Autoblog Green

ETA says plug-in cars could "speed climate change" unless we get off coal

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily, UK

Think that plugging in your vehicle will protect the earth? Sure, this was the message that EPRI and the NRDC sent following a 2008 study that found that, if 60 percent of the U.S. fleet of light vehicles converted to plug-ins by 2050, CO₂ emissions would drop by 450 million metric tons annually (the same as taking 82 million cars off the road) while electricity consumption would increase only eight percent.

Not everyone is convinced that plugs are the answer. The Environmental Transport Association in the UK, for example, believes that switching to electric cars could increase the rate of climate change, depending on how the electricity is created. Like the Natural Resources Defense Council report last year that found that PHEVs will add to pollution levels if the grid remains coal-centered, the ETA's statement warns that a shift from gasoline to electrons needs to be accompanied by a change in how we generate our electricity. Looking at how EU rules handles emissions, the ETA found that, if the regulations don't change, "sales of electric cars are likely to result in higher overall CO₂ emissions and oil consumption." The ETA's soundbite for the report: if you're using coal to make electricy, then standard hybrids are better than plug-ins.

In the past, the ETA opposed a cash-for-clunkers-like plan in the UK. Each year, the ETA also organizes a Green Transport Week.

[Source: ETA]

Continue reading ETA says plug-in cars could "speed climate change" unless we get off coal

ETA says plug-in cars could "speed climate change" unless we get off coal originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: IEA hiding truth about dwindling oil reserves

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Green Daily

How much oil is left in the ground? No one knows precisely, but groups like the International Energy Agency are supposed to offer us a good estimate. Knowing how much oil is left helps set the price of the fuel and also determines how much public and political pressure there is for gasoline alternatives. So, it's kind of big news that a whistleblower says that the IEA has been "deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying." The unnamed "senior official" told the Guardian that the U.S. was a driving force behind clouding the situation.

The numbers work like this: this year, the IEA said that the world could produce 83 million barrels of oil, then raised that to 105 million. Supporters of the peak oil theory - the idea that the world has already produced at much oil in a year as it ever will and it's all downhill from here - called shenanigans. The whistleblower says that the IEA's 2030 predictions - once claimed to be 120 million barrels but was since downgraded to 105 million, "is much higher than can be justified and the IEA knows this. [...] Even 90m to 95m barrels a day would be impossible but there are fears that panic could spread on the financial markets if the figures were brought down further. And the Americans fear the end of oil supremacy because it would threaten their power over access to oil resources."

The reality of what's available underground is tremendously difficult to know - we've seen all sorts of estimates - but to hide whatever truth you do know from the public is worse than running out, don't you think?

[Source: Guardian]
Photo by johnny choura. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

REPORT: IEA hiding truth about dwindling oil reserves originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pay-per-mile car insurance might come to California

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:51:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

The idea of paying for your insurance by the mile is not new. MileMeter, in Texas, offers pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) rates and California has been using mileage brackets to set insurance rates for years. A new, more precise PAYD system is under discussion in California that would give people who drive less a financial incentive to do keep doing so - and maybe convince people on the fence to find an alternative when possible.

State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner recently issued regulations on what PAYD mileage verification plans could look like. It's likely that people with PAYD would think twice when getting behind the wheel and combine trips when possible. The Brookings Institution studied PAYD last year and found that driving would drop by eight percent if all U.S. drivers were under a PAYD system. Also, two-thirds of U.S. households would save an average of $270.

MileMeter is looking to expand to California, and MileMeter founder and CEO Chris Gay told the Sacramento Bee that, "Our take is that half the market out there is being overcharged and underserved - and that's who we aim to address." The bigger insurance companies are looking into PAYD, but have not yet decided to offer it in California. This is an idea that easy to implement and, in lieu of higher gasoline taxes, could have a dramatic impact.

[Source: Sacramento Bee via MMN]
Photo by Wouter Kiel. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Pay-per-mile car insurance might come to California originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lithium battery recycling facility suffers explosions, fire

Domenick Yoney — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, North America

A big piece of the end-of-life plan for lithium batteries is recycling and there is only one place in North America currently capable of carrying out that procedure. That facility, owned and operated by Toxco Waste Management in southeastern British Columbia, experienced a large fire last Saturday after suffering through a series of explosions. The event, which happened after-hours, seems to have started in a lithium storage building and created an impressive fireworks display for about 45 minutes. No one was hurt and the main facility remained unscathed, though firefighters at the scene couldn't use their hoses to put out the lithium-fire since it is reactive to water. Officials reportedly were told the explosions produced sulphur dioxide and lithium hydroxide emissions. A statement on Toxco's website addressing the incident says, "The fire did not result in any negative impacts to the environment of the surrounding area." British Columbia Environment Ministry officials have visited the site to make their own assessment.

Lithium batteries from across the US and Canada, mostly from phones and laptops, are stored at the site in earth-covered bunkers chilled to -324 degrees. The low temperature is supposed to make the chemicals inert and prevent incidents like this from happening. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation though arson is not suspected. Toxco, which has a recycling agreement with Tesla Motors, has plans to add lithium battery recycling to their pre-existing facility in Ohio. Thanks to Jeff for the tip!

[Source: The Globe and Mail / Vancouver Sun]

Lithium battery recycling facility suffers explosions, fire originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: eVARO plug-in hybrid three-wheeler debuts, returns

Sebastian Blanco — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, SEMA Show, Green Daily

eVaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

If the eVaro from Future Vehicles Technologies pictured above looks familiar, then perhaps you've been following the development of the Alé. A reddish orange Alé, developed by FVT when it still stood for FuelVapor Technologies, was on display at SEMA in 2006. The more things change...

Making its "debut" at SEMA this year, the eVaro was decked out as a golden squid. Then, as now, the car is one of the contenders for the Progressive Automotive X Prize on display at SEMA this year. Over the years, FVT has increased the car's estimated MPG rating from 92 mpg using a pure gasoline engine to 275 mpg (at certain speeds) by shifting the focus from performance to efficiency. FVT added a plug-in hybrid powertrain to the car, which can now go up to 90 miles on battery power alone. The eVaro is still plenty fast, with a 0-60 time under 5 seconds. Even with all of these great numbers, we're still not sure there is a market for 10,000 of these a year, something the Automotive X-Prize is looking for. Nonetheless, we've got to hand it to FVT for their stick-to-itiveness and name-changing ability. Why did they choose eVARO? Because it means "electric vehicle with advanced regenerative braking onboard," of course.

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc.

SEMA 2009: eVARO plug-in hybrid three-wheeler debuts, returns originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Hybrids more likely to be involved in crashes with pedestrians, bicycles

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:34:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green Daily

A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finds that hybrid vehicles are more likely to be involved in accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists under certain scenarios. According to state-level accident data, 77 of 8,387 hybrid vehicles (that's .9 percent) were involved in crashes with pedestrians and 48 (.6 percent) were found to have been in accidents with bicyclists.

By way of comparison, 3,578 of 559,703 non-hybrid vehicles (.6 percent) were involved in pedestrian accidents and 1,862 (.3 percent) were involved with bicyclists. Tellingly, the NHTSA's data shows that hybrid vehicles are twice as likely than non-hybirds to be involved in pedestrian or bicyclist accidents at low speeds when the internal combustion engine is not running.

These statistics are not a complete representation of all accidents nationwide, and the NHTSA is quick to point out that additional research is necessary before any final conclusions can be made. Still, this is valuable data that "should serve as a guide when designing future HEV pedestrian and bicyclist crash prevention programs."

[Source: NHTSA - PDF via Consumer Reports]

STUDY: Hybrids more likely to be involved in crashes with pedestrians, bicycles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker: Leonardo DiCaprio's Prius inspired the Karma

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily, Fisker

Ever wonder what it is that sparks the mind of an entrepreneur? After all, lots of people have big imaginations and great ideas, but only a relatively small number of them actually follow through, create a company and design a product. Of course, we can add Henrik Fisker to that list of entrepreneurs, and we're definitely looking forward to seeing what else springs from his fertile mind.

So, back to the original question. In the case of Henrik Fisker, the inspiration for the Karma extended-range electric car came from none other than Leonardo DiCaprio. Actually, the actor's Prius hybrid, to be specific. Says Fisker:

A couple of years ago it started, by people who were maybe a little ahead of their time. You saw some movie starts like Leonardo DiCaprio buying a Prius... He could have bought any car in the world, and I remember seeing that on television and thinking to myself, you know, when you've got a guy who could buy any Ferrari or Rolls Royce and he's buying a Prius, you know something is changing dramatically.

Interesting little tidbit, no?

[Source: Reuters | Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images]

Fisker: Leonardo DiCaprio's Prius inspired the Karma originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Elon Musk says Fisker is "very far" from overcoming EV hurdles

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Tesla Motors, Green Daily, Fisker

In some ways, the all-electric Tesla Roadster and the plug-in hybrid Fisker Karma don't compete. The difference in powertrains, which will filter down to the two compaies' lower-cost models, the Tesla Model S and Fisker's Project Nina vehicle, means that slightly different consumers are going to be interested in these cars. In other ways, though, Fisker and Tesla go head-to-head for the luxury green car market, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk isn't afraid to fan the competition flames a bit.

According to Delaware Online, Musk recently told a Delaware audience (really, Delaware?) that, while he hopes Fisker succeeds, he has "some reservations about the feasibility of Fisker's approach." Why? Because "Fisker is very far from overcoming those [engineering obstacles to build an electric car]." Subtle.

This isnt' the first time there's been contention between the two. In courtrooms last year, Fisker and Tesla fought a battle over insider information that ended with "complete vindication" for Fisker. We'll see if this latest dis causes any further comment from Fisker - a company not known for taking it lying down.

[Source: Delaware Online via earth2tech]

REPORT: Elon Musk says Fisker is "very far" from overcoming EV hurdles originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chrysler disbands ENVI group, EV development will continue

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST

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

Dodge Circuit - Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a report from Reuters, Chrysler has disbanded its ENVI program and integrated the group back into its normal product development organization. Former ENVI head Lou Rhodes will now take the title of group line executive in charge of electric vehicle development and will manage that group for both Chrysler and Fiat. Though we weren't exactly expecting this change, the move isn't entirely unexpected.

At this point, we don't yet know what this reorganization means for the electric vehicles that Chrysler had previously promised to put into production, the first of which was to be the Lotus-based Dodge Circuit that was hopefully supposed to be on the market by late 2010.

Fiat CEO and newly-appointed head of Chrysler Sergio Marchionne said earlier this week during Chrysler's painfully long new product plan presentation that electric vehicles are still a very tough proposition with current battery technology. In fact, the automaker expects that less than two percent of its lineup will be electric by 2014, which would amount to less than 60,000 vehicles per year.

Gallery: Dodge Circuit EV

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Chrysler disbands ENVI group, EV development will continue originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Fisker dealership opens in LA, 120 pre-orders already taken

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily, Fisker

Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery

Take an old Lexus dealership in Santa Monica, repurpose the showroom to display a Fisker Karma, invite a bunch of plug-in hybrid-loving locals over a grand opening and - boom - you've got yourself a fun night. This is what happened recently in Los Angeles, with about 200 people attending the invite-only grand opening of the Santa Monica Fisker dealership, the first. The car was popular with attendees, some of whom put down deposits once they saw the PHEV in person for the first time.

Dealer Mike Sullivan told Automotive News he already has 120 reservations, including many from impatient celebrities, for the Karma. "There's not a guy here who wants to be second in line. Two-thirds of the people waiting, you would recognize on the cover of a magazine. Yet, we all know it has to be a slow roll-out. It's a startup. There are always issues," he told AN.

Still, Sulllivan said he's confident he can sell up to 15 Karma and Karma S models a month once production starts next year. At least 32 Fisker dealerships are scheduled to open. If each is able to garner the same number of pre-orders as Sullivan's Santa Monica store and sells 15 cars a month - a huge if - that would account for 9,600 Karmas sold in the first year, well over the 7,500 that Fisker plans to sell in the U.S. (global sales are a hoped-for 15,000). Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Automotive News (subs req'd)]

First Fisker dealership opens in LA, 120 pre-orders already taken originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Friday: Swedish automatic PHEV charging prod gets a big WTF? from us [w/VIDEO]

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:38:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Green Daily

Trinnovator - Click above to watch the videos after the break

Is it too harsh to say that the Trinnovator is a solution without a problem? At the very least, we don't think that a flexible, extendable prod coming out of the front bumper of a plug-in car and creepily finding its way into a grid of receptacles is the best way to recharge a vehicle. This is the method that the Swedish team behind the Trinnovator has come up with to make getting electrons into a PHEV or BEV somewhat automatic. It's kind of hard to explain, so we recommend just watching the video pasted after the jump.

A few immediate thoughts: real-life implementation of this system seems needlessly complicated. The receptacle grids would also have to be much wider (and maybe taller for trucks and SUVs) and installed all over the place - regular plugs make more sense, no? Plus, shouldn't there be prods on the back of the car, too? And what about parallel parking spots? We've used plug-in cars and it's really not that difficult to remember to plug in every night. If we're going to have automatic and easy recharging, we want to see wireless/witricity get real. Thanks to Anders J. for the tip! Watch the video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading It's Friday: Swedish automatic PHEV charging prod gets a big WTF? from us [w/VIDEO]

It's Friday: Swedish automatic PHEV charging prod gets a big WTF? from us [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., EV/Plug-in, Audi, GM, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, LA Auto Show, Green Daily

Mazda Souga Concept from LA Design Challenge 2009 - Click above for high-res image gallery

This year's iteration of the annual Design Challenge at the LA Auto Show asks the question: How will a new generation of drivers age 16-23 - raised with cell phones, web cams and online communities - emotionally connect to the automobile in 2030? We don't know the answer either, but at least six designers from some of the world's top automakers decided to give it a go with their own ideas. if you thought the Aptera was futuristic, check these out.

First up are the eSpira and eOra from Audi, which are controlled by thought and by the minutest adjustments to the pilot's body. Next we have the General Motors Car Hero... yes, the name is borrowed from the popular Guitar Hero line of games and the car, as you might imagine, "turns driving into gaming." What happens when the inevitable "Game Over" comes at the end? Moving along, we come to the Honda Helix, a shape-shifting vehicle that borrows actual DNA from its owner. Yuck, we don't want to be a car, we want to drive a car.

Which brings us to the Mazda Souga, easily our favorite out of this crop of concepts. This vision for the future would have each owner design his own car for the low price of $2,000 while paying an additional monthly usage fee that also covers the price of electricity to power the Souga.

Nissan's vision for the future includes cars that get their power from an electrically-charged roadway called the GRID, and the vowel-challenged V2G UNLMTD is quickly hacked into an OFF-GRID transportation device by the next breed of young hackers. Lastly, we have the Toyota Link. According to Toyota, future college students will have nearly no income and will rely on mass transit vehicles like the Link that allow them to interact via their various social networks on their daily commutes. Sounds boring to us, but what do we know?

Be sure to check out all six designs in our high-res image gallery below and hit the jump for the official press release.

[Source: LA Design Challenge]

Continue reading LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs

LA Auto Show Design Challenge entrants reveal Youthmobile 2030 designs originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Wicked Chevelle isn't as fuelish as it seems

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Chevrolet, SEMA Show, Green Daily

1970 Duramax Chevrolet Chevelle custom - Click above for high-res image gallery

The clean exterior of this 1970 Chevelle hides a wicked little secret. If you take a look at the photo above, you'll see what we mean. The bundle of plumbing you see spilling out of the engine bay tells only part of the story. That's no overworked Chevy small block in there, it's a Duramax diesel that has been pushed to new heights via an outrageous custom twin-turbo setup. The stripped-out interior and racing slicks out back show the true purpose of this ride. It was built by Mike Racke and made Popular Hot Rodding's Top Ten Builds this year. We couldn't agree more.

Photos copyright (C)2009 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

SEMA 2009: Wicked Chevelle isn't as fuelish as it seems originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota's long hybrid patent fight with Paice continues in court

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:55:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Green Daily

2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery

Toyota's legal battle to over making and selling the Hybrid Synergy Drive has a long history. Toyota has fought with both Solomon Technologies and Paice LLC over the gasoline-electric technology. In 2008, Toyota was ordered to pay Paice LLC $4.3 million for patent infringement, based on a cost of $25 per infringing car (defined at the second-gen Prius, the Toyota Highlander hybrid and the Lexus RX400H). But that didn't end the problem. Instead, this past September, Paice issued a new suit trying to get U.S. Customs to stop all of Toyota's hybrids at the border.

Paice believes that Toyota is using Paice technology in its hybrids and a court agreed in the $4.3 million settlement. Paice - Power Assisted Internal Combustion Engine - was started in 1992 by Russian immigrant Alex Severinsky. In 1994, Severinsky was awarded a patent for a microprocessor that coordinated power flows in both an ICE and an electric motor. Severinsky's patent expires in 2012 and Paice wants Toyota's imports halted until then. But, a semi-related legal decision involving eBay issued in May of 2006 may impact the Toyota situation because Paice, which does not make any hybrid cars, does not meet the new four-factor test that decision created. The lawsuit trying to get the vehicles stopped at the border is simply a new chip Paice is trying to gain in the ongoing fight. Learn more at Law.com.

[Source: Law.com]

Toyota's long hybrid patent fight with Paice continues in court originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plug-in vehicles will get special license plate in Ontario next year

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:09:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, North America

Want to emblazon your ride with Ontario's new "environmentally friendly vehicles" license plate? There are two hurdles you'll have to jump. First, wait until next year when the plate actually becomes available on July 1. Second, you'll need to get a car with a plug. According to the Toronto Star, the new green vehicle plates are for plug-in hybrids and battery-powered cars only.

Like the Clean Access stickers that were so popular in California, the special plates will allow the cars to drive in high occupancy vehicle highway lanes through 2015 no matter how many people are in the car. Drivers will also get to pull up to recharging facilities at GO Transit and some government-operated parking lots, and will be allowed to park in special spots at some Wal-Marts and at the University of Toronto. The provincial government is offering the benefits as a way to reach Ontario's Electric Vehicle initiative goal of getting EVs to make up five percent of the fleet mix in Ontario by 2020.

[Source: Toronto Star]

Plug-in vehicles will get special license plate in Ontario next year originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perennial wishes: Auto industry execs calling for higher gas tax yet again

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy, Green Daily, USA

How often do the Wall Street Journal, Bill Ford, Jr. and Thomas Friedman agree on something? When it's the gas tax, it's 100 percent of the time, and now a number of auto executives have added their voices in favor of a gas tax in order to reach the end goal of getting more fuel efficient vehicles into use.

Speaking at the Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit, people like Jerry York, a former GM board member, and Mike Jackson, chief executive of AutoNation Inc., said that setting the price of gas at at least $4 a gallon would be a better way to get Americans to use less gasoline than giving out billions in loans and grants to develop new, more efficient technologies. Only with some pain at the pump, Jackson said, will car buyers care about fuel efficiency, adding that the best way to set the price floor would be with gradual gas tax increases until the $4 or $5 price limit is reached. Tim Leuliette, chief executive of supplier Dura Automotive, suggested that $8/gallon should be the target by 2020, stressing that the increases need to be telegraphed far in advance so that automakers and buyers can prepare for them. Rebates or other assistance for low income families should also be considered, the executives said.

Of course, any politician who pushes hard for these increase will likely face tremendous opposition and criticism, but these guys are making sense. How is it that the auto industry is so far ahead on this issue?

[Source: Forbes]
Photo by functoruser. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Perennial wishes: Auto industry execs calling for higher gas tax yet again originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker picks large distributor for European Karma sales, nearing UAW deal

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Green Daily, Europe/EU, Fisker

Fisker Karma - Click above for high-res image gallery

Further cementing its worldwide distribution plans, Fisker Automotive CEO Henrik Fisker said today that his company has selected "a large distributor" for European sales of its Karma plug-in hybrid and is also investigating a similar deal with "several importers" in China. The unnamed dealer has over 100 dealerships in Europe, Fisker told Reuters, adding that the distributor would be named soon, possibly tomorrow at the Zurich Auto Show. For more on Fisker's dealership strategy, especially in comparison to Tesla's, read this.

Fisker's future plans include making the $87,000 Karma in Finland and selling about 15,000 a year, half in the U.S. and half in other markets. The first Karmas should be delivered by mid-2010. The company recently purchased an unused GM plant in Delaware to build their next model, a $39,000 PHEV. The company also announced that a deal with the UAW regarding that plant should be in place before the end of the year. Thanks to Roy B. for the tip!

Gallery: Fisker Karma

[Source: Reuters]

Fisker picks large distributor for European Karma sales, nearing UAW deal originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Lots of local, green electricity possible for most of the U.S.

Sebastian Blanco — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hydrogen, Solar, Green Daily, USA

One of the reasons that a vehicle powered by something other than gasoline is such a popular idea in the U.S. is that it helps us become less reliant on other countries for our transportation needs. To this end, biofuels and electric vehicles offer great potential to use local sources of energy in our vehicles. To get a handle on how much green electricity - wind, geothermal, solar, etc. - is available in the U.S., the Insitute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) has conducted a study on renewable energy potential and came away with some amazing figures. The Energy Self-Reliant States study found that 31 states have the potential to produce more renewable energy in-state than they currently use and that another ten could make more than 75 of the amount. The state with the worst potential, Kentucky, could still meet 24 percent of its electricity needs using renewable energy.

The big problem with all of this potential is the cost of setting up the renewable energy production devices. Solar panels are not cheap, and wind farms have their own opponents. While no one expects Texas, for example, to make 533 percent more energy than it needs using renewable sources, ILSR shows that it's at least possible, and that should give hope to EV proponents (no more coal-powered grid!) and hydrogen vehicle fans (electrolyze water with green energy!) alike. Download the PDF of the study and see for yourself.

[Source: ISLR via Treehugger]

STUDY: Lots of local, green electricity possible for most of the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorcycle Industry Council: Two-wheelers are green

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:54:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, On Two Wheels, Green Daily

2010 Kawasaki Concours 14 - Click above to enlarge

We often hear debates about the merits of riding motorcycles and scooters for environmental reasons. For sure, older bikes manufactured before emissions equipment were prevalent are significantly more polluting than most modern automobiles. On the other hand, motorcycles are nearly always more fuel efficient than their four-wheeled counterparts and new motorcycles are pretty clean when it comes to emissions.

Ty van Hooydonk from the Motorcycle Industry Council has some input on the topic, and he highlights points such as the drastic reduction in raw material usage - including metals, plastics and engine fluids - and a major reduction in overall vehicle traffic.

These facts, coupled with the aforementioned low fuel consumption and greatly improved emissions controls make motorcycles, as Hooydonk calls them, "green machines." Somehow, we doubt this will be the last time we hear about this long-running debate, especially since Hooydonk says that motorcycling's green angle "is a message we're working harder to deliver out there."

[Source: Dealer News]

Motorcycle Industry Council: Two-wheelers are green originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coming Soon to an Automobile Near You: Plastic engines?

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Green Daily, Lightweight

Automakers and consumers alike all want lighter cars. "Adding lightness" has a lot of desirable effects, most notably in overall fuel efficiency and performance. While numerous efforts have been made to reduce the weight of automobiles - including downsizing, subtracting unnecessary components and using lightweight alloys and carbon fiber for structural bits - one item that's awfully hard to lighten without dire consequences is the engine.

Well, perhaps that's not entirely true after all. Apparently, Matti Holtzberg, an engineer and president of Polimotor Research, successfully designed and built a working engine made almost entirely from plastic. Holtzberg created a motor based on the 88-horsepower powerplant from a Ford Pinto that reduced weight from 415 pounds to just 152 while putting out an impressive 300 horsepower.

Polimotor has reportedly partnered up with the Huntsman Corporation of Houston in an effort to get plastic engine components such as the block, cylinder heads, pistons and rods into mass production. While electric motors and high-tech batteries seem ready to take over in the coming decades as the power sources of choice, plastic engines could potentially still be used as lightweight range-extending powerplants. Intriguing, no?

[Source: New York Times via The Kneeslider]

Coming Soon to an Automobile Near You: Plastic engines? originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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