Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-can/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-can/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-can/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country have been replacing traditional filament-based traffic signal bulbs with LEDs for years. Unfortunately, the low-watt LED units burn much cooler than its white-hot counterpart making it unable to melt snow off weather exposed traffic fixtures.

"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from Indiana who was involved in an accident attributed to a snow-clogged traffic light. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?" It obviously isn't.

Municipalities around the country are taking different steps to keep their signals shining brightly in the face of Mother Nature. Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, use compressed air to keep their lights clean. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, city workers brush the snow off by hand in a labor-intensive process. Until a fix arrives, it is best to take the advice of Dave Hansen, a traffic engineer with the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Treat a blocked signal as if the power is out. "If there's any question, you err on the side of caution," says Hansen.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Oswego Police]

Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BlubFreezeIceLEDLED BulbsLED lightingLED TechnologyLED traffic lightsLedBulbsLedLightingLedTechnologyLedTrafficLightsLightsroad lightsroad safetyRoadLightsRoadSafetySignalsSnowstreet lightStreet LightsStreetLightStreetLightstraffic lightTraffic Lightstraffic safetytraffic signalTraffic SignalsTrafficLightTrafficLightsTrafficSafetyTrafficSignalTrafficSignalsWinterWed, 16 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi R8 V10 will be all LED, all the time]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/audi-r8-v10-will-be-all-led-all-the-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/audi-r8-v10-will-be-all-led-all-the-time/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/05/audi-r8-v10-will-be-all-led-all-the-time/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi R8 V10

The Audi R8 claimed a number of world firsts - that is, walking away with magazine awards and journalists' hearts the world over. The Audi R8 V10 is about to claim a world first in technology: it will be the first car to offer high and low beam LED headlights as standard equipment. (Note: The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Platinum was the first vehicle in the world to offer all-LED headlamps.) You can buy the package as an option on the regular R8, so it's only fitting that the bigger and more expensive beast gets more tricks.

Audi trumpets the inclusion as an energy-saving measure - LEDs use a quarter of the energy of halogen headlights, and that number will only get better as LEDs evolve. You probably never thought you could know so much about LEDs, but there's an exhaustive press release after the jump, and for dessert, a high-res gallery of photos below.

Gallery: 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro


[Source: AutoblogGreen]

Continue reading Audi R8 V10 will be all LED, all the time

Audi R8 V10 will be all LED, all the time originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiaudi r8audi r8 v10AudiR8AudiR8V10greenheadlightsledled headlightsLedHeadlightsr8r8 v10R8V10safetytechtechnologyMon, 05 Jan 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Audi R8 gets first full LED headlamps]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/audi-r8-gets-first-full-led-headlamps/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/audi-r8-gets-first-full-led-headlamps/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/30/audi-r8-gets-first-full-led-headlamps/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Audi R8

The innovative R8 supercar from Audi is now available for the first time with full LED headlamps. In addition to the standard Audi-signature 24-LED running lamps it's always had, this extremely expensive option (£3,590 converts to $7,100 USD) adds LED high and low beam headlamps and LED turn signals to the front fascia of the mid-engine sports car.

The latest craze in automotive lighting, LED bulbs don't utilize a filament like halogen lamps or gas plasma like HID lamps. Instead, they create light from the movement of current across a semi-conductor chip. They are smaller, more vibration resistant, and much more efficient than traditional bulbs. According to Audi, the light from the LEDs has been designed to closely resemble daylight and provides a greater contrast to be easier on the human eye. LED illumination is also designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. Audi is no stranger to LED lighting - it first introduced a strip-shaped fog lamp at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2003.

Gallery: 2008 Audi R8


[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Audi R8 gets first full LED headlamps

Audi R8 gets first full LED headlamps originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 May 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AudiHeadlampsInnovative TechnologyInnovativeTechnologyLEDR8Fri, 30 May 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Could this be the most trick shift knob ever?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/27/could-this-be-the-most-trick-shift-knob-ever/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/27/could-this-be-the-most-trick-shift-knob-ever/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/27/could-this-be-the-most-trick-shift-knob-ever/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We've always been of the opinion that if it doesn't make you go faster, stick better or be safer, it's generally a waste of money. There have been exceptions, but this has to be one of the coolest.

The idea is pretty self-explanatory: on top of the shift knob is an LCD that after telling it the number of gears and, we're assuming, the movement of the stalk, displays what cog your transmission is residing.

Unfortunately, our German is a bit rusty, so when we downloaded the Indy-Cator's directions, we weren't able to decipher how it's programmed. If you've got the means, we'd ask you to check out the company's website and let us know exactly how this little piece of automotive geeketry works.

According to TMTuning, installation is straightforward, the LCD has an auto-dimming feature and it can be yours in blue or red for $169.00. Worthwhile? That's in the hand of the beholder.

[Source: Gaslock.de via TMTuning]

Could this be the most trick shift knob ever? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>LCDLEDshift knobShiftKnobFri, 27 Apr 2007 12:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford to offer customizable LED lighting?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/05/ford-to-offer-customizable-led-lighting/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/05/ford-to-offer-customizable-led-lighting/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/05/ford-to-offer-customizable-led-lighting/#commentsFiled under: ,



If the Ford Mustang's MyColor instrument panel lighting amuses you, then the announcement of a licensing agreement between the automaker and Colour Kinetics should further expand the joy. The deal allows Ford to legally use "intelligent color-controlled systems" both in the interior and on the exterior of vehicles around the world.

Actually, the deal applies to every patent CK holds, so Ford can customize the lighting on any of its vehicles in a variety of ways. Because of the digital nature of LED lighting, color can be manipulated fairly easily. This would allow Ford to leave interior accent lighting in the hands of the consumer. It could even expand to novel exterior lighting and eventually even beyond automotive applications. When Ford introduced the MyColor lighting option on the Mustang in '05, it had been sued for allegedly failing to secure the rights to this technology. This new deal should clear the way for any future projects it wants to pursue.

Full release after the jump.

[Source: Colour Kinetics]

Continue reading Ford to offer customizable LED lighting?

Ford to offer customizable LED lighting? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2007 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Colour KineticsColourKineticsfordintelligent lightingLEDlightingmustangMyColorpatenttri-colortricolorThu, 05 Apr 2007 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey Says: Garages lit with LED seem safer]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/02/survey-says-garages-lit-with-led-seem-safer/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/02/survey-says-garages-lit-with-led-seem-safer/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/02/survey-says-garages-lit-with-led-seem-safer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's a scene we've seen hundreds of times in movies - predators emerging from the shadows in a dimly lit parking garage. It used to be that you could look for the cigarrette ember so you could meet up with Deep Throat, but Raleigh, North Carolina has beat back the shadows as it became the first LED City. Parking garages in Raleigh have seen their standing with the public improve since LED lighting systems replaced the old high pressure sodium lighting. The whiter, brighter illumination led to a 76 percent increase in "very safe" replies to a survey on how the security of the garage was perceived. Whether the change has precipitated an actual drop in parking garage crime, or if it was even a problem in Raleigh to begin with, we can't say; but changing perception's not a bad thing, either. It's another feather in the cap of LED lighting technology, along with reducing energy consumption and the aforementioned lighting quality.

[Source: CREE via engadget]

Survey Says: Garages lit with LED seem safer originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivinggarageLEDlightingparkingparking garageParkingGaragesafetyMon, 02 Apr 2007 11:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Scion FUSE teaser pic from ScionLife]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/09/scion-fuse-teaser-pic-from-scionlife/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/09/scion-fuse-teaser-pic-from-scionlife/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/09/scion-fuse-teaser-pic-from-scionlife/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A picture of the Scion FUSE that's supposed to ignite next week's NY auto show has been leaked a little early on a forum post over at ScionLife. We learned a while back that the FUSE would feature a topped chop and a short snout, the latter of which we can clearly view in this picture along with a super-sized Scion logo and extra wide front wheel. Those wheels will allegedly house turn signals might employ similar technology to these LED message-board wheels. We'll have to wait until next week to see the total package and find out.

Top tip Scott, thanks!

Scion FUSE teaser pic from ScionLife originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>concept carConceptCarFUSEhatchbackLEDnew york auto showNewYorkAutoShowscionsport compactSportCompactturbowheelsSun, 09 Apr 2006 07:00:00 EST