Hybrid Living

Filed under: Etc., Legislation and Policy

Since the 1970s California has required car owners to get their emissions tested periodically before they can renew their registrations. However, for obvious reasons, cars built before 1976 were exempted from the rules since they could not reasonably expected to meet newer standards. Now, though, California state Senator Dean Florez wants to repeal that exemption at least in the San Joaquin Valley area. Given that the number of pre-1976 cars on the road is shrinking every year, and many of those that remain are restored classics and better maintained than most cars, this seems like pointless posturing on the part of Florez. Perhaps a more effective approach would be to offer some sort of incentive to owners of old beaters to get them off the road and replace them with modern vehicles. This would help to get the real offenders out the population. I mean, the true classics are typically driven relatively few miles each year and aren’t really part of the problem. Thanks to Kevin for the tip!

[Source: Bluehornet.com]

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Zap, American Electric Vehicle

In typical fashion, Zap has responded to the critical exposé that was published Wired recently with, you guessed it, more press releases. The releases, of course, do nothing at all to address any of the issues raised in the article about the company’s business practices. Zap has heavily promoted several amazing new vehicles, none of which have been delivered even in prototype form. One of the press releases does point to an article in Popular Mechanics titled “5 Electric Cars Making History, Not Hype.” The author of that story apparently did little research on the vehicles. The first two are of course among our “favorites” here at ABG, the Xebra and the G-Wiz. None of the five vehicles come anywhere close to meeting U.S. automotive safety standards and only the Xebra is available here. As a three-wheeler, the Xebra is classed as a motorcycle and is thus not subject to the rules that apply to cars. We’ve seen videos of the G-Wiz being crash tested as well. A version of the Elletrica is available in the U.S. produced by American Electric Vehicle as the Kurrent. That vehicle is a neighborhood electric vehicle limited to 25 mph and subject to far less stringent safety standards. Ironically, that vehicle may actually be the safest of the bunch.

[Source: CNN Money]

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Filed under: Diesel, Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Hydrogen

It’s always interesting when non-automotive people decide to create a list of top cars in some category. In this case, the business and financial writers over at Forbes decided to pick ten technologically advanced green cars. Some of the selections – the Honda FCX Clarity and the Chevy Volt – seem obvious. The inclusion of four diesel vehicles among the ten is also an interesting choice. However, there are some some strange choices. Why is the Chrysler Aspen hybrid included instead of the Chevy Tahoe, considering that the latter is already in production. Although the new Lincoln MKS and the Hyundai Elantra Touring may be fine cars, there is nothing particularly exceptional about either one. Even the EcoBoost GTDI V-6 coming to the Lincoln in 2009 is not new technology, although Ford is trying to make it mainstream. The Elantra has nothing that any number of other cars already on the market also have. What cars would you include on the list and which would you drop?

[Source: Forbes]

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Filed under: Diesel, Bentley

While the seemingly bottomless pit of torque available from a big turbodiesel engine would seem to be more in character for a Bentley than a hybrid system, it looks like the latter might be the first option for the VW-owned British brand. The relative lack of diesel interest in Bentley’s biggest market, the U.S., might be too blame. According to AutoTelegraaf, Bentley is reluctant to spend the money to develop a new diesel engine right now. However, given that most Bentley’s are powered by a turbocharged version of VW’s W-12 engine, using another engine from the family would seem obvious. With the 6.0L V-12 TDI going into production for the Audi Q7 later this year, it doesn’t make sense not to use a version of it in a Bentley.

[Source: AutoTelegraaf via MotorAuthority]

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Filed under: Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Legislation and Policy

Legislators in Minnesota have introduced bills in the State House and Senate that would have the state adopt California’s emissions standards. These California rules, which also include limits on carbon dioxide emissions, have been adopted by at least a dozen other states. The limits on greenhouse gas emissions are currently the subject of a lawsuit by California and other states against the EPA, which denied California’s waiver request for the regulations.

The odd thing in Minnesota is that corn growers and ethanol producers have jumped into the fray against the proposals. There doesn’t actually appear to be anything in the proposed legislation that would specifically harm the E85 market. However, the ethanol lobby is teaming up with the automakers who are obviously opposed to the California rules. It appears that the only way that this actually affects Team Ethanol is if the CO₂ limits hurt sales of larger cars and full-size trucks which comprise the bulk of currently available flex-fuel vehicles. If truck sales are limited by de facto fuel economy requirements, than at least in the short term, E85-capable vehicle sales will suffer. Perhaps the ethanol side should be pushing the auto industry to make more of their vehicles E85 ready instead of fighting clean air rules.

[Source: MinnPost, via The Truth About Cars]

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Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Natural Gas, NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle)

Once upon a time before Formula One was fueled by mega-dollars, the U.S. Grand Prix was held at the Watkins Glen circuit in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. The track was the site of legendary battles between the likes of Mario Andretti, Niki Lauda and James Hunt. Eventually, the beautiful people decided it wasn’t worth going out to the rural race track when they could instead hang out in more cosmopolitan locations like Phoenix and Indianapolis. After the track laid fallow for a few years, it was eventually revived and is now thriving (relatively speaking) once again.

One of the new newest events at Watkins Glen is the Green Grand Prix which will be run for the third time on May 3, 2008. The event is the only Sports Car Club of America sanctioned time-speed-distance rally specifically for alternative fuel vehicles. The competitors run a 78-mile route around Seneca Lake and include all manner of hybrids and other alt-fueled machines entered by individuals, schools and manufacturers. You can register at the site if you’re in the area and interested.

[Source: Green Grand Prix]

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Filed under: Biodiesel, Peugeot

The National Farmers Union in Britain has just taken delivery of a new Peugeot 308 that is being fueled by B30. The biodiesel being used in the Peugeot is produced from locally-grown canola and used cooking oil. Jonathan Scurlock, the NFU chief renewable energy adviser will be using the 308 as he drives around the country on official business. The fuel is being supplied by Harvest Energy and is produced entirely from local sources in England. The company is trying to demonstrate the sustainability of locally-grown crops for biofuel production. While the net energy benefit of canola biodiesel is debatable, it does have some definite advantages such as no sulfur which provide cleaner emissions than petroleum diesel.

[Source: Peugeot]

NFu takes delivery of new plant-powered peugeot 308

Championing sustainable UK-produced biofuels, the NFU has taken delivery of a new low-emissions Peugeot 308 just weeks before the Government announces its commitment to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation targets.

The car runs on a 30 per cent blend of biodiesel made from British oil seed rape and used cooking oil, and is liveried to show its connection with agriculture. Emblazoned with the words ‘Powered by British Biofuel’, it will be driven around the country on business by NFU chief renewable energy adviser Jonathan Scurlock.

“It is vital that we highlight the sustainability of biofuels produced in the UK, and their contribution to energy security and tackling climate change,” said Dr Scurlock. “Biofuels can be made from a wide variety of plant material such as vegetable oils, wheat and sugar beet, and can greatly reduce carbon emissions while meeting practicable environmental standards of production.

“By producing clean and secure sources of renewable energy, including biofuels, farmers and growers are already playing an important role in mitigating climate change, while at the same time ensuring UK food security by providing fresh, quality produce.”

James Ross of Harvest Energy Ltd, the fuel’s supplier added: “We are pleased we have been able to use recycled and UK farmed material to bring this proven high quality Harvest B30 Biodiesel fuel to the market place. The UK supply makes the sustainability aspect of this fuel that much easier to clarify. The bio element of the fuel currently gives a GHG saving of over 56 per cent versus mineral diesel taking into account the whole life cycle including farming and fertiliser*. Major vehicle manufacturers have been able to approve this fuel.”

Managing Director at Peugeot Motor Company PLC Pierre Louis Colin said: “Customers who want to drive a ‘green’ environmentally conscious car can do so ideally with Peugeot’s new 308, which, running on biofuel, has no impact on performance yet has one of the lowest net CO₂ emissions for its class.”

Notes to editors:
* (using official UK RTFO methodology).

• The Government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation comes into effect on April 15 2008, requiring all road fuels to contain 2.5 per cent biodiesel or bioethanol by volume, rising to 5 per cent by 2010-2011. Biofuel blends of up to 5 per cent are entirely compatible with all cars already on the road today, and comply with the existing EU petrol and diesel standards. Some biofuel blends like this have been on the market for several years now, and many motorists may have used them without realising any difference.
• Finished in Aluminium Silver with a special livery that depicts the connection between agriculture and biodiesel fuel, NFU’s new five-door Peugeot 308 S HDi 90 is a low-emissions diesel option. This model complies already with the future EU target of 120g CO₂/km, falls into the lowest company car tax band from April 2008, and qualifies for only £35/year vehicle excise duty – making it a sound choice on both economic as well as environmental grounds.
• All Peugeot HDi diesels made since 1998 can run without modification on a 30 per cent blend of biodiesel with mineral diesel, known as B30. Operation on this fuel leads to around 20 per cent further reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, bringing the net emissions from the NFU Peugeot 308 to below 100g CO₂/km.
• Biofuel processing plants are already operational or under construction on Teesside, Humberside and in Norfolk. B30 “high-blend” biodiesel fuel is available at a limited number of forecourts in the West Midlands and nationwide, where Dr Scurlock will be filling up the NFU Peugeot 308.

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Filed under: Diesel, Volkswagen

When Volkswagen announced their new Tiguan compact crossover last year, American VW fans got excited about the prospect of a TDI model joining the lineup. It would have been the first diesel-powered small SUV in the U.S. market, but alas it wasn’t meant to be, at least not yet. While VW officials say they have no immediate plans to offer a diesel in the U.S. Tiguan when the vehicle launches later this year, an observant driver has nonetheless spotted one in California. The Tiguan was parked at VW’s California design studio in Palo Alto and closer examination revealed that it was was oil-burner. It’s not at all unusual for manufacturers to be testing models only sold in foreign markets on our shores and the presence of this particular Tiguan doesn’t necessarily signify anything. Most likely, Volkswagen will be watching how sales of the upcoming Jetta and Touareg TDI models do here – along with watching the price of diesel fuel – before making a go/no-go call on the Tiguan TDI.

[Source: TDIclub, thanks to Brian for the tip]

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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Zap, Green Daily

The world desperately needs vehicles with alternative powertrains, such as battery electrics. The potential to make a killing in the business is huge, as is the potential to lose everything. The auto industry – as anyone who has ever gotten involved in it knows – is hugely capital intensive so investors are needed. However, people tend to be unwilling to put large quantities of cash unless they see a potential return. In any new business arena there are startups who fail without drawing much attention to themselves. Unfortunately there are also those that draw inordinate amounts of attention to themselves before they ever produce anything. Those in the latter category tend to poison the investment waters for those who may actually have something real to offer.

Such is the case with Zap! and their heavily-hyped electric vehicles. The Santa Rosa, CA company has been around for quite a number of years and has actually managed to sell a number of electrical products mostly related to mobile power products. However when it comes to electric transportation, their products are limited to the Chinese built three wheel Xebra “sedan” and “truck”. Wired has now pubished a detailed article on the often sordid 16 year history of Zap! and its two primary leaders Gary Starr and Steve Schneider. Schneider and Starr have apparently “built” a business on alternating press releases about world-beating new electric cars and issuing new stock to continue paying the bills, including their salaries. Meanwhile enthusiastic prospective retailers of Zap products like Ehab Youssef and Joseph Gottlieb with little experience in the realities of the car business, have plunked down large amounts of cash for the right to sell vehicles that either come nowhere near meeting their rated specifications or never materialize at all. It’s a sad tale but well worth the read. For those Zap representatives that often post in the comments here, please feel free to try and refute anything you feel may be incorrect in the article – but only if you have facts to back it up.

[Source: Wired, thanks to Melissa for the tip]

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Filed under: Diesel, SEAT

SEAT, the Spanish-based division of the Volkswagen group, started running the Leon TDI in Touring Car competition in mid-2007 and this weekend the hatchback will make its debut in Britain. At this weekend’s British Touring Car Championship opener at Brands Hatch, veteran drivers Jason Plato and Darren Turner will run a pair of Leon TDIs. Since joining the BTCC in 2004, SEAT has won 33 out of 120 races and the new diesel-powered 2008 racers will be propelled by 270hp 2.0L engines. In the opening round of the World Touring Car Championship earlier this month the SEATs used their torque advantage to overcome the handling benefit of the rear wheel drive BMWs. The Brands Hatch weekend will include three 24 lap races this Sunday.

[Source: SEAT]
SEAT Leon TDI to make history at 2008 BTCC opener

Racing history will be made at Brands Hatch on Sunday 30th March, when SEAT becomes the first manufacturer to race a diesel-engined car in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. Jason Plato and Darren Turner will drive a pair of Holiday Inn supported SEAT Leon TDIs, as the SEAT Sport UK team embarks on a new diesel- powered phase of its motorsport programme.

Brands Hatch was the venue for the first BTCC race back in 1958, and while the series celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, SEAT Sport UK is starting its fifth racing season. Since joining the BTCC in 2004, SEAT Sport UK has contested 120 races, winning 33, recording 83 podiums and scoring 2,245 Manufacturers’ points. It won the BTCC Manufacturers’ title in 2006 and was crowned Teams’ Champions in 2007. The introduction of the Leon TDI is the biggest pre-season change the team has ever undertaken, and whilst the car has been successful in the FIA World Touring Car Championship since its debut mid-way through last year, the different surfaces and layouts of the UK circuits makes this a big technical and sporting challenge for the Northampton-based team.

Working closely with Dunlop, suppliers of the BTCC control tyres, SEAT Sport UK racked up 320 miles of uninterrupted testing at Brands Hatch earlier this week. Focusing on endurance runs, tyres and set-up, both Jason and Darren completed a number of simulated race distance runs as the Leon TDI performed faultlessly. Both Leons will now be fitted with new 270 PS turbocharged TDI race engines for the opening BTCC meeting of 2008.

Jason Plato said: “The early signs show that the Leon TDI has huge potential, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of finding out what makes it tick. Technically, it’s a very exciting project to work on, as we have to relearn everything we did before with the petrol-engined Leon. It really is a very different car, and the set-ups that were so successful over the last two seasons, where the Leon won 20 BTCC races, will have to be completely reworked. The turbocharged TDI has plenty of torque and there is a lot more weight over the front axle, so set-up is different and I’ve had to change my driving style. It’s a fun car to drive and it’s a car that can win races in the BTCC, but right now we have a lot more to learn before we find the most competitive package. That said, we’ll be at Brands Hatch to try and win.”

Darren Turner: “The Leon TDI ran reliably all day at our test at Brands Hatch and we were able to do plenty of miles. It’s a lot different to anything I’ve ever driven before and you really have to change your driving technique. For instance, you have to be very smooth and drive it just under the limit, because if you hit the power too hard the turbo and torque makes it understeer and you have to back off; and once you’ve eased off and come back on the throttle you’ve lost all momentum. The car is also very quiet; we’ve had to move the rev lights on the dashboard so we can see when to change up, because you can’t hear the engine – and that for me is very unusual. The extra weight of the TDI engine on the front axle has changed the dynamics of the chassis, and the weight distribution; the way in which you introduce the power and the braking is all different to the petrol-engined Leon. The engineers now have a lot of data to look at to fine tune the car, and whilst we certainly have a lot of homework to do, the Leon TDI has great potential.”

Scott Dennis, SEAT UK Motorsport Manager: “In a short space of time SEAT Sport UK has made a huge impact on the BTCC – our approach sums up the dynamic, cutting-edge spirit of the SEAT brand. We were the first manufacturer to race with a car built to the S2000 regulations back in 2004, and now we’ll be the first manufacturer to race in the BTCC with a diesel powered car. The spirit in the team is excellent and whilst we still have a lot to learn about the Leon TDI, I’m confident that we can hit the ground running at Brands Hatch. While we get to grips with the new Leon TDI our expectations will be realistic, yet it would be a fantastic reward for the guys in the team for all the hard work they’ve put in over the winter months if we came away with an early win.”

The BTCC race weekend at Brands Hatch begins with two 40 minute free practice sessions on Saturday 29th March, starting at 09.55 and 12.20, followed by a 30 minute qualifying session starting at 15.40. Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the BTCC take place on Sunday 30th March, with the three 24 lap races around the short Brands Hatch Indy Circuit starting at 11.30, 14.20 and 16.30.

ITV4 will have extensive live coverage of the opening BTCC races, with non-stop viewing on race day between 12.30pm-5.30pm. A one-hour highlights programme will be broadcast on Monday 31st March, which will be repeated later the same week on Men & Motors (check local TV listings for details).

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