By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

General Motors has been touting its Chevrolet Volt, pictured above, for some time … they hope to get it on the market by 2010, despite the fact that the battery technology GM intends to use still hasn’t been developed. Meanwhile, you can buy a plug-in Prius (if you get a regular Prius and upgrade it for $24,000!) … or you can look to Toyota itself, which has become the first manufacturer to receive government approval to conduct tests for a plug-in hybrid on Japanese public roads.

Takimoto declined to say when Toyota will bring a plug-in hybrid to market. Innovation in battery technology is needed, he said. “We still need some time,” he said.

The vehicle displayed Wednesday, called Toyota Plug-in HV, runs on the same nickel metal hydride battery as the Prius and has a cruising range of 8 miles on electricity. Takimoto said tests will help in deciding the range consumers want. Source: SFGate

We Say: While the Plug-in HV only has a range on electricity of 8 miles, that’s just a starter figure (I realize that GM is shooting for 40 miles). Still, I’d put my money on Toyota, if a bet were involved. They are so far ahead of U.S. manufacturers that without a major stumble, I can’t see GM, Ford, or Chrysler beating them with any sort of hybrid technology.

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Quite some time ago Alice wrote a piece about how hybrids didn’t save money. It was obvious that the EPA estimates were way out of line. Since then, of course, the EPA has developed a new mileage rating system. Too late for John True, though.

But after 6,000 miles of driving, True said he averaged 32 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. So in March, True, an Ontario, Calif., professional jazz piano player, filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Riverside, Calif., in what appears to be the first legal challenge of the mileage claims of hybrid vehicles.

The lawsuit claims American Honda Motor Co. has misled consumers in its advertisements and on its Web site. The suit notes that while the Environmental Protection Agency and automobile window stickers say “mileage will vary,” some Honda advertisements read “mileage may vary.” Source: Detroit News

We Say: Laying the burden of the suit on “may” vs. “will”? Not sure about that. And honestly, these are EPA estimates. No car ever achieves their EPA estimates (at least, not the old ones) and how you can pin the blame on Honda … I don’t know.

By Alice Hill
RealTechNews

Rant of the Day Dept: You know a company is in trouble when a technical breakthrough is viewed with skepticism. Call me jaded, but Sony’s recent patent of a gel, or oil, or saline-filled “Air Bag” to cushion electronics such as the hard drives in laptops and other components in cameras strikes me with a fierce sense of dread more than anything.

Consider the present: My Sony laptop is tiny and has a great screen, but it is hotter than the hinges of Hell when you use it for more than a few minutes. I can just imagine the smell of burning oil or hot melting silicone when a defective battery overheats, or something really really heavy crunches down on your camera. Processors are not the coolest chips the world, and electronics are getting smaller and smaller. You’re better off wrapping your camera in a gel case than risking the innards.

What do you think? Am I being too cautious? Or do you want to wait until your camcorder gets a hot oil treatment to weigh in?

The technology is intended for use in mobile devices such as cameras and media players, and could also find its way into business-orientated technology such as smartphones and laptops. Sony’s engineers said that while the use of liquids to absorb shock has been suggested before, previous versions depended on floating the electronics between two immiscible fluids, or using a gel-like viscous substance. They argued that those systems would be difficult to configure and may not provide enough absorption to deal with heavy shocks.

The new scheme proposes that the fluid-filled inner skin will also contain “biasing units” to keep the electronics central, and a system of irises that adjust their resistance to liquid flow according to the force of impact. Source: Storage.itworld.com

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

There are lots (and lots) of arguments over whether or not hybrids save money, or even come out even. Most say no. Many say the “green” benefits, the quality or even the fun of “playing the center console video game” make it worthwhile. At any rate, if you’re in the “green” crowd, here’s something I’ve wondered about for some time … a solar panel kit that goes on the roof of your Prius.

Solar Electrical Vehicles has a solar system that includes a supplemental battery pack and solar panels for the roof (natch). They say the additional power can increase MPG by 17% - 29%. It’s not the same as converting your Prius to a plug-in hybrid, however.

Although the only white paper I could find focuses on the Prius, the products page, based on the pics on it, seems to indicate a wider product line.

We Say: For me, I love my Prius, but a lot of the enjoyment has been getting into the HOV lane in California. This, of course, is no longer an option for new buyers in California. Of course, hybrids are now getting rebates and sales because of this.

But for me, adding another premium to the already high cost of my car is not really an option. I’m not sure what the cost of this is, either, as I couldn’t find that info on their site. Still, interesting idea, and if I was one of those green Hollywood stars that can afford to plunk down a ton of money, I’d most likely look into it.

By Martin Regtien
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

The Speed Meter Head-Up Display which was reviewed by DigitalReviews.net is available now in various European countries but if you feel you can’t wait to pick up your own Speed Meter, GlobalTop has graciously made available 10 of these units to readers of the DigitalReviews Network and other sites linking to the review.  That would give you the opportunity to make up your own mind on the usefulness of this technology in your car.

So what must you do to score one of these Speed Meters?

Readers of RealTechNews can click on this link, which will take you to the article and Giveaway page.  Fill in your first name, a valid email address, make and model of your car, which blog you read this on and you’re in the running!  The Giveaway ends on May 31 at midnight.
There is just one favour we would like to ask: let us know what you’re thinking of the device, take some pictures and we would like to post them on our website as the final, the people’s, verdict.
All Speed Meters will be shipped directly from GlobalTop in Taiwan within a couple of weeks of the end of the Giveaway.

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

If you recall from a few days ago, my story about Isabodywear … underwear that purports to block cell phone radiation, thus protecting your, ahem, private parts. Well, you may need to start wrapping your Nissan “intelligent” or I-keys in them. Apparently, for some of them, get a cell phone too close to them, and not only will they stop working, they can’t be reprogrammed.

Complaints about some cell phones erasing Nissan’s I-keys for the 2007 Altima sedan and 2007 Infiniti G35 have the automaker advising customers to keep cell phones and the plastic fobs containing the starters “at least 1 inch apart at all times.”

A statement released Wednesday by Nissan North America Inc. says some cell phones, if allowed to touch the I-Key while sending or receiving a call, may alter it’s electronic code. “When this happens the I-Key will not start the vehicle and cannot be reprogrammed,” the statement said. Source: Breitbart.com

We Say: Well, if you don’t want to wrap your key in Isabodywear, how about leaving your phone in a holster and using a Bluetooth headset (as that California legislator should have, right)?

By Martin Regtien
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

Here is the second instalment of our review of the HG-100 Speed Meter from GlobalTop.
In Part One, published last week, we gave you the unboxing and modus operandi -how it works- of this Head-Up Display.
Now we will talk about the installation, test drives, availability and the all important Value for Money factor. 

And, oh yes, one of the test vehicles was a 1986 Ferrari…. 

Also: we have a special Giveaway of the Speed Meter for readers of RealTechNews!

Read about it here.

By Martin Regtien
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews

DigitalReviews.net brought you the initial announcement of GlobalTop Technology’s fascinating Head-Up Display a few months ago and they follow that up today with their scoop review of the HG-100.

It’s one of the more innovative GPS products we have seen lately as it combines a Bluetooth GPS receiver with speed alerts and projects your speed and direction onto your windscreen.
Plus it works with the navigation software on your Smartphone or PDA!
This enables you to keep your eyes on the road when it is most needed and that’s why they are testing this on a Ferrari.

Click here, buckle in and come along for the ride!