Flying Car Cleared for Road Use - To Hit Market by 2012 (PHOTOS)

Tired of getting struck in traffic then better fly with Terrafugia's light sport roadable aircraft, Transition, which can be transformed from a car to a plane in just just 30 seconds. The world's first flying car of the 21st century is ready for the road.

The flying car has been cleared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for use on roads and granted it special exemptions as a roadable aircraft.

"Terrafugia’s Transition is the first combined flying-driving vehicle to receive such special consideration from the Department of Transportation since the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards came into being in the 1970s," the Woburn, Massachusetts-based Terrafugia Inc. said in a statement. In the exemption text, NHTSA states "We further conclude that the granting of an exemption from these requirements would be in the public interest and consistent with the objectives of traffic safety."

The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted a three-year hardship exemption that will allow the manufacturer to enter its planned 2012 production time frame. Previously, the company said deliveries of the Transition are scheduled to begin in late 2011. But, the company, after the approval, said the flying car will start shipping in 2012 and will be priced at around $250,000. Terrafugia has about 100 orders for the Transition with a $10,000 reservation fee.

Terrafugia Inc. said extensive analysis and simulated crash testing are also being employed with industry partners to ensure that the Transition meets all other applicable crash safety standards. The NHTSA's exemptions allowed the roadable aircraft to use lightweight plastic windows and use a different type of tire than that used by other vehicles.

In order to prevent shattering of the windshield in case of a bird-hit, Terrafugia used polycarbonate materials instead of automotive safety glass. The tires are heavier like any other small aircraft to handle landings as well as road driving.

The Transition can fly at 115 mph and reach 65 mph on the road. On the ground, with its wings tucked up and in, it can fill up with auto gas at a normal filling station and it fits in any average-sized garage.

The Transition has a 26 feet wingspan and will retract and expand with only the push of a button. It has a range of nearly 500 miles. "A lot of people said they never thought it would fly. But we have a vehicle right here, right now that drives and flies, and converts between the two in 20 seconds," says Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich. The "roadable aircraft" first flew in 2009 and is the first light airplane to incorporate features found in most cars like a rigid carbon fiber occupant safety cage, and passenger and driver airbags.

"This is an aeroplane first and foremost. The idea is you can drive it to and from a regulation airport. Fully fueled, you can fly it for a range of 400 to 450 miles. We have 100 orders so far. There are still some minor changes that need to be made because it has to meet both road and aviation standards," said Richard Gersh, VP Business Development of Terrafugia on February.

It has been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration for flight as a "light sport aircraft". The NHTSA clearance finally made the flying car both air and road ready. Here is a glimpse of Transition on the road and on air:

Volvo Trucks Awarded for One More Pile Project Success

 Swedish manufacturer Volvo Trucks has been working to optimize timber haulage, as part of its involvement in the One More Pile project, and its efforts have recently paid off.  The company has won the Volvo Group’s internal environmental award for its success in reducing emissions from timber haulage trucks.


The award is presented every year to encourage good examples and initiatives in the environmental field. The jury's judgement was based not only on the team's "enthusiastic and successful work in developing a modular system for energy-efficient vehicle-based transport" but also on its successful cooperation across project boundaries.

By lengthening trucks and thus increasing the amount of timber that each vehicle can carry, the "One More Pile" project succeeded in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide by 20 percent. And it did so with retained levels of safety and without increasing wear on the road surfaces.

"One quarter of road haulage in Sweden is accounted for by the transport of timber. If we can make these transport operations more efficient and reduce their carbon emissions, we stand to gain a lot," said Lena Larsson, project manager at Volvo.

The One More Pile rig, an extended combination that has been tested within the framework of the project, is 30 metres long and carries 65 tonnes of timber, as against today's conventional timber haulers that carry 42 tonnes and are 24 metres long. The truck, a Volvo FH16 with a 660 hp engine, has been in operation for two years now, during which it has hauled over 100,000 tonnes of timber.

Hybrid Cars on Display at Paris Motor Show 2010

Hybrid car technology in a variety of combinations and models is currently being displayed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show which began on Saturday and runs til Oct. 17.

While their petrol-driven counterparts still dominate the show, several notable greener designs are being showcased by the some of the big names, with an interesting mix of technologies.

Peugeot-Citroen has its 3008 HYbrid 4 with a 2.0 litre diesel engine supplying 163 hp to the front wheels while the electric motor provides 37 hp to the rear.

The Peugeot crossover is expected to cost around US$10,000 more than the petrol version but product director Vincent Besson believes customers will want the “functionality and fuel efficiency."

"Hybrids have a big future because they're much more versatile than electric cars," he told Bloomberg. Peugeot believes gas-and diesel-electric hybrids will make up 10 percent of all European sales of new cars by 2020.


Meanwhile Nissan-Renault is charging ahead with plans to launch four electric vehicles over the next two years, including a city car, mini-car, and light commercial van. The company says its electric Fluence sedan will cost less to run than its petrol equivalent.

Within the next decade, the company expects rising fuel prices will push up subcompact buyers’ demand for electric cars very significantly.

Toyota has stuck with its gas-electric approach to hybridisation, unveiling the prototype for a small city-car due for release in 2012. Honda's Jazz Hybrid is also on display with plans to sell it in Europe from early 2011.

Other interesting models on show include a Fisker Karma plug-in, Jaguar’s C-X74 with electric motors and gas turbines, and General Motors’ Opel Ampera, a European version of the Chevy Volt.

Honda launches new luxury Honda City model

Automaker Honda Siel Cars India Ltd launched 'City Exclusive,' a luxury edition of the Honda City, aimed at the upper-middle class segment of India.

The new variant comes in two models V MT and V AT priced at 953,000 and 10,25,000 rupees respectively.
The company has added leather seats & leather steering and a leather gear shift knob which is an addition to the car’s luxury feel.
Cheverolet Aveo, Fiat Linea, Maruti SX4 and Hyundai Verna are other models in the same price range. However, the Honda City is at a premium price compared to the cars in the segment, and offers mileage and performance. The company is also far ahead in terms of sales compared to other cars in the segment.
Honda City contributes the maximum to the total sales of Honda, which reported a rise of 33 percent in September sales. Honda City sales rose by 44 percent and it constitutes about 80 percent of the 7728 units sold by the company in September.

“The ‘exclusive’ variant is aimed at further delighting our customers with exclusive luxurious features during this festival period,” Mr. Tatsuya Natsume, Director Marketing of Honda Siel said in a statement.

How to find the right car shipping company

With the latest economic problem of the nation forcing people to find viable employment wherever they can, a lot of people end up accepting jobs in other states besides the one they are currently in. It is not amazing then that people from across the U.S. end up moving to another state because of better opportunities available  in other states. Moving your entire family to a new state, especially one that is far from the one you are in right now, needs a lot of planning and doing. One of the things you need to consider finding when you are planning your big move is a car shipping company or auto transport companies.

Why should you search yourself a car shipping company and why is it  that you find the right one? Some people do not realize that driving certain vehicles to a new location can be very taxing, more so if you own two or more vehicles. Having to move all of these vehicles by driving them from your current state to the one you are moving to can also be very expensive. The solution to this dilemma is to find a car shipping company that will transport your vehicles to your new home. Finding the right car shipping company to trust your vehicles with may entail a bit of research on your part. Since there are a lot of auto transport companies who can easily offer to do the job for you, you might find yourself having a difficult time in choosing which one to go with. There are a few things you need to find out about these companies and what they tell you may very well help you in deciding which auto transport company to go with. One of the things you will need to ask auto transport companies and probably one of the first questions you should get information on right away is how much they charge for the move. The prices these auto transport companies give you will vary and will depend on a few factors. Some of these factors include how far your vehicles will have to be taken, whether or not these companies offer insurance, the kind of service they provide and how many vehicles are to be transported. When choosing a car shipping company, you should know that cheaper does not always mean better. Try to ask around about these companies you are thinking of hiring before you do hire them. Check out the kind of insurance they offer with your vehicle move. If you are still unsure about these companies, ask for references. You should try to make sure that your vehicles are safe and secure when being transported to your new destination. You should also find them in as good a condition as they were when they left their point of origin when you receive them in the new city or state you are moving to. In the end, auto transport companies do save you some money and help relieve you of the hassles and stress that accompany moving a few vehicles from one state to another. All you need to do is to make sure that they do get your cars there safe and sound as well.

Auto Driveaway Expands Relationship with Heavy Material Suppliers

Auto Driveaway expands relationship with heavy material suppliers Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. and H&E Equipment Services through a third party logistics company, Plant Site Logistics.

Online PR News – 19-March-2011 –Omaha, NE/US – third party logistics companies provides service to the transportation company according to Manager of Auto Driveaway, Omaha location.

Mel York announces that Auto Driveaway is now contracted with Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. and H&E Equipment Services to shift trucks through Plant Site Logistics, a third party logistics service with over 35 years experience in transportation, warehousing, inventory control, operating procedures and system design.

Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. is one of the premier new and used heavy architecture equipment and crane dealers in the country serving the construction, earth moving, paving, road building, materials handling (including crawler, industrial, and rough terrain cranes) compaction and demolition markets.

H&E Equipment Services is a leading supplier of new, used and construction rental equipment for earth moving, compaction, paving, heavy equip handling and industrial customers. They offer broad maintenance repair programs with wide-ranging heavy equipment parts selections, mobile service, scheduled maintenance, fleet management, redeveloping for cranes and more.

Auto Driveaway is the largest vehicle delivery provider in the country with 40 offices throughout the United States.

Mel York, Auto Driveaway can be contacted at 3506 Keystone Drive, Omaha, NE 68134, 1.800.497.0454 Office; 402.575.5638 Fax; myork@autodriveaway.com

Auto Club Takes Delivery of Biggest Smart Car Electric Fleet

Twenty smart for two electric drive cars, unveiled today by the Automobile Club of Southern California and smart USA, will be part of a research  by the Auto Club to test the utility and benefits of electric cars in a variety of light duty roadside, insurance and consumer activities. The 20 vehicles are among an overall fleet of 250 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles that will be distributed by smart USA nationwide during 2011.

smart car

The smart for two EVs will be used by the Auto Club's roadside assistance, automative services and insurance claims fleets, the Automotive Research Center, and publications and public affairs groups. Drivers will give feedback through the program regarding their day-to-day experiences. In addition, editors from Westways, the Auto Club's travel and lifestyle member magazine, will use a smart for two EV for day trips. Results will be reported to the Club's six million Southern California members through the magazine.

This year, smart USA is leasing 250 vehicles to early adopters of electric drive technology who are helping to define new alternatives in transportation for the United States and interested in producing a passionate statement on conservation and environmental awareness. Vehicle placement is nationwide, marking a natural evolution of the smart brand and the next logical extension of the for two platform which continues to be a trendsetter in urban mobility and efficiency. Series production, with next generation technology, begins in next year(2012).

How to search the right car shipping company

Car Shipping

With the latest economic problem of the nation forcing people to find viable employment wherever they can, a lot of people end up accepting jobs in other states besides the one they are currently in. It is not amazing then that people from across the U.S. end up moving to another state because of better opportunities available  in other states. Moving your entire family to a new state, especially one that is far from the one you are in right now, needs a lot of planning and doing. One of the things you need to consider finding when you are planning your big move is a car shipping company or auto transport companies.

Why should you search yourself a car shipping company and why is it  essential that you find the right one? Some people do not realize that driving  few vehicles to a new area can be very taxing, more so if you own two or more vehicles. Having to move all of these vehicles by driving them from your current state to the one you are moving to can also be very expensive. The solution to this dilemma is to find a car shipping company that will transport your vehicles to your new home.


Searching the right car shipping company to hope your vehicles with may entail a bit of research on your part. Since there are a lot of auto transport companies who can easily offers to do the job for you, you might find yourself having a difficult time in choosing which one to go with. There are a few things you want to find out about these companies and what they tell you may very well help you in deciding which auto transport company to go with.


One of the things you will need to ask auto transport companies and probably one of the first questions you should get information on right away is how much they charge for the move. The prices these auto transport companies give you will vary and will depend on a certain factors. Some of these factors include how far your vehicles will have to be taken, whether or not these companies offer insurance, the kind of service they provides and how many vehicles are to be transported.


When choosing a car shipping company, you should know that cheaper does not always mean better. Try to ask around about these companies you are thinking of hiring before you do hire them. Check out the kind of insurance they offer with your vehicle move. If you are still unsure about these companies, ask for references. You should try to make sure that your vehicles are safe and secure when being transported to your new location. You should also find them in as good a condition as they were when they left their point of origin when you receive them in the new city or state you are moving to.


Atlast, auto transport companies do save you some money and help relieve you of the hassles and stress that accompany moving a few vehicles from one state to another. All you need to do is to make sure that they do get your cars there safe and sound as well.

SOUND OVER FOR Jan. 31

Sound Off

Thanks for concentrate

Thank you to all the well-wishers as I auditioned for “America’s Got Talent.” Now i can check that off my bucket list. They told us we’d hear around the end of February if we have made it to the second audition. I’ll let you know if I make it. Again, thank you all caring.

Something’s fishy

This is really what makes me tight-jawed. I acknowlegde a claim for loss of  subsistence and use. I’m an avid fisherman fishing on the average of two to three times per week. I have my boat and material, probably too much if you ask my wife. When I went to submit my claim they said without bills for purchased seafood I would probably be rejected. Hello, I don’t buy fish, I fish and I eat the fish I catch. If I don’t catch fish I just don’t eat fish. I’m sure that I am not alone in that way of thinking. I’m spoiled on catching my own Gulf seafood and I won’t buy any over the counter fish.

Too much risk

The paper has some good coverage of work by the business association in Hancock County, but the problem is homeowners’ insurance and how that is, and will continue to be, a drag on new business. Our $14,000 hurricane deductible means that we will sell and leave when our jobs are over. This financial risk is too much to have hanging over our heads. I’d like to know how many concerns and investors have decided to go elsewhere in the past few years after learning about the insurance situation.

There’s no guarantee

I had enjoy to reading the newspaper daily. It is the best learning medium of all. I am 72 and have learned even more than I did in school. All the Sound Offs about uninsured motorists are good, but not a guarantee to the inconsiderate uninsured vehicle operators. No matter what the state or anyone else tries, it won’t be a guarantee because the same goes, the unconsidered can cancel their policy. We still have to preserve ourselves and family.

What is essential

As an aside, it simply makes no sense to me what ever that we require everyone to have auto insurance when automobile transportation is not a life necessity while currently there is opposition to requiring everyone to pay into health care when we consider health care a life necessity. It is totally backwards. Auto insurance should be optional and let people take the risk of loss. If we do not have single payer health care like most developed nations, then health insurance should be required because our society has deemed that we cannot turn people away from necessary care.

Seven More Organisation Recommend Transportation Plan

Transportation plan

The Northern Virginia organisation of Realtors and the Residence & Office Building Association of Metropolitan Washington have endorsed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s plan for funding more than $4 billion in road, rail and some other transportation projects across the state.

The groups were among seven business and transportation associations that announced their support for the plan previous week. The other association were the Virginia Auto Dealers Association, AAA Mid-Atlantic, Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals, Retail Alliance and Virginia Business Council.

Earlier, 36 organizations had recommended McDonnell’s plan.

The Republican governor’s proposal would need the state to borrow money to fund the transportation projects. Critics, notably Democrats, say they oppose the plan in part because they don’t like Virginia to go into debt.

Mary Beth Coya, senior vice president for public and government respond for the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, said the group has been an advocate for more funding for transportation and that this is an initial step.

“Our members, the home buyers and the selling public that we serve spend too many valuable hours stuck in traffic. This is the time that could be spent with our families or being more profitable in our jobs,” Coya said.

The governor said his proposal would help Northern Virginia and other regions by fast up road construction, providing employment, easing congestion and boosting economic growth.

The proposal includes an employee tax credit for telecommuting and a tax incentive for companies that use water and rail, instead of trucks, to ship cargo.

McDonnell’s transportation plan would fund nearly 900 projects statewide. The plan would be funded by about $3 billion in bonds. Also, a 0.25% sales tax in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads would be used for projects in that areas.

Democrats fear that diverting sales tax revenues to transportation will take money away from education and public safety. House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong (D-10th District) also said the governor’s bond proposal would “run up impressive amounts of debt.”

However, Coya said low interest rates make this a favorable time to sell bonds.

“We expect to see proposals in the future for new funding sources that will address the magnitude of our transportation problem without harming the resources we need for education and other key government services,” Coya said.

'Talking' cars may alert of accidents and save lives

A new crash warning system that allows vehicles to "talk" to each other more than 900 feet away was determines for federal officials, marking a significant step in ability by the government to put advanced transmission technology in cars. 

Using WiFi signals that are transmit 10 times every second, the technology senses when a collision is imminent and alerts a driver through flashing red lights and beeps. 

 

In the demonstration in the parking lot near RFK Stadium, the driver notified by a system when it detected another car speeding through a red light in an upcoming intersection, of several cars blocking the highway ahead, and of a car zooming up from behind. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is send a report in October that such "vehicle-to-vehicle" warning systems could address nearly 80 percent of reported accidents that do not include drunk drivers. 

This technology is called as Peter Appel.It has the potential to save a lot of lives,administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration at the Department of Transportation, after riding along for the demo.The technology, if successfully developed, could become mandatory in 2013 when federal officials are scheduled to decide whether to require such systems.

In the absence of such a specification, the first challenge may be overcoming a basic chicken-and-egg problem. If other person don't buy the systems, they will be nearly useless. In that case, persuading the first consumers to purchase the technology may be difficult. 

Implementation of the system would require the nation's automakers, to agree on how such systems should work and what kind of information they should share. 

Ford, which conducted Tuesday's demonstration for federal officials and the media, is expected to announce during this week's Washington Auto Show that it will invest more in the technology. The Department of Transportation has already spent more than $40 million on this technology, with an additional $36 million slated for more research.The government research and automakers is supposed to be finished within two years. 

The warning systems, however, face technical challenges.The WiFi signals between two cars are sent via a channel shared by the Federal Communications Commission. Engineers are trying to cope with "channel loading" when there are more than 100 cars within the 300-meter radius. 

There is some fear that hackers could fool the systems into thinking that others car are in the area - setting off alarms and snarling traffic. The automakers must ensure that the signals vehicles are receiving are actually from other cars. Setting up electronic certifications also has to be done in a way that addresses the concerns of privacy advocates and does not identify individual drivers. 

"We don't want people to feel there is some tracking device on the car," said Michael Shulman, a technical leader for the project at Ford. "But we have to make sure the other car you're sensing is not some guy on an overpass with a laptop. So there are obstacles, but we think we have ways of overcoming them." 

Some cars already have limited radar devices that can detect obstacles in the front, as well as those in the blind spots missed by mirrors. Such systems can cost $1,000. 

The advantage of the WiFi technology is not only that it is far cheaper - possibly adding as little as $100 to the cost of the car,but also that it can identify other vehicles much farther away and in all directions.The system's low price tag would allow manufacturers to put it in both luxury and economy models.

Goods transport revenue increase by 33.5% in pune

Goods Transport

PUNE: The Pune railway department has registered a significant increase of at least 33.5% in its goods transport revenue. As per the current statistics, the goods transport has fetched the division Rs 135.45 crores in the first nine months (till December 2010); this is significantly high compared to last year. The main reason for this growth in revenue is, increased transport of sugar, auto parts and fuel from Pune.

According to sources, "Earnings from goods transport have been increasing over the last few years, by at least 10% annually. Most of this is thanks to the increasing number of industrial units around Pune. Western Maharashtra being the hub of sugar production, the division has registered a significant rise in sugar transport this year.All industrial units prefers the rail transport as it is faster and safer compared to other way of modes."

An official with the Pune division said division is expanding its existing capacity, hence the goods transport can further increase in the coming years.

A proposal has been put forward for separate tracks with advanced facilities for loading and unloading goods at the Saswad goods shed. According to the officials, a time of slot of 9 am to 3 pm is allotted for  goods transport.

The statistics also suggest that the Pune division's passenger earnings have gone up to Rs 296.19 crore, an increase of around 17% compared to the last year. The division, till December 10, has registered a passenger count of 5.60 crore, around 7% more than last year. The total revenue of division has reached up to Rs 457.24 crore.

The Pune division takes action against ticketless passengers across all its station. Till December, around 1.23 such cases were registered, earning the division Rs 4.79 crore. According to Pune division's public relation officer, "Around 88 holiday special trains and 73 special trains ran from Pune in the last 9 months".