Hybrid News

Smart electrification close, yet so far away

Interesting piece in Forbes about how close the “smart garage”needed for the electrification of the automobile is to reality, at least technologically. In terms of costs and public acceptance, however, electrification of the automobile might still be a moon shot away.

The technology for both electric vehicles and a smart garage that gives utilities the ability to “create a power network that not only sends energy to users but draws and stores unused energy from homes, businesses and parked electric vehicles to redistribute” when demand requires, is at hand.

However, the “smart garage” won’t be cheap. In fact, it will probably cost hundreds of billions of tax payer dollars, and it will require consumers to completely rethink every aspect of automobile use and ownership.

A new energy paradigm is ours for the taking, will we have the courage to reach for it?

Original post by Dahcredyns

New engineering center in Michigan opened

The $87,000 Fisker Karma plug-in is on schedule to launch in late 2010, and a new engineering center has been opened in Michigan for the effort.

“We′re excited to start something up,” stated Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Automotive according to AutoWeek. “We′re getting a lot of good people in–so that’s obviously a big advantage for us.”

The 34,000 square foot building will be used for vehicle integration purposes and will employ 200 people to help develop the plug-in hybrid that will be capable of achieving 50 miles of pure electricity, while going from 0-60 in less than 6 seconds - cake eaters are drooling everywhere.

Original post by Dahcredyns

The Trinity plug-in hybrid at NAIAS

Back in January, I called the AFS Trinity plug-in hybrid one of the “more interesting vehicles at NAIAS″. Using off-the-shelve parts and ultracapacitors, the AFS Trinity promised up to 150 mpg. Of course, this technology had not yet been put through the battery of tests required of OEMs. Likewise, automakers have regularly investigated ultracaps, finding the costs too high.

Nonsense, according AFS. Because the LA Auto Show was going to put the Trinity in the basement - where such concepts are always placed - rather than on the main floor, AFS is pulling out of the show according to Autobloggreen.

“The suppression by the automakers of information about technologies such as this raises serious questions about the judgment, vision, intentions and capabilities of the leadership of these companies. Such conduct by the automakers … is evidence they are reluctant to embrace solutions they didn’t invent.”

Original post by Dahcredyns

Many decades before everyone in the UK is plugging in

A joint study by Arup and Cenex for the UK’s Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Transport (DfT) finds that plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles can reduce automotive CO2 emissions by 40 percent per vehicle utilizing the current grid.

Nonetheless, the UK study doesn′t believe that plug-ins are ready to take over market share. At today’s pace the study expects 2.5% of all cars to connect to the grid by 2020, 11.7% by 2030. If the UK takes aggressive measures to develop plug-ins, then those numbers rise to 4.9% by 2020 and 32% by 2030. Under an extreme scenario - the production of plug-in only cars by 2025 - then the numbers plugging in would be 10% by 2020 and 60% by 2030.

More on the study from GreenCarCongress.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Time for a floor on energy prices?

Dylan Ratigan, the host of CNBC’s Fast Money, and contributor on other CNBC shows, brought up a gas tax twice today on Fast Money. The first time was in an interview with Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liveris. Liveris claimed that a bottom on energy prices is much needed to maintain investment in alternative energies. And, if a gas tax was the best way to ensure that happening, Liveris would be a supporter.

Then, on Fast Money, the gang started talking about alternative energy investments, and the crew also doesn’t believe that alternative energies are a great investment when gas prices are low. The idea of expensive plug-in hybrids, for instance, just doesn’t make much sense when gas prices are cheap, Jeff Macke joked.

Is it time for a gas tax?

Original post by Dahcredyns

Shortages, costs and environmental concerns

Even before the first mass-produced plug-in hybrid vehicles hit the road, questions continue to mount regarding the viability of lithium to power these new vehicles. Some have questioned lithium supplies. Some have questioned long term costs.

Essentially, if demand outpaces supply for many years, economies of scale won’t bring lithium costs down. Instead, the competition for these supplies might increase the costs of lithium batteries. And it isn’t just cars, but a rapidly growing electronics industry is also sucking up these supplies. Some are already speculating that lithium will lead to significant political tensions between South America and the US.

And, lately, environmental concerns have also been raised. Check out CNET’s latest article for more.

Original post by Dahcredyns

More proof Congress is inept?

In my opinion, Congress was very motivated by the Chevy Volt when it came up with its tax credit plan for battery-powered vehicles. GM is an important American company, so this protectionism isn’t surprising.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Clean, green car sharing

Minneapolis based HOURCAR is now offering two plug-in hybrid vehicles that utilize solar power to recharge their batteries. Thus, HOURCAR’s 650+ members can reserve these plug-in hybrids and burn nothing but solar powered electricity for the first 30 - 40 miles.

Car sharing is a great idea, and solar powered plug-in hybrids make car sharing even better. For urbanites with access to quality public transportation, car sharing could reduce the need to own a car, or to at least drop down to one car.

Now that’s out of the box thinking.

Original post by Dahcredyns

How fast will lithium for autos develop?

What kind of penetration will plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars make into world auto sales by 2020?

That depends on the price of oil according to a study funded by Credit Suisse. According to the study, plug-ins will achieve 10 percent world market penetration by 2020 if the price of oil is $100 per barrel. If the price of oil hits $200, then plug-inz could achieve 25 percent penetration.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Still too expensive?

Hybrid vehicles, and other emergent fuel efficient technologies, are not the cheapest vehicles on the block, especially up front. And, when your 401K, pension plan, and home equity values are racing downward - with gas prices - sticker price becomes even more important.

While plug-in hybrid vehicles have received all of the hype and hope recently, aren′t cheap hybrid cars the most efficient path to better fuel economy and technological economies of scale?

Thus far, however, only Honda seems focused on cheap hybrids, even more so than Toyota, although I’m certain Toyota can readjust to cheaper hybrids quite quickly.

Obviously, the development of plug-ins is extremely important, but isn’t there great danger in putting off until tomorrow what can be done today?

Original post by Dahcredyns

Time to move composites out of concepts

Yesterday, I blogged on one of my favorite out of the box thinking autos, the Aptera plug-in hybrid. Yet, it isn’t really the plug-in hybrid technology that inspires, instead, its the lightweight and super strong composites that make up the Aptera’s body.

And composites aren’t just about auto design and lightweight, super strong bodies.

Applied Sciences Inc. and Pyrograf Products Inc. believe that carbon fiber, another composite material, could offer battery-powered vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt, better range by making lithium ion batteries significantly lighter.

The role of composites in the automobile is just emerging. Finish: Forget hybrid batteries, let’s focus on composites

Original post by Dahcredyns

Can it forever change the auto industry?

Last week I highlighted the Citroen Cactus electric car as an example of out of the box thinking. Still, my favorite out of the box thinking example continues to be Aptera.

While I like the Aptera Typ-1e and its 120 mile range, it’s the Typ-1h that really captures my attention. Yet, it’s neither the 130 mpg+ the Aptera Typ-1h plug-in hybrid will achieve that most arouses my attention, nor its qualification for car pool lane status.

Instead it’s the as-safe-as-any-car ultralight composite body that results in space age designs, only 1500 pounds of weight, and .15 drag coefficient (The Toyota Prius is .26) that rocks my world.

The Aptera demonstrates that everything about the automobile needs to be reinvented. Today’s automobile shapes, designs - even materials - have become archaic. We can, and must, do better.

Original post by Dahcredyns

Vaporware?

In the last month or a so, a number of rumors about Chrysler’s plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles culminated in Chrysler showing off a number of such vehicles with the announcement that one would be produced in 2010.

At the same time, however, Chrysler was in discussions with GM about the possibility of GM taking over Chrysler.

Was all of Chrysler’s plug-in talk just a ploy to raise the value of its market capitalization? If Cerberus is trying to offload Chrysler, are they really that serious about a very expensive plug-in program?

Original post by Dahcredyns

Cuz you have to believe in something

In the past I bought a hybrid car when it really didn′t make financial sense. I just don′t drive enough. I′ve spent the last several years building my life around LA’s public transportation system.

You see, after 9/11, I decided my life could never be the same. I had to end my foreign oil footprint. Plus, ending foreign oil dependency would have a huge impact on global warming.

Still, I needed a new car. So, I bought a hybrid. Not to gloat. Not because of global warming. Because I believe only technology will end foreign oil dependency.

Today, I’m thinking about buying stock in GM, even though it also might not make financial sense.

Why? Have I lost my mind? FINISH: Why I might buy GM stock

Original post by Dahcredyns

Camry hybrid - Fill ‘er up with natural gas?

According to proponents, natural gas is cheaper and cleaner than gasoline, and it’s not derived from foreign oil. Of course, if demand for natural gas increased drastically, would it still be so cheap?

Regardless, interest in natural gas vehicles isn’t very strong. Part of the problem is the lack of refueling stations. There are only about 1,000 natural gas stations across the US. However, home refueling stations, for instance, could alleviate this problem much the same way standard plugs will help plug-in hybrids overcome limited plug-in stations.

Add the fuel economy of hybrid cars, or plug-in hybrids, and natural gas vehicle refueling would be much less common.

Can hybrid vehicles help sell natural gas as a transportation fuel?

Original post by Dahcredyns