Hybrid News

Filed under: MPG, Mercedes Benz

At various times over the past ten years, Mercedes-Benz has investigated the possibility of bringing its compact front wheel drive A- and B-class cars to the US market. The slightly larger B has been available north of the border in Canada for several years. Oddly enough, the fuel prices that have long been taxed to higher levels than in this country have stimulated demand for more efficient cars (imagine that!) and Mercedes has responded. Until now, though, neither car has been offered in the US because Daimler didn’t feel it could sell them in high enough volumes to be profitable.

With the total car market in this country in decline right now, even the German luxury brands are looking at more affordable options to pull in customers. Mercedes is working to significantly reduce the production cost of the next generation of the A and B and those cars are being considered for the US in 2012 when they debut.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport - translated]

Mercedes A- and B-class small cars may yet come to US market originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Ethanol, MPG, Ford, SEMA Show, Automotive X-Prize, USA

Remember Doug Pelmear, the inventor and mechanic from Toledo, Ohio who claims that his late-80’s Fox Body Mustang makes 400-horsepower and still manages to return 80 miles per gallon? Doug’s back in Toledo’s news and he’s making the same claims as before. In fact, Pelmear’s Mustang can run on ethanol and in so doing, he says, can get up to 110 miles per gallon equivalent. Apparently, Doug’s claims have been met with some skepticism, which isn′t really surprising considering that the claims seem rather outrageous, so he’s got a plan to prove that his Grandfather’s invention works as advertised. Doug will drive his 1987 Mustang from Toledo to Las Vegas, Nevada for the upcoming SEMA Show.

Along the way to Vegas, Doug and his team will keep track of his car’s fuel mileage and will report it after the 4,000 mile round trip is completed. Afterward, the Mustang will be entered into the Automotive X-Prize. We’re still firmly in the skeptical camp, but this is one of those instances where we’d love to see ourselves proven wrong. Maybe if it works, the nation’s attention will turn from Toledo′s other recently-famous person, Joe the Plumber.

[Source: WNWO NBC24]

80 mpg Mustang back, will drive to SEMA and record mileage originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Green Daily

The second U.S. presidential candidate debate is tonight, and it’s likely that energy policy will come up in some fashion. Central casting’s best-named oil man, T. Boone Pickens, wants to make sure the debate starts a bigger discussion on energy use in America and so he is hosting an “online rally” tonight during and following the debate. Barack Obama and John McCain are scheduled to being a 9 p.m. EST, and that’s when the rally starts as well.

Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope will join Pickens for a rally that “will feature live video from Pickens Plan HQ in Dallas and you will have an opportunity to submit questions and comments about America’s energy future.” Pickens unveiled his self-titled Pickens Plan - big on wind energy and natural gas - in July and he laid out his political attitude for 2008 when we heard him speak back in May. Let’s just say that Mr. Swift Boat wants John McCain to win, but is much less partisan this time around than he was in 2004. Since both McCain and Obama have met privately with Pickens this year, we can take serious his group’s statement that, “We will be delivering a copy of your questions and comments to both Presidential candidates, so don’t miss this opportunity to lend your voice to the call for American energy independence!” I′ll take a pass on the “rally” tonight, but if you join up, I’d like to hear your report in the comments section.

[Source: Pickens Plan]

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, European Union

The French postal service (La Poste) has just released a public announcement saying they intend to buy 300 EVs for postal delivery. The amount could be increased to 3000 by the end of 2012. The public announcement not only includes the purchase of the EVs but also the maintenance contracts.

La Poste already has a small fleet of GEM e2/Matra NEVs being tested in Alsace, in the East of France. The vehicles are mostly used for urban deliveries and have a range of about 50 km (30 miles). They can be loaded with up to 150 kg (about 330 pounds), which is a lot of postcards. The French postal service is also starting to get the first of its 500 Renault Kangoo Cleanova II order. The car is a series hybrid with a small 2-cylinder engine and will be used for suburban delivering. If the later turns out to be a success, La Poste plans to have 10,000 vans like these by the end of 2013.

[Source: Leblogauto]

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Original post by Xavier Navarro

Filed under: On Two Wheels, Green Daily, UK

Click on the image to watch a video of a prior air-powered bike

While we’ve seen plenty of air-powered cars, but this may be the first compressed air-powered moped that we’ve laid our eyes on. Created by inventor and TV presenter Jem Stansfield, the air-powered moped was created for a U.K. National Geographic channel documentary called Planet Mechanics. Compressed air is stored in a couple of carbon fiber tanks originally used by firefighters which can be refilled in just a few seconds using larger air containers. Once filled, the bike is capable of traveling at eighteen miles per hour for up to seven miles. That’s not going to set any records, but for a quick little build using off-the-shelf parts, it’s not too bad at all!

This air-powered moped is not Stansfield’s first attempt at such a machine. Be sure to watch the video after the break for some more air-powered bicycle fun.

[Sources: Motorcycle News, Youtube]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Hybrid, Ford

Click the 2009 Escape Hybrid for a high res gallery

Prior to our drive of the 2009 Ford Escape the other day, several Ford representatives talked about the changes for the new model year along with how the Escape is doing. Since the debut of the 2008 models a year ago, the Kansas City Assembly Plant that builds the Escape, Mariner and Mazda Tribute has been running at capacity including some overtime, a rare occurrence these days at Ford. While sales of many Ford models have been dropping like a stone this year, the Escape has done well, registering a 10 percent increase. One Escape model that hasn’t increased sales in the last couple of years is the hybrid which is holding steady at about 25,000 annually and that will remain the case for 2009. Even though gas is now at or above $4/gallon, Ford will only build 25,000 Escapes again this year out of about 220,000 total (including Mariner and Tribute).

The obvious question is why. Although battery supply constraints would seem to be one likely answer, that is apparently not an issue. Ford claims they can get as many batteries as they need. It turns out that it’s a business decision. With the plant running at capacity, in order for Ford to build more hybrids, they would have to cut production of the other models. Although no one from Ford was willing to openly admit it, the continued references to building as many Escapes as they can while limiting hybrid production at an arbitrary number indicates that it comes down to profit. Ford can clearly make a larger profit margin on the non-hybrid models and has made the calculation that 25,000 is enough to indicate they are serious while still maximizing cash flow wherever they can. Given Ford’s precarious financial situation of late, you sure can’t blame them although many who might want a high-mileage crossover might be disappointed. Later this year, Ford will be doubling their total hybrid production when they add the new Fusion and Milan hybrids. Those will apparently use an upgraded, next-generation version of Ford’s hybrid system.

[Source: Ford]

 

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hybrid, Jaguar, Land Rover

Jaguar and Land Rover are looking to offer hybrid vehicles for sale within the next five years. It seems reasonable to conclude that they will parlay the experience gained from the government-sponsored testing that they recently were awarded into real production systems. According to reports, Jaguar is considering using a system similar to the one that Mercedes-Benz is working on for its flagship S-Class hybrid. The S-Class is expected to pair a 3.5 liter V6 engine to the ZF transmission, while Jaguar is said to be considering both a 3.0 liter diesel engine and a 5.0 liter gasoline direct injected ͤ.

Land Rover, on the other hand, seems ready to create its own home-grown hybrid system using something it calls the “Electric Rear Axle Drive.” One thing that seems certain is that Tata Motors has plans to keep its two new luxury marques on the top of the technology curve, which could mean good things for the two ailing brands.

[Source: Autocar]

 

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski