Month: February 2018

Who Knew? – GM Technology Coming Back To Earth

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General Motors has a long-standing tradition of partnering with other leaders in engineering and innovation to make the world a better place. Now some of its out-of-this world accomplishments are finding a place in the here and now.

In the 1960s, GM teamed up with NASA to help create the Lunar Rover. It remains the first and only car ever driven by man on the moon. At the time they were pushing the envelope of creativity to develop, design, and test the Lunar Rover. Engineers from GM helped create the revolutionary electric motor drive system, suspension, mesh wire wheels and a unique drive controller adapted for lunar gloves.

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Now that revolutionary technology is finding its place in electric vehicles being introduced today here on earth. The Lunar Rover had a price tag of $38 million, but paved the way for current long-range, affordable electric vehicles that do not require a space suit to operate.

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Who Knew? – World’s First Self-Driven Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

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For the first time level 4 autonomous driving has been achieved in a fuel cell electric vehicle. With level 0 being no automation and level 5 being a driver-less car able to operate on any road in any conditions a human driver could negotiate, level 4 is considered “high automation”. A level 4 autonomous vehicle can operate without human input or oversight but only under select conditions, typically highway conditions.

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Recently, five Hyundai fuel cell electric vehicles completed a self-driven 118 mile journey from Seoul to Pyeongchang. Not at limited speed on domestic roads, but at the speed limit of 68 mph on public highways. The level 4 autonomous vehicles equipped with 5G network technology executed lane changes, passing maneuvers, and navigated toll gates.

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These self-driving vehicles use an array of cameras, radar, LiDAR (laser sensors), and GPS to identify their location and be able to navigate through obstacles like toll gates. Autonomous driving processes a high volume of data, which requires a lot of power. The fuel cell electric model is an ideal choice since it produces electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the on-board fuel cell stack.

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Who Knew? – New Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Loaded with Extras – But There is More

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The world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV is here in the US. It comes with all sorts of goodies. Twin electric motors and a gasoline engine to generate electricity or additional power, 4WD, traction control, stability control, yaw control, cameras, laser radar, the list goes on. That stuff is all fancy and necessary, but lets look at the some of the extra cool accessories you can add on your own to make it stand out a little and be special for you.

For the outside how about some body graphics?

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For something shiny, how about a chrome door handle cover, side mirror cover, or maybe a PHEV license plate frame?

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Do You Need It? – Rear Bumper Protector

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Want to keep the top surface of the painted rear bumper free from damage and preserve the vehicle’s “like new” appearance? Then you may need a genuine Toyota rear bumper protector.

Loading and unloading groceries, luggage or any type of cargo can wreak havoc on a painted rear bumper, often leaving it scratched or scraped. Protecting your vehicle can be easily achieved using a genuine Toyota rear bumper protector. They are available in several materials depending on your model of vehicle.

The injection-molded black plastic version features a raised pattern and skid-resistant surface that offers protection to the bumper surface while also adding some custom good looks.

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The clear polyurethane version also helps minimize damage while providing a nearly invisible, seamless look. Some of the clear versions have logos, protection with a bit of added class.

Rear Bumper Appliqu

These are even some versions that use stainless steel in the materials to offer the additional protection.

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The protectors are uniquely designed to properly fit the intricate, curved surfaces of each specific Toyota vehicle’s rear bumper.

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Who Knew? General Motors Ready to Go with No Steering Wheel

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General Motors is asking the Department of Transportation for permission to put their self-driving vehicles on the road in 2019. The first Production-Ready autonomous electric cars with no steering wheels or pedals have been named Cruise AV.

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GM and Cruise Automation are combining over 100 years of automotive engineering experience with state-of-the-art software and hardware to create a Motor City/Silicon Valley matchup that can safely make driverless vehicles a reality.

The vision –

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