Results from the Wayland Invitational EV Drag meeting

John Wayland has been promoting the EV cause for several years with his self built 1972 Datsun 1200 that does 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds. Last weekend he invited a few fellow EV racers to his local track, PIR in Portland Oregon, for the Wayland Invitational.

Full results haven't been released yet but this is what John emailed us about the event:

“There is quite a bit of chatter about the new record set by the Tesla Roadster Sport at 12.643 @ 102.89 mph ET. Another record was set by Brian Hall's AC powered small motorcycle in the low 10s. Dube's bike did not reset their record, but ran a respectable 8.2 ET! My own White Zombie, running on 3 year old lead, managed a 12.0 ET Saturday night. Not bad, considering it's best ET when that pack was new, was an 11.8!

Of course, the 11.4 with lithium in 2007 is it's best ET. If we get the 210 lb. 388V, 12.4 ahr, 1920 amp (continuous through the 1/4 mile) Kokam pack of 840 cells, expect to see White Zombie become the first street legal, stock bodied electric car to break into the 10's in the 1/4 mile! With such a pack, I'm fairly certain we can run a 10.85 @ 122-126 mph.”

See the Datsun 1200 EV in action

Mitsubishi to launch series hybrid in 2010

Mitsubishi has confirmed plans to launch a range-extended series hybrid at the end of 2010. The company says that the vehicle will be a small SUV, similar in size to a Toyota RAV4, suggesting a car similar in design to the cX concept.

The drive train will be similar to the Voltec system - currently being developed for the Chevrolet Volt by General Motors. Operating as a 'range extended' electric vehicle, the Lithium Ion battery pack will be plug-in rechargeable and provide enough power for 40 miles of electric-only driving. Once depleted, a small petrol engine driven generator will kick in. The Mitsubishi 'i' city car has a 52bhp, 660cc turbo-charged three cylinder motor which may be used.

Mitsubishi is confident it can meet the deadline, emphasizing the fact that bringing the iMiEV to market as the first genuine mass-market e-car gives it a head start in the race to develop a usable range of e-cars to fit most user needs and circumstances.

2010 Toyota iQ EV to use Wheel Motors

Toyota's iQ-based electric car, due to be launched in 2010, will have it's own unique body work, Li-ion batteries and will use in-wheel motors in each wheel. No specs have been released on either the motor output of the battery capacity at this stage of the tease campaign.

The iQ EV will be Toyota's first electric car and their first mass produced with lithium ion batteries. According to a report in Autocar, the iQ’s chief engineer, Hiroki Nakajima says the car, Internally called the BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), will have a range of 150km (93 miles) hinting at a battery capacity of around 24 kWh.

Toyota has some experience with wheel motors from their HV-R Supra hybrid endurance racing proto type that used 10 kw front wheel motors and a super capacitor bank to win a 24 hour race in Japan in 2007, 19 laps ahead of the 2nd place finisher.

That's all we're being teased with at the moment. For a company that is on the record as saying li-ion batteries aren't ready for prime time this seems to be a change in policy. Amazing what a little competition will do.

PG&E, Coca-Cola, Staples, Frito-Lay & AT&T take delivery of EV trucks

Four Fortune 500 companies and two utility companies took delivery of the first in a series of next generation all-electric commercial vehicles in an automotive industry changing event hosted at the Capitol Reflecting Pool on the National Mall by Missouri Senator Kit Bond and attended by Carol M. Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Coca-Cola Enterprises, Staples, Frito-Lay, AT&T and Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) were presented with the keys to all new Smith Newtons, the world's largest commercially available battery-electric-powered truck. The Newton is the first commercial all-electric truck to achieve new vehicle emissions certification in California.

"The next generation electric vehicles Smith is producing demonstrates exactly the kind of technology we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end our dependence on foreign oil," Senator Bond said. "Missouri is a growing leader in exciting new battery technology making it an ideal partner for all-electric vehicle manufacturing."

"AT&T, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Frito-Lay, KCP&L, PG&E and Staples are demonstrating their commitment to environmental sustainability and green fleet vehicle technologies that will drive the future of the automotive industry," said Bryan Hansel, CEO of Smith. "As more depot-based truck fleet operators come on board and adopt all-electric vehicles, battery technology will advance and manufacturing costs will be driven down, spurring new growth in the commercial electric vehicle industry, creating new high-tech jobs, and reducing fuel emissions and our dependency on foreign oil."

The Smith Newton is fuel-emissions-free, runs without noise or vibration, and actually stores electric energy during stopping through a process called regenerative braking. The Smith Newton has a top speed of 50 mph, a range on one battery charge in excess of 100 miles and a payload of over 16,000 lbs.

Smith Electric Vehicles U.S. (Smith), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a privately held company owned by Private Investors Management and The Tanfield Group Plc, based in the United Kingdom. Tanfield is the parent company of Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K., the leading manufacturer of zero-emissions battery-electric commercial vehicles in Europe since the 1920s.

Smith Electric Vehicles has produced the Newton truck in Europe for more than three years and has sold vehicles to major fleet operators in sectors such as mail and parcel delivery, logistics, retail, highway maintenance and airports.

Smith is initially focusing production on all-electric vehicles for depot-based predictable-route delivery and service fleets, and is bringing a proven next generation electric-drive technology to the American marketplace. Smith vehicles will feature the latest in Lithium-ion battery cell technology, power management and direct drivetrains. Smith has licensed the proprietary knowledge from Smith Electric Vehicles in the U.K. and has brought it to its new production facility in Kansas City, where for the first time all-electric trucks will be assembled and distributed by American workers.

Smith Newton Truck Specifications:

Motor - 120 kw Induction Motor
Battery - Lithium-Ion Batteries Payload - 7,392 lbs to 16,280 lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight - 16,535 lbs, 23,148 lbs or 26,455 lbs
Range - In excess of 100 miles (one battery charge)
Top Speed - 50 mph
On-board Battery Charger
Full Battery Recharge - 6 to 8 hours

McLaren victory first KERS win

KERS cars finished 1 2 at the Hungaroring Sunday with McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton winning comfortably from second places Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen. This is the first win for a KERS equipped car in F1. Although four teams started the season with KERS, currently only McLaren and Ferrari run KERS in F1.

The Hungaroring has one of the lowest average speeds of any Grand Prix track consisting of more slower corners and few high speed corners. The season dominating Brawn and Red Bull cars are known to be aero cars where the faster the track the more of an advantage they have over the field. On a low speed track such as Hungry this advanatge is reduced, so much so that Rubens Barrichello qualified outside the top 10 and finished outside the points while Button finished only seventh.

With an extra 80 hp of EV power off the start line, both the McLaren's and Ferrari's poses a serious treat at the start of any Grand Prix. Originally conceved as a push-to-pass button, drivers from rival teams are increasingly compalining that it is being used to prevent passing. Sebastian vettel has made mention of the Red Bull teams lack of a KERS system in many press conferences, particularly with reference to being unable to pass Ferrari drivers in the race.

The in-house developed battery powered KERS system in the McLaren features custom lithium-ion power cells developed by A123Systems that apparentkly offer more than 20,000 W/kg, according to Ric Fulop, one of A123Systems’s co-founders.

Nissan previews electric car platform

Nissan Motor Co. showed off its super-quiet, zero-emission electric car Monday — a key offering for Japan's No. 3 automaker.

The prototype is based on Nissan's Tiida car (Versa in North America), has room for 4 people and a top speed of just over 140kph. The Ev has a 80 kW / 280 Nm BLDC electric motor with a regenerative brake system that recharges the battery during deceleration and braking. This helps the car achieve a range of just under 100 miles on a full charge. That covers the typical daily distance driven by 98 percent of Japanese and British motorists, 95 percent of German drivers, 90 percent of those in France and about 80 percent of the average daily distance in the U.S. and China.

"Nissan will be a leader in zero-emission vehicles," Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga said ahead of a test-drive event at the automaker's facility. "EV is the answer." Sales of Nissan's electric vehicle is scheduled to begin next year. Nissan says it plans to mass produce zero-emission cars globally from 2012.

A 24 kWh laminated compact lithium ion battery pack sits under the car's floor without compromising cabin or cargo space. The battery layout allows smooth underfloor air flow which helps reduce drag. A quick charge station, connected to a 3-phase 400 volt supply, can recharge the car in just 30 minutes and Nissan envisages these will be built around towns as part of a wider infrastructure to support electric vehicles. In the test car sockets for both home charging and quick charging are hidden under the Nissan badge at the front of the car.



When the car is plugged in there is a timer function which allows users to pre-set the air-con to come on at a set time and cool the cabin to a set temperature. As a result, the car is cooled using mains power, so the battery doesn't have to be used. The timer can also be used to set the battery charging at a specified time at night to benefit from more favourable electricity rates.

The company is also experimenting with wireless charging system that uses induction between a charging plate on the street and one on the bottom of the car. The prototype EV doesn't have this system but Nissan demonstrated it on another car. The system charges the battery when the two plates are aligned so Nissan envisages these to be installed in parking bays.

Nissan's electric vehicle has a function within it's in-dash GPS navigation system that shows the driving radius within range of the car's current level of charge, to reassure drivers who suffer 'range anxiety'. It can also calculate if the vehicle is within range of a selected on-map destination.

Nissan will unveil the electric car's exterior design at the companies new Yokohama headquarters Aug. 2. Stay tuned!

Hyundai to invest $3 billion in green projects by 2013

Hyundai Motor Group, the world's No.5 automaker, says it will invest $3.3 Billion in green projects to meet the government's stricter fuel efficiency and emission requirements.

Hyundai, which includes the country's two largest car makers -- Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp -- plans to spend $3.3 Billion to develop environmentally friendly cars and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2013.

Of the total, $1.7 Billion will go to developing hybrid cars and $1.1 Billion to improving the fuel efficiency of engines. The remainder will be spent on energy facilities to cut emissions. Hyundai's announcement came after Samsung Electronics Co Ltd earlier this week unveiled a plan to invest $4.3 Billion in green research and development and facilities.

Over the next five years South Korea will invest 860 Billion, or 2 percent of its annual gross domestic product (GDP), in environment-related sectors, the government said in early July.

As part of the plans the government said it would require automakers to follow fuel efficiency and green gas emission rules above U.S. standards.

The government also said separately it would raise $1.6 Billion for "green industries" from the private sector.

HSBC estimates that of Asian government's stimulus packages in response to the recent credit crunch, spending on green-related investments will account for 20 percent, or $272 billion, more than double the amount earmarked for green projects in the Americas and five times bigger than Europe's.

Toyota to launch Prius-Based Hybrid Sports Coupe by 2012

As competitive as the auto indusry is we should've seen this coming. As a direct competitor to Honda’s upcoming CR-Z, Toyota are developing a new hybrid sports car based on a shortened Prius platform could have as much as 100mm removed from the wheelbase.

The same new 1.8L 2ZR-FXE engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive from the current 3rd generation Prius will be carried over with power increased by 27 kw to 100 kw (136 hp). Fuel consumption is expected to be slightly increased as a result.

To compete with the CR-Z, the new Toyota will of course be a 2-door, 2+2 seat configuration coupe. Much of the interior of the Prius will be carried over to the new car and the Prius-based hybrid sports coupe, which might carry the MR-2 badge, is expected to debut in mid-2012

Will Plasma Jet engines ever replace fossil fuel?

One of the heaviest consumers of fossil fuels in the transport industry are jet aircraft. Following the fuel price volatility of 2008 which contributed to a large number of airlines filling for bankruptcy and the impending introduction of carbon tax, much effort is being applied to the development of bio jet fuels. Anything from coconut oil to Algae is being developed , any of which may or may not be harvestable in the volume required by the commercial airline industry who consume 18.85 billion gallons of jet fuel, or approximately 449 million barrels each year.

We have recently seen an increasing number of electric powered aircraft being developed. Using either small battery packs or fuel cells for energy storage, sometimes combined with solar cells for in flight charging. Unfortunatley the only practical way to propel an aircraft at the moment with electricity is to use a propeller. While Props might be acceptable for single seater and low speed aircraft they will never provide air speed comparable to a modern day jet engine. So the question can be asked, is there any EV alternative to the fossil/bio fueled jet engine?

There are several approaches used to convert electric energy directly into trust. As part of a DARPA Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) Program, researchers from the Oklahoma State University have developed a Plasma Micro Thruster approx the size of a cigarette. Because it is practically impossible to develop micro (defined as less than 7.5 cm) unmanned aerial vehicles by using moving parts, they have built a small jet propulsion system that produces thrust by accelerating plasma material between two electrodes.

Also known as plasma actuators or dielectric barrier discharge actuators, they consist of two electrodes separated by dielectric material. A form of magnetohydrodynamic propulsion, a low temperature plasma acts as the 'fluid' or hydro part of the device. Most of these types of plasma jet engines, as is the case with all magnetohydrodynamic drive systems, are extremely inefficient producing only very small amounts of thrust due to hall effect losses.



Another still theoretical approach is a plasma jet engine based on a conventional turbojet. Making use of the multi-stage compressor and expander sections of a regular jet engine, a plasma jet replaces the fuel combustion stage with an electrically driven plasma ignition stage.

A good example to demonstrate the principle is a typical hand held plasma cutting torch. Compressed air is supplied by an air compressor at around 90 psi (Coincidentally many jet engines produce around 90psi after their compressor stages ) which is forced through a very small opening in the torch nozzle with an electric arc applied to ionize the airflow. The combination of arc and high pressure/small nozzle creates a supersonic (9,000 mph) superheated (25,000 F) plasma stream that in a plasma cutter application vaporises steel and in a jet motor could replace the fuel combustion process.

There are various ways to generate a plasma but one method is to replace the combustion cans, that reside after the turbojet compressor stage, with anodes/cathode combustion chambers to superheat the compressed air entering the combustion stage and expand the gas out through the exhaust turbines much the same and a normal jet engine. This could allows jet aircraft to move from fossil or bio based fuels to electric power, provided the system is more than the 40% energy efficient of todays commercial jets.

Of course, there are huge challenges in the bulk storage of electrical energy on-board aircraft, but with current battery technology developments working towards a 40 fold increase in battery energy density, plasma jet aircraft may be here sooner rather than later.

Electric bicycles ride "green" demand in Japan

Riding the vogue for eco-conscious products, companies ranging from battery to tyre to motorcycle makers in Japan are looking to cultivate a market that beats even hybrid cars in green credentials: electric bicycles.

Japan's motor-assisted bicycles use a small electric motor and battery pack mounted inconspicuously on the bicycle to propel the rider, constantly adjusting the motor's force to the speed and resistance of the pedalling.

That makes cycling up a hill or while carrying a heavy load a cinch, winning over a growing number of elderly and housewives in Japan. Sales of electric bicycles more than doubled from 2000 to 315,000 last year, as they became more affordable and practical.

"Once you've ridden one of our motor-assisted bicycles, you'll never go back!" a spokeswoman at Yamaha Motor beamed, urging reporters to try out a few of Yamaha's 17 electric bicycle models at a test-ride event on Friday.

The motor switches off automatically once the speed reaches the 24 km/hour (15 mph) legal limit for assisted riding, classifying the vehicles as bicycles, unlike the popular electric bicycles sold in China, which would require a licence in Japan.

Yamaha Motor, Japan's No.2 motorcycle brand and top maker of electric bicycles, expects more of a tailwind for the market.

Thanks to advances in rechargeable batteries, Yamaha's standard electric bikes have a range of 39 km (24 miles), or 67 km using an optional mode that activates the motor only when desired. That's about double the range of its first model introduced in 1993.

"A lot of our customers say their range of activity on a bicycle has expanded," said Masanori Kobayashi, a senior official at Yamaha. "They're going places where they would normally take their car or a taxi."

Charging time has shrunk to two hours from 10, with one charge costing around 10 cents. One catch though is that batteries need to be replaced roughly once every two years, and they cost at least $250 each.

FROM ELDERLY TO ENTHUSIASTS

Electric bicycle makers, which also include Panasonic, Sanyo Electric and Bridgestone, also expect a boost from the nationwide road-rule relaxation this month that allows riders to mount two pre-schoolers as long as the bicycle clears stability and other standards.

With the motor assisting, pedalling from a dead stop -- even with 10 kg (22 lb) weights in the front and rear -- was easy and smooth, a test-ride at the Yamaha event showed.

And electric bicycle makers hope to pull more customers in. At a separate media event, Sanyo, which supplies batteries for Yamaha's products, unveiled two new products, including the world's first motor-assisted bicycle with a carbon composite frame geared towards enthusiasts. The price tag: 627,900 yen ($6,636), versus anywhere from $800 to $2,000 for a Yamaha.

"We are introducing these new products to offer not just an easier ride but the joy and pleasure of cycling," Sanyo Vice President Takahiro Wada told reporters.

Sanyo expects total domestic shipments of motor-assisted bicycles to top 400,000 units in two years, making them a rare bright spot in the static overall bicycle market in Japan.

Sanyo and Yamaha officials said they also anticipate growth in Europe, where bicycle culture is just as pervasive.

EV buggy sets respectable time at Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Team Geolandar, sponsored by Yokohama, contested the 2009 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - the best-known hill climb in the world - using an electric vehicle (EV). The event was staged on Sunday, July 19, in Colorado, U.S.A.

The EV racing buggy built in-house by Team Geolandar was driven by Ikuo Hanawa, a strong performer in world-class off-road races. The Buggy has two 6.7 inch diameter brushed DC motors with 13.5KW each (27kw total) powered by a 15 kWh Sanyo Li-ion battery pack.

Running in the exhibition class, the buggy set a time of 14:50.754 finishing 2nd in class. The Electric Vehicle record stands with a time of 14:33.12, set in 2003 by Jeri Unser in an AC Propulsion powered car sponsored by Compact Power, a subsidiary of LG, the same company contracted to supply batteries to General Motors for the Chevy Volt.

Although there are so few EV entities at Pikes Peak there is no official EV class, the EV record was originally set by Honda in 1999 at 15:19.91 using a full bodied 1997 Honda EV PLUS Type R as opposed to the space frame chassis cars used to set the more recent records.

Begun in 1916, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb marks its 87th running this year. Racing to the 4,301-meter summit, participants cover a 20-kilometer course beginning at the 2,862-meter level. The race is famous for the severity of its conditions: rapidly changing temperatures and weather, a combination of tarmac and gravel surfaces, and 156 curves. This year, in all classes, more than 200 automobiles and motorcycles competed.

The outright winner was 'Monster' Tajima driving his 873 HP 2.7-liter Twin turbo V6 4WD sport prototype Suzuki SX4 with a time of 10:15.368



Specifications of the EV Racing Buggy
Length: 3,500 mm
Width: 1,800 mm
Height: 1,270 mm
Wheelbase: 2,530 mm
Weight: 750 kg
Motor: Advanced DC L91 -4003 x 2 units
Battery: Sanyo lithium-ion 151, 2V/15,984 Wh
Tires: Geolandar H/T-S(235/65R16)

Canberra to build electric car network

Better Place Australia today announced that it has chosen Australia's capital, Canberra, as the site of its first city-wide roll-out of electric vehicle infrastructure in Australia.

The decision was announced by Better Place founder and Chief Executive Officer, Shai Agassi, with Evan Thornley, head of Better Place Australia and ActewAGL Chief Executive Officer, Michael Costello, the ACT’s electricity retailer and distributor.

The initial roll out will involve an investment by Better Place, which will go towards building out the infrastructure, services and systems to support the first several hundred electric vehicles in Canberra. The investment will cover:

• safe and completely recyclable lithium-ion batteries that will power the electric vehicles and be provided as part of the service to drivers, reducing the up-front costs of purchasing an electric vehicle;

• charge spots in homes, offices, shopping centres and other car parks where drivers can plug in to keep their battery fully charged; and

• “Battery Swap Stations” where motorists can simply drive in and have a depleted battery automatically exchanged for a fresh, fully charged one.

“We aim to start construction on our charge spots and battery swap stations in 2011 and start supporting customers in 2012” said Mr Thornley. “From Canberra we will then begin to roll out across the whole country.”

Better Place will work closely with ActewAGL to plan the infrastructure deployment. ActewAGL will be responsible for sourcing and distributing the renewable energy that Better Place will use to power its electric vehicles within the ACT.

BMW City EV to hit U.S. market by 2012

BMW will launch its first battery-powered electric vehicle under its Project i program in the United States by 2012. Internally dubbed the ‘City’, the upcoming EV will help BMW comply with California’s forthcoming Zero Emission Vehicle requirements.

CEO Norbert Reithofer has revealed that the City will be a three-door hatchback specifically designed for the U.S. market. Looking like the Isetta bubble car of the 1950s, the new EV version will be low-slung with short overhangs and a coupe-like profile. Despite its small footprint and sleek styling, the City will offer seating for four.

Power will come from a lithium-ion battery pack with a range of about 100 miles. BMW is also developing a range of gas and diesel engines for the City, although those variants will likely be reserved for developing regions – particularly China.

BMW has yet to decide if the new vehicles will be sold under the BMW or MINI banner, and hasn’t even officially ruled out the addition of a new brand.

Lotus Esquive – A 4WD sports EV concept car

Having not seen a good EV concept for a few weeks we've found one drawn by Mayeul Walser, a Transport Design student based in Paris. The vehcile is called a Lotus Esquive designed to be a mild off-road vehicle and along similar lines as the recently announced Mercedes SLS EV Supercar the Esquive concept comes with four wheel drive using in-wheel motors. The Esquive utilizes a carbon fibre monocoque chassis covered by fiberglass body panels.

The proposed drive train for the Lotus Esquive is a set of four electric motors developing a total of 260 hp (190 kW). Driving the front wheels are a pair of 55 hp (40kW) motors, while at the rear a duo of 75 hp (55kW) motors power the back wheels. Not just four wheel drive, the Esquive has also been designed with four wheel steering in mind for sharper cornering.

Dimensions of the Lotus Esquive:

Length - 4,000 mm (13 feet)
Height - 1,250 mm (4.1 feet)
Width - 2,200 mm. (7.2 feet)

Concentrated Solar Thermal Versus Concentrated PV

A Hawaiian based concentrated solar thermal company called Sopogy has been making headlines recently with it's trough based system being used by Sempra Energy utility Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) in combination with a thermal air conditioning unit to demonstrate the power of a solar air-conditioning demonstration system.

The small-scale solar thermal startup has substantial investor backing from the likes of eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, Ohana Holdings so we thought it was worth a closer look at the fairly simply constructed solar thermal collectors to see what all the fuss is about.

According to Sopogy's own application notes the systems is not very efficient. They specify a 40% loss from solar to thermal and a further 80% loss thermal to electric. That gives an overall electric generation system efficiency of just 12%. This means that a single 5.57m2 trough collector generates just 512 watts of electrical power or $0.25 worth per day. Of course a solar thermal A/C system avoids the electric generation stage by making use of the thermal energy which is 60% energy efficient.



A good comparison is between concentrated solar thermal and concentrated Photo voltaic such as those built by Solar Systems in Australia. The 15 meter diameter CS500 parabolic dish PV system generates over 36 kw of electrical power at an energy efficiency of 36.5% using just 0.23m² of PV solar cell material. The concentrating dish uses a similar principle to Sopogy's trough with cheap material used for the reflective surface to concentrate the sun by 500x. This dramatically reduce system costs compared with a flat plate PV system of the same power that require approximately 350m² of expensive PV cells. The surface area of PV material used in the concentrated PV system is 1/1000 that of flat-plate PV systems.

While the dish PV system generates electricity at 36.5% (compared to 12% for Sopogy) much of the work in developing this system has been to remove the remaining 63% of the sun's energy from the back of the PV cell to keep it within it's operating range of 60C, no mean feat when you're dealing with temperatures at the focal point that can melt steel.

At present this huge amount of removed thermal energy is not used for co-generation and is either run through a cooling system or ground sunk. Since the CS500 systems waste is equal to the entire thermal output of the Sopogy collector, Australian based Solar Systems have the potential to run thermal A/C and-or organic rankine cycle power generation, which is basically an A/C run in reverse, in addition to the PV generated electrical output.

FedEx Expands Hybrid-Electric Fleet by 50%

FedEx Corp today announced the addition of 92 hybrid-electric trucks to its delivery fleet—the first standard FedEx delivery trucks converted to hybrid-electric systems.

The addition of the 92 trucks increases the FedEx fleet of hybrid-electric vehicles by more than 50 percent, from 172 to 264. FedEx extends its leadership position with the largest fleet of hybrid trucks in North America and continues to demonstrate the everyday viability of these vehicles. The FedEx hybrid-electric fleet has logged more than four million miles of revenue service since being introduced in 2004, reducing fuel use by 150,000 gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1,521 metric tons, which is equivalent to removing 279 cars from the road annually.

The hybrid conversions were produced in Charlotte, N.C., during the past six months and created 50 new, temporary green jobs in the area. The converted hybrids were developed with Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) and Eaton Corporation, which provided the hybrid-electric systems. The standard FedEx trucks used in the retrofit program were 2000 or 2001 models with 300,000 to 500,000 miles driven. An added benefit of the conversion program is that it not only reduces pollution but also extends the life of the vehicles, helping to eliminate waste production and creating a reduce-and-reuse program.

“The conversion of these standard FedEx trucks into hybrids is the latest milestone in our drive to advance and adopt hybrid technology into our fleet and the broader industry,” said John Formisano, vice president, Global Vehicles, FedEx Express. “FedEx and our suppliers have demonstrated that converted hybrids are a viable, lower-cost option compared to purchasing new hybrids. We now need government incentives to end a Catch-22 situation: Production volumes are low due to high cost, and costs will only come down with higher production volumes.”

The retrofit hybrid trucks are projected to improve fuel economy by 44 percent, decrease particulate matter by 96 percent and reduce smog-causing (NOx) emissions by 75 percent compared to the standard FedEx Express delivery truck.

The 92 retrofitted hybrid vehicles will be placed into service in California, primarily in the Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco metropolitan areas

Incentives encourage hybrid development

Formisano applauded the California government for continuing to provide incentive funding for hybrid truck purchases, which allowed FedEx to place its first hybrid truck into service in the state in 2004 and continue to add hybrids to its fleet during the past five years.

The retrofit hybrids will display the FedEx EarthSmart™ logo, which is a symbol of the FedEx commitment to connect the world in responsible and resourceful ways through industry-leading innovations that are more efficient and better for the environment. In the coming months, all FedEx hybrid trucks will be re-branded as a part of the EarthSmart initiative.

“Hybrid technology helps FedEx reduce emissions and fuel use as we work to increase the efficiency of our vehicle fleet,” said Mitch Jackson, director of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corp. “We are eager for additional government and industry support to find more affordable options for hybrid trucks, so that we may adopt them into our fleet at a faster pace.”

In addition to the use of 264 hybrid vehicles in North America, Asia and Europe, FedEx has taken the following steps to increase vehicle fuel efficiency and reduce emissions in its fleet:

* Since 2005, FedEx has been rebalancing its fleet with smaller, more fuel efficient sprinter vans and optimizing routes. As a result of these efforts, FedEx Express has saved 45 million gallons of fuel or 452,573 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
* FedEx Ground is testing hybrid hydraulic technology with Parker Hannifin Corporation and FCCC on a heavier-class vehicle (Class 6).
* In London, FedEx operates liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sprinter vans, which reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 12 percent. FedEx will also use 10 zero-emission Modec electric delivery vehicles in the United Kingdom. FedEx Express has more than 320 LPG and electric-powered support units in use at the Roissy Charles de Gaulle hub in Paris and other operational facilities across Europe.
* FedEx operates a large number of electric and alternative-fuel support vehicles worldwide, including more than 500 forklifts and 1,600 ground equipment units at airports.
* Couriers in New York City and London’s West End deliver many of their packages on foot and bicycle.

Specifications for the FedEx Hybrid-Electric Retrofit Vehicles

In converting the standard delivery vehicles, the power-train equipment, including the engine, transmission, fuel tank and drive shaft, were replaced with a 2007 Cummins ISB 200 hp engine and Eaton hybrid-electric system. Costs were reduced by utilizing the existing chassis and body.

The vehicles feature a diesel engine coupled with an electric motor/generator and lithium-ion batteries. These batteries capture and store energy during the regenerative braking phase of vehicle operation, eliminating the need to plug into an electrical source. The sophisticated hybrid controller selects the most efficient mode of operation—diesel or electric—depending upon current operating conditions and driver demand.

Microturbine could power hybrid electric car

With a brief, muffled hiss of a jet engine, the test vehicle that an Israeli start-up hopes will be the future of the hybrid electric car, ignites.

The car is built on the shell of a normal Toyota Prius, a top-selling gasoline-electric hybrid, but without the need for its internal combustion engine.

Instead, an electric engine, containing a supercapacity battery and a micro-jet turbine engine, powers from the rear as it drives almost silently around a test track.

With automakers racing to develop the most efficient, environmental friendly cars with minimal emissions, the concept of turbine-powered electric vehicles is not new.

But ETV Motors, a private company based just outside Tel Aviv that has raised some $12 million in investments, says it has found a way to make it commercially viable.

It says it has developed a micro-turbine engine to act as an on-board charger and a high-density battery that can power a vehicle for about 60-80 km (35-50 miles) on one charge.

The test car uses newly designed components still undergoing development, the company said, adding that the final product should be ready for tests next year.

ELECTRIC CARS

Another Israeli project, Better Place, which was launched in 2007 with $200 million of venture funding, has been gaining momentum across the globe, pushing for fully electric cars that recharge by plugging in to a grid network.

Better Place has partnered with Renault and Nissan to develop electric car infrastructure.

Toyota Motor Corp, another of the automaker giants developing hybrid and plug-in technologies, has said it would start leasing 500 plug-in cars globally by the end of this year.

Toyota has said the car will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, and Japan's Nikkei business daily reported this month the plug-in will be able to run 20-30 km (12-18 miles) on battery power alone at full charge.

ETV Motors says its batteries will power a car for more than twice as long, and with its on-board charger, will not be dependent on complicated electric charging infrastructure, though the car will be plug-in compatible, the company said.

The jet turbine system is also a departure from General Motors Corp's Chevy Volt plug-in, which is also powered by a traditional internal combustion engine. GM aims to introduce the Volt, with its 64 km (40 mile) range, by late 2010.

The game-changing development, said chief technology officer Arieh Meitav, was a higher density battery, based on Lithium Manganese Nickel Oxide.

The batteries will be the first to have 4.7 volt cells, versus existing Lithium-ion batteries with 3.2 volts. This allows for longer range with a smaller battery, and it is projected to last the lifetime of the car, he said.

The second part of the system, the electricity producing micro-turbine, is being developed with the help of an Israeli aviations company -- though ETV Motors would not say which one.

FUEL SOURCES

The turbine can run off a variety of fuel sources, like gasoline, diesel and biofuel, the company said, and will only operate to charge the battery when it runs low, spinning at a constant 80,000 RPM for maximum efficiency.

Felix Kramer, founder of CalCars.org, a independent Palo Alto-based nonprofit startup promoting plug-in hybrids, said the company had two very promising solutions but that they were far from commercialization.

"Today, every major automaker is now hard at work developing its first production plug-in vehicles in the next four years using existing technology," Kramer said.

"Once ETV Motors has fully developed prototypes, potential customers will be able to analyze both the performance and cost benefits of the new systems compared to other contending advanced technologies," he said.

Arnold Roth, ETV Motors' chief operating officer, said the company was discussing options to either manufacture parts of the system themselves or license it out to a larger company.

"We have been approached by Tier 1 manufactures who are interested in our technology," Roth said.

Roth said their hybrid system will be cheaper than hybrids on the market today.

Nissan to use Wireless battery charging

Nissan are said to be developing an inductive wireless charging system for their soon to be launched five-seat Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Electric Vehicle. The production version of the Nissan EV will get its official unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show in October.

According to Larry Haddad, general manager of product strategy and planning at Nissan Europe, electromagnetic field technology can charge EVs in a compatible parking bay without the need for wires. Nissan has ambitions beyond mere wireless charging bays. It hopes to scale the technology up even further as a series of plates laid into the surface of designated electric vehicle lanes on our roads and motorways, theoretically enabling motorists to charge as they drive.

Nissan is grappling with its recent consumer research, which revealed that 61% of potential electric car customers were most worried about the inconvenience of recharging. As well as inductive charging, its technological solutions include developing fast-charging facilities, which they hope to see in place in shopping car parks and motorway service stations that can provide an 80% charge in as little as 25 minutes.

The ZEV will be the first "dedicated" electric car on the market, arguing that most rival cars have been rehashes of existing models. It is a five-seater family-sized car with a top speed of 90mph, a battery range of around 100 miles and impressive acceleration. The cars will be built so new, improved batteries can be retro-fitted.

Several companies have announced inductive wireless EV charging technology in resent weeks including WiTricity and Showa Aircraft Industry Co Ltd. No company has made mention of potential payment systems which has always been seen as a show stopper for wireless power. With the widespread use of short range radio based toll road tags having been adopted in many parts of the world over the last decade perhaps totally automated payment will be part of these wireless EV charging systems.

A 299 MPG Prius gets 2500 Miles + per tank

A forum member over at PRIUSchat who owns a 2006 2G Toyota Prius with a Hymotion A123 battery plug in conversion has been driving his hybrid to and from work for the last 3 months on a single tank of gas. He recently filled up with the trip computer reading 2501.7 Miles and 299.43MPG on one tank of gas and still had gas left over for 500+ more miles.

His driving routine includes using the ICE power plant only on 55 Mph highway sections of his trip while using EV mode on all other roads. He motors silently the first 25 miles every morning at 35 mph to the highway on ramp, boots into ICE mode down the highway and back into EV mode at the off ramp. According to his ScanGauge this totals out to about 400-500MPG per trip.

Distance: 2501.7 miles
Calculated MPG: 299.43MPG
Gallons gas used: 8.355 @ $2.599
Watt hours used: 439556.7 @ 8 cents per kWh
Watt hours per mile: 175.7
Total tank cost: $56.88
Cents per mile: 2.3

Renewable Energy Accounts for 13% of Electricity in April 2009

Renewable power is starting to replace coal generation. Wind Turbines in the north west of Spain set a new record for power generation on March 5th as gales blew across the country, with more than 40% of the country's energy needs being generated by wind turbines.

Now the same results are starting to be seen in the US. Electrical generation from non-hydro renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, wind) continues its rapid growth according to the latest figures released by the Energy Information Administration in its "Electric Power Monthly" report.

For the 12-month period ending April 30, 2009, non-hydro renewables accounted for 3.18 percent of electrical generation; conventional hydropower accounted for an additional 6.29 percent; combined renewables accounted for 9.47 percent. By comparison, for the 12-month period ending April 30, 2008, the corresponding numbers were 2.69 percent, 5.66 percent, and 8.35 percent.

For the first four months of 2009, non-hydro renewables accounted for 3.67 percent and hydropower produced 7.00 percent; combined, all renewables accounted for 10.68 percent of U.S. electrical generation.

In terms of absolute output, non-hydro renewables during the first four months of 2009 produced 12.47 percent more electricity than they did for the same period in 2008. Similarly, hydropower during the first third of 2009 was 8.22 percent higher than for the first third of 2008.

Most dramatically, for the month of April 2009 alone, non-hydro renewables accounted for 4.24 percent of electrical output while conventional hydropower provided 8.73 percent; combined, renewable energy sources accounted for 12.96 percent of electrical generation.

"Month-after-month, the hard data refutes those who continue to falsely claim that renewable energy accounts for only a minute fraction of the nation's electricity supply," said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign.

"Moreover, non-hydro renewables are already well beyond the measly target set by pending energy legislation now before the U.S. Senate which calls for just 3% renewables by 2013."

Other key findings of the report are that net generation in the United States dropped by 5.0 percent from April 2008 to April 2009. This was the ninth consecutive month that net generation was down compared to the same calendar month in the prior year.

Comparing April 2008 to April 2009, coal-fired generation fell by 20,551 thousand megawatt-hours, or 13.9 percent. Generation from natural gas-fired plants was down by 1.5 percent.

On the other hand, net generation from wind sources was 34.8 percent higher. Generation from conventional hydroelectric sources was the largest absolute increase in April 2009 as it was up by 3,918 thousand megawatt-hours, or 18.4 percent from April 2008.

Finally, nuclear power in April 2009 experienced a nearly 12 percent drop from the preceding month.

Wireless charging system for electric vehciles

Showa Aircraft Industry Co Ltd have developed a contactless power supply system that is an electromagnetic induction type and can supply power even when two coils are placed adjacent to or 1m apart from each other.

The company exhibited it at AT International 2009, a trade show that is taking place from July 15 to 17, 2009, at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama City, Japan.

In an electromagnetic induction method, electric power is transferred between the primary and secondary coils. It can supply power from a distance of about 10cm but has some problems such as displacement in a horizontal direction and heat generation due to an invasion of a foreign substance.

Showa Aircraft Industry did not disclose the details because of patent-related issues. But the new system can have a transmission efficiency of 90% or more between coils that are set about 60cm apart from each other, the company said.

The system uses almost the same frequency as before but does not employ a resonance method. However, the transmission efficiency of the entire system including the power source is less than 50% because the system still uses, for example, a power supply device for laboratory use, Showa Aircraft Industry said.

The company had a demonstration of lighting ten 100W incandescent lamps using coils that are 60cm apart from each other. In addition, when a metal frying pan was placed between the coils, it did not heat up. The size of the coils was 50 x 50cm, and the thickness was about 5cm.

Showa Aircraft Industry expects that the new system will be used for supplying electric power to trucks, whose floors are difficult to be lowered. There is a demand to supply power to the auxiliaries of refrigerated trucks by using an external power source when they are parked at convenience stores, etc, the company said.

The technology could also be used to recharge electric cars, perhaps even when paused at traffic lights or parked in car-parks, without the healthy & safety or security hazard of a physical connection.

Ford Developing Laser Ignition to Cut Emissions

Ford Motor Co. and researchers at the University of Liverpool are developing a laser based car ignition system that reduces emissions and may help the widespread adaption of biofuels.

The team has just received nearly £200,000 (US$320,000) in grants to test the technology from the Carbon Trust, a government funded entity charged with helping businesses in the transition to a low carbon economy.

Ford reportedly plans to install the laser ignitions in a select range of vehicles in the next few years before expanding the laser ignitions on a larger scale. The laser ignition may also overcome a significant barrier to widespread adoption of biofuels -- starting the vehicle when the engine is cold.

The operation of internal combustion engines with lean gas-air mixtures, high
cylinder head pressure and plasma spark ignition has been shown to increase fuel efficiencies and reduce green-house gas emissions by significant amounts. Internal combustion engine laser ignition studies indicate fuel efficiency increases of greater than 45% and NOx-emission reductions of more than an order of magnitude when compared to standard spark-gap spark plug performance

Running lean (lean-burn) lowers the combustion temperature and significantly reduces the amount of NOx produced. As the demand for higher engine efficiencies and lower emissions drive reciprocating engine combustion to leaner air/fuel operating conditions, increased spark energy is required to maintain stable combustion and low emissions Delivering increased spark energy negatively impacts spark plug durability and the effectiveness of the spark plug in transmitting adequate energy as an ignition source. The lack of spark plugs with the required durability is quickly becoming the limiting factor for developing ultra low emission, high-efficiency natural gas engines. Laser ignition delivers the high energy required to ignite ultra-lean mixtures and eliminates the need for spark plugs.



The laser is directed toward the combustion chamber through a thin fiber optic cable in place of a conventional spark plug. Reflecting part of the laser back from inside the cylinder can deliver information on fuel type and ignition level to allow vehicles to optimally adjust the air/fuel mix. The laser ignition spark plugs are more reliable than a traditional electric discharge spark plug.

Fundamental studies on laser ignition have been performed by the US Department of Energy under ARES (Advanced Reciprocating Engines Systems) and by the California Energy Commission under ARICE (Advanced Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engine).

Peugeot Quark hybrid concept

While we're on the subject of French hybrid concepts and wheel motors lets not forget the Peugeot Quark. This ATV fuel cell hybrid made an appearance at the 2004 Paris Motor Show.

The Peugeot Quark is a hybrid vehicle in that it mainly runs on electricity from its battery, but it has a second power source being a small 1.5 kw hydrogen fuel cell that runs off a 9 liter tank that stores the hydrogen at 10,000 psi.

Like most Hydrogen powered vehicles, the fuel cell is used primarily to recharge the 288 volt, 1.88 kWh Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery which in a series hybrid layout drives four TM4 wheel motors that provide 4WD and four wheel regenerative braking up to 0.3g . Driving range of the Quark is approximately 60 miles.



Each wheel motor has a continuous output of 2.5 kW and a peak of 7 kW. With 100 Nm each the Quark has a maximum torque of 400 Nm with a nominal power of 10 kW and a peak of 28 kW. Maximum speed is 110 km/h and 0-50 km/h takes 6.5 seconds which sounds mighty conservative with that much electric motor torque on tap from zero rpm. While the Quark looks like an off-road ATV it's curb weight is 450 kg (992 lb) meaning it is considerably larger.

Citroën C-Métisse hybrid concept

With Peugeot's announcement of the worlds first diesel hybrid we thought it would be interesting to have a look back at a similar 'through-the-road' hybrid concept show car that sister company Citroen displayed at the at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

CITROËN C-Métisse concept car had the usual attention grabbing gull wing doors and chopped roof line but it's hybrid power train is something we hope does actually reach production in the not too distant future.

Similar to the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4, the C-Métisse featured a conventional front wheel drive diesel, a 150 kW (208 hp) 2.7 Lt V6, mated to a 6 speed automatic. To make the car a though-the-road hybrid Citroen added two wheel motors to the rear wheels, each with 15 Kw (20 hp) and 300 Nm. The TM4 supplied wheel motors were liquid cooled BLDC motors with independent controllers that eliminated the need for a mechanical differential.



With 4WD and the 600 Nm of electric motor torque, the 1400 kg C-Métisse can cover 0-60 mph in 6 seconds. No specs were even given for the battery pack but with a claimed EV mode range of only 3 km at 30 kph an educated guess would say the battery storage capacity was less than 1 kWh.

Due to the very small battery capacity the combined cycle fuel consumption was 6.5 l/100 km which is only about 36.2 US MPG. Still, with a larger battery and the advantage of the rear wheel motors to not only regenerate but independent control that can be incorporated into stability systems, the C-Métisse hybrid concept still has enormous potential

Peugeot set to launch the world’s first diesel hybrid

PEUGEOT plans to be the first manufacturer to offer a small family car with a diesel-electric hybrid power unit. It will be a version of the new 308, revealed last week, and will be on sale before the end of 2010.

The 3008 Hybrid4 is an otherwise-conventional front-drive car, powered by a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with 200 bhp and 369 lb ft fitted with a stop-start system. However, the car’s rear axle has been modified to incorporate an electric motor with 36 bhp and 147 lb ft which drive the rear wheels. A battery pack and a pair of electronic control units have also been packaged under the boot floor. The hybrid system adds just 100kg to the weight of the car.

Peugeot have chosen not to develop a new CVT gearbox as used by most hybrids and will use an existing semi automatic six-speed gearbox which is self-shifting thanks to the automatic clutch actuation and also comes with the option of wheel-mounted paddles.

The only connection between the two power trains is a series of underfloor cables, some of which carry the electrical charge generated by the engine’s stop-start mechanism to the rear-mounted battery pack. This type of layout is sometimes referred to as a 'through the road' hybrid.

The Hybrid4 can run in front-drive, all-wheel drive, sport and purely rear-drive modes; the latter offers zero-emissions travel, though the range at city speeds is no more than a few miles.

Toyota have so far chosen not to develop a diesel hybrid citing the extra weight of a diesel compared to a petrol ICE.

Global Green Challenge contender aims for 2,352 MPG

A team of 40 student in the engineering department at Sakarya University Turkey have built a car called SAHİMO that is 90% Carbon Fibre, weighs only 110 kg (240 lb) and achieves an impressive 1,336 MPG. The car has already finished as third most efficient vehicle at the 26th Shell Eco Marathon held in Europe and is now being prepared for the 3000 km Global Green Challenge which runs along side the World Solar Challenge starting October 25th.

Instead of the usual bubble canopy this fuel miser looks a lot like a gas guzzling mini NASCAR. The car features some of the best ideas from other super fuel efficient vehciles including an all carbon fibre honey comb chassis similar the world's fastest car powered by dry cell batteries, Japan's Oxyride racer. The combined electric / hydrogen fuel cell drive system is very similar to that used by World Record holders for Fuel Economy, PAC - CAR II who achieved 15,212 MPG-IMP (12,600 MPG-US) 5,385 km / liter. PAC II used a PEM type (Proton Exchange Membrane) Hydrogen fuel cell stack that is close to 70% energy efficient, (compared to a typical ICE around 25%). No technical details are provided about the fuel system in the Sakarya car apart from the fact it runs on the same fuel, Hydrogen.




Both SAHİMO, and PAC cars use a similar in wheel motor arrangement which features a small DC motor direct driving a wheel mounted ring gear similar to a starter motor. In the case of PAC 2 motors are used to give different speed ranges and a servo can lift the motors to disengage them from the ring gear when gliding downhill. The Sakarya car runs a single small DC motor engaged to a wheel rim mounted ring gear.

The car cost $170,000 to build and they believe they can achieve 1,000 km from 1 liter or 2,352 MPG. We wish them the best of luck.

Wicked Twister LIM launch coaster

In our series of articles where we take a look at the worlds biggest electric vehicles in an effort to dispel the myth that EVs have to be low powered vehicles we've already looked at a 3650 hp dump truck, a 24,460 hp Bullet train, a 140,000 hp ship and a 4,400 hp Diesel electric hybrid locomotive.

This week we'll look at one of the fastest accelerating roller coasters in the world, Wicked Twister at Cedar Point, Ohio. Wicked Twister is a launch coaster meaning it accelerates from a standing start eliminating the need to construct a huge lift hill. Using a row of powerful Linear Induction Motors, the launch system has enough force to hurl the 32 passenger train out of the load station at 50 Mph (80 kph) and immediately into a 100 foot (33 m) vertical climb.

The train is launched a total of 5 times over the course of the ride: three times forward and twice backward. The second forward launch thrusts the trains forward with enough force to reach the top of the front spire, 215 feet in the air, equal to the height of a 24 story building.



These Linear Induction Motors certainly pack a huge punch, over 3 MW or approx 4000 hp worth of electricity is used to accelerate the train from 0-50 mph in just 2.5 seconds. That's a 32 passenger train faster off the line than a 650 hp Ferrari Enzo. An LIM is effectively an electric motor cut in half with the stator rolled flat. Two of these 'rolled-flat' stators are mounted parallel facing each other while aluminum plates are mounted on the coaster carriages. When the stator coils are powered up a strong magnetic field is generated in the air gap between the facing stators and as the aluminum plate on the train passes through the gap eddy currents are generated in the plate strong enough to launch the coaster with kilo newtons of force.

Since Wicked Twister was opened in 2002 over 7 million riders have experienced the enormous acceleration of electrically powered Linear Induction Motors.

New Survey Finds Strong Consumer Interest in Electric Vehicles

Nearly one in three (30%) U.S. car buyers are interested in purchasing an
electric vehicle (EV) for their next car, according to a recent study on
consumer EV sentiment sponsored by Better Place and conducted by Ipsos, a
leading global market-research company. While interest in EVs was strong in all
five nations surveyed, interest was highest in Israel, where 57% of drivers are
interested in purchasing an EV for their next car. Denmark (40%), Australia
(39%), Canada (35%; Greater Toronto area only), and the U.S. (30%) followed.
And, 28% of Israeli respondents said they would only consider an EV for their
next vehicle.

Highlights of the survey of more than 8,000 drivers are:

* Consumers are ready to move beyond gasoline. The multi-national study revealed
that, on average, nearly half (48%) of car buyers do not plan to consider
"gas-only" automobiles for their next car.

* Electric cars have mainstream appeal. Interest in EVs spans all demographics
and driving patterns, dispelling concerns that EVs are niche products. Interest
in EVs was widespread among men and women and across income levels. Interest was
high across the age spectrum as well, although younger drivers (18-34) were the
most interested. Driving patterns had little impact on EV interest. Interest was
also similar among those whose car was the secondary car in the household, the
primary car in the household, and also among those for whom the car was the only
car in the household.

* Interest does vary on the basis of car buyers` societal concerns. According to
the study, most U.S. car buyers are concerned about air pollution or climate
change (62%) and even more concerned about the country`s dependence on oil
(74%), even more than terrorism (63%). Related to these concerns, U.S. car
buyers want the nation to be a global leader in developing renewable energy
(78%), reducing worldwide oil consumption (59%), and reducing pollution (55%).
Those expressing one or more of these concerns are more likely to say they are
interested in purchasing an EV for their next car.

"The survey reflects the future of transportation, which is electric," said Shai
Agassi, Founder and CEO, Better Place. "There`s a perfect storm of dynamics
driving toward mainstream adoption of EVs, including consumer desire for a clean
planet, global efforts to decrease oil consumption, transformation in the auto
sector and significant investment in technology. The combination of these
factors is propelling the dawn of a new automotive era."

If battery swapping speeds the uptake of EVs it can only help. Rental was big business in the early days of colour TV until manufacturing volumes became large enough for the price to drop to an insignificant % of disposible income.

Having battery rental as an option in the early days of EVs is a huge opportunity, although the business may eventually find it’s home mostly on interstate highways.


About the Study Methodology:

The study was conducted in March and April 2009, when gas prices were near a
52-week low, and included more than 8,000 respondents from the U.S., Canada
(Greater Toronto Area), Australia (Sydney/Central Coast, Melbourne/Geelong,
Brisbane/Gold Coast), Denmark, and Israel. The size of the sample exceeds that
of most studies of this type, increasing the reliability and precision of the
estimates. Ipsos drew a stratified, random sample to reflect the gender, income
and age profile of each local market from best-of-class, online-survey panels in
each market. The sample was filtered to include only those individuals involved
in the selection of their prior car or expected to be involved in their next car
purchase. Participants were given comparable descriptions of electric, hybrid,
and gas-only cars in order to assess their interest. Standard data cleaning
procedures were employed, and Ipsos and Better Place performed statistical
analyses.


Reuters

Honda Confirms CR-Z Sports Hybrid For 2010

The new CEO of Honda, Takanobu Ito has confirmed a rumor we have heard for a while in an announcement last Friday. He said the company would be launching a CR-Z sports hybrid in February of 2010.

Though the vehicle will continue to use the same 1.3 L VTEC engine found in Honda's Insight, it will have a more powerful electric motor, giving the car a total of 130 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. The Insight delivers 98 hp.

The car should be able to go from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds and get an average fuel economy of 55 MPG. Ito also confirmed that Honda will be producing a hybrid version of the Fit by the end of 2010.

"I think everyone is going to go the way of hybrids," said Ito. "Bringing hybrids quickly to customers will be a major focus of our activities. I want Honda to be a speedy company."

Furthermore Ito said Honda was also developing a larger hybrid system using 2 electric motors, similar to GMs 2-mode hybrid system. This will be used for larger vehicles, trucks, and SUVs.

Electric cars could dominate U.S. roads in 2030

Electric car sales could jump to 86 percent of U.S. light vehicle sales in 2030 if consumers don't have to buy batteries themselves, according to a University of California, Berkeley study to be released on Monday.

A company called Better Place and emerging rivals plan to offer pay-per-mile plans, similar to cell phone minutes. A family would buy a car but Better Place would own the battery, offer charging stations, and swap out batteries as needed to extend the driving range.

The cost of building charging systems will be more than $320 billion over the next couple of decades, although health-related savings due to less vehicle pollution could be $210 billion, according to the study by economist Thomas Becker.

The main benefit to drivers would be cars with price tags and operating costs similar to or less than gasoline models.

Renault-Nissan is making cars for the Better Place project. Better Place has said its system would be cheaper than using gasoline. The Berkeley analysis predicted the per-mile cost of making and charging batteries, including the cost of building a charging system, would be similar to or sharply less than a gasoline car, depending largely on whether prices of petrol rise.

Honda to Expand Hybrid Lineup to Compete With Toyota

Honda Motor Co., Japan’s second- largest carmaker, plans to expand the number of hybrid vehicles it offers domestically to compete with Toyota Motor Corp.’s best-selling Prius.

The carmaker will bring out a hybrid version of the Fit car next year and the hybrid CR-Z sports coupe in February, Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito told reporters today in Tokyo.

The new vehicles will give Tokyo-based Honda four hybrids in its lineup. Toyota introduced its third-generation Prius in May, overtaking Honda’s hybrid Insight as the best-selling gasoline-electric car in Japan.

“Applying the hybrid system to smaller vehicles will help Honda boost sales,” said Yoshihiro Okumura, who helps manage the equivalent of $365 million at Tokyo-based Chiba-gin Asset Management Co. “Once the U.S. market starts to pick up, they’ll be well-positioned.”

Honda is also developing a new hybrid system to be installed in mid- to large-size vehicles. Hybrid versions of all of its models should be available within 20 years, Ito said.

Toyota, which aims to have hybrid versions of all its car models by 2020, plans to introduce four new gasoline-electric hybrid models in Japan and three overseas by the end of March. It also has plans for a low-cost hybrid, smaller and cheaper than the Prius.

Sales Forecast

Honda expects global sales to drop 8.7 percent this fiscal year ending in March to 3.21 million vehicles, compared with 3.52 million units last fiscal year.

In Japan, where Honda has introduced its new Insight hybrid, sales may drop 0.2 percent to 555,000 units. Tax cuts and subsidies on fuel-efficient models are pushing up car sales in the domestic market. Sales in North America, its biggest market, may fall 9.8 percent to 1.35 million vehicles. A recovery in the market may come in the second half of next fiscal year, Ito said.

Industrywide sales in the U.S. may reach 10.5 million units in 2009, Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo said on April 28. That compares with an annual rate of 9.1 million units in February, the lowest since 1981.

Among future models, Ito said he would also like to bring to market an affordable, fuel-efficient sports car. Honda in December said it axed development of a successor to the NSX sports car with a V-10 engine.