ElectriClub News

Electric Vehicle News: Toyota Hybrids: 4 Million Sold

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:25:00 +0000

Toyota's global sales of hybrid vehicles have passed the four-million mark, according to company figures released today. The milestone, which includes Lexus hybrids, was achieved in late April...

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Electric Vehicle News: Ford Focus Electric Stars in Yahoo!’s ‘Plugged In,’ [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Tue, 22 May 2012 04:41:00 +0000

Yahoo! and Ford are releasing today a teaser video previewing “Plugged In,” a weekly online reality competition show coinciding with the launch of the all-new 2012 Focus Electric and airing...

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AutoblogGreen: Chevy Volt escapes the zombie horde

Tue, 22 May 2012 00:50:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, Pacific Region, Videos

Did you know the Chevrolet Volt can outrun a gaggle of slow-rambling zombies? Did you know that even in an apocalyptic wasteland, beautiful women will drive freshly washed cars? These are two of the messages in a new ad (of sorts) for the plug-in hybrid that was created by Josh Soskin for the Mofilm Barcelona 2012 Video Contest.

The spot, viewable below, makes an odd case against gas anxiety (for lack of a better word) by showing a mid-1980's Mazda 323 running out of gas, which then allows a brain-hungry zombie horde from catching up. The deus ex machina turns out to be a Volt, which carries our heroes to safety. The big question: does that Volt include zombie-killing shotguns, hung from a gun rack?

Now, a fully charged, fully refueled Volt can go around 375 miles. If these guys really want to go the distance, what they really need is a good hypermiler and/or a diesel car (1,600+ miles!). Or, if the gasoline supply has been damaged, how about a solar-powered long-distance vehicle, something like the Solar Taxi. But that's applying logic to what's supposed to be a commercial, which is always a losing experiment. The ad is still kind of funny. Watch it here, and you can see the contest's runners-up here.

Continue reading Chevy Volt escapes the zombie horde

Chevy Volt escapes the zombie horde originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 May 2012 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electric Vehicle News: Zipcar launches pilot scheme with Vauxhall Ampera

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:41:00 +0000

Car sharing network Zipcar has signed a deal with Vauxhall to run a pilot scheme that sees the electric Ampera join its fleet of self-service, pay as you go vehicles for the next six months. Zipcar...

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Electric Vehicle News: Boris Said to pilot electric-powered BMW M3 at 2012 Pikes Peak [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:31:00 +0000

The annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb will commence on Sunday July 8th and we can now reveal a special competitor will be among the entrants. An electrically powered BMW M3 is set to be entered by EV West...

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Electric Vehicle News: Chevy Volt owner says he last filled up 4,000 miles ago [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:27:00 +0000

Meet Noble. He's the latest Chevrolet Volt owner to be featured in GM commercials now airing on TV. He calls the Volt the best vehicle he’s ever driven and says the last time he filled up his Volt...

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Electric Vehicle News: Monster Tajima Pikes Peak Electric Racer Revealed [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:11:00 +0000

The reigning Pikes Peak Hill Climb champion for the past 6 years, Nobuhiro 'Monster' Tajima, will switch from a gasoline-powered vehicle to a new prototype EV race car to break his own course...

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AutoblogGreen: Monster Tajima's electric Pikes Peak attack vehicle revealed [w/video]

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Japan, USA, Racing

Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima owns Pikes Peak, having summited quicker than anyone else these past six years. As we told you a little while back, his 2012 ascent will take place in a battery-powered racer for Team APEV (Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles). That car, the Monster Sport E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Special, has just been revealed.

The wraps came off this weekend in Tokyo at Toyota's Mega Web automotive theme park and, with a carbon fiber body and bubble roof, it looks pretty amazing. Unfortunately, no specifications have been released so far, but we suspect it has enough electric ponies to best his world-beating 9:51.278 record set just last year. Especially considering the path to the top will have no gravel road segments, as it has in years past.

You can watch the covers being pulled off publicly for the first time, along with bonus footage of it in action on the track, by simply scrolling below.

Continue reading Monster Tajima's electric Pikes Peak attack vehicle revealed [w/video]

Monster Tajima's electric Pikes Peak attack vehicle revealed [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 May 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neil Blanchard Designs: Ecodriving aka Hypermiling

noreply@blogger.com (NeilBlanchard) — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:04:47 +0000

What is EcoDriving?

In a nutshell, ecodrivingis driving in the most economical way possible; and is also known as “hypermiling.” It starts with brisk acceleration (trying to use the peak torque of the engine) so you get to "cruising" speed fairly quickly, and then trying to use a minimum of throttle to maintain the speed. Obviously, uphills are your biggest challenge, where it takes throttle just to maintain speed -- if you can, it helps if you let yourself lose a little speed up hills.

There are three possible modes of driving:

1) Accelerating 2) Coasting 3) Decelerating

Accelerating uses energy, depending on the weight of the car, the steepness of the grade, and the rate of acceleration.

Coasting uses no added energy, and it uses the accumulated momentum / kinetic energy gained by the acceleration. It only loses energy to aerodynamic and rolling drag.

Decelerating loses energy to energy to aerodynamic and rolling drag andconverting kinetic energy to heat in the brakes. Whenever possible, you should downshift to use the engine to brake, as this shuts off the fuel completely.

To be the most efficient, we need to minimize the energy it takes to accelerate and the energy lost through braking, and we need the car to lose a minimum amount of kinetic energy by being as low aerodynamic and rolling drag as possible.

To cover the most distance with the least energy, we need to accelerate up to a speed that will then allow the car to coast as close to the end as possible, and then use the engine to brake to make use of the remaining kinetic energy. The brakes needs to stay as cool as possible.

Of course, cruising longer distances and/or up hills requires some additional acceleration; either to maintain a constant speed, or to climb a hill / slope. You can do pulse and glide instead of constant acceleration (using the terrain as possible) and climbing hills well requires what I call "swooping". This involves accelerating ahead of the uphill slope (when gaining speed takes less energy) and then use this to help carry speed up the hill. Think how a bicyclist would climb a hill, and you'll understand.

Coasting downhill is a “no-brainer”-- someone dubbed downhills “road candy”! If you go too fast, then use the engine to slow down, which shuts off the fuel. And prepare to "swoop" if there is an uphill.

Then use the downhills to ease way off the throttle, or if you need to carry speed, put it in neutral and coast (with the engine idling) -- at 60mph at idle in my xA, I can get well over 300mpg while coasting.

The other common situation is when you can coast, but you need to slow down, or will soon come to a stop -- then you should downshift into a lower gear. When the engine is being pushed by the wheels, in almost all modern fuel injected cars -- will completely shut off the fuel to the engine; yielding "infinite" mileage for the duration of this kind of coasting. I try to only use my brakes at the very end of the coast right before you stop.

So, if you only use just enough throttle to get you where you need to go, and do not waste energy as heat in the brakes; but instead use it to shut off fuel to the engine, and coast to carry speed whenever you can, carrying momentum as far as you can -- then you are most of the way to good ecodriving technique.

There are other things to try, like pulse and glide (when on flat-ish terrain), and minimizing your use of A/C -- and of course if you want to try some simple and reversible mods: like pumping up your tires a bit above the recommended pressure -- but below the maximum listed on the sidewall, or some of the aerodynamic mods on the grill, etc., then all the better.

Let's try this: how far above the EPA combined mileage rating can you average on a tankful?

My Scion xA is rated 27 City/30 Combined/34 Highway by the EPA, so this past summer I was nearly 75% above the Combined, and last winter I was ~43% above – 42mpg was the worst tank average all winter! Here's a (long) thread that I have written about all the aerodynamic modifications I have made on my car: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/scion-xa-aero-mods-2969.html

To sum up the aerodynamic changes I've made: the front grill blocks and fog light covers added ~10-12% to my fuel economy, and the smooth wheel covers added ~6%, and yes the rear wheel skirts are ~3 to maybe 4%. The video mirrors and partial Kamm back also help somewhat. The rest is gained from ecodriving technique. I use a ScanGauge II to help me see how I am driving, and to help me practice and improve my ecodriving.

Not only should you try to combine several trips into one, it helps to drive to the farthest place first, and then drive to the rest of the places on the return. This lets the engine warm up fully as quickly as possible, and so it helps the engine be more efficient overall.

Keep track of your fillups and fuel economy, and make use of fuel logs like on Ecomodder.com
Get a Scan Guage II (save $ through EcoModder.com, or get an Ultra Gauge for feedback
Learn to take advantage of your regular routes, traffic patterns, reduce stress – and save money!

AutoblogGreen: Remember the electric Rolls-Royce Phantom? Forget it

Mon, 21 May 2012 20:51:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Rolls Royce

Motor Trend reports Rolls-Royce has pulled the plug (literally) on its electric Phantom. Word has it none of the ultra-luxury automaker's current clients have any interest in an electrified land yacht due to niggling factors like range anxiety and a perceived loss of premiumness. Apparently the world's super wealthy only feel content when their transportation runs on the tears of crushed ecosystems. That's a bit odd considering the 102 EX Concept bowed at the Geneva Motor Show with more torque than the buttery-smooth V12 in the standard Phantom. Still, all the torque in the world is no balm for a range of under 100 miles.

While it's true Rolls-Royce officially quoted a total range of around 120 miles from the 1,452-pound battery pack in the machine's nose, we're more than a little skeptical of that figure. Then there's the issue of keeping the electric Phantom charged. We can imagine the typical Phantom owner isn't accustomed to waiting for anything, let alone twiddling their thumbs for eight hours while their cripplingly expensive sedan charges. With all that compromise, Rolls-Royce says it just doesn't make sense to produce the 102 EX.

Remember the electric Rolls-Royce Phantom? Forget it originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 May 2012 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution To Compete In Pikes Peak

Mon, 21 May 2012 20:00:53 +0000

Pikes Peak is fast becoming the go-to place for electric vehicle competition. Major automakers, privateers, and EV conversion shops alike are bringing a variety of electric vehicles to the Race to the Clouds. Mitsubishi has announced that it will be entering a race-prepped version of their i-MiEV electric car, which looks infinitely cooler than the car they actually sell.

Now I understand why Mitsubishi isn’t pushing a one-seat all-electric racers on consumers…but the appearence is so much more appealing than the egg-shaped EV they’re actually trying to sell. According to Mitsubishi, the race car, dubbed the i-MiEV Evolution, uses the same drivetrain and battery pack as the stock passenger car.

From the looks of it though, beneath the body is the all-wheel drive system of Mitsubishi’s own Lancer Evolution with a tube-frame chassis. It’s a race car, make no mistake about it...I just wish Mitsubishi had thought to make the actual EV a little more aesthetically pleasing in the same vein as the race car. The race car version looks fast and fun, a far cry from the delicate egg you can actually buy. The i-MiEV Evolution will probably haul ass up Pikes Peak, and joining it this year will be Monster Tajima in his own custom EV racer, as well as EV West’s specially-converted BMW M3 EV among many other alt-fuel competitors.

There was an old adage in the early days of NASCAR; race on Sunday, sell on Monday. That was because consumers could actually go to the dealership on Monday morning and buy the car that won Sunday’s race, minus some of the hardcore racing equipment. That said, something is better than nothing, and I’d be especially interested in seeing how the i-MiEV Evolution competes against Nissan’s NISMO Leaf race car. Nissan competed in last year’s Pikes Peak with a stock Leaf, setting a new record for production EV’s. They will not compete this year.

Hopefully I won’t have to wait too long before these two companies pit the race-car versions of their EV’s against each other. Should be interesting, to say the least. Who do you think would win in a straight-up EV race, Mitsubishi or Nissan?

Source: Mitsubishi

EVTV.ME: Escaladus Interruptus and the Catellier Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Rickard) — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:32:30 +0000

This week, we were hard at work in the 2008 Electric Cadillac Escalade EXT conversion and we are at a very rewarding phase of the build where things move along quite quickly.

Tim Catellier of Chandler Arizona slipped in and mounted a small explosive device under the hood and this kind of wrecked our week.

Tim, an EVCCON 2011 attendee, and so of course a rank up in standing over "ordinary" viewers, inquired about a pleasant little puzzle he was having with his BMW Z3 conversion. He had been at EVCCON 2011 with his erstwhile assistant, his FATHER, and we were privileged to examine first hand and up close the particulars of this Zilla/Netgain build using CALB cells - excellent in all respects. He in turn claims the drag racing and autocross was the most fun he'd had in a car EVER with his pants on and no music.

It seems he had developed a "frame leak." I'm actually extraordinarily pleased with this. We had done a show that prominently featured our efforts to chase down a frame leak on the 2009 Mini Cooper Clubman. We described what they were, how you could detect them, why it was important for your personal safety NOT to have one, and how to chase them down. We have since had a regular flow of viewers who HAVE found frame leaks subsequently.
While most were minor leaks in the 30 ma range, some have been serious. So I'm kind of pleased this particular episode caused a lot of people to check their systems for leaks, and more pleased that they have largely been successful in addressing them. I'm not precisely a safety Nazi. Life's a bitch, and then you die, and ho hum. But this one has caused us some nasty shocks in the past and so it deserved some attention. Apparently the problem was not as rare as I thought. It wasn't just us. And so, as Marthaa Stewart says, "That's a good thing."

The check is simple. Connect a multimeter between any battery terminal and frame ground. You should see a varying voltage of 4 to 6 volts. It will probably jump around. This is because the pack "floats" separately from frame ground. If you read ANY steady voltage above a volt or so, you have a frame leak. If you read DIFFERENT steady voltages based on which battery terminal you measure to ground, you certainly have a frame leak.

If you connect a 12v light bulb between the terminal and the frame and it fails to light, it is probably a very minor leak of 30 or 40 ma usually through some of your instrumentation. If you get any light, you have a serious situation that can be life threatening in the right environmental conditions - like sweaty skin.

In any event, Mr. Catellier had one. ANd after carefully and logically troubleshooting the problem, isolated it to the MOTOR. DC series motors of course have brushes and a commutator. Carbon conducts. And a buildup of carbon dust within the motor is not unusual. Sufficient carbon dust can short the field windings to the case. Actually this is so common that a leak of less than 30 ma is not even considered a problem by the motor manufacturers. Tim's was more in the 800 ohm range which into a pack his size, is pretty stout.

He tried blowing the motor out with compressed air and failed to eliminate the problem.

George Hamstra, of Netgain Motors had previously rebuilt this same motor and wanted a clean slate on this problem. After examining photos of the brushes, he asked Tim to send in the motor and he shipped him a brand new motor from Warfield, complete with the latest Helwig H60 RedTop brushes.

It was a non-trivial amount of work to swap out the motor. But Tim again enlisted the aid of his erstwhile assistant, DAD, and they were able to do it in some four and a half hours. The frame leak was gone. And they reassembled the car.

He was back on the road and drove it to work and back the next day. But there was an interesting difference. Tim had kept careful records over the past 26 months and tracked energy usage, electricity costs, gasoline prices, and right down to the dollars dimes and ducats saved in not purchasing gasoline, all in a handy spreadsheet, just as a proper Computer Systems Administrator is wont to do.

The car averaged 380 Wh per mile for over two years. In fact, Tim and I had actually had a conversation earlier about this as we have a pretty strong rule of thumb that a car will use about 1 Wh of energy to move 1 Mile over time and average, for each 10 lbs of car. Tim's car weighed in at EVCCON 2011 at 3285 lbs. And 380 Wh/mile somewhat exceeds our rule of thumb. I was unable to account for this or provide a persuasive theory. Maybe my rule of thumb not so good medicine in all cases.

On his drive to work and back, Tim noted an energy usage of 280 Wh/mile. This is kind of dramatically better.

He describes this somewhat better than I do on his blog at http://evz3.blogspot.com/

I received an e-mail message regarding this. In discussing the issue, he refined his results with total driving over the past 680 miles - 332 Wh/mile average. At 3285 lbs, I like this number for by now obvious reasons.

I initially suggested that the only thing I could imagine would cause such a DRAMATIC disparity in two otherwise identical 11 inch motors was the advance timing. The Netgain motors come marked with alignment marks for CCW, N, and CW timing. This corresponds to counter clockwise as viewed from the drive end of the motor, neutral, and clockwise respectively.

Most explanations of electric motor theory are technically correct as far as they go, but of necessity incomplete. First, some of the factors are difficult to explain. And second, after 150 years some of them we really don't know exactly. For some reason, "square" motors - that is motors with a certain ratio between diameter and length, run better than others. A certain amount of mass of iron in the case is simply required for efficient operation. We CAN make motors lighter. That's not necessarily a good thing. We know that the field windings set up a magnetic field that causes armature rotation. But were you aware that there is an interaction where the armature rotation then affects the magnetic field - in fact rotating it in the direction of the armature?

This is termed the armature effect and actually we DO know quite a bit about this. In the Netgain Warp 11HV, they employ inter poles to counteract the effect of this, and this is how this particular motor can handle higher voltages without arcing.

In the ordinary Netgain Warp 11, the CCW position literally rotates the brush ring a few degrees in the direction of armature rotation. This moves what is termed "the neutral plane" that same number of degrees. And so the brushes are only truly at neutral when the motor reaches a couple thousand rpm and the armature effect comes into play. Since it is OUT of neutral at low rpms, you would think this would cause arcing on startup. But in fact, the actually applied voltage to the motor is very low at that point and so arcing isn't as much of a problem. Under power AND RPM, the voltage is higher, and so that is where we want the brushes to truly be in the neutral plane.

And so we refer to this as ADVANCE TIMING. My theory was that if Mr. Catellier had his first motor accidentally at N or worse CW timing position, this would cause severe arcing during acceleration - and probably a LOT of carbon dust. That could seriously undermine his Wh/mile and explain his frame leak.

Unfortunately, brilliant though it sounded, it was another case of my trying to type myself smart in a fashion that would make the DIYElectric crowd cheer with pride.

Tim had of course noted and recorded the position on both motors. CCW. Theory busted.

Leaving what? The brushes. I'm accustomed thinking of brushes as just brushes and that their main characteristic is their life span, based on the hardness of the material. This also becomes a factor in seating the brushes, as they can take longer or shorter amounts of wear to properly seat in. But once they are in operation, there is little to choose between them other than how many miles you get before you get to change them. The technology is 180 years old. What's to know?

But in the spirit of rational inquiry, what else is there? That was the notable change between the two motors.

I happened to have a Netgain Warp 9, and an ADC 8 motor on a bench I had cleared off. We reassembled the Warp 9 using the new Helwig H60 Redtop brushes and painted the motor. The ADC took a little more work, we bead blasted the end bells, (and the armature unfortunately), revarnished the armature, and replaced the brushes and the entire brush mounting ring. I intend to use it on a lawn mower.

But we looked around and found the old brushes from the Netgain Warp 9. I wired up a JLD404 meter and a digital voltmeter with a contactor, one of our A123 13.5volt modules, and a switch. And we ran the motor with the new brushes, that had about 10 hours of seating on them. Then we changed the brushes to the old brushes. As it turns out, these aren't Helwig brushes at all. They are marked ML1683 and ML1684 H8 with a stylized chevron with a capital N in it. I have not determined who the manufacturer is, but Tom Brunka advises that it is a low voltage brush used on fork lift motors typically at 72v and below.

So we ran the motor again with the old brushes. The difference was astounding. For the same 129Ah of energy, the new brushes ran for 3 hours 38 minutes and 54 seconds. The old brushes ran for three hours, one minute, and 25 seconds.

So we reran the new brushes again. Along the way, we began recording RPM and commutator temperature along with current and voltage. The results are shown below.

If you clear out all the chaff, the new brushes use 485 Wh per hour to turn the motor at 2652 rpm while the old brushes require 535 Wh per hour to turn the shaft 2053 rpm. This is such an astounding difference that there must be something HUGE wrong with our methodology.

Except it rather persuasively reflects, in both direction and amplitude, what Tim Catellier reports.

I really have no further explanation for this. Here is the data and we would be very interested in direct attempts to reproduce either refuting or supporting. In the meanwhile, if you are driving a Netgain Motor a year old or more, you might invest in a set of Helwig H60 RedTops. Baseline your Wh/mile, change the brushes, and measure again. We would be very interested in what you find.

The current Helwig part numbers are:

For the Warp 9 = 10-621117-674-3-01
For the Warp 11 = 10-621117-674-3-02

I think Netgain is offering these brushes now at $150 per set of eight brushes. We will try to do the same on the EVTV online store as soon as possible.

We have also chased down the XSTURBOS guy and ordered 10 of his Garret blowers. We'll put together a little kit with the blower, the shroud for the motor to mount it on, and a relay at $495. George Hamstra of Netgain has already spoken for one for his Bricklin build that we are hoping to see at the EVCCON 2012. But hopefully we'll have these up on the web site this week or next as well.

Why? The main defense you have to carbon dust buildup in the motor is the motor fan. The newer motors actually have an improved fan on the drive end and these fans do a pretty good job at moving air through the motor, both to cool it and to clear the inevitable carbon dust. The problem is, that works real well at 3000 rpm. It works not so well at 300 rpm. And at 20 rpm it doesn't do squat. We have routinely begun using these 434 cfm blowers on all our Netgain motors. Any more heat you can remove is a good thing. And at low rpms, you still have fairly impressive air flow to remove carbon dust as well as heat.

Many people have run Netgain motors for years quite handily without an external blower. So this is overkill EVTV style. Still we recommend it.

Additionally, there are many less expensive blowers that are out there that will do just fine as auxiliary blowers for the motor. These look cool. For what i'm spending on the Escalade build, looking cool is kind of required.

Your mileage may of course vary....

Jack Rickard

AutoblogGreen: VW, BASF giving out 50,000 euro award for electrochemistry, better batteries

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Volkswagen

As a company that sees plug-in hybrids as the future, it makes sense that Volkswagen would want to advance the technology needed for these cars. What's less expected is how VW wants to do this: through a new annual "Science Award for Electrochemistry," offered jointly with BASF SE, that any researcher on the planet can apply for at this website.

With a total prize purse of 50,000 euros ($63,664 U.S. at today's exchange rates), the award is intended to "promote outstanding accomplishments in science and engineering from which stimulation may be gained for the development of high-performance energy storage devices." That means, basically, better batteries for hybrids and other electric drive vehicles, ones that last a long time. VW's chairman of the board of management, Martin Winterkorn, said in a statement that, "We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of ensuring that Volkswagen battery systems will facilitate reliable day-to-day operations for 10 years, thus lasting for a normal automotive life span."

Interested applicants can submit applications through August 3rd, and the award ceremony will take place in Wolfsburg, Germany in October.

Continue reading VW, BASF giving out 50,000 euro award for electrochemistry, better batteries

VW, BASF giving out 50,000 euro award for electrochemistry, better batteries originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 21 May 2012 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Video: BYU Students Win Formula Hybrid Competition

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:00:42 +0000

The world of motorsports is evolving as clean technologies like hybrid motors provide a new platform for performance. This is true from the highest levels of Formula One racing all the way down to college engineering competitions. The annual SAE Formula Hybrid competition challenges teams of college engineering students to build fast and efficient hybrid racers. The winning racer, built by students from BYU, can go from 0-60 MPH in just 3 seconds.

The car, called Hybrid Blue, has been the brainchild of BYU’s students and teachers for four years, and has competed since 2009. Last year Hybrid Blue came in second place, causing the team to make some major changes that included shortening the vehicle by 14 inches. This also dropped about 80 lbs. off of the 450 lb. vehicle, which had a drastic effect on acceleration and handling.

As a result, BYU’s Hybrid Blue can go from 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds, and it dominated the SAE Formula Hybrid’s acceleration, endurance, and autocross competitions. In fact, after the 14-mile/22-kilometer endurance run, BYU’s little hybrid racer still had a 75% charge left. Running on E85 ethanol and a hybrid-electric system, what you’re seeing is essentially the future of motorsports, just on a collegiate level.

Granted, the Hybrid Blue is a glorified go-kart, but these students will be entering an evoling world where new technology is pushing performance cars even farther. Formula One has already embraced hybrid motors for pit stops, and the American Le Mans Series has welcome hybrids into its midst as well. From rally racing to land speed record semi-trucks, hybrid technology has infiltrated most every form of motorsports.

As Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing.”

Source: BYU

PuginCars: It's Official: Ford Now Shipping Focus Electric to US Dealerships

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:43:42 +0000

Ford is now shipping its Focus Electric vehicles to dealerships in three US states.

Gas 2.0: Green News Daily: Monday, May 21st, 2012

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:00:23 +0000

Happy Monday dear readers! This is going to be a big week for me…I’m supposedly closing on a house on Wednesday. But don’t get too excited for me until I sign that paper. If it does happen (finally) then don’t expect to hear from me until NEXT Tuesday. I’ll try to get a few posts up here or there, but mostly you’ll be in the capable, if slightly smelly, hands of Mr. Jo Borras.

For now, on to the green news!

Ford Now Taking Orders On C-Max Hybrid [Treehugger]

FedEx Reducing Fuel Use Faster Than Anticipated [Hybrid Cars]

Chevy Volt Drivers Save A Supertanker Worth Of Fuel [Green Car Reports]

Nissan’s 4th EV Will Be Based On PIVO Concept [Plug-In Cars]

Volvo Launching 13-Liter LPG Truck Engine [Green Car Congress]

10 Most Bikeable Cities Rated [CleanTechnica]

PuginCars: Nissan LEAF Debuts in Nebraska

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:23:24 +0000

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The Cornhusker state is electric with Roger and Nicole Paulman claiming ownership of the state's first Nissan LEAF. Last Friday, the Paulmans became the proud owners of the first LEAF ever sold in Nebraska. The lengthy two-year buying process came to an end when the Paulmans were handed keys to their $38,000 Aqua Blue LEAF.

"It actually exceeds our expectations—which is really hard to do given the buildup of two years waiting," remarked Roger Paulman. But it's Roger's wife who will be the primary driver of the electric LEAF.

Electric Vehicle News: Fine tuning makes wireless charging efficient

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:47:00 +0000

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new way to fine-tune wireless power transfer (WPT) receivers, making the systems more efficient and functional. Wireless charging is...

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Gas 2.0: The New Gas 2: More Buttons, More Tanks, and More Fun!

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:00:52 +0000

Since its inception in 2007, Gas 2 has been about a world coming to terms with its addiction to oil. We’ve talked about conservation, biofuels, clean diesels, electric cars, and the politics surrounding them all. Want to hear a secret about all that?

OK, I’ll tell you.

The fun parts of the future of fuels is virtually the same as the fun parts of fuels past: motorcycles, tanks, scooters, racecars – these things (and I speak from a place of complete, metaphysical certainty) kick ass, whether they run on gasoline, ethanol, or baby seal blood. You know, gear-head stuff.

That said: a thing’s being awesome doesn’t earn it a free pass to stink up my the air or waste my our natural resources.

To that end, we’re emphasizing the most awesome parts of the future of fuel here at Gas 2, with new nav-buttons that take you straight to the awesomeness that is motor racing, powersports, ~~tanks~~ military firepower, and more – making Gas 2 your best source for news and information about the steps being taken to make those awesome things more sustainable and more responsible.

Also: politics, because how much fun is it to argue about politics? I’ll get us started:

Tea parties are for old ladies and little girls.

See? Fun!

Feel free to click on the “Boring Stuff” link for more of what you can get everywhere else, except written by me and Chris and the rest of the Gas 2 gang. Stuff like mainstream auto show coverage, corporate press releases, math that isn’t about lap times or wheel torque.

Like the idea? Love it, even?

Tell me us how very clever ~~I am~~ we are (and let us know how you’d change things up) in the comments, below.

Source: Gas 2.

Gas 2.0: America’s Best Biking Cities and Crazy NATO Summit Conspiracies

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:00:31 +0000

It’s been a dramatic weekend for your faithful weekend editor, but it looks like my internet’s back up and this new tablet thing is working. Which means: we’re back in business!

At least, until the my WiFi starts acting funny again and kicks me off (which I’ve decided to blame on the Chicago NATO summit’s response to “terrorist” protesters). In the interest of getting some posts up while these operational windows are still open, then, here’s a great article highlighting America’s best cycling cities from our sister site, CleanTechnica.

Enjoy!

10 Most Bikeable Cities in the US… Probably (via Clean Technica)

WalkScore, at least within city planning circles, is famous. It developed a system for ranking the walkability of cities, neighborhoods, and streets, and gave access to countless people to evaluate their area and work to improve it. WalkScore later branched to rank transit systems. And it has, of…

Source: Cleantechnica.

AutoblogGreen: Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, Amp Electric Vehicles

Amp, the Ohio-based maker of battery-electric SUVs, has opened its first dealership in Cincinnati and said first deliveries would start by year end.

Amp of Cincinnati opened last week and showed off both its Jeep Grand Cherokee- and Mercedes-Benz ML350-based battery-electric vehicles. The dealership has started taking $5,000 deposits for the SUVs, which Amp says have a single-charge range of as many as 125 miles. Amp said in March that its SUVs qualified for the $7,500 tax credit from the IRS. That month, the company also said it reached an agreement to sell its SUVs in the Caribbean.

The company in January said the Jeep-based Amp would be priced at $57,400, bringing the out of pocket price just under $50,000.

Continue reading Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati

Amp opens first dealership in Cincinnati originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 19 May 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen: GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Chevrolet, GM

That's one small step for man, and one less really big barge full of fuel for mankind.

That's basically what General Motors' Chevrolet division is saying in its latest effort to pitch the Volt extended-range plug-in as a way for prospective drivers to save both money and the earth.

Chevrolet estimates that Volt drivers have saved more than 2.1 million gallons of gas - or one supertanker - by driving their vehicles in electric mode. Since the model launched in late 2010, Volt drivers, who, on average, use electricity 60 percent of the time and fuel from the car's on-board generator the rest of the time, have put on 40 million electric-only miles on the car, saving a combined $8 million in unused gasoline the process.

While the Volt fell about 2,300 units short of Chevy's goal to sell 10,000 units last year, 2012 sales through April tripled from a year earlier to 5,377 units. We anxiously await Nissan's own claim on how many fleets worth of gas its Leaf drivers have saved...

Continue reading GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas

GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 19 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electric Vehicle News: Utah State University working on in-road wireless charging [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:56:00 +0000

Utah State University electrical engineers have made a technical breakthrough that could solve this power-storage pitfall — not by improving batteries, but by recharging them wirelessly, according to...

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Electric Vehicle News: Mitsubishi reveal I-MiEV Evolution Pikes Peak racer

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:43:00 +0000

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will enter two all-electric vehicles (EVs) in the Electric Class of the legendary Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. MMC will be aiming for victory in the...

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Electric Vehicle News: Demand for EVs in Hawaii ends state rebate program earlier than expected

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:10:00 +0000

A Hawaii electric vehicle rebate program has run out of money after doling out about $2 million since January 2011. The state extended the program twice, adding $500,000 in an effort to stimulate...

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Electric Vehicle News: Ford to start shipping Focus Electric to dealers

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:02:00 +0000

Ford will start shipping its first electric passenger car to dealers this weekend. About 350 Focus Electric cars will be sent to 67 dealers in California, New Jersey and New York over the next...

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AutoblogGreen: EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging

Sat, 19 May 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EVS

If you had to name one of the biggest game-change moments that the electric vehicle could bring to the world, try this one:

Every prior attempt to electrify the car has assumed the vehicle would be the energy carrier. By comparison, the grid is much more efficient at moving energy from point A to point B, so if you can make dynamic charging safe and affordable, you are truly introducing something new.

That's the vision of Jeff Muhs, director of Strategy and Business Development for Utah State University's Energy Dynamics Laboratory (EDL), whom we spoke with at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) in Los Angeles recently. Dynamic charging is another way to say charging while a vehicle is moving by using in-road wireless charging units, something that USU has been working on for a while.

Most people believe that in-motion charging is inevitable.

For now, USU is focusing on stationary wireless charging and will launch an electric bus route later this summer in Salt Lake City at the University of Utah campus. The electric bus will travel along a mile-and-a-half route, stopping at either end for a few minutes to charge up. Using a bus at this stage makes sense as a way to test the technology because it's big, it travels along a fixed route and there is recharge time built into the schedule. An electric bus also helps reduce noise and emissions on campus, which is something the university wanted. USU's wireless charging team is also working on improving the space tolerance (making the charger work even if things are not perfectly aligned), the power levels (systems that are 20-50 kW instead of just 5-10 kW) and efficiencies.

Continue reading EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging

EVS: Utah State University quietly working on in-road wireless charging originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen: Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak

Fri, 18 May 2012 23:02:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, USA, Racing

No, that's not a Mitsubishi i-MiEV in a fat suit, it's the automaker's brand-new all-electric race car, and it's set to take on the 2012 Pike's Peak International Hill Climb in July. This isn't the first time we've seen an EV enter the Pike's Peak challenge - Nissan commissioned a Leaf for battle last year, a car that set the bar for all future electric racers.

Mitsubishi says that its race car, dubbed i-MiEV Evolution, uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the standard, bean-shaped electric car that we haven't quite grown to love. Aside from the additional bodywork, the chassis has clearly been lengthened and widened, and the race car now uses an all-wheel-drive configuration rather than the rear-wheel drive of the standard i-MiEV.

To give you an idea of just how big the racer is, a quick glance of Mitsubishi's specs show that the i-MiEV Evolution's dimensions are within a few inches of the stock Lancer Evolution. We wouldn't be surprised if the all-wheel-drive system was sourced from the Lancer, as well.

Mitsubishi will also be bringing two more of its EVs to the Pike's Peak event, including an i that has been updated with a more aerodynamic front bumper and new safety equipment, as well as a bone stock model. Scroll down for the official press blast.

Continue reading Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak

Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Food Waste Could Create Hydrogen Fuel

Fri, 18 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000

The world of the 21st century faces some incredibly daunting challenges that, unless dealt with soon, may eventually reach the point of no return. Overpopulation, water shortages, and climate change is just some of the long list of problems facing the world. Researchers in the UK may have come up with a clever solution to dealing with food waste and creating affordable hydrogen fuel.

Scientists at the University of Birmingham are proposing a system that uses food waste, like the leftovers from chocolate processing, that would turn the waste into biohydrogen. This sustainable source of hydrogen fuel could even be applied towards ethanol production, resulting in a sort of two-for-one biofuel, and could be applied to waste food found in the trash, as well as the leftovers from processing.

Food waste is already being used in a variety of biofuel processing techniques, ethanol and biodiesel among them. One problem facing hydrogen infrastructure is sourcing enough of the clean-burning gas to support our large transportation needs. But there will always be food waste to go around, and if we can get a variety of biofuels, hydrogen among them, from collected food waste, it’s like killing two birds with one very clean stone.

Source: Domestic Fuel

AutoblogGreen: NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire

Fri, 18 May 2012 19:05:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, Fisker

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched a formal field inquiry into the garage fire that may or may not have been started by a Fisker Karma sedan, Bloomberg reports. The conflagration, which destroyed the Karma, the garage and a few nearby vehicles, took place on May 3rd in Sugarland, Texas.

Claude Harris, NHTSA's director of vehicle safety compliance, said that the investigation is "ongoing," adding that "no determination has been made at this time." Until an official cause is isolated, we're betting there will be a good bit of he-said, she-said finger pointing in all directions...

It's worth noting that NHTSA has also been actively investigating the safety of battery packs used in the Chevrolet Volt after reports of fires in the wild and after NHTSA's own crash testing procedures.

NHTSA launches inquiry into Fisker Karma garage fire originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Zero Motorcycles and Hollywood Electrics’ Sunset Strip Party

Fri, 18 May 2012 18:20:42 +0000

Typical Hollywood Ladies Love Zeros Photo Courtesy Scottie Images

Hollywood Electrics and Zero Motorcycles teamed up to celebrate the overwhelming success of the 2012 line Wednesday night at the chic Sunset Marquis Bar 1200. Zero Motorcycles sales for 2012 have far outpaced those of all previous years combined, and the company is still struggling to meet consumer demand for the fastest production motorcycles currently available, and tested by yours truly. The party was well attended by not only the requisite smattering of Hollywood PYT’s, but also by plenty of actual riders, judging by the piles of helmets everywhere, and bikers in their jackets. I saw more Ducati riders than anything else, showing that as predicted, these motorcycles have their strongest appeal among riders who appreciate a bike that’s different, cutting edge, and not too cheap.

Actual Riders! (rare in Hollywood) Photo Courtesy Scottie Images

There were also some gorgeous displays of 2012 models, both stock and customized by Hollywood Electrics, like this blacked out Zero S featured in the Sunset Marquis “gift shop”, Maximillian Gallery. With a stunning collection of some of the best emerging LA artists, it’s far more than your average gift shop, and makes an excellent backdrop for a matte black motorcycle.

Maximillian Gallery and Custom Zero S Photo Courtesy of Scottie Images

I had a great conversation with Zero COO Karl Wharton about Zero’s progress and different charging solutions. He told me about ChadeMo, a charging network expanding throughout the world. Karl also teased me that they’ve got some very exciting developments coming up this fall.

More photos from the party for your entertainment:

Hollywood Electrics owner Harlan Flagg with Adopt-a-Charger’s Executive Director Kitty Adams and Plug-In America Co-founder Paul Scott.

Harlan, Kitty and Paul Photo Courtesy of Scottie Images

The set they built, before the party was too crowded to see any bikes…

Zero party set Photo courtesy of Scottie Images

The author with Hollywood Electrics’ Josh Kearney and Harlan Flagg, and Lifetime Executive Christina Suwa. I may not be able to countersteer until my collarbone decides to reattach itself, but I can still sit on bikes!

Photo Courtesy of Scottie Images

Gas 2.0: API Releases Slanted Study Aimed At E15

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:14 +0000

As I get older, I find my tolerance for bullshit receding at a rapid rate. I try not to lose hope in humanity, but there are days when even I am shocked at the ignorant persistence and slanted viewpoints of certain entities. The American Petroleum Institute, which represents America’s major oil companies, is a consistent purveyor of half-truths and crooked studies, and their latest “study” aimed at E15 keeps on that crooked path of deliberate misinformation.

The study, which you can read in its entirety for yourself, was conducted by the Coordinating Research Council, a non-profit funded almost entirely by the API and major automakers. The study purports to conclude that E15 ethanol is harmful to vehicles made between 2001 and 2009. However, just by looking at the list of vehicles procured for this test, I can tell you that durability issues were all but inevitable. The vehicles chosen for this ethanol durability test were a 2009 Chevy Aveo, a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0T, a 2005 Chevy Colorado, a 2004 Scion xA, a 2007 Ford Edge, a 2007 Dodge Ram, and a 2009 Dodge Caliber. None of these vehicles has exactly built a reputation as reliable. Why not include a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, the two most popular and reliable passenger cars sold in America?

These cars were picked for a reason. And while the API-funded study highlights the fact that two of the eight engines tested failed while running E15 ethanol fuel, the testing parameters were such that failure was almost a garauntee. The study also fails to highlight the fact that one of the engines failed while running straight gasoline.

Funny, that.

The API was quick to condemn the two-and-a-half years and 6-million miles of engine testing the EPA did as “rushed.” But this study put the engines through just 500 miles of engine dyno testing. Furthermore, the API is one of those very vocal, far-right institutions constantly badgering the government about its prolonged environmental studies…but two and a half years to study engine durability on a new fuel blend is a rush job? Ugh.

The very notion that these engines failed on ethanol also makes it sound as though the engines blew up, when in fact “failure” was determined by a leakdown test of the cylinders and checking wear and tear on the valvetrain. So the engines still worked; they just didn’t quite match up to what the manufacturer’s suggested specifications were. That is to be expected from engines that weren’t deliberately built to handle E15, even though five of the eight engines were just fine after running the supposedly corrosive fuel.

Don’t take my word for it though. Read the study for yourself and you decide if this all seems legit. And just remember that the EPA is NOT mandating the use of E15 ethanol; it is merely giving gas stations permission to sell the fuel. In other words, less government regulation.

But not when it eats into the profits of Big Oil, right?

AutoblogGreen: Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in

Engineering challenges are like a siren's call to Neal Saiki. Since leaving Zero Motorcycles in early 2011, the company he co-founded with his wife Lisa, he's spent lots of time and effort wrestling with the human-powered helicopter conumdrum. As engaging as that might be, however, he still hasn't been able to keep himself from considering how to build a better electric motorcycle; work that has, it seems, proved slightly less Sisyphean as he has just announced a pretty cool battery pack breakthrough.

His approach tackles the big battery drawbacks of cost and energy capacity head on by employing the same "18650" cylindrical cells that Tesla Motors so successfully uses. Then, to get around the labor intensive connection method of welding thin strips of nickel to each one, he has devised a way to mechanically connect the cells with enough pressure to keep the current dependably flowing through them.

This configuration makes it easy to replace a single cell if it goes bad - each one is thermally monitored for signs of failure - and also makes it super easy to upgrade when new, better cells become available. What's not to like?

Saiki calculates a 200-pound pack will hold a nominal 16.1 kWh of energy using 1440 individual cells. That, he says, should provide for a real-world, driving-down-the-highway, 100-mile range. By contrast, the "100-mile" bikes by Zero Motorcycles and Brammo hold around nine kWhs.

The system can also be adapted to four-wheeled vehicles. In that application, the pack would be arranged as a three-inch thick plate holding 26.6 kWh of energy per square meter (22.2 kWh per square yard). It's too soon to say whether or when the pack will be commercially available. Saiki's new company, NTS Works, is currently looking to work with "select OEM's on custom battery pack design and licensing." Scroll down below for the official press release for more details.

Continue reading Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less

Neal Saiki claims battery breakthrough gives more range, costs less originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Green News Daily: Friday, May 18th, 2012

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:00:50 +0000

Happy Friday readers, and welcome to the last day of yet another week. The weather is warm and beautiful, and I hope to get out and enjoy nature this weekend. Just a few more stories to go! Today’s green news highlights include a 3,300 MPG racer, Mercedes will start selling a hydrogen-powered sedan in 2017, and China builds a green power super highway.

Michigan College Students Building 3,300 Mile “Racer” [New York Times]

Video: ALTe’s Plug-In Hybrid Pickups [Translogic]

Estonian Gov’t Pays Half The Cost Of New EV’s [Green Car Reports]

China Building Advanced Power Lines For Green Energy [GigaOm]

Algae Tec. Commissions Biorefinery [Domestic Fuel]

Mercedes To Introduce Hydrogen Fuel Cell Sedan in 2017 [Green Car Congress]

PuginCars: Nissan's Fourth Electric Vehicle to be PIVO-Inspired Urban Commuter

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:29:04 +0000

The funky Nissan PIVO concept will be the inspiration for Nissan's fourth electric-only vehicle.

If Nissan’s EVs are going to become popular and profitable at a global scale, the company will need an entire line of attractive all-electric cars. When I spoke with Mark Perry, Nissan’s EV product planner, at the Tokyo Motor Show last year, he said the company was thinking about which vehicle to choose as its fourth Nissan-badged EV. Of course, the LEAF is Nissan's first mass-produced electric vehicle. The second and third will be the electric-only variant of the NV200 small commercial van, called e-NV200, and the Infiniti LE, a luxury electric sedan.

Electric Vehicle News: Ford C-Max Hybrid - Driving Scenes [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:37:00 +0000

Ford dealers are now taking orders for the Ford C-MAX Hybrid, which will be more affordable than Toyota Prius v while achieving better fuel economy Class-exclusive technologies include hands-free...

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Electric Vehicle News: World’s First Hybrid Solar-Geothermal Power Plant Opens [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:31:00 +0000

Last week, Enel Green Power inaugurated its solar-geothermal plant at Stillwater, Nevada. It is the world’s first plant of this kind. The Stillwater facility combines 26 MW of photovoltaic solar...

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Electric Vehicle News: Citroen reveal DS5 Hybrid4 Eliseo [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:40:00 +0000

Citroën has revealed the third model in its DS line the 2013 DS5. The DS5 is the first Citroën model to feature HYbrid4 diesel hybrid technology. The HYbrid4 system delivers 200bhp; four-wheel...

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Electric Vehicle News: Fisker Atlantic Specs Leaked: 300 HP, 0-60 MPH in 6.5 Seconds

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:09:00 +0000

Fisker revealed a new car called the Atlantic at the New York auto show earlier this year. The Fisker Atlantic is meant to be a more affordable extended range electric vehicle. Until now, however,...

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Electric Vehicle News: FedEx Express adding more electric vehicles to fleet

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:01:00 +0000

FedEx Express, a unit of FedEx Corp, has made significant progress towards its goal to make its vehicle fleet 20 percent more fuel efficient by 2020, announcing today that the FedEx Express vehicle...

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Electric Vehicle News: Nissan to Test NV200-based EVs With AEON Retail Company in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 01:47:00 +0000

Nissan has begun tests of an electric vehicle (EV) based on the compact commercial vehicle NV200. AEON Retail will use the EV test cars as delivery vehicles within the Tokyo metropolitan area for...

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AutoblogGreen: Nissan Leaf ensures high-quality whisky from Isle of Islay

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:55:00 +0000

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Ethanol, EV/Plug-in, Nissan, UK, Videos

The Bruichladdich Distillery has been making artisan single malt Scotch whisky since 1881 on the Isle of Islay in the UK. As the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, you may not expect the island's 620 square kilometers (239 square miles) to be the ideal habitat for electric cars.

Apparently, though, the Nissan Leaf works out quite well for Mark Reynier, managing director at the distillery. The island's inhabitants are also benefited, says Reynier, by Nissan's Power Control System, which allows the Leaf's high-capacity lithium ion battery to power other devices - important when a single storm can completely cut the island's link to the outside world.

Watch Reynier describe how the Nissan Leaf has improved his life and his distillery in the video below. And, if you're interested in other ways to use Bruichladdich's whisky as a biofuel, you can also watch James May run a Radical SR4 race car on the spirit in a separate video.

Continue reading Nissan Leaf ensures high-quality whisky from Isle of Islay

Nissan Leaf ensures high-quality whisky from Isle of Islay originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electric Vehicle News: Chevrolet Volt Saves Supertanker of Gasoline

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have saved a supertanker of gasoline since the electric car with extended range went on sale, compiling 40 million miles on electricity and avoiding the use of more...

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AutoblogGreen: EVS: After 24 million EV miles, Ecotality and Blink are ready for both CHAdeMO and SAE

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:54:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EVS

One can think about conspiracy theories that maybe that's the way they wanted it be.

The Nissan Leaf is the most mainstream electric vehicle in the U.S., and it has a CHAdeMO DC fast-charge option. Ecotality's Blink network offers CHAdeMO chargers. Ecotality is the managing organization behind The EV Project, which recently announced it had collected information on 24 million electric vehicle miles. So, if any group would have an opinion about the potential challenge to CHAdeMO from the SAE combo charger announcement, Ecotality would be that group.

To find out, we spoke with Donald Karner, Ecotality's chief innovation officer, who said what others in the charging business told us during the Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26): the cars - and EV buyers - will dictate which standard wins.

"We're in the infrastructure business," Karner said. "We supply infrastructure to fuel advanced vehicles. We've done hydrogen, we do level 2 AC. On the DC side, if and when vehicles come to market that utilize the combo connector in sufficient numbers that justifies us making the investment in installing those connectors and developing chargers that will operate under that protocol, of course we will."

Can we accommodate two different standards? Yeah, we can do that. Is it going to cost more? Absolutely.

As you can see in the picture above, the Blink fast charger is dual port. "We did that a year and a half ago," Karner said. "The guys back here [he indicates a competitor's booth] are now saying, 'oh, what everybody should do is dual port so that you can do CHAdeMo on one side and combo on the other side. Well, that's exactly why we did that. A year and a half ago, we went to the SAE and said, 'look, you guys have a problem. You are two years behind schedule. DC fast chargers are coming, the Nissan Leaf with CHAdeMo is coming. We're sitting here as an EVSP [electric vehicle service provider] and we have to build a charger to service this. There's no U.S. standard. What are you guys going to do?' And the answer from the SAE committee was, 'Not our problem. We don't care. We're going to focus on J1772 AC and that's all we can do at one time.'

Now, there are clearly some competitive issues in there (between the automakers) so here the auto industry has shot itself in the foot again. Can we accommodate two different standards? Yeah, we can do that. Is it going to cost more than having one standard? Absolutely it's going to cost more. Fast charging is already very expensive and the auto companies, because they couldn't get along and are going to squabble, just like they did last time with inductive and conductive, are going to shoot themselves in the foot."

Continue reading EVS: After 24 million EV miles, Ecotality and Blink are ready for both CHAdeMO and SAE

EVS: After 24 million EV miles, Ecotality and Blink are ready for both CHAdeMO and SAE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 May 2012 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Trucks Borrow Trolley Idea, Link Up With Overhead Power Lines

Thu, 17 May 2012 20:00:18 +0000

A hundred years ago, most major cities relied on trains and electric trolleys to move most of their citizenry around. These days cars and trucks rule the roads of America, although an old idea might soon find a modern application. I am talking about overhead trolley power lines electrifying hybrid trucks, allowing for long journeys on little fuel while reducing noise and emissions.

The system, called eHighway, is being developed by Siemens, and as the video below shows, trucks can hook up and detach from this trolley-like power system on the go. This system would, in theory, give trucks an unlimited driving distance, while at the same time reducing road noise, fuel consumption, and emissions. The hybrid trucks could leave and return to the system at any time, traveling the rest of the distance on either battery, or backup engine power.

Being that trolley lines have existed for a century or more in this country (though today are limited to places like San Francisco), nobody could claim this is some wacky unproven technology, like wireless in-road charging. And since the system itself is relatively simple, installing overhead powerlines on certain highways could be comparatively affordable.

That is assuming that truck makers get on board with this idea. And I can’t see why they wouldn’t. High diesel prices are eating into the profits of many shipping companies, and even the government is finally clamping down on big truck emissions. This overhead charging apparatus couldn’t have come at a better time.

Source: Gizmodo

Gas 2.0: Video: BMW M3 EV To Take On Pikes Peak

Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:52 +0000

Electric cars haven’t caught on with many Americans yet, but a new generation of gearheads is latching on to the performance potential of electric motors. EV West, a small San Diego-based conversion shop is one such group of gearheads. EV West has taken one of the top European sports cars, the BMW M3, and converted it into a race-ready EV that will tackle the Race to the Clouds at Pikes Peak.

I’m not a huge BMW fan, but I have a healthy respect for the Ultimate Driving Machine, and the M3 in particular. It is a well-balanced automobile from the factory, with a clever suspension, powerful engine, and a mentality well-suited for people who consider themselves “drivers”. Taking the M3 and converting it into an electric vehicle is cool enough; racing it in the Pikes Peak rally is even cooler. EV’s have the potential to one day dominate Pikes Peak. Electric motors don’t suffer from power loss at high altitudes the same way conventional engines do.

EV West’s electric M3 uses a Net-Gain HV11 electric motor and an Evnetics Shiva controller to limit output to about 400 horsepower. As the above teaser video shows, this electric M3 is no slouch, and it looks like it has plenty of chops to tackle the famed Pikes Peak rally. EV West has documented much of the build on their Facebook page, so give ‘em the ol’ thumbs up if you dig this project as much as I do.

Pikes Peak has been attracting the alternative fuel crowd for some time now, and the trend is continuing towards greener kinds of competition. Last year Nissan entered a stock Leaf EV into Pikes Peak, and legendary hill climber Monster Tajima is entering a new electric vehicle in this year’s Race to the Clouds.

It’s an exciting year to be an EV racing enthusiast. With the way electric cars have been infiltrating motorsports on all levels, it seems almost inevitable that more people will embrace this new mode of personal transportation, rather than dismissing it outright as slow and boring. If only major automakers would do something as cool as what EV West is doing with their electric M3, the conversion process might pick up the pace.

Source: Electric Vehicles West

Gas 2.0: Green News Daily: Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:54 +0000

Good morning, and Happy Birthday to my beautiful girlfriend Nicole! I’ve got a lovely weekend planned with her, but alas there’s still some work to do before then. Today’s highlights include the official EPA rating of the Tesla Model S, Kia is considering a diesel car, and an Electric Grand Prix gets under way.

Tesla Model S To Get 265-Mile EPA Rating [Motor Trend]

2011 Nissan Leaf Battery Bars Disappearing [Green Car Reports]

Kia Considering Diesel Engines For U.S. Sales [LeftLane News]

Bikability Of Cities Now Rated [Treehugger]

Grand Prix de Pau Electrique Gets Under Way [Autoblog Green]

PuginCars: Leviton Unveils 40-Amp, 6-Hour Charger for Toyota RAV4 EV

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:20:34 +0000

Leviton's 9.6 kW residential unit can charge a Toyota RAV4 EV in six hours.

When an electric vehicle is equipped with a massive 41.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, completing a full recharge in a timely manner becomes an issue. That's why Leviton engineered a 240-volt, 40 amp charger for the upcoming Toyota RAV4 EV. Leviton's setup is capable of outputting 9.6 kW and thus charges a fully depleted RAV4 EV in approximately six hours.

The 9.6 kW system pushes Level 2 home charging beyond the 6.6-kW charging on vehicles like the Focus Electric and Coda sedan, and way past the Nissan LEAF's 3.3 kW rate.

Electric Vehicle News: GE working on the Battery Powered Home [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:38:00 +0000

GE's joint showcase with Nissan at the SAE 2012 World Congress in Detroit displayed technology that can reverse the flow from your electric car's batteries to power your home in a blackout. The...

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AutoblogGreen: Retrofitted BMW M3 electric will compete in Pikes Peak race

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:58:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, USA

Last year, a BMW i8 plug-in hybrid was featured in the Tom Cruise-starring Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. This year, another BMW electric-drive vehicle is looking to make a star performance, and without the editing or tricky camera angles.

A 1995 BMW M3 has been retrofitted with a 420-horsepower electric motor and will compete in the "electric" heat in this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, aka the 90th Race to the Clouds.

EV West, which built the car, posted a minute-long video on YouTube showing the car laying waste to a poor set of tires. EV West is based in San Marcos, Calif., about 35 miles (or, in this little beast, about 20 minutes) north of San Diego.

About 100 cars and about 120 motorcycles will be competing in the Pikes Peak competition in July, including six other electric vehicles. See the complete list here, and scroll down below to watch the video.

Continue reading Retrofitted BMW M3 electric will compete in Pikes Peak race

Retrofitted BMW M3 electric will compete in Pikes Peak race originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electric Vehicle News: Audi e-bike Urban Trials Action PLUS iPhone App [VIDEO]

noreply@blogger.com (tsport100) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:57:00 +0000

Trial-Biker Julien Dupont gives the Audi e-bike some Urban Trials action. The Audi e-bike Wörthersee's ultra-light carbon-fiber frame weighs only 1,600 grams (3.53 lb). It makes use of bionic...

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AutoblogGreen: Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:57:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Ford, Videos

The crew at Translogic took the time to stop by and see the the team at ALTe Powertrain Technologies. Founded by a group of former Tesla Motors executives, the company focuses on building plug-in hybrid conversions for fleet vehicles. From creations like a Ford F-150 with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and two 60 kW electric motors to full-size delivery trucks, buses and vans, the company is focused on reducing fuel consumption on some of the largest and hardest-working machinery out there. ALTe says the F-150 conversion supplies up to 465 pound-feet of torque, which is more than the old 4.6-liter V8.

Most of the truck conversions come with 22 kWh lithium-ion battery packs, yielding 25-40 miles of all-electric range. From there, the four-cylinder kicks in to keep the batteries charged and the motors spinning.

ALTe says the company has focused on Ford conversions first, since the F-Series is the best-selling pickup in the country. While E-Series and Panther-based creations are also on the docket, ALTe is also focusing on partnering with OEMs in China. Scroll down below to check out the video for yourself.

Continue reading Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets

Translogic examines the power of plug-in hybrids for commercial fleets originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen: Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:00:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA

As Americans buy more Nissan Leafs, Chevrolet Volts and other electric-drive vehicles, some of those models' forefathers are getting their due by way of auctions and museum exhibits.

A 1909 Walker Vehicle Co. delivery van recently sold on eBay for $127,500, signifying that old-school vehicles that predate the Nissan Leaf by a 100 or so years can fetch a pretty penny, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The 1909 Walker, which is mounted on solid rubber tires, is one of hundreds of EVs produced around the turn of the 20th Century as early car customers looked for a quieter, cleaner alternative to what were loud and dirty internal combustion engines. Chicago-based Walker also made early variants of hybrid vehicles, according to the WSJ.

With contemporary EV sales expected to rise during the next few years, car collectors are seeking out and paying for early versions of battery-electric vehicles. In fact, those thinking that the Walker set some sort of pricing record from the eBay sale would be mistaken. Last August, an 1899 Columbia Electric Landaulet sold at an auction for $550,000, making it the priciest antique EV ever sold.

Meanwhile, America's Car Museum, which opens in Tacoma, Washington, on June 2 will have an "Alternative Propulsion" exhibit that will include a 1912 Standard Electric Open Tourer (still roadworthy, the museum says) and a 1914 Detroit Electric Priscilla. In all, the 165,000-square-foot museum will have more than 350 cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Antique EVs get their due at auctions, new museum originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AutoblogGreen: EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity"

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, EVS

Coulomb Technologies' big news at EVS26 was a collaboration with Fuji Electric Corporation of America to add Fuji's 25-kW DC Quick Charging Stations into the ChargePoint Network. In fact, the very first such charger on the network was sitting there in the booth, and actual deployment in the U.S. is scheduled for later this year. Coulomb is already neck-deep in actual deployments of electric vehicle charging stations: more that 6,300 non-residential stations are online now and Coulomb says that about half of all EV drivers in the U.S. have a ChargePoint card. To get the latest, we spoke with Coulomb's Michael Jones about the Multicharge SF program and - yes - the SAE combo charger announcement.

It's like the museum tour of electricity. It's really kind of scary.

First, about Multicharge SF, which is a partnership with the City of San Francisco, Coulomb and PG&E and is funded by the California Energy Commission. The goal, perhaps unsurprisingly for San Francisco, where upwards of 60 percent of people live in multi-family units, is to find a way for apartment dwellers to recharge their EVs. Jones said the city government took the lead and identified places where chargers would be most useful, then reached out to the property owners to get them interested. In the end, about 70 different properties applied to be a part of the $900,000 program - and around 45-50 of them will be selected to actually get some of the total of about 100 chargers. "[The locations] represent all the different demographics: large properties and small properties, condos, co-ops, TICs [tenant in common, which means one mortgage for multiple units] and rental communities," Jones said. The variety extends to different income brackets as well as new and old properties. "One of the things we ran into early on is that there are some incredibly old power systems in San Francisco. Glass tubes in the fuse boxes. It's like the museum tour of electricity. It's really kind of scary."

The only way to get this many different groups involved was to start with a diverse set of partners. "It has to be a multi-stakeholder proposition to really work in the region," he said. "If I didn't have the city out with its resources, legal and building codes and everything else, it would be impossible for me to organize all those things. It really becomes a great template that other cities and public-private partnerships can use."

For example, Jones said, there's a rule in San Francisco that says that if you charge money for a parking space, you need to register as a parking operator. So, how does that apply to EVs? Does every building owner who installs a charger then need to go get a parking license? The city attorney is currently researching the answer to this question, he said, adding that the mayor standing by to quickly go to bat and get the rules changed if it is determined that the answer is "yes."

With its Chargepoint Network, Coulomb doesn't really care what connector people are using to get their cars on the grid. As long as the communication systems are there, Chargepoint can work with whatever kind of charging station is out there. But he did have a few things to say about the SAE combo charger. Specifically, that it doesn't encourage fast infrastructure deployment.

"Having that Level 2 standard [J1772] gives certainty to drivers," Jones said. "With fast charging, because you still have competing standards, I think that makes it a pilot proposition for a lot of communities as far as really getting behind a specific charger type. I think until the market coalesces around a technology, you're still just going to see a lot of uncertainty about what to deploy on any large scale."

As Coulomb works to solve some of the infrastructure problems, others arise. The trick is to not have partners hesitate too much, and so get as many chargers into use as makes sense.

Continue reading EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity"

EVS: Coulomb readying San Francisco with 100 stations, finds "museum tour of electricity" originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gas 2.0: Twisted n’ Went, 2012

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:58 +0000

This year’s Twist n’ Gone scooter race has … twisted? Gone? Went?

Either way, it’s over, and it was AMAZING! The people were great, the atmosphere was buzzing (or was that the 2-strokes?), and there were some pretty trick contenders in this year’s drag classes, too. Some of the top performers at this year’s races included a 900 (nine-hundred) cc VTwin-powered Cushman scooter, as well as that slick purpose-built rig above (piloted by my man, Ryan J!).

You can CLICK HERE to check out 6 pages of Twist n’ Gone photos, but I’ve pulled out my favorites and included them, below.

Enjoy!

We’ll be interviewing one of the organizers of Twist n’ Gone, Jeremy Hall, later this week – so look for that this weekend!

Sources | Photos: Enviromoto | LouevilBelle, Scooterworks USA.

AutoblogGreen: Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video]

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:59:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Europe/EU, Racing, Videos

Once again the electric ice-racing cars of the Trophée Andros have left their snow-capped mountain-top habitat for a little summertime fun at the Grand Prix de Pau Electrique. And, just like last year, the Exagon-prepared buggies put on two shows full of paint-swapping competitive action, whilst giving a kind repose to the eardrums of onlookers from the din of the Formula3 and other internal combustion classes.

Local favorite Mike Parisy, winner of last year's Saturday race, started on the pole in first event but couldn't quite hold off the impressive Adrien Tambay. While Parisy may have more familiarity with the Pau street course, Tambay is quite at home in the Andros Evo 2, having placed second overall in last winter's Trophée Andros Electrique.

Sunday saw Soheil Ayari turn his third-place finish the previous day into pole position for the final race. That contest turned into one of attrition with only five of the twelve starters making it to the finish line. With a collision taking out the three positions ahead of him on the first lap, Mike Parisy took full advantage of the clear track ahead and made the home crowd proud once again. Close behind him in second was last year's French F4 champion, the talented 17-year old Mathieu Vaxiviere.

Scroll down below for footage from both races as well as a cool bonus in-car clip of Parisy demonstrating his abilities, laying down some quick qualifying laps.

Continue reading Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video]

Electric cars race again at 2nd Grand Prix de Pau Électrique [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clean Fleet Report: New Infinity LE All-Electric Luxury Sedan on Sale in 2014

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:26:21 +0000

By John Addison (5/18/12)

The Infinity LE brings a new level of elegance to the all-electric 5-passenger sedan. Whether gliding down the highway or attracting a crowd in front of a favorite restaurant, the sculpted body and LED lighted grill are arresting. Premium appointments invite the driver to use a new generation of telematics and infotainment. Sexy.

Car expert Nick Chambers states, “The Infiniti LE features lightweight and highly sculptured aluminum body panels that Nissan had to develop a new manufacturing process for in order to create the sharp creases that run along the length of the vehicle. While individual preferences certainly vary, it is almost unarguable that the LE concept is a much better looking vehicle than the Leaf.”

For the American market, the new Infinity LE will be made in Tennessee along side the Nissan Leaf. The Infinity LE will use Nissan LEAF’s proven all-electric drive system with 24kW of lithium batteries for a 100-mile range. The new Infinity will have a larger 100kW electric motor with 134-hp and 240 lb-ft of torque for more performance than the LEAF’s 80kW motor. In the past year, my Nissan LEAF has always delivered needed acceleration, even when taking uphill freeway onramps and needing to quickly reach 70 mph. The Infinity LE will deliver more.

Nissan Motors to Announce 51 New Vehicles in Next 5 Years

Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President of Nissan Motors, plans to announce 51 new production vehicles over the next 5 years. The Infinity LE, currently a concept car, will go on sale in 2014 and probably be labeled a 2015 model year. Price has not yet been decided. When Palmer was asked about Nissan’s commitment to electric cars, he said, “We are all in.” Nissan has invested $4 billion in all-electric cars and advanced batteries and drive systems for hybrid electric-cars. In months, Nissan will open its new Tennessee plant that can produce 150,000 electric cars and 200,000 lithium battery packs annually. Nissan is all in.

Twenty-eight thousand Nissan LEAFs are now on the road. I have driven ours for over a year. It has been problem free for my wife and I. We have never spent more than $35 per month for electricity to keep it charged, thereby saving us over $100 per month on gasoline. First-year sales of the LEAF are greater than first-year sales of the Prius.

The LEAF is a convenient 5-passenger hatchback. We have lowered our backseat to put 2 mountain bikes inside. The Infiniti LE is a sedan where the backseat in the displayed concept cannot be lowered.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance is also delivering in Europe the Renault Fluence all-electric cousin to the LEAF. Better Place plans to deliver 100,000 of the Fluence to Israel and Denmark, where thousands of charge points and battery switch stations are installed and in used to replace empty batteries with full in less than 5 minutes. From vans to luxury sedans, we will see a growing number of electric offerings from the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Wireless Charging for the Infinity LE

The Infinity LE will include wireless inductive charging as a standard. When a contact plate at the bottom of the car aligns with a companion plate on a garage floor, no-fuss charging can take place. It can charge immediately or when it is programmed to begin, such as when electric utility rates are lowest. The Infinity LE will also be equipped for public charging with a J1772 connector for garage 110v outlet or Level 2 charging at 6.6kW/hour and CHAdeMO DC Fast Charging. The AESC 24kW lithium-nickel-manganese polymer battery will not be switchable.

Electric cars are heralding a new generation of stealth performance, apps that assist and guide us, and the convenience to “fill-up” at the nearest electric outlet. The Infinity LE joins new luxury electric cars such as the Tesla Model S, Fisker Karma, Cadillac ELR, Audi E-Tron Spyder, BMW i8, and Rolls Royce 102EX.

New Infinity LE All-Electric Luxury Sedan on Sale in 2014 is a post from: Clean Fleet Report

GreenMotor: Sensibly stupid: from Porsche 959 to 918 Spyder

noreply@blogger.com (GreenMotor) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:05:38 +0000

In the 1980s sports car maker Porsche produced a limited-edition £150,000 supercar called the 959. Its appearance was deceptive – it looked like an overinflated Porsche 911, but under the bulbous bodywork lurked running gear that had taken a very big stride beyond the contemporary air-cooled car. All four wheels were driven, for example, while the body was made of aluminium and lightweight

Gas 2.0: Selling The Ultimate Millennial Automobile: Part One

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:00:58 +0000

Ever since Henry Ford started marketing the Model T as a car for the common man, the American auto industry has relied on the indisputable fact that America loves cars. By the 1950’s, owning a car was no longer just a dream; it was a necessity. America’s once-sprawling passenger train lines and public transportation options were put out of business as freeways and automobiles dominated the landscape.

But my generation, “Generation Y” or “Millenials” as the old people call us, are changing the landscape when it comes to cars. And unless automakers figure out my generation soon, they risk alienating the largest generation of consumers since the Baby Boomers.

Before I talk about what the auto industry as a whole, is doing wrong, I want to talk about what they are doing right. It is well-documented that my generation is coddled and entitled, and many of us are accustomed to a certain level of comfort and connectivity in our day-to-day lives. After all, a generation of social networkers and music pirates wants to be able to get in touch with friends and family at the touch of a single button, while at the same time recalling their favorite Lady Gaga song. And all of the automakers, from Audi to Volvo, are integrating more infotainment systems into their cars. Ford’s SYNC system arguably leads the pack, though outlets like Consumer Reports have knocked them for over-complicated input commands.

Many automakers are also making “base” level vehicles much more appealing with better build quality and offering features like air conditioning and CD players standard. Once upon a time, driving a “base” level car meant manual windows, an AM radio, and less than 100 horsepower under the hood. Now cars like the Chevy Sonic, Hyundai Elantra, and Ford Fiesta all offer a lot more in the way of what most of my peers would consider “basic” necessities.

And I have to say, after being stuck driving a car without a CD player for two years, I now understand why it is a necessity; radio stations play the same hundred songs over and over and over and over again. So, when it comes to comfort, connectivity, and standard features, automakers are getting it right. But they are still running up against a certain inalienable fact about my generation.

We don’t like cars. Why don’t we like cars? Just look at the facts.

Many of us inherited for our first cars second-hand American vehicles during a time when American cars were in a race to the bottom in terms of quality and reliability. To say our first driving experience was not nearly as enjoyable as someone coming to age in the 1960’s is an understatement. And that’s for those of us who even bothered getting a driver’s license. The number of 16-year olds with a license dropped from about 46% in 1980 to about 31% in 2008. Among 18-year olds, the numbers dropped from 80% to 65%. That’s millions of teens who have opted out of car ownership.

It has also become painfully obvious to even the most phone-obsessed teenager that many of America’s roads are in terrible shape. Speaking of phones, there is a reason why Apple has a ton of cash on hand, while Detroit automakers are saddled with billions in debt. Most young people can’t justify a $20,000 car; but a $400 iPhone? All day, every day. Add that to the fact that gas prices have climbed 300% in about ten years (I can remember filling up with premium fuel for less than $20 when I first started driving; now it takes about $60), and the picture starts to paint itself.

That’s not to say there aren’t still auto enthusiasts out there; there are, just in seriously reduced numbers. People my age have a hard time getting excited about cars when many of us can’t find good-paying jobs. Even if we can afford a nice car, most of the time we spend in the car is commuting to work in bumper-to-bumper traffic on pothole-marred roads. It makes for a rather lousy driving experience, and it is easy to see why many people my age ust aren’t that into driving. To be honest, some days driving is a bummer, even for me.

This dislike of driving has manifested itself in a sort of reverse White Flight, with many young Americans (myself included) fleeing towards urban areas to be closer to work and entertainment. It’s much more practical to live within walking distance of work and shopping versus owning a car for a lot of young people, and there are still enough young drivers so that bumming a ride usually isn’t an issue. I don’t see this trend reversing either. Young Americans are going to keep opting out of cars as long as our roads suck, gas prices are high, and “base” cars still cost more than most of us can afford.

For me, the reasoning was practical; in Connecticut, renting anywhere outside of a metro area generally means sky-high prices. I wanted to get as close to my lady’s place of employment as possible, to keep her daily commute to a minimum. Many of my friends choose to live in Hartford, in apartment buildings down the street from their jobs. Many of them can go a whole month on a single tank of gas, which inevitably means less money in the coffers of the highway fund. This isn’t just a problem for automakers; it’s a problem for the entire U.S. interstate system.

Generation Y want ways to opt of driving. It really is as simple as that. It may seem counter-intuitive to the auto industry, but this is exactly the kind of driving experience the auto industry will have to sell if they want to win back young drivers.

Find out how the auto industry can do this next week in Part II.

Image: Man on Smartphone via Shutterstock

AutoblogGreen: Leaked Fisker Atlantic documents reveal big production delay, specs

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, USA, Fisker

The Fisker Atlantic extended-range plug-in vehicle will start production about a year after its previously estimated mid-2013 date, Inside EVs blog reports, citing leaked company documents that were dated "a few weeks ago."

The Atlantic, formerly known as Project Nina, will compete pricewise against the BMW 3 Series and 5 Series sedans, as well as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class, Jaguar XF and Audi A4 and A6. That would put the model in the $50,000 to $60,000 range, according to the publication. The model, which will still be produced at Fisker's Delaware plant, will have 300 horsepower, a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds and emissions of 50 grams per kilometer of CO2, Inside EVs reports, citing the documents.

"As these documents are obviously leaked investor documents and highly confidential, I am not prepared to comment any further," a Fisker representative tells AutoblogGreen.

The status of the Atlantic has been in question since plans for the former General Motors plant in Delaware were put on hold once the U.S. Department of Energy froze most of the $529 million in loans earmarked for the California-based company.

Fisker unveiled the Atlantic at the New York Auto Show last month, saying that the car's price tag would be "a much lower price point" than Fisker's Karma sedan.

Leaked Fisker Atlantic documents reveal big production delay, specs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 16 May 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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