Gas-powered vehicles may have snuffed out major interest in the original electric vehicles over a century ago. However, with sales topping 1.15 million units, the fully-electric Tesla Model Y ranking as the best-selling passenger car in the world for 2023 confirms the EV is back with a vengeance, and it has grabbed the attention, not to mention the dollars, of auto consumers around the globe.
While the Tesla Model Y dominated last year’s market, it was only the tip of the iceberg in the world of EVs/alternate energies that sparked the interest of auto companies, motorized product manufacturers, and energy corporations. Looking at the innovative tech and potential industry disruptors displaying at SEMA 2024, it’s obvious we are on the cusp of or even amid a transportation revolution and the wild west future of the auto industry is already upon us. Here are three market-shakers upending the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine as we know it.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Yamaha, Roush, Chevron, Toyota, Tesla, and other authoritative sources, including Statista, Energy.Gov, Hagerty, and SEMA.
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Yamaha Displays H2: The Hydrogen Engine With Roush Performance Fuel Delivery
On a trailblazing path to bridge cutting-edge advancements in the marine and automotive industries, Yamaha unveiled the first hydrogen-powered outboard. Although this particular H2 motor powered what would be a recreational watercraft developed by Regulator Marine, the joint effort of Roush Performance and their experience with high-performance street and competitive racing components underlines the endeavor in the auto industry.
“We believe hydrogen will become a substantial portion of the market,” explained Yamaha Rightwaters representative Ish Monroe. “Once access is more commonplace, we believe gas-power will make up half the market, electric 25 percent and hydrogen the other 25 percent.”
Yamaha’s history with hydrogen dates back to 2003, as the company committed to environmental goals that reduce carbon emissions and advance a more sustainable future. The inspiration for the world’s first version of a hydrogen-powered internal combustion outboard – Yamaha’s H2 – came from its 450-horsepower XTO Offshore motor. Leaving water as its sole byproduct, the H2 functions by direct injection and burning of compressed hydrogen gas, following pressure reduction. Roush engineered the hydrogen fuel delivery system.
Hydrogen Infrastructure Expansion Is On The Horizon
With the lack of the consumer’s accessibility to hydrogen fueling stations a barrier to
hydrogen-powered vehicles
, Chevron and Toyota previously teamed up to advance the hydrogen infrastructure. Identifying the symbiotic relationship of supply vs. demand and available fuel vs. purchasable fuel-burners, the Chevron/Toyota alliance recognizes the hydrogen fuel chain will benefit from simultaneous growth, and they are on a path to its adoption. Chevron along with Iwatani, an industrial gas company, has committed to 30 hydrogen fueling stations within the state of California alone, by the year 2026.
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EVs Go Full Beast Mode As California Law Enforcement Vehicles
The movie industry has frequently taken a sci-fi approach to law enforcement when combating dystopian societies of the future. However, once again, we say, the future is here and the future is now, and while the Golden State may not have a cyborg on their police force, the human officers of the Irvine Police Department (IPD) have enlisted the Tesla Cyberbeast as the newest edition to their police fleet.
The IPD, located in Southern California, one-off’d an 845-horsepower Cyberbeast as the newest edition to their fleet vehicles. The tri-motor model of the Cybertruck that comes straight off the Tesla line developing over 10,200 pounds of torque was outfitted by the UP.FIT division of Unplugged Performance. It burned over $150 thousand of the law enforcement’s budget, is expected to have a 10-year lifespan on the force, and is slated to be part of the department’s DARE program.
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Tesla Cyberbeast Performance Specs
|
Horsepower |
845 HP |
|
Torque |
10,296 Pound-Feet |
|
0 to 60 Time |
2.6 Seconds |
|
1/4 Mile Time |
11 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
130 MPH |
|
Max Range |
320 Miles (415 with the Range Extender) |
Four-Digit Horsepower Is Stock In The World’s Fastest Patrol Car
Also modified by UP.FIT, the 1.99 second 0 to 60-capable Tesla Model S Plaid was transformed into a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s cruiser. Visions of a community outreach vehicle wouldn’t typically be accompanied by a production model car that boasts 1,026 horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque; but this ain’t your grandpa’s patrol car, as was the Ford Fairlane Police Package of the ’50s and early ’60s, or the 1977 Plymouth Gran Fury that served police departments with a PD specially-optioned E86 440 cubic-inch V-8, upgraded with a high-performance cam and an exhaust duo that created a whopping 245 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque.
Showing out as the world’s quickest patrol car, with a top speed of 200 MPH, this version of the Tesla Model S has been dubbed the “Plaid Pursuit” . It may look like a sleeper, but the rocket-quick EV gives a whole new meaning to “first responder”. As a ready-to-order, next-gen police vehicle, the Plaid Pursuit may just redefine the high-speed chase for those that break bad in SoCal.
Tesla Model S Plaid Performance Specs
|
Horsepower |
1,020 HP |
|
Torque |
1,050 Pound-Feet |
|
0 to 60 Time |
1.99 Seconds |
|
1/4 Mile Time |
9.3 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
200 MPH |
|
Max Range |
345 Miles |
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Electric Superchargers Become An Aftermarket Bolt-On Mod With A DIY Kit
The electro-mod (or at least hybrid electro-mod) market is blown wide-open for do-it-yourselfers or affiliate installers as E Charger Systems’ Electric Supercharger becomes available for pre-orders with a scheduled delivery date. The bolt-on kit provides a way to turn an OG hot rod, vintage, or classic into a modern-day hybrid right in one’s own garage.
E-Supercharger Potential Benefit Specs
|
Torque |
Up to 1,000 Pound-Feet |
|
Cost Savings |
Up to 400 Percent |
|
Fuel Savings |
Up to 25 Percent |
|
Emissions Reduction |
Up to 50 Percent |
This dual fuel customization e-powers up the internal combustion or compression ignition as needed, utilizing regen braking for enhanced fuel consumption, and ultimately could result in a revolutionary modern muscle metamorphosis. After all, who wouldn’t want to up the horses in their old school muscle car and join the 60 MPG club with the same performance mod? Sounds like a dream come true to me! The installation cost of the E Supercharger ranges from $5,000 to $7,000.
