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Mercedes is set to launch its BlueEfficiency range of cars in Europe, which it launched at the Geneva show.

The range consists of 20 models that have been lightened to make them more economical and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Measures such as fitting thinner glass, lighter alloy wheels and using low rolling resistance tyres are all employed.

The biggest changes, however, are to the engines, which have been tweaked to give better economy.

The C200 CDi BlueEfficiency has a 134bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and gives 55.4mpg and 135g/km CO₂ emissions.

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Mercedes

Sun-drenched Los Angeles and snow-carpeted alpine Bavaria provide the inspiration for the Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept car, which makes its debut at the 2007 L.A Auto Show. Powered by the world’s cleanest diesel engine, and combining the sun worshipping potential of a classic cabriolet with the mountain-scaling agility of a quattro-equipped ‘off-roader’, the Cross Cabriolet quattro could form the basis of a future SUV model from Audi.

Deriving its fundamental chassis and drivetrain architecture from the modules used by the A5 coupe and new A4 saloon, and covering a similar ‘footprint’ on the road, the 4.62-metre long Cross Cabriolet quattro is powered by an even more efficient version of the 3.0-litre, 240PS V6 TDI engine incorporating a new ultra low emission system. Mounted longitudinally, the world’s cleanest diesel unit combines the benefits of state-of-the-art common rail injection with piezo crystal technology, exhaust gas recirculation and an exhaust after-treatment system. Using a special AdBlue additive, this new system reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 per cent.

The result is an engine which will satisfy stringent emissions limits all over the world, even in especially rigorously controlled U.S states such as California, New York and Vermont, and which will share its technology with other units in the range from 2008 onwards. This initiative will help Audi to meet its pledge to effect a 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions across its fleet by 2012.

As the Cross Cabriolet quattro ably demonstrates, the ultra low emission technology demands no sacrifices in performance. Through an eight-speed automatic transmission with a new lever design incorporating a gear selector ‘control wheel’, the SUV study translates 240PS and a healthy 500Nm of torque into a 0-62mph acceleration time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 149mph, without ruling out the potential to cover over 38mpg.

In the Cross Cabriolet quattro, the Audi drive select system automatically defaults to the ‘dynamic’ mode, which places equal emphasis on handling composure and comfort. When the ‘sport’ mode is selected, a more overtly performance and handling-biased program comes into play, with shock absorbers set to maximum firmness, throttle response further sharpened and transmission shift points moved higher up the rev range.

By contrast, the ‘efficiency’ setting majors on smooth, economical progress that brings fuel savings of well over 20 per cent compared with ‘dynamic’ mode. Here, the engine and transmission responses are moderated, the air conditioning system is automatically switched off and the parameters of the adaptive cruise control system are adjusted in favour of minimal fuel consumption. Route information gathered from the system is taken into account in determining braking distances.

The list of technological innovations includes futuristic satellite navigation technology using photorealistic 3D maps from Google Earth, a Bang & Olufsen sound system with internet radio, which provides access to the many radio stations broadcasting online. Tracks played by these stations can be ‘judged’ by the user, who can give a positive or negative verdict on each at the touch of a button. This helps the system to build a picture of their preferences and to offer a bespoke play list incorporating only the tracks that match them. The internet-based system also enables CD cover illustrations and track and artist background information to be displayed.

Source www.greencarsite.co.uk via yahoo

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Audi, Ecology, Emissions, environment

During the Detroit Auto Show, a Ford press liaison invited AutoblogGreen and around a dozen other journalists to an on-the-record dinner to talk about sustainability and related topics. As a guy who writes for AutoblogGreen, I couldn’t help but notice that every single person around the dinner table had been at Cobo Hall during the day. The first day’s schedule of jam-packed press events ended at around 6:30 at the show in downtown, and the dinner started at 7:30 on Southfield, which is 20+ miles away. So, for a relaxed discussion on Ford’s commitment to sustainability, Ford made sure that we all needed to drive for half an hour. Nice. To be fair, it’s not like Ford at home in Detroit, so maybe they didn’t know that there are plenty of good restaurants downtown. Oh, wait.

Anyway, the chance to sit with Sue Cischke, Ford’s Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering and Bill Ford, Jr. himself made the dinner too tempting and so I headed out to the restaurant (arriving a few minutes late because I always, always get lost when I drive in Detroit). I’ve put up a recording of the opening discussion we had with Bill (note: for this post, I’ll use “Bill” to refer to William Ford III and “Ford” to refer to the company, just so there aren’t any confusing sentences) and you can listen to it here (36 min, 25MB). The bulk of this post is written from what was said then and during the dinner itself.

One of the main messages that the Ford folks were saying was that EcoBoost is a great new technology. For drivers today, Bill said, options to use less fuel are simply to drive less or to buy an expensive hybrid system, both of which he kind of dismissed. EcoBoost will provide another option when it arrives in 2009 in the Lincoln MKS.

Ford does not (yet) have a partner in developing hybrids, but Bill noted that this is not guaranteed to be the status quo moving forward. Whether its hybrid tech or otherwise, Ford is open to working with partners to make cars greener. In response to a question about Ford’s hybrid strategy, now that Toyota has pretty much driven off with the green/eco badge thank to their hybrid success, Bill said that Toyota has done “a great job” with the Prius. Ya think?

While Ford still isn’t releasing the names of the companies that are providing the batteries for the plug-in Escapes that Southern California Edison is testing out west. Thus far, the vehicle that we saw delivered to SCE in December is the only one that is in use. Ford won’t say when the second PHEV Escape will be handed over. Bill did say - and Cischke confirmed - that Ford is getting the batteries “from the same place” as GM and other companies, i.e. A123 Systems, in the testing phase. The final supplier for a Ford plug-in will be decided once more of the SUVs have been built and tested.

Bill said that in this political year, it was good that Ford said early on what it stands for in the Energy Bill debate. The fight is far from over, but Cischke pointed out that biofuels will play an important role in the future, even calling the GM-Coskata cellulosic ethanol announcement a “great thing.”

Other Ford reps present at the meal were John Viera, Ford’s director of Sustainable Business Strategies, and Oscar Suris, Mike Moran, and Jennifer Moore from the media side of things. Overall, the dinner showed a greenish side of Ford that, honestly, the Detroit Auto Show didn’t highlight. Sure, we had the EcoBoost announcement, but other than that we had a new Lincoln MKT (with EcoBoost), the Verve, and the diesel and EcoBoost F-150 on the eco trip. Nothing to scoff at, but nothing that really lights up the ABG comments section. I know these issues are important to Bill and to Ford, but we’ll need to see some real bold moves (as it were) before the Blue Oval is considered to be an eco-blue.

Source autobloggreen.com

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Biofuel, Concept car, Ecology, Emissions, environment, Ethanol, Green cars, Hybrid

Although Europe is unlikely to ever rely solely on natural gas for fuelling vehicles, the use of this abundant resource could in part alleviate the demand on fossil fuels. In other parts of the world, notably Asia, natural gas based fuels are dominant, with the government mandating its use in certain transport sectors.

You may be familiar with LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) or Autogas. It has been around for a while. Many older, large capacity cars have been converted to run on LPG in the UK, with a large storage tank in the boot and the ability to run on petrol when no LPG is available. The advantage to the owner is a much lower fuel cost, with the actual price per unit volume less than half that of petrol at the time of writing (although the fuel is less energy dense so overall savings are more like 40%). A side benefit is of course a significant reduction in emissions, with carbon dioxide pollutants estimated as 20% less than an equivalent petrol engine and other toxic compounds reduced dramatically.

It is possible to convert most petrol cars to LPG if required, though the conversion itself is not always cheap and may require the reduction of luggage capacity thanks to the addition of a large additional fuel tank in the boot. Some car makers offer new cars for sale as bi-fuel models, in particular Saab, Nissan, Ford, Volvo and Vauxhall, which offer the best, integrated solutions. Some of these are eligible for avoidance of the congestion charge, which is why there may be an increase of bi-fuel commercial vehicles on the market in the near future.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has received a favourable response in recent times, but has yet to make a significant impact on the market as yet. It is different again from LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), which must be transported in cryogenic conditions and is unlikely to ever be used in regular cars.

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Green cars

Up through the mid-nineties, Formula One racing was a bastion of technological innovation. Cars ran with 4-, 6-, 8-, 10- and 12-cylinder engines. There were naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines.

They had active suspension systems. Since that time the sports governing body, the FIA has been clamping down with more and more restrictive rules. Cars must run standardized fuels, have V-8 engines of 2.4L displacement and now even have standard engine ECUs. Le Mans style sports car racing on the other hand has actively encouraged alternatives like diesels, biofuels, and different engine types like Wankel rotaries.

A report titled CARS 21 published by the European parliament is calling on the FIA to allow for more innovation that can lead to environmental advancements for road cars. The American Le Mans Series is actively moving down this path and provides some of the most interesting on-track action to be found anywhere.

FIA president Max Mosely has welcomed the call from the EU, so hopefully we’ll see some loosening of the reigns in F1 in the next few years. A lot of safety and performance advancements have come out motorsports over the years and the pace of development could help bring more relevant technology to the road if the rulemakers allow it.

[Source: AutoCar, via Autoblog]

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Motorsport

U-Haul this week began renting the automotive industry’s first vehicle fleet to sport Ford’s “green paint,” a product expected to wear better than conventional auto paint while being environmentally cleaner and faster and cheaper to apply.Aside from a few decals boasting eco-friendliness, the 200-plus E-Series vans that U-Haul, North America’s largest trailer rental company, has added to it fleet don’t appear to be anything special, but they are — if only skin deep.

The solvent-borne paint contains more pigment than conventional water-borne auto paint, which allows the color to be applied using less paint. And unlike water-borne paint, the new formula allows for three coats of wet paint to be applied to the vehicle one on top of the other, without drying between coats.

This eliminates the prime-coat application and its related processes, which permits a smaller, more efficient paint shop. And, there’s no need for air-conditioning or an additional low-temperature oven, which are required in water-borne paint shops to evaporate the water from the paint.

The result, according to Ford: a process that results in 15 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions, a 10 percent drop in volatile organic compounds, less energy expended, and a 20 percent decrease in painting times. The automaker says it saves about $7 per paint job, so the environmental benefits shouldn’t come at a financial cost to consumers. …continue reading

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Ford, Green cars

Imagine a world where all vehicles are Fords, where the scenic views out the window all look little bit like old skool Nintendo video games (somewhere between Pole Position and F-Zero) and where each intersection brings with it another chance to learn a valuable lesson. If you can imagine that, then you’ll know what to expect when you head over to Ford’s Driving Skills For Life website.

Why would you voluntarily subject yourself to such a site? Well, perhaps Ford’s new “eco-driving” module is enough to tempt you. Ford recently added this tutorial to the site and it’s a place where you can learn such driving tips like:

• Drive at posted speed limits
• Accelerate smoothly and brake gradually
• Don’t be an aggressive driver
• Check your tires
• Don’t idle for more than 30 seconds

[Source: Ford]

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Ford

• EU agrees 2012 proposals
• 130g/km of CO2 demanded
• Fines for any higher-emitting cars

The European Union has proposed that car makers who fail to meet carbon dioxide reduction targets by 2012 will be fined.

Under the scheme, for every gram of CO2 that a car manufacturer emits over the 130g/km target, it will be fined 30 Euros (£14.35) from 2012. This will grow to 95 Euros (£58.90) per gram in 2015.

The fines will be based on the average emissions of each manufacturer’s total sales, rather than each individual car. However, every manufacturer currently exceeds the proposed 130g/km limit.

Estimates suggest car makers could be liable for fines of around £9 billion a year if the proposals are given the go-ahead, with a significant proportion of the costs being passed on to car buyers. …continued at What car ?

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Business, Drive, Ecology, Emissions, environment

After heated negotiations that ran a day past the scheduled close of the conference, delegates from 190 countries at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali finally adopted a roadmap ( the “Bali roadmap”), which charts the course for a new negotiating process to be concluded by 2009 that will ultimately lead to a post-Kyoto (2012) international agreement on curbing climate change.Although the roadmap does not set quantitative targets for emissions reductions at this stage—a key point for the US negotiators—it does lay out a number of other core elements, including the launching of an Adaptation Fund as well as decisions on technology transfer and reducing emissions from deforestation.

The decisions we have taken in Bali together create the world’s road map to a secure climate future. The governments assembled here have responded decisively in the face of new scientific evidence and significant advances in our thinking to collectively envision, and chart, a new climate-secure course for humanity.

The Bali Roadmap consists of a number of forward-looking decisions adopted today. These decisions represent various tracks that are essential to reaching a secure climate future.

—Rachmat Witoelar, President, UN Climate Change Conference

The main points of the Bali Roadmap include:

• Commencing the negotiation process to reach a long-term global goal for emission reduction, “in accordance with the provisions and principles of the Convention, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and taking into account social and economic conditions and other relevant factors.”

-  Measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation commitments or actions, including quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives, by all developed countries, taking into account differences in their national circumstances.
-  Measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation actions by developing countries in the context of sustainable development, supported by technology and enabled by financing and capacity-building.
-  Policy approaches and positive incentives on issues relating to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries.
-  Various approaches, including opportunities for using markets, to enhance the cost-effectiveness of, and to promote, mitigation actions, bearing in mind different circumstances of developed and developing countries;

• Enhanced action on adaptation

-  International cooperation to support urgent implementation of adaptation actions, including through vulnerability assessments, prioritization of actions, financial needs assessments, capacity-building and response strategies, integration of adaptation actions into sectoral and national planning, specific projects and programs, means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions, and other ways to enable climate-resilient development and reduce vulnerability of all countries, taking into account the urgent and immediate needs of developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, especially the least developed countries and small island developing States, and further taking into account the needs of countries in Africa affected by drought, desertification and floods.
-  Risk management and risk reduction strategies.
-  Disaster reduction strategies and means to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
-  Economic diversification to build resilience.

• Enhanced action on technology development and transfer to support action on mitigation and adaptation.

-  Scaling up of the development and transfer of technology to developing countries in order to promote access to affordable environmentally sound technologies.
-  Accelerating the deployment, diffusion and transfer of affordable environmentally sound technologies.
-  Cooperation on research and development of current, new and innovative technology, “including win-win solutions”.

• Enhanced action on the provision of financial resources and investment to support action on mitigation and adaptation and technology cooperation.

-  Improved access to adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources and financial and technical support, and the provision of new and additional resources, including official and concessional funding for developing countries.
-  Positive incentives for developing countries for the enhanced implementation of national mitigation strategies and adaptation action.
-  Innovative means of funding to assist developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change in meeting the cost of adaptation.
-  Means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions on the basis of sustainable development policies.
-  Mobilization of public- and private-sector funding and investment, including facilitation of carbon-friendly investment choices.
-  Financial and technical support for capacity-building in the assessment of the costs of adaptation in developing countries, in particular the most vulnerable ones, to aid in determining their financial needs.

The first meeting in the new Bali process is scheduled to occur no later than April 2008.

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, environment

If you plunked down six figures and expected to be motoring around in your emissions-free Tesla Roadster by now, chances are there might be a few ants in your pants. The all-EV Tesla Roadster has hit a few speed bumps on its road to production, and in order to address these concerns, the fledgling automaker held a town hall meeting in San Carlos yesterday that was available to anyone who made a deposit for a car via conference call.

The skinny is that Tesla is having a difficult time developing a transmission strong enough to “survive the process of shifting gears while the motor remains at full torque”, according to our own Sam Abuelsamid who has been following the Roadster’s development from Day 1 and has actually rode shotgun in it. Two suppliers are currently working simultaneously to find a solution. Meanwhile, the company has gone ahead and built the first production model at the Lotus factory in Hethel, England. The first car belongs to Elon Musk, Chairman of the company and one of its initial investors. His car is fitted, however, with a transmission that he knows will fail in a few thousand miles.

Tesla also revealed that it is considering shipping some preordered Roadsters to customers early with similar transmissions that will be temporary and later replaced with the stronger transmission once it’s developed. For those really eager to own a Tesla Roadster, this might be an option, but would you want to drive around a car with a gearbox that was guaranteed to fail after a few thousand miles?

Also of note is that the Tesla Roadster’s range estimate has fallen a bit again from a previously reported range of 245 miles to something in the 220- to 230-mile range. Still impressive, but let’s hope it doesn’t fall any further.

Click here to read more about the town hall meeting over at AutoblogGreen.

[Source: AutoblogGreen]

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Electric, Emissions, environment

Suzuki is pursuing a world strategy designed for long-term growth. Following the launch of its acclaimed fourth world strategic model, the Splash, at the 2007 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, the company is developing the fifth exciting model in its strategy. It will be showing some of the forthcoming model’s design themes at Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi in the form of the Concept A-Star.

The new model is an A-segment five-door hatchback reflecting a focus on world-class environmental compatibility and comfort. It will have an all new Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine with CO2 emissions lower than those of European competitors (target: lower than 109g/km). And like all new Suzuki world strategic models, it will prove that sporty and exciting performance can be enjoyed together with outstanding fuel economy.

Suzuki also produces a 1.3-litre diesel engine, but Suzuki does not plan to use it in the new production car as the new 1.0-litre petrol engine is environmentally superior. Suzuki is studying options for small diesel engines for production by in the future.
Production is scheduled to start in October 2008.
Source: www.greencarsite.co.uk via yahoo

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Suzuki

It’s one thing to hear about the automotive advances being made on university campuses; it’s quite another to drive them. Challenge X is an event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and GM where schools get to flex their engineering and creative muscles. GM provides the vehicles — in this case, each school received a Chevrolet Equinox — and the schools’ goal is to reengineer them with reduced emissions.

The universities began computer simulations a year before the keys were handed over, then received the vehicle and spent the next two years doing the physical work, much of which involved integrating components and systems not specifically designed for these vehicles. An SUV may be an ideal platform for an event like this, because adding weight of new components isn’t as critical (the suspension and structure are designed from the factory to carry added gear and people) and there are more places to add batteries and other equipment. For this Challenge X event, there were 17 universities involved, and all the vehicles were hybrids.

We started the day behind the wheel of the University of Waterloo’s series fuel-cell hybrid. This school’s entry is powered by hydrogen, stored in a tank that takes up the cargo area. The fuel cells are stored under the seats, and the battery pack is under the hood, as is a motor inverter. To reduce vehicle weight, this team replaced as many OE steel components as possible with aluminum and used carbon fiber wherever it was realistic.

As it operates, it makes some noises you wouldn’t necessarily expect — some hums and groans that are louder than in, say, a Prius — but they’re certainly minor. This Equinox does not have the same power output as a stock model, but has a 120-mile range and zero emissions — its exhaust only drips warm water. Once a hydrogen infrastructure is in place, which some estimates put at 15-20 years from now, this could be a viable future power source for cars and SUVs.

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Emissions, environment, Hybrid

When Ford redesigned U.S.-spec Focus, they dumped the hatchback and wagon models and gave the sedan and new coupe a style that almost no one thought was an improvement. Fortunately for European drivers, the refreshed Euro Focus came out much better. At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September Ford added new front and rear styling in keeping with the Kinetic design of other new Euro-Fords.

One more thing the Euro-Focus gets that ours doesn’t is a diesel engine, specifically a 2.0L turbo four with 134 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. The Focus TDCi consumes miles at the rate of 42 for every US-sized gallon of diesel fuel. That’s quite a few more than a gas-engined U.S. Focus which only gets 28 mpg combined. Come on Ford, we want a small diesel! Check out what CAR thought of the Focus diesel at the Read link.

[Source: CAR via http://www.autobloggreen.com/]

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, focus, Ford

Going green has so far done little to boost the sales of carmakers in Europe who are trying to win back the lead from their Asian rivals by stressing a commitment to environmental friendliness.

Eco-friendly vehicles were thronged at the Frankfurt car show earlier this year but there are no queues at local showrooms to buy them. It seems green cars are either too expensive or simply not available.

Much-vaunted new models, such as the petrol-electric hybrid version of the Porsche Cayenne or eco-offerings from volume makers like Ford and Opel, are not even on sale yet. Others such as the hybrid X6 offroader shown by BMW may never reach series production.

Meanwhile, surveys show that while frugal diesels, gas-powered cars and the hybrids, which feature either a petrol or a diesel engine mated to an auxiliary electric motor, are generating a lot of interest, German customers in particular are not prepared to pay a premium for cars which are easier on the environment.

It’s a different story in Sweden, where officials have reported Europe’s fastest increase in the number of new green cars registered in 2007. Sales in Sweden of low-emission vehicles such as hybrids and ethanol-powered cars went up by 25 per cent in the first six months of the year.

“Sweden is taking the lead in Europe’s environmentally-friendly car league”, Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren told a press conference when the figures from Swedish car industry organization Bil Sweden were presented.

Experts in Stockholm say green tax breaks for the owners of eco- friendly cars contributed significantly to the sales boost, measures which are still being discussed by the German government…continue reading

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment

E85 Ethanol Flex Fuel :

Drivers jumping on the latest gas-saving bandwagon may be in for a shock when they see fuel-economy estimates for the newest darlings of Detroit: E85 ethanol flex-fuel vehicles. Run a new V6 Chevrolet Impala on good-old gasoline, and it’ll get 21 miles per gallon in the city, 31 on the highway, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates. Burn E85 — a blend of 85 percent of the alcohol-based fuel ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, which American automakers flaunt as their latest alternative-energy idea — and the Impala’s EPA numbers shrivel to 16 mpg city, 23 highway.

It’s no better with other kinds of flex-fuel vehicles, vehicles that can run on E85, 100 percent gasoline, or a combination of the two. Run a two wheel-drive V8 Ford F150 on regular unleaded gas, and the EPA says it’ll get 14 mpg city, 19 mpg highway. Run it on E85 ethanol, and it gets 11 mpg city, 14 mpg highway. In other words, fill up on environmentally friendly E85 ethanol, and you’ll get fewer miles per gallon than you would on gasoline.

Sound depressing? Not if you believe that what’s bad for the E85 ethanol user is good for America’s fuel strategy. After all, a mile driven on E85 ethanol fuel is a mile not driven on conventional gasoline. And that, according to President Bush and proponents of E85 ethanol, can help America end its dependence on foreign oil.…continue reading

Fuel cells:

What exactly is a fuel cell? Why are governments, private businesses and academic institutions collaborating to develop and produce them? Fuel cells generate electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution. Unlike power sources that use fossil fuels, the by-products from an operating fuel cell are heat and water. But how does it do this?

In this article, we’ll take a quick look at each of the existing or emerging fuel-cell technologies. We’ll detail how polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) work and examine how fuel cells compare against other forms of power generation. We’ll also explore some of the obstacles researchers face to make fuel cells practical and affordable for our use, and we’ll discuss the potential applications of fuel cells.

If you want to be technical about it, a fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device. A fuel cell converts the chemicals hydrogen and oxygen into water, and in the process it produces electricity…continue reading

Hybrid car:

We are all familiar with gasoline-powered cars, and most people have heard about or seen electric cars. A hybrid car is a combination of the two. A hybrid vehicle contains parts of both gasoline and electric vehicles in an attempt to get the best of both worlds.

The best way to understand the advantages of a hybrid vehicle is to think about a car traveling down a highway at the posted speed on level ground. In this case, the engine is doing three things:

1. It is overcoming rolling resistance in the drive train.
2. It is overcoming air resistance.
3. It is powering accessories like the alternator, the power steering pump and the air conditioner.

The engine might need to produce no more than 10 or 20 horsepower (HP) to carry this load. The reason why cars have 100- or 200-horsepower engines to is handle acceleration from a standing stop, as well as for passing and hill climbing. We only use the maximum HP rating for 1% of our driving time. The rest of the time, we are carrying around the weight and the friction of the much larger engine, which wastes a lot of energy.

Plug-In Hybrid:

Because of their promise of improved fuel economy and reduced tailpipe emissions, vehicles employing hybrid drivetrain technology have drawn the attention of both the media and automotive consumers. There is no question that the technology works, typically providing fuel economy gains of 25-40 percent when compared to similar vehicles with conventional drivetrains.

Looking for ways to further improve fuel-economy, manufacturers are exploring enhancements to the basic hybrid concept. One promising avenue is the plug-in hybrid car. In simplest terms, plug-in hybrid cars incorporate traditional hybrid technology but benefit additionally from plug-in charging.

While several manufacturers claim to be working on the technology, General Motors’ Saturn division has promised to introduce a plug-in hybrid version of its Vue SUV by 2009. …continue reading

Hydrogen-Boosted Gasoline Engine:

Faced with the ever-increasing cost of gasoline, automakers worldwide are working overtime to cost-effectively improve vehicle fuel economy while still meeting today’s strict emissions requirements. One promising way to boost fuel economy is to add hydrogen to the fuel/air mixture in a conventional gasoline engine. It’s called a hydrogen-boosted gas engine. However, since hydrogen isn’t readily available at your local filling station, selling a hydrogen-boosted gas engine hasn’t been on any automakers’ short list. Until now, that is....continue reading

Biodiesel:

If you’ve read or watched the news lately, you’ve probably come across some article, snippet or sound bite related to oil and oil prices. Even in your daily routines, there’s a good chance of someone mentioning it. Whether it’s in automotives, economics, history, geography or politics, oil has managed to filter into almost every aspect of our daily lives. It’s one of the most discussed (and controversial) commodities that consumers rely on daily. All of this talk about oil sparks continued interest in gasoline alternatives. Things like electric cars and hydrogen fuel cells are being talked about as feasible alternatives to oil. As technology improves, these concepts could become reality. But what about now? …continue reading

The Alternative Fuel Library:

Could a car run on compressed air?
Could salt water fuel cars?
How a Hydrogen-Boosted Gasoline Engine Works
How Air-Powered Cars Will Work
How Biodiesel Works
How Clean Diesel Fuel Works
How does a hybrid car work?How E85 Ethanol Flex Fuel Works
How Electric Cars Work
How EPA Fuel-Economy Testing Works
How Fuel Cells Work
How Gas Prices Work
How Hybrid Cars Work
How Liquefied Petroleum Gas Works
How much corn would I need to grow in order to produce enough ethanol fuel to drive my car across the country?
How much gasoline does the United States consume in one year?
How Natural-gas Vehicles Work
How Plug-In Hybrid Cars Work
How the Hydrogen Economy Works
How the Tesla Roadster Works
How to Buy a Fuel-efficient Car
How to Get Better Fuel Economy
If diesel engines are more efficient, why do most cars have gasoline engines?
Is ethanol fuel really better for the environment than sticking with gas?
The Consumer Guide to E85 Ethanol Vehicles
Understanding 2006 Hybrid Car Tax Credits
Understanding 2006 Hybrid Car Tax Credits
Why doesn’t gasoline burn cleanly?

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Business, Drive, Ecology, Electric, Emissions, environment, focus, Ford, Fuel Cell, Green cars, Honda, Hybrid, science

Challenge Bibendum, the unique event on sustainable road mobility offsets its CO2 emissions with Future Climate, an Australian based not-for-profit organisation.

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emerging Markets, Emissions, environment, Green cars, Michelin

French auto giant PSA Peugeot Citroën is to enter a hybrid version of the 307 in the forthcoming Michelin ‘Challenge Bibendum.’

Created by Michelin in 1998, the Challenge Bibendum is a unique event for the promotion of sustainable road mobility.

The company is entering the Peugeot 307 Hybride HDi, which was first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The vehicle emits 74g of CO2 per kilometre thanks to the use of B30 fuel (30% biodiesel/diesel).

Hybride HDi technology combines a 1.6-litre HDi engine with a diesel particulate filter system (DPFS) and an electric motor, inverter, high-voltage battery pack and dedicated control electronics.

The car is also equipped with an electronically managed manual gearbox and a Stop & Start system.

Together, these technologies deliver all the advantages of a diesel engine in both city and highway driving, as well as the benefits of an electric powertrain, particularly in urban areas and stop and start traffic.

To illustrate how this approach could be applied to a dramatically styled executive passenger car equipped with the latest technology, PSA Peugeot Citroën will also utilise the Citroën C-Métisse, a prestigious Hybride HDi concept car with electric motors on the rear wheels.

The Challenge Bibendum is being held in Shanghai until November 17th. More information is available at www.challengebibendum.com

source NewCarNet

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Emissions, environment, Hybrid, Peugeot

American Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. announced plans at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday to put alternative fuel technology vehicles on the road in California in coming months. A few drivers will even get to park them in their garages.

Honda and GM’s Chevrolet have developed hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars for limited test use, while Ford is producing a plug-in hybrid vehicle. And although none are being manufactured in large quantities — mass production is still years away — the limited trials will be a tantalizing taste of what’s likely to come.

The FCX Clarity is what Honda calls a “production” version of a hydrogen fuel cell car it first exhibited two years ago. It promises zero emissions and luxury features such as heated seats and Bluetooth connectivity while getting about the equivalent of 68 miles per gallon….continue reading

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Electric, Emissions, environment, Fuel Cell

Californians are being taken for a ride by state clean-air regulators, who arebringing the rest of the country along. Decisions made by the California Air Resources Board early next year will determine whether we get the option of driving zero-emission, non-polluting cars soon, or whether we’ll see smoggy business as usual from the car companies for another decade.

Many consumers would love to drive cars that reduce greenhouse gases and our addiction to oil, but the auomakers resist. Fortunately, the Air Resources Board has the power to compel them to make the clean cars society needs. Progress through regulation is nothing new: It took laws to get seatbelts, airbags and catalytic converters. It took laws to get average mileage standards up from 12 mpg to 27 mpg. It will take regulations to get clean cars. …continue

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Ecology, Electric, Emissions, environment, Technology

The EC End of Life Vehicles Directive aims to reduce the amount of waste from vehicles when they are finally scrapped.

Around two million vehicles reach the end of their life in the UK each year. These vehicles are classed as hazardous waste until they have been fully treated. Currently, over 80 per cent of the weight of a typical vehicle is re-used or recycled.

The directive requires ELV treatment sites to meet stricter environmental standards. The last owner of a vehicle is to be issued with a Certificate of Destruction for their vehicle and from the beginning of 2007, they must be able to dispose of their vehicles free of charge. Vehicle manufacturers and importers must cover all or most of the cost of the free take-back system.

It also sets higher reuse, recycling and recovery targets and limits the use of hazardous substances in both new vehicles and replacement vehicle parts.

In the UK, the directive is implemented through ELV Regulations issued in 2003 and 2005. The 2003 regulations deal with treatment standards, site licensing and restricting the use of hazardous substances in new vehicles. The 2005 regulations cover recycling targets and free-take-back for ELVs.

The directive applied to cars, vans and certain three-wheeled vehicles. The 2003 regulations extended the treatment requirements in the UK to all waste motor vehicles (including coaches, buses, motor cycles, goods vehicles, etc)

• Who does it affect?
  Many of the directive’s requirements apply to ‘producers’ of new vehicles, these are businesses that manufacture or import new motor vehicles. It also has implications for operators of sites that receive or treat ELVs.
• What is our role?
  We monitor licensed sites to ensure that they are treating ELVs correctly
• ELV’s - Authorised Treatment Facilities - Public Register List
• Read the ELV directive in full
• Defra - ELV guidance
• A guide to when a motor vehicle is considered waste and what controls apply (Acrobat, 193KB, 1 minute)

environment-agency UK

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written by driive.com \\ tags: Business, Ecology, Emissions, environment