Hybrid News

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Paris Motor Show

Nissan is slowly giving up details about the Nuvu, an all-EV concept that will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. According to the Japanese marque, it’s a “new vision″ about the type of cars we’ll be driving during the mid 2010s. It’s a small vehicle, only 3 meters (about 10ft) long and can seat 2+1 passengers (the +1 is an additional folding seat). The Nuvu is an all-electric model and, although it’s not the model that will be on sale in 2010, it showcases new technologies that will be used for the future production model. No specifications about range or power were given, but Nissan tells us that it’s got a 1.98-meter wheelbase (6.5 ft), it’s 1.70 meters high (5ft 7in) and 1.55 meters (5ft 1in) wide. The Nuvu also incorporates solar panels in the shape of a branch and leaves on the car’s roof to feed some juice to the car’s battery. Nissan also said that the car uses natural, organic and recycled materials to create an “airy and roomy″ interior. If produced, this sounds like a competitor for the Smart and the Toyota IQ, for sure.

[Source: Nissan]

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Original post by Xavier Navarro

Filed under: Honda, Lightweight, UK

Click above for more high-res shots of the Honda OSM.

Honda has unveiled a new roadster concept at the British International Motor Show. Named the OSM (for Open Study Model), it shares space with the Honda FCX Clarity and the CR-Z sports hybrid on the Honda stand. Although the press release (found after the jump) does not mention which powertrain defines the prototype as “low emission,” it does mention that it’s a lightweight vehicle. Honda’s intention is to design a car where style meets green credentials. “We’re trying to show that low emission cars can be attractive,” says Andreas Sittel, Project Leader for OSM. “There is no reason why a car that’s more environmentally friendly can’t look great too - and be sporty and fun to drive.”

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading London 2008: Honda OSM, a low-emission roadster concept

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Original post by Xavier Navarro

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Toyota, On Two Wheels

After the violin-playing robot in the video above, we get a look at Toyota’s Mobility Robot (or MR), which we told you about yesterday. MR reminds me a lot of Toyota’s I-Real, which was on display at the Tokyo Auto Show and seemed very close to production. There are a handful of a good designs for chair vehicles and clever, new wheelchair designs like Dean Kamen’s iBot. Although I think a Segway (another Kamen invention) with a chair added is a better design than the iBot. You can check out a video of Josep Mora’s Segway wheelchair design below the fold. I really hope these type of vehicles take off.

Related:

• MagicWheels can add mileage to your wheelchair
• MTV and Xzibit: Pimp my Wheelchair!
• Suzuki working on the MIO, a hydrogen fuel cell wheelchair. Who wants one?

[Source: Dailymotion via Engadget]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, GM

The Opel Flextreme diesel electric concept got a visit from reporters in a studio setting instead of at a busy car show. The video above and the one below the fold are very quiet, thoughtful looks at European’s E-flex concept without the usual busy car show in the background. The videos include a great look at the car’s doors, which open when you touch them, and rear view cameras replacements for the rear view mirror. Many of the ideas on the car are already in several vehicles you can buy today, so it’s very possible you could see something like the Flextreme coming from GM very soon.

[Source: YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Etc.

The video above is a demonstration of a magnetic cog by Kundel Magnetics. Using magnetic fields instead of physical gears to transfer energy has many advantages like zero friction and no need for lubrication. Below the fold is a concept vehicle by the design group Oooms. The counter weight at one end of the vehicle allows a person to jump very high as if gravity were low. These two concepts, the gear and the vehicle, attack two major problem of efficiency: weight and friction. Traditional solutions have always been to use less stuff and make better lubricants, but Kundel and Oooms show us another way. They did not solve the problems of weight or friction, but they can inspire and remind us there are different solutions than what we expect. I happen to think they are also very cool.

[Source: Google Video, YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, GM, GMC, Porsche, Volkswagen, LA Auto Show

Feel like you′re missing all the good stuff from LA? Perhaps some videos will ease the pain. The video above shows Porsche representatives at the 2007 LA Auto Show talking about hybrids. As we just reported, Porsche says their hybrids will go 75 MPH on battery power. Below the fold are two videos, including one that looks at the modern, clean design of the Volkswagen Space Up! concept. The second video is of GM’s green giant (ho, ho, ho!), the Chevy Silverado Hybrid. Stay tuned, as we have many more video round ups from the 2007 LA Auto Show on the way.

[Source: YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, DaimlerChrysler, Frankfurt Motor Show

Deutsche Welle English has a great video on YouTube called Made in Germany | Top Secret: Experimental Vehicles that includes a look at a DaimlerChrysler hybrid engine still in development. Fire your corporate spies top American automakers and just watch this video above that includes passing a key card locked door with a “no cameras” warning symbol before entering the DaimlerChrysler lab. After making sure the voltage is off, they go inches away from the hybrid engine, take close up shots and the staff just starts talking about it. All the reporter gets is that it’s four cylinders before you see them really start to back off on giving out any details.

The video above also includes the design of the cork interior to the vehicle which became the F-700, the DaimlerChrysler concept limo with DaimlerChrysler DiesOtto enging. The video is a little dated because it was uploaded by Deutsche Welle in September 2007 and the F700 was shown at 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. With Detroit Auto Show coming up, I thought it was still very interesting to see how a car made it from sketch to car show floor. The video above is part 2 of 4 and you can watch remaining videos below. Enjoy!

Related:

• Mercedes will debut F700 with DiesOtto engine at the Frankfurt Motor Show
• Frankfurt Preview: Mercedes-Benz F700 concept with DiesOtto engine
• Frankfurt 2007: Mercedes-Benz F700 research vehicle with DiesOtto

[Source: YouTube]
Part 4

Part 3

Part 1

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Transportation Alternatives, Volkswagen, LA Auto Show

The video above is an interview with the winners of the LA Auto Show Design Challenge, Robocar 2057. The VW designers imagined cars that stand upright, which allows for higher traffic density. On the slipstream highways, things really get interesting as the car rotates to a flatter more aerodynamic position. The cars have spiked wheels that let them drive on the side of vertical highways. The cars also have a wing on the rear that keeps the back aloft. The vertical highway idea reminds me of the magnetic highways in the movie Minority Report. The standing car idea reminds me of I-Real. Below the jump, find a video interview with the director of the Design Challenge.

[Source: YouTube]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, Land Rover, Detroit Auto Show

The video above shows us an early look at the Land Rover “baby” LRX concept before it debuts at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show this month. The video includes Land Rover’s design director Gerry McGovern saying the LRX “clearly conveys messages that we take sustainability seriously.” The LRX is the smallest SUV Land Rover has ever made and includes an green “economy mode” which makes the car’s internal lighting literally turn green. The LRX will also have a diesel/electric hybrid power train and gets 40 miles per gallon. Wow, someone give Rover a bone!

Related:

• Move over crossovers, 2008 will be the year of the Super-Mini SUV (Top 10 list included)
• Frankfurt 2007: Land Rover goes all mini
• Land Rover to show driveable hybrid prototype this year
• Study commissioned by Land Rover finds small cars are bad for the environment
• Land Rover going aluminum for next generation Range Rover
• Geneva Motor Show: Details of Land Rover’s new CO2 Offset program

[Source: YouTube]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Transportation Alternatives

Have you heard about Aeromovel, a train that is driven by compressed air? You can see the train (which has no on-board motor) as it uses a sail-like propulsion device on what looks like traditional train tracks in the video above. It’s currently in use in Brazil and Indonesia. Below the fold is a video of a vehicle that can only carry one person but has access to a street car’s network of rails. Usually, street cars are designed to carry lots of people. Oh, another strange thing about the personal street car concept vehicle is it looks like a flying carpet.

Related:

• Videos: London’s Heathrow airport to use driver-less, electric POD transport system
• Video: Car-free city coming 2009
• Video of “naked streets” and how banning stop lights will save gas
• Cool videos: street lamp electric bubble car, Disney’s 1958 hovering solar car

[Source: YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Transportation Alternatives

Have you heard about Aeromovel, a train that is driven by compressed air? You can see the train (which has no on-board motor) as it uses a sail-like propulsion device on what looks like traditional train tracks in the video above. It’s currently in use in Brazil and Indonesia. Below the fold is a video of a vehicle that can only carry one person but has access to a street car’s network of rails. Usually, street cars are designed to carry lots of people. Oh, another strange thing about the personal street car concept vehicle is it looks like a flying carpet.

Related:

• Videos: London’s Heathrow airport to use driver-less, electric POD transport system
• Video: Car-free city coming 2009
• Video of “naked streets” and how banning stop lights will save gas
• Cool videos: street lamp electric bubble car, Disney’s 1958 hovering solar car

[Source: YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Transportation Alternatives

Have you heard about Aeromovel, a train that is driven by compressed air? You can see the train (which has no on-board motor) as it uses a sail-like propulsion device on what looks like traditional train tracks in the video above. It’s currently in use in Brazil and Indonesia. Below the fold is a video of a vehicle that can only carry one person but has access to a street car’s network of rails. Usually, street cars are designed to carry lots of people. Oh, another strange thing about the personal street car concept vehicle is it looks like a flying carpet.

Related:

• Videos: London’s Heathrow airport to use driver-less, electric POD transport system
• Video: Car-free city coming 2009
• Video of “naked streets” and how banning stop lights will save gas
• Cool videos: street lamp electric bubble car, Disney’s 1958 hovering solar car

[Source: YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Transportation Alternatives

Have you heard about Aeromovel, a train that is driven by compressed air? You can see the train (which has no on-board motor) as it uses a sail-like propulsion device on what looks like traditional train tracks in the video above. It’s currently in use in Brazil and Indonesia. Below the fold is a video of a vehicle that can only carry one person but has access to a street car’s network of rails. Usually, street cars are designed to carry lots of people. Oh, another strange thing about the personal street car concept vehicle is it looks like a flying carpet.

Related:

• Videos: London’s Heathrow airport to use driver-less, electric POD transport system
• Video: Car-free city coming 2009
• Video of “naked streets” and how banning stop lights will save gas
• Cool videos: street lamp electric bubble car, Disney’s 1958 hovering solar car

[Source: YouTube]

&nbsp

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Detroit Auto Show

If all of the AutoblogGreen coverage isn′t enough for you, you can see all the new cars at the Detroit Auto Show, in a live, one-hour special tonight at 9 PM Est on CNBC.

The video above is a close look at the interior and back of Toyota’s concept hybrid truck, the A-Bat. WARNING: In the video above, after CNBC takes a look at the A-Bat, they laugh at a miscalculation in the Chrysler’s stampede stunt involving gay … you have to watch.

This video is an interview with Jim Lentz, Toyota’s U.S. president, where he confirms Toyota will show two new hybrids cars at next year’s Detroit Auto Show. Jim said this while standing next to Toyota’s new non-hybrid SUV, the Venza.

[Source: MSNBC]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Mazda, Detroit Auto Show

The first video below the fold is Mazda’s Director of Design, Franz von Holzhausen talking about the Furai concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The Furai is a racing concept that runs on E100 (100 percent ethanol) and the car’s design is inspired by the wind. The video includes a look at a really cool pop-up wing in the middle of the Furai.

The second video below the fold is the Furai on the race track with sounds you really have to hear. You will never believe that’s corn ethanol making that noise. Also below the fold is a video that takes a look at the inside of the Furai and its very cool steering wheel.

Related:

• Detroit 2008 Preview: Mazda Furai concept
• Detroit 2008 Preview: Mazda Furai completely exposed

[Source: YouTube]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Lascelles Linton