rides – Page 13 – NerdBeach

Yamaha Dues Ex Machina Concept Motorcycle

yamahaDeusExMachina

I get on the crafted machine, strap in and push a button. The integrated helmet lowers into place, and as I push forward the vehicle springs into action. As we continue to pick up speed the front wheels extend, tilting me forward towards the ground but giving greater control. The ground rush fades away, and soon I am blasting along the sand, the only sound being a deep hum from the machine.

yamahaDeusExMachina3

yamahaDeusExMachina2 Here is something interesting that has washed up on the Beach. Yamaha has unleashed upon the world a Deus Ex Machina concept motorcycle that appears more robot than ride. Designed by an Art Center Pasadena student named Jake Loniak, it is powered by Ultra capacitors and doped neo-phosphate batteries.

The concept vehicle incorporates 36 pneumatic muscles and 2 linear actuators, creating a controlling spine. As the vehicle moves forward, the front wheels extend away from the base, creating a lower profile for the rider as they tilt forward towards the ground. As an interesting touch the helmet is pneumatically attached to the vehicle, lowering and raising as required.

The designer figures that the vehicle could go as fast as 75 mph (0-60 in 3 seconds) with a recharge time of only 15 minutes. The vehicle is all concept at this point, but it would be interesting to see it in action.

Aloha from the Beach

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Volkswagon 200 mpg 1L Car Slated for 2010 Market

Greg Chaffins

A gallon of gas is not what it used to be, and at places such as the Beach it is worthwhile to conserve as much as possible for the daily activities. VW may win the crown in this department if it does release their 1L concept car as planned in 2010. The name, 1L, is very intriguing in what it stands for – 1 Liter for 100 km. In American that is roughly an amazing 230 Miles per gallon. Saying that the car is small is probably an understatement as far as cars go, and the sporty little bug is rather unique in that it has inline sitting, i.e. the passenger sits behind the driver, both in the middle of the vehicle. It will be interesting to see what modifications it will have to go under in order to make it to market, but hopefully it will remain a 200+ mpg gas sipper.

The car will top out at about 75 mph, and, being so small, a crash test may not be the vehicle's best friend. Still, for commuting and local errands this might be a great solution to s – t – r – e – t – c – h that $4 gallon of gas.

Aloha from the Beach

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sQuba, the Electric Car that Also Goes Underwater

Greg Chaffins

I am driving on the sand in my latest find from the Beach when I notice something out in the water. Taking a deep breath, I turn the car towards the surf and press the pedal down. The car hits the water and keeps going, down into the water until we are completely submerged. With a quick look around I find that the shiny object was only a rock, so I turn the car and head back to the Beach. Soon the car emerges back onto the sand. I breathe deep, enjoying the fresh salty air, then continue on down the surf line, looking for interesting things to wash up. Now this is one handy car, I think to myself as I spy something off in the distance.

Rinspeed has developed a Zero Emmission Electric car that, unlike most cars, loves the water. The sQuba can go into water at depths up to 33 ft (1 atmosphere I believe), and it can go up to 75 mph when it crawls back onto land. James Bond AND Ecologists would so love this car, a combination that seems to happen rarely. Weighing in at 920 kg the vehicle actually floats until you open a door, then you can grab the integrated scuba mask and keep motoring. If that was not enough sQuba even incorporates a laser sensor system that allows the vehicle to more or les drive itself in certain situations. Now this little vehicle is the perfect accessory for the Beach.

Update: We now have the video below on this amazing vehicle

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Another Electric Super Car – Lightning GT

Greg Chaffins

While the Tesla was probably the first electric supercar, hot on its heels we have Britain's Lightning GT with its own impressive numbers. It sports 700 hp, does 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds, goes 250 miles on a charge, and can fully recharge in about 10 minutes (given the right recharging station). The battery lifetime expectancy is 12 -15 years, with 15,000 charges. The new battery technology, Nanosafe's Li-ion cells using nano titanate structures instead of traditional graphite, may prove to be just as super as the car itself is.

With this kind of technology, you could pull in at a charge pump and "fill up" about as quick as a typical gas pump does now. So, I guess that makes an electric supercar more practical than ever.

Aloha from the Beach,
greg

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