We Obsessively Cover the Green Scene…

Google's autonomous fleet has been clandestinely racking up the computer-driven miles, and so far, their autonomous autos have been fault-free. One minor incident happened when a car was rear-ended, but the Skynet Google cars have yet to incur any points on their virtual licenses. Earlier this week, ABC News got the chance to go for a spin in one of the tech company's automated cars, riding shotgun in a computer-controlled Toyota Prius.

The engineers from Google explain that the Prius utilizes a series of cameras and a roof-mounted, spinning laser to see what is going on around it. The result is a vehicle which might just be safer than one with a human behind the wheel. However, according to the report, the goal of the system is not to completely remove the driver from the equation, the system is pitched as more of a "super cruise-control" than a full auto-drive system. The theory is that it would be useful for traffic-filled commutes to and from work, and it might be a nice solution to eliminate or reduce distracted-driving. Get a phone call? Hit the Google button and let the car have the wheel while you take your call.

Becky Worley, the news correspondent in the video clip, even gets up the guts to give the Google car a real-life brake test. She steps in front of it as it's motoring down the road. What happens? The car "sees" her and slams on the binders. Check it all out in the video after the jump.

[Source: ABC News]

Most of the current crop of electric vehicles (EVs) scheduled to hit the market soon are not optimized to apply the full benefits of the electric powertrain. Why's that? Well, many of the existing and upcoming EVs, like the Tesla Roadster, Ford Focus BEV and Coda Sedan, are simply electric retrofits of existing gasoline-powered vehicles. This approach allows automakers to bring battery-powered vehicles to market in a flash, but it overlooks design aspects that could make EVs far better. This line of thinking is not new. In fact, most dedicated hybrids perform significantly better than models that are commonly referred to as retrofits, but what exactly makes ground-up EVs superior to the range of upcoming retrofit models?

Tesla Motors chief executive officer, Elon Musk, spoke with Automotive News and described the issue with retrofit EVs like this:

I don't think any manufacturer, Tesla included, has really designed a car to optimize the electric powertrain. It's a bit like the early days of automobiles where you had horseless carriages. It works, of course. You can take a carriage and put an engine on it and you can drive around, but it's not the best way to use an internal combustion engine.

Musk went on to state that virtually any EV that carries its battery pack above the floorpan is flawed design. Instead, he suggests that the Model S is an example of design done right, stating:

That's why, for example, we've got the battery pack in the floorpan as an integrated part of the chassis. This is an important point. You don't want to carry the battery pack like a sack of potatoes.

Furthermore, designing an electric vehicle from the ground up allows automakers to rethink the entire process. In some situations, interior space can be increased by swiping room that was previously afforded for items like the vehicle's exhaust and firewall. Of course, anything purpose-built is bound to improve upon a retrofit models, but exactly how much improvement should we really expect?



[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

We first reported about the Nissan Leaf drive electric tour back in September and it is now well underway. We had the pleasure of attending the Anaheim event this past weekend and thought it appropriate to share some pictures and give readers an idea of what to expect if they make it out to Nissan's educational party (see schedule here).

Having been to countless other 'drive' events in the past, we were surprised at the different approach Nissan took at this event. Educating the attendees seemed to be at the forefront of the presenters' minds, with a multi-room setup dedicated to teaching potential customers about how the electric vehicle works, how it charges and all its nifty features. The guided presentation was obligatory, and took about 30 minutes. There wasn't much new information that regular readers won't already know, but we did get to see a beta version of the Leaf iPhone app as well as the included extension cable for impromptu charging (see the gallery below for more).

A pleasant surprise was that the test drive took place on public roads instead of simply an empty parking lot. The full loop consisted of 1.8 miles of city driving. Our impressions of the car were about what we expected. It has good initial torque at slower speeds (up to about 40 miles per hour), but seemed to taper off from there. The ride seems very quiet and refined, although taking a right turn at above average speed resulted in tire squeal that we weren't expecting and don't think would happen in, say, a third-gen Prius. We did make it a point to reset the trip odometer in the hopes of seeing the energy consumption after the drive, however, resetting the trip apparently does not allow you to see the energy consumption for that segment. The energy consumption has to be reset within the touch screen system – just a heads up to anyone attending future events. The system on the Leaf we drove showed 34 miles driven since the last reset and had an energy consumption of 3.8 miles/kWh (268 Wh/mi). That would translate into a full-battery range of 91 miles. Anyone else have an experience to share?



Photos by Jonas Dalidd / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Did General Motors lie or didn't they? The media and public got extremely swept up by the fact that GM told the world its range-extended electric vehicle would not use the on-board internal combustion engine to power the wheels, when it will under certain conditions. This bit of news has blown up in the General's face, but does it change the fact that the Volt is still a pretty amazing piece of automotive engineering? Motor Trend spent a couple of weeks with one and came away impressed by what the Chevrolet Volt could do. In fact, lead flip-flop lead-foot Jonny Lieberman scored some seat time and was able to hit 127 miles per gallon.

The 127 mpg figure was achieved over a variety of Los Angeles city streets, canyon roads and highways. During the trip, the car ran out of battery power and the gasoline engine quietly turned on to give it more juice. Not to the wheels, but to the battery. If the car gets up over 70 miles per hour, then the ICE will send a small amount of power to the wheels, but by doing so it makes the car more efficient.

The M/T editors took the car on another trip and really tried to push it hard. They ran the Volt up to its 101 mph top speed, had the A/C cranked and traveled across some hilly terrain. The result? The Chevy returned nearly 75 mpg. MT feels the takeaway from its time with the Volt is that the car is incredibly efficient and the fact that the gasoline engine occasionally pitches in doesn't make it any less remarkable of a vehicle.



Photos Copyright ©2010 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Motor Trend]

The way General Motors will deal with the separate emissions regulations for California and the rest of the U.S. is by offering the Chevrolet Volt in at different powertrain flavors by 2012. Tony Posawatz, the vehicle line director for the Volt, explained these three slightly different powertrains to AutoblogGreen:

• First, we'll have the standard, 50-state Volt that is coming out later this year.
• We'll also get a version that meets California's Enhanced Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (enh-ATPZEV) standard
• Finally, there will be an E85-capable Volt

We've heard about all of these models before, but Posawatz said GM will introduce the enhAT-PZEV Volt in early 2012 – or "around that time frame" – and that the vehicle will qualify for HOV lane access in California. Another tweak is that the enhAT-PZEV rules require any car with that designation to have a battery with a 10-year, 150,000-mile warranty, "and we have no problem with that," Posawatz said. The standard Volt battery will have an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Anyone in the U.S. will be able to check a box on the Volt order form and order the enhAT-PZEV package, but pricing for this version and other details have not been decided.

Posawatz also talked about how the Volt will attempt to prevent overloading the local grid. The Volt's software charging options allow drivers to set up a "charge by departure time." This option will then pick a random time between the present and your departure time to start charging the battery. By choosing a random time, instead of kicking in as soon as nighttime rates begin, the system will stagger the times when all the plugged-in cars on the block draw down a lot of juice. In effect, Posawatz said, this will prevent a new evening spike while still making sure your car has a full battery when you need it for work in the morning. This is not a new idea (see an in-depth paper on the idea here), but it is a good one.



[Source: GM]

The fight over the ethanol blend in the U.S.' gasoline continues to wage on, even after yesterday's EPA decision that E15 will be fine in post-2007 vehicles. Last month, a study commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) concluded that E15 would be just fine for older vehicles on the road, but refiners might still be reluctant to sell gasoline blended with higher concentrations of ethanol to the retail market. Who knew that changing the ethanol blend level from 10 to 15 percent would be so difficult?

Here's another issue for refiners to concerned about: liability. Both Valero, the largest U.S. refiner, and Marathon Oil Co. have expressed concerns that selling gasoline with increased ethanol content may leave them liable if long-term engine damage occurs. The EPA's decision on raising the allowable percentage of ethanol in gasoline has come, but without liability protection, refiners may choose to stick with the proven E10. Indeed, refiners have no obligation to blend E15 and may choose never to do so, but we'd bet that the EPA will find some way to entice refineries to make the switch. That is, if it ever grants E15 as an approved blend for more vehicles.

[Source: Bloomberg]

In a regulatory filing submitted on Wednesday, Tesla Motors revealed that it has signed a $60 million contract with Toyota to develop electric powertrain components for a battery-powered RAV4. This agreement states that Tesla will develop the battery, power electronics module, electric motor, gearbox and software for the popular crossover. The filing builds upon an earlier announcement when Toyota and Tesla stated their intentions to partner on the development of future electric vehicles.

Tesla's filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reads:

On October 6, 2010, Tesla Motors, Inc. ("Tesla") entered into a Phase 1 Contract Services Agreement (the "Agreement") with Toyota Motor Corporation ("TMC") for the development of a validated powertrain system, including a battery, power electronics module, motor, gearbox and associated software, which will be integrated into an electric vehicle version of the RAV4. Pursuant to the Agreement, based on preliminary specifications, TMC will pay Tesla approximately $60 million for the development services to be provided by Tesla. The parties will mutually agree to the final specifications, deliverables and payment amounts and schedule within 60 days of the execution of the Agreement. This amount will be paid in various installments during the term of the Agreement.

Previous reports suggest that a production version of the electric RAV4 should be ready to whiz down the streets by 2012, but we should get a first glimpse of a the RAV4 EV prototype at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month. Hit the jump the read Tesla's formal filing in its entirety. Hat tip to VFX!



[Source: Securities and Exchange Commission]

Fiat wants Americans to forget the negative stigma that's often been associated with the Italian brand here in the States and hopes that out market heralds the adorable 500 as the dawn of a new era for both Chrysler and partner Fiat. one big question is whether the 500, a car which will compete with the likes of the Mini Cooper, Ford Fiesta and other aspiring newcomers, will be a success? Fiat most certainly hopes so, but there are others who would seem to disagree.

Fiat announced that it expects North American sales of the 500 to peak at 78,000 units by 2013, but some dealers and even a few industry analysts believe that the Italian automaker is being optimistic. Rebecca Lindland, an analyst at IHS Automotive, says her firm projects Fiat 500 sales will hit a ceiling of 40,000 in 2012 and then fall off after that. IHS based its numbers on other small vehicles and their success, or lack thereof, on U.S. turf. For example, the Mini Cooper, backed by bundles of BMW marketing support, peaked at 54,077 sales in 2008. Meanwhile, Smart has been much less successful. The fortwo hit a high of 24,622 sales in 2008 before tumbling to just 14,592 in 2009.

Since the 500 falls somewhere between the size of the Mini Cooper and Smart fortwo, Fiat's goal of 78,000 sales, in a market that historically goes crazy for something a bit more supersized, seems beyond reach. We'll find out soon enough.



[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Hyundai has announced that its 2011 Sonata Hybrid will be eligible for a full $1,300 tax credit. The electrified mid-size sedan officially goes on sale later this year, and the company says that the first 60,000 buyers will be able to walk away with the juicy credit in their pockets. There is a hitch, though: the program for federal tax credits on hybrid vehicles wraps up on December 31, 2010. All signs point to sales of the Sonata Hybrid kicking off in December, leaving buyers just one very short, expense-laden month to pounce on the tax credit.

Even so, the Sonata Hybrid remains one of only a handful of mid-size hybrid sedans still eligible for the credit. Competitors like the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid have all either burnt up their tax credits or are no longer for sale. If you're looking for 36 miles per gallon city and 40 mpg highway plus a little buying assistance from the government, it might be time to get to know your local Hyundai dealer.



[Source: Kicking Tires]

Lexus Tries To Build A Better European Luxury Hatchback


"Stealing" seems a touch harsh, so let's go with "uninformed borrowing" instead. After all, Lexus did hand me the keys to a U.S.-spec CT 200h hybrid, along with a vetted and approved route book through Northern France, but I had different plans. I was on a mini-mission.

You see, the wife doesn't ask much when I travel abroad. A phone call or two a day, keep hydrated and avoid the brothels. A simple list. But when she caught wind I'd be in France for the Paris Motor Show, she requested one thing: macaroons. Specifically, the meringue confections from Paris' world-famous Ladurée.

So with a willing driving partner and the sat-nav set to a location a few blocks from the Arc de Triomphe, we headed south to snag some pastries and give Lexus' hybrid hatch a thorough testing in its natural (read: European) environment.

Continue reading...



Photos copyright ©2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt (and we'll let you decide which of those two categories General Motors' green halo car fits into...) promise to save drivers money on fuel bills. But, just as operating expenses for traditional cars rises and falls with the price of gas, so too will battery-powered cars vary in their running costs as electric utility rates fluctuate.

GM has announced a new website for Chevrolet Volt owners called MyVolt.com that seeks to help consumers keep their electric charging rates in check. Statistics for battery usage and fuel economy will be transferred to the user's Facebook and Twitter accounts, and utility companies are expected to use this data to help owners choose times to plug their cars into the grid. These utility companies can also make sure their power grids are up to the challenge of keeping EVs on the road.

Other techy benefits offered to Volt owners include a display to show whether the car is plugged in (and whether it's charging at 120 or 240 volts), the creation of a charging schedule to make use of the best rates and the ability to monitor current battery state of charge and predicted range. One intriguing feature will allow OnStar to create its own charging schedule where the program will choose the lowest rates possible in order to achieve a full charge by a set time.

There will also be a provision to remotely start the Volt to get the interior up to a set temperature, and future updates will allow further customization of the car, such as setting radio presets. Want to know more? Check out the official press release after the break.



[Source: General Motors]

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) is about as simple as, well, filling you car up with gas (maybe simpler). The energy going into the vehicle might be quite different, but the task of plugging in is a piece of cake and will remind drivers of filling up at today's pump. It's not like it takes some genius engineer or rocket scientist to figure out how to plug in a cord that sends the juice flowing into a battery-powered vehicle, but just in case plug-in buyers need some further guidance, General Motors posted a step-by-step video demonstrating the process. It's really quite easy: grab the cord from that nifty 240-volt wall-mounted charger. Walk over to your Chevrolet Volt. Swing open the access panel, insert plug and wait. Before you know it, the charging is done. If you're still a little leery about the process, then Chevrolet's instructional charging video posted after the jump should ease your inhibitions.

[Source: YouTube]

Verizon has contracted with Steelweld Equipment Co. to convert 300 of its not-so-clean Ford E-250 cargo vans over to run on compressed natural gas. The wireless service provider claims that converting just 300 vans to run on CNG will reduce its emissions by an astounding 480 tons per year. The converted vans will swing into duty in Southern California and be utilized by area technicians who install TV, broadband and phone services.

In addition, Verizon's New Jersey fleet will soon become a whole lot greener when 260 hybrids join the stable. The hybrids will include Toyota sedans, Chevrolet pickup trucks and a handful of mild hybrid aerial fiber splicing trucks. The 300 CNG-fueled vans and 260 hybrids are among the 1,600-plus alternative energy vehicles that Verizon hopes to add to its nationwide fleet by year's end. Hit the jump for more on Verizon's grand plans to to green up its expansive fleet of vehicles.

[Source: Verizon]

A little number on your friendly local gas station pump might be about to change. Instead of 10 percent (E10), America's national gasoline supply can now contain up to 15 percent ethanol blended in (E15), following an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency today. The caveat, for now, is that this fuel is only to be used in cars built since 2007.

So, that means that there could easily be five liquid fuels at a single gas station: ethanol-free gasoline, E10, E15, E85 and diesel – and this isn't counting different octane blends of "standard" gas. The EPA says there will be a new sticker for the E15 pumps to mitigate "misfueling conditions." It also means that some gas station owners are saying they're not too interested in adding E15 pumps right now. USA Today says it is likely the EPA will approve E15 for older vehicles after more tests are conducted this month. The USDA – which cares because so much domestically grown corn is used to make the ethanol – and the ethanol industry support the EPA's decision. The CEO of ethanol company Poet, Jeff Broin, said in a statement that:

The arguments being made right now against E15 are the same as those made about E10 back in the late 1980s, when I entered the ethanol industry. Seventy billion gallons later, we have proven those arguments false, just as research on E15 is proving critics wrong today.

For the past 18 months or so, the E10/E15 story has been hard-fought, with supporters for the increased biofuel content will be fine in most any vehicles on the road today and opponents saying there needs to be more testing because of warranty concerns. The Renewable Fuels Association took a particularly strong stand.

[Source: USA Today, EPA, USDA]