Maine Real Estate Links January 16th, 2007
Mount Desert Island Real Estate
LandVest : Property Search Results
http://epatfoster.com/
http://acadiapines.epatfoster.com/
Bar Harbor Maine Real Estate and Vacation Rentals
LSRobinson Real Estate & Vacation Rentals, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor.
The Knowles Company
Jaret & Cohn Real Estate – Home
Dillon Real Estate
Real Estate on the Coast of Maine – Camden Real Estate
Home Page: The Swan Agency Real Estate, Bar Harbor Maine: Bed & Breakfast Brokerage, Luxury Properties, Maine Realtors
Homes
Maine Land
Sherry Armbrecht – Mid-coast Maine’s Real Estate Specialist!
Podcasts January 2nd, 2007
The Brewing NetworkThe Jamil ShowAstronomy Cast
Podcasting & Audio Books
Basic Brewing Radio
Website PodcastThe Brewing Network
Website PodcastCraft Beer Radio
Website PodcastPacific Brew News
Website Podcast
Firearm Manufacturers January 2nd, 2007
Firearms Manufacturers
Marlin Firearms–home page
Winchester Rifles and Shotguns Splash Page
SPRINGFIELD ARMORY: Springfield Interactive
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
Thompson Center Arms
Smith & Wesson
Taurus International
SIG Arms
Remington
Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Inc. Home Page
BERETTA – Home Page
Browning’s Official Web Site
Ithaca Gun, Ithaca NY – Shotguns since 1883
Para-Ordnance Mfg. Inc. Global Website
Sako–Home Page
Magnum Research
Hybrid Cars January 2nd, 2007
Hybrid Cars
I recently saw a round table discussion show on the Speed Channel. The participants were auto industry insiders and representatives from the big 3 auto makers. The discussion moved to hybrid electric technology. Participants all seemed to attack to head of R&D from GM. They all seemed upset that GM has not made significant progress to introduce a tiny hybrid electric car. They all pointed to the Toyota Prius as the ideal vehicle.
The GM representative held his ground. GM’s hybrid program has focused on the other end of the market. They are focusing on large vehicles that use the most fuel.
GM has produced a revolutionary hybrid electric bus. It has an ultra clean burning diesel motor that charges an electric fuel cell and motor that powers the Allison transmission. The city bus has a 60% fuel savings over a conventional bus.
According to GM:
“If the 13,000 transit buses in service in the nine largest U.S. cities were replaced with buses featuring hybrid technology, the U.S. would use nearly 40 million fewer gallons of diesel fuel each year. That’s the equivalent fuel savings of 584,000 small hybrid cars.”
GM plans to produce pickup trucks with the same technology as well as non-hybrid fuel saving technology like “Displacement on Demand”.
according to GM:
“Displacement on Demand saves fuel by using only half of the engine’s cylinders during most normal driving conditions. When loads are light, the control system automatically closes both intake and exhaust valves for half of the cylinders, cutting off their air and fuel supply. The valves are reopened to provide all-cylinder operation when the driver needs it for brisk acceleration or for hauling heavy loads.”
These innovations can produce real fuel savings for the types of vehicles that use the most fuel.
The Toyota Prius is a neat car. The geek in me has to admire the technology. Using brake friction to charge the batteries is brilliant. 50-70 MPG for city driving is very impressive. But without the hybrid technology, the car would still get 35-40 MPG.
Why is the car so efficient? It is basically a beer can car with a rubber band motor. It is your standard econobox. Like most Americans, I view econobox cars as impractical.
I am 6′ 6″ tall, and weight 250lbs. I hunt, fish, and buy large items at Lowe’s and Sam’s Club. Hybrid cars and sheets of plywood don’t mix. You can’t pull a trailer or boat. Forget about taking it through the mud hole on the farm. Everyday driving for someone my size would require a shoehorn just to get in a hybrid car.
Hybrid cars may be perfect for a Green Party bumper sticker. However, until they are made bigger, safer, and more powerful, they will not appeal to most Americans.