Zambonis benched in favor of electric ICECAT (RIP ZAMBONI)

Autoblog ^

[MAD-AS-HELL]

Growing up in Canada, every kid knows what the Zamboni is. But for the poor, deprived children of warmer climes, we'll fill you in. It's not a lunch meat or a pastry you'd find in Little Italy, but the ice resurfacing machine you see put-putting around the rink before, after and in the middle of hockey games. Created by Frank Zamboni in 1949, the company's pretty much had a monopoly on the market ever since. But the times, as Bob Dylan sang from the penalty box, they are a-changin'.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

you'll need to click on the actual wired.com article. Autoblog is just bringing attention to it and I can't post WIRED articles here due to the burr up WIRED's rearend in not allowing their stories to be linked on FR.

Looks like you'll see more Zamoboni's trying to be sold on EBAY with this news...

RIP Zamboni.

Note: why didn't the author post it's 0-60 time?

I miss going to U of M hockey games...

[Responsibility2nd]

Growing up in Canada, every kid knows what the Zamboni is.

Growing up in Texas, I though the Zamboni's were indigenous Africans living in mud huts.

[big'ol_freeper]

Important issue of the day, hey. Bunch of hosers.

[Hazwaste]

Maybe I’m misinterpreting the story but it appears that only 4 Zambonis have been replaced in Canada where this story is referencing.

[tutstar]

gnip...

[WellyP]

U. Maine hockey games are great! Old Town or Orono?

[6SJ7]

And the reason is carbon monoxide: while the Zambonis run on propane or natural gas, the IceCats are all-electric. In an indoor arena, that can make all the difference:

Since the IceCat is twice the price, but electric, I'm surprised if Zamboni couldn't follow suit with an electric version to compete with the IceCat. I hope they're not suffering a case of GM-itis.

[WellyP]

Zamboni is working on a battery powered machine for much less than the IceCats. They will be available within a year! RIP IceCat!

[R0CK3T]

I was driving an electric Zam in 1980...did they quit making them or are the ones they produce too expensive and cost more than these?

[Thebaddog]

They position this new development against the carbon voodoo that is the popular mantra. Who's looking for the nuclear reactor behind the curtain generating the electricity for this faux Zamboni killer?

[wita]

A green machine for folks caught up in GW madness and with money burning a hole in their pockets. Frankly Scarlet...

[Paladin2]

Ice cat looks quite similar to a Zamboni. I thought that Zamboni's had catalytic converters these days.

What about all the lead or nickel pollution caused by the batteries?

[mewzilla]

That thing looks like Mr. Krabs’s daughter, Pearl.

[jaz.357]

Take off hoser.

[Tarpon]

Does the magic Negro have a magic electrcity source? Or is the generation all done with jive talking.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Great. Just great.

Replace the North-American designed and built Zamboni, with an imported electric go-cart.

Oh no, Canada.

[LongElegantLegs]

Jut alors! Do you play...’OCKEY??

[BwanaNdege]

“replacing carbon-emitting resurfacing machines with electric ones would reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in indoor arenas by 87%”

So make up your minds! Is the problem evil Carbon or is it nitrogen dioxide?

By the way, IS nitrogen dioxide present in hockey arenas in troublesome concentrations? What about carbon dioxide? Are they solving a non-existent problem?

[Yo-Yo]

Michigan State University has used Olympia ice resurfacers for 20 years, and Olympia makes a battery powered version.

[MAD-AS-HELL]

one of the BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME!

STEAM ROLLER!