came out with a couple of ideas aimed at truck customers that could boost CAFE numbers. The Transit Connect is a right-sized utility van, and their new Work Solutions system could be a stealthy way to improve economy. Honda has hybrids and diesels coming, and Toyota will be trying to add lightness to its fleet. Our interview this time around is with Bridgestone's Dan McDonald about their "One Team, One Planet" initiatives.
Episode 18 of the Autoblog Green Podcast sees us reminiscing about the North American International Auto Show, recently passed in Detroit. We start with the reconfigured Saturn Vue Hybrid from AFS - the "extreme hybrid" claiming a narrowly defined150 mpg. AFS's claims point up the need for a new way to accurately rate mpg for hybrid and plugin powertrains. We touch on the Chrysler green trio, and Saturn's own Vue Two-Mode - one of three versions of the Vue that will have a flavor of hybrid powertrains (two mode, li-ion/phev, mild).
Everyone in Detroit had a Diesel, too, many displacing 2.2 liters and having four cylinders. We also talk abit about Ford going mainstream with their EcoBoost engine technology rather than trotting out ever larger V8s - big power doesn't always mean big cubes, and EcoBoost is more than small motors with big compressors strapped onto the exhaust manifolds. We wrap up by touching on the news that the ALMS series will see a fleet of Corvettes running cellulosic E85. The rules of the series allow lots of different technologies to run wheel to wheel, so alternative powertrains could be the next area where we see racing improving the breed. 43 minutes, and we're done, thanks for listening!
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We're in Detroit now, but Sebastian and Sam took some time to chat about a few things before leaving for the show. Rick Wagoner's CES keynote was historic, as was the appearance of the Cadillac Provoq at that show. Coming up at Detroit we'll bring you details on all of the alternative and fuel-efficient vehicles like the Hummer HX that signals a wholesale move to E85 capability and the first ever unibody Ford Explorer. Sebastian brings us an interview with Bill Roe of Coskata Energy about their exciting work on biofuels and we wrap up by touching on the Tata Nano. We'll be back again soon, see you then!
UPDATE: transcript of the interview with Bill Roe available here.
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We're back for AutoblogGreen Podcast #16. In this installment, Sebastian updates us on some of the really amazing things he saw while at EVS23 in Anaheim. Speaking of really cool stuff, our interview this time is with Beau Boeckmann of Galpin Autosports. Sebastian and Beau talk in depth about the crazyawesomelywild hybrid F450 that was done up for Pimp My Ride, while Sam got to see the Chevy Volt showing a little leg on a recent tour of the E-Flex design studio. We take some time to discuss the Volt and E-Flex in depth, touching on some of the discoveries that have been made as the platform gets developed, as well as how far along the E-Flex is, which is surprising. We're looking ahead to NAIAS in Detroit in a few weeks, for now, enjoy this installment, clocking in at 43 minutes.
UPDATE: Read the transcript and view a picture of Beau's truck here.
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Sebastian and Sam are back for episode 15 of the AutoblogGreen Podcast. We start with a recap of what Sam got to see at the LA Auto Show - the Honda FCX Clarity, Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, as well as the GM 2-Mode Hybrid trucks. While in LA, Sam got to take a thrilling ride in a Tesla Roadster with Daryl Siry of Tesla where they discuss Tesla's future plans, and the challenges you face when bringing a viable EV to market. Sebastian had the chance to talk with Jonathan Williams about a "tri-brid"fuel-cell mini-bus that also has batteries and ultracapacitors on board. There will be more on this when Sebastian reports from EVS23 next wee. The podcast clocks in at 57 minutes this week, enjoy!
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We're back for AutoblogGreen Podcast #14. In this installment, we recap the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo and many of the interesting things we saw at that show. Everything from converted Russian hatchbacks as NEVs to excessively fast electric drag racers. Sam is currently covering the LA Auto Show for us, and in this show we discuss details on the GM hybrid trucks and cars, as well as everything else with a green tint at the show. Finishing up this episode, Sam's also got an interview with Larry Nitz, executive director of hybrid powertrains at GM, part of the team that developed Allison's two-mode hybrid system. Thanks for listening to all 45 minutes, we'll see you again soon!
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It's the lucky 13th episode of the Autoblog Green Podcast, just in time for Halloween. More importantly, just in time for the Santa Monica Alt Car Expo. The Alt Car Expo starts soon, and Sebastian will be there. It's one of the largest green car shows in the world, and admission is even free. There's always lots of really innovative and clever things to see. Last year, a group of folks converted a 1957 Triumph to EV power during the show. We'll be there rubbing elbows with all of the movers and shakers in the green car world. Our interview this week is with the Society for Sustainable Mobility, who will be in Santa Monica, and we talk about the Open Source Green Vehicle Project (check back later today for the transcript of the interview. UPDATE: here it is).
The Tokyo Motor Show is coming up soon, as well, which will be full of alternative fuel vehicles that push design innovation. There's a real alphabet soup of concepts heading to Tokyo, and the vehicles are as strange as their names. Both shows provide us with good podcast chatter for 42 minutes - enjoy!
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Better late than never, right? It's totally my fault that AutoblogGreen Podcast #12 is so late in coming, but here it is! Episode 12 is a Frankfurt recap show, and John Neff from Autoblog.com joins Sebastian and Sam to talk about some of the highlights of the dual-personality (green and not so green) Frankfurt Motor Show. There's lots of discussion about the coming E-Flex versus Hybrid Synergy Drive smackdown, the 17 new models coming from Mercedes by 2010, many of them diesels, the Volvo C30 Efficiency kicks off discussion about plucking the low-hanging efficiency fruit, and the 'cast wraps up with further punditry about Diesel regs in the US versus the EU. It's a wide-ranging discussion clocking in at 41 minutes, enjoy!
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As we head toward the Frankfurt Motor show, AutoblogGreen Podcast #11 is filled with talk about what we'll see at the show. There've been lots of developments from European manufacturers, and we're eager to see those cars up close. Sam also got the chance to attend a GM Powertrain event at their Milford proving grounds where he was able to drive some of the new engine technologies around, including HCCI. While there, he also snagged interviews with Paul Najt and Uwe Grebe talking about the work they've been doing developing new GM powertrains. It's 36 minutes this week, and we've fixed the RSS and audio issues from the last couple episodes. Thanks for listening!
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Autoblog Green hits podcast number 10, which has us talking about Martin Eberhard's move at Tesla, for starters. The car is still on track, regardless of management. We've got a couple of interviews, one with Nick Kovics from Ballard Power Systems about the fuel cell work they've been doing with Ford for the Fusion 999 and Ohio State's streamliner and the second with John Laukner talking about batteries for GM's EFlex architecture in the Chevrolet Volt. Speaking of the EFlex, we discuss A123 Systems contract for battery cells for the Volt, and their status as a Tier 1 supplier for GM. We did have a little technical trouble with Sam's feed this week, but we think you'll be able to get the gist of what we're saying. See you in two weeks!
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This week, Sam brings back two interviews - one with Ford's Scott Staley about what's going on in Hybrid land, which is then balanced by a conversation with John Lapetz that pulls back the curtain on the hydrogen research that's been going on in Dearborn. Also touched on are the Chevy Volt and the EFlex architecture itself, set to go into series production in 2010. Things move from the EFlex to the challenge of bringing Li-Ion batteries to market. Ford also announced that there will be an experimental program with Southern California Edison, which will essentially serve as a real-world test for plug-in capable Escape hybrids. It's 53 and a half minutes this week, dig in!
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Have a seat and get the latest green car news in easy-to-carry audio format. For the eighth AutoblogGreen podcast, we speak with Tobia Ciottone of ZipCar Chicago. If you've ever wanted to know how to bring car-sharing to your town, we've got the answer.
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Following the TechKnow forum in Ann Arbor this week, Sam, Jeremy and Sebastian sat down in a coffeeshop for a highly-caffeinated chat about what they'd just heard. Three firsts for this show: our first on-location show, Jeremy's first time joining us, and the first without an "industry insider" interview. For those who fear change, stay away. Everyone else, welcome.
Sharing a bit of auto design wisdom with us on the latest AutoblogGreen podcast is Roberto Jerez, who gives us the skinny on Velozzi and their 200 mpg entry for the Auto X Prize. Plus, the highlights from recent news and we're still grooving to our new theme music.
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