Hybrids
[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.]
PowerGenix Introduces NiZn Cells for HEV Market
May 15, 2008
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| The PowerGenix 120-cell 1.2 kWh HEV pack sitting atop the larger NiMH pack in a Prius. |
PowerGenix, a San Diego-based developer of high-performance, sealed rechargeable nickel-zinc (NiZn) batteries for power tools and other applications, introduced its rechargeable D cells for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) this week at the Advanced Automotive Battery and Ultracapacitor Conference in Tampa, Florida. (Earlier post.)
The 6.5 Ah, 1.6V NiZn D cells offer energy and power densities of 100 Wh/kg and 2,500 W/kg in their first generation, according to PowerGenix CEO Dan Squiller, with more room for improvement in subsequent iterations. NiZn packs can deliver 30% more power and increased energy density, as well as reduced size, weight and cost relative to existing Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) technologies.
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Istanbul Orders 50 Trams With GM-Allison Hybrid System
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| The concept of APTS’ Phileas system. Click to enlarge. |
The Istanbul (Turkey) Transportation Authority has ordered 50 Metrobus trams equipped with the GM-Allison hybrid system. This will be the largest fleet of the hybrids in Europe by next year. The first of the 50 trams, built by Dutch bus company Advance Public Transport Systems BV (APTS), was recently delivered. (Earlier post.) The remainder of the order will be fulfilled this year and in 2009.
The APTS Phileas rubber-tired trams run on a free bus lane which is fitted with magnetic markers for electronic lane assistance and precision docking, offering the advantages of rail transport with the lower costs and flexibility of a bus system. The Phileas has a lightweight body, the hybrid propulsion system from GM-Allison, and a large transport capacity.
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Forecast: Lithium-ion Automotive Market Could Reach $1.6B by 2015; Strong HEVs to Dominate
May 13, 2008
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| The market for Li-ion automotive batteries will be dominated by full hybrid applications in 2015, according to Dr. Anderman. Click to enlarge. |
Dr. Menahem Anderman, the president of Advanced Automotive Batteries, projects that the automotive lithium-ion market could reach $1.6 billion in 2015, up almost five-fold from $337M in 2012, propelled largely by a dramatic expansion in the use of Li-ion batteries in strong (or full) hybrid applications. Anderman bases his forecasts on his work with automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers and materials suppliers.
According to the forecast, strong hybrid applications will account for 78% of the market in 2015, reaching $1.26 billion—more than six times the 2012 figures of $196 million, which represents 58% of that projected market. Dr. Anderman released his projections publicly during a presentation of his analysis of the value proposition for automotive Li-ion batteries at the Advanced Automotive Battery & Ultracapacitor Conference (AABC) 2008, running in Tampa, Florida this week.
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MIT Study Concludes US LDV Fleet Can Reduce Fuel Consumption by 2035 to Pre-2000 Levels
May 09, 2008
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| Reducing demand growth (sales and Vehicle Kilometers Traveled, VKT) makes the task of reducing fuel consumption easier. ERFC = Emphasis on Reducing Fuel Consumption. Click to enlarge. |
An MIT study on projected fuel use by the US light-duty vehicle fleet concludes that, at constant performance and increased cost, a 30-50% reduction in fleet fuel consumption and a 25-40% reduction in fleet fuel use is feasible by 2035—i.e., to pre-2000 levels. Achieving this, however, will require focusing advancing technology on reducing fuel consumption rather than size or power, as well as likely requiring reduction in growth demand for vehicles and they distance they travel.
The study also concludes that there are a greater number of vehicle and fuel alternatives to displace petroleum use than to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
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UK Technology Strategy Board (TSB) to Award $45M to 16 Low-Carbon Vehicle Projects
May 08, 2008
The UK’s Technology Strategy Board has selected 16 projects to receive £23 million (US$45 million) in government investment through the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform. (Earlier post.) Including investments by the companies involved, the total value of the development projects will be £52 million (US$102 million).
The sixteen new research, development and demonstration projects represent the first investment by the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform since it was established in the autumn of 2007, and follows an open competition launched in September. The government investment is equally provided by the Technology Strategy Board and the Department for Transport.
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ZF Inaugurates First Production Site for Electric Drives; Volume Production for S-Class Hybrid in 4Q 2008
May 07, 2008
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| A ZF DynaStart hybrid drive module. |
ZF has officially inaugurated the first location for the production of its DynaStart hybrid drive modules in Schweinfurt, Germany. During the fourth quarter of 2008, ZF will launch volume production to supply the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. The modules will also be built for other cars, buses and delivery vehicles.
The DynaStart modules will be built by ZF Sachs—the Powertrain and Suspension Components Division of ZF. Currently, there are eight volume production projects under development for four vehicle manufacturers, with production launches scheduled between 2008 and 2012. Currently, ZF is launching an annual production volume of 35,000 units. Eventually, production could reach up to 200,000 units per year, with a staff of 50.
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Reported US Sales of Hybrids in April Pass 3% Market Share of New Vehicles Sold
May 05, 2008
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| New vehicle market share for reported hybrid sales. Click to enlarge. |
Reported US sales of hybrids in April climbed 46% to 39,898 units from April 2007. While April is the second-highest reported monthly total of hybrid sales, the increase in hybrid volume combined with the general decrease in light-duty vehicle sales (earlier post) pushed the new vehicle market share for hybrids past the 3% mark for the first time, to 3.2%. The results do not include hybrid sales from GM.
Sales of Toyota’s Prius were up 67% to 21,757 units. Toyota has now sold more than 680,000 Priuses in total in the US (more than 514,000 beginning in 2004), and will likely break the 700,000-unit mark next month.
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Flywheel and Infinitely Variable Transmission for Mechanical Hybrids
May 03, 2008
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| Schematic of FIVT. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at the University of Warwick (UK) are developing a flywheel and infinitely variable transmission (FIVT) for application in a mechanical hybrid powertrain. The work on FIVT is the outcome of a larger mechanical hybrid project created by the university to assess the potential of mechanical hybrid systems—flywheel, pneumatic and hydraulic—to compete with electrical hybrid systems.
Andrew Bass and Alireza Veshagh developed a simulation tool to evaluate the different types of hybrid powertrains, and found that the Warwick FIVT offered a better cost-benefit to mid- and high-mileage users than any of the other hybrid systems evaluated.
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TNT Launches Australia’s First Hybrid Truck Fleet
April 30, 2008
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| A Hino hybrid truck. |
TNT Express Australia has put 10 Hino Hybrid trucks into service, becoming the first business in Australia to start operating a fleet of diesel-electric hybrid as replacements for conventionally powered vehicles.
Speaking at the official launch of the hybrid truck fleet in Sydney, TNT Express Australia Managing Director Roger Corcoran said the new vehicles would reduce TNT’s greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 kilograms of CO2 a year per vehicle.
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San Diego Launches CNG Hybrid-Electric Bus
April 29, 2008
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| The CNG hybrid bus. |
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has launched its first commercial bus with a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) hybrid-electric drive system (CNG Hybrid Drive System). ISE Corporation (ISE) developed and supplied the system, a variant of its ThunderVolt gasoline hybrid drive, and integrated it into a standard 40-foot transit bus supplied by MTS.
The $1-million CNG hybrid prototype bus will further cut emissions and fuel consumption of the CNG buses in the MTS fleet, providing more power and a quieter ride. Funding for the program was provided by grants from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), San Diego Air Pollution Control District (APCD), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
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New Hydraulic Oil Element in ZF 8-Speed Automatic to Better Support Microhybrid Start-Stop
April 28, 2008
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| ZF’s hydraulic impulse oil storage is a spring piston accumulator which directly supplies transmission oil to the shift elements which are essential for startup. Click to enlarge. |
In a presentation at the Vienna Motor Symposium last week, ZF introduced a new hydraulic impulse oil storage element that can be integrated in the new generation of its 8-speed automatic transmissions to better support start-stop microhybrid systems.
The system supplies the hydraulic oil that the transmission’s shift elements need for starting. When the engine is switched off, it allows for a quick restart within 350 milliseconds, as required with the start/stop function.
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Study: Steam Hybrids Using Waste Heat Recovery Could Reduce Fuel Consumption Up To 31.7%
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| Results of the study indicate that a steam hybrid using exhaust waste heat could reduce fuel consumption by up to 31.7%, depending upon drive cycle and vehicle. |
A study by researchers at Loughborough University and the University of Sussex, both in the UK, has concluded that using waste heat from light-duty vehicle engines in a steam power cycle could deliver fuel economy advantages of between 6.3% and 31.7%, depending upon drive cycle, and that high efficiencies can be achieved at practical operating pressures.
The basic concept of the “steam hybrid” system is that energy is recovered from the exhaust in the form of a steam/water mixture. Shaft work is produced as steam is expanded, and is used in one of three ways:
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Argonne Tests EnerDel Li-Ion HEV Pack in a Prius
April 24, 2008
Testing of EnerDel’s 1.1 kWh lithium-ion pack for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) (earlier post) by the Center for Transportation Research of Illinois-based Argonne National Laboratory corroborated the company’s earlier claims of energy; power and efficiency; and thermal performance, according to the company.
EnerDel integrated its battery system into a Toyota Prius, with no material modifications made to the Prius other than the integration of the battery system. EnerDel’s choice of active materials for its HEV cell is LiMn2O4 - spinel (LMO) for the cathode and Li4Ti5O12 (LTO, lithium titanate) for the anode.
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Scania Double-Decker Ethanol Hybrid Bus to Go On Trial in the UK
April 22, 2008
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| Reading Buses’ single-decker ethanol-hybrid prototype. |
Reading Buses, the transport company owned by Reading Borough Council in the UK, says it will have a double-decker ethanol-electric hybrid bus from Scania fully operational and on the roads within the next 2 years. The concept bus has been going through refinements since last year and is currently only a single-decker bus.
Reading Buses currently has successfully trialed a double-decker bus that uses Scania’s heavy-duty ethanol engine, and will introduce a further 14 ethanol buses into service from this month. Scania, which has built more than 600 ethanol-powered city buses since 1989, currently has four single-decker ethanol hybrid buses on trial in Stockholm.
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SsangYong to Launch 20 New Models Over Next Five Years; Diesel Hybrid Included
April 21, 2008
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| Ssangyong’s diesel hybrid chassis shown at the Geneva show. Click to enlarge. |
SsangYong Motor, a South Korean automaker now 51% owned by China’s SAIC, plans to introduce 20 new models between 2009 and 2014. The company will invest more than €1.9 billion (US$3 billion) to develop the new models, which will be based on five different platforms, with five new engines and with monocoque construction.
SsangYong’s new diesel hybrid technology, developed in partnership with FEV (earlier post) and unveiled at last month’s Geneva Motor Show, will feature in the new model line-up.
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R. L. Polk & Co. Analysis of Hybrid Sales Suggests Segment Affinity Among Hybrid Buyers
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| The top 10 metro markets for hybrids in 2007. Click to enlarge. |
Nationwide registrations for new hybrid vehicles rose to 350,289 registrations in 2007—a 38% increase from 2006, according to R. L. Polk & Co. The Toyota Prius continued to lead the segment with 179,178 total new registrations—51.2% of hybrid market share.
Polk’s analysis shows that buyers of specific hybrid models predominantly come from the vehicle segment shared by their new hybrid purchase. In 2007, 55% of new hybrid buyers previously had a midsize car, midsize SUV or small car model. These vehicle segments represent the majority of the volume in the hybrid category and indicate consumers may be predisposed to a body style first before choosing a hybrid model, according to Polk.
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GM Debuts Buick LaCrosse Hybrid at Auto China; Will Bring Escalade 2-Mode to China in 2009
April 19, 2008
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| The Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid. |
The Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid (earlier post), is making its auto show debut at the 2008 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China Beijing). Introduced by Shanghai GM in January, the LaCrosse uses the GM Hybrid System (a mild-hybrid, belt-alternator-starter system) to deliver a 15% improvement in fuel consumption: 8.3 L/100km (28.3 mpg US), compared with 9.8 L/100km (24 mpg US) for the non-hybrid version.
GM also introduced the Cadillac Escalade 2-Mode Hybrid for the first time in China at the event. The company plans to begin sales of the 2-Mode luxury full-size SUV there in 2009.
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MIT Study Compares 2030 Electric Propulsion Systems; Conventional Hybrids, Fuel Cell, Battery and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Offer Comparable GHG Reductions
April 16, 2008
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| Overview of projected greenhouse gas and fuel consumption outcomes for different propulsion systems in 2030 vehicles. Click to enlarge. |
Electric propulsion systems, including gasoline hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV), fuel cell vehicles (FCV) and battery vehicles (BEV), can, with projected evolution of the supporting technologies, “reduce or eliminate the transport sector’s reliance on petroleum,” according to a study done at MIT by Matthew Kromer and Professor John Heywood.
However, the study also concludes that continued use of fossil fuels without effective carbon capture and sequestration for producing electricity and hydrogen constrain the greenhouse gas (GHG) and energy reductions of all the different forms of electric propulsion to about 60% below that of present day technology. In other words, without cleaner power pathways, PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs are not projected to offer much of a greater reduction in GHG than an HEV, and in many cases, the GHG profile is worse.
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Lotus and Continental Developing 1.5L Direct Injection Gasoline Engine for Low CO2 Output
April 14, 2008
Lotus Engineering and Continental Automotive are developing a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine with a number of synergistic technologies to realize low CO2 emissions while still providing similar performance to a typical 2.2-liter naturally aspirated engine. (Earlier post.)
When applied in place of a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated engine in a GM Opel Astra (a C-class vehicle), the 1.5-liter Sabre (Spark-ignition Advanced Baselined Research Engine) engine is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% (from 175 to 140 g/km), while also delivering a 1.1 second reduction in 0-100 kph acceleration time.
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Controlled Power Technologies Heading to Commercialization of Switched-Reluctance Motor Systems for Vehicle Efficiency
April 11, 2008
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| Design evolution of the production-ready VTES. Click to enlarge. |
Controlled Power Technologies (CPT), a UK startup working with switched reluctance motor technology to deliver cost-effective CO2-reducing solutions for vehicles (earlier post), is progressing toward commercialization of three initial products: Variable Torque Enhancement System, VTES, an electric supercharging system; SpeedStart12, an integrated belt-driven starter generator system; and TIGERS (earlier post), an exhaust turbine-driven generator system.
All three products, acquired from Visteon, employ switched reluctance motors. Controlled Power Technologies secured an exclusive license from Switched Reluctance Drives Limited to develop its electric motor technology for the automotive sector. SR Drives is a UK company based in Harrogate and wholly owned subsidiary of Emerson Electric Company.
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FEV to Show Mahindra & Mahindra Diesel-Electric Hybrid Scorpio at SAE World Congress; Other Powertrain Developments
April 10, 2008
FEV will exhibit a diesel-electric hybrid version of the Mahindra & Mahindra Scorpio SUV at the 2008 SAE World Congress, 14-17 April in Detroit, Michigan. Mahindra developed the diesel hybrid version of the vehicle with support from FEV, a global powertrain and vehicle engineering company.
FEV will also show a number of other powertrain developments at the event, including a 2-step variable compression ratio (VCR) mechanism for medium- and heavy-duty engines; a spray-guided turbocharged gasoline engine; a new diesel aftertreatment control system; and a new low-height cylinder head concept.
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Guangzhou Armada Development and Guangzhou Yiqi Bus Co. to Purchase 207 Additional Eaton Hybrid Systems for Buses
April 09, 2008
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| One of the first Foton-Eaton hybrid buses in Guangzhou in January. |
Guangzhou Armada Development Corporation and Guangzhou Yiqi Bus Company, Ltd. will purchase 207 additional diesel-electric hybrid power systems from Eaton Corporation for application in new buses in Guangzhou.
This purchase adds to the initial installation of 30 Eaton hybrid-powered buses announced in January. (Earlier post.) The buses will be placed into passenger service throughout the year. Once deployed, this will be the largest single placement of hybrid-powered buses in China. It is also Eaton’s largest single hybrid power systems order to date.
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Volvo Puts Two Hybrid Refuse Trucks Into Final Trials; Production May Begin in 2009
April 07, 2008
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| The Volvo FE Hybrid refuse truck. |
Volvo has launched two hybrid refuse trucks into trials in regular daily operations in Sweden with refuse collection firms Renova and Ragn-Sells. (Earlier post.) Although both trucks use a charge-sustaining hybrid system for motive power, one of the trucks is equipped with a second, grid-charged battery that powers the refuse compactor.
The hybrid system used in the refuse truck is a version of Volvo’s I-SAM (Integrated Starter, Alternator, Motor) parallel hybrid system. The I-SAM system comprises a starter motor, drive motor and alternator fit between the clutch and the I-Shift automatic transmission.
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Reported US Sales of Hybrids Up 10% in March; Total LDV Sales Down 12%
April 05, 2008
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| Reported sales of US hybrids by month. Click to enlarge. |
Reported US sales of hybrids climbed 10% in March 2008 year-on-year to 38,214 units—the second highest monthly total yet, behind only the results from May 2007. Total light-duty vehicle (LDV) US sales in March dropped 12%, according to figures from Autodata, with total passenger car sales dropping 5.4% and total light truck sales dropping 17.8% from March 2007.
Percent changes reported are based on a straight comparison of numbers, and are not adjusted for the selling days in the month. There were 26 selling days in March 2008, as compared to 28 selling days last March. The figures do not include sales results from GM, which does not yet break out its hybrid results in the monthly sales reports.
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GM Provides Snapshot of State of the Volt; Tracking to Production in Nov 2010
April 04, 2008
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| The T-shaped Li-ion packs undergoing cycle testing in the battery laboratory in Michigan. The pack from Continental/A123Systems is on the left; the pack from CPI is on the right. The slot in the middle of each pack is to accommodate a structural beam that runs across the breadth of the car. Click to enlarge. |
In a day-long briefing at the GM Tech Center in Warren, Michigan, the GM team responsible for the Volt provided a snapshot of the current state of development of the extended range electric vehicle (earlier post)—which is tracking to production in November 2010—to an international group of journalists.
The accelerated development of the Volt is pushing GM to design, to develop and to test in parallel the powertrain and the vehicle. Key topics addressed during the briefing were the cycle life and calendar life testing of the lithium-ion battery pack; the coming integration this month of the first packs into the mules; other powertrain and exhaust system issues; aerodynamic modifications to support the 40 mile all-electric range; and design issues.
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Capstone Turbine Receives $5M Order from DesignLine International for Systems for HEV Buses
April 02, 2008
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| The EcoSaver IV series hybrid bus. |
Capstone Turbine Corporation, a manufacturer of microturbine energy systems, has received an order for 150 C30 (30 kW) Capstone MicroTurbines to be applied in ECOSaver IV series hybrid electric buses manufactured by DesignLine International. This is the largest order to date for Capstone products in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) application.
In the DesignLine application, the MicroTurbine powers an auxiliary power unit (APU) to maintain an approximately 40 kWh battery pack at a medium state of charge. Under normal conditions, according to DesignLine, the buses will return to the depot with approximately 60% SOC remaining within the battery pack. The New York City Transit (NYCT) agency, the largest in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) network, has been testing a diesel-fueled turbine series hybrid version. (Earlier post.)
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Study: Fuel Cell Vehicles Necessary for Long-Term Significant Reduction in GHG, Criteria Pollutants and Oil Consumption
April 01, 2008
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| Projected greenhouse gas emissions from light-duty vehicles under five of the vehicle scenarios: reference case gasoline ICE, gasoline HEV, gasoline PHEV, biofuel PHEV, and fuel cell vehicle (FCV). Click to enlarge. |
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will be essential to cutting greenhouse gases by 60% below 1990 levels in the transportation sector; virtually eliminating urban air pollution; and reducing oil consumption to a point that US domestic oil production can supply all non-transportation petroleum needs, according to a paper presented at the National Hydrogen Association’s Annual Meeting by Dr. Sandy Thomas, the president of H2Gen Innovations, Inc. H2Gen Innovations is a manufacturer of hydrogen generation and gas purification systems.
The paper, Comparison of Transportation Options in a Carbon-Constrained World: Hydrogen, Plug-in Hybrids and Biofuels, modeled emissions and fuel consumption in eight types of vehicle—including combustion engine vehicles (ICEV), hybrids (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), fuel cell (FCV) and battery electric (BEV)—and five different fuels: gasoline, diesel, cellulosic ethanol, hydrogen and grid electricity.
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Peterbilt to Begin Full Production of Electric Hybrid and Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
Peterbilt Motors, a division of PACCAR, will begin full production of its Model 330 and Model 335 medium-duty hybrid vehicles in summer 2008, and of its Model 320 Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) vehicle in the fourth quarter of 2008. (Earlier post.)
Both the Peterbilt Model 330 and Model 335 Hybrid Electric vehicles feature the Eaton Hybrid Power system and provide up to a 30% improvement in fuel economy in an urban driving cycle. The Model 335 Hybrid Electric utilizes these same components to provide up to a 60% improvement in overall fuel efficiency, when configured for utility applications. The Model 330 Hybrid Electric can be configured for non-CDL operation with hydraulic brakes for a greater range of driver options.
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Hybrid Truck Users Forum WG Selects Electric and Hydraulic Hybrid Suppliers
March 31, 2008
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| Rexroth hydrostatic regenerative braking system (HRB) reduces fuel consumption by up to 25% and can be retrofitted as an add-on system even in vehicles without hydraulics. Click to enlarge. |
The members of CALSTART’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Refuse Working Group have selected the supplier team of Crane Carrier/ISE/Bosch Rexroth to negotiate with for validation and testing of Class 7 & 8 heavy-duty electric hybrid and hydraulic hybrid refuse vehicles.
The hybrid trucks are expected to yield 30% to 50% reductions in fuel use with an accompanying reduction in emissions, to be demonstrated in chassis dynamometer and field testing. The working group members taking part in the hybrid refuse truck pilot project include the Department of Sanitation, City of New York; Solid Waste Management Department, City of Houston; and the City of Chicago.
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DP World Orders 19 Siemens Diesel-Hybrid Drive Gantry Cranes for Saigon Port
March 14, 2008
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| ECO-RTG diesel-electric hybrid gantry cranes. Click to enlarge. |
The new Saigon Premier Container Terminal in Vietnam, operated by DP World, has ordered a batch of 13 ECO-RTGs (Rubber Tire Gantry cranes) from Zhenhua Port Machinery Company (ZPMC) in Shanghai that use Siemens ECO-RTG hybrid drive systems. Siemens will deliver the ECO-RTG systems to ZPMC in October 2008.
This is the second order for RTG hybrids from a DPWorld terminal, following an order for 6 that was placed at the end of 2007 by the DPWorld terminal in Djibouti.
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Volvo CE Unveils Hybrid Wheel Loader
March 13, 2008
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| The hybrid powertrain in the Volvo L220F Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) unveiled a pre-production prototype of its L220F Hybrid wheel loader at the CONEXPO-CON/AGG exhibition, 11-15 March 2008 in Las Vegas. The L220F Hybrid offers more power, better performance and a 10% reduction in fuel consumption, according to Volvo.
Leveraging its position as the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines in the 9 to 18-liter class, the Volvo L220F Hybrid’s parallel mild-hybrid technology has been developed within the Volvo Group and uses the D12 engine as its platform.
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Pininfarina Unveils Sintesi Concept Featuring On-Board Hydrogen Generation and Distributed Fuel Cell Power Modules
March 07, 2008
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| The Quadrivium drive features an on-board fuel reformer to produce hydrogen and four distributed fuel-cell battery power modules. Click to enlarge. Source: Nuvera |
Pininfarina unveiled its hydrogen fuel cell concept car, the Sintesi, featuring Nuvera’s Quadrivium drive, at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Quadrivium drive is based on Nuvera’s Andromeda fuel cell and STAR (Substrate Transportation Autothermal Reformer) on-board hydrogen generator technologies. The drive system uses the centralized hydrogen generator to feed four distributed fuel cell / Lithium-ion battery wheel power modules.
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Hyundai Introduces i-blue Systems at Geneva; Diesel and CNG Applications
March 05, 2008
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| The i10 blue offers CO2 emissions of 95 g/km. |
Hyundai Motor Co. is presenting its i-blue systems concept, an optimized combination of currently available technologies (i-blue package) with a completely new engine and a CNG application, at the Geneva Motor Show. The result is a range of technologies, based upon the i10, i10 CNG, i30 and the forthcoming i20, that are engineered to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and that can be applied across existing models.
While the individual models differ in the exact combination of i-blue features, the overall package comprises advances in drag reduction, increased engine and transmission efficiency, and chassis fine-tuning.
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US Sales of Hybrids in February Dip From Year Before
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| Reported US sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
Reported US sales of hybrids in February dipped 2.5% from the prior year to 22,413 units. The results do not include sales from GM, which does not yet report its hybrid sales separately. Overall, light-duty vehicle sales in the US dropped 6.3% in February from the year before to 1,176,236 units, according to Autodata.
The new vehicle share of reported hybrid sales thus dropped back below the 2% mark to 1.9%—about one-tenth of a percentage point above the share in February 2007.
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The Golf TDI Diesel-Electric Hybrid Concept: 69 MPG US
March 04, 2008
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| The Golf TDI Hybrid concept. |
The Golf TDI Hybrid concept (earlier post) introduced by Volkswagen at the Geneva Motor Show combines an advanced diesel engine with an electric motor and the latest generation of VW’s seven-speed DSG gearbox. The hybrid concept vehicle is capable of achieving 3.4 L/100km (69 mpg US) of fuel consumption.
At the core of the new Golf TDI Hybrid is a 1.2-liter three-cylinder common rail TDI diesel engine developing 55 kW (74 hp) and 179 Nm (132 lb-ft) of torque. Working either in tandem with the diesel engine or, if required, on its own in all-electric mode, is an electric motor developing 20 kW and 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) of torque. The electric motor also replaces the conventional starter motor and alternator to save weight and improve packaging.
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GM Announces Next-Generation GM Hybrid System with Hitachi Li-Ion Pack; Plans Global Deployment
General Motors Chairman Rick Wagoner announced at the Geneva Motor Show today that GM will introduce into production a second-generation version of the GM Hybrid System equipped with a lithium-ion battery system from Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd (HVE), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Hitachi Ltd.
The Li-ion pack will help make the next-generation GM Hybrid System—the mild hybrid belt-alternator-starter system applied in the Saturn Vue; Saturn Aura; Chevrolet Malibu; and Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid in China (earlier post)—nearly three times more powerful than the system it replaces. Overall fuel economy improvements for cars and trucks using the system are expected to be up to 20%, depending on engine and vehicle application.
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GM Introduces Saab 9-X E-85 Optimized BioHybrid Concept at Geneva Motor Show
March 03, 2008
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| The Saab 9-X BioHybrid. |
GM unveiled its Saab 9-X BioHybrid concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. The vehicle combines a downsized 1.4-liter, E85-optimized 200 hp BioPower turbo engine with the next-generation of the GM Hybrid System (the Belt Alterantor Starter system applied in the non-two-mode hybrid vehicles) and a six-speed manual gearbox with an automatic clutch and steering wheel controls.
The turbocharged 1.4-liter BioPower turbo engine generates 200 hp (147 kW) on E85 and 280 Nm (207 lb-ft) of torque, as well as reducing CO2 emissions compared to gasoline. Projected fuel consumption when running on gasoline over the combined cycle is 4.9 L/100 km (48 mpg US) and 117 g CO2/km. When running on E85, CO2 emissions are projected to be lower at 105 g/km, with estimated fuel consumption of 6.4 L/100 km (37 mpg US).
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Continental and Johnson Controls-Saft Teaming on Energy Storage for Mercedes S400 BlueHYBRID
Continental and Johnson Controls-Saft (JCS) are teaming on the lithium-ion battery pack for the upcoming series-production Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHYBRID sedan (earlier post), a mild hybrid sedan due to enter production in 2009. As announced earlier, JCS is providing the cells. (Earlier post.) Continental is the pack integrator and will also supply power electronics: the inverter and the DC/DC converter.
For thermal management, Daimler is integrating the lithium-ion battery into the vehicle’s climate control system to ensure that the battery always works at optimal system temperatures of between 15° and 35°C.
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New York’s 10,000 Black Cars to Go Hybrid
March 01, 2008
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced that the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) will require black cars—the large sedans (often Lincoln Town Cars) that primarily service corporate clients—to increase fuel efficiency standards to a level currently achievable only by using hybrid technology.
In December, the TLC voted unanimously to approve regulations that will require all yellow taxis licensed after 1 October 2008, to meet fuel efficiency standards currently only achievable through the use of hybrid technology. Black cars currently release 272,000 tons of CO2 equivalents annually, which make up 2% of the City’s transportation-related emissions. Under the new standards, emissions from black cars will be cut in half.
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Office of Vehicle Technology Annual Merit Review Underway; Highlights Program Focus on Deployment and Commercialization
February 26, 2008
The US DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office of Vehicle Technology (OVT) is hosting an annual merit review meeting this week in Washington DC for all of its funded research and deployment projects—the first such combined “big tent” review for all active projects.
There will be more emphasis to come on deployment activities to help get the technology out, said James Eberhardt, Chief Scientist for OVT, in his introduction to the meeting. This increasing pressure for deployment is altering the project portfolio composition and is driven primarily by the goal of reducing the consumption of petroleum by 4-6 million barrels per day and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by 50% compared to the projected base case scenario in 2030, said Ed Wall, OVT Program Manager, in his overview.
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Lotus Engineering and Continental Division Powertrain Present Results of “Low CO2” Mild-Hybrid Project
February 23, 2008
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| The Low CO2 concept uses engine downsizing and a mild hybrid drive to reduce CO2 emissions some 15% from a stock version of the same Astra vehicle. |
Lotus Engineering, the automotive consultancy division of Lotus, and Continental Division Powertrain have presented the results of their “Low CO2” research collaboration. The primary objective of the Low CO2 project was to deliver greatly reduced CO2 emissions while maintaining an engaging driving experience from an affordable set of technologies. The solution employs an integrated set of powertrain systems within a downsized overall package.
The Low CO2 vehicle concept is demonstrated in an Opel Astra, and produces 149 g/km CO2—a reduction of 15% against the naturally aspirated 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine version of the same vehicle.
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BMW To Introduce New Diesel Mild Hybrid Concept in Geneva
February 22, 2008
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| The elements of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept. Click to enlarge. |
BMW will introduce the concept BMW Vision EfficientDynamics at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show (6-16 March)—the company’s first combination of a 4-cylinder diesel engine with BMW ActiveHybrid Technology in a large Sports Activity Vehicle.
Based on a BMW X5, the diesel mild hybrid concept delivers average fuel consumption of 6.5 liters per 100 kilometers (36 mpg US) in the EU test cycle and a CO2 emission level of 172 grams per kilometer. Acceleration from 0-100 kph is 8.9 seconds.
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Axion Providing Lead-Acid Ultracapacitor Hybrid Batteries for Demonstration Projects With the US Army and Penn State University
February 21, 2008
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| Ragone plot of the PbC (e3 Supercell) and other storage technologies. Click to enlarge. |
Axion Power International, Inc. is providing “PbC Ultracapacitors” (PbC)—multi-celled asymmetrically supercapacitive lead-acid-carbon hybrid batteries—to the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University for testing in conjunction with the US Army’s Tank and Automobile Command (TACOM). The PbC is a hybrid device that uses the standard lead acid battery positive electrode and a supercapacitor negative electrode that is made of activated carbon. (Earlier post.)
The TACOM project will cover a broad range of established and emerging military vehicle applications including starting, lighting and ignition systems (SLI) for diesel engines that operate in extreme weather conditions; hybrid electric vehicle drive systems; silent watch systems; and other military applications where the lighter weight, higher power, and longer cycle-life of Axion’s PbC Ultracapacitors will improve the performance of existing systems and facilitate the roll out of new systems.
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Bosch Engineering to Assist Scuderi Group in Developing Injection Timing System for Air-Hybrid Engine Prototypes
February 20, 2008
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| Early rendering of the Scuderi air-hybrid showing the compressed air tank attached to the compression cylinders. The engine depicted has two paired combinations of compression and power cylinders. Click to enlarge. |
The Scuderi Group, developer of the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine (earlier post), has engaged Bosch Engineering GmbH to assist in the prototype development of air-hybrid implementations of that engine. Bosch Engineering will apply its expertise to the development of the timing system for the gasoline and diesel prototypes.
Specifically, Bosch will assist the Scuderi Group and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in defining the technical requirements, and supplying component specifications such as for the fuel injection system itself. The team will focus first on the Otto (spark ignition combustion) cycle and then address the diesel cycle.
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