Hybrid News

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Green Daily

When he’s not taunting Tesla, Dale Vince is pretty focused on building his wind-powered car. The Zero Carbonista project (previous post) is moving along and the fourth (of six) video about the project is new ready for your viewing pleasure. The front of the car is taking shape and now it needs a name. On the shortlist are: The Zero, The Storm and The Nemesis. I think the Zero Storm would be a good compromise, and I think it’ll sound good with a British accent.

In the video, the biggest problem the team is facing seems to be figuring out the fingerprint entry and startup system. What’s more exciting is the torque potential the designers and engineers discuss towards the end of the video. Check it out after the jump and see what the (indirectly) wind-powered Exige is up to these days.

[Source: Zero Carbonista via Treehugger]

Continue reading Dale Vince’s wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis

Dale Vince’s wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, European Union

The European Union has been working on new legislation with the goal of reducing overall carbon emissions to just 130 g/km by 2015. Many believe that electric vehicles are the best way to achieve this ultimate goal, but internal reports may not agree with this assessment, according to the Financial Times. In fact, Jean Syrota, the former French energy industry regulator, is said to have authored a 129-page document that promotes the continued use of the internal combustion engine, albeit ICEs combined with new technology and advanced biofuels. Apparently, the closest that the report comes to suggesting that EVs have any potential is to promote range-extended models that wouldn′t need extremely large capacity battery packs. The report also suggests setting strict speed limits in all of Europe, including Germany.

If rumors are in any way accurate, current President of the EU and the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy is purposely sitting on the report as it may not agree with his desired intentions for European automakers.

[Source: Financial Times]

EU-sponsored report critical of electric vehicles? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors

Brabus is a German tuning company best known for its work on cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart. At the Essen Motor Show later this month, the company will show off its latest handiwork for none other than the Tesla Roadster. Those who get bored with the near silent hum of the electric motor will now be able to get a new “Space Sound Generator” that provides simulated audio tracks including a V8 engine, a race engine or various synthetic futuristic sounds like “Beam” and “Warp.” Visual “enhancements” include a matte white paint finish, LED running lamps in the front air intake and the always classy under-body neon lightning. Since the electric sports car doesn’t provide Brabus the option of extracting more power out of the engine as tuning firm typically does, the only real functional enhancement is a new wheel and tire package. Pirelli P Zero Nero tires are wrapped around 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels. Brabus would also be more than happy to take your money to do whatever level of customization you desire to the Roadster’s interior, as well. Now, there’s just that pesky problem of actually getting a Roadster.

[Source: Brabus]

Continue reading Brabus tunes the Tesla Roadster - yes, you can get neon with that

Brabus tunes the Tesla Roadster - yes, you can get neon with that originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Detroit Auto Show

<Seinfeld> What’s the deal with all these new car teasers? </Seinfeld> Seriously, between Ford’s ridiculously slow reveal of the new 2010 Mustang GT and Toyota’s just plain ridiculous early 2010 Prius teasers, we′re becoming less and less interested when each new non-revealing image is released. Still, it’s our job to reports on such things, so without further ado, here are the fifth and sixth officially released shots of various Prius bits.

Teaser image 5 was revealed on November 3rd and shows a new translucent blue shifter, complete with the requisite B-Mode, which allows for the driver to choose how much engine braking the car uses as opposed to regenerative and friction braking alone. See here for a much more detailed explanation. Teaser image 6 shows a set of digital gauges that are either mounted in the dash or as part of a heads-up display. We′ll know for sure at the Detroit Auto Show in January when the third-gen Prius is officially revealed in all its glory.

[Source: John’s Stuff]

Prius Team releases teasers 5 and 6 - Shifter! Digital gauge! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Detroit Auto Show

Toyota seems to be following the same pattern with the new Prius that Ford has done for the last couple of months with the new Mustang: dribbling out a steady stream of close-up teaser shots. Following the display boot-up screen and a switch we now have the image you see above. My first thought was a radar sensor for adaptive cruise control. However, given the way it’s mounted, this is more likely to be on the inside of the vehicle. As such this is probably a heads up display projector or possibly a lane departure warning camera. What do you guys think?

[Source: CleanMPG.com]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel

I wonder just how much money and time has been spent by national organizations promoting flexfuel vehicles - even though we all know that ᭉ fuel is pretty hard to find. Whatever the calculation, we need to add in the cost of a new 𑈆 crew cab flexible-fuel vehicle (around $36,000) and a year’s worth of E85 (around $6,000). This was a bonus prize awarded to the Dirk Devries family in Minnesota, which recently won ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The local Dave Syverson Ford is providing the vehicle and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), along with local POET biorefineries, is providing the biofuel. According to the local paper, the Devries family hasn’t had it easy recently and a friend of the family submitted their story to the TV show for consideration. Along with a new home, a new truck might make things better for them. We′ll see how they feel when they have to pay to fill it up next year.

[Source: Ethanol Promotion and Information Council]

Continue reading ABC Extreme Makeover winner gets flexfuel F-150 and a year’s supply of E85

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen, European Union, UK

It is anything but surprising that Volkswagen will debut a new GTI, the traditional sporting model of its mainstream Golf. What is a bit more surprising, though, is that there will be two other performance editions of the original hot hatch from which to choose, at least in Europe. One of them is the R-model, which should come from the factory with a super-hot 270-horsepower engine along with all-wheel-drive. While that’s cool and all, the real shocker comes in the form of the Golf GTD. That model will come to the party with a high-performance diesel engine making 170-horsepower and somewhat more torque. Automotive News claims that the new hi-po diesel will hit the European market in April of 2009. Since we are just now getting diesels from VW in America, we’re not exactly holding our breath for the GTD stateside. You can bank on the GTI making it on our shores shortly after the regular gen-6 Golf Rabbit.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Etc., Hybrid, Transportation Alternatives

Above: One of Paul Moller’s past projects, a flying hovercraft

Moller has designed another car which will never, ever see the light of day. This time, it’s a hybrid flying car which uses both gas and electric power for its eight fans, which would theoretically provide liftoff. Moller claims that its car has been fully designed already and has been tested in small scale. So, why not just go ahead and continue on with the project? Money, or lack thereof. It seems that the company, which envisions a future where crowded highways are a thing of the past as cars lift off into the sky, is in some serious debt and is in danger of closing down entirely. The hybrid flying car has so far been funded by a wealthy business man from Russia who wanted to escape the traffic he encounters daily when driving to Moscow from his country home. When he found out it would cost more than $5 million to continue the project, he bailed. Too bad, a flying hybrid car is just what the world needs, no?

[Source: Sacramento Business Journal]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet

Just days after we got a hint of what the production 2011 Chevrolet Volt would look like from some folks who spotted one during filming of Transformers 2, we now have official photos of the actual car. Someone apparently leaked out a series of studio shots of Volt with some of the executives leading development of the car. Vehicle Line Executive Tony Posawatz, Chief Engineers Frank Weber and Andrew Farah, Design lead Bob Boniface and of course Maximum Bob Lutz are caught posing with GM’s new star. The car is expected to officially debut next Tuesday during GM’s centennial celebrations at the Renaissance Center. The basic shape we saw on the movie car appears to be the same but it varies in some details. The shoulder area at the bottom of the side windows is blacked out to replicate some of the look of the original concept. Given that the Volt shares its basic platform with the new Chevy Cruze, it’s no surprise that it appears to be about the same size. So far we haven’t been able to reach GM for a comment but hopefully we′ll have higher res images soon.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Audi, Volkswagen, North America, USA

Last week, Volkswagen of America announced it would build it’s first US factory since it’s Pennsylvania factory closed in 1984 in Chattanooga Tennessee. The new plant will build a new mid-sized replacement for the Passat. What CEO Stefan Jacoby didn’t announce was where powertrains will come from. The new car will be available with gasoline, diesel and hybrid power-plants. The power-train is one of the most expensive components in the vehicle so getting the most out of building cars in the dollar zone means building them here as well. The gasoline engines will likely be sourced from the Puebla Mexico factory that also supplies the assembly plant there. The Mexican factory doesn’t currently produce transmissions. VW is apparently waiting on Audi’s decision on a US factory before finalizing plans for new engine and transmission plants. Audi and VW share powertrains, so the two brands will likely want to build in a location convenient to both assembly plants. If VW does decide to build hybrid transmissions in North America they may even end up exporting some of those back to Europe as well.

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota

Later today, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is expected to take delivery of three newly-converted plug-in Toyota Priuses. The cars will be used by the city and county for official business. The conversions were done by the crew at Pat’s Garage in San Francisco using a kit from Hymotion. Hymotion was bought last year by lithium ion cell supplier A123 Systems. Hymotion claims their system can provide 30 miles of electric range for a Prius although the car’s powertrain hasn’t been modified. Getting that much range without the engine starting will require an extremely light foot on the throttle. Sometime this year, Hymotion plans to start offering their conversion kit to consumers.

[Sources: GreenCarCongress, GreenGears]

&nbsp;

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, Geneva Motor Show

Mercedes-Benz debuted the new GLK compact SUV at the Detroit Auto Show in January with a 2.2L four-cylinder Bluetec diesel. For its European coming out party in Geneva, the company will reportedly fit the GLK with a diesel-hybrid powertrain. According to Automotive News, the concept will use a 204 hp 3.2L diesel V6 with a 20 hp electric motor. The motor’s size implies that this is the mild hybrid system that Mercedes developed with BMW. It seems more likely Mercedes will use the same 2.2L four cylinder that was shown in Detroit. The mild hybrid system is expected to debut on production vehicles in 2009, although at this point, it’s unknown when diesel hybrids will launch.

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

&nbsp;

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Diesel, Mercedes Benz, European Union, UK, Germany

Although Mercedes certainly does not have the cleanest luxury vehicles on the road, the company has announced a set of improvements for its spring line-up of cars and claims that, in some cases, the new models burn up to 10 percent less fuel while pumping out more power.

Not every model has increased mpg numbers. In the case of the V6 SL 350, the engine output increased to 316 HP (up by 16 percent) but fuel consumption is 1.1 mpg lower, down to 28.5 mpg (Imperial, about 24 mpg U.S.). For the 8-cylinder SL 500 and the 12-cylinder SL 600, Mercedes has announced the same improvement.

For the SLK 350, the V6 increased the HP figures up to 305, while delivering 30.7 mpg (25 mpg U.S.), which is down 2.7 mpg. There’s a SLK 200 Kompressor delivering the best mileage, 36.7 mpg (30.5 mpg U.S.) of the range. Then there’s a larger SLK 280 good for 31.4 mpg (26 mpg U.S.) and the outrageous S55 AMG (they don’t publicize the mileage figures for this one).

On to the CLC sport coup&eacutes (the 3-door hatchbacks). Europeans can get a CLC 200 CDI diesel able to run 48.7 mpg (40.5 mpg U.S.) which is 2.4 mpg more than the previous model. There′s a small gasoline engine option as well, which will move the CLC 200 Kompressor 36.2 miles per gallon (30 mpg U.S.). This is 1.2 mpg better than before.

Last but not least, the CLS has improved consumption as well. There’s a new direct-injection 350 GDi with piezo-electric injectors that gets 31 mpg (26 mpg U.S.), as well as a 350 CDI with respectable 37.2 mpg (31 mpg US). All CLS models are equipped with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.

[Source: Mercedes UK]

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Xavier Navarro

Filed under: Diesel, Mercedes Benz, European Union, UK, Germany

Although Mercedes certainly does not have the cleanest luxury vehicles on the road, the company has announced a set of improvements for its spring line-up of cars and claims that, in some cases, the new models burn up to 10 percent less fuel while pumping out more power.

Not every model has increased mpg numbers. In the case of the V6 SL 350, the engine output increased to 316 HP (up by 16 percent) but fuel mileage is 1.1 mpg higher, up to 28.5 mpg (Imperial, about 24 mpg U.S.). For the 8-cylinder SL 500 and the 12-cylinder SL 600, Mercedes has announced the same improvement.

For the SLK 350, the V6 increased the HP figures up to 305, while delivering 30.7 mpg (25 mpg U.S.), which is down 2.7 mpg. There’s a SLK 200 Kompressor delivering the best mileage, 36.7 mpg (30.5 mpg U.S.) of the range. Then there’s a larger SLK 280 good for 31.4 mpg (26 mpg U.S.) and the outrageous S55 AMG (they don’t publicize the mileage figures for this one).

On to the CLC sport coup&eacute;s (the 3-door hatchbacks). Europeans can get a CLC 200 CDI diesel able to run 48.7 mpg (40.5 mpg U.S.) which is 2.4 mpg more than the previous model. There’s a small gasoline engine option as well, which will move the CLC 200 Kompressor 36.2 miles per gallon (30 mpg U.S.). This is 1.2 mpg better than before.

Last but not least, the CLS has improved consumption as well. There’s a new direct-injection 350 GDi with piezo-electric injectors that gets 31 mpg (26 mpg U.S.), as well as a 350 CDI with respectable 37.2 mpg (31 mpg US). All CLS models are equipped with the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission as standard.

[Source: Mercedes UK]

&nbsp

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Xavier Navarro

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]

&nbsp

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski