Smart Cars, Congestion Fees, sQuba Revisited - February 14th, 2008
Back in October the local news here in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex was all abuzz about the arrival of a Smart dealerhip. (Click here for a Dallas News article on the subject.) The “Why Guy,” a lovable local dufus on WFAA who does special interest pieces visited the place, a tiny hole in the wall crammed between two other dealerships, and puttered around town in one of the cars. (Click here for the video.)
Well, last week as I was coming back from the post office, I saw a Smart car in the wild. It was the cutest most drool-worthy thing I’ve ever seen in my life, emblazoned with a personalized license plate and being steered by a woman for whom the Sixties never ended. Interestingly enough, it did not look like a rolling, environmentally sound death trap. It’s tiny, no doubt, but the overall appearance was solid and at least on our busy neighborhood main artery, it looked right at home. Yes, I’m dying to take a test drive.
If You Won’t Be Green One Way . . .
The Brits are putting the squeeze on the gas guzzlers, jacking up the price for high-emission vehicles to enter central London to $49 — three times the previous level. Fuel-efficient vehicles, on the other hand get in for free. Central London has had a congestion charge since 2003 aimed at cutting down on both traffic snarls and pollution. The new rates will go into effect in October 2008 when 33,000 cars a day are expected to pay the higher fee. You do the math. If you won’t go green, you can shell out the green. Not a bad idea.
They Built the Prototype
You may recall a mention of the sQuba underwater car by Rinspeed on this blog back around Christmas time. Darned if Engadget doesn’t bring us the news that those crafty Swiss engineers have gone and built a working prototype (hinted at when last we visited this topic, but now confirmed.)
In this incarnation, the funky creation has picked up twin Seabob jet drives (with twin motors for power), an interior resistant to salt-water, and driverless laser sensor system. The car will debut next month at the Geneva Motor Show. Check out Autoblog for multiple pix.
Posted on February 14th, 2008 by Shorty
Filed under: technology, alternative fuels, lifestyle |
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