Knowing about Eco-Friendly Vehicles

You often hear of environmentally friendly vehicles, and today most developed countries have implemented their vehicles with the latest technology in the automotive industry. The green (environmentally friendly) vehicles are the motor vehicles that uses certain alternative fuels, and produce the effects not harmful to the environment.

The illustration of an eco-friendly vehicle. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YUkW3)

Currently, in some countries the use of environmentally friendly fuel for vehicles must conform or to use European emission standards more stringent (such Euro6), or in California with the standard of zero emission vehicles (like Zev, ULEV, SULEV, PZEV), or the low-carbon fuels standard that have been enacted in several countries.

Environmentally friendly vehicles can be powered by alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies, including the hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric batteries vehicles, air compressed vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles.

In addition there is also the use of ethanol, natural gas, biodiesel and ethanol or gasohol. The use of environmentally friendly fuels as a replacement fuel for the conventional motor vehicles, which is intended as a way of saving as well as energy efficiency to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector.

Here's look the infographic bellow;

A Guide to the Most Environmentally-Friendly Cars. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YUkG1)

Not only that, the use of environmentally friendly fuel is also aimed at reducing the impact of air pollution emissions and greenhouse gases, as well as contribute to energy independence by reducing oil imports.

Although, perhaps to a few countries in the world, yet little or no vehicle of this kind, you can still have a vehicle according to your wishes. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DETIK OTO | INHABITAT]

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Spyker revived with a mechanical beauty of C8 Preliator

Dutch automaker Spyker has a relatively short, but nonetheless curious past. The company was founded in 1999 and built supercars with meticulously detail and intricate interiors rivaling that of Pagani. Spyker was never as successful as Pagani, but when GM announced that it would sell Saab in 2009, the company bought the nameplate and intended to reclaim the brand’s former glory.

Spyker C8 Preliator had debutted at the Geneva Motor Show 2016. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YScAE)

Saab though, immediately started hemorrhaging money and Spyker was forced into bankruptcy soon after the deal went through. Yet, Spyker declared that it would return, and return to its supercar roots in the future. Fast forward to today, as Spyker debuted at the Geneva Motor Show 2016 its newest supercar, the C8 Preliator.

The Preliator, which means “warrior” in Latin, is an evolution of the company’s C8 platform. As with previous C8 iterations, Spyker went with a modified Audi-sourced engine to power the Preliator.  The supercharged 4.2-liter V-8 engine has been tuned to produce 525 hp, which is sent through a ZF-sourced six-speed automatic gearbox with shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. Additionally, like Pagani, the Preliator "retains Spyker's trademark exposed gear change mechanism," further giving the driver a sense of spectacle.

Left side view of Spyker C8 Preliator. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YScAE)

Under the body cladding is a space frame chassis that consists of extruded and folded sheet aluminum with integrated side-impact and rollover bars. According to Spyker, the new chassis is lighter and 10 percent stiffer than the outgoing model. Suspension is supplied by Lotus, consisting of front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension, coilover dampers and forged aluminum pieces.

Cockpit of Spyker C8 Preliator. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSciN)

Furthermore, the exterior of the car has been slightly widened and stretched to increase driving comfort and stability at high speeds. These revisions also included redesigning the Preliator's canopy, adding NACA ducts, and altering its front splitter to better channel airflow. Lurking behind the 19-inch wheels are AP Racing brakes and carbon ceramic units are available as an option.

At the car's launch in Geneva, Victor R. Muller, Spyker’s Founder and CEO stated, "The greatest man in our industry, Enzo Ferrari, once said: 'What's behind you, doesn't matter.' What does matter is the fact that we have returned to Geneva today to unveil the worthy successor to the Spyker C8 Aileron."

The Spyker C8 Preliator will be produced in Coventry, U.K., and will be limited to just 50 units, and pricing for the new supercar has yet to be disclosed. Nevertheless, if previous Spykers are any indication, the Preliator will likely cost around US. $220,000. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOGUIDE]

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Unique One of a Kind Custom Motorcycles

There is nothing like a custom motorcycle, if you are the builder then you have the pride in knowing you designed and built a custom motorcycle, as the owner you ride high in your seat know your motorcycle is like no other, and while it is true that no two motorcycles are the same there are some totally unique designs that all but push beyond the basic conception of custom motorcycle design. Here are a few examples.

1. Forgiato Radurra glass wheels

Ever wish your motorcycle could float? Well if you got the $10,000.00 for a set of Forgiato Radurra glass motorcycle wheels then you can make the impossible thing into a reality. These wheels are made from a hard-coated polycarbonate and attached to aluminum hubs making then both the most expensive and the coolest one of a kind custom design for motorcycles and cars.

A unique motorcycle with Forgiato Radurra glass wheels. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YUqkR)

The company has a long history in the jewelry industry, which accounts for their ability to conceive and design such a unique motorcycles and cars wheel.

2. Carlos Alberto Wooden Motorcycle and Scooter

Portuguese carpenter Carlos Alberto has taken building the perfect custom motorcycle one step further than anyone could have imagined with his wooden motorcycle. While the technical specs are sparse, there are literally hundred’s of blogs and websites with pictures of his wooden motorcycle and a wooden Vespa scooter.

All wood motorcycle by Carlos Alberto. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YUrNH)

Wooden Vespa by Carlos Alberto. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YUrNH)

3. Fully Chromed Yamaha YZF-R1

They say chrome won’t get you home but the amount of chrome on this bike is enough to be its own rescue beacon. This Yamaha YZF-R1 is a perfect example chrome gone wild. I love chrome but I am willing to bet that in direct sunlight this bike would give you a sunburn.

Fully Chromed Yamaha YZF-R1. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YUrqa)

4. Hustler 8 Valve

Stellan Egeland has taken the old school board racers to a new level with his bike "Hustler 8 Valve". The Bike won the Unique One of a Kind Custom Motorcycles 2007 AMD bike building competition with this sexy old school inspired design.

Stellan Egeland Hustler 8 Valve. (Picure from: http://adf.ly/1YUsje)

The Hulster 8 Valve, is a board tracker powered by a custom engine using a knucklehead bottom end with custom built cylinders and heads. The cylinders are cast in bronze while the heads are aluminum. The valve assemblies are beautiful. Power is delivered through a Norton gearbox. There's a chain driven generator coming off the rear wheel and as you would expect, workmanship overall is superb.. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | ]

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The mystery of "the Flores man" partially revealed

Identity of the Flores man or are often called "The Hobbit" was partially revealed. The French scientists through their research to make sure that the dwarf was clearly not a human being like us. Nevertheless, the results were not put an end to a great puzzle about the identity of "The Hobbit," this human species remains unclear.

The Flores man was discovered in 2003 by an archaeologist from the Indonesian National Archaeology Center (Pusat Arkeologi Nasional/Arkenas) named EW Saptomo who played a major role in the discovery and also makes him one of the world's most influential archaeologists thanks to these findings.

From left, models representing a Flores Man, a Homo Sapiens and a Neanderthal in Lyon, France. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSYml)

Initially, the man thought to have a height of only 1.1 meters was declared as Homo floresiensis. However, soon after its discovery released in the journal Nature, its identity a matter of controversy.

Some scientists believe that "The Hobbit" is a member of the species Homo erectus. However, "The Hobbit" experiencing isolation and evolution so made it shrink. Meanwhile, other scientists assume, the man who weighs an estimated 25 kilograms is Homo floresiensis, totally new species. One group of other scientists said the dwarf was actually a human (Homo sapiens). However, this type had a small brain size is only as big as grapes.

A Homo floresiensis' skull, centre, next to that of a homoserectus from Java, left, and a human skull. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSYml)

Antoine Balzeau, a scientist from the Natural History Museum of France, was re-examining the bones of "The Hobbit". He collaborated with Philippe Charlier, an ancient medical mysteries expert of Paris Descartes University. By using a high-tech scanning devices, Balzeau and Charlier analyze the human skull that found in Liang Bua, Flores, Indonesia.

"So far, we base the conclusion on the image which have not many seen before," said Balzeau as quoted of Telegraph on Tuesday, February 18, 2016. Balzeau said, there are plenty of informations contained in each layer of the skull. However, he said, "There is no characteristic of our species."

Revision of some internal features of Liang Bua 1 on cranial thickness, internal structure. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSYml)

Although they finding the signs of disease, but Balzeau and Charlier not found the sign of the disease associated with a genetic disorder that causes dwarfism.

The results of this research could successfully eliminate several possibility of the identity of "The Hobbit". Now, the choice is only whether "The Hobbit" is Homo erectus or Homo floresiensis indeed. Clearly, it was not Homo sapiens. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | TELEGRAPH]

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Rimac presented two exotic electric supercars in Geneva

You probably haven't heard of this Croatian company, but in the seven years since it was formed it has developed the Concept_One, an all-electric supercar which it will build only eight of, and six of which have already been sold for £686,000 apiece.

It's hardly mass production, but sitting in a hall shared by Ferrari, Pagani and other expensive and ultra-rare exotica, the Concept_One looks right at home. With 1,088 hp and the ability to hit 60 mph in a McLaren P1-beating 2.6 seconds, the Concept_One was no slouch.

The production version of Rimac Concept_One revealed at the Geneva Motor Show 2016. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1Y2mY8)

But new for Geneva is the Concept S, an uprated model with an extra 296 hp, less weight and, thanks to that massive rear wing and diffuser, more downforce. Torque has also been increased, up to 1,800 Nm.

These changes make for violently rapid performance. The car hits 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, thanks to a four-wheel-drive system and each corner being driven by its own electric motor. In just 5.6 seconds it reaches 124 mph (200 kph) - almost a second quicker than the Bugatti Chiron - and 186 mph (300 kph) is dealt with in 13.1 seconds, two seconds faster than the Chiron.

Rimac Concept S also revealed at the Geneva Motor Show 2016. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1Y2na6)

The car's top speed is 226 mph, Rimac claims, while hauling the 1,800 kg car back to zero is the job of carbon ceramic brakes aided by regenerative braking on all four wheels, which slows the car and feeds energy back into the battery.

Although no official range has been published, a Rimac spokesperson suggested to IBTimes that the regular Concept_One could match the roughly 200-mile real world range of a Tesla Model S if driven sensibly. That said, we dread to think how quickly the battery could be drained by a few 0-186 mph sprints.

There is no word on what Rimac will charge for the Concept S, and we can't imagine the production will get close to two figures, let alone the 500 Chirons Bugatti plans to make. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | IBTIMES]

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Hiker found a rare 2,000 years old gold coin

Laurie Rimon was hiking with her friends at archaeological sites in eastern Galilee when viewing shiny object in the grass. After realizing that was a coin, the group guide named Irit Zuk Kovacsi contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Within a few hours, the IAA representative was came and joined the group on the field and took over ownership of the coin.

"It's not every day people find amazing things, but I hope to see the gold was displayed in the museum in the near future," said Rimon.

The front of the rare coin found by a hiker in northern Israel. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSRrp)

The coins found by Rimon was not an ordinary coin. Through a series of tests showed that the coins dating from the year of 107 AD. This coin is part of a series of nostalgic coin minted by emperor Trajan and dedicated to the Roman emperors who led earlier. The only other coin of this kind is believed to be one of the collection of the British Museum.

Chief curator of the coins department of IAA, Donald T. Ariel said that two other gold coins of this emperor has been registered in the country's wealth. One coin comes from Giv'at Shaul near Jerusalem, and other coins from the area of ​​Qiryat Gat. However, they are different details with detail on the coins were found by Rimon.

The back of the rare coin. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1YSRrp)

"This is a remarkable discovery and surprise. I believe that thanks to Laurie, pretty soon people will be able to enjoy this rare discovery," said Nir Distelfeld, an Inspector of IAA's Antiquities Robbery Prevention Unit.

Danny Syon, a senior collector at the IAA, said one side of the coin shows the symbol of the Roman legions next to the name of  emperor Trajan. On the other side, there is a portrait of the glorified emperor Augustus.

The coin like this could describe the Roman army in the region at the 2,000 years ago. "Maybe in the context of supporting the activities of the Bar Kokhba in Galilee, but it is very difficult to determine just on the basis of one coin," said Ariel.

"Historical sources describe the period records that several Roman soldiers are paid high salaries, amounting to three gold coins, which is equivalent to 75 silver coins as payment per day," said Ariel.

He added that although it has a lot of gold coins, the soldiers have trouble buying goods on the market with such coins, often because traders can not give the money returns to them.

"Bronze and silver coins from the era of emperor Trajan more common in the country, gold coins are very rare," said Ariel. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | NPR]

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