Maximum Velozzi US PHEV

American carmaker Velozzi has launched a crossover plug-in hybrid car with an on-board micro turbine battery charge — the Solo should be capable of reaching 100km/h (62 mph) in under six seconds and top 220km/h (136 mph) while sipping just 2 litres per 100km (117 MPG).

Solo uses a plug-in hybrid capable of running on almost any fuel from petrol to diesel, ethanol tomethanol, butanol tobiodiesel and natural gas via a multi fuel micro turbine battery charger to charge up its lithium ion batteries. Solo huses significant amounts of carbonfibre bodywork and Velozzi will create an exquisite interior to match the exterior styling.

"It is inconceivable and counter productive to manufacture efficient vehicles using antiquated types of construction," Roberto Velozzi explained. "To make an efficient, environmentally friendly vehicle one must utilize lightweight materials to improve MPG, reduce pollution and increase safety." Velozzi launched its sports car with similar technology in 2007 and plans to have both in mass production by 2012.

Source : Cars in action, July 29th, 2009

Buffet continues to go green

Money isn't the only green thing that Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has a lot of. Buffett's firm continues to increase its portfolio of investments that can be considered green, or environmentally friendly.

Berkshire unit Johns Manville, which manufactures building products, announced this week that it has entered the solar panel market by signing a deal with Energy Conversion Devices. That's far from the only green business that Berkshire is involved in. MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. has major investments in wind power. Berkshire owns 10% of BYD Co., a Chinese auto and battery maker that makes plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Last fall Buffett put $3 billion into General Electric, which has a major initiative toward green energy. Berkshire's investment in Burlington Northern could be considered "green," since trains are far more fuel-efficient than trucks. And major holding ConocoPhillips has a huge natural gas business, a fuel than burns cleaner than coal or oil. At this year's Berkshire annual meeting in Omaha, Clayton Homes had on display its new "i-house," which features solar panels and many other green materials. Buffett wrote in the 2008 letter that electricity and heat would cost just $1 a day in the i-house if it were sited in Omaha.

Buffett is probably as environmentally conscious as the next guy, but my guess is he's adding to Berkshire's green holdings to make his shareholders a different kind of green. He likely sees green investments as a necessary and profitable endeavor in this hot, flat and crowded world (to steal a line from Thomas Friedman).

Source : Examiner, by William Freehling, July 29th, 2009

Tax incentives

The increased cost of energy, the country’s dependence on foreign oil and the environmental impact of current energy use has inspired many companies to go green. Companies are also seeking ways to exhibit their green corporate citizenship.

Current economic challenges may increase demand for incentives to go green. Federal and state governments are expanding tax credits, tax incentives and grant programs to help companies produce energy from renewable sources. Many of these credits and incentives are designed to foster the use of renewable energy sources to sustain business operations.

Businesses need to do their homework to find out how they can take advantage of these new tax incentives and how going green can affect their bottom line in a positive way.

IRC Section 30D provides a credit for businesses and individuals who purchase or lease and place in service a qualifying plug-in hybrid vehicle. The credit is available in three forms: a $7,500 maximum credit for qualifying cars and trucks; a 10% credit up to $2,500 for low-speed vehicles, motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles; and a 10% credit up to $4,000 for plug-in vehicle conversions.

Source : djc.com, by Donald Corbett, July 30th, 2009

Battery partnership

Advanced lithium-ion automotive battery producer EnerDel and the Nissan Motor Co. of Japan are teaming up to research a new generation of electrical conductive material intended to reduce cost and improve the performance of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries.

"This project is about continuing the evolution of a critical technology," said Charles Gassenheimer, CEO and Chairman of EnerDel, parent company Ener1, Inc.

"Nissan is one of the leading companies driving the electric vehicle market today. Over 12 months of discussions on this effort, our management and technical teams have had a tremendous opportunity to get know one another. We are looking forward to successful realization of this project's important goals."

EnerDel recently cut the ribbon at one of the most advanced battery production lines for large format cells at its Indianapolis plant. The facility is currently the only high volume manufacturing facility for automotive lithium-ion batteries in the U.S.

Under the program started today, EnerDel and Nissan will co-fund research of a new electrolyte, a viscous liquid that serves as the essential conductive material between battery electrodes, at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) outside Chicago. EnerDel and Argonne recently cooperated on the development of the lithium titanate battery chemistry, for which they shared the prestigious R&D 100 Award for excellence in technology and innovative design from R&D Magazine, and an Excellence in Technology Transfer award.

"Argonne and EnerDel have been working successfully together for years to advance electric drive in the U.S.," said Dr. Al Sattelberger of Associate Lab Director of ANL. "Our collaboration symbolizes how the best and brightest minds in America can work hand in hand with captains of industry to create best-in-class technology solutions."

"We are pleased to pursue another breakthrough technology working with the leading national lab in the U.S. for transportation and one of the world's most technologically innovative car companies," said EnerDel Chief Operating Officer Naoki Ota. "This is an opportunity to make a major new contribution to the future of electric drive in the U.S. and to forge a closer relationship with a major global car maker."

Source : PRNews, July 30th, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius PHEV

The 2010 Toyota Prius price is one of the lowest among new hybrid cars on the market. The Toyota Hybrid has a starting price of $22,000 and offers several high-level standard features. It is the top-selling automobile in Japan and is already setting new records in the United States. Toyota Prius MileageThe 2010 Prius MPG rating is 51 in the city, 48 on the highway. It offers a combined gas mileage of 50 MPG, which is remarkable gas mileage. It features an advanced innovative design and includes the latest fuel-efficient technology to gain further mileage.

Toyota offers enhanced performance and innovative design features on the Prius. The full hybrid is quieter and equipped with our driving modes including steering wheel touch controls that display on the instrument panel, a moon roof with solar panels, and Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA).

Toyota is releasing a new plug-in hybrid version that is expected to enter mass production in early 2012. The cost for the plug in version will be a $47,000 and can use any standard 110 or 220 volt outlet. However, loyal customers will probably dig deep for a car that already has proven reliability.

Prius is also equipped with the Hybrid Synergy Drive and certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), emitting over 70% fewer smog-forming emissions than the average conventional vehicle. A larger and more powerful yet more efficient 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle, four-cylinder engine produces 98 horsepower at 5,200 rpm. Together with its electric motor the hybrid system in the Prius will generate a combined net horsepower of 134, an increase of 24 horsepower over the previous generation.

All models offer Toyota's Star Safety System as standard equipment, which includes enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) Systems, Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Other standard features include electric power steering and four-wheel disc brakes.Added Features Include Automatic Collision NotificationStarting fall 2009, select Prius models will include the telematics service, Safety Connect, which will offer four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance. Safety Connect will be available by subscription, with an included one-year trial subscription. Prius also brings additional fuel economy to the Toyota lineup.

To help increase fuel efficiency, the 1.8-liter engine is belt-less, uses an electric water pump, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, and an exhaust heat collection system.Cash For ClunkersYou can get a cash voucher worth up to $4,500 on your trade-in when participating in a new government incentive program. The Cash For Clunkers program will often give you more value than what your clunker is worth. The program runs from July 2009 through November 2009 and consumers can use the cash voucher towards the 2010 Toyota Prius price.

Source : NewsOXY, by John Lester, July 25th, 2009

Monetary Benefits of Global Warming Prevention Outweigh Costs

Despite the flailing economy, many major companies (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, and Exxon, to name a few) have invested heavily in sustainable technologies that could mitigate the effects of global warming.

Good news: these investments will pay off with more than just karma points, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Rajendra Pachauri, head of the IPCC, told the The Guardian that the cost of tackling climate change will be negative overall because of the monetary benefits of cutting carbon emissions.

This seems obvious in the long term--reducing global warming will prevent costly weather-related disasters that leave cities ravaged. But the benefits go beyond that. Pachauri claims technologies like plug-in hybrid cars and biofuels will shield consumers from rising oil prices, alternative energy sources will lead to energy security, and other climate change security measures could create new jobs, lead to more productive agriculture, and lower air pollution.

Again, these are obvious assumptions, but Pachauri assures us that dealing with them now will be much cheaper than in, say, 10 years when climate change has really begun to take effect. Forward-thinking companies already know this and have begun to prepare. Even longtime climate change skeptics like Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson have resigned themselves to taking immediate measures. Exxon, who once referred to biofuels as "moonshine", invested $600 million in algae-based biofuel just last week.

At this point, any company that refuses to prepare for imminent climate change might be saving cash in the short term, but their long-term prospects look grim.

Source : Fast Company, by Ariel Schwarz, July 21st, 2009

Mitsubishi plans more i-MiEVs

Mitsubishi is planning to launch an extended range of its all-electric i-MiEV city car.

The Japanese firm’s president Osamu Masuko has said Mitsubishi is looking to launch cheaper i-MiEVs which cover shorter distances on a single charge. It is also planning to launch an i-MiEV capable of travelling 124 miles (200 km) on a single charge, up from the 100 miles that the current car can manage.

Masuko plans for electric and hybrid cars to make up 20% of its sales by 2020. “We have to understand that the automotive industry is facing a big change; the business model that worked for the last century will not be sustainable in the future,” he said.

“We need to show concrete actions on how Mitsubishi Motors will meet these challenges. It's important to take the first step.” The current i-MiEV is only available to lease in Japan at the moment, but it is set to be officially made available for sale in Europe late next year.

A plug-in hybrid model is also set to follow within three year; this will be launched at the Tokyo motor show this autumn.

Source : Autocar.co.uk, July 22nd, 2009

The green Ford MotorCompany

In order to meet the challenge of raising the average fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet more than 10 mpg by 2016, Ford announced a plan to implement more electric and hybrid vehicles and smaller but more powerful gasoline engines into most of its models over the next few years.

The rise in fuel efficiency standards has been newly mandated by the federal government. A full hybrid vehicle is one that can run for short distances on electric power only, with the gas engine kicking in when the battery is drained to a certain level. A plug-in hybrid is one that can be recharged by plugging them into a socket rather than by the vehicle’s engine, which further reduces the use of gas.

Ford also plans to produce a fully electric van with a range of 100 miles on a single charge. But those will all likely involve relatively low-selling vehicles. The real boost in its average fuel efficiency will come from implementing different versions of its EcoBoost engine in its best-selling vehicles. The EcoBoost engine uses direct fuel injection and turbocharging to get more power out of a smaller engine and thus reduce the use of gasoline.

Ford’s plan includes replacing 8-cylinder engines with 6-cylinder ones and replacing 6-cylinder engines with smaller 4-cylinder ones, increasing the MPG of nearly all of its vehicles. They’re even contemplating a 4-cylinder option for the F-150 truck. The plan is to double the number of vehicles with the smaller 4-cylinder engines and reduce the use of gas-guzzling larger engines.

Source : The Michigan Messenger, by Ed Brayton, July 22nd, 2009

Building better batteries

“We need technology that allows this country’s manufacturers to produce better hybrid and electric vehicles to keep up with overseas markets,” explained Dr. Xiangwu Zhang, assistant professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science in the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University.

The U.S. Department of Energy agreed, recently awarding Dr. Zhang and colleagues at NC State’s Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center more than $1 million in grant money to continue researching ways to improve the batteries that help power plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Fellow researchers on the project include Drs. Alex Huang, the FREEDM Systems Center director, Peter S. Fedkiw and Saad A. Khan, all of the College of Engineering at NC State.

Current batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles are large, expensive and not entirely practical for those looking for high-power vehicles, or for people driving them on longer trips. Zhang and his team are using a technique called electrospinning to combine lithium alloy and carbon into new composite nanofiber anodes, which have the ability to produce more energy while costing less and tolerating abuse better than existing batteries. The batteries are also lighter, producing more power in a smaller package - ideal for use in vehicles.

Nanofiber anodes can be easily produced in large numbers, which could help reduce the demand for imported petroleum, decrease emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, and enable the U.S. transportation industry to sustain a strong position in the global marketplace. “This goes beyond just building a better battery,” Zhang said. “We’re talking about industrial innovation that will change the way of life for future generations.”

Sharing Zhang’s vision is a team of four NC State graduate students who developed a business plan for Zhang’s research through the Jenkins MBA program’s Technology Entrepreneurship Commercialization (TEC) program in the College of Management. Their business plan is currently being put into action through the formation of a start-up company, Tec-Cel.

Source : physorg.com, by Caroline Barnhill, July 21st, 2009

ZENN Motors EV soon to hit the road

Shares in Canadian electric carmaker Zenn Motor Co surged for a second consecutive day on Tuesday on positive press for the company and industry developments that bring plug-in electric vehicles closer to the mainstream. Zenn shares jumped almost 10 % to C$5.15 on the TSX Venture Exchange, building on a 22% gain on Monday.

Paradigm Capital analyst Marvin Wolff said Zenn's shares were boosted by a recent interview in which Zenn's chief executive said the all-important battery to power the company's electric vehicle is expected to be delivered before the end of this year.

Zenn has an exclusive license with EEStor, which is a privately owned Texas-based company that is working on developing a battery that it says will be able to power a four-door sedan for 400 kilometers (250 miles) without recharging.

"There is a 'realization that electric cars are coming", Wolff said in a note to clients. Zenn's low-speed, short-range car is a true electric vehicle in that it doesn't have a gasoline-powered generator as do the plug-in hybrid electric cars planned for release next year by large automakers. These include Toyota Motor Co's plug-in Prius and General Motors' Chevy Volt. Wolff said that in recent days three companies have been chosen to supply batteries for electric-hybrid vehicles, another key development in the industry's evolution.

Asked about Zenn's share spike, company spokeswoman Catherine Scrimgeour said there were no new developments to announce. Zenn, which stands for Zero Emissions No Noise, is based in Toronto.

Source : Reuters, by Nicole Mordant, July 21st, 2009

Automakers to help meet Obama’s goal of 1 million PHEVs by 2015

Major car companies are starting to vote on their choice for the “car and fuel of the future” with big bets on manufacturing capacity. The winner, no surprise, is going to be highly efficient plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and pure electric vehicles.

Plug-ins and EVs are a core climate solution, since electric drives are more efficient, easily powered by carbon-free energy, and far cheaper to operate per mile than gasoline or any alternative fuel, especially hydrogen, even when running on renewable power.

And they are the key alt-fuel strategy needed to deal with the energy/economic security threat of rising dependence on imported oil and the inevitably grim impacts of peak oil. No surprise, then, that Toyota is planning on a major rollout of its plug in:Toyota Motor Corp plans to start mass producing plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012, with a projected first-year output of about 20,000 to 30,000 units.

We also have some details on the cost and all-electric range of the Toyota plug in: Toyota wants to price its plug-in hybrids at a comparable price to Mitsubishi Motors Corp’s all-electric car, which debuts this month to fleet customers in Japan at 4.59 million yen ($47,800) before government subsidies, without citing sources….Toyota’s plug-ins will be able to run 20-30 km (12.4-18.6 miles) on battery power alone at full charge, the paper said. It always bears repeating that after the battery charge is exhausted, the car will revert to being a highly fuel-efficient “conventional” hybrid that runs on gasoline. Toyota appears to be making a shrewder decision on the all-electric range than GM, which says it is giving the Chevy Volt a too-large 40-mile capacity. Ford had made clear in its restructuring plan last year that the future fuel is electrons: The next major step in Ford’s plan is to increase over time the volume of electrified vehicles, as battery costs improve and as the transition from Hybrids to Plug-in Hybrids to Battery Electric Vehicles occurs.

Now Reuters reports: Ford plans to introduce a battery-powered commercial van in 2010, a battery-powered small car the following year and a plug-in hybrid to challenge General Motors Corp’s highly touted Volt starting in 2012. Those plans put utilities and battery companies “at the center of the universe” for automakers, Ford CEO Alan Mulally said. Ford, the first of the U.S. automakers to roll out a hybrid, has made a renewed commitment to the technology a centerpiece of its turnaround plans…

Within a decade, automakers and utility companies expect to make commonplace two-way communication between vehicles and an interactive utility power grid that will solidify their cooperation. Utilities are expected to install millions of “smart meters” at homes that would signal the car’s computer when the power grid is strained, and power expensive, so charging can be suspended.For now, the goal is simply to convince motorists to plug in, said Nancy Gioia, Ford’s director of hybrid vehicle programs.

Gioia projects that “from 10 to 25%” of Ford’s production by 2020 will be some type of electrified vehicle. General Motors, of course, has long been touting its efforts to electrified vehicles: GM, now operating under a federally funded bankruptcy, has also pledged to have more plug-in hybrids and even pure electric vehicles for city driving in the future….Britta Gross, GM’s director of global energy systems and infrastructure commercialization, would not offer a percentage for plug-ins and other types of electric cars, but said GM would “do the heavy lifting” trying to meet the moonshot-like goal set by President Barack Obama to have 1 million plug-in hybrids on U.S. roads by 2015. Finally, we can move beyond the rhetorical hype about what low-carbon alternative fuel vehicles American consumers might be driving in the foreseeable future, and on to the manufacturing and practical reality of plug-ins and EVs.

Source : grist.org, by Joseph Romm, July 21st, 2009

The $12,000 Indian Electric Reva

At a time when almost every carmaker in the world is looking at making environmentally friendly vehicles, a little-known Indian company is jumping the queue by ramping up production of a low-cost electric car called the Reva. Family-owned Reva Electric Car is building a new factory 25 miles (40 km) south of its Bangalore headquarters to mass-produce the Reva hatchback, a two-passenger city car priced at little over $12,000 that the company has been selling in India and Europe since 2001.

When production begins next January, the new factory will be the world's largest for low-cost electric cars; annual capacity is expected to hit 30,000 cars within three years. "The opportunity today is very high," says Chetan Maini, Reva's vice chairman and chief technology officer. So are the risks. Reva faces a growing list of potential competitors that plan to launch all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles over the next several years. GM's Chevy Volt is expected to debut in the U.S. in 2010; BMW says it will test-market an electric car in Britain and other countries later this year; while Renault-Nissan plans to make an electric car by 2012. A Frost & Sullivan study reckons that by 2020, at least 15% of all new cars sold will be electric. But electric cars now on the drawing boards of established automakers are likely to cost more than $20,000, limiting their potential customer base to well-heeled drivers in wealthier countries. The sticker price of GM's Volt could be as high as $40,000.

The Indian company, however, aims to leverage low production costs to build simple, cheap vehicles and sell them in India, Europe and, within five years, the U.S. The Reva, branded the G-Wiz in Europe, costs about $12,200 there and about $7,000 in India. The pint-size commuter vehicles are powered by lead-acid batteries, which provide about 50 miles (80 km) of driving per charge. Top speed is about 50 mph (80 km/h). The cars haven't exactly taken the world by storm. Reva (which has received venture capital from Draper Fisher Jurveston, the Global Environment Fund and Mellon HBV Master Global Event Drive Fund) has sold only 3,000 cars over the past eight years. Half of those have been exported to Europe, mainly to London. But Reva officials say they are improving their cars and plan to sell 8,000 vehicles next year after the new factory opens.

In May, the company began equipping Revas with more-powerful lithium-ion batteries that increase range to 75 miles (120 km). A new model with sportier looks and upgraded electronics is expected to be launched by 2010. Despite Reva's relatively low cost, consumers may not be convinced, especially in India, that the car can compete against similarly priced gasoline-powered family sedans. "Reva is yet to hit the price-performance equation," says Mohit Arora, senior director for India for J.D. Power market research. According to Pawan Goenka, president of Mahindra & Mahindra's automotive business in Mumbai, "The challenge is to make the economics work in a price-sensitive Indian market."

For electric cars, "performance and range are major bottlenecks," he says. Maini, who as a student at the University of Michigan in 1990 built a solar-powered electric car, says he aims to "sell at price parity with conventional cars," a goal that will be easier to reach if production and sales volumes are increased. Reva may have one factor going for it: "It has a first-mover advantage," says Hormazd Sorabjee, editor of Mumbai-based AutoCar magazine. He adds that the Reva could become "the Nano of electric cars," referring to the world's cheapest car, the Tata Nano, which sells for about $2,000. But that mantle may not have time to stick. India's Tata Motors, in partnership with the Norwegian electric-car research-and-development firm Miljoebil Grenland, plans to launch an all-electric version of the Nano in Norway early next year.

Source : Time Magazine, by Nandini Lakshman, July 21st, 2009

SmartGrid program likely to get federal boost

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, announced that he has secured approval to earmark $500,000 in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Boulder's energy-saving project. The bill still needs approval from the U.S. Senate and President Barack Obama.

"Boulder is a shining star in the new energy economy," Polis said in a news release. "I am proud to have secured funds to expand our smart grid, which directly reduces our costly dependence on foreign oil, cuts our carbon footprint and saves local taxpayers money."

The $500,000 would equip up to 60 hybrid electric cars with plug-in "vehicle-to-grid" technology. The hybrid cars, part of the Boulder, Boulder County and University of Colorado fleets, will be able to charge off the sun's energy during the day and then feed electricity back to the grid when power demand is peaking. "It's part of the overall vision for energy use in Boulder," said Boulder spokesman Patrick von Keyserling.

Joe Castro, Boulder's facilities and fleet manager, said plug-in capabilities would double the cars' miles-per-gallon capability -- allowing them to be used in electric mode for the short driving distances that are typically required. "You could practically never have to fill up," he said. "It would be zero emissions."

Converting the 60 Boulder hybrid cars is the second phase of the smart grid project. The first phase, under way now, is equipping three Boulder County hybrid cars, plus one already in use by the University of Colorado's chancellor, with plug-in technology. That effort, launched by Xcel Energy, is the nation's first large-scale test of "vehicle-to-grid" technology. The conversion is expected to give Xcel company officials the feedback they need to make the system work from their end. The average hybrid charges its batteries during driving. A plug-in hybrid typically has a larger battery and can charge off the electricity grid. Vehicle-to-grid technology takes the plug-in to the next level, allowing the batteries to pull power off the grid and feed it back on.

To make it all come together, it's necessary to have a power utility that has the capacity to suck the energy in, and ideally, measure the electricity and pay the car owner for it -- which Xcel Energy plans to do. Ultimately, the goal is to add 500 more cars to the project.

Source : Colorado Daily, by Amy Bounds, July 20th, 2009

Toyota overhauling US manufacturing strategy

Toyota Motor Co North America is reworking its U.S. manufacturing strategy to account for idle capacity and a shifting corporate priorities, including a desire to correct internal problems magnified by the industry's worst-ever downturn.

Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota's North American president, also told reporters on Monday the unprecedented restructuring of General Motors Corp and Chrysler Group were "good for the country", but saw no significant role for the Obama administration to help Toyota return to profitability.

"We should manage our own destiny", Inaba said. He would not, however, rule out that Toyota may at some point apply for Energy Department advanced technology loans established last year mainly to help U.S. automakers make more fuel efficient vehicles.

Toyota is a global leader in gasoline/electric hybrid design with its popular Prius. The company continues to study the idea of introducing a plug-in hybrid. Inaba also said that Toyota does not expect to turn a profit in fiscal 2009 with industry sales falling sharply this year. Toyota U.S. sales were off nearly 32% in June. Inaba sees signs of overall industry improvement and expects sales to grow from just under 10 million units annually now to between 11 and 13 million units over the next year or so.

Source : Reuters, by John Crawley, July 20th, 2009

Ford merges to the head of the hybrid lane

Ford pulls out from the blind spot into the green auto market with its 2010 hybrid models and a fleet lined up for the next two years that may surprise you.

Ford held a press conference that kicked off the 4th annual Green Drive Expo held at the Alliant Energy Center and explained what the Ford engineers have been doing behind the curtain. Jennifer Moore, with the communications staff at Ford, stated “earlier this year we moved to double the production of our hybrids by doubling the hybrid offerings when we brought out our new Fusion hybrid (hereby picture) and the Mercury Milan hybrid. Those cars surprised a lot of people, including our competition, particularly when they delivered 41 mpg in the city, eight miles better than our nearest competitor. We beat that because we raised the bar high and then we met it.”

Wayne Gerdes, a hypermiler and owner/administrator of CleanMPG, lead a team to test the 2010 Ford Fusion and got 1445.7 miles on a single tank of gas with an average of 81.5 mpg. Some of the new technologies the 2010 hybrid models have enabled features like: smoother transition from electric to combustion, more power, improved battery technology with no cooler needed (less weight), a hugely improved regenerative braking system, smarter environmental controls to improve overall economy, the ability to drive at 47 mph on the electric motor, and an interactive dashboard that can help guide the driver’s habits toward a higher fuel efficiency.

One of the engineering leaders in the research, Praveen Cherian, said there were “guys who would smell the exhaust to make sure we had a lean burning exhaust. I mean I had a guy doing cold starts in the morning sniffing the exhaust, I couldn’t believe it!” He added that the members of the team even practiced energy frugality in the office by turning off unnecessary lights and equipment. “This is the passion the hybrid team has.”

I took the 2010 hybrid Mercury Milan (41/36 mpg) out for a spin with Praveen Charian. After he gave me a quick introduction to the SmartGauge and some fuel-saving driving tips we were off. The Milan handled like any luxury four-door should: a very smooth ride, comfortable seating, easy access to controls, and a get-up-and-go capability. Without regard to how my fuel economy was I still noticed the car was getting excellent mileage, which means the average driver will not have to change the way they drive to gain the benefits of a hybrid. With the transition between the combustion engine and the electric motor being non-existent and an extremely smooth regenerative braking system anyone could be fooled to think they were not in a hybrid. Praveen also showed me how the SmartGauge can coach me on how to optimize my driving efficiency, which is not too different than what you learned in driving school. Bottom line is the dollar, right?

I asked Jennifer Moore what the price tag was on the Fusion and she said it was in the $27,000 range with the Milan being around $33,000. She said with the new technology the cost is greater but she expected they would bring that cost down as they perfected production. She also noted the EcoBoostengine technology Ford is working on with their combustion engines will not cost as much as the hybrids but will deliver up to 20% better fuel economy and 15% fewer CO2 emissions. The wallet conscious can still be environmentally conscious.

What to expect from Ford in the next two years? With the Transit Connect (battery electric vehicle) commercial van already in the market, Ford and Magna International plan to release a small BEV sedan in 2011 that can be charged from standard household power outlets. They are targeting 100 miles from an overnight charge. In 2012 they will release their first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to the public with a demonstration fleet of Escape PHEVs currently on the road with eight U.S. utility companies to explore the logistics and expectations of private use.

Source : Examiner.com, by Brian Barger, July 20th, 2009

Plug-in car legislation

A Mid-Michigan town stepping into the wave of the future Monday, and is a step closer to receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars to build plug-in electric car charging stations.

The U.S. House of Representatives approving 500,000 dollars in federal funding for the Board of Water and Light to design five plug-in stations in Lansing's Delta Township.

Congressman Mark Schauer proposed the funding, and says the project will be used to show the big three's commitment to building cleaner and greener vehicles for the future.

"We need to begin with demonstration projects like this so we can demonstrate that this actually works. The auto industry is very very interested and GM is going to start rolling out the Chevy Volt next year," said Schauer.

The bill is heading on to the senate for consideration. The Department of Energy estimates plug-in hybrid electric vehicles would reduce fuel consumption by 50%. The plug-in station project is expected to bring about 40 jobs to the area.

Source : ABC News, July 20th, 2009

Green revolution in the Netherlands

Elektromotive has installed its first Elektrobay electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the Netherlands, supporting the country’s latest efforts to improve urban air quality and facilitate a move towards zero-emissions motoring.

A total of five Elektrobays are being installed at prominent locations this month, including Schipol International Airport and in central Rotterdam. One of the charging stations is situated outside Amsterdam’s Central Station railway hub, where it will charge the city’s new fleet of fully-electric, emissions-free Tuc Tuc taxi vehicles (presented earlier on our blog).

The Elektrobay was selected over competing products thanks to its future-proof technical platform – providing, for example, the option of remote billing and fast charging – and its stylish, compact design, as well as Elektromotive’s ability to deliver the pilot project on time.

A further four municipalities across the Netherlands are now at an advance stage in evaluating installation of their own Elektrobays. British-based Elektromotive is working on the Netherlands projects with MisterGreen, a leading supplier of electric-powered personal transport and infrastructure solutions located in Amsterdam. MisterGreen is spear-heading the Elektrobay sales and installation programme in the Netherlands. Conventionally situated by roadside and in car parks, the Elektrobay is the world’s most advanced EV charging station. It is compatible with all pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars, and can be specifically adapted to suit the requirements of the installation site and the user.The unit’s socket is located under a secure, weather-proof door, accessed using a personalised electronic wireless key fob. The door locks shut when charging is in progress and can only be reopened using the same fob, preventing interference by a third party.

There are over 160 Elektrobay units installed around the UK, and this number will increase significantly over the coming year thanks to government-funded projects trialling the use of 340 electric vehicles. Commenting on the company’s export growth, Elektromotive Managing Director Calvey Taylor-Haw, said: “The installations in the Netherlands will strengthen our position in Europe and increase awareness of the growing need for proven electric vehicle charging infrastructures in European cities. With the support of our suppliers we will continue to introduce new Elektrobay charging networks throughout Europe, as well as growing those already in place in Sweden, Holland, Germany and Ireland.”

Source : The Auto Channel, July 20th, 2009

Mercedes to produce a Full Electric

It’s now official. German automaker Mercedes-Benz confirmed its intentions to build a fully electric version of the SLS AMG Supercar. The AWD car will have separate transmissions for both axles and electric motors at each wheel. With a combined power output of 392 Kw–which packs 649 lb-ft of torque–the car will get a jaw-dropping 526 horsepower.

This will push the zero-emission car from 0 to 62 MPH in just 4 seconds! All of this is available the moment the motors turn.

The Tesla is great, sure. It’s all hot and electric. But the Gullwing is a classic; it’s iconic. This defines the stronghold electric vehicles are bound to have on American culture.

Electronic controllers will assure dynamically optimized power transmission by means of torque vectoring. That means the wheel with the most traction gets the most juice. The motors will be fueled by a 400-volt liquid cooled, high-voltage lithium-ion battery pack delivering 40 Ah of current. The packs will run down the center of the chassis.

They can be charged via an electrical outlet and also through regenerative braking. Since an electric version of the car was considered during its design, no modifications will be needed to the car’s lightweight aluminum frame. In fact, the electrical version is expected to perform on par with the petro-based SLS. Well, except it will be quieter than its V-8 sibling.

“With the SLS AMG with electric drive, we wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMG performance,” says Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes. There was no mention of where Mercedes will be picking up these fancy EV parts but I am sure parent corporation Daimler will have some say in it. Daimler owns a big chunk of Tesla Motors. Also undisclosed is the vehicles’ range on a single charge.

Source : Gas2.0, by Jerry James Stone, July 20th, 2009