The Concept of Automobile Dependency

By: Brenda Williams

Professors Peter Newman and Jeff Kenworthy have come up with an interesting concept that they call “Automobile dependency” to explain the situation in the major cities of the world, mostly of the major cities in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The idea is that the predominant use of automobiles in these cities severely restricts the freedom of people to move around in their own city. There is a culture of automobiles that has been developed leading to the extreme of an addiction to them. The number of automobiles is exponentially increases due to the increasing demand for them. It is almost as if people in these cities have become dependent on automobiles as a basic necessity of life. People with the financial resources are indulging in the luxury of acquiring more and more cars, resulting in diminishing returns that they derive out of each vehicle.

Fuel-Free Cars Coming Soon? Lithium-Ion Batteries May Help Make Roadways Greener

By: Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer

There’s been a lot in the press lately about lithium-ion batteries. Conference panelists, energy researchers, car manufacturers and, of course, environmentalists are discussing the possibility of running vehicles entirely on battery power.

Most of us are more familiar with lithium-ion batteries in consumer electronics – laptops, MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras, rechargeable battery kits…But, uh, what exactly are they again? Straight lithium batteries are little packets of extractable power which use lithium in its pure metallic form. Straight lithium batteries are considered a “primary battery,” or a battery that cannot be recharged. Secondary batteries or cells can be recharged.

Fuel-Free Cars Coming Soon? Lithium-Ion Batteries May Help Make Roadways Greener

By: Mike Trudel

There’s been a lot in the press lately about lithium-ion batteries. Conference panelists, energy researchers, car manufacturers and, of course, environmentalists are discussing the possibility of running vehicles entirely on battery power.

The Concept of Automobile Dependency

By Brenda Williams

Professors Peter Newman and Jeff Kenworthy have come up with an interesting concept that they call “automobile dependency” to explain the situation in the major cities of the world, mostly of the major cities in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. The idea is that the predominant use of automobiles in these cities severely restricts the freedom of people to move around in their own city. There is a culture of automobiles that has been developed leading to the extreme of an addiction to them. The number of automobiles is exponentially increases due to the increasing demand for them. It is almost as if people in these cities have become dependent on automobiles as a basic necessity of life. People with the financial resources are indulging in the luxury of acquiring more and more cars, resulting in diminishing returns that they derive out of each vehicle.

Mork Calling Orson: Nano Nano

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Released on: 17th July, 2009

Tata Motors delivers first Tata Nano in the country in Mumbai
Tata Motors is pleased to announce that Mr. Ashok Raghunath Vichare of Mumbai has become the first customer in India of the Tata Nano. Mr. Vichare received his choice, the Tata Nano LX (Lunar Silver), at the hands of the Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Motors, Mr. Ratan N. Tata, at the company’s dealership, Concorde Motors, today.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Tata said, “I hope the Tata Nano will bring motoring pleasure to those who will be buying their first car as also those who currently own cars but want a modern, contemporary, emission-friendly city car.”

Along with Mr. Vichare, two other customers, Mr. Ashish Balakrishnan (Tata Nano LX – Sunshine Yellow) and Kores India Limited (Tata Nano LX – Lunar Silver), also received their cars today.

As planned, Tata Motors has commenced deliveries of the Tata Nano this month to different towns and cities of the country. Despatches to dealerships have begun from the Pantnagar plant, where the car is being produced, in accordance with schedules informed to customers.

About Tata Motors
Tata Motors is India’s largest automobile company, with consolidated revenues of Rs.70,938.85 crores ($14 billion) in 2008-09. Through subsidiaries and associate companies, Tata Motors has operations in the UK, South Korea, Thailand and Spain. Among them is Jaguar Land Rover, the business comprising the two iconic British brands. It also has an industrial joint venture with Fiat in India. With over 4 million Tata vehicles plying in India, Tata Motors is the country’s market leader in commercial vehicles and among the top three in passenger vehicles. It is also the world’s fourth largest truck manufacturer and the second largest bus manufacturer. Tata cars, buses and trucks are being marketed in several countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia and South America. (http://www.tatamotors.com)

Coming to Your Nearest Dealer Soon?

Tata Nano has plans to unveil the Nano to the U.S. consumer in approximately two years or 2012. Earlier this month the Nano made news by passing Europe’s 40% offset and 40 mph front impact crash tests. Nano must still undergo more crash and emission tests in both Europe and then in the United States but earlier this year the company has unveiled the Nano Europa which it hopes to sell for $2,300 in Europe by 2011. Nano Europe gets 65 mpg and due to more stricter standards in the U.S. will sell for a slightly higher price tag.

Whether the company will create a new newtwork of car dealers or sell vehicle through its Land Rover and Jacquar subsidiary is still unkown. (Source: Left Lane News)

Photos of Tato Nano at 2009 Geneva Motor Show