If you've been paying attention to Gas 2's bylines recently, you've probably noticed a lot more Steve and a lot less Jo in recent weeks. That's because Speedriven has been hard at work developing a bespoke "standalone ECU" solution for vehicle management. An ECU that would enable some of the most complex cars in the world to easily be converted to flex-fuel, ethanol, or even … [Read more...] about Where Have You Been? (the Standalone ECU Edition)
Ethanol
PDU Launches E85 Conversion Mod for BMW N55 Engine
The BMW tuning gurus at Performance Design Unlimited (PDU) seem to have caught on to the E85 performance potential of the N55 turbo engines found in the latest "x35i" model BMWs. Their latest offering to build power for their customers is a port fuel injection kit that makes the cars 100% E85 compatible. BMW N55 E85 Fuel Injection Kit With proper tuning, an … [Read more...] about PDU Launches E85 Conversion Mod for BMW N55 Engine
E85 and the Dawn of the 1000 HP Mercedes-Benz
At more than sixteen feet long and weighing nearly five-thousand pounds the W215 series Mercedes-Benz CL coupes were always going to have more in common with marine mammals than they were with sporty little two-seaters like the Chevy Corvette or Porsche Turbo. At least, that's how it seemed before 2003, when Mercedes gave the big CL a 493 HP twin-turbocharged V12 engine that … [Read more...] about E85 and the Dawn of the 1000 HP Mercedes-Benz
1700 HP Nissan GTR “Goliath” Hits 237.1 MPH on Public Road
The last time we encountered one of the Switzer boys' 1700 HP "Goliath" brand Nissan GTRs, the 4100 lb. full-weight car was blasting across a quarter mile line in a record-setting (for ethanol powered street cars) 8.4 seconds at more 180 MPH. It's one thing to set a time and speed on a closed, controlled, and sticky racetrack, however. It's quite another thing entirely to run … [Read more...] about 1700 HP Nissan GTR “Goliath” Hits 237.1 MPH on Public Road
New UN Report Slams Ethanol And Other Biofuels
A pair of new reports from the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) may have finally buried the worldwide push for mass biofuel production. The pair of reports finds that, once everything is factored in, ethanol and other biofuels can actually be worse for the environment than standard petrol products. The reports, which can be read in full here and here, come … [Read more...] about New UN Report Slams Ethanol And Other Biofuels
Deep Dive: Chevy’s Twin-turbo IndyCar V6 for 2014
This weekend marks the start of the 2014 IndyCar series at the Firestone IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the return of Juan Pablo Montoya to North America's premier open-wheel race series. As the world's fastest owner of both a Tesla Model S and Chevy Volt, we're Montoya fans of the highest order here at Gas 2, and we expect great things from the ex Indy, Formula 1, … [Read more...] about Deep Dive: Chevy’s Twin-turbo IndyCar V6 for 2014
Brew Your Own Ethanol With This DIY Moonshine Still
Thanks to some intrepid young men and women at the Clawhammer Supply Co., you can now brew your own high-octane DIY moonshine (ethanol) right at home. If you decide to stop the process at around 80-100 proof, you can even drink it yourself. Just in time for the holidays! Admit it. At one point in your life, the idea of operating an illegal moonshine still cleverly hidden in a … [Read more...] about Brew Your Own Ethanol With This DIY Moonshine Still
Video: Ethanol-fueled Nissan GTR Sets 1/4 Mile Record
Nissan's R35 GTR is a performance icon. It's also a car that we've featured here on Gas 2 in various forms over the years, most notably as a Switzer Performance-tuned, ethanol-fueled street terror. Keep in mind, we've never posted any sort of official acceleration times, but the comments and emails surrounding Switzer's E900 and E1K-X posts always include the same question: how … [Read more...] about Video: Ethanol-fueled Nissan GTR Sets 1/4 Mile Record
5 Common Ethanol Myths Exposed – as Crap!
Fact or Crap is a fairly popular board game that pitches itself as an "edgy" version of Trivial Pursuit. If you like trivia and enjoy saying that something "is crap", then, you'll probably enjoy it ... and - as regular readers have probably guessed by now - I love it! So, when I saw the Argonne National Laboratory issued a report last week that attacked 5 of the most common m … [Read more...] about 5 Common Ethanol Myths Exposed – as Crap!
Seven Weeds That Could Power Your Car
[social_buttons] With the attention on first generation corn ethanol fading, the next big thing on the sustainable fuel horizon is nonfood biofuel crops. Within that category, inedible weeds are taking a front-row seat due to their relatively low demands on water, pesticides, and herbicides, and their reduced need for tilling and other mechanized soil prep. Some weeds … [Read more...] about Seven Weeds That Could Power Your Car