Hybrid News

Filed under: Etc., NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

The U.S. military, like so many other giant organizations, is making the case for going green. From hybrid tanks to bio-fuel jet fuel, reducing fuel is becoming more and more important. The latest move is towards more electric cars, thousands of little NEVs to use on bases around the world. According to the Army Times, the Army, Navy and Air Force are looking into the battery-powered vehicles, with the first deployment coming to Fort Belvoir in Virginia in the middle of December. Some of the NEVs will come from E-Z-Go, the golf cart maker, which is a subsidiary of defense giant Textron. The military said that the $400 in annual electricity costs was a big improvement over $2,400 in gas costs that the average gas-powered vehicle uses. All told, the 4,000 EVs the military plans to use will save 11.5 million gallons of fuel a year. The new military slogan for the endeavor? “Army Green, Army Strong.”

[Source: Army Times]

U.S. mililtary looking for a few good EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Miles EV, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

The last time The Truth About Cars got its hands on an all-electric alternative vehicle, it was less than impressed. Now, the site’s latest tester is the Miles ZX40S. Will this more practical alternative to the gasoline engine win some favor from TTAC? No, not really. The actual test model procured by the internet rag was an older model from 2007 that didn’t have the latest AC motor or regenerative braking. As a low-speed vehicle, the Miles machine managed an artificial top-speed of 28 miles per hour, though the actual law states it not supposed to go past 25. In any case, TTAC says it was pretty slow in getting there and rattly along the way. Other demerits include a key that didn’t fit well in the ignition and a wonky seatbelt. The price? A buck under $15K.

To be fair, it’s easy to understand why someone would expect more for the $15K asking price. Still, we don’t feel nearly as dumbfounded as TTAC as to why the cars are selling. For a small percentage of buyers, a four-door, steel-bodied electric vehicle that’s capped at a relatively low speed is just what they need. Sure, that price could score a reasonable used car that’s just a few years old or even a few brand-new models. But all of them would emit pollution when driven and all would require regular fill-ups, two big reasons why the ZX40S deserves a real place in the U.S. auto market.

We should also mention that Miles has upgraded its NEV since this particular test car was built. The company is also working on a highway-speed electric vehicle, known as the XS500, which is expected to go on sale for 2010.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

TTAC not pleased with a 2007 Miles ZX40S originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, LA Auto Show, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

Charging up the basement of the LA Convention Center this week is the Intimate electric car, a bright red slope with the tagline: “The Quiet Car.” Show workers were still unwrapping the tiny vehicle when we happened by, but that didn′t stop us from taking some pictures. That blue rectangle by the door handles is just tape, don′t worry.

In any case, we discovered that the two-seat Intimate is a bare bones EV, a project of L/E Automobiles, LLC. It’ll most likely be regulated as a neighborhood electric vehicle (notice the four wheels?) but the website doesn′t come out and say it. What it does say is that the Intimate BEV “will be developed and built in Van Nuys, California,” supposedly here in late 2008. Target range is 30-60 miles on a 6-8 hour charge and it’ll push you along at 40 mph. Don′t want to be going too fast when you’re getting intimate, right?

LA 2008: Intimate electric vehicle is “the quiet car” originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: On Two Wheels

Royal Enfield has quite a history of producing motorcycles. In fact, pretty much the same motorcycle since 1955 or so, making basic changes along the way along with just a few concessions to modern roadways and rider expectations such as an electric starter and a new five speed gearbox within the last few years. All of that is set to change very soon, though, as the old Bullet with its cast iron cylinder and separate engine and gearbox castings has ceased production. The good news to fans of the classic machine is that a replacement bike has been shown at the Intermot show that just took place in Cologne, Germany.

Replacing the old-tech (some would say tried and true, of course) drivetrain is a new engine and transmission that is now constructed as a single unit. Fuel injection takes the place of the traditional carburetor and a catalyst resides in the exhaust. The new engine is a bit more powerful at 27.5-horsepower, but the real reason that the change was made was to meet current and expected new emissions regulations around the world. You can also expect the new bike to retain the old Bullet’s exceptional fuel economy. The new bike is expected to make its formal debut in the U.S. sometime next year.

[Source: Royal Enfield USA - Photos: Kevin Mahoney / Royal Enfield USA]

Royal Enfield fuel-injects its Bullet originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Diesel, Ford

It looks like small cars aren′t the only segment where Ford has no confidence in diesel engines. When Ford announced its redesigned F150 pickup trucks early this year the company indicated that a new light duty diesel engine would join the lineup in 2010. The company even showed off the new 4.4L V8 at a dealer meeting in April of this year. It now appears that the engine won’t be coming in 2010 and in fact it may never happen. Ford officials have confirmed to Mike Levine at PickupTrucks.com that the program has been put on hold and may be canceled entirely. Separately, another supplier source has confirmed the same information to ABG. Ford was already pretty close to completing development of the new engine, but has stopped short of actually tooling up the factory to build them. Instead, Ford has decided to refocus its efforts on the EcoBoost (gasoline turbocharged direct injection) engines that will debut in the trucks in 2010. A 3.5L EcoBoost V6 makes similar power and low end torque to a diesel at a much lower cost. The EcoBoost engines provide about a 15-20 percent boost in fuel efficiency, compared to the 5.4L V8, which is less than the 20-30 percent that might be possible with the diesel, but the cost makes up the difference for most buyers. According to Mike, GM remains committed to its new 4.5L diesel but all future programs are up in the air.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, North America

It’s been 40 years since Mexico began taxing vehicles. Originally, the money was meant to fund the Olympic Games that took place there in 1968, but the income has apparently proven indispensable as it’s still collected to this day. If proposed legislation from the Partido Verde Ecologista (a.k.a. the Mexican Green Party) passes, though, hybrid vehicles may soon be exempted from that tax plus the 15-percent consumption tax. In contrast, older, larger and more polluting cars would be subject to a tax increase. Meant to increase sales of fuel-sippers, obvious benefits include a reduction in petroleum consumption and cleaner air. Proponents also cite a likely increase in sales of new cars in Mexico, which currently trail imported used cars from the United States by some 200,000 units annually. For this reason, lobbying groups representing Mexican automotive dealerships may get on board with the Green Party to push Congress to adopt the new measures.

[Source: Inside Line]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, USA

What are the best green cars available to consumers in 2008? The Toyota Prius certainly springs to mind, and that model is in fact KBB’s top choice in their new Top Green Cars of 2008 list. Six of KBB’s top ten choices are hybrids, which is not surprising given their comparatively low fuel consumption numbers. There are three gasoline powered cars on the list, the Honda Fit, smart ForTwo and the Mini Cooper — all find choices as far as we are concerned, and each sitting in a slightly different market niche. Lastly, a single model from Mercedes-Benz represents the few diesels currently available in America. That particular model is the 𐻈 BlueTEC, a sedan which sort of falls under the new classification of Clean Diesels due to its use of some exhaust-scrubbing technology (MB has a waiver to lease the E320 in California and four other states for 2 years).

This list was launced in conjunction with KBB Green, a new site from Kelley Blue Book which focuses in on the emerging green-scene in the automotive realm. Hey, we were there first! We kid, of course (we weren′t the very first). It’s great to see a major player like KBB jump into the fray, giving consumers ever more eco-friendly information related to their next car purchase. Thanks for the tip, Ashley!

[Source: KBB Green via eMercedesBenz]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz

From time to time, technology has the ability to both improve the specific power output of an engine while also reducing its emissions. Such is the case with direct injection, so we are not surprised to hear that the high-performance tuning arm of Mercedes Benz, AMG, has decided to implement it on their line of engines. Another possible performance-generating and emissions-reducing technology lies with the electric motor, which makes up half of a hybrid drivetrain. While the idea of an AMG hybrid may sound odd at first, remember that electric motors can offer up large quantities of torque just off idle, allowing engineers to make a free-breathing, high-RPM engine without sacrificing around-town drivability.

While stop/start technology does not improve performance, it is an easy-to-implement technology which will further reduce the emissions while increasing the fuel efficiency of whatever car it is applied to. So, AMG is also considering fitment of this hybrid-staple as well. These types of inclusions will likely saturate the performance market soon enough as these automakers will be forced to comply with the same regulations as their lesser-performing counterparts. If AMG does decide to go green, expect to see the fruits of their labor around the year 2012 or so.

Related:

• Mercedes could be jumping into the high-performance diesel race with AMG

[Source: Inside Line]

 

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Subaru, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, New York Auto Show

Click image for photo gallery of the Subaru R1e in NYC

Well, this is cool. Not only is Mitsubishi bringing the iMIEV to New York this week, Subaru will also go electric in Manhattan with the R1e. How do we know this? Well, Autoblog reader Ciao was on his way to grab a slice of pizza when the EV microcar drove up the street next to him. As has been reported numerous times, the R1e (like the iMIEV) is undergoing field testing with the employees of a Japanese power company. Subaru hopes to expand the fleet of R1e vehicles from forty to one hundred later this year. We’ll fill you in on what the car’s like in person when we check it out this week. Thanks Ciao!

 

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Original post by Alex Nunez

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, New York Auto Show

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Nissan Denki Cube concept

Yesterday, the Financial Times reported that Nissan will unveil its electric Denki Cube concept in New York. Based on the standard Cube minicar, the Denki (Japanese for “electric″) shows that Nissan is also looking at the market viability of EVs. It’s not alone, as Subaru will be showing its R1e and Mitsubishi will display its i MiEV along with the i MiEV Sport concept.

We don’t yet have official details on the Denki Cube, but photos tell a lot of the story, and as is the case so often in the runup to auto shows, those photos have hit the web this morning. The Super Nissans forum has accelerated the unveiling schedule for Nissan, breaking the embargo and posting the shots you see here. Visually, the Denki Cube is finished in white with lightning-pattern grillework, dressed-up headlamps, and hole-punch patterns on the front and rear bumper covers (the taillamps show through those rear openings). Solid wheel covers with square centers complete the exterior makeover. Inside, the standard interior gets a swanky new instrument panel, but the layout is essentially unchanged. Yellow seats and trim highlight the otherwise white cabin.

We’ll bring you live shots and complete details following the car’s official unveiling tomorrow! A series of customized Cubes will also be unveiled for the first time, and we’ll be on hand to provide full coverage.

[Source: SuperNissans.net]

 

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Original post by Alex Nunez

Filed under: Ford, New York Auto Show

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Transit Connect Taxi

The Ford Crown Victoria makes for a seriously great taxicab. It’s durable and comfortable, but that V8 engine no longer meshes with the direction many cities are taking when it comes to their taxi fleets. Greener is better, but the trick is to improve without sacrificing utility. Ford will use New York, the ultimate Big City, as the backdrop for the premiere of the Transit Connect Taxi concept. With a 2.0L four-banger motivating things, the Transit Connect is fuel efficient (19 mpg city) with 90% lower tailpipe emissions than many of the traditional cabs prowling the city streets today.

If you thought the Crown Vic was spacious, this thing must be like riding in a mobile racquetball court. The tall roof is augmented by large glass panels that add a sense of airiness to the passenger cabin. The clear partition between driver and passengers is also home to a 13-inch infotainment/payment system powered by the Ford/Microsoft Work solutions system, and while. Decked out in yellow and charcoal gray, the transit taxi certainly looks the part, and if it can handle the relentless punishment cabs endure daily, it looks like it could be an attractive alternative. A hybrid system would make it even more so. Ford, you listening?

[Source: Ford]

PRESS RELEASE:
FORD TRANSIT CONNECT TAXI CONCEPT OFFERS NEW PERSPECTIVE ON URBAN TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

• Ford reveals fuel-efficient, nimble Transit Connect Taxi concept in the taxi capital of America - New York City.
• A cavernous, easy-to-access interior marries the maneuverability and fuel efficiency of a small car, showing how perfectly suited Transit Connect is for carrying people and cargo through congested city streets.
• Transit Connect provides another example of how Ford is leveraging its global product lineup. Transit Connect is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe. It was named International Van of the Year when launched in 2003.

NEW YORK, March 19, 2008 - Ford, the leading provider of taxis in North America, is offering a fresh take on taxis at the New York International Auto Show.

“Taxis are an important part of the urban landscape, and the Transit Connect Taxi concept represents a potential game-changer, given its small footprint, comfortable, spacious interior, fuel-efficient engine and affordability,” said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “We′re interested to see how people react.”

Ford has been a leader in the taxi business for decades. The Ford Crown Victoria is the leader in the taxi market in cities throughout the U.S.
Ford also was the first manufacturer to introduce gas-electric hybrid-powered taxis into North American fleets with the launch of the Ford Escape Hybrid in San Francisco and New York City in early 2005. Today, New York’s Escape hybrid fleet has grown to more than 800, including the original 18 that joined the fleet in 2005, still running with the original nickel-metal hydride batteries intact.

The Transit Connect Taxi concept offers a new perspective on how to move people and their gear through congested city streets - more cleanly, efficiently and with new technology that could revolutionize the taxi industry.

Built on a dedicated, commercial vehicle platform and tested to Ford’s toughest truck standards, Transit Connect is specially made to meet the extreme demands of taxi service.

With its standard, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission, Transit Connect delivers estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city - a more than 30 percent improvement in fuel economy and nearly 90 percent lower tailpipe emissions than many of today’s traditional taxis.

A Small Footprint with Big Potential
Transit Connect blends well into cityscapes. Its smart, vertical stacked design is able to accommodate three rear-cab passengers and 75 cu. ft. of parcels - in part because it emulates the city skyline that surrounds it.

“When cities ran out of horizontal space at the turn of the 20th century, architects started to build upward,” said Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas. “The Transit Connect Taxi concept brings that same idea to the streets, changing the shape of the space, making it taller with a smaller and narrow footprint.”

In addition to its new shape, the Transit Connect Taxi concept’s paint scheme and expressive graphic treatment lend it unique personality.
Designers didn′t abandon iconic yellow paint - but they did change the formula to a more modern hue that contrasts with deep gray, molded-in-color fender flares as well as front and rear fascias that serve dual duty as impact-resistant bumpers.

Most noticeable up top is a futuristic interpretation of the yellow “taxi bubble.” The space-age looking flat-panel unit, mounted horizontally above the Taxi concept’s roof, is lit on all four sides - green if the cab is available, orange if it’s occupied.

Easy Access to a Spacious, Tech-Laden Interior
The Transit Connect Taxi concept gives “curb service” new meaning. With 6.5-inches of ground clearance, passengers step easily through the sliding doors and into the cab, instead of sliding down into the back seat.

The concept’s standard high-roof van offers ample headroom, accentuated by a vista roof that brightens the three-person passenger compartment and provides views of the urban architecture.

The Taxi concept also features a new electronic infotainment and navigation system that shows passengers their accumulating cab fare, and a scrolling news, weather, sports score and stock ticker. Using the 13-inch diagonal touch screen, passengers also can select their choice of video and music channels, follow the taxi’s journey on a map or scroll through a list of points of interest along the route - including restaurants, museums and shops.

Once at the destination, the screen displays the fare with options to pay via cash, credit or debit. Cardholders can swipe their card, enter a pin number for debit, calculate the tip and complete the transaction right from their seat. Cash-paying passengers can use “Sputnik,” a rotating billet aluminum softball-sized orb that replaces the outdated sliding ashtray used on today’s taxis.

Ahead of the partition, the driver’s area comes with a fold-flat passenger seat that doubles as a work station. The Transit Connect Taxi concept is equipped with a special version of the Ford Work Solutions integrated computer.

The in-dash computer, powered by Microsoft Auto, provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network and works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. Thanks to Garmin navigation, the system features real-time weather and traffic information, allowing drivers to find the most trouble-free routes.

A History of Strong Products
In addition to taxi leadership, Ford has made a name for itself across the Atlantic for vans such as Transit Connect that people can rely on to get the job done. Transit Connect is designed, engineered and manufactured by Ford of Europe.

Launched in 2003, Transit Connect was named International Van of the Year its first year in-market. Transit Connect will come to the U.S. in summer 2009, as a brand-new offering for small business owners seeking fuel-efficient, flexible transportation with plenty of room to fit their needs.

“Transit Connect provides another example of how Ford is leveraging its global product assets,” Fields said. “Small business owners have told us how eager they are to see this product come to the U.S. next year, and it will be interesting to see how many other types of customers might want a Transit Connect in their garage or driveway as well.”

 

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Original post by Alex Nunez

Filed under: Hybrid, Transportation Alternatives

With gas prices likely heading north of $4/gallon in some areas of the U.S. this summer, Enterprise Rent-a-Car is looking to provide some relief for their customers. The biggest rental agency in the U.S. has opened four new outlets in the Atlanta area that will be specializing in greener vehicles, primarily hybrids. Enterprise expects over sixty percent of rentals from the four green outlets to be hybrids or other fuel efficient models. The company has now accumulated over 4,000 hybrids in its rental fleet although that’s just a tiny fraction of its 1.1 million vehicle fleet. Enterprise and other rental agencies are charging premiums of $5-15 a day for hybrids over conventional models. Hertz and Avis Budget Group have also added 3,500 and 2,500 hybrids to their fleets as demand for more efficient rental cars has expanded. So far the hybrid rentals have largely been confined to larger markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Travelers aren’t the only ones renting hybrids. Drivers with an interest in potentially buying a hybrid that want a longer test drive are also opting for the gas electric models as a way of evaluating whether they are appropriate for them.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hybrid

Sales of hybrid vehicles continued to buck the overall trend of sinking car and truck sales in 2007, according to the latest data from research firm R.L. Polk. Polk does an annual survey of new vehicle registrations and their 2008 numbers look very good for Toyota. While overall sales dropped three percent from 2006 to 2007, registrations of new hybrids jumped 38 percent. For the year, hybrid vehicles comprised 2.2 percent of the total market with 350,289 units registered. Even with several new hybrid models now on the market, the Toyota Prius remains the dominant single model with 51 percent of the segment compared to 43 percent in 2006. If GM can manage to light a fire under sales of their hybrid models this year, the segment could grow significantly again this year as gas prices approach and top $4 a gallon in the U.S.

[Source: Detroit News]

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Green Culture, Hybrid, MPG, GM, China

click above image to view more shots of the hybrid Buick Riviera Concept

Here in the United States, hybrids are usually marketed under one of two schemes: green or sporty. Most vehicles, including the flag-bearing Prius, fall under the green banner, with fuel efficiency being the top marketing point. A smaller number of vehicles, mostly all from Lexus, use their hybrid drivetrain as a performance enhancer, and they are often marketed as sporty vehicles. It seems that in China, vehicle marketing from GM will soon hit a mark close to that of Lexus′ with their hybrids, as the company will market its Chinese hybrids and fuel efficient models as prestigious vehicles. To go along with the fuel savings of the (sometimes hybrid) vehicle, image in China is extremely important, according to Joseph Liu, General Motors China Group’s executive director of vehicle sales, service and merchandising. Therefore, three points will be highlighted from GM in China, the use of water-based paints, the fact that their entire line meets Euro-IV emissions standards and that two of their drivetrains are rated as the most fuel efficient in their class.

[Source: Just-Auto]

 

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Saturn, USA

Thanks to a tip from a reader, we′ve been introduced to a new electric sports car maker based in Cincinnati, Ohio: Advanced Mechanical Products. AMP has taken a major shortcut to offering its first electric vehicle by starting with a gas-powered Saturn Sky as the base. Out goes the GM Ecotec four-banger, in goes an electric motor and lithium phosphate batteries. According to the manufacturer, the electric car will accelerate to sixty miles per hour in less than six seconds and have a top speed of around ninety miles per hour. A full charge will give a range of up to one-hundred-fifty miles. The company is currently accepting orders for the first batch of three-hundred cars, which will cost around $50,000 each.

For those who want an electric car conversion but can’t make do with a two-seat sportscar platform, AMP says that its next two projects will center around a Saturn SUV and a Saturn sedan. Sounds like they have an affinity for the Saturn brand, huh? We look forward to finding out more information about AMP and its new vehicle, and you can be sure that we′ll keep you informed with whatever information we get.

[Source: AMP, thanks for the tip, Bryan!]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski