BMW to Test Electric Powered MINIs

Over the next year and a half, BMW will test a series of electric-powered MINI models in real life conditions, the company announced today. The MINIs will be built in the company’s Oxford plant in the U.K. without engines and transmissions and then shipped to BMW’s headquarters in Munich, Germany where they will be fitted with an electric powertrain. The Bavarian automaker said that it will build and test several hundred of electric MINIs in order to evaluate the viability of a mass production version. Pic: Carscoop

Lotus Eco Elise Concept with Hemp Body Panels!

Lotus will unveil an environmentally-friendly version of its sporty roadster called Eco Elise at the British Motor Show that opens its doors on July 22. Unlike most eco-friendly propositions of our time, the Eco Elise study doesn’t revolve solely around tailpipe CO2 emissions. Instead, the Brits tried a holistic approach to ecology by using sustainable materials, cleaner manufacturing processes, renewable energy generation and of course, by reducing the car’s weight.

The renewable materials that have been incorporated into the Eco Elis project include hemp (industrial cannabis) that’s used on the car’s composite body panels, spoiler and seats, eco wool for the upholstery and sisal for the carpet. Cleaner manufacturing processes have been achieved by utilizing the latest water based paint technology. As for renewable energy generation, the Eco Elise’s hemp hard top incorporates a set of solar panels that provide power for the car’s electrical systems. -Continued

"Performance through light weight" is synonymous with Lotus, so a reduction in mass was a priority for the company’s engineers. The weight reduction philosophy has even extended to the audio system with a lightweight stereo and speaker system from Alpine that saves an impressive 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). The Eco Elise also uses special lightweight wheels that reduce the unsprung mass and contribute a weight saving of approximately 15.8 kg (34.8 lbs) over the already light Elise wheels.

Overall, the weight saving programme for the Eco Elise has resulted in a total saving of around 32 kg (70.5 lbs) over the feather light Elise S, which consequently reduces the fuel required to drive the car.

Renault-Nissan Form Electric Car Alliance with Portuguese Government

The Government of Portugal and the Renault Nissan Alliance have announced a partnership to promote zero-emission electric cars across the country. Under the agreement that was signed off today, the government will help the Renault Nissan Group study how to create the right conditions to make electric vehicles an attractive offer for Portuguese consumers as well as increasing public awareness. There will also be a joint study for the infrastructure and related organizations required to create a nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles.

The Renault Nissan Group is planning to launch its first mass market electric vehicles (EV) in 2011 and Portugal will be one of the lead global markets for the introduction of EVs from the Alliance. -Continued

“Portugal has become a leading country in renewable energy. This agreement with Renault-Nissan will place Portugal also on the front line in terms of sustainable mobility with zero-emission vehicles. Promoting electric cars in Portugal will reduce our dependence on imported oil and will contribute to a cleaner environment,” said Portugal’s Prime Minister José Sócrates.

“With the rising cost of oil and continuing concerns about C02 emissions, we believe the ultimate solution to sustainable mobility will be the mass availability of zero-emission vehicles,” said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. “Portugal is a recognized global leader in the development of renewable energy, and we applaud the government’s actions to make electric cars an economic reality for their citizens.”

GM Building World's Largest Rooftop Solar Power Station in Spain

General Motors is planning to install the world’s largest collection of solar panels on the rooftop of its Spanish car assembly plant in Zaragoza that builds the Opel Corsa, Meriva and Combo models. When the project is completed in the fall of 2008, the Zaragoza solar installation will comprise of about 85,000 solar panels covering 2,000,000 sq. ft. of space on the rooftop.

The project is being co-developed with Clairvoyant Energy, Veolia Environmental and the Government of Aragon. GM will lease their roof space to Clairvoyant Energy and Veolia Environment, who will build, own and operate the rooftop solar installation. -Continued

Once operational, the solar installation is expected to generate about 12 megawatts of power at its highest output. The installation will generate about 15.1 million kWh of power annually, which according to GM, is equivalent to the demand of 4,575 households with an average annual consumption of 3,300 kWh in Spain.

Suzuki to Test New SX4 FCV Fuel Cell Vehicle on Public Roads

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has given Suzuki the green light to test a new compact fuel cell vehicle based on the SX4 crossover. Quite interestingly, the SX4 FCV is equipped with a GM-made high-performance fuel cell along with a Suzuki-developed 70MPa hydrogen tank, and a light, compact capacitor that recovers energy during brake application and uses it to reduce fuel cell loading during acceleration. -Continued

The Japanese carmaker has been developing fuel cell vehicles in cooperation with General Motors (GM) since 2001 and up until now, it has tested three fuel cell mini vehicles on public roads with ministerial approval: the MR Wagon-FCV and Wagon R-FCV in October 2003 and the MR Wagon-FCV again in December 2004.

Mercedes Planning Electric A-Class with Lithium-Ion Batteries for 2010

Citing inside company sources, German newspaper “Automobilewoche” is reporting that Mercedes-Benz will market an electric version of the current A-Class in 2010. According to an unnamed senior manager in the automotive industry, the current generation A-Class’ sandwich construction with its double floor is ideal to fit the batteries without performing any serious modifications to the vehicle.

The newspaper also supports that Mercedes-Benz is currently in talks with Tesla for the supply of the lithium-ion batteries. Compared to nickel hydride units, lithium-ion batteries are not only more powerful but they also weigh less.

Subaru to Showcase Stella Plug-In Electric Concept at G8 Summit

Subaru has revealed the first details of its Plug-in Stella Concept model, a prototype electric vehicle (EV) that combines the EV system employed in the R1e with the Japanese market only mini car, Stella. The 3.4 meter long concept is powered by a 40kw strong electric motor that develops 150Nm of torque and is capable of covering a distance of 80km or 50miles with a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries. The front wheel drive mini car’s top speed is 100 km/h or 62 mph. -Continued

The Japanes carmaker will provide five units of the Plug-in Stella Concept for use at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held July 7 through 9, 2008. Four of the five cars will be used to transport government officials and other participants at the summit, while one vehicle will be displayed at the Environmental Showcase and it will also be available for a test drive. In addition, Subaru will provide one Stella Concept model to the Japan Post group for use in mail collection and delivery in the vicinity of Toyako during the summit.

Subaru plans to use the Plug-in Stella Concept in the development and test-marketing of the next generation of EV in Japan in the near future.

VW Golf TwinDrive: 174Hp & 94 MPG Plug-in Electric Hybrid

In cooperation with the German government, VW announced that it will start testing a fleet of 20 vehicles equipped with a new plug-in hybrid drive system with lithium-ion batteries called “TwinDrive”. Volkswagen plans are to introduce a production version of the system as early as 2010.

Speaking during the presentation of the first Golf model fitted with the TwinDrive system at the “Automobile Forum” in Berlin, VW’s Chairman Martin Winterkorn said that the “TwinDrive” plug-in hybrid system can be combined with either petrol or diesel engines.

“Different than today’s hybrid vehicles, it should be emphasized that TwinDrive – and this is decisive – enables long ranges in the city in electric mode. While the electric motor on a typical hybrid model just supplements the combustion engine, the exact opposite is true on the TwinDrive: here the diesel or gasoline engine supplements the electric-motor,” said Winterkorn.

Although VW’s representatives didn’t give out all the details on the new hybrid system, they did reveal that over the route from Potsdam to the “Automobile Forum” in downtown Berlin and back – considered a typical commuting route –the Golf TwinDrive consumed just 8Kw-hours of electricity and 2.5 liters of fuel (that equals to 94 mpg!). -Continued

According to the German carmaker, the Golf TwinDrive can cover a distance of about 50 km or 30 miles purely on electric energy. As for power, VW revealed that the Golf TwinDrive’s electric motor and internal combustion engine deliver in tandem up to 130 kW or 174Hp.

“The present era of the automobile would be inconceivable without highly efficient gasoline and diesel engines. But the future will most certainly belong to the electric motors – refueled at the electrical outlet. On the way to this future, our TDI (diesel) and TSI (petrol) engines are now being merged with electric motors and extremely efficient battery systems to form a new drive system”, explained Martin Winterkorn.

“The Golf TwinDrive being presented here today enables electrically powered driving in the city, on the one hand, while also enabling very long ranges over extended driving routes on which the combustion engine is used. For us, the TwinDrive represents an elementary step along the path toward the completely electrically driven automobile!” the Volkswagen chief added.

2008 Top Gear Episode 1: Supercar Fuel Economy Test & BMW M3 vs Toyota Prius

We stumbled upon the first episode of Top Gear Season 11 on YouTube and we immediately knew we had to share it with you. In this first part the team is concerned about rising gas prices. In typical Top Gear style, they fill up five supercars (Ferrari 599, Lamborghini Murcielago, Aston DBS, Audi R8 and Mercedes SLR) with 1 gallon of fuel and race them around a track to see which one will go the furthest.

Next up, they drive a Toyota Prius Hybrid on the race track as fast as possible with a new BMW M3 Sedan following behind at the same pace. Ten laps later, guess what? The Prius did 17.2 UK MPG (14.3 US MPG) while the M3 Sedan 19.4 UK MPG (16.2 US MPG)! Not that anyone will drive a Prius like that, but it does go to show you that fuel economy isn’t always only about the vehicle you drive, but it’s also about how you drive. -Video after the jump

Mazda to Reduce Fuel Consumption by 30% Until 2015

FoMoCo’s Japanese affiliate Mazda announced that it has set a target to reduce the fuel consumption of its vehicles sold globally by an average 30 percent by 2015. To accomplish this Mazda’s plans include the use of lightweight technologies, the upgrade of almost all of its gasoline engines, the development of a Smart Idle Stop System and the introduction of a new gasoline rotary engine and new diesel engines.

Mazda says that by 2015, it will have renewed almost its entire powertrain lineup and, from 2011, through the use of new lightweight platforms it aims to reduce the weight of its new vehicles by 100 kg / 220 lbs or more. -Continued

In particular, the next technological milestone for Mazda will be the introduction of the Smart Idle Stop System into one of its cars in 2009. According to the Japanese carmaker, this is the only idle stop system in the world that restarts the engine from idle by injecting fuel directly into the cylinder and igniting it to force the piston down, enabling a fast and quiet restart as well as an improvement in fuel economy by up to 7-to-8 percent.

In 2009, Mazda will introduce an E85 fuel-compatible flex-fuel engine into the Northern European and North American markets. From 2011 onwards, Mazda’s new gasoline engines will incorporate next generation Direct Injection Spark Ignition and other systems to boost power by 15 to 20 % while improving improve fuel economy by about 20%.

Starting from 2011, Mazda plans to introduce a new generation of diesel engines worldwide that will feature direct injection technology, turbocharging systems and NOx reduction technology, which will enhance fuel economy by 20% and produce cleaner exhaust gases.

Last but not least, Mazda will unveil a significantly upgraded version of its gasoline rotary engine in the early 2010s. Currently referred to as the 16X, the next rotary engine promises to offer substantially improved performance and economy through use of Direct Injection Spark Ignition and high-speed combustion technology, enfolded in new rotary dimensions.

Ford Fiesta ECOnetic with 64 MPG or 3.7 lt/100 km Coming to London Show

Ford has chosen next month’s London Motor Show to unveil the 2009 Fiesta ECOnetic, according to a report from Brit car magazine, Autocar. Equipped with a 1.4-liter turbodiesel engine, the ultra efficient version of the Fiesta ECOnetic is slated to deliver an average fuel consumption of consumption of 64.2 MPG (U.S) or 3.7 liters/100 km – corresponding to an average CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km.

To achieve these results and apart from the ultra efficient diesel engine, Ford’s engineers reduced drive resistances by using special tires and improved aerodynamics by lowering the vehicle and adding an aerodynamics kit. It is also expected that the Fiesta ECOnetic will feature a revised manual gearbox. (The Fiesta pictured above is not the ECOnetic version)

Scientists Attempt to Create Fuel from Bug... Poop

A privately industrial biotechnology company based in South San Francisco called “LS9” has been experimenting with genetically altered bugs that will provide 'renewable petroleum'. Now before you start mating various types of bugs found under your bunker, LS9’s genetically altered bugs are essentially single-cell organisms, each a fraction of a billionth the size of an ant. These bugs feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw and then they excrete crude oil.

But how much would it cost to create? Well, according to Greg Pal, a senior executive of LS9, if the company used Brazilian sugar cane to feed the bugs, its fuel would probably cost about $50 a barrel which is a far cry from today’s $130+ a barrel. So what’s keeping LS9 from mass producing its poop-derived crude oil? -Continued after the jump

Up until now, the closest LS9 has come to mass production is a 1,000-litre fermenting machine. According to company’s calculations, the in order to substitute the U.S.’s weekly oil consumption of 143 million barrels, it would need to create a facility that would cover about 205 square miles, or roughly the size of Chicago.

Moreover, although LS9 can produce its bug fuel in laboratory beakers, the company has no idea whether it will be able produce the same results on a nationwide or even global scale.

Thanks for the tip Jose! Via: NBC

First Honda FCX Clarity Rolls off Production Line

The first ever production FCX Clarity came off the production line at Honda’s Takanezawa-machi factory in Japan today. Honda’s advanced hydrogen fuel cell car will be leased to a limited number of customers in the US and Japan with lease sales scheduled to begin in July in the United States, and in Japan this autumn. The combined sales plan for both countries will be approximately 70 cars per year, with a total of 200 units over three years. Customers will follow a three-year lease term, at a price of $600 per month (approx €390), including maintenance and collision insurance. -Continued

At the heart of the FCX Clarity is a fuel cell stack that utilizes an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O₂) to convert chemical energy into electrical energy which in turn powers a motor that drives the car’s wheels. Honda’s FC stack simultaneously generates electricity and water, emitting no CO₂ or other harmful emissions.

VW Caddy EcoFuel Prototype

Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle department will exhibit a RHD prototype of its gas-powered Caddy EcoFuel at the “Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008”, a one-day-only Green Motor Show in Liverpool on 12th June showcasing the latest offerings in energy efficient vehicles. The Caddy EcoFuel, which is already offered in mainland Europe is being used for a UK pilot scheme, with sales expected to start in Britain later this year.

The Caddy EcoFuel features a 2.0-litre 109 PS petrol engine that operates primarily on compressed natural gas (or alternatively on biomethane) with a small petrol reserve, giving a total range of around 350 miles or 568 km. The key benefits of operating a CNG-powered vehicle are lower and cleaner emissions, plus reduced fuel costs as CNG costs significantly less than petrol or diesel.

Nissan to Save 21 Million Litres of Water in 2008 Barcelona Paint Shop

Thanks to a new water recycling system that was just installed in Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Barcelona, the Japanese carmaker will save 21.6 million litres of water in its paint shop in 2008. The savings equal to a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007.

In the past, the water used to wash the bodies-in-white before painting was purified and sent to the city’s main sewerage system. Now, the water used to wash almost 900 new bodies each day is filtered on site and immediately re-used, reducing the quantity previously sent to be purified by a significant 4,000 litres per hour.

Fish ‘n’ Chip Oil Running Tourist Bus

Lately we’ve been witnessing all sorts of alternative solutions to substitute petrol, but using 100% cooking oil from fish ‘n’ chips rather than a blend or manufactured biofuel, is a first.

The “culprit” is a New Zealand based tour bus company that gets its supply of recycled waste oil from the Gordonton fish and chip shop, near the company’s workshop in Auckland. The company’s managing director, Neil Geddes said the bus was used for city orientation tours aimed at new visitors to Auckland who expected sustainable tourism.

Via: NZherald

New Technology Promises to make Fuel from C02 Emissions & Algae

Could Origo Industries and their new technology that turns CO2 emissions into usable fuel hold the key to the future? Well, if it actually works, why not. Origo Industries supports that it has developed a system that captures the CO2 from your vehicle’s engine and then allows you to turn these emissions into fuel at your own home to re-use on your car or eve to power your house.

The system uses a revolutionary new approach where CO2 that’s captured through a special cartridge is regenerated through algae in a home unit, allowing the user to produce bio-oil (up to 2500 litres per year tax-free).

We’ve yet to see the system in action, but Orgio Industries says that it’ll display its technology for the first time ever at the UK’s largest Green Motor Show, Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 that takes place on Thursday 12th June 2008 from 10am to 4pm at the Arena & Convention Centre in Liverpool. Even though we have to admit that Orgio Industries’ system sounds too good to be true, we’ll wait and see.

UPS Orders 500 Hybrid Electric and Natural Gas Powered Vans from Daimler

Deemed as the largest order of alternative-fuel and drive-train commercial vehicles to-date, UPS has placed a request of 200 hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and 300 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to Daimler’s (Mercedes-Benz’ mother company) Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC).

These environmental friendly vans will be used by UPS for daily delivery operations across the United States and will function in along with the company’s current fleet of conventional diesel-powered vehicles. According to Daimler, the hybrid-electric power train that combines a diesel engine and an electric motor, will improve fuel economy by over 40% and reduce emissions by over 90% compared to baseline non-hybrid vehicles.

The 200 hybrid electric vehicles will be deployed in 2009 joining the 25 FCCC HEV delivery trucks already in operation at UPS. Daimler says that the 200 trucks are expected to save 176,000 gallons of fuel annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,786 tons each year.

Volvo S80 and V70 2.5FT: With 200Hp Flexfuel E85 Engine

Swedish carmaker Volvo is expanding its flexfuel line-up with the introduction of S80 and V70 2.5FT, both of which are equipped with a 5-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbocharged Flexifuel engine delivering 200 hp and 300 Nm of torque. The Flexifuel cars can run on E85 bioethanol or 95-octane unleaded petrol - or any mix of these two fuels.

Volvo says that from a technological viewpoint, it would have been possible to reach a higher output, but that would have translated in higher fuel consumption. The EU combined figure for both the S80 and V70 2.5T is 9.2 l/100 km or 25.6 MPG with the manual gearbox and 10.2 l/100 km or 23.0 MPG (V70) and 10.1 l/100 km or 23.3 MPG (S80) with the automatic gearbox. No thanks to its lower energy content, fuel consumption when running on E85 is approx 30-40% higher than when running on petrol.

60 MPG / Highway VW Jetta BlueTDI Coming to the US this Summer

The production version of VW's clean BlueTDI engine was unveiled today at the International Vienna Motor Symposium (24-25 April). Developed especially for the North American market, the Jetta BlueTDI features an advanced 2.0-liter common-rail turbo diesel engine that produces 140 Hp and 320 Nm or 236-lb/ft of torque.

Based on the high-tech TDI, which was first introduced in Europe in 2007 with the Tiguan, this four-cylinder diesel engine was redeveloped with internal engine modifications and a NOx trap in order to meet specific operating conditions in the U.S. But apart from being clean, VW supports that the new diesel engine helps the Jetta achieve a fuel economy of up to 60 mpg on the highway. The Jetta BlueTDI will go on sale in the States this summer. -Continued

“High fuel prices and a dramatic change in environmental consciousness means that diesel is becoming more and more attractive for American drivers every day.” said Dr. Ing. Jens Hadler, Director of Volkswagen Powertrain Development.

“This is why many customers, especially in California, have been waiting for a super-clean diesel like our BlueTDI. I think this motor will help the diesel get its big break in America because it consumes so little and yet can go such long distances on a single fill-up. And in a country as big as the United States, this is a priceless advantage.”