By Caitlin Rothermel On June 4th, 2026, the price of gas on Vashon was about $6.60 for a regular unleaded gallon. But where does the money go? The greatest expenses come at the start, for crude oil production and transportation, followed by oil refining. At about $4.00 per gallon, these factors make up more than…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck Imagine it’s 2006 and you’re looking to buy a subcompact car for parking in tight spaces and weaving through some of the heaviest urban traffic tangles in North America four times a day. A connoisseur of fine engineering, let’s say you’re also a bit large, at 6’ 8”, and tip the…
By Andy Valencia EV’s are in most ways simpler than their internal combustion engine cousins. There really just need to be batteries, a controller to send power to the wheels, and a charger. But these parts work hard, since we want fast recharges and even faster acceleration. Stressing electronics means failures will show up eventually….
By Marc J. Elzenbeck In a previous installment, we looked at the Toyota RAV-4 in its early forms, a handy-sized workhorse renowned for its durability and steady character. But among the many things a 20-plus year old RAV-4 has never been known to say are, “Hey, wanna see how fast we can make it down…
Vashon Enters the Surveillance Age By Marc J. Elzenbeck Imagine you’re a county or municipal administrator in a cash-hungry jurisdiction and you see a demo of an Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system. These are typically “green” solar-powered cameras mounted along high-traffic public thoroughfares to capture vehicle images, license plates, make, model, color, and designated characteristics. …
By Marc J. Elzenbeck Choices usually involve tough trade-offs, summed up in design as “form follows function.” Sometimes you can get both, but function is primary. Comfort vs. Speed. Reliability vs. Sophistication. Safety vs. Cost. When it comes to owning a vehicle, there is also a trade-off called “Living on Vashon.” Several factors give our…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck My friend Valeo put a deposit down for a RAV-4 Prime, a ride in more demand than a Lamborghini. After waiting unfulfilled for almost 2 years, he sprang for a 5th-Gen Prius Prime. Both these plug-in vehicles are huge upgrades on Toyota’s solid hybrid tech, real game-changers in convenience and flexibility….
By Marc J. Elzenbeck Once upon a time, cars all had identical headlights. From 1940 to 1984, there was a United States sealed beam standard. While the adage, “You can’t stop within the reach of your low beams, young fella,” was mostly still true, safety had improved. By 1978, lights could come in both rectangular…
By Marc J. Elzenbeck Motor oil contains hydrocarbons, detergents, viscosity enhancing agents, and after being used in an engine, fine metal particles. It is not recommended for skin care. But if it sprays you in the face, it imparts a nice supple feel for a week or so. Running an errand in Seattle, my route…