China-based Foton Motors and Texas-based Freescale Semiconductor will combine their collective knowledge to open the Foton-Freescale Automotive Joint Lab. The lab will focus on developing software and system-level solutions for use in upcoming Foton vehicles. Both companies will collaboratively work towards developing relevant electronic control technology for applications that included hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs). By focusing on electronics and, more specifically, on software development, the Joint Lab hopes to introduce technology that can reduce vehicle emissions while also increasing the "economic performance and comfort of vehicles."
Speaking on behalf of Foton Motors, Wu Xeubin, the company's vice president and director of engineering research said:
Foton Motor has been committed to promoting energy and environmental technology in the automotive industry, and has proved continuous breakthroughs in new energy-driven vehicles over the past years. The opening of the joint lab will provide wings for Foton Motor products to fly into a promising future.
Wings and flying? We're not exactly sure what this statement implies, but it seems that the Joint Lab will be trying to help Foton Motors reach new heights.
Just days ago, Los Alamos County took delivery of New Mexico's first hydraulic hybrid refuse truck. Like the four hydraulic hybrid recycling vehicles that recently started work on the streets of Ann Arbor, MI, the Los Alamos refuse truck is powered by Eaton Corporation's hydraulic launch assist system (HLA). The refuse truck, a Peterbilt Model 320 equipped with the HLA system and a Wayne Curbtender side loader, will be used for residential garbage pickup and is designed to withstand the rigorous collection routes that require up to 1,200 stops per day.
The hydraulic launch assist (HLA) system utilizes a pair of accumulators to store energy captured while braking and releases it during acceleration. The Model 320 with Eaton's HLA is said to save more than 1,000 gallons of fuel per year while also reducing emissions by 20 percent and extending brake life by 300 percent compared to its conventional (non-hybrid) counterparts. This lone refuse truck is expected to save Los Alamos County $18,250 in fuel costs over its 10 year useful life. Hit the jump for more info on New Mexico's first hydraulic hybrid garbage truck.
As we've said before, the islands of Hawaii appear to be ideally suited for electric vehicles (EVs). The picturesque beaches, sparkling blue water and breathtaking mountain ranges are a sight to behold. EVs, often tagged as zero-emissions vehicles, are believed to have less environmental impact than other vehicles types and appeal to people in Hawai'i for a variety of obvious reasons, which are discussed in detail here.
Nissan, a self-proclaimed global leader in electric vehicles, has teamed up with the state of Hawaii to promote zero-emissions mobility there. The partnership marks Nissan's first definitive agreement with any state in the U.S. and will, as the company states, "help foster the adoption of electric vehicle technology." Hawaii has taken an active approach towards promoting battery-powered vehicles by offering a $4,500 tax credit towards the purchase of EVs and an additional $500 incentive on home charging stations. Combining Hawaii's $4,500 credit with the federal government's $7,500 incentive, drops the price of the Leaf to a more-than-affordable $20,780.
Hawaiian Senator, Daniel Inouye, outlined of the importance of bringing EVs to the island:
This partnership personifies Hawaii's commitment to a future powered by clean, sustainable sources of energy. In order to change the energy consumption patterns of our population, we have to offer drivers alternatives to vehicles that rely on imported fossil fuels. More than 90 percent of the fuel and energy we consume in Hawaii is the product of imported oil. Given our unique access to clean, renewable, energy sources, Hawaii should serve as a model of what is possible when government and business collaborate to plan a path forward into an energy efficient future.
We've obviously laid eyes on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV on numerous occasions, but the modified Euro-spec version has remained unseen. That is, until now. If you gander at the image above you may notice the slight tweaks that differentiate the Euro-spec i-MiEV from its Japanese counterpart. What, you can't see the differences? Okay, well maybe a long, drawn-out stare will lead you to discover that this Euro-spec models sports revised front and rear bumpers that meet EU regulations. Those revised bumpers are the only exterior changes that are required to make the i-MiEV Euro-ready and the only tweaks that you will find on the outside.
Turning out attention to the interior, the Euro-spec i-MiEV features a re-arranged center stack in the instrument panel and, according to Mitsubishi, improved passenger comfort. On the safety front, all Euro-spec i-MiEVs feature a stability control system and side curtain airbags as standard equipment. Pricing for the European i-MiEV will vary by country, but its expected to cost under €35,000 ($44,400 U.S. at the current exchange rate) in all 14 European countries that Mitsubishi targets for sales. Hit the jump for more on the Euro-spec i-MiEV.
Intensifying price competition from South Korean battery manufacturers has driven Sanyo Electric Co. and GS Yuasa Corp. to dissolve their long-standing lithium-ion battery joint venture (JV). According to a joint announcement, the liquidation of the Sanyo GS Soft Energy Co. JV was inevitable as the venture had posted net losses for two years running. The decision to dissolve the JV may hinder Sanyo's ability to collect loans valued at 4 billion yen ($47.5 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) and will force GS Yuasa to report a special loss of 3 billion yen ($35.6 million U.S.). Neither Sanyo nor GS Yuasa intends to modify their projected earnings outlooks for 2010.
Chevrolet Volt in 'Victory Red' - Click above for high-res image gallery
With its launch slated for the second half of 2011, Kevin Wale, president and managing director of General Motors China, promises that the Chevrolet Volt will be priced to compete in China's fledgling alternative technology car market. The selling price of the Volt will not be officially unveiled until the vehicle launches in China, but as Wale spoke at a news conference in Shanghai recently, the words "I believe the pricing will be competitive" resonated throughout the room.
Priced at $41,000 in the U.S., the Volt is not exactly a bargain and, at nearly $8,000 more than the Nissan Leaf, naysayers suggest the Volt is simply too expensive. While we'd disagree with the notion that the Volt is way overpriced, the Chinese market is ripe with hybrids and plug-ins that will undercut Chevy's breakthrough model by tens of thousands of dollars. For example, BYD's F3DM plug-in hybrid starts at a very reasonable price of $22,000 before incentives, yet it still struggles to rack up a meaningful amount of sales.
So, what is a competitive price for the Volt in China, exactly? Does GM hope to compete on level terms with the $22,000 F3DM? Doubt it. Will The General aim for a $41,000 price tag? Probably not. We're inclined to believe that GM will shoot for a target price that's pretty squarely in the middle, but we'll have to wait for official word to see what "competitive" actually means to GM.
Batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) can be derived from one of the many existing chemistries, including lithium-ion, nickel metal hydride and lead acid. Despite the chemical choices, most all of the available battery technologies utilize similar components: separators, electrolytes, anodes and cathodes. As demand for hybrids and electric vehicles rises, so, too, does the need for these components.
Some analysts are now wondering if the rapid growth in the EV market could outstrip supply of these components. Frost & Sullivan's report, titled "Global Opportunity Analysis for Chemical and Material Suppliers in the Electric Vehicle Batteries Market," finds that "the EV battery chemical and materials market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 125 per cent from 2010 to 2016." But many analysts doubt that this growth is enough to support the expected explosion of EVs.
Robert Outram, Frost & Sullivan's global program manager for transportation chemicals, notes that:
All the major automotive manufacturers are developing EVs -- considered the next generation of vehicles and a means for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to differentiate themselves to stay ahead of the competition. Escalating oil prices and environmental concerns are driving governments to grant incentives and encourage zero emission vehicles, further endorsing the importance of EVs and stepping-up the demand for EV batteries.
With production of EVs expected to rise, Outram believes that the lack of battery chemical and materials suppliers will create a bottleneck in the industry. Seeing the possibility of a downward spiral, Frost & Sullivan blames the upcoming potential shortage on the past failures of EVs. These failed attempts led suppliers to take a "wait and see" approach, but now that the EV market has materialized, many suppliers are years away from producing critical battery parts. Great, huh?
Coulomb Technologies has installed its first ChargePoint networked electric vehicle charging station in Michigan under the $37-million ChargePoint America program. The charger, located at the NextEnergy headquarters in downtown Detroit, is the first of hundreds of free public and home charging stations that the ChargePoint America program will install in the state of Michigan. Installation was carried out by Coulomb distributor Shocking Solutions (now, that's a great name for an electric car charger company).
The ChargePoint America program aims to install nearly 5,000 charging stations in nine selected regions across the United States: Texas, Detroit, MI, Los Angeles, CA, New York, Orlando, FL, Sacramento, CA, the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area, Bellevue/Redmond, WA, and Washington DC. Partially funded by the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act and supported by partners Coulomb, Ford, General Motors and Smart, the ChargePoint America program promises to:
accelerate the development and production of electric vehicles to substantially reduce petroleum consumption, reduce greenhouse gas production and create jobs.
Tesla Roadster 2.5 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Less than four months ago, Tesla Motors entered the Japanese market by shipping a dozen or so right-hand drive Signature Series Roadsters across the pond. The base Roadster, which starts at a rather shocking price of 12.8 million yen ($151,500 U.S. at the current exchange rate) has now been approved for the Japanese government's Clean Energy Cash Rebate program and is available at a deeply discounted price.
Qualifying for the cash rebate program means that the Roadster's price will be slashed by an astounding 3.24 million yen ($38,000 U.S.), which certainly makes Tesla's high-performance sports car more appealing. But, with an after-rebate price that remains at $113,500, the Roadster is still a far cry from what we would consider affordable. But hey, it's that way here in the States, too. The Tesla Roadster joins the plug-in Prius hybrid as the only two standard-sized vehicles to qualify for Japan's rebate program. Follow the jump for more on Tesla's raging deal on its Roadster in Japan.
2010 Toyota Prius - Click above for high-res image gallery
One month of dreary sales does not spell the end of the hybrid, but the numbers reported for August do hint that without a rise in gas prices, sales of hybrid cars and trucks will likely continue to suffer. As a whole, hybrid sales dropped 40.4 percent this August compared to a year ago, and even the industry's volume leader, the Toyota Prius, didn't escape from posting plunging sales results. Sales of the Prius plummeted 37.5 percent from August 2009 and dropped off 16.3 percent compared to July's posted numbers. Combined, Toyota and Lexus witnessed a 36.2 percent decline from a year ago, while Ford fared better by posting a 17.1 percent drop in year-over-year numbers.
In all fairness, hybrid sales were boosted last August by the government's Cash for Clunkers program, but this summer's low gas prices continue to bear the burden of the blame for the hybrid fallout. Toyota remains in the number one spot and posted 15,444 sales last month. Ford sits in second place and moved 3,894 hybrid vehicles off dealer lots in August while Honda holds onto third with 3,485 sales. It's getting redundant, but Toyota still leads the hybrid market. Anyone want to make bets on when that will change?
Mazda6 mules are out there somewhere being tested right now for a planned debut in early 2012. The vehicles feature an entirely reworked suspension, an advanced six-speed automatic transmission and a multi-purpose platform that will underpin several new Mazda models. Mazda sources say that the new 6, with its advanced platform and new range of engines, should be future-proofed for upcoming emissions and safety standards for at least a decade after its launch, but Mazda's approach to engineering engines that will meet future regulations is rather unusual. Or, as Autocar puts it, the company's Sky mills are "uniquely engineered."
At launch, the Mazda6 will be available with at least two entirely new Mazda-developed Sky engines. According to the company, both the 2.2-liter Sky D diesel and the 2.0-liter Sky G gasoline engines will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency, but both engines achieve their fuel-sipping status via unconventional designs. The diesel unit has a relatively low 14:1 compression ratio and meets 2013 Euro 6 emissions regulations, but does so without expensive NOx traps and therefore is cheaper to build than many of today's Euro 5 diesel mills. The gasoline engine is normally aspirated, but its high 14:1 compression ratio gives it much-improved low-end torque. Key to the engine's design is its oversized 4-2-1 manifold. This manifold boosts power, but also requires more packaging space. Both engines conform to Mazda's global powertrain strategy and, as such, they will see widespread use in numerous company vehicles in the coming years.
Choosing the auto trans will drop the efficiency numbers for the Cruze Eco, but not by much. General Motors executives recently told Edmunds AutoObserver that the EPA has slapped a fuel-economy rating of 36 mpg highway on the auto-equipped Cruze Eco. The is in line with GM's target for the automatic model, which leads us to believe that the manual trans version will also hit GM's projected 40 mpg rating when it receives final certification from the EPA. Production of the Cruze Eco is slated for this December, with sales starting early next year.
Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
Matthew Dieckmann, president of Santa Rosa-based Electric Race Bikes and known by friends and neighbors as the "local electric motorcycle entrepreneur," was involved in a fatal crash in Santa Rosa, CA late Monday morning. Dieckmann was piloting an electric motorcycle near the Coddington Mall when he collided with a Toyota Prius. Though the Prius driver suffered no injuries, 29-year-old Dieckmann did not survive the crash.
Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Doug Schlief stated that Dieckman's motorcycle struck the passenger side of the Prius. Investigators are still attempting to determine who might have been at fault, but some witnesses suggest that either Dieckmann or the Prius driver turned left at the intersection without yielding to oncoming traffic. The intersection was closed for five hours for investigation.
Family members say that Dieckmann was piloting one of the electric motorcycles that he developed for Electric Race Bikes. Dieckmann was known as a pioneer in the industry and strongly promoted electric motorcycles. Most well known for his developmental work on the EGP, an electric motorcycle that captured third place at a TTXGP competition in May, Dieckmann will be sorely missed by many. But his innovations, which have made an impact on the electric motorcycle industry, will surely live on.
Starting this fall, commercial fleet customers can opt to order their full-size GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans with either a factory-fitted compressed natural gas (CNG) system or a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) setup. The CNG/LPG vans will be delivered from the factory with the chosen fuel option and all necessary components installed and won't require any aftermarket modifications. General Motors has finalized pricing for the CNG system but, due to its lofty price tag, we don't expect many buyers will be opting for this natural gas package.
GM's pricing for the CNG option breaks down like this:
The all-inclusive CNG option includes a dedicated CNG system ($14,590), a natural gas-capable Vortec 6.0-liter V8 engine ($1,295), as well as HD trailering equipment ($265). A $240 credit for deleting the spare tire brings the package price to $15,910. So the total cost of either a 2011 Chevrolet Express or 2011 GMC Savana Cargo model, which starts at $25,980 would be $41,890 with the CNG option.
According to GM, "Chevrolet and GMC are the only full-line vehicle brands to offer a "check-the-box" CNG option for vans." Jumping from a mid-20s price tag to over 40 large for the CNG-powered cargo van seems like a stretch to us, but then again, we don't own a commercial fleet, nor are we the targeted buyers. Only time will tell if the people who are think the optional CNG package is worth it. Hit the jump for more info on GM's CNG option package, which will be available this fall on the Chevy Express and GMC Savana.
Nissan Leaf EV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Despite a slight delay, Nissan is now accepting orders for the Leaf, a breakthrough electric vehicle that promises to bring battery-powered cars to the masses. On August 31st, Nissan opened the floodgates, allowing up to 200 lucky individuals to place their orders for the Leaf. The ordering process, as we've outlined before, is rather simple and as Nissan told the folks over at the Nissan-Leaf site, the company is "doing everything it can to insure a fantastic ordering experience."
Right now, Nissan will only accept Leaf purchases from those who have a confirmed August order date. In the coming weeks, Nissan will reach out to the thousands of additional buyers who hold September order dates. Reservation holders will receive an email from Nissan indicating a specific ordering date. Once the order is placed, Nissan will issue Leaf buyers an estimated delivery date.
Nissan has now tallied more than 18,600 pre-orders for the Leaf and is drawing ever so close to its targeted 25,000 reservations by December. As ordering gets underway, we'll turn our focus to the buying and delivery process of the nation's first mass-produced battery-powered vehicle.
2010 Audi A3 TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Audi A3 TDI is typical of the clean diesel breed. It offers impressive low-end torque, belches out little in the emissions category and scores on the efficiency chart. The A3 also coddles both the driver and passengers with near-luxury levels of standard and optional equipment. It's small enough to allow for easy maneuverability, yet sized just right to allow ample space for four adults. With so many stellar attributes packed into a single automobile, Green Car Journal decided that the Audi A3 TDI was worthy of the honor of 2010 Green Car of the Year and decided to acquire a long-term A3 TDI in hopes that a more rigorous round of testing would show if this clean diesel was indeed worthy of the award.
Six months and 5,000 miles later, the verdict is in and Green Car Journal proclaims that the A3 TDI does so many things right that it's difficult to find a single flaw. Regarding that clean diesel engine, Green Car Journal writes:
Drop the S-Tronic dual-clutch automatic in 'drive' and press on the accelerator, and you're treated to a burst of low-end torque that presses you back in the seat, courtesy of this TDI engine's 236 lb-ft torque at the ready from just 1750 rpm.
The journal sums up the overall experience this way:
Six months of seat time in Audi's 2010 A3 TDI have done nothing but affirm the obvious value of this model. This sharp, luxury-leaning sportback typifies the clean diesel breed with its low emissions and impressive fuel efficiency - an EPA estimated 42 mpg on the highway...and better from our experience - while endearing drivers and passengers to the brand. There's simply a lot to like about this car.
Green Car Journal points out that the TDI-equipped A3, with an MSRP of $29,950, is not one of the cheapest clean diesels available, but being an Audi, its high price is justified, right?
Cruising down the Trans Canada Highway, a sharp-eyed Reddit user (nupogodi) noticed an unusual sight: a Mitsubishi i-MiEV pulled off to the side of the road. This particular vehicle was engaged in the Clean Across Canada tour, a cross-country trip designed to showcase the i-MiEVs abilities. The i-MiEV, tailed by a large gasoline-powered pickup truck, was parked for a much-needed charge. But rather than being docked at a charging station, as we might expect it to be, this i-MiEV received its electrical current from a diesel generator towed by the support truck. We smell hints of that hydrogen road tour from last year.
While a lack of photos prevents us from authenticating the story (we've asked Mitsubishi for confirmation or a comment), this reported sighting leaves us both shocked and intrigued. For one, we're shocked that Mitsubishi might actually have the audacity to charge its "zero-emissions" vehicle from a diesel generator pulled by an inefficient gas burner, even thought one Reddit user pointed out that, "it looks like more of a fail than it is" and we are all well aware that energy for electric vehicles is not free. At the same time, we're intrigued by the possibility that an electric vehicle, let's say a Nissan Leaf, could tow or perhaps carry a small generator to increase its range during long distance trips. After all, that's pretty much what the Chevrolet Volt does all the time, right? Hat tip to Spin Cycle!
*UPDATE: Mitsubishi Motors responded to our request for confirmation on the charging status of its i-MiEV. Mitsubishi's public relations manager, Lara Brown, wrote to AutoblogGreen:
You are correct, the Clean Across Canada Tour and our i-MiEV are utilizing a DC Quick Charger provided by Eaton Canada for our remote charging requirements. The tour was developed to educate and promote our Electric Vehicle and has obstacles due to the limitations of electric charging station infrastructure.
Our tour logistics and powering requirements have been transparent from the beginning and have been shared with the public and media since the launch of our program.
On a daily basis our drive team charges our i-MiEV off the power grid but when traveling in rural and remote areas of Canada the Eaton Quick Charger is required. The i-MiEV travels at a distance of approximately 120 km's with fluctuation based on conditions and driver technique. In the evenings and at events the charge is drawn off the power grid.
Our partnership with Bullfrog Power minimizes the tour's environmental impact by purchasing clean carbon credits based on our pre tour, tour and post tour charging requirements. Supporting green electricity for the tour complements Mitsubishi Motor's commitment to environmental responsibility.
Chevrolet Volt in 'Victory Red' - click above for high-res image gallery
China's previous experiences with the Chevrolet Volt has been limited to peeking at concepts and prodding non-drivable versions, but that's all about to come to an end. General Motors has just delivered two drivable Chevy Volts to the Shanghai Expo Bureau in China. The extended range plug-in vehicles arrived just in time for the World Expo 2010 and will shuttle VIP guests to and from Shanghai's Expo Park.
General Motors firmly believes that China will be one of the hottest markets outside the U.S. for its upcoming Volt. Chasing sales, GM has selected China as one of the initial markets outside of the U.S. that will receive the Volt prior to its widespread release. The Volt should hit select Chinese dealerships next year and will be available with GM's advanced OnStar in-vehicle safety, security and communication service there. Hit the jump for more info from GM on the Volt's first real trip to China.
Come this fall, Volvo's range of engines will be bolstered with the addition of two new mills that feature a wide variety of the currently available mileage-enhancing tricks and power-boosting techniques. The engines, dubbed the T3 and T4, border on tiny with each mill displacing just 1.6 liters. Nonetheless, they boast power numbers that range from 150 horsepower (in T3 trim) to 180 hp for the T4 unit. Both the T3 and T4 make due with just four-cylinders, but the addition of a turbocharger and Volvo's direct injection system helps turn up the torque. The T3's torque peaks at 177 pound-feet, while the T4 variant puts out 199 lb-ft. Magnus Jonsson, senior vice president of product development at Volvo Cars, believes that the pair of new engines will help prove that small mills can create big power.
Benefiting from direct injection technology, Volvo claims that both the T3 and T4, featuring the company's GTDi system, consume 20-percent less fuel than larger displacement engines while still generating similar performance numbers. The GTDi engines feature die-cast aluminum construction and plastic intake manifolds to help keep overall weight in check.
According to Volvo, The 1.6 GTDi T4 will be available with the company's automatic six-speed Powershift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. The T3 variant will be limited to applications utilizing the six-speed manual gearbox. The 1.6 GTDi T3 and T4 will launch in autumn 2010 together with the new Volvo S60 and V60. At a later date, the GTDi engines will receive modifications allowing them to run on E85. Hit the jump for detailed specs on Volvo's pair of all-new 1.6-liter mills.
New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), North America's largest public transit agency, has awarded New Flyer of America Inc. a $216 million contract to supply the MTA with up to 475 CNG-powered buses. The contract calls for New Flyer to deliver 135 40-foot heavy-duty transit buses to the MTA beginning with two pilot buses scheduled to be handed over in the second quarter of 2011, with the balance of the order to be fulfilled by early 2012.
The CNG-powered buses will be put into service at the MTA's Long Island Bus, NYCTA and MTA Bus sites. Provided that the buses live up to expectations, the MTA will consider placing an additional order for 340. New Flyer was chosen as the CNG bus provider due to its long-standing relationship with the MTA and its "best bus value and support for life" approach. To date, New Flyer has delivered 823 buses to the MTA and provides warranty work and support services for all of its products, including those fuel cell buses that acted as people movers during the Winter Olympics. The company has delivered more than 3,500 CNG-powered buses over the past 15 years and works almost exclusively with Cummins Westport as its supplier of natural gas engines. Follow the jump for more on the CNG-powered buses that will soon join the New York MTA.
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Matthew Dieckmann, president of Santa Rosa-based 
Come this fall, 
