Hybrid News

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, Th!nk (Think)

Things continue to look up at Th!nk. Electric Aid is watching the Norwegian press for us, and found an article in Indre.no that says that Th!nk management is “very optimistic” about the chances that outside new investors - along with current ones and the Norwegian government - will step in and help the electric car company. There are also reports that one of Th!nk’s biggest supporters - Stein Erik Hagen, who tried to get investors into a double-or-nothing plan a few weeks ago - is teaming up with the founder of the Renewable Energy Corporation and solar entrepreneur, Alf Bjørseth, on a rescue plan. All this won’t make hundreds of City and Ox vehicles roll off the assembly line tomorrow, but it’s a step in the right direction. Thanks again to Leif Richard for the tip!

[Source: Electric Aid]

Th!nk thinks outside investors will step up to save Th!nk originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

Looks like I wasn’t the only one who wondered about the brake lights on AC Propulsion’s eBox. AC Propulsion’s Tom Gage responds to my post the other day with not only an answer to my question about if the hard decel that takes place when the regenerative braking kicks in triggers the brake lights, but also with a visual aid. Yes, he said, yes they do. His exact words were:

Of course the eBox turns on the brake lights during regen. We’d have a lot of bashed in rear ends if we didn’t. Still it’s a good question. In fact we heard it so often in test drives that we include an LED on the eBox dashboard that illuminates when the brake light comes on.

So, there you have it. One more green car mystery solved. Thanks, Tom. Now, what’s next?

[Source: AC Propulsion]

AC Propulsion’s eBox lights up the brake lights without driver pushing brake pedal originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 14 Dec 2008 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Diesel, Etc., Ford, Germany

Thanks to its widespread use and low emissions, the Ford ECOnetic lineup of cars, which are focused on low CO₂ emissions, got an OekoGlobe 2008 award in Germany. The award, given in the category of “mass produced car,” was designed by environmental artist HA Schult. The ceremony took place at the DEVK insurance building in Cologne, Germany. Ford started its lineup of ECOnetic cars last February and the name is derived from ECOlogy and kiNETIC, the design theme that Ford is using for its latest creations. The first model to spot this label was the Focus, with a 1.6-liter diesel engine, a diesel particulate filter (DPF), fuel consumption of 4.3 l/100 km (55 mpg U.S.) and CO₂ emissions of 115 g/km. There’s also a Ford Mondeo ECOnetic that emits 139 g/km and an upcoming Fiesta spotting 98 g/km. This is not the first time Ford has won this award; last year the company won thanks to its flex-fuel powertrains.

[Source: Ford Germany]

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Original post by Xavier Navarro

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, On Two Wheels

Click above for more images of the Bricycle Concept

A man by the name of Brian has taken an interesting approach to designing an eco-friendly vehicle to replace some of the single-passengers cars driving all over the roads in America, and he calls it the Bricycle. Using three wheels — one up front and two in the rear — the Bricycle allows human power in the form of pedaling along with forty-eight volts of electric assist at the front. The rider/driver sits in a reclined position inside a canopy of composite bodywork. Brian’s design also features twenty-one different gearing choices for the operator.

While a vehicle such as this will likely never see mass-market appeal, it would serve to eliminate a certain amount of traffic and allow those who would choose to ride to work anyway an opportunity to do so with some weather protection. Additionally, the concept shouldn’t be too expensive to recreate after the initial design work is complete. We like it.

[Source: Bricycles.com via Engadget]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives, On Two Wheels, Japan

Yamaha certainly has plenty of experience making sporty two-wheeled vehicles, as riders of the firm’s R6 and R1 sportbikes can certainly attest. Now, though, it seems that the Tuning Fork company has decided to branch out into human power, specifically with a new hybrid bicycle. What makes this particular machine, knows as the PAS Brace, particularly interesting is how it manages the electrical assistance. First, an eight speed rear hub is used and allows shifting at any time, even from a dead stop. Depending on what gear the bike is in, a computer controls how much electrical power to send to the motor for assistance. Once top speed is reached, the system completely shuts down.

We’ve seen similar machines from other manufactures on these pages before, but what makes this Yamaha stand out is the low pricing. When equipped with the standard 4.0 Ah 25.9 volt lithium ion battery, the PAS Brace will sell for just $1,150, though it will only be available in Japan to start. There’s always eBay…

[Sources: Nikkei, Engadget]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski