Hybrid News

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel

One of the problems major automakers cite as a reason that more ethanol isn’t used in their flex-fuel vehicles is that the people who own the cars just don’t know that you can put E85 into the tank. But there is another problem: not having any E85 available in your area. If you want to find out if you can get E85 locally, there has long been an ethanol station search available at the website of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition. Douglas Cottrell over at Drive Flex Fuel thought that another E85 station locater was in order.

A quick check using my home Zip code turned up 80 E85 stations from NEVC and almost twice that (157) on Drive Flex Fuel within a 200 mile range. DFF allows you to limit your search to 10 miles (or 25 or other limits) of your home while the NEVC site only allows you to search for stations within 200 miles of your home (and how useful is that?). From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem that DFF discriminates between public and industrial sites. Cottrell wrote to AutoblogGreen to say that he updates the station list every month and has all states and zip codes listed.

[Source: Drive Flex Fuel]

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

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

A bipartisan group of senators has drafted a new energy bill that includes a mandate that all vehicles sold in the United States would have to be flex-fuel capable by 2020. During the GM BioFuels summit last Friday in Detroit, one of the subjects that came up was the use of flex-fuel vs. dedicated ethanol vehicles. When Brazil first started moving to ethanol in the 1970s, manufacturers built cars that only ran on ethanol. Due some volatility in fuel prices these proved to be unpopular. It was only when everyone started to make flex-fuel vehicles so that drivers could select the fuel that was most affordable that such cars and use ethanol really took off. Now more than 90 percent of new cars in Brazil are FFVs.

However, some in the industry are opposed to the plan. Barbara Nocera of Mazda is concerned that government shouldn’t mandate which technologies win out. The validity of this argument is dependent on how how the law is written. If it only mandates flex fuel capability without specifying particular fuels, this really shouldn’t be a problem. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers president Dave McCurdy has said some engines are not easily adaptable to flex fuel capability. Again this seems a dubious argument at least for gasoline engines. There shouldn’t be any modern electronically controlled engines that couldn’t be flex-fuel capable.

GM spokesman Alan Adler told ABG that “In general, GM opposes mandates, including this one.” The real problem is not building the FFVs, but rather a lack of filling stations. Brazil has mandated that filling stations must install ethanol pumps, but less than one percent of U.S. stations offer E85. Adler said that most new GM programs “are going to offer flex-fuel capability but some, such as diesel programs, will not.” However, if the fuel isn’t available to buy it won’t make any difference.

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

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Suzuki

So far, Suzuki has steered clear of alternative fuel vehicles in the American market. They haven’t offered any diesels, flex-fuel or hybrid vehicles yet. That may soon change as the company will reportedly launch some vehicles that can run on not just E85, but also E100 as soon as 2010. The powertrains will be targeted at both the U.S. and Brazilian markets were E100 is commonly available. By March of 2009, Suzuki plans to launch a product in Brazil that can handle E25. Suzuki could also use its General Motors connections to bring a hybrid vehicle to market. In this case, it will more likely be the mild hybrid BAS system rather than the much more expensive Two-Mode hybrid. We might even get some of the diesels that Suzuki offers in other parts of the world.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, MPG, Legislation and Policy, USA

Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has proposed a new ten-year $150 billion energy plan today in Michigan. A large part of the plan centers around transportation — both the use of petroleum and the types of cars we are to drive in the future. For automakers, $4 billion in loans and loan guarantees would be made available for PHEV development, with one-million of the vehicles to be ready for sale by 2015. For consumers, a $7,000 tax credit would be offered for their purchase of said vehicle. Also, in a more short-term effort, Obama proposes that the U.S. sells some seventy-million barrels of oil from America’s strategic petroleum reserve.

While those PHEVs are being developed, Obama’s plan would increase fuel economy standards 4-percent per year. What’s more, Obama would mandate at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels by 2030 while requiring that fuel producers reduce their fuel’s carbon emissions by 5 percent within 5 years and 10 percent within 10 years. To make those biofuels have as large an impact as possible, all new vehicles would be required to have flex-fuel capability within four years.

Lastly, the entire White House fleet will be converted to plug‐ins within one year (does this include the new presidential limo that will debut in January?) and half of all cars purchased by the federal government will be plug‐in hybrids or all‐electric by 2012. See the entire plan in .pdf form at this link.

[Source: Barack Obama - .pdf]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Honda

The Wall Street Journal reports Honda is considering ethanol and more natural gas-powered cars. In the past Honda has not been positive on ethanol. Here is Honda’s U.S. sales chief John Mendel, speaking in August 2006, when asked about making flex fuel cars:

We’re not against it. … In the list of priorities right now, we haven’t moved it up the list. It is less efficient from a fuel-economy standpoint.

Why is ethanol suddenly a priority a little over a year later? The ethanol glut currently in the market and the energy bill’s inclusion of an even greater push for biofuels, makes adding a $100 worth of technology to your car a no-brainer.

The Wall Street Journal article also mentions a new affordable Honda hybrid in 2009, which seems to be the CR-Z. The only thing new seems to be that by “affordable,” Honda means a hybrid premium under $2,000 which sounds a little higher than the $1,750 premium Honda has said before.

The Wall Street Journal also says Honda is considering diesel for larger cars to comply with new fuel efficiency requirement in the pending energy bill. They would not elaborate on which diesel technology is under consideration.

Related:

• Honda’s new dedicated hybrid to be a high-volume model
• Honda says no to ethanol, says it’s not efficient
• Honda’s environmental strategy includes diesels, affordable hybrid
• 2009 Honda Accord diesel to hit 52 mpg!

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

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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, Ferrari, LA Auto Show

Ferrari probably won’t make a hybrid or a full electric car but they just might make a flex-flex car that can run on E85. That possibility comes directly from Maurizio Parlato, President and CEO of Ferrari North America, at the end of an interview at the LA Auto Show with the Wall Street Journal, which you can watch above. At first, the WSJ notices the Ferrari’s beautiful, candy red looks but notes this show is all about green and then asks what have they got that’s green, to which Maurizio replies; thank you for asking me that, we are very sensitive to this point and we have to be and then this;

We are thinking and moving in the direction of ethanol to make ethanol a part of our, basically possibility, we are considering seriously about that.

…ah, his English is not great but I think the message is clear. Ethanol makes a lot of sense for a sports car because you can get more power from ethanol and things like lower mileage or higher fuel cost are probably not of great concern to a sports car driver. It’s really too bad Ferrari cannot look at hybrids as a being a source of power but this is great news none the less.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

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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, Toyota

We told you February that Toyota’s racing series would use ethanol in 2007 and now we have a video of the first race from TV3, where they describe it as a world’s first in motor sport. Toyota currently does not sell a flex fuel vehicle in the US market but they may sell flex fuel vehicles in the next several years. It may cost car makers as little as $100 to make a car flex fuel, and most cars are already built to tolerate ten percent ethanol blends in gasoline and Toyota does sell flex fuel vehicles in Brazil, so it’s probably not a technology or cost issue. Why the wait, Toyota?

Related:

• LA 2007: Toyota Sequioa to get Flex-fuel option in fall 2008
  
• Toyota looking at a plug-in hybrid, flex-fuel vehicles?
• Toyota To Unveil Flex-Fuel Tundra In North America In 2008
• Toyota to intro flex-fuel Tundra, hopes it will help sales in the Mid-West
• World Touring Car Championship to run ethanol exclusively from 2009
• American Le Mans Series moving further into biofuels
• First-ever all-ethanol Indy 500 has a winner…

[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: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, GM, Toyota, LA Auto Show

Your browser does not support JavaScript. This media can be viewed at <a href=”http://www.podtech.net/home/4588/la-auto-show-gm-press-conference”>http://www.podtech.net/home/4588/la-auto-show-gm-press-conference</a>

In GM’s LA Auto Show press conference, which you can watch above in full, GM Vice Chairman of Global Product Development, Bob Lutz says the same thing we reported GM CEO’s Rick Wagoner said: GM will release sixteen hybrids in the next four years. Here is the exact quote:

If you want to talk hybrids; we are introducing four more hybrids in the US this year. In fact, counting the new Saturn Green Line, we are introducing sixteen hybrids in the next four years. That’s one about every three months.

Bob continues saying that the 16 will include vehicles with GM’s full, two-mode hybrids. Before that, Bob said GM has a goal of making and selling the most fuel efficient car in every available category, and mentioned the company already has the most fuel-efficient pick ups and has sold 2.5 M flex fuel cars. GM announced its “strong intent” to be the “world wide fuel solutions leader and undisputed environmental and technological leader in the industry.” Bob says they are going to do it across their entire line of cars and not just with a single iconic green car, which Bob says they will have anyway. Bob even hinted at a lot more flex fuel cars coming from GM, whic makes me wonder if some big announcement is coming.

Basically, GM is talking to Toyota Muhammad Ali-style: we are the best and we are going to kick your butt!

[Source: Podtech]

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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, Hybrid, GM, Toyota, LA Auto Show

Your browser does not support JavaScript. This media can be viewed at <a href=”http://www.podtech.net/home/4588/la-auto-show-gm-press-conference”>http://www.podtech.net/home/4588/la-auto-show-gm-press-conference</a>

In GM’s LA Auto Show press conference, which you can watch above in full, GM Vice Chairman of Global Product Development, Bob Lutz says the same thing we reported GM CEO’s Rick Wagoner said: GM will release sixteen hybrids in the next four years. Here is the exact quote:

If you want to talk hybrids; we are introducing four more hybrids in the US this year. In fact, counting the new Saturn Green Line, we are introducing sixteen hybrids in the next four years. That’s one about every three months.

Bob continues saying that the 16 will include vehicles with GM’s full, two-mode hybrids. Before that, Bob said GM has a goal of making and selling the most fuel efficient car in every available category, and mentioned the company already has the most fuel-efficient pick ups and has sold 2.5 M flex fuel cars. GM announced its “strong intent” to be the “world wide fuel solutions leader and undisputed environmental and technological leader in the industry.” Bob says they are going to do it across their entire line of cars and not just with a single iconic green car, which Bob says they will have anyway. Bob even hinted at a lot more flex fuel cars coming from GM, whic makes me wonder if some big announcement is coming.

Basically, GM is talking to Toyota Muhammad Ali-style: we are the best and we are going to kick your butt!

[Source: Podtech]

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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, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy

During a recent international renewable energy forum in Beijing, Liu Zhijia, Assistant General Manager of Chery, said by 2010 half of Chery’s vehicles will be hybrids and half of those hybrids will run on clean fuels. Here is exactly what he said:

New energy is a driving force for the sustainable development of auto industry, by 2010 more than fifty percent vehicles produced by Chery will be equipped with hybrid systems, and half of those vehicles will be powered by new energy.

Yin Tongyao, Chery’s chief executive has said Chery “will reach annual sales of 1 million autos by 2010.” That would translate to annual sales of 500,000 hybrids a year from Chery. For comparison, the total U.S sales for hybrids for 2006 was 254,545. Will Chinese hybrids flood the U.S market? Not right away. Chery does not intend to enter the US market for four years.

At the forum, Liu also said the hybrid development plan will have three phases. The first step has mild hybrid sedans starting production in 2008 which means that overall emissions from Chery vehicles will be reduced between 10 and 30 percent. The second phase is the development and mass production of full hybrids and electric/alcohol vehicles by 2010. That’s when Chery expects half of its sales to come from hybrids. The final phase is the development of fuel cells cars by 2015.

The Chinese vice-minister for science and technology, Cao Jianlin, was also at the forum and he said the government will provide funding and tax breaks as part of a government plan to encourage green technology. Chinese auto makers Shanghai Automotive and FAW has also shown interest in hybrid technology. The future of Chinese hybrids looks bright.

[Source: Heliq]

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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, GM

There are already millions of flex-fuel vehicles on the road today, and manufacturers like General Motors have committed to building many, many more. In fact, GM has plans for half of their entire fleet of automotive offerings to be flex-fuel capable by the year 2012. According to Jim Wagoner, GM’s CEO, if all of the flex-fuel vehicles that are currently on the roads were actually powered by E85, the U.S. could displace 22 billion gallons of gasoline annually. This raises a serious problem, though, considering that there are only about 1,400 E85 pumps in the entire country. Many of those are all clustered in a few Midwestern states. In view of this, Wagoner suggests that the U.S. needs about ten times as many E85 pumps than are currently operational.

No matter what your view of E85 may be, you likely agree that using food crops such as corn is not the best choice. In lieu of corn, Wagoner suggests investing more heavily in cellulosic ethanol (which is exactly what GM is doing with Coskata in the deal announced today). There is plenty more to read here, where you can read the text of the Wagoner’s entire speech. You’ll also encounter a couple of very, very bad jokes. Enjoy!

[Source: General Motors, CNET Green Tech blog]

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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 Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Green Daily

Ever justified buying something you know you shouldn’t have purchased? Getting the fries instead of the salad for an extra dollar because you’re hungry and, hey, it’s just a buck? Or maybe you bought a way-too-big house because the ARM was so affordable (emphasis on the “was”)? Well, you’ll have your work cut out for you if you want to spring for the DiMora Natalia SLS 2. The price? A cool two million dollars.

Obviously only intended for the insane - wait, I meant insanely wealthy - the Natalia SLS 2 should be out next year and the justifications have begun. Described by My Desert as “the first eco-friendly, hand-built, $2 million production automobile” (let’s hope there isnt’ a second), celebrities like Willie Nelson and Larry Hagman are ready to tell us just how good this car can be for the environment. Willie’s usually a pusher for biodiesel, not ethanol, but he was excited about the flex-fuel capability of the Natalia SLS 2. He didn’t say anything about the car itself. We can guess that’s because it’s got a V-16 that displaces 14 liters for 1,200 horsepower, which certainl doesn’t sound green. Still, DiMora Motorcar says its flagship vehicle will get “excellent gas mileage.” Oh, and it’s got some nifty windshield wipers.

Look, if you’re thinking of blowing $2m on a car, go get help. Better yet, buy a spaceship and head for the stars. We don’t need your kind here. If you want to impress your neighbors, buy a Tesla or a Fisker or convince Honda to sell you an FCX Clarity or something. Green cars are smart, but two million bucks for a sedan is just dumb.

[Source: My Desert via Ecorazzi]

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

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

The U.S. Air Force is trying to make its ground vehicles a little less petroleum fuel-hungry. It has advanced li-ion battery contracts out and funded the Silverado EV. The company Xcelplus International Inc. announced this week that it and MAG International Inc. will be providing the Air Force with a “new fleet of off road vehicles designed to reduce exhaust emissions.” The reduced emissions for the 450 vehicles come from flexfuel conversions and then running the unnamed vehicles on E85. Aside from the secrecy of the vehicles involved, the amount the company will receive for the conversions was also not stated. One thing that isn’t hush-hush, though, is that a lot of taxpayer money will be funneled through the Pentagon to increase fuel efficiency for “warfighters” for a long time to come. More detail after the break.

Press Release:

Flex Fuel Conversions for the U.S. Air Force

HARTFIELD, Va., May 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Xcelplus International Inc. (Pink Sheets: XLPI) announces the pending appointment of MAG International Inc. (http://www.maginternationalinc.com/) as a new OEM distributor of Flextek Flex Fuel Conversion technology (http://www.flextek.com/).

The U.S. Air Force recently accepted MAG’s bid to provide a new fleet of off road vehicles designed to reduce exhaust emissions. Reducing the exhaust emissions of its fleet is a major concern of the Air Force. The vehicles supplied by MAG will use Flextek technology to allow the vehicles to utilize emission reducing E85 fuel.

As an OEM Flextek distributor, MAG will be marketing to military installations and other government facilities as well as private off-road vehicle purchasers including farms, refineries, stadiums, hotels, resorts, casinos, amusement parks, airports, building complexes, universities and colleges.

“We are very excited about the purchase and OEM agreements with MAG International Inc.,” said Bill R. Smith, president of Xcelplus International Inc. “We have been saying for some time now that rising concerns about exhaust emissions and record high gasoline prices will work to make Flextek a household name in fuel conservation. The decision of MAG International to use Flextek as part of their military application package marks a major milestone for Xcelplus.” Their initial order of 450 plus units is a great start to this new relationship.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Although Xcelplus International believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any assumption could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion should not be regarded as a representation by Xcelplus International or any other person that the objective and plans of Xcelplus International will be achieved.

[Source: Xcelplus International Inc.]

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Toyota, Asia

Although Toyota is the undisputed leader in hybrid sales, it has shied away from offering E85-capable vehicles in the United States. In other markets, though, where ethanol is widely available and popular, such as Brazil, Toyota has seen fit to offer vehicles which are able to run on the alcohol fuel. Just-Auto reports that Thailand might be the next market where Toyota could begin offering E85-capable vehicles, citing The Nation newspaper in Thailand. The decision to offer ethanol-capable vehicles is made easier as any gasoline engine can be made to run on E85 with only minor changes, such as new fuel lines and a computer recalibration.

Toyota also hopes that the price of E85 remains low in relation to the price of gasoline, which could help offset the lower mileage that E85 fuel causes. The source article also points to molasses and tapioca as locally-grown feedstocks for the production of the fuel itself.

[Source: Just-Auto - sub. req’d]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Lotus

Click above for hi-res gallery of the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-Fuel

British sportscar-maker and engineering firm Lotus may be known for its lightweight vehicles, but in the industry it still packs a punch as a heavyweight. It’s that weight which Lotus is throwing behind methanol as the most viable alternative fuel.

Towards that end, at this year’s Geneva motor show Lotus unveiled the flex-fuel 270E prototype based on the lightweight Exige sportscar. The vehicle is designed to run on gasoline, ethanol or methanol, but it’s the latter which the company feels is the most viable for the near future. Like bio-ethanol, methanol can be made from natural materials, or can be made from hydrogen combined with CO₂ pulled out of the thin air, which allows for zero-emissions operation. The most convenient aspect, however, is that most car engines on the road today could be converted to run on methanol.

[Source: Automotive News Europe - subs. req’d]

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Original post by Noah Joseph