Feb 9, 2010 (3 hours ago)
Time to chillax? OK. Recall. Recall. Recall. Tired of hearing those words yet? I am, and I\'m going to try to avoid them for the next few days. Besides, if I were going to write again on this issue, it would very much resemble MotorTrend\'s Wild, Out of Control Toyotas? Baloney . So, why rewrite what has already been said? Thus, I\'d just like to conclude my recall talk by saying that if I were in the market today, I\'d buy a Toyota Prius without any hesitation, even a used third generation Prius without the braking software update. And I\'d still sleep soundly at night.
Feb 9, 2010 (4 hours ago)
Navistar, Inc. has signed a concept development agreement with UK-based Clean Air Power Ltd. to develop Navistar’s MaxxForce 13 big bore engine to run on natural gas and diesel fuel for the North American market. The program will utilize Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel combustion technology ( earlier post ) to deliver a MaxxForce 13 Advanced EGR engine that is fully compliant with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2010 on-highway diesel emissions, without the use of liquid-urea SCR (selective catalytic reduction). Upon successful concept development, the two companies will move forward to product development and validation. Negotiations were underway for two years, according to Clean Air Power, during which time Navistar evaluated a number of different environmental technologies. Clean Air Power will spend approximately $1.5m on developing the concept over the next 10 months. During this time, in preparation for production and the next stage of development, Navistar and Clean Air Power will together seek US grant funding for full production. As we assess changing market conditions, the ability to offer customers choice is important not only in our US markets, but in our g..
Feb 9, 2010 (5 hours ago)
As part of what has become a global recall of the third-generation Prius, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA Inc, will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall.
Earlier today in Japan, Toyota Motor Corporation announced a recall related to the ABS software program in current-model Prius, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Sai and HS250h sold in Japan. ( Earlier post .) That recall, for which TMC submitted notifications on Tuesday to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, pertains to approximately 223,000 vehicles. ( Earlier post .)
Worldwide, Toyota has sold about 400,000 of the hybrid vehicles subject to the recall announced in Japan. The company said it would take “remedial measures” as soon as possible in the United States, Europe and in other regions.
The ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reac..
Feb 9, 2010 (6 hours ago)
FEV, Inc., a developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, has coupled an FEV-developed Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) with a 3-cylinder engine for use as a range extender in Hybrid Electric Vehicles. The APU is designed as a flexible, compact unit using proven technology, combined to bring 40kW of power to EV architecture. APUs implemented into the propulsion system provide the capability to extend the range from 20-40 miles (AER) to a total of 200-350 miles when needed. FEV has developed a range of APUs for a variety of vehicle applications depending on the customer’s power requirements. Gary Rogers, FEV, Inc. president and CEO, made the announcement in conjunction with the 2010 SAE Hybrid Vehicle Technologies Symposium, opening tomorrow in San Diego, Calif. FEV will also be exhibiting at the conference. FEV developed this concept to offer a viable solution to the limitations of current Hybrid Vehicle technology. Application of this technology in a production vehicle will change the way consumers view Hybrid Electric vehicles. —Gary Rogers In April 2009, FEV, Inc. had unveiled a Dodge Caliber-based range-extended electric concept vehicle (ReEV) powered by a 1.0L, ..
Feb 9, 2010 (8 hours ago)
Seventeen partners from research, academia and industry are participating in the project Harz.ErneuerbareEnergien-mobility (Harz.EE-mobility), which will deploy a network of charging stations for plug-ins covering the entire Harz region in Germany. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF in Magdeburg are determining the optimal locations for charging stations.
The success of electric cars will stand or fall with the power supply, the partners note. The ability to charge vehicles with green power anytime and anywhere will boost acceptance of this technology. Hence, charging stations will have to be located astutely enough that electric cars will even be able to reach a city 60 km away without any problem.
In addition to the flow of traffic, we are analyzing mobility characteristics to find out where vehicles are parked for how long. This time can be used to charge cars. Locations where vehicles may park long enough are favored for charging stations. Garages or parking lots at work or near one’s residence are the preferred option.
We will also be making a decision about the number of charg..
Feb 9, 2010 (8 hours ago)
US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the intent to create a NOAA Climate Service line office dedicated to bringing together the agency’s climate science and service delivery capabilities.
Working closely with federal, regional, academic and other state and local government and private sector partners, the new NOAA Climate Service will build on our success transforming science into useable climate services. NOAA is committed to scientific integrity and transparency; we seek to advance science and strengthen product development and delivery through user engagement. —Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator
Unifying NOAA’s climate capabilities under a single climate office will integrate the agency’s climate science and services and make them more accessible to NOAA partners and other users. Planning has been, and continues to be, shaped by input from NOAA employees and stakeholders across the country, with close consideration given to the recommendations of the NOAA Science Advisory Board, National Academies and National Academy of Public Administration.
NOAA Climate Service..
Feb 9, 2010 (9 hours ago)
Caterpillar Inc. intends to join the
FutureGen Alliance, a public-private partnership established to build a first-of-its-kind coal-fired,
near-zero emissions power plant in Mattoon, Illinois.
The FutureGen facility is designed to be
the cleanest coal burning plant in the world and will integrate advanced technologies for coal
gasification, electricity production, emissions control, carbon dioxide capture and
permanent storage and hydrogen production on a commercial scale.
The FutureGen plant is a 275-megawatt integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC)
power plant. It will be capable of powering about 150,000 homes. The United States
Department of Energy will provide more than $1 billion in funding to the project.
With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion,
Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and
natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.
Feb 9, 2010 (11 hours ago)
The electric Transit Connect. Click to enlarge. Ford Motor Company is unveiling the all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect at the Chicago Auto Show; the small electric van will be in fleet operators’ hands later this year, according to the company. The 2011 Transit Connect Electric will use a Force Drive electric powertrain manufactured and integrated by specialty upfitter Azure Dynamics. ( Earlier post .) The vehicle is powered by a liquid-cooled 28 kWh lithium-ion battery pack from Johnson Controls-Saft. (Azure Dynamics and Ford both currently use Johnson Controls-Saft battery technology for other products as well.)
Ford also announced that the Ford Transit Connect Taxi will go into production and arrive in dealerships later this year as a 2011 model. Ford will introduce engine prep packages on all Transit Connect models—base and taxi—allowing conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane (LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas) of the 2.0-liter Duratec engine.
Electric Transit Connect. System voltage range is 260 - 380 V. The electric powertrain includes:
Siemens model 135, 300V 3-phase AC liquid..
Feb 9, 2010 (12 hours ago)
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced a recall related to the software program that controls the antilock braking system (ABS) in current-model Prius, the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Sai and HS250h sold in Japan. ( Earlier post .) The recall, for which TMC submitted notifications on Tuesday to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, pertains to approximately 223,000 vehicles.
Worldwide, Toyota has sold about 400,000 of the hybrid vehicles subject to the recall announced in Japan. The company says it will take “remedial measures” as soon as possible in the United States, Europe and in other regions.
Models Recalled in Japan
Model Type Production period of recalled vehicles Units
Prius
DAA-ZVW30
20 April 2009 - 27 January 2010
200,000
Prius PHV
DLA-ZVW35
25 November 2009 - 5 February 2010
150
Sai
DAA-AZK10
2 October 2009 - 8 February 2010
11,000
HS250h
DAA-ANF10
10 June 2009 - 8 February 2010
12,000
Drivers of the four models subject to the recall can experience reduced braking perfor..
Feb 9, 2010 (12 hours ago)
LAMPO 2 components. Click to enlarge. Protoscar , a Swiss company which has been developing CleanCar
projects for 23 years, will introduce the LAMPO 2 electric sports car prototype at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. LAMPO 2 is a more energy-efficient successor to the LAMPO demonstration vehicle
presented in 2009. ( Earlier post .)
LAMPO 2 has two BRUSA electric motors (allowing it to operate as a four-wheel drive with variable
torque between front and rear axle for optimal handling, safety and efficiency) with a total
output of 300 kW (408 hp), 640 N·m (472 lb-ft) of torque (more than 50% more than its predecessor) and 32 kWh of Lithium-Ion battery capacity.
The LAMPO 2 . Click to enlarge.
Weight, aerodynamics and the efficiency of individual components of the BRUSA drive train have been further optimized in order to reach energy consumption of less than 100 Wh/km-ton under real conditions.
The two Brusa HSM1-10.16.13 motors are powered by a Brusa DMC534 inverter. The water-coooled Brusa battery pack comprises 216 Kokam SLPB cells (Li-ion with polymeric electrolyte). Nominal ..
Feb 9, 2010 (14 hours ago)
Just ahead of their official launch at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, Ford has released more details on the upcoming all-electric and natural gas versions of their popular commercial fleet and utility van, the Transit Connect. Since its U.S. introduction at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, the Transit Connect has garnered significant praise from the media for its fuel efficiency and versatility. In fact, just last month the Transit won the 2010 North American Truck of the Year honors at the Detroit Auto Show. In an effort to maintain the positive momentum, Ford is adding some significant revisions to the Transit Connect lineup for the 2011 model year by adding an all-electric version as well as a compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) capable Taxi version. Transit Connect Electric The Transit Connect Electric is targeted at commercial and fleet customers with a set daily route or who drive predictable distances and have a central location for daily recharging. Ford has been working with Detroit-based Azure Dynamics to fit the Transit with Azure’s Force Drive battery electric powertrain and a Johnson Controls-Saft lithium-ion battery stack. Ford is targeting a range..
Feb 9, 2010 (14 hours ago)
California buyers will have the chance to purchase a Chinese-built highway-capable all-electric car by the end of this year . That was the promise made by Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger to a group of about 60 automotive journalists last week. Speaking to a meeting of the Western Automotive Journalists, Czinger revised earlier pronouncements on price , declaring that after the $7,500 federal tax credit, a new Coda sedan will retail for about $30,000 , a price comparable to a high-end Toyota Prius with similar equipment. That price point should be very competitive with the Chevy Volt , although will be perhaps $2,000 to $3,000 more than the Nissan Leaf . The Coda sedan, Volt, and Leaf will all go on sale in late 2010. \"We're focused on the battery,\" Czinger said in summary of his start-up company's reason for being. \"We have the first and best (automotive scale) mass-produced battery pack\" and \"we own the intellectual property on our battery system and advanced electronics.\" Coda is producing the batteries in China in association with Lishen Power Battery. The partners have the potential to make 20,000 units a year. Based on that volume, according to Czinger, the compan..
Feb 8, 2010 (20 hours ago)
For many years, electric cars didn\'t look so much like cars, as they did… well… they didn\'t much look like anything anyone would want to drive. I never understood half-covering the rear-wheels (that has never been cool) or the funky lines and shapes electric cars inevitably filled out. And so, in recent years, electric cars have begun to look more like… well… cars. Whether or not this is a good thing is up to you, but Protoscar apparently thinks electric cars should look funky. Hence the undramatic unveiling of the Protoscar Lampo 2. An awkward name for an awkward car that actually has some impressive features, like a ten-minute charge good for about 60 miles and a 0-62 mph time of under 5 seconds. So why the horrid name? I haven\'t heard much of the Lampo 2 (I keep thinking of National Lampoon for some reason) but the car will come out guns a-blazin\' during the Geneva Auto Show. But beneath the awkward looks and silly name is a car with a performance pedigree. The Lampo 2 is based on the outgoing Kappa platform from GM. This is the same platform that underpinned the attractive but undersold Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky, which makes me wonder how exactly Prot..
Feb 8, 2010 (20 hours ago)
The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. will suspend domestic production of its Sai and Lexus HS250h hybrids, which are to be recalled for faulty brakes, at the end of the week.
Japan’s top automaker intends to submit plans for a recall of the Prius hybrid to the Transport Ministry Tuesday. Since the Sai and Lexus hybrids use the same braking system as the Prius, it has decided to also recall them.
Output will be halted at subsidiary Toyota Motor Kyushu Inc., with shipments of both models suspended Monday. A remedy for their braking systems is currently being formulated, and production and shipments will restart once it is ready. Output is expected to be shut for at least one week and amount to at least 2,000 units for both models.
Toyota has sold some 7,700 Sais domestically and around 18,000 of the Lexus hybrids worldwide.
Feb 8, 2010 (21 hours ago)
According to Edmunds.com\'s Green Car Advisor blog, ever since the news about potential Prius braking problems broke in the mainstream media, shopper interest in the Prius on Edmunds.com has risen significantly. “Both consideration and purchase intent for the Prius have risen about 10 percent among car shoppers doing research on Edmunds.com since the Prius brake story became news earlier this week,” said John O\'Dell in a post on Green Car Advisor. Edmunds.com\'s CEO, Jeremy Anwyl, speculated that the increased interest is due to bargain hunters hoping to cash in on an opportunity for a better price due to incentives or “distress sales.” Whether or not this “increased interest” actually leads to increased sales of the Prius remains to be seen. As Anwyl points out, “We saw the same reaction from consumers when Chrysler and General Motors declared bankruptcy.” So far that increased interest hasn\'t resulted in any increased sales for those two companies. But with Toyota, it\'s a bit of a different story. Hundreds of thousands of people still trust in Toyota\'s overall quality and wouldn\'t bat an eye at a chance to scoop up a deal on a Prius...
Feb 8, 2010 (22 hours ago)
For me, the biggest letdown in recent memory was the Honda CR-Z. Touted as a spiritual successor of the CR-X, the CR-Z managed to get it all wrong. Whereas the original CR-X was lightweight, sporty, and frugal with its fuel, the CRZ is underwhelming at best. The hybrid manages to get just 37 mpg in a two-seater that has a combined horsepower output of just 122 ponies in a 3,000 pound package. Like I said, underwhelming, at least in the Americanized version. But Europe is also getting the CR-Z. Strangely enough, their version gets two extra (albeit small) seats, converting the CR-Z into a more practical 2+2 for people with small children or petite friends. But what really got me is that the European CRZ gets much better gas mileage… 47 mpg, in fact. How did that happen? For clarification, that is 47 mpg on the US cycle. In European cycle, the estimate is 56.4 mpg. I don\'t know how this happened. The European CR-Z has the same 122 horsepower, 1.5 liter engine as the American version, plus the added weight from two extra seats. In my mind that means it must come down to weight and safety. In Europe, small cars are the norm, and rarely do they have to go head-to-head with an ove..
Feb 8, 2010 (22 hours ago)
Last summer Chicago upped the ante on next generation EV charging stations with the nation\'s first solar powered one , and now they\'ve done it again, but this time with wind. For a town known as the windy city, it only seems to make sense, but how they decided to go after solar before wind is beyond me. The players this time around are the same as the ones who made the solar deal go through: Coulomb Technologies has again supplied the charging equipment through their Midwest distributor Carbon Day Automotive . The station is located in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park and the wind power comes from a law firm that has partnered with MC Squared Energy Services to get all of their energy from wind. Hal Emalfarb, one of the partners at the law firm who also drives a plug-in Prius conversion, said “By integrating renewable energy, in this case, the prairie winds of Illinois, to power our office and our cars, we have seamlessly accomplished the goal of a cleaner grid that leads to a reduction of greenhouse gases.” Good on the windy city for taking the bull by the horns—or the wind tower by the blades, in this case. Source: Green Car Advisor | Image Credit: Coulomb Technol..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
Coulomb Technologies has introduced a new, open Flex Billing system; beginning in July, users of ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations will no longer need a subscription to the ChargePoint Network. Owners of the charging stations (Hosts), including utilities, retailers, municipalities and corporations can determine the price that drivers pay to use their stations, if any.
The Flex Billing system provides the tools for Hosts to set pricing at individual charging stations while Coulomb provides turnkey services to collect, process and forward payments from drivers directly to Hosts. Additionally, Coulomb is introducing its new ChargePass smart cards that gives EV owners the ability to fuel up at any ChargePoint Networked Charging Station and receive payment discounts and other benefits.
This shift is a direct result of the feedback from our customer base which dates back to 2008. Flexibility is extremely important to our station owners, whether access to a charging station is controlled and billed based upon time, kilowatt hours, or is completely free. Through our networking software technology, we’ve added the Flex Billing system to our A..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
GM’ new lineup of heavy-duty diesel pickups will have B20 biodiesel capability.
To make the Duramax 6.6L and its fuel system compatible with B20, GM upgraded some seals and gasket materials to withstand the ester content of biodiesel and included an upgraded fuel filter that includes a coalescing element. It improves the separation of water that may be present in the fuel, because biodiesel can attract and absorb water. Also, additional heating of the fuel circuit was added to reduce the chance of fuel gelling or waxing that could plug filters.
The Duramax 6.6L’s diesel particulate regeneration system features a downstream injector that supplies fuel for the regeneration process. This greatly reduces potential oil dilution, important with using biodiesel. Downstream injection saves fuel and works better with B20 than in-cylinder post injection, according to GM.
Extensive testing and validation was performed on the Duramax 6.6L using B20 that meets ASTM International’s standard D7467, which covers biodiesel blends between B6 and B20. The Duramax diesel is covered by GM’s five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty.
The new Duramax will..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
The approach for hybrids using multiple inverters and motors (left) and a single inverter and motor (right). Additional components are shown in red. Each INV/CONV functions as a switch leg while splitting the current among the 6 switches. Source: Su. Click to enlarge. Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed , fabricated and demonstrated a PHEV traction drive power electronics system that functions as the on-board charger, and that also provides significant mobile power generation and vehicle-to-grid support capabilities.
The system comprises a 55 kW motor inverter and a 30 kW generator inverter that is capable of Level 1 and Level 2 charging rates (1.8 ~ 19.2 kW), mobile power generation of up to 20 kW, and vehicle-to-grid support. The system, if applied in a vehicle, could represent up to a 90% reduction in cost and volume compared to on-board standalone battery chargers.
The new technology eliminates the separate charging mechanism typically used in PHEVs, reducing both cost and volume under the hood. The PHEV’s traction drive system is used to charge the battery, power the vehicle and ..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
David Hermance The 2010 Chicago Auto Show, which kicks off later this week, is the location for the inaugural presentation of the Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award . The award recognizes the most efficient new car with the greatest consumer appeal. The award is given in honor of the late David Hermance, Toyota’s highly respected executive engineer of environmental engineering. Hermance was considered Toyota’s hybrid guru, and a spokesperson for efficient vehicle technologies for the entire auto industry. The 2010 Hermance Vehicle Efficiency Award will be presented this Wednesday, Feb.10, to the new vehicle that represents Hermance’s vision, described by the award committee as “practical efficient design, as well as affordability for consumers and profitability for car companies.” The organizers hope the award will help consumers better understand the importance of efficiency—and place a high value on it when purchasing their next vehicle. Only cars and trucks currently available in showrooms today are eligible for the award. All powertrain and fuel options were evaluated on an equal basis. “I'd like to leave the planet a little better than I found it. It's going to..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
Can you say John Dingell? Boy the media\'s coverage of Toyota-gate has become almost laughable at times. Lately, the new angle is Toyota\'s political friends in Washington . \"Some members of Congress have been such cheerleaders for Toyota that the public may wonder how they can act objectively as government watchdogs for auto safety and oversight.\" LOL! Wow. John Dingell anyone? Has Michigan Congressman John Dingell ever acted objectively when it has come to the Big 3, especially when Dingell was the fricken Chairmen of the HUGELY important House Energy and Commerce Committee? Is the media kidding? I mean talk about subjective cheerleaders! Those of us that have followed CAFE for the last several years, for instance, can only chuckle at the idea that somehow Toyota has more political friends in Washington than does Detroit. For decades DC power-brokers, such as Dingell, have ensured that Big 3 SUV profits were safe from CAFE regulations, despite an average of 10,000 deaths per year because of defective and inadequate designs, despite 9/11, and despite growing evidence that foreign oil dependence was becoming an ever greater threat to American national security. I know, Toyota-gate h..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
The Cadillac Escalade hybrid A few weeks ago GM announced development plans for a new line of smaller, more efficient electric motors that will first be used in GM\'s dual mode hybrids. Today, all of GM\'s dual mode hybrids are large trucks and SUVs, however, thanks to this reduction in motor size, GM will be able to add its dual mode hybrid technology to smaller vehicles, including cars. According to one report , two of the first cars to receive the dual mode hybrid powertrain will the Cadillac ATS and the Cadillac CTS. Unfortunately, however, it does not appear that these new electric motors will result in any full hybrids the size of a Toyota Prius . Instead, it seems GM will use its mild hybrid powertrain for any Prius-sized hybrid cars .
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
Eco City Vehicles PLC (ECV), a developer and supplier of eco-friendly commercial vehicles and the London licensed taxi, launched an all-electric prototype of the London-licensed Mercedes Vito taxi, developed by a consortium of companies including ECV’s manufacturing partner Penso, Mercedes Benz UK and Zytek Automotive.
The eVito Taxi is powered by a 70 kW Zytek electric drive system, driving the front wheels through a custom designed Vocis/Graziano transmission. A 38 kWh Valence Li-Ion battery power pack installed in a weatherproof enclosure beneath the floor allows the internal space of the taxi to remain unaffected by the electric conversion. The vehicle has a top speed of up to 75 mph.
With zero road emissions, it is also expected to be fully compliant with the Mayor of London’s proposed new clean air standards for London taxis, due to be introduced in time for the London Olympics.
The eVito taxi program has been part-funded by a £2.5-million (US$3.9-million) grant from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands (AWM) whose Advantage Niche Vehicle Research & Development Programme (NVRDP) brought together the necessa..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
A good time to find a Prius deal? According to some recent consumer data , Toyota Prius interest is on the rise, despite a recently acknowledged glitch in the regenerative braking system. All new Prius hybrids sold today already come with the new software patch for the braking issue, so many are speculating that potential Prius buyers are hoping that all the recent bad press is driving deals. No word yet on whether Prius buyers are actually finding any deals.
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
Alliance Federated Energy (AFE) last week announced the development of “Project Apollo,” a $225-million, 25MW energy project located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Project Apollo plans to utilize Westinghouse Plasma Corp.’s (WPC) plasma gasification technology to process municipal and industrial wastes into syngas for use in power generation. There are several facilities operating commercially around the world using WPC technology and several more in final design phase and or construction.
A gasifier vessel utilizes proprietary plasma torches operating at >10,000 °F (5,538 °C) in order to create a gasification zone of up to 3,000 °F (1,649 °C) to convert solid or liquid wastes into a syngas. Source: AFE. Click to enlarge. Approximately 30% of the waste feedstock is already committed from Badger Disposal of Wisconsin, one of region’s leading industrial waste management services companies. Discussions are underway with third parties for the sale of syngas and electricity.
AFE plans to have the project operational in late 2013. The first phase of the renewable energy facility is expected to process approximately 1,200 tons of municip..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has introduced a new video, titled The Power of Scale , that outlines a few simple steps—such as rightsizing vehicles, reducing idling, planning an efficient route, and removing excess cargo—to guide companies with vehicle fleets in cutting costs and CO 2 emissions.
The video visually depicts how small actions done by many can result in big changes for the corporate bottom line and the health of the planet.
Fleet efficiency has become an increasingly important issue for corporations as they look for opportunities to reduce their environmental impact. Currently, there are more than 3 million corporate fleet vehicles in the United States emitting 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The Power of Scale demonstrates that companies can reduce their corporate fleet emissions by 6 million metric tons per year and collectively save more than US$2 billion.
The video is accessible at EDF’s website: http://edf.org/greenfleet , and is part of a larger EDF effort to contribute to managing greenhouse gases in passenger, delivery and freight fleets. More broadly, EDF proposes a five-step “ Green Fleet Fr..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
SciDev.net . The Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), formed in October 2009, will now contribute formally to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This marks the first institutional level involvement of Indian scientists with the IPCC; up to now, Indian scientists have made individual contributions.
INCCA will provide its first research findings to the IPCC by November 2010, according to prime minister Manmohan Singh, and its findings will form part of the panel’s fifth assessment report, due to be finalized in 2014.
The announcements come amid international debate over an IPCC claim about the melting rate of the Himalayan glaciers (see Glacier dispute reveals holes in research) and suggestions that scientists from the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, were selective about which of their climate research results they publicised.
But Singh emphasised that, despite some criticism of the IPCC’s reports, “India has full confidence in the IPCC process and its leadership and will support it in every way that it can”. [Environment minister Jairam] Ramesh said that the Indian initiative “will help f..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
Embrapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Cooperation, and BASF’s jointly developed herbicide-tolerant soybeans were green-lighted on 10 December 10 by CTNBio,the Brazilian Biosafety Technical Commission. Cultivance is the first genetically modified crop developed in Brazil, from laboratory to commercialization. The approval is the result of more than 10 years of successful cooperation between Embrapa and BASF.
CTNBio stated that the genetically modified soybeans meet the standards and the Biosafety law for the environment and agriculture, as well as human and animal health. This decision will allow BASF and Embrapa to bring the new production system with the brand name Cultivance to Brazilian farmers. Both companies are now seeking the approval for this technology in key export markets, such as China and the US.
The Cultivance Production System combines herbicide-tolerant soybean varieties with BASF’s broad spectrum imidazolinone class of herbicides, tailored to regional conditions.
Cultivance technology will offer farmers a new production system that effectively manages a broad spectrum of weeds. Designed for post emergenc..
Feb 8, 2010 (1 day ago)
Comparison of regenerative/hydraulic (friction) braking ratios under normal braking. Left: 2001-2003 Toyota Prius (THS). Right: 2004-2009 Toyota Prius (THS-II). Source: Toyota Motor Company. Click to enlarge.
by Jack Rosebro
Recent brake feel and application issues in Ford and Toyota hybrids ( earlier post ) have drawn attention to the inherent complexity of hybrid and electric vehicle braking systems, which typically combine regenerative braking with conventional friction braking, antilock braking and vehicle stability control functions. Such issues are often addressed through software upgrades, either by reflashing a control module’s read-only memory or replacing the module altogether. Both Ford and Toyota have indicated that they intend to resolve their respective issues via changes in software.
Regenerative Braking . Regenerative braking is accomplished by allowing a vehicle’s electric motor-generator to spin freely, generating an alternating current which is rectified to direct current to charge the vehicle’s battery pack. The motor-generator must be connected in some manner to the vehicle’s final drive such that the vehicle’s c..