Conversions
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
NaturalDrive CNG Retrofit for 2008 Chevrolet Impala Receives EPA Certification
November 25, 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified NaturalDrive Partners, LLC’s dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) retrofit of 2008 Chevrolet Impala sedans powered by 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V6 engines in models LS, LT, LTZ, as well as law enforcement packages 9C1 and 9C3.
The retrofitted CNG Impala reduces NOx and CO emissions more than 50% compared to gasoline the gasoline versions, and offers about a 15% reduction in CO2 compared to gasoline. With the 3.5L engine, fuel economy is 19 mpgge city and 30 mpgge highway. The retrofit on the LTZ model also leverages GM’s Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) for superior fuel economy.
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Researchers Find That Fuel Line Electrorheological Device Can Boost Fuel Economy
September 24, 2008
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| Fuel flows through two metallic meshes before it reaches the fuel injector. A voltage is applied on the two meshes to produce an electric field of about 1 kV/mm between them. Click to enlarge. Credit: ACS. |
Researchers at Temple University in Pennsylvania have developed a small electrorheological device that, when inserted into the fuel line near the fuel injector, can improve fuel economy. In tests results reported in a study scheduled for the 19 November issue of the journal Energy & Fuels, they show an 18.8% increase in fuel mileage in a Mercedes-Benz diesel sedan in highway driving.
The device developed by Rongjia Tao and colleagues creates an electric field that reduces fuel viscosity, enabling the injection of smaller droplets into the engine, which, in turn, leads to more efficient and cleaner combustion than a standard fuel injector. Six months of road testing in a diesel car showed that the device increased highway fuel from 32 mpg to 38 mpg.
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HEVT Showcases Converted F-150 PHEV
July 29, 2008
Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. (HEVT) introduced a prototype plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the Ford F-150 pickup truck at the Plug-In 2008 Conference and Exposition in San Jose, California last week. Converted with a proprietary adaptive controller and using a scaled-down version of a proprietary drivetrain HEVT has designed for transit buses, the F-150 PHEV, with its 12 kWh battery pack, offers up to 15 miles all-electric range (AER).
HEVT projects that the conversion will deliver up to 41 mpg for 30 miles/day at mixed speed driving, and up to 21 mpg as a hybrid operating in charge-sustaining mode. The conversion also has vehicle-to-grid capability, and offers on-board 120V power.
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Plug-In Supply Inc. Introduces Lead-Acid PHEV Prius Conversion System for $4,995
Plug-In Supply, Inc unveiled its PbA10 Conversion System last week at the Plug-in 2008 conference in San Jose. The PbA10 Conversion System, based on the CalCars Open Source design, turns a standard 2004-2008 model year Prius into a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) with an all-electric range of 10-15 miles and improved average mileage of up to 100 miles per gallon (plus 1 cent/mile of electricity).
The conversion system uses a 5 kWh pack comprising new extended life lead-acid batteries (more than 800 cycles) for better battery longevity than was previously available. The system is designed to permit an upgrade to lithium iron phosphate batteries with an all electric range of 15-20 miles as costs for these longer range batteries decline.
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Andy Grove Calls for Concerted US Effort to Convert Pickups, SUVs and Vans to 40+ Mile PHEVs
July 22, 2008
In a lunchtime address at the Plug-in 2008 conference and exposition in San Jose, California, Andy Grove, former Chairman & CEO, Intel Corporation, called for an urgent inter-industry effort in the US to convert pickups, SUVs and Vans (PSVs) to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with at least a 40-mile electric range.
Characterizing the current energy situation as a “clear and present danger” to the United States, Grove said that an inter-industry task force comprising electric utilities, automakers, high technology companies and academia should develop a plan to have 10 million plug-in hybrid—which he calls dual-fuel vehicles—PSVs on US roads in 4 years, and then present the plan to the new President on 21 January 2009.
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Concept: Through-the-Road PHEV Conversion Kit
July 20, 2008
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| The Poulsen Hybrid system attached to a Jetta. Click to enlarge. |
Poulsen Hybrid is developing a conversion kit that will add through-the-road plug-in hybrid capability to conventional vehicles by externally mounting electric motors onto 2 of the wheels. The motors are normally applied to the rear wheels, in the process converting a FWD car to all-wheel drive, but the system works with rear- and all wheel drive vehicles as well, according to Poulsen.
The system will be available in kit form and could be installed by individuals (do-it-yourself, DIY) in a day, although Poulsen says that it has not decided whether or not to offer the kit that way, due to potential liability issues. Poulsen, which is competing for the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize, plans to offer the system through a network of authorized installers.
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ITS to Showcase Heavy-Duty Plug-in Hybrid Retrofit at Sydney Truck Show
June 26, 2008
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| The Argosy Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Innovative Transport Solutions Pty. Ltd., an Australian startup that developed a retrofit plug-in hybrid electric conversion system for heavy-duty vehicles (earlier post), has entered into an alliance with Australia’s Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry (CRC for Forestry) and TimberCorp to produce a purpose-built 6x6 electric hybrid prototype retrofit and an electric hybrid road-train prime mover (truck/tractor) for the Australian forestry industry.
The prototype Argosy Hybrid will be shown at the Sydney Truck Show, 7-9 August 2008. The truck will be in service for preliminary trials on a Sydney-Melbourne route (about 1,900 km (1,200 miles) round-trip) soon after the show. Expected reduction in fuel consumption and emissions output is 25%.
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Port of San Diego Launching Clean Truck Program
June 09, 2008
The Port of San Diego is launching its own clean truck program, in line with programs at other major California ports. At the 10 June Board of Port Commissioners meeting, the Board will vote on a resolution authorizing an agreement with the San Diego Air Pollution Control District for implementing the truck retrofit and replacement program.
Truck owners who voluntarily participate in the program will receive a range of subsidies from a combination of state grants and money provided by the Port of San Diego. The remainder of the retrofitting cost would be the responsibility of the truck owner.
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California ARB Revises Proposed Rule To Clean Up In-Use On-Road Diesel Trucks, Buses
May 12, 2008
The California Air Resources Board has revised a draft regulation that will require retrofits and engine replacements for the estimated privately owned 300,000 diesel trucks and buses on California roadways beginning in 2012. The proposed regulation now calls for truckers to retrofit pre-2007 model year trucks with soot filters and then requires a gradual modernization of trucks beginning in 2012, so that ultimately all trucks are the cleanest, 2010 or newer models.
Staff re-worked an earlier version of the draft regulation, presented in January, to eliminate the need for truckers to replace two trucks in a nine-year span, instead relying more heavily on retrofits for the first two years of the regulation. The revised proposal has a lower cost while preserving important public health benefits.
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A123Systems Launches Hymotion PHEV Conversion Module for Prius
April 26, 2008
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| EPA Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) test results for an L5-equipped Prius. The heavy gray lines show when the engine is in operation. Click to enlarge. |
A123Systems has fully launched the Hymotion L5 plug-in hybrid module designed to convert a Toyota Prius, model years 2004 – 2008, into a plug-in hybrid capable of achieving up to 100 mpg for 30-40 miles within the electrically assisted driving range. A123Systems acquired Hymotion in February 2007. (Earlier post.)
The 5 kWh L5 Plug-in Conversion Module (PCM) is priced at $9,995, which includes a three-year standard warranty and installation. Currently, Hymotion is only conducting L5 installations in the United States through Certified Hymotion Installation Partners (Green CHIP dealers). Canadian vehicles can be brought to US installation locations.
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Raser and Tecstar Sign Agreement for Plug-In Series Hybrid Conversions
February 28, 2008
Raser Technologies, Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tecstar, LP and Wheel to Wheel, LLC, outlining their intent to work together with Raser to manufacture plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) for utility, government, and other fleets.
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Valence Technology to Supply Additional 600 Li-Ion Modules to OEMtek for PHEV Conversions
February 19, 2008
by Jack Rosebro
By the end of February, Valence Technology, Inc. will ship an additional 600 custom modules of Valence’s Lithium-ion batteries to OEMtek for use in the conversion of Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles into Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Valence previously supplied OEMtek with 300 modules for installation in vehicles which are now being shipped to customers.
Valence’s custom module for OEMtek’s BREEZ (Battery Range Extender EZ) 9 kWh PHEV battery pack is composed of standard-size 18650 cylindrical lithium-phosphate cells. Assuming a nominal module voltage of 14.6V, achieved by placing four 3.65V cells in series, 19 modules would be required to achieve OEMtek’s rated pack voltage of 277V.
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Amberjac Selects Autocraft Industries UK as Manufacturing Partner For Volume Production of Li-Ion Systems for PHEVs and Other Vehicles
January 18, 2008
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| The battery pack in the Amberjac II Prius PHEV. Click to enlarge. |
UK-based Amberjac Projects Ltd. has selected Autocraft Industries UK, a subsidiary of Aftermarket Technology Corp, as its manufacturing partner for higher volume production of large format lithium-ion battery systems for automotive applications.
Amberjac, in conjunction with its technology partnership with EnergyCS (earlier post), performs plug-in conversions of the Toyota Prius and also develops custom turnkey battery solutions for automakers.
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New Medium- and Heavy-Duty Retrofit Hybrid Drive With Variable Torque Motor and Supercaps
December 03, 2007
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| Depiction of the VTM sliding rotor. Click to enlarge. |
Variable Torque Motors (VTM) formally introduced its retrofit hybrid electric drive system at EVS-23. The VTM hybrid-electric drive system is designed for medium- and heavy-duty existing vehicles used predominantly in start/stop applications, such as airport shuttle buses, delivery trucks or dump trucks.
The VTM system uses a 42 kW permanent magnet motor with a patented shifting mechanism to slide the rotor out of the stator to weaken the axial field and thus reduce torque in favor of higher speed. Combined with supercapacitors for energy storage, according to the company, the drive system can yield a fuel economy improvement of between 30-40% in vehicles with an appropriate duty cycle—approximately 7 stops per mile.
