NYPD goes green with Nissan Altima Hybrids
According to the New York Post , the New York Police Department will soon begin a pilot program that would replace 40 of the city’s police cruisers with Nissan Altima Hybrids . The initial investment in the gas-saving and pollution-reducing scheme is a hefty $1.1 million. As it stands, 18 units have been set up as fully marked patrol cars and 20 as unmarked cars. Two more are playing spy games disguised as yellow taxicabs. If these cars work out well as police units, plenty of fuel will be saved. The current fleet, which consists mainly of large, rear-wheel drive, full frame Crown Vics and slightly smaller Impalas, averages between 16 and 18 mpg in the city. The Altimas are expected to get 35 mpg. Given the shaky state of the U.S. domestic car industry, we wonder what kind of backlash there might be for using the Japanese cars, though they are assembled in Smyrna, TN. We know that police officers have proven an attachment to the old-tech cruisers that they currently use, and we’d be a little surprised if Ford isn’t at least considering outfitting its new Fusion Hybrid for crime fighting. Thanks for the tip, Mike ! [Source: New York Post | Photo: Chris McSweeney ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , MPG , Nissan , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA NYPD goes green with Nissan Altima Hybrids originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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1998 Panoz Q9: A hybrid race car ahead of its time
At next month’s 12 Hours of Sebring, Corsa Motorsports will be debuting it’s new Zytek hybrid drive LMP1 car, but this is far from the first hybrid race car in the American Le Mans Series. Back in 1998, the Panoz GTR-1 was nearing the end of its life-cycle as a competitive race car. As a last hurrah for the GT1 car, Panoz teamed up with Zytek, the same company developing the system that’s being run by Corsa, to create a hybrid racer. Like today’s hybrids, this one paired a Zytek-built electric motor with the Ford V8 engine and a set of batteries to absorb energy from regenerative braking and feed it out for extra acceleration. The reasoning was the same as that chosen by Audi and Peugeot for following the diesel path. By increasing fuel efficiency, the car could run longer between pit stops, reducing the amount of time standing still in the pits. The Panoz Q9′s lack of testing time before the first run at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, meant it just failed to qualify. Later that year, Panoz entered the car, which was nicknamed “Sparky,” again for the first running of the Petit Le Mans where it qualified and finished second in GT1 behind a Porsche 911 GT1. Unfortunately, the battery technology wasn’t advanced enough at the time; the entire right side of the cockpit was filled with them. Although there were hybrids that popped up on the track now and again over the years, it would take another decade for hybrid race cars to run at the top levels of the sport. [Source: American Le Mans Series ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Racing 1998 Panoz Q9: A hybrid race car ahead of its time originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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1998 Panoz Q9: A hybrid race car ahead of its time
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Leave a commentZe EV? Valeo, Michelin team up for French electric car champion
It’s not a new idea , but Valeo and Michelin want France to be known for electric cars. The two companies have announced they will partner up to develop and build pure EVs and plug-in hybrids. One of the more important partners, an automaker, is still missing. The two companies hope that Michelin’s Active Wheel technology, which uses two built-in electric motors in each wheel, will entice one to climb aboard. According to Automotive News Europe , Michelin says that Active Wheel technology eliminates the need for a gearbox, clutch, transmission shift, universal joint or anti-roll bar. There’s a lot of efficiency gained right there. If everything goes as planned, the resulting vehicle will be a “French champion,” sort of a new EV icon with a strong French connection. Last fall, Valeo won the Automechanika Innovation Award for its StARS Micro-Hybrid System . The system, also known as Stop & Start, can be found in the smart fortwo micro hybrid . [Source: Automotive News Europe (subs req'd)] Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Europe/EU Ze EV? Valeo, Michelin team up for French electric car champion originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid
Click above and scroll down to watch the video I heard a phrase on the radio yesterday that described the unappetizing way the stimulus bill was crafted in Congress this past week: emergency sausage. However it was crafted, the deed is now done. The overall impact of the bill is being covered by everyone everywhere, so we’ll focus on the green transportation items that were included in the final bill, which is on its way to the President’s desk. The big winners were trains and plug-in cars. As the Environmental Law & Policy Center and CNN note, high-speed and inner-city rail made out like bandits. The first version of the stimulus bill, written in the House, set aside $300 million for these trains. This ballooned to $8 billion – along with $6.9 billion for public transportation and $1.3 billion for Amtrak – by the time it was done. Plug-in vehicles – as well as hybrids and fuel cell EVs – get a $2 billion investment for advanced battery technologies. The number of vehicles that are eligible for the plug-in electric drive vehicle credit jump up to 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer. The EDTA is happy with that, but is disappointed that the PHEV credit is capped at $7,500 and doesn’t apply to big vehicles (those that weigh over 14,000 lbs). An upgraded smart grid is helped out by $4.5 billion for development and deployment. Traditional cars don’t lose out, either. People who buy a new car in 2009 and who earn less than $125,000 individually or $250,000 jointly can deduct the sales tax. What does it all mean? Well, that’s something which won’t be clear for a while. CalCars , though, is optimistic: “Taken in combination with other external factors, this could be the beginning of the breakthrough we’ve been hoping for,” they write. You can watch a video of the President discussing the stimulus package after the jump. Thanks to Peter G. for sending some of this in. [Source: CNN , EDTA , Environmental Law & Policy Center , CalCars ] Continue reading Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , Legislation and Policy , Green Daily , USA Stimulus bill pumps up plug-ins, public transit, trains, smart grid originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | breakthrough, congress, policy-center, president, president obama, sales, stimulus, stimuluspackage | Leave a commentPrius proves pricey come repair time
Click above for a gallery of the 2007 Toyota Prius Prius owners, take note. We’ve got good news and bad news to share today regarding the maintenance and upkeep of your prized hybrid hatchback . First the good: Data from Insurance claim company Audatex indicates that the world’s favorite hybrid is proving to be a highly reliable machine. Great, so what’s the bad news? When it does come time to get work done on the Prius, owners can expect a bill that is, on average, about 8.4 percent higher than one for a non-hybrid vehicle. The reason for the surcharge isn’t so much that the hybrid componentry of the Prius is expensive; it’s due more to the fact that there aren’t very many spare parts to be had at modest prices, meaning that replacements must be ordered directly from Toyota. Fortunately, the trend is headed downward as more Prius hybrids end up in scrapyards. Other hybrid models are also proving to be a bit more pricey to repair than their non-hybrid selves. For instance, repair bills for hybrid versions of the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry are 3.8 percent more expensive, on average, than standard Civics or Camrys. The small difference here can be attributed to the few bits of the hybrids that are not shared with their siblings, so this percentage may be more representative of what to expect in the coming years as hybrids continue gaining market share. Gallery: 2007 Toyota Prius Touring [Source: All About Prius ] Auto Blog: Hybrid , Toyota , Green Daily Prius proves pricey come repair time originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Hybrids dominate the Intellichoice Best Overall Value of the Year Awards
Click above for a gallery of the Ford Escape Hybrid IntelliChoice used the Chicago Auto Show to announce its Best Overall Value of the Year Awards, and, lo and behold, it’s loaded up with hybrid and eco-friendly vehicles. Included in the list of winners for 2009 are: Honda Civic Hybrid for Best Compact over $17,000 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab Hybrid for Best 1/2 ton Full-Size Pickup (2WD and 4WD) Toyota Prius for Midsize over $21,000 (Touring trim) and under $21,000 (Standard trim) Toyota Highlander Hybrid 4WD for Midsize Crossover Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid for Compact Utility/Crossover Volkswagen Jetta TDI for Small/Midsize Wagon Lexus GS 450h for Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000 This list serves as another reminder that hybrid vehicles have really started making their mark on the automotive marketplace. There’s hardly a segment or price range that doesn’t include at least one hybrid vehicle, and if you can’t find one to suit your needs, you can always choose the all-conquering Jetta TDI from Volkswagen. Gallery: ABG Garage: 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid Limited [Source: IntelliChoice ] Auto Blog: Diesel , Hybrid , Ford , GMC , Honda , Lexus , Mercury , Toyota , Volkswagen , Chicago Auto Show Hybrids dominate the Intellichoice Best Overall Value of the Year Awards originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Chicago 2009: Under the skin of the Toyota FCHV
Click above for a gallery of the Toyota FCHV cutaway display Toyota first began researching hydrogen fuel cells way back in in the ’90s, and the Japanese automaker has continually refined the drivetrain and platform that houses it ever since. We got the chance to drive the latest FCHV a few months ago, so we were naturally interested to see what makes these cars tick. Fortunately for us, Toyota put a cutaway of one of the hydrogen-powered SUVs on display here at the Chicago Auto Show . See our gallery below. In its latest configuration, the FCHV features four separate storage tanks that keep the hydrogen compressed to 10,000 psi. After the compressed gas leaves those tanks, it flows through regulators that reduce the pressure to something the PEM fuel cell stack can process. A fresh fill of hydrogen allows the FCHV to travel up to 350 miles. In order to keep a full load of electrons flowing to the 90 kW permanent magnet, DC electric motor , Toyota equips the FCHV with a 21 kW nickel metal hydride battery pack, similar to what’s used in the automaker’s line of hybrids. When decelerating, the electric motor operates as a generator and assists in recharging the battery. Pretty cool stuff, huh? Gallery: Chicago 2009: Toyota FCHV cutaway display Auto Blog: Hydrogen , Toyota , AutoblogGreen Exclusive , Chicago Auto Show Chicago 2009: Under the skin of the Toyota FCHV originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds .Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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VIDEO: Red Bull Racing preview of its new KERS-equipped F1 car
Up to this point, most Formula One race teams have maintained their usual veil of secrecy on what’s inside their new cars. The Red Bull team has produced an interesting computer generated animation video that gives a little peak inside the new RB5 car that they are running for 2009. The most interesting aspect is the new KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) hybrid drive. Red Bull is one of the teams opting for an electric hybrid system. For 2009, teams are allowed to use KERS for the first time. As with other hybrids, a generator driven by the rear axle charges a battery mounted behind the driver during braking. Unlike road going hybrids, the driver can select when he wants to release the energy to provide a performance boost. The drivers get up to 82 hp of electric boost available for 6.5 seconds per lap on demand via a steering wheel-mounted button. As driver Sebastian Vettel explains in the video, they have to be careful when they use it to make sure they don’t put down too much power too quickly and spin out. Check out the video after the jump. [Source: Red Bull Racing ] Continue reading VIDEO: Red Bull Racing preview of its new KERS-equipped F1 car Auto Blog: Hybrid , Racing VIDEO: Red Bull Racing preview of its new KERS-equipped F1 car originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | entry, flexfuelsaab, kers, kinetic energy, kineticenergy, mitgenshock, red bull f1, red bull f1 team, redbullf1, saab ffv, turbo-1-9-liter, video | Leave a commentFrench automakers get $11.8 billion bailout
Following in the footsteps of similar programs in the United States and the United Kingdom , the French government has approved a bailout of sorts for its domestic automakers and their financial arms. Portions of these funds are to be used to further the development of green automotive technologies, including hybrids and fully electric vehicles. The main condition to receiving this money is that the automakers must keep their French factories open and operational. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s being doled out: Renault and PSA Peugeot Citroën will each get loans totaling $3.9 billion, while their captive financing units will each receive $1.3 billion in loan guarantees. This should help consumers looking to purchase cars get the credit that they need. Renault Trucks, which is a unit of Swedish truckmaker Volvo AB, has been awarded $640 million and auto suppliers with operations in France will get $785 million in loans. [Source: Inside Line ] Auto Blog: Legislation and Policy , Renault , Citroen , Peugeot , Europe/EU French automakers get $11.8 billion bailout originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green | Car Blog Green
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Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | a-quick-rundown, atvmlp, auto bailout, autobailout, breaking, breaking news, frenchautobailout, Hybrids, trucks, united-states | Leave a commentToyota VP says no Prius Plug-In MPG is available yet
Auto Blog: EV/Plug-in , Hybrid , MPG , Toyota Toyota’s Vice President of communications Irv Miller has published a post on the company blog refuting a recent report that the small fleet of plug-in Priuses is averaging 65 mpg . The small group of converted PHEV Priuses that currently exist in the U.S. are mostly being used for demonstration purposes at auto shows and other events. A few of the cars are being used in university studies including one at University of California-Davis . The current cars all use doubled up nickel metal hydride batteries rather than the lithium ion units that will go into the larger test fleet of 2010 Priuses coming late this year. Miller acknowledges that mileage data is being recorded from the demonstration cars but the results vary too much to be statistically significant. The mileage results of plug-in hybrids are highly dependent on driving cycles and styles. If the driving is kept within the plug-in charge range, the mileage is substantially higher than what can be expected after the charge is depleted. Any meaningful comparisons will require defining some representative test cycles. [Source: Toyota ] Toyota VP says no Prius Plug-In MPG is available yet originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green|Car Blog Green
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Toyota VP says no Prius Plug-In MPG is available yet
Posted in Auto Green, Hybrids | a-recent-report, cars, demonstration, entry, EV Plug in, into-the-larger, irvmiller, plug in, plug in hybrids, plug in prius, prius, prius-plug-, priuses | Leave a commentGet Approved!
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