Frankenstorm Sandy

Here are various links and pictures from the megastorm Sandy.  We hope you are safe...  

In any case, here's a quick update on "Frankenstorm" Sandy.  The megastorm swept up along the entire US eastern seaboard and it's huge radius impacted everywhere from North Carolina to Maine -- eventually making landfall near Atlantic City, NJ and crossing almost directly over Philadelphia.  Almost 10 million are without power -- and many without water.  

The storm has really been a crazy one.  In addition to the heavy winds, rain, and flooding, a combination of storms and arctic winds from the north and west -- have also dumped up to a few feet of snow in areas as widespread as W. Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pittsburgh (and sleet in Virginia)...  Many major roads in the area are closed.      

Here's a scary video of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel getting flooded.  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50134146n&tag=api

Dr. Jeff Masters has some of the best information on hurricanes on his blog:

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2281

Additional pictures:

http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at201218.asp

Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/10/29/millions-across-east-coast-brace-for-uperstorm-sandy/

NYC Pictures (Pics of subway floods; power outage)
http://www.policymic.com/articles/17532/hurricane-sandy-path-live-hurricane-tracker-and-damage-report-on-nyc-power-outages

Other Photos:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/hurricane-sandy-pictures-photos2-20121025

Electric Cars

Here's a round-up of some of the best electric cars out there (or coming soon):

• Chevy Volt: read more about the Volt and electric cars in our article here.
• Nissan Leaf
• Tesla's

It's interesting how the industry measures miles per gallon, etc.; hopefully there will be some industry standards as electric cars and hybrids become more popular.


Read more here:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/best-electric-cars-a-roundup-of-all-evs-out-now-and-coming-soon/

Chevy Volt and Electric Cars

The Chevy Volt has made news because its drivers average about 1,000 miles between fill-ups.  But what does this mean?

• The Chevy Volt can go about 35 miles on a fully charged battery.  Then, the car operates on gas (it has a 9.3 gallon gas tank).  
• Thus, the average Volt driver drives about 111 miles per gallon. 
• Some drivers go about 4,000 miles between fill-ups, because they drive short distances and recharge the car frequently.  
• In most of the U.S., electricity costs less than the equivalent usage of gas, per mile.  (about 1/3 the cost).  

Read more here:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/02/autos/volt_1000_miles/index.htm

And how does the Volt perform in crash tests?  Due to the extra weight of battery packs, the Volt, and Leaf (another electric car) -- perform well in crash tests.

Read more here:
http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/26/news/companies/leaf_volt_crash_tests/index.htm?iid=EAL