The Nano is predicted to become the next peoples car, not only in India from where it originates but in much of the less developed world. Euro-legal versions, with an upgraded spec, are predicted to go on sale in 2010 or 2011. In India the basic version is to be sold for around £1500/US$2500, although versions that will be sold in other countries will likely cost quite a bit more, especially when they contain mandated safety features like airbags and anti-lock brakes.
I notice that the front page scrolling ad uses '23.6 kilometres per litre', which is non-standard. It should be written as 4.24 L/100 km. About the same as many small cars, and still some way from the eco-target of 3 L/100 km (the so-called 'three litre car'). In looking at the spec sheet, it weighs (basic version) just 600 kg (not much more than a third of my Citroen C5). Payload is shown as 300 kg, which 50% of its empty weight. Yet 300 kg is just four average people, with no luggage. Like most minimal means of transportation in third world countries, I suspect that these poor cars will spend much of their time grossly overloaded. John F-L ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeremiah MacGregor To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 12:28 AM Subject: [USMA:44310] RE: Nail in the coffin for hydrogen (at least for now)? Check out this car! Only metric is used. http://tatanano.inservices.tatamotors.com/tatamotors/ Jerry ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: David <totakeke...@yahoo.com> To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 4:39:50 AM Subject: [USMA:44247] RE: Nail in the coffin for hydrogen (at least for now)? I believe that episode of Top Gear was about the Tesla Roadster. The Model S is supposed to be a much bigger improvement.. As for hydrogen, isn't it wasted energy to use electricity to get hydrogen instead of just using the electricity to power the car directly? --- On Mon, 3/30/09, Stephen Humphreys <barkatf...@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Stephen Humphreys <barkatf...@hotmail.com> Subject: [USMA:44230] RE: Nail in the coffin for hydrogen (at least for now)? To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 5:39 PM Yes -I saw that episode - blistering acceleration (faster than the normal elise) but as you say useless longevity. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: br...@bjwhite.net To: usma@colostate.edu CC: usma@colostate.edu Subject: [USMA:44228] RE: Nail in the coffin for hydrogen (at least for now)? Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:27:48 -0700 And on the other hand, check out the Top Gear episode where they review the Tesla (a car I really like) and then right after they review the Tesla (including some laps against the Lotus Elise on which it is based) they go and test the Honda Clarity FCX in California. I tell you, James May certainly had my questioning the true future of pure electric cars for anything other than short distance novelty. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [USMA:44222] Nail in the coffin for hydrogen (at least for now)? From: David <totakeke...@yahoo.com> Date: Mon, March 30, 2009 12:53 am To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu> I found this interesting article today about an electric car manufactured by Tesla Motors Inc. They already have a car on the market, but their next model, called the Modesl S, is supposed to go on sale in the third quarter or 2011, and can go about 260 km on one charge. It looks like electric cars are going to be more economically viable than hydrogen, at least for the time being. The Tesla Motors website also has a nice mix of English and (sometimes incorrectly labeled) metric units. When they list power in kilowatts, it's sometimes abbreviated "kw," and on the performance specifications page "newton-meters" is abbreviated "nm" and "foot-pound" is abbreviated "ft/lb." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Windows Live Hotmail just got better. Find out more!
