Automobile Industry

Why don’t electric cars have transmissions?

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Why don’t electric cars have transmissions?

"Electric motors do not have the same limitations as internal combustion engines. They produce the same amount of torque at near zero as they do at high rpm. Turning slower does not use less battery power. The load is what determines how much power the car uses. Eliminating a gearbox also has the advantage of eliminating weight and gearbox losses, which makes the load smaller. And finally, doing so conforms to a long standing wisdom that engineers often forget. It called the KISS principle."

You Can Now Pump The Gas Yourself In Oregon’s Rural Places, And People’s Reactions Take Stupidity To Another Level

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You Can Now Pump The Gas Yourself In Oregon’s Rural Places, And People’s Reactions Take Stupidity To Another Level

"Oregon passed a law at the turn of the year which allows people in rural areas to pump their own gas. So what? Is that it? What do I care? All the above are perfectly understandable reactions to a seemingly mundane piece of legal news, which you wouldn’t expect to make much of a splash outside of the few counties affected."

"However, this is a big deal for some Oregonians, many of whom have reacted to the law change with a fury that many outsiders find bizarre, and quite amusing. Scroll down below to check out some of the reactions from the internet at large, and feel free to add your own take on the issue in the comments!"

Here is General Motors’ New ‘Truck’ Intended for Governmental Use

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Here is General Motors’ New ‘Truck’ Intended for Governmental Use

"Regardless of whether it’s brought upon us by climate change, divine intervention, or civil unrest, the end times are right around the corner — and the government is going to need a rugged and versatile vehicle for the impending apocalypse. The automaker with the chops to deliver such a platform? General Motors."

"Apparently not Skunk Works levels of classified, GM publicly announced the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS) on Friday morning. While not the classic image of a motorized vehicle, the design is intended to serve as the underlying architecture of governmental and commercial transports alike. While the specific government applications are a question mark, the platform’s fuel cell system allows it to run silently with a minimal heat signature — making it ideal for sneaking men and munitions behind enemy lines."

Deadly Roads

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Cheap gas and a good economy is deadly on the roads.
 
On average, an 1% increase in vehicle miles traveled means a 4% increase in crashes due to more congested highways and more drowsy drivers. So if Americans drive 5% more, there will be on average 20% more crashes.