Nanotechnologies include aerogels, thin-film solar and supercapacitors.
Interview with Tesla's Martin Eberhart on his electric car company.
Comments Off
Marc Geller, the co-founder of Plug-In America, feels that even current EV models hold their own, especially since 90 percent of daily car trips do not exceed 100 miles.
Comments Off
Bill Dube, a member of the KillaCycle electric motorcycle drag-racing team, used A123 batteries to create an electric motorcycle that goes from zero to 60 in 1.4 seconds.
Comments Off
The Audi R10 TDI will be the car to beat this weekend for the 12 Hours of Sebring. Two R10s (driven by Marco Werner and defending champion Dindo Capello) will both start in the front row, thanks to some amazing driving during the qualifying rounds by Werner that beat the track record by nearly a second (to 1m 44.974s). Capello qualified for second with 1m 45.326s.
The R10 diesel has had an amazing recent history, and the 2007 version looks to continue the trend. This year, the Audi teams have an additional handicap compared to last year: the fuel tank capacity for diesel sports cars has been reduced by nine liters to 81 liters. This weekend, the R10 TDI will have come into the pits about three laps earlier compared to last year, Audi says.
You can read quotes from Audi team members after the jump.
Related:
[Source: Audi]
AUDI R10 TDI WITH RECORD LAP AT SEBRING
SEBRING, Fla. - The updated Audi R10 TDI makes a strong impression in its debut: In qualifying for the 12 Hours of Sebring, Marco Werner lowered the track record by almost a second. With his record lap, the Audi factory driver made a perfect comeback in the American Le Mans Series which he already won twice in 2003 and 2004.
Defending champion Dindo Capello set the second fastest time in qualifying, allowing both Audi diesel sports cars to start from the front row on Saturday at 10 a.m. local time. The Italian was unlucky when Thursday's 25-minute qualifying sessions was interrupted while he was on a fast lap.
For the first time since the race at Road America last August, two Audi R10 TDI sports cars will start from the front row of the grid in the American Le Mans Series. It's the fifth pole position for the revolutionary diesel sports car in its ninth race.
The Audi drivers will face a more difficult challenge, however, in Saturday's race: The fuel tank capacity for diesel sports cars was reduced from last year's 90 liters to 81 liters. This means, that the R10 TDI has to come into the pits at Sebring about three laps earlier compared to 2006.
Quotes after qualifying
Dr Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): "We know that qualifying is not important for the race result - either at Le Mans or at Sebring. But it is nice to have both cars on the front row of the grid. The team has earned this result. It shows the potential of the new Audi R10 TDI. As we expected, the LM P2 cars are not much slower. This means we have to work out a good setup for the race."
Frank Biela (Audi R10 TDI #2): "Up until now everything went well, we had almost no problems at all this week. We could concentrate totally on the setup and qualifying proved it works well. Congratulations to Marco, he did a superb job. However, we still have the big task ahead of us on Saturday."
Emanuele Pirro (Audi R10 TDI #2): "Having both cars on the front row is not so important for a 12-hour race. But it shows we have done a good job developing the car from last year. Of course I'm very happy that Marco took the pole. But I'm even more happy that we were able to improve the car every day because on Monday the balance was not as good as now."
Marco Werner (Audi R10 TDI #2): "Coming back into the race business with a pole position in such a classic race as Sebring is nice. Thanks to Audi, the qualifying lap with the car was fantastic. We waited a little bit at the beginning because the track seemed to be a bit dirty. That worked out perfectly. It was also important to get the maximum out of the Michelin tires on the very first lap."
Dindo Capello (Audi R10 TDI #1): "I was a little unlucky in qualifying because of the red flag which affected our strategy. The plan was not to push on the first lap but to do a run of four laps. When I started the second lap the red flag came out. I tried again after the re-start but must admit that I pushed too hard too quickly although the tire grip was not so good anyway. I congratulate Marco, he drove a great lap for pole. But we start also from the front row, this is good."
Tom Kristensen (Audi R10 TDI #1): "It's good to be racing the Audi R10 TDI again - the first time for me since Le Mans last June and only the third time in total after. I have been able to get up to speed quickly this week in the 2007 R10 TDI which has been optimized. We naturally try to win here at Sebring, which is a tough race in itself, but of course it is good preparation for Le Mans in June. We definitely will not underestimate Peugeot's effort."
Allan McNish (Audi R10 TDI #1): "As soon as the revised 2007-spec Audi R10 TDI was taken out of the truck on Monday it was immediately fast on the track, confirming that the development over the winter had been very positive. However, we still need to fine tune the balance and 'feel' of the car to get it 100% to our liking which is a normal situation for the first race of the season."
The starting grid at Sebring
1 Biela/Pirro/Werner (Audi R10 TDI) 1m 44.974s
2 Capello/Kristensen/McNish (Audi R10 TDI) 1m 45.326s
3 Dumas/Bernhard/Castroneves (Porsche) 1m 46.046s
4 Brabham/Johansson/Dayton (Acura/Honda) 1m 47.109s
5 Wallace/Leitzinger/Lally (Porsche) 1m 47.130s
6 Herta/Franchitti/Kanaan (Acura/Honda) 1m 47.423s
7 Dyson/Smith (Porsche) 1m 48.175s
8 Fernandez/Diaz/Martinez (Lola-Acura/Honda), 1m 48.417s
9 Maasssen/Briscoe/Collard (Porsche) 1m 50.185s
10 Bach/Devlin/Matos (Lola) 1m 50.312s
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.
Comments Off
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Zap
Certainly, electric cars would be accepted by more people if the time it took to charge the vehicle were roughly the same as what it takes to fill your tank with gas. While this is rather difficult to achieve, AltairNano and others are working on just that. Perhaps the closest you can come to that with your electric vehicle right this minute may be this new charging system by ZAP for their Xebra line of vehicles.
From the press release: "This new charger can reduce your charge time from hours to minutes," said ZAP Chairman Gary Starr. "Now you can drive your electric car all day with just a few short stops. In the time it takes to eat lunch you can hook your XEBRA up to the charger and have a full charge in less than an hour. Think of it as putting your XEBRA out to graze."
Some details: It connects to a 240-volt, 60 amp circuit or 208-volt, 3-phase, 50 amp circuit. This means that it will work with a 220 volt outlet, like your stove or dryer might use. The press release also says it can function on a 110 volt outlet, although that would lessen the performance of the charger.
Think of this: Would a charger like this in your home allow you to use an electric vehicle with a smaller battery pack? What is your furthest average day-trip? Let's say, 20 miles. If you had roughly a 40 mile range, like what the Volt may offer, you could drive 20 miles somewhere and 20 miles back home. Then, recharge in an hour and be able to do it again ... never using the gas powered generator.
Click past the break for the complete press release from ZAP.
[Source: ZAP via Jalopnik]
Fast Electric Car Charger from ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP) Cuts Recharge Time from Hours to Minutes
SANTA ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Imagine charging your electric car in the time it takes you to have lunch. That's what electric car pioneer ZAP (OTCBB:ZAAP) is saying about a new charging technology for their XEBRA electric car or truck.
ZAP says the charger on the XEBRA can be configured for charging with either a 110 or 220-volt outlet like the ones used with a household washer and dryer. The new charger is able to provide up to 100 amps or 10,000 watts of electricity into the vehicle and ZAP Chairman Gary Starr says it will significantly extend daily driving range.
"This new charger can reduce your charge time from hours to minutes," said Starr. "Now you can drive your electric car all day with just a few short stops. In the time it takes to eat lunch you can hook your XEBRA up to the charger and have a full charge in less than an hour. Think of it as putting your XEBRA out to graze."
Normally the XEBRA recharges in under six hours, but Starr says the new charger would be ideal for fleets, government agencies, corporations, universities and multi-car families looking to incorporate all-electric vehicles. It connects to a 240-volt, 60 amp circuit or 208-volt, 3-phase, 50 amp circuit. The fast charger is similar to ones used at Southwest Airlines, America West Airlines, the Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Arizona Public Service for recharging their fleets.
The new charger can be ordered through ZAP for about $9,000 and can even qualify for a Federal 30 percent tax credit. See IRS Tax Form 8911 for the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Property Credit. Starr added that people needing an even faster recharge could order a charger capable of putting out 15 kW or 50 percent more power.
ZAP calls the XEBRA design a 'city-car,' available as a 4-door sedan or 2-passenger truck, good for city-speed driving up to 40 MPH and priced about $10,000. ZAP recently introduced another way of improving range and battery life with an optional rooftop solar panel. For purchasing information, contact your local ZAP dealer. For a list of dealers, visit http://www.zapworld.com.
About ZAP
ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. ZAP is at the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies, including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems. ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X, engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable power source technology using advanced lithium batteries that powers and recharges cell phones, digital audio players, laptops and other mobile electronic devices. For more product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.
Comments Off
Filed under: Biodiesel, Etc., Green Culture, Solar
The team from MIT has won the ecomagination Challenge with a solar-powered refueling station and biodiesel processor. We told you about the Ecomagination Challenge in January. It's a competition between college teams sponsored by mtvU and General Electric. Students were challenged to propose projects to green up their campus.
MIT will get a $25,000 eco-grant and also be host for a free mtvU Earth Day concert with Angels & Airwaves.
Called biodiesel@MIT, the project was selected by experts and from votes cast online. The idea is to create the nation's first university solar-powered refueling station that converts waste vegetable oil to biodiesel. Needs for the project include a biodiesel processor, building a photovoltaic array and training student-led staff to oversee the operation. The project looks to go online later in the year. Check out the ecomagination Challenge website for videos and more information.
[Source: digital50.com]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.
Comments Off
Take a list of 2,500 new cars, filter out the chaff that only the middle class can would drive and suck on the tailpipes of the left-over luxury vehicles. The one that leaves your lungs the cleanest wins the award. This year, the winner is the Jaguar XJ 2.7 Diesel.
Without a doubt, this is how the writers for the Environmental Transport Association's 2007 Car Buyers Guide selected the "greenest luxury car on Britain's roads" for 2007. While the press release (after the jump) claims the Association used a "a star-based ranking system that gives consumers an overview of any vehicle's performance against the following categories; power, carbon dioxide emissions, fuel consumption, noise and safety," I think you and I both know that that takes too long. And who doesn't have a few interns waiting around to something productive? Right?
However the XJ 2.7 Diesel was selected, let's remember it did travel 1000.2 miles on a single tank of fuel last year, getting 53.5mpg and emitting 139g/km of CO2 on the trip.
[Source: Jaguar]
THE JAGUAR XJ DIESEL NAMED AS BRITAIN'S GREENEST LUXURY CAR
Jaguar's XJ 2.7 Diesel has been named the greenest luxury car on Britain's roads in the Environmental Transport Association's 2007 Car Buyers Guide. The award, presented by television presenter Janet Ellis at the RIBS in London recognises Jaguar's commitment to delivering CO2 and fuel consumption advantages to customers with the development of its industry-leading diesel engines and application of advanced lightweight aluminium vehicle architectures.
The ETA guide lists 2,500 new cars and provides a star-based ranking system that gives consumers an overview of any vehicle's performance against the following categories; power, carbon dioxide emissions, fuel consumption, noise and safety. The XJ beat off strong competition from the Mercedes-Benz S320 and BMW 7 Series to claim this award - following in the footsteps of its stable mate, the X-TYPE, which won the category in 2006.
Managing Director of Jaguar in the UK, Geoff Cousins said: "We fully recognise our responsibility to the environment and are committed to playing our role in developing technology solutions in cars, fuels and infrastructure to address climate change - this award shows we are heading in the right direction."
This is the latest in a long line of awards for Jaguar's flagship model, which last year further demonstrated its fuel economy credentials by covering 1000.2 miles on a single tank of fuel - the average fuel consumption hitting 53.5mpg* which equates to 139g/km of CO2.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.
Comments Off
Filed under: Carbon Capture
American Electric Power and power plant supplier Alstom have agreed to work together to implement a commercial scale version of Alstom's carbon capture technology by 2011. The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a 30MW demonstration plant to validate the system. It will be constructed next to an existing AEP power plant in New Haven, West Virginia. It should be able to capture 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually that will be stored in deep saline aquifers near the site. The demonstrator should start up around the end of 2008. The second commercial scale phase would include a 200MW capture system on a plant in Oologah, Oklahoma, to capture up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually. Alstom's system uses chilled ammonia to capture the CO2 from the combustion exhaust stream. Lab testing of the system has shown it to be capable of capturing up to ninety percent of the CO2 in the exhaust stream at a lower cost than other capture technologies. The system is designed to be able to be retrofitted to existing plants or built in to new ones.
[Source: Alstom]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.
Comments Off
Filed under: Green Culture, Hybrid, Manufacturing/Plants, Legislation and Policy
Australian commentator Christian Kerr wants to know what happened to the ECOmmodore, a "dinky-di Aussie hybrid" unveiled by Holden and CSIRO about seven years ago. His interest was spurred by Australian officials announcing a "Green Car Innovation Fund" designed to generate up to $2 billion to invest in manufacturing low-emissions vehicles in Australia.
Kerr discovered that the ECOmmodore is housed in a museum because it was never intended to be the forerunner of a production vehicle. It was a marketing tool built around the Olympics. One of the car's builders told Kerr that at the time there wasn't much interest in fuel economy, and knowing the losses the vehicle would generate, those in charge scuttled the project.
The ECOmmodore had a 4-cylinder engine backed up an electric motor running off advanced lead-acid batteries and supercapacitors.
The question for Australian officials is how to promote hybrid production in the country. Do they import the powertrain or develop an assembly line of their own?
[Source: Christian Kerr / Crikey]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.
Comments Off
