Hybrid News

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, GM, Tesla Motors

Want to watch Lesley Stahl and Elon Musk tool around in a Tesla Roadster? If you missed the duo on 60 Minutes last night, you can still catch it online. The stalwart CBS reporter takes a 12-minute look at “The Race for the Electric Car.” The piece starts out by talking the need for new battery technology, but then becomes a sort of personaity profile.

This happens when Stahl chats with Bob Lutz and his role in bringing the Volt to life. While he tells her he doesn’t want to repeat his “global warming is a ‘total crock of sh*t‘” comment on the family news show (maybe all the flak had an effect), he does admit his personal carbon footprint isn’t exactly small. With two helicopters and two jets in his family, not to mention all of his cars, Lutz is still a tempting target for mainstream news editors to use as a poster boy for GM’s greenwashing. Still, in the rest of the piece we get to see people handbuilding Tesla Roadsters, an Aptera driving down the road and a clip of the Fisker Karma. Oh, and Bob Lutz kind of gloating over what’s happenend to Tesla.

Watch the video after the break.

[Source: CBS]

Continue reading 60 Minutes on “The Race For The Electric Car”

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: MPG, On Two Wheels

Starting with the KLX 250S, which scores an excellent 70 miles per gallon, Kawasaki has 23 motorcycles that get 33 miles per gallon or better. In case you were wondering, that is every single bike that the manufacturer makes, including beasts such as the Ninja ZX-10R and the 1.4-liter ZX-14. To highlight the possible fuel savings that a two-wheeled vehicle offers over its four-wheeled and enclosed cousins, Team Green has created a new micro-site that shows you each model and its mpg rating.

Of course, riding on a saddle is not for everyone. A motorcycle offers plenty of thrills and excitement, as Kawasaki is eager to point out, but the rider is left out in the elements and there aren’t really any safety measures to speak of on most bikes, especially the smallest and most fuel efficient options available. Still, those who do choose to ride will enjoy the extra spending money left in their pocketbooks after filling up, this particular blogger included.

[Source: Kawasaki]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Hybrid, China

Click above for more high-res shots of the Chery A5 hybrid

In April, it was revealed that Chinese carmaker Chery would be supplying some fifty vehicles for use during the Olympic games, including the company’s first hybrid model. There are two such hybrid models, both based on the automaker’s A5 sedan. The A5 BSG is a simpler design featuring a twelve volt Belt Starter-Generator attached to the standard model’s 1.6-liter four cylinder engine. The BSG features stop/start capability and is said to offer up to a 10-percent fuel economy improvement in urban driving. The more advanced A5 ISG uses a smaller 1.3-liter engine along with a 12 kW, crankshaft-mounted 151-volt Integrated Starter-Generator system which is said to offer a 15-percent improvement in fuel consumption.

Pictures indicate that the larger battery pack of the A5 ISG model is located in the trunk and is attached to the back of the rear seat. These two hybrids were developed with the assistance of Ricardo and are expected to go on sale shortly after the Olympic Games are complete.

[Source: Ricardo via Carscoop]

Continue reading Chery to debut A5 hybrid models at Olympics

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen, UK

Click on the image above for more pictures of the Polo BlueMotion

Norwich City Council in the U.K. has just placed the largest ever single order for Volkswagen Polo BlueMotions at 50 total units. The Polo BlueMotion was specifically chosen due to its low fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg on the combined cycle and just 99 g/km of CO₂ emissions, making it the just about the greenest real car available in the U.K. these days. The BlueMotion is also exempt from the road tax in the U.K. due to its efficiency.

Powered by a small 1.4 liter diesel engine, the BlueMotion is able to squeak the most out of every drop of fuel thanks to aero tweaks, low-friction drivetrain gearing and low rolling resistance tires. From what we’ve heard, VW has no problem moving all of the BlueMotion vehicles that they build.

[Source: Volkswagen]Press Release:

NORWICH CITY COUNCIL PLACES RECORD ORDER FOR POLO BLUEMOTION

Norwich City Council is set to take delivery of a record 50 examples of the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion - the largest single order of BlueMotion vehicles to date.

The result is a sharp fall in carbon emissions and a rise in fuel economy - allowing the Polo BlueMotion to achieve up to 740 miles on a single tank of diesel while emitting less CO2 than nearly any other car on sale.
The Polo BlueMotion is on sale now with a starting price of £12,120 for the three door model.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: MPG, Chrysler, Dodge, European Union, UK

We knew already that the 2009 Dodge Journey would be receiving a dual-clutch transmission for overseas markets, but Chrysler has just announced that the ‘09 Dodge Avenger and 2009 Chrysler Sebring will also offer the tranny. Mated to a 2.0 liter diesel engine, both fuel economy and CO₂ emissions will improve by about six-percent. Chrysler’s dual-clutch transmission is jointly produced by Getrag. One clutch engages the even ratios while the other operates on the odd. Efficiency is increased due to increased mechanical efficiency.

We are hopeful that the American market will get some dual-clutch love from Chrysler after their new transmission plant in Indiana is ready in 2009, though we’re not expecting it to be mated to the diesel-four if it does show up on our shores … we’re not that lucky.

Press Release:

Chrysler’s New Dual-clutch Transmission to Debut in International Markets

* Fuel economy improvement and CO2 emissions reduction of 6 percent
* Offers consumers quick and smooth acceleration
* Set to debut on all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, 2009 Dodge Avenger and 2009 Chrysler Sebring in international markets this spring

Auburn Hills, Mich., Apr 14, 2008 - Chrysler’s new dual-clutch transmission-developed in partnership with Getrag-makes its debut this spring. The new technology-available in international markets on the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Avenger and the 2009 Chrysler Sebring-will provide consumers a fuel economy improvement and CO2 emissions reduction of 6 percent.

“Chrysler’s new dual-clutch transmission is the next step in transmission technology, offering consumers improved fuel economy along with smoother and quicker shifting,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development. “This important new Chrysler technology is one of several initiatives we have in place to directly focus on improving fuel efficiency across our vehicle lineup.”

Chrysler’s commitment to dual-clutch transmission technology is part of the Company’s powertrain offensive, announced last year.

Dual-clutch Transmission Technology
Chrysler’s dual-clutch transmission technology improves fuel economy and CO2 emissions by reducing parasitic losses-first, by eliminating the torque converter, and second, through the use of synchronizers instead of shift clutches.

In its first Chrysler LLC vehicle applications, the new dual-clutch transmission will debut in international markets on the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Avenger and the 2009 Chrysler Sebring. It will be mated to a 2.0-liter turbo diesel engine.

The dual-clutch transmission is an automatic transmission which utilizes dual launch and shift clutches with a manual transmission style lay-shaft gear arrangement, instead of a conventional torque converter and planetary gears. One clutch drives the odd numbered gears and reverse, while the other clutch drives the even numbered gears. During shifts, the next gear is anticipated and pre-selected. Then one clutch is opened while the other is closed, allowing shifting without torque interruption. The result is quicker acceleration and refined shift quality. Further, with the lay-shaft arrangement of gears, there is increased flexibility to optimize gear ratio selection for performance and fuel economy.

The all-new dual-clutch transmission does not require a torque converter to transfer engine torque to the transmission. Instead, it uses two wet multi-plate clutches. With the wet multi-plate clutch system, the clutch components are bathed in lubricating/cooling fluid in order to provide adequate thermal capacity.

The wet multi-plate clutch system uses hydraulic pressure to actuate the clutches and provide for gear selection. With this system, the power flow from the engine to the transmission is not interrupted during a shift, resulting in a power-on shift. This means that there is less torque disturbance than a conventional planetary automatic transmission with torque converter. Also, by eliminating the torque converter and reducing the number of shift clutches, parasitic losses are reduced leading to improved fuel economy.

[Source: Chrysler]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: On Two Wheels, USA

When it comes to scooter rumors, The Scooter Scoop’s premonitions seem to always come true. So, we’re pretty excited to see that our good friend Steve is reporting that the Yamaha T-Max is slated for a 2009 introduction into the United States market. For those unaware, the T-Max falls into the maxi-scooter category, boasting a displacement of 500ccs. Currently, the market is dominated by Suzuki with its Burgman scooter in both 400cc and 650cc sizes. Honda’s offering is the Silver Wing, which is available with a 600cc twin-cylinder engine. Yamaha’s largest scooter currently offered in the states is the Majesty, which struggles to compete with “only” 400ccs of displacement. For what it’s worth, Kawasaki has so far chosen to stay out of the scooter game. Though the T-Max only has an extra hundred ccs, the European motoring press has been singing the top-level Yamaha’s praises ever since it was first introduced a few years back. We look forward to finding out ourselves if they’re right, and seeing what Yamaha rates its fuel mileage at.

[Source: The Scooter Scoop]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Toyota

Toyota today released further details about one of its new battery plants in Japan. The plant, to be operated by Panasonic EV Energy (the joint venture between Toyota and Panasonic), is planned to be constructed in Taiwa-cho, Kurokawa-gun, Miyagi Prefecture north of Tokyo. The $290 million plant is expected to start turning out 100,000 nickel metal hydride batteries a year in early 2010. Eventually it will ramp up to twice that number to help supply the needs of the one million hybrids that Toyota hopes to be producing annually by the end of the next decade.

[Source: Toyota]
May 27, 2008
Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd.

Panasonic EV Energy Plans HV Battery Plant in Miyagi Prefecture

KOSAI, Shizuoka Prefecture-Panasonic EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) announced today that
it plans to establish a plant in Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture to increase PEVE’s supply of
batteries for hybrid vehicles.

Details are as follows:

1. Prospective location: Taiwa Ryutsu Kogyo Danchi (logistics & industrial
park), Taiwa-cho, Kurokawa-gun, Miyagi Prefecture

2. Start of operations: Beginning of 2010 (scheduled)

3. Product lineup: Nickel-metal hydride batteries for hybrid vehicles

4. Production capacity: Approx. 200,000 battery packs a year (approx. 100,000
packs a year at start-up)

5. Investment: Approximately 30 billion yen

The new plant is expected to create approximately 300 jobs.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid