Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, MPG, GM

Less than a month after General Motors reportedly paused development of their future rear wheel dirve cars due to the potential for new fuel economy regulations, Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz says the programs will probably go ahead after all. The powertrain mix for these vehicles will probably be adjusted to a more efficient mix than originally anticipated. Lutz was interviewed for the Detroit Public TV program Autoline Detroit that will be on this Sunday and indicated that after an evaluation, the Zeta platform is back on track.

This means that instead of a V-8 heavy mix, the next generation of larger GM cars will probably rely more on six-cylinder engines. With the addition of direct injection on these engines, fuel economy could be improved while maintaining the needed performance levels. In addition, the passenger car variant of the new two-mode hybrid system would seem to find a natural home in these vehicles, providing decent performance and fuel economy. The recently announced 2.9L V-6 diesel that will appear in European market versions of the Cadillac CTS would also be a perfect fit in this platform. For reference the European BMW 530d with similar power gets 35 mpg(US) combined without the hybrid. A diesel V-6 two-mode hybrid Impala could conceivably get 40mpg!

[Source: Detroit News]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Green Culture, Transportation Alternatives

GoLoco isn't the only online car pooling site (Craig's List is the obvious biggie and there's also NuRide), but it's certainly trying to make finding drivers going your way (if you're a passenger) or riders to bring along and help pay for gas (if you're a driver) easier.

As colleges around the country let out for summer vacation, GoLoco reminds students to try and coordinate rides home. Considering about "Seventy-five percent of all passenger cars on the road transport only one person at any given time, resulting in a vast waste of gasoline, money and time with friends," as Robin Chase, founder and CEO of GoLoco said in a statement, "All those empty seats also represent a huge opportunity: Fill them with friends and save gas, money and the environment. GoLoco makes that easy through its trusted online travel community that helps turn your social network into a ride network."

GoLoco tries to not just post ride offers and wants, but also to give a profile of users so you can ride along with someone who shares your interest (going to the game? take a fellow fan along). The site also coordinates and distributes money, so there's no cash exchanging hands in the car. For students, GoLoco is suggesting finding fellow classmates to split cab rides to the airport or moving trucks headed in the same direction. Sounds like a good idea to me.

GoLoco isn't Chase's first alternative to the one-person, one-car model; she also founded ZipCar.

[Source: GoLoco]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Zap

One small piece of the ZAP-X puzzle may be falling into place with ZAP's latest announcement. When ZAP issued the first in a continuing string of press releases on the electrically driven crossover they say they will build, it specified that it would have wheel motors totaling 644 hp. ZAP has agreed to order $10 million worth of motors from PML Flightlink in exchange for some sort of exclusive rights. No specifics are being released although assorted terms and conditions must be met, which presumably means that PML must demonstrate the performance of the motors and ZAP must actually come up with some cash.

PML is the company that created an electrically driven MINI last year with the same type of motors. If they keep up this pace ZAP might even slip up and produce and actual product one of these days. In the meantime, Dallas over at InsideGreenTech.com has an interview with Martin Boughtwood, Director of PML FlightLink that you can find here.



[Source: ZAP]May 2, 2007 09:30 ET
ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) Reinvents the Wheel with Advanced Electric Wheel Motor Technology Partner

US Electric Car Maker Signs Exclusive Agreement with PML FlightLink Ltd. of the Hampshire, UK for New Electric Wheel Motor

SANTA ROSA, Calif., May 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US electric car maker ZAP (BULLETIN BOARD: ZAAP) signed an exclusive agreement this week for an advanced wheel motor technology from PML FlightLink Limited of Hampshire, United Kingdom.

ZAP secured the PML wheel motor technology to play a key role in the development of next generation electric vehicles being developed with Lotus Engineering. Electric vehicle concepts like the ZAP-X crossover SUV have targeted unprecedented performance goals, including a top speed of 155 mph, 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 4.8 seconds, and a peak 644 horsepower. Steve Schneider, CEO for ZAP, says PML's wheel motor achieves the power to weight ratio to meet the performance goals of the ZAP-X.

"Wheel motors are revolutionizing electric transportation, from our ZAPPY3 electric scooters all the way up to more ambitious projects like the ZAP-X crossover," said Schneider. "We have witnessed the PML wheel motor technology in action and, without question, this the best drive system in the world. "

Schneider pointed out why wheel motors allow automotive designers to achieve greater efficiencies in the overall design, distributing the weight and displacement of the drive train to the four corners of the vehicle. PML's wheel motors don't require intricate braking systems, instead relying on advances in regenerative braking that enhance efficiency and performance.

ZAP has undertaken a feasibility study with Lotus Engineering to explore the development of next generation electric vehicles that incorporate the latest advances in technology. The two companies met last week at ZAP's headquarters in Santa Rosa for discussions with potential suppliers and distributors. In exchange for exclusive rights, ZAP has agreed to an initial order of approximately $10 million in PML wheel motors, subject to terms and conditions agreed on by both parties.

"We've sort of reinvented the wheel," said Chris Newman of PML FlightLink to Car and Driver Magazine. The small British electrical-engineering company led by Martin Boughtwood, PML's director, has produced a remarkable electric Mini to prove the technology. PML FlightLink Limited is a privately held UK corporation with more than 30 years experience in advanced wheel motor and control system development. According to PML, its compact, energy efficient, electric wheel motors produce unrivalled levels of torque with internal heavy-duty tapered roller bearings that can withstand heavy radial loads for robust use, important for the all-wheel drive capability of the ZAP-X.

PML's Hi-Pa Drive(TM) is a literal revolution in motor technology with an integrated motor and drive electronics in one unit producing an ultra high power density -- up to 20 times more than conventional systems. Hi-Pa Drive(TM) is ultra reliable -- 20 times more reliable than conventional systems. It provides high torque in a lightweight flat motor package, ideally suited to vehicle in wheel drives, where its impact on suspension dynamics is minimal. Other features include total weather proofing, total energy transfer, and several levels of redundancy so any single failure will never prevent the vehicle from operating safely. Learn more at PML's website http://www.pmlflightlink.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. 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 energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops. For 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.

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: MPG

The little post I put up last night forecasted gas prices hitting maybe around $3.10 (on average) in the United States this summer. The pro-fuel efficiency group 40mpg.org says that most Americans (72 percent) believe prices will climb even higher in the next few months.

According to a study 40mpg released yesterday, those 72 percent think prices will get to $3.50 this summer, and 28 percent think it'll reach $4 a gallon. What's the reason for the increase? People think (well, 82 percent of survey respondents anyway) that there's a lot of price gouging going on (I wonder why).

You can read the details after the break, but worries about high gas prices mean people are expecting they'll cut back on spending or summer travel plans. 29 percent say they will be more likely to buy a hybrid or fuel-efficient vehicle if we get to $3.50 gas (The survey takers interviewed over 1,000 adults over 18 in the continental US between April 19 and 22, MOE is 3 percentage points. It was sponsored by 40mpg, the Civil Society Institute, and Hybrid Owners of America).

Obviously, these are just people's opinions, and none of this means that gas prices are actually going to climb another 50 cents or more (or that price gouging is the reason prices are climbing). They might, though, and it seems people are resigned to that happening. So if the price gougers are reading, your victims are ready.

[Source: Civil Society Institute and 40MPG.org, Newton, MA]
CSI/40MPG.org Survey: $3.50 Gas Expected This Summer by About 3 Out of 4 Americans, Half Will Cut Travel and Spending In Response

Mounting Frustration Evident: 83% See Price Gouging, 77% Say Not Enough Federal Action, 67% Want Higher MPG Standard Now, 77% Back Oil Windfall Profits Tax.

WASHINGTON, May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly three out of four Americans (72 percent) expect gasoline prices to reach $3.50 a gallon this summer and just over one in four (28 percent) foresee prices at $4 a gallon in the next few months, according to a major new Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) survey conducted for the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI) think tank and its 40MPG.org project. More than four out of five Americans (83 percent) already think that there is price gouging going on at the gas pump today.

In response to the increasing pain at the pump, about half of Americans say they will "definitely" or "probably" cut back on personal spending (51 percent) and summer or end-of-year holiday travel (46 percent) if gasoline reaches $3.50 a gallon this summer. Nearly three in 10 (29 percent) Americans say they are more likely to buy a hybrid or other highly fuel-efficient car if gasoline hits $3.50 a gallon.

Other key findings of the CSI/40MPG.org survey:

• More than three out of four Americans (77 percent) believe the federal government is not doing enough about the high cost of energy and this country's dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Nearly two thirds of Republicans (64 percent) think the government isn't doing enough compared to 79 percent of Independents and 88 percent of Democrats.
• More than two thirds of Americans (67 percent) say that recent gas price increases make it more important that the Federal government take steps to increase the fuel-efficiency standards in this country. There is strong support across party lines for such action, including 61 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of Independents and 75 percent of Democrats.
• There is considerable public support for a windfall profits tax on oil companies if the revenue is used to research alternative energy (77 percent).

Commenting on the survey findings, Civil Society Institute President and 40MPG.org founder Pam Solo said: "These survey findings should send a real jolt through the corridors of the White House and the halls of Congress. Americans are fed up with skyrocketing gasoline prices and they want action, including higher federal fuel-efficiency standards now for cars and other vehicles. We hope that all the Washington 'experts' who want to wait for a decade until 2017 or 2018 to gradually increase federal mileage standards see the results of this survey. We can and should take bold action now to reduce our addition to Middle Eastern oil and to cut greenhouse gas emissions."

Opinion Research Corporation Senior Research Associate Graham Hueber said: "What we see in these findings is a real consensus view among American consumers that gas prices are already too high and that they are going to reach even more painfully high levels this summer. The findings about expected cuts in summer and end-of-year travel plans, as well as the expectation of reductions in general consumer spending, must be viewed with real concern. Clearly, the idea that Americans are just going to accept higher gasoline prices with no real reaction does not appear to be well founded."

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS
Other key findings of the CSI/40MPG.org survey include the following:

• Higher fuel prices would hit those with lower incomes the hardest. About three-fifths (61 percent) of those in households with less than $25,000 in income say they will definitely or probably have to cut back on personal spending if gasoline hits $3.50 a gallon, compared to about half (51 percent) of all households).
• Women (88 percent) are more likely then men (77 percent) to perceive such price gouging at the gas pump. The overall level of 83 percent of Americans seeing gas price gouging is roughly the same as in September 2005 (86 percent) when CSI/40MPG.org asked the same question during a time of escalating gasoline prices and calls for a windfall profits tax on oil company profits.
• More than two-thirds of Americans (67 percent) say that recent gas price increases make it more important that the Federal government take steps to increase the fuel-efficiency standards in this country. Only 22 percent say that price hikes have had no impact on the need for such action and fewer than one in 10 (9 percent) say it is now less important that the government take action. There is strong support across party lines for such action, including 61 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of Independents and 75 percent of Democrats.
• Over half of Americans (54 percent) would support raising the taxes on gasoline sales if that revenue would be used for research into alternative fuels. This idea is more popular with women (58 percent) than it is with men (50 percent). The idea of earmarking a portion of existing federal income taxes for research into alternative fuels is a wildly popular idea among those age 18-24 (74 percent).
• More than three out of four Americans (78 percent) say they support using some of the money collected in the Federal Highway Trust Fund from taxes on gasoline sales, to investigate alternative energy sources.
• Two-thirds of Americans are either more likely (35 percent) or just as likely (31 percent) to buy a hybrid, clean-diesel or other highly fuel efficient car as they were six months ago. Less than a third (31 percent) say they are less likely to make such a purchase.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

The new CSI/40MPG.org survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation among a sample of 1,013 adults (504 men and 509 women) aged 18 and over living in private households in the Continental United States. Interviewing for this survey was completed during the period of April 19-22, 2007.

The other survey mentioned here also was conducted by ORC and involved 1,019 adults (507 men and 512 women) aged 18 and over living in private households in the Continental United States. Interviewing for the earlier survey was completed during the period of September 15-18, 2005. Both surveys were weighted by four variables: age, sex, geographic region and race to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total population. The margin of error for both surveys at the 95 percent confidence level is plus or minus 3 percentage points. Smaller sub-groups in either survey will have larger error margins.

ABOUT CSI AND 40MPG.ORG

The nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/) is a think tank that serves as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business that can help to improve society. CSI has conducted more than 15 major surveys since 2003 on energy and auto issues, including vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, consumer demand for hybrids/other highly-fuel efficient vehicles, global warming and renewable energy. CSI is the parent organization of 40MPG.org (http://www.40mpg.org/) and the Hybrid Owners of America (http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/).

[Source: Civil Society Institute and 40MPG.org, Newton, MA]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Hybrid, Volkswagen

It looks like Volkswagen may have hybrid versions of the both the Polo and Golf on the market by 2009. In an interview with German magazine AutoBild, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn seems to indicate that following the introduction of downsized engines like the TSI models and the BlueMotion diesels, they are working on hybrid drivetrains. The Google and BabelFish translations are pretty rough but it appears that both mild and full hybrid versions are under test. It looks like they are taking advantage of some regenerative braking and electrically driven accessories, much like the Efficient Dynamics systems BMW is adding to the 1-Series this year. If your grasp of the German language is better than Google's please feel to enlighten us further in the comments.

[Source: AutoBild via GermanCarBlog]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, MPG

I'm sure some of our European readers simmer with envy that gas is so cheap (comparatively) in America, but for many Americans the current prices look quite pricey. According to AAA, gas prices are about as high today as they've been in the last twelve months, which doesn't really bode well for the upcoming summer months, historically a time of higher gas prices. I wonder how people who still drive gas guzzlers are feeling about another summer of $50+ fill ups.

The national average for gas prices in America today was $2.977, more than a penny higher than yesterday. A year ago we were looking at $2.92, and the highest price in the last twelve months was $3.03. And, based on the trend we see in the graph, we can expect average gas prices to rise by about 9-10 more cents in the next month or so. Who's up for a bike ride?

[Source: AAA]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Diesel, Ford

And things looked so peaceful for a while...

Back in February, Navistar, which is the exclusive maker of diesel engines for Ford's Super Duty pickups for the last 25+ years, cut off supply to Ford over warranty issues (more info) that Ford sued Navistar over in January. A week later, the engines were headed back to Ford after a judge told the two companies to work things out (more info). Looks like that didn't happen.

Today, Navistar said it has filed an amended counter-complaint in the legal battle that seeks damages of more than $2 billion from the automaker, according to the Chicago Tribune. The reason: rumors that Ford is planning to develop its own diesel engines for introduction before 2012, the newspaper reports. if this happens, and Ford tries to end its current purchase contract before it expires in that year, Navistar will seek $2 billion in damages.

Related:

• International's diesel engines headed back to Ford plant
• Navistar cuts off Ford Super Duty truck diesel supply

[Source: Reuters, Chicago Tribune]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Saab

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Filed under: Etc., Green Culture, Ford, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

I was surprised to find a shipping box sitting on the table with the rest of my mail yesterday when I got home. The return address stated that it had come from Ford, and my curiosity was piqued. I hadn't requested any information from them or anything, so I tore open the box to see what was contained therein. To my surprise, it was a tote bag. Neutral-colored and emblazoned with both the Ford oval and the Escape SUV's logo, the enclosed letter explained that the bag is made of the very same recycled materials used to upholster the seats in the 2008 Escape and Escape Hybrid. The greener material is supplied to Ford by InterfaceFABRIC, who estimates that the automaker could conserve 600,000 gallons of water, the equivalent of 1.8 million pounds of C02, and the equivalent of 7,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity on an annual basis by using post-industrial materials in its vehicle interiors.

All too often, people get hung up in powertrain technology debates when thinking of ways to "green" the automobile. The total solution goes deeper than that. Moves like this by Ford, as well as other innovative programs like Honda's planned use of bio-fabrics, could prove to be very important over the long term, albeit in different ways, if they'e widely adopted. Assuming the alternatives are as comfortable as regular fabric seats, then it should be a pretty easy sell for the consumer.

The attached gallery has a close-up of the fabric itself, and the explanation behind it on the tag affixed to the tote.

 

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Filed under: Hybrid, MPG

German transmission manufacturer ZF presented their new eight-speed automatic transmission at the Vienna Motor Symposium last week. The new gearbox is designed for use in passenger cars in a longitudinal configuration. The eight speed has greater power capacity than ZF's existing six speed but fits into the same package space. The development focus was improved efficiency both from the extra two gear ratios and also optimizing the mechanical efficiency.

By changing the mechanization of the new unit, ZF managed to reduce the mechanical drag to help reduce losses. Compared to the current six speed, ZF claims fuel consumption reductions of six percent and a fourteen percent reduction relative to a typical five speed. ZF also says the new transmission can be readily adapted to either mild or full hybrid applications by the addition of electric motors.

[Source: ZF]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.