About Alternative Cars

1 in 10 US Vehicles To Be Diesels by 2015

A study from Carnegie Mellon University predicts that by 2015, one in ten vehicles sold in the United States will be diesel fueled. The study was done in 2009, but not publicized until recently by Bosch, who manufacturers diesel engine components. More recently, this was bolstered by new information from CNW Research, which found that [...]

Hydrogen cars drive from Oslo to Monte Carlo on existing infrastructure

According to Zero.no, “But already now it is possible to run a hydrogen car from filling stations, the wholesaler and Gaustad in Oslo, via Denmark, Hamburg, Cologne, Karlsruhe and Freiburg in Germany and Sassenage in France, before the trip ended after 2260 km and five days, in Europe motor sport capital of Monte Carlo. To [...]

Brammo Unveils New Models: Empulse and Empulse R

from FutureCars In brief: At a launch party in Los Angeles, the Oregon-based company revealed the new Empulse and Empulse R electric motorcycles. Vehicle in the news Make/Model: Empulse / Empulse R Manufacturer: Brammo The word The battery-electric motorcycles have a 100 mile range and 100mph top speed thanks to a new generation battery and [...]

Chevrolet To Introduce Cruze With Clean Diesel Option

General Motors, through its Chevrolet nameplate, plans to introduce a clean diesel version of the popular Cruze model next year. It will be a 2.0L turbo diesel based on the company’s European model, already being sold. Diesel sales in the United States are growing quickly, up about 27% last year over the year before, and [...]

Volkswagen E-Bugster Steedster concept car

Volkswagen has revealed the first images and details of the new E-Bugster concept car that is being showcased at Auto China in Beijing. It’s an updated, roofless version of the model that was shown earlier this year in Detroit The name is derived from the American nickname for the Beetle, ‘Bug’ and the ‘speedster’ body [...]

8 automakers to demonstrate DC fast charging with Combined Charging System at EVS26

May 13th, 2012

Aaron Turpen

Eight global automakers will participate in a charging display and will demonstrate a harmonized single-port DC-fast charging technology at the upcoming EVS26 event in Los Angeles. The system is intended to optimize customer ease of use and to accelerate more affordable deployment of electrified vehicles and fast charging infrastructure.

Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have agreed to support the harmonized single-port fast charging approach—called DC-fast charging with a Combined Charging System—for use on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States. (Earlier post.)

The combined charging system integrates one-phase AC-charging, fast three-phase AC-charging, DC-charging at home and ultra-fast DC-charging at public stations into one vehicle inlet. This will allow customers to charge at most existing charging stations regardless of power source and may speed more affordable adoption of a standardized infrastructure.

The Society of International Engineers has chosen the single-port fast charging method as its standard for fast charging and the European manufacturing association (ACEA) has endorsed harmonization for all vehicle types. Chargers will be available commercially as of the end of 2012 and vehicles using the technology will be available starting 2013.

The International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has chosen the Combined Charging System as the fast-charging methodology for a standard that incrementally extends the existing Type 1-based AC-charging. The standard is to be officially published this summer. ACEA, the European association of vehicle manufacturers has also selected the Combined Charging System as its AC/DC-charging interface for all new vehicle types in Europe beginning in 2017.

The charging system design was based on the collaborative review and analysis of existing charging strategies, the ergonomics of the connector and preferences of US and European customers. The Combined Charging System was developed for all international vehicle markets and creates a uniform standard with identical electrical systems, charge controllers, package dimensions and safety mechanisms.

The system maximizes capability for integration with future smart grid developments through common broadband communication methods regardless of the global location of the charging system. The combined charging approach will reduce development and infrastructure complexity, improve charging reliability, reduce the total cost-of-ownership for end customers and provide low maintenance costs.

Commercially available combined charging stations are projected to be available later this year. All committed OEMs have vehicles in development which will use the Combined Charging System. First vehicles using this technology will be launched to the market in 2013.

8 automakers to demonstrate DC fast charging with Combined Charging System at EVS26

Hydrogen cars drive from Oslo to Monte Carlo on existing infrastructure

May 12th, 2012

Aaron Turpen

According to Zero.no, “But already now it is possible to run a hydrogen car from filling stations, the wholesaler and Gaustad in Oslo, via Denmark, Hamburg, Cologne, Karlsruhe and Freiburg in Germany and Sassenage in France, before the trip ended after 2260 km and five days, in Europe motor sport capital of Monte Carlo. To the attention of guests at the casino and the equally famous Hotel de Paris to champagne bottle pops a couple of hours after midnight on 21 April.

“This has never been done before, and why we do it – to show that it is possible to drive emission free from Oslo and throughout Europe, says Marius Bornstein, technical adviser on hydrogen at ZERO. He was one of the drivers who drove the two Hyundai Ix35 FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle) hydrogen cars throughout Europe.” (Translation via Google)

According to Google Maps this journey is around 2,260 km and takes about 23 hours if one is driving straight through. This is the first time ever that hydrogen cars have been driven such a distance without the use of a mobile hydrogen fueling support unit.

The Hyundai Ix35 FCEV was chosen for this journey because of its tank capacity and driving range. Of course they could also have chosen the Toyota FCHV-adv which has as much if not more tank capacity and driving range as the Hyundai, but the point is now moot.

Hydrogen cars drive from Oslo to Monte Carlo on existing infrastructure

Brammo Unveils New Models: Empulse and Empulse R

May 11th, 2012

Aaron Turpen

from FutureCars

In brief: At a launch party in Los Angeles, the Oregon-based company revealed the new Empulse and Empulse R electric motorcycles.

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: Empulse / Empulse R
Manufacturer: Brammo

The word

BrammoEmpulse1 Brammo Unveils New Models: Empulse and Empulse R

The battery-electric motorcycles have a 100 mile range and 100mph top speed thanks to a new generation battery and powertrain system Brammo has developed. The bikes are road bikes with a tougher, more contemporary style compared to Brammo’s other models, which are based on motocross and Enduro styling.

Brammo announced the Empulse and Empulse R will cost $16,995 and $18,995 respectively. Special financing options at Brammo dealers through Sheffield Financial will be available as well.

Production for the Empulse R will begin first with availability beginning in June and full volume availability by the third quarter. The Empulse will become available in January of 2013.

The addition of a water cooling system for the motor and an integrated transmission gave the bikes a longer range and higher top speed.

Pre-orders for the bike began earlier this year. At the unveiling, the first 1,000 people to pre-purchase were entered into a random drawing from which lucky winner Jueiming Chen was chosen. Chen will receive his Empulse R free of charge.

And so …

Differences between the Empulse and the more expensive R model is in the fittings. The standard Empulse uses plastic body work while the R has lighter, more durable carbon fiber components.

Photo credits: Brammo

Hydrogen Powered Lawn Mower?

May 3rd, 2012

Aaron Turpen

MaHyTec is producing a hydrogen-powered riding lawn mower for market. The mower is a bi-cylinder 500ccm engine unit which burns hydrogen (no fuel cells), which keeps the price lower than it would otherwise be.

H2 storage is at low pressure (about 3 bar) to give the mower between 3 and 4 hours of operation per tank – roughly the same as its gasoline counterpart.

Prototypes have been sold to the Town of Dole in France and the company, which is based in France and headed by Mathilde Perreux, is working towards going to production with the mowers for wider sales.

The company says that with the 93 times higher pollution conventional mowers can put out when compared to cars, replacing this sector with cleaner alternatives is important.

Chevrolet To Introduce Cruze With Clean Diesel Option

May 2nd, 2012

Aaron Turpen

General Motors, through its Chevrolet nameplate, plans to introduce a clean diesel version of the popular Cruze model next year. It will be a 2.0L turbo diesel based on the company’s European model, already being sold.

Diesel sales in the United States are growing quickly, up about 27% last year over the year before, and expected to be a large portion of the market by 2015. GM has been producing diesel models under its European and Asian nameplates for some time, with 33,000 Cruze models being produced for foreign sales last year alone.

“Even with high fuel prices, we’re seeing more consumers willing to invest in more advanced technology, fuel-efficient vehicles,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, a non-profit educational organization. “We’re really excited about what the Chevy Cruze brings to this segment. It’s already a successful car in its fuel efficiency and market acceptance. With GM’s advanced clean-burning diesel technology under the hood, Cruze stands to be a game changer.”

Although official numbers have not been released, the Cruze in turbo diesel would likely get over 40 miles per gallon on the highway.