Monthly Archives: August 2010

Electric cars: some aspects of road safety to be assessed

Posted on by luca Pascotto
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One of the possible drawbacks for electric cars is extremely quiet. You do not notice as they move. This in itself is not a bad thing, of course. But it can have consequences in terms of road safety as pedestrians may not be aware of the presence of a car (eg out of a parking lot, at a crossroads, in the cases above, ...), the same way as bicycles, motors and, more generally, all the components are weaker than in the street. Consider for example a blind person who bases his decisions on the basis of its perceived sounds. The NHTSA (America's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has published a study among other things, under which the hybrid and electric vehicles are involved in accidents with pedestrians in a more than double compared to conventional vehicles. This, then, is not irrelevant, especially in anticipation of development of electric mobility and aging-population. For this reason the manufacturers are gearing up, even before the market is the electric states: the experience of hybrids (eg Toyota Prius: Taxis are avevte noticed how many of this model?) In fact led Toyota and Nissan to study some devices that can address this.

Toyota will begin next week to make available (optional - cost about 150 euros) a device that can be installed in the Prius (hybrid car but in reality, in city driving, they use the electric motor) that simulates the sound of an engine and warns pedestrians that a car is approaching. The sound intensity will be greater the smaller the proximity to the pedestrian, although Toyota's second-ever-alert, without disturbing ("to alert but no to annoy").

Nissan, which will begin selling the Leaf in America and Japan by year-end (and in Europe from spring 2011) will equip its vehicles with standard sound that recalls the turbine "turbines sound") and that will activate when the vehicle speed is greater than 30 km / h at higher speeds, in fact, also hybrid and electric vehicles generate enough noise (tires and aerodynamics) to be fully perceived.

In short, it is not the absolute search of quieter vehicles. But in the name of security I should say that there may be.

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But an "exit" at all is always the most convenient?

Posted on by luca Pascotto
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I went back to Rome by car from Nice, after a difficult journey as told in some previous post. By car, if you choose good routes and days of travel, and correctly predicts the arrival times (eg connection of Rome ever came on at 6 in the afternoon?) Should all go pretty smooth. Barring unforeseen circumstances.

Notes .... But nothing serious this time. Episode, however, that deserves some thought.

On the Rome-Civitavecchia, almost as soon as entered, a variable message informs "Fire after Cerveteri. $ Km on the rise. " I tune the radio to try to confirm that it comes after a few minutes (ISORADIO). Choose where you came from Cerveteri: I go out and continue on the Aurelia (SS1) or I get in line for those 4 miles?

Just shortly before another panel output information "Recommended Release: Cerveteri." I trust, I thought. They will have thought of us .... Obviously the ramp to exit the car's progress is very slow and busy. Arrival at the crossroads and know one thing: there is no indication for Rome. Or in Cerveteri (left), or Santa Marinella (right). everyone goes to the right, I assume that Rome is that way (but how does a tourist?), even tiny little because it says "SS1 Aurelia."

Completely blocked, shall not occur. Much chaos as everyone tries to slip in the main street just as they do in Rome. I get tired now and I tell myself. "Might as well be on something on the highway." I go back and I throw them back on the highway. I reach the fire zone is off, a short delay, then another, then we run. I lost a little 'time and I wonder:

But if the manager should go out and do it all, is still a useful tip? Or move all traffic on the highway (which is in crisis), and who proceed on the highway, despite the warnings, we actually gain? How do you decide? Perhaps by making the variable message signs on their work, but in real time.

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How to make a car theft proof?

Posted on by luca Pascotto
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GPS systems, immobilizer system, special keys for starting vehicles are quite common today. Then there is always the good old iron to put between the wheel and clutch, and of course sign a contract with its own fire and theft insurance.

There are other devices that can protect our beloved car thieves? Thus, there's a "car theft-proof"?

The picture next to try to answer these questions. Here are some devices:

GPS tracking (a type of Nike + or KeepRunner for joggers with the phone);
Immobiliser passive (the car will not start without the ignition code, even if the thief has physical keys in hand);
An alarm system if the car is used keyless ignition;
A system that sends radio frequency signals directly to the police as soon as it is reported stolen;

Perhaps this is not enough to protect a car (in the U.S. are stolen every year about 1 million vehicles), but who should at least try a little 'fatigue makes .... Unless it is a hacker ....

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