SAIC invests $879 mln in green vehicles

The parent of SAIC Motor Corp, China's biggest automaker, plans to invest 6 billion yuan ($879 million) to develop and manufacture clean energy vehicles until 2011, the official Xinhua news agency said. One-third of the investment will go to research and development of green cars and the rest will be invested equally in green vehicle and component manufacturing, Xinhua cited SAIC Chairman Hu Maoyuan as saying late on Tuesday.

SAIC, the China partner of General Motors and Volkswagen AG, will launch its self-developed hybrid Roewe sedans next year and electric cars by 2012, the Shanghai Securities News said on Wednesday, citing an unnamed company executive. The Shanghai-based automaker may outsource batteries for its green cars and is in discussion with potential partners including BYD Co, the newspaper said.

BYD, 10% owned by a unit of U.S. billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc, launched its plug-in hybrid car F3DM in China late last year. Chery Automobile Co also rolled out its first electric car S18 in February.

Beijing unveiled a plan earlier this year to subsidise the purchase of clean-energy vehicles for public transport fleets in 13 cities to help its automobile industry develop green technology. Subsidies will be based on the gap in prices between more energy-efficient vehicles and those with traditional engines, with subsidies running up to 600,000 yuan (87,900 U$) on a fuel cell powered large commercial bus.

Source : Reuters, by James Pethokoukis, November 3rd, 2009

VW names Group Chief Officer to run EV programs

Like most other automakers, Volkswagen is ramping up its electrification efforts and part of that is putting someone in charge. VW announced today that it has hired Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann for the newly-created slot of Group Chief Officer for Electric Traction.

Neumann, who was most recently chairman of supplier Continental, will report directly to VW Chairman and CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn. During Neumann's tenure at Continental, that company also continued its efforts to get into the electric drive field by supplying lithium ion batteries, electric motors and generators and power electronics systems. Prior to his time at Continental, Neumann worked at VW heading up electronics research. Volkswagen is currently testing the Golf Twin Drive plug-in hybrid and the production Touareg Hybrid will be launched in early 2010. The automaker's first full battery electric vehicle is expected to be based on the eUp! concept that debuted at Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen has appointed Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann as the Group Chief Officer for Electric Traction with effect from December 1, 2009 and made him a General Representative. In the newly-created function of Group Chief Officer, he reports direct to the Chairman of the Board of Management, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

Winterkorn commented: "Electric traction is a crucial technology for the Volkswagen Group and offers enormous potential. Dr. Neumann is a top-class expert on our industry and in this field. He will be instrumental in supporting our company to systematically further develop this particular area of innovation."

Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann studied electrical engineering at the universities of Dortmund and Duisburg and was awarded his doctorate in this discipline. His research work at Fraunhofer Institut in Duisburg from 1989 to 1993 specialized in vehicle electronics. He subsequently moved to Motorola Semiconductor as an engineer and head of strategy for the automotive industry. Neumann joined the Volkswagen Group in Wolfsburg in 1999 where he headed electronics research and electronics strategy, later also assuming responsibility for electrics/electronics at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, before becoming a member of the Executive Board, Automotive Systems Division, at Continental AG. Neumann was Chairman of the Executive Board of Continental AG from August 2008 to September 2009.

Source : AutoBlogGreen, by Sam Abuelsamid, November 11th, 2009

Covert Army ops to run on diesel PHEVs

The United States Army will soon use diesel hybrid electric vehicles for its quick-paced special operations including reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting. Called clandestine extended range vehicles, the automobiles will be developed and shipped by plug-in hybrid manufacturer Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc. to the United States Army's National Automotive Center under the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.

Meanwhile, the Special Operations Command will fund the development of the hybrid automobile. Each of the six vehicles to be developed has a torque rating that exceeds 5,000 foot-pounds and can maintain a speed of 80 miles per hour while ascending 60% grades. Moreover, its new proprietary Quantum Q-Force hybrid powertrain feature is capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 25% compared with a conventional vehicle, and thus can significantly reduce carbon footprint.

The feature has undergone performance and safety tests.Alan P. Niedzwiecki, president and chief executive of Quantum, said the hybrid vehicle program will improve the military’s tactical capabilities while easing fuel burden. Quantum Fuel Systems specializes in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems, energy storage technologies and alternative fuel vehicles. It is based in Irvine, California and its shares are traded on the Nasdaq market.

Source : EcoSeed, by Jen Balboa, November 11th, 2009

Ford & Partners to deliver EV van

Ford Motor Company and Azure Dynamics, a Canadian supplier of electric vehicle control and powertrain systems, have teamed up to deliver a pure battery electric Ford Transit Connect van for the US and Canadian markets in 2010. Ford Motor has said that Azure will integrate its Force Drive battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use.

The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect battery electric vehicle (BEV) will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft. Azure Dynamics has selected Johnson Controls-Saft as the supplier for lithium-ion battery cells and battery packs for the Transit Connect BEV. Azure Dynamics and Ford both currently utilize Johnson Controls-Saft battery technology for other products.

The Transit Connect BEV will reportedly use the same cell technology that is currently deployed in the Ford Escape plug-in hybrid fleet. In addition, Azure had previously announced it would use Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion batteries for its E- 450 Balance Hybrid Electric beginning in the second half of 2010 (Frame PHEV base for light trucks). The shared supplier business relationship is expected to provide additional synergy between Ford and Azure in the Transit Connect BEV project.

Source : TradingMarkets, November 3rd, 2009

$45 million grant to driving clean vehicles

UQM Technologies Inc., a Colorado company that specializes in electric drive systems in all-electric and hybrid cars, buses, and other vehicles, has been awarded a $45 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through its Vehicle Technologies program, according to an October Recovery Act announcement.

UQM strives to reduce dependency on vehicles that use petroleum and estimates that this new grant will help in part to create nearly 3,000 new manufacturing jobs. Founded in 1967 in Frederick, Colo., the company forms a keystone in the foundation of the current green movement by focusing on the development of high power, high torque, energy efficient electric motors. They also specialize in the production of electric controlling systems for retrofitting older vehicles.

UQM’s products have a leg-up on the conventional gas-powered motors because their smaller, lighter systems allow for a greater concentration of power. This allows for greater efficiency and performance by eliminating gearing and creating more adaptive software control in the engines. UQM utilizes high energy, permanent magnets and hollow rotor in component integration to advance control functions in the engines that allow for field oriented control, full wave, commutation, and phase advance. UQM credits the increasing shift towards the electrification of vehicles to various government mandates, global warming, and the high cost of fuel due to the United States’ dependence on foreign oil. In fact, every day people in the U.S. consume nearly 20 million barrels of oil, two-thirds of which are used for transportation needs. Furthermore, the traditional engine is inefficient because most of the energy is exerted through heat.

UQM’s electric propulsion system is 94% efficient when compared to a traditional motor (measured by the amount of electricity put in and the shaft power output). UQM hopes to cut into this usage and draw more from abundant sources of electricity, such as solar, nuclear, and clean coal by widely distributing their more eco-friendly motors. While some of the company’s customers include Ford Motor Co., The Boeing Co. and Peterbilt Motors Co., UQM’s most recent and significant application of their technologies include a $2.77 million order from the U.S. military to be put towards the development of transport and combat vehicles. The company has also forayed into the development of “off-highway” vehicles such as CAT mining and locomotives and supported John Deere Co.’s ongoing attempts to develop clean technology in their products.

UQM has also been involved in the sale of some of their electrification systems to other motor vehicle manufacturers such as the newly founded Coda Automotive, a California electric vehicle company; UQM has helped significantly in the development of the Coda sedan. UQM has also contributed greatly to the implementation of a hybrid electric fleet of busses in the Denver area, as well as to the attempts of Proterra LLC and Fisher Coachworks LLC to produce fast-charging, electric/plug-in hybrid electric transit busses. UQM is one of the oldest clean technology developers and stands as a pillar of strength as the world moves toward green alternatives. With transportation being one of the largest sectors in green growth, UQM’s various technologies will surely serve to promote better innovations in the clean, green, fuel efficient market.

Source : GreenandSave,by Rob Fierro, November 9th, 2009

Software will bridge plug-in hybrid, grid gap

Google is trying to figure out how to manage the impact of having millions of future electric vehicle owners plugging in their vehicles at the same time. The company is in the early stages of looking at ways to write software that would fully integrate plug-in hybrid vehicles to the power grid, minimize strain on the grid, and help utilities manage vehicle-charging load.

“We are doing some preliminary work,” said Dan Reicher, Google’s director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives. “We have begun some work on smart charging of electric vehicles and how you would integrate large number of electric vehicles into the grid successfully.” In 2007, Google announced a program to test Toyota Prius and Ford Escape gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles that they converted to rechargeable plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity. One of the experimental technologies that was being tested by the web search giant allowed parked plug-ins to transfer stored energy back to the electric grid, opening a potential back-up source of power for the system in peak hours.

“One of the great things about plug-ins is this opportunity for the first time to finally have a storage technology,” he said. “We got to be careful how we manage these things,” Reicher said. “On a hot day in July, when 5 million Californians come home, you don’t want them all plugging in at the same moment.” He laid out a scenario where power utilities, during a time of high demand, could turn on or off the charging of electric vehicles. The owner of these vehicles, who have agreed to such an arrangement, would get a credit from the utility in turn.

Source : InTech (International Society of Automation), November 2009

Car Shows are getting greener every day

Green used to be the color of cars, now it is a worldwide trend in the automotive industry. Manufacturers from the United States, Asia and Europe will be exhibiting vehicles that use less gas, some that use no gas and others that that use fuels that burn cleaner at the San Francisco 52nd Annual International Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com November 26 through December 2 at Moscone Convention Center.

“This year is without question the largest number of alternative-fuel, high mileage and hybrid vehicles we have ever exhibited at the show,” said Show Director, Kevin Diamond. “Most of the major manufacturers will be represented.” The public's concerns about the economy and the environment have prompted the development and promotion of greener vehicles. There is another payoff besides reduced pollution: American owners of some of the greener vehicles also benefit by tax rebates and insurance discounts in certain regions. “There is a strong push for advance technology,” said Mark Duvall, director of electric transportation at the non-profit Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto.

“President Barack Obama has said he wants to see one million plug-ins (battery powered vehicles) on U.S. roads by 2015. It is challenging, but it is achievable.” One of the “plug-ins” on display at this year's International Auto Show will be Nissan's Leaf, which will be making its Northern American auto show debut in San Francisco f or just four days (Nov. 26-29). The Leaf is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged on a 110 or 220-volt charger at home or in the workplace. The Leaf, which won't be on the market until December 2010, can be fully charged with 220-volts in seven hours.

Among the new hybrids appearing at the show will be Toyota's third generation Prius, the country's best-selling hybrid, along with the re-introduced Honda Insight, the first hybrid sold in the United States. Additionally, the show will feature BMW's X6 hybrid and Mercedes Benz's new S-400 hybrid sedan. Newcomers to this year's show are diesel burning vehicles including the BMW X5 Diesel and Mercesdez- Benz ML BlueTEC as well as the Lincoln MKT and MKS with Ecoboost, a turbocharged gasoline duct injection site that provides the horsepower capability of a larger displacement engine, but with the fuel economy of a smaller engine.

Owners or prospective buyers who want to learn more about hybrids or vehicles that use alternative fuels can visit the AAA Greenlight initiative display in the AAA Northern California exhibit at the auto show. The Greenlight display provides an overview of alternative fuels available today and on the horizon and features AAA's own Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid that gets more than 100 MPG, as well as vehicles from the California Fuel Cell Partnership. The Greenlight initiative, which is presently available in Northern California, Nevada and Utah, offers a variety of components including insurance discounts for owners of vehicles that use alternative fuels, including hybrids; to help hybrid owners get more fuel efficiency; and grants to organizations involved in alternative fuels.

Source : TheAutoChannel, November 4th, 2009

Toyota tops 2 million hybrid sales worldwide

In the 12 years since the original Prius went on sale, Toyota has sold over two million hybrid vehicles worldwide. Over that time, Toyota has now moved on to the third generation of the iconic Prius and added an array of hybrid drive models to both the Toyota and Lexus lines.

Lexus is getting its fourth hybrid model this year with the launch of the HS250h and a new smaller hatchback that may also feature hybrid drive is expected at the Frankfurt Motor Show. By expanding availability and continuing to develop the gas-electric technology, Toyota has driven down its costs and claims its hybrids are profitable. There are 13 hybrids in the automaker's lineup now and the company has repeatedly stated that it intends to offer hybrid versions of almost every vehicle in its lineup by the end of the next decade.

Source : AutoBlogGreen, by Sam Abuelsamid, September 4th, 2009

Hybrid Future At BMW

Unlike the mainstream market where hybrid technology is used to maximize fuel efficiency, luxury automakers have employed hybrid systems as a way to maintain or improve performance while making concessions to efficiency. The upcoming 2010 ActiveHybrid X6 and 2011 ActiveHybrid 7 from BMW are prime examples of this philosophy, combining already powerful V-8 engines with electric motors for added performance and superior fuel economy to comparable non-hybrid models.

The 2010 ActiveHybrid X6, for example, is no wimp when it comes to performance, sprinting to 60 mph from rest in just 5.6 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. And it does it all while returning a fuel economy of 22.8 mpg in the combined cycle, about 20% better than the standard V-8's ratings. This raises questions such as why a luxury automaker like BMW is focusing so much on the eco-friendly technology and what kind of hybrid vehicles can we expect in the near future?

Speaking with Autocar, the project leader of the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6, Peter Tuennermann, explained that electrification will play an ever increasing role in personal mobility in the future--especially in the face of tougher emission regulations--and that hybrid vehicles are just a stepping stone towards this electrified automotive future.

Tuennermann went on to reveal that volume models like the 3-, 5- and 7-series were more suited to mild hybrid systems like the one in the ActiveHybrid 7 where the electric motor only aids the internal combustion engine and cannot actually power the vehicle by itself, and that larger and heavier models like the X3, X5 and X6 were better suited to a full hybrid solution. The BMW exec wasn’t willing to reveal what model will be BMW’s next hybrid but he did mention that it would be launched within the next 12 months. He also confirmed that research on diesel-electric hybrid powertrains was taking place and that such a design would most likely be in the form of a range-extending plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Source : MotorAuthority, by Viknesh Vijayenthiran, November 9th, 2009

EVIElectric truck company lands in Stockton

The latest entrant in California’s fledgling electric-vehicle industry officially opened its doors today. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other politics were on hand as Electric Vehicles International (www.evi-usa.com) unveiled its new U.S. production facility in Stockton — the town EVI now calls home after moving from Austin, Texas.

In partnership with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp., a truck manufacturer owned by German auto giant Daimler, EVI plans to convert medium-duty delivery trucks to all-electric operation. Although it has no orders in hand yet, the company said it expects to deliver 1,000 converted trucks by the end of next year. EVI expects to employ about 150 people at its Stockton operation, and create 300 more jobs in California at suppliers and other businesses.

An EVI spokesman said the converted trucks cost between $120,000 and $180,000 (80,100 - 120,100 €), depending in part on the size of the lithium-ion battery pack the customer orders. The trucks come with ranges of 60, 80 and 115 miles (100, 130 and 185 km), depending on battery size. Other companies are already pursuing plans to make electric vehicles in California.

Tesla Motors, based in the Bay Area, is looking for a location in Southern California to build its Model S electric sedan, and Aptera Motors plans to build its three-wheeled 2e two-seater at a facility in Vista. There are also several companies that specialize in converting hybrid cars into plug-in hybrids, which can travel a short distance under electric power.

EVI plans to jump into the plug-in hybrid business too, and is also looking at doing electric conversions of school buses and port equipment. “California is the perfect location for electric-vehicle manufacturing,” said Ricky Hanna, chief executive of EVI-USA. “As the world’s leading location for adopting green technology and promoting sustainable transportation, California is where our customers are and where we need to be.”

Source : LosAngelesTimes, by Martin Zimmerman, November 5th, 2009

Ford EV plans revealed

Ford Motor's begun to trickle out details of its electric-vehicle plans. It says Azure Dynamics will supply its so-called Force Drive drivetrain to create an all-electric version of its Transit Connect small commercial van. The plug-in vehicle should go on sale to commercial customers in the U.S. and Canada late next year. The battery-powered Transit will go at least 80 miles (130 km) on a full charge, Ford says, and possibly more.

A final decision hasn't been made on battery size, which will determine the range. Johnson Controls-Saft will supply the lithium-ion battery. And it will be "dual badged": The electric Transit Connect is to be marketed as both a Ford and an Azure, and possibly warrantied by Azure, not Ford.

In 2011, Ford says, it will offer a battery only, plug-in Focus, with at least some intended for regular showroom customers rather than strictly commercial and fleet buyers.

In 2012 will come an unidentified "next-generation" hybrid (meaning it'll have a lithium-ion battery) and an also-anonymous "plug-in hybrid vehicle." Ford won't say if these will be two versions of the same model -- such as two versions of a Fusion sedan -- or separate models, such as a next-gen Fusion hybrid, for instance, and a plug-in Escape. Too bad all those weren't around during the cash-for-clunkers program. They'd have qualified, in spades.

Source : USAToday, by Murad Sezer, November 6th, 2009

Honda to focus on hybrids

Fuel cell technology is still two decades away, according to Honda. That’s why it is aiming to concentrate on refining existing systems and expanding its hybrid range to include a lightweight hybrid sports car. Honda CEO Takanobu Ito said, “It will be 20 years at the earliest before fuel cell cars penetrate the mass market.” Honda is currently the only car maker to have a fuel cell-powered car in production, but the FCX Clarity is only available to lease in the US and Japan. In the meantime, Honda is working on a range of technologies to improve the efficiency of its cars and increase the number of hybrids it sells, including a high-performance sports car.

“This is something that we are considering, and the CR-Z is only one shape of Honda’s hybrid sports cars in the current age,” revealed Honda design boss Nobuki Ebisawa. Some company insiders are believed to want to revive a bespoke sports car programme following the axing of the long-rumoured replacement for the NSX at the end of last year. However, any new Honda sports car is unlikely to be as extreme as the NSX; the firm’s US dealers are known to want a rival to the Porsche Boxster, so the car could, in effect, replace the S2000. Ebisawa is studying weight-saving processes such as using more aluminium, from which the first NSX was made. But before the sports cars, Honda will further develop its hybrid tech with a two-motor system that will enable the firm to build petrol-electric versions of bigger cars. “We recognise that one motor is not sufficient for bigger cars. The class above the Civic would need two motors, so we are developing such a system,” said Ito. “We want to minimise weight and maximise efficiency.”

The firm is also working on a plug-in hybrid as part of its research into improving its line-up in that area of the market. But it is cautious about launching the car due to the incentive-driven nature of how people buy hybrids, especially in Japan, where big government-funded discounts have fuelled sales of the Insight. Should these be reduced, sales could fall. Styling, too, will be used to improve the vehicle’s efficiency. Honda’s R&D centre is working on active aerodynamics (bodywork that changes shape at different speeds to improve airflow over the car). It will introduce the aero technology within five years, according to Ebisawa.

Source : AUtocar.co.uk, by Dan Stevens, November 6th, 2009

GM will expand PHEV technology

As General Motors Co expands its offering of rechargeable vehicles beyond the Volt it will not look to brand them in a way that identifies them with the highly anticipated plug-in launching next year, a senior executive said on Thursday.

That approach sets GM off from its larger rival, Toyota Motor Corp, which is considering plans to launch a range of hybrids identified with its ground-breaking Prius and showcased together in its dealer showrooms.

"Our thought is to take the Volt technology to other products," Brent Dewar, chief of global operations for Chevrolet, told the Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit."The Volt was the original vehicle that we started, but I wouldn't see that as a brand marketing direction for us," he said. The Prius commands about three-quarters of the hybrid market, a showing so successful since its introduction in the late 1990s that Toyota may create a "family" of Prius hybrids of varying sizes.

Dewar said the Volt would pave the way for more vehicles based on the same technology combining a rechargeable battery pack for all-electric driving with a gas-powered generator for longer trips. But Dewar said the Volt name would not be identified with GM's future electric vehicles. By contrast, Toyota's brand chief said this week that the automaker was considering a plan to make Prius the name behind a broad family of high-mileage hybrid vehicles. Bob Carter, group vice president of Toyota's U.S. sales arm, told the Reuters Autos Summit on Monday he believed the Prius had become synonymous with hybrid cars for many consumers just as Kleenex has for paper tissue.

The Volt is on track to become the first mass-market, plug-in hybrid in the United States. It is designed to run for 40 miles (64 km) on a single battery charge, and can be recharged at a standard electric outlet. When the battery is partly depleted, a small engine will kick in to recharge it and power the vehicle, allowing it to make longer trips without what Dewar called "range anxiety." GM has said the Volt could cost as much as $40,000 (26,700 €) before a $7,500 (5,000 €) consumer tax credit is applied. GM expects to sell about 10,000 Volts in the first year of production and 60,000 in its second full year.

The Volt will be sold in North America and in Europe before it goes on sale in Asia, Dewar said. The roll-out in Europe is to be in 2011. Opel, which GM said this week it would keep, will sell its extended-range Volt-derived Ampera in Europe alongside the Chevy Volt, he said.

Source : Reuters, by Bernie Woodall, November 5th, 2009