Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin falls hard for Gale Banks' diesel speed trucks
Sooner or later, everyone in the auto industry comes into contact with Gale Banks. And, if you're just looking for a prime tune-up, check out this post from May where we mentioned how Banks is offering to convert any type of diesel vehicles to a high-performance monster. Banks seems to be on a quest to reshape the image of diesels as dirty oil burners. Banks is the man behind the absolutely insane diesel-powered Sidewinder Dodge Dakota that, in 2002, went over 222 mph at Bonneville and set a world record speed for a production-based pickup truck. Today, Boing Boing's Xeni Jardin started a video series about her visit with Banks and, in an episode coming soon, going for a ride with him.
As you can see in the video above, Banks' vehicles go fast. What you don't see (but is easy to discover) is that Banks is also concerned with the impact vehicles have on the environment. Banks is an advisor to the Automotive X Prize and has been working on emissions, aerodynamics and other efficiency issues for decades. Xeni will have more videos up soon that cover at trip to Banks' garage and other details, so stay tuned.
Related:
- LA Auto Show: Quick test drive in BMW 535d (2006 post)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Smith 3:03PM (12/10/2007)
It's too bad Mr. Banks isn't interested in performance electric vehicles instead of stinky diesels. He doesn't think he will ever run out of diesel and the stuff doesn't pollute when burned? Maybe if Iran would turn up the pressure and only sell oil every other day or every other week. Or cut back the supply to pump up the price. See how much fun diesel is when there is none.
Don't think they smell? Work inside a warehouse with diesel powered forklifts.
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Val 11:36AM (12/11/2007)
So if you think you have it all figured out, how come you cannot afford electric forklifts? Those are available today. Unlike electric cars which are not widely avaulable. How old are those diesel forklifts? Do they have particulate filters and NOx traps and catalysts? Also, where do you think the electricity for rhose cars you dream about will come from? It's very likely it will be either coal or petrol again. And coal power plants have efficiency of around 30%, while an ICE has around 40%. Solar and wind power would be nice, but if money spent on ethanol was invested instead in truly renewable sources, the farmers and lobbysts would be left in the dry. So its a kind of a viscious circle.
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