Japan Plans $1.1 Billion Nuclear, Electric-Car Loans

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s cabinet endorsed planned legislation to offer 100 billion ($1.1 billion) in low-interest loans to developers of electric cars and solar and nuclear power.

The government will offer financing at rates about 0.2 to 0.3 percentage point lower than ordinary commercial loans to developers of photovoltaic cells, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, and nuclear reactors, Tetsuya Hamabe, the director of the trade ministry’s industrial finance division, told reporters in Tokyo today.

Japan wants to speed the development of next-generation clean energy technology amid an intensifying global race to capture the biggest share of the market for less-polluting power generators and vehicles. The move comes after U.S. President Barack Obama proposed tripling federal loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants to $54 billion.

One hundred billion yen will be offered in the fiscal year starting April 1, and that figure should expand to several hundred billion in coming years, Hamabe said. The loans will help create jobs and achieve sustainable economic growth, he said.

The bill will be submitted to the regular Diet session running through the middle of June. The ministries of trade, agriculture and transportation will decide who is eligible if the legislation is passed, Hamabe said.

Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid for 24 Hours of the Nurburgring (w/VIDEO)

The new Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be reveled at the 2010 Geneva motor show. The hybrid Porsche will race at the Nurburgring 24hrs in May 2010 as an experimental green race car.

Porsche calls it 'Porsche Intelligent Performance' – a marketing phrase we're bound to hear more of, as Zuffenhausen develops its hybrid technology to dispel fears of the long-term future of sports cars.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid: the tech story

The hybrid 911 takes a conventional GT3 R race car and adds an electrically powered front axle. Two electric motors each developing 60kW turn the front wheels, complementing the flat six's 473 hp slingshotting the rear axle for a grand total of 635 horsepower combined. Four-wheel drive adds the usual traction gains for a race car, points out Porsche.

The system used is sometimes referered to as a 'through-the-road' hybrid, as there is no direct conection between the ICE in the rear and the front mounted electric motors. Porsche have also eliminated a bank of heavy batteries to upset the balance of a racer and used an electric flywheel power generator to create short bursts of electricity to drive the front axle.



The energy storage system was originally developed for use in Formula One by the AT&T
Williams team but Williams will not race the KERS system so their Hybrid team is now focused on applications in road vehicles. The flywheel is made from a Magnetically Loaded Composite material.

The flywheel generator acts as an electric motor – its rotor spins at up to 40,000rpm and stores energy mechanically as kinetic energy. It's charged during braking when the individual front electric motors double up as generators, and then releases up to 120kW of electricity for short bursts of around 6-8 seconds. Ideal for overtaking on track. The hybrid system reduces the number of fuel stops required which in a 24 hour race car can ad up to several laps advantage by the end of a race.

This system is essentially like the Flybrid concept that's been kicking around for a while. Energy that would otherwise have been wasted as heat during braking into turns is converted is temporarily stored then used to help power the car out of the turn again.

Porsche points to its long racing pedigree: the 911 has notched up more than 20,000 victories in 45 years of competing in motorsport around the globe. And it's not the first Porsche hybrid sports car – the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus was developed by founder Ferdinand Porsche 110 years ago.

Hybrid rules will be introduced at Le Mans this year with companies like Toyota and Peugeot believed to be more than a little interested in becoming involved. Porsche is in fact the most successful manufacturer, with a record 16 overall victories, including a record seven in a row, at Le Mans so it's no surprise they are testing a hybrid at a lower profile 24 hour race as Toyota have successfully done.

Mercedes All Electric Taxi Launched

Eco City Vehicles PLC, a developer and supplier of eco-friendly commercial vehicles and the London licensed taxi, is pleased to announce the launch today of an all electric prototype of the London-licensed Mercedes Vito taxi (Vito), which was co-developed and is distributed exclusively by the Group.

Called the Mercedes Electric eVito Taxi (eVito), the zero-emissions, lithium-ion battery vehicle was developed by a consortium of high-technology engineering companies including ECV's manufacturing partner Penso, Mercedes Benz UK and Zytec Automotive.

One80 Ltd, an associate company of the Group, provides its patented rear-wheel steering technology for the eVito as well as the Vito taxi, enabling the vehicle to meet the Public Carriage Office requirement for a minimum turning circle of 25 feet.

Later this year, the consortium plans to conduct controlled trials to confirm eVito's suitability for road usage as a London licensed taxi.

The electric taxi is powered by Zytek's 70kW electric powertrain and expected to exceed a total range of 120 miles in a typical mixed drive cycle on a single charge. The vehicle's performance is predicted to be similar to the internal combustion engine taxi, making it an ideal choice for inner city transportation and London cabbies. With zero emissions, it is also expected to be fully compliant with the Mayor of London's proposed new clean air standards for London taxis, due to be introduced in time for the London Olympics.

The Group believes that the advanced technologies used in the eVito also offers considerable potential for developing other types of eco-friendly commercial vehicles targeted at urban areas.

Peter DaCosta, Chief Executive Officer of Eco City Vehicles, commented: "The eVito is the first all-electric wheelchair accessible taxi with a 25-foot turning circle to be launched in the world and a major step towards our goal to become a leading supplier of niche eco-friendly vehicles. Subject to successful trials, the eVito together with the already popular Vito taxi, provides London with a great opportunity to reduce air pollution with modern vehicles. We have taken on board Mayor Boris Johnson's wish for a cleaner London and I'm confident this will contribute to meeting his goal."

Electric Cars Powered by their Composite Bodywork

Researchers from Imperial College London and their European partners, including Volvo Car Corporation, are developing a prototype material which can store and discharge electrical energy and which is also strong and lightweight enough to be used for car parts.

Ultimately, they expect that this material could be used in hybrid petrol/electric vehicles to make them lighter, more compact and more energy efficient, enabling drivers to travel for longer distances before needing to recharge their cars.

In addition, the researchers believe the material, which has been patented by Imperial, could potentially be used for the casings of many everyday objects such as mobile phones and computers, so that they would not need a separate battery. This would make such devices smaller, more lightweight and more portable.

The project co-ordinator, Dr Emile Greenhalgh, from the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London, says:

"We are really excited about the potential of this new technology. We think the car of the future could be drawing power from its roof, its bonnet or even the door, thanks to our new composite material. Even the Sat Nav could be powered by its own casing. The future applications for this material don't stop there -- you might have a mobile phone that is as thin as a credit card because it no longer needs a bulky battery, or a laptop that can draw energy from its casing so it can run for a longer time without recharging. We're at the first stage of this project and there is a long way to go, but we think our composite material shows real promise."

In the new project, the scientists are planning to develop the composite material so that it can be used to replace the metal flooring in the car boot, called the wheel well, which holds the spare wheel. Volvo is investigating the possibility of fitting this wheel well component into prototype cars for testing purposes.

The team says replacing a metal wheel well with a composite one could enable Volvo to reduce the number of batteries needed to power the electric motor. They believe this could lead to a 15 per cent reduction in the car's overall weight, which should significantly improve the range of future hybrid cars.

Current hybrid cars consist of an internal combustion engine, which is used when the driver accelerates the car, and an electric motor powered by batteries, which turns on when the car is cruising. The cars need a large number of batteries to power the electric motor, which makes the vehicle heavier, meaning that the car uses up more energy and the batteries need regular recharging at short intervals.

The researchers say that the composite material that they are developing, which is made of carbon fibres and a polymer resin, will store and discharge large amounts of energy much more quickly than conventional batteries. In addition, the material does not use chemical processes, making it quicker to recharge than conventional batteries. Furthermore, this recharging process causes little degradation in the composite material, because it does not involve a chemical reaction, whereas conventional batteries degrade over time.

The material could be charged by plugging a hybrid car into household power supply. The researchers are also exploring other alternatives for charging it such as recycling energy created when a car brakes.

For the first stage of the project, the scientists are planning to further develop their composite material so that it can store more energy. The team will improve the material's mechanical properties by growing carbon nanotubes on the surface of the carbon fibres, which should also increase the surface area of the material, which would improve its capacity to store more energy.

They are also planning to investigate the most effective method for manufacturing the composite material at an industrial level.

The 3-year European Union funded project includes researchers from the Departments of Chemistry, Aeronautics and Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology at Imperial College London. European academic and industrial partners include Swerea SICOMP, INASCO Hella, Chalmers, Advanced Composites Group, Nanocyl, Volvo Car Corporation, Bundesanstalt Fur Materialforschung undprufung, ETC Battery and Fuel Cells Sweden.

Andros Trophy goes Electric

The annual ice racing championships held in the French Alps during the off season this year introduced a class for EV race cars. In what is a first for professional motorsport, the "Trophée Andros Électrique" featured 8 identical space frame EVs built by Exagon engineering .

Each Andros Car 03 - Evo 2 is rear wheel drive, weighs just 800 kg and is powered by a 90 Kw (122 hp) Siemens 3 phase AC electric motor with 200 Nm of torque. The battery pack is Lithium Ion although no size is specified.

The popular rallycross format French series ran a single seater demonstration EV last year that bore a striking resemblance to a buggy. This year they EVs were more conventional 2 seaters.





Here's a link to the official Andro Trophy site video page

Ford Launch 2011 Transit Connect Electric Van

Ford Motor Company today unveiled the all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect – the 2010 North American Truck of the Year – at the Chicago Auto Show and confirmed the zero-emissions small van will be in fleet operators’ hands later this year.

The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use a Force Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics.

“Transit Connect Electric exemplifies how we are leveraging our relationships as well as our hybrid and advanced powertrain programs to bring energy-efficient technologies from the laboratory to the street,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “Not only is this an ideal vehicle for eco-conscious fleet operators, it is an important part of Ford’s future.”

In addition to the Transit Connect Electric, Ford plans to bring three more electrified vehicles to market by 2012 – the Focus Electric in 2011, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle in 2012 and a next-generation hybrid in 2012.

Getting charged up and moving



Transit Connect Electric is well-suited for commercial fleets that travel predictable, short-range routes with frequent stop-and-go driving in urban and suburban environments and a central location for daily recharging. The vehicle, which will accelerate at a similar rate as the gas-powered Transit Connect and will have a top speed of 75 mph, has a targeted range of up to 80 miles on a full charge.

Owners will have the option of recharging the Transit Connect Electric with either a standard 120V outlet or preferably a 240V charge station installed at the user’s base of operations for optimal recharging in six to eight hours. A transportable cord that works with both types of outlets will be available for recharging at both kinds of locations.

The vehicle’s charge port is located above the passenger-side rear wheel well. The onboard liquid-cooled 28-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is charged by connecting the charge port to a power outlet. Inside the vehicle, an onboard charger converts the AC power from the electric grid to DC power to charge the battery pack.

“We’re excited about the potential for our electrified vehicles,” said Praveen Cherian, program manager for the Transit Connect Electric, who added that today’s electric vehicle buyers are similar to early adopters of hybrid vehicles. “People were a little hesitant about hybrid technology at first, but now they accept it and embrace it. We expect the same will be true of electric vehicles.”

Driving on electric power



When the vehicle is operating, battery power is provided to the drive motor through the electric powertrain’s motor controller. The motor controller uses throttle input from the driver to convert DC power supplied by the battery into three precisely timed signals used to drive the motor.

The onboard DC/DC converter allows the vehicle’s main battery pack to charge the onboard 12V battery, which powers the vehicle’s various accessories, such as headlights, power steering and coolant pumps.

In the Transit Connect Electric, the battery pack has been efficiently integrated without compromising interior passenger room and cargo space. The battery pack is expected to last the life of the vehicle.

Collaborations are key
Transit Connect Electric builds on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure Dynamics, as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft.

“There is an increasing interest in electrified vehicles, and we are committed to bringing these vehicles to the marketplace,” said Nancy Gioia, Ford director of Global Electrification. “Ford’s work with Azure and Johnson Controls-Saft to create a purely electric Transit Connect will allow us to offer fleet customers an additional option for eco-friendly transportation.”

Oak Park, Mich.-based Azure Dynamics develops hybrid electric and electric drive technology for shuttle buses and commercial trucks, such as the Balance™ Hybrid Electric, which is built on the Ford E-450 cutaway and strip chassis for the medium-duty commercial vehicle segment.

“The opportunity to work with Ford on the Transit Connect Electric is a breakthrough advancement for us at Azure and for the light-commercial vehicle market,” said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO. “For us, it’s an important evolution of our existing relationship with Ford. From an industry standpoint, we are seeing delivery fleet and utility vehicle operators move to smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.”

Azure Dynamics’ proprietary Force Drive battery electric powertrain will be the driving force in the Transit Connect Electric. Force Drive components have previously been deployed in more than 40 vehicle integrations and have more than 25 million miles of on-the-road experience.

Johnson Controls-Saft was selected by Azure Dynamics as the supplier for lithium-ion battery cells and battery packs for the Transit Connect Electric. Azure Dynamics and Ford both currently use Johnson Controls-Saft battery technology for other products.

An ideal platform
With a unique combination of car-like driving dynamics, cargo capacity, accessibility and low purchase and operation costs, the Transit Connect is an ideal choice for electrification.

The Transit Connect Electric is expected to offer lower cost of operation, because recharging with electricity is generally less expensive than refueling with gasoline. Users may also benefit from much lower maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle. Consider the following:

* The number of components typical in an internal combustion engine and transmission are dramatically reduced in an electric vehicle to just a few moving parts in the electric motor and transaxle, which results in much fewer parts to wear out or maintain
* Electric powertrains operate with solid state electronics, which have demonstrated low or no maintenance over the life of the product
* Electric vehicles have completely sealed cooling systems that do not require refilling, replacement or flushing
* Electric vehicles require no oil changes or tune-ups
* There are no belts to wear out or break and no spark plugs or injectors to clean or adjust
* There is no exhaust system to replace and no liquid fuel system to freeze or clog
* The use of regenerative braking reduces wear and tear on brake pads

Common strengths
Although there are significant differences between the Transit Connect Electric and its gas-powered twin, there are many things in common as well. Both models offer:

* 135 cubic feet of cargo volume with 59.1 inches of floor-to-ceiling load height and 47.8 inches of load width between the wheel arches
* Load length a generous 72.6 inches, or more than six feet of cargo floor space
* Split rear cargo doors that open at a standard 180 degrees, or an optionally available 255 degrees
* Lift-over height less than two feet when the vehicle is unloaded
* Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering allows a 39-foot curb-to-curb turning circle for maneuverability in tight urban spaces
* Bulkheads, racks, bins and other upfits can be mixed, matched and configured to suit many specific commercial applications and needs

“With interest in eco-friendly vehicles stronger than ever among commercial and government fleet operators, the Transit Connect Electric promises to offer another unique solution for their needs,” said Gerry Koss, Ford fleet marketing manager.

Toyota recalls 437,000 Prius hybrids globally

Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems — the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker.

"I apologize for causing trouble and worries for many customers over the quality and safety of Toyota," President Akio Toyoda said at a press conference Tuesday in Tokyo.

"We sincerely acknowledge safety concerns from our customers," he said. "We have decided to recall as we regard safety for our customers as our foremost priority."

The recall is the latest blow to Toyota Motor Corp., which is in the midst of recalling more than 7 million vehicles worldwide because of problems with floor mats, which can trap gas pedals, and faulty gas pedals that are slow to return to the idle position. The 2010 Prius wasn't part of those recalls.

There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the U.S. about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads. The delay doesn't indicate a brake failure. The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes.

Toyota officials went to Japan's Transport Ministry earlier Tuesday to formally notify officials the company is recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid — the world's top-selling hybrid car. The automaker is also recalling two other hybrid models in Japan, the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the U.S. and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan.

The 223,000 cars being recalled in Japan include nearly 200,000 Priuses sold from April last year through Monday, according to papers the automaker filed with the ministry. The Prius is Japan's top-selling car.

In the U.S., Toyota will recall 133,000 Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus HS250h vehicles. Nearly 53,000 Priuses are also being recalled in Europe.

Owners in Japan of the 2010 Prius can get their cars fixed starting Wednesday, said Ryusuke Itazaki, chief of the recall department at the Transport Ministry.

He said Toyota would suspend production of the Sai and Lexus HS250h in Japan as the company doesn't have the updated software for those models yet.

If drivers experience any delayed reaction when depressing the brakes in any of these models, they should keep pressing, he said.

Itazaki said complaints about the brakes started coming in as the weather got colder, particularly from northern Japan.

He also said Toyota should have taken action sooner. "If the company had paid more attention to consumers' viewpoint, it could have realized that there was a safety problem."

Toyoda, the president, has been criticized for being largely invisible during the two weeks after the company announced Jan. 21 the gas pedal recall in the U.S., Europe and China. He apologized at his first public press conference last Friday, but was criticized by the Japanese media for failing to outline concrete steps to tackle the safety crisis and reassure customers around the world.

In contrast to his halting English in response to questions from foreign reporters at last week's news conference, Toyoda seemed much better prepared Tuesday, reading from an English statement after doing so in Japanese.

"We will redouble our commitment to quality as a lifeline of our company," he said in English. "We will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our customers."

U.S. safety officials have launched an investigation into problems with the brakes.

The problem is suspected in four crashes resulting in two minor injuries, according to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating the matter. Toyota says it's cooperating with NHTSA's investigation.

Problems with hybrid braking systems haven't been limited to Toyota.

Ford Motor Co. said last week it plans to fix 17,600 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrids because of a software problem that can give drivers the impression that the brakes have failed. The automaker says the problem occurs in transition between two braking systems and at no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota's plug-in hybrid is also being recalled in Japan — a largely experimental model for rental and government use, with 159 sold.

The Prius holds a cherished spot in Toyota's vehicle lineup and is symbolic of its leadership in the "green" car market.

Toyota was one of the first companies to mass-market a hybrid that combines an electric motor with a gas engine, introducing the Prius in Japan in 1997. Its high gas mileage made it popular among environmentally conscious drivers, especially when gas prices spiked two years ago.

But the complexity of the Prius, a highly computerized car, has led to problems in the past. In 2005, the company repaired 75,000 of them to fix software glitches that caused the engine to stall. It has also had trouble with headlights going out.