I’m Not a Fan of Hybrids, Part 1

This week I detail why I’m not a fan of hybrids or eco-cars… the batteries, the lack of infrastructure, and the single-minded fervour around the topic.

But most of all, unless the owner is always driving in an eco-style, it’s all for not.

Read in online at Autonet.ca.

Favourite line:

If we’re going to be honest, we only really started caring about the environmental impact of gasoline engines in the 1970s. And look how far we’ve come in 30 short years.

Read Part 2 here.

Made the cover today yesss.

Last week, I also wrote about eco cars, I designed The Keri Eco Car. And next week will be about eco too, I have more to say, but then I will be DONE with this topic for a while :)

 

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I Designed the ‘Keri Eco Car

I’ve got an idea to make a gas-powered car achieve hybrid fuel consumption numbers….

I really believe a car like this would sell well. I am not alone in wanting a feature-free car.

Read in online at Autonet.ca.

Favourite line:

… remove all the stuff… couple this light-weigh car with a modern fuel efficient engine and ta-da – the result is a gas-powered vehicle that boasts fuel efficiency on par with a hybrid powertrain.

My last line was cut – I said this was the perfect vehicle for Mazda to make, because it is.

Interesting eh… how the Civic has almost doubled in weight since its debut, and a 2013 Lincoln Navigator weighs much more than than a giant 1970s Cadillac.

Where this column was published from.

I’m in the States here. I’m getting pretty good at keeping it all together and meeting deadlines while travelling, which is good.

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Canadian Cars are Different than the USA’s

Our Canadian cars are different than the same model sold in the States. We have more in common with European buyers than those south of the border.

Speaking with Tim Franklin, Nissan’s Senior Manager of Product Planning, we find out how and why.

Read in online on Autonet.ca

Favourite line:

Nissan conducts Canadian-specific tests, to ensure such things as if a Tim Horton’s coffee cup fits comfortably inside the cupholder.

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Let’s Go WarDriving

WarDriving – the act of searching for Wi-Fi networks from a moving vehicle, driven by someone interested in mapping the locations of Wireless Access Points (WAPs)

Lists are totalled: how many WiFis are locked, unlocked? What’s yours?

Favourite line:

Contrary to its name, wardriving is a relaxed style of driving … when you get down to it, wardriving is actually pretty boring. But the information it yields is not.

They used my collage! Love when that happens.

That’s 3 now (Stick Families are a Terrible Idea, and More Decorum, Please).

Read all my columns here. I started August 2012.

I have great news – as of today, my columns are now published on Autonet.ca! Until now, they printed and that was it, gone.

As a professional documenter, oh the anxiety that created.

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Tip the Valet Twice

Favourite lines:

“I tip on drop-off” should only be uttered while en route to retrieve your car yourself.

and:

Or don’t. Continue to broadcast an air of cheap, keep defending how you’re sticking it to minimum-wage-guy – the one to whom you’ve just entrusted your second most valuable possession.

I loved this column.

I approached this scientifically, and think I proved indeed, the valet should be tipped twice.

Guess the paper agreed, this was my largest cover-page mention yet.

I love when they say, “our columnist.” Our.

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