Monday, January 7, 2013

Winter Tip: Plan your route ahead of time!

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Avoid any roads that may become dangerous during bad weather. Respect road closure signs and barriers and do not attempt to drive on these routes until they are re-opened

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Toyota Tests Wireless Charging

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Toyota has started field trials with a wireless charging system that allows electric cars to replenish their batteries without needing a point of contact.

The system uses magnetic resonators buried in the road surface of a parking space and does away with the need to plug the car into electricity mains using a cable.

The wireless charging device is contained in a mat measuring about 50 centimetres across. When the car is parked the mat is raised automatically and the AC power is delivered via the magnetic field created under the vehicle.

REAL-WORLD TESTING

The first phase of testing will start in Toyota City in January, with engineers hoping to reproduce genuine everyday conditions.

Toyota says a typical Prius-sized model can be recharged in 90 minutes using the wireless induction system - the same amount of time needed for conventional cable charging.

One slight drawback is that drivers who do not position the car directly above the magnetic mat will find that charging takes slightly longer. Toyota has not announced when the wireless charging technology will go into series production. - Sapa-dpa

Courtesy of iol motoring