Hydrogen Fuel Cell is the New Thing

Nov 10 2014

Hydrogen Fuel Cells are the newest source of power for all-electric cars.

Already used in factories and space, the fuel source’s attributes read like a dream list.

I speak with Hyundai about it, because their hydrogen-powered Tucson SUV was the first-to-market.

Read it online at Autonet.ca

Favourite line:

Think I did a good job explaining something complicated:

In science-speak, electricity is released during the chemical reaction caused by combining two hydrogen molecules and one oxygen molecule. That electricity is fed into a battery, which then powers the electric motor. When two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen are mixed, H20 (water) is created, which is what is emitted from the tailpipe, and why it’s considered a zero-emissions engine.

The problem is a lack of fuel-delivery infrastructure. Because when did you last see a hydrogen refuelling station? Exactly.

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Back to ‘Keri on Driving’ – Index

Hay-Bale Art and an MX-5

Nov 7 2014

Adding to my collection, titled:
“Press Car Photos in Special Places”

See the collection here.

This is a 2015 Mazda MX-5 Special Anniversary Edition, which will get its own post it’s that special – 1 / 100 in Canada.

Find the review I wrote about it here.

My Jetta is Gone for Real, Forever this Time

Nov 7 2014

I’ve brought it back from the dead many times over the years, once said goodbye for 7 months, but this time I signed the green ownership paper, it’s official.

Didn’t make it to my goal of 300,000 km, look how close I was too.

Because that’s miles, so – 288,450 km

That car was a big part of my life since 2007. My co-star in my 80-episode series about Canada.

Here’s the theme song I wrote for said show.

Not proud of the amount of attachment to an intimate object I’m experiencing right now.

But it’s impractical, putting a couple thousand into a car that I paid $5,000 for 8 years ago, and has severe electrical problems. So off it went this week.

I don’t wanna talk about it anymore.

RIP Jetta XO

Blog tag = Jetta

The All-New 2015 Honda Fit

Nov 4 2014

The all-new 2015 Honda Fit

This model year was refreshed from the ground up.

Starting at $14,495
This one $22, 968 (fully loaded, top trim: EX-L Navi)

It’s a 1.5 L 4-cylinder engine, outputting 130 hp and 114 lb.fts.

When you read reviews, the Fit is often called “fun to drive”, because it is. Easy to toss around, small turning radius, does a good job keeping up on the highway, shines in a busy downtown, and get it in manual, it will help with the pep.

My tester was the top trim, EX-L Navi, but really, this car excels in the lower 2 trims, DX & LX.

Adding leather seats, automatic climate control and a moonroof is nice, but sends the price up too high and defeats the purpose of this vehicle, which is good value-for-money.

The refreshed exterior is its same, good-looking self…

… while the interior sees the most change.

Lots of new tech.

1 – a colour, 7″ screen, and the climate control panel is now all touch
2 – when you drive more fuel efficiently, those blue lights change to green
3 – power plugs and USB ports everywhere

And despite the double glovebox being deleted, there’s still plenty of storage, especially for a small car.

Notice it?

That’s not a backup camera, that’s the side-mirror camera. It’s Honda LaneWatch, a blind spot display.

When you signal to turn right, the camera mounted beneath the passenger mirror comes on, and is displayed on the dash screen. I found it a bit distracting at night.

What remained the same through the refresh, and this is good, is that the backseat is still massive.

The rear seat is actually a bench, and see how flat it folds? Massive cargo will slide right in, a rarity in a small car. The proper name is Honda’s “60/40 2nd-Row Magic Seat”, okay that’s funny.

See, I’m seated with my legs crossed, and there’s still ample room.