AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Carlos Ghosn: it makes sense to focus on electric vehicles, cooperate on fuel cells]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/carlos-ghosn-makes-sense-to-focus-on-electric-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/carlos-ghosn-makes-sense-to-focus-on-electric-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/carlos-ghosn-makes-sense-to-focus-on-electric-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The last time we spoke with Renault-Nissan head Carlos Ghosn, at the Geneva Motor Show, he spoke about the 70,000 all-electric vehicles his company's have sold to happy customers and how these vehicles are just the beginning of the EV era. Speaking at the New York Auto Show a little over a month ago, Ghosn went into detail about how building electric cars around the world will make them cheaper - and thus more prevalent - for just about everyone. He said:

When we started this effort on electric cars, the first challenge for us was to build credibility for the car itself. Because in the minds of many consumers, the electric car was a golf cart. Zero emission, yes, but everything else was wrong. This first challenge is over today. People driving the Leaf today know it's a real car. Acceleration, driving performance, silence - everything - it's a real car. They still complain. So, all the people who bought the Leaf are very happy. But a lot of people are testing the Leaf and not buying it. We asked them, why are you not buying the car?

There were two main answers: high price and worries about charging infrastructure. In the US, Nissan dropped the base price of the 2013 Leaf by $6,400 earlier this year and Ghosn said Nissan will "continue to reduce the price as a function of the cost." This will happen not just because of reduced shipping costs and less reliance on currency fluctuations, but because there are still efficiency gains to be had in the new production locations, Ghosn said. "It's not finished."

Continue reading Carlos Ghosn: it makes sense to focus on electric vehicles, cooperate on fuel cells

Carlos Ghosn: it makes sense to focus on electric vehicles, cooperate on fuel cells originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 10 May 2013 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carlos ghosnelectric vehiclenissannissan leafFri, 10 May 2013 11:52:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20525470/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20525470/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/10/carlos-ghosn-makes-sense-to-focus-on-electric-vehicles/20525470/article-detail.xml 20525470 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/carlos-ghosn-nyc-628-_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/carlos-ghosn-nyc-628-.jpg <![CDATA[Fiat 500e, the best EV conversion yet?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/06/fiat-500e-best-ev-conversion/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/06/fiat-500e-best-ev-conversion/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/06/fiat-500e-best-ev-conversion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fiat 500e on the move

We began our Fiat 500e Los Angeles press-launch drive with 95 miles showing on our 500e's range gauge - interesting, since the car's EPA-rated range is 87 miles city/highway combined. Because the 500e's range-calculating algorithm looks at the last 100 miles, then the last 10 miles and the last five minutes, to account for recent change in energy usage, our 500e must have been hypermiled for some distance before we got into it to give us that starting point. Or the EPA's numbers are a bit conservative here.

"It handles like a heavy Fiat 500," observed my co-driver. "I like it."

We inserted ourselves into creepy-crawly LA morning traffic, then turned north up one of those twisty canyon roads where movie stars live. At the top, we headed west on the famous Mulholland Drive, and after a total of 11 miles, the last few uphill, we saw 47 miles of range remaining. Three miles further along curvy Mulholland, we were still showing 47 miles.

"It handles like a heavy Fiat 500," observed my co-driver from behind the wheel. "I like it." The 500e's heated and cooled 24-kWh battery pack is tightly packed under the floor to lower the car's center of gravity and minimize loss of cabin room. And we both agreed that the 500e was exceptionally quiet, even at wide-open-throttle.

Then, we turned downhill and started gaining range thanks to the regenerative brakes - 53 miles at 17 miles driven; 55 at 18.6 miles; 57 at 21.2. Then it was my turn to drive.

Continue reading Fiat 500e, the best EV conversion yet?

Fiat 500e, the best EV conversion yet? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 06 May 2013 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500electric vehicleevfiat 500eMon, 06 May 2013 12:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20557388/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20557388/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/06/fiat-500e-best-ev-conversion/20557388/article-detail.xml 20557388 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/fiat-500e-la-04-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/fiat-500e-la-04-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ram 2500 Power Wagon commercial shoot ends with truck spending night in ocean]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ram 2500 Power Wagon stuck in the ocean

It's pretty by the ocean. So pretty that it feels like 80 percent of all car commercials are filmed on winding coastal roads (another 80 percent are filmed on mountains and another 80 on mysteriously car-free roads elsewhere). It's particularly pretty in Humboldt County, California, which the USDA has named "America's Most Scenic Rural County." So, it makes sense that you'd want to film a Ram truck commercial there. What doesn't make sense is getting that truck stuck in the tidepools, overnight, then submerged as the ocean came rolling in.

"Whether they knew they were out of the boundaries or not I do not know."

But that's exactly what happened to a crew trying to film an ad for a Ram 2500 Power Wagon yesterday. As reported in the Lost Coast Outpost, the truck was being shot on Luffenholtz Beach near Moonstone Beach. Humboldt County Film Commission commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine told AutoblogGreen that, from what she knows, the crew was permitted to be there, but in a different area and they went out of the boundary. "Whether they knew they were out of the boundaries or not I do not know," she said. A local wrote into Lost Coast Outpost to say that off-road vehicles are always forbidden on the specific area of the beach where the truck spent the night in the ocean, because of endangered species that live there.

In any case, the truck was eventually towed today and local environmental services and hazmat crews checked out the scene and, based on what Hesseltine was told, there was, "no environmental damage from liquids leaking out" and she was not aware of any damage to the rocks or ground. Part of the reason there were no leaked liquids, she said, was that this was a brand new truck, with many engine components sealed.

Jennifer Savage, from the local Humboldt Surfrider foundation, told AutoblogGreen that she is extremely dismayed by the film crew's lack of foresight. "It's easy to imagine," she said. "They were driving the truck on the beach, they wanted it to look cool, so they put it on the rocks, and they blew it. The word 'idiots' has been thrown around here a lot today."

Savage said that, after a visit to the site once the truck was pulled out, "At a glance, it does not appear a lot of damage was done, but I'm not a scientist. Still, it's pretty disrespectful. I have a truck, and I don't drive there." She said the incident shows a lack of respect for the beach and that Surfrider will follow up to see if any damage was done.

Hesseltine said this is the first time something like this has happened and that the film commission "prides itself on taking responsibility for environmental concerns. We do not take this [truck issue] lightly. We're happy to know that environmental services has said there is no impact as far as fluids go. We usually do really well taking care of our precious resources." For example, the new Will Smith movie After Earth was shot in Humboldt, and the crews were required to be extremely careful while filming among the redwood trees. "They had to be very careful," she said, "and they were."

Continue reading Ram 2500 Power Wagon commercial shoot ends with truck spending night in ocean

Ram 2500 Power Wagon commercial shoot ends with truck spending night in ocean originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 02 May 2013 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adcommercialdodgehumboldthumboldt film commissionram 2500 power wagonsurfriderThu, 02 May 2013 18:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20556424/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20556424/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/02/ram-2500-power-wagon-commercial-shoot-ends-with-truck-spending-n/20556424/article-detail.xml 20556424 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dodge-ocean-stuck-commercial_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dodge-ocean-stuck-commercial.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi only sold 127 i electric cars in April despite $10,000 dealer incentive]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/mitsubishi-only-sold-127-i-electric-cars-in-april-despite-10-00/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/mitsubishi-only-sold-127-i-electric-cars-in-april-despite-10-00/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/05/01/mitsubishi-only-sold-127-i-electric-cars-in-april-despite-10-00/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mitsubishi I

It's a classic car dealer move: offer extra special deals as the monthly calendar winds down and, presto, you've boosted your sales totals. When it comes to the 2012 Mitsubishi i (the current model), something needed to be done, since Mitsubishi only sold 31 examples in March. Towards the end of April, Mitsubishi offered an eye-popping $10,000 in dealer cash on the engine-free hood of the all-electric i (or i-MiEV, as it is also known). With the dealer cash and a federal tax rebate worth up to $7,500, Mitsubishi's Dan Irvin said April was "a good time to buy an i-MiEV." The i starts at $29,125 and shoppers still needed to negotiate with the dealership on final price, of course.

The deal is over now, but when it was still going on, Irvin told Autoblog there was "plenty of inventory to accommodate this promotion." He said he didn't know the number of 2012 i-MiEVs remaining in the US, but the end result was that 127 were sold last month.

Even with the extra money, April i sales did not reach the lofty (as it were) heights of January and February, when 257 and 337 of the Mitsubishi EVs were sold, respectively. The i has been the subject of low, low prices before, including a cell-phone-like lease of $69 a month.

Mitsubishi only sold 127 i electric cars in April despite $10,000 dealer incentive originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 May 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 mitsubishi idealer cashelectric vehiclei-mievincentivesmitsubishimitsubishi iWed, 01 May 2013 19:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20554929/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20554929/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/01/mitsubishi-only-sold-127-i-electric-cars-in-april-despite-10-00/20554929/article-detail.xml 20554929 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/mitsu-1359089586_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/mitsu-1359089586.jpg <![CDATA[NYC launches electric taxi 'fleet' with six Nissan Leaf EVs]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/nyc-launches-electric-taxi-fleet-with-six-nissan-leaf-evs/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/nyc-launches-electric-taxi-fleet-with-six-nissan-leaf-evs/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/22/nyc-launches-electric-taxi-fleet-with-six-nissan-leaf-evs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

nissan leaf nyc taxi

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg drove up to the news conference in Rockefeller Center that introduced the first-ever all-electric NYC taxi in the back seat of - you guessed it - an EV taxi. Nissan and NYC chose Earth Day, today, to launch a zero-emission taxi fleet.

The six donated vehicles begin a year-long pilot program as soon as next week, after installation of recharging units is completed. That includes charging units in the homes or garages of participating owner-operated taxis and fleets, and several fast-chargers in strategic spots around Manhattan, which can provide 80-percent battery power in around 30 minutes.

Taxis average 70-100 miles a day in NYC. The 2013 Nissan Leaf has an official EPA range of 75 miles (aka 84 miles), and probably more in the stop-and-go of urban traffic, thanks to regenerative braking, so drivers might not have to recharge at all during their shift. "We want to demonstrate that drivers can integrate the technology without losing business," said David Yassky, the city's taxi and limousine commissioner.

The first Nissan Leaf taxi driver, London-born Uppkar Thind, told me his 12-year-old son thinks the EV taxi is "cool," and that the vehicle is stable and sturdy. Thind was one of more than 100 owner-drivers and fleets who applied for one of six pilot program Leaf vehicles, which requires drivers to provide feedback to Nissan, the city and other governmental agencies and utilities. But that's a small price in return for avoiding the time and expense of gas pumps.

All participating drivers received training from Nissan on adapting their driving style for electric, including feathering both gas and brake to get full advantage from EV torque. All the pilot Leaf taxis are production models, to which meters and the taxi TV screens have been added.

NYC launches electric taxi 'fleet' with six Nissan Leaf EVs originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earth dayelectric taxienvironmentnissannissan leafnyctaxiMon, 22 Apr 2013 18:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20546920/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20546920/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/22/nyc-launches-electric-taxi-fleet-with-six-nissan-leaf-evs/20546920/article-detail.xml 20546920 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/nissanleaftaxilaunch628p_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/nissanleaftaxilaunch628p.jpg <![CDATA[SAE World Congress: New Nissan gas-electric powerplant will boost Pathfiner, QX60 hybrids]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/sae-world-congress-nissan-pathfinder-hybrid-engine/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/sae-world-congress-nissan-pathfinder-hybrid-engine/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/20/sae-world-congress-nissan-pathfinder-hybrid-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Nissan Pure Drive Hybrid SystemAt the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week, Nissan brought the guts of its new Pure Drive Hybrid System, a four-cylinder gas engine and 15-kW electric motor that has two clutches. The clutches on either side of the motor allows the system to use the motor for propulsion or regeneration and also result in a compact size, about the same as a conventional CVT, we were told. The system also uses a 144-volt lithium-ion battery.

As we learned in New York a few weeks ago, the first vehicle to use this motor will be the 2104 Pathfinder. The hybrid powertrain will give the Pathfinder stop-start (which Nissan calls idle stop and which is also available on the European Note, for example) and will be able to coast at highway speeds and will ever-so-gently be able to creep on battery power, for a limited distance. The electric parts help increase the Pathfinder's estimated highway mileage from 24 to 27 miles per gallon, while city numbers jump from 19 to 25. The new Pathfinder Hybrid will be available later this summer for around a $3,000 price premium. Despite a lower peak horsepower, the hybrid will offer comparable performance to the Pathfinder with a V6 engine. The hybrid gets 250 horsepower, while the conventional V6 gets 260, but the torque band and hp for the hybrid are higher over most of the range. The hybrid setup will also be used in the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid (what used to be called the JX) and who knows what else after that.

SAE World Congress: New Nissan gas-electric powerplant will boost Pathfiner, QX60 hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hybridinfiniti qx60lithium-ionnissannissan pathfindernissan pure drive hybrid systemsae world congressSat, 20 Apr 2013 08:36:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545506/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20545506/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/20/sae-world-congress-nissan-pathfinder-hybrid-engine/20545506/article-detail.xml 20545506 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/628x418x2014-nissan-pathfinder-hybrid-628.jpg.pagespeed.ic.huqPH7MMzv_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/628x418x2014-nissan-pathfinder-hybrid-628.jpg.pagespeed.ic.huqPH7MMzv.jpg <![CDATA[SAE Congress: Evolve Hybrid Wheels give Ford Focus SE a 1.1 mpg boost]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/#commentsFiled under: , ,



As fuel economy regulations tighten all around the world, each part of the automobile is getting a second (and third and fourth ...) look to see if there is any way to squeeze out a few more yards per gallon. At the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week, Lacks Enterprises was showing off its contribution to the get-every-efficiency debate: Evolve Hybrid Wheels.

James Ardern, Lacks Wheel Trim Systems director of business development, told AutoblogGreen that wheels, which spin at 1,000 rpm, are pretty much four propellers that can have a big effect on aerodynamics, an effect that hasn't been measured nearly as much as it could be.

"We have learned that wheels are contributing significantly to the fuel economy of a vehicle."

"We have learned that wheels are contributing significantly to the fuel economy of a vehicle," he said. The things right next to the wheels, the tires get tested. Consumer Reports, for example, has shown that better, more efficient tires can raise a vehicles mpg rating by one or two ticks, and Lacks has test results that show that the wheels - at least the Evolve wheels - can do the same.

The Evolve Hybrid Wheels are not to be only used on hybrids. The name comes from the hybrid composite wheel technology that is applied to a structural aluminum backbone that is both lightweight and strong. Then, the designers can add a variety of shapes to blend aerodynamic efficiency with good looks (eye of the beholder and all). Lacks had Roush conduct some independent tests, and discovered that a Ford Focus SE outfitted with the Evolve wheels got a 0.4 mile per gallon improvement in the average city fuel economy and a 1.1 mpg highway improvement, compared to the car's stock wheels.

The idea is to co-develop efficient wheels with the automakers, and Ardern said Lacks is currently in discussions with three different OEMs and, "We do have one Evolve wheel already launching on an OEM capacity towards the end of this year," but he would not name which company. First truck testing will be tested by June and a second in August/September, and the same type of test will be run. An expanded set of tests will be done on the Focus this summer as well. There are no plans to test the wheels on an alternative power vehicle, but Ardern did say the program "will keep expanding."

"Why hasn't this happened before? One, it hasn't been measured. Two, it is difficult to do it. It is not an exaggeration to say wheel development includes many towers of competency: wheel suppliers themselves from a manufacturing point of view, wheel engineering from a structural and safety point of view, not also weight teams and fuel economy and ride and handling teams are getting involved. But then you've still got design and now aero. The problem is, you put all of those people in the same room at the same time and you'll never optimize a wheel. The value of our product is you create the backbone and that cuts our all groups but the design and aero teams. Perhaps the key thing that's going to come out of all this is that the method is going to enable it to get out onto the road."

SAE Congress: Evolve Hybrid Wheels give Ford Focus SE a 1.1 mpg boost originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerodynamicsevolveevolve hybrid wheeljames ardernlacksmpgsae world congresswheelsFri, 19 Apr 2013 14:06:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543910/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543910/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/19/sae-congress-evolve-hybrid-wheels-give-ford-focus-se-a-1-1-mpg/20543910/article-detail.xml 20543910 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/sae-world-congress-evolve-wheels-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/sae-world-congress-evolve-wheels-628.jpg <![CDATA[SAE Congress: Modified Chrysler Tigershark 2.0 engine previews E85-capable 2014 Dart]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/19/sae-congress-chrysler-tigershark-e85-dodge-dart/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2013 Dodge Dart

chrysler tigershark 2.0 e85 engine dodge dartOn the floor at the SAE World Congress at Cobo Hall this week sits a 2.0-liter Tigershark engine. Parts have been cut away and there are pretty colored lights inside, but the cool part - if you're interested in biofuels, anyway - is how the engine has been modified to turn the Dodge Dart into an E85-capable machine.

Despite being a Chrysler product, the engine was at the IAV Automotive Engineering booth, and IAV's business unit director for gasoline and alternative fuels, Chi Binh La, told AutoblogGreen that standard E85-capable engines use sensors to figure out how much ethanol is in the tank. The new Tigershark uses the engine management computer to determine the combustion characteristics "People throw in a sensor, sensors are expensive and if it fails, you're in trouble. What IAV has done here is we've taken a combined controls and calibration approach. It's amazing this wasn't thought of before," he said.

Basically, when you fill up at the gas station, the engine knows you've put fuel in. This triggers the first of two adaptive learning strategies - one coarse and one fine - that the engine goes through to figure out how much biofuel is in the fuel line. In the coarse check, it burns the new fuel for two seconds and looks at the O2 sensor (which modern gas engines have) and compares the air/fuel ratio from the new fuel to what it was before the fill-up to arrive at, roughly, the new blend. This is "good enough to meet emissions requirements and drivability," La said. Then, after the engine warms up to 80 degrees C, the fine adaptive learning happens. The computer again uses the O2 sensor to determine the balance, but it lasts longer and is more accurate the second time around. "It is using information from available sensors to calibration the flexfuel content," La said. Chrysler contracted IAV to work on the project, and IAV worked on the cold-start calibration, engine mapping and driveability and emissions work.

Chrysler hasn't officially said when the Dart will become flex-fuel capable (earlier reports suggested the middle of 2013), but Chrysler and IAV representatives on the show floor said the engine will be going into the 2014 Dart, which is due later this year.

SAE Congress: Modified Chrysler Tigershark 2.0 engine previews E85-capable 2014 Dart originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sometimes, a little suggestion goes a long, long way. Speaking at the SAE World Congress in Detroit today, Bob Lutz took a proposal from the conference organizers to frame his speech around the idea that he was king of the auto industry for a week and ran with it. He said he'd need to rule over the entire US to get his ideas enacted, oh, and be an all-encompassing emperor instead of a mere king. In other words, Maximum Bob remains as big as ever, attacking the "religion" of climate change, pointing out why diesel doesn't make sense in the US and explaining why raising the national gas tax just makes sense.

"Reducing fuel consumption by forcing automakers to sell smaller vehicles is like fighting obesity by forcing clothing manufacturer to sell only small sizes."

Let's start with climate change, where Emperor Bob said, "I would insist on giving equal time to the growing scientific body that is not convinced that climate change is man-made and I would say, just leave room for honest debate. That's what this emperor would decree."

Once the "honest debate" starts, "This emperor would ask that the laws of common sense be applied. And in this case, the laws of common sense simply dictate - always has - that if you want someone to use less of a given commodity, you raise the price of that commodity. How hard is that for anyone to grasp? With all this complicated CAFE and CO2 legislation, we're attacking the problem from the wrong end of the pump when we dictate that automakers make vehicles that go farther and farther on a gallon is wrong. What happens in the real world, as will always be the case, is people don't buy smaller, more efficient vehicles and pocket the extra cash. People will continue to buy larger vehicles and spend the same amount of money on fuel because, mentally, they've got a sort of finite fuel budget and they think it's a good deal."

After all, he said, "Reducing fuel consumption by forcing automakers to sell smaller and more frugal vehicles is like fighting the nation's obesity epidemic by forcing clothing manufacturer to sell only small sizes. If you want less obesity, then what you would do is you would raise the price of fatty foods."

Continue reading Emperor Bob Lutz doesn't disappoint in SAE World Congress keynote

Emperor Bob Lutz doesn't disappoint in SAE World Congress keynote originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bob lutzchevy voltelectric vehiclehydrogenplug-in hybridsaesae world congresstoyota priusThu, 18 Apr 2013 14:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20544859/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20544859/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/18/emperor-bob-lutz-sae-world-congress-keynote-ev-gas-tax/20544859/article-detail.xml 20544859 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bob-lutz-sae-world-congress_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/bob-lutz-sae-world-congress.jpg <![CDATA[Tesla questions if Chevy is first OEM building electric vehicle motors in US?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/tesla-questions-chevy-first-oem-building-electric-ev-motors-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/tesla-questions-chevy-first-oem-building-electric-ev-motors-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/17/tesla-questions-chevy-first-oem-building-electric-ev-motors-us/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Astute readers and Tesla Motors took issue with a line from a General Motors press release yesterday that claimed the start of electric motor production for the Chevy Spark EV made GM the "first domestic automaker to build electric motors and drive units in United States." The question was whether or not Tesla, which builds the Model S in California, isn't already doing exactly that.

So we asked GM, which told AutoblogGreen that, "from our understanding Tesla does not 'wind' their own motors. 'Wind' is a verb that has a broad meaning synonymous with 'build' since the winding processes are the most capital- and process-intensive part of motor making, whether it is round wire (like theirs) or square wire like ours ('winding' for us means all the wire forming, wire insertion, twist, and welding are done at the same facility)."

In response, Tesla told AutoblogGreen: "We manufacture all parts of Model S motors here at the factory in Fremont, California. We have a winding line at the factory where we wind our own stators off of spools. We also manufacture the rotors and other components to the unit."

This all might be a bit of a semantic disagreement, but it is nice to see automakers fighting over the rights to say they were first in this particular aspect of electric vehicle manufacturing. It also makes us smile that the two companies involved both have "Motors" in their names, so maybe it's a point of pride. Now, if anyone wants to look into the history books and see how EV motors were made in the early 20th Century, we assume neither GM and Tesla could lay claim to being "first."

Tesla questions if Chevy is first OEM building electric vehicle motors in US? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:29:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543943/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20543943/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/17/tesla-questions-chevy-first-oem-building-electric-ev-motors-us/20543943/article-detail.xml 20543943 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/chevy-spark-copper-wire_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/chevy-spark-copper-wire.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

An Oil Company Spends Big To Teach Students To Use Less

shell eco-marathon mater dei

The Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 is over, the winners declared. Thousands of excited students came to Houston last weekend with 140 cars and the winning team managed to get upwards of 3,580 miles per gallon. Now that the cars have been packed up and shipped back to schools throughout the hemisphere, from Alaska to Brazil, we can look back and discuss some of the bigger issues that the three frenzied, fuel-efficient competition days - and the months of hard work leading up to the event - raise.

Before leaving Houston, we got to sit down with representatives from Shell, which spends an undisclosed amount of money to put on these Eco-marathons around the world. It's a huge undertaking, and one that has lots of positive angles and some particularly thorny ones. But first, a short history.

The story goes that the first Eco-marathon started as a bet between two Shell engineers. The year was 1939 and the winner managed to hit 49.39 mpg.

The story goes that the first Eco-marathon was started as a bet between two Shell engineers to see who could go further on a gallon of fuel. The year was 1939 and the winner managed to hit 49.39 miles per gallon in a 1933 Plymouth. They had so much fun they did it again and, by 1949, the winner was getting 150.53 mpg. The numbers kept going up from there. 1968: 244.62 mpg. 1973: 392.02 mpg. And so on. The event was known as the Shell Mileage Marathon, but in 1985, a name change signified the start of the event in its current form. That year, students from 20 European countries in 25 teams competed in the first Eco-marathon in France, and the winners managed to get 1599.45 mpg. The 1997 event was canceled because of heavy rain and in 2006 the first solar cars ran the race. In 2007, the event was held in the US for the first time, in Fontana, CA, and Asia joined the party in 2010. Today, across the three events, over 400 teams participate each year. Next year, a fourth location will draw teams from the Middle East and Africa. The current record is 8,914 mpg, set by a French team in 2003.

Continue reading Shell Eco-marathon

Shell Eco-marathon originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collegeelectric vehiclegasolinehigh schoolhoustonhydrogenhypermilingmater deimpgshellshell eco marathontexasFri, 12 Apr 2013 14:54:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534478/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20534478/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/12/shell-eco-marathon/20534478/article-detail.xml 20534478 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-mater-dei-628-1365471129_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-mater-dei-628-1365471129.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon: 1959 Fiat 600 brings hypermiling history to Houston]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Shell Eco-marathon: 1959 Fiat 600

Long before the Fiat 500 came to the US to try and capture the public's imagination, a Fiat 600 was cruising in the Shell Mileage Marathons (the precursor to today's Eco-marathons) and setting records by getting over 300 miles per gallon. The little red cutie was on display at the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 in Houston, TX this weekend to remind the students participating in the challenge - and the public stopping by to see what all the crazy cars were about - incredible that fuel efficiency is nothing new.

"They'd crank it, run and then kill the engine and coast. Same thing they're doing here. They just did it with real cars back then."

The 1959 Fiat 600 in question is currently in the hands of Ken Smith, who maintains a website on its history. For years, the car sat a junked state near the Talladega Museum before making headlines when it was discovered in 2007. "We didn't know what it was at first," he told AutoblogGreen, but bought it anyway and discovered that it had a fuel-saving past, running in the Wood River Mileage Marathons. Those events ended in the late 1970s, but with the Eco-marathons now back in the US, Smith thought it made sense to display the car. He also showed the car at the 2012 event in Houston.

The Fiat 600 ran at least three times in the Mileage Marathons, Smith said. It managed 173 mpg in 1967, 244 in 1968 and 304 in 1973. The car looks like a normal Fiat 600, but there were serious changes made inside.

"Basically, what they did was everything that ran off the pully at the bottom, they took off," he said. "The alternator is gone, the water pump is gone, the radiator is gone. There's no fan. They used electric pumps to circulate the water, and they used a small heater core as a small radiator for the air to come through, and the air would pick up the heat and help cool the water. But they didn't run the engine that long. They'd crank it, run and then kill the engine and coast. Same thing they're doing here. They just did it with real cars back then."

You can read more about this year's Shell Eco-marathon here and here.

Shell Eco-marathon: 1959 Fiat 600 brings hypermiling history to Houston originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1959 fiat 600eco-marathonken smithmileage marathonshell eco marathontalladega museumMon, 08 Apr 2013 18:30:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533225/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20533225/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/08/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-brings-hypermiling-history/20533225/article-detail.xml 20533225 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-1959-fiat-600-628.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon: Day 2, students get creative under pressure]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

shell eco marathon 2013 americas

Watching the Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 is, to be honest, kind of boring. Yes, the vehicles are all interesting and unusual, but they don't go very fast, you only see them on the track for a brief moment (there's no live video feed) and the ones competing against each other aren't even racing at the same time. But this is an efficiency challenge, after all, and one where students can learn by doing. Much of the action, after all, is off-side. It's the struggle of the 120 different high school and college teams to design their vehicles, to build them and - in the case of University of Alaska - take them apart and check them in their luggage. Multiply that by 140 vehicles and it becomes pretty clear pretty quick that there are roughly a million stories at the Eco-marathon, on the track and off.

It becomes pretty clear pretty quick that there are roughly a million stories at the Eco-marathon, on the track and off.

Those stories continued today. As the first vehicles made the early competition laps, many of the vehicles in the paddock were in various states of untogetherness. As in, they were still being tinkered with, adapted and reconfigured. By the end of the day, it became clear that some of them simply would not be able to pass the safety inspection.

Even if a vehicle makes it onto the track, there is no guarantee of success. One of the best-looking vehicles here, an all-electric DeLorean-style all-electric from St. Paul's School, a high school in Covington, LA, made an impression during the opening ceremonies. The team figured you don't have to look uncool to have a fuel-efficient car, and even added blue neon accent lights on the bottom. But, after being called to the starting line today, the EV didn't even make it around the track once. St. Paul's also brought an "taxi," in part to make the point that you can reduce fuel use by 50 percent by adding a person. You can't fail with that logic.

From the sidelines, we listened in as team members from Louisiana Tech University coached their driver through his ten laps via cell phone, just one group of many we saw trying to get their partners behind the wheel to improve their driving. Coast more on this lap, they said. Don't worry about your speed, you're fine there, they said, discussing amongst themselves how best to tackle each lap. At least one car in the competition was hooked up for wireless communication, transmitting important data to the team in the paddock. In the on-track competition, drivers need to go around the course ten times, making three 30-second stops during the run. They'll be judged on how little energy they use and need to finish in a maximum time of 24:45. As we'll see, it can be a hot 25 minutes.

Continue reading Shell Eco-marathon: Day 2, students get creative under pressure

Shell Eco-marathon: Day 2, students get creative under pressure originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-marathonelectric vehiclempgshellshell eco marathonSat, 06 Apr 2013 23:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20532775/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20532775/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/06/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-students-get-creative-under-pressure/20532775/article-detail.xml 20532775 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-01-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-day-2-01-628.jpg <![CDATA[Shell Eco-marathon 2013: Notes from Day 1, will 2,545 mpg be beat?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/shell-eco-marathon-2013-day-1/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/shell-eco-marathon-2013-day-1/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/shell-eco-marathon-2013-day-1/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Shell Eco-marathon 2013 Americas: Day 1

The Shell Eco-marathon Americas 2013 kicked off in Houston, TX this morning with a twist on the usual: Ladies and gentlemen, start your fuel-efficient engines. The area around Discovery Green was buzzing with high school and college students, all here with one mission: go as far as possible on as little fuel as possible. Last year, the winning team in the internal combustion category got 2,564.8 miles per gallon. That's quite an increase since the first Eco-marathon back in 1939, when the winner of a bet between two Shell engineers managed to get 49.72 mpg.

But today wasn't for competition. Not yet. Instead, it was a day for getting ready, with teams passing safety inspections, taking test runs around the urban track (the event takes place downtown) and making lots of last-minute modifications. We saw hacksaws, drills and hammers all being used with abandon around the paddock. Seeing a group of high school students cheer when their car's brakes worked, for instance, is something we just don't see everyday. Tomorrow, the competition really gets started, but we could feel the tension building today.

There are over 120 teams fielding 140 different vehicles in this year's Eco-marathon. Most of them are powered by gasoline or batteries (62 and 43, respectively). The rest of the powertrains use diesel (11), hydrogen (11), 100-percent ethanol (8) of 100-percent Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (5). The 140 vehicles are divided into two categories, "prototype" and "urban concept." You can investigate all the teams at the Eco-marathon site here and stay tuned for more coverage throughout the weekend. If there's any team you'd like us to check out, let us know in the comments below. Oh, and there also some Shell promotional videos below.

Now, we'll be delving into the PR stunt vs. real-world value of the Shell Eco-marathon debate in future posts, but for now we cannot let this post go to press without a mention of the area's recent oil spill. It wasn't big, as far as oil spills go, but 50 barrels (2,100 gallons) of crude spilled from a Shell pipeline into the Vince Bayou, which connects to the Houston Ship Channel and the Gulf of Mexico this week. In Eco-marathon terms, that's a lot - enough fuel to move a vehicle like a bazillion miles.

Continue reading Shell Eco-marathon 2013: Notes from Day 1, will 2,545 mpg be beat?

Shell Eco-marathon 2013: Notes from Day 1, will 2,545 mpg be beat? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>challengecollegeeco-marathonfuel economyhigh schoolmpgshellshell eco marathonFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20532279/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20532279/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/05/shell-eco-marathon-2013-day-1/20532279/article-detail.xml 20532279 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-start_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/shell-eco-marathon-start.jpg <![CDATA[Tesla increases lease calculator costs; Supercharging, 'mystery' announcement coming soon]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/tesla-increases-lease-calculator-costs/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/tesla-increases-lease-calculator-costs/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/03/tesla-increases-lease-calculator-costs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

tesla model s driving

Even Tesla Motors hasn't totally figured out the details of the just-announced Model S "lease" program. Yesterday, when the financial product was first revealed, the small print on the company's online calculator described a 66-month loan and a tiered monthly payment structure, depending on which model you chose: $1,199 a month for the 85-kWh Model S, $1,421 for the 85-kWh Performance model and $1,051 for the 60-kWh version. Today, all three of these prices have been increased slightly, to $1,252 (85-kWh), $1,483 (Performance) and $1,097 (60-kWh). Tesla spokesperson Shanna Hendriks told AutoblogGreen, "We made a small change to the site overnight - changing the 66-month term to a 63-month term. We were incorrect with putting 66 months initially. I believe this is the reason for the discrepancy."

Today, all three of these prices have been increased slightly.

So, yeah, there's some confusion out there. Since the announcement, the Internet has been abuzz with critics taking Tesla to task for CEO Elon Musk's insistence that the "true cost of ownership" can be driven below $500 a month. It can, using Telsa's calculator, if you live in a world where you're always getting paid $100/hour and therefore your 15 minute gas station stop is valued at $25. And you fill up four times a month. With premium gas. In a car that gets terrible fuel economy. We found that making these assumptions were the best way to get our "effective monthly cost" down to $500 or less. Oh, and claiming your Model S for business purposes helped tremendously. You can see why Tesla's stock went down 7.3 percent since the "lease" news came out.

Nonetheless, Musk is confident that his numbers are right - he told Automotive News that "Even if you don't count the time savings, you can own the car for net cash out of pocket for $500 a month, no marketing gimmicks. Some people wanted to call bull---t on us because we had certain default [calculations] set up on the site, and we have fixed them" and also "I just want to make sure people really do appreciate that $500 is a real number and not some sort of marketing fiction" - and is promising more announcements throughout all of April. Next week, we'll learn something about servicing and the week after that will be one about Supercharging and after that, Musk said, "there will be a mystery announcement. Then we'll shut up and hopefully people won't be sick of us." It all depends on what those announcements will be.

Tesla increases lease calculator costs; Supercharging, 'mystery' announcement coming soon originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleelon muskleaseteslatesla model strue cost of ownershiptslaWed, 03 Apr 2013 18:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20529378/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20529378/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/03/tesla-increases-lease-calculator-costs/20529378/article-detail.xml 20529378 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/tesla-model-s-driving_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/tesla-model-s-driving.jpg <![CDATA[BMW 3-cylinder prototype engine sits pretty in 1 Series, will be better in i8 plug-in hybrid]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/bmw-3-cylinder-prototype-engine-1-series-i8-plug-in-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/bmw-3-cylinder-prototype-engine-1-series-i8-plug-in-hybrid/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/27/bmw-3-cylinder-prototype-engine-1-series-i8-plug-in-hybrid/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

BMW 3-cylinder Prototype

The fact that the brand-new prototype three-cylinder, 1.5-liter gasoline engine from BMW finds itself in a 1 Series is almost accidental. Heidelinde Holzer, who works on powertrain predevelopment, powertrain functions and powertrain integration, told AutoblogGreen her team simply took the cars that were available. After all, when you're working on engines that are not destined to go into any vehicles in the near future - this has been a four-year project already - it's okay to test them in whatever mule you've got access to. The first production vehicle that will use the three-cylinder is the upcoming i8 plug-in hybrid, which isn't going to arrive until the first half of 2014. BMW didn't allow us to play around in one of those, so we had to make due with our 1 Series prototype test drives yesterday at BMW's Woodcliff Lake, NJ, headquarters.

Under a sky that alternated between bright and threatening-to-rain, two red 1 Series zipped around the BMW campus - we were not allowed to take them on public roads - between technical sessions about the engine, the upcoming four-cylinder 328d diesel and BMW's new suite of apps. According to what we saw, future Bimmers are going to get a lot more efficient and a whole lot more connected.

Continue reading BMW 3-cylinder prototype engine sits pretty in 1 Series, will be better in i8 plug-in hybrid

BMW 3-cylinder prototype engine sits pretty in 1 Series, will be better in i8 plug-in hybrid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>328dbmwbmw 3-cylinder prototypebmw 328d sedanbmw connected appecalllteWed, 27 Mar 2013 08:27:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20518740/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20518740/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/27/bmw-3-cylinder-prototype-engine-1-series-i8-plug-in-hybrid/20518740/article-detail.xml 20518740 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bmw-3-cylinder-prototype-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/bmw-3-cylinder-prototype-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mahindra Reva E2O unveiled in New Delhi, headed to Iceland]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/mahindra-reva-e2o-unveiled-in-new-delhi-headed-to-iceland/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/mahindra-reva-e2o-unveiled-in-new-delhi-headed-to-iceland/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/mahindra-reva-e2o-unveiled-in-new-delhi-headed-to-iceland/#commentsFiled under: , ,

mahindra reva e2o

Mahindra Reva has been making slow and steady waves with the all-electric E2O city car, taking the previous Reva model - the G-Wiz - into the modern age with the production version of the Reva NXR concept.

The E2O has a range of just 62 miles from its lithium-ion batteries, and recharges in five hours. The E2O is connected to a smartphone app, and has Reva's patented REVive technology, which means, "In the rare event of running low on charge, you can use the app on the smart phone to remotely activate the reserve energy that can get you going again." No, the phone doesn't charge your phone. Instead, the connected car can unlock a bit of reserve power when it's absolutely necessary. Fans of the Think City - and Lego - will appreciate the ABS (plastic) body panels. We're most impressed with where Mahindra found room for the spare tire. If you don't have an engine taking up space, might as well stuff some rubber there, right? The E2O will cost 5.96 lakhs (around $11,000 US, after local subsidies) and the car goes on sale this month. Mahindra says it can make up to 30,000 units a year.

Those with excellent memories will not be surprised that Gisli Gislason was at the E2O's unveiling in India. In 2009, after the car was unveiled in Frankfurt, Gislason's Northern Lights Energy (now called EVEN, the Icelandic EV Association) made an order for 100 Reva NXRs. Last week, Gisli told AutoblogGreen that, EVEN was originally expecting the NXR to arrive in the summer 2010, "but after Mahindra bought the company, this was postponed (story of my life). But now they are ready with a much better car, the E2O." The new plan is to get the first cars in Iceland in December 2013 or January 2014.

Continue reading Mahindra Reva E2O unveiled in New Delhi, headed to Iceland

Mahindra Reva E2O unveiled in New Delhi, headed to Iceland originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e2oelectric vehiclegisli gislasonindiamahindramahindra reva e2orevareva evMon, 25 Mar 2013 11:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20508697/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20508697/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/25/mahindra-reva-e2o-unveiled-in-new-delhi-headed-to-iceland/20508697/article-detail.xml 20508697 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/mahindra-reva-e2o-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/mahindra-reva-e2o-628.jpg <![CDATA[BMW's Herbert Diess: i3 plug-in launch is "revolutionizing," driving is "just great fun"]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/20/bmws-herbert-diess-i3-plug-in-launch-is-revolutionizing-dri/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/20/bmws-herbert-diess-i3-plug-in-launch-is-revolutionizing-dri/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/20/bmws-herbert-diess-i3-plug-in-launch-is-revolutionizing-dri/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BMW i Born Electric Tour NYC

Just how hard is it to change direction in a BMW? While driving one of the company's vehicles, you'll find little disagreement that it can be easy, even quite pleasurable. But if you're trying to change the direction of the company itself - making the idea of driving fun play nice with fuel efficiency and plug-ins - well, then it's a bit more difficult. You need to take your time, something like five years, and you need someone like Herbert Diess.

"We come from a situation where we build a car and sell it to a customer and then don't bother him any more. We are revolutionizing this."

Diess is the New Board Member for Development for BMW, and he has overall responsibility for product development, including hybrids and diesels. Since last April, he has been in charge of developing the technological advances for Project i. We spoke to him recently about the upcoming launch of the plug-in i3, the first of the new range of vehicles that make up Project i. The city car will be followed by the i8 plug-in hybrid in early 2014. He knows what his priority is, for now, given the fact that a couple hundred i3 prototypes currently exist, that BMW is wrapping up winter testing and refining components and that the whole project is "well on the way to production," he told AutoblogGreen. "The big task this year is to launch Project i, the i3. We are confident we will launch the car on time in the fourth quarter."

Launching the i3 is not the same as putting any other BMW on the market. As the company learned with the Mini E and ActiveE test programs and the DriveNow carsharing unit, some of today's drivers think differently. To change with them, car companies are becoming mobility companies, Diess said.

"We come from a situation where we build a car and sell it to a customer and then don't bother him any more," Diess said. "We are revolutionizing this. We think, ok, maybe he doesn't want to own a car but still drive a BMW. Maybe he wants to drive the car only from here to there and then he wants to swap to a different transport medium. We are focusing on all those activities in the launch of the sub-brand i."

Continue reading BMW's Herbert Diess: i3 plug-in launch is "revolutionizing," driving is "just great fun"

BMW's Herbert Diess: i3 plug-in launch is "revolutionizing," driving is "just great fun" originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmw i3bmw i8electric vehicleherbert diessplug-in hybridproject iWed, 20 Mar 2013 20:18:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20429817/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20429817/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/20/bmws-herbert-diess-i3-plug-in-launch-is-revolutionizing-dri/20429817/article-detail.xml 20429817 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/bmw-i-born-electric-tour-nyc-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/bmw-i-born-electric-tour-nyc-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ford COO Mark Fields: electrified vehicles could be up to 25% of sales by 2020]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/ford-coo-mark-fields-25-percenet-sales-electric-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/ford-coo-mark-fields-25-percenet-sales-electric-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/18/ford-coo-mark-fields-25-percenet-sales-electric-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



ford coo mark fields I was fortunate to get one-on-one chats with two top GM technology leaders (John Lauckner and Larry Nitz) at this year's Detroit North American International Auto Show, but no other automaker offered that opportunity. However, while I was resting and enjoying lunch in Ford's media lounge, in walked Ford's newly-promoted chief operating officer (and likely successor to CEO Alan Mulally) Mark Fields.

Fields told us a year ago that Ford's powertrain strategy is to continue downsizing engines and using EcoBoost (turbocharging and direct fuel injection), and added that vehicle electrification will play a major role in meeting federal corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) requirements that mandate mpg boosts of more than four percent per year through 2025. "By the end of this decade," he said, "we'll see from 10 to 25 percent of our sales being electrified - conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery electrics."

But how will Ford keep costs down to get their sales volumes up? "Our approach is electrifying platforms, as opposed to single vehicles," he said, "which has a lot of engineering efficiencies. And our manufacturing strategy will allow us to flex. For example, our Wayne [MI] Plant will produce the regular gas-powered Focus, the electric Focus and the C-Max hybrid."

This year, I hit him again with the big CAFE question first.

Continue reading Ford COO Mark Fields: electrified vehicles could be up to 25% of sales by 2020

Ford COO Mark Fields: electrified vehicles could be up to 25% of sales by 2020 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclefordmark fieldsplug-in hybridMon, 18 Mar 2013 20:10:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20508981/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20508981/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/18/ford-coo-mark-fields-25-percenet-sales-electric-vehicles/20508981/article-detail.xml 20508981 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2013-ford-c-max-hybrid-fd.jpg <![CDATA[How the Honda Accord PHEV blends Eco Assist and adaptive cruise control]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/how-the-honda-accord-phev-blends-eco-assist-and-adaptive-cruise/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/how-the-honda-accord-phev-blends-eco-assist-and-adaptive-cruise/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/03/14/how-the-honda-accord-phev-blends-eco-assist-and-adaptive-cruise/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

honda accord phev

As we detailed in our First Drive report of the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid, the powertrain involved is a bit confusing for non-engineers to understand. Of course, you don't need to know, exactly, what's going on under the hood, but we were still curious about how the Accord PHEV integrates Eco mode with the adaptive cruise control. Specifically, does the ACC adjust speed to take maximum advantage of regenerative braking (and thus electric
range)?

Honda PR Assistant Manager Jessica Fini helped us figure out the answer. Basically, there are two main differences between Eco and Normal mode when the adaptive cruise control is on. First, Eco mode has a more gentle gas pedal setting than Normal, and this applies to the ACC as well, but it doesn't take the ACC's speed setting into account. Second, since Eco mode provides less power to the air conditioner in order to maximize efficiency, it does the same when the ACC is on. And, it turns out there is no difference between Eco and Normal mode when it comes to how the regenerative brakes operate, whether the ACC is on or not.

How the Honda Accord PHEV blends Eco Assist and adaptive cruise control originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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