Tuesday, December 27, 2011
The African Bull Dog ( KENYA )
Sustainable by all means.
Mombasa (Kenya) is the location where this unique prototype was conceived. Details are outlined from their Facebook page.
Completed
30th January 2011
The vehicle
The african bull dog is a Kenyan Built Off Road 4X4 Vehicle and MPV; This car is built for every day use, it can be used in farms as a produce cart, or even as an ambulance at Marsabit desert to provide emergency care to the forgotten communities and as a truck to ferry drugs to those remote places that you have never heard of!; With ample backing, the African Bulldog can do for Kenya what the Citroen 2CV did for France and the V.W Beetle for Germany!
Company Overview
Heino Autoworx is a Leading 4x4 vehicle workshop based in Mombasa at the Mtwapa Creek, Kenya. We have been involved in the maintenance of 4x4 vehicles and S.U.Vs for years and we decided to push the boundaries.
Description
The African Bull Dog is the brain child of Engineer Heino, he has a vast experience in the automotive and boat industry. The crew has been working tirelessly to ensure that we meet our target and we build a vehicle that meets the standards of the 4X4s we work on on a daily basis.
Mission
4X4 Extreme Efficient Performance!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/African-Bull-Dog/160682840649799?sk=wall
BAILEY LMP2 ( SOUTH AFRICA )
This is an African Phenomenon for 2011. Below are the stats straight from the makers mouth describing this awesome beast.
"Bailey Cars took the Bold and Brave step of building a current day Prototype car in 2009. Its taken 2 years of intense design and manufacture to produce this master piece of south African engineering.
The car has had many firsts for South Africa such as full carbon Tub, full CFD body design and building a car to the A.C.O Le Mans 24 hours regulations
The car is available to customers who would like to compete in sports car racing throughout the world in events such as ALMS, Le Mans series, Asian Le Mans Series and even the South African Le Mans Series and RSA GT challenge.
Chassis
· Carbon composite monocoque chassis
· Monocoque certified to all ACO and FIA structural and crash standards
· Adjustable pedal box and steering column
· Safety equipment includes 6-point lightweight seat belt harness
· Plumbed in fire extinguisher system
Engine
· 460hp maximum as regulated by ACO
· The engine must be made in a minimum of 1000 units in 12 consecutive months and must come, either from a grand touring car, Or from a large production car.
· Choice of homologated BMW, Lexus, Toyota or Nissan 5000 cm3 8 cylinders maximum. maximum
· Or 3200 cm3 forced induction engine with max 6 cylinders
· Diesel not allowed in LMP
Suspension
· Double wishbone layout all round
· Pushrod rocker type with damper and coil over spring all round
· Third-spring option for front and rear suspension
· Frictionless bearing seals all round
· Same upright all round
· Angular-contact wheel bearings all round
· Chromoly steel-fabricated TIG-welded wishbones
· Quick adjustable ride height, camber, and toe
· electrically power assisted rack-and-pinion
Fuel System
· 90-litre bladder type fuel cell
· Dual Low-pressure fuel lifts pump plus dual high-pressure pumps
Transmission
· Ricardo sequential-shift gearbox
· Six forward speeds plus reverse with torque input capacity in excess of 500 Nm
· Adjustable gear ratios
· Paddle shift as standard
· Gear oil cooling system
Bodywork
· All body panels of lightweight infused epoxy glass composite construction
Brake System
· AP Racing six-piston aluminum calipers all round
· 380 mm diameter ventilated discs front and rear
· Full carbon brake set up as option
Wheels and Tyres
· Wheel dimensions 11”wide x 18” diameter front
· 13” wide x 18” diameter rear
· 3 piece wheels
· Centre lock and anti loosen to FIA standards
Cooling System
· 1 water radiators
· 8-litre dry sump oil tank
· Twin engine all cooler
· Twin Electric oil scavenge pump
· 1 intercooler
· Driver air-conditioning system
Electrical System
· Military-spec chassis wiring loom
· FIA-regulation emergency power cut-off switch
· External start jump plug
· Digital dash display and with full data logging
· Xenon headlamps
WEIGHT
· Minimum weight as specified by ACO 900kg excluding driver and fuel
Bailey - Beautifully Engineered Cars
http://www.baileyedwardscars.co.za
Monday, November 28, 2011
The KIIRA EV Unveiliing (UGANDA)
The official unveiling of Uganda's first electric car was marked by the President of Uganda, HE Yoweri K Museveni taking a drive in the lime green, 2 seat ,right hand drive vehicle. The Kiira EV as is its name is a proof of concept that showcases the brave new direction the development team wants to explore in the further. The team is to develop a production concept 30 seat commuter bus by 2013.
More information about the development in detail on the following link
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/30288-makerere-launches-electric-car-set-to-embark-on-minibus-kiira-ev-launch-supplement.html
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
KIIRA EV ( UGANDA )
Following is an exert from an online news journal that covered the public test drive of the KIIRA EV, Uganda's first electric car.
MAKERERE University has successfully tested the first electric car to be made in Uganda. The two seated car is a project by the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology.............
The Kiira EV does not use fuel. The front-wheel drive has 18 horse-power and can reach top speeds of 60km per hour.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/18833-makerere-university-successfully-tests-electric-car.html
http://www.nation.co.ke/Tech/Makerere+electric+car++finally+hits+the+tarmac+/-/1017288/1265716/-/in65ga/-/index.html
Sunday, September 11, 2011
KIIRA EV ( UGANDA )
The KIIRA EV is Uganda's solution to sustainable transportation for Africa's urban cities. KIIRA EV is a concept car that is 100% electric; It seats 2 people, is styled compact and designed to meet needs of Africa's expanding urban environment. An 18 horse power motor drives the KIIRA EV to a top speed of 60mph. The KIIRA EV was designed by Makerere University at the College of Engineering and Technology's Centre For Research in Transportation Technologies (CRTT). The Vehicle Design Project (VDP) is part of the CRTT that sets the stage for this ambitious venture which will lead to more advanced concepts in transportation technologies. The KIIRA EV is the concept car that ushers in the era of green energy technology to power vehicles for the African continent.
More details will be released in the coming weeks.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Choosing a Car (and farming)
It looks like our temporary car is going to turn into a permanent car. It's an oddly tough choice to make. For most Americans, having a car is the default status, and they can't imagine life without it. But for two years, we've very much enjoyed not having a car. I've especially enjoyed the additional exercise, reduced guilt about green house gas emissions, getting to know the streets and city in a different way. I liked being used less as a chauffeur by my children, and the added resourcefulness and thoughtfulness that was required in how we approached getting around. The challenge of it was fun. It was a good conversation starter at parties or out and about. I loved saving hundred of dollars every month and no longer having to worry about gas in the tank or oil changes or expensive repairs at the auto shop. I learned how to maintain my own bike, which was fun and rewarding.
So why keep the car?
It's my fault. Tracy and the kids could continue on without it. Tracy gets to work fine by bike or T, the kids can walk/bike/scooter to school. Grocery shopping is easier by bike than car much of the time. We have zipcar.
But I want to farm. This fall I'll be taking a Farm Business Planning class, through the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in Lowell (run by Tufts), which is about 40 miles from here. In the spring, I hope to be part of their Training Farm Program, farming a small parcel of land, growing vegetables for sale. I've been able to pull of tending our three different gardens near home with just a bicycle, but I don't think I can manage the commute to the Lowell classes, workshops, and field time just with the commuter rail and bike (I'd thought about it). And I will need to use a car or truck to haul the harvest to wherever it needs to go. I could potentially try to find farm land within Boston, in biking distance, but the NESFP training program seems like exactly what I need. (And land in Boston is pretty tough to find in 1/2 acre or larger plots for farming.)
So, in the end, I'm deciding to choose farming over not having a car.
Our goal will still be to use the car as little as possible. I'll still grocery shop by bike, the kids will still get to school without a car, Tracy will keep cycling to work. I'm realistic enough to recognize that we'll end up using the car more than I'd like for casual trips, for convenience. Kira has field hockey this fall, and we'll be in a carpool for that.
I'm looking for a parking spot right now. If it's not too close to home, maybe 1/4 mile, that'll help keep casual errand running down to a minimum.
I think the key factors for getting along well in America without a car are these:
- Living close to work (less than 5 miles, or very strong public transit options)
- Living close to schools (1 mile)
- Living close to shopping (up to 2 miles)
- Access to public transportation (less than 1 mile)
- Access to Zipcar or rental cars (less than 1 mile)
- Bikeable streets (not too many multi-lane highways on your routes)
All of which means I'll be writing a lot less in this blog. I'll still post stories about other folks living without cars and making choices to walk and bike and take public transportation, rather than own cars, but I'll be posting much less (I'll be busy learning how to farm). If you do have your own stories of car-free life, I do hope you'll share them here, or send me links about other people who are making it happen.
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