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[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.]
CALSTART Small Hybrid Bus Working Group Selects StarTrans-Azure Dynamics for National Hybrid Bus Deployment
July 09, 2009
| The Azure Dynamics Balance chassis. Click to enlarge. |
CALSTART’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Small Hybrid Bus Working Group members have selected the supplier team of StarTrans-Azure Dynamics for a 16-plus vehicle national hybrid-electric bus procurement.
The vehicles are 23-foot, gasoline-powered hybrid electric cutaway buses using the StarTrans Senator bus body, Ford E450 chassis, and the Azure Dynamics Balance parallel electric hybrid system with the Ford 5.4L engine and the 5-speed automatic TorqShift transmission. The Azure Balance system includes engine-off at idle and at below 20 mph (32 km/h), while electronically supporting key ancillary functions like air conditioning, power steering and braking.
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Piaggio Introduces Plug-in Hybrid Version of MP3 Scooter
July 08, 2009
| The MP3 hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
The Piaggio Group has introduced the MP3 Hybrid, a plug-in hybrid version of its MP3 three-wheeled scooter. With a grid-chargeable Li-ion battery pack, the Piaggio MP3 Hybrid reduces both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50%. The MP3 Hybrid has a Euro 3 emissions rating.
The Piaggio MP3 Hybrid incorporates a parallel hybrid drive in which the 124cc combustion engine and a 2.6 kW, 15N·m synchronous brushless permanent magnet traction motor are mechanically and electronically linked and simultaneously supply power to the wheel. The hybrid powertrain offers combined power of 11 kW (15 hp), with combined torque of 16 Nm (12 lb-ft).
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Reported US Hybrid Sales Up 5.2% Year on Year in June; 3% New Vehicle Market Share for the Month
July 03, 2009
| Hybrid new vehicle market share by month. Click to enlarge. |
Reported sales of hybrids in the US increased 5.2% by volume in June 2009 year-on-year to 26,205 units, representing 3% of new vehicles sold—marking the highest monthly new vehicle share since April 2008, and the fourth straight month of increasing share. For the first half of 2009, hybrids held a 2.6% new vehicle share.
Hybrids significantly outperformed the total light-duty vehicle market, which dropped 27.7% by volume to 859,847 units, according to figures from Autodata. The SAAR (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in June was 9.69 million—lower than May’s 9.91 million.
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Victoria Launches Australia’s First Trial of Hybrid-Electric Buses; Series and Parallel
July 02, 2009
| The Grenda parallel hybrid (top) and the Ventura series hybrid (bottom). Click to enlarge. |
The government of the state of Victoria has launched Australia’s first hybrid-electric bus trial. The A$500,000 trial (US$398,000) in Melbourne, which will involve buses on two outer suburban routes, will assess the viability of both parallel- and series-hybrid buses in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the public transport sector.
The Victorian government partnered with the Commonwealth government to fund the trial, which is being conducted with Grenda Corporation (parallel hybrid) and Ventura Buses (series hybrid).
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£30M Fund for Low Carbon Buses in the UK; New GM-Allison Hybrid Buses in London
The UK Government is establishing a £30 million fund (US$49 million) to encourage the purchase of low carbon emission buses (LCEB). The fund is part of the Department for Transport’s wider strategy to encourage a shift to low carbon transport and improve air quality in UK cities.
A Low Carbon Emission Bus (LCEB) is a bus that is able to achieve the LCEB target for Greenhouse Gas Emissions, which is equivalent to a 30% reduction in its Greenhouse Gas Emissions compared to a current Euro 3 diesel bus of the same total passenger capacity. These buses will all meet the latest air quality standards, delivering at least Euro V EU emission standards.
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Bosch: Electrification is Coming, But Combustion Engines to Dominate for Another 20 Years
July 01, 2009
| In the long run, the large variety of drivetrain concepts will give way to electric drive. Source: Bosch. Click to enlarge. |
While full electric powertrains (battery and fuel cell) will at some point become pervasive in light-duty vehicles, the dominance of the internal-combustion engine will remain unchallenged over the next twenty years, according to Robert Bosch GmbH executives at their annual International Automotive Press Briefing in Boxberg, Germany. This is due in part to important technological challenges to powertrain electrification that must first be overcome and in part to ongoing efficiency improvements in combustion engine technology.
As a supplier, Bosch is active in both areas, said Dr. Bernd Bohr, chairman of the Bosch Automotive Group. Bosch is working hard to get the electric drive of the future readied for large-scale series production, while also doing its utmost to further improve the internal-combustion engine for decades to come, Bohr said. The company is investing €3 billion (US$ 4.25 billion) in R&D in the automotive technology sector in 2009.
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UK TSB Awards £25M to Eight Low-Carbon Vehicle Demonstration Projects; Focus On Electric Vehicles
June 24, 2009
Eight new low carbon vehicle projects will receive a share of £25 million (US$41 million) of funding from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator to run ‘real-life’ trials. The project, which will put 340 vehicles on the road in trials within the next six to eighteen months, will be the biggest of its kind and is intended to accelerate the availability of low carbon cars to consumers.
The majority of the vehicles are electric, with a small number being plug-in gasoline-electric hybrids. The information gained from this project will contribute to the future plans of manufacturers and their partners to develop low carbon vehicles for the mass market.
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ZF and ISE Plan to Collaborate to Supply Electric Hybrid Drive Systems and Components to North American Vehicle Market
June 23, 2009
ZF Friedrichshafen (ZF), a leading manufacturer of vehicle driveline and chassis technology, and ISE Corporation (ISE ), a leading designer and manufacture of series hybrid propulsion systems and components for heavy duty vehicles, plan to collaborate on the development and supply of a complete line of parallel-electric hybrid drive systems and components for the North American vehicle markets.
ZF and ISE have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for an intended Strategic Collaboration and Development Partnership. The combined expertise of the two companies will result in a product portfolio of series and parallel hybrid-electric drive systems and components.
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French Environment Agency Demonstrator Awards €57M to 11 Lower-CO2 Vehicle Projects
June 19, 2009
The French environment agency ADEME is awarding €57 million (US$80 million) via its technology demonstrator to 11 low-carbon vehicle projects selected through an initial call for expressions of interest. The projects include light- and heavy-duty applications, and hybrid or electric powertrains. A second call for expressions of interest for research projects on vehicle decarbonization ends 26 June. Projects selected will be announced in the fall and receive awards totalling €50 million.
The projects selected for the first round of funding are:
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Hyundai Begins Taking Pre-Launch Orders for Elantra LPI Hybrid
June 17, 2009
| Elantra LPI Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea’s largest automaker, has begun taking pre-launch orders for its Elantra LPI Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), its first hybrid vehicle for commercial sale. (Earlier post.)
Hyundai will accept pre-launch orders until 7 July, a day before it officially introduces the car in the Korea domestic market. The car, which is the world’s first hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine, was first unveiled at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April.
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Consortium Seeks Stimulus Funding for DME-Electric Hybrid Buses
June 15, 2009
A consortium is seeking US stimulus funding available through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program to convert 20 hybrid diesel-electric buses to hybrid dimethyl-ether (DME)-electric propulsion.
Among the consortium members is Alternative Fuel Technology, Inc., a developer of fuel injection equipment for DME-fueled vehicles. Volvo Truck Corp. has been using AFT fuel systems in field demonstrations and in laboratory research since 1995, according to the company.
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Ohio State University Takes Top Spot at 2009 EcoCAR Competition with EREV Design
June 13, 2009
University students from The Ohio State University earned top honors at the 2009 finals of the EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge competition in Toronto, Canada for their design of a Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV).
The Ohio State University took first place out of 17 universities in the US and Canada that competed in the first major milestone of this three-year competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy, General Motors, and many others including the Government of Canada. The competition challenges university engineering students across North America to re-engineer a 2009 Saturn VUE to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions while retaining the vehicle’s performance and consumer appeal.
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Design of the Daimler S400 Mild Hybrid System
June 11, 2009
| Hybrid concept for the S 400 hybrid. Source: Daimler. Click to enlarge. |
Daimler’s S400 BlueHYBRID, which goes on sale this month, is the first series production passenger car featuring a traction lithium-ion battery pack. (Earlier post.) At the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference 2009 in Long Beach, Dr. Uwe Wiedemann from Mercedes-Benz Cars/Development, Hybrid Systems & Components, presented an overview of the design of the system and components, with a particular emphasis on managing the small 0.8 kWh Li-ion pack.
The S400 Hybrid uses a parallel mild hybrid system with a small 15 kW e-motor connected to the crankshaft between the motor and transmission, along with a Lithium-ion battery pack for energy storage, power electronics and a complement of electrified auximilary systems. The system offers start/stop functions, regnerative braking and electrical drive support.
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Toyota to Lease 200 PHEVs in Japan Starting at End of 2009, 500 Globally; Gen3 Prius Plus Li-ion Pack
June 03, 2009
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will begin leasing approximately 200 plug-in versions of its third-generation Prius (earlier post) equipped with lithium-ion battery packs in Japan starting at the end of this year. This will be the first time a lithium-ion battery is to be employed in a Toyota vehicle for propulsion.
The leases will be to designated users such as government ministries, local governments and corporations. This brings the initial planned global deployment of early plug-ins—primarily to fleet customers—to approximately 500 units.
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CalMotors Partners With Parker Hannifin on Hybrid and Electric Powertrains
June 02, 2009
| CalMotors, powered by Parker. Click to enlarge. |
CalMotors, makers of high performance hybrid (series and parallel) and electric powertrains, has formed a strategic alliance with Parker Hannifin Corporation to produce fully integrated powertrain solutions for the automotive and marine industries. Parker can provide motors, inverters, systems design and manufacturing.
In addition to developing fully integrated powertrains, CalMotors has also designed, engineered, fabricated and tested several advanced technology vehicles for military, commercial, and consumer applications. Ruf engaged CalMotors to combine the lithium-ion batteries with the motor for its electric Porsche, as an example. (Earlier post.)
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Volvo Cars and Vattenfall to Develop New Plug-in Diesel-Electric Hybrids; Three V70 PHEV Demonstrators on the Road This Summer
June 01, 2009
Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Volvo Car Corporation are launching an industrial joint venture partnership to introduce plug-in hybrids on the market by 2012. In January 2007, Volvo and Vattenfall launched a joint project with the aim of testing and developing plug-in technology. (Earlier post.) They are now extending that cooperation.
The development of the cars is being carried out and financed jointly by the two companies. The Volvo Car Corporation will manufacture the cars and Vattenfall will develop charging systems and supply the cars with electricity.
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Vehicle Electrification a Key Strategic Initiative for Magna; Steady Increases in Capabilities and Technology Portfolio Over Past Few Years
May 30, 2009
Canada-based international auto supplier and contract assembler Magna International, now with a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of Opel from General Motors (earlier post), sees vehicle electrification as one of its key strategic initiatives. Accordingly, it has been steadily increasing its capabilities with hybrid and electric vehicle technologies over the past several years.
At Magna’s Annual General Meeting, held earlier this month, Magna Co-Chief Executive Officer Siegfried Wolf noted that Magna has the capability to develop and produce many of the key components that are new and unique to electric vehicles. A key competitive advantage for the company, he said, is its “ability to integrate these new technologies into the complete vehicle and to develop complete vehicle concepts for pure electric mobility.”
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New York City Department of Sanitation Testing Four Different Hybrid Trucks
May 29, 2009
The New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) will be testing in daily operation three different types of hybrid refuse collection trucks and a hybrid rack truck. The trucks were unveiled at the Parks & Recreation Department’s 21st Annual Vehicle & Equipment Show in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens.
The vehicles under evaluation include a parallel hybrid electric diesel collector from Mack Trucks (a Volvo Group subsidiary); a series-hybrid and an hydraulic parallel hybrid collector (earlier post) from Crane Carrier; and the Kenworth T370 diesel-electric hybrid (for the rack truck).
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Chrysler LLC Requests $224M from DOE for the Rapid Development and Manufacturing of Electrified Vehicles; Total Investment of $448M
May 26, 2009
| A prototype electric minivan for the USPS. Click to enlarge. |
Chrysler LLC has submitted three proposals representing a request for $224 million in funding to two US Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives: the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative and the Transportation Electrification Initiative. With a 50/50 cost share, the total investment represented by the proposals is $448 million. Proposed vehicles covered under the submission include Dodge Ram 1500 Plug-in Hybrid-electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Chrysler Town & Country PHEVs and Chrysler Town & Country Electric Vehicles (EVs).
If approved, Chrysler LLC plans to use funds to build a demonstration fleet of the plug-in hybrid (PHEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs), as well as create a new-vehicle electrification technology and manufacturing center located in Michigan. The proposal will enable the production of commercially viable products in a shorter time frame.
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California-to-Canada Road Tour is Finale for Daimler’s A-Class F-CELL; B-Class F-CELL Due to Customers by End of 2009
| A cutaway model of the future B-Class F-CELL. Click to enlarge. |
Daimler’s A-Class F-CELL hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle will cap five years of road trials in the US with its participation in the California to Canada Hydrogen Road Tour 09 (earlier post). The recently converted A-Class F-CELL “plus” with 700 bar technology will participate in the tour along with hydrogen-powered vehicles from other automakers. The new 700 bar technology extends the range in the current vehicle generation by about 70%.
A fleet of 30 A-Class F-CELL vehicles has been in daily use on public roads in the US since 2004. The program includes fleet and infrastructure trials supported by the states of California and Michigan. After the tour, the A-Class F-CELL will be replaced by Daimler’s next generation of fuel cell vehicles: the B-Class F-CELL (earlier post), Daimler’s first fuel cell vehicle produced in a small volume series, but under full series development processes.
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid Street Sweeper Debuts in Basel; Up to 40% WTW CO2 Reduction Compared to Diesel
May 25, 2009
| The Bucher CityCat H2 hydrogen street sweeper. Click to enlarge. |
Basel, Switzerland is testing the world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell street sweeper, developed by a Swiss research consortium led by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) and the Paul Scherrer Institute.
EMPA computer simulations showed that the fuel cell system could halve the tank-to-wheels energy consumption of the street sweeper compared to a conventional diesel engine. This enables a full well-to-wheels reduction of CO2 emissions of around 40%—even with conventional hydrogen production from natural gas—compared to the diesel system.
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Concept: Downsized and Supercharged Hybrid Pneumatic Engine for 30%+ Reduction in Fuel Consumption
May 23, 2009
| Schematic of downsized and supercharged four-stroke hybrid pneumatic spark injection engine. Source: ETH Zürich. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at ETH Zürich, with partners Robert Bosch GmbH, Wenko Swissauto and the Swiss Federal Office of Energy are developing a downsized and supercharged hybrid pneumatic engine that they say can deliver a fuel consumption reduction of more than 30% compared to a standard engine with the same rated power. (Earlier post.)
The reduction in fuel consumption is obtained mainly through enabling the effective use of a heavily downsized engine, rather than from regenerative efficiency. The injection of the additional air during transients can overcome the poor driveability usually associated with heavily downsized and supercharged engines, the team notes.
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Controlled Power Introduces 12V Belt-Driven Integrated Starter Generator for Cars with Diesels
May 20, 2009
| Left: The SpeedStart B-ISG. Right: Installation in Volvo demonstrator with INA damper. Source: CPT. Click to enlarge. |
Controlled Power Technologies has developed the first belt-driven Integrated Starter Generator (B-ISG) to use a conventional 12-volt vehicle electrical system with the high power output necessary to provide excellent stop-start functionality on the majority of European cars equipped with diesel as well as gasoline engines.
The CPT SpeedStart B-ISG system can deliver up to a 5% reduction in CO2 emissions over the New European Drive Cycle when integrated into a modern powertrain, with the potential for even greater savings in real world urban driving situations.
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A123Systems’ Prismatic Cell Lineup: Up to 5,300 W/kg in High Power Cell, 20 Ah Cell for PHEVs
May 19, 2009
| A123Systems scalable prismatic module is reconfigurable for applications ranging from 1 kWh to more than 100 kWh. Source: A123Systems. Click to enlarge. |
At the Department of Energy (DOE) Annual Merit Review for the Hydrogen and Vehicle Technologies Programs, A123Systems co-founder Ric Fulop described the progress the company has made with two DOE-funded projects, one on high-power hybrid batteries, the other on plug-in hybrid battery development.
A123Systems, which began by manufacturing cylindrical format cells, is developing a portfolio of prismatic automotive cells funded through two USABC 50:50 cost share programs. The emerging prismatic lineup includes a 20Ah energy cell for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, with a targeted start of production (SOP) of 2009/2010; and 4Ah, 6Ah and 8Ah power cells for hybrids, with vehicle SOP of 2011/2012.
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Hitachi Develops Fourth-Generation, High Power Automotive Lithium-Ion Battery with 4,500 W/kg; Sampling to Start in the Fall
| The fourth-generation power cell. Click to enlarge. |
Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd., which develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications, have developed a lithium-ion battery having a power density of 4,500 W/kg—1.7 times the output of the company’s current generation of mass-produced, automotive lithium-ion batteries. (Earlier post.)
Sampling of the new battery by domestic and overseas car manufacturers will start in the fall.
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GM Quantifies CO2 and Fuel Consumption Reductions Via E-REVs And PHEVs, As Compared To “Conventional” Hybrids
May 16, 2009
by Jack Rosebro
| Energy sources, paths, storage media, and propulsion systems available or in development. “FCEV” refers to all fuel cell vehicles, including E-REVs and fuel cell hybrids. Adapted from Tate et al. (2009). Click to enlarge. |
General Motors has released a white paper that evaluates the CO2 reduction potential of extended-range electric vehicles (E-REVs) as well as plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), in combination with multiple vehicle charging scenarios, as compared to conventional hybrids. The paper was presented by authors Ed Tate and Peter Savagian at last month’s SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit.
In the paper, the GM team broke down CO2 and fuel consumption reduction potentials into several categories:
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ARB Staff Publishes Revised, Tiered Requirements for PHEV Conversions
May 15, 2009
The California Air Resources Board staff has published a supplemental report on revised requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle conversion systems certification and installation.
In January, ARB staff presented certification test procedures for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) along with certification procedures for aftermarket PHEV conversion systems. The Board approved the exhaust and evaporative emissions test procedures as well as a new method for determining the range of fuel cell vehicles, but deferred a decision on the proposal for certification and warranty requirements for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. (Earlier post.)
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Argonne Lifecycle Analysis Calculates WTW Petroleum Energy Use and GHG Emissions for PHEVs Fueled With Petroleum, E85 and Hydrogen
May 14, 2009
| Summary of WTW petroleum energy use and GHG emissions for combined CD and CS operations relative to baseline gasoline ICEV. Single markers indicate conventional hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have published results of a well-to-wheels (WTW) lifecycle analysis of petroleum energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles employing gasoline, diesel, E85 and hydrogen (fuel cell) fuels, with an all-electric range between 10 to 40 miles.
Compared to an internal combustion vehicle fueled with gasoline, PHEVs that employed petroleum fuels (gasoline and diesel) offered a 40-60% reduction in petroleum energy use and a 30-60% reduction in GHG emissions. PHEVs fueled by E85 offered a 70-90% reduction in petroleum energy use and a 40-80% reduction in GHG emissions. PHEVs equipped with hydrogen fuel cells offered a more than 90% reduction in petroleum energy use and a 10-100% reduction in GHG emissions.
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Optimized Series Hybrid-Electric System Delivers Best Fuel Consumption Results Yet for Double Deck Vehicle
| The Gemini 2 HEV. Click to enlarge. |
In a recent independent test cycle at the Millbrook Proving Ground in the UK, a Wrightbus Gemini 2 HEV achieved the best results for fuel consumption and CO2 emissions ever recorded from a double deck vehicle: 10 mpg UK (8.3 mpg US, 28 L/100km).
The test was part of the Wrightbus Product Development team’s collaboration with Queens University Belfast and key component suppliers including Siemens, Valence Technology and Ford. The series hybrid-electric drive system also uses an optimized engine management program developed by Revolve Technologies. Revolve Technologies was formerly the UK-based Roush Technologies Limited. An investor group acquired Roush Technologies from its US parent late in 2007, and changed the name to Revolve in December 2008.
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Toyota to Lease More Than 150 Experimental Li-Ion PHEVs in Europe
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) will lease more than 150 units of its experimental Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) to selected fleet customers across Europe as a next step towards commercialization. Toyota says it will deploy more than 500 new PHVs in global trials—including in Europe, Japan and the US—by 2010.
France will be the first country to participate in the three-year European pilot, with discussions ongoing in the UK, Germany and the Netherlands. Based on Toyota’s full hybrid technology, the new PHV will come equipped with a lithium-ion battery, extending the vehicle’s range in electric vehicle mode. The first wave of PHVs will reach Strasbourg in late 2009.
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Proton Motor Previews “Triple-Hybrid” Electric Drive Passenger Bus
May 13, 2009
Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, a subsidiary of Proton Power Systems plc, a designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, has previewed the first passenger bus using the company’s “triple-hybrid” fuel cell system. The presentation took place in Puchheim, near Munich on 8 May, with an official unveiling and handover to take place this summer in Prague.
The new vehicle is the product of a cooperation agreement between Skoda Electric, UJV Nuclear Research Institute Rez plc and Proton Motor. As a manufacturer of trolley buses and electric-powered rail vehicles, Skoda Electric was responsible for the vehicle, including its electric drive system and system integration. The project was coordinated by UJV, a leading research institution in the Czech Republic. Proton Motor supplied the propulsion system.
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GE to Open Sodium-Metal Halide Battery Plant in New York
May 12, 2009
| GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt shows a sodium-metal halide battery cell at the press conference announcing the battery plant. Click to enlarge. |
GE will open a new battery manufacturing plant in Upstate New York that will serve as the main manufacturing facility for GE’s newly launched battery business. The battery business will be a part of GE Transportation and will serve customers in the rail, marine, mining, telecommunications and utility sectors.
GE says the planned facility will produce approximately 10 million sodium-metal halide cells each year—equivalent to 900 MWh of energy storage, or enough to support 1,000 GE hybrid locomotives. The first application will be GE’s hybrid locomotive, which will be commercialized in 2010. (Earlier post.)
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Sentience Project Intelligent Automotive Air Conditioning Control System Delivers Fuel Savings in Excess of 9% in Urban Cycle
May 11, 2009
| The Sentience project vehicle. Click to enlarge. |
Testing of an intelligent air conditioning control system integrated with a hybrid powertrain as part of the UK’s Sentience project (earlier post)—showed that, under conditions representative of UK summer weather, the new system consistently delivers fuel savings in excess of 9% over the urban portion of the NEDC drive cycle.
Sentience is a research collaboration led by Ricardo, and also involves Jaguar-Land Rover, TRL (Transport Research Laboratory), Ordnance Survey and Orange Business Services, with part-funding provided by innovITS, the UK center of excellence for intelligent transport systems and sustainable mobility.
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Insight Becomes First Hybrid Vehicle to Rank as Best-Selling Vehicle in Japan
| Insight sales in Japan from launch. Click to enlarge. |
Honda’s Insight (earlier post) ranked as the best-selling car among all new vehicle registrations in Japan in April—excluding mini-vehicles with displacement of less than 660cc—with sales of 10,481 units, according to data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association.
This marks the first time a hybrid model has been the best selling vehicle in Japan for any monthly sales period.
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GM Previews First Two-Mode, Front-Wheel-Drive Hybrid Transaxle
May 09, 2009
by Jack Rosebro
| General Motors 2MT70 FWD two-mode hybrid transaxle, as seen from engine side. Click to enlarge. |
At the recent SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit, General Motors engineers presented the first front-wheel-drive (FWD) iteration of their two-mode hybrid transaxle, termed the 2MT70 (earlier post), scheduled for its first application in the Saturn 2009 VUE 2-Mode Hybrid light sport-utility vehicle later this year (earlier post).
The two-mode design, itself originally adapted from a hybrid transmission designed by Allison for transit buses, has up to now been exclusively incorporated into rear-wheel-drive (RWD) transmissions with the intent of reducing the fuel consumption of heavier and larger passenger trucks and SUVs while preserving towing capacities.
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Next-Generation Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid Debuts in June
| The new Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid bus will have its world premiere from 7-11 June at the UITP Congress in Vienna (the World Congress of the International Association of Public Transport). (Earlier post.) This fuel cell hybrid bus is the first representative of the new generation of fuel cell models from Daimler Buses.
Daimler said that the Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid is the next logical step on the path to zero-emission public transport which the company had already announced it would take, and thus represents an important element in the development of the mobility solutions of the future.
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$26.4B DOE FY 2010 Budget Request Cuts Funding for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles; With Recovery Act Funding Boosts Support for PHEVs, Biomass and Biorefineries
May 07, 2009
| The budget picture for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. FY 2010 Budget requests are in green, the FY 2009 additional appropriation (Recovery Act funding) is in red. Electrification of transportation is receiving a major infusion of investment. Click to enlarge. |
President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 $26.4 billion budget request to Congress for the Department of Energy increases investments in a number of areas, including investments in basic science and plug-in and hybrid electric vehicles and biofuels. It also scales back in areas such as oil and gas company research and moves away from funding vehicular hydrogen fuel cells to technologies “with more immediate promise,” according to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
The budget request represents a 21.8% decrease against the FY 2009 Appropriation of $33.7 billion for DOE. However, the FY 2010 budget complements the $38.7 billion the Department of Energy will invest as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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ZF and Continental Partner on Commercial Vehicle Hybrid Drives
| Continental battery pack for commercial vehicles. Click to enlarge. |
ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Continental finalized a strategic alliance to develop and produce hybrid drives for commercial vehicles. The two companies had earlier agreed to jointly develop and marketing hybrid vehicle technology for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2005. (Earlier post.)
ZF, as the systems supplier, will be in charge of the system integration for the hybrid system which comprises a parallel hybrid transmission by ZF (including transmission, electric motor, and power electronics), and a lithium-ion battery pack and system electronics by Continental.
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US Hybrid Sales Down 45.5% in April
May 04, 2009
| Monthly US sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
Reported sales of hybrids in the US reported by Toyota, Honda, Ford, GM and Nissan dropped 45.5% year-on-year in April to 21,735, despite full month sales for the new Honda Insight and the Ford Fusion and Milan hybrids. Total LDV sales in the US were down 34.4%. (Earlier post.)
The reported sales represented a 2.65% hybrid new vehicle market share (based on Autodata’s total LDV sales figure)—the highest monthly new vehicle share for hybrids so far this year, but below the 3.2% high mark in April 2008. Year-to-date in 2009, hybrids are holding a 2.4% new vehicle market share.
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Ford Conducts Design of Experiment Investigating Thermoelectric Energy Regeneration
by Jack Rosebro
| Conceptual schematic of direct thermoelectric generator mounted in a vehicle’s exhaust stream. Indirect configurations are also possible. Adapted from Hussain et al. Click to enlarge. |
At SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit last month, Ford Motor Company presented a research paper that detailed the results of an initial investigation, termed a Design of Experiment, into thermoelectric exhaust heat energy recovery in conjunction with a hybrid powertrain.
The investigation, conducted by Ford engineers Quazi Hussain, Clay Maranville, and David Brigham, used computer modeling to predict the performance of TE devices of various physical configurations, using average highway-speed exhaust gas flows and temperatures of a 2.5L engine with an Atkinson-cycle engine, as used in Ford’s Escape hybrid SUV.
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Automotive Market Research Perspectives on Selling “Green” in a Try-to-Survive Market
May 02, 2009
by Bill Cooke
In a panel session entitled “Does Green Matter in a Try-to-Survive Market?” at the ATX-Consulting4Drive Executive Business Theater at the SAE 2009 World Congress, executives from two global automotive market research groups—Alexander Edwards, President of Strategic Vision’s Automotive Division and Scott Miller, CEO, Synovate Motoresearch—shared their data and resultant views on green consumers and green autos.
How big is the green market? Strategic Vision shared data that only a small portion of consumers in the US are “truly green”, which means the customer is willing to pay significantly more for a green vehicle. Even globally the number is relatively small:
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US LDV Sales Down 34.4% in April; Hybrid Sales Down 45.5%
May 01, 2009
| US LDV SAAR. Click to enlarge. |
Reported US sales of light-duty vehicles in April dropped 34.4% year-on-year to 819,540 units, according to figures from Autodata. Sales of passenger cars dropped 34.2% to 432,939 units, while sales of light trucks dropped 34.5% to 386,601 units. April 2008 and April 2008 both had 26 selling days.
The Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) in April dropped to 9.32 million units, down from a 14.52 million SAAR in April 2008.
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Study Finds UK Power Infrastructure Has Capacity for Significant Rise in Use of EVs and PHEVs
April 30, 2009
According to the results of simulation studies by a consortium including Ricardo, Jaguar-Land Rover, E.ON and Amberjac Projects, a substantial medium-term rise in the number of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would have a much lower impact on the UK national power grid than has previously been estimated.
The research study has been carried out by the consortium as part of the Range Extended Hybrid Electric Vehicle (REHEV) project, which is led by Jaguar-Land Rover and part-funded by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board.
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Magneti Marelli and Flybrid Systems Collaborate on “Flywheel Capacitor” for KERS
Italian motorsport electronics specialist Magneti Marelli and UK high-speed flywheel specialist Flybrid Systems are collaborating to develop a new energy storage solution for Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS). The new product is targeted to be a high-power electrical storage system for hybrid racing cars capable of deep depths of discharge with no performance degradation and a long service life.
The new product—named the Flywheel Capacitor—consists of a high-speed carbon fiber flywheel incorporating Flybrid technology connected to a high-speed electric motor generator using technology from Magneti Marelli, all managed by Magneti Marelli’s control electronics.
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UK Collaboration Develops Plug-in Hybrid Retrofit for Conventional Vehicles
| Battery pack state of charge vs. distance for the ADDZEV vehicle under all-electric power on the UDDC cycle. Source: Cranfield. Click to enlarge. |
A collaboration led by the UK’s Cranfield University has developed a retrofit plug-in hybrid conversion system for a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle. The Affordable Add-on Zero Emissions Vehicle (ADDZEV) technology demonstrates how it may be possible to convert segment of the existing the UK vehicle fleet into plug-in hybrid vehicles using a through-the-road approach. (Earlier post.)
Developed to reduce the carbon emissions of inner-city driving, the ADDZEV system was developed using a standard Vauxhall Combo van. The development team retained the existing conventional front-wheel-drive system of the Combo but added an electric drive, powered via low-cost valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries, to the rear wheels.
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HyHIL: New Test Platform for the Development of Hybrid Vehicles
April 27, 2009
The HyHIL virtual hybrid test platform is now up and running. (Earlier post.) Upon completion in 2010, the HyHIL platform is expected to significantly reduce the time required for the design and development stage of a new hybrid architecture.
Launched in 2008 by D2T in partnership with IFP, Renault, the Laboratoire de Génie électrique de Grenoble (G2ELAB) and LMS-Imagine, and supported by the Mov'eo competitiveness cluster and FUI Fund, HyHIL uses a suite of generic tools to reproduce and assess the complex architectures of hybrid vehicles.
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Israeli Microturbine-Based Range-Extended Electric Vehicle Startup Lands $12M Series A Round
April 25, 2009
| Drawing of the proposed advanced microturbine. Source: ETVM Click to enlarge. |
ETV Motors Ltd. (ETVM), an Israeli start-up developing a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) technology combining a novel dual-power micro-turbine and a new high-voltage lithium-ion battery chemistry, has closed a US$12-million Series A investment round. The round was led by The Quercus Trust of Newport Beach, California. New York-based 21Ventures LLC co-invested.
The investment enables ETVM to move ahead with a multi-year research and development program in which it is partnering with universities and development organizations.
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FEV Showcased Partner and Internal Advanced Hybrid Development Projects at SAE World Congress; Demonstrations of Capability
April 24, 2009
| California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped by the FEV booth to see the H3 ReEV after his remarks at the SAE 2009 World Congress opening ceremony. Click to enlarge. |
At SAE 2009 World Congress, FEV showcased two advanced hybrid development projects it undertook with partners—the range-extended electric vehicle (ReEV) HUMMER H3 done in cooperation with Raser and a heavy-duty series hydraulic hybrid yard hostler done in partnership with EPA—as well as two internal hybrid development projects: a Dodge Caliber-based range-extended electric vehicle, and a small Wankel-based 18 kWe APU that could, for example, also be used as the genset in the Caliber.
FEV, a powertrain and engineering company, works closely with OEMs on a variety of projects—many of which it has to keep confidential. That can make it a bit tough to drum up new business, said David Gian, FEV Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integration “when your prospective customer asks ‘What have you done?’ and you have to say ‘I can’t tell you.’” With its ongoing push to be fully capable in transmission and driveline design, development, and testing, FEV decided to produce a couple of demonstrations of capability (the Caliber and the Wankel APU) that prospects could see and drive.
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Maxwell Technologies Lands $13.5M Order for Ultracapacitor Modules for Hybrid Buses in China
| Maxwell BMOD0165 P048 module. Click to enlarge. |
Maxwell Technologies Inc. has received purchase orders with a total value of approximately US$13.5 million from three of China’s leading transit bus producers for BOOSTCAP ultracapacitor modules to support braking energy recuperation and torque assist functions in diesel-electric hybrid transit buses.
David Schramm, Maxwell’s president and chief executive officer, said that deliveries of the company’s 48-volt BMOD0165 P048 modules, which are assembled by one of its contract manufacturers in China, already have begun and will continue through the balance of the year.
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SAE Hybrid Standards Committee: Works In Progress For 2009
April 23, 2009
by Jack Rosebro
| Active standards work. Click to enlarge. |
During the SAE 2009 World Congress in Detroit, Gary Kissel of General Motors presented an update of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicle standards being revised or developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Hybrid Standards Committee.
Many of these are scheduled for completion this year. SAE standards are generally followed by manufacturers of vehicles destined for North America and other markets. Standards under development in these areas include:
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Toyota Prices the 2010 Prius for the US Starting at $21,000
April 21, 2009
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc., announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) today for the all-new 2010 Prius midsize hybrid (earlier post), scheduled to go on sale beginning in late May at Toyota dealers nationwide. The third-generation Prius will be available in one grade with a starting MSRP of $21,000. The Prius will be offered with five levels of standard equipment combinations, ranging up to a top-end MSRP of $27,270.
The MSRPs for the Honda Insight, which Toyota considers a prime competitor for the new Prius, range from $19,800-$23,100.
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Buick Mild Hybrid Business Concept Vehicle Unveiled in Shanghai
| The Buick Business Concept Vehicle. Click to enlarge. |
The Buick Business Concept, a new mild hybrid concept vehicle designed to showcase Buick’s future vision of “business class on the road,” made its global debut at Auto Shanghai 2009.
The multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) was developed in China by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), a design and engineering joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), with global design input.
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Adura’s MESA Electric Powertrain Combines Controls, Switched Reluctance Traction Motor and MicroTurbine
April 20, 2009
| Components of the Adura MESA powertrain. Click to enlarge. |
Adura Systems, Inc. unveiled its new MESA (Modular, Electronic, Scalable Architecture) electric powertrain for use in series hybrid, all electric and fuel cell mass transportation buses, large utility vehicles and other automotives.
Adura’s MESA powertrain features patent-pending, highly modular systems electronics, an innovative intelligent control software platform and the industry’s first scalable, field installable energy storage system that can be configured, depending upon users’ requirements, to provide 25, 50 miles or 100 miles of initial travel in pure electric mode with subsequent travel in hybrid mode.
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FEV, Inc. to Unveil Dodge Caliber-Based Range Extended Electric Concept Vehicle at SAE World Congress
April 14, 2009
| A conventional MY 2009 Dodge Caliber. Click to enlarge. |
FEV, Inc. will unveil a Dodge Caliber-based range extended electric concept vehicle (ReEV) powered by a UQM propulsion system and generator at the 2009 SAE World Congress next week. The range extended electric vehicle with plug-in capability was developed by FEV to demonstrate the company’s full spectrum of capabilities in hybrid engineering.
The ReEV propulsion system employs a 1.0L, 3-cylinder, 4-valve engine that is mated to a UQM PowerPhase 75 generator that provides 41 kW of continuous power in extended-range mode, with a peak power of 75 kW. The energy storage system consists of a 20 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack that operates at 346V, with a Delphi DC/DC converter. A UQM PowerPhase 125 traction motor powers the wheels.
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European Investment Bank Approves €866M in Loans for Cleaner Cars; Majority to Nissan and Jaguar
April 12, 2009
The European Investment Bank Board of Directors last week approved loans worth a total of €866 million (US$1.14 billion) to European-based car makers to help design and build cleaner cars with lower CO2 emissions. The loans include €400 million to Nissan’s European operations to develop and build more fuel-efficient vehicles in the United Kingdom and Spain, and €366 million to Jaguar Land Rover to help cut vehicle emissions.
Autocar reported that Jaguar will use the EIB funding to build an extended range electric vehicle based on the next-generation XJ. In May 2008, Jaguar Land Rover received funding from the UK government in support of the development of a number of clean vehicle projects through partnerships with suppliers, government agencies, and universities. These included the extended range electric vehicle; a flywheel hybrid system for premium vehicles; “Limo-Green” and other lightweighting and lower-emitting powertrain projects. (Earlier post.)
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Hyundai Nuvis Concept Powered by Hybrid Blue Drive Architecture
April 10, 2009
| The Hyundai Nuvis. Click to enlarge. |
Hyundai introduced its Nuvis concept crossover vehicle at the New York International Auto Show. The Nuvis, which Hyundai said hints at future-generation crossover design that blends attributes of a tall urban car and a premium utility vehicle, is powered by Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive architecture, with lithium polymer battery technology from LG Chem. (Earlier post.)
Hyundai’s proprietary parallel hybrid drive system mates the 2.4-liter Theta II gasoline engine to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 30 kW (205 Nm) electric motor. Hybrid Blue Drive has an all-electric mode and a parallel drive mode. This parallel hybrid drive architecture will serve as the foundation for future Hyundai hybrid drive vehicles, starting with the next-generation Sonata in the United States. (Earlier post.)
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Study Finds That CO2 Standards for Vehicles Can Reduce Price of Oil
| Car fleet composition in the EU under the different scenarios. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by the French institute Enerdata, commissioned by the European Federation for Transport & Environment (T&E), suggests that the European CO2 standards for new vehicles due to come into effect in 2012 will lead not only to a European savings on oil (mainly via lower oil import volumes) but also to slightly lower global oil prices. Enerdata concluded that a 0.9% reduction in global oil consumption results in a drop in global oil prices of 1.2%.
Most analyses of the economic assessments of energy efficiency measures normally use fixed oil prices when accounting for economic benefits. By working out that the price of oil will fall when the EU’s regulations fully take effect, the study suggests that the European economic benefits of fuel efficiency have been underestimated, in general by up to 17%, according to T&E.
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Azure Dynamics and Collins Bus Partner for Hybrid Electric Type A School Buses
April 09, 2009
| The Azure Balance hybrid architecture. System shown is representative of strip van and cutaway vehicle. The Electric Power Assist System (EPAS) is located behind the tailpipe on the shuttle bus chassis. Click to enlarge. |
Azure Dynamics Corporation has entered an exclusive agreement with Collins Bus Corporation of South Hutchinson, Kansas, the largest manufacturer of small school buses in North America .The new partnership will allow Collins to offer Azure’s proprietary Balance Hybrid Electric drivetrain as an option on Type A school buses built on Ford’s E-450 chassis. Type A school buses can typically transport between 14 and 30 passengers.
Working in collaboration with Ford Motor Company, Azure Dynamics developed the Balance parallel hybrid electric drive system for Ford’s E-450 Cutaway and Strip Chassis. The system combines a 100 kW AC induction traction motor, power electronics and 288 V NiMH battery pack with the conventional 5.4-liter Triton gasoline engine and 5-speed automatic Torqshift transmission.
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Mercedes-Benz Introduces Two-Mode Hybrid ML450 SUV at New York Auto Show
April 08, 2009
| The two-mode ML 450 HYBRID. Click to enlarge. |
Mercedes-Benz staged the world premiere of the ML 450 HYBRID at the 2009 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) (earlier post). Fuel consumption and emissions from the ML 450 HYBRID are up to 60% less than a conventional eight-cylinder SUV with permanent all-wheel drive.
The two-mode hybrid technology in the ML 450 HYBRID is derived from the fundamental work undertaken by the Global Hybrid Cooperation, which brought together research and development work undertaken by Daimler AG, BMW Group, General Motors and Chrysler. The ML 450 HYBRID was specifically developed for the North American market.
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McKinsey Report Finds 47% Reduction in Global Automotive Emissions Feasible by 2030; Timely Action By All Stakeholders Required
April 06, 2009
| Global passenger vehicle CO2 emissions and abatement potential under three primary scenarios. Source: McKinsey. Click to enlarge. |
A new study by management consultants McKinsey & Company estimates that an integrated approach to carbon abatement in the automotive sector, much of it using proven technologies, could reduce global passenger vehicle greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 by 47% (2.2 gigatons) relative to a ‘do nothing’ scenario, even in the context of ongoing growth in the global vehicle parc.
Without action, carbon emissions from the use of passenger vehicles are projected to increase by 54% (1.8 gigatons) between 2006 and 2030, fueled by a growing number of cars on the road (from 730 million to 1.3 billion).
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US Hybrid Sales in March 2009 Down 44% Year-on-Year; Monthly New Vehicle Market Share of 2.5%
April 03, 2009
| Reported US sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
US sales of hybrids in March 2009 as reported by the automakers dropped 44% by volume year-on-year to 21,433 units; that performance was worse than the total light duty vehicle market, which posted a 36.8% drop by volume for the month compared to March 2008, based on total sales figures from Autodata (earlier post).
Those results represented a 2.5% new vehicle market share for hybrids in March—down from 2.82% in March 2008, but the highest mark so far in 2009. The month also saw the debut of three new hybrids—the Honda Insight and the Ford Fusion and Milan—all of which only came on sale toward the end of the month.
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New Indiana-Based Cleantech Research Partnership; First Activities in Heavy Hybrids and Plug-ins
April 02, 2009
A new Indiana-based cleantech partnership—The Energy Systems Network (ESN)—launched on Tuesday. The ESN brings together private firms, research institutions and public agencies focused on bringing new energy technologies to market through leveraging Indiana’s manufacturing sector and R&D capabilities. ESN will provide project development and coordination for joint ventures and cooperative partnerships between network members.
Private and institutional investors have already pledged nearly $1.5 million to support the ESN’s activities over the next two years.
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GM, Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte Enter New R&D Agreement; Diesel Hybrids a Priority
March 30, 2009
GM, Politecnico di Torino and Regione Piemonte, have entered into a framework agreement on the development of sustainable mobility, research and education projects in the Turin, Italy region. The announcement was made at the GM Symposium Diesel Fuels the Future.
The resulting Accordo di Programma will form the Institute of Automotive Research and Education which will drive new R&D projects in Piemonte. The goal of the Institute would be to develop and deliver world-class research and education with a strategic focus on future alternative powertrains which have the potential to reinvent the automobile for the 21st century.
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Mazda Begins Commercial Leasing of Hybrid Rotary Hydrogen Vehicle
March 25, 2009
| Transparent view of Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid. Battery pack and hydrogen tank are at the rear. Click to enlarge. |
Mazda Motor Corporation has begun commenced commercial leasing of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid (earlier post), a hydrogen hybrid vehicle that offers substantially improved performance due to the addition of a hybrid system. Mazda is the first automobile manufacturer to begin commercial leasing of a hydrogen hybrid vehicle; the first units will be delivered to local government authorities and energy-related companies during 2009.
The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid features a series-hybrid drivetrain, which combines Mazda’s hydrogen rotary engine with an electric motor. The engine output is converted to electricity, which then powers the motor that drives the wheels.
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GM Provides Glimpse of Battery Strategy and Approach for the Future with Briefing on Gen 1 Volt Pack; Work on Gen 2 and Gen 3 Packs Already Underway, With a Focus on Cost
March 21, 2009
by Mike Millikin and Jack Rosebro
| The Gen 1 Volt 16 kWh pack, comprising more than 200 cells grouped into modules. GM is defining a “reuse” strategy for cells, packs and modules within its future vehicle line-up. Click to enlarge. |
Three key General Motors executives involved with the Chevrolet Volt this week held a media briefing on the state of GM’s battery pack strategy for the Chevrolet Volt and its current Gen 1 pack as well as subsequent generations (Gen 2 and Gen 3) of battery packs destined for the underlying Voltec platform. They also delivered an update on the progress of the Volt’s development cycle.
Executive Director of Global Engineering–Hybrids, Electric Vehicles, and Batteries Robert Kruse, Volt Vehicle Chief Engineer Andrew Farah, and Director of Global Battery Systems Engineering Denise Gray took turns describing work completed so far as well as next steps for the project.
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FTA Report on Worldwide H2 Bus Demonstrations Finds Better Than Expected Performance and Strong Customer Acceptance; Challenges Remain
March 20, 2009
The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has published a report summarizing interviews with participants in the hydrogen-powered buses trials underway in more than 20 cities around the world from 2002 to 2007. These included buses powered by fuel cells or hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines, as well as a variety of fueling and related technologies.
The report gathers insights from demonstration participants at transit agencies in the United States, Europe, China, Japan and Australia, analyzes lessons learned, identifies key remaining challenges, and suggests potential roles for government in supporting commercialization. Among the findings were that the performance of the fuel cell stacks exceeded expectations, but the batteries and supporting components experienced significant challenges.
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AT&T to Deploy More Than 15,000 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in Fleet Over Next 10 Years
March 11, 2009
AT&T plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids.
AT&’s investment represents the largest US corporate commitment to CNG vehicles to date. The new deployments will bring AT&T’s alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2019.
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US Hybrid Sales in February Drop 29%; Lower Decline Than General LDV Market
March 05, 2009
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| Reported sales of hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
Reported sales of light-duty hybrids in the US dropped 29% by volume in February year-on-year to 16,020 units. The decline in hybrids was less than the 41% decline in the overall light-duty vehicle market for the month. New hybrid sales represented 2.3% of the new vehicle market, essentially flat with the January 2009 results. In February 2008, hybrids held 1.9% of the new vehicle sales for the month.
Toyota. Toyota posted 7,232 units of the Prius, down 33.6% by volume year-on-year. Camry Hybrid sold 2,080 units, down 49.5% from the year before, and representing 10.1% of all Camry models sold. Sales of the non-hybrid Camry dropped 39.8% to 18,554 units. The Highlander Hybrid sold 956 units, down 50.7%, representing 19.1% of all Highlander models sold. Sales of the non-hybrid Highlander dropped 54.1% to 4052 units.
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Infiniti Europe Introduces High-Performance Luxury Gasoline Hybrid Concept at Geneva
March 03, 2009
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| The Infiniti Essence concept hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Infiniti Europe unveiled the Infiniti Essence concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. The front-engined, rear-wheel drive, two-seat, 592 bhp (441 kW) luxury coupe provides the first motor show preview of Infiniti’s gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain.
The Essence uses Infiniti’s familiar 3.7-liter V6 gasoline engine, but fitted with twin turbochargers, boosting power to 434 bhp (324 kW). The engine is equipped with a new direct-injection fuel system. The hybrid system uses a version of Nissan’s 3D Motor (also applied in the PIVO 2 electric vehicle concept), that offers twice the torque of a conventional unit.
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GM Europe Premieres Opel Ampera,Chevrolet Spark at Geneva Show
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| The Opel Ampera. Click to enlarge. |
GM Europe staged the world premieres of the Opel Ampera, the European cousin of the Chevrolet Volt, and the Chevrolet Spark mini-car, at the Geneva Motor Show. The Ampera goes on sale in Europe in 2011, the Spark in early 2010. The company also held the European premiere of the Cadillac SRX.
Opel Ampera. The Ampera is an extended range electric vehicle based on the Voltec technology used in the Chevrolet Volt. Equipped with a 16 kWh Li-ion battery pack, the five-door, four-seat hatchback has a battery-powered range of up to 60 km (37 miles) (MVEG cycle). An on-board gasoline/E85-fueled engine-generator extends the Ampera’s range to more than 500 km (311 miles).
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Toyota Previews Generation III 2010 Prius Hybrid
March 02, 2009
by Mike Millikin and Jack Rosebro
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| The 2010 Prius. Click to enlarge. |
In preparation for the global launch of the much-anticipated 2010 Prius hybrid, informally referred to as “Generation III” or “Gen III”, Toyota has been staging a series of media briefings, bringing in key engineers from Japan as well as its North American technical center in Southern California, to discuss technical improvements of the new hybrid over its immediate predecessor, the 2004-2009 Generation II Prius. Toyota also previewed the vehicle this weekend in Los Angeles via its “Prius Connection” program for select early adopters and enthusiast forum participants, attracting potential buyers from across the US and Canada.
The Gen III Prius offers an EPA-rated combined cycle fuel economy of 50 mpg (now revealed to comprise 50 mpg city and 49 mpg highway). This is about a 10% improvement in EPA-rated combined cycle fuel economy over the older generation. Of that 10% improvement, about 6% can be attributed to the new hybrid system (including the larger combustion engine) and about 4% to efficiency improvements in other aspects of the vehicle, such as better aerodynamics, said Chief Engineer Akihiko Otsuka.
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Study Concludes That Smaller Capacity PHEVs Would Be a “Robust” Option for Minimizing Fuel Consumption, Cost and GHG Emissions
February 26, 2009
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| Best vehicle choice for minimum fuel consumption, cost, or greenhouse gas emissions as a function of distance driven between charges across sensitivity scenarios. Shiau et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University has analyzed the impact of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery pack size on fuel consumption, cost and greenhouse gas emissions over a range of charging frequencies (distance traveled between charges). The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Energy Policy.
When charged frequently (every 20 miles or less), using average US electricity, small capacity (i.e., lower all-electric range) plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are less expensive operationally and release fewer greenhouse gases (GHGs) than hybrid-electric (HEVs) or conventional vehicles, according to the study’s findings.
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DOE to Award Up to $300M in Stimulus Bill Funding for Projects to Expand Use of Alt-Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles
February 23, 2009
The US Department of Energy has issued a $300-million Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-PS26-09NT01236-04) for applications for cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fueled vehicles and advanced technology vehicles. The installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support an alternative fueled vehicle or advanced technology vehicle is also eligible.
The FOA modifies a much smaller and earlier-issued FOA by incorporating a supplemental $300 million appropriated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (the stimulus bill) for the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 2005 Section 721 to fund a competitive grant pilot program to be administered through the Clean Cities Program.
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Honda’s Cumulative World-wide Hybrid Sales Pass 300,000 In January 2009
February 19, 2009
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| Cumulative hybrid sales by model and region. Click to enlarge. |
Global sales of Honda hybrid vehicles reached 300,740 units on a cumulative basis at the end of January 2009. Honda first began hybrid sales in November 1999 with the introduction of its first-generation Insight in Japan.
The Civic Hybrid accounts for 85% of Honda’s combined hybrid sales, with 255,249 units, 75% of which were in North America. Put another way, sales of the Civic Hybrid in North America have accounted for 64% of Honda’s cumulative hybrid sales worldwide.
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Dominion Virginia Power Tests Plug-In Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Bucket Trucks
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| A Dominion PHEV Prius and hybrid bucket truck. Click to enlarge. |
Dominion Virginia Power has added two plug-in electric hybrid cars and two hybrid-powered bucket trucks to its fleet as part of its efforts to determine the impact of plug-in vehicles on electricity demand and to find ways to conserve energy and reduce vehicle emissions.
Two Toyota Prius hybrids have been converted with the Hymotion L5 Plug-in Conversion Module from A123Systems. The 5 kWh L5 pack, built with A123Systems’ nanophosphate Li-ion batteries, supports fuel economy of up to 100 mpg for 30-40 miles within the electrically assisted driving range. Recharging requires about five hours through a standard 110-volt electrical outlet.
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Volkswagen and Toshiba to Partner on Electric Drive, Power Electronics and Batteries
February 12, 2009
Volkswagen AG and the Toshiba Corporation signed a letter of intent to cooperate for the development of electric drive units and the accompanying power electronics for Volkswagen’s planned New Small Family. Furthermore, Volkswagen and Toshiba are planning the development of battery systems with a high specific energy density for the next generation of electric vehicles.
Volkswagen’s objective, said Prof. Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of management, is to be the first manufacturer to provide an emissions-free, affordable and safe large-scale production electric vehicle.
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Study: Reducing Future Transportation CO2 Emissions to Kyoto Protocol Levels Will Require Combination of Vehicle Technology and Smart Growth
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| Percent change in median CO2 by scenario relative to 2000. Stone et al. (2009) Click to enlarge. |
A Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning study on climate change concludes that “smart growth” combined with the use of hybrid vehicle technology could reduce cities’ carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions significantly by 2050. The study’s findings also suggest that meeting the reduction targets established by the Kyoto Protocol (1990 levels or lower) cannot be attained through vehicle technology change alone.
The research, led by Associate Professor Brian Stone, shows that expected levels of CO2 emissions from cars and trucks in 2050 could be reduced back to close to 2000 levels if the full vehicle fleet was converted to hybrid electric vehicles—a greater reduction in CO2 emissions than achieved by two smart growth scenario modelled in the study. The research also found that a doubling of population density in large US cities by 2050 would have a greater impact on CO2 reductions than full hybridization of the vehicle fleet.
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GM Simplifies the Two-Mode Hybrid Transmission, Maintains Functionality for FWD Application
February 11, 2009
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| Simplified schematic of different hybrid systems. Click to enlarge. |
GM has simplified the two-mode hybrid system for application in front-wheel drive vehicles—the Saturn VUE being the first instance (earlier post)—while retaining its functionality and capability, according to Mark Selogie, Senior Manager Power Electronics, GM Powertrain, speaking at the SAE Hybrid Symposium in San Diego (11-12 Feb).
The RWD version of the two-mode used to power the full-size SUV and pickup hybrid models incorporates two motors, three planetary gearsets and four clutches. The resulting system offers two electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) modes (low- and high-speed) and also incorporates four fixed-gear ratios for high efficiency and power-handling capabilities in a broad variety of vehicle applications, including towing. (Earlier post.)
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Raser Provides Update on PHEV Project; Road Testing to Begin By the End of March
February 09, 2009
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| Shot of the Raser PHEV powertrain. Click to enlarge. |
Raser Technologies is tracking to begin road testing of its prototype plug-in series hybrid electric vehicle powertrain for full-size SUVs and pickups (earlier post) by the end of March, according to a video update on the development status.
The four-wheel drive electric drive powertrain combines a four-cylinder genset with a Raser 100 kW permanent magnet generator and a 200 kW AC induction traction drive motor. The electric motor is connected directly to the transmission.
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AVL Concept Turbohybrid Mild Hybrid System Approaches Full Hybrid Fuel Savings at Lower Cost; Improved Driveability
February 04, 2009
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| Comparison of Fuel Consumption, Fun to Drive and System Cost of the different powertrain concepts. Click to enlarge. |
AVL has developed and patented a mild hybrid system and engine operating strategy that combines downsizing with a turbocharged gasoline direction injection engine; downspeeding (the application of a longer gear ratio); and a relatively low power electric machine to deliver a reduction in fuel consumption approaching that of a full hybrid but at lower cost, while improving the driveability of the vehicle.
In testing on a BMW demo 3-Series vehicle, a 1.6-liter AVL Turbohybrid prototype delivered a 24% reduction in fuel consumption on the NEDC compared to the 2.0L naturally aspirated baseline; a 1.6L full hybrid (power-split) system delivered a 36% compared to the baseline. However, the system cost of the Turbohybrid was 150% that of the baseline, while the system cost of the full hybrid was more than 300% that of the baseline. In addition, the Turbohybrid delivered a “fun to drive” rating of 7.81—higher (better) than both the conventional vehicle and the full hybrid.
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Reported US Sales of Hybrids Drop 31% in January; 2.35% New Vehicle Market Share (updated w/ Chrysler)
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| Monthly reported sales of hybrids in the US. Click to enlarge. |
Reported sales of hybrids in the US in January dropped 32.2% by volume from the year before to a combined 15,442 units, a lower rate of decline than that of the overall light-duty vehicle market in the month.
Total light duty vehicle sales in the US dropped 37.1% by volume year-on-year to 656,976 units in January, according to figures from Autodata. Year-on-year sales of passenger cars dropped 36.3% to 315,863 units in January, while sales of light trucks dropped 37.8% to 341,113 units. (Earlier post.) Hybrids took a 2.35% share of the new vehicle market for the month.
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Volkswagen Introduces BlueMotionTechnologies Umbrella Brand for Fuel-Efficient, Low-Emissions Technologies; Previews Touareg Hybrid
February 02, 2009
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| Prototype Touareg Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
In the first part of 2009, Volkswagen will simultaneously bring three fuel-efficient Passat versions with low emissions to the market: the second generation of the Passat BlueMotion, the Passat BlueTDI and the Passat TSI EcoFuel. Volkswagen is presenting all three Passats under a new umbrella brand: BlueMotionTechnologies. This label covers all production-mature or near-production technologies and products that significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Under the same label, Volkswagen is offering an initial look at the prototype of the new Touareg Hybrid.
The term BlueMotionTechnologies does not define a fixed set of technologies but a range of continually evolving solutions, currently including systems such as a new stop-start system, regenerative braking, SCR catalytic converter and the NOx storage catalytic converter, electric drive and hybrid systems.
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ETH Zürich Developing Pneumatic Hybrid Engine; Approaches Hybrid-Electric Performance at Lower Cost
February 01, 2009
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| Pneumatic hybrid engine on the test bench. Photo: P. Rüegg / ETH Zurich. Click to enlarge. |
Researchers at ETH Zürich are developing a pneumatic hybrid engine—an internal combustion engine connected to a compressed air tank instead of a battery system. A member of the ETH research team, which is led by Lino Guzzella, Professor of Thermotronics, will present a paper on their work at the upcoming SAE World Congress 2009 in Detroit in April—one of a number to be presented on the topic there.
The pneumatic hybrid engine, which follows the downsizing and supercharging paradigm, offers a fuel-saving potential that is almost equal to that of hybrid electric powertrains while inducing much lower additional mass and cost penalties, according to the ETH Zürich researchers.
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Robotic Technology Purchases Beta Biomass Engine System From Cyclone Power Technologies for Use in Series Hybrid Power System
January 29, 2009
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| Rendering of EATR. Click to enlarge. |
Cyclone Power Technologies Inc., the developer of an external combustion engine (earlier post), has received a contract from Robotic Technologies Inc. (RTI), of Potomac, MD, to develop a beta biomass engine system which will be used in a series hybrid subsystem in RTI’s Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR), a project sponsored by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Sciences Office.
The EATR is an autonomous robotic platform able to perform long-range, long-endurance military missions without the need for manual or conventional re-fueling. The system is designed to obtain its energy by foraging—engaging in biologically-inspired, organism-like, energy harvesting behavior which is the equivalent of eating.
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SEAT Presents Electric Drive Research Prototype to Spanish Government
January 23, 2009
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| Under the hood of the SEAT León Twin Drive prototype. Click to enlarge. |
SEAT, a member of the Volkswagen Group, presented an electrically-driven research prototype to Miguel Sebastián, Spanish minister for Industry, Tourism and Business. The research prototype is an electrically-powered León Twin Drive Ecomotive vehicle equipped with a lithium-ion battery for urban circuits, connected to an internal combustion engine for interurban trips, with optimum consumption level.
SEAT’s Global Sustainable Mobility Plan for 2014 is designed to carry out research within the field of plug-in hybrid propulsion and into the gradual phasing-out of the use of the internal combustion engine.
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BMW Sauber F1 Team Rolls Out BMW Sauber F1.09 with High Power Density Electric KERS
January 20, 2009
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| The new BMW Sauber F1.09 (left) and older F1.08 (right). The F1.09 nose is higher and much wider than before, and the three-element front wing spans the full width of the car. Click to enlarge. |
The BMW Sauber F1 Team unveiled the new BMW Sauber F1.09 with its electric KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System). Starting this season, teams may use a KERS systems that stores a total of 400 kJ of energy and generates 60 kW of mechanical output for 6.5 seconds to be supplied to the driven axle under acceleration (driver-triggered by a Boost button) during the course of a race lap. The energy storage unit may only be restocked under braking. The new regulations stop short of stipulating technical approaches.
The BMW Sauber F1 Team focused its efforts on an electric solution comprising a combination of electric motor and generator, requisite power electronics, and an energy storage module. The engine cover and sidepods of the F1.09 are designed to allow space for the hybrid system, which adds about 30 kg (66 lbs) to the weight of the car. (Earlier reports had the system weight at less than 40 kg. Earlier post.)
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Coca-Cola Enterprises More Than Doubles Hybrid Delivery Fleet, Introduces Heavier-Duty Hybrid Delivery Truck with Eaton Hybrid System
January 19, 2009
Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) is more than doubling its current fleet of 142 hybrid electric delivery trucks by adding an incremental 185 hybrids, making the CCE fleet the largest hybrid fleet in North America. It also introduced a heavier duty hybrid tractor to support a gross vehicle combination weight of 55,000 lbs. The majority of CCE’s current hybrid delivery vehicles are 12-bay box trucks (33,000 lbs gross vehicle weight). (Earlier post.)
The new tractor is based on a medium-duty truck (even though the application, at 55,000 lbs, is technically Class 8), with the hybrid powertrain calibrated for heavier loads and the unique duty cycle of a beverage delivery vehicle. The new tractor combines the medium-duty hybrid system from Eaton Corporation (earlier post) with equipment from Kenworth Corporation and Cummins Engines.
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Peugeot Introduces 3008 Crossover; Platform for First Production Application of HYbrid4 Technology by 2011
January 15, 2009
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| The new 3008 crossover is the production platform for HYbrid4 technology by 2011. Click to enlarge. |
Peugeot has introduced the new 3008 crossover. The 3008 will be the platform for the first production application in the PSA Peugeot Citroën Group of the HYmotion4 all-wheel drive technology, as unveiled on the Prologue HYbrid4 concept car at the last Paris Motor Show. (Earlier post.) Peugeot plans to launch the all-wheel drive hybrid crossover between now and 2011.
The HYmotion4 technology uses a “through-the-road” design to provide hybrid all-wheel drive. The motor is mounted in either the rear or front of the vehicle, depending upon whether the vehicle is front- or rear-engined, respectively. The Prologue HYbrid4 concept and the production 3008 are front-engined.
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Johnson Controls-Saft in 5-Year Li-ion Pack Supply Agreement with Azure Dynamics
January 13, 2009
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| The JCS Li-ion pack for Azure Dynamics Balance hybrids. Click to enlarge. |
Johnson Controls-Saft (JCS) and Azure Dynamics Inc (AZD) have entered a five-year supply agreement under which JCS will provide a Li-ion battery pack and pack electronics to Azure Dynamics for use in its commercial vehicle hybrid systems.
The approximately 2.0 kWh, 345V battery system comprises 96 6.8Ah cells (the same cells being used in the JCS packs for the Mercedes-Benz and BMW hybrids), grouped in 12-cell modules. The pack is liquid-cooled.
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Toyota Reveals Third-Generation Prius; 50 mpg
January 12, 2009
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| The 2010 Prius. Click to enlarge. |
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, unveiled the third-generation Prius hybrid vehicle at the 2009 North American International Auto show. The new version of the world’s top-selling hybrid vehicle (more than one million sold in 44 countries) offers better mileage ratings and enhanced performance, as well as new design features.
The first-generation Prius, which was EPA rated at 41 mpg US combined city/highway, was replaced by the current model, which is EPA rated at 46 mpg US, combined. Using a combination of technologies, fuel efficiency was increased to an estimated 50 mpg US combined for the new Prius.
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2010 Honda Insight Hybrid Makes World Debut at the North American International Auto Show
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| The 2010 Honda Insight. Click to enlarge. |
The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut at the North American International Auto Show. Utilizing the fifth generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid technology and new, more cost-efficient production methods, the 2010 Insight offers an estimated EPA city/highway/combined fuel-economy rating of 40/43/41 miles per gallon US. Honda projects that the Insight will carry a CARB AT-PZEV emission rating.
Evoking the aerodynamic five-door sedan design first deployed on the FCX Clarity fuel cell car, the new Insight has a low center of gravity and seats five. The 2010 Insight will be launched at Honda dealers throughout the United States in the beginning of April 2009 and will be priced below the Civic Hybrid.
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Ford Rolls Out Accelerated Plan for HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs; To Partner with Magna on BEVs, First One Due in 2011 (corrected)
January 11, 2009
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| Elements of the 2011 Ford/Magna BEV. Click to enlarge. |
Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford unveiled an accelerated plan to bring next-generation hybrid-electric (HEV); a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV); and battery-electric (BEV) vehicles to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.
The plan, unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, leverages Ford’s work with a range of partners—utilities, suppliers, policymakers and universities—in areas including batteries, manufacturing and infrastructure. For starters, Ford will introduce in North America:
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Lexus Unveils 2010 HS 250h Hybrid; Second Hybrid-only Vehicle in Toyota Line-up
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| The Lexus 2010 HS 250h hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Lexus revealed the 2010 HS 250h, the first luxury dedicated hybrid vehicle, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The HS 250h will be Toyota Motor’s second hybrid-only vehicle (after the Prius) and will be Lexus’ fourth hybrid and the most fuel-efficient vehicle in its lineup. It also will be the first Lexus to utilize carbon-neutral Ecological Plastic materials in a new futuristic cockpit and interior design.
The HS 250h sedan’s expected fuel efficiency will be more than 30% better than the most fuel-efficient model currently in the Lexus lineup, while earning a SULEV emissions rating utilizing regular 87-octane gasoline. Although the EPA numbers have not been finalized, city mpg for the HS 250h should be higher than that of the smart fortwo, said Mark Templin, Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager, at the reveal. (The 2009 smart fortwo coupe has an EPA city rating of 33 mpg US.)
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Toyota Concept EV Based on the iQ; Company Confirms Plans to Launch Urban Commuter BEV by 2012, Li-ion Prius PHEV in Late 2009
January 10, 2009
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| Toyota FT EV. Click to enlarge. |
Toyota’s promised FT-EV concept to be shown at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) (earlier post) is based on the new iQ urban commuter vehicle (earlier post), the company said in a statement issued today. Toyota said it planned to launch an urban commuter battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2012.
Toyota also confirmed that it will advance the roll-out of a limited number of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) to global lease-fleet customers to late 2009 from 2010 (earlier post), using Li-ion battery packs from partner PEVE.
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KPMG Global Auto Executive Survey Highlights Impact of Downturn on Industry; Increasing Importance of Hybrid, Electric and Battery Technologies
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| Concerns about the global economy and environmental issues have grown steadily in importance to the industry, according to the latest survey findings. Source: KPMG. Click to enlarge. |
The just-released tenth consecutive annual survey of senior global auto executives carried out by KPMG firms—The KPMG Global Auto Executive Survey 2009—highlights the impact of the economic crisis on the global automotive industry. The survey found that sales and profitability expectations are down sharply; that more bankruptcies are expected, along with intensive restructuring; that costs must be cut, meaning process innovation will have to intensify; and that auto execs expect that customers will become more discriminating, and more concerned with total cost of ownership.
However, the industry also sees great opportunities in new technologies, particularly alternative fuel and fuel efficiency technologies. Despite the fall in oil prices during late 2008, companies have increased their sales expectations for hybrid and alternative propulsion vehicles.
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FIA President Pushing for Use of Mechanical KERS in Formula One, With a Ban on Battery Systems
January 08, 2009
In a letter to the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), FIA president Max Mosley said that he believes mechanical Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) are preferable to the battery systems currently being devised by several teams, and that battery-based systems should be banned.
Beginning this year, Formula One teams can implement a KERS system that can convey a maximum up 60 kW and store up to 400 kJ (.111 kWh) per lap. Teams are working on KERS units with two types of storage: mechanical (e.g., flywheel), and chemical (e.g., battery).
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Reported Sales of Hybrids Down 42.8% in December, 10% for 2008
January 06, 2009
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| December sales of hybrids were the lowest for that month since 2004. Click to enlarge. |
Reported sales of hybrids in the US dropped 42.7% in December 2008 year-on-year to 17,698 units—the lowest December figure since 2004, when there were only four hybrid models on the market. Overall light-duty vehicle sales in the US dropped 35.5% in the month. (Earlier post). For the full year, total reported hybrid sales dropped 10% to 313,781 units, while total light duty vehicle sales were down 18%.
The hybrid percentage share of new vehicles sold dropped to just below 2% (1.97%) in December. For the year, hybrids held a 2.4% share of the new vehicle market.
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London Bus Design Competition Spawns New Freight/Passenger Concept
December 27, 2008
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| Rendering of the Freight*BUS with side elevation drawing showing one possible configuration. Click to enlarge. |
Earlier in the year, Transport for London (TfL) staged an open design contest for new buses for London. The contest generated more than 700 entries from five continents.
Two whole bus designs—from Aston Martin and Foster + Partners; and Capoco Design Ltd—shared first place. The first design proposed a “zero-emissions ready” powertrain, the second a series hybrid powertrain. Both of these designs, as well as the runners-up and merit award designs, took a conventional, passengers-only view of the bus. One of the submissions to the contest, however, took a different approach, proposing flexibly combining passenger and freight transport in the same vehicle: the Freight*BUS.
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Honda Adjusts to Deteriorating Markets; Focus on Hybrids and Small Cars, Delayed Introduction of New Diesel in US and Japan
December 20, 2008
In his year-end speech, Honda CEO Takeo Fukui outlined the steps Honda is taking in the short term to deal with the global automobile industry crisis while still addressing the mid- to long-term challenges Honda faces, which “have not fundamentally changed.”
More than ever, Fukui said, Honda will concentrate its resources on the development of fuel-efficient products. “The keys to achieve this goal are advancements of electromotive technologies including hybrid models as well as motorcycles and small cars.”
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New US EIA Energy Outlook Projects Flat Oil Consumption to 2030, Slower Growth in Energy Use and CO2 Emissions, and Reduced Import Dependence; 2% PHEV New Sales Share by 2030
December 17, 2008
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| The AEO2009 reference case projects no increase in petroleum-based liquid fuels consumption, as biofuel use grows. Click to enlarge. |
The Annual Energy Outlook 2009 (AEO2009) reference case released today by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects virtually no growth in US oil consumption through 2030, reflecting the combined effect of recently enacted CAFE standards, requirements for increased use of renewable fuels, and an assumed rebound in oil prices as the world economy recovers.
With overall liquid fuel demand in the AEO2009 reference case growing by 1 million barrels per day between 2007 and 2030, increased use of domestically-produced biofuels, and rising domestic oil production spurred by higher prices, the net import share of total liquids supplied, including biofuels, declines from 58% in 2007 to less than 40% in 2025 before increasing to 41% in 2030.
