Putting together a crack team of innovators which includes Jonathan Goodwin of H-Line Conversions and Uli Kruger of Alternative Energy Technologies, Young has taken the lead in developing alternative fuel alternatives for existing, and even classic cars. Working in the H-Line Conversions workshop in Wichita, the team is well on its way to successfully converting a 1959 Lincoln Continental convertible into an electric car.

Originally a typical Lincoln which ran at an estimated 10 miles per gallon, the original plan was for the car to undergo a hybrid or biofuel conversion. H-Line has successfully converted a number of H1 and H2 Hummers from gasoline to biodiesel. But with the development of the UQM electric propulsion system and the H-3 electric engine, the plan was changed.

Young has touted the conversion on many television programs such as “The Charlie Rose Show” and “Late Show with David Letterman.” “This is a labor of love,” Young said, conceding that the conversion is not something that can be done by the average mechanic. “But it is surely something that Ford, GM or Chrysler can do,” he said.

Goodwin claims that the H-3 engine, which uses a generator to power the propulsion batteries, compares favorably to GM’s Voltec technology. The group has already run a number of trials, with plans for a future trip to Detroit, and perhaps a cross-country drive.

Other links:

http://www.lincvolt.com/
http://www.hlineconversion.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Lincvolt?blend=2&ob=1
http://www.alternativeengine.com/home.htm

So you’re a geek and you want some geek gadgets for your car? I’m with you mang. Too long I’ve hidden my science and electronic loving ways. It’s time I wore my geek-itude on my sleeve, like some kind of sleeve based pocket protector for a pocket that’s on my sleeve. Right?

Whatever, here are the top five awesome whiz-bangs 4 your car:

1. 400 Watt Power Dome Mini Generator

Every car should have a jumpbox – a battery box that lets you jumpstart your car even if no one is around. That’s what this is, a 600 cranking amp jumpbox, in addition to a bunch of other things.

It has 2 AC outlets and 2 DC outlets, a 400 watt inverter, with a level indicator, AND, the best part… a built-in 275 psi air compressor.

2. Digital Wi-Fi Detector

Autonet mobile is supposedly coming out with always on wi-fi for your car. If so, I can wait for that to come out, shell out $399 up-front and 50 bucks a month for their untested service. Or I can pay 50 bucks once for the ability to find free wi-fi as I drive. Easy choice.

Your typical WiFi detector will only show you if the signal is there, and it’s relative strength. Not that helpful. This Digital WiFi Detector has a backlit LCD screen that provides information on signal availability and strength as well as network information, like SSID, security status and channel. When multiple networks are present, the LCD will allow you to scroll through information for each network.

3. Mini Fridge/Warmer – For Your Car

It’s a fridge AND warmer for your car, you shouldn’t need convincing.
It has a 20 liter capacity and a digital LCD display with the current inside temperature. It goes down to 44 degrees Fahrenheit and warms up to 140 degrees. Come on. Awesome

4. Automotive ECM Scanner

Getting your car’s brain scanned and reset at an automotive shop usually costs a few hundered dollars. Now you can do it yourself. Most people don’t realize, theres a plug on your car’s ECM/ECU computer (called the “brain”) that’ll let you access that computer.

You can read engine trouble codes and can reset the “check engine” light, read all sorts of tracked data (fuel economy, battery voltage, coolant temp., etc.). You can even start to get involved in the whole engine ECM turner subculture.

Pretty cool stuff that used to be only available to diagnostic and repair shops.

5. Smart AC 120 USB Power Inverter

I’m always in need of converters in my car. With this gadget, I can just plug it into the cigarette lighter… then plug in any standard AC powered device. Screw all those old adapters.

300 Watt peak output, 120 Watt standard use, so that’s plenty of power for anything I’m using.

You know of any cool car gadgets I miseed? Let me know in the comments.

Hey, save the envy for your therapist, rich kids have to drive too, and they need guidance. That’s why CollegeCrunch has compiled a list of the 15 Hottest Cars to Drive to School. It offers a wide range; cars like the Audi RS4 and the Corvette C6 and even the Nissan GT-R are on the same list with the Civic Si Coupe. But they’re all impressive cars. Show up on campus with any of these machines and you’re going to increase you’re sex factor by at least 40%. That’s a scientific number, people. This is science.

The U.S. Department of Energy runs a website (FuelEconomy.gov) devoted entirely the fuel economy of cars sold in the US. It has the fuel efficiency of every model car made since the year 2000.

Not only that, but it gives you energy and environmental impact ratings, and fuel-saving tips. Heres a more complete list of what the website offers, directly from their About Us page:

EPA fuel economy ratings for passenger cars and trucks 1985-present; User-provided, real-world fuel economy estimates; Energy impact scores (petroleum consumption); Fuel economics; Greenhouse gas and air pollution ratings; Lists of vehicles that can use alternative fuels (e.g., E85, natural gas, propane, electricity); Links to fuel prices and crash ratings; Tax incentives for hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles; Driving & vehicle maintenance tips; And a downloadable Fuel Economy Guide.

It’s a rad site, you can do side by side comparisons and all sorts of searches.

Check it:
http://www.FuelEconomy.gov

Trouble with the local homeless window washers? Want that extra measure of safety in this murderous world? Well, you need a 100,000 volt tesla coil strapped to the roof of your vehicle, it’ll bring new meaning to the term “electric car”.

Check out this video of the bizarre device in action:

Obviously, it’s not a real theft protection device, but it’s damn cool either way.

Peter Terren is the one who built this weird contraption and shot the video. He runs a very cool website called Tesla Downunder with all sorts build projects and information about super cool electro-gadgets like tesla coils and magnetic lifters and lasers and rail guns and ferrofluids and liquid nitrogen and all manner of crazy high voltage shenanigans. It really is something special.

Here are a few more pictures of his “Tesla Car Theft Protection” device:

http://tesladownunder.com/tesla_coil_sparks.htm

10 Most Outrageous Cars of 2008, someone please buy me a Tesla.

BMW’s Hydrogen Car cleans the air as you drive. Almost makes you feel good to drive.

Detroit’s automakers have been making the shift to more fuel-efficient vehicles, but consumers have been making the move even faster — to hybrids and high mileage models made overseas. Gas prices have accelerated the move away from trucks and sport utility vehicles at a furious pace, leaving the Big Three at the most critical crossroads in 30 years.

“In the early ’70s, we were caught flat-footed, without smaller, fuel-efficient cars. We had nothing to sell,” said Gerald Meyers, a former chairman of American Motors Corp. “That’s exactly what’s happening now.”

Source: MSNBC

If you lack a wise uncle who knows just about everything involving car repairs, DriverSide might be a nice stand-in. The free car management site offers estimates on how much standard repairs and parts for your make and model should cost, based on third-party estimates and your zip code. You can also see what your car would likely sell for at its given mileage and location, based on a database of recent transactions, the Kelley Blue Book, and other sources. And if you’ve lost your owner’s manual, DriverSide has you covered there as well. The site is free to sign up for and use.

Cars For A Grand

This site utilizes the ebay affiliate program to rake in cash from unsuspecting searchers looking for cars. Collecting byte sized accumulations of cash that add up.

I must say I hope the site does well, and I hope this guy realizes that we here at Ridelust are a bit jealous this guy thought of the idea first.

Fuel Hungry Car Pirates Jack Oil to make BioDiesel, seriously if you are going to do something illegal grow Hemp!

Speaking of Gas, Forbes unveiled their list of 13 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles. I just wish these magazines and newsites would make their urls more friendly to link to. I almost had to take a coffee break in between copying and pasting that link.

Smart Man uses GPS to track rental cars and steal them. Seriously people need to find a better use of their time.

One man has no problem paying 70 bucks to fill up his SUV. His logic is actually spot on. I just hate to admit it.

Rotten Tomatoes has a list of some of the most memorable cars from Movies.