Creativity Unbound: Part 2 of 2.(News)

Byline: Roger Hart, Natalie Neff, Dutch Mandel, Larry Edsall

Phoenix Motorcars Sport/Utility Truck

"You don't need a sledgehammer to pound in carpet tacks,'' actor and clean-air advocate Ed Begley Jr. said at the introduction of this battery-electric fleet vehicle designed-at least at first-for use by commercial fleets. You might need a big diesel or gas-burning V8 for heavy-duty deliveries, but this truck can carry lighter cargo as far as 100 miles without stopping to recharge, does 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds and has a top speed of 95 mph. The plan is for Phoenix Motorcars of Ojai, California, to import and certify the Korean (Ssangyong) trucks, for Boshart Engineering of Ontario, California, to do the powertrain conversion, and for Altairnano of Reno, Nevada, to provide its special NanoSafe batteries. There are 32 of them, and they can be recharged in about six hours off a home outlet or in just 10 minutes at a fast-charging station. Since this was the SEMA Show, the show truck featured unique Intro wheels, BFGoodrich tires, Snugtop accessories and Katzkin seats.

Pre-Road Test

For less than $30, you can now find out whether an expensive trip to the hoosegow awaits because you've been over-served at the bar. A personal alcohol detector powered by two AAA batteries alerts users to alcohol levels in their system. While it is never smart to drink and drive, better to have fair warning on when to call a designated driver. Of course, you must have the smarts to make the call. Go to www.jmksales.com for information.

Fuel Vapor Technologies "ale''

Pronounced "alay,'' this three-wheeler runs on gasoline vapors and has achieved 92 mpg in testing, yet sprints to 60 mph in five seconds, does the quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds and pulls well over 1.0 g in cornering. British Columbian machinist and inventor George Parker has been tinkering for 15 years with ideas for a vehicle that combines high mileage and high performance. In the last couple of years he's gotten quite serious about the project, recruited engineering and investment help, and hopes to put this tube-frame, fiberglass-bodied, tandem-style two-seater into production within the next 18 months. Power comes from a 1.5-liter, 180-hp turbocharged Honda four-cylinder engine that, like a propane system, burns fumes.