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2010 Ford Flex to Use Straw-Based Plastic

November 12, 2009 in Biz News, New Tech, emissions by kristen | No comments

Ford Motor Company announced that it will be using a wheat-straw-reinforced plastic in the interior storage bins of the 2010 Ford Flex. While this might seem like a baby step — and it is — Ford says the change to a 20% wheat-straw plastic will reduce petroleum use by 20,000 pounds per year and CO2 emissions by 30,000 pounds per year. The wheat straw itself is a byproduct of processing the grain.

These numbers are drops in the pollution bucket, but you have to start somewhere. Ford says it will be using the biomaterial in other places and other vehicles in the future. This is in addition to Ford’s soy-based polyurethane seat cushions and headliners, seat fabrics made from post-industrial recycled yarn, and post-consumer recycled resins for underbody covers.

A wee bit of wheat trivia, courtesy of the Ford press release: This isn’t the company’s first foray into the wheat world. In the 1920s, Henry Ford developed Fordite, a mixture of wheat straw from his farm, rubber, sulfer, silica, and more, that he used to make steering wheels.

X Prize Contenders at SEMA 2009

November 4, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, Hydrogen, MPG, New Tech, emissions, small cars by kristen | No comments

A dozen of the contenders for the Progressive Automotive X Prize were on hand in the “Making Green Cool Zone” at SEMA 2009 in Las Vegas. I’ll keep the text short — you know by now that this is a competition to create a buildable, drivable car that gets 100 MPGe with a $10 million purse — so you can peruse the cars below.

  • Team Hydrophi Ford 500 PHI Ride
  • Team Future Vehicle Technologies eVaro
  • Team Edison 2 Very Light Car
  • Team EVI Wave 2
  • Team Tango
  • Team Optamotive Surge
  • Team Aptera 2e

Government in Action: Three-Wheeled EVs and Hydrogen Fuel

October 21, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, Hydrogen, New Tech by kristen | No comments

These are your tax dollars at work, people. (Unless you live outside the U.S. But your tax dollars are doing something equally worthy, I’m sure.)

Let’s start with the electric vehicles: After Energy Secretary Steven Chu eliminated funding for hydrogen fuel from his budget, the Senate has reinstated it for the department’s 2010-2011 budget. Chu prefers straight-up battery electric vehicles for the future of greener transportation, but he says he’ll work with Congress on hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric vehicles.

Speaking of electric vehicles, you may have noticed that many of the EVs on the road today, especially neighborhood electric vehicles, have three wheels instead of four. Thanks to some heavy lobbying by Aptera and its three-wheeled brethren, Congress has extended research and development loans to manufacturers of safe, high-mileage vehicles, even if they are short a wheel.

Requirements for the loan:

  • Vehicles must be fully enclosed
  • Vehicles must meet all the same safety standards as conventional vehicles
  • Vehicles must carry two adults
  • Vehicles must average 75 mpg or equivalent

Speed Bumps Generate Irritation, Electricity

October 14, 2009 in Biz News, New Tech, emissions by kristen | No comments

It’s no secret that speed bumps are irritating, but it may help to know that driving over them will generate electricity — at least at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. or a McDonalds in New Jersey.

The speed bumps, called MotionPower, are built by New Energy Technologies. According to a post on the New York Times’ Wheels blog, the action of a car driving over the bump sends the energy to a generator. A green light comes on to let you know it’s working.

No word on how much electricity the speed bumps actually generate, but it should be enough to power roadsigns or streetlights. It’ll be on the market sometime in the next couple of years, and cost about $2000. I know a street here in Portland that could power the nearby middle school if it replaced its seemingly dozens of speed bumps with these babies.

Frankfurt 2009: Renault’s Four Electric Cars

September 22, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, New Tech, emissions, small cars by kristen | No comments

Renault successfully out-greened everyone else at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show last year, with the debuts of four electric cars in its booth. These vehicles are slated to start appearing as soon as 2011, though a gasoline version of the Fluence will be in European showrooms this fall. Here are all four electric Renaults  in a nutshell:

Renault Twizy Z.E.

  • All electric, zero emissions
  • Two-seater, with the passenger behind the driver
  • Developed for city driving
  • Performance comparable to a 250-cc motorcycle

Renault Zoe Z.E.

  • All electric, zero emissions
  • Optimized climate control for better fuel economy
  • “Hydrating,” “detox,” and “active scent” functions for the interior climate

Renault Fluence Z.E.

  • All electric, zero emissions
  • Designed for families
  • 100-mile range

Renault Kangoo Z.E.

  • All electric, zero emissions
  • Based on an existing model
  • Made for business use

Tell GM What You Want in a Green Car at The Lab

September 9, 2009 in Biz News, Future Cars, MPG, New Tech, diesel by kristen | No comments

One of the many criticisms of GM in the past couple of years, as the U.S. auto industry crumbled under its own weight, was that it didn’t listen to what consumers wanted today and instead built and sold what buyers wanted a while back.

No more! GM has launched The Lab, a site where your feedback on its eco cars of the future is taken into account. Right now, the discussion is centered on two vehicles: the Bare Necessity Truck and Bare Necessity Car. It turns out the people want a no-frills, fuel-sipping platform that can be customized by the buyer.

Users who create a profile can log in and volunteer for focus groups, leave comments, and let GM know what you want in a greener car or truck (small diesel engine, anyone?) and what you’ll pay to get it.

Lithium Batteries Can Be Recycled

September 1, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, New Tech by kristen | 1 comment

Two Japanese companies are gearing up to collect lithium from electric and hybrid vehicle batteries for recycling, making green alternative fuels even greener. And the U.S. Department of Energy granted several million to Toxco  to build the first lithium ion battery recycling plant in this country. Toxco already recycles lithium in British Columbia, Canada.

Lithium recycling is pretty small potatoes right now. Most of the hybrids on the road use lead-acid batteries, which are cheaper (so far) but less energy dense. Lithium ion batteries are used in many small electronics, like MP3 players and iPhones, and they’re gaining traction in electric vehicle manufacturing. As more battery power is required to run cars, and as more cars run at least partly on batteries, lithium recycling is likely to be big business.

According to HybridCars.com, the lithium recyclers will go online as soon as 2011 in one case, with the others soon to follow.

Enginer Converts Cars to Fuels of the Future — and the Past

August 20, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, MPG, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Enginer, a company based in Troy, Michigan, has given itself a mission: to make 100 mpg technology affordable. To this end, Team Enginer, as they like to call themselves, has developed two systems. One is on the cutting edge of 21st century technology, while the other recaptures some of the energy of the early days of the automotive age.

First, Enginer has two plug-in conversion kits for hybrids like the Prius that start at $1,995 — thousands less than the competition. It can be installed by a conversion pro or a do-it-yourselfer, though the company is hoping to get manufacturers to install the kits at the factory, which would qualify the car for some fat tax credits. And, of course, radically improve gas mileage.

Second, Team Enginer has a steam combustion engine conversion kit for sale. The kit goes into your existing car, captures waste heat, uses it to warm water, then uses the steam to drive the engine. In case you weren’t aware, around 1900, one-third of the cars on the road were gasoline-powered, one-third were electric, and one third ran on steam. Seems that Team Enginer would like a piece of all those pies, though they wouldn’t mind if the gasoline slice were a bit smaller.

230-MPH Electric Supercar Spawns … a Bus?

August 17, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Researchers at Keio University in Japan have built an eight-wheeled electric vehicle that can go 230 mph. It looks weird, kind of like the crazed cat-bus in “My Neighbor Totoro,” for all you anime fans, but it can do 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds — as fast as a new Lotus Exige sports car. The Ellica, as the car is called, has an 80-hp electric motor in each wheel rather than one central motor.

What will Keio University do with all this electric power? Turn it into a public transportation project, of course. According to Popular Science, the school has signed a deal with Isuzu Motors and the local government to build a bus using the Ellica’s technology to shuttle passengers up to almost 100 miles per charge. The bus will likely be produced in 2011.

Tree-Fiber Tires Give Better MPGs

August 5, 2009 in MPG, New Tech, emissions by kristen | No comments

Researchers are Oregon State University (go Beavers!) have found that microcrystalline cellulose, which is made from plant fibers, could be used to reinforce rubber tires instead of silica or carbon black, which just sounds nasty.

Cellulose fiber has been used in other rubbery bits, like belts and hoses, before. Using it in tires reduced the cost of production and the rolling resistance. Lower rolling resistance makes for better fuel economy. The cellulose also upped the tires’ grippiness on wet roads, which is great for safety, especially here in Oregon. Silica, for its part, is a high-energy product to process, and carbon black is made from oil.

The only issue now is the durability of the cellulose-reinforced tires. No company has jumped on the cellulose bandwagon yet, but Yokohama’s dB Super E-spec high-performance passenger tires use orange oil, and Michelin’s Energy Saver tires promise increased fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

Keep Your Car Eco-Cool with Film

July 22, 2009 in Consumer News, MPG, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Solar Gard says it’s got the solution for sun-warmed cars: a film that covers the windows and keeps the interior cool. And a cool interior, the theory goes, doesn’t require the air conditioning to run at full blast to make it habitable, saving you gas in the process.

The Ultra Performance film from Solar Gard lets 76% of visible light through, according to the New York Times, while blocking out 99% of UV rays. (Save your skin and gas!) The company’s web site points out that the film can also be used to keep houses cool and lower a/c costs at home.

In addition to saving fuel by not having to blast the a/c, it also saves wear and tear on the cooling system, which means fewer breakdowns, leaks, and replacements, none of which do Mother Earth any favors.

UPDATE: Solar Gard contacted me to make a correction — the Solar Gard film consists of layers of nano particles and a dyed application process in one layer of film. The film doesn’t have to be layered to block out nearly all UV rays, as I had originally written. Thanks for the correction, Bill! – GoodGreenCars.com

Mercedes-Benz Electric Super Car

July 21, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will build an electric car based on its SLS AMG super car, with electric motors at all four wheels replacing the V8 engine that would normally be under the hood.

Here are the specs:

  • 526 hp all together, about 40 less than the gasoline version
  • 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds
  • Top speed over 125 mph is expected
  • 110-mile range
  • 8-hour recharge

The car is expected to arrive on roads in 2013, hopefully with a shorter charging time. At least we do know it will have those striking gullwing doors.

Terrabon Developing “Green Gasoline”

July 16, 2009 in Biz News, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Texas-based company Terrabon is working to develop a second-generation biofuel it calls “green gasoline.” Unlike the ethanol in use today, the fuel would be nearly identical to gasoline and fermented from “anything that rots,” one company official said — including sewer sludge.

The “green gasoline,” officially called MixAlco, was developed by scientists at Texas A&M University, according to the Houston Chronicle. Within a few months, Terrabon plans to be able to produce 300 gallons of the stuff a day. It added that it can produce MixAlco for about $1.75 a gallon, and that it can use existing storage tanks and pumps, unlike the more corrosive ethanol.

Better Fuel Economy … from a Tire

June 16, 2009 in Consumer News, MPG, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Michelin has announced its new tire, the Energy Saver A/S, calling it “the most fuel-efficient tire on the road.” It promises up to 8% better fuel economy and reduced carbon dioxide emissions for any car that uses the tire, plus Michelin says its even offers better braking capabilities than other tires.

Here’s the Energy Saver’s claims to fame:

  • New construction and tread rubber keep the tire cooler, delivering the 8% increase in mpgs
  • Stops 8 feet shorter than similar tires
  • Longer tread life means fewer tires get tossed in the garbage
  • Available for conventional and hybrid cars

The tires are in the $140-$150 range per tire, depending on the size required for your car. Definitely not cheap, but if you can swing it, they may save on gas in the long run in addition to helping reduce CO2 emissions.

Volvo Announces Plug-In Diesel-Electric Hybrid

June 11, 2009 in Consumer News, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG, New Tech, PHEVs, diesel by kristen | No comments

I’ve long said that the future of the automobile won’t rest on any one new technology. Volvo apparently took this to heart and threw several of the latest alternative-fuel technologies into one model, which could appear on the market as soon as 2012.

There were few details released, but here’s what we know about the first model to embody Volvo’s “Drive towards Zero” mission:

  • It will use a diesel engine and lithium batteries
  • It can run on battery power alone for about 30 miles
  • Emissions would be below 50 grams of CO2 per km
  • The new technology will make the car really expensive, so Volvo is encouraging governments to offer subsidies and incentives

Photo of the concept Volvo hybrid courtesy of Volvo Cars.

Eco Race Car as Fast as It Is Green

June 3, 2009 in Biodiesel, New Tech, racing by kristen | No comments

Last month, the WorldFirst race car hit the scene; one month later, the car hit the track and topped 130 mph. Though the car can run on the waste produced at a Cadbury chocolate processing plant in the U.K., it used a 30/70 mix of vegetable oil and conventional diesel fuel for its first run at the track, according to the New York Times.

The Formula 3-class car is based on a Lola chassis, but as much of the project as possible was converted to sustainable parts, such as a front spoiler made from potato starch and flax fiber, and a steering wheel derived from carrots.

Ford EcoBoost: Power and Fuel Economy

May 27, 2009 in Consumer News, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Ford couldn’t have picked a better day to throw a party for its fuel-efficient, turbocharged, direct-inject EcoBoost engine — the same day President Obama announced his new fuel economy standards.

The 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine will go on sale this summer in the Ford Flex, Ford Taurus SHO, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT. According to Ford, the V6 is able to deliver V8 performance in a smaller, more fuel-efficient package.

For 2010, though, Ford will introduce an inline-four EcoBoost engine with even more emphasis on mpg over hp. No models have officially been named for the smaller EcoBoost engine, though the Ford Fusion sedan may be a candidate, according to Automotive News.

Image of drag racing Fords with EcoBoost engines courtesy of Ford Motor Company.

Row, Row, Row Your Car: The HumanCar

May 5, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, MPG, New Tech, small cars by kristen | No comments

Oregon-based HumanCar Inc. made some big announcements recently — including the fact that the company plans to build its HumanCar neighborhood electric vehicle and sell it to the public. The open-topped car may not seem too practical in rainy Oregon, but its lead-acid batteries can store energy to be used at home, should you need a little extra juice.

Where, you might ask, does the human come into play in the HumanCar? While the batteries can be charged at any standard 110-volt outlet, they can also be topped off by people power. The car seats up to four humans, and each seat has an oar-like handle. The occupants can “row” the car for a bit to generate energy that can be stored in the cells and used later.

The HumanCar NEV is limited to 35 mph, but the FM-4 is limited only by your good health. It’s powered solely by people.

No More Gasoline in Norway?

May 4, 2009 in Biodiesel, Bioethanol, EVs, Hybrids, Hydrogen, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | 1 comment

Norwegian Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen has proposed to ban all gasoline-powered cars from Norway by 2015. Hybrid gasoline-electric cars would still be allowed, as would extended-range electric vehicles like the Opel Ampera (that’s Chevy Volt to us Americans). Biofuels would make the cut, too.

Halvorsen has no intention of busting down garage doors in the middle of the night to take away gasoline cars. The new rules, if enacted, would apply only to new cars sold in 2015 or after. Her idea is to push car companies to make cleaner-running cars, not to wreck the Norwegian economy–even though Norway is the sixth largest oil exporter in the world, according to Reuters. On the other hand, Norway is home to electric-car upstart Think.

WorldFirst Racing Builds Sustainable Racer

April 28, 2009 in Biodiesel, New Tech, racing by kristen | 1 comment

Corvette races on E85 ethanol, Audi runs on diesel, and F1 cars are getting regenerative braking, but none of them have anything on the WorldFirst racecar. The U.K.-based Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center has created an F3-class racecar from sustainable and renewable materials.

A sampling of the veggie-based goodness found in the car:

  • Front spoiler and side mirrors made from a potato starch core and flax-fiber shell
  • Steering wheel that uses a polymer derived from carrots and other root vegetables
  • Seat with a soybean oil foam and recycled polyester fabric
  • Plant-based lubricants
  • 2-liter turbo engine running on biodiesel
  • “Smog-eating” radiators coated with a catalyst that turns ozone into oxygen
  • Non-carbon disc brakes and — coming soon — cashew shell brake pads

Oregon and Mitsubishi Partners in Charging

April 27, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, New Tech, PHEVs, small cars by kristen | 1 comment

Kulongoske and i MiEV

Ted Kulongoski, Governor of Oregon, John Koenig of Mistubishi Motors North America, and Jim Piro, head of electric utility PGE all took the podium on Earth Day to announce Oregon’s partnership with Mistubishi to establish a statewide network of charging stations. Presumably, these stations will be used by Mitsubishi’s i MiEV fleet when they come to Oregon for testing later this year.

Piro and Kulongoski both interated that Oregon is moving away from fossil fuel power, with the idea of emissions-free driving at the source and from the tailpipe (metaphorically, of course. EVs don’t have tailpipes). The region PGE serves is already number one in purchasing renewable power, so it seems hearts and minds of its customers have already been won over.

Kulongoski also said he was working with the federal Department of Transportation on greening the interstates. He’d like to see quick chargers at rest stops along Interstates 5 and 84 in Oregon, and apparently the U.S. government hasn’t shut down the idea completely.

Image of Gov. Kulongoski with i MiEV and charger by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

GM and Segway Double the Dork Factor with PUMA

April 16, 2009 in Biz News, Future Cars, New Tech, small cars by kristen | 3 comments

Those few of you who joined me in watching “Arrested Development,” the short-lived sitcom on Fox a few years ago, will remember that magician Gob Bluth’s dorkiness was enhanced by his piloting a Segway around town. Well, GM and Segway apparently didn’t want the Gobs of the world to be alone any longer: they have teamed up to create a two-person Segway concept called the P.U.M.A.

Project P.U.M.A. stands for Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility, and it’s been all over the Internets lately. The two occupents of the vehicle are seated, rather than having to stand, and it’s capable of going 35 mph for about 35 miles, similar to many neighborhood electric vehicles.

Here are the P.U.M.A.’s dork credentials:

  • An acronym for a name
  • A small set of front wheels — training wheels, if you will — for stability when stopped
  • Video-game-style steering apparatus
  • Upright pod design (the yellow stripes on the concept do not help)
  • No room for anything but the two dorks inside and their iPhones

As this is an experimental vehicle, no price has been set, and this is likely not its final form (though it’s probably pretty close). GM and Segway hope to bring the P.U.M.A. to market in 2012. God help us.

Now that I have made my feelings clear on what is likely a breakthrough in both technology and heights of dorkitude, make your feelings known in the comments.

Mercedes Trainees Build Fuel Cell Roadster

April 13, 2009 in Biz News, Hydrogen, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Mercedes-Benz F-CELL

Dozens of junior-level Mercedes-Benz employees and students in Germany worked together for a year to create the F-CELL Roadster project, a fuel cell-powered open car. The project was designed to give the trainees hands-on experience with developing alternative-fuel vehicles.

The spoked wheels of the design project reference the earliest Benzes of the late 1800s, while the seats are thoroughly modern carbon fiber with hand-stitched leather upholstery. It’s got a joystick in place of a steering wheel (a hallmark of any “car of the future” destined to never see production) and the fuel-cell system in the rear. The F-CELL has a top speed of 15 mph, but a range of over 200 miles.

It would be a miracle if the F-CELL ever reached the market, as it was intended as an in-house learning experience, but it’s just these kinds of projects that are going to expand the availability and viability of alternative fuels in the near future.

Oregon Charges Ahead in Standardizing Plug-In Parking

April 6, 2009 in EVs, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | 2 comments

The state of Oregon issued an RFP (request for proposals) last week asking for companies that make public electric-car charging stations to submit their systems for consideration in the state’s green transportation plans. The state already has a bunch of stations, mostly in the Portland metro area, but it wants to increase that number to hundreds and spread the EV love as far and wide as possible.

The Oregon Department of Transportation was authorized to ramp up the curbside charging program last November, including standardizing the look, performance, and safety of the chargers. Also, they’d like to buy in bulk to make things easy, so charging stations built by hand in the family garage likely aren’t going to cut it.

The chargers won’t be limited to curbside parking. ODOT envisions them at park-and-ride locations, retail parking lots, and motor pools, among others. Of course, Good Green Cars already covered the unveiling of a curbside charger in Oregon City last fall.

Hybrid Mazda Minivan in Limited Leasing Program

April 3, 2009 in Biz News, Hybrids, Hydrogen, New Tech by kristen | No comments

When automakers have a new technology, they like to test it in the real world with real drivers — who pay for the guinea pig privelege. A few dozen cars are built and leased to forward-thinking drivers, usually in L.A. Those people will try anything. The EV1 was a disastrous example of this; the Honda Clarity hydrogen vehicle a more successful one (so far).

Mazda is giving the guinea pigs a shot at its new hybrid minivan, the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, to corporate fleet customers in Japan. The RX-8 is Mazda’s rotary engine, which has in this instance been modified to use gasoline or hydrogen fuel at the flick of a switch. It’s the first leased vehicle in the world to be able to use either type of fuel, according to the company.

New Batteries Charge EVs in Minutes, not Hours

March 23, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Researchers at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have burst through the lithium-ion ceiling with an improved material that could allow the batteries to charge in minutes, rather than hours, as they currently require.

The researchers found that the ions moved slowly across the lithium iron phosphate material common in today’s rechargeable batteries. They reworked the material to create “tunnels” that the ions could move through much more quickly, reducing both the charge and discharge times of the battery. Because the material is not new but just redesigned, the battery could be on the market sooner rather than later.

This breakthrough has implications for more than just EVs, though. Phones, laptops, MP3 players — pretty much anything that uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery — will be able to fully discharge, which extends the life of the battery, and then recharge in a fraction of the time required now.

Sources: InventorSpot, GearLive

Motor Oil Goes Green (But Not Vegan)

March 16, 2009 in Consumer News, New Tech by kristen | 1 comment

GET G-Oil

Green Earth Technologies has created a fat-based, biodegradeable motor oil called G-Oil. It’s the first non-fossil-fuel, non-synthetic motor oil to earn certification from the American Petroleum Institute, meaning it meets the organization’s standards for use in gasoline engines.

Vegetarians may want to stop reading now, because I’m going to tell you where the fat comes from: livestock. According to Green Earth Technologies, “it takes three barrels of crude oil to make one barrel of motor oil, but it only takes one barrel of animal fat to produce one barrel of G-Oil.”

The API-certified motor oil is 5W-30 weight; the company is seeking certification for its 10W-30 and 5W-20 weight oils as well. The 5W-30 stuff will be on retail shelves in June, but bulk oil will be supplied to quickie lubes “much sooner,” according to GET.

EV Ownership: A Hybrid Technologies Update

February 9, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, New Tech, small cars by kristen | No comments

Last week, I wrote about the LiV Wise electric car from Hybrid Technologies. A member of the Oregon Electric Vehicle Association had taken delivery of one of these Toyota Yarises with the combustion engine ripped out and replaced by lithium batteries and an electric motor. He shared his excitement about the car — and the fact that he’d put 1000 miles on it in his first month of ownership — and I shared it with GoodGreenCars readers.

But lest you think EVs are absolutely perfect, he did write in that he’s had a few minor issues with his LiV Wise:

  • A software glitch had the computer beeping at him, but that can be updated
  • When plugging in the car, metal contacted metal (”completely my fault,” he said), which created a spark that tripped the breaker in his garage
  • The battery management system screen no longer comes on when charging without the key, so he may have blown a fuse in the car

“So we’ll see how idiot-proof the car is,” said the owner in an email. He also mentioned that Hybrid Technologies’ “customer support has been awesome so far,” a necessary attribute in a company whose products are on the bleeding edge of automotive technology. If you’re going to take the $40,000-leap, you want to know that the builder of your car has got your back.

Would you like to see more reporting about real people living with the latest in automotive technology? Let me know in the comments.

BYD Builds Hybrid Dreams

January 28, 2009 in Biz News, Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | No comments

BYD F3DM

Thanks to Nissan’s pulling out of the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, Chinese auto manufacturer BYD (”Build Your Dreams”) got its chance to shine. Last year, BYD was relegated to the basement of the Cobo Center; this year, they were upstairs, between Subaru and fellow Chinese auto maker Brilliance, where the overhead lights could gleam off the company’s hybrid cars.

With a blast of music from the loudspeakers and a substantial investment from Warren Buffet, BYD is setting itself up to take on Toyota, Honda, Ford, and everyone else with a horse in the hybrid race. BYD began in 1995 as a battery producer, so building the car around the power system was a cinch. Like most other manufacturers with a new technology to sell, BYD brought a cutaway car to showcase its dual-mode hybrid system.

BYD’s first car, the F3DM, went on sale in China in December 2008. The company plans to bring its cars to the U.S. by 2011, and eventually to build them here, too. The next BYD car to reach showrooms will be a “family-sized” sedan, also dual-mode, called the F6DM. Both dual-mode cars have a 1-liter gasoline engine, an EV range of 68 miles, and a not-too-shabby 0-60 time of 10.5 seconds.

The BYD e6 is an all-electric vehicle with a 250-mile range and a 0-60 time of 8 seconds. It also features a “quick-charge” capacity that can restore 50% of its power in 10 minutes.

quick charge port

In all its cars, BYD promises safety, quality, affordability, and environmental responsibility. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare against the IIHS crash tests and EPA mileage machines.

Chrysler Green with ENVI at the Detroit Auto Show

January 26, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, Future Cars, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Dodge Circuit

Chrysler, one of the not-so-Big Three, brought several cars from its ENVI extended-range electric car program to the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, including a Lotus-designed sports car and an electric concept car.

Lots of companies had new green technologies to show off, though, (except for Ford, which only brought a slide presentation of its plans to build electric cars in the future). Chrysler set itself apart by thanking the government and the American people at its press conference for the bailout money and acknowledging that it had a new responsiblity to consumers who had granted them the loan “just in time.”

Part of this responsibility, in Chrysler’s view, is to build cars that answer our energy and creature-comfort needs. It’s working on it. The company owns GEM, the golf-cart-like NEV company, and it brought three ENVI electric vehicles, including two Jeeps and minivan with a 40-mile electric range.

But it was the ENVI concept cars that stood out. Here’s the skinny on these new EVs:

Dodge Circuit

  • EV sports car shown in Tangerine
  • Designed by Lotus — and looks like it
  • 0-60 in under 5 seconds, top speed of 125
  • 150-200 mile range from lithium-ion batteries

Chrysler 200C

  • Interior made with organic materials
  • In-car Wi-Fi hotspot from Mopar
  • Microsoft-powered on-board computer includes a Facebook-like app, music downloads
  • 0-60 in 7 seconds, 268 hp
  • 40-mile electric range; 400 miles with range-extending gasoline engine

Chevy Equinox Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Test Drive

January 23, 2009 in Biz News, Consumer News, Future Cars, Hydrogen, New Tech, test drives by kristen | No comments

I mentioned that the Mitsubishi iMiEV was one of the most popular cars to test drive on the basement track at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The other was GM’s Chevy Equinox SUV powered by hydrogen fuel cells. I waited my for turn at the wheel and did a few 10-mph laps with a GM rep in the passenger seat to fill me in on the technology.

The most notable thing was that the hydrogen-powered motor was as quiet as an EV, and drove like an EV, since it basically is an EV being powered by hydrogen rather than energy stored in, say, lead-acid batteries. GM has a fleet of these Equinox SUVs on the roads right now, and customers have asked engineers to leave in the “whine” on acceleration, rather than making the vehicle perfectly silent.

Though I couldn’t test it on the 700 feet of impromptu track inside the Cobo Center, the Equinox can do 0-60 in about 12 seconds, which is similar to a Prius. The hydrogen fuel generates zero emissions, and the current generation of the technology operates without any issues from -5 degrees Fahrenheit to 113 degrees. The next generation should be usable in “normal car range,” from -40 to 130 degrees.

GM has the largest fuel cell fleet in the world being tested by consumers right now. What we need is enough solid information from GM and its testers to break the chicken-or-the-egg fuel cell impasse that we’re at now: no one wants to build the cars without fueling stations in place, and no one wants to install the fueling stations without the cars.

Image courtesy of GM.

Detroit Day One: What’s New

January 11, 2009 in Bioethanol, Biz News, Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG, New Tech, PHEVs, small cars by kristen | No comments

I’ve attended about a half-dozen press conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit today — enough to give you an idea of what’s to come. I’ll have pictures and in-depth information on the models mentioned here in the next day or two.

GM: To emphasize the company’s commitment to greener powertrain technology, the Volt led the GM parade. The much-hyped range-extended electric vehicle should be market-ready by the end of 2010. The Chevy Beat microcar concept will be produced worldwide as the Chevy Spark in 2011. The surprise of the conference was the all-electric Cadillac Converj concept (nice spelling, eh?) It’s based on the Voltech system, as the company is calling it, and should have a 40-mile range.

Lexus: Toyota’s luxury arm debuted a dedicated hybrid, the HS 250 h. The “entry-level luxury vehicle” has plant-based eco-plastics, according to Lexus, throughout the interior, which is 30% recyclable. The car overall is 85% recyclable, including the batteries. It’ll be on sale in late summer 2009, but no price was announced yet.

Ford: Ford was all about its new EcoBoost engine, which is an option for the Flex right now and will be available on 90% of Ford vehicles by 2013. Bill Ford Jr. announced plans to bring four new high-mileage battery vehicles to the market by 2012, declaring it “not a test program,” but a business strategy.

Chrysler: Chrysler execs were grateful for the government bailout and weren’t afraid to show it. They brought their GEM low-power electric vehicles, plus the three ENVI electric prototypes they debuted in 2008. They also brought the new Patriot EV (the second Jeep to get the EV treatment) and the Chrysler 200c EV concept, which is packed with more hi-tech bits than an iPhone.

Bentley: The high-luxury car maker made available its corporate plans to move to flex fuels in its massive sedans and convertibles. It also announced a new biofuel car that would debut in Geneva this March. Oh, and they brought champagne. Yum.

Mini: Mini brought its E electric car and talked about its program to get a fleet of 500 test cars in Los Angeles and New York City, and it debuted a new convertible that is more fuel efficient and emits less carbon dioxide than the previous model.

That’s all for now. More press conferences tomorrow, including a new plug-in hybrid sports car concept from Fisker.

Garmin Nuvi Gets MPGroovy

January 9, 2009 in Consumer News, MPG, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Garmin Nuvi 205

Garmin announced its latest nav-system add-on, called ecoRoute, at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. The application, which will ready for download in February, allows drivers to choose “less fuel” as a route calculation, in addition to “faster time” and “shorter distance.”

Besides just calculating the gas-sipping-est way from here to there, ecoRoute compiles a Fuel Report and Mileage Report to keep drivers informed of their gas usage over time and per trip. It even has little fuel-saving messages that pop up as text on the screen.

EcoRoute is compatible with the 205 and 705 series of the Garmin Nuvi satellite nav systems. Honda and Ford have recently announced similar built-in systems for their upcoming models, according to Edmunds.com’s Green Car Advisor.

Future of the Auto Industry: EVs, Biodiesel, Bikes

December 1, 2008 in Biodiesel, Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, Hydrogen, MPG, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | No comments

Fiamp Charging

Oregon Public Broadcasting’s call-in show, “Think Out Loud,” was about the future of the automotive industry this morning. The program focused on the state of Oregon, and most of the guests and callers were from the state, but the show had a lot to say about where personal transportation is headed in the next decade for the entire U.S.

The show, which aired Monday, December 1, was called “A Sustainable Auto Industry.” Guests included John Viera, Director of Ford Sustainable Business Strategies; Mark Perry, Director of Product Planning for Nissan North America; a representative from Governor Kulongoski’s office; and an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s College of Business. So they had their bases covered.

Highlights of the show (though you should listen to the whole thing):

  • Viera says Ford will not go back to making so many trucks, no matter what the price of gas is. The company apparently is trying to learn its lesson and produce for the tomorrow instead of yesterday.
  • Perry says Oregon will be one of the first launch markets for its new EVs in 2010. Yay!
  • He also said Nissan wants to have 10% of its sales to be EVs by 2020 — that’s about 100,000 vehicles in the U.S.
  • My favorite phrase came from Chris Warner, Kulongoski’s transportation adviser. He says there is no silver bullet, only “silver buckshot,” which includes alternative fuel cars, bikes, walking, public transportation, and whatever else the future holds.

A lot of basic alternative-fuel questions were answered, like shifting emissions from the tailpipe to the smokestack, and the recyclability of electric-vehicle batteries. It’s a good listen for newbies and alt-vehicle veterans alike.

A Sustainable Auto Industry

The Straight Dope on Mercedes BlueTec Clean Diesel

November 12, 2008 in Consumer News, New Tech, diesel by kristen | 2 comments

Mercedes-Benz has gotten a lot of press recently about AdBlue, the additive that makes its new BlueTec clean diesel SUVs and wagons so clean. I called up Larkin Hill, a PR rep at Mercedes, and asked her to explain to me what this AdBlue and BlueTec stuff was all about.

“Twenty years ago, 80% of Mercedes sales were diesel,” said Hill. “But they had a reputation for being loud, slow, and sooty. The BlueTec diesels are quiet, fast, and clean. You can stand behind one in a white linen suit and not get dirty.” This, she said, is due to AdBlue, an exhaust treatment fluid used in all the BlueTec diesels to neutralize nitrous oxide emissions.

In order for the Mercedes BlueTec diesels to meet the U.S. Bin 5 emissions standard, the company had to guarantee that the customer would put AdBlue into the exhaust system. “You get many, many, many warnings,” said Hill. “The car gives you twenty chances. It counts down the number of starts you have left.” When you’re out of AdBlue and the countdown reaches zero, you can’t start the car without adding another quart.

The reservoir is easy to find and easy to fill, though, as it’s located in the spare tire well in the back. And you can go 10,000 miles of normal driving without worry. Most people will have their M-B dealer top off the AdBlue tank during regular maintenance. For those who do a lot of towing or want peace of mind, BlueTec owners can buy and carry extra quarts. It’s available at 1500 outlets, like Pep Boys.

Right now, there are three 2009 vehicles with BlueTec clean diesel: the ML320, the GL320, and the R320. Hill said the company plans to release an E320 sedan with BlueTec and AdBlue later this year. And yes, she said, AdBlue is indeed blue.

All the President’s EVs

November 10, 2008 in Consumer News, EVs, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | No comments

Baker ElectricThough motor vehicles had been around for some 20 years, the White House didn’t make the switch from horse-drawn carriages to horseless carriages until William Taft took office in 1909. According to the L.A. Times, Taft chose an electric vehicle built by the now-defunct Baker company for the first Presidential conveyance.

Fast forward 100 years to president-elect Barack Obama, who made the following promises in his “New Energy for America” speech in August:

Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars — cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon — on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America

Within one year of becoming President, the entire White House fleet will be converted to
plug‐ins as security permits

Half of all cars purchased by the federal government will be plug‐in hybrids or all‐electric
by 2012

Obama also wants to provide a $7,000 tax credit for consumers who purchase advanced-technology vehicles and unspecified tax credits for folks who go the DIY route (or hire a firm to do it for them) and convert their car to a PHEV or EV.

Image by Jim O’Clair, Hemmings.com.

Find Your Alternative Fuel Station

November 7, 2008 in Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, Hydrogen, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | 1 comment

If you’ve been considering an alternative-fuel vehicle for your next car but were wondering where on earth to fill up, look no further than the U.S. Department of Energy. That’s right — the DoE has put together a handy web site where you can search for refueling stations for just about any kind of fuel except regular, ol’ gasoline:

  • Biodiesel (B20 and above)
  • Compressed Natural Gas
  • Electric
  • Ethanol (E85)
  • Hydrogen
  • Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
  • Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Propane)

It should surprise no one that California leads the way in most types of alternative fuel stations. E85 is huge in the Midwest, which is another no-brainer, but biodiesel is big in Georgia and the Carolinas, which I did not know. Texas has hundreds of propane filling stations, as anyone who watches “King of the Hill” would probably guess.

There is a ton of information on the Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center, and it will be a valuable resource as more alternative-fueled cars come to market in the next four years or so. Bookmark it now, folks, and tell all your friends who love green cars.

Carpool to the Polls November 4

October 31, 2008 in Consumer News, Future Cars, New Tech by kristen | No comments

LiveEarth and Zimride have teamed up over on Facebook to make it easy for the carless to find a ride to the voting booth. Cleverly called Carpool to the Polls, Facebook users just need to push the big green button at the bottom of the screen that says, um, “Carpool to the Polls.” They’ve really make it simple, folks.

Just under that big green button is a gray button that will help you find your polling station. Next to the green button is another green button for arranging a carpool anywhere else for any old errand that needs to be run.

This election is important for a lot of reasons, but one of the biggies this cycle involves sustainable energy sources and alternative fuels. I’m not going to tell you who to vote for, but it wasn’t the Barack Obama crowds shouting, “Drill, baby, drill.” I’m just saying.

So if you need an extra kick in the pants to get to the polls, sign up for a carpool. It’s greener than driving yourself, and you’re more likely to fulfill your commitment as a voter if you know someone is waiting for you at the curb, honking her horn, to take you to the voting booth.

EV Charging Stations Go Online

October 29, 2008 in EVs, Future Cars, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | 1 comment

Oregon City\'s new EV charging station

Portland, Oregon, gets a lot of credit for sustainability and forward thinking, but it’s not the only place looking to an EV-powered future. Oregon City, a suburb south of Portland, unveiled its new curbside charging station October 28 by plugging in a converted electric Fiat owned by resident Mark Mongillo. The idea is to get a jump start, if you will, on the infrastructure required for the EVs and plug-in hybrids that manufacturers are promising for the near-ish future.

The charging station, which was built by Shorepower Technologies of Portland, is one of four that have been installed in the region by Portland General Electric. It can charge up to four electric cars at once using 120-volt plugs, like what we have in our homes. At that rate, it would take about four hours for a full battery charge. Most people parking curbside would likely “top off” their batteries while shopping or sipping coffee.

After the unveiling of the seven-foot-tall station, Mongillo plugged in his Fiamp to charge. Nothing happened. Nothing noticeable, anyway. The crowd seemed to expect noise or a light to turn on or something, but plugging in an EV isn’t that showy. Mongillo said, “That’s it. It’s working,” and the small crowd applauded.

Fiamp Charging

Details on the Shorepower stations:

  • 7 feet, 8 inches tall; stainless steel
  • Powered by 100% renewable energy from PGE
  • $2,500 for the four-outlet unit, not including installation
  • Four 120-volt outlets; full charge in about 4 hours
  • Charging is free (so far)

Pininfarina Debuts EV in Paris

October 10, 2008 in Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, MPG, New Tech, small cars by kristen | No comments

2010 Pininfarina B0

Legendary design firm Pininfarina has brought its own little EV to the Paris auto show this year, the B Zero. Actually, the model name is written B0, but the company has helpfully let us know that it’s pronounced “B Zero.” Presumably, they don’t want us Americans running around calling it the “BO.”

The B0 will roll off the production line in late 2009 as a 2010 model, the Italian company says. The mass-produced car is a collaboration between Pininfarina and Bollore, who will provide the powerplant. The proprietary system will use batteries and supercapacitors to propel the B0 about 150 miles per charge, with a top speed of 80 mph.

If zero emissions and a high-tech lithium polymer battery aren’t enough to float your eco-warrior boat, the car also has solar panels on its roof and even a few on its tiny hood. Right now, the panels will be able to run “some of its equipment,” according to Pininfarina. I assume this means they provide enough power for creature comforts like the radio and maybe air conditioning.

2010 Pininfarina B0 solar panels

GM to Unveil Volt This Month

September 11, 2008 in Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG, New Tech, PHEVs by kristen | 2 comments

After giving us coy pictures of front corners and rear decks of the design concept, GM says they will unveil the Chevy Volt in all its production-trim glory at the company’s 100th birthday party September 16. Preproduction models will be built in 2009, with sales of the real deal expected to begin in 2010.

GM chair Bob Lutz told Automotive News Europe that the production Volt will be the “next generation global compact architecture.” For those who don’t speak Auto Industry as a first language, that means the U.S. version of the Volt will use many of the same underpinnings as GM’s upcoming world-market offerings. For examples of this design, keep an eye out for the Opel Astra and Chevy Cruze at the Paris auto show this year.

Meanwhile, according to Motor Trend, GM and the EPA are debating whether the Volt is a hybrid or an electric vehicle. The outcome will decide how fuel-economy numbers will be calculated. The car has an electric motor with a combustion engine that acts as a range extender when the batteries run out.

GM wants the car to pass the EPA’s tests using the electric motor 85% of the time, which would give it a rating of 100 mpg or more. The EPA wants the Volt to pass the tests with its batteries near full charge at the end, which would require the gasoline-powered engine to run most of the time. This calculation would drop the fuel economy to about 48 mpg. When fuel economy is your sales tool, a Prius-like 48 mpg might hurt sales of the $40,000-plus Volt.

Alt Car Expo 2008 — Two Shows, Two Cities

August 28, 2008 in Biodiesel, Bioethanol, Consumer News, EVs, Hybrids, Hydrogen, New Tech, PHEVs, diesel by kristen | No comments

The Alternative Energy and Transportation Expo will roll into Santa Monica for the third straight year September 26-27, at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. For the first time ever, the show will also set up camp in Texas, at the Austin Energy Alt Car Expo inside the Palmer Events Center October 17-18. Both events are free, free, free.

If you’re new to alternative-energy-powered vehicles, these events would be a good place to start. More than 150 exhibits will detail different fuels, such as hydrogen, hybrids, ethanol, electricity — both AC and DC — and even natural gas and propane. Experts will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, whether you’re an SUV driver thinking about driving greener or an engineer who converted his Porsche 914 to an AC motor.

Perhaps the most useful part of the expo is the Ride and Drive lot, where visitors can experience alternative fuels first-hand and evaluate their pluses and minuses from the driver’s (or passenger’s) seat. Seminars and panel discussions will be held during both weekends, featuring authors who’ve analyzed the future of the auto industry and movers and shakers from within the industry itself.

Ford to Double Number of Hybrids

August 25, 2008 in Biodiesel, Biz News, Consumer News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, Hydrogen, MPG, New Tech, PHEVs, diesel by kristen | No comments

2009 Mercury MilanAt a press event in Portland, Oregon, Dan Kapp, Ford’s director of powertrain research, said that the company has plans to become the number-one hybrid  producer in the country next year. By adding hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan to the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids already on the market, Ford will double the number of its hybrids on the road.

Kapp laid out Ford’s long-term strategy, from today to 2050. The company plans to migrate its advanced fuel-saving technologies, like hybrid systems and the new EcoBoost engine, across the product line by 2012, so at least a few Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles will get a little better gas mileage. By 2020, Kapp said Ford will fully implement current technology and begin to delve into more gasoline-electric hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and more. After that, the plan is to roll out hydrogen fuel-cell cars, biofuel-powered vehicles, and whatever other new technologies have developed by then.

Kapp was eager to point out the advantages of Ford’s new EcoBoost engine, which uses gasoline direct injection and turbocharging to raise fuel efficiency by as much as 20% and lower tailpipe emissions by as much as 15%. The physically smaller engine will be able to deliver the same or greater power as traditional Ford engines, and will be available first in the 2009 Lincoln MKS sedan.

Kapp pointed out that while Ford was not pursuing hydrogen-powered cars as quickly as Honda, nor was it chasing Chevy’s PHEV Volt with any conviction, it does have the first driveable hydrogen fuel-cell PHEV in the Edge HySeries. The fleet of 30 cars is still very much in the test stage, and Kapp noted that hydrogen fuel has “monumental infrastructure problems.”

When fielding questions about bringing clean diesel cars from Europe (answer: not any time soon), a fellow journalist mentioned that he ran his diesel-powered Ford truck on B99 every summer. Kapp nearly choked on his coffee when he heard that one of his trucks was being powered by 99% biodiesel a few months out of the year. I was surprised that he was surprised — he was in eco-conscious Portland, after all.

Fosh Auto EV a No-Show

August 19, 2008 in EVs, Future Cars, New Tech by kristen | 2 comments

Photo by Leo ReynoldsLast week, the Internets were abuzz with the marketing hype of Fosh Automotive, which promised to unveil an EV with self-regenerating batteries and an unlimited range. I emailed the company and was told to cool my jets — all would be revealed on Monday, August 18, but it had something to do with “solar like” panels and regenerative braking.

Monday came, and the curtains on the Web site stayed closed. It seems that Fosh has had some television interest, so they delayed the unveiling of this perpetual motion machine they’re calling the EVT-3 until next Monday, August 25. And Fosh’s predicted price of $25,000 is out the window, too. Estimated MSRP of the EVT-3 is over $50,000 now.

There are forums on the site, and posters seem none too happy to be shunned for television cameras. Post headings include “Why Not Show the Demo Video Now?” and “Ok good joke now where is the real car”. The FAQ says the on-sale date is November 28, 2008, but we probably shouldn’t hold our breath.

If the EVT-3 works as promised, it could be revolutionary. But Fosh’s false start isn’t inspiring confidence so far.

GM Boosts Fuel Economy with Hot Air

August 12, 2008 in Future Cars, MPG, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Now 10% Cleaner!I don’t mean GM has found a way to turn corporate bluster into a fuel source, though that would ease the burden of the price of gasoline. A while back, the Department of Energy issued a challenge to automakers. It asked them to improve fuel economy by 10% using nothing but wasted exhaust heat to help power the vehicle.

GM, with BMW close on its heels, has developed a thermoelectric generator that could create enough electricity to augment or replace the usual alternator in a gasoline-powered car. Thermoelectric devices can use temperature differences to create electricity. When one side of the generator is heated, electrons move to the cooler side. The movement creates a current, which is collected by electrodes and converted to electricity.

The GM prototype is set to be tested in a Chevy Suburban next year, where a 10% fuel economy boost would mean a 1-mpg improvement. In a small car like the Chevy Aveo (the Suburban’s exact opposite), the boost could be enough to put its combined economy over 30 mpg. BMW and its research partner Ohio State University will run tests of its prototype next year, too.

Nissan’s New EV and Hybrid

August 8, 2008 in Biz News, EVs, Future Cars, Hybrids, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Nissan has commited itself to its Green Program 2010, and it keeps making strides toward meeting its goals. This week, it previewed its EV and hybrid technologies, though not any final designs for the cars these powertrains will power.

Nissan EV PrototypeThe electric vehicle will be based on an array of lithium-ion batteries installed under the floor to allow for maxium passenger and cargo space. Though no one outside the company knows what the EV might look like when it hits the market in 2010, it won’t look like anything Nissan currently offers, according to the company.

The hybrid will carry Nissan’s own, recently developed technology instead of the hybrid tech it’s been leasing from Toyota to power the Altima. The HEV will have regenerative braking and power assist like most hybrids on the road right now. The difference is in its parallel powertrain, which has two clutches to improve fuel efficiency, or so Nissan says.

Lotus Develops the Sound of Silence

August 6, 2008 in Consumer News, EVs, Hybrids, New Tech by kristen | 1 comment

Lotus Engineering\'s Safe & Sound

Lotus Engineering, which I imagine looks like Q’s lab in the James Bond films, has found a solution to the problem of nearly silent electric motors: the Safe & Sound system. The Toyota Prius demonstration car has a speaker attached at the front of the car next to the radiator that emits a “realistic engine sound,” according to the company.

Earlier this year, groups like the National Federation of the Blind pointed out that blind people and their seeing-eye dogs rely on the sound of approaching cars to determine the safety of crossing the street. This spring, a boy on a bike was hit by a Prius, an accident his mother blamed on the silent electric motor (never mind that the car is not equipped with invisibility, like Wonder Woman’s jet). In reaction, people have been searching for a way to make quiet cars safer for pedestrians. One potential solution was the Vibering concept, which would sense hybrid and electric motors and tell the wearer when one is nearby.

Lotus’s system was ironically born from its noise-dampening technologies. Safe & Sound synthesizes the engine sound and varies it depending on speed so people waiting at a crosswalk or walking across a parking lot can hear the approaching vehicle. If it’s a hybrid, and it goes fast enough to engage the gasoline engine, the system automatically shuts off. Also, once the car passes, the sound is no longer heard.

Air-Powered Electric Vehicles on the Way?

August 5, 2008 in EVs, New Tech by kristen | No comments

Hearing aid battery from PanasonicToyota’s researchers in Japan are working on using zinc air batteries for powering EVs. That’s right — batteries that create electricity out of thin air.

When oxygen from the air around us is introduced into a battery cell, it reacts with a zinc electrode to create electricity. The materials to build these batteries are cheap, and they have high energy density. So why aren’t these things powering your Mini already? Because not even a Mini is small enough to be powered by zinc air batteries. Right now, the most common use for zinc air is in hearing aids.

Despite the small size, Toyota hopes that the move from lead-acid and even lithium-ion batteries to zinc-air will blow open the doors of the EV market, providing the range and speed consumers want from a daily driver. There is a lot of possibility here — it wasn’t that long ago that li-ion batteries were only found in cell phones and laptops, not 100+ mph supercars like the Tesla Roadster.

Nissan’s ECO Pedal Lightens Your Lead Foot

August 4, 2008 in Consumer News, Future Cars, Hybrids, MPG, New Tech by kristen | 2 comments

Nissan Altima HybridNissan announced that a new device called the ECO Pedal will be available on some of its 2009 models. The pedal will let the driver know that he may be using more fuel than necessary by pushing back on his foot a little. There’s also a little green “ECO” light in the dash to help you learn to use fuel wisely rather than wastefully.

Nissan says the ECO Pedal can earn a driver as much as 5-10% better fuel economy. They didn’t say which models will receive the new technology, or even which countries might get it.

In the meantime, U.S. car buyers can count on the Nissan Altima hybrid for 2009, which was named one of the top 10 green cars by Kelly Blue Book. The company just announced pricing for the hybrid at $26,650, and the EPA rated it at 35 city/33 highway.

NextCruise to Showcase Green-Car Tech

July 29, 2008 in MPG, New Tech, diesel by kristen | 2 comments

Automakers have dreamed up a new all-green event to coincide with the wildly popular Woodward Dream Cruise. They call it NextCruise, and it will debut in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, with a public preview Friday, August 15 and activities Saturday, August 16.

Photo by Niall KennedyNine automakers have signed up — General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen — plus Bridgestone and the the IndyCar and American Le Mans racing series. All the participants aim to prove that green technology is clean, comfy, and cruise-worthy with displays and free 15-minute test drives.

Hybrids and clean diesels will make up the bulk of the event, in contrast to the cars rolling along Woodward Avenue at the14th annual Woodward Dream Cruise. Classic and muscle cars both pristine and hot-rodded will cruise from Ferndale, Michigan, to Pontiac in one of the largest vintage car cruises in the country. If anybody needs to be convinced of the fun to be had in low-emissions vehicles, it’s these guys.

Vehicle to Grid Tech in the Smart Garage

July 28, 2008 in EVs, New Tech by kristen | 1 comment

Image from RMI SolutionsSay you take the plunge and buy an electric vehicle, be it a neighborhood EV like the Zap Xebra or a supercar like the Tesla Roadster. You tool around all day, and you plug your car in at night to recharge. It only takes a couple hours to fully top up the batteries, though, even when they’re nearly depleted. Soon, you and your electric car can put those idle cycles to work while you sleep.

The Rocky Mountain Institute has published its first “Solutions” journal, which is available as a PDF. In it, they discuss the research conducted by RMI on vehicle-to-grid technology. Electric cars, with their built-in, onboard electricity storage devices (batteries, to you and me) can smooth out the power flow and provide emergency backup power:

The real benefit of electric vehicles is that they bring a new level of stability and control to the grid—including giving power back when it’s needed most (in blackouts or at times of peak demand). By some estimates, a battery-electric vehicle, with about 40 kilowatt-hours of usable energy, could power an entire residential block for over an hour if necessary.

During the 17 years that RMI conducted its V2G research, the grid in the U.S. became robust enough to handle this kind of power exchange. But RMI went further and imagined what they call a “smart grid” that can communicate with homeowners about, say, when electricity is in high demand and therefore more expensive.

There are also serious benefits, both economic and ecological, to getting more solar and wind power onto a smart grid — the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions alone would be significant. To see how all this plays out in the real world, keep an eye on the pilot project in Boulder, Colorado.