The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Capirossi on pole again

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For the second time in two weeks, Loris Capirossi has won the pole with his Bridgestone shod Ducati. Bridgestone tires are on five of the top seven qualifiers for this week's Malaysian MotoGP. Capirossi seems to have both the better tire brand along with an excellent setup on the bike. Rossi is on the third row, qualifying seventh fastest. This is exactly what is needed to add … [Read more...]

Motorcycle niche marketing

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Toyota is about to launch a marketing campaign to promote its Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. Toyota's thinking seems to be that they have a lead in the public's mind when it comes to hybrids so market like crazy before the competition catches up. When you think hybrid, they want the name Toyota to pop up in your brain. That seems like pretty decent marketing to me. Is … [Read more...]

Exhaust driven alternator – turbonator?

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This is interesting. It's an alternator driven by exhaust gas instead of a mechanical drive system. The TIGERS Turbo generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System alternator can be spun up to 80,000rpm and generate as much as 6kW. By eliminating the mechanical drive and parasitic losses, they immediately gain efficiency. In cars and especially trucks, this can be a … [Read more...]

CAFE standards and markets

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As we mentioned a few weeks ago, politicians are talking about raising the CAFE standards and now since Katrina, people are telling their political representatives to DO SOMETHING! May I say, please don't? Toyota's Prius has had a sales increase of 132% this year over last year. Does anyone really think the car companies aren't acutely aware of a building demand for high … [Read more...]