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Hi, just like to check if this is normal for those driving car with electric power steering My ride is Kia Cerato Forte EX 1.6A 2009 and it comes with electric power steering. Whenever i make a right or left turn at a junction, I have to turn my steering wheel half a round or maybe slightly more before I can negotiate the turn and into the correct lane. If i didnt turn half a round, it causes oversteer. Is this common??? Coz I dun think so I encounter this whne driving car with hydraulic steering, which is not as light as the electric one. Or maybe I'm not getting use to electric power steering....

Ok guys, need some recommendation for an electric shaver. My current one can't retain charge anymore. Thanks

OK, I know there has been countless threads on the net about it already. Decide to do my own review of it to answer the question. Bought a kit from ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/290635061663?ssPag...984.m1497.l2649 Thats the exact kit I bought. Bought 2 pieces 4" to 3" reducers from Man Exhaust today and install it. Wiring is quite simple. I wired it to the fog lamp relay thus I could turn it on or off thru the fog lamp switch. Thus the big question is does it work? Is it snake oil? Will it do wonders? Drove it around for ~100KM today as I was running some errands. In short, it does work to a certain degree. I ensure there is minimal placebo effect by turning with the switch on and off numerous times. Run at different RPMs, level of throttle etc. The amount of power boost is very slight. Its very similar to turning off the AC on a small CC car to gain more power. It does what it is advertise to do. Gains of around 5-7HP. Thats all. So, why aren't manufacturers using this device when its so cool?? Reliaibility and durability. These devices are not made to last at all. Housing is just fiber reinforced plastic and motor is a simple brush motor (though its using ball bearings). At best, it will last you around 600-800Hrs of use. After that you have to replace the carbon brushes or the housing. Fan blade is metal so it should last a while. So, can it be made to work? Yes, it can. Provided there is proper R&D. Eg. cast aluminum housing. brushless motor (there are water cooled motors as well). Fan blades that are designed to deliver high air pressure etc.... Electric superchargers and hybrids are already under research right now Btw..... I am not sure if this device can be used on vehicles running MAF. Mine is MAP so its not a problem.

Anyone recently seen those outdoor electric toy car rental for kids ? those that cost about $3 for 15 min usage one. Cos I went to ang mo kio and toa payoh central where there used to have, but now not there anymore. Really appreciate if you can let me know where. Thanks.

The usage of a turbocharger on an electric motor is nothing new. Many aftermarket tuners have done it and some automakers have experimented on it. But no company have ever implemented it on a production vehicle. BMW has now filed a patent for its electric turbocharger design and they may be the first automaker to use such technology. BMW recently filed a German patent for its electric turbocharger design and implementation wise, it may take a while before we get to see it being used on their production vehicles. But at least, we know that someone or some company is developing such technology. Before I continue on how the electric turbocharger works, let me explain a little about turbochargers and also on small turbo vs. a big turbo, for those who don

Rumours about the next generation Mitsubishi Evolution to be a hybrid has been going around for quite some time and there were also rumours about Mitsubishi scrapping the model totally and focusing on electric vehicles. But now Mitsubishi have made a U-turn and confirmed that the next generation Evolution will feature a hybrid powertrain. Mitsubishi president, Osamu Masuko, recently announced that the company is starting on the new hybrid Evolution project next year and it will be ready within the next three years. He also added that Mitsubishi has set the goal of developing a sports car featuring electric power. What

Extract from autozine.org . Just like we have new water for independence, the Israelis are really going to cut their dependency on oil. Interesting what a smart guy with a wise government, who is not just looking to raising their own paycheck, can do. -------------------- The world's largest scale application of electric cars is going to take place in Israel. For national security reasons, Israeli government has long been pursuing alternative energy to oil because oil price is heavily dependent on its enemy Arabia countries. One of the biggest headache was how to turn the 2 million cars on its roads to run on electricity. Electric cars have been notorious for high purchasing price and long recharging time. Moreover, so far no countries are willing to invest substantial money to build the necessary infrastructure - countless of recharging stations covering all over the country. However, a breakthrough is finally achieved by the cooperation of the Israeli government, Shai Agassi and Renault-Nissan. The idea was originated by Shai Agassi, an Israeli software entrepreneur. Since he quit German software giant SAP, Agassi became an environmental activist. He realized that, to shorten the recharging time by only improving battery technology is not enough. The public wants recharge to be done in a few minutes, just like they get refill in petrol stations. Agassi therefore suggested, instead of really recharge the battery, the recharge station should replace the discharged battery with a fresh battery. This can be done in a few minutes time. Therefore the drivers no longer need to recharge the car overnight by themselves or worry of running out of electricity during driving. Everything works like driving a conventional car. The depleted battery will be recharged to full in the stations and installed into another car. Recharge will take place at late night to enjoy lower electricity rate. .......... To drive the electric car program, Israeli government will offer tax incentives on the electric cars and raise the tax for other cars. It is also building 200MW of regenerative power plants (wind power and solar power) to provide the electricity necessary. If the plan goes right, hopefully by 2020 petroleum cars will be history on Israeli roads.

http://www.sgcarmart.com/news/article.php?AID=3297

Recently I just bought a dyson vacuum cleaner and was surprise to that the motor spin @ about 104000 rpm which can match the rpm of some turbos. Its a handheld vacuum so I dun think it draw much current (got to check). So I did some research and found this article (http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2003/10/15/30961/dyson-sweeps-up-vacuum-cleaner-market-with-100000rpm.htm) claiming that it is capable of producing 4.3PSI which is about 0.3bar. Some websites references states that every PSI will increase the power by 7% (need to verify) so 4.3PSI will increase the car performance by 30%. Wat is ur take on this?? http://www.dyson.com.sg/range/feature_fram...del=DC16-ANIMAL

anyone read today's Straits Times? SMRT has ordered 10 electric buses and an unknown number of electric taxis from chinese automobile manufacturer BYD. The delivery of the vehicles will depend on when the charging infrastructure is ready. The right hand drive version of the electric buses will go into production in August, while the right hand drive version of the electric taxis will be made in June next year.

would like to install another 2horns... normal electric horns... not airhorns or mini airhorns... cause the airhorns are illegal and the mini airhorns sounds like a baby kitten compared to the normal airhorns... anyways... think 4 electric horns should be louder... maybe not 2times louder but surely louder... anyone has experience in this?... will 4 horns be detrimental to the car's battery or wirings?... thanks...

i tot of buing this for short distance travel http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/44117...holesalers.html what u guys tink? anybody who use e bike before, i will like to hear your views

Hi Guy, anyone using those type of electric cooker ??? anyone come across or using this 2 brand ??? 1) SUGAWA - Nano Digital Stove (RM2400) free some pot 2) Roman - Delicooker (SGD 1288) no free gift pls advise thanks

This Golf R no driver's electric seats: http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...499&DL=1149 (look at 2nd last pic) But should have: http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_...35&CUR=24#P so wierd?

Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said he will be presenting a paper during Friday's Cabinet meeting to recommend disallowing electric bicycles, citing safety reasons. He said continuing to allow electric bicycles, which have battery-powered motors, could result in a higher risk of injury or death. "Electric bicycles do not meet the performance specifications of motorcycles. "It is more than a bicycle but less than a motorcycle," he told The Star. While Kong acknowledged that electric bicycles were good for the environment, he stressed that the higher risk of death and injury from collision did not warrant their usage. "If you want to talk about being environmentally-friendly, using a normal bicycle is still the best," he pointed out. He added that an electric bicycle could not be classified as an electric motorcycle. "Anyone can use it as there are no restrictions on who can use a bicycle," he said. "There is no need to register an electric bicycle or obtain a driving licence, road tax, insurance or registration number. "Any young child will be able to use the electric bicycle without a crash helmet and that means a much higher risk of accidents," he cautioned. Kong said the paper to be presented to the Cabinet would reveal all the facts involving electric bicycles. Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said in a statement that electric bicycles currently being sold were designed to travel more than 40km per hour. "According to road safety studies, bicycles that move at more than 20km per hour pose a much higher risk of injury to pedestrians, especially when both share the same lane," he said. Solah added that facilities for cyclists like special lanes were currently limited to residential and recreational parks. "Cyclists, who use routes other than designated ones, will be exposed to the risk of traffic accidents and contribute to the overall number of accidents," he cautioned. Follow MSN Malaysia News on Twitter (twitter.com/mymsnnews) for breaking news in Malaysia and the world. By the way, has electric bicycles been banned in Singapore already? Regards,

More image of the $10k electric car http://theage.drive.com.au/photogallery/ed...selectedImage=5 An Australian-designed electric car to be built in China plans to take on the world with a sub-$10,000 price, an iPad like dash capable of downloading apps and the promise of never needing fuel. Set to debut at July's Melbourne motor show, the Noddy-like EDay hatch will initially arrive next year as 100 lease vehicles before going on sale in 2012 from $9990 (plus on-road costs), undercutting petrol powered competitors by thousands and about 14 per cent of the price of the only mass produced electric car on sale today, Mitsubishi's i-MiEV. Able to travel up to 160km between charges, it has a top speed of just 80km/h and a weight of 450kg it will be the slowest and lightest new car on the market - and the cheapest, something sure to cement its appeal in a segment where shaving a few hundred dollars can boost sales. Advertisement: Story continues below The top secret project is being run by EDay Life, a small Australian company run by former Holden director of innovation and advanced engineering Laurie Sparke and car dealer Robert Lane. The pair have formed a team of 20 designers and engineers and are finalising plans to sell the cars in countries as diverse as Malaysia, Hong Kong, UK and France. "What we're bringing ... is Australian innovative technology," says Sparke of the ambitious start-up project. "We are going to develop the new-generation of electric car." While the prospect of a start-up taking on the established car makers may seem laughable, Sparke says the size, flexibility and clean-sheet approach brings advantages. Just as fledgling brand Tesla prompted others to take notice - Toyota has since signed an agreement with the Californian electric car specialist - he predicts a rise of next-generation vehicle manufacturers driven from the IT industry, pointing to the Dell computers business model of lean manufacturing. "If you look at who is driving [the technology behind] electric cars, they're not from the auto industry," says Sparke. "It's the new technology that is coming, and the global [automotive] manufacturers can't respond." Sparke says a ground-up design allows engineering flexibility while Australian ingenuity - often leveraged by US giants Ford and General Motors with their local operations - and EDay's miniscule size gives it an advantage over established players. "Currently an electric car is simply the smallest car in a global manufacturer's range. It's had the engine pulled out and an electric motor put in - that's a very compromised solution. An electric car needs to be different in a whole range of ways and we'll develop those in Australia. The EDay will also get a touchscreen display to control major functions and the ability to download apps that could include everything from basic vehicle data to vehicle-to-home communication Sparke believes the world will be accepting of an affordable electric car. Already there are various Australian fledgling operations converting conventional hatchbacks into electric vehicles, but the EDay promises to be by far the most affordable. "Our global advantage is we'll be able to do that in a time frame of three to six months with smart solutions that aren't locked up in the way cars are always being done," he says. "And we'll have globally competitive vehicles." However, he concedes manufacturing a budget electric car in Australia doesn't make sense, prompting the move to utilise the low manufacturing costs of China, which is fast becoming a global automotive powerhouse. With production set for a Shanghai plant with capacity of 50,000 (and potential for 100,000) EDay plans to sell the cars around the world. "What we've been very skilled at in Australia the last 20 years is smart engineering. We [Australia] can't manufacture as cheap as China, but we can design, develop, test and certify and that's the automotive business that Australia can do, a world-competitive business." Sparke admits the EDay is a specific vehicle that will sell largely on price and its zero emissions promise. "We're starting with a car that's fairly mundane," he admits. "But we'll satisfy the market needs because people are eager to have an electric car and its looks are a secondary consideration. Sparke, who was instrumental in introducing life saving safety features into the Holden Commodore is aware of the mountainous road ahead in a world where profits have slimmed and major brands been forced to change the way they do business. "Today's challenge is to establish ourselves in the market as a credible supplier of electric vehicles," he says. "To ensure we don't compromise that credibility, we've gone to a lot of effort to monitor this fleet so we don't trip over when we go into a larger volume of production. "We'll utilise Australian technology and suppliers to do the prototype and testing here. And when we've got a proven solution, we'll send that to our manufacturers in China and they'll produce it."

Maybe Esso, Caltex, Shell and SPC will go bust in the future From http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_588288.html Oct 8, 2010 26 charging stations soon By Jeremy Au Yong Some 26 stations like the one above will be deployed with the first one up and running around March next year. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN SINGAPORE'S move towards adopting electric vehicles will take a significant step forward early next year when the first group of charging stations are installed. A statement from the inter-agency taskforce in charge Singapore's electric vehicle (EV) test-bed programme announced on Friday that it had appointed German firm Bosch to set up the stations. Some 26 stations will be deployed in the initial phase of the programme, with the first one up and running around March next year. The first batch of electric vehicles, Mitsubishi i-MiEVs are also due to be delivered around that time. Bosch will work closely with the organisations buying the EVs to determine where to set up the charging stations. Nearly all of the 26 stations set up initially will be normal charging stations, meaning cars will have to be plugged in for up to eight hours to get a full charge. Only one will be a quick charging station which will only take 45 minutes to deliver a full charge. It said that it had yet to decide on the cost of a charge.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/el...-better-mpg.php wonder if this is the same technology that E-ram or ADM supercharger has been harping on all this while worth a read though

Can anyone tell me more on EPS. Is there need to top up?

Victor Muller has revealed more details about Saab's future product lineup. Speaking with InsideLine, Muller stated the 2013 (or 2014) 9-2 will be "stunning to look at, ingenious and an outstanding premium product." It will ride on a shortened version of the 9-3 platform or a platform from another automaker. Pricing will be 10% higher than the MINI Cooper and sales are expected to total 30,000 to 60,000 units annually. Later this year, the company will introduce a facelifted 9-3. In 2011, Saab will launch the 9-4X crossover (April), the 9-5 Sport Combi (June), and a new 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. For 2012, the company will unveil a redesigned 9-3 which will ride on a modified version of the current Epsilon I platform. Further out, a 9-3 Hybrid will be introduced and an electric vehicle will be launched by 2016. If everything goes according to plan, Muller expects Saab will be profitable in 2012 with sales totaling 120,000 to 125,000 units. Source: insideline

Just throwing a question here. Combustion engines will go the way of the dinosaur one day. It seems that electric powered cars (probably electric motors) is the way to go for the future. Once that happens, the exhaust noise that some people love will be gone as well.... You will no longer hear the engine noise and exhaust boom booomm booomm...... Its going to be extremely quiet when car is idle (not even idling cause motor will not run at all). When you step on the throttle, you feel the surge of power but you hear nothing. Maybe just a soft high pitch whine from the motor. The big question is..... Are you able to cope and get used to such quiet cars?

Not the first time..Seen quite a number of them riding on the road lately..some ride without helment..Almost knock down 2 of them..No helment..no lighting..and somemore carrying pillion.. Was at the Cross junction at chong pang turning right..on the green arrow..I move off and on my right was a panel van..We were side by side and suddenly he slow down..this 2 jokers on a electric bicycle just simply cut into my lane..Luckily I was not going fast..would have knock them down.. Came to a traffic light..all cars stopped at red light..This jokers simply bashed through.. Do watch out for them especially at night..

"Blue Skying" Cars a little... Would you accept the following situation... A nuclear power station is built in / near Singapore for the (primary) purpose of charging full electric vehicles (i.e battery powered) At the same time, the appropriate infrastructure is put in place to provide complete and convenient charging options on an assumed 90 minute charging cycle Full electric vehicles are priced at or slightly below current car prices for an equivalent sized car The car has a range of 100km per charge The cost per kilometre of a full charge is the electricity, which would be a small fraction of the cost of petrol - let's assume 25% for the purposes of argument. Would you buy / drive one? (other performance / safety / comfort factors all ceteris paribus with current cars)

Mazda was granted a new U.S. patent this week for the design of an offset wheel-mounted motor for electric and hybrid vehicles. In previous wheel/hub motor configurations, the motor has typically been mounted concentric with the wheel. The essence of the patent is that the motor is offset from the wheel axis, with a gearset installed to provide drive torque to the hub. Usually, a hub motor consumes most of the space inside the wheel, limiting the possible mounting locations for the suspension links and compromising ride and handling. In theory, Mazda's new arrangement provides more room in the wheel and flexibility for the suspension geometry. However, the gearset hardware at the wheel will increase unsprung mass and degrade the ride and handling accordingly. There is another possible benefit of this type of installation, however. It provides Mazda with the flexibility to do either a through-the-road hybrid, by having motors on one axle and mechanical drive at the other end, or a power-split hybrid. By offsetting the motor, drive from an engine could still come in through the hub and the gearset could be used for torque blending. Whether this is actually better than the traditional power-split hybrid used by Toyota and Ford is debatable. Finally, there could be a simpler explanation: The real motivator for this patent might be to create a hybrid system that doesn't conflict with patents held by numerous other automakers. Thanks for the tip, Charlie! [source: Free Patents Online]

Like it or not, cars will be greener (read: no more V8 growls). Even if there is some sort of speaker to replicate the "sound", it will never come close to the real thing. However, in our local context, owning a car with a V8 engine is reserved for about 2% of the population who are rich enough. Most of us would rather not hear our engines at all, not when it sound like moo-ing cows. Which means, Singapore, given it's tiny area, lack of space to stretch ANY engine and ridiculous tax rules, is an ideal location for electric cars. Although still largely impractical for families, the 2 seater Mini-E is still one of the more practical zero-emission car out there. Retaining the hippy looks of it's petrol-driven cousin, the Mini Cooper, the E looks pretty darn good too. (Anyway, the current Mini Cooper can hardly seat more than 2) If NEA meant anything they said about going green, perhaps investing in charging stations is a good proper step ahead. Start with the many multi-storey carparks here. Given the compact size of the Mini-E's charging wall panel, space should not be a problem. I'm no electrician or engineer, but I do think that it is not entirely difficult to hook up these wall panels to the mains. A typical charging panel Next, following the example set by the new City Square mall, setup charging stations in carparks of Malls, Office Buildings etc. Combine all these ideal factors with the low mileage that Singaporeans travel from point to point, and driving an electric vehicle might not sound very far-fetched. To this extent, the Mini-E is probably ideal, other than the lack of engine noise, it handles and drives like any other Mini out there. With 220nm of torque available the instant u step on the accelerator, and a top speed of around 152km/h, it will leave most cars biting the dust too. The stated 167 kilometers range on a single charge is also more than adequate for anyone living in Singapore. From point to point, if you travel from Changi to Tuas, it would at most use up 1/2 of the battery's capacity. However, this is only an ideal scenario. With space for only the driver and a passenger, only those who are single, attached or married without children might consider the Mini-E. I am not doubting the government's willingness to setup charging stations. Than there is the problem of getting people to adopt a petrol-free driving lifestyle, such as having to plug in everytime you park (which would not take more than 2 minutes??). Limited space, although there is still a 60L boot! Also, for the zero emissions dream to be realised, a standard charging format should also be fixed upon. The most difficult hurdle to cross right now? Cost and size of the batteries. It will sky rocket the price of the car. Than again, if the government is willing to give electric car owners a tax break, it might not cost much different from your regular Mini (applicable only to Singapore). Quite honestly, the weird weather patterns has gotten the better of me and this post came as a result of that. Let's not just sit and talk about it, it is time to start doing something.