Beijing Olympics debut for Chery’s A5 Hybrid Vehicles

As China is wearing its eco-conscious outfit for the 2008 Beijing Olympics that will begin in two days time (August 8 – 24), it comes to no surprise that the organizers decided to use a fleet of 50 hybrid cars as part of the transportation arrangements for the Games. Known as the “Olympics Green Messengers”, the vehicles of choice are China’s own Chery A5 BSG and A5 ISG Hybrids that are expected to go into full production in the months following the games.

The A5 BSG is a start-stop hybrid that uses a 12-volt Belt Starter-Generator (BSG) linked to 1.6 litre gasoline engine that’s matted to a 5-speed manual gearbox while the A5 ISG is a more comprehensive mild-hybrid equipped with a 1.3-liter gasoline engine and a 12 kW crankshaft-mounted 151-volt Integrated Starter-Generator (ISG). -Continued

According to Chery, in the ECE Urban drive cycle, the A5 BSG achieves a 7% improvement in fuel consumption over the baseline product while it is expected that the improvement will be greater than 10% in real-world urban driving. For the more complex A5 ISG with its 1.3-liter engine, Chery says that while performance is equivalent with that of a larger 1.6 litre engine, fuel consumption improvement over the NEDC cycle is expected to approach 15% compared to the 1.6-liter benchmark vehicle.

F1 Champion Damon Hill to Drive Tesla Roadster in Green Race

Former Formula One World Champion, Damon Hill will sit behind the wheel of a Tesla Roadster in the GreenFleet Capital Arrive ‘N’ Drive 08 event, which will start on London’s Horse Guards Parade on 31 July, 2008. The eco-friendly challenge aims to promote the latest innovations to reduce emissions and improve air quality in London. The Tesla Roadster will be among the 20 public and private sector drivers taking part in the 33 mile-course to demonstrate the use of electric power as a viable alternative to conventional fuel sources. -Continued

Talking about the event, Darryl Siry, senior vice president of sales, marketing and service, Tesla Motors said: “It is a huge privilege for Damon Hill to present the Tesla Roadster to car enthusiasts on the capital’s streets. This will be a perfect opportunity for people to witness high performance and fun motoring without the need to compromise the environment.”

Saturn Vue Plug-in Hybrid to Arrive in 2010

If anything else, we have to hand it to GM for at least trying to create a variety of products that confront the energy problems and the changing U.S. market. Aside from the Chevy Volt that we hear about every two or three days (…), GM is also working on another plug-in hybrid vehicle that has been approved for production and is undergoing early program development stages as we speak. We’re referring to the Saturn Vue (Opel Antara in Europe) PHEV which stands for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle.

Currently, GM is testing 11 Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles at the GM proving grounds in Michigan and Arizona. GM says that while early test cars used nickel-metal hydride battery technology, now their trying out lithium-ion batteries which are lighter and more powerful. -Continued

The Vue Plug-in Hybrid that’s set to arrive into the market before the end of 2010 will be equipped with a modified version of GM’s familiar Two-mode Hybrid system that uses a battery, a gas engine and a hybrid transmission to move the vehicle.

Via: GM's Fastlane blog

Man Wants to Save the Planet by Destroying a $60,000 Range Rover…

In 2006, Ryan Mickle bought a $60,000+ Range Rover Sport mainly due a huge tax write off for heavy SUVs –or at least he says, to use for a short commute and weekly trips with friends. Two years later and having moved back to San Francisco, Ryan decided that he didn’t need a car anymore. But while most people would just put the Range Rover up for sale, “environmentally-conscious” Ryan decided to destroy his Landie so it would permanently stop polluting and using excessive quantities of gasoline. To do so, Ryan launched a website called “OneFewer” where online voters will decide the fate of his car.

Our take? First of all, if he wants to destroy his car, he can do so without opening up a website and making a whole fuss about it – unless he’s seeking for his 15 minutes of fame. There are other ways, less provocative (how long do you have to work to make $60k?) to convince people in becoming more environmentally conscious. If he wants to do something good for the environment he can sell the car and donate the money to a “green” organization or use the cash to make his house more energy-efficient. -Continued

We won’t even touch the subject about the harm he can cause to the environment if by chance the online voters decide to burn the Range Rover or throw it over a cliff into the wild…

Link: Onefewer

Nissan X-Trail FCV Sets Fastest Lap for Fuel-Cell Vehicle at the ‘Ring

Ever since Nissan first announced the lap time of the all-new GT-R at the Nurburgring circuit, carmakers are going berserk with ‘Ring times; Porsche did it with the new 911 Carrera; GM did it with the Corvette ZR1 and the CTS-V and so did Renault with the Megane R26.R. Now Nissan has made a comeback by announcing the lap time of the X-Trail FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) that managed to turn the 20.8 km-long course in 11:58 minutes. Since Nissan is the first automaker to record an FCV lap on the famous circuit, the X-Track FCV is of course the fastest vehicle of its type… -Continued

“I was very surprised at just how comfortable it is to drive a fuel cell car. You get in, turn the key and off you go, just like with a normal car,” said Frank Eickholt, member of the Nissan 24 Hours Nürburgring race team and Nordschleife aficionado. “Although some of the uphill sections were challenging, the speed was still very impressive. If the course hadn’t been so wet, I could have gotten more momentum out of the curves. Thirty to 40 seconds could have been shaved off for sure,” he added.

The X-Trail FCV that is powered by electricity produced on board the vehicle, in a hydrogen fuel cell stack, has an official top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph) and a range of 500 km (310 miles). Maximum output is 120PS while maximum torque is 280Nm.

New Ford Fiesta ECOnetic: 63.6 MPG or 3.7 lt/100km!

It may not look like the Fiesta you’d want to see parked out of your garage but the all-new Fiesta ECOnet that premiered at the British Motor Show sure makes up for it with its outstanding fuel economy and ultra low emission figures. Based on the diesel-powered Fiesta 1.6-litre Duratorq TDCi, the ECOnet boasts an impressive fuel economy of 3.7lt /100km (76.3MPG UK or 63.6MPG US) in the official combined European driving cycle and a CO2 emissions performance of just 98 g/km or 10% less than the standard Fiesta 1.6 TDCi. -Continued

To achieve these figures the new Fiesta ECOnetic is powered by a specially calibrated version of the 1.6-litre, 90 PS Duratorq TDCi engine matted to a 5-speed manual gearbox that features a longer final-drive-ratio of 3.055:1. Furthermore, the Fiesta ECOnetic borrows the Fiesta Zetec S’s lower suspension, which improves aerodynamic efficiency while the new wheel deflectors and aerodynamic wheel covers provide incremental aerodynamic enhancements. Finally the ECOnetic is equipped with low-rolling-resistance tyres in economical 175/65R14 profile.

Hyundai i30 i-Blue with Less Tailpipe Emissions

Every car manufacture that respects itself nowadays needs to have a unique logo for its cleanest and most environmentally friendly vehicles. Hyundai on its behalf is introducing the i-Blue insignia that will appear on every car in its range that manages to offer emissions below the 120g/km barrier. The first production model to bear the i-Blue logo will be an i30 hatchback powered by the company’s 1.6-litre CRDi turbo diesel engine and it will make its debut at the British Motor Show in London (July 22 to Aug 3). -Continued

So what’s so special about the i30 i-Blue? Well, Hyundai’s engineers managed to achieve a 6g/km drop in CO2 emissions over the standard i30 1.6-litre CRDi model thanks to a minor change to the gear ratios. There are no other changes whatsoever – we’re not kidding. Don’t you just love marketing?

New Fiat Panda Eco with 5.0lt/100 km or 47MPG Avg. Consumption

As its name suggests, the newest addition in the Fiat Panda family is an eco-friendly model with low CO2 emissions and reduced fuel consumption. Based on the Panda 1.1, the 54Hp strong Eco emits 119 g/km of CO2 and features an average consumption in the combined cycle of 5.0 lt/100 km or 47MPG (US). That’s compared to the standard Panda 1.1’s 132 g/km of CO2 and 5.6 lt/100 km.

To achieve these figures, Fiat’s engineers improved the Panda 1.1’s aerodynamics, updated the engine’s electronic control unit, replaced the oil inside the transmission with one that produces less friction and finally, used a set of low rolling resistance tires. Prices for the Fiat Panda in Italy start from €8,830 (about $14,000).

Airdream: Citroen’s New Eco-Friendly Badging

Following the latest trend that wants manufacturers labeling their most eco-friendly models with a unique logo, Citroen announced that from now on, its cleanest and most environmentally friendly vehicles will bear the Airdream insignia. The French carmaker said that there are some 50 vehicles in the current line up that merit the Airdream logo, from the miniscule C1 to the family sized Grand C4 Picasso.

And if you’re wondering how the heck Citroen managed to have 50 eco-friendly vehicles in its range, look no further than the criteria that the models have to meet in order to carry the Airdream logo. Basically, a start and stop system or a diesel particulate filter system is enough for Citroen’s marketing team to label a vehicle as eco-friendly… -Continued

Here are the criteria that a Citroen model has to meet in order to qualify for the Airdream badge:

1) CO2 emissions of less than 120g/km or, fitted with diesel particulate filter system (DPFS) with CO2 below 158g/km or, Run on superethanol E85 or, fitted with Stop & Start technology.

2) Manufactured in an ISO 14001 certified factory.

3) Designed to be 95% recoverable (recycling and energy recovery) at end of life.

Picture: Carscoop

Opel’s Variant of the Chevy Volt will be Built in the U.S.

In a recent interview published on the German magazine Automobilwoche, GM Europe’s president Carl-Peter Forster revealed that Opel’s first electric car that will be based on the Chevy Volt will be manufactured in the U.S. Forster also told Automobilwoche that European customers should expect to pay a substantial surcharge of €10,000 ($15,800) or more over a comparable Opel model with a conventional diesel or gasoline powertrain. Opel’s variant of the Volt that was previewed in concept form as the Flextreme (photo) at last year’s Frankfurt Show is due to arrive on European shores in 2012.

Greenest Car on Earth Spotted in Canada

Quite possibly, this is the most eco-friendly vehicle we’ve ever set our eyes on. This fine example of green engineering was spotted in Kensington Market in Toronto, Canada. Humor aside, from what we learnt, the “Community Vehicular Reclamation Project” was created by a group of people in Toronto who’d like to see every abandoned junk car in the city turned into an “automotive” garden of plants and flowers. Very cool and creative, to say the least. -More pics after the jump

Pics via Flickr user Orbz

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.