Under the skin of this ordinary looking people-mover is what its developers label as extraordinary – 248 solar cells that can fully recharge its lithium-ion battery pack or, in other words, effectively refuel itself. That is as long as it’s parked under the sun. It’s the Sion, a five-seat, 4900mm-long, battery-electric MPV built by German start-up Sono Motors at the former … [Read more...] about This car can refuel itself – once it’s parked in the sun
Highlights
Diesel dilemma: appeal of LPG Ram truck and Ssangyong petrol ute
A builder in Auckland has run into the same problem owners of diesel vehicles, especially utes, have: exhaust filters so clogged with soot that they can send the vehicle into limp-home mode. So he got out of his 3.0-litre diesel Volkswagen V6 Amarok and into an all-American Ram 1500 – and promptly installed a dual-fuel system to enable the Ram’s 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine to … [Read more...] about Diesel dilemma: appeal of LPG Ram truck and Ssangyong petrol ute
Following route the house of Jack built for businesses
The senior executive of a top 10 motoring nameplate in New Zealand is planning to exit the coronavirus lockdown with the words of hard-charging American business leader Jack Welch as a guiding light: “Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be.” The reality the motoring industry faces is a world of hurt, more damaging long-term than the Global Financial … [Read more...] about Following route the house of Jack built for businesses
Thinking differently: which way do the hands of a clock turn?
Code-breakers at Bletchley Park, the British World War II facility tasked with cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma system, encouraged new recruits to think differently. One senior man always asked the question: ‘Which way do the hands of a clock turn?’ The answers always came back ‘clockwise’ or ‘right to left.’ The instructor would pause for effect: ‘Not if you’re the clock,’ … [Read more...] about Thinking differently: which way do the hands of a clock turn?
Ultimate boys’ toy – submarine about as big as two jet skis
The jet ski might indeed be one of the best watersport toys going round, but it has nothing on the lightweight Nemo submersible from U-Boat Worx, a specialist company in The Netherlands. Both craft do have one thing in common, however – they can be towed by the family station wagon or SUV, although Nemo would need a vehicle rated to tow at least 2500kg. That’s how … [Read more...] about Ultimate boys’ toy – submarine about as big as two jet skis