Hybrid News

Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Legislation and Policy, USA

In 2009, the U.S. will use at least 11.1 billion gallons of renewable fuel. This was the pronouncement of the EPA today regarding an increase in the Renewable Fuel Standard Increased from 7.76 percent (the 2008 number) to 10.21 percent, an increase of 2.45 percentage points or about 2 billion gallons. The 11-plus billion gallons will be blended into transportation gasoline as E10, E85 and different types of biodiesel blends. The raise continues the EPA’s policy of gradual increases in the annual use of biofuels until the target of 36 billion gallons in 2022, set by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), is reached.

[Source: EPA]

Continue reading EPA ups America’s Renewable Fuel Standard to 10.21 percent for 2009

EPA ups America’s Renewable Fuel Standard to 10.21 percent for 2009 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Solar, Honda

Honda’s Soltec subsidiary has been selling smaller scale photo-voltaic panels for residential use for the past year. Honda Soltec has just expanded its capacity to build larger panels more suitable for large scale installations like factories and public buildings. As of this week, the large scale solar systems are available for sale from Honda. The company has been testing these systems for some time with a variety of installations ranging from the solar-powered hydrogen generating station at the Honda R&D campus in Torrance, CA to a car-carrying ship operated by ACT Maritime Co. Honda’s press release is after the jump.

[Source: Honda]

Continue reading Honda Soltec PV panels now available for public/industrial applications

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Green Daily

There wasn’t too much transportation-related green displays at the WIRED NextFest going on in Chicago this month, but it’s hard to miss the ones that are present. While the back of the tent is taken over by Toyota’s plug-in Prius and 1/x, right in the middle of the floor is the ridiculously stretched out Imagine PS Roadster from HumanCar. We’ve heard about this vehicle since 2006, and it’s still in pretty basic form. The bright orange chassis and the rowing-powered powerplant (which will be combined with an electric motor in the final version) sat next to each other and you can see both in the photo gallery below. What struck me was just how low and long this vehicle is. I still can’t quite imagine how you steer the car, especially at low speeds, as the “BodySteer[TM]” technology isn’t something I get quite yet. Perhaps I will if we can take the Imagine out for a spin sometime next year - it’s due in Spring 2009.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, On Two Wheels, China, USA

Over the last few years, there has been an amazing influx of Chinese motorcycles, scooters and all terrain vehicles. Many of the products coming in from overseas have a horrible record for quality, but there have been a few gems along the way as well. With this in mind, our eyes were drawn to an article on Automotive News regarding a new Chinese company we were not yet familiar with. Though we’ve become accustomed to finding these manufacturers on scooter forums and news sites, it is still rare to see them in the mainstream automotive media. We have no way of knowing what kind of quality its vehicles are, but Zhejiang Kangdi Vehicles Co. may be making some inroads into the U.S. market with its line of two, three and four-wheelers in both gas and electric versions. The company appears to be calling itself Kandi. A Seattle company is importing the vehicles and fifteen franchises have already been purchased.

We took a look at the company’s web site and we see some of the normal scooters and motorcycles. We also see some carts with an eerie resemblance to the smart fortwo. One model really caught our attention — a three-wheeled scooter powered by what appears to be the ubiquitous GY6 150cc engine and CVT transmission. We’ll see if Kandi vehicles come up any more in the coming weeks and months. It’s just as possible that we never hear the name again. Will Kandi begin offering EPA-certified vehicles? Stay tuned.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req’d]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Aptera, USA

Click above for more images of the Aptera Typ1 e

Way back in September of 2006, Google.org, the philanthropic part of the Internet giant, announced that it would be investing in PHEVs. The following year, Google followed that bit of news up by launching its RechargeIT initiative which would begin investing in some for-profit manufacturers in an effort to see these fuel-saving products make it to market as quickly as possible. The first two investments from RechargeIT have now officially been announced, and at least one of the companies benefiting from the $2.75 million investment should be well known to our readers: Aptera.

We’ve been covering the futuristic new vehicle since it was first introduced, and its exciting to see the project mature to the point where people, in California at least, are anxiously awaiting the first electric Apteras to be delivered. This financing should only help matters as the company works to get its electric and hybrid vehicles to customers as quickly as possible.

The other company receiving some funding is known as ActaCell and is based in Austin, Texas. Based at the University of Texas, Actacel is hard at work refining its lithium ion battery technology with the goal of producing low cost, high output cells while retaining a high degree of safety. A tall order for sure, though one that could be made easier with its newfound cash outlay. We’ve pasted ActaCell’s press release after the break. Thanks for the tip, Karen!

[Source: Google.org via Cleantech]

Continue reading Google invests $2.75 million in Aptera, ActaCell

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Th!nk (Think)

Danny Fleet is a Londoner with an interest in electric cars. His attituce should come as no surprise given that EVs can avoid the city’s congestion charge. Currently, Danny happens to drive one of the ever-popular G-Wiz quadricycles. Danny was lucky enough to be in the area when one of the new second-generation Th!nk city electric cars arrived fresh from the factory in Norway and he got to check it out as soon as they unloaded it from the truck. He recorded video of his tour and his first drive and came away very impressed.

The Th!nk has some pretty decent specs, starting with the fact that it’s actually type approved in Europe as an actual car not a quadricycle. To get that type approval it has to be crash tested and meet safety requirements, something quadricycles don’t. Th!nk claims the lithium polymer battery will provide a range of 125 miles on a charge and the top speed of 65mph. It’s fitted with safety equipment like air bags, seat belts and even ABS. Th!nk will be selling the car in the UK for £14,000 and charging and extra £100 per month for a battery rental. If the charge capacity of the battery falls too low, they will replace it as part of the rental deal. Check out Danny′s videos here and here.

[Source: Danny’s Contentment]

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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 Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

Photo by Clearly Ambiguous. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

We’ve seen some crazy stories about cheap gas - sometimes accidental and sometimes illegal - recently. Here’s another story to add to the list of recent fuel-price-related shenanigans: straight-up theft. In King County, Washington and Des Moines, Iowa, gas stations are reporting losses of hundreds of gallons due to bandits manipulating pumps and then filling up truck tanks and 55-gallon drums in the bed. Police are looking for a redish Nissan Titan, possibly with California plates, that appeared in surveillance tapes. How did the men know how to manipulate the pumps? One station manager thinks the suspects are gas-pump technicians, as they appeared pretty familiar with how the equipment works. This certainly isn’t the first time that high fuel prices have driven people to thievery. Anyone think it′ll be the last?

[Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, NY Times]

 

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Automotive X-Prize

Following up on the post the other day about Popular Mechanics’ attempt to rank the top ten Automotive X Prize teams, reader and tipster Manu wrote, “My bet for #1 is Poulsen Hybrid. It’s not on the list and it’s never been mentioned on ABG” (he also has his own take on the Poulsen Hybrid here). True enough, we have been remiss in covering this particular and we figured it was time to change that. I mean, what if this team happens to win and we weren’t there from the beginning? Shameful. Of course, there are 60+ teams in the competition, and there are many we haven’t covered. We should, but that’s a post for another day.

Actually, we already missed the beginning. Poulsen hybrid plan started (I think, based on the website) last year, and the general idea is to take an existing ICE car and convert it to a plug-in electric hybrid with mileage in the 100 mpge range. The system adds two Poulsen Hybrid electric motors that use rare earth permanent magnets and are rated at 5kW or 7hp onto the outside of your car and then adds a 72V 120Ah Deep Cycle Lead Acid battery pack (with six batteries inside) and an onboard charger to the vehicle. As Manu writes, the benefits to this system include technology that is here today (June 2008 is the expected debut) and that Alpha-Core is not a new company, so funding issues shouldn’t hold the Poulsen system back. The device costs $3,300, with another $600 for professional installation. Poulsen Hybrid, Inc. is a company based in Shelton, Connecticut and is connected to Alpha-Core, a division of Bridgeport Magnetics, Inc. So, whaddya think?

[Source: Poulsen, h/t to Manu]

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily, Automotive X-Prize

If the Automotive X Prize has caught your attention and you’d like to do more than read about it, good news: the X Prize Foundation is hiring. As Cristin Lindsay, the senior director of the Progressive Automotive X Prize, told AutoblogGreen, these are four key positions and I’m thinking there’s probably at least one of our readers who’d make a good Team Development and Relations director, a Sponsorship Activation and Relations director, a Education Programs director or an Executive Assistant. The hires are part of a doubling of the Auto X Prize team in the coming months, a move that certainly implies things are going well in the search for the 100 mpge, mass market car. One requirement that’s the same among all of these jobs is that they are located in Santa Monica, California. I don’t think you’ll get moved to the head of the pack if you tell them you read AutoblogGreen, but it couldn’t hurt.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Hybrid, Audi

Ok here’s the deal. Audi is building a hybrid Q7. It will be launched in late 2008. After our last report on the subject, I contacted Audi US spokesman Christian Bokich to get clarification on the on-again, off-again hybrid SUV. Chris verified that Audi AG will indeed build a Q7 hybrid and that no plans for U.S. availability have been announced. The only new Q7 variant that has been announced for the U.S. is the 3.0L TDI diesel. Our European friends will, however, have access to the gas electric powertrain that pairs up a 3.6L direct injected V6 with a electric drive. The V6 will apparently put out 280bhp and 277lb-ft f torque. Combined with a battery and motor, this configuration is expected to yield around 24mpg - about the same as the diesel Q7 I recently sampled. According to a Channel 4 report from the UK, the Q7 system was developed along with Porsche’s system for the Cayenne; that one won’t appear in production until 2010.

[Source: Audi, Channeм.com]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid