CleanMPG.com - News Feed

Volt Racks Up Test Results

msirach — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:35:21 GMT

Mike Sirach - CleanMPG - November 20, 2009

The Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle is getting closer to production by the day.

The Volt has completed numerous development program milestones and durability development tests this year.

By the numbers:

� 80 pre-production Volt vehicles have been built.

� Approximately 250,000 miles of the road testing has been conducted

� The Volt has been tested in extreme heat and height, such as Death Valley, Calif. and Pike's Peak, Colo.

� 300 battery packs have been manufactured by Compact Power Inc.

� More than 300,000 miles of customer use data has been gathered by GM's Global Battery Systems lab.

"It's an important time for the Volt,� chief engineer Andrew Farah said Tuesday in a discussion with news media. �The next vehicles and batteries produced will be inside a regular GM production facility.�

Beginning in the first quarter of 2010, the Volt will be assembled at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant and its battery packs will come from the Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant south of Detroit.

�This is just as we planned,� Farah said. �We're on schedule to start regular production of the Chevrolet Volt almost exactly one year from now -- late 2010. And we're on time because we are confident with the various program development tests we've been conducting this year.�

Among the ways the Volt is being evaluated for rigorous durability: Body structural shaker tests to prepare for rough road surfaces and pot holes, corrosion tests to prepare for seaside markets and crash tests for safety. Because the 400-pound battery pack is so important to the Volt, battery cells, packs and modules are undergoing a litany of tests including cell life cycling, module thermal stress and battery pack corrosion.

The Headline photo shows the deep water testing and the following photo depicts the rigorous suspension testing that has occurred.

GM�s most technologically advanced battery lab opened in June and the Brownstown facility to develop battery packs opened in August.

Although the team indicated that there are no foreseeable challenges to hitting next year�s launch target, issues are found and fixed daily - no different than any other vehicle development program. No vehicle program in memory has seen as much of its development journey shared with the public. And the Volt is still a year away from the start of regular production in late 2010.

20 years of �TDI� thanks to Audi

xcel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:21:28 GMT

Fuel efficient and powerful technology with a future.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 20, 2009

Lone 1.6L equipped Audi A3 in Norway while crossing the European continent from north to south at over 70 mpgUS!

Audi is celebrating the 20th birthday of TDI technology

In the fall of 1989, the Audi 100 2.5 TDI – the first Audi with a direct-injection turbocharged diesel engine – was exhibited at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Ever since, the four rings has continued to set reach new milestones. Since 1989, Audi has produced over five million combining excellent power and exemplary efficiency.

Audi has been building diesel engines for over 30 years, the first of which was a five-cylinder unit with prechamber injection that made its debut in 1978. 11 years later, a technological breakthrough revolutionized the diesel market. Under the abbreviation TDI, direct injection, turbocharging and totally electronic engine management were combined to create an entirely new powertrain technology.

Since then, the Audi brand’s engineering advances have propelled diesel engines to an undreamed-of technological boom and overwhelming market success. The TDI has put an end to the old diesel image as “lame, loud, and dirty”. Today nearly every automaker includes this technology in its model lineup in Europe.

“20 years of TDI means 20 years of progress and dynamic change, sporty power and efficiency,” says Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG. “The TDI has been a key factor contributing to the advance of our brand into the premium segment. It has become the world’s most successful efficiency technology that is unsurpassed in the relation of power output to fuel efficiency.”

The father of the Audi brand’s TDI technology is Richard Bauder, who continues to head the company’s diesel engine development to this day. The program was launched in 1976 with the 1973 oil crisis still fresh in mind, as Bauder reports. “What we set out to achieve was to develop an internal combustion engine with the lowest possible fuel consumption. We checked out all conceivable concepts all the way to a two-stroke diesel engine, and in the process analyzed and improved diverse injection and combustion methods. One of our big breakthroughs was the dual-spring injection-nozzle holder, which allowed the pre-injection of smaller fuel amounts. The result was smoother combustion and improved acoustics – the fundamental requirements for use in passenger cars.”

TDI success

By offering 120 HP and 195 Lb-Ft. of torque from a 2.5L five-cylinder TDI engine, the third-generation Audi 100 was an instant success.

The engine made its debut in the Audi 100 Avant. At that time, diesel engines were considered economical and durable but rather dull performers. The TDI equipped Avant had a top speed 124 mph placing it squarely into the ranks of performance touring sedans of its day while providing its owners 41.3 mpgUS combined from the older European Drive Cycles.

In the midsize segment, TDI engines from Audi began to triumph as well. Starting in 1991, the Audi 80 was powered by a four-cylinder, 1.9-L TDI that delivered 90 HP and 134 lb-ft of torque. Four years later, an upgraded version with 110 HP was added. The increase in power was due to the use of a new for its time, exhaust side variable vane turbocharger. The VTG (variable turbine geometry) enabled torque to be boosted smoothly and promptly from very low engine RPMs.

In 1993, Audi converted its entire diesel program to TDI engines, and in 1994 Audi took the next step. The five-cylinder unit was upgraded to 140 HP. A six-speed transmission was standard and for the first time, the TDI was combined with permanent all-wheel drive in the TDI Quattro. With 214 lb-ft of torque at 1,900 rpm, a top speed of 129 mph and 9.8 seconds to 60 mph, the Quattro was an instant sensation.

A TV spot with the question “Where’s the tank?” made it legendary: The A6 TDI covered a distance of up to 808 miles on a single tank of fuel.

1997: The first V6 TDI in a passenger car

In 1997 Audi initiated another revolution – with the debut of the world’s first V6 TDI in a passenger car. With a four-valve cylinder head, the 2.5L unit delivered 150 HP and 229 lb-ft of torque. Two years later this was followed by the first V8 TDI from Audi. Installed in the A8 with a first, common rail injection. The 3.3L unit offered 224 HP and 354 lb-ft of torque which drove the A8 to a top speed of 150 mph top speed along with quieter operation.

Another important new solution was developed for the four. In 2000, a new high-pressure injection system, whose integrated pump/nozzle elements generated 30,000 psi boosted output to 115 HP and later to 130 HP.

In the compact class, Audi set another milestone in 2001: The A2 1.2L TDI achieved an average fuel consumption of 78.7 mpgUS combined on the older drive cycles. The compact A2 with its lightweight aluminum body featured a three-cylinder diesel engine with 1.2L displacement. A derivation from its big brother, the 1.4L TDI, it generated 61 HP and 103 lb-ft of torque. The A2 3L TDI was the world’s first five-door car with fuel economy greater than 78.5 mpgUS combined and remains so to this day. In 2003, Audi produced a more powerful cousin of its 1.9L TDI in the shape of the 2.0L TDI.

The New generation 3.0L TDI

Even in larger engines, Audi was advancing its technological prowess. In 2003, a 4.0L V8 with 275 HP was introduced using new technical enhancements for the V engines.

The 3.0L engine with an output of 224 HP was equipped with common rail technology and innovative piezo-electric injectors. These can inject very small doses of fuel, and with their extremely fast opening and closing nature can deliver multiple separate pre-, main- and post-injections. When a voltage is applied to piezo crystals, they slightly expand in a fraction of a millisecond. In the injector, several hundred tiny piezo disks are stacked on top of each other, and the expansion of this stack is transferred directly to the injection needle.

Piezo injectors can produce precisely regulated increases in pressure and a uniform combustion process. This advance has brought engine NVH into the region of gasoline engines. Another innovation was a particulate filter to clean the exhaust. In 2007/2008 the new four-cylinder 2.0L TDI was equipped with a common rail system including piezo injectors. In 2009 this became the standard technology in all of its diesel engines.

Richard Bauder proudly exemplifies what has been achieved to date: “In 1989 we started out with 13,230 psi of injection pressure; today we’re at 29,400 psi. During this period, our TDI units have increased by more than 100 percent in power output and 70 percent in torque compared to the same displacement of previous generation TDI’s. At the same time, emissions have been reduced by 98 percent.” In the past 20 years, the Audi has produced more than five million TDI engines. Taking all makes into account, the TDI principle today powers over 50% of all vehicles in Europe today.

The TDI units marketed by Audi today are clean, efficient, dependable, refined, comfortable, and powerful. In motorsport, the world’s toughest test lab, they are proving how closely efficiency and dynamics are related.

An Audi R15 TDI leading its arch rival, the Peugeot 908 HDi at the 2009 12-hours of Sebring

The R10 TDI whose V12 diesel engine delivers more than 650 HP, has won the Le Mans 24 Hours three times in a row starting in 2006. Its successor, the R15 TDI with a V10 TDI turbo-diesel engine, has been earning top rankings right from its debut in 2009.

In production cars, the 2.0L TDI with up to 170 HP and 258 lb-ft. of torque is another athletic engine. It delivers power and refinement, and thus lends brilliance to the dynamic TT and the TT Roadster. The lightweight, mainly aluminum bodies of this model series contribute to its superior driving performance: The TT Coup�, with Quattro permanent all-wheel drive accelerates to 60 in under 7.5 seconds with a top speed of 140 mph. more importantly, it does so while offering its owners a 44.4 mpgUS combined rating on the NEDC.

Improving fuel economy

Diesel engines thanks to their thermodynamic properties utilize a given fuels energy content especially well. Adding to that efficiency, technologies from Audi’s modular efficiency platform further amplify this effect. Intelligently managed subsystems such as a demand-controlled oil pump consume less energy. Sophisticated production methods reduce friction within the engine. In many TDI units, laser beams are used to perfectly smooth down the cylinder paths. This makes them last even longer, further reduces oil consumption and reduces stresses at the piston rings, which decreases friction as well as fuel consumption.

In addition to the engines, start-stop and regenerative braking systems, lightweight aluminum body design, LED lights, highly efficient A/C system and even economical route guidance in the navigation system contribute to an Audi TDI’s high fuel economy.

Owing to this abundance of cutting-edge technology, the 2.0L TDI in the A4 puts out 136 HP while offering its owners a 51.1 mpgUS combined rating on the NEDC.

The 1.6L TDI, which will be included in the A3 model lineup in 2010, delivers 105 HP yet is rated at an 61.9 mpgUS combined on the NEDC with a correspondingly low 99 g/km CO2 output.

During the recent Audi Efficiency Challenge A to B, a tour of Europe covering more than 2,599 miles, the two A3 1.6L TDI’s averaged 71.3 mpgUS while the larger A4 2.0L TDI averaged 53.5 mpgUS. Such endurance tests are a tradition at Audi. The first Audi 100 TDI models traversed the European continent achieving sensationally low fuel consumption as well as long distances traveled between refills.

The future - Audi clean diesel

20 years after the market launch of the TDI, Audi is continuing to expand its lead and is positioning itself for the future. Its innovative clean diesel technology converts NOx into harmless nitrogen and water. The 3.0L TDI clean diesel engine meets the strictest exhaust emission limits in the United States as well as the Euro 6 limits announced for 2014. It is today propelling both the Q7 and the A4.

In the medium term, Audi is relying on second-generation biofuels including sunfuel. These fuels use the residues of energy plants – not merely their fruits, as is the case in current versions of biodiesel. During combustion, they emit as much carbon dioxide as they have consumed from the atmosphere during their growth. Independently of this, Audi will continue to further reduce fuel consumption of its fleet of vehicles – with a target of 20 percent below its 2007 level by 2012. The potential inherent in the TDI is far from exhausted. In the past 20 years, Audi has written a tremendous success story with this engine concept and will continue to do so well into the next decade.

Ethanol fuel and antibiotics

drimportracing — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:39:10 GMT

Technology has not advanced if it's unsafe

David Guiterrez - NATURALNEWS - Nov 7th, 2009

Remember Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! --Ed.

By products from the production of corn for ethanol bio-fuels have been found to be contaminated with antibiotics.

"Ethanol's drug problem is just the latest of many reasons to impose a moratorium on production of fuels from grains," wrote Stan Cox for the Land Institute's Prairie Writers Circle. "If industry cannot supply sufficient quantities of alternative fuels without risking an even deeper medical crisis, it might just be another sign that our thirst for vehicle fuel has outgrown all ecological limits."

Ethanol production has previously been criticized for diverting land from food to fuel production and for degrading soil, depleting water supplies and increasing various forms of pollution.

"Now to the list of ethanol's environmental insults we can add pharmaceutical pollution," Cox wrote.... [Read More]

Dynamic little fuel miser likely to be a hit

seftonm — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:25 GMT

Lightweight Mazda2 has excellent ride and handling, and is sure to be popular in Canada.

Jeremy Cato - THEGLOBEANDMAIL - Nov. 20, 2009

Sounds promising, I just hope Mazda can keep the Mazda3's smiling front end treatment away from the Mazda2. --Ed.

The slow, official rollout of the 2011 Mazda2 will finally begin in earnest next month.

In early December at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda will begin parcelling out certain details about the North American version of the Mazda2. We'll get the full nuts and bolts story on content, pricing and on-sale timing later next year, closer to the official launch date.

That's likely to be in the fall of 2010, though rumours have begun to circulate that the car will not actually hit dealerships until close to the end of 2010.

Mazda Canada, naturally, would like this front-wheel-drive car right now � and so would many Canadian consumers. Mazda's upcoming five-door hatchback, a car smaller than the Mazda3, is aimed at the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Toyota Yaris, Chevrolet Aveo, Kia Rio and Nissan Versa. Subcompacts such as these account for about one-quarter of all new-car sales in Canada.

Yet by the time the Mazda2 hits showrooms, Mazda will be competing with not just a host of well-established models, but also the 2011 Ford Fiesta. Ford Canada plans to launch the subcompact Fiesta next summer in both sedan and hatchback versions, too.

Here's the twist: the Mazda2 and the Fiesta share the same platform, though the �top hats� � the body and interior � will be unique to each. Alas, Ford Canada may steal much of Mazda's thunder before the 2 is even launched. ... [Read More]

Toyota's image under scrutiny

msirach — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:44:28 GMT

Safety advocates say acceleration issue may not be easy fix

Christine Tierney - DETNEWS - November 20, 2009

I personally don't believe that Toyota is at fault. I have attempted to replicate this issue, and an operator should recognize the problem and correct it. --Ed.

For years, Toyota Motor Corp. has investigated complaints from drivers saying their Toyota and Lexus vehicles accelerated all by themselves, and the company has identified essentially one cause. The trouble, according to Toyota, occurs when loose or ill-fitting floor mats, carpet covers or detached trim jam the gas pedal.

But after a highly publicized crash in August that killed four people when the driver lost control of a Lexus sedan, Toyota has come under intense pressure to reduce the risk of unintended acceleration.

The Japanese automaker and U.S. safety regulators are discussing changes to the gas pedal, as well as adjustments that would make it easier to stop a car that's accelerating, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says 15 fatalities, including the four in August, are linked to hundreds of reports of unintended acceleration of Toyotas it has received since 2002.

It has generated more bad publicity for the automaker, which has been stumbling through a series of misfortunes, including financial losses. Toyota also faces mounting skepticism about its response. Some drivers say they couldn't slow down or stop when they applied the brakes.

"Toyota has always been seen as producing very, very safe, bullet-proof cars," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific Inc. in Tustin, Calif. "That's the image that has been cultivated for decades. This is making people think, is the Toyota of today the same as the Toyota of yesterday?"

Besides the damage to its reputation, Toyota faces a financial risk from lawsuits. The issue could be costly, Peterson said, if the company is found to be at fault -- and if juries are convinced Toyota knew about the problem.... [Read More]

Speeders put Metro Detroit road workers in danger

Chuck — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:39:22 GMT

....but countless times, in forums and blogs have admantly said speeding is safer

Tom Greenwood - DETROITNEWS - Nov 20, 2009

Why believe the article: thousands of people on the net have sworn speeding is better. Because I can. Because I'm entitled. Because. So follow these role models as closely as possible. --Ed.

Thousands of Metro Detroit motorists driving through construction zones are reaching speeds on average of more than 20 mph above posted limits, endangering workers and themselves, according to a study by The Detroit News at three construction sites in the region.

One of the sites, at Interstate 75 and Nine Mile, is where crews are replacing a bridge destroyed in July in a collision when a speeding driver T-boned a gasoline tanker, causing it to explode.

Using a police-issue laser speed gun, the News found that southbound motorists on I-75 traveling through the work zone averaged 16 mph over the 45 mph and those in the northbound lane average 8 mph over the limit.The other findings include:... [Read More]

Rattner: Chrysler's management had to be changed and merge with healthy automaker

Chuck — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:28:43 GMT

The Fiat-Chrysler merger is similar to what Ghosn had for a GM/Nissan/Renaut merger in 2006

David Shepardson - DETROITNEWS - Nov 20, 2009

It's hard to give up power even when things are going badly --Ed.

Steven Rattner, the Obama administration's former top auto adviser, disclosed for the first time Thursday that a key aim of restructuring Chrysler was installing a new management team.

Rattner said the Auburn Hills automaker's survival depended on replacing top executives appointed under the ownership of private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP.

"We wanted to have a completely fresh management team (at Chrysler)," said Rattner, who stepped down from the government's auto task force in July. "You can't come to any conclusion that management is not a huge ingredient, a huge determinant of success."... [Read More]

Ghosn: General Motors should have joined team in 2006

Chuck — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:13:57 GMT

"When you see the disaster and the waste of energy and skills and talent, nobody can be happy," Ghosn said (of GM's plight).

David Shepardson - DETROITNEWS - Nov 20, 2009

GM thought they were smarter than anyone else and did not need help --Ed.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of the Renault-Nissan alliance, said General Motors would have been far better off if it had formed a transcontinental alliance with the French-Japanese auto partnership in 2006.

"Without any doubt," he told a forum sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations. GM and the alliance called off talks in October 2006. "We knew fundamentally that this would work, but only if it was a collaborative effort."

Ghosn reiterated that "frankly, there was a possibility to create something that would be extremely competitive" and allow the companies to share technology, best practices and a common approach. "Unfortunately, it did not happen." ... [Read More]

Hybrid Dangers

Right Lane Cruiser — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:20:12 GMT

You can't treat a hybrid car crash, like any other car crash.

Angela Pellerano - WTVR - November 19, 2009

Vital information for emergency responders. Is there a coordinated training effort nationwide for this? --Ed.

CENTRAL VIRGINIA - Hybrid vehicles are everywhere. They're great on gas and great for the environment. As a result, more and more of them are popping up around Richmond but hybrids have a hidden danger; you can't afford to mess with these cars - unless you know what you're doing.

"Lady lost control and it was straddling a deep ditch," recalls Lieutenant Al Thompson of Chesterfield County's fire department, "We had to open the door and almost climb into the vehicle. The first thing I told my crew was that it was a hybrid vehicle."

You can't treat a hybrid like any other car. Under the hood, these high voltage cars can be dangerous.

That's why Jordan Hendler with the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association has been training area firefighters about hybrids and how to handle them in violent crashes.

Hybrid vehicles use a lot of electrical power and that can be a problem if firefighters need to use the jaws of life, or cut into a car to get someone out.

Cutting into a hot car, would be like cutting into a power line. So rescuers need to know what they're looking at. Hendler tells them to look for a large wire, usually blue or orange and emergency crews need to make sure the engine is off. That can be hard to do because the cars are so quiet when they're turned on. So, you might think it's already turned off.

So, if you're coming up to the scene, you need to... [Read More]

Reliant Energy, City of Houston Unveil Electric Vehicle Project

Right Lane Cruiser — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:12:05 GMT

Helps to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

AUTOMOTIVE-BUSINESS-REVIEW - November 17, 2009

We need more initiatives like this! When will this become common across the nation? --Ed.

The City of Houston and Reliant Energy, has launched a program to bring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to demonstrate the role that electric cars play in the city�s clean energy future.

The company said that the "Power of the Plug-In", includes converting 10 city owned Toyota Prius cars to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and installing 10 vehicle charging stations to power them. The 2009 Toyota Prius hybrids which are already used by the city are selected for conversion. The plug-in conversion module is the Hymotion L5 which is provided by A123 Systems.

The converted plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can deliver up to 100 miles per gallon, which helps to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, electric vehicles are expensive due to the high cost of lithium-ion batteries, do not require typical engine maintenance such as oil changes, and are less expensive to operate and provide affordability.

Recently, Reliant and Nissan has reached an agreement to work together to make Houston a launch city for the broader use of... [Read More]

Pulling the plug on hybrid myths

Right Lane Cruiser — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:07:35 GMT

There's a lot of misinformation out there about plug-in electric hybrid vehicles.

Jared Sagoff - PHYSORG - November 19, 2009

An excellent read. Is any of this information new to you? --Ed.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has taken a lead role in developing and testing plug-in hybrid technologies. At the lab's Center for Transportation Research (CTR), vehicle systems engineer Forrest Jehlik and his colleagues work to bring these cars to market quickly and cheaply. Here, he dispels some commonly held myths about plug-in hybrids.

Myth #1: A significant number of plug-in hybrids are currently for sale.

Although several major auto manufacturers � including General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Volkswagen, and Volvo � have plug-in vehicles currently in the development pipeline, the first wave of these cars is still at least a year away from officially hitting the market, Jehlik said. The first plug-in hybrid for sale will likely be the Chevrolet Volt, which General Motors claims can travel up to 40 miles on a single charge. The Toyota Prius and other hybrids currently on the roads are not plug-ins � their batteries are charged by kinetic energy transferred from the brakes and wheels.

Myth #2: Researchers can measure the fuel economy for a plug-in hybrid just as easily as they can for gasoline-powered cars.

Establishing fuel economy standards � how many miles a plug-in hybrid vehicle can travel per gallon of gasoline burned � is a complicated question. The answer, Jehlik said, depends entirely on the driving and charging habits of the vehicle's owner. If a particular plug-in hybrid gets 40 miles on a single charge, then a driver who has a 15-mile commute each way to work and does 10 miles of additional driving each day before charging the battery overnight would, theoretically, use no gasoline at all. If the same driver had a five-mile-longer commute, she'd probably burn just over a gallon of gasoline per week, despite driving 250 miles.

Myth #3: Prices for plug-in hybrid vehicles are currently so high because manufacturers are trying to make a killing on them.

"The truth of the matter is that the components required to build a viable plug-in hybrid are still quite expensive," Jehlik said. In many cases, the battery for a plug-in vehicle by itself costs nearly $10,000. Because the price of petroleum remains relatively low, consumers may not yet be willing to invest the extra money in a plug-in vehicle � even with sizable government rebates.

Myth #4: The batteries in plug-in hybrid vehicles are unreliable, possibly unsafe, and require frequent replacement.

Most plug-in hybrids currently under development use lithium-ion batteries in their battery packs. Although complex chemical processes produce energy within the battery, vehicle system engineers have built in advanced control systems to prevent fires or other safety issues. "Researchers have devoted just as much time and effort to developing inner-pack safety systems as they have to the batteries themselves," Jehlik said. "Consumers don't need to worry about battery malfunction."

Jehlik and his colleagues in the CTR have also tested the current generation of lithium-ion batteries in what are known as... [Read More]

$5,000 Rebate To Convert Normal Hybrid Cars To Plug-in Hybrids

Right Lane Cruiser — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:01:28 GMT

"I have had this car for about nine months and filled up three times."

CBS12 - November 19, 2009

A nice incentive -- how many people take advantage of this sort of thing? --Ed.

(West Palm Beach) Our state is leading the charge in energy efficiency cars. Florida is now the first state to offer a $5,000 rebate as an incentive to convert Toyota Prius Hybrids into plug-in hybrids.

The electric conversion must be done at Foreign Affairs Auto on Military Trail in West Palm Beach.

"We take the Toyota Prius and convert it to a plug in Prius by using a lithium battery." The lithium battery has a life of 30-40 miles, and now the electric conversion is being offered to Floridian at a reduced rate thanks to a state incentive program from the Department of Energy.

"You have a $10,400 conversion," said Foreign Affairs Auto Business Development Director Jonathan Ortiz. "The state of Florida will now give the consumer $5,000 to subsidize that, and then the federal government will give just about $1,000 in additional incentives."

Ortiz, who owns a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, says the perks include a reduced carbon offset, less consumption of ... [Read More]

GM global VP to personally call buyers who returned a vehicle

msirach — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:03:00 GMT

May the best car win

Mike Sirach - CleanMPG - Nov. 19, 2009

Most manufacturers have realized that to succeed, they must get direct feedback from consumers.

Fewer than 200 of 222,000 customers who have opted for the 60-day Money Back Guarantee on new vehicle purchases are in the process of returning the Chevy, Buick, Cadillac or GMC vehicle they purchased, Vice President of Global Product Engineering Mark Reuss said Thursday.

And every potential walk away is getting an exit interview from Reuss or one of his engineering leadership team.

Reuss gave the customer outreach example in answer to a question in a roundtable with Detroit media about how the new Board of Directors is influencing Product Development. He said the idea came during a dinner he recently attended with GM Chairman Ed Whitacre.

“People are not satisfied and we’re going to find out why,” Reuss said. “This is about the best unfiltered consumer feedback we’ve had, and it was suggested by Mr. Whitacre. We’ve got all the (customer) data. We’ve gone to see some of them and we’re calling some of them at night as well.”

By the numbers, 653 customers to date have taken the 60-day return guarantee in lieu of a $500 discount on a new vehicle purchase. Fifty-three vehicles have been returned and about 140 others are in the process.

Reuss said in some cases where a buyback was averted, the money back guarantee itself persuaded a skeptical customer to complete a purchase. He told of a Cadillac SRX buyer who traded up to a more expensive model SRX.

In another case, a customer unhappy with the paint quality and interior roominess of a Chevy Silverado pickup is on Reuss’ list of customer contacts.

Reuss said there is no need for a new quality initiative in the company. All the processes needed are in place.

“The so-called perception gap is a result of what we do,’’ he said. “We need to hit the ball with the center of the bat in everything we do.”

2010 KTM Street bike lineup announced

xcel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:30:40 GMT

KTM appears to have BMW Motorrad in its sights.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 20, 2009

A lone 2010 KTM 990 SM R and rider at sunset overlooking the Pacific.

KTM has made a strategic move to increase its presence in the street bike segment by announcing 6 new street models to its line up.

New to the US for 2010 are the KTM 690 Duke R, 990 SM T, 990 SM R, 1190 RC8 R, 1190 RC8 R IDM Red Bull Limited Edition and the 1190 RC8 R Akrapovic Limited Edition.

First up is the KTM 990 SM R representing KTM's ultimate large displacement Supermoto bike. According to KTM, it is as much fun on the race track as it is on the road. This model features upgraded suspension, monobloc Brembo front brakes, forged Marchesini aluminum wheels, and KTM �R� optics including the orange powder-coated frame, �R� graphics, and blacked out components.

2010 KTM 1190 RC8 in action.

The showstopper it the KTM 1190 RC8 R and its two limited editions. This 1195cc, 75� V-twin, 170hp, �R� model includes a host of engine upgrades. The engineers started with super light pistons and increased the compression ratio, reworked the combustion chamber, and added adjustable camshafts. Its chassis features a revised geometry, race spec suspension and adjustable pegs, shifter, sub frame and ride height.

Excitement heightened with the two 1190 RC8 R limited edition bikes. These bikes will come in the IDM Red Bull and Akrapovic Edition. Both models come with a limited edition number plate, special edition body work, and an optional closed course race kit which includes an Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, thinner head gaskets, improved air filter and a tool for adjusting the camshafts for race specifications.

If longer rides are in your future, hop aboard the new KTM 990 SM T. This popular European Supermoto motorcycle is equipped to travel with stock Brembo brakes, detachable soft touring bags, touring windshield, 5 gallon fuel tank and a comfortable seat for extra long trips.

The KTM 690 Duke R, this 690cc displacement single-cylinder bike makes an impressive 70 HP and is equipped with all of the KTM �R� model upgrades including upgraded suspension with race settings, orange powder-coated frame, carbon front fender and more.

KTM's Bread and Butter 2010 Street Bikes

2010 KTM 990 SM Tourer_______________________2010 KTM 690 Super Duke R

Returning for 2010, is the 690 Enduro R, 690 Duke, 690 SMC, 990 Super Duke R, 990 Adventure, 990 Adventure R and 1190 RC8.

Communist cars now rare treasures for nostalgics

msirach — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:16:25 GMT

Good and bad, the cars are collectible

Marton Dunai - REUTERS - November 29, 2009

Interesting! --Ed.

Their spluttering engines, bone-rattling suspensions and outdated designs once ruled the streets behind the Iron Curtain. But now the Trabant and its communist cousins have become rare cars for collectors. Soviet-made Ladas, the classic rear-engine Czech Skodas, Romanian Dacias, Polish Fiats, or the most famous of them all, East German Trabants are now few and far between. "Production stopped almost immediately once the Wall fell," said Gabor Muczan, president of the Trabant Club in Hungary. "That means the newest of these cars are 20 years old, a venerable age even for a good quality Western model."

"There are no real, simple users left. Collectors snap up the few usable vehicles for astonishing amounts of money. I just heard of a mint-condition Trabant that was sold for 1.5 million forints ($8,340)." The last new Trabants sold in 1991 for 100,000 forints.

He said even his club's members own few communist-era cars, whose annual maintenance can cost more than the purchase price.

Nostalgia has many car professionals and enthusiasts talk up the models of yore, even though most produced little more than 70 horsepower, broke down frequently and afforded few luxuries.... [Read More]

Insurance according to miles driven...

xcel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:14 GMT

The best Hypermilers rarely turn the key and some may get a break on insurance as well :)

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 20, 2009

Reducing traffic congestion is just one possible future benefit...

The nation’s first by-the-mile auto insurance provider, MileMeter, is marking its anniversary this fall with several customer events in Waco and Dallas, Texas, while planning its expansion strategy in response to growing interest and demand from other states.

“The less you drive, the less you pay,” said MileMeter’s founder and CEO Chris Gay. “Consumers can personally benefit with cost savings by enrolling with MileMeter.”

Gay also noted that MileMeter encourages and rewards the driving less, leading to “Improvements in air quality, water quality and public safety due to less congestion and fewer accidents.”

Currently, MileMeter policies are available only to Texas residents, but the idea that driving less could mean paying less is spreading to other states.

California recently changed its regulations to allow “pay-drive” and per-mile insurance. A related article in the Sacramento Bee cited MileMeter’s plan as a prime example of the kind of auto insurance that should be available to California drivers to persuade them to drive less in order to reduce the state’s air pollution and traffic congestion.

In its constant quest to be responsive to customers, the company launched MileMeter 2.0 in September. Based on customer feedback and requests, MileMeter tailored its program to provide higher coverage limits, allow rollover for unused mileage between coverage periods, and to offer the ability to purchase additional miles when drivers travel more than expected.

With its continuing focus on customer service, innovation, and transparency, MileMeter looks forward to helping customers save money on auto insurance while providing the protection they need. As an auto insurance company that is only interested in the amount of miles its policy holders drive – not their gender, marital status, education level, credit score or other discriminatory criteria – MileMeter plans to expand to provide pay-by-the-mile coverage to drivers outside Texas.

Is MileMeter a good fit?

If you have a vehicle that is driven less than 12,000 miles per year, MileMeter “could” help you lower your auto insurance expenses. If you live close to work, ride public transportation or have an extra vehicle that sits in the garage, you could benefit greatly with a MileMeter insurance policy.

For many of us, MileMeter could be a boon... For others, Big Brother?

Why consider a Hybrid?

xcel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:16:09 GMT

You could be a day late and a dollar short if you don’t!

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 20, 2009

2003 Acura MDX - $37,000 new and just 17 mpgUS combined.

Oil change on 03 Acura MDX...

Take in the MDX, 4.5 quarts of my own 0W-20 and a SuperTech filter ($15 for the change plus a free car wash), add a VTM fluid change and have the local Honda dealership do a good look over of the underside.

3 years ago and with just 40,000 miles on the ticker, the front brakes were worn down to the wear bars and the discs were “kaput” to the tune of $500 thanks to my dear wifes standard driving style of using both pedals at the same time. And now at 77K miles... It needs new rears including discs to the tune of another $750!!!

No matter how many times I request politely, my wife and youngest son just do not get it :rolleyes:

What it costs to own a vehicle or Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

The MDX’s TCO from new including TTL, financing, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, repairs and fuel, has breached $42,500 over those 77,000 mile or ~ $0.55 mile.

Here is another interesting vehicle whose TCO offers some relief to put it lightly :)

Little Red Beauty - 2000 Red Insight 5-speed w/ A/C

Cost Parameter	Price ($USD)

Purchase	$10,000
State tax and registration	$735
Insurance	$500
Maintenance	$125
Repairs	$374
Depreciation	$305
TTL	$735
Fuel	$734
Sale	$9,695.00

Total	$2,773

Maintenance: (6) Oil changes $65 for Mobil1 0W-20, $13.00 for SuperTech’s filters, and $9.3x for each change at the local Honda dealership (first one free).

Repairs: 1 cracked windscreen and 1 replacement RE92 (screw in the sidewall).

TCO: $2,773/37.2K miles = $0.074/mile

And of course that vehicle used to be mine.

Let us consider a few others in comparison to their siblings, not just a new oversized FSP in the MDX vs. a used but the most fuel efficient vehicle on the road being the Insight.

Hybrid vs. non-Hybrid TCO’s

Year	Make	Model*	TCO** ($/75,000 miles)
2010	Ford	Fusion SEL	$35,664
2010	Ford	Fusion Hybrid	$33,854
2010	Ford	Fusion SE	$33,380

2010	Toyota	Camry XLE	$33,563
2010	Toyota	Camry Hybrid	$33,087
2010	Toyota	Camry LE	$30,245

2009	Honda	Civic EX	$28,375
2009	Honda	Civic Hybrid	$26,933
2009	Honda	Civic LX	$26,537

2010	Honda	Insight EX	$27,179
2010	Honda	Insight LX	$26,086
2009	Honda	Fit Sport	$26,034
2009	Honda	Fit	$24,488

2010	Toyota	Matrix S	$29,480
2010	Toyota	Prius -III	$25,393
2010	Toyota	Corolla LE	$24,995

*All equipped w/ AT’s - **Intellichoice.com

In the case of the Fusion Hybrid, why would you purchase the non-hybrids?

The Camry Hybrid? The LE is the better deal although far less equipped. Against the XLE, it’s a “Pick Em”.

Civic Hybrid? It is far better equipped than the Civic LX. The EX doesn’t stand a chance although some do like the hole revealing the sun ;)

Insight? The Fit beats it in a lot more ways than just TCO.

The Prius vs. Matrix? Not even close. Versus the Corolla... Save $400 to drive a smaller, lower performance vehicle without the insurance policy against $4.00 + gas prices. The Prius by a country mile :angel:

Other TCO Comparisons

Year	Make	Model*	TCO** ($/75,000 miles)
2010	Chevrolet	Aveo LT	$26,830
2009	Chevrolet	Cobalt LT	$33,028

2009	Dodge	Caliber	$30,845

2010	Ford	Focus SE	$30,324

2009	Hyundai	Accent	$27,672
2009	Hyundai	Elantra	$28,209

2010	Kia	Forte EX	$29,038
2009	Kia	Rio	$27,397

2010	Mazda3	i Sport	$26,576

2009	Mitsubishi	Lancer ES	$30,816

2009	Nissan	Versa SL	$26,732
2009	Nissan	Sentra 2.0SL	$31,331

2009	VW	Jetta TDI	$28,933

*All equipped w/ AT’s - **Intellichoice.com

Make your own conclusions. TCO’s are a not just a statistic but real after tax dollars that come out of your wallet.

Would you rather be driving a much lower emissions rated automobile all the while consuming far fewer resources with all the bells and whistles or the lowest (or highest if it’s a full-sized FSP) up front cost vehicle that costs you more over the longer term? Let alone rarely if ever will you need a brake job or wholesale replacement.

Think of hybrid ownership as a first class ride and insurance policy so that when gas prices rise, your fuel efficient automobile pays off big. Really big!

Ford is moving from conspicuous consumption to careful savings

Chuck — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:50:56 GMT

George Pipas want's Ford's share of the small car market to go from 7% to 25% like Toyota

James G Cobb - BLOGS - Nov 19, 2009

Disarm the Patek Philippe. Park the Bugatti. Drain the last drops of Cristal. The party�s over.

That, at least, is what Ford�s futurists are thinking. �Our view is, the era of excess has reached a tipping point,� George Pipas, the company�s sales analyst, told journalists this week in Manhattan. �People are moving from conspicuous consumption to more careful consumption.�

Mr. Pipas�s numbers show significant recent shifts from large vehicles, including truck-based sport utility vehicles, to cars and car-based crossover utility vehicles, and he cited surveys showing that the size of new homes shrank last year after a long march toward McMansions.... [Read More]

Edsel, 50 Years After Its Demise

Chuck — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:40:40 GMT

�I never tell people how many (Edsels) I have, If they suspect I�m crazy, I don�t want to confirm it.�

Richard S Chang - BLOGS - Nov 19, 2004

Several cars this decade such as the Aztek may have a place beside the Edsel. Who was Edsel Ford? --Ed.

It was 50 years ago Thursday that Ford announced it was ending production of the Edsel. Insert joke here.

The Edsel was the original Yugo. The first Aztec. It was the colossal failure to which all future failures would be compared.

But the car wasn�t just a lemon. It was also a catastrophe of marketing. �Despite several features that were not necessarily innovations � a vertical grille, self-adjusting brakes, Teletouch transmission buttons on the steering wheel and a floating speedometer that glowed when a preset speed was reached � the Edsel was panned by the public,� wrote Dave Kinney in The New York Times two years ago.... [Read More]

Smart Fortwo BEV production begins in Hambach

xcel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:49:59 GMT

Production of first 1,000 project units began. Available to the general public in 2012.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 19, 2009

Smart Fortwo BEV - First European fully operational BEV for everyday use.

This week, Daimler started production of the Smart Fortwo BEV at the smart plant in Hambach, France. In a first step, 1,000 vehicles will be provided to customers participating in various mobility projects in major cities in Europe and the U.S., in order to generate broad feedback on battery electric driving under everyday conditions.

Marc Langenbrinck, Managing Director of the smart brand: “With the start of the series production of the Smart Fortwo BEV, the Hambach plant enters a new era – at the same time, the Smart Fortwo emphasizes its pioneering role on the way to individual mobility with local zero-emissions in cities and urban areas. Its innovative battery-electric drive makes the Smart Fortwo BEV the ideal vehicle for the city: it combines responsibility to the environment with driving fun and joie de vivre in a virtually perfect manner.”

The second-generation Smart Fortwo BEV is equipped with a modern Li-Ion battery. By early 2012, the Smart Fortwo BEV will be produced as a regular part of the Smart product portfolio and will be sold through the Smart sales network.

Milestones - 2007 and 2008

The Smart brand has taken a pioneering role in electric mobility since 2007. Back then, 100 first generation Smart Fortwo BEVs went into operation under everyday conditions in city traffic of London. Feedback from this project has been positive and confirmed the maturity of the BEV vehicle concept.

Just one year later, the company introduced the second generation with an even more advanced electric drive and a highly efficient Li-Ion battery. Li-Ion has decisive advantages over other types of batteries including higher performance, shorter charging times, a long life and high reliability. In addition, the Smart Fortwo BEV can be charged at a regular household power outlet.

Hambach

The smart plant in Hambach was inaugurated in 1997. Since 1998, it has produced the Smart Fortwo. In 2008, more than 800 employees of the plant and an additional 800 people employed by seven system partners produced approximately 140,000 Smart Fortwo’s. In September 2008, Smart celebrated its tenth anniversary along with the 1-millionth Fortwo produced at the Hambach plant.

Electric Cars Push Japan Engine Parts Makers to Crisis Mode

ALS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:29:38 GMT

The shift to electric cars may be more dramatic than people think

Makiko Kitamura and Masatsugu Horie - BLOOMBERG - November 19, 2009

Evolve and expand or disappear from the market --Ed.

Auto supplier NTN Corp. knew its gasoline engine parts wouldn�t be needed in Nissan Motor Co.�s Leaf electric car. So the component maker�s engineers built a mock model to test a motor-and-brake system it developed for electric vehicles.

�If old-guard companies like us just continue along the same beaten path, things will become difficult,� Chairman Yasunobu Suzuki said. �I told our engineers to try everything.�

As Nissan and General Motors Co. prepare to introduce battery-powered cars next year, traditional auto suppliers like Osaka-based NTN are trying to adapt by creating new lines of business. Engine components account for as much as 40 percent of a typical car�s total parts, so some suppliers are scrambling to come up with new products, said Takeshi Miyao, a Tokyo-based analyst for car consultant Carnorama.

While internal-combustion engines currently power more than 99 percent of cars built globally, their share can only fall as electric cars enter the market, Miyao said. That will intensify price competition and lower profits for manufacturers.

�If you�re a parts maker that can�t expand market share, then you can�t grow without entering new businesses,� he said. ... [Read More]

Vista's electric carmaker forced to adjust

ALS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:50:54 GMT

Aptera yesterday pushed back its production schedule and said its first vehicles won't be ready till 2010.

Onell R. Soto - SIGNONSANDIEGO - November 19, 2009

Vista electric-vehicle maker Aptera said yesterday that funding problems have led to layoffs and production delays and caused its founders to leave day-to-day management roles.

The company had planned to begin building an innovative three-wheeler it calls the Aptera 2e this fall, and has taken $500 deposits from about 4,000 people looking to be among the first to own the vehicle.

But money from investors � including Google � hasn�t kept up with costs, and the company has to ensure its viability while awaiting private or federal funding despite making progress on engineering and design, Chief Executive Paul Wilbur said in a statement yesterday.

�We now have to adjust our production schedule to align with financing realities,� he said. �Properly managing the resources of the company means we�ll complete our first vehicles in 2010, not by the end of 2009 as previously projected.�

The delay has meant that about 10 of the company�s 40 or so workers have been laid off.

The refundable deposits from prospective buyers remain in an escrow account, the company said.
... [Read More]

Toyota of Europe gives almost $900,000 USD in grants to support Green causes

xcel — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:23:35 GMT

Money given to deserving causes.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Nov. 19, 2009

Reforestation, Hypermiling Clinics and general education to improve upon what we have been blessed with.

The Toyota Fund for Europe (TFfE) announced the awarding of 18 grants totaling close to $900,000 USD to support community activities primarily focused on the environment. The grants will launch 12 new national projects, 4 new projects in cooperation with Toyota plants and will continue to support the 2 Toyota Fund flagship projects: EcoDriving and Eco-Schools. The projects will be coordinated by partner NGOs and Toyota companies across 22 European countries.

‘The proposals that we received were of a very high standard and we are delighted to be able to provide the necessary financial support to these worthwhile projects. I would like to thank our NGO partners with whom we have been working for many years, thanks to them we can maximize the benefits to the local communities,’ said Graham Smith, Chairman of the Toyota Fund for Europe, and Senior Vice-President of External Affairs at TME.

This year, Toyota decided to focus its support on environmental initiatives and both Toyota retailers and employees will play a significant role.

One of the new projects is the Toyota “Green Day” project, a national tree planting activity organized by Toyota Spain in close cooperation with the Felix Rodriguez de la Fuente Foundation. On 22 November 2009, Toyota retailers and their customers, together with the local communities, will plant 160,000 trees in 72 locations around Spain.

Another excellent initiative came from Toyota Motor Industries Poland (TMIP) that will organize a waste management awareness campaign in their local community in early 2010. TMIP employees will organize, in close cooperation with the local municipalities, a number of awareness raising and training sessions.

TFfE will also continue to support the two flagship projects EcoDriving and Eco-Schools. In cooperation with partners from the Global Action Plan International network, retailers offer EcoDriving training sessions on Toyota simulators to existing customers and new contacts. Since the start of the program, 1560 people have attended advanced EcoDriving workshops and 7200 people have taken a short EcoDriving training.

Since 2005, Toyota has been working with Eco-Schools in the Environment and Innovation program, with the intention of developing innovative environmental projects in the local community. With this new grant, Toyota retailers will support their local Eco-Schools to prepare and implement their projects.

TME established the Toyota Fund for Europe in 2002 to lead and partner with non-profit organizations on community activities that support the environment, technical education and road safety. Since its establishment, the fund has approved 119 grants across 60 projects, representing a total of $11.25 Million USD in financial support. In 2009, 84% of grants were allocated to environmental projects, 13% to road safety projects and 3% to education projects.

Grant recipients

Category	Applicant	Project title	NGO involved	Country
ENV – Reforestation	TES	Toyota Green Day	Fundaci�n Rodriguez de la Fuente	Spain
ENV – Reforestation	Toyota Iceland	Toyota Woodland	Icelandic Forestry Association	Iceland
ENV – EcoDriving	Toyota Deutschland	ADAC – Ecodrive	ADAC - Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobile-Club	Germany
ENV – Awareness	Toyota Caetano	Reuse to Win	-	Portugal
ENV – EcoDriving	Toyota Sweden	EcoDriving & Safe Driving for young customers	V�gverket, Swedish Road Authority	Sweden
ENV – EcoDriving	ToyotaSa	EcoDriving training at retailers and municipalities	REC - Regional Environmental Center	Turkey
ENV – Education	Ekopolis Foundation	Living Trails in the National Parks	Ekopolis Foundation	Slovakia
ENV – Awareness	Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation	Schools for Sustainable Development	Czech Environmental Partnership Foundation	Czech Republic
ENV – Awareness	Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation	Schools for Sustainable Development	Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation	Poland
ENV – Awareness	WWF Hungary	Eastern European Roadshow	WWF Hungary	Hungary
RS – Awareness	TOP-25	Alcokart and Road Safety Simulator	TOP-25 asbl	Belgium/International
RS – Competition	European Transport Safety Committee	Roads 2 Respect	European Transport Safety Committee	Belgium/International
ENV – Awareness	TMIP	Don't waste the waste. Let's help the Earth to get rid of them.	EMC leading project	Poland
RS – Competition	TMMP	Safe Drive	EMC leading project	Poland
TECH – Competition	TMUK	Technology Challenge Competition	EMC leading project	United Kingdom
TECH – Competition	TMMT	Technical Project Competition	EMC leading project	Turkey
ENV – Competition	FEE	EcoSchools	Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)	Denmark, Slovenia
ENV – Awareness	Ecolife	EcoDriving	Ecolife	Belgium, Norway, The Netherlands

Toyota May Shorten Gas Pedals to Fix Floor Mat Problem

msirach — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:18:37 GMT

Progress is being made toward a safe resolution

U.S. News - U.S. News Rankings & Reviews - Nov. 19, 2009

Over four million Toyota vehicles have been recalled or had their floor mats removed due to reports of some vehicles exhibiting unintended acceleration. Toyota says the problem is due to improperly installed floor mats, though now they may have come up with another solution.

Inside Line reports, "Toyota is reportedly on the brink of deciding to make accelerator pedals shorter in millions of vehicles, as a fix to a problem with floor mat sticking that has led to a 4-million-vehicle recall."

Autoblog says, "The alleged fix would be performed by Toyota dealership employees at no charge to the customer. The report doesn't mention whether the floor mats would be secured in addition to the pedal shortening, but we're assuming Toyota and Lexus dealers will kill two birds with one stone. Swapping out four million accelerator pedals will probably be a pricey endeavor, but Toyota claims it has saved up $5.6 billion over the years in its recall kitty for just such a rainy day."

Still, nothing official has been decided, and Toyota is still working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to decide on a final fix. If you own one of the affected vehicles, which include the 2007 to 2010 Camry, Tundra and Lexus ES 350; the 2005 to 2010 Avalon and Tacoma; the 2004 to 2009 Prius; and the 2006 to 2010 Lexus IS 250, you can take your car to a dealer to have its floor mats secured, or remove the driver's side floor mat altogether while a final fix is decided on.... [Read More]

X PRIZE team passes the test

msirach — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:57:24 GMT

Illuminati Motor Works is one of 43 left in international competition

AMANDA ROBERT - ILLINOISTIMES - November 19, 2009

Can a group of individuals working together compete against "Big Money?" --Ed.

Illuminati Motor Works continues to power past checkpoints in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE, a $10 million competition that seeks to produce a new generation of fast, inexpensive, super �green� cars.

Last month the X PRIZE announced that 43 teams � representing 18 states and 10 countries � passed the design judging phase by proving to automotive and technical experts that their vehicles could meet or exceed competition requirements. Illuminati Motor Works, the Springfield-area group of engineers, automotive technicians and car enthusiasts that committed to the competition in August 2007 [see �Eyes on the Prize,� March 27, 2008], is one of those teams.

Team leader Kevin Smith says they had to prove that their vehicle gets more than 100 miles per gallon or its energy-equivalent, has a 200-mile range and accelerates from 0 to 60 in less than 15 seconds. Among other provisions, the team also had to show that their entry meets all of the same safety standards as modern vehicles and could be cost-effectively mass-produced for the public.... [Read More]

Camaro is muscling in on top spot of Mustang

msirach — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:40:34 GMT

Chevy hot rod bests Ford's a 5th month

TIM HIGGINS AND BRENT SNAVELY - FREEP - November 19, 2009

When will we see a hybrid Mustang or two-mode Camero? --Ed.

The new Chevrolet Camaro is fast approaching its longtime rival, the Ford Mustang, as Detroit's muscle car sales leader.

The Camaro outsold the Mustang by more than 3,000 last month -- the fifth month in a row that Chevy outsold Ford since bringing back the storied car this spring.

The battle between the two cars has been raging since the original Camaro went on sale in 1966 as a rival to the Mustang, which had launched two years earlier.

GM officials say the Camaro might even outsell the Mustang this year, which would be the first time it topped the Mustang since 1985. Through October, GM has sold 47,233 Camaros -- 9,236 shy of the Mustang.... [Read More]

Evolution of the Chevy Volt

msirach — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:24:14 GMT

"There's still a lot to do, and not much time,"

MARK PHELAN - FREEP - November 19, 2009

Excitement is growing as there is more news coming out daily from our friends in Detroit. --Ed.

From charging the Chevrolet Volt's revolutionary power system to washing the car, everything about the extended-range electric vehicle is new, but Volt owners must find it familiar and easy to use.

Racing to meet those twin goals on an unprecedentedly tight schedule, the engineering team working on the Volt has 25 to 30 of them on the road at all times. The deadline is the Volt's on-sale date in about a year.

"There's still a lot to do, and not much time," chief engineer Andy Farah said Monday. "It's all part of the natural evolution of any engineering program, but at warp speed."

Every system, every part must be double-checked and idiot-proofed. Volt engineering manager Nate Fitzpatrick sent his 10-year-old son out to plug the Volt in for charging. "I didn't give him any directions. I wanted to see if we'd made it easy for the owner," Fitzpatrick said. "He figured it out right away."
... [Read More]

Is a Prius Really Cleaner Than an Electric Car?

ALS — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:48:41 GMT

Even a plug-in Prius prototype with an estimated 12-mile electric range would meet much of the driving needs of British drivers

Bill Moore - EVWORLD - November 19,2009

There are more ways than one to skin this energy cat --Ed.

Let me make this very clear right up front. The world is going to need more than just electric-drive vehicles to solve its problems. Even the greenest Renault Fluence, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Think city or Prius Plug-In won't reduce road congestion in central London. Fewer cars and smaller ones can help, but modestly so. Public transit, bicycles, electric scooters and a good pair of leather will do much more.

Still, there will always be a need for automobiles and the greener the better. But what's it mean to be "greener"? Certainly a vehicle that produces few if any tailpipe emissions is a good starting point; and electric cars clearly meet that criteria IF you ignore the source of the electric power. In many parts of the world, including Britain, a significant percentage of that electricity comes from the conventional thermal power plants consuming natural gas, coal and even oil; and in the process generate millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions from mercury to sulfur dioxide.

So, it would be natural for critics to complain about the "long tailpipe" of electric cars that ends at a coal plant's smoke stack. The most recent body to make this claim is, of all people, Britain's Environmental Transport Association, which recently warned that increased reliance on electric cars will mean the release of more harmful emissions than those produced by gasoline/petrol-electric hybrids like the Prius.

Reports the Daily Mail...

The report warned that European officials have assumed that electric cars are 'zero-emission', and failed to take into account the electricity they use.

But it said that once the effect of burning fossil fuels is taken into account, they actually emit more CO2 than a hybrid car.

It calculates that an electric car has emissions of 106 grams of CO2 for each kilometre used, compared with 172 grams for an average petrol car. By comparison the latest Toyota Prius hybrid car has official emissions of 89g/km.... [Read More]

Next generation of Greener Cars gets closer says Seattle Electric Vehicle Association

Right Lane Cruiser — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:23:41 GMT

"Seattle is one of three or four North American cities in the lead for the EV approach."

Ed Steenman - SEATTLEPI - November 18, 2009

Are Americans ready to adopt the electrically enhanced future of transportation? --Ed.

Knowing my love for alternative fuel, hybrid and EV's, I've been getting some different things sent to me and also from the web.

Here's a nice article from NW autos that does a good job of categorizing some of the trends and providing a local update. Stuff is also happening just to South in the Rose City I'll grab some of that and include it in a subsequent post. Nissan is also beginning to release more on their "Leaf Battery' so it's a trend that thankfully is starting to gain some real momentum

On to the update with a few examples of how the city is advancing EV's as reported by the Seattle Electric Vehicle Association (SEVA).

Charging stations

The biggest buzz-generator appears to be the city's participation in a pilot project with Nissan and Phoenix company eTec to build 2,500 charging stations for electric vehicles.

The EV Project, which is funded by a $100 million U.S. Energy Department grant, will put 1,000 stations free of charge into the garages of people who buy a new Nissan Leaf electric car, expected to hit Seattle in 2010. The remaining 1,500 chargers will be placed in local public and commercial venues, such as shopping malls and park-and-ride lots.

Hybrid fleet

Seattle clinched the deal with Nissan and eTec because of the city's involvement in an Energy Department program to evaluate the use of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles in city motor pools, says Rich Feldman, who advises Mayor Greg Nickels on EV policy.

Nearly half of the city's compact and subcompact cars are hybrid gas/electric vehicles (mostly Toyota Priuses), giving Seattle one of the largest fleets of hybrids in the nation with 400, says Chris Wiley, the city's Green Fleets coordinator.

Largely because of its deployment of these green vehicles, the city won an "E-Visionary" award in May from the... [Read More]

BMW 1-Series Hybrid Test-Mule

Right Lane Cruiser — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:17:46 GMT

BMW�s next hybrid will be launched within the next 12 months.

Viknesh Vijayenthiran - MOTORAUTHORITY - November 19, 2009

This is more like it!! Will the US get this vehicle? --Ed.

Unlike the mainstream market where hybrid technology is used to maximize fuel efficiency, luxury automakers have employed hybrid systems as a way to maintain or improve performance while making concessions to efficiency.

The upcoming 2010 ActiveHybrid X6 and 2011 ActiveHybrid 7 from BMW are prime examples of this philosophy, combining already powerful V-8 engines with electric motors for added performance and superior fuel economy to comparable non-hybrid models.

However, with Lexus previewing a new compact model with a hybrid system in the form of the LF-Ch concept car, even BMW is working on an ultra-efficient version of its 1-Series.

These latest spy shots show a 1-series test-mule wearing �Hybrid Test Vehicle� stickers on its sides and rear. While BMW engineers are using the current 1-Series to test its new hybrid system, we�re not likely to see it until the launch of the next-generation of the car due in 2011.

Earlier this month, the project leader of the... [Read More]