We Obsessively Cover the Green Scene…

If you get enough like-minded individuals together, they can accomplish quite a lot. Take, for instance, a group of fans on the MyNissanLeaf forum who wanted a more accurate way to tell how much further they could drive their Nissan Leaf. They accomplished this goal by coding up a device that plugs into the OBD-II diagnostics port and returns the exact state of charge of the battery.

You might be wondering how that is any different than the existing state of charge meter on the instrument panel. Well, the problem with the OEM panel is that state-of-charge is shown as a 12-segement display on the dashboard. Since the Leaf's range can be anywhere from 47 to 138 miles, a single segment on the gauge could represent as little as four miles left. This lack of granularity can lead to some serious range anxiety when you are down to 1 bar and not really sure how much that bar means. Yes, there is the range output shown right besides the charge gauge, but that is only based upon your most recent driving habits, and only the driver knows what type of roads lie ahead.

With the new device, Leaf owners can see the exact state of charge as a percentage of battery life remaining, allowing them to extract every last mile without worrying about being stranded on the side of the road.

Electric vehicles are a relatively new thing here in the United States (as long as you ignore vehicles like the short-lived EV1 and the first-gen RAV4 EV and the whole EV thing back in the early 1900s). The current generation EV are so new, in fact, that many cities do not have a standardized permitting process specifically for EV charger installations. That can be problematic if you are a contractor or electrician. Fortunately, the Department of Energy has come to the rescue via two online resources designed to help communities design permits and accelerate the approval process.

The first online tool is a permitting template (available here) that can be easily adapted by local governments and helps standardize the permit and inspection procedures between different regions. The six-page template contains specific requirements based upon the National Electric Code and addresses voltages, markings, wiring methods and means of disconnecting. It even includes easy-to-understand diagrams showing two typical EV charging setups. The second tool is a 30-minute video entitled "Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Residential Home Charging Installation," which is intended for electrical contractors and inspectors. The video encompasses all aspects of setting up a home charger, namely, technical, safety and consumer concerns. The video is available on the Clean Cities TV website, where you can find many other clips sorted by fuel type and technology.

This bottom-up approach of supporting EV infrastructure will go a long way to ensuring you have a smooth experience getting your new EV all charged up in your garage.

The government of South Korea once had a plan to develop a mid-size, all-electric sedan by the year 2017. It doesn't take much more than elementary math to realize that's six years away. Given that 10,000 Nissan Leafs are already roaming the world's streets, it looks like South Korea has re-considered its timeline and is preparing to cut a full three years off the schedule.

As part of a state-funded project, Hyundai Motors will lead a consortium to develop an EV that can travel more than 124 miles (200 kilometers) on a full charge of its battery pack. In addition, they will also develop new battery technology to cut the price and improve the performance of EVs. The Ministry of Knowledge Economy says this project will help South Korea become one of the top producers of electric vehicles in the world. With the equivalent of $64.6 million in state funds, do you think the consortium has enough money to reach this goal?

While their government may be all right with a 2014 timetable, Hyundai isn't waiting that long to release its own in-house developed EV. The company will release the BlueOn EV next year and hopes to produce 2,500 of them by the end of 2012.

First there was 62 miles per gallon, then 56.2 mpg, then 54.5 mpg, and now we could be looking at 40 mpg for Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) in 2025. What's that you say, you thought 54.5 was the official number? That's true, but that official target has a lot of federal incentive credits built into it, and these credits could lower real-world mpg levels to around the 40 mpg mark, according to the EPA and environmental groups.

As reported by Automotive News, there are several areas where automotive manufacturers can gain credits. The first is for pure electric, fuel-cell and plug-in vehicles. Starting in 2017, for example, EVs and fuel-cell cars would be counted as two vehicles with zero emissions, with a gradual phase down to 1.5 in 2021. Plug-ins would go from 1.6 to 1.3 in the same time period. Next, full-sized pickups would get a credit of between 10 and 20 grams of CO2 per mile for employing a mild to strong hybrid setup. Third, using more advanced air-conditioners and refrigerants that reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions could result in a 18.8 to 24.4 grams per mile credit for cars and trucks, respectively. Finally, using advanced technologies like active grille shutters, high-efficiency alternators and lights, and start-stop among others would get credits of between less than one gram per mile to five grams per mile for each vehicle.

We have no doubt automakers will be using these credits to, in essence, "game the system" into getting lower CO2 emissions (and hence fuel economy) than what the vehicles actually produce. It's not that these technologies don't improve fuel economy – they do – just not as much as a 54.5 mpg standard makes it sound.

Back in 1925, long before the X-Prize foundation even existed, an inventor by the name of Sakichi Toyoda reportedly offered a prize of 1 million yen for the invention of a battery that would produce more energy than gasoline. As you can probably guess, no one has claimed that prize yet. However, Toyota thinks this target may be possible in the future and thus created, in 2008, a research division to work on "revolutionary batteries." Three years later, this division has been giving technical presentations on batteries that have breakthrough energy density levels. This is especially intriguing coming from a company that still uses NiMH batteries in its current-gen Prius.

Current lithium-ion batteries top out at an energy density of around 620 Wh/l (Watt hours per liter) and have a theoretical limit well below the energy density of gasoline. But there's more to advanced automotive battery technology than li-ion. Toyota believes solid-state batteries will have the capacity of over 1000 Wh/l and metal air batteries would at least double that figure again. While those are amazing numbers, the energy density of gasoline is closer to 10,000 Wh/l, so we are not exactly sure how Toyota plans to get to Sakichi-level batteries. Will his prize go unclaimed for 100 years? Also, does it really need to be reached for plug-in vehicles to take off?

While setting lofty energy-density goals is great and all, what really needs to come down is cost. The main reason cars like the Nissan Leaf don't have larger batteries is money. Engineers can always design around obstacles like a heavy or large pack, but there's not much they can do if the pack costs $50,000 dollars. Not yet, anyway.

[Source: Plugin Cars | Photo: Jonas Dalidd]

Ener1 may have ended its deal with Think, but it looks like the company has found a place to use some of its lithium-ion batteries after recently reaching a supply and distribution agreement with Lightning Motorcycles. In this agreement Lightning Motorcycles will use Ener1's batteries in both its wicked-fast Lightning Superbike as well as it commuter motorcycle and scooter, which are currently in development.

What prompted the change you ask? According to Richard Hatfield, founder of Lightning Motorcycles, after testing many different battery solutions, the Ener1 batteries simply out-performed everyone else. Lightning already holds the FIM and AMA official world record of 173.388 mph at Bonneville. If Ener1 can really offer better-performing batteries, that title could be in Lightning's hands for some time to come.

Something you may not know about Lightning Motorcycles is that for the past several years it has been distributing electric parts and components for the electric motorcycle and light-duty vehicle markets. With this new deal, it will also become an end-user distributor of Ener1's PHEV and EV lithium-ion cells. Now you know who to call for your next EV conversion project.

[Source: Ener1]

Hazelwood, MO will apparently soon be adding hundreds of manufacturing jobs to the region thanks to Emerald Automotive, a recent startup that designs and wants to build electric and diesel powered delivery vans there. Before selecting Hazelwood as their North American manufacturing hub, Emerald Automotive looked at locations in 24 other U.S. states. Some of the reasons for selecting Hazelwood were a skilled and available labor force – a Ford plant once operated in the city – and significant financial incentives.

Specific details on the lightweight delivery van are scarce at the moment, but we do know it will contain a hybrid-electric drivetrain and use an aluminum chassis from Lotus. In a setup similar to a Chevy Volt, the van will run on electric power and have a range extender, possibly a diesel engine. According to Emerald Automotive executive Sharon Heaton, a total range of 475 miles is possible with a diesel, although no mention is made of how big a gas tank they were using. Other possibilities include using a range extender that runs on gas, CNG or biofuels.

With the city of Hazelwood planning on loaning $3 million and the state another $2 million, we sincerely hope the company becomes a success and not a repeat of Green Vehicles. A quick video from a local news station is available after the jump.

[Source: KSDK]

With the proposed 56.2 mile per gallon corporate average fuel economy standards standards by 2025 under attack by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, there was a need for someone to defend high mpg calls. In stepped Ceres, a nonprofit that leads a coalition of organizations and public interest groups to address sustainability and global climate change. Ceres has been running radio ads in Washington, D.C. and Michigan explaining the economic benefits of higher CAFE standards which is the exact opposite of what the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers thinks will happen (i.e., job losses). It looks like the Obama Administration is going to propose a 54.5 mpg level, but nothing is set in stone yet.

Ceres commissioned an economic analysis of higher fuel economy standards. Conducted by Citi Investment Research and Management Information Services, Inc., the study included the following conclusions:

• An estimated 700,000 new jobs would be created by 2030 under a 60-mpg standard.
• With only a 42 mpg standard by 2020, industry variable profits would rise by $9.1 billion, with $5.1 billion going to the Detroit three.
• U.S.-based suppliers of fuel-saving tech like dual-clutch transmissions, direct ignition, and turbochargers will benefit.

In addition, Ceres also polled the local Michigan and Ohio area and found a whopping 78 percent of Michigan voters and 79 percent of Ohio voters support a 60-mpg standard. For all the detailed stats, you can read the full press release after the jump.

Photos Copyright 2010 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Ceres]

While people are pretty sure the U.S. government needs to do something about the country's mounting debt, raising gas taxes is not going to be a popular part of the solution. Recently, Rasmussen Reports conducted a national telephone survey and found that only 33 percent of U.S. voters supported a gas tax hike. A whopping 53 percent flat out oppose it, even if the increase was used only for building and maintaining the Interstate Highway System.

There is also a divide among voters on how federal gas taxes that are collected should be spent. 45 percent of voters agree with the current system, where gas taxes are used to maintain the Interstate Highway System as well as to fund mass transit systems like subways, trains and buses. 38 percent disagree and believe the taxes should only be used for the Interstate Highway System. Without an increase to the federal gas tax, though, major cuts will need to be made to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent. House Republicans are already proposing such cuts.

Rasmussen Reports surveyed 1,000 likely voters on July 8 and 9.

[Source: Green Car Congress | Image: mandj98 – C.C. License 2.0]

Willie Nelson likes biodiesel. He's such a believer in the fuel, in fact, that when he got his brand new $60,000 Mercedes a few years ago he immediately filled it with veggie oil and in the process freaked out the salesman. Since then, he hasn't wavered in his love for it and was even honored by the EPA for his commitment and contributions to the environment.

On his latest tour, Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown, the musician has teamed up with the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance to keep the crew using sustainably sourced biodiesel. At each leg of the tour they use local biodiesel to power their fleet of cars and trucks. The associate director of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance, Tanner Watt, explained the benefits:

You're not only doing the right thing for the environment, but you're putting money into locally-owned businesses. You're supporting a green industry. You're supporting local jobs, and you're leaving something with the community instead of just taking back from it.

Willie Nelson isn't the only musician using biodiesel. In fact, Cheryl Crow and Phish also work with the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance to source biodiesel on their tours. Kinda makes you feel better about eating french fries, doesn't it?

[Source: 9News.com | Image: Bob Jagendorf – C.C. License 2.0]

At the grand opening of the Rolls-Royce dealership in Chicago's Gold Coast area, Kicking Tires got the chance to sit down with David Archibald, president of Rolls-Royce North America. On discussion was the general business strategy of the ultra luxury brand and how electrics play into that.

Since its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the 102EX Concept electric vehicle has been making the rounds at various events and dealerships. The automaker is even letting customers drive the concept back-to-back against the Phantom (on which it is based) to get an idea if it has market potential. According to Automotive News initial feedback has been a bit lackluster, with the 100-mile range being the biggest hurdle.

However, Archibald pointed out, "If you'd have come here 12 months ago and asked our customers, 'What do you think about alternative fuels,' they would have said, 'What are you talking about.'" Now, that's starting to change as new electric vehicles are pretty much popping up weekly.

Still, no decision has been made regarding a production electric or hybrid. With alternative fuels now on the minds of even a luxury car buyer, it sounds to us like it's not a matter of if but when.



Photos copyright ©2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Plug In America's Kate Baker interviewed Lt. Col. Brian Rusler and veteran Tim Goodrich of the United States Air Force regarding the military branch's green energy plans. The Air Force has been employing electric vehicles as early as 1997 with the use of electric golf carts for personnel transport within the bases. Currently, they are one of the largest consumers of green energy in the country, accounting for 50% of the federal government's green energy purchases. In the podcast, Rusler mentions that one of the Air Force's goals is to significantly increase the use of renewable energy in each base by 2015 through solar, wind, and geothermal means.

Tim Goodrich, a veteran with three deployments to the Middle East under his belt, is urging the public to adopt EVs as their mode of transportation in order to help protect not only our environment, but national security as well. Goodrich says that $83 billion alone is spent on protecting oil transit routes. He makes a good argument for why we shouldn't be sending so much of our "$250 billion addiction to oil" overseas. Instead, if we spent that money here on electricity (by driving EVs) we'll get a much better return on our investment in the way of job creation. The first podcast with Rusler is available here, and the second with Goodrich can be heard here.

[Source: Plug In America]

Matthew Dakotah over at the Huffington Post has been writing a special "Women in Power" series that profiles leaders in energy and environmental innovation. His latest article on Ann Marie Sastry piqued our interest since she happens to be President and CEO of Sakti3. If you recall, Sakti3 is a promising next-generation lithium-ion battery developer that General Motors and Itochu invested $4.2 million in late last year.

In Dakotah's article there is a good recap of how Sakti3 was formed and how Sastry's upbringing helped her become such a driven individual. Instead of simply improving on lithium-ion batteries like many other startups, Sastry and her company took a different approach. They wanted to design a battery from the ground up based on meticulous calculations and simulations. Departing as well from much of the academic research that often doesn't have commercial promise, her company focused "very hard on equipment that was scalable, because the bottom line is these battery cells need to be affordable."

While specific details about the company's battery technology is not yet available, we do know it is making solid-state batteries based on lithium-ion technology, replacing the liquid electrolyte with a layer of non-flammable material. Solid state batteries tend to allow thousands of charge-discharge cycles and withstand higher temperatures. Because of the increased robustness of these types of batteries, cooling devices and associated materials don't need to be engineered into EV packs, thus increasing their effective energy density while reducing cost.

Sakti3 will be sending out prototypes of the batteries this year (no doubt GM will be getting their hands on some), and scaling up to production levels in the next few years.

[Source: Huffington Post and Technology Review]

With gasoline prices soaring this year, one might assume, justifiably, that hybrid and fuel-efficient small vehicle demand must also be on the rise, mimicking the market situation in 2008. However, history may not be repeating itself this time around. AutoPacific President George Peterson says, based on a study by the consulting group, that "small car and hybrid consideration is not tracking anywhere near the rate of the price of fuel as it did in 2008." Of the 68,000 people surveyed, only 21 percent are seriously considering purchasing either a compact or hybrid vehicle. This is down from 34 percent in 2008. This isn't to say that no one is buying smaller cars – they are – just that they might not be doing so solely because of high gas prices.

According to Peterson, there are a couple of reasons for the difference in consumer reaction to the spike in fuel prices this time around. One is that buyers know that the 2008 gasoline prices eventually came back down, so they see no reason to panic and trade-in their large gas-guzzlers for smaller, eco-friendlier vehicles. Reason number two is that fuel efficiency, even of larger vehicles, has improved over the past few years allowing drivers to keep them as they try to ride out the high gas prices.

Still, automakers focusing on building more fuel efficient vehicles (i.e., pretty much all of them) need not fear. AutoPacific expects hybrid vehicle sales to grow to 1.3 million units by 2016 (we are currently at 300,000 units).

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req. | Image: A Siegel – C.C. License 2.0]