Hybrid News

Original post by Doug121041

Filed under: Biodiesel

The LTI taxis which are the popular models used in Great Britain (and some other places) as cabs are known for a certain thirst of fuel, although interior room and city handling are just awesome.

A taxi company in London has decided to improve their green side by running their taxis with a 30 percent of blended biofuel (I assume biodiesel because all the taxis I′ve seen in the UK ran on diesel). Those cabs will be specially branded with a special sticker on the windscreen.

The company claims that this allows to reduce emissions a 7 percent, which will save around 3,000 tons of CO2 per year. London Mayor Ken Livingstone supports the initiative: “London already has the best taxi service in the world, and I am working with the taxi trade to make it the cleanest,” he said to the BBC.

Related:

• Climatecars: not only hybrid riding but also carbon offsetting
• All tomorrows taxis: New York fleet will be all hybrid by 2012
• Be posh and green. Chauffeur-First to use Lexus Hybrids

[Source: BBC]

 

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

Original post by Xavier Navarro

The performance of a gasoline engine, the high torque and fuel economy of a state-of-the-art diesel together with extremely clean emissions: Mercedes-Benz has combined all the advantages of both engine types in its DiesOtto powertrain.

Original post by Winahyo Setyowibowo

The performance of a gasoline engine, the high torque and fuel economy of a state-of-the-art diesel together with extremely clean emissions: Mercedes-Benz has combined all the advantages of both engine types in its DiesOtto powertrain.

Original post by Winahyo Setyowibowo

During the first half of 2008, a five-cylinder 2.5-litre turbocharged Flexifuel engine with a power output of 200 hp will be introduced in the Volvo V70 and S80. Both models will also be available with a 2-litre Flexifuel engine.

Original post by Winahyo Setyowibowo

Filed under: Etc., Hybrid, Lexus

My, what a big luxury sedan you have.

All the better to drive you with, my dear.

Not that Lexus is a big, bad wolf in any way, but at the Chauffeur Drive ‘07, they might as well be the only sponsor of the event, because it’ll be their show. All the luxury amenities, stylishness, gadgets to make a technophile moist, and the fact that it’s a hybrid will make the LS 600h L the couture d’elegance of businessmen and money-pit well-dippers too important or self-important to drive themselves.

The show itself is intended to be the gleeful high point of the year for professional drivers in Europe. It will take place at Surrey’s Dunsfold Park, the place where Top Gear likes to play with cars, videotape them and call it work. There will be presentations on all things chauffeuring, from rules and regulations to starting your own company, as well as a used limo lot, where those who attended the latter seminar can purchase their first fleet cars.

Included below is a gallery of the LS 600h L at Hybrid Fest 2007. It was notably imposing but not overstated, and I did like the blue-background Lexus logo, matching the LED headlights. Too bad it was locked with no keys in sight.

By the way, if you’re a cabbie, that means you aren’t a chauffeur. All it’ll take, however, is a little air-freshener, some calmer and safer driving habits, a more strict personal grooming regimen, and a vehicle not swathed in an obnoxious color, and they′ll welcome you with open arms at the Chauffeur Drive ‘08.

[Source: Chauffeur Drive ‘07]LEXUS (GB) Ltd. has announced it is to showcase its flagship hybrid powered LS600h at the Chauffeur Drive ‘07 in September.

Visitors to the show will be among the first to preview the LS 600h priced from £81,400 and LS 600h L, the long-wheel base version, before its UK on-sale date of 1st October. Featuring the world’s first full-time all-wheel drive hybrid V8 powertrain, along with more sophisticated array of preventive, active and passive features than any car in its class, the LS 600h will set new standards in luxury motoring. A superb specification will ensure owners enjoy supreme comfort, convenience and on-board entertainment.

Advanced technologies including pre-crash safety systems that can detect collision hazards both on the road ahead and from the rear, Adaptive Variable Suspension and the world’s first application of LED technology for low beam headlight illumination, are dovetailed with the skills of master craftsmen to achieve a high luxury finish in the paintwork, fine leather upholstery, hand-trimmed dashboard and real wood cabin trim features.

The LS 600h L can be additionally specified with a Rear Seat Relaxation Pack that provides even higher levels of comfort. The left hand rear seat gains an extending ottoman leg and thigh rest, seat cushion airbag and variable massage function. An independent DVD system, centre console with extending wood-inlaid tray are also part of the pack, together with a more advanced climate control system that uses body temperature sensors to determine optimum performance.

Andy Simpson, Lexus’ Manager, National Corporate and Remarketing, commented: “We are pleased to be involved with Chauffeur DRIVE ‘07 which will provide us with a great opportunity to introduce the new LS 600h and the Lexus brand in general to the key audience of chauffeurs and executive car operators. We are greatly looking forward to the show.”
Chauffeur Drive ‘07 is THE networking event for European limousine operators and chauffeurs, offering visitors a unique opportunity to not only see, but to drive and even buy the world’s most exclusive executive cars in one place - an industry first!

Surrey′s Dunsfold Park, the venue for the famous BBC Top Gear track, will host the show from September 16th - 18th. A 3000 square metre exhibition hall will house displays of over 50 limousines as well as car manufacturers, coachbuilders and suppliers, including Jaguar UK, Volvo, Hummerzine, Nova Coach from the USA and of course the unique Ferrari 360 limo. The three miles test track itself will allow visitors to test a range of the latest cars and limousines.

That’s not all. Hundreds of pre-owned stretched limousines and executive cars, from Bentley Arnages or Millennium Town Cars, will be on display in the dedicated track side showroom ‘Limo and LuxuryMart Live′, offering exclusive bargains to show visitors.

A daily programme of FREE seminars, courtesy of the National Limousine and Chauffeur Association and the USA’s LCT magazine, will also be conducted on the Monday and Tuesday offering advice to anyone working in or wishing to enter the limousine or chauffeuring profession. Topics range from law and finance to chauffeur etiquette, setting up your first company and winning the growing prom market.

Visitors can register for FREE tickets in advance by visiting www.drive07.co.uk

 

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

Original post by Shane Addie

ATLANTA — Porsche confirmed that its engineers are hustling to squeeze approximately 26 mpg out of the full-hybrid system in its upcoming Cayenne Hybrid . The German automaker has released its first image of the Cayenne Hybrid, building up anticipation for the vehicle’s launch at the end of the decade.

Original post by sarah_barba@nrel.gov

Filed under: Biodiesel, Diesel, Vegetable Oil

Some cars that run on vegetable oil leave behind a smell of a fish & chips shop but one might think that the exhaust gases can’t be too good for our health. In theory yes, but proof has arrived from the Bayerische Institut f&uumlr Angewandte Umweltforschung und -technik (Bavarian Institute for Applied Environmental Research and Technology, BIFA).

Their research compared Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) that satisfied the DIN V 51605 standard to regular diesel. As a general conclusion, the SVO fumes produce half the amount of carcinogen particullates than diesel counterparts. However, and this is important, the biggest variable in this study was engine management. A poorly managed SVO engine can produce even more carcinogen pollutants than a good diesel one. Furthermore, in the worst case scenario of diesel engines with no managament at all, the cancer risk might be 30 times higher.

Does this mean that us (bio)diesel drivers should change immediately to SVO? First of all, the engine needs to be professionally converted, as has been covered in these pages a number of times. Then, the engine must be properly maintained (which applies to all engines as well). Nevertheless, the target of this study was demonstrating that the tax reduction SVO for automotion has is completely justified.

Finally, the test was conducted in quite a peculiar way: a trunk of salmonella bacteria was exposed to exhaust fumes and the index of cell mutation was examined in the microscope. Now where’s that pot of mayo I’ve kept in the fridge since Christmas?

Related:

• Autobloggreen Q & A: The EcoChallenge team: To Mongolia on VegOil!
• UK taxes on vegetable oil for vehicles makes it 50 percent cheaper than diesel
• North Carolina man fined for using vegetable oil in his car

[Source: Autonews.de (link is in German)]

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

Original post by Xavier Navarro

Original post by hostage

Original post by ryanw

Filed under: Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Honda

Honda has big plans for the future. In addition to their already admirable goals of CO2 reductions, they called out from the rooftops earlier this month that they are going to be building next-generation clean diesel engines that will meet the Tier 2 BIN 5 NOx emissions standards here in the states, but will be selling them in Japan as well.

They did not announce that they planned on selling their flexible fuel iterations of the Civic and Fit here in the U.S. that those fortunate fellows in South America have been enjoying since the end of last year, but they did see fit to brag about their sales figures: 10,000 units, where over half of the Civics sold were flexible fuel models. Swell.

The best news here is that Honda will be selling a dedicated new hybrid model by 2009. Even better, pricing is intended to fall below that of the Civic Hybrid. As long as it’s more practical than the Insight, I think we′ll all be pretty happy with it at that price point.

[Source: Honda]

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

Original post by Shane Addie

They do four doors as well.

http://www.newportconvertible.com/home.jhtm

Original post by noflash

Filed under: Hydrogen, Mazda

Mazda will deliver a dual-fuel vehicle (think BMW Hydrogen 7) to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) tomorrow. The vehicle, a RX-8 with a Hydrogen rotary engine, can switch between gasoline and hydrogen at the “flick of a switch″ and will be used by METI for daily operations.

Since 2004, Mazda has been road testing the hydrogen RX-8 and has delivered earlier vehicles to other Japanese ministries. Mazda has more details about the vehicle, its rotary engine and hydrogen cars in a press release after the jump and we’ve got lots more from the AutoblogGreen archives:

• Mazda celebrates 40 years of their rotary engine
• Mazda delivers hydrogen RX-8 to Japan Automobile Research Institute
• Mazda’s RX-8 Hydrogen RE hits the snow and ice for the first time
• Mazda delivers RX-8 Hydrogen RE to Yamaguchi government
• Mazda hydrogen-powered RX-8 seen outside Japan for first time
• Mazda’s 15-year quest for hydrogen vehicles

[Source: Mazda]
Mazda to Deliver Rotary Hydrogen Vehicle to Japan’s METI

HIROSHIMA, Japan-Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that the company is to deliver one dual-fueled RX-8 Hydrogen Rotary Engine (RE) vehicle to Japan′s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) on August 1, 2007. The dual-fuel system enables the driver to select either gasoline or hydrogen fuel with the flick of a switch. METI will use the RX-8 Hydrogen RE in its daily operations. The delivery to METI will mark the eighth hydrogen rotary engine vehicle to be leased to government bodies and private enterprises and the first time that Japan′s central government has adopted a hydrogen vehicle for its daily operations.

Seita Kanai, Mazda’s Senior Managing Executive Officer in charge of R&D, said, “Based on Mazda’s unique hydrogen technology, we have been advancing research and development of hydrogen vehicles for over 15 years as part of our initiatives for a future hydrogen society. We are extremely pleased to be delivering this RX-8 Hydrogen RE to METI. Hydrogen rotary engines demonstrate the still untapped potential of internal combustion. Going forward, we will continue to develop vehicles for hydrogen rotary engines and improve their performance in order to contribute to the realization of an eco-friendly, hydrogen-based society.”

Mazda has been developing the hydrogen rotary engine since 1991. By burning hydrogen, the engine produces only trace amounts of carbonno dioxide, one of the primary causes of global warming. Mazda conducted public road testing of the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE in 2004. In February 2006, Mazda received approval from Japan’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and became the first company in the world to commercially lease hydrogen powered rotary engine vehicles. The vehicles delivered to date have been showcased at public events and used in daily operations. Mazda’s RX-8 Hydrogen RE has been praised for the outstanding convenience of its dual-fuel system and for its balance between eco-friendliness and exhilarating performance that only an internal combustion engine can provide.

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

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Original post by stevejust

Filed under: Natural Gas

According to a recent study by the Schweizerische Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (EMPA, roughly translated as Swiss Federal Technical University), the best biofuel in terms of CO2 balance is biogas. Not a new thing for our readers, but their study shows that it reduces up to 90 percent of CO2 emissions from the tailpipe.

Biogas comes from fermentation of manure and waste and can be used directly into CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) without further modifications in the engine. Therefore it’s a very good candidate to be used on its own or even mixed with natural gas as other biofuels are blended to their fossil counterparts.

The study also shows that biogas, even made artificially, saves the side effects of harvesting conventional biofuels, such as ethanol or oil for biodiesel. Using harvested vegetable raw materials, the global CO2 emissions could be reduced from 30 to 50 percent. In case of wood, these savings could be even better, topping 70 percent.

Blending biogas with conventional CNG seems a good solution. Some experts affirm that in 2030, a tenth of Germany’s natural gas will be biogas but this study affirms that this number can be improved: it’s possible to mix 10 percent by 2010 and 20 percent in 2020.

Taking in consideration the savings of C̘ emissions mentioned above, CNG vehicles can emit less C̘. For instance, an Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG which usually produces 136 g/Km C̘ could be lowered to 113 g/Km C̘ by using a 20 percent biogas mix. Add this to the fact that CNG already reduces NOx emissions 70 percent in front of conventional diesel engines and produces almost no particullates.

Related:

• Biomethane mixed with natural gas or diesel to make heavy vehicles greener
• University of Georgia and Mexico to partner on biofuels from dung
• Driving around Europe with Natural Gas: VW Touran, Fiat Panda and more

[Source Auto-news.de (link is German)]

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

Original post by Xavier Navarro