| Electric cars face battery of hurdles
In the rush to deliver an electric car to the masses, General Motors Corp. is finding that the all-important battery might not be the only major hurdle. The heating and cooling systems, for example, are a challenge because they typically are built to run off a traditional fuel combustion engine. That means new types of air conditioning and heating systems must be built. GM, in a high-stakes race with Toyota Motor Corp. to turn out an affordable, effective battery-powered car, has found that while the lithium-ion batteries themselves are hitting all the marks on early road tests, a host of other issues are beginning to crop up. .
Auto Tata Motors Unveils $2,500 "Nano" in New Delhi
The time to reach the stated maximum speed of 68mph was not given. This slow acceleration does let the Nano achieve excellent mileage -- estimates are 50mpg city and 60mpg highway. While other cars have exceeded these numbers, they don't share the Nano's low cost of entry. The Nano will be available in two trim levels, "Standard" and "Luxury." The "Standard" is truly spartan, with vinyl seats, a single-color interior, black plastic bumpers and not much else. The "Luxury" lives up to its name by comparison, offering a list of features such as: Body-colored bumpers Fog lamps Power door locks Power mirrors Air conditioning and heater Dual-color interior Fabric seats The sticker price for the Luxury model has not yet been announced. In addition to the two model choices, the Tata Nano microsite offers a range of accessories that can be viewed from the car builder, including pin striping decals, a choice of air scoop for the rear-mounted engine, and alloy wheels.
SAISD workers accused of stealing copper
Two former San Antonio Independent School District employees have been accused of stealing copper. "We have presented charges to the DA for prosecution of two former employees for stealing copper tubing from several of our schools," SAISD spokeswoman Carmen Vázquez-González said. Authorities have not charged the two men, so their names are not available. On Wednesday, copper was selling for about $3 per pound. Vázquez-González says the pair took up to $10,000 worth of copper from air conditioning units from portable buildings and other school district facilities. "We're looking at, right now, at least $10,000 in aggregate charges," she said. .
Kids Huff Freon to Get High
CARBONDALE, Ill. - During these 'dog days of summer' air conditioning units are working overtime trying to keep homes and offices cooled down. But many of those air conditioning units are becoming the target of kids wanting to drain the freon gas from inside and inhale it, sometimes with deadly results. "They feel a euphoria, light-headiness and they may pass out. But it's that euphoria that they're going after. Unfortunately what these kids don't know is there is long term damage to the body from breathing in freon gas," said Doctor Donna Carney at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Authorities say the way the kids are using the gas to get high is by placing a plastic bag over their head. Then they fill the bag with freon gas. It's heavier than oxygen so it forces the oxygen out of the bag, leaving only the dangerous gas.
Freon leak prompts evacuation of Bell Helicopter plant
Hundreds of Bell Helicopter employees evacuated the engineering building in Hurst on Monday after an air-conditioning system component sprung a freon leak. About 500 pounds of R-22 refrigerant, an odorless, colorless and nontoxic gas, was released. Bell spokesman Mike Cox said the evacuation was orderly and no employees were injured. -- Bob Cox Internet traffic restored on two cut undersea cables CAIRO, Egypt -- Traffic has returned to normal on two undersea Internet cables in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf, cable owner FLAG Telecom said Monday. The cables were cut last month, causing disruptions across the Middle East and parts of Asia. But the fate of a third cut cable, off Alexandria, Egypt, was still unknown. -- The Associated Press Continental employees to receive $158 million in profit sharing HOUSTON -- Continental Airlines said Monday it will pay a record $158 million in profit sharing Thursday to employees, based on the carrier's 2007 results.
German carmakers lead in reducing CO2 emissions
BMW AG, Volkswagen AG and other German carmakers cut carbon-dioxide emissions more than European rivals last year as they struggle to reach planned European Union targets. German brands sold domestically had 2 percent lower CO2 output last year, a greater reduction than French and Japanese models sold in Europe's largest economy, said Matthias Wissmann, president of the VDA German automobile manufacturers' association, at a briefing today in Berlin. The European Union plans a cap on carmakers that will force them to reduce CO2 emissions, a gas linked with global warming. The draft proposal, which is being negotiated this year among European lawmakers, will reduce the carbon emissions to an average 130 grams per kilometer (0.6 mile) for a manufacturer's fleet by 2012, with an additional 10 grams coming from improvements in tires, air conditioning and other vehicle parts.
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