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FedEx delivering amazing fuel efficiency gains with electric delivery trucks

Meme — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:16:40 +0000

FedEx Express has nearly reached its 2020 fuel efficiency goal in 2012, eight years early, through an aggressive program of buying all kinds of fuel efficient delivery vans, including a large fleet of all-electric step vans.
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Quantum bringing Plug-in F-150 to Alternative Clean Transport Expo

Meme — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:17:31 +0000

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies will bring their modified Plug-in Hybrid Ford F-150 to the 2012 Alternative Clean Transportation Exposition (ACT Expo) May 15-17.
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2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid selling like hot cakes

Meme — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:18:46 +0000

Toyota’s 2012 Prius Plug-In Hybrid was the third-fastest-selling car in the U.S. in April. In March, it was the second-fastest.
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8 automakers to demonstrate DC fast charging with Combined Charging System at EVS26

Meme — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:44:21 +0000

Eight global automakers will participate in a charging display and will demonstrate a harmonized single-port DC-fast charging technology at the upcoming EVS26 event in Los Angeles. The system is intended to optimize customer ease of use and to accelerate more affordable deployment of electrified vehicles and fast charging infrastructure.

Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support the harmonized single-port fast charging approach—called DC-fast charging with a Combined Charging System—for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States. (Earlier post.)

The combined charging system integrates one-phase AC-charging, fast three-phase AC-charging, DC-charging at home and ultra-fast DC-charging at public stations into one vehicle inlet. This will allow customers to charge at most existing charging stations regardless of power source and may speed more affordable adoption of a standardized infrastructure.

The Society of International Engineers has chosen the single-port fast charging method as its standard for fast charging and the European manufacturing association (ACEA) has endorsed harmonization for all vehicle types. Chargers will be available commercially as of the end of 2012 and vehicles using the technology will be available starting 2013.

The International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has chosen the Combined Charging System as the fast-charging methodology for a standard that incrementally extends the existing Type 1-based AC-charging. The standard is to be officially published this summer. ACEA, the European association of vehicle manufacturers has also selected the Combined Charging System as its AC/DC-charging interface for all new vehicle types in Europe beginning in 2017.

The charging system design was based on the collaborative review and analysis of existing charging strategies, the ergonomics of the connector and preferences of US and European customers. The Combined Charging System was developed for all international vehicle markets and creates a uniform standard with identical electrical systems, charge controllers, package dimensions and safety mechanisms.

The system maximizes capability for integration with future smart grid developments through common broadband communication methods regardless of the global location of the charging system. The combined charging approach will reduce development and infrastructure complexity, improve charging reliability, reduce the total cost-of-ownership for end customers and provide low maintenance costs.

Commercially available combined charging stations are projected to be available later this year. All committed OEMs have vehicles in development which will use the Combined Charging System. First vehicles using this technology will be launched to the market in 2013.

About Alternative Cars » Electric Car Companies

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Toyota 100 Cars for Good begins taking your votes today

Meme — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:20:22 +0000

Toyota is asking the public to pick a charity a day for the next 100 days to receive a free vehicle as part of their annual 100 Cars for Good event. You can vote for your charity picks starting right now.
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Electric car fast charging feud between SAE and CHADEMO, who will win?

Meme — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:20:26 +0000

The CHADEMO standard exists in the i-MiEV and LEAF, but a consortium of automakers are using the SAE J1772 committee to develop a completely different system, and hopefully electric car owners will benefit in the end.
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Qualcomm’s Halo to charge Drayson’s electric race car during races

Meme — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:22:33 +0000

The Drayson Racing B12/96EV is an 850 horsepower electric race car capable of 0-60 in 3 seconds, and is serving as a testbed for the Qualcomm Halo wireless electric car charging system.
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2013 BMW X1 for US to offer brake regen, start/stop and ECO PRO mode

Meme — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:15:54 +0000

BMW will bring the globally successful (275,000 units sold so far) X1 to the US in the fall of 2012. Unlike other BMW SAVs, X1s destined for the US will be built in BMW’s Leipzig, Germany plant. The popularity of the X1 around the globe has been such that X1s for the Chinese market will now be built in a newly opened plant at Tiexi in Shenyang Province.

The arrival of the BMW X1 to the US coincides with an update that includes exterior and interior refinements as well as a range of BMW EfficientDynamics technologies. All models feature Brake Energy Regeneration while the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i models also benefit from Auto Start/Stop and ECO PRO mode to further reduce fuel consumption.

The new BMW X1 includes a range of technologies to increase efficiency. All model variants come equipped with Brake Energy Regeneration. An ECO PRO mode and the Auto Start-Stop function are available in the new BMW X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i models.

ECO PRO provides efficiency-optimized driving with targeted adjustments to the accelerator mapping and the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission. Moreover, the output of electrically operated functions such as the seat heating, climate control system and exterior mirror heating are regulated to ensure highly efficient energy management. A special display informs the driver of the extra range gleaned through these measures.

The BMW X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i feature BMW’s newest 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine (N20). This engine delivers maximum power of 240 hp (179 kW) at 5,000 rpm while the maximum torque of 260 lb-ft (353 N·m) is developed at 1,250 rpm and remains constant up to 4,800 rpm. It is mated to BMW’s latest 8-speed Steptronic automatic. This combination powers the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i from 0-60 mph in 6.2 and 6.3 seconds respectively.

Preliminary EPA mileage estimates are 24 mpg city/33 mpg highway/27 mpg combined (9.8, 7.1, 8.7 L/100km) for the X1 sDrive28i while the AWD X1 xDrive28i has preliminary EPA estimates of 22 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined (10.7, 7.8, 9.4 L/100 km).

The engine, the most powerful in a new generation of 4-cylinder engines designed in accordance with the BMW EfficientDynamics strategy, is modeled on the current multi-award-winning inline 6-cylinder with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology (N55). The technology combines High Precision Direct Injection, Double-Vanos variable camshaft timing and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing with twin-scroll turbocharging.

The combination of a high power output and a simultaneous reduction in emissions is achieved by VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and Double-Vanos variable camshaft timing. The latest generation of the VALVETRONIC system features a faster-acting, optimized stepper motor with integrated sensor. Seamlessly variable control of intake valve lift dispenses with the need for a throttle butterfly. Instead, the air mass is controlled inside the engine, resulting in faster response. At the same time, pumping losses have been reduced to a minimum.

The excellent efficiency is also due to the High Precision Direct Injection system. Centrally positioned between the valves, solenoid injectors precisely control the supply of fuel. The fuel is injected very close to the spark plug, with a maximum injection pressure of 200 bar (2900 psi), resulting in clean and homogeneous combustion. The cooling effect of the directly injected fuel also results in a higher compression ratio than on port injection engines, bringing further efficiency improvements.

Exclusive to the North American market is the X1 xDrive35i featuring BMW’s award-winning 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine (N55). The N55 is the pioneer of a new generation of engines in which BMW TwinPower Turbo technology with High Precision Direct Injection and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing plus a twin scroll turbo made its debut. It will be mated to a 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.

The BMW X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i will retail for $ 31,545 and $ 33,245 respectively while the X1 xDrive35i will start at $ 39,345. All prices include $ 895 Destination and Handling.

In Europe, the new BMW X1 offers a new range of advanced diesel engines. Every rear-wheel drive X1 there now emits less than 130g/km of CO₂, and with the option of a new eight-speed automatic gearbox combined with BMW’s award-winning EfficientDynamics technologies, the new BMW X1 range is more efficient than before.

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Siemens eHighway of the Future concept has trucks using tram lines

Meme — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:14:51 +0000

Siemens announced its eHighway of the Future concept at the 26th Annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. The eHighway concept is the electrification of trucks and select highway lanes via overhead electrified wires similar to how modern day trolleys or streetcars are powered on many city streets. According to Siemens: “The eHighway solution is [...]
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Eaton’s electric car DC Quick Charger coming to Hawaii and Wash. DC

Meme — Sat, 12 May 2012 21:23:17 +0000

Electrical supply equipment makers like Eaton see big business potential in manufacturing electric car charging stations for both level 2 and quick charging scenarios.
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