So how did you learn about all of this? Do you do this for a living, or did a lawyer help you figure this out? I'd like to do something similar, so my wife doesn't have to deal with anything should something happen (she already has access to my passwords if needed, mostly concerned about financials, house, etc.).
A 3rd possible reason is that it might disable safety equipment (I believe that's what happened to folks suffering from GM's ignition switch issue). But you definitely can turn off cars equipped with start buttons (hold it, just like a PC, or also press start button rapidly in some vehicles).
Some vehicles now also let you shut the car down by pressing the start button rapidly (to deal with folks who panic and just press buttons rapidly). But you are absolutely right, more people need to read the damn manual!
As a LEAF owner, I can tell you you get used to the style very fast, even if you weren't a big fan. That said, efficiency and noise control are mostly responsible for the way it looks today. The headlights look weird as they help reduce wind noise, and shape-wise, there is only so much you can do without giving up efficiency.
Just look at the RAV4 EV. I love that car, and while it might have a better range, it also has a massive battery (41.8 kWh vs 24 kWh) to compensate for the RAV4 EV's drag coefficient (it's just a regular SUV body with a Tesla drivetrain).
Last but not least, I think Nissan wants to keep the smoking hot looks for their Infinity product line. Just look at the Infinity LE electric vehicle concept to get an idea of what Nissan can do.
That's a C1, not a C-1;) I do agree the name can be confusing, as far as I know, this is just a 'project' name, and Lit Motors plans on giving it a real name when they get closer to releasing the vehicle.
Do your research before thinking it's another self-balancing vehicle.
So it's not a self-balancing two wheel vehicle? because...
two-wheeled, motor-driven vehicles that can self-balance with a dancer's grace
Either way I take it I talk to you if I'm interested in buying one?
Wow, way to put words in my mouth;) I'm using using your own words, but I did explain how it is self balancing, so I guess you are just nitpicking at this point (miss the old/. days where people actually tried to understand/learn about new tech)
If you are interested, go to litmotors.com;) I'm just someone who actually did the research, believes in EVs, and put down a deposit on a C-1.
Now, if you have any real/serious questions, I can try to help answer them.
The C-1 is an electric vehicle, so it's much quieter and nicer to drive if it's anything like other electric vehicles, not to mention, it looks really nice. The C-1 balances itself, making it more difficult to flip the thing. As for being code heavy, try to find out how much software goes into a 'regular' vehicle, I doubt the C-1 will be more complex.
The Elio looks like a GM EV1 chopped in half, and the interior looks like standard dated interior as well. Elio's price is definitely very attractive, but as an EV driver, I just don't want to go back to vehicles using gasoline, no matter how great the mileage is.
C-1's pricing is an issue for sure, but it will come down as always.
Do your research before thinking it's another self-balancing vehicle. That said, I'm not aware of any other vehicle which balances itself, even when not moving, or can handle a side impact crash, without tipping over. Please don't use E-Tracer as an example, because they are 2 different vehicles.
Check out the videos floating around the internet, this vehicle really does have a chance to make a difference, or check out LitMotorsForums.com if you want to have a real discussion.
Agreed. The leaf is just too range challenged. (Claims 100miles, owners say half of that) Add to that, the leaf has little in the way of creature comforts or high tech gadgetry. Its safety rating is Good, (code word for mediocre) Its a pretty bare bones car, sold at a loss. Its performance is abysmal
That much is fairly obvious just looking at the specs. I suspect Nissan is busy trying to figure out which of those features is important to the Tesla owner, but I rather suspect the answer will be All of the above.
You need to drive one before spewing this type of BS, people like you are the biggest reasons electric cars are misunderstood. I'll leave politics out of this conversation, and respond with FACTS.
I hit 55 miles when it's -20F, I don't know who you are talking to, but you really need to do your research. I can get 80-90 miles without any effort (meaning normal accelerating, AC, etc), and that's in a hilly area with a 55 MPH speed limit in many sections. When doing 70 MPH highway driving, I get about 60-70 miles. Go check the mynissanleaf.com forums, most folks get similar results. Your 100 mile claim is also bullshit, unless you are confusing MPGe with miles.
Nissan's own website states 84 mile range. Personally, I do at least 40 miles every day, even when it's -20F or dealing with lake effect snow, and have 0 range anxiety issues. Considering most people don't even do 40 miles a day...
My LEAF (no mods) has 4 cameras (guessing that's 3 more than yours), giving me a bird's-eye view of my car, heating steering wheel, heated front AND rear seats, LED headlights, LED tail lights, smartphone control, Bose audio system with subwoofer, ability to speak items from any RSS feed I specify (bet your car doesn't do that!), high-quality 7" LCD touch screen with support for sending Google routes to the nav unit, and so much more, I know I'm forgetting a lot. This is on top of standard features such as voice recognition, bluetooth, sat. radio, HD radio, leather, etc. I guess you grew up with BMW or Mercedes, because that's the opposite of 'little' creature comforts/tech gadgets.
The BASE model is bare bones yes, but isn't every car? That said, the base model is $21k after incentives (and even the base model has a heated steering wheel/seats!).
Based on your performance 'review', I can tell you've never driven an electric car. Up to 30 MPH, this car will beat most other cars off the line since an electric motor delivers all power @ 0 RPM. The LEAF is a BLAST to drive because of this. Yes, it won't accelerate like crazy when doing 70 MPH and trying to pass a car, but many cars have trouble with this as well unless you paid for a premium engine. Ride quality is awesome, thanks to the very low center-of-gravity and very quiet cabin (they even had to redesign the wiper motor just because the car is so damn quiet).
I have hosted electric car shows (and even showed off the car at classic car shows), and every single person who actually spent a few minutes to ask about the car was really surprised at how cool these cars are, and this includes shows where the LEAF was sitting right next to several Tesla Model S vehicles.
Is it a perfect car? No, FAR FROM, but FFS, stop the spreading of misinformation already and go drive an electric car!
Most electric cars come with some type of cellular connection, subscription free for the first 5 years or so, plus every car equipped with some type of OnStar service has one as well, and many of those have that service enabled.
In 2013, Nissan started offering a heat pump as an option, which has lowered the impact, but it can still make a big dent. I have the system set as 'cool' as possible, but the system still uses around 3.5kW when hitting single digit temps.
The nice thing about electric cars is that most of them offer heated seats, and in case of the LEAF, even heated steering wheel, so you don't need to use the regular heater as much.
There should be a station closer to that route by the end of next year. They only finished this east-west corridor very recently, so they have a lot more building to do.
What's next, are we going to post about a gasoline car not starting (am actually trying to help someone jumpstart their ICE right now, maybe I can get featured too)?
Anyways, just last week, someone made the trip from NYC to LA in his Tesla Model S, seen temps in the -20F range, and the car was just fine. I'm driving my EV in these same temps, no issues either (ignoring the lower range).
This is not a battery issue as some people seem to indicate.
I highly recommend you check out CocoonTech.com, especially the forums, as there are thousands of folks who have done this, and can bring you up to speed pretty quick. There is also a guide on the site (Wiring your home 101) which will tell you what wires you should run assuming budget isn't an issue (this lets you pick and chose what wire really matters to you).
You have so many options, it really depends on the time you are willing to put in, budget, and features you want.
I recommend you use an Elk M1 or HAI Omni Pro II security/automation panel as the 'core' of your system if security is really important to you, or if automation is your main vice, then look at the SmartThings, Vera, ISY-99, and HomeTroller (Zee) hardware controllers.
Most of us top this installation off with a software component, so we can bridge/interface many protocols and technologies (this way you aren't stuck with just one solution). Most popular commercial software solutions are Homeseer and CQC, but there are many alternatives, free, open source, etc.
Currently, Z-Wave, INSTEON, UPB, ZigBee, and WeMo are the popular protocols.
If you have the budget, consider hardwiring your home automation light switches, as the wireless/powerline based solutions aren't perfect, plus you have to worry about latency/security. CentraLite, Crestron and Lutron RadioRA are popular commercial solutions. They usually require dealer/installer access, but if you really look around, you could get access to the hardware (I'd probably combine RadioRA with a HAI/ELK panel).
There is so much more to tell, so if you have any other questions, ask away, and don't forget to check out the CocoonTech home automation forums!
I don't understand how no one has mentioned KidZui. While it used to be free (been using it for a long time), it is still very affordable, and is IMO one of the best solutions out there. It's basically a 'shell/wrapper' which runs full screen and allows kids to explore many kid-friendly sites and games. The sites are approved by a group of teachers and other types of people who have a strong interest in educating and protecting children. You can also generate reports of what your kids have been doing etc.
I installed this software on an 8 year old's laptop, and also use OpenDNS's free family filter package to catch anything odd going on. So far it has been a huge success.
Now keep in mind this software doesn't replace the task of having to supervise the kid, but it sure helps catching unexpected but unacceptable popups/images etc., and organize many fun resources in 1 location.
Other companies in the private space race include aerospace giant Boeing, the Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Washington state-based BlueOrigin LLC.
Check out CocoonTech.com, a site dedicated to home automation, home security, and all the other fun stuff, DIY style (but plenty of professionals hang out there as well). That said, I hope you aren't doing it for your friends, you need to enjoy the home yourself;)
There is also the Wiring Your New House guide in case you have access to the walls and want to future proof your home.
iAutomate.com has come out with a RFID product which supports up to 400ft, and is very affordable compared with the other RFID solutions out there. Unfortunately, it only works with the Homeseer home automation software at the moment, but this is about to change (check out the last few posts in the thread mentioned below), since they are coming out with a serial device which interfaces this hardware, so any software package could support this technology. To check out how people are using it etc, check out the following thread (2 pages):
There are a 'few' services out there which offer recovery of data on locked IBM hd's, but I believe there are some very strict requirements proving that you own the machine or something like that before they will even touch it, I can't remember the exact details.
"For a while now, there have been computers (IBM ThinkPad) that won't boot unless you give the password, but you could always rip out the hard drive and read it, right?"
If the password for the hard drive is set, you won't be able to move the drive to another system or it will look like the drive is dead. If you do know the master password and try it in another system, I believe it will wipe out the drive, it's pretty secure, and the main reason I use ThinkPads.
I have 2 MCE machines, 1 in the bedroom (Antec Overture case), and one in the living room (the CyberPower model listed in the PCworld review), and while they aren't really that quiet, it doesn't bother anyone once the TV has been turned on.
Can't one just write a small php script or something which returns an error (i.e. 500), less data to send back, and hopefully the reader would just try again later.
Assuming the software loads from the Bios as some of the other new media center systems do, I hope this doesn't mean more newbies will be upgrading their bios in order to get the latest features or apply a patch, I have seen it happen too many times where they somehow manage to not follow the instructions and screw up the bios.
well obviously CocoonTech.com;) but both xpmce.com and thegreenbutton.com are some of the biggest sites dedicated to MCE, you can find a lot of cool stuff there, including hacks and such to add more functionality.
Slashdot Mirror
So how did you learn about all of this? Do you do this for a living, or did a lawyer help you figure this out? I'd like to do something similar, so my wife doesn't have to deal with anything should something happen (she already has access to my passwords if needed, mostly concerned about financials, house, etc.).
GM is doing great, people don't seem to care at all. May was a really good month for GM.
A 3rd possible reason is that it might disable safety equipment (I believe that's what happened to folks suffering from GM's ignition switch issue). But you definitely can turn off cars equipped with start buttons (hold it, just like a PC, or also press start button rapidly in some vehicles).
Some vehicles now also let you shut the car down by pressing the start button rapidly (to deal with folks who panic and just press buttons rapidly). But you are absolutely right, more people need to read the damn manual!
As a LEAF owner, I can tell you you get used to the style very fast, even if you weren't a big fan. That said, efficiency and noise control are mostly responsible for the way it looks today. The headlights look weird as they help reduce wind noise, and shape-wise, there is only so much you can do without giving up efficiency.
Just look at the RAV4 EV. I love that car, and while it might have a better range, it also has a massive battery (41.8 kWh vs 24 kWh) to compensate for the RAV4 EV's drag coefficient (it's just a regular SUV body with a Tesla drivetrain).
Last but not least, I think Nissan wants to keep the smoking hot looks for their Infinity product line. Just look at the Infinity LE electric vehicle concept to get an idea of what Nissan can do.
That's a C1, not a C-1 ;) I do agree the name can be confusing, as far as I know, this is just a 'project' name, and Lit Motors plans on giving it a real name when they get closer to releasing the vehicle.
Do your research before thinking it's another self-balancing vehicle.
So it's not a self-balancing two wheel vehicle? because...
two-wheeled, motor-driven vehicles that can self-balance with a dancer's grace
Either way I take it I talk to you if I'm interested in buying one?
Wow, way to put words in my mouth ;) I'm using using your own words, but I did explain how it is self balancing, so I guess you are just nitpicking at this point (miss the old /. days where people actually tried to understand/learn about new tech)
If you are interested, go to litmotors.com ;) I'm just someone who actually did the research, believes in EVs, and put down a deposit on a C-1.
Now, if you have any real/serious questions, I can try to help answer them.
The C-1 is an electric vehicle, so it's much quieter and nicer to drive if it's anything like other electric vehicles, not to mention, it looks really nice. The C-1 balances itself, making it more difficult to flip the thing. As for being code heavy, try to find out how much software goes into a 'regular' vehicle, I doubt the C-1 will be more complex.
The Elio looks like a GM EV1 chopped in half, and the interior looks like standard dated interior as well. Elio's price is definitely very attractive, but as an EV driver, I just don't want to go back to vehicles using gasoline, no matter how great the mileage is.
C-1's pricing is an issue for sure, but it will come down as always.
Do your research before thinking it's another self-balancing vehicle. That said, I'm not aware of any other vehicle which balances itself, even when not moving, or can handle a side impact crash, without tipping over. Please don't use E-Tracer as an example, because they are 2 different vehicles.
Check out the videos floating around the internet, this vehicle really does have a chance to make a difference, or check out LitMotorsForums.com if you want to have a real discussion.
Agreed. The leaf is just too range challenged. (Claims 100miles, owners say half of that)
Add to that, the leaf has little in the way of creature comforts or high tech gadgetry.
Its safety rating is Good, (code word for mediocre)
Its a pretty bare bones car, sold at a loss.
Its performance is abysmal
That much is fairly obvious just looking at the specs.
I suspect Nissan is busy trying to figure out which of those features is important to the Tesla owner, but I rather
suspect the answer will be All of the above.
You need to drive one before spewing this type of BS, people like you are the biggest reasons electric cars are misunderstood. I'll leave politics out of this conversation, and respond with FACTS.
I hit 55 miles when it's -20F, I don't know who you are talking to, but you really need to do your research. I can get 80-90 miles without any effort (meaning normal accelerating, AC, etc), and that's in a hilly area with a 55 MPH speed limit in many sections. When doing 70 MPH highway driving, I get about 60-70 miles. Go check the mynissanleaf.com forums, most folks get similar results. Your 100 mile claim is also bullshit, unless you are confusing MPGe with miles.
Nissan's own website states 84 mile range. Personally, I do at least 40 miles every day, even when it's -20F or dealing with lake effect snow, and have 0 range anxiety issues. Considering most people don't even do 40 miles a day ...
My LEAF (no mods) has 4 cameras (guessing that's 3 more than yours), giving me a bird's-eye view of my car, heating steering wheel, heated front AND rear seats, LED headlights, LED tail lights, smartphone control, Bose audio system with subwoofer, ability to speak items from any RSS feed I specify (bet your car doesn't do that!), high-quality 7" LCD touch screen with support for sending Google routes to the nav unit, and so much more, I know I'm forgetting a lot. This is on top of standard features such as voice recognition, bluetooth, sat. radio, HD radio, leather, etc. I guess you grew up with BMW or Mercedes, because that's the opposite of 'little' creature comforts/tech gadgets.
The BASE model is bare bones yes, but isn't every car? That said, the base model is $21k after incentives (and even the base model has a heated steering wheel/seats!).
Based on your performance 'review', I can tell you've never driven an electric car. Up to 30 MPH, this car will beat most other cars off the line since an electric motor delivers all power @ 0 RPM. The LEAF is a BLAST to drive because of this. Yes, it won't accelerate like crazy when doing 70 MPH and trying to pass a car, but many cars have trouble with this as well unless you paid for a premium engine. Ride quality is awesome, thanks to the very low center-of-gravity and very quiet cabin (they even had to redesign the wiper motor just because the car is so damn quiet).
I have hosted electric car shows (and even showed off the car at classic car shows), and every single person who actually spent a few minutes to ask about the car was really surprised at how cool these cars are, and this includes shows where the LEAF was sitting right next to several Tesla Model S vehicles.
Is it a perfect car? No, FAR FROM, but FFS, stop the spreading of misinformation already and go drive an electric car!
Most electric cars come with some type of cellular connection, subscription free for the first 5 years or so, plus every car equipped with some type of OnStar service has one as well, and many of those have that service enabled.
In 2013, Nissan started offering a heat pump as an option, which has lowered the impact, but it can still make a big dent. I have the system set as 'cool' as possible, but the system still uses around 3.5kW when hitting single digit temps.
The nice thing about electric cars is that most of them offer heated seats, and in case of the LEAF, even heated steering wheel, so you don't need to use the regular heater as much.
There should be a station closer to that route by the end of next year. They only finished this east-west corridor very recently, so they have a lot more building to do.
What's next, are we going to post about a gasoline car not starting (am actually trying to help someone jumpstart their ICE right now, maybe I can get featured too)?
Anyways, just last week, someone made the trip from NYC to LA in his Tesla Model S, seen temps in the -20F range, and the car was just fine. I'm driving my EV in these same temps, no issues either (ignoring the lower range).
This is not a battery issue as some people seem to indicate.
I highly recommend you check out CocoonTech.com, especially the forums, as there are thousands of folks who have done this, and can bring you up to speed pretty quick. There is also a guide on the site (Wiring your home 101) which will tell you what wires you should run assuming budget isn't an issue (this lets you pick and chose what wire really matters to you).
You have so many options, it really depends on the time you are willing to put in, budget, and features you want.
I recommend you use an Elk M1 or HAI Omni Pro II security/automation panel as the 'core' of your system if security is really important to you, or if automation is your main vice, then look at the SmartThings, Vera, ISY-99, and HomeTroller (Zee) hardware controllers.
Most of us top this installation off with a software component, so we can bridge/interface many protocols and technologies (this way you aren't stuck with just one solution). Most popular commercial software solutions are Homeseer and CQC, but there are many alternatives, free, open source, etc.
Currently, Z-Wave, INSTEON, UPB, ZigBee, and WeMo are the popular protocols.
If you have the budget, consider hardwiring your home automation light switches, as the wireless/powerline based solutions aren't perfect, plus you have to worry about latency/security. CentraLite, Crestron and Lutron RadioRA are popular commercial solutions. They usually require dealer/installer access, but if you really look around, you could get access to the hardware (I'd probably combine RadioRA with a HAI/ELK panel).
There is so much more to tell, so if you have any other questions, ask away, and don't forget to check out the CocoonTech home automation forums!
I don't understand how no one has mentioned KidZui. While it used to be free (been using it for a long time), it is still very affordable, and is IMO one of the best solutions out there. It's basically a 'shell/wrapper' which runs full screen and allows kids to explore many kid-friendly sites and games. The sites are approved by a group of teachers and other types of people who have a strong interest in educating and protecting children. You can also generate reports of what your kids have been doing etc.
I installed this software on an 8 year old's laptop, and also use OpenDNS's free family filter package to catch anything odd going on. So far it has been a huge success.
Now keep in mind this software doesn't replace the task of having to supervise the kid, but it sure helps catching unexpected but unacceptable popups/images etc., and organize many fun resources in 1 location.
Hope you'll see this comment.
From the article:
Other companies in the private space race include aerospace giant Boeing, the Nevada-based Sierra Nevada Corporation, and Washington state-based BlueOrigin LLC.
More info about their private space plans.
Check out CocoonTech.com, a site dedicated to home automation, home security, and all the other fun stuff, DIY style (but plenty of professionals hang out there as well). That said, I hope you aren't doing it for your friends, you need to enjoy the home yourself ;)
There is also the Wiring Your New House guide in case you have access to the walls and want to future proof your home.
iAutomate.com has come out with a RFID product which supports up to 400ft, and is very affordable compared with the other RFID solutions out there. Unfortunately, it only works with the Homeseer home automation software at the moment, but this is about to change (check out the last few posts in the thread mentioned below), since they are coming out with a serial device which interfaces this hardware, so any software package could support this technology. To check out how people are using it etc, check out the following thread (2 pages):
There are a 'few' services out there which offer recovery of data on locked IBM hd's, but I believe there are some very strict requirements proving that you own the machine or something like that before they will even touch it, I can't remember the exact details.
"For a while now, there have been computers (IBM ThinkPad) that won't boot unless you give the password, but you could always rip out the hard drive and read it, right?"
If the password for the hard drive is set, you won't be able to move the drive to another system or it will look like the drive is dead. If you do know the master password and try it in another system, I believe it will wipe out the drive, it's pretty secure, and the main reason I use ThinkPads.
PCworld just did a review on 9 MCE machines, they might help you find a cheaper MCE machine if you are in the market for one.
PCworld.com review
I have 2 MCE machines, 1 in the bedroom (Antec Overture case), and one in the living room (the CyberPower model listed in the PCworld review), and while they aren't really that quiet, it doesn't bother anyone once the TV has been turned on.
Can't one just write a small php script or something which returns an error (i.e. 500), less data to send back, and hopefully the reader would just try again later.
Assuming the software loads from the Bios as some of the other new media center systems do, I hope this doesn't mean more newbies will be upgrading their bios in order to get the latest features or apply a patch, I have seen it happen too many times where they somehow manage to not follow the instructions and screw up the bios.
well obviously CocoonTech.com ;) but both xpmce.com and thegreenbutton.com are some of the biggest sites dedicated to MCE, you can find a lot of cool stuff there, including hacks and such to add more functionality.