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Saturday, September 6, 2008
The Magnet Car...
The Magnet Car
Aug 16, 2008
Once again I am forced to express my jealous admiration for the new breed of magic, eco-friendly car. Oops, did I say magic? I meant magnet: this car overcomes the force of gravity through the strategic use of an electric engine...and magnets.
Winner of the unseen technology award at the Interior motives design awards 2007, the MAG magnetic vehicle concept (designed by Matúš Procháczka) finds an unusual solution to the problem of, expending fuel to get somewhere. Rather than finding a different fuel source, or building a smaller car, Procháczka ingeniously reduces the weight of the car by using an electric engine with magnets the same polarity as the roads. The resulting upward force lightens the vehicle's weight by 50%.
Another innovative touch is the desing of the seats: two outer layers, pile yarn, and a soft construction foam make it possible to adjust the final hardness and spring characteristics of the seat. This lightweight, adaptable seating not only cuts down on waste during construction and the overall weight of the vehicle while being driven, it also sounds pretty darn comfy.
Of course, the biggest caveat to MAG's road dominance is the very crux of it's construction: in order for the magnetic engine to properly polarize, the roads on which it's driven also have to be magnetized. Magnetic roads not being yet readily available, um, anywhere, the design for right now remains purely theoretical. But the day they are, you'll see me sitting on my adjustable foam seat cushion, zipping around on my magnet car. MR
*Courtesy been-seen
Friday, August 22, 2008
EnerDel is set to hire 277 workers at Indianapolis, In plant...
EnerDel will hire hundreds at 2 sites
Lithium-ion battery deal for Think electric vehicle may return city to roots
Once a leader in producing electric cars, Indiana someday could become the center of the nation's new electric car business.
State officials raised the prospect Thursday when Indianapolis battery researcher EnerDel confirmed it will become one of the world's first companies to ramp up output of high-tech batteries for cars designed to run entirely on electricity.
EnerDel, a blend of Japanese and American engineers and Russian capital, said it will hire about 277 production workers and engineers in Indianapolis and Noblesville to make lithium-ion batteries for export to Think Global, a new car company in Norway.
If the Think cars prove reliable in Europe, the company could open an Indiana car assembly plant even as major automakers turn to EnerDel for high-volume production of the innovative batteries able to move a car 110 miles before requiring recharging.
"We aim to be a winner," Ulrik Grape, EnerDel's president and chief executive officer, told the company's nearly 100 employees at a news conference announcing the production ramp-up for Think.
In an era of costly fuel, drivers want better mileage. But no big car company ever has touted purely electric cars as a solution to the nation's fuel woes. The reason has been the limited driving range of conventional batteries.
Now, Think Global and a bevy of other small companies are trying to edge into the market with a battery capable of storing more than 10 times the electricity found in the battery of a Toyota Prius hybrid.
Think Global, backed by investors in high technology including Rockport Capital of Boston, plans to make about 10,000 electric cars a year powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Think could put a production line in the U.S. as early as 2011 to assemble electric cars, said Richard Canny, Think chief executive officer. Plans call for launching the 155-mile range Think Ox model in the United States. The Ox would be an upgraded version of Europe's Think City and would meet U.S. highway regulations.
"Our immediate goal is to ramp up production here," said Canny, in a phone interview from his office in Norway. An Australian, he earlier this year headed strategic planning at Ford Motor Co. in Michigan,
"There's no doubt we'll come to the U.S. The question is when. On one hand, we'd want to be close to where our customers are. On the other, there are good technical capabilities in the Midwest," Canny said, referring to the region's talented technical employees.
Automakers have honed gasoline engines for better mileage and also brought out hybrids that mate electric motors with smaller gas engines. But conventional batteries deterred carmakers from electric cars. Four years ago, General Motors scrapped the last of its California EV-1 electric car program, saying the 40-mile to 50-mile driving range was insufficient.
Hybrids like the Prius can run 40 to 50 miles per gallon, but still depend on gas engines and use relatively small batteries. The nickel metal hydride battery in the Prius stores about 2.6 kilowatt hours of electricity, compared with 26 kilowatt hours in EnerDel's 600-pound battery pack.
EnerDel, relying on innovative Japanese chemistry and former GM Delphi battery engineers, designed the lithium-ion battery in a quick program that has enabled the company to reach market sooner than most other battery researchers, Grape said.
Think Global tested lithium-ion batteries from more than a dozen developers and selected three suppliers: EnerDel; A123 of Watertown, Mass.; and Mes-dea of Switzerland.
By expanding capacity in Indianapolis and Noblesville, EnerDel could make 300,000 batteries a year, Grape said. Indianapolis will make the cells while Noblesville assembles the battery packs.
If the company lands new contracts, EnerDel could open a third battery plant in Indiana covering more than 300,000 square feet and employing more than 450 workers. Criteria for that plant would include access to rail, ceilings 25 feet high, good roads to withstand the heavy batteries, and proximity to engineers and production workers capable of advanced manufacturing.
State officials say if the electric car catches on in America, Indiana can become a center for production by drawing on resources of area enterprises, such as Delphi electronics in Kokomo and Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center, a U.S. Navy facility southwest of Bloomington known as a leader in battery storage technology.
"Our state is perfectly positioned to do the right thing and move fast and lead this revolution," said Gov. Mitch Daniels at the news conference. Later, he noted the state would try to persuade Think to locate the vehicle assembly plant in Indiana.
In Southern Indiana, Jeffersonville now is competing with Bowling Green, Ky., to lure Integrity, a Kentucky maker of an electric car called the Zap. The Zap is considered less sophisticated than Think, which is designed to run on freeways and accelerate from a stop to 60 miles an hour within eight seconds.
It's still not clear, though, whether that big contract is close at hand for EnerDel. About a dozen automakers and major auto-parts makers now are examining versions of EnerDel's batteries, Grape said.
Despite the disarray in the New York capital markets, EnerDel would have no problem raising money to build a big Indiana plant to supply a major automaker, said Gerard Herihy, chief financial officer of Ener1, a parent of EnerDel.
"The only industry able to raise a lot of capital right now is energy and solar. We're in the same area," he said.
Ener1 is the New York-based company financed in part by Russian timber mogul Boris Zingarevich.
Ener1 formed EnerDel in a 2004 joint venture with Michigan-based auto-parts maker Delphi and Japanese electronics company Itochu.
Ener1 this summer acquired bankrupt Delphi's share in EnerDel. EnerDel is housed in the Indianapolis plant that Delphi built for battery production near 86th Street and I-69.
Delphi's origins trace to Delco and Remy, companies with extensive Indiana ties that also had a large hand years ago in putting the first electrical systems in automobiles.
Early in the 20th century, before the gas engine displaced the electric car, historians say, Indiana was home to an array of electric car companies. These included Mills Electric of Ligonier, National Automobile & Electric of Indianapolis, Studebaker Electric of South Bend, Warren Electric of Indianapolis and Waverly Electric of Indianapolis.
*Courtesy Indianapolis Star reporter Ted Evanoff
Friday, August 8, 2008
The technology keeps coming and coming...106 mpg 'compressed air car' may become a reality!
MORE HERE FROM CNN: 106 mpg 'air car' creates buzz, questions - CNN.com
106 MPG Compressed Air Car Coming Soon?
Fred Flintstone used his feet to get his car moving forward, but what will you be using in the near future? What if we told you the answer to that question was "air?"Yes, friends, air. Compressed air, to be exact.The compressed air car is the inspired idea from a European company called MDI, founded in 1991 by a French inventor. The car would use compressed air in a way similar to how a steam engine drives pistons to create motion.With the goal of 106 miles per gallon of fuel (so you still need a little gas) and an 800 mile range, the car could be the super solution to the challenge of ever-increasing gas prices.New York-based Zero Pollution Motors is the first U.S. company to license MDI's technology, with hopes to have a six-seater model for sale in 2010 – for less than $18,000.There are skeptics, of course. The amount of air pressure required -- 4,500 pounds per square inch – is something typically seen only in industrial applications. But the company claims to be able to surmount this challenge. They also say that while their car will be small, it will still be safe to drive on American roads, surrounded by SUVs and 18-wheelers.Between zero and 35 miles per hour, the car would use only compressed air to move forward. Above that speed, a little extra juice is necessary, and that's where the fuel would come in to play.Next year, the car will compete for the Automotive X Prize, with a multimillion-dollar award going to the car that "can win a stage race for clean, production-capable vehicles that exceed 100 mpg equivalent fuel economy.
*Courtesy Will Safer (Switched)
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Nissan unviels EV-01 Electric Vehicle...
Yokosuka, Japan-
Nissan unveiled its new EV-01 electric vehicle to the public today, that they say delivers more power than a typical hybrid that is found today. The new vehicle that is being prepared to be sold by 2010 produces it's power with 600 pounds (300 kilogram) of lithium-ion batteries.
Nissan has not proved test data like cruising range and other data.
Nissan along with its partner Renault SA, has stated that it is partnering with the Portuguese Government to sell electric vehicles in the country by 2011, in addition Nissan also announced it has other deals with a Palo Alto, California company A Better Place to market electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark by 2011.
Nissan promises to have the vehicle on sale in Japan and the U.S. by 2010 and globally by 2012. Nissan has been slow to the marketplace with its electric vehicle program and is playing catch up with rivals Toyota and Honda, in addition to entries from Ford and GM.
The vehicle has some unique features such as a side collision prevention feature that uses sensors to detect oncoming vehicles even in blind spots and will warn drivers when switching lanes. The driver will feel a slight tug on the wheels that is carried out with very light braking through the wheels, said Nissan Senior Manager Junichi Kobayashi.
More to come.
Enjoy Today!
Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
EnerDel will produce lithium-ion batteries for the THINK Car...
Indy to power electric car.
Indianapolis, Indiana plant expanding to produce lithium-ion batteries
EnerDel plans to expand its Indianapolis plant by the end of the year to start commercial production of 600-pound lithium-ion battery packs that will power a Norwegian-made all-electric car.
"We're planning to expand rapidly. We're scaling up to some big numbers," said Charles Gassenheimer, chairman and chief executive of Ener1, the Florida-based parent of the battery maker.
The batteries will go into the Think car, a two-seater produced in Norway that aims at becoming the first commercially available electric car.
Think wants to gear up to produce 10,000 cars a year in 2009, Gassenheimer said, with EnerDel supplying the batteries.
EnerDel plans a 49,000-square-foot expansion and remodeling of its plant at 8740 Hague Road, where batteries are produced, according to a state-filed building permit. Currently EnerDel does battery research at the plant and produces limited numbers of lithium-ion batteries for testing and development in electric cars and gas-electric hybrid vehicles.
"This is one of the crucial steps" in EnerDel's history, Gassenheimer said of the expansion. "The next six months are crucial. We want to make sure we execute on the production side."
EnerDel employs about 100 people at the plant and could hire 150 more in the next 18 months, said spokeswoman Rachel Carroll. Many would be engineering jobs, she said.
EnerDel has been talking to the state about economic incentives, such as property tax abatement, for the project. An announcement about incentives could come soon.
Think was an electric car project of Ford Motor Co. until Ford sold it in 2003. Norwegian investors bought Think in 2006. Think cars with the EnerDel battery are expected to be sold first in Europe in late 2008 or early 2009, with U.S. sales following.
The auto industry needs a light, powerful battery to make the electric car a viable alternative to the gasolinepowered car. The lithium-ion battery appears to be the best solution, but energy experts say kinks must be worked out, including weight and heat production problems.
EnerDel, formed in 2004, is staking its future on the lithium-ion battery, which is commonly found in laptops and cell phones. It claims to have a battery that runs cool and doesn't short out or explode even if punctured. Hybrid vehicles currently use nickel metal hydride battery packs.
EnerDel is one of a handful of battery makers that have received millions of dollars in funding from the three major U.S. automakers through the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium. It also has received grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.
EnerDel's hybrid battery, which is the size of a conventional car lead battery, is not as far along in development as the much larger battery for all-electric cars.
When tested in the Toyota Prius, the hybrid battery achieved 77 miles per gallon, Gassenheimer said. The nickel metal hydride battery used commercially in the Prius gets 50 to 55 mpg, he said.
Gassenheimer said EnerDel wants to sign two contracts with car makers by the end of the year to develop its hybrid battery for commercial use.
Ener1, which is publicly traded, last week received bankruptcy court approval to buy out the 20 percent stake of its EnerDel founding partner Delphi Corp. for cash and stock worth $30 million. That gives Ener1 100 percent control of EnerDel.
"They were unable to help us financially due to their bankruptcy," Gassenheimer said of Delphi.
He said Ener1 now wants to find a new partner, such as an automaker, for the battery business.
"I don't believe EnerDel's best approach is to go it alone. We need partners," he said.
EnerDel is competing with Japanese powers Panasonic and Sony and other companies to come up with better car batteries that are low-cost, efficient, high-performing and safe.
Carroll said EnerDel is committed to producing its batteries in the United States. That could give EnerDel an advantage in the U.S. marketplace. The thinking among some alternative-energy analysts is that government policymakers looking to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil wouldn't be eager to give economic incentives to a foreign battery company that would send money spent on energy out of the country.
"EnerDel is well-positioned" to find users for its batteries, said Susan Eustis, an analyst for WinterGreen Research in Lexington, Mass. Besides cars, she said, "there are just so many places where this stuff can be used: wheelchairs, scooters, robots, power tools. You'll just see a proliferation" of users if the lithium-ion battery works well.
*Courtesy Star reporter Jeff Swiatek
Monday, August 4, 2008
Did you see lightning... Introducing the Lightning GT!
Will Lightning Strike in the UK?
A native car company unveils a 700-horsepower electric supercar at the British Motor Show 2008 — but will it really work?
By Christopher Hubbard of MSN autos
Click to see more pictures
The Lightning is all classic GT, with a long hood, low curving roofline, and massive multi-spoke alloy wheels.
Well here's a shock: a good looking British sports car (sorry Lotus). This is the Lightning GT, and instead of guzzling super unleaded it creates 700 horsepower using batteries.
Or so the Lightning Car Company claims. But we'll leave off being cynical for a moment (don't worry, it is only for a moment) and continue telling you just how good this thing looks. It is all classic GT: long hood, low curving roofline, and massive multi-spoke alloy wheels, complete with a major surprise.
View Pictures: Lightning GT
Those blue discs? They ain't the brakes — at least not in the traditional sense. The Lightning GT uses four hub-mounted electric motors, providing direct drive to the wheels. Combined with just 30 battery packs, these deliver the electric equivalent of "700 horsepower+" and each motor can be individually controlled.
This means the car can modify the speed of the wheels depending on steering angle and velocity, and presumably any other parameter the team can program into the system — suspension load, for example. This should lead to exceptionally dynamic handling — assuming all the computers are talking to each other.
Zero to 60 mph will, apparently, take less than four seconds — "when it's fully developed." This leads us to the more eyebrow-raising areas of the Lightning’s specifications. Having just 30 batteries is surprising enough (most electric supercars use far more than that), but the claim is these give the car a 300-km [186-mile] range — on just a 10-minute charge.
This is, quite frankly, unbelievable. That's not to say the Lightning Car Company hasn't achieved it — it does have video footage of the car moving under its own power displayed on the stand at the British Motor Show 2008 — but we would really like to see a full demonstration before even thinking about handing over any money.
Lightning officials say deliveries could start in 2010, but the company still requires investment to make that happen. It also claims "£20,000+ [US$40,000+] savings on annual running costs versus equivalent petrol sports car" — very bold. But if your biggest concern is the lack of an exciting engine note, fear not: the Lightning GT includes a “sound module.”
You can blast out the sound of a smooth V6 or throaty V12, or cruise along in serenity of silence. Make of that what you will. We love the concept of the Lightning GT — the look, the idea, the innovation, the British engineering. But my goodness, we need some convincing that the thing is really going to work.
A native car company unveils a 700-horsepower electric supercar at the British Motor Show 2008 — but will it really work?
By Christopher Hubbard of MSN autos
Click to see more pictures
The Lightning is all classic GT, with a long hood, low curving roofline, and massive multi-spoke alloy wheels.
Well here's a shock: a good looking British sports car (sorry Lotus). This is the Lightning GT, and instead of guzzling super unleaded it creates 700 horsepower using batteries.
Or so the Lightning Car Company claims. But we'll leave off being cynical for a moment (don't worry, it is only for a moment) and continue telling you just how good this thing looks. It is all classic GT: long hood, low curving roofline, and massive multi-spoke alloy wheels, complete with a major surprise.
View Pictures: Lightning GT
Those blue discs? They ain't the brakes — at least not in the traditional sense. The Lightning GT uses four hub-mounted electric motors, providing direct drive to the wheels. Combined with just 30 battery packs, these deliver the electric equivalent of "700 horsepower+" and each motor can be individually controlled.
This means the car can modify the speed of the wheels depending on steering angle and velocity, and presumably any other parameter the team can program into the system — suspension load, for example. This should lead to exceptionally dynamic handling — assuming all the computers are talking to each other.
Zero to 60 mph will, apparently, take less than four seconds — "when it's fully developed." This leads us to the more eyebrow-raising areas of the Lightning’s specifications. Having just 30 batteries is surprising enough (most electric supercars use far more than that), but the claim is these give the car a 300-km [186-mile] range — on just a 10-minute charge.
This is, quite frankly, unbelievable. That's not to say the Lightning Car Company hasn't achieved it — it does have video footage of the car moving under its own power displayed on the stand at the British Motor Show 2008 — but we would really like to see a full demonstration before even thinking about handing over any money.
Lightning officials say deliveries could start in 2010, but the company still requires investment to make that happen. It also claims "£20,000+ [US$40,000+] savings on annual running costs versus equivalent petrol sports car" — very bold. But if your biggest concern is the lack of an exciting engine note, fear not: the Lightning GT includes a “sound module.”
You can blast out the sound of a smooth V6 or throaty V12, or cruise along in serenity of silence. Make of that what you will. We love the concept of the Lightning GT — the look, the idea, the innovation, the British engineering. But my goodness, we need some convincing that the thing is really going to work.
*Courtesy MSN Autos and Christopher Hubbard
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The hottest used cars these days... I don't really want to say I told you so...
I reported recently that the resale value of preowned used Chevrolets, Fords and Chrysler products would soon have dramatic increases in value. J.D. Power released its 10 used vehicles with the fastest-rising prices (May and June 2008) and low and behold look what popped up on the list among the Toyotas and Hondas. The good 'ol Chevrolet Aveo and Ford Focus, as the story indicated, these vehicles are flying off dealers lots and pricing is rising fast. It goes on to say economy models haven''t been big sellers for the past few years, car makers (domestic) have built relatively few of them.
As I said in my earlier report, all anyone has to do is the math, the Domestic output of fuel efficient vehicles has been low, now demand is high, simple supply and demand mathematics. The Imports will be less and the Domestic used vehicle values will increase as this demand continues to increase.
All of the sudden that Chevy Metro is worth some moola!
I really don't like saying I told you so, so I won't, however you folks should listen up, look at the great values on deals from the domestics and take advantage of them. I am not being pro Domestic or anything like it they have made major blunders in there product development and offerings to the public, but if you see a great value you should take it.
Lets see how the next reports look, maybe I will have to adjust my time lines, I will keep doing the math.
Enjoy Today!
Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Nissan Pivo 2 Concept...
Nissan plans electric cars in Portugal
Carmaker, government link up to form charging network
Portugal’s Prime Minister Jose Socrates, 2nd right, and Nissan’s Vice President Carlos Tavares, right, look at a model of Nissan’s concept electric vehicle Pivo 2, in Lisbon.
Carmaker, government link up to form charging network
Portugal’s Prime Minister Jose Socrates, 2nd right, and Nissan’s Vice President Carlos Tavares, right, look at a model of Nissan’s concept electric vehicle Pivo 2, in Lisbon.
View related photos
Hybrid payback?You want to buy a hybrid, but you’re concerned about the cost. Here’s what you need to know about buying some of the most popular hybrid vehicles.
Top 10 for 2008From fun to family friendly, Consumer Reports picks the best vehicles for 2008.
TOKYO - Automakers Nissan and Renault will sell electric vehicles in Portugal in 2011 and the allied companies have partnered with the government in an attempt to create a national network of charging stations.
Nissan has said it will sell electric cars globally in 2012, but the technology is still being developed. On Wednesday, Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of the French and Japanese automakers, and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said they would work together to raise awareness about the vehicles and try to make them easier to fuel.
Nissan has aggressively pursued deals with cities and governments on electric vehicles, as soaring gas prices and worries about global warming make the green technology more appealing.
Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co. and partner Renault SA have previously announced deals with Project Better Place, based in Palo Alto, Calif., which promotes electric vehicles, to mass market electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark in 2011.
While other car manufacturers concentrate on fuel cells and hybrids, Nissan is going all out on electric vehicles, promising to sell them globally in 2012, with the first models arriving in Japan and the U.S. in 2010.
“We are feeling more strongly than ever that we must speed up our development of electric vehicles,” said Nissan Senior Vice President Minoru Shinohara.
Nissan is also in talks with parking lot and railway companies to set up recharging stations, he told The Associated Press at the company’s Tokyo headquarters Wednesday.
The lack of charging stations has made electric cars impractical in the broader market. Skeptics say electric vehicles will stay niche for some time.
Combined with high costs and other technological hurdles, electric vehicles for the broader public are still experimental.
Proponents say tax breaks, preferential highways lanes and other incentives would boost the appeal.
“It’s still a very new technology and so much remains to be seen,” said Yasuaki Iwamoto, auto analyst with Okasan Securities Co. “It’s unlikely people are suddenly going to switch in big numbers from gas-engine vehicles.”
Portugal is a global leader in promoting renewable energy, including wind and solar power.
“This agreement with Renault-Nissan will place Portugal also on the front line in terms of sustainable mobility with zero-emission vehicles,” Socrates said. “Promoting electric cars in Portugal will reduce our dependence on imported oil and will contribute to a cleaner environment.”
Shinohara said Japanese urbanites drive about 12 miles a day — so the limited range of electric vehicles isn’t a problem for daily grocery shopping and other errands.
Nissan has not yet given details of the electric vehicle it has in the works.
Fuji Heavy Industries, which makes Subaru cars, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plan to offer electric vehicles in Japan next year. Mitsubishi’s electric vehicle travels 99 miles on a single charge, while Subaru’s goes 50 miles.
Mitsubishi plans to sell its electric vehicle in Europe in 2010, while tests are planned for the U.S. for 2009. Subaru has not decided on overseas sales plans for its electric vehicle.
More on this story
Toyota to add solar panels to Prius hybrids
Masahiko Otsuka, president of Automotive Energy Supply Corp., a joint venture between Nissan and Japanese electronics maker NEC Corp. to produce batteries for electric vehicles, said Nissan has a history dating back to 1992 of testing lithium-ion batteries for cars.
Lithium-ion batteries are now more common in laptops and other gadgets but can pack more power than the kind of batteries in the gas-electric hybrids made by Toyota Motor Corp.
All major automakers are pushing new technology.
Honda Motor Co. is leasing a fuel-cell vehicle in California which emits only water.
U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. is developing an electric vehicle called the Chevrolet Volt, which it hopes to launch in 2010. Ford Motor Co. has a demonstration fleet of 20 plug-ins.
Hybrid payback?You want to buy a hybrid, but you’re concerned about the cost. Here’s what you need to know about buying some of the most popular hybrid vehicles.
Top 10 for 2008From fun to family friendly, Consumer Reports picks the best vehicles for 2008.
TOKYO - Automakers Nissan and Renault will sell electric vehicles in Portugal in 2011 and the allied companies have partnered with the government in an attempt to create a national network of charging stations.
Nissan has said it will sell electric cars globally in 2012, but the technology is still being developed. On Wednesday, Carlos Ghosn, chief executive of the French and Japanese automakers, and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said they would work together to raise awareness about the vehicles and try to make them easier to fuel.
Nissan has aggressively pursued deals with cities and governments on electric vehicles, as soaring gas prices and worries about global warming make the green technology more appealing.
Tokyo-based Nissan Motor Co. and partner Renault SA have previously announced deals with Project Better Place, based in Palo Alto, Calif., which promotes electric vehicles, to mass market electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark in 2011.
While other car manufacturers concentrate on fuel cells and hybrids, Nissan is going all out on electric vehicles, promising to sell them globally in 2012, with the first models arriving in Japan and the U.S. in 2010.
“We are feeling more strongly than ever that we must speed up our development of electric vehicles,” said Nissan Senior Vice President Minoru Shinohara.
Nissan is also in talks with parking lot and railway companies to set up recharging stations, he told The Associated Press at the company’s Tokyo headquarters Wednesday.
The lack of charging stations has made electric cars impractical in the broader market. Skeptics say electric vehicles will stay niche for some time.
Combined with high costs and other technological hurdles, electric vehicles for the broader public are still experimental.
Proponents say tax breaks, preferential highways lanes and other incentives would boost the appeal.
“It’s still a very new technology and so much remains to be seen,” said Yasuaki Iwamoto, auto analyst with Okasan Securities Co. “It’s unlikely people are suddenly going to switch in big numbers from gas-engine vehicles.”
Portugal is a global leader in promoting renewable energy, including wind and solar power.
“This agreement with Renault-Nissan will place Portugal also on the front line in terms of sustainable mobility with zero-emission vehicles,” Socrates said. “Promoting electric cars in Portugal will reduce our dependence on imported oil and will contribute to a cleaner environment.”
Shinohara said Japanese urbanites drive about 12 miles a day — so the limited range of electric vehicles isn’t a problem for daily grocery shopping and other errands.
Nissan has not yet given details of the electric vehicle it has in the works.
Fuji Heavy Industries, which makes Subaru cars, and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plan to offer electric vehicles in Japan next year. Mitsubishi’s electric vehicle travels 99 miles on a single charge, while Subaru’s goes 50 miles.
Mitsubishi plans to sell its electric vehicle in Europe in 2010, while tests are planned for the U.S. for 2009. Subaru has not decided on overseas sales plans for its electric vehicle.
Toyota to add solar panels to Prius hybrids
Masahiko Otsuka, president of Automotive Energy Supply Corp., a joint venture between Nissan and Japanese electronics maker NEC Corp. to produce batteries for electric vehicles, said Nissan has a history dating back to 1992 of testing lithium-ion batteries for cars.
Lithium-ion batteries are now more common in laptops and other gadgets but can pack more power than the kind of batteries in the gas-electric hybrids made by Toyota Motor Corp.
All major automakers are pushing new technology.
Honda Motor Co. is leasing a fuel-cell vehicle in California which emits only water.
U.S. automaker General Motors Corp. is developing an electric vehicle called the Chevrolet Volt, which it hopes to launch in 2010. Ford Motor Co. has a demonstration fleet of 20 plug-ins.
*Courtesy Armando Franco/AP
Saturday, July 5, 2008
VW1-Liter concept vehicle...
A few years back, Volkswagen introduced a concept vehicle which derived its name from its stated goal of using just one liter of fuel per one-hundred kilometers traveled, and according to CAR production version may be on the way in 2010. The original concept actually beat its lofty goal rather handily as it managed to achieve a miserly 282 miles per gallon in testing. Much of its amazing fuel-saving capability stemmed from its 660 pounds (300 kilograms) curb weight. The concept also featured a single cylinder engine and a 1+1 seating arrangement down the center of the car. While the engine is likely to be replaced by a twin-cylinder turbodiesel with hybrid drive, the carbon fiber construction and canopy-style roof are likely headed for production. As you'd expect, such technology and carbon-heavy construction isn't going to come cheap. To offset part of the cost, the automaker is surely looking for some government assistance for purchasers of the limited edition machine, though it could still be sold at a loss. Safety features like airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control aren't lacking, but convenience items like air conditioning may be optional. In that case, we'd recommend being really comfortable with your passengers in the rather close-knit quarters.
Gallery: VW One-Liter Car
*Courtesy Jeremy Korzeniewski
Friday, June 20, 2008
The imports will be less... the imports will be less.. Your import trade will have less value in 3 to 5 years.
It always amazes me when I hear consumers discussing vehicle values and they impress upon everyone that they know what they are talking about, as if in depth research and studying took place.
I recently took in a conversation about the same 'ol story that import values are better than domestic vehicles and that there friend is better off purchasing an import. Maybe now!, on some models, but what about when they want to trade there vehicle in 3 to 5 years. You see, blanket statements and comments without knowledge and understanding benefit no one, particularly when the person giving the advice has no idea or insight into what they are talking about, yet want to provide everyone around them with there advice and opinions.
This discussion led me to the understanding that in three to five years the trade in values for hundreds of thousands of vehicles will not be what they are now. GM, Ford and Chrysler have cut back production, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other imports have increased production, in addition Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and others have been selling vehicles to the rental car industry at record paces, while the domestics have cut back. Ah Ha, do you see where this is going, it doesn't take a rocket science degree to understand that there will be a supply and demand issue (economics 101) in the next few years and the domestics will rise again, almost like an NBA team (can you say Celtics) going into the tank, trim the roster add a couple of key players (vehicles) and win a championship.
Most people in the auto industry know that domestic quality is on par with the imports and in some cases far exceed there import competitors, yet the domestic manufacturers still do a poor job of communicating that fact. This perceived gap will decrease as more people have defected to the import players and they discover what is widely known throughout the industry, that the import you just purchased, has just as many or more recalls, quality issues, technical service bulletins issued because of minor problems and so on than the domestic competition.
Its coming, it will take a couple of years, but numbers don't lie, as a friend of mine always says, you do the math, the used vehicle value of imports in the coming years will plummet like a falling star. The domestic used vehicle values will once again rise up like a phoenix and shock everyone, except me, because I did the math, right here right now June 20, 2008.
Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
I recently took in a conversation about the same 'ol story that import values are better than domestic vehicles and that there friend is better off purchasing an import. Maybe now!, on some models, but what about when they want to trade there vehicle in 3 to 5 years. You see, blanket statements and comments without knowledge and understanding benefit no one, particularly when the person giving the advice has no idea or insight into what they are talking about, yet want to provide everyone around them with there advice and opinions.
This discussion led me to the understanding that in three to five years the trade in values for hundreds of thousands of vehicles will not be what they are now. GM, Ford and Chrysler have cut back production, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and other imports have increased production, in addition Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia and others have been selling vehicles to the rental car industry at record paces, while the domestics have cut back. Ah Ha, do you see where this is going, it doesn't take a rocket science degree to understand that there will be a supply and demand issue (economics 101) in the next few years and the domestics will rise again, almost like an NBA team (can you say Celtics) going into the tank, trim the roster add a couple of key players (vehicles) and win a championship.
Most people in the auto industry know that domestic quality is on par with the imports and in some cases far exceed there import competitors, yet the domestic manufacturers still do a poor job of communicating that fact. This perceived gap will decrease as more people have defected to the import players and they discover what is widely known throughout the industry, that the import you just purchased, has just as many or more recalls, quality issues, technical service bulletins issued because of minor problems and so on than the domestic competition.
Its coming, it will take a couple of years, but numbers don't lie, as a friend of mine always says, you do the math, the used vehicle value of imports in the coming years will plummet like a falling star. The domestic used vehicle values will once again rise up like a phoenix and shock everyone, except me, because I did the math, right here right now June 20, 2008.
Now I don't think for a second that someone at Toyota, Honda or Nissan has not at least considered what is taking place in the U.S. retail auto industry, yet sometimes everyone gets so focused on winning or being number one that they lose sight that sometimes your gains are temporary. The manufacturer in the best position in my opinion remains Honda, they don't get too caught up in being number one (in terms of numbers, quality yes) and there business model has been designed to have measured increases in market share. If they (import manufacturer) don't understand what is taking place here in the good 'ol USA, the import trade ins will be less... the import trade ins will be less! So the next thing that happens is deep, deep, deep discounting to move product off of dealer showrooms, value perception's start to change and buyers shift back to what is hot again. I think I see a Ford or Chevy in your future...
Some advice, take advantage of some of the crazy offers that the domestics have in play, 0% APR, the huge rebates etc... provided of course it makes since for you and your pocket book, you don't have to be afraid, you will be glad that you did, especially when you still have to pay full price or more for a import, you do the math.
Enjoy Today!Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
The Hybrids are coming... The Hybrids are coming...
Future hybrids could be worth waiting for
Chevy Volt highlights road map as automakers plan more fuel-efficient cars
The next major development in the hybrid space is expected in 2010, when GM’s Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is expected to go into production. The vehicle can charge off a common household outlet.
Time was when hybrid gas-electric vehicles appealed only to the greenest car consumers more concerned about saving the environment than saving on gasoline bills. Gas prices hitting $4 a gallon have changed all that.
Now there’s an out-and-out stampede to buy hybrid vehicles, as drivers downscale from large SUVs to smaller, more fuel-efficient cars. Popular models like the Honda Civic Hybrid are in short supply, and dealers are reporting waiting lists.
Toyota, maker of the popular Prius, is struggling to keep up with booming demand. The Japanese automaker said this week it’s unable to make enough batteries to supply demand for the hybrids, and the crunch on battery production is likely to remain a problem for the rest of the year.
It’s clear that for many consumers hybrids have gone from an eco-friendly fad to a virtual necessity. Now the issue for many drivers is whether they should jump on the hybrid bandwagon now or wait for some of the new hybrid models expected to arrive in showrooms over the next few years.
One issue is that, even though gas prices are at record levels, hybrids are priced at a significant premium over similar, conventional models. Depending on how much you drive, it could take years to make up the extra cost with savings at the pump. (See our “Hybrid payback” interactive above for information on the payback of some of the most popular hybrids currently available.)
“A lot people are freaked out by high gas prices right now, and they’re making panicked decisions that impact their finances, so it’s probably not the best time to get into a hybrid car,” said Phil Reed, consumer advice editor at automobile information Web site Edmunds.com.
“We are still in a plateau in terms of hybrid development and there’s nothing very new out there, and what’s available right now is high-priced,” Reed said. “The entire automotive industry is reshaping itself, so if you have a car that you can keep for a few more years it might be a good time to relax and wait for some of the good things that are about to come out."
The next major development in the hybrid space is expected in 2010, when GM’s Chevy Volt, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is expected to go into production, says Aaron Bragman, an automotive analyst at consultancy Global Insight.
The Volt, which can be recharged from a home electrical outlet, is expected to go on sale in early 2011 and may be worth waiting for, said Bragman.
“It represents a big change in what vehicles are,” he said.
The Volt, he noted, is designed to remain primarily in electric mode in first 40 miles of driving.
“Considering that most Americans have a 20 mile commute it’s feasible that you’d never use your gas engine,” Bragman said.
Toyota plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid in Japan, the United States and Europe by 2010, although it will target leasing customers first. The new vehicle will use next-generation lithium-ion batteries that are seen as key to jump-starting the hybrid market. They are currently used in laptops and produce more power than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in existing hybrids.
Future hybrids could be worth waiting for
Toyota is expected to upgrade the Prius sedan for 2009, and Japanese rivals Honda and Nissan also are stepping up their hybrid programs. Nissan is expected to launch a new hybrid by 2010, while Honda plans a lineup of new hybrids by 2015, including a redesigned Civic hybrid, a hybrid version of the Fit subcompact and a hybrid based on the sporty CR-Z. Honda also plans to challenge the dominance of the Toyota Prius with a dedicated hybrid model due for release next year.
The slate of hybrid offerings from U.S. automakers looks less full. Updated versions of existing hybrids are expected, and Ford is due to offer hybrid versions of the 2009 Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, Bragman said.
“There’s not a whole lot coming for Ford and Chrysler on the hybrid front, but Ford does have some small, fuel-efficient European cars that could sell well over here,” said Edmunds.com’s Reed. “Chrysler really hasn’t charted a new course in this area, and in terms of fuel efficiency seems to not have a clue about what to do other than offer gas cards.”
GM’s hybrid plans are more extensive. The Chevy Malibu, the Saturn Aura and Vue Green Line use the automaker’s “mild” hybrid technology, the BAS, or belt alternator starter system, which is less complex than most other hybrids on the market. Unlike more intricate hybrids like the Toyota Prius these cars’ electric motors cannot drive the wheels on their own, but they but still save significantly on gas.
“These systems are considerably less expensive than the Japanese hybrid systems,” Bragman said. “GM is thinking of adding the system to just about any car globally.”
If you’re dead set on buying a hybrid right now there’s a deal to be had on GM’s Chevy Tahoe Hybrid and the hybrid GMC Yukon hybrid — the industry’s first big hybrid sport utility vehicles, noted Bragman.
With sales of SUVs tumbling, GM is offering cash incentives of as much as $4,000 on the hybrid Tahoes and Yukons, which before the incentives were offered sold for about $50,000, about $20,000 more than the conventional versions — a premium that put off many customers.
“These vehicles are remarkable, but the problem is the stigma” associated with large SUVs, Bragman said. “People don’t want to be viewed so conspicuously in a big SUV.”
*Reprint courtesy Roland Jones, MSNBC
Monday, June 16, 2008
Ford Flex Press Release...
FORD FLEX’S DESIGN HELPS CUT DRY CLEANING BILLS
The world's first trouser and dress-friendly vehicle.
DEARBORN, Mich., May 28, 2008 – The 2009 Ford Flex adds another industry-first claim to growing list of why buys: It’s the world’s first trouser- and dress-friendly vehicle.
Good news for everyone but dry cleaners, the Flex team engineered into Ford’s newest crossover a concealed rocker panel, the structural component at the bottom of the door aperture.
“The Flex design is so clean and efficient that we’ve been able to reduce the step-in area,” said Rich Gresens, Flex chief designer. “The clever design minimizes your clothes’ exposure to the elements. There’s no sill area where dirt usually collects.”
Ford designers stretched the width of the Flex to wrap around the sill, bringing the step-in area inboard for much easier access for passengers. In combination with the hidden rocker, the Flex door was designed to wrap under the sill, effectively sealing out the elements.
“Utilizing the hidden rocker to create a customer benefit is a great example of what Flex is all about,” said Gresens. “We approached the Flex design with one idea in mind: create a vehicle that appeals to customers wanting an exciting alternative people mover. Hidden rockers, refrigerators and tailored leather interiors are just a few examples of how we deliver.”
With some dry cleaners charging as much as $10 to launder a pair of slacks, the practical Flex design has an immediate and tangible benefit.Flex, which combines a unique “box-on-box” design with class-leading package, offers other “firsts” as well, including:
The latest generation of Ford's hugely successful SYNC system, which allows for voice activation of in-car technology as well as allowing for hand-free operation of mobile phones and MP3 players.
SIRIUS Travel Link™, which gives customers the opportunity to download real time information on items like fuel prices, theater listings, weather reports and even sports scores.
A compressor-driven refrigerator/freezer, which works some 30 percent faster than home fridge/freezers.
Multi-panel Vista Roof, which gives each individual in the vehicle their own panel of light.
A reverse camera system that comes up with a rear-view image on the 8-inch screen when reverse gear is selected.
Ford’s new Easy Fuel™ capless refueling system, which allows for clean and simple refueling with no fuel cap.
Flex arrives in dealer showrooms this summer with a base MSRP of $28,995, including destination and delivery.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 244,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Mazda, and until completion of their sale, Jaguar and Land Rover. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.
Monday, June 9, 2008
I knew it would happen... 516 miles in a Fuel Cell... Oh What A Feeling! Toyota does it again...
Toyota just announced that they have just developed a new fuel cell hybrid [a car powered by hydrogen and electricity] that will have a maximum cruising range of 830 kilometers or 516 miles. That is a major leap from the manufacturers previous fuel cell model which had a range of 205 miles [330 kilometers] a leap that will surely get attention from skeptics and of course other manufacturers who are eagerly trying to play ball in this area
At this distance, this kind of advancement in technology makes sense for the masses. I am sure that other automobile manufacturers are keeping a close eye on this major development. It far outpaces any advancement that I have seen from any auto manufacturer.
The technology has received the approval of the Japanese government last Tuesday (6/3/08) should be available for leasing according to Toyota Motor Corporation spokesperson Kayo Doi. The FCHV-adv model as it has been tagged should be the front runner in the current fuel cell hybrid race. Quite a few details are still forthcoming, including pricing and other details including overseas exports
Besides a tremendous advantage over gasoline engines and less reliance on crude oil, fuel cell vehicles do not produce any pollution. Fuel cells run on a chemical process when hydrogen stored in a tank and oxygen combine to create water. Water is the emission, WATER, the technology is about as good as it gets in the effort to gain better fuel economy for motor vehicles.
The FCHV-adv is produced with an electric motor and will work as a hybrid by switching between the electric motor and the hydrogen powered fuel cell. In comparison the Toyota Prius switches between an electric motor and a standard gasoline engine.
The fuel economy of the Toyota FCHV-adv was greatly improved with advances in braking technology and some other changes, however some of the most dramatic advances came with major improvement in cold weather starts, the new technology allows the engine to run and start in temperatures as low as 22 degrees Fahrenheit [minus -30 Celsius].
As gasoline prices are rising around the world because of crude oil demand the Major Automobile Manufacturers are seeing consumers interest in alternative fuels increasing. Other Major Automobile Manufacturers are pushing to get there new hybrid and fuel cell technologies into consumers hands. Later this month Honda Motor Company is launching it's new and improved fuel cell vehicle for lease in California. The new Honda will be available in California as it comes off the Honda Motor Co. assembly line later this month and arrives later this year.
Enjoy Today!
Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Are tax breaks the answer to gain entry into the electric vehicle marketplace. Short term thinking, let the market decide!
It seems as if we always look to our government to bail industry out. How short term thinking is it to lobby congress to gain large tax breaks so that big business can get a price point, whatever happened to the free market, commerce and capitalism. The marketplace will determine if GM is pricing the vehicle right, if you design a vehicle that people want and desire and it has the appropriate comfort levels and design that has appeal, I do not believe there will be a shortage of customers lining up to purchase the Volt.
I have heard from countless people that say they want one [Volt] and they will pay way more than the sub $30,000.00 that GM wishes to price the vehicle. Why? Because initially the vehicle has some style and appeal, all based on the press that GM is serving up. If GM delivers on its performance promises and the final production version maintains its initial design cues, they should have a winner, without government assistance. The $7,000.00 they are asking for could and should be passed on to the customer, I have read and heard that GM wants the price point under $25,000.00, so my simple math is $25,000.00 plus $7,000.00 equals $32,000.00. I believe the public would bite the bullet and pay, then with production they can drive the battery cost down even lower for future lower priced "babyvolts".
Our U.S. energy policies should be focused on other things like, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, expanding refineries, nuclear energy, solar/wind/oceanic power. Because the eventual problems with our energy consumption , even with hybrid technology and electric technology is foreign/crude oil, coal and the like, we are still powering up our electric grids with "OIL". So more electric vehicles on our roads today means more oil being used right now, we have to change our long term energy policies period.
Otherwise the foreign and domestic oil dependence cycle continues....
Enjoy Today!
Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
>>>>Check out the article below for more thoughts and opinion:
No $30K Chevy Volt without Congress' help
by Sam Abuelsamid
Since the inception of the Chevy Volt program in 2006, GM's goal has been to offer the range extended electric vehicle for a sub-$30,000 price point. That level has always been seen as the threshold to get high-volume sales of an electric car. Unfortunately, lithium ion batteries remain far too expensive to be able to sell the car at that price profitably. GM has always indicated that they expect the car to remain a money loser in the early years of production, but given the financial difficulties of all the domestic automakers, they can only go so far in subsidizing the car. In order to help make the Volt less financially painful both for the manufacturer and consumers, GM is lobbying Congress to pass a new batch of tax breaks for plug-in vehicles. There has been on-going debate in Congress for some time about tax credits for plug-in hybrids and GM wants to make sure that ER-EVs are specifically included. A credit of $7,000 for the purchase of such a vehicle seems to be the target point. According to GM sources cited by Automotive News (subs req'd) a $30,000 price seems unlikely unless tax credits are passed by Congress and the White House. The House of Representatives already passed a bill last week that included PHEV tax breaks but the White House has threatened a veto. More than likely, nothing will happen until early in 2009 when a new President is in office.
*Courtesy Autoblog Green
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Ok does Detroit really get it... or do they really live in a bubble? America is screaming for alternative fueled vehicles... READ ON!
The following article represents everything that is wrong about GM. Even GM Vice Chairman Lutz, who is supposed to be a "CAR GUY", an individual whom the press calls a maverick for innovation and design. However it seems that as much discussion that goes on about what it takes to bring a vehicle to market, GM, Ford and Chrysler could have had plenty of vehicles on the road now, that delivers high fuel economy and dare we say alternative fuels, hybrid or yes even electric vehicles.
Ok, maybe not the EV1, but hey it was a start, short on design, but an effort none the less, if we could inject some youth into the corporate landscape, then maybe just maybe, companies can realize who they should be targeting. And maybe if the design appealed to people, some would have even purchased an EV1 when they first came out, I had a friend of mine who always stated when selling a vehicle, "The Car is the Star", meaning if it has design appeal, it will sell.
However when it comes to what people desire clearly the manufacturers have a lot to learn, did anyone notice who was buying the Honda Element and that Scion boxy thing, it was a whole lot of middle aged men. Manufacturers miss the target market all the time, they believe that a segment is meant for a certain demographic, however I see older ladies in sports cars all the time, wake up Detroit. A well designed vehicle sells, even a hybrid or electric vehicle period.
I have said for years that for every focus group and for every discussion with the top 2% of the manufacturer's dealer body, there should be ongoing discussions with the general public and the middle tier dealer body, I believe that some real answers about what the public desires in a vehicle would be found in these discussions. The public has been saying for a few years now that it desires better fuel economy and that it wants innovative alternative fueled, hybrid or electric technologies, however these cries fall on deaf ears because the manufacturers have stock holders and with the high profits realized in the SUV and Truck market who needs small vehicles.
Well let's see... how about the American public, the demand is outpacing production on hybrids and more production means more vehicles being sold which means more profits. How many people are buying SUV's and Pick-ups now?
We all remember when the Chevy Chevette and Vega, the Ford Escort and Tempo and Chrysler and Dodge Omni ruled the day and the next thing you know the manufacturers are getting drunk on the profits of Minivans, SUV's and Trucks, who needs a small car. I did!... as a dealer and my customers did in my market as the small car was my bread and butter, I sold a lot more Tempo's and Escorts than Ford Explorers. I sold more Chevrolet Chevettes than Silverados, maybe in Texas the Ford or Chevy dealer sold more pick ups, however in a Midwestern City where people commuted to work the desire was a fuel efficient vehicle, even twenty years ago.
Detroit lost it's way, gave the small vehicle segment away and they are now clamoring to get it back. They better get it back soon (domestically) and stop talking about how long it takes to get a vehicle to market. They should have been refining the technologies years ago. It has been no secret to them that Cafe regulations/requirements were going up and that China and India would have an impact on crude oil and oil supply prices, they pay millions of dollars to analyst to forecast these things (I would get my money back if someone supplied them with misleading info, however I am inclined to believe that they paid for the services and ignored it or dismissed the reports). So what happened, someone at the top focused there energies and resources where they were making the most money as opposed to putting some resources toward the future where the market was headed. They lost sight of where the market was headed trying to push product that no one was buying, instead of having the product pulled because it is in demand.
In addition, these manufacturers act as if the technology has not been invented to tweek an engine to get better fuel economy. Uh, remember the Metro and Fiesta... Hello! Ford Motor Company implemented a strategy to use technology in there engines to improve fuel economy this model year (2008), technology that had been on the shelf for over 20 years. A basic search on the internet will reveal a plethora of info on regular gas engines that get high miles per gallon, with simple modifications. So the public is to believe with the resources, including the engineering talent that GM, Ford and Chrysler have, they cannot improve upon these technologies and make the technology work in mass production.
I sure hope that the domestic manufacturers invest some resources in these new technologies, so that they can right there sinking ships. Listen, Look and respond, the buying public is speaking loudly to you...
Enjoy Today!
Kevin Kimbrough
That Car Guy
When GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz speaks, controversy usually follows closely behind. Unlike many high ranking executives Lutz often wanders off the defined script such as when he recently commented on global warming being a crock of .... I sure wouldn't want to be one of the PR handlers having to spin his words. In his latest chat with Detroit News columnist Manny Lopez, the electrification of vehicles was obviously front and center as it often is these days at GM. The EV1, of course, comes up and the accuracy of Lutz's claims will certainly seem open to debate. As recounted by Lutz via Lopez, GM tried and tried to find buyers for the EV1 but no matter how much they dropped the price, only about 800 people were willing to step forward. That was the reason for leasing the vehicles, according to Lutz. That statement seems highly dubious if EV1 fans are to be believed. Certainly the market for the EV1 was extremely limited because of its practical limitations and the high cost, but it sure seems like more than 800 people were interested. Or maybe its a case of the hindsight that revealed there were actually 40 million people at Woodstock. Lopez and Lutz apparently also talked about how out of touch some (actually most, based on my own experience) people are with the realities of building a car. That's an area we try to address here on ABG regularly by discussing the technology that makes these modern machines go and what it takes to make it happen. One-off prototypes are easy to build but they aren't going to cut it when you have to meet modern customer and regulatory expectations. On a final note, Lutz revealed that the first Volt mule is now running with a lithium battery pack in it.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Introducing the Volvo ReCharge... TA DAAAAAA!!!!
Green Wheels: Volvo's ReCharge
Volvo’s plug-in hybrid concept heralds a wheel-motor revolution.
Volvo's ReCharge features a lithium-polymer battery and four electric motors, one in each wheel. A small flex-fuel engine serves as a backup generator.
Volvo's new concept car looks like a regular C30, but a plug on the front and some very different insides make this a big step forward. Plug-in hybrids will soon change the way we drive, and Volvo's ReCharge concept car foreshadows a handful of technologies that push the envelope.
With the rising cost of fuel and falling cost of batteries, these advanced hybrids seem to become more inevitable with each passing month.
Unlike fully electric cars, plug-in hybrids still retain a small internal combustion engine that serves as a backup generator or power assist. Volvo's ReCharge, which made its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007, pushes beyond other concepts such as the Chevy Volt into even more ambitious territory.
View Pictures: Volvo ReCharge Plug-In Hybrid Concept
The ReCharge was developed in California at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), a focal point for new automotive ideas. Ichiro Sugioka is the science officer at VMCC, and the ReCharge project is his baby. "I'm not a car guy," Sugioka admits. "Actually, I'm a rocket scientist," he says, referring to his Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering.
The ReCharge isn't quite a spaceship, but in some important ways it is breaking apart the traditional notion of how a car works.
Motors Where You Need ThemThe ReCharge is the definition of four-wheel drive. Electric motors are housed within each wheel, eliminating the need to deliver power from a central motor through a mechanical driveshaft. Even the backup motor, a small flex-fuel engine, works to charge the battery; it never drives the wheels directly.
According to Sugioka, kicking out the transmission yields a 10 to-15 percent spike in efficiency, meaning the car's battery can be that much smaller, and the car will use that much less electricity. Also, having all components built into each motor pushes their peak efficiency into the 95 percent range.
Watch Video: Sugioka talks about the design and function of the ReCharge
The maker of these unique motors is PML Flightlink, a British company whose technology is also favored by electric carmaker ZAP. The units are made of layered electromagnets that can be stacked within the wheel's hub like sideways pancakes. Thirty-six of them in a ring were just enough to encircle the ReCharge's hubs, putting 300 volts inside each wheel — more than enough torque to drive and stop the car.
And because electric motors become generators when turned in reverse, Volvo's completed car will have no disc brakes (or wasted energy from braking friction). With wheel motors, close to 100 percent of the energy from slowing the ReCharge is returned to the battery.
Green Behind the WheelsCurrently the only people enjoying the ReCharge are Volvo engineers on the test track in Sweden. But the technologies rolled into this modified C30 are holding up well.
The car can do 0-60 mph in about nine seconds, with a top speed of 100 mph. On a three-hour charge it will go roughly 60 miles. When the remaining battery level hits 30 percent, the gas/ethanol motor starts charging the battery. Drivers also have the option of toggling manually between electric and internal-combustion modes.
As for emissions, the ReCharge releases nothing when running on electric power. When the four-cylinder flex-fuel motor kicks in to recharge the battery, efficiency will step into the 40-mpg range.
When the ReCharge is "used as intended" it will contribute 66 percent lower carbon emissions compared to the best hybrids now available, says Magnus Jonsson, Volvo's senior vice president of research and development.
This will save money as well as greenhouse gasses. Driving on electric power from a home electric outlet is expected to be about 80 percent cheaper per mile than a comparable car running on fossil fuel.
Volvo’s plug-in hybrid concept heralds a wheel-motor revolution.
Volvo's ReCharge features a lithium-polymer battery and four electric motors, one in each wheel. A small flex-fuel engine serves as a backup generator.
Volvo's new concept car looks like a regular C30, but a plug on the front and some very different insides make this a big step forward. Plug-in hybrids will soon change the way we drive, and Volvo's ReCharge concept car foreshadows a handful of technologies that push the envelope.
With the rising cost of fuel and falling cost of batteries, these advanced hybrids seem to become more inevitable with each passing month.
Unlike fully electric cars, plug-in hybrids still retain a small internal combustion engine that serves as a backup generator or power assist. Volvo's ReCharge, which made its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007, pushes beyond other concepts such as the Chevy Volt into even more ambitious territory.
View Pictures: Volvo ReCharge Plug-In Hybrid Concept
The ReCharge was developed in California at the Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC), a focal point for new automotive ideas. Ichiro Sugioka is the science officer at VMCC, and the ReCharge project is his baby. "I'm not a car guy," Sugioka admits. "Actually, I'm a rocket scientist," he says, referring to his Ph.D. in aeronautical engineering.
The ReCharge isn't quite a spaceship, but in some important ways it is breaking apart the traditional notion of how a car works.
Motors Where You Need ThemThe ReCharge is the definition of four-wheel drive. Electric motors are housed within each wheel, eliminating the need to deliver power from a central motor through a mechanical driveshaft. Even the backup motor, a small flex-fuel engine, works to charge the battery; it never drives the wheels directly.
According to Sugioka, kicking out the transmission yields a 10 to-15 percent spike in efficiency, meaning the car's battery can be that much smaller, and the car will use that much less electricity. Also, having all components built into each motor pushes their peak efficiency into the 95 percent range.
Watch Video: Sugioka talks about the design and function of the ReCharge
The maker of these unique motors is PML Flightlink, a British company whose technology is also favored by electric carmaker ZAP. The units are made of layered electromagnets that can be stacked within the wheel's hub like sideways pancakes. Thirty-six of them in a ring were just enough to encircle the ReCharge's hubs, putting 300 volts inside each wheel — more than enough torque to drive and stop the car.
And because electric motors become generators when turned in reverse, Volvo's completed car will have no disc brakes (or wasted energy from braking friction). With wheel motors, close to 100 percent of the energy from slowing the ReCharge is returned to the battery.
Green Behind the WheelsCurrently the only people enjoying the ReCharge are Volvo engineers on the test track in Sweden. But the technologies rolled into this modified C30 are holding up well.
The car can do 0-60 mph in about nine seconds, with a top speed of 100 mph. On a three-hour charge it will go roughly 60 miles. When the remaining battery level hits 30 percent, the gas/ethanol motor starts charging the battery. Drivers also have the option of toggling manually between electric and internal-combustion modes.
As for emissions, the ReCharge releases nothing when running on electric power. When the four-cylinder flex-fuel motor kicks in to recharge the battery, efficiency will step into the 40-mpg range.
When the ReCharge is "used as intended" it will contribute 66 percent lower carbon emissions compared to the best hybrids now available, says Magnus Jonsson, Volvo's senior vice president of research and development.
This will save money as well as greenhouse gasses. Driving on electric power from a home electric outlet is expected to be about 80 percent cheaper per mile than a comparable car running on fossil fuel.
Safety in NumbersNesting the electric motors within the car’s wheels creates more interior space (getting rid of the centerline hump that typically runs from axle to axle). But distributing the car’s motors into the wheels has safety benefits to boot (remember, this is Volvo). The four-wheel drive and independent traction from the individually controlled motors will stabilize the car, says Sugioka.
Using the motors themselves as brakes eliminates pads and other physical mechanisms, and means that all four wheels work in sync to slow the car. Signals from the car’s pedals pass through quadruple redundancy, and the ReCharge’s unique configuration means that “if one motor fails, the other motors could... adjust their output to compensate.”
Crash safety also improves with wheel motors, says Sugioka. Eliminating the driveshaft means that the firewall between the engine and passenger compartment can be uninterrupted.
For batteries, Volvo went with lithium-polymer. Not only lighter than lithium-ion, li-poly batteries are more resistant to impact and, believes Volvo, more crashworthy.
A New Kind of GridlockPlug-in hybrids and fully electric cars are more than novelties; driving on electricity changes the equation, making cars part of our electrical infrastructure. To explore this, Volvo announced a partnership in March 2008 with the Swedish government, a battery maker, and energy producer Vattenfall.
The deal will produce a small fleet of plug-in hybrids like the ReCharge that will test the potential for car/grid connection. “[T]he electric utilities should be able to access the power electronics and the battery energy for their own uses to maximize the efficiency of the . . . infrastructure,” said Jonsson. We have something “that’s much more exciting than just a car, here.”
Volvo will not be the first company to put a plug-in hybrid on the road, but the Swedish company is patient, and the ReCharge is a forward-looking response to what’s ahead. “We’ve projected the future of energy and fuel scenarios out to the year 2100,” says Sugioka. “Around 2050 we won’t have enough conventional sources of energy to meet the demands of the world.” Tapping into solar energy will be the key, and plug-in hybrids are a means of storing that energy.
Using the motors themselves as brakes eliminates pads and other physical mechanisms, and means that all four wheels work in sync to slow the car. Signals from the car’s pedals pass through quadruple redundancy, and the ReCharge’s unique configuration means that “if one motor fails, the other motors could... adjust their output to compensate.”
Crash safety also improves with wheel motors, says Sugioka. Eliminating the driveshaft means that the firewall between the engine and passenger compartment can be uninterrupted.
For batteries, Volvo went with lithium-polymer. Not only lighter than lithium-ion, li-poly batteries are more resistant to impact and, believes Volvo, more crashworthy.
A New Kind of GridlockPlug-in hybrids and fully electric cars are more than novelties; driving on electricity changes the equation, making cars part of our electrical infrastructure. To explore this, Volvo announced a partnership in March 2008 with the Swedish government, a battery maker, and energy producer Vattenfall.
The deal will produce a small fleet of plug-in hybrids like the ReCharge that will test the potential for car/grid connection. “[T]he electric utilities should be able to access the power electronics and the battery energy for their own uses to maximize the efficiency of the . . . infrastructure,” said Jonsson. We have something “that’s much more exciting than just a car, here.”
Volvo will not be the first company to put a plug-in hybrid on the road, but the Swedish company is patient, and the ReCharge is a forward-looking response to what’s ahead. “We’ve projected the future of energy and fuel scenarios out to the year 2100,” says Sugioka. “Around 2050 we won’t have enough conventional sources of energy to meet the demands of the world.” Tapping into solar energy will be the key, and plug-in hybrids are a means of storing that energy.
*Courtesy of Jacob Gordon of treehugger.com
Monday, May 19, 2008
I see a Metro or Fiesta in your future... Maybe!!!
Nerd Alert! Geo Metro: the new "it" car?
Posted May 16th 2008 3:08PM by Jeremy Korzeniewski
It's not uncommon for owners of the late, lamented Geo Metro XFI, which USA Today refers to as "nerdy," to report fuel mileage rivaling and sometimes beating hybrids such as the Toyota Prius. The lightweight structure and very small engines - just three-cylinders and 49 horsepower for the Metro - allow these little runabouts to post great mileage figures. With gas prices at an all-time high, the efficiency of vehicles like the Metro, Ford Fiesta and Apsire and Hyundai Excel is raising their prices to levels sometimes above what they cost new. Don't believe us? Check out this recent eBay auction for a low mileage Metro and see for yourself. So, should you be running out and purchasing a used fuel-sipper of your very own? Maybe, but consider that these vehicles would not be able to meet the safety regulations required by law today and the fact that they would likely not pass current emissions requirements. Additionally, the fuel savings of these vehicles makes for pretty poor performance. At AutoblogGreen, we're apt to overlook some of these deficiencies in the name of efficiency, but we also recognize that older vehicles such as these can present problems to their future owners. Our advice, therefore, would be to look hard in order to find a good deal if you're really interested in the ultimate in fuel savings, and remember not to discount the first-generation Toyota Prius in your search.
* Courtesy AutoBlog Green
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
I have done more "Think" ing... was that corny?
I found this youtube video on the new Think electric vehicle...
Check it out...
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65SQ-hnV1IM
Enjoy Today!
The Think vehicle line up is coming soon to an electric outlet near you...
04/22/2008 07:21 AM
Norwegian Electric Car Company Arrives in U.S.
SustainableBusiness.com News
Norwegian electric car producer Think has established TH!NK North America in partnership with leading clean-tech investors RockPort Capital Partners and Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers (KPCB).
The new venture was announced at the 2008 FORTUNE Brainstorm Green Conference held in Pasadena, California, that brought chief executives from all over North America together to talk about the business opportunities of "going green."
"The TH!NK city is the world's only crash-tested and highway-certified electric vehicle and is ideal for markets such as California where we will initiate demonstration projects offering an exceptionally safe and fun car to drive," said Jan-Olaf Willums, CEO of Think Global. "We are proud to partner with the two pioneering investors in the clean tech field and to launch TH!NK city in North America with them."
TH!NK city is emission free and 95% recyclable, according to a company release. It reaches a top speed of 100 km (65 miles) per hour and can drive up to 180 km (110 miles) on a single charge. TH!NK city meets all European and U.S. federal motor vehicle safety requirements.
Ray Lane, a Kleiner Perkins Managing Partner and Chairman of TH!NK North America, said, "The transportation industry is undergoing its largest transformation since Henry Ford built the Model T. Today we are witnessing a seminal event--the first highway-capable electric vehicle intended for mass production, representing a big step toward a zero emission transportation industry."
At the Geneva Motorshow earlier this year, Think announced a strategic partnership with energy giant General Electric (NYSE: GE), also an investor in Think. At the show, Think unveiled its future car, the TH!NK Ox, the first 4/5-seater fully-electric vehicle which is slated to begin production in 2010/11.
Think has also established partnerships in the U.S. with battery suppliers A123 and EnerDel.
The TH!NK city is currently produced in Norway and international sales are scheduled to begin in Scandinavia, with Switzerland and France also being the initial focus areas. Sales, other than initial trial and demonstration projects, will begin in the North American market in 2009.
Vicki Northrup, an electric car veteran, has been retained by TH!NK North America as Operations Manager and will initially be based out of TH!NK North America's Menlo Park office.
About Think Global
Think designs, develops, manufactures and markets environmentally friendly vehicles and technologies. The company has more than 17 years of experience in developing and producing electric vehicles and there are about 1,200 vehicles driving on Norwegian roads today. The latest TH!NK city is the fifth-generation electric vehicle that has been produced in Norway. Series production of the newly designed TH!NK city car started late last year and the first cars will be delivered to Norwegian customers. The capacity of its first assembly plant in Aurskog, outside Oslo, is presently being increased to 10,000 cars per year. Think expects to be producing at full capacity sometime during 2009. Enthusiastic owners with the vision and resources want to make Think the "car company of the 21st century."
About Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers
Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers (http://www.kpcb.com) is leading the venture community to invest in and accelerate Green technology solutions and policy innovations. The firm has been active in Greentech initiatives since 1999. KPCB has committed more than $200 million to ventures across the globe that offer green technology products and services, such as better biofuels, renewable energy generation, cleaner transportation, improved energy storage, and higher energy efficiency technologies. More than half the firm's investing professionals are involved in Greentech investments.
Since its founding in 1972, KPCB has backed entrepreneurs in over 475 ventures, including AOL, Amazon.com, Citrix, Compaq Computer, Electronic Arts, Genentech, Genomic Health, Google, Intuit, Juniper Networks, Netscape, Lotus, Sun Microsystems and Symantec. More than 150 of the firm's portfolio companies have gone public. The firm has offices in Menlo Park, California, Beijing, China and Shanghai, China.
About RockPort Capital
RockPort Capital Partners, founded in 2000, is one of the pioneering Cleantech/Greentech VC funds and focuses exclusively on the Energy and Power, Advanced Materials and Process and Prevention technology sectors. With offices in Boston, MA and Menlo Park, CA, RockPort has invested, to date, over $300M in more than 40 portfolio companies with breakthrough technologies that deliver significant economic value to large potential markets. For more information, visit: http://www.rockportcap.com.
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