Hybrid News

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

Another quarter passes, another record profit is set by Exxon Mobil. It’s a bit of a broken record by now… literally. If you have a weak stomach, perhaps you should quit reading here. For the rest of us, here are the gory details: Total net profit comes in at a staggering $14.83 billion, besting its previous record (which was just set last quarter) of 11.68 billion. That income equals $1,865.69 per second, in case you cared. Total revenue taken in was $137.7 billion, which equates to a lot of gas, though it produced 8 percent less oil that it had the previous quarter.

Perennial number-two oil company, Royal Dutch Shell, also did rather well for itself last quarter, raking in $8.45 billion in profits. British Petroleum, for its part, managed to make some $10.5 billion over the same period of time. These record profits have managed to catch some major attention, including that of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who suggested that the oil giants perhaps share the wealth a bit. Yeah, that sounds likely.

[Source: CNN Money]

Exxon’s $14.83 billion sets new quarterly profit record originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Original post by denverjay

Filed under: Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Citroen, South/Latin America

It seems that it’s not just Europeans who are getting green (or blue) labels for virtually every model of the road. We recently reported that Volkswagen has taken the BlueMotion badge to Brazil and that the Smart fortwo is being put on sale there. Well, it looks like Citroën has had the same idea and has unveiled a new model for the Brazilian market: the Xsara Picasso compact minivan, which is going to get the green label of “Eco” (not Airdream as in Europe). What’s the Xsara Picasso got going for it? A flex-fuel engine, like the Brazilian BlueMotions, but mated to a Stop/Start system. A good side benefit of the Start/Stop system is that flex-fuel models won’t need an additional gasoline reservoir for cold starts. Citroën claims that the latter system itself cuts fuel use by 8 percent, which “adds to the benefits of using ethanol at the pump.”

[Source: Citroën Brazil via Le Blog Auto]

Another eco option for Brazilians: Citroën Xsara Picasso Eco originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Xavier Navarro

Filed under: Oil Sands

The recent drop in oil prices, in combination with the failing economy, is taking a toll in the development of Canadian oil sands. Because of low labor productivity and increasing costs, the Canadian-based industry is finding it increasingly difficult to compete in the global marketplace. Poor environmental practices and an “uncertain regulatory picture” are, according to a recent report by consultants McKinsey & Co., also contributing factors to a slew of development slowdowns and “postponements.”

One high profile example is Royal Dutch Shell. Yesterday, they announced they are holding off on phase II of their Athabasca oil sands project, although they will continue on with their existing expansion operation. Other projects seeing similar actions include (but are not limited to) the $20.6-billion Voyageur oil sands project by Suncor, the $23.8-billion Fort Hills development by Petro Canada, Teck Cominco Ltd. and UTS Energy Corp as well as $6.6-billion Long Lake project by Nexen Inc. and OPTI Canada Ltd. We expect that, as the price of oil begins to climb sometime in the near future, the corporations will continue on with their plans to destroy Alberta for fun and profit.

[Source: Globe &amp Mail]

Oil sands projects bogging down originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Domenick Yoney

Filed under: SMART, USA

When smart first decided to offer its diminutive fortwo in the United States, the automaker and Penske, the U.S. distributor, pegged a goal of 20,000 sales for its first year. That mark has come and gone, a full two months ahead of schedule. In early August, we heard that Penske had raised its sales expectations to somewhere between 24,000 and 27,500, a mark that shouldn’t be hard to hit considering that over 7,000 units have been delivered in the last three months. This is the first year that the city car has been available in the States, but the brand has actually been around for about ten years. Our understanding is that the automaker could sell way more units in the U.S. if units could be built fast enough. Dave Schembri, president of smart USA, was on hand for the historic event. The car was delivered to Patrick Zipper in Dallas, Texas. Next question: Will the sales success continue on into 2009?

[Source: smart USA]

Continue reading smart USA sells fortwo number 20,000

smart USA sells fortwo number 20,000 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Etc., Chrysler, GM, Green Daily

The other day, our friends at Autoblog did a little thought experiment about which vehicle models would survive if the much-talked-about merger between GM and Chrysler comes to pass. The post didn’t focus on the greener side of things, but we already know that the big Chrysler SUVs aren’t long for this world and that Chrysler already wants a little of the Volt advertising attention. So, what might happen should these two companies become one?

Lots of job cuts, to be sure, but when it comes to the excess vehicle models in the line-ups, Grant Thornton of the consulting firm Grant Thornton LLP, told Automotive News (subs req’d) that of the 26 or so current Chrysler models, only seven are “core” and would survive the merger: the Dodge Ram pickup; Chrysler and Dodge minivans; and several Jeep models, including the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. None of those are exactly eco-friendly, but AN writes that GM’s plug-in hybrid knowledge is a vital addition to the potential merged company (file under: no kidding), while Chrysler’s cash is appealing to GM (again, no kidding). What do you see surviving should a new GMrysler company take shape?

[Source: Automotive News (subs req′d)]

Chrysler vehicles could be attrition fodder if GM merger goes through originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

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

At least a few dozen people around the country have now done one-off conversions of hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Ford Escape to transform them into plug-in vehicles. For those who may not have the hardware hacker gene in their DNA, the first commercially available plug-in conversion kit is now on the market from A123 Systems subsidiary HyMotion. Popular Mechanics Detroit Editor Larry Webster recently had the chance to sample a converted Prius with the HyMotion kit for a couple of days. The kit consists of a 5 kWh lithium ion battery and associated electronics that are claimed to give the Prius a 30-mile electric range. As Larry found out this isn’t exactly true. The pack will give the Prius up to 30 miles of driving before the battery is depleted. However, the Prius is not designed as an electric vehicle and the 67 hp electric motor is insufficient to let it operate on electrons alone at all speeds. With a very light foot on the gas pedal you can get up up to about 35 mph without the engine. Even at higher speeds, Larry found the engine would occasionally shutoff allowing the car to run on batteries. At lower speeds however, the engine will occasionally start up depending on the driving condition so that 30-mile range is really mixed mode driving. During Larry’s time with the Prius he got about 24-25 miles before the lithium battery was depleted. Given the $10,000 price tag of the kit, this looks likes its strictly for the environmentally-minded rather than those trying to save money.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Popular Mechanics tries out the A123/Hymotion PHEV Prius originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Filed under: Diesel, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, SMART, Natural Gas, Daimler

Spanish Economy newspaper El Economista has published an interview with Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler, in which he says what a lot of our readers have been saying: hydrogen doesn’t make sense.

While speaking about Mercedes’ upcoming models, Zetsche gave a solid affirmation about downsides of the “hydrogen technology.” Hydrogen cars are not viable economically, he said. Zetsche listed the upcoming models and green technologies Mercedes is offering for the next few years: Diesotto, Natural Gas, the Blueefficiency line for the A, B and C series and Bluetec in the U.S. first and in Europe some time afterwards, not to mention the S400 hybrid introduced in Paris. When it comes to future products, Zetsche speaks about the new C250 V6 Bluetefficiency, the new Bluetec diesel hybrids in 2010 and new batteries for the Electric Smart. A lot of technologies, not a lot of H₂.

[Source: El Economista]

Dieter Zetsche: Hydrogen cars are not economically viable originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Xavier Navarro

When it comes to issues like global warming and our environment, having to keep up with “Going Green” can be very overwhelming sometimes. Amongst a culture of hybrid cars, energy efficient light bulbs…

Original post by default@goarticles.com (Alycia Shapiro)

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, USA

It looks like Boston Power will try to do for electric vehicles what it did for laptops. The company developed the Sonata brand which recharges faster, packs more energy and last longer than “regular″ laptop batteries. They are also safer. CEO Christina Lampe-Onnerud, founder of the young company, is also a battery researcher and re-engineered the laptop powerpack to take advantage of efficiency gains from re-sizing and re-shaping the individual cells, upgrading materials and eliminating parallel circuits paths in favor of series-only. The result is a battery that will keep your laptop humming for four hours at a time and not lose much in the way of energy capacity over a period of years. They will now take that experience and tackle the larger format batteries used for transportation at their newly expanded R&D lab in Westborough, MA.

They already have battery modules suitable for power-assisted bicycles and scooters that they are showcasing. Next on the list are power packs for hybrids and all-electric cars. Lampe-Onnerud believes that they have “only scratched the surface of lithium ion technology” and believes it will be the dominant chemistry for many years to come. She also believes that it may take a few years for the market to develop but is certain that it will happen. We hope she is right.

[Source: Xconomy Boston]

Boston Power opening transportation battery division originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Domenick Yoney

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, USA

With a plug-in hybrid credit valued up to $7,500 now on the books (get more details here), the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) is looking past next week’s big presidential election and trying to gauge the political landscape. EDTA president Brian Wynne sent out an email to EDTA members describing where the 111th Congress and the new president (whoever is elected) stand on PHEVs. The good news, if you’re in favor of a car with a plug, is that legislators seem to be getting behind PHEVs, with the aforementioned tax credit hopefully predicting that the EDTA can easier explain to elected representatives “how Washington can accelerate electric drive and reduce oil dependence, sustain the environment, enhance global competitiveness and increase national security.” With a lot of new House members, some new Senators and a new president all coming on the scene soon, the EDTA has its work cut out in getting more money set aside for PHEVs.

[Source: EDTA]

Continue reading EDTA: government support for plug-in vehicles growing

EDTA: government support for plug-in vehicles growing originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors, USA

Tesla Motors and it’s man in charge, Elon Musk, have had to make some tough decisions these past few weeks. The announcements made by Musk indicate that cash is getting tight, leading some to speculate that the company won’t be in business much longer. Not so, says Tesla. Musk has reportedly personally guaranteed that the fledgling automaker would deliver all Roadsters to customers that have placed deposits, saying, “I have the means and wherewithal to do so. So people should have absolutely zero concern about their deposit.” While the Roadster’s production is moving forward as planned, the automaker’s Model S sedan has been delayed by at least six months.

Tesla Motors has also just announced that it is close to closing on its latest round of funding to the tune of at least $20 million. As of right now, Musk suggests that the automaker currently has about $9 million in funds with which to operate, a figure that some point to when suggesting that Tesla’s on the financial ropes. Musk discounts those rumors, saying that $9 mil is plenty for now and that more funds will be coming from past company backers in the very near future. Of course, we′ll be watching the situation closely, but it appears that rumors of the company’s death are more than a bit premature.

[Source: Tesla Motors, Reuters]

Tesla still alive and kickin’ originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Original post by sivilyar

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, BMW, Ford, Saturn, SMART, Volkswagen, LA Auto Show

The editors at Green Car Journal have announced their picks to succeed the Chevy Tahoe hybrid as the Green Car of the Year. The five finalists for 2009 cover all the bases including hybrid, diesel and really small. The vehicles up for the award include the Ford Fusion hybrid, the Saturn Vue 2 Mode hybrid, the BMW 335d, the VW Jetta TDI and the Smart ForTwo. To qualify, the cars have to be in production by January 1, 2009. Last year at the LA Auto Show, editor Ron Cogan announced the Tahoe as the winner based the fact that it brought a huge improvement in efficiency to what was then still a huge market segment. As we now know that’s no longer the case. We’ll learn who the winner is in a few weeks, but for now, please cast your own vote from among these new models.

View Poll

[Source: Green Car Journal]

POLL: 2009 Green Car of the Year finalists announced originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Sam Abuelsamid

Roses have a lot to offer as terrific landscape plants with a wide diversity of habit, form, and shape and a long color season. Among some home gardeners, however, roses have acquired a reputation as …

Original post by default@goarticles.com (Med)