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While many auto manufacturers are gearing up for the next wave of automotive revolution, to produce more electric cars (including PHV - Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) in-lieu of gasoline / diesel powered vehicles, are buyers and local government agencies (e.g. LTA, NEA, SCDF, BCA, etc.) ready for this big wave, and I am not merely referring to the basic infrastructure concerns, such as charging and servicing facilities. As the title suggested, this thread is more for taking an in-depth view on Safety and Environmental concerns, with regards to sales, usage, servicing and disposal of electric cars (mainly with the batteries). For a start, I will just be touching on the following, while more topics will be added in due course. I would welcome all to share their thoughts, and relevant stakeholders to take a leaf out of this topic. 1. Batteries At the moment, there are 2 main type of batteries commonly used in electric / hybrid vehicles: i) Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) ii) Lithium Ion (Li-ion), which uses different cathode materials such as Cobalt Dioxide, Nickel-cobalt-manganese, Nickel-cobalt-aluminum, Manganese oxide spinel & Iron phosphate. NiMH is most widely used in automotive industries as it is relatively safe in term of raw materials use, during charging / discharging, and emit less harmful substances during a fire, BUT have a lower power density (typically about half of what Li-ion can do), meaning it will either have a shorter traveling distance, or take up much more usable space (and weigh more) if to maintain a certain mileage. Li-ion, on the other hand, while enable electric cars to cover hundreds of miles per charge (without taking too much boot or cabin space), are much more hazardous, in the way that it can have a run-away reaction (resulting in fire / explosion) when exceeded a certain operating / storage temperature (~60 °C), emit toxic gases and substance during a fire, so more awareness and precaution is needed. Due to the characteristics of these batteries, special considerations have to be taken during storage, handling and usage, such as proper ventilation (to prevent gas built up - Oxygen, Hydrogen, etc.), minimized risk of dropping / knocking (Li-ion batteries maybe be rendered unsafe if dropped or subjected to sever impact), means of safety cut-off (to prevent over heating, triggering run away reaction) and such. 2. Building Infrastructure With reference to the above, special facilities (with precise temperature monitoring and control, enhanced ventilation system, specific fire-fighting system and equipment) maybe required for storing large amount of batteries. Mixed occupancy, i.e. storage and workshop facilities under the same roof, have to be carefully evaluated, to identify incompatible activities, e.g. workshop may produce excessive heat / spark (ignition source) thereby increasing the risk of fire / explosion. Also, is the existing fire compartmentation for building (fire code, regulations) sufficient to contain battery fire? Li-ion batteries for example will continue to burn once it hit the auto-ignition temperature, and the only control is to cool the surrounding to prevent fire from spreading to neighboring premises / units. In the case of an electric vehicle fire within say a basement car park, building structure must be able to withstand the period of time when the batteries continue to burn, ventilation system to be able to effectively remove toxic gases produced, such as CO, Ni & Li vapor, and means of cooling provided to contain the fire. 3. Fire Fighting and Emergency Response Interestingly, the most commonly used dry power extinguisher is NOT going to work on Li-ion batteries. Beside using cat D extinguisher - for metal fire (which is not commonly available anywhere), the next best option is water, mainly to cool down the surrounding and lower the battery temperature (to prevent explosion). And for fireman, the protocol is to attempt fighting the fire ONLY WITH proper respiratory protection - full breathing apparatus (prevent inhalation of toxic gases / vapors). If you thing this is no big difference from other fire fighting attempts, you are wrong. Fireman will also have to adopt the proper procedure. One important step is to cut off the power supply to the vehicle. Tesla has done pretty well in detailing the steps to fight fire on it vehicles (through publishing Emergency Response Guides for vehicles in their lineup). And hopefully our fireman from SCDF, when deployed to handle such electric car fire, will be fully aware of these steps... And here is a video taken recently, when a team of firefighters in Austria was responding to a Tesla Model S on fire. Firefighters with full BA set (breathing apparatus) Firefighters accessing to power disconnection switch And the responsible shall be shared by the owner of electric car too. They have to be fully aware of what to do when their vehicle catch fire, and keeping the fireman informed of the key information, e.g. location of power cut off switch, battery packs, etc. 4. Servicing and Disposal of Batteries The onus shall be mainly on the workshop and dealer performing the job (provided the owner send their electric cars to the right place for the job). Beside safety concerns with the high voltage of the electrical system, proper charging and discharging process must be observed during replacement. For example, if the positive and negative terminals of the battery come into contact, short circuit will arise, followed by fire. On environmental front, proper supply chain has to be established, to ensure that the used batteries will be disposed in accordance to local and international standards and guidelines. And during the treatment process, again, the toxic material and gases have to be properly taken care of. T.B.C.

M'sian media failed to do basic checks before publishing article that sought to damage confidence in S’pore, PM Lee: Shanmugam ....i would say if this is an allegations and not true, the Gahman must sue them if not then something is not quite right.....the country integrity and trust will be tarnish. If goes to court on neutral ground, it will be very interesting. We are all waiting, action please.

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/...228-330623.html Motoring @ AsiaOne 'Some years' before new satellite-based ERP is ready: Minister Tests are still ongoing and if the system is found to be technically feasible, there are still some years to go before launch. -AsiaOne Tue, Feb 28, 2012 AsiaOne The development of the new satellite-tracked Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system is still in its "early stages", Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo said in response to questions in Parliament on Tuesday. Tests are still ongoing to make sure that the system is technically feasible and reliable in a built-up city like Singapore, she said. And if the system is technically feasible, it is still "some years" before the system is ready to be launched and implemented, Mrs Teo added. Satellite signals may bounce off tall buildings in built-up areas like Singapore, resulting in patchy accuracy, earlier reports said. When the technology is proven, the Government will then study how to use the new system to influence motorists' usage of vehicles. A tender for the project was awarded to four parties last year to conduct a system evaluation test for the next-generation ERP system. According to The Straits Times, the four are Kapsch TrafficCom; MHI Engine System Asia & NCS; ST Electronics (Info-Comm Systems) & IBM Singapore; and Watchdata Technologies & Beijing Watchdata System. Each party will receive $1 million in seed funding "to design, develop and demonstrate technological solutions". The new system may charge motorists according to where they go and how much distances they clock. [email protected]

Search the threads but did not find anything. Does any bro have any experience with Ready Auto Care in AMK Ave 5? Is their workmanship for boot and bumper repair ok? Charges reasonable? Thanks.

Ha! NSP chut the xmm card again! I am getting my popcorn ready! Hope have straight up 1v1 fight but I wonder if PAP will allow.

http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/transport/story/november-january-coe-quota-11932-slight-increase-last-quarter-lta-201 A lot of car owners are holding on and extending the COE for their cars. COE will sky rocket soon I guess.

For homosexuality according to this article http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC09...pores-not-ready However that's not what I want to point out... its seems to me that Singapore is not ready for a truely honest government! Most of you know that I am quite pro-government, however it doesnt mean that they're not snakes. Here's a classic example of it. "Singapore's not ready Law Minister says Govt careful of being ahead of public opinion by Teo Xuanwei 05:55 AM Jul 06, 2009 FOLLOWING an Indian high court's recent landmark decision last week which overturned a 150-year-old British colonial era law criminalising homosexuality, is it time for Singapore - whose laws are "copied" from India - to repeal Section 377A? The answer is no, says Law Minister K Shanmugam, because Singapore society is "not ready" for that. "There is a group that is actively committed to saying that homosexuality is okay," said Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Second Minister for Home Affairs. "But probably a majority of Singaporeans are still very conservative and say that this is totally not acceptable. So, the Government has to respect both sides." So we're basing decisions on assumptions and guesses now are we? You're being grossly overpaid to find out not guess Mr Shanmugam He was responding to a question posed by a resident, Ms Khartini Abdul Khalid during a dialogue session when he visited Punggol Central Division yesterday. While the Government has to "set the standards" on many issues, it must "be careful about being ahead of public opinion," he said. "If the majority of our population is against homosexuality, then it's not for the Government to say we are going to force something against the wishes of the people," he said, reiterating the Government's stance when a motion to repeal the law banning homosexual acts in Singapore was intensely debated in Parliament in 2007. Right... except that although the people didn't want ERP or COE, it will still forced down our throats. What about your grossly obscene salaries in which there is more consensus from the people than in anything else that you are all undeserving of?? We are still forced to pay taxes to maintain them. Not to mention even more recently when we are having voices from all the different groups asking for a strong control over outsiders working in Singapore, the government refused to listen and forces us to accept them even when Singaporeans are losing jobs. Section 377A - which makes those convicted liable to imprisonment up to two years - was not repealed eventually, even though the Government said it would not actively enforce it. Mr Shanmugam explained that India's laws on homosexuality have not changed. Instead, it was the New Delhi High Court's interpretation that "with the current evidence available and the current social situations in many parts of the world ... you can no longer consider homosexuality to be a wrongful sexual activity", he said. Mr Shanmugam stressed that Singapore's courts are likewise free to interpret the law the same way. "Whether the courts will take the same interpretations, I don't know, but it's up to the courts.""

Have anyone tried those ready to eat treausre pot from New Moon / Fortune... before? Picture looks good, but I really wonder the contains really as good as the picture?

Yahoo report: Where are the dirty toilets in Singapore? By Kai Fong | Yahoo! Newsroom

This Friday-Sunday, Vpower pump at 98 price. Shell jus sent me the SMS

Correct my understand of READY. Ready means its not implemented yet? I fear such statement as Ready for what is to come. Anyone knows what is ready to come in 2012? Come celestial dragon being is going to ascend to havens? Such cryptic message. Haiz. By Sophie Hong my paper Monday, Feb 06, 2012 SINGAPORE - Even though the economy will be challenging this year, the Government is prepared, said Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, yesterday. "I want to assure you that the Government is ready to work with everybody to take care of everybody," he said. Last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also said Singapore is "ready for what is going to come" in the Year of the Dragon. Mr Chan was speaking to about 1,500 residents at a Chinese New Year event in Buona Vista. During the event, nine needy and elderly residents received a free wheelchair or walking stick from the Senior's Mobility Fund, which is administered by the Agency for Integrated Care. Mr Chan, who gave out the mobility aids, added that, beyond the festivities, it was vital to have such initiatives to help residents in need.

Having a relationship , wedding bells to making babies are the standard route which most of us will choose to take of cos there are some under certain circumstances , stayed single. Parenthood and having babies is never easy . I have witnessed couples of modern days society taking the pleasures of making babies but having no accountability in actions taken. I'm a father of 1 with both my wife and myself working , we jiggle time taking turns to look after our little angel but like any average family of both working parties , my mum volunteered to look after our baby in the daytime alternate days . Strictly no maids but I gotten wife a nanny during first few months after birth to help wife a first timer mum cope. My brother in law whose wife is, my wife's elder sister given birth to a second child a couple of months ago . First child hardly see them taking care , fancy leaving with in law . Reason was they are both working . Yah ... As if they are the only ones ???? Maid came in when first child was a few month old until there were some issues that maid was being rude n she was fired . Now second child arrived and again claimed cannot cope , first and second was brought into in laws care alternate days . Brother in law wife was not working at that moment juz for extra info. We were visiting in laws house with our baby and my wife seeing her mother so tired taking care of the babies volunteered to stayed and help out as it was the beginning of her block leave . Me and baby went home first and my wife was still awake 3am in the morning when I SMS her at my own home. Brother in law n wife was happily on a oversea trip at that period. WTF???? My wife as filial to her family and responsible and so she deserve to be your part time nanny???? Tho it was voluntary but how can anyone bear seeing own mother Soooo tired ???? As tittle is written. Making babies anyone down to a 12 yr old can do it. Taking care and making accountability is another story. Having both working parties isn't a reason NOT to. If you are not ready to sacrfic , dun give birth . Wear a farking condom!!!!! Having babies is just like buying car , no one force u to buy however if bought , gotto support n feed it lo. Simple as that .

Finally they announced the winning bidder for the upcoming Changi Motorsports Hub. S$330 million investment!? Purely privately-funded, fwah that's a LOT of money man. How quickly can they make it profitable? The permanent race track will be able to host any race except F1 - so F1 will remain on our street circuit? Anyway, it's said to be ready by end next year - for 41-ha, possible? Anyone here excited about this? You think this will help our local motorsports scene improve more? PRESS RELEASE SG Changi wins bid for Changi Motorsports Hub Singapore, Friday, March 26, 2010

I was amazed for the first time all the cars at my area cp parking illegally while returning home after sending wife to work were summoned . Parking has always being a great problem at my area with increasing approval for season car holders via limited number of parking lots. Open space carpark is already full at time as early as 9pm in the evening especially for some who returns home late from work has no choice but to park their car illegally however in their best discretion not to cause obstruction to other neighbors . We are all legal season holders mind you. Simple theory applies: 20 parking lots available while 50 season tickets were issued. Some may argue the fact that buying season ticket doesn't Amt to the fact that you will get a lot??? At the end of the day , still gotten summoned ????? Justifible ???? You are a parking warden and saw numerous cars parking illegally at a particular cp but upon scanning the tag discovered drivers are actually season ticket holders. What does it tells you especially seeing carpark is fully packed at that point of time???? One thing i know for such that who ever you are and whatever mindset you may have at that point of time, a big AngBao expected end of the month for you in the expense of law abiding citizens . Perhaps we should think twice voting for you know who this year????

It's never too early to start your retirement planning. Set a high target so that even if you don't hit it you don't end up in a bad shape. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_637312.html

Yahoo News report: Joanne Peh: I'm ready to go nude By Ben Tan Thursday February 17, 2011 07:52 pm PST MediaCorp star Joanne Peh wants to play the role of Rose Chan, a striptease dancer from the 1950s and 1960s in Eric Khoo's upcoming movie, The Charming Rose. Explaining her decision to bare it all, Peh told The New Paper that she views her body only as a tool for acting. She said: "I don't belittle my body but it doesn't really mean anything. What matters is our soul and what's inside of us, not this outer shell." "When I entered this industry, (my body) is something I have to give up. I have to let my co-stars or strangers touch or kiss me." For the role of Rose, Khoo has yet to decide if there will be full frontal nudity, although there definitely will be some striptease performances and partial nudity involved. After receiving more than 200 applications and auditioning around 20 actresses, including singer-actress Celest Chong and busty Malaysian model Christy Yow, Khoo has stated that he is considering casting Peh as Rose. He said: "She has great presence and is very smart. It's always easier to work with smart people. Joanne is more of the Rose Chan that I'm looking for compared to Christy Yow." Filming for the movie will begin at the end of the year. hmmmmmm...................

Good news coming your way. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_627936.html

Nico Rosberg has played down boss Ross Brawn's claim that he is close to winning his first grand prix. The 24-year-old German has outpaced teammate Michael Schumacher at every race in 2010 so far, finished the last two grands prix on the podium, and is second in the drivers' championship. "Nico is very close to winning a race," Brawn said, ahead of a substantial car upgrade for the weekend's Spanish grand prix. But Rosberg told the German news agency DPA: "It would be nice, but we must be realistic. "At Mercedes we are not yet in a position to win, but in the coming weeks we should make some big steps and I'm hoping to make good progress." As for the W01 winning in Barcelona this weekend, he insisted: "That would be expecting too much. But I do hope we can narrow the gap to Red Bull." Rosberg said earlier this season that, with F1's most famous driver occupying the other side of the garage, he is being very careful with his words in 2010. When asked on Monday if he is surprised to find himself as Mercedes' number one, he answered: "So far I'm very pleased with how my season has gone. "I am especially happy to be second in the championship. I'm happy to have been ahead of Michael so far, but it is still too early to make comparisons." Asked if he knows why he is faster than Schumacher, Rosberg said: "No. I only know that I have a good feeling with the car and am able to get a lot out of it." Source: GMM

Is it here already? If it is, anyone tested already?

Hi bros and sis..Sorry for the long wait..hehe..many have been chasing me liao..I will unstuff my container tml and I will try my best to pack everything.. Here will be the collection date and location.. 21/3/09 (Sat) - 9.30am to 2pm Ang Mo Kio---Sms me for location one the day 21/3/09 (Sat) - 10.00am to 1pm SengKang Compassvale--- Sms 97800479 for address 22/3/09 (Sun) - 9.30am to 2pm Woodlands---Sms me for location on that day 22/3/09 (Sun) - 10.30am to 1pm SengKang Compassvale--- Sms 97800479 for address 23/3/09 (Mon) - 6.30pm to 8.00pm No 1 Clementi Loop. (Inform security you are heading to Extras space) 25/3/09 (Wed) - 6.30pm to 8.30pm Tampines Stadium Carpark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qin4UptOEsI

dear bro,sis, able to explain what is the different between Full HD Vs HD Ready? thanks

http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story...1106-98727.html New expressway may cost up to $5b already over budget by $600million By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent THE new Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE), which will link the new downtown to the western and north-eastern suburbs, is busting its budget in a big way. With four out of six major contracts awarded, expenditure on the 5km-long underground and undersea road has already hit $3.1 billion - $600 million more than its $2.5 billion estimated price tag. When the five-lane dual-carriageway expressway opens in 2013, it could cost between $4 billion and $5 billion, which will make it the costliest road here for years to come. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has attributed the cost overrun to a general spike in construction cost, and also to poor soil conditions that required strong temporary walls to prevent accidents. A former LTA executive said: "The cost is staggering. Compared with it, the KPE is nothing." The 12km-long, largely underground Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) cost $142 million per km, nearly four times the $37.5 million spent on the Central Expressway in 1991. Another expensive road to come is the 21km-long, $8 billion North-South Expressway to link Thomson to the city. To be completed in 2020, it is now expected to cost $381 million per km. But should the MCE hit $5 billion, it would top them all, costing an unprecedented $1 billion per km. The project is so massive that civil works have to be carved up into six portions, so that the builders are not overstretched. Even so, industry players said each portion would pose a cash-flow challenge to builders. The civil contracts have so far been secured by Ssangyong Engineering & Construction, Samsung C&T, Penta-Ocean Construction and Sato Kogyo-Daelim Industrial ? all foreign groups. Elaborating on the cost spiral, LTA chief executive Yam Ah Mee said construction costs had gone up. "Given the poor soil conditions and the reclaimed land at the location where the MCE will run and the many engineering challenges, it is important that we put in place a more comprehensive and robust temporary wall system for the tunnel excavations." Construction industry observers said such beefed-up engineering requirements - mandatory since the Nicoll Highway collapse in 2004 - contribute to the higher costs. The LTA declined to reveal the revised cost of the project, saying that doing so could influence bids for the remaining contracts. The MCE joins the newly opened KPE to the Ayer Rajah Expressway. It links the new Marina South financial centre to the rest of Singapore. Got to give up driving soon

Enter the Alfa Romeo MiTo . So beside the Fiat500 http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...abarth_500.html , the 'new' AR MiTo will also want to compete in the same category as the MINI. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpr...romeo_mito.html "Say ciao bella to Alfa Romeo