Archive for August 25th, 2008
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Green Daily
The idea behind the Hinterland 1 concept car is efficiency. This is by no means new in the realm of automotive design, but rarely has a low coefficient of drag looked so, well, aggressive. Put a turret on top of this thing and it could be used to scare children to bed every night. My opinions aside, the idea behind the Hinterland 1 is really a pleasant thing, and the car’s Canadian designers at The Creative Unit and Higgins-Aubé have designed what could be an iconic new eco-friendly ride.
If everything were to work out as predicted (thus far, the Hinterland 1 is nothing but sketches and renderings), the all-electric car would move down the street with a Prius-beating drag coefficient of less than 0.25. As the designers say, “At 120 km/hr, drag accounts for 75% of the fuel consumption, with rolling resistance accounting for the remaining 25% (source: VW-Golf). The importance of an aerodynamic design is crucial for this environmentally friendly vehicle.” It’s no surprise that making a vehicle slippery is key to reducing fuel use.
The Creative Unit envisions two models - one with two seats called the “Mini” and a “Van” that holds six - with a annual capacity of 20,000 vehicles a year. The distinctive look is good for more than fuel savings, writes Martin Aubé, the CEO and Industrial Designer at The Creative Unit: “This original form is also an attempt to find a characteristic image for a Canadian economy electric car that could become a recognizable national icon, rather like our distinctive and characteristic emblems.” Take off, eh.
More - much more - after the break. H/t to Rory.
[Source: Ecofriend, Coroflot]
Continue reading Looks of a aerotank, heart of a hybrid: the Hinterland 1 concept car
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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Manufacturing/Plants, Zap, USA
It looks as though the passing of Xebra-friendly laws and promises of millions of dollars in tax incentives will result in the building of an million ZAP! factory in Kentucky. The governor of the bluegrass state, Steve Beshear, is expected to announce a deal between ZAP! and Integrity Manufacturing Inc. later today that could eventually result in up to 4,000 jobs (according to Integrity) with salaries averaging /hr. The new plant would give the California-based electric vehicle company a domestic manufacturing facility at which to produce its three-wheeled Xebra as well as the long-touted reverse tricycle Alias and future models. The new factory is to be sited at the Wilkey Industrial Park in Franklin County and possibly be as large as a million sq.ft. According to a local news blog, the deal has its critics who question the viability of the project as well as ZAP’s commitment. Time, we suppose, will be the final arbiter but in the interim we’ll keep you up to speed on all the details as they emerge.
[Source: WHAS11 Political Blog]
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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, European Union, Japan, USA
The world’s number one rechargeable battery maker is seeking out new automotive clients in an attempt to stay on top of the heap. With its competitor, Matsushita (Panasonic), snapping at its heels with plans to triple output, Sanyo is on the hunt for new contracts from auto manufacturers. Sanyo’s nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are already in the Ford Escape hybrid but it is lithium ion where the company will no doubt want to focus its efforts, especially given that companies like Audi seem keen on the newer tech. They are also currently investing billions in that effort.
Using something of a shotgun approach, Sanyo says it’s in talks with 5 or 6 different companies on three different continents.They had already been cooperating with Volkswagen on lithium ion batteries for hybrids coming to market in 2010. Volkswagen is also presumed to use that company’s batteries for its planned all-electric vehicles as well. In a boast to Reuters, Sanyo Electric Senior Vice President Masato Ito said of their nearest competitor, “By the time Matsushita has raised its capacity to 75 million, ours will be well over 100 million.” We can only hope that all this increased investment and battery braggadocio will result in lower prices.
[Source: Guardian]
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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in
Photo by rintakumpu. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
It’s been over a year since we wrote about WiTricity, the MIT-developed wireless charging system. While we’re still a long, long way from powering all-electric automobiles without heavy and expensive batteries, there is an update on the cordless power idea, this time from Intel. According to AFP, Intel’s chief technology officer Justin Rattner demonstrated the “Wireless Energy Resonant Link” in San Francisco this week and sent enough power through the air to light up a 60 watt bulb. Too cool. This promted an analyst to comment that, “Initially it eliminates chargers and eventually it eliminates batteries all together.” Ener1 or A123 have nothing to worry about just yet, but for those of you who like to look long term, this update presents a glimpse of what might be available in a few decades.
One of those long-termer is ABG tipster Darren S., who wrote in to say, The impact this has on the auto industry is HUGE. With this technology cars would not need to have huge battery packs because power could be broadcast directly in them, rendering battery packs only for when you go “off the broadcast grid” so to speak. You could drive your electric car around and if you’re in broadcast range of power, you’d never need worry about ever recharging your battery. You’d never need a drop of fuel again. Why haven’t you guys written about this. The first news of it came out last year from MIT. Follow it.
We’ll defend ourselves by saying that we did cover this topic last year. But we’re happy to bring it up again to see where our readers stand on the topic this year. Is wireless charging going to show up in roads or parking lots any time soon?
[Source: AFP]
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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Transportation Alternatives, Toyota, On Two Wheels
Click above for more images of the Saturn Flextreme concept
Apple co-founder Steve “the Woz” Wozniak loves his Segway. In fact, that should be plural, as he has multiple self-balancing two-wheelers. He also likes his hybrid Toyota Prius, enough to test its 104 mph top speed on multiple occasions. “I’ll tell you, a hatchback is a really efficient car,” says Wozniak. “You want things smaller but  you want them to do a lot.” The fact that the Prius has a good-sized boot is certainly a good thing for Steve. When traveling, Woz couldn’t possibly leave his beloved Personal Transporter home, so he carries two of them in the back of his Prius hatchback.
We have an idea of what Wozniak would like to see for his next car… how ’bout the Saturn Flextreme which was shown off last Janurary as a concept in Detroit. It’s the perfect vehicle for the man - as General Motors was kind enough to include two Segway scooters neatly tucked into the back already. Maybe Steve and Bob Lutz should get together, ride their Segways and talk about getting Mr. Wozniak a proper Segway-carrier.
[Source: Wired]
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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Nissan, Japan
At a recently-held advanced technology briefing, Nissan showed off its “Battery Lab” used for developing lithium ion batteries for electric and hybrid cars. This research facility is used to create different electrode formulations, as well as battery prototyping and testing. With all the battery improvement and electric car promises Nissan has been making, this is likely a very busy, very important place.
It is here that electrode materials are mixed and pressed onto aluminum sheets along with active materials, conducting aids and binders. The cells have different properties depending on the types and proportions of materials used. Nissan is working with lithium manganate as a positive electrode material as well as iron formulations. The challenge for battery makers is slightly different depending upon the application. For hybrids, scientists need the battery to be able to put out a lot of power, while for an all-electric vehicle, the amount of energy density is more important. They seem to be making some solid gains too. Nissan claims a power density of 2,500W/kg (English translation; lots of power) for a hybrid vehicle battery while its energy densities for an all-electric car battery have reached 140Wh/kg. That’s not as good as the Tesla Roadster’s numbers, but it is longer lasting with better thermal stability. As more advancements in batteries are made, we expect car companies to really start bragging about their products using increasingly technical language. If you want to understand what they are talking about, brush up on the science of modern batteries by clicking here.
[Source: Tech-On]
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Sports/GTs, Green, Supercars, BMW
Click for a hi-res gallery of the BMW M1 Hommage
It’s a sign of the times. After having rolled out the delectable M1 Hommage concept (pictured above), one BMW board member says that the Bavarian automaker has no intention of producing a supercar to compete with the likes of the Audi R8. Instead, BMW will focus on green technologies.
The news comes straight from Klaus Draeger, the board member at the helm of the EfficientDymanics initiative. While Audi continues to produce more powerful and more desirable versions of the R8, Mercedes prepares entirely new supercars and Porsche continues to do what Porsche has always done, the company that once hailed itself as the producers of the “Ultimate Driving Machine” is more concerned with hybrids than sportscars.
[Source: AutoTelegraaf via AutoblogGreen]
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Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green
click to visit AutoblogGreen
Need a peek into the future? AutoblogGreen’s got some spy shots of the interior of the next-gen Prius and the new Opel Meriva. Honda has also let loose images of the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid, so that should keep you satisfied for a while, no? At the very least, it’s something to look at until Jeremy Clarkson tackles the Tesla Roadster.
More headlines after the jump.
Continue reading AutoblogGreen for 08.25.08
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