Green Car Congress

ZAP to Use ABAT Lithium-Ion Polymer Batteries in EVs

ZAP will begin using Advanced Battery Technologies’ (ABAT) Lithium-Ion Polymer batteries in its electric vehicles.

Under the first phase of a new agreement, ABAT will retrofit a range of ZAP electric vehicles with its Lithium Polymer batteries and chargers.

According to ZAP, initial testing shows that the ABAT batteries will increase the run time of ZAP’s three and four-wheel vehicles by three times over Lead-Acid batteries. The threefold increase in energy density of the lithium polymer batteries could enable a similar threefold increase in transportation range for comparable-weight batteries, enabling ZAP’s vehicles to achieve a significantly increased driving range between electric recharges.

ABAT is a relatively new Chinese company developing, manufacturing and distributing rechargeable Lithium-Ion Polymer batteries.

Delta to Use Ford Hydrogen-Fueled Tow Tractors

Ford Motor Company, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), TUG Technologies Corporation, Delta Airlines and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) announced a partnership that will put two hydrogen-fueled airport tow tractors into service at the Orlando airport.

The M1A tow tractor uses a Ford Power Products 4.2-liter, V-6 industrial engine converted and calibrated to operate on gaseous hydrogen. The naturally-aspirated H₂ICE tractor will deliver approximately 80 hp (60 kW).

This engine has previously been a key power source to the airport ground support equipment (GSE) market in gasoline, natural gas and LPG configurations.

Ford 4.2-liter V-6 Engine
	Gasoline	LPG	Natural Gas	Hydrogen
Power hp (kW)	125 (93)	114 (85)	102 (76)	80 (60)
Torque lb-ft (Nm)	206 (279)	201 (272)	182 (246)	n/a

The near-zero operational emissions from the hydrogen engine makes it attractive for airport environments, where emissions levels are strictly regulated.

Delta will put two of these TUG hydrogen tractors into service as baggage carriers at the Orlando International Airport later this summer.

Ford is also producing eight V-10, E-450 H₂ICE shuttle buses for operation in the Orlando area (including the Orlando airport) upon delivery in 2006.

Minnesota House Passes E20 Mandate

The Minnesota House of Representatives passed its version of the state Senate bill doubling the amount of ethanol required in gasoline sold in Minnesota to 20% over the next decade. (Earlier post.)

The 91-43 vote in the House came after nearly five hours of debate on the bill. The House and the Senate bill differ slightly in terms of the year of the deadline (2013 for the House, 2012 for the Senate).

Once the differences are resolved, the bill will go to Governor Pawlenty.

Resources:

• Senate File 0004

Australian Biodiesel Producer Scores with IPO

Daily Telegraph. The initial public offering of shares in  Australian Renewable Fuels closed early due to strong demand, raising $20 million and giving the biodiesel producer a market capitalization of $108 million.

The company said the offering closed two days early due to strong demand from investors, with the institutional component more than 2.5 times oversubscribed.

ARF plans to build two biodiesel plants (one in Adelaide, one in Picton) with technology from Austria’s Energea, each with a capacity of 40,000 metric tons per year (approximately 822 barrels per day per plant), and using tallow (animal fat) as a feedstock.

ARF will sell its biodiesel into both the established European market and the emerging Australian market.

ARF will explore using lower grade fats and used cooking oil, as well as developing an oilseed feedstock for use in its plants in the future.

Resources:

• Prospectus for Australian Renewable Fuels

The President’s Energy Policy, v2.0

President Bush today outlined his current vision for energy independence, a broad roadmap relying on the use of advanced technology to increase US energy production primarily from nuclear and fossil sources, but with some support for renewables and conservation.

...The fundamental problem is this: Our supply of energy is not growing fast enough to meet the demands of our growing economy.

Over the past decade our energy consumption has increased by more than 12 percent, while our domestic production has increased by less than one-half of 1 percent. A growing economy causes us to consume more energy. And, yet, we’re not producing energy here at home, which means we’re reliant upon foreign nations. And at the same time we’ve become more reliant upon foreign nations, the global demand for energy is growing faster than the growing supply. Other people are using more energy, as well. And that’s contributed to a rise in prices.

The President’s first area of focus is on the further development of the fossil and nuclear energy sources that constitute the majority of the supply in the US (and globally). He called for:

• The Department of Energy (DOE) to work on changes to existing law that will reduce uncertainty in the nuclear plant licensing process, and also provide federal risk insurance that will protect those utilities building the first four new nuclear plants against delays that are beyond their control.

  “A secure energy future for America must include more nuclear power.”

• Federal agencies to work with states to encourage the building of new refineries, perhaps on closed military facilities, and to simplify the permitting process for such construction.

  “By easing the regulatory burden, we can refine more gasoline for our citizens here at home. That will help assure supply and reduce dependence on foreign sources of energy.”

  [Comment: while increasing the number of refineries could decrease the amount of refined product imported, the oil for those refineries still needs to come from someplace. Given the ongoing decline in US production, that someplace would be overseas. Following the meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and President Bush several days ago, Saudi foreign policy adviser Adel al-Jubeir stated that oil supplies are adequate and high gas prices are partly the result of a lack of refining capacity in oil-importing nations. “What we see is a shortage of refining capacity.” (Bloomberg) An increase in refineries doesn’t address the more fundamental issue of demand for oil equalling and surpassing supply.]

• Drilling in ANWR. (Earlier post)

• Congress to make clear FERC’s (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) federal authority over state and local authorities with respect to the placement and construction of new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals to increase (imported) supply and reduce prices.

  “Thanks to [LNG] technology, our imports of liquefied natural gas nearly doubled in 2003. Last year, imports rose another 29 percent... Congress should make it clear to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission its authority to choose sites for new terminals, so we can expand our use of liquefied natural gas.”

  [Comment: increasing reliance on imported energy sources to decrease reliance on imported energy sources seems a bit contradictory. That said, natural gas supply is looming as a major factor, and my guess is that whatever bill emerges from Congress will indeed empower FERC to decide where to place LNG terminals as a matter of national interest.]

• Support for his Clean Coal initiative.

The “second essential step toward greater energy independence,” according to the President, is the development of new sources of energy, especially for transportation: hydrogen, ethanol and biodiesel.  Bush is also seeking $1.9 billion over 10 years for tax incentives for renewable energy technologies like wind, as well as residential solar heating systems and energy produced from landfill gas and biomass.

Energy conservation moved from being a point of personal virtue (as described by VP Cheney during the first term) to a “third essential step.” The President said he will support the extension of his proposed tax credits for energy-efficient hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles to include clean-diesel vehicles.

The President made no mention of increasing standards for fuel efficiency.

Republican senators indicated that they would incorporate most if not all of the President’s proposals in the Senate Energy Bill currently in process.

Resources:

• Transcript of the speech

VW Golf Diesel + DSG Reduces Fuel Consumption by 10.6%

Volkswagen is combining its diesel Golf Plus 2.0 TDI with its direct shift gearbox (DSG) to deliver up to a 10.6% reduction in fuel consumption and lower emissions compared to a Golf with a five-speed automatic transmission.

A new Golf with the five-speed automatic gearbox would have a fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometers (35.6 mpg US). With the DSG, consumption decreases to 5.9 liters per 100 kilometers (39.9 mpg US).

The DSG is essentially two gearboxes in one, combining the comfort of an automatic with the agility and economy of a manual unit. The six-speed, transversely mounted DSG has two wet clutches (offering a higher thermal load tolerance than dry clutches) with hydraulic pressure regulation. One clutch controls the odd gears plus reverse, while the other operates the even gears.

This dual approach enables the next-higher gear ratio to become engaged but on standby until it is actually selected. In other words, if the car is being driven in third gear, fourth is selected but not yet activated. As soon as the ideal shift point is reached, the clutch on the third-gear side opens, the other clutch closes and fourth gear engages under accurate electronic supervision.

Because the opening and closing actions of the two clutches overlap, a smooth gearshift results and the entire shift process is completed in 40 milliseconds.

Volkswagen is optimizing the DSG for diesel engines, working on features such as pulling more powerfully from low engine revolutions.

In its combination of the new Golf Plus TDI and DSG, Volkswagen refined the fuel injection system to perform more precisely for the initial (pilot) and main injections. This, combined with other enhancements, improves the engine characteristics at idle and at low loads—improvements of which the DSG can take advantage.

The increased pulling power at lower revs ensures that the engine torque required is always available. The commencement of injection is brought forward through “dynamic pilot control” so that up to 15% more torque is immediately available when needed during fast gear changes.

As a result, the engine turns over considerably less than it would with a conventional gearbox to carry out the same work, and decreased engine revolutions reduce fuel consumption.

The Volkswagen engineers also achieved 15% more exhaust gas recirculation in the DSG gearbox load areas to reduce NO_x emissions while maintaining a low level of PM emissions. VW claims that the TDI plus DSG combination delivers emissions lower than Euro4 levels.

All together, a good example of the ability of the increasing sophistication of electronic engine management combined with new approaches can deliver further improvements in fuel economy.

New Diesel Emissions Catalyst Technology from Engelhard

Engelhard Corporation is introducing a new platinum/palladium diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) technology that allows automakers to meet Euro IV emission regulations and also reduce their precious-metal costs.

A diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) is a flow-through device installed on the exhaust pipe. As exhaust gases pass through it, the catalyst, carbon monoxide, gaseous hydrocarbons and liquid hydrocarbon particles (unburned fuel and oil) oxidize, thereby reducing emissions.

The DOC is essentially a canister containing a honeycomb-like structure or substrate coated with an active catalyst layer usually containing a small, well-dispersed amount of a precious metal such as platinum.

The use of palladium in a DOC is not new. Engelhard has had different implementations of such devices out for years, and International Catalyst Technology (ICT) introduced its own version of a palladium/platinum DOC last year.

But manufacturers are looking to increase the amount used (to reduce cost), while improving the activity of the device to meet increasingly stricter regulations. Palladium in prior applications has extended the thermal life of the device, and improved performance of an aged catalyst, but produced lower activity of a fresh catalyst. 

The Engelhard platinum/palladium diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) technology enables palladium to be substituted for one-third of the platinum on a light-duty DOC and meet the Euro IV regulations.

The technology goes into serial production starting next month on new model platforms from two major European carmakers.

Diesel Crunch in Malaysia

Malaysia Star. Malaysian government policy, rising fuel prices and the black market have combined to create a severe shortage of diesel in the country. Public transport and the cargo industry in Malaysia are sputtering to a halt, with up to 30% of trucks already “not moving.”

Twenty-one percent (547) of the country’s 2,641 fueling stations ran out of diesel on Tuesday.

The shortage is due to hoarding and smuggling enabled by Malaysia’s dual price policy for diesel (which is subsidized). Businesses pay 1.70 ringgit ($0.44; €0.33) per liter for industrial use, while drivers pay 0.88 ringgit ($0.23; €0.17) per liter at fueling stations.

An illegal market has sprouted up to exploit the dual pricing scheme, in which some gasoline station owners sell the subsidized diesel to middlemen, who in turn sell it to industries, which in turn, hoard it. Also, the subsidized diesel is smuggled to neighboring Thailand, where it costs about twice as much (earlier post).

Worried by rising fuel prices, the government earlier this year imposed quotas on diesel supplied to the public stations. The restricted amount of fuel couldn’t support both the public market and the black market.

The government yesterday released the June quota of diesel to try to improve the situation.

Peak Notes

It’s a busy time with respect to the discussion of Peak Oil.

Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett goes back before Congress tonight (27 April) in his third Special Order presentation to the body on Peak Oil.

Depletion Scotland, an organization that works closely with the Oil Depletion Analysis Center (ODAC), just held a one-day conference on Peak Oil featuring Colin Campbell, founder of ASPO; Matthew Simmons, chairman of Simmons & Co; Brian Wilson, former UK Energy Minister and others.

These are some of original and loudest energy industry voices (Campbell a geologist, Simmons an investment banker) warning of the imminence of peak production. Simmons again hit on his theme of the need for transparency in reserve numbers, and of the possibility that Saudi production is close to—if not already past—the point of peak production.

As a counterpoint, Saudi Aramco a few days earlier at a meeting in Paris had outlined large projects recently completed or under way in Saudi Arabia representing production capacity of 3 million bpd of crude oil. (O&GJ)

Saudi Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali I. al-Naimie estimated his country’s proved, probable, and possible reserves at 361 billion barrels, with additional undiscovered resource potential of at least 200 billion barrels of oil in place—80+ years worth at current production rates.

Simmons’ new book, Twilight in the Desert, which analyzes Saudi production and reserves, is due out in May.

In addition to the work done by the associations and organizations focused on peak oil, there are (at least) two valuable news and analysis resources.

The first is Energy Bulletin, a news portal. The second is The Oil Drum, a new blog co-written by two professors, one in energy production, the other in the social sciences.

Canadian Oil Sands Company to Build Mega Ethanol Plant

Suncor, the Canadian oil sands company, has received the final environmental approvals from Canadian federal and provincial governments for the construction of a Canadian $120 million (US $96.4 million) corn ethanol production facility. Work on the plant should be complete by mid-2006.

Suncor’s new facility will produce approximately 200 million liters (52.8 million gallons US) of ethanol annually—one of the country’s larger to date. Suncor will receive a $22 million contribution towards the construction of this facility from the Government of Canada’s Ethanol Expansion Program.

The plant will require some 20 million bushels of corn each year.

Suncor pioneered the oil sands industry in Canada in 1967. Since then the company has grown into a billion-dollar integrated energy company that with interests in oil sands, natural gas, and refining.

The company is branching out into alternatives, primarily wind energy:

• An 11-MW, $22-million windfarm in Saskatchewan, opened in 2002.

• A 30-MW, $48-million windfarm in Alberta, opened in 2004.

• A proposed 75-MW windfarm in Ontario.