Honda changes its mind on ethanol

Filed under: Diesel, Ethanol, Flex-Fuel, Hybrid, Honda

The Wall Street Journal reports Honda is considering ethanol and more natural gas-powered cars. In the past Honda has not been positive on ethanol. Here is Honda's U.S. sales chief John Mendel, speaking in August 2006, when asked about making flex fuel cars:

We're not against it. ... In the list of priorities right now, we haven't moved it up the list. It is less efficient from a fuel-economy standpoint.

Why is ethanol suddenly a priority a little over a year later? The ethanol glut currently in the market and the energy bill's inclusion of an even greater push for biofuels, makes adding a $100 worth of technology to your car a no-brainer.

The Wall Street Journal article also mentions a new affordable Honda hybrid in 2009, which seems to be the CR-Z. The only thing new seems to be that by "affordable," Honda means a hybrid premium under $2,000 which sounds a little higher than the $1,750 premium Honda has said before.

The Wall Street Journal also says Honda is considering diesel for larger cars to comply with new fuel efficiency requirement in the pending energy bill. They would not elaborate on which diesel technology is under consideration.

Related:

• Honda's new dedicated hybrid to be a high-volume model
• Honda says no to ethanol, says it's not efficient
• Honda's environmental strategy includes diesels, affordable hybrid
  
• 2009 Honda Accord diesel to hit 52 mpg!

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

 

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More info on the Saab-Volvo plug-in hybrid partnership

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Saab, Volvo, European Union

The Volvo ReCharge

The other day, we got a tip from Stefan N. about a story he found that discussed a new partnership between Saab and Volvo on developing new plug-in hybrids. I asked him to provide us with a more complete translation of the original article (it was in Swedish) and he then provided us his own English version. Thanks, Stefan!

I've put the full translation after the jump. Here are the highlights:

As we said, Volvo and Saab will put ten PHEVs on the road by 2009 to create a strong Swedish plug-in market, with vehicle testing to begin next year. Using vehicles from these two automakers, technical know-how from Vattenfall and lithium-ion batteries from ETC Battery, the plug-in hybrid project will have a budget of 62 million Swedish crowns (around $9.6 million U.S.) The vehicle models that will be used and other details are being kept quiet. Continue after the break for more.

AutoblogGreen reader Stefan N.'s translation (slightly cleaned up) of this article:

Saab and Volvo in large plug-in project

Saab and Volvo will begin a large scale project on plug-in cars. In the project the two car manufacturers will test 10 plug-in cars in traffic during the next year. "We will be testing larger Volvo models working as PHEV," says Klas Niste at Volvo Cars.

There is a lot of hush hush around this project. But in the corporations' request for subsidies from the energy department, the goal is clear. The corporations wants to create a Swedish market for plug-in hybrids. Or as they write themselves, "Demonstrate how a simple customer-attractive total solution for plug-in hybrids could look like".

Included in the project are Vattenfall and battery manufacturer ETC AB in Nol, Sweden. And what the different corporations are supplying is obvious. Volvo and Saab will provide ten PHEV cars. Vattenfall will provide technical solutions for loading the cars in a efficient way. ETC Battery will provide their lithium-ion batteries.

The project should run through 2008-2010 and the ten plug-in hybrids will be in traffic in 2009. Total budget is 62 million crowns, approx $10 million U.S. and the corporations has been seeking half the budget in subsidies. But to receive 50 percent financing it was demanded that more research and development was included in the project, according to the committee for the vehicle research, which gave clearance for a third of the total budget in subsidies.

-The next step will be that the four corporations return with an application where they assure that they pay for 65 percent of the finances, then it can proceed to the energy development committee, at the Energy department, which will decide on the subsidies surmounting 10 million crowns. I think a decision will be made in January-February and if they keep their promise of 65 percent of the financing they will get an OK, says Gunnar Lindstedt at Vinnova, secretary of the committee who recommends that the project should receive 20 million crowns in support. Both car manufacturers are keeping secret which models will be provided with PHEV functionality. So far the Volvo Cars has only shown the C30 as a PHEV. But, according to Klas Niste at Volvo Cars, there will be larger models included in the project. But what larger models has Volvo developed with plug-in technology? No comments, says Klas Niste.

Fact on the Plug-in project Project description in the application for money from Program council for vehicle research. "The application is regarding financial support to establish a common development and demonstration project for plug-in hybrids between SAAB Automobile, Volvo Car Corporation, Vattenfall AB and ETC AB. With the collaborations the parts want to strengthen the possibilities to create a future Swedish united, political and industrial, force for plug-in hybrids. Plug-in hybrids have a big potential to give a large contribution for Sweden to reach national and international climate goal and lessen the dependence on fossil fuel.

Goals:

• To construct and put ten PHEVs on the road by year 2009
• To evaluate vehicles and infrastructure under real circumstances
• To demonstrate what a simple customer-attractive total solution for plug-in hybrids would look like
• To contribute to increased acceptance and insight on the role plug-in hybrids can have to reach national and international climate goals, increase the safety for energy supplies and promote the future of Swedish competition in trade and industry.
• To contribute to research and development within the area through collaborations with, for example, SHC. The project is investigating the possibilities for SHC to be able to, from the data collected in this demonstration project, 1) evaluate batteries 2) analyze driving patterns 3) verify/calibrate simulationprograms for PHEV and HEV drivelines.

Financing. ... Written by: Kenneth Samuelsson

 

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Seat Ibiza Ecomotive deliveries start in March 2008, 99 g/km of CO2

Filed under: Diesel, MPG, Volkswagen

Several months ago we first reported on the new Seat Ibiza Ecomotive. Ecomotive is Seat's branding for their most efficient, lowest CO₂-emitting models, similar to parent company Volkswagen's BlueMotion. The Ibiza is actually based on the platform of the Volkswagen Polo, with the Ecomotive model being the Spanish translation of the Polo Bluemotion. Like its German sibling, the Ibiza uses the 1.4L turbodiesel mated with improved aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tires. The bottom line is 62 mpg (US) and 99 g/km of CO₂ emissions. That latter figure is low enough for British buyers to qualify for an exemption from London congestion charges. Deliveries start in Britain in March at a price of £10,495.

[Source: Channel 4]

 

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Ernie Rogers tweaks a VW Bug to get 65-70 mpg

Filed under: MPG, Volkswagen

Think you need a plug-in hybrid to get over 65 mpg? Not if you're Ernie Rogers. He took a Volkswagen New Beetle, made a few tweaks (the obvious "wings" you can see on the back of the Bug) and now can get up to 65 mpg. According to Gas 2.0, sometimes that number gets as high at 76 mpg. These aren't constant results, but they are possible. On a long-distance (2,985 miles) trip from Salt Lake City to Anchorage in 2004, Ernie used just 52.7 gallons of diesel, which means he got 56.6 miles per gallon for the entire trip, and that's not an easy drive.

As stated on his website, Ernie's mission is straightforward: "To promote fuel conservation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by researching, developing and commercializing novel technologies that simply and cost-effectively improve the efficiency of cars and trucks." Some of those novelties are the additions to the rear end, which give the Beetle a better drag coefficient and improves fuel economy by 5 to 8 percent, as Ernie explains here. By adding "lower-rolling-resistance tires, low-friction engine oil, and use of a B5 biodiesel blend fuel," the Beetle's efficiency just keeps creeping up.

Aside from Ernie's Max MPG website, you can also check out Ernie's infrequently updated blog here.

[Source: Max MPG via Gas 2.0, h/t to Thunder]

 

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Mitsubishi joins Thailand's eco-car project, Toyota submits application

Filed under: Mitsubishi

Add Mitsubishi to the list of carmakers going to Thailand to make green cars. Mitsubishi will spend 20 billion yen (US$179 million) to produce some 100,000 cars cars a year with small engines, high MPG and low CO₂ emissions (this means engines that are 1.3 liters or smaller, vehicles that get 20km per liter (56.6 MPG) and emit less than 192 grams of CO₂ per mile (120 g/km)). We told you Toyota intended to submit the application November 30th and now, we have news Toyota has submitted their application as well to join the Thai eco-car program and will invest 17 billion yen.

The Thai government program involves giving tax breaks (a 50 percent cut in the excise tax, no income tax for 8 years and machinery imports duty free) to car makers to build eco-cars in their country, if they invest a significant amount in a plant. Thus far, the program has attracted Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Nissan and even Ford is rumored to join the program. Honda has already invested 6,700 million baht (about $220 million US) in Thailand auto production facilities. Suzuki and Nissan are expected to invest 9,500 million baht ($313 million) and 5,550 million ($183 million). Thailand has also invited smaller car companies like Tata to make the air car in Thailand for a paltry $39M investment.

I guess this proves, finally, that big corporations like giant tax breaks.

Related:

• Low Taxes for Eco-Car Makers in Thailand
• Toyota likes free money, signs on to Thailand's eco-car plan
• Suzuki and Nissan benefit from Thailand's low taxes for building cleaner cars

[Source: Asia Pulse]

 

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Carbon Catalog update, now it's twice as good

Filed under: Carbon Offset, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

The Carbon Catalog website opened up back in September and since then has gotten about twice as informative, doubling the amount of data available on carbon offset organizations. The idea behind the Catalog is to provide a non-partisan, one-stop, ad-free resource for information on carbon offset projects and providers. As founder Gideon Greenspan recently wrote in to AutoblogGreen, "With little in the way of regulation and big discrepancies in pricing, carbon offsetting has met with a shaky start. We are hoping to help change that."

The Carbon Catalog now lists over 60 carbon offset providers and almost 200 carbon reduction projects from around the world. A lot of automakers (VW, Land Rover, and car rental agencies, for example) use carbon offsets to increase their green effect, and it doesn't hurt to keep Carbon Catalog in your bookmarks to see how the offset programs the automakers use rank.

Carbon Catalog contributors recently started up their own blog and not too long ago Greenspan was interviewed on Treehugger.

[Source: Carbon Catalog / Gideon Greenspan]

 

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VIDEO: It's the production BMW X6 and it's a diesel!

Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, BMW

At September's Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW showed off a concept version of their new X6 crossover. The X6 is expected to launch in 2009 and will be built at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina assembly plant alongside the X5 and X3. Aside from the coupe-like roof-line of the X6, the other distinguishing feature of the vehicle was the first BMW application of the Two-Mode hybrid system. At the 2007 Detroit show, BMW featured diesel engines prominently and it had been expected that the first U.S. applications would be in the the X5 and 5-series. A promotional video featuring the production X6 has now surfaced and, as the camera scans details of the new vehicle, it lingers prominently on the X-Drive 35d badge. Like the X5, the X6 will almost certainly be sold with the diesel overseas, The question is will US buyers get a chance to sample the X6 35d? How about the first diesel-Two-Mode-hybrid application? We can only hope. The video is after the jump.

[Source: YouTube, via CarScoop]

 

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