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• Volvo continues development of C30 Electric Vehicle

  31Jan
  Categories: Electric Vehicles, Volvo Comments: 0

  Aside from the planned launch of a plug-in hybrid by 2012, Volvo is eyeing to perfect an all electric vehicle. They are also studying the marketability of the project in development against possible competitors.

  Volvo is working on a car which looks like a regular C30 packed with the usual trademark safety, space, and comfort like the standard version. The big difference is that it will be powered entirely by electricity. It has no emissions plus an excellent driving range of 93 miles on one charging.

  The car manufacturer has come up with several prototypes and tested internally how the C30 EV runs in different driving conditions. The focus of the development is the integration of the electric drive system with the rest of the components of the vehicle.

  The C30 Battery-powered EV will run using lithium ion batteries charged using a regular plug at home. Full charging may take about eight hours.

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  Tags: Electric Cars, Electric Vehicles, Volvo, Volvo C30

• Charge Anxiety: Another challenge to face for the Electric Vehicle sector

  27Sep
  Categories: Electric Vehicles Comments: 0

  Charging anxiety of consumers present another challenge for makers of electric vehicles. After a while though, the adoption of EV technology may flow smoothly when buyers become more familiar with EVs.

  An electric vehicle buyer may have several worries when they plug their cars at home. One may be worried about power outages, circuits giving in, or someone simply disconnecting the plug and having no enough power to use the next day.

  Charging anxiety is expected since we are facing a new technology but it is expected to die down like how people get accustomed to new gadgets, tools, or systems. Consumers are expected to have newbie questions when they initially charge their cars. Instruction manuals will be read and phone calls will be made just to make sure that they are plugging in their cars right.

  Though there have also been studies about range anxiety as being the more important issue to address, car manufacturers and marketers can not deny that charge anxiety exists. Plugging the car into the socket may not come as easy as charging your cellphone.

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  Tags: Batteries, Electric Cars, Electric Vehicles, EV Charging, EV Charging Stations

• New fuel regulations of the United States may have loop holes for foreign luxury car brands

  07Aug
  Categories: Car Fuels, Fuel Efficiency Comments: 0

  Last May, everyone was looking at the figures being demanded by the fuel efficiency regulations of the United States which sets the bar at 35.5mpg by 2016. The number applies to the average of all the brands produced by the carmakers. Foreign marques though selling luxury cars in the US may have some way out of this stringent policy.

  The Obama administration may have some slack for the foreign luxury brands coded the German proposition by some lobbyists. The foreign manufacturers which do not sell more than 400,000 units annually in the U.S. may just be subjected to less rigid rules.

  Some of the brands which will obviously benefit from the loophole will be Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche. These are the same brands which have been opposing the proposed fuel efficiency rules ever since.

  Looking at the loophole though justifies its sense. Smaller car manufacturers are the least likely to be able to adjust to the cost since they don’t have low end vehicles which can pump their efficiency figures.

  Small volume of cars being produced means that the cost of improving the fuel efficiency of the fleet will be higher. The new policy anyway aims to save money and help the environment, but not to close down any car business.

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  Tags: BMW, Car Fuels, Luxury Cars, SUV

• Lightning Company of Britain on the drawing boards to produce three more EVs

  11Jul
  Categories: Concept Cars, Electric Vehicles, Lightning Comments: 0

  The Tesla Roadster may be considered as the king of the road when it comes to zero emission performance. The British firm Lighting Company wants to catch up and challenge the Tesla Roadster by working on a 700hp electric vehicle that will go on production by 2010.

  

  The engine of the next generation vehicles will be derived from the DNA of their first EV the Lightning GT.

  According to Lightning, the company will design and come up with several variants. This includes an off-roader SUV, a limo type saloon, and a sports car.

  The company wants to focus on the Lightning GT and deriving the power plants of the new members of their brood from it will allow them to release them to the market as soon as they are ready.

  The Lightning GT is expected to be released by spring of 2010 and orders for the units are coming. A third of the deposits are mostly from the United Kingdom alone. The specifications of the car though have not been finalized and the information disclosed to the media is very limited.

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  Tags: Electric Cars, Electric Vehicles, EV, Lightning Company, Lightning GT

• Kawasaki to Manufacture Transportation Application Gigacell Batteries

  07Jun
  Categories: Electric Vehicles, Kawasaki Comments: 0

  Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) will start producing grid and transportation application versions of the Gigacell bipolar NiMH Industrial batteries

  The Gigacell was developed in cooperation with New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Agency (NEDO) of Japan. It offers a big capacity in storing energy which is made responsible by its high-rate structure, discharge ability and high rate charge. It used nickel hydroxide as its positive electrode while utilizing the metal hydroxide for its negative electrode.

  KHI is also designing a 280Ah stack with an enhanced charging and discharging rates. It has 2.5 kWh of aptitude and volumetric density of 40 Wh/L and 21 Wh/kg gravimetric density.

  Last December 2007, KHI declared that it had completed a verification test using a Gigacell pack on a railcar regenerative braking. The system was analyzed at the substations of the Osaka Subway.

  Kawasaki confirmed that the generated energy by the braking of a train could be accumulated and be reused to counterweigh for the voltage fluctuations that take place during start-up, operation, and jam-packed rush hours.

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  Tags: Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Kawasaki, Kawasaki Heavy Industries

• Affordable Supercharger may Decrease Smoke Emissions from Turbocharged Diesel Powertrains

  28May
  Categories: Carbon dioxide, Controlled Power Technologies, Diesel Comments: 0

  Controlled Power Technologies suggests that smoke emissions from turbo charged diesel engines subjected to heavy loads, like negotiating a stiff climb on a low gear, may be eliminated using a cheap electric supercharger.

  CPT is a start up company based in the United Kingdom which explores development of carbon dioxide-reducing solutions that can be used with today’s vehicles.

  At the moment, the company is marketing three basic products: VTES or Variable Torque Enhancement System which is a supercharging system; TIGERS a generator system dependent on exhaust turbine; and SpeedStart12 which is a starter generator system.

  Excessive particulate emission is a major issue in the transport industry especially when tougher guidelines and legislations will be in placed by 2012. The supercharger from CTS aims to address the root of the problem by supplying more air to the engine during transient events which may require addition power and fuel. The sufficient air will prevent production of soot which is caused by inefficient combustion.

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  Tags: Carbon dioxide, Controlled Power Technologies, Diesel, Emissions

• Primafuel Collaborates with Ben-Gurion University for Biorefinery Projects

  09Apr
  Categories: Bio Fuels, Primafuel Comments: 0

  Primafuel, whose focus is on the commercialization and improvement of infrastructure and technology of low carbon fuels, teams up with researchers from the Ben Gurion University for a biorefinery project with international coverage.

  Dr, Sammy Boussiba is the head of MBL, and is presently the president of the International Society of Applied Phycology. MBL does extensive researches on algae for about decades and holds a commendable record for commercializing the production of algae systems used for the nutraceutical and feed markets.

  Meanwhile, US and European branches of Primafuel laboratories shaped multiple technology baseline that is centered on the refinement, partition and alteration of biomass products. Also, the biorefinery program of Primafuel has been renowned by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer for the expertise in biomass processing.

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• Rinspeed’s i-Change to be launched at Geneva

  22Mar
  Categories: Auto Show, Concept Cars, Electric Vehicles, Rinspeed Comments: 0

  Rinspeed, one of the leading Swiss car manufacturers, will be introducing their concept car i-Change in the Geneva Motorshow this year. The i-Change is an electric car which can seat three people comfortably.

  What sets the concept car apart is its teardrop bubble top which acts as windshield, door, and sunroof for the car. It’s a highly unconventional model, as should be expected from Rinspeed, which is designed especially for short-distance city driving.

  

  

  
  
  

  The car runs on a 370 Nm electric motor which is generated by 567V LiFeP04 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack. i-Change can run up to 56 miles on three battery packs. Its lightweight design (only 2,300 lbs) depends on aerodynamics. The i-Change’s weight is also responsible for its low power consumption.

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• Nissan: DuPont Resins will be Used for Engine Covers

  28Feb
  Categories: DuPont, Nissan, Zytel Comments: 0

  Nylon resins from DuPont Minlon and Zytel are now being utilized for the front cover and rocker on Nissan Pathfinder’s turbo diesel engine model. This is showcased in one of the first commercial samples of under-the-hood metals replacement by Nissan in one of their European operation.

  The parts offer best performance when measuring rigidity, dimensional stability, and strength. These are vital for ensuring an excellent seal to protect the valve control system and to avoid leaking of lubricating oil. The resins can withstand temperatures of up to 150 degrees Celsius during. It can also endure contact with hot oils or chemicals.

  

  The parts were built by DuPont purchasers in Spain with the company’s applications development and enhancement assistance.

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• Audi and Alternative Car Fuels

  03Feb
  Categories: Alternative Fuels, Audi Comments: 0

  The owners of an Audi are a proud lot and they love their car for its worth. However, there are occasions when they feel let down and they feel sad. During these moments they check out if there is news that can help them to recover from their woes and when they do find such news, they glee with happiness as only the owners of Audis can. Of late many car manufacturers have started changing the design of their cars in order to accommodate the use of alternative fuels. Most users of Audi cars too are waiting with baited breath and want to know when will Audi too come out with a car that can run on alterative car fuel. These owners too want to contribute their share in saving the environment by using alternative fuels.

  Owners of Audis will be pleased to know that this world-renowned car manufacturer has lots of plans up its sleeves to bring out eco friendly cars, though it might take a few years before they make their presence felt. In about 10 years time Audi shall be producing cars that run on electricity. While the rest of the world is finding out ways and producing cars that will have lower CO2 emissions, Audi will do away with emissions all together. The electric cars that Audi shall be producing in about a decade will be sans exhaust emissions. The owners of Audi cars can glee in delight armed with the knowledge that their favorite will again show the way to the world.

  For recent eco-friendly audi news, check here!