AutoblogGreen

SAE World Congress: New Nissan gas-electric powerplant will boost Pathfiner, QX60 hybrids

Sebastian Blanco — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:36:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Infiniti, Nissan, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

At 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.

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SAE Congress: Evolve Hybrid Wheels give Ford Focus SE a 1.1 mpg boost

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:06:00 EST

Filed under: MPG, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

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.

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SAE Congress: Modified Chrysler Tigershark 2.0 engine previews E85-capable 2014 Dart

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:52:00 EST

Filed under: Ethanol, Dodge, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

On 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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Protean Electric shows off production-ready in-wheel electric-drive system

Danny King — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:55:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, SAE World Congress

Protean Electric is ready for the rubber to hit the road for its in-wheel electric-drive system. With one of those systems powering those tires, of course.

The Michigan-based company, which last year secured an $84-million funding round, is showing off the production version of its electric-drive propulsion system this week at the 2013 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit. The motor's most-recent iteration boosts torque from earlier iterations by 25 percent, up to a whopping 735 pound-feet of torque, not to mention delivering 100 horsepower. Each motor weighs just 68 pounds and, paired with a gas engine, can boost fuel economy by as much as 30 percent.

Protean Electric said last July that it would use its newfound funding to open a factory in Liyang, China. And last December, Car and Driver named the Protean Electric system one of the 10 Most Promising Technologies for 2013. Check out Protean Electric's press release below.

Continue reading Protean Electric shows off production-ready in-wheel electric-drive system

Protean Electric shows off production-ready in-wheel electric-drive system originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 17 Apr 2013 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: GE charges up Nissan's EV plans

Sebastian Blanco — Sun, 06 May 2012 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Nissan, SAE World Congress, Videos

Nissan and GE shared a booth at the SAE World Congress in Detroit recently to emphasize the way the two companies want to connects your car and various appliances to the emerging smart grid.

The common piece of equipment is the new WattStation, which is an electric vehicle charging station that - along with the companion piece of software called WattStation Connect - gives plug-in vehicle drivers "the ability to manage and set customer pricing for EV charging, provide access control at their facilities, generate valuable reports and engage with customers in new ways." Some of those new ways include powering your home from your electric car, keeping track of electricity usage and having the charging stations (when used publicly) talk to navigation software to broadcast availability. Rental company Hertz was also involved in the development of the WattStation Connect software. You can see a video of the WattStation at the Congress down below.

Nissan was also proudly displaying a placard about the expansion of the CHAdeMO fast-charging protocol. It said that when the CHAdeMO association was established in March, 2010, there were just six CHAdeMO DC quick charger manufacturers, all of them Japanese, and only 192 chargers were installed globally. Two years later, at the end of March 2012, there are 33 manufacturers and 1,071 DC quick chargers installed around the world. Those are good numbers for the charging protocol, but a challenger is coming in the form of a new, eight-automaker-approved alternative fast-charging standard being unveiled at EVS26 this week. How these two options will battle it out in the coming years will be most interesting to watch.

Continue reading SAE Congress: GE charges up Nissan's EV plans

SAE Congress: GE charges up Nissan's EV plans originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 06 May 2012 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: Applus Idiada E-Born3 electric vehicle concept model

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 03 May 2012 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

Kept under a glass case like a ship in a bottle, the E-Born3 from Applus Idiada at the 2012 SAE World Congress was never meant to roam free. Instead, this clever concept exists mostly to show off the engineering and design skills that Idiada can offer to automakers. But, hidden in the protective covering lies a model that puts various electric drive technologies together in an interesting way.

First, the shape of the electric bus concept is unlike anything like we've seen on the road before, and Idiada's promotional material for the E-Born3 says that the idea was to let functionality lead the design. Thanks to in-wheel motors, the interior is spacious and flexible. The second and third row of seats could be arranged like a living-room (face-to-face) or in the standard, forward facing way. The driver's seat could be set apart, for a chauffeur, or next to a passenger seat for family outings. The back is also big enough that it could hold bikes and two seats, perfect for taxing riders to the starting point of a race. The purely theoretical all-electric powertrain would provide a range of 200 kilometers (124 miles).

If it were built, the E-Born3 would be a commanding vehicle, coming in at over 4.3 meters (14 feet) long with a stormtrooper color scheme. We'd certainly like to see it shuttle people at big events like the Olympics or festivals, or even between airports and hotels.

To be fair, the E-Born3 is an old project, dating back a few years. But did what it was supposed to. Idiada's senior homologation engineer Ian Palmer told AutoblogGreen that Applus Idiada is now working for an automaker in some capacity on a smaller EV project. We know that Idiada was involved with Optimal Energy's Joule EV, so it seems people are interested in seeing what the company can do. You can, too, in the video below.

Continue reading SAE Congress: Applus Idiada E-Born3 electric vehicle concept model

SAE Congress: Applus Idiada E-Born3 electric vehicle concept model originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 03 May 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: Magna Flex4 offers slight fuel savings in a Land Rover LR2 [w/video]

Sebastian Blanco — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, MPG, Land Rover, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

Flex4 may sound like something sold during the 3 a.m. hour on advertorial television, but it's really Magna's part-time all-wheel drive system that offers the benefits of AWD with lower emissions than standard AWD. How? Because Flex4 can disengage the power going to the rear wheels when it determines that it isn't needed, changing the vehicle to a more-efficient two-wheel-drive ride. The AWD is also engaged every time the vehicle stops and, most of the time, when the vehicle goes above 30 miles per hour, the rear wheels disengage. Whenever the system detects a slippery road, the AWD reconnects in a few hundred milliseconds. The AWD also engages if there is a "yaw event" (i.e., a hard lane change). The benefit? A fuel economy improvement of around .8 to 1 mile per gallon compared to standard AWD systems.

Flex4 on display at the SAE World Congress was just a prototype, and is being designed to be purely automatic but it could theoretically be driver-selectable. At this stage, too, there is no estimated cost for such a system, but Magna knows that OEMs will be looking for ways to add AWD capability to vehicles even as CO2 emissions regulations get tighter and tighter. As a Tier 1 supplier, Magna says it is ready to start production of Flex4 now.

Magna has been working on Flex4 for at least two years, but not a lot of information about the system is available online. We did find one video about Flex4, which we've pasted down below, but it happens to be in German. Still, you can see Flex4 at work in all it's animated glory.

Continue reading SAE Congress: Magna Flex4 offers slight fuel savings in a Land Rover LR2 [w/video]

SAE Congress: Magna Flex4 offers slight fuel savings in a Land Rover LR2 [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 02 May 2012 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: Honda CR-Z Racer asks to move

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:03:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Honda, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress, Racing

The Honda CR-Z Racer is not a new car - a version of it took to Le Mans last summer - but we got to see it for the first time at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit and realized this thing is indeed ready for the track.

Compared to the street version of the CR-Z, the Racer has an improved powertrain that pairs an in-line, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine - 6,300 rpm redline - with an electric powertrain that uses nickel-cobalt magnesium batteries. The engine and the electric motor put out 200 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Oh, and the Racer also needs to burn high-octane unleaded racing fuel.

Inside, the Racer has only one seat (which leads to reduced mass, of course) and it has 17-inch racing tires at the corners. Thanks to an overall lower center of gravity and that spoiler, when we see this sporty hybrid, we just want to see what the car can do when it's moving.

SAE Congress: Honda CR-Z Racer asks to move originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: Protean Brabus Mercedes-Benz E-Class hybrid previews the future *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Mercedes Benz, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

Protean is back at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress at Cobo Hall this year with a new car showcasing the company's in-wheel motors: a modified Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The car was first seen in Frankfurt last year, and is making its North American debut this week in Detroit.

Protean's principal applications engineer, Tom Prucha, told AutoblogGreen the hybrid uses two in-wheel motors - one in each of the rear wheels - in what Prucha calls a through-the-axle hybrid setup. Both the 2.2-liter diesel engine under the hood and the in-wheel motors power the rear wheels, with the system deciding which powertrain to use at any given moment. The two in-wheel motors add over 200 horsepower and give the car an 0-62 acceleration time of 7.4 seconds while boosting fuel economy by up to 30 percent thanks in part to a 15-kWh lithium-ion battery.

Each in-wheel motor contains more than just the motors: brakes for regen and, unlike some competitors' in-wheel motors, an inverter. Now, putting all of that extra stuff into a wheel adds a lot of unsprung mass, which is usually considered a bad thing. As Ken Stewart, vice president of business development at Protean Electric, says in the video below, the amount of weight that the in-wheel motors add can be tuned out by adjusting other dynamic elements, like mounts, springs and struts. Prucha, too, said that dealing with unsprung mass has a lot to do with the overall weight ratio, not just that it exists. Plus, putting the unsprung mass into the wheels that aren't driving the vehicle helps. Companies that used to scoff at the idea of in-wheel motors are now coming around, Prucha said, adding that in-wheel motors are a question of when, not if.

Even if the negative issues are dealt with, the fact remains that in-wheel motors are not cheap. Prucha said the two in-wheel motors add around $50,000 to the $100,000 cost of a Brabus E-Class. Protean also made an all-electric E-Class, using four in-wheel motors, which would cost over $200,000. Still, that's the model that Brabus is potentially interested in selling, since some customers have expressed interest in buying such a car.

You can watch a video about Protean's motors right below. We rode in the prototype Ford F-150 fitted with in-wheel motors at last year's SAE World Congress and gotta admit, the E-Class looks like a lot more fun.

UPDATE: Prucha clarified to AutoblogGreen that the target price for the in-wheel motors, once production is ramped up in 18 months or two years, is $1,500 to $1,800 apiece. The prices quoted above are speculation about possible prices if Brabus would use the prototype motors.

Continue reading SAE Congress: Protean Brabus Mercedes-Benz E-Class hybrid previews the future *UPDATE

SAE Congress: Protean Brabus Mercedes-Benz E-Class hybrid previews the future *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: Chevy Volt OnStar 4G LTE Research Vehicle is networked to the gills

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:49:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, SAE World Congress

First displayed at CES earlier this year, GM brought its 4G LTE Chevrolet Volt demonstration vehicle to the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit this week. The car marries GM's OnStar telematics system with Verizon's 4G LTE data network to answer one question, according to OnStar's Dave Cheney: "If you had a high-bandwidth connection in a car at all times, what would you do with it?"

The all-good-news answer to that question is to stream all sorts of media from the cloud to the back seats: videos, video calls, etc. Via the built-in front screen, the car could also control networked appliances back home, things like lights, A/C units and garage doors. Also, the thing that makes this system different from just having two video screens in the back of the car is that driver can control what's on the back seat screens: starting or stopping apps, pausing media, adjusting volume, etc.

Cheney told AutoblogGreen that the details on how a system like this could be implemented in the real world are not really fleshed out since this is just a test project (an evolution of a Buick LaCrosse shown at the 2011 CES). It's clear even at this early stage that the idea of an in-car network creates something entirely different than a back-seat passenger simply bringing his own iPad, so you would need to tie the devices to the car somehow. But, Cheney said, it also doesn't make sense to force the customer to buy two tablet computers (Samsung devices, in the prototype) that only connect with the vehicle and are likely to become old technology well before the car's end of life. So, if you make the system work with any device brought into the car, how do you create an app that allows the driver to have control over the back-seat devices? And how do you prevent children from simply not using that app if they want to play a game that mom doesn't want them to play? OnStar has no solution to this question right now, but Cheney said that some customers will want a system that "just works."

Because the prototype vehicle is a Volt, the system integrates charging and smart grid information. Compared to the regular battery/charging information in a production Volt, Cheney said, this new system includes better navigation and the ability - should a particular charging station offer it - to reserve charge time.

Below, we've got a video of the system's debut and have also pasted GM's press release announcing this car in January.

Continue reading SAE Congress: Chevy Volt OnStar 4G LTE Research Vehicle is networked to the gills

SAE Congress: Chevy Volt OnStar 4G LTE Research Vehicle is networked to the gills originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE Congress: Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED)

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:56:00 EST

Filed under: AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

The biggest vehicle on the floor of the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit this week is the Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED) Bravo. As that name might suggest, yes, this is a military project. Also, the term "fuel-efficient" is relative: the FED only gets around 10 miles per gallon, depending on terrain. At the Aberdeen Proving Ground, it gets between an estimated 11.2 and 12.5 mpg. Going cross country, it's more like 7.3. Oh, and that's using JP-8 fuel. This is an 18-feet-long, 16,760-pound (GVW) military vehicle after all. If you were curious how, according to the Army, today's soldier uses an average of 22 gallons of gasoline a day, now you have an idea.

Still, the Army is proud of the FED Bravo, which made its public debut here in Cobo Hall. Engineers from the Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) worked with 18 students from the College for Creative Studies (CCS) on the design of the vehicle, including the "road-coupled parallel hybrid drive system" (aka, through-the-road hybrid). An electric motor drives the front wheels while the rear axle is connected to the hybrid powertrain that uses a Ford 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged, V8 diesel engine. A 22.5-kWh lithium-ion battery provides some zero-emission capability and the FED Bravo can provide power when needed. When in "tactical idle," the FED Bravo burns 0.49 gallons an hour.

The Army recently opened up a high-tech energy lab in Warren, MI.

Continue reading SAE Congress: Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED)

SAE Congress: Fuel Efficient Ground Vehicle Demonstrator (FED) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit CEOs speak up on efficiency and electrification

Gary Witzenburg — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:44:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Ford, GM, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress, At Witz End

Alan Mulally

In 2006, with the Ford Motor Co. losing boatloads of money, little cash on hand and little of interest in its product pipeline, then-CEO Bill Ford, Jr. announced a major restructuring and brought in Boeing executive vice president Alan Mulally as its new president and CEO. One of Mulally's first moves was to mortgage virtually all of the company's assets, including its buildings and the logos on them, to raise $23.4 billion for much-need product development.
This was seen by nearly all observers as extremely risky, and many wondered whether the company would survive. But that move - borrowing billions when corporate credit was still available - would ultimately enable Ford, unlike its Detroit rivals, to avoid the embarrassment of bankruptcy and government loans when the economic tsunami struck two years later.

Since then, the PR benefit of avoiding bankruptcy and a string of appealing new products, Ford has recovered very well. And, despite still-substantial debt and higher UAW wage rates vs. post-bankruptcy General Motors and Chrysler, it's doing fine today.

No surprise, then, that Mulally has been named 2011 Automotive Executive of the Year by a group of auto industry media, analysts and supplier CEOs. Past recipients of the award, which is sponsored by DNV Business Assurance, Johnson Controls, DuPont and Visteon, have included Elon Musk, James O'Sullivan, Jim Press, Carroll Shelby, Bill Ford, Jr., Dieter Zetsche, Henry Ford II, Rick Wagoner, Bob Lutz, Carlos Ghosn, John DeLorean and Lee Iacocca.

"We are fighting for the soul of American manufacturing and competing with the best in the world," Mulally told the April 13 award luncheon at the Detroit Athletic Club. He said he feels good about having joined his fellow Detroit automaker CEOs in testifying to that (incredibly ignorant and arrogant) Congressional committee in 2008 and would do it again, because the future of the industry was at stake. "If GM and Chrysler had gone down, they would have taken the suppliers with them. We would have gone from recession to depression."

Then he opened the floor to questions. Among the first was his take on the industry's future. "Clearly, we're going to be paying more for gas," he responded, "so our focus on fuel efficiency is of utmost importance. Plus more alternate fuels: cellulosic ethanol, CNG, diesel, hydrogen and electrification with options - battery electrics, hybrids, plug-in hybrids - all built on the same assembly line to keep costs down." He added that battery size, weight and cost will have to come down from the current 700-800 pounds and $15,000.

Continue reading Detroit CEOs speak up on efficiency and electrification...

Continue reading Detroit CEOs speak up on efficiency and electrification

Detroit CEOs speak up on efficiency and electrification originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 14:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study ranks most efficient powertrains, lowest energy consumption chassis * UPDATE

Eric Loveday — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:09:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, MPG, Ford, Mercury, Toyota, SAE World Congress

Toyota Highlander Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery

During the 2011 SAE World Congress, Clark Hochgraf - associate professor of electrical, computer and telecom engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology - presented a study that examined the powertrain and braking efficiency (PABE) and vehicle limited fuel consumption (VLFC) of light-duty automobiles. The study ranked the most efficient powertrains and the lowest energy consumption chassis based on these criteria outlined by Green Car Congress:

VLFC represents the minimum amount of fuel a vehicle consumes to complete a given drive cycle; in computing VLFC, the powertrain is assumed to have 100 percent efficiency and the braking system is considered lossless.
PABE characterizes the powertrain for the effect of powertrain energy conversion efficiency and for regenerative braking efficiency. The powertrain and braking efficiency metric characterizes the powertrain system, for both forward propulsion characteristics and for braking characteristics. PABE is affected by hybridization, by engine efficiency, by accessory loads (i.e. air conditioning and lighting) and by powertrain operating strategies including non-hybrid strategies.

The study concluded that the lowest energy consumption chassis of 2010 model year vehicles - computed using the VLFC method - were the Toyota Prius, Suzuki SX4, Toyota Yaris, Honda Civic Hybrid and the Kia Rio.

The most efficient powertrains on the ~~city and~~ highway driving cycle - computed using PABE - were the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Ford Taurus, Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Ford Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Milan. That's a hodgepodge of vehicles that we've never before seen listed as being equipped with the most efficient powertrains, but when you assume 100 percent efficiency and lossless systems, strange things happen.

*UPDATE: Clark Hochgraf has provided clarification regarding the vehicles with the most efficient powertrains. As it turns out, the most efficient powertrains on the city driving cycle - computed using PABE - were the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Mercury Milan, Mercury Mariner Hybrid and the Ford Escape Hybrid. Hit the jump for Hochgraf's detailed explanation of why hybrid vehicles dominant the city cycle list.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

Continue reading Study ranks most efficient powertrains, lowest energy consumption chassis * UPDATE

Study ranks most efficient powertrains, lowest energy consumption chassis * UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EcoCAR2 wants cleaner, greener batch of cars of from college kids

Eric Loveday — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Chevrolet, SAE World Congress

At the 2011 SAE World Congress in Detroit, MI, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) assistant secretary for policy and international affairs, David Sandalow, announced the official launch of EcoCAR 2: Plugging into the Future. This three-year competition, established by the DOE and General Motors, pits sixteen university teams against each other in a head-to-head battle to construct and demonstrate vehicles and powertrains that, when compared to production gasoline-fueled vehicles:

Reduce fuel consumption
Reduce well-to-wheel and greenhouse gas emissions
Maintain consumer acceptability in the areas of performance, utility and safety

Those are the guidelines, and students are allowed to get creative to achieve the goals. Some of the participating universities will use electric powertrains and advanced battery technologies to reduce or eliminate fuel consumption, while others will consider using fuels like hydrogen, ethanol or biodiesel. All of the teams will start with a Chevrolet Malibu donor vehicle.

Year One of the EcoCAR 2 competition begins with modeling and simulation to develop vehicle architecture. In Year Two, teams incorporate the powertrains into vehicles. Then, in Year Three, teams refine their vehicles to near-production levels. Hit the jump for more on the EcoCAR2 competition.

[Source: Department of Energy, EcoCAR2]

Continue reading EcoCAR2 wants cleaner, greener batch of cars of from college kids

EcoCAR2 wants cleaner, greener batch of cars of from college kids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM's Larry Nitz says public charging stations aren't really necessary

Eric Loveday — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Chevrolet, GM, SAE World Congress

When plug-in vehicles are not cruising down the road, "they're home and they're at work" says Larry Nitz, General Motors' executive director-hybrid and electric powertrain. That's precisely why Nitz told Ward's Auto (sub. req.) at the 2011 SAE World Congress that recharging a plug-in automobile in retail parking lots while shopping is "inconsequential."

Nitz says plug-in vehicles will predominantly be charged at two locations - at home and at work. Nitz refers to the work charge as the "golden charge" and says that it could occur "five days a week" and be a "meaningful charge." For that reason, Nitz supports the installation of charging stations at workplaces.

But Frank Wong, a spokesman for AeroVironment, sort of disagrees. Wong claims that it's "presumptuous" to draw any conclusions when plug-in vehicles are just starting to hit the market, stating that, "It's still early to know exactly which business model makes the most sense." So, whose side are you on?

[Source: Ward's Auto - sub. req.]

GM's Larry Nitz says public charging stations aren't really necessary originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE 2011: Genovation's G2 model is a plan for the future (and $60,000 electric cars)

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:50:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, SAE World Congress

Genovation G2 Model - Click above for high-res image gallery

We first met the new G2 from Genovation back in January, when the company formally announced it had completed the first phase of its G2 Electric Car program. This week in Detroit at the SAE World Congress, we caught up with Genovation CEO Andrew Saul to see what's been happening since then and to find out what the plan is for the EV start-up company.

First, meet the G2: a two-door, four-seat vehicle that will come in two versions: an all-electric with 100 miles of range (that's 100 miles with all the accessories, including A/C or heat, turned on, Saul said) and a range-extended version that goes 50 miles per charge and than can go 250-300 miles on a gas tank. That all sounds fine and dandy, but here's the bad news: the G2 will cost around $60,000 (at least at first; it could come down in time).

How can an unknown electric car for 60k compete with EVs from established automakers? Saul said the answer can be expressed in one word: performance. The G2 will be able to do 0-60 in under seven seconds and has a suspension tuned for the people who like to put the pedal to the metal. Saul said Genovation is "not trying to compete with the Leaf or the Volt. This is a fun vehicle that doesn't compromise." Saul looked at Fisker and Tesla and realized that Tesla does now offer a range extender (of course, the Roadster can already go 200+ miles and the Model S will be able to hit 300+) and the Fisker Karma "is a four-door, heavy sedan" that costs more than the G2. Plus, at $60,000 a pop, Saul said the project could be profitable if it sells 3,000 vehicles a year.

Saul said that Genovation is currently rewriting the business and production plans. If all goes well, the company could move to Phase Two in the next two to six months. Genovation wants to build 12 prototypes for cold- and hot-weather testing, endurance tests and noise/vibration/handling improvements. In late 2013, Genovation could be taking deposits for the car and deliver the first vehicles in 2014. Saul said the goal is to assemble the car in Maryland, but "we will listen to what other states have to offer."

Genovation is based in Maryland, but hired global company Tata Technologies to work on the car and Tata subcontracted some work to Metalsa (which worked on the frame) and Dana Corp (the thermal management). Tata also ran the G2 through simulated crash tests and Saul said the car "performed very well." Even with all this outside help, the G2 is Genovation's own design and it's aerodynamic shape gives the G2 a Cd of .2, "which is very competitive," Saul said. Genovation is using its homestate ties to the fullest, applying for Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) to get money to bring the car to market. You can read an old press release from Genovation describing the plan - and suggesting that only 1,000 units would need to be sold a year to be profitable - after the jump.

[Source: Genovation]

Continue reading SAE 2011: Genovation's G2 model is a plan for the future (and $60,000 electric cars)

SAE 2011: Genovation's G2 model is a plan for the future (and $60,000 electric cars) originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SAE 2011: Mobi.E ready to charge up 600,000 electric cars in Portugal, and beyond

Sebastian Blanco — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:49:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Nissan, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Legislation and Policy, SAE World Congress, Europe/EU

After flirting with Better Place back in 2008, Portugal got serious about promoting electric vehicles in 2009. That's when the first discussions about what would become the Mobi.E charging network took place. These talks encompassed how best to get ready for EVs with new legislation and tax incentives, developing new technology and how to coordinate a payment network so that chargers become like ATMs - universally available to anyone.

See, Mobi.E, while technically the "Portuguese electric mobility consortium," is really just a big tent for governments, utilities and companies to coordinate their plans for plug-in vehicles. The group has set some big targets for itself, but also has a clear road map to get there. The next big step? Finishing the installation of 1,300 public Level 2 chargers across the country by June (and another 50 DC Fast Chargers along the highways not long after that). The furthest distance between any of these charge points will be 80 miles, so drivers of today's EVs can rest assured that they will be able to charge up whenever necessary. This is especially true since, right now, there are only about 100 electric vehicles in Portugal. Talk about solving the chicken and egg problem.

In December, Mobi.E became the first commercial Leaf customer in Europe, taking delivery of nine Nissan Leafs, one of which went to the Prime Minister. At the SAE World Congress in Detroit this week, we spoke with Mobi.E's Renato Pereira and José Henriques, the CEO and President of Park Charge, one of the partner companies, and they said that there are thousands of hand raisers in the country, so as soon as the automakers can deliver the cars, people will buy them. In fact, Mobi.E thinks that there is the potential to have a full ten percent of all vehicles in Portugal be pure electric by 2020. That's not ten percent of the vehicles sold in 2020, the way we usually hear targets a decade out. No, Pereira and Henriques say that 600,000 EVs could be roaming the roads in 2020, out of a national fleet of around six million vehicles. That's what we call an aggressive target.

Continue reading about Mobi.E...

Gallery: Portugal's Mobi.E Charging Network

Continue reading SAE 2011: Mobi.E ready to charge up 600,000 electric cars in Portugal, and beyond

SAE 2011: Mobi.E ready to charge up 600,000 electric cars in Portugal, and beyond originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lightweight, frameless Uni-Chassis unveiled at SAE World Congress

Eric Loveday — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Emerging Technologies, MPG, SAE World Congress, Lightweight

Theodore and Associates has unveiled the Uni-Chassis, a lightweight, frameless body-on-chassis design at the 2011 SAE World Congress in Detroit, MI. The Uni-Chassis is claimed to be a low-cost alternative to both the traditional body-on-frame and unibody designs.

Chris Theodore, president of Theodore and Associates, says that the Uni-Chassis consists of three elements: a front structure that takes suspension loads; a rear structure that incorporates the transaxle as a structural component and a tubular backbone that connects the front and rear structures. Theodore sees the Uni-Chassis design as ideal for low-volume specialty cars and plug-in vehicles.

To keep weight at a minimum, the Uni-Chassis is made from aluminum extrusions and its tubular backbone can even be made from carbon fiber. Despite the use of lightweight materials, Theodore claims that the Uni-Chassis design also offers world-class torsional and structural rigidity, stating:

Using Finite Element Analysis, we optimized the backbone design to achieve more than 13,000 foot-pounds per degree torsional stiffness and 47,000 pounds per inch bending stiffness. That's better than most supercars.

Theodore aims to have a running Uni-Chassis-based vehicle, built with Ford GT parts and a Shelby Cobra 427 body, ready for testing this fall. We'll have more on the Uni-Chassis and Theodore from the show floor later.

[Source: Green Car Congress]

Lightweight, frameless Uni-Chassis unveiled at SAE World Congress originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FEV to show ultra-efficient, Euro 6-compliant 1.6-liter diesel engine at SAE World Congress

Eric Loveday — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:03:00 EST

Filed under: Diesel, Emerging Technologies, SAE World Congress

Advanced powertrain developer FEV, Inc., will show off its High Efficiency Combustion System (HECS) diesel engine at the 2011 SAE World Congress. The HECS engine features advanced and conventional technologies to achieve low CO2 emissions and a 17-percent reduction in fuel consumption, while meeting Euro 6 emissions standards without an exhaust gas aftertreatment system.

FEV's second-generation HECS system has been adapted to a downsized 1.6L four-cylinder diesel engine. It's designed to offer specific power output of more than 100 kW/L (136 horsepower per liter). To achieve this level of power, FEV engineers designed a cylinder head that incorporates a unique variable valve lift system and equipped the engine with two-stage turbocharging. FEV's HECS system supposedly improves the gas exchange and significantly lowers charge temperatures, which leads to leaner air-fuel ratios and "ultra-low" CO2 emissions.

FEV's HECS diesel engine will be on display from April 12-14 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, MI.

[Source: FEV, Inc.]

Continue reading FEV to show ultra-efficient, Euro 6-compliant 1.6-liter diesel engine at SAE World Congress

FEV to show ultra-efficient, Euro 6-compliant 1.6-liter diesel engine at SAE World Congress originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPA still not settled on MPG labels for plug-ins, Volt unlikely to get 230 mpg

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:53:00 EST

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, MPG, Chevrolet, GM, SAE World Congress

Last week at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit, we spoke with Dr. Pete Savagian of General Motors about what the Chevrolet Volt's fuel economy sticker would look like. Last summer, former GM CEO Fritz Henderson made a big splash when he announced that the Volt was getting approximately 230 miles per gallon combined. However, that number was based on a draft proposal by the EPA for a testing methodology for plug-in vehicles.

That proposal has never been made public, although it was believed to include running through the 11-mile test cycle repeatedly until the battery was depleted and then going through the cycle once more. The fuel consumption was then calculated based on the fuel used and the total miles driven. The 230 mpg figure drew a lot of criticism as being unrealistic and, for many drivers, it would be. For people who drive short distances and charge their car regularly, it could be a conservative figure.

With only six months to go until Volt production begins, the EPA still has not finalized the mileage calculation procedure for these vehicles. The results you get are highly dependent on the driving duty cycle and a panel discussion on the subject of ratings at the SAE Congress did little to clarify things. Savagian is confident that the EPA will finalize a test and labeling procedure soon. They'd better, because by law all new cars are required to carry an MPG sticker, and November will be here before we know it.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

EPA still not settled on MPG labels for plug-ins, Volt unlikely to get 230 mpg originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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