News - 2007 Archive
Expanding HEV Universe
A capsule of trends and developments that point to the future of hybrid and electric propulsion
December 2007
Electric Technology for New High-Power Motorcycle
The Volta G/T is a new high-performance electric motorcycle from the Electric Vehicle Company that uses plug-in technology coupled with lithium-ion polymer batteries to achieve speeds in excess of 160 km/h and a range of over 100 miles on a single charge. The motorcycle's operator will be able to use proprietary computer software to customize its performance and driving experience. Shipment of Job One to customers will begin in spring 2008; MSRP has been announced as US$7,995.
Hybrid Diesel News
Odyne Corporation and Dueco have collaborated to produce the world's first plug-in hybrid aerial lift truck, recently displayed at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition in Louisville, KY. The electric drive component of the system will be used primarily to power the lift mechanism for an elevated bucket working platform used for servicing power lines, utility poles, etc. It will achieve eight hours of lift operation time on an 8-hour charge. Meanwhile, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, has placed in service a diesel-hybrid dump truck powered by a Mack MP7 diesel engine and ultra-capacitors for high short-term power needs. Several iterations of this platform will be tested in regular service at other Air Force facilities. And Navistar's International Truck and Engine Co. has rolled out line production of the International DuraStar diesel hybrid medium-duty truck, thus becoming the first company in the world to mass-produce medium-duty diesel hybrids.
Full-size SUV Hybrid to Debut
The worlds' first production two-mode hybrid full-size SUV, the General Motors Tahoe, was displayed in Dubai, where a fleet of these vehicles will take to the road as limousines and taxis as early as 2008. The models will be available in both petrol and diesel powerplant configurations. These vehicles will be designed to achieve speeds as high as 55 km/h on electricity alone, and will improve average fuel economy 25 percent over it conventionally-fueled counterpart.
U.S. Sales Trends through November
During November 33,233, exceeding the October sales total of 24,443 and resulting in cumulative (1999-2007) U.S. HEV sales of 976,477, a figure which does not include sales of General Motors hybrids except for the Saturn. Sales figures rebounded sharply from prior months' totals, and cumulatively (since 1999) near the million mark for the U.S. alone.
November 2007
Plug-in Electric Curbside Delivery Vehicle on the Streets
The prototype Quicksider plug-in battery-operated electric delivery vehicle, manufactured by Toronto-based Unicell in partnership with ArvinMeritor, has been introduced by Purolator into commercial courier service in Canada. It joins a Purolater "Green" fleet comprising 49 HEVs in service across Canada (including 30 new introductions: 28 in Vancouver, one in Ottawa, one in Montreal), of which 19 have been on the roads since 2005.
Ventures for Lithium-Based HEV Battery Development Ramping Up
The following have announced new joint ventures to further the development of lithium-based battery technology for HEVs: Nanoexa and Decktron (using lithium batter technology originally developed at Argonne National Laboratory); Saft and Johnson Controls (to supply Li-ion batteries for Mercedes S Class 400 hybrids); and QuantumSphere Corp. with OM Group.
New Zealand Committing to Future Increases in Electric Drive Transport
A key component of the New Zealand Energy Strategy—Powering Our Future, published in October by the country's Ministry of Economic Development, is the commitment to a substantially increased role for electric drive transport in the country. The issue is specifically addressed in Section 7.7 of the Strategy document:
"New Zealand's natural endowment of renewable electricity could enable us to become world leaders in producing sustainable transport energy. Technological developments are expected to significantly increase the performance and safety of electric vehicles in the near future.
The government has taken an in-principle decision that New Zealand be one of the first countries to deploy electric vehicles widely into the fleet.
To date, electricity use for transport has been confined to buses and trains. In the future, the advantages of transferring a proportion of the light vehicle fleet to electricity would depend on the relative economics, potential for uptake and the level of petrol and diesel that was displaced. Hybrid plug-ins and battery electric cars also have other benefits, such as reduced or no harmful exhaust emissions in urban areas. However, advances in battery capability will be needed before these vehicles can be mass produced to provide the same mobility benefits as an internal combustion engine.
The additional electricity required to charge electric vehicles is expected to fall within the capacity of the grid, if economic grid improvements go ahead. Uptake would have to be supplemented with a charging policy to manage peak demand."
Military HEV Applications to Grow in New British Strategic Business Unit
Ricardo Special Vehicles Ltd. Of Great Britain has formed a new Defence Systems and Technologies strategic business unit targeting the market for hybrid electric military vehicles capable of performing in extreme and potentially hostile environments that may be cut off for periods from conventional fuel supply lines. The Ricardo package is expected to include built-in 100 kW generators capable of providing power for communications systems, while incorporating advanced diagnostics enabling customers to implement condition-based maintenance processes.
U.S. Sales Trends through October
During October 24,443 HEV were sold in the U.S., exceeding the September sales total of 22,659. Sales have been declining every month since reaching a high of 45,892 in May. Sales numbers exclude all GM HEVs except 3,969 Saturn Vue HEVs sold through May 2007 (as reported by EDTA). Toyota's Highlander HEV has experienced declining sales since June 2007. Cumulative HEV sales (1999-2007) are 943,244, so HEV sales worldwide now appear to exceed one million.
October 2007
Ultra High-Performance Luxury Hybrids in View
Targeting "enthusiast groups" outside its core market, Toyota Motor Corp. has announced plans to develop a high-power, high-performance hybrid under its Lexus marque. It will likely be based on the LS platform popular with very up-market customers. According to Toyota spokespersons, the rate at which these plans go forward will to some extent be contingent on consumer response to General Motor's Volt PHEV and Tesla Motors' battery-powered sports car, both of which tout high performance and excellent fuel economy.
Flex-Fuel Hybrids May Be On the Way
One of the first flexible-fuel (FFV) full hybrids produced has been delivered by Ford Motor Corp. to its venture partner VeraSun Energy. This is the first of 20 Escape hybrids, able to run on a blend of up to 85% ethanol/15% gasoline (E85), to be delivered to various strategic partners of Ford. Success of these demonstration fleets may pave the way for commercial-scale FFV hybrid production.
Pricing Announcements for 2008 Model Year Hybrids
Nissan and Toyota have each announced manufacturer-suggested retail prices (MSRPs) for one of their most popular hybrid models. The Nissan Altima Hybrid is offered at US$25,070 in its standard 4-cylinder configuration (which includes one of four option packages), and meets all requirements for an Alternative Motor Fuel Tax Credit of $2,350. Toyota's 3.3-liter, V6 4WD Highlander Hybrid SUV 2008 base price is US$33,700, a reduction of 0.6% from 2007 pricing. However, when equipped with its most popular features from past sales years, this model will price out at US$39,950, which is 9.3% higher than 2007. The 2008 version has three inches of additional wheelbase and is about four inches longer, three inches wider than its predecessor.
Nissan Enters Diesel Hybrid Truck Market
The new Atlas H43 light-heavy diesel hybrid truck, manufactured for Nissan by Isuzu Motors Ltd., has been certified at a class-leading 11 km/L (25.8 mpg US) fuel economy and as a low-emission vehicle for NOx and particulate matter. It will be available soon in Japan, but export plans are not finalized.
More Medium- and Heavy-duty Hybrid Developments
PACCAR and Eaton Corp. have joined forces to produce hybrid technology designed specifically for North American heavy-duty commercial vehicles manufactured from the end of 2009 onward by Kenworth and Peterbilt. This expands upon these partners' earlier medium-duty technology developments for Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF, for which commercial production is now underway and first deliveries scheduled for 2008. The power system will couple automated manual transmission and a parallel hybrid drive, with braking energy recovery. On the military applications front, BAE Systems has announced successful demonstration, in a tank-mounted howitzer, of the first HEV drive system for U.S. Army ground combat vehicles.
Sales Trends through August
Toyota continues to lead the pack in hybrid sales through August 2007, with over 190 thousand units sold in the US (Prius + other hybrids, including Camry and Highlander) and over 300 thousand worldwide. Total 2007 US HEV sales through August are at 236,414, of which Prius accounts for over 50 percent. Thanks to mid-year sales downturns which may be related to the ongoing credit crunch, cumulative US hybrid sales since their 1999 introduction will fail at the current pace to reach the 1 million mark by year's end.
September 2007
New 2- and 4-Wheeler EV Excitement in US
One of the few US-based dedicated manufacturers of all-electric road legal vehicles, ZAP of California, is reporting brisk sales of its personal electric transporter and scooter lines and a resulting 4-week waiting list of eager customers. High fossil fuel prices appear to be the principal motivation for the total inventory clearance of the Zapino™ motorbikes and ZAPPY3™ two-wheelers. Meanwhile, the company also reports 2007 delivery to customers of over 500 units of its XEBRA car and truck models.
Ford Motor, Toyota Address Technical Issues of OEM and Converted PHEVs
The president and CEO of Ford Motor Corp., Alan Mulally, announced a partnership with Southern California Edison to explore a wide spectrum of the potential benefits of widespread used of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), especially with respect to enhanced energy security, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs, and more efficient use of the national electricity grid. An intriguing application that will be examined is the used of a household's PHEV to store the excess energy generated from rooftop solar collectors, a capability not yet in play. Toyota Motor North America, meanwhile, has raised skepticism about the after-market conversion of its base hybrids to PHEVs, as test data from US national laboratories have demonstrated that Priuses converted to PHEVs emit considerably higher NOx and total HC than stock models. Toyota is also concerned about increased risk of fire, electrical shock and accident injury, especially in rear-end collisions of these conversions, as well as their voiding of powertrain warranties and removal of the spare tire necessary to accommodate extra propulsion batteries.
Toyota's PHEV Cleared for Public Roads Tests in Japan
The Toyota Plug-in HV, a prototype built by the company to test the feasibility and performance of PHEVs in actual service, has been certified for use on the public roads by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the first manufacturer to gain such certification. Eight units of the HV are expected to begin on-road tests in Japan later this fall, with an initial objective of verifying electric-only cruising range (now believed to be 13 km in the Japanese 10-15 test cycle) and optimal battery capacity (initially rated at 13 Ampere-hours for a 2-battery system operating at 202 Volts). Measurement methods for over-the-road emissions and fuel efficiency will also be formulated in conjunction with these tests.
August 2007
US HEV Sales Plateau at Level below Previous Monthly Highs
July HEV sales in the USA were 28,585, according to J.D. Power market research, a total 11.5% higher than July 2006 HEV sales but a continuation of the downward trend from the all-time high of 45,095 units sold in May 2007. Current lags may be an effect of the termination of tax credit eligibility for some popular hybrid models combined with liquidity problems associated with the decline of the sub-prime housing loan market, and monthly HEV sales in the US will have to average 26,634 for the remainder of 2007 to pass the 1 million mark this year. Cumulative sales since 1999 are 866,834.
Muscle of Google.org Gets Behind PHEVs
The philanthropic arm of Google Inc. has launched an initiative to accelerate adoption of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as transportation’s dependence on petroleum. Called RechargeIT™, the initiative has awarded $1 million in grants to entities such as CalCars, the Rocky Mountain Institute, and the Electric Power Research Institute, and committed $10 million more to fund development, adoption, and commercialisation of PHEVs, all-electric cars and related vehicle-to-grid technologies. Together with A123 Systems/Hymotion, Google has launched an experimental fleet of plug-in Prius conversions that are averaging about 74 mpg (3.17 l/100 km) to date.
Mexico City Municipal Car Fleet Goes Electric
Mexico City's municipal government has committed to converting the 2,000 Nissan Tsuru cars in its fleet to electric power. Odyne Corp. will supply the battery management system for these conversions, the company's first venture into powertrain-related technologies not specifically targeted at class 6-8 trucks and buses. Conversion of the first 500 of the 2,000 units is slated for completion within two years.
The "New Chrysler" to Re-Prioritize Hybrid Technology
Chrysler Group will be including a mild hybrid vehicle in its product slate by 2010 and is embarking on a two-mode hybrid and clean diesel powertrain development program as initiatives announced recently buy its Executive Vice President of Product Development. The goal of the two-mode strategy is to leapfrog current efforts to improve efficiency of high-speed driving and achieve a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency (relative to conventional powertrains) overall in its Aspen and Dodge Durango hybrids, to debut next year.
First Real-World Tests of Toyota Plug-in Hybrids to Go Ahead
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley will join forces with the California Air Resources Board, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A, and other entities in a $750,000 project to conduct the first real-world tests of, and research with, an automaker-produced, plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicle (PHEV). Under the agreement, Toyota is providing vehicle technology and support engineering services to allow the PHEV and fuel cell vehicles to be tested and analyzed under various conditions. Researchers will study both the behavioral/recharging/refueling response of users to PHEV technology, and energy use, environmental, and economic impacts.
July 2007
Prototype Hybrid Locomotive Goes On Display
General Electric Corp. (GE) has unveiled its Evolution Hybrid 4,400 hp diesel-electric locomotive that stores the energy from application of the system's dynamic brakes and makes it available for subsequent propulsion, especially during grade climbs, resulting in a net saving in fuel consumption and emissions during long hauls of as much as 10 percent. (Every diesel-electric locomotive in service today is technically a hybrid, because the prime-mover compression-ignition diesel engine drives, through an inverter, an electric motor that actually delivers traction power to the wheels). When all subsystems for this unit have been fully tested and certified, the first customers for production units are expected to be the rail carriers BNSF and Union Pacific, who are already collaborating with GE on certain aspects of the development.
Diesel Hybrids for US Military
Quantum Technologies, a long-time provide of OEM alternative-fuel vehicles under for Ford Motor Corp., has now won a US$4.9 million contract to provide the U.S. Army Tank and Armaments Command's National Automotive Center (NAC) a diesel hybrid version of its light-duty off-road fuel cell Aggressor reconnaissance vehicle that has been in NAC test service for several years. This concept will emphasize compatibility with JP-8 fuel in a battery dominant diesel series hybrid. Future applications for this very quiet vehicle could extend to homeland security, border patrol, and park service operations.
New Lithium-Ion Battery Joint Venture
Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. will join forces with GS Yuasa Corp. in Kyoto, Japan to begin mass production in 2009 of Li-ion cells (up to 200,000 cells per year) at GS Yuasa's head office plant. Three billion yen is being invested in a product that, it is claimed, will have ten times the capacity of current hybrid electric vehicle batteries and could be employed in many all-electric applications.
Market Slow for non-SUV Light Truck "Soft" Hybrids
Almost three years ago, General Motors Corporation (GM) introduced a configuration of its Silverado and Sierra pickup models that was equipped with regenerative braking and engine-off-in-idle capability. These so-called "soft" hybrids did not utilize true hybrid control technology integrated into the powertrain, but were marketed as units capable of delivering "shore power" to other applications, such as generation emergency electricity for a household during a power outage. This concept apparently did not resonate with the public, especially since fuel economy was not appreciably improved: only 3,000 or so were sold since late 2004. Now GM has announced that it will be discontinuing sales of these pickups and replacing them with more fully hybridized versions in 2008.
June 2007
Hybrid Sales Hit Monthly Record in US
A total 45,095 HEVs were sold in the USA in May, surpassing the previous high of 34,637 in March 2007. Toyota Prius accounted for 53% of these sales, its total of 24,009 surpassing the previous best 19,156 of March 2007. Toyota's hybrid Camry was a distant second at 6,853, while Honda sold 4,520 hybrid Civics. Sales of SUV HEVs have remained sluggish, accounting for only 8,272 (18%) of May HEV sales. For five months of 2007, the US HEV share of light truck sales is relatively flat at 0.86% (as compared to 0.88% for the whole year of 2006), while HEV share of car sales has risen to 3.58%, already exceeding the 2.2% share for all of 2006.
Toyota Hybrid Sales Pass One Million Mark Worldwide; Honda Accord to Bow Out
Toyota's global sales of hybrid vehicles totaled just over one million as of the end of May. Annual sales of Toyota hybrids have climbed from just 18,000 in 1998 (Japanese market only) to 312,500 last year. Toyota's Prius remains the overwhelming leader in the hybrid category, selling a total of 757,600 units since its 1997 introduction. This market dominance was a factor in Honda's announcement that it will discontinue production of the hybrid version of its Accord model, for which global sales have been tepid.
Hybrid Double-decker for Dublin
Operational evaluation of a prototype double-decker bus equipped with hybrid propulsion technology is set to begin in Dublin, Ireland later this year. The Wrightbus Pulsar Gemini HEV is powered by a Siemens series hybrid drivetrain with lithium-ion batteries. The chassis platform (the VDL Bus DB250) will accommodate a bus body having a capacity of 64 seated and 18 standee passengers.
New York Taxi Fleet Switching to Hybrids by 2012
Following a fleet test of almost 400 hybrids in the New York City yellow cab fleet over the past 18 months, plans have been announced by the mayor to transition 100 percent of the city's taxis to hybrids by 2010. At least 13,000 vehicles would be affected, beginning with an initial increase to 1,000 units by October 2008 followed by a roughly 20 percent annual growth rate through 2012. The changeover is expected to be a keystone of the city's sustainability plan, which includes a goal of 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. An issue not yet resolved is whether the selection of hybrid models available during the transition will include vehicles that can adequately accommodate the needs of the mobility limited, which are now met by the fleet of large yellow cab sedans.
May 2007
Hybrid Tugboat for Port of LA-Long Beach
Foss Maritime Corp. of Ranier, Oregon has teamed with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California to build a diesel tugboat with a hybrid electric assist for delivery next year. The objective of utilizing this craft is significant reduction or elimination of pollutant emissions, fuel consumption, and noise during idling or light harbour work, when power would be supplied by two 670 hp (500 kW) electric battery packs supplemented by two 335 hp (250 kW) diesel generators for extra power and recharging. A total of US $1.35 million has been committed to the project by various agencies in California's South Coast Air Basin. The marine craft, which is expected to be joined by other similar hybrids in service during its lifetime, will operate in Southern Californian coastal waters for five years.
Electric Hybrid Buses for Stockholm
Scania of Sweden is set to embark on large-scale testing of its alternative-fuel (ethanol) electric hybrid bus technology in collaboration with Storstockholms Lokaltrafik and the Swedish Energy Agency, the latter of which has already contributed 16 million kroner to Scania’s hybrid development efforts. The Scania approach to hybridisation in a CI engine stores its regenerated and recharged electrical energy in supercapacitors, which deliver superior stop-start and acceleration performance as well as longer service life relative to batteries. The ethanol-fuelled CI engine drives a generator that powers an electric motor, whence the vehicle's propulsion.
Hydrogen Hybrids for Norway’s "Hydrogen Highway"
Eleven hydrogen-fuelled Prius platform hybrids are en route from Quantum Fuel System Technologies of California to Miljobil Grenland AS of Norway. They will participate in the Norwegian Hydrogen Highway (HyNor) demonstration project connecting Oslo and the port of Stavanger with five hydrogen refueling stations by 2009 on the main highway between the two cities. This number of stations should enable the hybrid vehicles to complete the 550-km route routinely. The Quantum-modified hybrids feature an electronic multi-point hydrogen injection system, turbocharger and intercooler, plus an extended hydrogen storage capacity that should increase driving range by 30 percent over current prototypes and will meet European safety standards as well as US federal crashworthiness and design requirements.
Nanophase Battery-Powered Motorcycle Achieves World Acceleration Record in Standing Quarter
The designer and producer of an electric motorcycle called the "KillaCycle" powered by 990 nano-phosphate lithium-ion cells manufactured by A123 Systems has announced that the two-wheeler has broken the acceleration/speed record of an electrically-powered cycle in the standing quarter mile. The new record elapsed time is now 8.16 seconds, established at the Firebird Speedway in Chandler, Arizona on 31 March. The 0-60 mph (approx. 100 kph) acceleration rate was 1.5 seconds, enabling a top speed of 156 mph (250 kph) in this test.
April 2007
New Consortium Developing HD Hybrid Truck
The existing partnership between Eaton and Peterbilt Corporations (described in previous monthly "HEV Universe" updates) to develop heavy-duty hybrid vehicles for various applications has now embraced Wal-Mart Company, for whom the partnership will be building at least one aerodynamically-styled diesel hybrid-capable Peterbilt Model 386 truck for introduction into long-haul and delivery service in 2009. The hybrid initiative is a component of Wal-Mart's "Sustainability 360" program that seeks to encourage environmental stewardship among its customers.
US HEV Sales Surged in March
Hybrid vehicle sales in the United States achieved their highest monthly total ever in March 2007: unofficially, over 34,600 units, breaking the old monthly record (August 2006) by over 8,000. Toyota's Priuses accounted for 19,150 of these sales, bringing overall sales total for this model since the end of 2004 to 254,500 (Prius also set a monthly sales record by better than 8,000 units). Big sales up ticks in March were also recorded for Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrids.
More News from ZAP: Atlanta Orders and New Charging System
The Green Trust Fund of Atlanta, GA has ordered 40 electric cars and trucks from ZAP World of California, with additional orders likely to come, and is setting up a dealership to distribute ZAP's XEBRA models in the Atlanta area. This order comes on the heels of an announcement that XEBRA models will be compatible with a new 110- or 220-volt battery charger to be offered by ZAP that can cut overall charging time (up to 100 amps or 10,000 watts of electricity) to under an hour.
New York Times Tests Plug-In Hybrid Van, First on East Coast
The evaluation program for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) jointly conducted by DaimlerChrysler and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has brought Consolidated Edison and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) into the partnership and placed a Dodge Sprinter plug-in hybrid van into service at the New York Times as the first medium-duty PHEV on the East Coast. The van will serve the paper's printing plant in College Point, Queens as well as the Times plant in Edison, N.J in transporting papers to distribution points.
School Districts Going the Hybrid Route
Florida's Manatee School District is the first in the nation to place production hybrid school buses (from Advanced Energy, using Enova Corporation's Post Transmission Hybrid Drive System) into service. The District took delivery of the two buses in March, and seventeen additional buses are scheduled for later delivery to other school districts around the country. With both a charge sustaining and charge depleting option available, fuel economy improvements are expected to range from about 30 to as high as 100 percent. Meanwhile, a group of California school districts and transportation organizations, largely in the Central Valley, is seeking $3.25 million in funding to acquire CNG plug-in hybrid school buses (probably from Odyne Corporation) through a grant from the California Air Resources Board and other entities. They would become the first fleet operators to deploy this application of hybrid technology.
March 2007
First Diesel Hybrid Bus for London
London's double-decker buses have long been a symbol of the British capital city; now, the first diesel hybrid-powered member of this fleet has gone into service. The new unit features regenerative braking to help recharge the battery pack that powers its electric motor, and is expected to emit just over half of the carbon monoxide per kilometer of service as the conventional diesel it replaces.
California Running Out of HEV Carpool Lane Stickers
When California opened freeway carpool lanes to access by single-occupant hybrid vehicles in 2005, it printed 75,000 stickers to issue to qualifying drivers, as only three hybrid models (Toyota Prius and Honda Civic and Insight) were then available. Today that selection has more than doubled and includes some popular SUV models, and the state’s Air Resources Board has found that it has almost exhausted the initial sticker supply plus the 10,000 additional stickers that were authorized last year. Fewer than 2,000 of the 85,000 total have not been issued, and applications for this remainder already exceed supply. California's most recent count of state-registered hybrids of all types exceeds 135 thousand.
More News from ZAP: Advanced Li-ion Battery Management System
Eco Tech A/S of Denmark has created a new management system for lithium-ion vehicle batteries that ZAP Corporation of Santa Rosa, CA under an exclusive distribution agreement with the company will incorporate into its Xebra electric cars and trucks (other joint ventures involving the Xebra line were covered in prior months' "Horizons"). It is anticipated that incorporation of the new efficiency- and performance-maximising control system software will increase future Li-ion equipped Xebras' operating range by a factor of five over their current lead-acid battery powered counterparts.
Honda Civic Hybrid Recall Targets Voltage Converter
A worldwide total of 45,335 Honda hybrid-model Civics built between September 2005 and September 2006 has been recalled to repair a problem with the voltage converter that could result in a short circuit that unexpectedly shuts down the engine. Although no after-market consequences from this defect have been reported to date, the recall affects over 31,100 units sold in the US and 7,200 sold in Japan.
February 2007
Corporate Incentive Program Extended for Employees who Purchase HEVs
Bank of America Corp. is expanding its reimbursement program for employees who purchase a new hybrid automobile. Originally launched in June, 2006 for employees living within 90 miles of Boston, Charlotte and Los Angeles, the program now makes eligible all U.S.-based full-time and part-time employees of the corporation who work at least 20 hours a week. Thus, about 185,000 workers will receive reimbursements of $3,000.
GM Volt Concept to Offer Multi-Fuel EV Range Extension Capability with Li-Ion Battery
General Motors rolled out its Volt concept plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV) at U.S. auto shows in January. Commercialization of this vehicle is expected sometime in the 2010-2012 time frame, pending realization of performance goals for a lithium ion battery-based prime mover. The 4-passenger vehicle will couple a large battery with a 1-litre turbocharged engine and apply limited principles of a parallel hybrid system using a liquid fuel (initially, gasoline, but with E85 capability) for the heat engine as a battery charger/range extender. Ultimately, this vehicle could substitute a hydrogen fuel cell for the gasoline engine; also, E100 or biodiesel could serve as the range extender. A driving range up to 640 mi. (1030 km) is anticipated.
Features of Mazda Tribute HEV
Mazda's Tribute HEV, a mid-platform SUV introduced at the 2007 North American Auto Show, can run on 100 percent electric power up to about 25 mph (40 km/h), meets the most stringent emission control standards short of ZEV, and features both a 70-kW (@5,000 rpm) electric traction motor and a 2.3-litre 4-cylinder Atkinson-cycle SI engine capable of 133 hp (~100 kW) at 6,000 rpm (combined power rating: 155 hp, or 115 kW). Continuously-variable transmission and a 330-volt NiMH sealed battery pack complete the power package. Regenerative braking and idle shutdown are also featured, and, like other successful parallel hybrids on the market, transition among all-electric, gas-electric, gas-only, and battery-charging modes is seamless.
Ford, Daimler-Chrysler Announce PHEV Goals and Plans
Ford introduced its HySeries Drive PHEV powertrain comprising a 336-volt Li-ion battery pack giving a range of 25 miles (40 km) at full charge. The electric drive system is to be coupled with a hydrogen fuel cell to deliver a total range of 305 miles (490 km) in Ford's concept Airstream crossover vehicle. A driving principle for this concept is to reduce the size, weight and cost of a viable vehicular fuel cell power system (in this instance used exclusively for battery charging) by more than 50 percent. Meanwhile, Daimler-Chrysler Corp. plans to place 20 of its Dodge Sprinter PHEV vans (in which both gasoline and diesel engines are being deployed) into service in the US by April 2008. Four are already operating in a test of the viability and performance of Li-ion propulsion battery systems.
January 2007
XEBRA EVs Post Record Sales Through Third Quarter 2006
ZAP Corporation of California reported record sales of US$9.9 million, a 252% increase over 2005, and third quarter profits on its XEBRA branded EV cars and pickup trucks, scooters, mopeds, bicycles, and off-road vehicles through October of 2006. Company CEO Steve Schneider attributed these impressive gains to establishment of an effective automotive dealer network and, of course, record gas prices. The XEBRA is manufactured in China exclusively for ZAP, which recently signed an exclusive distribution agreement with a Buenos Aires import firm to market its branded EVs throughout Argentina.
Diesel Hybrids on Line for King County, Washington
The Northwest Hybrid Truck Consortium of Washington state has been awarded a $250,000 U.S. EPA grant (matching $1.5 million contributed by the Consortium) to facilitate the purchase of 10 state-of-the-art hybrid diesel-electric utility trucks for operation in the King County fleet. Thirteen other Washington cities and counties are also participating to the grant, which was awarded pursuant to a successful application under EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign to promote leading-edge strategies for reducing diesel vehicular emissions. The Seattle metro area has one of the largest fleets of publicly-owned diesel hybrids among US cities.
Sourcing of Battery System for Saturn Green Line NiMH Hybrid Selected
Cobasys Corp. has announced that the company has been awarded a contract to provide its proprietary nickel metal hydride battery system to General Motors for incorporation into the 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid mid-size sedan, to be available to the market this spring. The Green Line version is expected to deliver a 25 percent fuel economy improvement relative to the base Aura XE by offering electric power assist during acceleration, idling engine shut-off, deceleration fuel cut-off, and regenerative braking.
GM Announces Future Expanded Availability of "2-mode" PHEV-capable System
Having already set a target to include in its Saturn VUE Green Line model for 2007 a 2-mode hybrid system that can be configured as a plug-in hybrid, General Motors Corp. has issued a preliminary timeline for other models to incorporate this technology, specifically the Chevrolet Malibu (front-wheel drive) midsize sedan, Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon full-size SUVs, all in late 2007, and in 2008 the Cadillac Escalade full-size all-wheel drive SUV and Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra crew cab full-size pickups.
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