Skip to Content

Sam Abuelsamid

Ypsilanti, MI - http://sam.abuelsamid.com

Azure Dynamics gets FedEx order for 51 hybrid vans

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 9th, 2009 at 6:56PM



Things are looking up for Azure Dynamics these days. After inking a deal to help Ford with the development and production of the Transit Connect BEV next year, the company has a new order for its hybrid delivery vans. FedEx has signed up to take on another 51 of the vans based on Ford's E450 cutaway chassis. Once the new vans are delivered by the end of this year, FedEx will have 325 hybrid and electric vans in its fleet and its Bronx, New York facility will be the first all-hybrid depot in the U.S. The Bronx depot will have 100 hybrid delivery trucks in service. FedEx already has 25 Azure trucks in its fleet and the new additions join another 92 trucks that were retrofitted with hybrid systems earlier this year. Since introducing its first hybrid in 2004, Fedex has accumulated four million miles on them.

[Source: Fedex]

Read more →

Garmin Eco-Route cable will sell for $149, could appear soon

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 9th, 2009 at 3:58PM


Garmin EcoRoute screen shots - click above for image gallery

At last January's Consumer Electronics Show, Garmin announced a new optional extra for its Nuvi GPS system. The Eco-Route adds the ability for 1xxx series Nuvis to display a variety of vehicle information about what is going on in the engine. The cable plugs into the cars OBD-II diagnostic communications port to read out an array of data including fuel and air information, throttle position, combustion mixture and more. The system also includes a driving challenge that users can use to help train themselves to drive more efficiently. In addition, the Nuvi now allows drivers to select a more economical route that may or may not be the fastest or shortest route. The connection cable is priced at $149 but no on-sale date has been announced. It could be shipping before the end of the year or early 2010.

Gallery: Garmin EcoRoute screen shots


[Source: GPSCity via Engadget]

Bio-plastics could almost completely replace petroleum plastics

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 9th, 2009 at 1:02PM

Aside from fuels, one of the biggest uses of petroleum is in the production of polymer materials like plastics. Just as automakers have attempted to reduce the use of petroleum-based fuels, researchers are also working on reducing the other dino juice applications.

One of the best known applications of bio-plastics to date is the soy-foam seats used by Ford that debuted in the 2008 Mustang. The new foam cushioning material has since been added to other cars in the lineup.

A new study from Utrecht University in the Netherlands indicates that bio-plastics, while a small business today today, could expand rapidly in the next decade. The researchers estimate that these new materials could supplant 90 percent of all petrochemical plastics over time. No specific timing is given for when that level might be reached, but it will likely take many years. In the meantime, we could make a huge difference by just eliminating all the blister packs used in product packaging.

[Source: GreenCarCongress]

BMW to launch third hybrid model within the next 12 months

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 9th, 2009 at 10:53AM

BMW ActiveHybrid X6 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Our leader Sebastian was down in Miami on Friday for international media launch of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and we'll have his review shortly. During the event, AutoCar's Greg Kable spoke with BMW project leader Peter Tünnermann about the company's hybrid plans. The X6 and the new ActiveHybrid 7 are just the first two hybrid models from Munich. BMW will apparently focus on the mild hybrid system for its higher volume cars because it's easier to implement with minimal modification. The two-mode strong hybrid will go into vehicles like the X-series SUVs.

Tünnermann also revealed that a third hybrid model will be added to the lineup within the next twelve months. He didn't reveal which vehicle it would be or which system it would use. The most likely candidate would be the new 5-series which is expected to debut in the first part of 2010, perhaps at Detroit or Geneva. If it is the 5, then it will be equipped with the mild hybrid used in the 7.

Gallery: 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid


[Source: AutoCar]

Peugeot BB1 heads to London for a visit

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 9th, 2009 at 9:02AM

Peugeot BB1 concept goes to the London Eye - click above for high-res image gallery

Peugeot has sent its BB1 electric car concept to British capital for a weekend visit. The BB1 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September as a tiny lithium ion-powered city car. The concept uses a pair of rear hub motors for propulsion and Peugeot claims it will go 75 miles on a charge.

The city of London is a prime location for the use of electric vehicles since EVs are exempt from having to pay the congestion charges to get into the city center. The concept is being displayed in Covent Garden all weekend and an assortment of local celebrities have shown up to check it out. Peugeot has branded two dozen rickshaws with BB1 badge and is offering people free rides to see the concept.

Gallery: Peugeot BB1 concept visits London


[Source: Peugeot]

Read more →

Volkswagen starts taking orders for Passat BlueMotion

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 9th, 2009 at 7:56AM

Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion - click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen has started taking orders in Europe for the new BlueMotion edition of its mid-size Passat. Like other models bearing the BlueMotion badge, the Passat has been optimized to drive down the fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. As seen in the photos, the BlueMotion gets optimized aerodynamics through rocker panel extensions, a deeper front air-dam and special alloy wheels. Mechanically, it uses the same new 1.6-liter common rail TDI four cylinder found in the smaller Golf BlueMotion along with the 7-speed DSG transmission. Automatic start-stop and brake energy recuperation are also included in the mix.

The starting price of the Passat in Germany is €27,850, which gets buyers a rating of 53.4 mpg (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle along with CO2 emissions of 114 g/km.

VW is also spreading the BlueMotion love to other models by incorporating some of the various components. The Golf and Golf Plus are available with the 1.6-liter while the Scirocco, EOS and Tiguan get the 1.4-liter TSI gas engine.

Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion


[Source: Volkswagen]

Read more →

Zytek gets powertrain innovation prize for its racing hybrid/KERS

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 8th, 2009 at 8:43AM

Corsa Motorsports Ginetta-Zytek 09HS - click above for high-res image gallery

Zytek Engineering of the UK has been involved in the development of hybrid drive systems since at least the mid-1990s and motorsports has been part of the effort much of that time. This week, Zytek was honored for its efforts at the Professional Motorsport World Expo. Zytek developed the hybrid system that was raced by Panoz Motorsports twice in 1999 and, more recently, it developed the KERS-hybrid system used in the McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 Formula One car this year as well as the system used by Corsa Motorsports in its American Le Mans Series LMP1 car.

Zytek and Mercedes High Performance Engines began collaborating on the F1 system in 2007 and, in July, Lewis Hamilton scored the first victory for a hybrid system in a major international race series. Here in North America, the under-funded Corsa team scored a third place finish in the first race it ran with the hybrid system fully enabled. Limited testing meant Corsa didn't have the opportunity to fully develop its system and had mixed results through the second half of the season. Nonetheless, the system is showing promise. Hopefully, in 2010 and beyond, it will see expanded use in ALMS if not Formula 1.

Gallery: Corsa Motorsports Ginetta-Zytek 09HS


[Source: Professional Motorsport World Expo]

Spy Shots: Buick "Astra" spotted running bra-less

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 7th, 2009 at 3:58PM Spy Shots

Now that General Motors has decreed that Buick will be one of its four core brands, its lineup will need to be fleshed out a bit. The Lucerne is going away momentarily and the mid-size Regal is on the way. However, that still leaves only three models, including the LaCrosse and Enclave. Earlier this year, GM took us on tour of the Buick design studio and showed off a six-vehicle lineup for Buick, with a new compact sedan as the entry point. That sedan is essentially just the Opel Astra with a Buick grille and a trunk and we've seen it running before with heavy camouflage.

It appears that Buick has now decided to peel that back and leave just the vinyl triangles for the remaining testing. That probably means the new "Excelle" (as the previous model was known in China) will be hitting the streets sooner rather than later. Buick officials told us this car would be coming to North America. Since it rides on the same Delta II platform as the Cruze and Volt, it could be built in any number of plants, including Lordstown, Ohio and Detroit Hamtramck. Perhaps the most likely location would be the Orion, Michigan plant that is also building the new Aveo. At the time GM announced that the Aveo would be built in Orion, they said also said the plant would be able to build a C-Segment car. If that is the case, we'll probably see the Buick launch sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model.

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Bringing Skinny Back: Tango electric production to restart?

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 7th, 2009 at 8:52AM



Until the Tesla Roadster came along, most electric cars were odd looking, to say the least. Near the top of the list of peculiar EVs you'll find the Tango. This tandem two seater looks like a Japanese Kei car that got stuck in a bagel slicer. It's creator, Rick Woodbury, stopped building Tangos after 11 were completed. But, if you lust after one of these babies, fear not. He is apparently ready to restart production of the three-foot wide car that can slip down between the cars in adjacent lanes like a motorcycle.

The market for such cars is limited, at best, and, when the price tag starts at $150,000, it's no wonder so few people ponied up for one. Even with the market for electric vehicles heating up, one has to wonder how many more people would by such a vehicle even if it does go 0-60 in 4 seconds and travels 120 miles on a charge.

Gallery: AltCar 2009: Tango EV


[Source: USAToday]

Renault will build Twizy EV in Spain

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Nov 6th, 2009 at 2:04PM

Renault Twizzy ZE concept - click above for high-res image gallery

Renault announced today that its Valladolid, Spain plant will become the home of a new electric vehicle based on the Twizy Z.E. concept that was show at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The Twizy is a peculiar looking two-seat city vehicle and it will be probably change quite a bit before production. The open sides will likely become fully enclosed and the wheel covers probably won't make it to the road, at least not in their current form. That makes two EV production announcements this week for Renault, following yesterday's decision to build a car based on the Zoe concept in France. The Twizy goes into production in 2011 alongside Mégane Hatchback, Mégane Estate, Modus and Grand Modus.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Renault Twizy, Zoe, Kangoo and Fluence EVs


[Source: Renault]

Read more →

Next Page →


Featured Galleries

  • 1 Liter Racing League
  • Suzuki Alto in Global Green Challenge
  • Proterra Electric Bus
  • Local Motors Rally Fighter
  • 1916 Woods Dual Power Model 44 Coupe
  • Audi Avatar
  • Global Green Challenge Tesla Roadster goes 313 miles
  • Meyers Motors NMG
  • Cozmo NEV
  • Tokyo 2009: Suzuki Swift PHEV
  • Tokyo 2009: Suzuki SX4-FCV
  • Honda mobility devices

Categories

Autoblog

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum